Genome-wide analysis of mammalian DNA segment fusion/fission

As a powerful tool for gene function prediction, gene fusion has been widely studied in prokaryotes and certain groups of eukaryotes, but it has been little applied in studies of mammalian genomes. With the first fully sequenced mammalian genomes (human, mouse, rat) now available, we defined and collected a set of fusion/fission event-linked segments (FFLS) based on structured organized genomic alignment. The statistics of the sequence features highlighted the FFLSs against their random context. We found that there are three groups of FFLSs with different component pairs (i.e. gene-gene, gene-noncoding and noncoding-noncoding) in all three mammalian genomes. The proteins encoded by the components of FFLSs in the first group shown a strong tendency to interact with each other. The segmental components in the last two groups which did not contain any protein-coding genes, were found not only to be transcribed to some level, but also more conserved than the random background. Thus, these segments are possibly carrying certain biologically functional elements. We propose that FFLS may be a potential tool for prediction and analysis of function and functional interaction of genetic elements, including both genes and noncoding elements, in mammalian genomes. The full list of the FFLSs in the genomes of the three mammals is available as supporting information at doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2005.09.016.     

Expression of apoptosis-related genes in the endometrium of polycystic ovary syndrome patients during the window of implantation

The present study investigated the expression of the apoptosis-related genes fas-associated via death domain (FADD) and Bcl-2 in the endometrium during the window of implantation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. The aim was to explore the role of cell apoptosis in endometrial receptivity during this period. The subjects were divided into experimental and control group. The experimental group comprised 12 infertile women with PCOS, and the control group comprised 12 women who were infertile because of tubal pathological factors but had normal menstrual cycles. Endometria were collected by biopsy 7d after ovulation. Six samples from each group were randomly selected and subjected to gene chip analyses. The expression of endometrial FADD and Bcl-2 was determined by immunohistochemistry, and cell apoptosis was detected by the TUNEL method. Compared with the control group, 194 differentially expressed genes were found in the PCOS group, 102 of which were upregulated and 92 were downregulated. The differentially expressed genes were divided into 15 types according to function. Among the nine genes related to cell apoptosis, five (including Bcl-2) were upregulated and four were downregulated (including FADD). Bcl-2 expression during the window of implantation in the PCOS group increased compared with the control group, showing a significant difference (P<0.05). FADD expression in the PCOS group notably decreased compared with that in the control group, which also showed a significant difference (P<0.05). Cell apoptosis analysis showed a significant difference between the average apoptotic indices in the PCOS and control groups (P<0.05). Significant differences were observed between the endometrial gene expression in the PCOS and control groups. The decrease in cell apoptosis during the window of implantation in PCOS patients may be one of the causes of the reduced endometrial receptivity.     

Functional analyses of a putative plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter gene isolated from salt tolerant Helianthus tuberosus

Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus L.) can tolerate relatively higher salinity, drought and heat stress. In this paper, we report the cloning of a Salt Overly Sensitive 1 (SOS1) gene encoding a plasma membrane Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter from a highly salt-tolerant genotype of H. tuberosus, NY1, named HtSOS1 and characterization of its function in yeast and rice. The amino acid sequence of HtSOS1 showed 83.4 % identity with the previously isolated SOS1 gene from the Chrysanthemum crassum. The mRNA level in the leaves of H. tuberosus was significantly up-regulated by presence of high concentrations of NaCl. Localization analysis using rice protoplast expression showed that the protein encoded by HtSOS1 was located in the plasma membrane. HtSOS1 partially suppressed the salt sensitive phenotypes of a salt sensitive yeast strain. In comparison with wild type (Oryza sativa L., ssp. Japonica. cv. Nipponbare), the transgenic rice expressed with HtSOS1 could exclude more Na⁺ and accumulate more K⁺. Expression of HtSOS1 decreased Na⁺ content much larger in the shoot than in the roots, resulting in more water content in the transgenic rice than WT. These data suggested that HtSOS1 may be useful in transgenic approaches to improving the salinity tolerance of glycophyte.     

AnnexinA7 promotes epithelial–mesenchymal transition by interacting with Sorcin and contributes to aggressiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and metastasis is the major cause of the high mortality of HCC. In this study, we identified that AnnexinA7 (ANXA7) and Sorcin (SRI) are overexpressed and interacting proteins in HCC tissues and cells. In vitro functional investigations revealed that the interaction between ANXA7 and SRI regulated epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and then affected migration, invasion, and proliferation in HCC cells. Furthermore overexpression/knockdown of ANXA7 was remarkably effective in promoting/inhibiting tumorigenicity and EMT in vivo. Altogether, our study unveiled a mechanism that ANXA7 promotes EMT by interacting with SRI and further contributes to the aggressiveness in HCC, which provides a novel potential therapeutic target for preventing recurrence and metastasis in HCC.Subject terms: Medical research, Genetics research     

Intranasal immunization with a peptide conjugated to Salmonella flagellin induces both systemic and mucosal peptide‐specific antibody responses in mice

In this study, the mucosal adjuvant activity of Salmonella flagellin as a carrier in a conjugate of EXP153–rFliC was investigated. EXP153–rFliC was made by conjugation of a synthetic B‐cell epitope peptide derived from Plasmodium falciparum exported protein‐1(EXP153) to recombinant phase 1 flagellin of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium expressed in Escherichia coli (rFliC), and used to immunize BALB/c mice via intranasal instillation. It was found that robust EXP153‐specific serum IgG antibodies were induced without additional adjuvant. EXP153‐specific sIgA antibodies were also induced, these being detected in bronchoalveolar, nasal, vaginal and intestinal washes. These observations demonstrate that Salmonella flagellin as a carrier is an effective mucosal adjuvant in that its conjugated peptide induces antibody responses.     

树叶凋落物在受酸性矿山废水污染溪流中的分解

为了解华南地区酸性矿山废水对溪流中树叶分解的影响,在广东省大宝山矿区附近的1条受酸性矿山废水污染（pH值为2．7—3．4且富含多种重金属元素）的3级溪流中,利用2种孔径（5ram的网袋和0．1ram的布袋）的分解网袋对2种树叶（人面子和蒲桃）进行了为期101d的树叶分解研究。结果表明,人面子树叶网袋和布袋中的树叶干重剩余率分别为39％和48％,而蒲桃树叶网袋和布袋中的干重剩余率仍保持较高的水平,分别为61％和70％。根据指数衰减模型计算出树叶分解的半衰期,人面子树叶在网袋和布袋中的分解半衰期分别为57d和69d,而蒲桃树叶则分别为14-4d和217d。蒲桃树叶的分解速率明显比人面子树叶慢。在网袋中定殖的底栖动物主要是集食者,其中优势类群为摇蚊幼虫,占底栖动物个体总数的99％。摇蚊种群在网袋中的数量波动对2种树叶分解速率的影响并不明显。结果表明,受酸性矿山废水的影响,底栖动物群落的多样性大为减少。同时由于各种金属氧化物在树叶表面的不断沉淀,使树叶处于缺氧状态,抑制了微生物的活动,导致树叶分解速率大为降低。     

银额果蝇的B染色体研究 2.昆明群体的生活力和B染色体的关系

本文分析了钮额果蝇的生活力和B染色体的关系。结果表明,银额果蝇的B染色体在其生长和发育过程中具双重性调节作用。一方面,B染色体以单一的形式存在于单雌系核型中,即1B或2Bs,可刺激生长、发育,增强生活力。另一方面,在单雌系的细胞中存在多条B染色体,并形成核型多态性,这似乎对生长和发育又有一定的抑制作用而减弱其生活力。     

Isolation and culture of daylily mesophyll protoplasts

Mesophyll protoplasts were isolated from leaf tissues of a diploid daylily (HemerocallisxRed Magic) by enzymatic digestion with a solution containing 0.5% Pectolyase Y-23, 0.1% Cellulase R-10, 0.1% Driselase, 0.6 M sorbitol and half-strength MS inorganic salts. When cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l NAA and 0.5 mg/l BA, the protoplasts underwent sustained division to produce multicellular colonies. The optimal plating density for cell division was 0.5 × 10⁵ protoplasts/ml. The highest plating efficiency was obtained in cultures grown in media solidified with 0.2% Gelrite. Under these conditions, formation of colonies occurred from 14% of cultured protoplasts. Calli were recovered from 9 colonies only after the cultures were treated with a conditioned medium. Intact plants were regenerated from protoplast-derived calli through organogenesis.Abbreviations BA 6-benzylaminopurine - FDA fluorescein diacetate - GA₃ gibberellic acid - MS medium Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid     

Cleavage of territrems by alkaline hydrogen peroxide: Isolation and characterization of the aromatic moiety of territrems

The chemical reaction of cleavaging territrem B to give 3,4,5-trimethoxy benzoic acid by alkaline hydrogen peroxide was investigated. The method was applied for confirmation of the chemical structure of the aromatic moiety of territrem A, A’, B, and B’. The physicochemical properties of the aromatic cleavage product of territrem Aindicated the structure as 3,4-methylendioxy, 5-methoxy benzoic acid (or 4-methoxy, 6-carboxy, 1, 3-benzodioxole). The experiment also gave the evidences that territrem A and A’, on the other hand territrem B and B’ have the identical aromatic moieties on their structures.     

紫背金盘(Ajuga nipponensis)次生物质对桔全爪螨(Panonychus citri)的驱避作用

研究了紫背金盘Ajuga nipponensis Makino各溶剂提取物和部分化合物对桔全爪螨Panonychus citri McGregor雌成螨及其产卵的驱避作用.结果表明,石油醚萃取物、乙酸乙酯萃取物具有较强的生物活性.在0.1 g · L-1时, 石油醚和乙酸乙酯萃取物对该螨处理1d后的产卵忌避率分别为:84.86%、69.88%;2d后为89.49%、82.19%;对雌成螨驱避率分别为:85.08%、68.66%;2d后为50.96%、69.84%.乙酸乙酯萃取物经分离得到四类化合物,结果表明:馏分Ⅰ为长链脂肪酸混合物,具有较强生物活性,2000μg/ml和1000μg/ml处理1d后,产卵忌避率分别为:80.77%、74.77%;2d后为73.81%、72.59%.2000μg/ml处理1d后对雌成螨的驱避率为:69.88%;2d后为74.24%.刺槐素Ⅱ、新克罗烷化合物Ⅲ和β-蜕皮甾酮Ⅳ在2000μg/ml均不表现活性.对馏分Ⅰ中的4个主要化合物单体进行活性测定,结果表明:十六烷酸、十六烷酸甲酯、十六烷酸乙酯和十八烷酸甲酯在2000μg/ml处理时,1d后,产卵驱避率分别为:75.18%、61.76%、59.18%和66.49%;2d后产卵驱避率为:66.67%、31.15%、46.75%和44.84%;雌成螨驱避率分别为:1d后,67.53%、63.79%、59.26%和68.00;2d后,67.23%、43.96%、48.23%和64.19%.在1000μg/ml处理时,1d 后,产卵驱避率分别为:59.21%、59.16%、57.02%和61.40%;1d后,雌成螨驱避率分别为:69.64%、61.43%、55.76%和64.00%.