Upregulation of Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling and ERK5 in the brain of autistic subjects

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction, verbal communication and repetitive behaviors. A number of studies have shown that the Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) signaling pathway plays important roles in the genesis of neural progenitors, learning and memory. Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 and ERK5 have also been shown to have death-promoting apoptotic roles in neural cells. Recent studies have shown a possible association between neural cell death and autism. In addition, two recent studies reported that a deletion of a locus on chromosome 16, which included the mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) gene that encodes ERK1, is associated with autism. Most recently, our laboratory detected that Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling activities were significantly enhanced in the brain of BTBR mice that model autism, as they exhibit many autism-like behaviors. We thus hypothesized that Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling and ERK5 could be abnormally regulated in the brain of autistic subjects. In this study, we show that the expression of Ras protein was significantly elevated in the frontal cortex of autistic subjects. C-Raf phosphorylation was increased in the frontal cortex, while both C-Raf and A-Raf activities were enhanced in the cerebellum of autistic subjects. We also detected that both the protein expression and activities of ERK1/2 were significantly upregulated in the frontal cortex of autistic subjects, but not in the cerebellum. Furthermore, we showed that ERK5 protein expression is upregulated in both frontal cortex and cerebellum of autistic subjects. These results suggest that the upregulation of Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling and ERK5 activities mainly found in the frontal cortex of autistic subjects may be critically involved in the pathogenesis of autism.     

Dlk1-Mediated Temporal Regulation of Notch Signaling Is Required for Differentiation of Alveolar Type II to Type I Cells during Repair

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A novel mutation in the HSD17B10 gene of a 10-year-old boy with refractory epilepsy, choreoathetosis and learning disability

Hydroxysteroid (17beta) dehydrogenase 10 (HSD10) is a mitochondrial multifunctional enzyme encoded by the HSD17B10 gene. Missense mutations in this gene result in HSD10 deficiency, whereas a silent mutation results in mental retardation, X-linked, syndromic 10 (MRXS10). Here we report a novel missense mutation found in the HSD17B10 gene, namely c.194T>C transition (rs104886492), brought about by the loss of two forked methyl groups of valine 65 in the HSD10 active site. The affected boy, who possesses mutant HSD10 (p.V65A), has a neurological syndrome with metabolic derangements, choreoathetosis, refractory epilepsy and learning disability. He has no history of acute decompensation or metabolic acidosis whereas his urine organic acid profile, showing elevated levels of 2-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate and tiglylglycine, is characteristic of HSD10 deficiency. His HSD10 activity was much lower than the normal control level, with normal β-ketothiolase activity. The c.194T>C mutation in HSD17B10 can be identified by the restriction fragment polymorphism analysis, thereby facilitating the screening of this novel mutation in individuals with intellectual disability of unknown etiology and their family members much easier. The patient's mother is an asymptomatic carrier, and has a mixed ancestry (Hawaiian, Japanese and Chinese). This demonstrates that HSD10 deficiency patients are not confined to a particular ethnicity although previously reported cases were either Spanish or German descendants.     

从水稻细胞质型果糖-1,6-二磷酸酶启动子上游中去除93 bp可以彻底改变其表达模式

细胞质型果糖-1,6-二磷酸基因ATG上游1 195bp侧翼序列可调控GUS基因在水稻(Oryza sativa L.)中特异性表达,因此该片段包含有使报告基因在叶肉细胞中特异性表达的所有顺式元件.为了研究其调控特异表达的顺式元件,对启动子5′端进行了一系列的缺失,得到4种与GUS基因融合的植物表达载体,通过基因枪法转入水稻.结果表明,自启动子5′端-1 195 bp缺失至-1 102 bp时,GUS基因由叶肉细胞特异性表达变为组成型表达,且表达活性有所提高,推测在该区段中存在调控叶肉细胞特异性表达的顺式元件.进一步缺失仍然保持组成性表达的模式,即在转化株的根、茎和叶中的所有细胞中均有表达,同时启动子活性有所提高.这一结果暗示该启动子具有很大的应用潜力.     

Enhanced therapeutic anti-tumor immunity induced by co-administration of 5-fluorouracil and adenovirus expressing CD40 ligand

Bystander immune activation by chemotherapy has recently gained extensive interest and provided support for the clinical use of chemotherapeutic agents in combination with immune enhancers. The CD40 ligand (CD40L; CD154) is a potent regulator of the anti-tumor immune response and recombinant adenovirus (RAd)-mediated CD40L gene therapy has been effective in various cancer models and in man. In this study we have assessed the combined effect of local RAd-CD40L and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) administration on a syngeneic MB49 mouse bladder tumor model. Whereas MB49 cells implanted into immunocompetent mice responded poorly to RAd-CD40L or 5-FU alone, administration of both agents dramatically decreased tumor growth, increased survival of the mice and induced systemic MB49-specific immunity. This combination treatment was ineffective in athymic nude mice, highlighting an important role for T cell mediated anti-tumor immunity for full efficacy. 5-FU up-regulated the expression of Fas and immunogenic cell death markers in MB49 cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes from mice receiving RAd-CD40L immunotherapy efficiently lysed 5-FU treated MB49 cells in a Fas ligand-dependent manner. Furthermore, local RAd-CD40L and 5-FU administration induced a shift of myeloid-derived suppressor cell phenotype into a less suppressive population. Collectively, these data suggest that RAd-CD40L gene therapy is a promising adjuvant treatment to 5-FU for the management of bladder cancer.     

微卫星DNA标记及其在鱼类遗传多样性研究中的应用

微卫星DNA作为第二代分子遗传标记是高等真核生物基因组中种类多、分布广、具有高度的多态性和杂合度的分子标记,由于其具有多态性检出率高、信息含量大、共显性标记、实验操作简单、结果稳定可靠等优点,已经成为种群遗传学研究中被广泛应用的分子遗传标记。微卫星DNA标记技术在鱼类的群体遗传结构的分析、物种遗传多样性的鉴定以及遗传基因连锁图谱的构建等方面已初步得到应用。该文就微卫星技术的原理方法,在鱼类遗传多样性研究中的应用概况以及应用范围和注意事项等方面进行综述。为微卫星技术在鱼类遗传多样性研究中应用提供了理论参考。     

FHL2通过相互作用抑制分化抑制蛋白家族成员的转录抑制活性

目的：探讨FHL2与Id（分化抑制蛋白）家族蛋白之间的相互作用及FHL2对Id蛋白功能的调控效应。方法：用GST-pulldown与免疫共沉淀（CoIP）方法检测FHL2与Id家族蛋白成员之间在体内外的相互作用;用共转染与报告基因驱动的萤光素酶方法检测FHL2对Id蛋白介导转录抑制效应的调控作用。结果：FHL2与Id家族的4个蛋白均存在直接的相互作用关系,表位分析结果显示FHL2蛋白中的第2个LIM结构域在FHL2/Id相互作用中是必需的,Id蛋白N端结构域在介导FHL2/Id相互作用中是必需的,FHL2/Id相互作用不依赖于Id蛋白中的螺旋-环-螺旋结构;通过相互作用,FHL2阻止了Id蛋白对碱性螺旋-环-螺旋转录因子E47转录活性的抑制作用。结论：FHL2是一个新识别的Id蛋白广谱的相互作用因子,通过对Id蛋白功能活性的抑制效应,FHL2可能参与Id介导的多种生物学效应以及肿瘤发生与进展。     

Transgenic RNAi in mouse oocytes: The first decade

RNA interference (RNAi), a sequence-specific mRNA degradation induced by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), is a common approach employed to specifically silence genes. Experimental RNAi in plant and invertebrate models is frequently induced by long dsRNA. However, in mammals, short RNA molecules are used preferentially since long dsRNA can provoke sequence-independent type I interferon response. A notable exception are mammalian oocytes where the interferon response is suppressed and long dsRNA is a potent and specific trigger of RNAi. Transgenic RNAi is an adaptation of RNAi allowing for inducing sequence-specific silencing upon expression of dsRNA. A decade ago, we have developed a vector for oocyte-specific expression of dsRNA, which has been used to study gene function in mouse oocytes on numerous occasions. This review provides an overview and discusses benefits and drawbacks encountered by us and our colleagues while working with the oocytes-specific transgenic RNAi system.