双效表达载体的构建及其U6启动子的功能效率鉴定

利用pBudcE4.1双表达载体构建shRNA与蛋白共表达载体,为双效疫苗的研制提供新的研究思路.以含U6启动子的载体为模板,PCR扩增得到U6启动子,用其置换载体pBudcE4.1内的CMV启动子的核心部分构建shRNA与蛋白共表达载体.用干扰绿色荧光蛋白表达的方法鉴定重组载体中的U6启动子能否启动shRNA的表达.经PCR扩增、双酶切鉴定及DNA测序证明成功构建了载体pBudcE4.1-U6.用干扰载体pBudcE4.1-U6-eGFPshRNA与含eGFP的载体共转染293T细胞后,荧光显微镜观察显示eGFP的表达量下降;流式细胞仪检测细胞的转染效率降低.研究结果证明U6启动子正常发挥作用. 成功构建RNAi与蛋白共表达载体,为利用该载体研制动物双效疫苗奠定了基础.     

节肢动物的信息素研究

随着化学生态学(chemical ecology)和行为生态学(behavioral ecology)的蓬勃发展,近年来信息素(pheromone)研究进展较快,发表的论文与日俱增,但研究的进度很不平衡——脊椎动物以哺乳类研究较多,而无脊椎动物则以昆虫类研究较多。后者是可以理解的,一因昆虫的种类多、数量大,易于取材;二因昆虫具有重大经济意义,特别是有害昆虫的防治(利用性信息素作为诱捕剂),对农业丰收与森林保护关系极大。值得注意的是,近年来甲壳动物的信息素研究也日益受到重视,论文也日益增多。但和昆虫比较起来,它仍处于萌芽状态。作者深信,随着虾、蟹类养殖业和捕捞业的蓬勃发展,这类高等甲壳动物的     

低氧提高肿瘤细胞反义VEGF165基因表达

为了探讨反义VEGF1 65基因对食管癌的抑制作用 ,并初步探讨利用肿瘤低氧微环境改善基因治疗的效果 ,采用PCR技术和DNA重组技术构建了含低氧反应元件的真核表达载体 ,并用此载体构建了含荧光素酶报告基因和反义VEGF1 65基因的重组载体。用脂质体将重组载体导入食管癌细胞 ,体外用化学发光光度计测定低氧对报告基因表达的调节和ELISA法间接测定低氧对反义VEGF基因表达的调节作用。体内利用裸鼠皮下移植实验研究低氧对反义VEGF1 65基因抑瘤作用的影响。体外实验表明 ,用带低氧反应元件的重组真核表达载体转染食管癌细胞 ,在低氧培养下可以使报告基因的表达提高 3 780 % ,并可以显著提高反义VEGF1 65基因的表达 ,体内用带低氧反应元件的载体将反义VEGF1 65基因导入食管癌细胞中 ,其抑瘤效果显著优于不含该元件的载体 ,抑瘤率分别为 71 .7%和 5 6 .1 %。反义VEGF1 65基因能显著抑制食管癌的生长 ;利用肿瘤低氧可以实现治疗基因的自主调节 ,改善基因治疗的效果     

Highly sensitive determination of the methylated p16 gene in cancer patients by microchip electrophoresis

The p16 tumor suppressor gene is inactivated by promoter region hypermethylation in many types of tumor. Recent studies showed that aberrant methylation of the p16 gene is an early event in many tumors, especially in lung cancer, and may constitute a new biomarker for early detection and monitoring of prevention trials. We detected tumor-associated aberrant hypermethylation of the p16 gene in plasma and tissue DNA from 153 specimens using a modified semi-nested methylation-specific PCR (MSP) combining plastic microchip electrophoresis or slab gel electrophoresis, respectively. Specimens were from 79 lung cancer patients, 15 abdominal tumor patients, 30 positive controls and 30 negative controls. The results showed that the positive rate obtained by microchip electrophoresis was more than 26.6% higher and the same specificity was kept when compared with slab gel electrophoresis. The microchip electrophoresis can rapidly and accurately analyze the PCR products of methylated DNA and obviously improve the positive rate of diagnosis of cancer patients when compared with gel electrophoresis. This method with the high assay sensitivity might be used for detection of methylation of p16 gene and even to facilitate early diagnosis of cancer patients.     

Hydroxyethylamine-based inhibitors of BACE1: P1–P3 macrocyclization can improve potency,selectivity, and cell activity

We describe a systematic study of how macrocyclization in the P₁–P₃ region of hydroxyethylamine-based inhibitors of β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme (BACE1) modulates in vitro activity. This study reveals that in a number of instances macrocyclization of bis-terminal dienes leads to improved potency toward BACE1 and selectivity against cathepsin D (CatD), as well as greater amyloid β-peptide (Aβ)-lowering activity in HEK293T cells stably expressing APP_SW. However, for several closely related analogs the benefits of macrocyclization are attenuated by the effects of other structural features in different regions of the molecules. X-ray crystal structures of three of these novel macrocyclic inhibitors bound to BACE1 revealed their binding conformations and interactions with the enzyme.     

Circular RNA AFF4 modulates osteogenic differentiation in BM-MSCs by activating SMAD1/5 pathway through miR-135a-5p/FNDC5/Irisin axis

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), the common progenitor cells of adipocytes and osteoblasts, have been recognized as the key mediator during bone formation. Herein, our study aim to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying circular RNA (circRNA) AFF4 (circ_AFF4)-regulated BM-MSCs osteogenesis. BM-MSCs were characterized by FACS, ARS, and ALP staining. Expression patterns of circ_AFF4, miR-135a-5p, FNDC5/Irisin, SMAD1/5, and osteogenesis markers, including ALP, BMP4, RUNX2, Spp1, and Colla1 were detected by qRT-PCR, western blot, or immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Interactions between circ_AFF4 and miR-135a-5p, FNDC5, and miR-135a-5p were analyzed using web tools including TargetScan, miRanda, and miRDB, and further confirmed by luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down. Complex formation between Irisin and Integrin αV was verified by Co-immunoprecipitation. To further verify the functional role of circ_AFF4 in vivo during bone formation, we conducted animal experiments harboring circ_AFF4 knockdown, and born samples were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson staining. Circ_AFF4 was upregulated upon osteogenic differentiation induction in BM-MSCs, and miR-135a-5p expression declined as differentiation proceeds. Circ_AFF4 knockdown significantly inhibited osteogenesis potential in BM-MSCs. Circ_AFF4 stimulated FNDC5/Irisin expression through complementary binding to its downstream target molecule miR-135a-5p. Irisin formed an intermolecular complex with Integrin αV and activated the SMAD1/5 pathway during osteogenic differentiation. Our work revealed that circ_AFF4, acting as a sponge of miR-135a-5p, triggers the promotion of FNDC5/Irisin via activating the SMAD1/5 pathway to induce osteogenic differentiation in BM-MSCs. These findings gained a deeper insight into the circRNA-miRNA regulatory system in the bone marrow microenvironment and may improve our understanding of bone formation-related diseases at physiological and pathological levels.Subject terms: Stem cells, Diseases     

Abnormal Whole Blood Thrombi in Humans with Inherited Platelet Receptor Defects

To delineate the critical features of platelets required for formation and stability of thrombi, thromboelastography and platelet aggregation measurements were employed on whole blood of normal patients and of those with Bernard-Soulier Syndrome (BSS) and Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia (GT). We found that separation of platelet activation, as assessed by platelet aggregation, from that needed to form viscoelastic stable whole blood thrombi, occurred. In normal human blood, ristocetin and collagen aggregated platelets, but did not induce strong viscoelastic thrombi. However, ADP, arachidonic acid, thrombin, and protease-activated-receptor-1 and -4 agonists, stimulated both processes. During this study, we identified the genetic basis of a very rare double heterozygous GP1b deficiency in a BSS patient, along with a new homozygous GP1b inactivating mutation in another BSS patient. In BSS whole blood, ADP responsiveness, as measured by thrombus strength, was diminished, while ADP-induced platelet aggregation was normal. Further, the platelets of 3 additional GT patients showed very weak whole blood platelet aggregation toward the above agonists and provided whole blood thrombi of very low viscoelastic strength. These results indicate that measurements of platelet counts and platelet aggregability do not necessarily correlate with generation of stable thrombi, a potentially significant feature in patient clinical outcomes.