Low molecular weight polyethylenimines linked by beta-cyclodextrin for gene transfer into the nervous system

BACKGROUND: Polyethylenimines (PEIs) with high molecular weights are effective nonviral gene delivery vectors. However, the in vivo use of these PEIs can be hampered by their cellular toxicity. In the present study we developed and tested a new PEI polymer synthesized by linking less toxic, low molecular weight (MW) PEIs with a commonly used, biocompatible drug carrier, beta-cyclodextrin (CyD). METHODS AND RESULTS: The terminal CyD hydroxyl groups were activated by 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole. Each activated CyD then linked two branched PEI molecules with MW of 600 Da to form a CyD-containing polymer with MW of 61 kDa, in which CyD served as a part of the backbone. The PEI-CyD polymer developed was soluble in water and biodegradable. In cell viability assays with sensitive neurons, the polymer performed similarly to low-MW PEIs and displayed much lower cellular cytotoxicity compared to PEI 25 kDa. The gene delivery efficiency of the polymer was comparable to, and at higher polymer/DNA ratios even higher than, that offered by PEI 25 kDa in neural cells. Attractively, intrathecal injection of plasmid DNA complexed by the polymer into the rat spinal cord provided levels of gene expression close to that offered by PEI 25 kDa. CONCLUSIONS: The polymer reported in the current study displayed improved biocompatibility over non-degradable PEI 25 kDa and mediated gene transfection in cultured neurons and in the central nervous system effectively. The new polymer would be worth exploring further as an in vivo delivery system of therapeutic genetic materials for gene therapy of neurological disorders.     

松口蘑菌丝体的分离和RAPD-PCR分析

针对松口蘑 [Tricholomamatsutake(S .ItoetImai)Sing .]菌丝体分离培养困难和各种相关分离物目前难以用出菇试验鉴定的现实 ,采用 8种培养基配方 ,对 9个不同来源的松口蘑子实体的不同部位及菌根、菌土进行组织分离 ,计接种试管 81 0多支 ,结果从菌褶部位获得 94支慢生型的菌丝体分离菌株 ,从菌柄部位仅获得 1支快生型的菌丝体分离菌株。以马铃薯葡萄糖土壤滤液培养基 (PDAS)、马铃薯葡萄糖麦麸滤液培养基 (PDAW )、BM培养基、马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂培养基 (PDA)对菌褶进行组织分离 ,获慢生型菌丝体的成功率依次为 74.4%、35.5%、156%和 8.9%。以各分离菌株的来源松口蘑子实体和中日两国松口蘑研究者提供的分离菌株作为DNA参照样品 ,对从供试子实体、菌根、菌土进行组织分离获得的各种相关纯培养物进行亲菌鉴定。采用筛选的 1 7个随机引物介导 2 5个供试松口蘑子实体及其分离菌体的RAPD(RandomAmplifiedPolymorphicDNA) PCR反应 ,全部获得了清晰而稳定的DNA指纹图谱 ,结果一致表明 :每个松口蘑子实体的菌盖 (含菌褶…     

盐度和温度对北美海蓬子在厦门海区引种以及生长特性的影响

研究了厦门海区盐度和温度对北美海蓬子（Salicornia bigelovii）种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果显示,海蓬子种子对温度变化反应非常敏感,在15°C时发芽率最高（94%）,但萌发指数最低,而在20°C时萌发指数最大;在盐度5g·L^-1时种子具有最高的发芽率和萌发指数,在盐度50g·L^-1时仍有13.3%的发芽率,并且各种盐度处理下逐日萌发指数均能在2天内达到最大。盐度10-20g·L^-1最适宜幼苗生长,高盐（〉30g·L^-1）具有一定的抑制作用,主要表现为生长缓慢,含水量和根系活力下降,并且根的盐敏感程度大于茎。在不同盐度处理下,北美海蓬子适应一种新的耐盐机制,在无盐（0g·L^-1）和高盐（40g·L^-1）胁迫下,过氧化氢酶（catalase,CAT）和过氧化物酶（peroxide,POD）这2种酶蛋白对盐离子效应敏感,起主要的抗氧化作用;相反,生长在适宜盐度范围（10-30g·L^-1）内,超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）维持较高活性。研究结果表明,北美海蓬子适宜在沿海滩涂环境条件下生长,有望作为一种抗盐耐海水蔬菜加以开发和利用,并进一步在污染海水净化修复中发挥可能的生态功能。     

Efficient mucosal vaccination mediated by the neonatal Fc receptor

Almost all infectious diseases are initiated at mucosal surfaces, yet intramuscular or subcutaneous vaccination usually provides only minimal protection at sites of infection owing to suboptimal activation of the mucosal immune system. The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) mediates the transport of IgG across polarized epithelial cells lining mucosal surfaces. We mimicked this process by fusing a model antigen, herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein gD, to an IgG Fc fragment. Intranasal immunization, together with the adjuvant CpG, completely protected wild-type, but not FcRn knockout, mice after intravaginal challenge with virulent HSV-2 186. This immunization strategy induced efficient mucosal and systemic antibody, B- and T-cell immune responses, with stable protection for at least 6 months after vaccination in most of the immunized animals. The FcRn-IgG transcellular transport pathway may provide a general delivery route for subunit vaccines against many mucosal pathogens.     

Soil respiration in Tibetan alpine grasslands: belowground biomass and soil moisture, but not soil temperature, best explain the large-scale patterns

The Tibetan Plateau is an essential area to study the potential feedback effects of soils to climate change due to the rapid rise in its air temperature in the past several decades and the large amounts of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, particularly in the permafrost. Yet it is one of the most under-investigated regions in soil respiration (Rs) studies. Here, Rs rates were measured at 42 sites in alpine grasslands (including alpine steppes and meadows) along a transect across the Tibetan Plateau during the peak growing season of 2006 and 2007 in order to test whether: (1) belowground biomass (BGB) is most closely related to spatial variation in Rs due to high root biomass density, and (2) soil temperature significantly influences spatial pattern of Rs owing to metabolic limitation from the low temperature in cold, high-altitude ecosystems. The average daily mean Rs of the alpine grasslands at peak growing season was 3.92 μmol CO(2) m(-2) s(-1), ranging from 0.39 to 12.88 μmol CO(2) m(-2) s(-1), with average daily mean Rs of 2.01 and 5.49 μmol CO(2) m(-2) s(-1) for steppes and meadows, respectively. By regression tree analysis, BGB, aboveground biomass (AGB), SOC, soil moisture (SM), and vegetation type were selected out of 15 variables examined, as the factors influencing large-scale variation in Rs. With a structural equation modelling approach, we found only BGB and SM had direct effects on Rs, while other factors indirectly affecting Rs through BGB or SM. Most (80%) of the variation in Rs could be attributed to the difference in BGB among sites. BGB and SM together accounted for the majority (82%) of spatial patterns of Rs. Our results only support the first hypothesis, suggesting that models incorporating BGB and SM can improve Rs estimation at regional scale.     

植物钙/钙调素介导的信号转导系统

钙离子(Ca²⁺)是一种重要的第二信使, 参与调节植物的生长发育和对环境的适应。钙调素(CaM)和类钙调蛋白(CML)是一类最主要的Ca²⁺感受器, 虽然其自身没有催化活性, 但可通过调节下游靶蛋白的活性, 进而调控细胞的各种生理活动。该文总结了植物体内CaM结合蛋白(CBP)的生理功能、鉴定方法和调控机理, 以及CaM介导的信号转导途径, 包括蛋白磷酸化与去磷酸化、基因转录、离子运输、活性氧代谢、激素和磷脂信号等, 并对今后的研究方向进行了展望。     

猪产仔数分子标记及其效应分析

初步确定了2个新的猪产仔数分子标记,雌激素受体基因ESR的第8外显子处的ESRB位点、催乳素受体基因的第7外显子的FSHRB位点。通过比较和分析多个产仔数的效应,初步确定了4个有利于产仔数提高的分子标记基因型,基因位点ESR、FSHRB的基因型BB的产仔数显著地高于AB、AA型;位点ESRB、PRLR的基因型AA的产仔数显著地高于AB、BB型;4个基因位点多态性与仔猪生长性能、母猪乳头数不存在显著的影响。     

低温下黄瓜幼苗子叶硫氢基（SH）含量变化与膜脂过氧化

随着温度的降低,黄瓜(Cucumis sativus)幼苗子叶中的 SH 基含量逐渐减少;子叶电解质泄漏逐渐提高;SH 基含量的减少与丙二醛(MDA)的增加呈负相关。在黄瓜幼苗子叶中由低温引起的 SH 含量降低和 MDA 增加可因苯甲酸钠和 Vit E 预处理而抑制,因甲基紫精(MV)预处理而加剧。随着对黄瓜幼苗预处理的 MDA 浓度的增大,幼苗子叶中 SH 基含量的降低和电解质泄漏的增加越来越剧,显示出 MDA 对 SH 基具有一定的破坏作用。     

用PO4细胞为靶细胞检测人血清中Epstein-Barr病毒IgA/MA抗体以诊断鼻咽癌

近年来,常用未经丙酮固定的、由丁酸和巴豆油激活的B95-8细胞或P3HR-1细胞为靶细胞,检测人血清中EB病毒IgA/MA抗体以早期诊断鼻咽癌,效果良好。但由于B95-8细胞含有多种EB病毒抗原,不能用丙酮固定,需多次离心沉淀,在浮悬状态下检测,技术比较复杂。