Tyrosinase Inhibitory Effects and Antioxidative Activities of Saponins from Xanthoceras Sorbifolia Nutshell

Certain saponins are bioactive compounds with anticancer, antivirus and antioxidant activities. This paper discussed inhibitory effects of saponins from Xanthoceras Sorbifolia on tyrosinase, through the research of the rate of tyrosinase catalyzed L-DOPA oxidation. The inhibition rate of tyrosinase activity presented non-linear changes with the saponins concentration. The rate reached 52.0% when the saponins concentration was 0.96 mg/ml. Antioxidant activities of saponins from Xanthoceras Sorbifolia were evaluated by using hydroxyl and superoxide radical scavenging assays. The hydroxyl radical scavenging effects of the saponins were 15.5–68.7%, respectively at the concentration of 0.18–2.52 mg/ml. The superoxide radical scavenging activity reduced from 96.6% to 7.05% with the time increasing at the concentration of 1.44 mg/ml. All the above antioxidant evaluation indicated that saponins from Xanthoceras Sorbifolia exhibited good antioxidant activity in a concentration- dependent manner.     

Design,preparation and application of nucleic acid delivery carriers

Gene delivery vectors must deliver their cargoes into the cytosol or the nucleus, where DNA or siRNA functions in vivo. Therefore it is crucial for the rational design of the nucleic acid delivery carriers. Compared with viral vectors, non-viral vectors have overcome some fatal defections in gene therapy. Whereas the most important issue for the non-viral vectors is the low transfection efficiency, which hinders the progress of non-viral carriers. Sparked by the structures of the virus and understanding of the process of virus infection, various biomimic structures of non-viral carriers were designed and prepared to improve the transfection issues in vitro and in vivo. However, less impressive results are achieved. In this review, we will investigate the evolution of the virus-mimicking carriers of nucleic acids for gene therapy, especially in cancer therapy; explore and discuss the relationship between the structures, materials and functions of the carriers, to provide guidance for establishing safe and highly efficient non-viral carriers for gene therapy.     

Uterine Rbpj is required for embryonic-uterine orientation and decidual remodeling via Notch pathway-independent and -dependent mechanisms

Coordinated uterine-embryonic axis formation and decidual remodeling are hallmarks of mammalian post-implantation embryo development. Embryonic-uterine orientation is determined at initial implantation and synchronized with decidual development. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling these events remain elusive despite its discovery a long time ago. In the present study, we found that uterine-specific deletion of Rbpj, the nuclear transducer of Notch signaling, resulted in abnormal embryonic-uterine orientation and decidual patterning at post-implantation stages, leading to substantial embryo loss. We further revealed that prior to embryo attachment, Rbpj confers on-time uterine lumen shape transformation via physically interacting with uterine estrogen receptor (ERα) in a Notch pathway-independent manner, which is essential for the initial establishment of embryo orientation in alignment with uterine axis. While at post-implantation stages, Rbpj directly regulates the expression of uterine matrix metalloproteinase in a Notch pathway-dependent manner, which is required for normal post-implantation decidual remodeling. These results demonstrate that uterine Rbpj is essential for normal embryo development via instructing the initial embryonic-uterine orientation and ensuring normal decidual patterning in a stage-specific manner. Our data also substantiate the concept that normal mammalian embryonic-uterine orientation requires proper guidance from developmentally controlled uterine signaling.     

肺炎链球菌cps操纵子的启动子序列点突变可导致细菌荚膜缺失

摘要:【目的】明确肺炎链球菌荚膜多糖合成操纵子的启动子序列出现的点突变313713 T→C是否可导致细菌荚膜缺失。【方法】Western blot检测肺炎链球菌突变株SPY1 (NC_008533.1 313713 T→C)荚膜多糖含量;实时定量荧光PCR分析荚膜多糖合成基因cps2A、cps2B、cps2C以及cps2D的表达量;构建重组质粒pEVP3-cps promoterD39和pEVP3-cps promoterSPY1,分别转化D39和SPY1菌株,通过β-半乳糖苷酶活性检测来验证转入的启动子序列对细菌荚膜合成的影响,并通过电镜观察荚膜结构和荚膜肿胀试验进一步验证。【结果】肺炎链球菌SPY1 的荚膜多糖含量较野生型显著下降,其相关基因cps2A、cps2B、cps2C以及cps2D的表达量较野生型D39均显著降低;与D39-pEVP3-cps promoterD39对比,D39-pEVP3-cps promoterSPY1的β-半乳糖苷酶活性下降了76%,与SPY1-pEVP3-cps promoterD39相比,SPY1-pEVP3-cps promoterSPY1的β-半乳糖苷酶活性下降了约79%;电镜结果显示,重组SPY1-pEVP3-cps promoterD39荚膜可恢复至野生型水平,并且重组D39-pEVP3-cps promoterSPY1 (NC_008533.1 313713 T→C)荚膜肿胀试验呈阴性。【结论】荚膜多糖合成操纵子的启动子序列点突变313713 T→C可导致荚膜多糖合成基因表达显著下调,从而引起菌株SPY1的荚膜显著减少甚至缺失。     

用罗丹明B实现微波辐照下细胞水平温度的实时测量

为了探讨用温度敏感性荧光探针罗丹明B(rhodamine B,Rho-B)测量微波辐照下细胞水平温度的方法,利用激光共聚焦显微镜和光纤测温仪测得的数据拟合出罗丹明B荧光探针荧光强度与温度的关系式,并利用该荧光探针对微波辐照过程中细胞水平的温度进行实时测量。结果显示,温度与荧光探针的荧光强度呈现较好的线性关系。利用拟合的温度-相对荧光强度关系式可得到升温过程(25~40℃)中细胞水平的准确温度,这为生物电磁实验中细胞水平的实时温度监测提供了一种较为便捷可行的方法。     

“胚胎工程的应用及前景”的教学设计

“胚胎工程的应用及前景”一课的教学中,主要采用了概念图与问题串相结合的方式,采取教师讲述,学生阅读、讨论、小组合作等多种方法指导教学,取得了较好的教学效果。