Effects of voltage-gated Na+ channel toxins from Tityus serrulatus venom on rat arterial blood pressure and plasma catecholamines

Scorpion toxins interact with ionic channels of excitable cells, leading to a massive release of neurotransmitters. Voltage-gated Na+ channel toxins are mainly responsible for the toxic effects of scorpion envenoming and can be classified into two classes: alpha- and beta-neurotoxins. TsTX-V and TsTX-I from Tityus serrulatus venom (TsV) are, respectively, examples of these toxins. In this work, we compared the effects of these toxins on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and catecholamines release in rats. Toxins were isolated by ion exchange chromatography (TsTX-I) followed by RP-HPLC (TsTX-V). All experiments were performed on conscious unrestrained rats previously catheterised. The toxins (15 and 30 microg/kg) and TsV (50 and 100 microg/kg) were injected intravenously. MAP was continuously monitored through femoral catheter. Epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) levels were determined by RP-HPLC with electrochemical detection, at 10 min before and 2.5, 30 and 90 min after treatments. Maximal pressor effects were observed at 2.5-3.5 min. TsV induced intense long lasting increase in MAP, as did TsTX-I. TsTX-V showed the lowest pressor effects. TsV showed the highest effects on catecholamines release, followed by TsTX-I and TsTX-V with maximal effect at 2.5 min, followed by a gradual reduction, however remaining higher than controls. Although both toxins act on Na+ channels, TsTX-I displayed significant and more intense effects on catecholamines release and blood pressure than TsTX-V. It seems that the toxicity of TsTX-V is not related only with its ability to release catecholamines, indicating that other neurotransmitters, may be involved in its toxicity.     

The high-affinity maltose/trehalose ABC transporter in the extremely thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB27 also recognizes sucrose and palatinose

We have studied the transport of trehalose and maltose in the thernophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB27, which grows optimally in the range of 70 to 75 degrees C. The K(m) values at 70 degrees C were 109 nM for trehalose and 114 nM for maltose; also, a high K(m) (424 nM) was found for the uptake of sucrose. Competition studies showed that a single transporter recognizes trehalose, maltose, and sucrose, while d-galactose, d-fucose, l-rhamnose, l-arabinose, and d-mannose were not competitive inhibitors. In the recently published genome of T. thermophilus HB27, two gene clusters designated malEFG1 (TTC1627 to -1629) and malEFG2 (TTC1288 to -1286) and two monocistronic genes designated malK1 (TTC0211) and malK2 (TTC0611) are annotated as trehalose/maltose and maltose/maltodextrin transport systems, respectively. To find out whether any of these systems is responsible for the transport of trehalose, the malE1 and malE2 genes, lacking the sequence encoding the signal peptides, were expressed in Escherichia coli. The binding activity of pure recombinant proteins was analyzed by equilibrium dialysis. MalE1 was able to bind maltose, trehalose, and sucrose but not glucose or maltotetraose (K(d) values of 103, 67, and 401 nM, respectively). Mutants with disruptions in either malF1 or malK1 were unable to grow on maltose, trehalose, sucrose, or palatinose, whereas mutants with disruption in malK2 or malF2 showed no growth defect on any of these sugars. Therefore, malEFG1 encodes the binding protein and the two transmembrane subunits of the trehalose/maltose/sucrose/palatinose ABC transporter, and malK1 encodes the ATP-binding subunit of this transporter. Despite the presence of an efficient transporter for trehalose, this compound was not used by HB27 for osmoprotection. MalE1 and MalE2 exhibited extremely high thermal stability: melting temperatures of 90 degrees C for MalE1 and 105 degrees C for MalE2 in the presence of 2.3 M guanidinium chloride. The latter protein did not bind any of the sugars examined and is not implicated in a maltose/maltodextrin transport system. This work demonstrates that malEFG1 and malK1 constitute the high-affinity ABC transport system of T. thermophilus HB27 for trehalose, maltose, sucrose, and palatinose.     

Cryptococcus festucosus sp. nov. a new hymenomycetous yeast in the Holtermannia clade

Five yeast strains belonging to the genus Cryptococcus Vuillemin were isolated from steppe plants and turf collected in the Prioksko-terrasny biosphere reserve (Moscow region, Russia). Sequence analyses of the D1/D2 domains of the 26S rDNA and of the internal transcribed spacer region revealed that these yeast strains and strain CBS 8016 have almost identical sequences and belong to the Holtermannia clade of the Tremellomycetidae (Basidiomycota, Hymenomycetes). A novel species named Cryptococcus festucosus (type strain VKM Y-2930) is proposed to accommodate these strains. Physiological characteristics and mycocin sensitivity patterns distinguishing Cryptococcus festucosus from the other species of this clade are presented.     

Evaluation of phage display system and leech-derived tryptase inhibitor as a tool for understanding the serine proteinase specificities

A small combinatorial library of LDTI mutants (5.2 x 10(4)) restricted to the P1-P4' positions of the reactive site was displayed on the pCANTAB 5E phagemid, and LDTI fusion phages were produced and selected for potent neutrophil elastase and plasmin inhibitors. Strong fusion phage binders were analyzed by ELISA on enzyme-coated microtiter plates and the positive phages had their DNA sequenced. The LDTI variants: 29E (K8A, I9A, L10F, and K11F) and 19E (K8A, K11Q, and P12Y) for elastase and 2Pl (K11W and P12N), 8Pl (I9V, K11W, and P12E), and 10Pl (I9T, K11L, and P12L) for plasmin were produced with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression system. New strong elastase and plasmin inhibitors were 29E and 2Pl, respectively. LDTI-29E was a potent and specific neutrophil elastase inhibitor K(i) =0.5 nM), affecting no other tested enzymes. LDTI-2Pl was the strongest plasmin inhibitor ( K(i) =1.7nM) in the LDTI mutant library. This approach allowed selection of new specific serine proteinase inhibitors for neutrophil elastase and plasmin (a thrombin inhibitor variant was previously described), from a unique template molecule, LDTI, a Kazal type one domain inhibitor, by only 2-4 amino acid replacements. Our data validate this small LDTI combinatorial library as a tool to generate specific serine proteinase inhibitors suitable for drug design and enzyme-inhibitor interaction studies.     

氨基酸对于Monascus ruber生物合成Monacolin K影响的研究

在Monacolin K发酵中添加氨基酸后发现较高质量浓度的氨基酸高度抑制了Monacolin K的产量。0.1 g.L-1的D-甲硫氨酸在发酵第4 d添加可以提高产量30%以上,而L-甲硫氨酸则没有此功能,D,L-甲硫氨酸因D-甲硫氨酸的关系也有一定的增产效果。以甲硫氨酸代替蛋白胨作为主要氮源,则抑制了polyketide途径的前期步骤,因此严重抑制了色素及Monacolin K的生产。另外,发现1 g.L-1的L-苯丙氨酸的添加时间越早越有利于Monacolin K的生产,在起始时添加发酵单位可达135.9 mg.L-1,可能是因为L-苯丙氨酸经过脱氨后,可以进入polyketide途径从而促进了Monacolin K的生产。     

引入CpG基序的汉滩病毒G2糖蛋白基因的克隆及表达

构建汉滩病毒G2糖蛋白的真核表达载体,并加入可增强小鼠免疫刺激作用的CpG基序,检测其可否在真核细胞中表达。参照Genebank中汉滩病毒M的全基因序列设计引物,引物两端引入可增强小鼠免疫刺激作用的CpG基序及双酶切位点,通过聚合酶链反应(PCR)获得含CpG基序的G2片段,并将其与T载体pMD18-T相连,测序后克隆至真核表达载体pcDNA3.1 上,将此真核表达载体以脂质体法转染至真核细胞Vero-E6中,利用间接免疫荧光法(IFA)检测发现转染后的Vero-E6中出现特异性的绿色荧光。结果表明本实验成功构建了汉滩病毒包膜糖蛋白G2的重组体。     

Colour forms of Amazonian cichlid fish represent reproductively isolated species

Laboratory mate choice experiments have confirmed species status for cichlid fish in the African Great Lakes that differ in colour and little else. Colour differences between allopatric populations of the South American cichlid genus Apistogramma are known for many species, yet the status of such populations has not been previously tested. Analysis of the genetic relationships and mate choice characteristics of populations previously described as Apistogramma caetei from eastern Amazonia indicates genetic differentiation into at least three allopatric lineages, which also show strong prezygotic isolation through female mate choice, confirming them as Biological species. If future studies confirm that this result is indicative of a general trend, the species richness of the South American cichlid fishes may presently be seriously underestimated.     

Cell population indexes of spermatogenic yield and testicular sperm reserves in adult jaguars (Panthera onca)

The intrinsic yield of spermatogenesis and supporting capacity of Sertoli cells are the desirable indicators of sperm production in a species. The objective of the present study was to quantify intrinsic yield and the Sertoli cell index in the spermatogenic process and estimate testicular sperm reserves by histological assessment of fragments obtained by testicular biopsy of five adult jaguars in captivity. The testicular fragments were fixed in 4% glutaric aldehyde, dehydrated at increasing alcohol concentrations, included into hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and were cut into 4 μm thickness. In the seminiferous epithelium of the jaguar, 9.2 primary spermatocytes in pre-leptotene were produced by “A” spermatogonia. During the meiotic divisions only 3.2 spermatids were produced by a primary spermatocyte. The general spermatogenic yield of the jaguar was about 23.4 cells and each Sertoli cell was able to maintain about 19.2 germ cells, 11 of them were round spermatids. In each seminiferous epithelium cycle about 166 million spermatozoa were produced by each gram of testicular tissue. In adult jaguars, the general spermatogenic yield was similar to the yield observed in pumas, greater than that observed for the domestic cat, but less compared to most domestic animals.     

采伐对小兴安岭落叶松-泥炭藓沼泽温室气体排放的影响

利用静态箱-气相色谱法,研究了择伐和皆伐对小兴安岭落叶松-泥炭藓沼泽CH4、CO2、N2O排放的影响.结果表明:采伐改变了落叶松-泥炭藓沼泽CH4和N2O的季节排放规律,其中对照样地的CH4为夏季吸收、秋季排放,N2O夏秋季吸收;择伐样地的CH4和N2O在夏季集中排放;皆伐样地的CH4在夏秋季排放,N2O则在夏季吸收、秋季排放.但采伐对CO2季节排放规律的影响,均为夏季春季秋季.采伐改变了CH4、CO2和N2O的源汇功能,对照样地为CO2的排放源、CH4和N2O的弱吸收汇;采伐地的CO2排放量下降了1/4,并转化为N2O弱排放源,为CH4的弱排放源或强排放源.择伐样地温室效应贡献潜力较对照样地下降了24.5%,皆伐地则提高了3.2%.     

抗轮状病毒鸡卵黄免疫球蛋白耐酸碱性的研究

在pH2～12不同酸碱度环境中37℃保温0.5、1.0、2.0、3.0、4.0h后对抗轮状病毒鸡卵黄免疫球蛋白(IgY)的中和效价、分子结构变化及其耐酸耐碱性进行了测定。结果显示,在pH2～9范围内,37℃保温至4h,抗轮状病毒IgY的中和效价无明显变化,SDS-PAGE非还原性电泳图中未出现降解带;pH≥10时,37℃保温至1h,中和抗体效价即开始下降,电泳图中出现降解带,pH达11、12时处理1h以上样品则全部降解,生物活性丢失。提示抗轮状病毒IgY的耐酸性较耐碱性强,能耐受正常人体消化道内酸碱度。为制备成口服制剂提供试验依据。