Characterization of Behavioral,Neuropathological, Brain Metabolic and Key Molecular Changes in zQ175 Knock-In Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by an expansion of the trinucleotide poly (CAG) tract located in exon 1 of the huntingtin (Htt) gene leading to progressive neurodegeneration in selected brain regions, and associated functional impairments in motor, cognitive, and psychiatric domains. Since the discovery of the gene mutation that causes the disease, mouse models have been developed by different strategies. Recently, a new model, the zQ175 knock-in (KI) line, was developed in an attempt to have the Htt gene in a context and causing a phenotype that more closely mimics HD in humans. The behavioral phenotype was characterized across the independent laboratories and important features reminiscent of human HD are observed in zQ175 mice. In the current study, we characterized the zQ175 model housed in an academic laboratory under reversed dark-light cycle, including motor function, in vivo longitudinal structural MRI imaging for brain volume, MRS for striatal metabolites, neuropathology, as well as a panel of key disease marker proteins in the striatum at different ages. Our results suggest that homozygous zQ175 mice exhibited significant brain atrophy before the motor deficits and brain metabolite changes. Altered striatal medium spiny neuronal marker, postsynaptic marker protein and complement component C1qC also characterized zQ175 mice. Our results confirmed that the zQ175 KI model is valuable in understanding of HD-like pathophysiology and evaluation of potential therapeutics. Our data also provide suggestions to select appropriate outcome measurements in preclinical studies using the zQ175 mice.     

Clinical Validation of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Imipenem in Spent Effluent in Critically Ill Patients Receiving Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: A Pilot Study

ObjectivesThe primary objective of this pilot study was to investigate whether the therapeutic drug monitoring of imipenem could be performed with spent effluent instead of blood sampling collected from critically ill patients under continuous renal replacement therapy.MethodsA prospective open-label study was conducted in a real clinical setting. Both blood and effluent samples were collected pairwise before imipenem administration and 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 h after imipenem administration. Plasma and effluent imipenem concentrations were determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of blood and effluent samples were calculated.ResultsEighty-three paired plasma and effluent samples were obtained from 10 patients. The Pearson correlation coefficient of the imipenem concentrations in plasma and effluent was 0.950 (P<0.0001). The average plasma-to-effluent imipenem concentration ratio was 1.044 (95% confidence interval, 0.975 to 1.114) with Bland-Altman analysis. No statistically significant difference was found in the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters tested in paired plasma and effluent samples with Wilcoxon test.ConclusionSpent effluent of continuous renal replacement therapy could be used for therapeutic drug monitoring of imipenem instead of blood sampling in critically ill patients.     

生防菌密旋链霉菌Act12中SPA7074缺失突变株的构建及其次级代谢产物鉴定

【目的】通过基因工程手段构建生防菌Act12转录调控因子SPA7074缺失突变株,并挖掘其中活性次级代谢产物资源和探讨其活性机理。【方法】利用同源重组方法敲除Act12基因组中可能的Tet R家族转录调控因子编码基因spa7074(accession number:KU955325),平板实验检测缺失突变株发酵液抑菌活性的变化,并通过HPLC比较代谢图谱,然后通过质谱及核磁共振对差异峰对应化合物进行结构鉴定。【结果】SPA7074缺失突变株对几种病原真菌的拮抗活性显著增强,比较代谢图谱表明出现数个差异峰,将最显著差异峰所对应化合物进行分离纯化鉴定,结果为寡霉素D。【结论】本研究通过基因工程手段敲除生防菌株Act12中的负转录调控转录因子,使得突变菌株抑菌活性显著增强,并获得了产量达野生型菌株7倍的寡霉素D高产菌株Δspa7074。     

Effect of exogenous abscisic acid on cold acclimation in two Magnolia species

In northern China, freezing injury is observed frequently in the rare species Magnolia wufengensis but not in the more common species Magnolia denudata. To investigate the role of the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) on frost tolerance in these two species, exogenous ABA was applied to the seedlings and then physiological and biochemical responses were measured during cold acclimation. Shoot growth cessation was stimulated by ABA in M. wufengensis but not in M. denudata. Abscisic acid inhibited shoot growth in M. wufengensis but not in M. denudata. Treatment with ABA stimulated leaf senescence in both species, and this effect was greater in M. denudata. For both species, ABA-treated plants exhibited bud dormancy sooner and had an increased tolerance to freezing, decreased water content and increased accumulation of proline, glucose, and fructose in shoots. These effects were generally greater for M. denudata. Freezing tolerance was significantly correlated with content of water, proline, glucose, and fructose for both species, but freezing tolerance was significantly correlated with raffinose content only in M. wufengensis. We conclude that exogenous ABA could increase cold acclimation and improve cold hardiness of both Magnolia species, although M. denudata was more responsive to ABA than M. wufengensis, which might result from a greater dehydration and accumulation of proline and certain soluble sugars.     

High-level expression and biochemical characterization of a novel cold-active lipase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizomucor endophyticus</Emphasis>

Objectives

To identify novel cold-active lipases from fungal sources and improve their production by heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris.

Results

A novel cold-active lipase gene (ReLipB) from Rhizomucor endophyticus was cloned. ReLipB was expressed at a high level in Pichia pastoris using high cell-density fermentation in a 5-l fermentor with the highest lipase activity of 1395 U/ml. The recombinant lipase (RelipB) was purified and biochemically characterized. ReLipB was most active at pH 7.5 and 25 °C. It was stable from pH 4.5–9.0. It exhibited broad substrate specificity towards p-nitrophenyl (pNP) esters (C₂–C₁₆) and triacylglycerols (C₂–C₁₂), showing the highest specific activities towards pNP laurate (231 U/mg) and tricaprylin (1840 U/mg), respectively. In addition, the enzyme displayed excellent stability with high concentrations of organic solvents including cyclohexane, n-hexane, n-heptane, isooctane and petroleum ester and surfactants.

Conclusions

A novel cold-active lipase from Rhizomucor endophyticus was identified, expressed at a high level and biochemically characterized. The high yield and unique enzymatic properties make this lipase of some potential for industrial applications.