beta-cyclodextrin-immobilized (4S)-phenoxy-(S)-proline as a catalyst for direct asymmetric aldol reactions

beta-Cyclodextrin-immobilized (4S)-phenoxy-(S)-proline was prepared conveniently by simply heating the amino acid and beta-cyclodextrin in ethanol-water (1/1, v/v) and removal of the solvent. This proved to be an efficient catalyst for direct asymmetric aldol reactions, and the catalyst could be recycled four times without loss of enantioselectivity.     

Phylogenetic and Biochemical Studies Reveal a Potential Evolutionary Origin of Small Heat Shock Proteins of Animals from Bacterial Class A

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs), as one subclass of molecular chaperones, are important for cells to protect proteins under stress conditions. Unlike the large HSPs (represented by Hsp60 and Hsp70), sHSPs are highly divergent in both primary sequences and oligomeric status, with their evolutionary relationships being unresolved. Here the phylogenetic analysis of a representative 51 sHSPs (covering the six subfamilies: bacterial class A, bacterial class B, archae, fungi, plant, and animal) reveals a close relationship between bacterial class A and animal sHSPs which form an outgroup. Accumulating data indicate that the oligomers from bacterial class A and animal sHSPs appear to exhibit polydispersity, while those from the rest exhibit monodispersity. Together, the close evolutionary relationship and the similarity in oligomeric polydispersity between bacterial class A and animal sHSPs not only suggest a potential evolutionary origin of the latter from the former, but also imply that their oligomeric polydispersity is somehow a property determined by their primary sequences. [Reviewing Editor: Dr. Martin Kreitman]     

基于云班课的研究生医学分子生物学文献阅读与讨论教学模式的整合与评价

研究生教育注重培养学生的科学研究和创新能力.文献阅读与讨论(literature reading and discussion,LRD)对研究生创新思维和批判性思维的培养发挥积极的作用.然而,在传统的分子生物学课堂上,如何有效地实施大规模的集体LRD是一个巨大的挑战.云班课是一款专门针对教学而设计的免费移动教学APP,...     

猪环状RNA IGF1R促进脂肪细胞分化

环状RNA(circular RNA, circRNA)作为竞争性内源RNA(competitive endogenous RNA, ceRNA)在细胞分化调控中发挥着重要作用。本研究旨在对猪环状RNA IGF1R(circular RNA insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, circIGF1R)进行鉴定及分析,探明其表达规律,构建猪circIGF1R相关的ceRNA调控网络,并探究其异位表达对小鼠间充质干细胞(C3H10T1/2)成脂分化的调控作用。通过正反向引物PCR、Sanger测序、RNase R酶消化检测和qRT-PCR验证circIGF1R是胰岛素样生长因子1受体(insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, IGF1R)第二外显子形成的circRNA,它在猪各组织中均有表达,且其表达量在脂肪组织中随日龄增加呈上升趋势;使用miRDB、TargetScan和miRWalk在线软件预测circIGF1R靶基因,运用RNAhybrid软件进行结合位点预测,使用DAVID生物信息功能分析软件对候选靶基因进行GO和KEGG富集分析,运用Cytoscape软件构建ceRNA网络,基于基因表达相关性和预测的靶标关系,绘制了GO和KEGG富集分析及构建了ceRNA网络;双荧光素酶报告基因分析证明circIGF1R及FABP4可与ssc (Sus scrofa chromosome) -miR-133a-5p结合;成功构建circIGF1R过表达载体,在间充质干细胞C3H10T1/2中异位表达,过表达circIGF1R后关键成脂调控因子CEBPα、CEBPβ、FABP4和PPARγ极显著升高(P＜0.01),脂滴数量显著增加。本研究结果证明,circIGF1R在猪脂肪组织中存在,并且可能通过ceRNA机制正调控C3H10T1/2细胞成脂分化,为进一步研究circIGF1R调控猪前体肌内脂肪细胞成脂分化奠定理论基础。     

Integrative taxonomy recognized a new cryptic species within Stipa grandis from Loess Plateau of China

Stipa shanxiensis, a cryptic species within Stipa grandis that originated from central and western China, is described based on morphological, genomic, and ecological data from field and common garden experiments. Stipa shanxiensis morphologically resembles S. grandis, although phylogenetically it is closely related to the less morphologically similar Stipa baicalensis and Stipa krylovii. Of the eight significant morphological differences between S. shanxiensis and S. grandis, the two, cauline ligules longer than 2 cm with a filiform apex, and hairs shorter than 0.2 mm on the adaxial surface of the cauline uppermost leaves can be used to distinguish the species. Results from a common garden experiment verified that the two diagnostic characteristics were relatively stable and less morphologically plastic in response to environmental variation. Furthermore, a significant ecological divergence was found between S. shanxiensis and S. grandis, such that the former preferred warmer and more humid climates, and their predicted distribution was generally separated. Taken together, our results highlight that the integrative taxonomic approach was valuable for recognizing a new cryptic species in Stipa. In particular, we find that common garden experiments involving the effects of growth stage and characteristic position helped to morphologically diagnose cryptic species. These findings may also facilitate our understandings of ecological adaption and phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental change.     

Protective effects of irisin on hypoxia-reoxygenation injury in hyperglycemia-treated cardiomyocytes: Role of AMPK pathway and mitochondrial protection

Recent evidence has verified the cardioprotective actions of irisin in different diseases models. However, the beneficial action of irisin on hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) injury under high glucose stress has not been described. Herein our research investigated the influence of irisin on HR-triggered cardiomyocyte death under high glucose stress. HR model was established in vitro under high glucose treatment. The results illuminated that HR injury augmented apoptotic ratio of cardiomyocyte under high glucose stress; this effect could be abolished by irisin via modulating mitochondrial function. Irisin treatment attenuated cellular redox stress, improved cellular ATP biogenetics, sustained mitochondria potential, and impaired mitochondrion-related cell death. At the molecular levels, irisin treatment activated the 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway and the latter protected cardiomyocyte and mitochondria against HR injury under high glucose stress. Altogether, our results indicated a novel role of irisin in HR-treated cardiomyocyte under high glucose stress. Irisin-activated AMPK pathway and the latter sustained cardiomyocyte viability and mitochondrial function.     

香烟烟雾提取物抑制肺泡上皮细胞的增殖并诱导其凋亡

香烟烟雾提取物（cigarette smoke extract,CSE）中含有丰富的氧化剂和自由基,由它所引起的氧化应激可导致肺泡壁的损伤进而发展为肺气肿.近年来,围绕CSE损伤肺泡壁作用机制的研究较为活跃,但其结果却一直存在着分歧.本实验的目的是观察CSE对肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞的损伤作用并探讨与其相关的分子机制.MTT比色法的结果显示,CSE以时间和剂量依赖性的方式降低细胞的增殖活力,流式细胞术的分析结果表明细胞增殖周期被阻滞在G1/S期.Hoechst 33258染色以及透射电镜观察从形态上确认CSE诱导细胞凋亡的发生,DNA梯的出现和Annexin V-FITC/碘化丙啶双染色的结果从分子水平得到进一步的证实.同时,运用流式细胞术检测到CSE诱导的凋亡伴随着Fas受体的高表达和caspase-3的显著活化.另外,使用H2DCFDA染色,经激光共聚焦显微镜术测得细胞内氧自由基在细胞受到CSE刺激以后大量快速积累.结果表明CSE能够抑制肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞来源的A549细胞的生长和增殖,并诱导细胞凋亡,由Fas受体所介导的死亡受体途径参与此凋亡过程,而CSE所引起的氧化应激则可能是阻止肺泡上皮细胞生长增殖并诱导其凋亡的始动因素.     

TNFα-initiated oxidative/nitrative stress mediates cardiomyocyte apoptosis in traumatic animals

Whole body non-penetrating trauma causes myocardial infarction in humans and mechanical trauma (MT) results in cardiac dysfunction in animals. Our recent study demonstrated that incubation of cardiomyocytes with plasma isolated from MT animals causes significant cardiomyocyte apoptosis that can be blocked by neutralization of TNFα. The present study attempted to obtain direct in vivo evidence to support that overproduction of TNFα plays a causative role in trauma-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Non-lethal MT caused significant TNFα overproduction (2.4-fold at 1.5 h after MT) and increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis (starting 3 h and peaking 12 h after MT). Pharmacological inhibition of TNFα with etanercept or TNFα gene deletion reduced post-trauma myocyte apoptosis (P < 0.01). Expression of iNOS and NADPH oxidase, overproduction of NO and , and excessive protein nitration in the MT heart were all significantly reduced in etanercept-treated or TNFα^−/− mice, suggesting that oxidative/nitrative stress may contribute to TNFα-initiated myocyte apoptosis in MT hearts. Additional experiments demonstrated that inhibiting iNOS (1400W) or NADPH oxidase (apocynin), or scavenging peroxynitrite (FP15) significantly reduced myocyte apoptosis in MT animals (P < 0.01). Collectively, these data demonstrated that non-lethal mechanical trauma caused significant TNFα production that in turn stimulated myocardial apoptosis via oxidative/nitrative stress.     

CRISPR/Cas基因编辑系统在原核微生物细胞工厂构建中的开发与应用

随着能源和环境问题的日益突出,化学品以及燃料的合成方式正逐渐由传统的化学法合成转变为以细菌为基础的生物炼制过程,其中最关键问题是需要开发出合适的基因工程工具用于构建相应的产品生产菌株。成簇的规律间隔短回文重复序列(Clusteredregularlyinterspacedshortpalindromic repeats,CRISPR)/CRISPR相关蛋白(CRISPR-associated proteins,Cas)系统是一种存在于细菌和古细菌中的免疫系统,能够用于抵御病毒和外源质粒的入侵,近年来被开发成为一种高效、便捷、精确的基因编辑工具,显示出巨大的应用潜力。本文立足于CRISPR/Cas系统的原理与最新分类,结合实例综述了CRISPR/Cas基因编辑系统在原核微生物细胞工厂构建中的建立与优化策略,以及主要的应用方向,并探讨该系统所面临的主要问题并提出了一些可行的解决方案。