兰州地区无偿献血人群血清TTV-DNA的检测

为了解兰州地区人群TTV的感染状况,作者采用套式PCR法,以TTV-DNA的ORFl中的一段309nt的序列为扩增序列,对36份兰州地区无偿献血人群血清DNA进行扩增,将扩增阳性片段测序并进行序列同源性比较,结果发现兰州地区无偿献血人群TTV感染率为52．7％。10份兰州序列之间的同源性为88．6％～95．4％,兰州序列与日本TA287株的同源性为88．1％～93．3％,表明兰州地区无偿献血人群TIN感染非常普遍,兰州地区TTV流行株存在变异,至少有基因亚型存在。     

Characterization of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-tagatose-3-epimerase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodobacter sphaeroides</Emphasis> that converts <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-fructose into <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d-</Emphasis>psicose

A non-characterized gene, previously proposed as the d-tagatose-3-epimerase gene from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 64 kDa with two identical subunits. The enzyme specificity was highest with d-fructose and decreased for other substrates in the order: d-tagatose, d-psicose, d-ribulose, d-xylulose and d-sorbose. Its activity was maximal at pH 9 and 40°C while being enhanced by Mn²⁺. At pH 9 and 40°C, 118 g d-psicose l⁻¹ was produced from 700 g d-fructose l⁻¹ after 3 h. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

In vitro regeneration of the important North American oak species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus alba</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus bicolor</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus rubra</Emphasis>

North American oak species, with their characteristic strong episodic seasonal shoot growth, are highly problematic for clonal micropropagation, resulting in the inability to achieve a stabilized shoot multiplication stage. The potential for initiating and proliferating shoot cultures derived from Quercus alba, Q. bicolor and Q. rubra explants was investigated, and a micropropagation method for these species was developed. Branch segments from 6 to 7-year-old trees were forced-flushed and the forced shoots were used as source of explants for culture initiation. A consistent shoot multiplication stage was achieved, in 13 of the 15 genotypes established in vitro, although marked differences occurred in explants from different genotypes/species. The control of efficient shoot multiplication involved the culture of decapitated shoots in a stressful horizontal position on cytokinin-containing medium with a sequence of transfers within a 6-week subculture cycle, which was beneficial to overcoming the episodic character of shoot growth. During each subculture cycle, the horizontally placed explants were cultured on media containing 0.2 mg l⁻¹ benzyladenine (BA) for 2 weeks with two successive transfers (2 weeks each) to fresh medium with 0.1 mg l⁻¹ BA, giving a 6-week subculture cycle. The general appearance and vigor of Q. alba and Q. bicolor shoot cultures were improved by the inclusion of both 0.1 mg l⁻¹ BA and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ zeatin in the medium used for the second transfer within the 6-week subculture cycle. Addition of AgNO₃ (3 mg l⁻¹) to the shoot proliferation medium of Q. rubra had a significant positive effect on shoot development pattern by reducing deleterious symptoms, including shoot tip necrosis and early senescence of leaves. The three species showed acceptable in vitro rooting rates by culturing microcuttings in medium containing 25 mg l⁻¹ indolebutyric acid for 48 h with subsequent transfer to auxin-free medium supplemented with 0.4% activated charcoal. Although an initial 5-day dark period generally improved the rooting response, it was detrimental to the quality of regenerated plantlets. However, activated charcoal stimulated not only the rooting frequencies, but it also enhanced plant quality, as evidenced by root, shoot and leaf growth.     

姜黄素诱导人脑胶质瘤细胞U251分化的实验研究

目的探讨姜黄素对体外培养的人胶质瘤细胞U251的诱导分化作用及其机制。方法将人脑胶质瘤U251细胞分为对照组和药物组,对照组以含10%小牛血清的DMEM培养基常规培养,药物组用16μmol/L姜黄素（本实验先前的研究结果显示,姜黄素作用于U251细胞48h的半数抑制浓度为16μmol/L）处理。倒置显微镜观察细胞形态学变化;流式细胞仪检测细胞周期变化;免疫细胞化学法检测波形蛋白（vimentin）表达变化;免疫印迹（Westernblot）法检测细胞外调节蛋白激酶（ERK）、磷酸化细胞外调节蛋白激酶（pERK）和胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）表达变化。结果姜黄素作用96h后,与对照组相比,U251细胞突起明显增多变细长。姜黄素培养48h,S期细胞由28.53%明显降低至20.35%（P=0.015）;vimentin强阳性细胞百分率由90%明显降低至50%（P=0.009）;GFAP蛋白与内参β-actin表达量的比值由0.22明显升高至0.50（P=0.01）。Westernblot法显示,姜黄素分别作用于U251细胞48和96h,ERK蛋白水平无明显改变,pERK/ERK分别为0.35和0.22,较对照组明显减少（P=0.03和0.007）。结论姜黄素对体外培养的胶质瘤U251细胞有显著的诱导分化作用,其机制可能与抑制异常激活的ERK信号通路有关。     

A fibrinogen-related protein from bay scallop Argopecten irradians involved in innate immunity as pattern recognition receptor

The family of fibrinogen-related proteins (FREPs) is a group of proteins with fibrinogen-like domains. Many members of this family play important roles as pattern recognition receptors in innate immune responses. The cDNA of bay scallop Argopecten irradians FREP (designated as AiFREP) was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method based on the expressed sequence tag (EST). The full-length cDNA of AiFREP was of 990 bp. The open reading frame encoded a polypeptide of 251 amino acids, including a signal sequence and a 213 amino acids fibrinogen-like domain. The fibrinogen-like domain of AiFREP was highly similar to those of mammalian ficolins and other FREPs. The temporal expression of AiFREP mRNA in hemolymph was examined by fluorescent quantitative real-time PCR. The mRNA level of scallops challenged by Listonella anguillarum was significantly up-regulated, peaked to 9.39-fold at 9 h after stimulation, then dropped back to 4.37-fold at 12 h, while there was no significant change in the Micrococcus luteus challenged group in all periods of treatment. The function of AiFREP was investigated by recombination and expression of the cDNA fragment encoding its mature peptide in Escherichia coli Rosetta gami (DE3). The recombinant AiFREP (rAiFREP) agglutinated chicken erythrocytes and human A, B, O-type erythrocytes. The agglutinating activities were calcium-dependent and could be inhibited by acetyl group-containing carbohydrates. rAiFREP also agglutinated Gram-negative bacteria E. coli JM109, L. anguillarum and Gram-positive bacteria M. luteus in the presence of calcium ions. These results collectively suggested that AiFREP functions as a pattern recognition receptor in the immune response of bay scallop and contributed to nonself recognition in invertebrates, which would also provide clues for elucidating the evolution of the lectin pathway of the complement system.