DNA damage-induced activation of CUL4B targets HUWE1 for proteasomal degradation

The E3 ubiquitin ligase HUWE1/Mule/ARF-BP1 plays an important role in integrating/coordinating diverse cellular processes such as DNA damage repair and apoptosis. A previous study has shown that HUWE1 is required for the early step of DNA damage-induced apoptosis, by targeting MCL-1 for proteasomal degradation. However, HUWE1 is subsequently inactivated, promoting cell survival and the subsequent DNA damage repair process. The mechanism underlying its regulation during this process remains largely undefined. Here, we show that the Cullin4B-RING E3 ligase (CRL4B) is required for proteasomal degradation of HUWE1 in response to DNA damage. CUL4B is activated in a NEDD8-dependent manner, and ubiquitinates HUWE1 in vitro and in vivo. The depletion of CUL4B stabilizes HUWE1, which in turn accelerates the degradation of MCL-1, leading to increased induction of apoptosis. Accordingly, cells deficient in CUL4B showed increased sensitivity to DNA damage reagents. More importantly, upon CUL4B depletion, these phenotypes can be rescued through simultaneous depletion of HUWE1, consistent with the role of CUL4B in regulating HUWE1. Collectively, these results identify CRL4B as an essential E3 ligase in targeting the proteasomal degradation of HUWE1 in response to DNA damage, and provide a potential strategy for cancer therapy by targeting HUWE1 and the CUL4B E3 ligase.     

高温强光胁迫下外源钙对甜椒(Capsicum fructescens L.)幼苗光合生理特性的影响

为探讨钙(Ca2+)对甜椒幼苗生长的影响,以甜椒品系156为试材,分别喷施清水(对照)、5 mmol·L-1(T5)和10 mmol·L-1Ca Cl2(T10),研究了高温(37℃)强光(1 200μmol·m-2·s-1)胁迫下甜椒幼苗叶片光合作用及叶片中活性氧(ROS)清除酶活性的变化。结果表明,高温强光胁迫条件下,与对照植株相比,外源施钙可维持较高的净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)及较低的胞间CO2浓度(Ci)。甜椒幼苗功能叶在高温强光胁迫处理后,T5和T10叶片的1,5-二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶(Rubisco)活性及叶片PSII最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)较高,表明Ca2+有利于减轻胁迫条件下甜椒幼苗叶片的光抑制现象。另外,高温强光胁迫条件下,植株叶片活性氧清除酶活性和可溶性蛋白含量明显增加,且Ca2+处理(T5和T10)的植株高于对照植株,丙二醛(MDA)含量和相对电导率则明显低于对照,这些结果均表明胁迫条件下外源施钙可以通过提高幼苗叶片ROS清除酶活性和渗透调节物质含量来保护光系统反应中心,从而减轻外界胁迫对植物的伤害。     

LIGHT信号通路在鼠衣原体生殖道感染中的作用

【目的】初步探讨与单纯疱疹病毒糖蛋白D竞争结合疱疹病毒侵入介体的淋巴毒素类似物(lymphotoxin-like inducible protein that competes with glycoprotein D for herpesvirus entry on T cells,LIGHT)在抗衣原体感染免疫及介导衣原体生殖道病理损伤过程的作用。【方法】用1×104IFUs的Mo Pn经生殖道感染野生型(wild type,wt)、LIGHT KO小鼠,每组一半小鼠于感染后49d,再次感染相同剂量的Mo Pn。每隔3-4 d取生殖道分泌物,测定其中衣原体包涵体的数量。初次感染后80d,处死小鼠,眼眶取血,分离血清,用间接免疫荧光法测定其中抗体类型及效价;同时分离生殖道,肉眼观察其输卵管、子宫角水肿程度,然后甲醛固定、切片,H&E染色后,显微镜下观察各组织炎性浸润程度和管腔水肿程度。分离小鼠脾细胞,体外用衣原体EB刺激,测定上清中IL-4、IL-5、IL-17和IFN-γ等细胞因子水平。【结果】LIGHT KO小鼠阴道带菌时间与wt组相当,大部分小鼠均在原发感染后28d左右完全清除感染,且均产生对再次感染的免疫力。LIGHT KO和wt小鼠子宫角和输卵管均出现一定程度的病变,但差异无统计学意义。两组小鼠在原发和继发感染Mo Pn后,均产生高效价的特异性抗Mo Pn Ig G抗体,总抗体及各Ig G抗体亚类效价差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05),且Ig G2a/Ig G1比值均大于1。和wt小鼠一样,LIGHT KO小鼠脾淋巴细胞经衣原体再次刺激后均可产生较高水平的IFN-γ和IL-17,且未能检测到IL-4和IL-5。【结论】小鼠抗Mo Pn生殖道感染及Mo Pn引起的生殖道病理损伤不依赖于LIGHT信号通路。     

高粘发酵体系不同搅拌桨的CFD模拟及发酵验证

搅拌桨是高好氧高黏度微生物发酵实现高效反应必不可少的因素之一,不同搅拌桨组合对发酵过程的影响十分重要。威兰胶是由产碱杆菌在高耗氧高粘度发酵体系下合成的胞外微生物多糖,广泛应用于水泥、石油、油墨、食品等行业中。本研究借助于计算流体力学(Computational fluid dynamics,CFD)的方法,以威兰胶发酵液体系为研究体系,研究了6种不同搅拌桨组合在反应器内流体速率分布、剪切速率、和气含率等参数。将模拟效果较好的3种组合用于威兰胶发酵过程。研究表明MB-4-6搅拌桨组合对改善发酵罐内部的溶氧及流场分布效果最明显,威兰胶产量水平提高了13%。同时在该组合下威兰胶的产品粘度得到有效提高。     

Sensing of mycobacterial arabinogalactan by galectin‐9 exacerbates mycobacterial infection

Mycobacterial arabinogalactan (AG) is an essential cell wall component of mycobacteria and a frequent structural and bio‐synthetical target for anti‐tuberculosis (TB) drug development. Here, we report that mycobacterial AG is recognized by galectin‐9 and exacerbates mycobacterial infection. Administration of AG‐specific aptamers inhibits cellular infiltration caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) or Mycobacterium bovis BCG, and moderately increases survival of Mtb‐infected mice or Mycobacterium marinum‐infected zebrafish. AG interacts with carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) 2 of galectin‐9 with high affinity, and galectin‐9 associates with transforming growth factor β‐activated kinase 1 (TAK1) via CRD2 to trigger subsequent activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) as well as induction of the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Moreover, deletion of galectin‐9 or inhibition of MMPs blocks AG‐induced pathological impairments in the lung, and the AG‐galectin‐9 axis aggravates the process of Mtb infection in mice. These results demonstrate that AG is an important virulence factor of mycobacteria and galectin‐9 is a novel receptor for Mtb and other mycobacteria, paving the way for the development of novel effective TB immune modulators.     

InlB-mediated Listeria monocytogenes internalization requires a balanced phospholipase D activity maintained through phospho-cofilin

Internalization of Listeria monocytogenes into non-phagocytic cells is tightly controlled by host cell actin dynamics and cell membrane alterations. However, knowledge about the impact of phosphatidylcholine cleavage driven by host cell phospholipase D (PLD) on Listeria internalization into epithelial cells is limited. Here, we report that L. monocytogenes activates PLD in Vero cells during the internalization. With immunostaining it was shown that both PLD1 and PLD2 surrounded partially or completely the phagocytic cup of most L. monocytogenes. Either up- or down-regulation of PLD expression (activity) diminished Listeria internalization. Both PLD1 and PLD2 in Vero cells were required for efficient Listeria internalization, and could substitute for each other in the regulation of Listeria internalization. Further, exogenous InlB activated host cell PLD1 and PLD2 via the Met receptor, and restored host PLD activation by InlB-deficient L. monocytogenes. InlB-induced PLD activation and Listeria internalization were tightly controlled by phospho-cycling of cofilin. PLD1, but not PLD2, was involved in cofilin-mediated PLD activation and Listeria internalization. These data indicate that cofilin-dependent PLD activation induced by InlB may represent a novel regulation mechanism for efficient Listeria internalization into epithelial cells.     

High-throughput microfluidic system for long-term bacterial colony monitoring and antibiotic testing in zero-flow environments

In this study, a high-throughput microfluidic system is presented. The system is comprised of seven parallel channels. Each channel contains 32 square-shaped microchambers. After simulation studies on samples loaded into the microchambers, and the solute exchange between the microchambers and channels, the long-term culture of Escherichia coli (E. coli) HB101 in the microchambers is realized. Using the principle that L-arabinose (L-Ara) can induce recombinant E. coli HB101 pGLO to synthesize green fluorescent protein (GFP), the real-time analysis of GFP expression in different initial bacterial densities is performed. The results demonstrate that higher initial loading densities of the bacterial colony cause bacterial cell to enter log-phase proliferation sooner. High or low initial loading densities of the bacterial cell suspension induce the same maximum growth rates during the log-phase. Quantitative on-chip analysis of tetracycline and erythromycin inhibition on bacterial cell growth is also conducted. Bacterial morphology changes during antibiotic treatment are observed. The results show that tetracycline and erythromycin exhibit different inhibition activities in E. coli cells. Concentrations of 3 μg/mL tetracycline can facilitate the formation of long filamentous bacteria with the average length of more than 50 μm. This study provides an on-chip framework for bacteriological research in a high-throughput manner and the development of recombinant bacteria-based biosensors for the detection of specific substances.