铁剥夺在TPA 诱导K562 细胞分化中对细胞 生长分化及EGR1mRNA 表达的影

目的：通过,IPA诱导K562细胞分化过程中干预细胞铁代谢探讨白血病细胞铁与细胞分化的关系及对EGR1mRNA表达的影响。方法：应用体外细胞培养技术通过细胞形态,细胞化学染色观察细胞生长分化情况;用FCM、RT—PCR等技术检细胞周期、细胞表面分化抗原CD33、CD14及EGR1mRNA的表达。结果：在,IPA诱导K562细胞分化过程中铁剥夺可明显抑制K562细胞生长,并可阻止,IPA诱导K562细胞分化,使K562细胞停止在S期。铁剥夺可降低,TPA诱导K562细胞分化过程中EGR1mRNA的表达。讨论：铁剥夺明显抑制K562细胞生长、阻止TPA诱导K562细胞分化,故铁剥夺剂（DFO）可能作为一种辅助抗癌药用于白血病的化疗,但由于它能阻止白血病细胞的分化,故不宜用于白血病的诱导分化治疗。铁剥夺使K562细胞分化过程中E—GR1mRNA表达降低可能参与了阻止TPA诱导K562细胞的分化过程。     

Protein expression profile in the differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells into Schwann cell-like cells

During the last decade, increasing evidence suggested that bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) have the potential to differentiate into neural lineages. Many studies have reported that MSCs showed morphological changes and expressed a limited number of neural proteins under experimental conditions. However, no proteomic studies on MSCs differentiated into Schwann cell-like cells have been reported. In this study, we isolated MSCs from adult Sprague-Dawley rat femur and tibia bone marrows and induced the cells in vitro under specific conditions. By using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), we compared the protein profiles of MSCs before and after induced differentiation. We obtained 792 protein spots in the protein profile by 2-DE, and found that 74 spots changed significantly before and after the differentiation using PDQuest software, with 43 up-regulated and 31 down-regulated. We analyzed these 74 spots by a matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and by database searching, and found that they could be grouped into various classes, including cytoskeleton and structure proteins, growth factors, metabolic proteins, chaperone proteins, receptor proteins, cell cycle proteins, calcium binding proteins, and other proteins. These proteins also include neural and glial proteins, such as BDNF, CNTF and GFAP. The results may provide valuable proteomic information about the differentiation of MSCs into Schwann cell-like cells. Supported by National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2006AA02A128) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30670667).     

Cognitive Decline in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Related Factors in a Memory Clinic Setting,Shanghai, China

Objectives

Progressive cognitive decline is a characteristic hallmark of AD. It is important to identify prognostic markers to improve patient care and long-term planning. We aimed to identify the characteristics of disease progression in AD patients, focusing on cognitive decline and its related factors.

Methods

Clinically diagnosed AD patients in a memory clinic were followed. The mini–mental state examination (MMSE) and a battery of other neuropsychological tests were performed to assess the rate of cognitive decline and to analyze the related factors.

Results

A total of 165 AD patients were analyzed for cognitive changes. The MMSE scores declined at a rate of 1.52 points per year. Most neuropsychological test scores deteriorated significantly over time. Younger and early-onset AD patients deteriorated more rapidly than older and late-onset patients in global cognition and executive function. Men declined faster in memory but slower in attention than women. Higher education was associated with more rapid deterioration in visuo-spatial ability. Family history, hypertension and cerebral vascular disease were also associated with disease progression.

Conclusion

Attention, executive and visuo-spatial functions deteriorate at faster rates than other cognitive functions in AD patients. Age and age at onset were the main factors that associated with deterioration.     

水稻双受精过程的细胞形态学及时间进程的观察

应用常规石蜡切片和荧光显微镜观察水稻(Oryz a sativa)受精过程中雌雄性细胞融合时的形态特征及时间进程, 确定合子期, 为花粉管通道转基因技术的实施提供理论依据。结果表明: 授粉后, 花粉随即萌发, 花粉管进入羽毛状柱头分支结构的细胞间隙, 继续生长于花柱至子房顶部的引导组织的细胞间隙中, 而后进入子房, 在子房壁与外珠被之间的缝隙中向珠孔方向生长, 花粉与花粉管均具有明显的绿色荧光。花粉管经珠孔及珠心表皮细胞间隙进入一个助细胞, 释放精子。精子释放前, 两极核移向卵细胞的合点端; 两精子释放于卵细胞与中央细胞的间隙后, 先后脱去细胞质, 然后分别移向卵核和极核, 移向卵核的精核快于移向极核的精核; 精核与两极核在向反足细胞团方向移动的过程中完成雌雄核融合。大量图片显示了雌雄性核融合的详细过程以及多精受精现象。水稻受精过程经历的时间表如下: 授粉后, 花粉在柱头萌发; 花粉萌发至花粉管进入珠孔大约需要0.5小时; 授粉后0.5小时左右, 花粉管进入一个助细胞, 释放精子; 授粉后0.5-2.5小时, 精卵融合形成合子; 授粉后约10.0小时, 合子第1次分裂, 合子期为授粉后2.5-10.0小时; 授粉后1.0-3.0小时, 精核与两极核融合; 授粉后约5.0小时, 初生胚乳核分裂。     

Auditory temporal resolution and evoked responses to pulsed sounds for the Yangtze finless porpoises (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis</Emphasis>)

Temporal cues are important for some forms of auditory processing, such as echolocation. Among odontocetes (toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises), it has been suggested that porpoises may have temporal processing abilities which differ from other odontocetes because of their relatively narrow auditory filters and longer duration echolocation signals. This study examined auditory temporal resolution in two Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis) using auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) to measure: (a) rate following responses and modulation rate transfer function for 100 kHz centered pulse sounds and (b) hearing thresholds and response amplitudes generated by individual pulses of different durations. The animals followed pulses well at modulation rates up to 1,250 Hz, after which response amplitudes declined until extinguished beyond 2,500 Hz. The subjects had significantly better hearing thresholds for longer, narrower-band pulses similar to porpoise echolocation signals compared to brief, broadband sounds resembling dolphin clicks. Results indicate that the Yangtze finless porpoise follows individual acoustic signals at rates similar to other odontocetes tested. Relatively good sensitivity for longer duration, narrow-band signals suggests that finless porpoise hearing is well suited to detect their unique echolocation signals.     

Clinical analysis of the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia and multiple system atrophy-cerebellar type with umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells

Background aimsThe aims of this study were to observe the safety and effectiveness of umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSC) in the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and multiple system atrophy-cerebellar type (MSA-C).MethodsFrom October 2009 to September 2010, 14 cases of SCA and 10 cases of MSA-C were given UC-MSC by weekly intrathecal injection, at a dose of 1 × 10⁶/kg four times as one course. All the patients received one course of treatment, except three patients who received two courses. The movement ability and quality of daily life were evaluated with the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL) and the scores compared with those before cell therapy. A follow-up of 6–15 months was carried out for all of the patients.ResultsThe results showed that the ICARS and ADL scores were significantly decreased 1 month after treatment (P < 0.01). The symptoms, including unstable walking and standing, slow movement, fine motor disorders of the upper limbs, writing difficulties and dysarthria, were greatly improved except for one patient, who had no response. The observed side-effects included dizziness (four patients), back pain (two cases) and headache (one case), which disappeared within 1–3 days. During the follow-up, 10 cases remained stable for half a year or longer, while 14 cases had regressed to the status prior to the treatment within 1–14 months (an average of 3 months).ConclusionsIntrathecal injection of UC-MSC is safe and can delay the progression of neurologic deficits for SCA and MSA-C patients.     

Pharmacophore-based discovery of triaryl-substituted imidazole as new telomeric G-quadruplex ligand

Discovery of potent and selective ligands for telomeric G-quadruplex DNA is a challenging work. Through a combination approach of pharmacophore model construction, model validation, database virtual screening, chemical synthesis and interaction evaluation, we discovered and confirmed triaryl-substituted imidazole TSIZ01 to be a new telomeric G-quadruplex ligand with potent binding and stabilizing activity to G-quadruplex DNA, as well as a 8.7-fold selectivity towards telomeric G-quadruplex DNA over duplex DNA.     

山东地区盐碱土花生种子际土壤微生物群落结构的研究

【目的】以不同含盐量的滨海盐土、内陆盐碱土和中等肥力非盐碱土壤为实验对象,探讨花生种子在吸水膨胀与萌发过程中,不同类型盐碱土对种子际土壤微生物多样性变化的影响。【方法】采集不同含盐量的滨海盐土、内陆盐碱土和中等肥力非盐碱土壤,通过对各样品中细菌的16S r RNA基因的V3-V4区进行PCR扩增,利用Illumina Hiseq高通量测序技术对12份V3-V4高变区PCR产物进行测序,并对测序数据进行生物信息学分析。【结果】(1)盐碱土壤的种子际细菌群落多样性高于非盐碱土壤,且以东营青坨滨海盐土种子际土壤细菌群落多样性较高。(2)不同类型土壤样本微生物群落结构在纲水平存在明显差异。4种土壤类型种子际土壤细菌共分属于6个菌纲,分别为Proteobacteria、Actinobacteria、Actinobacteria、Bacteroidetes、Acidobacteria和Firmicutes菌纲,并均以Proteobacteria和Actinobacteria菌纲为主要菌纲。全样本菌落结构分析结果表明,4种类型土壤中不同吸胀时间内种子际微生物菌落在门、属水平上的类型和丰度差异最为显著(P0.05)。(3)beta多样性分析和各样本遗传距离(phylogenetic distances)聚类树图分析表明,4个土壤类型的12个土壤样本种子际土壤中微生物群落均可聚为2大类。【结论】土壤含盐量越高其种子际土壤细菌群落多样性较高。不同类型土壤样本微生物群落结构在纲水平存在明显差异,以Proteobacteria和Actinobacteria菌纲为主要菌纲。种子吸胀萌发时间影响种子际微生物菌落在门、属水平上的类型和丰度,但对相同土壤类型样本间遗传距离无影响。     

Recent advances in production of 5-aminolevulinic acid using biological strategies

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is the precursor for the biosynthesis of tetrapyrrole compounds and has broad applications in the medical and agricultural fields. Because of the disadvantages of chemical synthesis methods, microbial production of 5-ALA has drawn intensive attention and has been regarded as an alternative in the last years, especially with the rapid development of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. In this mini-review, recent advances on the application and microbial production of 5-ALA using novel biological approaches (such as whole-cell enzymatic-transformation, metabolic pathway engineering and cell-free process) are described and discussed in detail. In addition, the challenges and prospects of synthetic biology are discussed.     

Quantitative phosphoproteome analysis of lysophosphatidic acid induced chemotaxis applying dual-step (18)O labeling coupled with immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography

Reversible protein phosphorylation is a central cellular regulatory mechanism in modulating protein activity and propagating signals within cellular pathways and networks. Development of more effective methods for the simultaneous identification of phosphorylation sites and quantification of temporal changes in protein phosphorylation could provide important insights into molecular signaling mechanisms in various cellular processes. Here we present an integrated quantitative phosphoproteomics approach and its application for comparative analysis of Cos-7 cells in response to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) gradient stimulation. The approach combines trypsin-catalyzed (16)O/ (18)O labeling plus (16)O/ (18)O-methanol esterification for quantitation, a macro-immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography trap for phosphopeptide enrichment, and LC-MS/MS analysis. LC separation and MS/MS are followed by neutral loss-dependent MS/MS/MS for phosphopeptide identification using a linear ion trap (LTQ)-FT mass spectrometer. A variety of phosphorylated proteins were identified and quantified including receptors, kinases, proteins associated with small GTPases, and cytoskeleton proteins. A number of hypothetical proteins were also identified as differentially expressed followed by LPA stimulation, and we have shown evidence of pseudopodia subcellular localization of one of these candidate proteins. These results demonstrate the efficiency of this quantitative phosphoproteomics approach and its application for rapid discovery of phosphorylation events associated with LPA gradient sensing and cell chemotaxis.