Genome-wide comparative analysis of DNAJ genes and their co-expression patterns with HSP70s in aestivation of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

Functional & Integrative Genomics - DNAJ proteins function as co-chaperones of HSP70 and play key roles in cell physiology to promote protein folding and degradation, especially under...     

Molecular anatomy of the DNA damage and replication checkpoints

Cell cycle checkpoints are signal transduction pathways that enforce the orderly execution of the cell division cycle and arrest the cell cycle upon the occurrence of undesirable events, such as DNA damage, replication stress, and spindle disruption. The primary function of the cell cycle checkpoint is to ensure that the integrity of chromosomal DNA is maintained. DNA lesions and disrupted replication forks are thought to be recognized by the DNA damage checkpoint and replication checkpoint, respectively. Both checkpoints initiate protein kinase-based signal transduction cascade to activate downstream effectors that elicit cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, or apoptosis that is often dependent on dose and cell type. These actions prevent the conversion of aberrant DNA structures into inheritable mutations and minimize the survival of cells with unrepairable damage. Genetic components of the damage and replication checkpoints have been identified in yeast and humans, and a working model is beginning to emerge. We summarize recent advances in the DNA damage and replication checkpoints and discuss the essential functions of the proteins involved in the checkpoint responses.     

长时程增强诱导和维持过程中海马CA1区神经细胞粘附分子蛋白水平与mRNA表达的变化

既往研究发现,神经细胞粘附分子(neural cell adhesion molecules,NCAM)对海马CA1区突触传递长时程增强(longterm potentiation,LTP)的诱导和维持极为关键。本文采用原位杂交法和Western blot法,观察了大鼠海马腑片LTP诱导和维持过程中NCAM mRNA和蛋白水平的动态变化过程。结果显示,强直刺激诱发fEPSP斜率升高10 min时,海马CA1区NCAM mRNA染色阳性神经元数量显著增加(76.6±11.5个),NCAM蛋白水平亦明显升高(7.190±0.64任意单位/50μg蛋白)。强直刺激诱发fEPSP斜率升高1 h时,NCAM mRNA染色阳性神经元数量为73.3±14.0个,NCAM蛋白量为9.031±0.71任意单位/50 μg蛋白;与强直刺激后10 min比较,NCAM mRNA表达无显著变化,而NCAM蛋白水平变化明显。NMDA受体特异阻断剂AP-5在损害LTP的同时,显著抑制NCAM mRNA和蛋白的增加。实验结果表明,在大鼠海马LTP诱导和维持过程中,NCAM mRNA增强的表达相对稳定,而NCAM蛋白水平呈现先低后高的变化。     

入侵杂草化感作用的细胞自动机模拟研究

细胞自动机模型(Cellular Automata Model,简称CA模型)是一种能够表现系统复杂行为的模拟方法,适于研究植物群落时空动态过程.本文利用CA模型,模拟具有化感作用的外来种入侵原有物种所构成植被的过程.模型由产生化感物质的外来种和两个对化感物质敏感性不同的本地种组合成不同类型的群落,利用化感物质作用下受体物种生物活性响应模型及种子扩散负指数分布模型,模拟外来杂草和本地种分布格局的时空动态变化.结果表明,外来种可成功地完全入侵由两个对化感物质敏感的本地种构成的群落空间,但对于由对化感物质敏感的一个本地种及对化感物质具有抗性的另一个本地种构成的群落,外来种只能够与本地种共存.     

Evaluation of aroma active compounds in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuber</Emphasis> fruiting bodies by gas chromatography–olfactometry in combination with aroma reconstitution and omission test

The aroma active compounds of three Tuber fruiting bodies (i.e., Tuber himalayense, Tuber indicum, and Tuber sinense) were firstly systematically evaluated by instrumental gas chromatography–olfactometry combining with quantitative analysis, aroma reconstitution, and omission tests. Twelve aroma active compounds were characterized by aroma extract dilution analysis, and 3-(methylthio) propanal, 3-methylbutanal, and 1-octen-3-ol with the highest flavor dilution (FD) factor (i.e., 1,024–2,048) were suggested as key contributors to the aroma. Odor activity value (OAV) was employed to determine the relative contribution of each compound to the aroma, and the compound with the highest FD factor also had the highest OAV (i.e., 10,234–242,951). Then, the synthetic blends of odorants (aroma reconstitution) were prepared with OAV larger than 15, and their aromas were very similar to the originals. Omission tests were carried out to verify the significance of 3-(methylthio) propanal, 1-octen-3-ol, and 3-methylbutanal as key compounds in the aroma of tested Tuber fruiting bodies.     

Purification and characterization of a phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase from bovine uteri

Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase has been purified 10,148-fold to a specific activity of 2.7 mumol/mg/min from bovine uteri. This purification was accomplished by detergent extraction of an acetone powder, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and chromatography on MonoQ, S-Sepharose, MonoP, and hydroxylapatite columns. The purified enzyme has a molecular mass of 55 kDa and appears to be monomeric. Kinetic analyses of the enzymatic activity demonstrated apparent Km values of 18 microM and 22 micrograms/ml (approximately 26 microM) for ATP and phosphatidylinositol, respectively, optimal activity in the pH range of 6.0-7.0, and a sigmoidal dependence of enzymatic activity on [Mg2+]. Ca2+ inhibited the enzyme at nonphysiological concentrations with 50% inhibition observed at a free [Ca2+] of approximately 300 microM. The purified enzyme efficiently utilized both ATP and 2'-deoxy-ATP as phosphoryl donors and specifically phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol on the fourth position. No phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase activity was observed in the purified enzyme preparations. To our knowledge, this is the first reported purification of a phosphatidylinositol-specific phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase.     

Preliminary results on nematicidal activity from culture filtrates of Basidiomycetes against the pine wood nematode,Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Aphelenchoididae)

One hundred and eighty one fungal species that were isolated from the fresh fruiting bodies collected in the Mountains of Pu Er County of Yunnan Province, China were tested on the pine wood nematode,Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in vitro. Each fungal species was grown in Czapek broth and potato dextrose broth (PDB). Fifteen filtrates fromAmauroderma austrosinense, Amauroderma macer, Filoboletus sp.,Laccaria tortilis, Lactarius gerardii, Lentinula edodes, Oudemansiella longipes, Oudemansiella mucida, Peziza sp.,Pleurotus sp.,Sinotermitomyces carnosus (two strains),Strobilomyces floccopus, Termitomyces albuminosus, Tylopilus striatulus grown on PDB were found to be pathogenic to the tested nematodes. Eleven filtrates fromAmanita junguillea, Amanita sp.,Daedalea sepiaria, Fistulina hepatica, Omphalotus olearius, Oudemansiella mucida, Peziza sp.,Pleurotus pulmatus, Ramaria sp.,Tricholoma conglobatum, Tylopilus striatulus grown on Czapek broth were also pathogenic to the nematodes. When screening for nematicidal potential of fungi, it is important to study the growth medium conditions necessary to obtain the optimal nematicidal effect as fungal filtrates growing on different liquid media showed a very inconsistent toxicity towards nematodes.     

Comparative Effects of Hispidulin,Genistein, and Icariin with Estrogen on Bone Tissue in Ovariectomized Rats

Icariin, Genistein, and Hispidulin have been proven to have estrogen-like and antiosteoporotic activity and can be potentially used for the treatment of osteoporosis. The present study found that Icariin, Genistein, and Hispidulin treatments, emulating estrogen, significantly contributed to bone density. Comparative effects of Icariin, Genistein, and Hispidulin with estrogen on in ovariectomized rats were investigated. Our results showed that genistein was found to have superior bone protective effects against osteoporosis among genistein, Icariin, and Hispidulin.