Protein kinase-mediated regulation of calcineurin through the phosphorylation of modulatory calcineurin-interacting protein 1

Calcineurin is a serine/threonine protein phosphatase that plays a critical role in many physiologic processes such as T-cell activation, skeletal myocyte differentiation, and cardiac hypertrophy. We previously showed that active MEKK3 is capable of stimulating calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) signaling in cardiac myocytes through phosphorylation of modulatory calcineurin-interacting protein 1 (MCIP1). However, the protein kinases that function downstream of MEKK3 to mediate MCIP1 phosphorylation and the mechanism of MCIP1-mediated calcineurin regulation have not been defined. Here, we show that MEK5 and big MAP kinase 1 (BMK1) function downstream of MEKK3 in a signaling cascade that induces calcineurin activity through phosphorylation of MCIP1. Genetic studies showed that BMK1-deficient mouse lung fibroblasts failed to mediate MCIP1 phosphorylation and activate calcineurin/NFAT in response to angiotensin II, a potent NFAT activator. Conversely, restoring BMK1 to the deficient cells restored angiotensin II-mediated calcineurin/NFAT activation. Thus, using BMK1-deficient mouse lung fibroblast cells, we provided the genetic evidence that BMK1 is required for angiotensin II-mediated calcineurin/NFAT activation through MICP1 phosphorylation. Finally, we discovered that phosphorylated MCIP1 dissociates from calcineurin and binds with 14-3-3, thereby relieving its inhibitory effect on calcineurin activity. In summary, our findings reveal a previously unrecognized essential regulatory role of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in calcineurin activation through the reversible phosphorylation of a calcineurin-interacting protein, MCIP1.     

盾叶薯蓣营养器官薯蓣皂甙元含量的动态变化

利用高效液相色谱(HPLC)法对盾叶薯蓣营养器官特别是根状茎中薯蓣皂甙元含量的动态变化、品种之间的差异以及雌雄株之间的差异进行了研究。结果表明：实生苗根状茎中薯蓣皂甙元的含量,2年生高于1年生;根茎营养繁殖的2年生根状茎中皂甙元的含量高于1年生的含量;花叶品种的含量高于绿叶品种的含量;雄株的含量比雌株的含量高。在地上的缠绕茎和叶中没有检测到薯蓣皂甙元。由根茎繁殖的1年生根状茎前期皂甙元含量增加缓慢,后期增加较快;2年生根状茎盛花期含量最高,开花后期含量最低,随后含量逐渐增加。为此应在花叶品种中选择产量高、抗性强的品种作为栽培品种。合适的采挖期仍以地上缠绕茎枯萎期为宜。     

Lipoxygenase-catalyzed polymerization of phenolic lipids suggests a new mechanism for allergic contact dermatitis induced by urushiol and its analogs

Lipoxygenase was found to catalyze the oxidative polymerization of phenolic lipids containing a (Z,Z)-pentadiene in the side chain, the model compounds of urushiol and its analog, yielding methanol-soluble and insoluble polymers. The structural analysis of the resulted polymers suggested that the polymerization occurred at both the phenol and the unsaturated side chain. The key step of the polymerization was the generation of the hydroperoxide at the unsaturated side chain by lipoxygenase. The decomposition of hydroperoxide and concomitant dehydrogenation of phenol ring catalyzed by lipoxygenase might produce radicals that could be coupled to form cross-linked polymers. This lipoxygenase-mediated reaction implies a new mechanism for contact allergy of urushiol and its analogs.     

Quantitation of Rat Dopamine Transporter mRNA: Effects of Cocaine Treatment and Withdrawal

Dopamine transporter mRNA levels in the rat substantia nigra were quantified using a sensitive nuclease protection assay with a highly homologous human dopamine transporter cDNA clone. The same probe was also used to visualize dopamine transporter mRNA in the substantia nigra by in situ hybridization. Repeated cocaine administration (15 mg/kg, twice a day for 6.5 days) resulted in a greater than 40% decrease in nigral dopamine transporter mRNA levels. In contrast, dopamine transporter mRNA levels were unchanged after either acute treatment (4 h before death) or repeated cocaine treatment followed by a 72-h withdrawal period. Thus, blockade of the dopamine transporter by repeated cocaine administration may result in the down-regulation of dopamine transporter gene expression in dopamine neurons.     

Protein kinase C-δ is involved in induction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">NOX1</Emphasis> gene expression by aldosterone in rat vascular smooth muscle cells

In this study, we focused on the relationship between aldosterone and NOX1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). For the first time, with the use of specific inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), we report that PKCδ mediates upregulation of NOX1 induced by 10 nM aldosterone in cultured VSMCs. Participation of PKC in the mediation of NOX1 regulation was further confirmed by the effect of diacylglycerol, a PKC agonist, on the NOX1 RNA in A7r5 cells with Northern blot analysis. To establish cause and effect, we next silenced the PKCδ gene partly by RNA interference and found knockdown of PKCδ gene attenuated aldosterone-induced NOX1 expression, generation of superoxide, as well as protein synthesis in VSMCs. Taken together, these data indicated PKCδ might mediate aldosterone-dependent NOX1 upregulation in VSMCs. In addition, we showed that the cascade from aldosterone to PKCδ activation had the participation of the mineralocorticoid receptor.     

Biodegradation of Swainsonine by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain YLZZ-1 and its isolation and identification

Eight swainsonine (SW)-degrading bacteria were isolated from the soil where locoweed was buried for 6 months and one of the strains (YLZZ-1) was selected for further study. Based on morphology, physiologic tests, 16S rRNA gene sequence, and phylogenetic characteristics, the strain showed the greatest similarity to members of the order Acinetobacters and within the order to members of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus group. The ability of the strain for degrading SW, as sole carbon source, was investigated under different culture conditions. The preferential temperature and initial pH for the strain were 25–35°C and 6–9, respectively. The optimal temperature for the strain was 30°C and the optimal pH was 7.0. There was a positive correlation between degradation rate and inoculation amount. The concentration of SW affected the degradation ability. When the concentration of SW was lower than 100 mg/l, SW decreased immediately after incubation, and when the concentration of SW was 200 mg/l, there was an inhibiting effect for bacteria growth and SW degradation. The strain could degrade SW completely within 14 h when the concentration of SW was 50 mg/l. These results highlight the potential of this bacterium to be used in detoxifying of SW in livestock consuming locoweed.     

恒河猴TRIM5α的组织分布及不同刺激促进PBMC中TRIM5α转录水平的上调

TRIM5α(tripartite motif protein 5-alpha)蛋白是恒河猴体内一种非常重要的限制因子,能抑制人免疫缺陷病毒(HIV-1, human immunodeficiency virus type 1)、马感染性贫血病毒(EIAV, equine infectious anemia virus)和猫免疫缺陷病毒 (FIV, feline immunodeficiencyvirus)等逆转录病毒的复制。恒河猴TRIM5α的组织分布以及在受到外界刺激时TRIM5α mRNA表达量的变化研究还未见报道。本研究从中国恒河猴的各组织中提取总RNA,以β-actin基因作为内参照,通过半定量RT-PCR检测各组织中TRIM5α mRNA的表达。选择HIV-GFP-VSVG假病毒感染外周血单核细胞（peripheral blood mononuclear cell,PBMC）,非特异性刺激剂——佛波脂(Phorbol myfismte acetate,PMA)+离子霉素(ionomycin,Ion)及CD28抗体+CD49d抗体分别共刺激恒河猴PBMC,研究不同刺激对恒河猴TRIM5α mRNA表达水平的影响。结果表明：TRIM5α mRNA表达于所研究的恒河猴21种组织中,免疫系统和泌尿生殖系统组织中表达量最高,而神经系统组织,如大脑、脊髓中表达较少,其他组织中未见明显的表达差异;HIV-GFP-VSVG感染和用PMA+Ion、CD28抗体+CD49d抗体分别共刺激PBMC能促进 PBMC中TRIM5α mRNA的转录水平的上调。     

高光谱植被指数与水稻叶面积指数的定量关系

基于不同水稻品种、施氮水平和不同生育期下的大田试验,确立了水稻叶面积指数（LAI）与冠层光谱特征参数的定量关系.结果表明：水稻叶面积指数与部分高光谱植被指数存在良好的相关性,其中原始光谱组成的2波段差值指数（DI）形式相关性最好,其次为比值（RI）和归一化（NI）植被指数.相关最好的原始光谱植被指数是由近红外波段组成的差值指数DI(854,760),相关最好的一阶导数光谱植被指数是红光和近红外光组成的导数差值指数DI(D₆₇₆, D₇₇₈),但总体上导数光谱指数不如原始光谱指数与LAI关系密切.独立试验数据检验结果表明,以差值指数DI(854,760)为变量建立的水稻LAI监测模型具有较好的表现,可用于水稻LAI的估测.