Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) interacts with Bim and inhibits Bim-mediated apoptosis

The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bim acts as a sensor for apoptotic stimuli and initiates apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. To identify novel regulators of Bim, we employed the yeast two-hybrid system and isolated the human gene encoding macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a ubiquitously expressed proinflammatory mediator that has also been implicated in cell proliferation, the cell cycle and carcinogenesis. The interaction between MIF and Bim was confirmed by both in vitro and in vivo protein interaction assays. Intriguingly, protein complexes between MIF and the three major Bim isoforms (BimEL/BimL/BimS) could be detected in HEK293 and K562 cells, especially in cells undergoing apoptosis. Moreover, exogenous expression of MIF partially inhibited Bim-induced apoptosis in HEK293 cells. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of MIF increased apoptosis in K562 cells exposed to the chemical oxidant diamide. Endogenous MIF may regulate the pro-apoptotic activity of Bim and inhibit the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria.     

Environmental Drivers and Spatial Prediction of the Critically Endangered Species <i>Thuja sutchuenensis</i> in Sichuan-Chongqing,China

Identifying the ecological environment suitable for the growth of Thuja sutchuenensis and predicting other potential distribution areas are essential to protect this endangered species. After selecting 24 environmental factors that could affect the distribution of T. sutchuenensis, including climate, topography, soil and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), we adopted the Random Forest-MaxEnt integrated model to analyze our data. Based on the Random Forest study, the contribution of the mean temperature of the warmest quarter, mean temperature of the coldest quarter, annual mean temperature and mean temperature of the driest quarter was large. Based on MaxEnt model prediction outputs, the potential distribution map not only identified areas that originally recorded T. sutchuenensis, such as Xuanhan County, Kai County and Chengkou County, but also identified highly suitable distribution areas where T. sutchuenensis may exist, including Wanyuan County, Sichuan Province, and the junction of Chongqing and Hubei Province. This provides a more explicit geographic range for ex situ conservation and reintroduction of T. sutchuenensis. Our results also indicate that, in addition to climate factors, topography and soil factors are also important environmental factors that affect distribution. This provides a theoretical basis for subsequent laboratory construction to simulate the indoor growth of T. sutchuenensis.     

FRIL蛋白体外维持脐血造血干/祖细胞的作用及细胞周期调控基因的表达

为探讨新的豆类凝集素(Flt3 receptor-interacting lectin,FRIL)体外维持脐血CD34^ 细胞的作用以及维持过程中细胞周期调控基因HTm4及HTm4S mRNA的表达及意义,我们利用FRIL维持培养脐血CD34^ 细胞,对其增殖曲线、细胞周期及集落形成能力进行常规分析,并用半定量RT—PCR法分别测定FRIL体外维持不同时间后脐血CD34^ 细胞中周期调控基因HTm4及HTm4S mRNA的表达变化。结果显示,FRIL培养的CD34^ 造血干／祖细胞的增殖趋势平缓,整个培养期间细胞增殖倍数不超过起始的3倍：14d之前,FRIL培养细胞的高增殖潜能集落形成细胞(HPP—CFC)形成集落数与FL组无差别,其后则维持高于FL的情况。细胞周期分析则显示,在28d的培养过程内,利用FRIL培养的细胞始终有80％以上维持在G0期;而周期调控基因HTm4及HTm4S在刚分离的脐血CD34^ 细胞中的表达水平较高;但培养1d后,几乎检测不到HTm4基因的表达;培养3～14d,该基因的表达回升并持续维持在高水平。而HTm4S基因的表达在第7d达最高水平,其余时间基本呈稳定表达。转染HTm4和HTm4S,亚细胞定位结果显示HTm4主要定位于核周围,而HTm4S则定位于整个胞浆,由此可能导致它们功能的区别。以上结果提示,长期培养体现出FRIL在维持造血干／祖细胞多能性上的优势;细胞周期调控基因HTm4及其新剪接子参与了FRIL体外长期维持脐血造血干／祖细胞处于静息状态的过程。     

A novel ferritin subunit involved in shell formation from the pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata)

Iron is one of the most important minor elements in the shell of bivalves. This study was designed to investigate the involvement of ferritin, the principal protein for iron storage, in shell formation. A novel ferritin cDNA from the pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata) was isolated and characterized. The ferritin cDNA encodes a 206 amino acid polypeptide, which shares high similarity with snail soma ferritin and the H-chains of mammalian ferritins. Oyster ferritin mRNA shows the highest level of expression in the mantle, the organ for shell formation. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that oyster ferritin mRNA is expressed at the highest level at the mantle fold, a region essential for metal accumulation and contributes to metal incorporation into the shell. Taken together, these results suggest that ferritin is involved in shell formation by iron storage. The identification and characterization of oyster ferritin also helps to further understand the structural and functional properties of molluscan ferritins.     

Inhibition of selectin-mediated cell adhesion and prevention of acute inflammation by nonanticoagulant sulfated saccharides. Studies with carboxyl-reduced and sulfated heparin and with trestatin a sulfate

Selectins play a major role in the inflammatory reaction by initiating neutrophil attachment to activated vascular endothelium. Some heparin preparations can interact with L- and P-selectin; however, the determinants required for inhibiting selectin-mediated cell adhesion have not yet been characterized. We now report that carboxyl-reduced and sulfated heparin (prepared by chemical modifications of porcine intestinal mucosal heparin leading to the replacement of carboxylates by O-sulfate groups) and trestatin A sulfate (obtained by sulfation of trestatin A, a non-uronic pseudo-nonasaccharide extracted from Streptomyces dimorphogenes) exhibit strong anti-P-selectin and anti-L-selectin activity while lacking antithrombin-mediated anticoagulant activity. In vitro experiments revealed that both compounds inhibited P-selectin- and L-selectin-mediated cell adhesion under laminar flow conditions. Moreover, carboxyl-reduced and sulfated heparin and trestatin A sulfate were also active in vivo, as assessed by experiments showing 1) that microinfusion of trestatin A sulfate reduced by 96% leukocyte rolling along rat mesenteric postcapillary venules and 2) that both compounds inhibited (by 58-81%) neutrophil migration into thioglycollate-inflamed peritoneum of BALB/c mice. These results indicate that nonanticoagulant sulfated saccharides targeted at P-selectin and L-selectin may have therapeutic potential in inflammatory disorders.     

Ultrasensitive nucleic acid biosensors for early cancer diagnostics

We have developed ultrasensitive nucleic acid detection systems involving an amplification step where the analytical signal correlates directly to the amount of nucleic acid in the solution So far, we have performed nucleic acid quantification on several breast cancer susceptibility genes and were able to detect nucleic acid amounts that ranged from 0.1–1.0 fg of nucleic acid, which is at least 1000 times more sensitive than conventional fluorescent detection methods. The biosensors are so sensitive that they can be used for direct detection of breast cancer susceptibility genes in mRNA without involving a PCR step.     

Spindlin1, a novel nuclear protein with a role in the transformation of NIH3T3 cells

spindlin1, a novel human gene recently isolated by our laboratory, is highly homologous to mouse spindlin gene. In this study, we cloned cDNA full-length of this novel gene and send it to GenBank database as spindlin1 (Homo sapiens spindlin1) with Accession No. AF317228. In order to investigate the function of spindlin1, we studied further the subcellular localization of Spindlin1 protein and the effects of spindlin1 overexpression in NIH3T3 cells. The results showed that the fusion protein pEGFP-N1-spindlin1 was located in the nucleus and the C-terminal is correlated with nuclear localization of Spindlin1 protein. NIH3T3 cells which could stably express spindlin1 as a result of RT-PCR analysis compared with the control cells displayed a complete morphological change; made cell growth faster; and increased the percentage of cells in G2/M and S phase. Furthermore, overexpressed spindlin1 cells formed colonies in soft agar in vitro and formed tumors in nude mice. Our findings provide direct evidence that spindlin1 gene may contribute to tumorigenesis.