The interplay between hMLH1 and hMRE11: role in MMR and the effect of hMLH1 mutations

Our previous studies indicate that hMRE11 plays a role in MMR, and this function of hMRE11 is most likely mediated by the hMLH1-hMRE11 interaction. Here, we explored the functional implications of the hMLH1-hMRE11 interaction in MMR and the effects of hMLH1 mutations on their interaction. Our in vitro MMR assay demonstrated that the dominant-negative hMRE11^452-634 mutant peptide (i.e., harboring only the hMLH1-interacting domain) imparted a significant reduction in both 3′ excision and 3′-directed MMR activities. Furthermore, the expression of hMRE11^452-634, and to a lesser extent hMRE11^1-634 (ATLD1), impaired G2/M checkpoint control in response to MNU and cisplatin treatments, rendering cells resistant to killings by these two anticancer drugs. Analysis of 38 hMLH1 missense mutations showed that the majority of mutations caused significant (>50%) reductions in their interaction with hMRE11, suggesting a potential link between aberrant protein interaction and the pathogenic effects of hMLH1 variants.     

胰岛细胞抗体分型与胰岛细胞凋亡的实验研究

研究通过大量临床糖尿病病人胰岛细胞抗体（Islet Cell Antibody,ICA)检测,发现ICA阳性反应有两种完全不同的形态学表现;弥漫型ICA和边缘型ICA,经免疫组织化学双标技术鉴别。弥漫型ICA可同时有着染α细胞和β细胞,边缘型ICA则仅着染α细胞。这种只着染α细胞的ICA国内外尚未见有报道,为探讨其在糖尿病发病中所起的作用。选择1型糖尿病（1-DM）的弥漫型ICA和边缘型ICA各3例。另选正常3例作对照,用患血清分别以2、4、8小时三个时相与分离并贴壁生长的正常人胰岛细胞孵育后,进行原位细胞凋亡检测。结果发现,弥漫型ICA,边缘型ICA均可导致胰岛细胞产生凋亡,其中弥漫型ICA使β细胞及α细胞出现凋亡;边缘型ICA使α细胞产生凋亡,这一结果提示;糖尿病发病机制除与分泌胰岛素的β细胞有密切关系的经典途径之外,可能还与分泌胰高血糖素的α细胞存在某种关系。     

Function of phenolic substances in the degradation system of indole-3-acetic acid in strawberries

The homogenate of different strawberry organs inhibits the degradation of IAA in the presence of horse radish peroxidase, while intact strawberry tissues are able to degrade IAA. The chemical nature of peroxidase inhibitors present, in strawberry tissues was in vestigated. Using paper chromatography the following polyphenolic substances inhibiting peroxidase activity were identified: chlorogenic, caffeic, ellagic, gentisic, gallic, and vanillic acids, quercetin and pelarginidin. Monophenolic compounds, also present in strawberry, such as p-hydroxy-phenyloacetic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid, are strong stimulators of IAA oxidase. Abscisic acid in very high concentration (1×10^?4M) enhances degradation of IAA by peroxidase. When both poly-and monophenolic compounds at equimolar concentrations are present in the system, only the inhibition of IAA degradation occurs. Tissue explants from the strawberry leaves and petiole degrade less IAA if they are previously forced to synthetize more polyphenols under illumination. Although the difference in IAA-decarboxylation activity between the illumination and dark treated explants was relatively small, nevertheless it was consistent and appears to be very important from a physiological point of view suggesting that there exists a regulatory relationin vivo between IAA degradation and the presence of phenolsin plant tissue. Electron microscope data revealed that phenolic substances are specially isolated from cytoplasm of the receptacle cells.     

Pollination biology and breeding system in five nocturnal species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oenothera</Emphasis> (Onagraceae): reproductive assurance and opportunities for outcrossing

The capacity to produce seed, both by selfing and outcrossing, or mixed mating strategies, is considered a mechanism for overcoming unpredictable pollinator availability. In the present study, we investigate breeding system, insect visitations and the role of insect visitors in the pollination of five species of Oenothera subsect. Oenothera. Field experiments showed that autonomous selfing occurs at bud stage, prior to the opening of the flower. Control flowers showed similar seed set to hand-pollinated flowers, whereas emasculated flowers and those subject to open pollination set fewer seed. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the investigated Oenothera exhibit a great capacity for autonomous selfing and that selfing is selected in order to provide reproductive assurance. Although flowers were visited mostly by nocturnal lepidopterans, these insects did not precipitate pollination and are thus considered nectar thieves. Conversely, analysis of pollen loads and behavior during foraging by diurnal insect visitors revealed that honeybees and bumblebees are the probable pollinators. We conclude that production of flowers capable of autonomous selfing at bud stage, followed by anthesis and opportunities for outcrossing, probably improves the invasive potential of these Oenothera in Europe, together with a rapid increase in their populations, even when pollinators are scarce.     

Different amyloid aggregation of smooth muscles titin in vitro

A comparative study of amyloid properties of the aggregates of smooth muscle titin (SMT) from chicken gizzard was carried out. These aggregates were formed in two solutions: 0.15 M glycine-KOH, pH 7.2–7.4 (SMT(Gly)) and 0.2 M KCl, 10 mM imidazole, pH 7.0 (SMT(KCl)). Electron microscopy data showed that SMT aggregates has an amorphous structure in both cases. The results of atomic-force microscopy demonstrated slight differences in morphology in two types of aggregates. The SMT(Gly) aggregates were represented as branching chains, composed of spherical aggregates approximately 300–500 nm in diameter and up to 35 nm in height. The SMT(KCl) aggregates formed sponge-like structures with strands of 8–10 nm in height. Structural analysis of SMT aggregates by X-ray diffraction revealed the presence of cross-β-sheet structure in the samples under study. In the presence of SMT(Gly) aggregates, thioflavine T fluorescence intensity was higher (~3-fold times) compared with that in the presence of SMT(KCl) aggregates. Congo red-stained SMT(Gly) aggregates had yellow to apple-green birefringence under polarized light, which was not observed for SMT(KCl) aggregates. Dynamic light scattering data showed the similar rate of aggregation for both types of aggregates, though SMT(KCl) aggregates were able to partially disaggregate under increased ionic strength of the solution. The ability of SMT to aggregation followed by disaggregation may be functionally significant in the cell.     

Localizing triplet periodicity in DNA and cDNA sequences

Background  

The protein-coding regions (coding exons) of a DNA sequence exhibit a triplet periodicity (TP) due to fact that coding exons contain a series of three nucleotide codons that encode specific amino acid residues. Such periodicity is usually not observed in introns and intergenic regions. If a DNA sequence is divided into small segments and a Fourier Transform is applied on each segment, a strong peak at frequency 1/3 is typically observed in the Fourier spectrum of coding segments, but not in non-coding regions. This property has been used in identifying the locations of protein-coding genes in unannotated sequence. The method is fast and requires no training. However, the need to compute the Fourier Transform across a segment (window) of arbitrary size affects the accuracy with which one can localize TP boundaries. Here, we report a technique that provides higher-resolution identification of these boundaries, and use the technique to explore the biological correlates of TP regions in the genome of the model organism C. elegans.     

Distribution of Putative Virulence Genes and Antimicrobial Drug Resistance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio harveyi</Emphasis>

The marine-estuarine bacterium Vibrio harveyi is an important pathogen of invertebrates, most significantly, the larvae of commercially important shrimp Penaeus monodon. In this study, we analyzed V. harveyi isolated from shrimp hatchery environments for understanding the distribution of putative virulence genes and antimicrobial drug resistance. The putative genes targeted for PCR detection included four reversible toxin (Rtx)/hemolysin genes, a gene encoding homologue of Vibrio cholerae zonula occludens toxin (Zot) and a hemolysin-coregulated protein gene (hcp) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the four putative reversible toxin genes, vhh-1 was detected in 31% of the isolates, vhh-2 in 46%, vhh-3 in 23% and vhh-4 was detected in 27% of the isolates. A zot-like sequence of bacteriophage f237 was present in 15%, while hcp sequence was detected in 48% of the isolates. The antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed resistance to several groups of antibiotics including β-lactams, cephalosporins, macrolides, quinolones, nitrofurantoin and tetracycline.     

Endoscopically assisted latissimus dorsi flap harvesting and breast reconstruction in young female with Poland syndrome

We will describe a second phase of breast reconstruction on a young girl suffering from Poland syndrome. She has the breast, pectoralis major and minor muscle aplasia on the right side. She has no other deformities. The best result is achieved by combining latissimus dorsi flap and a silicone implant, and even better aesthetic result is accomplished with endoscopically assisted latissimus dorsi harvesting. Purpose of this operation is to correct the chest asymmetry and to accomplish good aesthetic result.