一个与非小细胞肺癌转移相关的基因--RAB5A基因

采用mRNA差异展示技术(mRNA DD)研究具有相同细胞来源,但转移能力高低不同的人肺腺癌细胞系AGZY83-a(低转移)和Anip973(高转移),分析在两个细胞系中基因差异表达的情况,发现在高转移细胞系中有RAB5A基因的表达.该基因为蛋白质入胞信号的调控者,为RAS超家族成员.为进一步证实其转录表达的调控改变情况,以及RAB5A高表达的临床意义,进一步采用RT-PCR和免疫组织化学的方法检测了50例临床非小细胞肺癌的手术标本,结果表明,RAB5A的表达有随转移发生而增强的趋势,而RAB5A的蛋白表达程度在有转移的病例中明显增强(P<0.05).     

pICln Inhibits snRNP Biogenesis by Binding Core Spliceosomal Proteins

The U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) form essential components of spliceosomes, the machinery that removes introns from pre-mRNAs in eukaryotic cells. A critical initial step in the complex process of snRNP biogenesis is the assembly of a group of common core proteins (Sm proteins) on spliceosomal snRNA. In this study we show by multiple independent methods that the protein pICln associates with Sm proteins in vivo and in vitro. The binding of pICln to Sm proteins interferes with Sm protein assembly on spliceosomal snRNAs and inhibits import of snRNAs into the nucleus. Furthermore, pICln prevents the interaction of Sm proteins with the survival of motor neurons (SMN) protein, an interaction that has been shown to be critical for snRNP biogenesis. These findings lead us to propose a model in which pICln participates in the regulation of snRNP biogenesis, at least in part by interfering with Sm protein interaction with SMN protein.     

Comparative Studies on Water Relations and Xeromorphic Structures of Some Plant Species in the Middle Part of the Desert Zone in China

The mean value of leaf water potential (LWP) of the mesophytes, the less-succulent xerophytes and the succulent xerephytes was –13.5, –18.09 and –26.09 bars respectively. The bound water content (BWC), and the ratio of bound water content to free water content (B/E ratio) for the succulent xerophytes (174.0% and 4.8) were higher than those for the mesophytes (52.5% and 0.37) and the less-succulent xerophytes (76.8% and 1.0). The transpiration rate of the mesophytes, less-succulent xerophytes and succulent xerophytes was 1146.5, 866.3 and 422.8 mg/g. fw. h respectively. The water holding capacity (WHC) of the succulent xerophytes was the strongest among those of the three types, while that of the mesophytes was the weakest. The xerophytes, both the succulent and the less-succulent, have the following xeromorphic structures: thick cuticle, sundan stomata, dense epidermal hairs, well-developed palisade tissue and degenerated spongy tissue, the high ratio of palisade tissue to spongy tissue, and equilateral leaves. Besides, succulent xerophytes possess other xeromorphic structures: thick leaves, well-developed water storing tissue, high ratio of water tissue to leaf thickness, and the succulent leaves. The mesophytes exhibit the following mesophilous structures, thin cuticle, levelling or arching up stomata, low ratio of palisade tissue to spongy tissue, and back-belly leaves.     

Observations on Fertilization in Sugar Beet

The whole process of double fertilization in sugar beet has been observed, the main results are as follows: About 2 hours after pollination, the pollen grains germinate, the sperms in the pollen tube are long-oval. 15 hours after pollination, the pollen tube destroys a synergid and releases two sperms on one side or at the chalazal end of the egg cell. The sperms are spherical each having a cytoplasmic sheath. 17 hours after pollination, one sperm enters the egg cell, and the sperm nucleus fuses with the egg nucleus rapidly. 21 hours after pollination, the zygote is formed. In the meantime, the primary endosperm nucleus has divided into two free endosperm nuclei. 25 hours after pollination, the zygote begins to divide, forming a two-celled proembryo. The dormancy stage of the zygote is about 4 hours. In the meantime the endosperm is at the stage of four free nuclei. 17 hours after pollination, the sperm nucleus comes into contact and fuses with the secondary nucleus. The sperm nucleus fuses with the secondary nucleus, faster than the sperm with the egg. he first division of the primary endosperm nucleus is earlier than that of the zygote, it takes place about 20 hours after pollination, the dormancy stage of the primary endosperm is about 2 hours. The endosperm is free nuclear. The fertilization of sugar beet belongs to premitotic type of syngamy. From the stage of zygote to the two-celled proembryo, it can be seen that addition- al sperms enter the embryo sac, but polyspermy has not been observed yet.     

Pollen morphology of 8 genera of Chinese Umbelliferae (Apiaceae)

This paper deals with the studies of pollen morphology of 8 genera including 22 species and 1 variety of Umbelliferae (Apiaceae). They have been investigated under both the light microscope and the SEM. These genera can be distinguished by their pollen characters. The observed data listing in the following table reveal that they can be distinguished according to shape of pollen, form of pores, sculpture of exine and size of grains etc. 1. Shape of pollen grains (1) subrhomboidal type: Chuanminshen Sheh et Shan, Changium Wolff, Cyclorhiza Sheh et Shan (2) oval type: Seseli L. (3) subrectangular type a. thickened at the equator and rugulose: Peuecdanum L. b. constricted at the equator and rugulose: Ligusticum L. e. constricted at the equator and rugulose, thickened at both polar zones: Vicatia DC. (4) equatorially-constricted type, rugulose at the equator, thickened at both polar zones: Ferula L. 2. Form of aperture (1) rectangular protrude type: Chuanminshen Sheh et Shan, Ferula L., Changium Wolff (2) circular type: Ligusticum L. (3) elliptic type: Peucedanum L., Vicatia DC., Seseli L. 3. Sculpture of exine (1) reticulate: Chuanminshen Sheh et Shah (2) pitted-reticulate: Changium Wolff (3) striate-reticulate: Ferula L., Peucedanum L., Ligusticum L., Seseli L., Vicatia DC. (4) cerebro-reticulate: Cyclorhiza Sheh et Shan Basing upon the above pollen characters, the genera Cyclorhiza Sheh et Shah and Chuanminshen Sheh et Shan are briefly discussed. They are two clearly delimitatednatural genera.     

Studies on the Chemical Constituents of Clerodendron bungei

Seven crystalline substances from the aqueous extract of fresh stems and leaves of Chinese folk medicine Cterodendron bungei Stend. (Verbenaceae) were isolated. They were identified on the bases of physical and spectral, i.e.: magnesium lactate, succinic acid, potassium nitrate, anisic acid, vanillic acid and maltol. The identification of constituent Ⅶ in minute quantity is in progress.     

大头网柄菌的个体发育

【背景】网柄细胞状黏菌是生物学、细胞学及发生生物学研究中一类重要的模式生物,至今已报道了百余种,但每个种的个体发育过程不是很明晰。【目的】了解网柄细胞状黏菌的个体发育。【方法】对采自云南苍山的土壤样品进行网柄菌的分离、培养和鉴定,并详细记录其个体发育全阶段特征。在传统形态学方法基础上,对样品进行基因组18S测序,并将获得序列在GenBank注册。通过双凹载玻片及水琼脂培养基添加大肠杆菌的培养方法,显微观察样品的发育过程,包括孢子、黏变形体、集群、假原质团、拔顶、孢堆果的发育特征。【结果】分离得到大头网柄菌Dictyostelium macrocephalum;该种温度适应范围较广,是亚热带和热带的广布种;其完成一个生活循环历时3 d,接种20 h后孢子开始萌发释放黏变形体,第50 h形成集群,第56 h假原质团形成,第58 h孢堆原形成,第71 h孢堆果完全成熟。【结论】研究分离的大头网柄菌为云南省新记录种,增加了其在我国亚热带的新分布区;明确了该种的个体发育过程。     

p21 restricts influenza A virus by perturbing the viral polymerase complex and upregulating type I interferon signaling

Many cellular genes and networks induced in human lung epithelial cells infected with the influenza virus remain uncharacterized. Here, we find that p21 levels are elevated in response to influenza A virus (IAV) infection, which is independent of p53. Silencing, pharmacological inhibition or deletion of p21 promotes virus replication in vitro and in vivo, indicating that p21 is an influenza restriction factor. Mechanistically, p21 binds to the C-terminus of IAV polymerase subunit PA and competes with PB1 to limit IAV polymerase activity. Besides, p21 promotes IRF3 activation by blocking K48-linked ubiquitination degradation of HO-1 to enhance type I interferons expression. Furthermore, a synthetic p21 peptide (amino acids 36 to 43) significantly inhibits IAV replication in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our findings reveal that p21 restricts IAV by perturbing the viral polymerase complex and activating the host innate immune response, which may aid the design of desperately needed new antiviral therapeutics.     

Structural basis of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants binding to intermediate horseshoe bat ACE2

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused a global pandemic. Intermediate horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus affinis) are hosts of RaTG13, the second most phylogenetically related viruses to SARS-CoV-2. We report the binding between intermediate horseshoe bat ACE2 (bACE2-Ra) and SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD), supporting the pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 viral infection. A 3.3 Å resolution crystal structure of the bACE2-Ra/SARS-CoV-2 RBD complex was determined. The interaction networks of Patch 1 showed differences in R34 and E35 of bACE2-Ra compared to hACE2 and big-eared horseshoe bat ACE2 (bACE2-Rm). The E35K substitution, existing in other species, significantly enhanced the binding affinity owing to its electrostatic attraction with E484 of SARS-CoV-2 RBD. Furthermore, bACE2-Ra showed extensive support for the SARS-CoV-2 variants. These results broaden our knowledge of the ACE2/RBD interaction mechanism and emphasize the importance of continued surveillance of intermediate horseshoe bats to prevent spillover risk.