Steroidal saponins from the rhizomes of Paris delavayi

Two new steroidal saponins, padelaosides A (1) and B (2), along with two other known steroidal saponins (3 and 4) were isolated from the rhizomes of Paris delavayi. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR techniques, HRFTMS, physical data and chemical methods. The two different absolute configurations of fucose, assigned as l and d that were found on compounds 1 and 2, respectively, were simultaneously reported in a natural medicine for the first time.     

新生隐球菌共孵育后小鼠脑血管内皮细胞S100A10基因的表达水平变化

目的探讨S100A10基因在新生隐球菌感染脑血管内皮细胞中的作用。方法将新生隐球菌H99株与小鼠脑血管内皮细胞共孵育后,不同时间终止共孵育,提取小鼠脑血管内皮细胞的总RNA,采用实时定量荧光PCR检测S100A10的表达水平。结果在与新生隐球菌共孵育2h后,小鼠脑血管内皮细胞中的S100A10基因表达水平随着共孵育时间的延长而升高（P〈0.05）。结论S100A10基因在新生隐球菌对中枢神经系统的易感性存在一定的作用。     

小偃麦异代换系山农0095辐照花粉后代的细胞学及SSR标记分析

本研究采用^60Co-γ射线辐照小偃麦异代换系山农0095花粉,对其M1、M2代的细胞遗传学特点进行分析,结果表明：M1、M2代均出现频率不同和染色体数目不等（2n=41、2n=40和2n：39）的染色体数目变异类型;在两个世代的花粉母细胞减数分裂过程中．普遍观察到单价体、多价体、染色体片段、落后染色体、染色体桥及微核等现象,说明辐射有效地促进了染色体数目和结构的改变,有可能导致染色体易位重组。利用已建立的山农0095中中间偃麦草染色体的特异SSR标记BARC159240对M2代进行检测,结果发现大部分M2单株仍含有该标记位点,说明这些植株仍然具有标记位点的中间偃麦草染色体特异区段：少部分单株虽然保留了该位点．但缺少普通小麦中的条带．这些单株可能发生了染色体重组。     

小鼠骨髓高增殖潜能内皮祖细胞的培养与纯化（简报）

1997年Asahara等在人外周血中发现内皮祖细胞（endothelial progenitorcell．EPC）,随后有文献报道,从骨髓中分离出EPC．异体骨髓移植研究显示成体外周血EPC来源于骨髓。许多作者报告EPC参与生理性和病理性血管新生．具有潜在的临床应用前景。目前关于EPC的不少基本生物学问题尚不完全清楚,其生理和病理意义也有争议。     

MAPK转导通路在白念珠菌菌体抗氧化应激中的作用

目的探讨MAPK通路在念珠菌抗氧化应激中的作用。方法采用不同浓度过氧化氢刺激白念珠菌,通过流式细胞仪检测念珠菌的凋亡率,并计算其增殖指数;通过实时荧光定量PCR检测MAPK通路中8种基因的表达水平。结果随着过氧化氢的刺激浓度增高,白念珠菌的凋亡率逐渐升高,而其增殖指数下降。在不同的过氧化氢浓度刺激下,MAPK通路中各基因表达水平基本一致,即在较低的过氧化氢浓度刺激下,各基因表达水平均有一定的上升,而随着浓度增高,在高浓度的过氧化氢刺激下,各基因表达水平趋于稳定。结论在低浓度的过氧化氢刺激下,白念珠菌的凋亡率虽有所上升,但其相应的增殖指数也有所上升,即生长加快。这可能与其MAPK通路中各基因表达增强有一定的关系。     

杨树葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶(G6PDH)基因启动子的克隆与分析

葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶是磷酸戊糖途径的关键性调控限速酶,其主要功能是为脂肪酸合成、氮还原和谷胱甘肽等生物分子合成提供还原力NADPH,也为核酸合成提供戊糖;此外,还参加非生物逆境胁迫应答反应.因此,G6PDH对植物的生长发育起着非常重要的作用.本文利用甜杨G6PDH基因和毛果杨基因组序列,通过PCR获得了甜杨G6PDH基因上游1 400bp的序列.序列分析结果表明,该序列具有启动子的基本元件TATA-bOX、CAAT-box.此外,还包含多个胁迫诱导元件,如低温诱导元件LTR,盐诱导元件GT-1,抗冻、缺水、脱落酸、抗寒元件MYB和MYC,以及光响应元件L-box、G-box、3AF-1、TC丰富区等.     

Metabolic Flux Analysis of Mitochondrial Uncoupling in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Background

Increasing energy expenditure at the cellular level offers an attractive option to limit adiposity and improve whole body energy balance. In vivo and in vitro observations have correlated mitochondrial uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) expression with reduced white adipose tissue triglyceride (TG) content. The metabolic basis for this correlation remains unclear.

Methodology/Principal Findings

This study tested the hypothesis that mitochondrial uncoupling requires the cell to compensate for the decreased oxidation phosphorylation efficiency by up-regulating lactate production, thus redirecting carbon flux away from TG synthesis. Metabolic flux analysis was used to characterize the effects of non-lethal, long-term mitochondrial uncoupling (up to 18 days) on the pathways of intermediary metabolism in differentiating 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Uncoupling was induced by forced expression of UCP1 and chemical (FCCP) treatment. Chemical uncoupling significantly decreased TG content by ca. 35%. A reduction in the ATP level suggested diminished oxidative phosphorylation efficiency in the uncoupled adipocytes. Flux analysis estimated significant up-regulation of glycolysis and down-regulation of fatty acid synthesis, with chemical uncoupling exerting quantitatively larger effects.

Conclusions/Significance

The results of this study support our hypothesis regarding uncoupling-induced redirection of carbon flux into glycolysis and lactate production, and suggest mitochondrial proton translocation as a potential target for controlling adipocyte lipid metabolism.     

Usa1 Protein Facilitates Substrate Ubiquitylation through Two Separate Domains

Background

Defects in protein folding are recognized as the root of many neurodegenerative disorders. In the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), secretory proteins are subjected to a stringent quality control process to eliminate misfolded proteins by the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway. A novel ERAD component Usa1 was recently identified. However, the specific role of Usa1 in ERAD remains obscure.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Here, we demonstrate that Usa1 is important for substrate ubiquitylation. Furthermore, we defined key cis-elements of Usa1 essential for its degradation function. Interestingly, a putative proteasome-binding motif is dispensable for the functioning of Usa1 in ERAD. We identify two separate cytosolic domains critical for Usa1 activity in ERAD, one of which is involved in binding to the Ub-protein ligase Hrd1/Hrd3. Usa1 may have another novel role in substrate ubiquitylation that is separate from the Hrd1 association.

Conclusions/Significance

We conclude that Usa1 has two important roles in ERAD substrate ubiquitylation.     

海南原鸡繁殖期夜栖地的选择

原鸡Gallus gallus在繁殖期的日常活动趋向于以夜栖地为中心,因此夜栖地的研究对原鸡的繁殖和保育具有重要意义.2008年2～5月在海南大田自然保护区,采用野外观察和样方调查相结合的方法,对原鸡的夜栖地利用进行了研究,共记录到15个夜栖地.结果表明: 1) 原鸡在繁殖期多结成2～6只(3.3±1.5, n=13)的繁殖群,在同一棵树或邻近几棵树上集群夜栖; 2) 落叶季雨林和灌丛草地是原鸡繁殖期夜栖的主要植被类型; 3)原鸡多以小刺竹Bambusa bambos作为夜栖树,占53.3%,其次是厚皮树Lannea coromandelica,占20.0%; 4)原鸡倾向于选择灌木生长茂密、地面草本稀疏的生境作为夜栖地,并栖息在胸径均值为8.4 cm±3.5 cm的乔木或灌木的枝条上,栖枝均高为4.4 m±0.8 m; 5)主成分分析表明,影响原鸡夜栖地选择的主要因子依次为:栖树高、栖枝高度、栖树胸径、栖枝层盖度、草本层盖度、栖枝下方盖度和栖枝上方盖度.据此分析认为:繁殖期原鸡警惕性高,夜栖地多选择易于隐蔽和转移的生境.