Synthesis of four oligosaccharides derived from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paris polyphylla</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">yunnanensis</Emphasis> and their tobacco (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nicotiana tabacum</Emphasis> L.) growth-regulatory activity

Four oligosaccharides (penta-, hexa-, hepta- and octa-saccharide) derived from Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis have been synthesized efficiently using a convergent glycosylation strategy. The tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) growth bioactivities of the synthesized oligosaccharides were examined, using tissue-cultured seedlings grown on solid MS medium. After 2 or 3 weeks, all four oligosaccharides had stimulated tobacco seedling growth at 1.0 ppm and the pentasaccharide showed the most significant stimulus effects. Further experiments showed that the effects of pentasaccharide on tobacco growth had an obvious concentration-dependent relationship in the range of 0.1–1.0 ppm. This stimulus effect showed some decrease when the pentasaccharide concentration was higher than 1.0 ppm. At 1.0 ppm, pentasaccharide had the most significant effects, which caused a 520% fresh weight increase of tobacco. The bioactivity of these synthesized oligosaccharides suggested that they may be good prospects for the application in the control of plant growth and development.     

Inhibitors of HCV NS5B polymerase: synthesis and structure-activity relationships of unsymmetrical 1-hydroxy-4,4-dialkyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydronaphthalene benzothiadiazine derivatives

Substituted 1-hydroxy-4,4-dialkyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydronaphthalene benzothiadiazine derivatives were investigated as inhibitors of genotype 1 HCV polymerase. Structure-activity relationship patterns for this class of compounds are discussed. It was found that the saturated alkane dialkyl units provided the most active analogs.     

Endothelial cell and macrophage regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell calcification modulated by cholestane-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol

The cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate vascular calcification remain poorly understood. In our previous study, oxysterol cholestane-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol (Triol) was shown to promote vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) calcification. In this study, by using direct coculture, non-contact transwell coculture, and culture with conditioned media, we investigated the roles of endothelial cells (ECs) and macrophages in the regulation of VSMCs calcification in the absence or presence of Triol. In vitro calcification was induced by incubation of VSMCs with beta-glycerophosphate. The results showed that ECs inhibited VSMCs calcification, as manifested by the reduction of calcium deposition in extracellular matrix. This effect of ECs on calcification was via the secreted soluble factors. Furthermore, the stimulation of ECs by Triol had no influence on ECs inhibition of calcification. On the other hand, macrophages promoted VSMCs calcification via the secreted soluble factors such as reactive oxygen species, which was further enhanced by Triol. Our results supported the roles for ECs and macrophages in vascular calcification, modulated by oxysterols in atherosclerotic plaque.     

Expression and bioactivity of recombinant segments of human perforin.

The aim of the study was to prepare an active recombinant human perforin by comparing 5 candidate segments of human perforin. Full-length perforin, MAC1 (28-349 aa), MAC2 (166-369 aa), C-100, and N-60 of human perforin were selected as candidate active segments and designated, respectively, HP1, HP2, HP3, HP4, and HP5. The target genes were amplified by PCR and the products were individually subcloned into pGEM-T. The genes for HP1, HP2, HP3, and HP5 were subcloned into pET-DsbA, whereas pET-41a (+) was used as the expression vector of HP4. The fusion proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli BL21pLysS(DE3) and purified using nickel nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) agarose affinity chromatography. The hemolysis microassay was used as an activity assay of fusion protein. From this study, we obtained the recombinant plasmids pGEM-T-HP1, -HP2, -HP3, -HP4 and -HP5, consisting of 1600, 960, 600, 300bp, and 180, respectively. From these recombinant plasmids, expression plasmids were successfully constructed and expressed in E. coli BL21pLysS(DE3). The resultant fusion proteins, affinity purified using Ni-NTA, were approximately 80, 58, 45, 44, and 30 kDa, respectively. The recombinant proteins were assayed for activity on hemolysis. HP2 and HP5 were the only recombinant proteins that were active in hemolysis, and the hemolytic function was concentration dependent. These results demonstrate that active recombinant forms of perforin can be synthesized in a prokaryote model. The recombinant N-60 and MAC1 (28-349 aa) of human perforin have the function of forming pores. Our study provides the experimental basis for further investigation on the application of perforin.     

PeBL1, a Novel Protein Elicitor from Brevibacillus laterosporus Strain A60, Activates Defense Responses and Systemic Resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana

We report the identification, characterization, and gene cloning of a novel protein elicitor (PeBL1) secreted from Brevibacillus laterosporus strain A60. Through a purification process consisting of ion-exchange chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we isolated a protein that was identified by electrospray ionization quadrupole time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (ESI–Q-TOF–MS-MS). The 351-bp PeBL1 gene produces a 12,833-Da protein with 116 amino acids that contains a 30-residue signal peptide. The PeBL1 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein can induce a typical hypersensitive response (HR) and systemic resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana, like the endogenous protein. PeBL1-treated N. benthamiana exhibited strong resistance to the infection of tobacco mosaic virus-green fluorescent protein (TMV-GFP) and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci compared to control N. benthamiana. In addition, PeBL1 triggered a cascade of events that resulted in defense responses in plants, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, extracellular-medium alkalization, phenolic-compound deposition, and expression of several defense-related genes. Real-time quantitative-PCR analysis indicated that the known defense-related genes PR-1, PR-5, PDF1.2, NPR1, and PAL were upregulated to varying degrees by PeBL1. This research not only provides insights into the mechanism by which beneficial bacteria activate plant systemic resistance, but also sheds new light on a novel strategy for biocontrol using strain A60.     

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。     

肺炎链球菌糖代谢蛋白CcpA对荚膜多糖的调控作用

摘要:【目的】研究肺炎链球菌糖代谢蛋白CcpA对肺炎链球菌荚膜多糖(CPS)的调控作用。【方法】利用大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)BL21(DE3)工程菌原核表达CcpA蛋白,使用Ni2+亲和层析的方法纯化蛋白。利用纯化后的CcpA蛋白免疫昆明小鼠并制备多克隆抗体;采用ELISA法测定抗CcpA抗体效价。随后,利用Westertn blot方法分析CcpA蛋白在肺炎链球菌中的保守性。另外,利用EMSA方法分析CcpA与cps基因座启动子区域片段的结合。最后,构建ccpA基因缺失株和ccpA基因回复株;利用ELISA法测定野生D39菌 株、ccpA基因缺失株和ccpA基因回复株的荚膜多糖含量。【结果】Western blot结果显示CcpA蛋白在多种血清型的肺炎链球菌均有表达,CcpA蛋白可与cps基因座启动子区域结合,且呈剂量依赖性;ccpA基因缺失时,细菌CPS含量升高,回复表达CcpA蛋白后,CPS含量显著降低。【结论】CcpA是肺炎链球菌中一种保守表达的蛋白,可通过调节cps基因座启动子负性调控肺炎链球菌荚膜多糖的表达。