Recognition of specific and nonspecific DNA by human lactoferrin

The general principles of recognition of nucleic acids by proteins are among the most exciting problems of molecular biology. Human lactoferrin (LF) is a remarkable protein possessing many independent biological functions, including interaction with DNA. In human milk, LF is a major DNase featuring two DNA‐binding sites with different affinities for DNA. The mechanism of DNA recognition by LF was studied here for the first time. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and fluorescence measurements were used to probe for interactions of the high‐affinity DNA‐binding site of LF with a series of model‐specific and nonspecific DNA ligands, and the structural determinants of DNA recognition by LF were characterized quantitatively. The minimal ligands for this binding site were orthophosphate (K_i = 5 mM), deoxyribose 5'‐phosphate (K_i = 3 mM), and different dNMPs (K_i = 0.56–1.6 mM). LF interacted additionally with 9–12 nucleotides or nucleotide pairs of single‐ and double‐stranded ribo‐ and deoxyribooligonucleotides of different lengths and sequences, mainly through weak additive contacts with internucleoside phosphate groups. Such nonspecific interactions of LF with noncognate single‐ and double‐stranded d(pN)₁₀ provided ~6 to ~7.5 orders of magnitude of the enzyme affinity for any DNA. This corresponds to the Gibbs free energy of binding (ΔG⁰) of ?8.5 to ?10.0 kcal/mol. Formation of specific contacts between the LF and its cognate DNA results in an increase of the DNA affinity for the enzyme by approximately 1 order of magnitude (K_d = 10 nM; ΔG⁰ ≈ ?11.1 kcal/mol). A general function for the LF affinity for nonspecific d(pN)_n of different sequences and lengths was obtained, giving the K_d values comparable with the experimentally measured ones. A thermodynamic model was constructed to describe the interactions of LF with DNA. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phylogenetic analysis of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes), with a hypothesis on the monophyly and relationships of the genera

Ariid monophyly and intrafamilial relationships are investigated based on cladistic analysis of 230 morphological characters. Terminal taxa examined include whenever possible type‐species, or the most morphologically similar species to the type‐species of the nominal genera, and the largest possible number of species, including cleared and stained specimens, available in zoological collections. Previous hypotheses about monophyly of the Ariidae are strongly corroborated by new synapomorphies discovered in the present study. The subfamily Galeichthyinae and the remaining ariids are strongly supported by new morphological characters. The monotypic subfamily Bagreinae is recognized as the sister group to all nongaleichthyin ariids, supported by a large series of exclusive synapomorphies. A new concept of Ariinae is presented: the subfamily is found to be unequivocally monophyletic and includes all ariid genera, except Galeichthys and Bagre. New data supporting the monophyly of the genera included in the Ariinae are introduced and previous hypotheses of monophyly, species composition, morphological definition, and relationships are reviewed and discussed.     

Tau/APP/PS1三转基因小鼠模型的建立及生物学特征

目的:建立Tau/APP/PS1三转基因小鼠模型,从分子生物学、行为学及病理学角度研究其生物学特征。方法:将自行建立的Tau转基因小鼠与Jackson实验室引种的APP/PS1双转基因小鼠杂交、传代;PCR鉴定小鼠基因型;RT-PCR检测外源基因的转录;Western blot测定外源基因的蛋白表达;Bielschowsky氏染色法和ABC免疫组化法观察大脑神经纤维缠结和老年斑等病理改变;Morris水迷宫观测学习记忆的改变。结果:Tau/APP/PS1三转基因小鼠的大脑可转录和表达Tau、APP和PS1三种外源基因,6~8月龄时大脑皮层和海马可见神经元纤维缠结和老年斑,其学习记忆获得能力在6月龄开始受损。结论:建立的Tau/APP/PS1三转基因小鼠具有Tau和Aβ两种病理改变和学习记忆障碍,为深入探究Tau与Aβ的关系、阐明AD的发病机制以及研发靶点治疗药物提供实验工具。     

双斑蟋触角传入神经纤维在脑内投射分布研究

目的:研究昆虫触角感受器传入神经末梢在脑内投射的空间布局,揭示触角感觉信息传入的神经结构.方法:使用氯化镍神经元示踪标记技术,对双斑蟋触角感受嚣传入神经纤维进行可视化标记,观察研究触角传入神经末梢在脑内的走行形态及分布规律.结果:双斑蟋触角感受器传入神经纤维进入中脑后大量的神经末梢终止在同侧的触角叶和触角机械感觉运动中枢,部分神经纤维向前走行,其神经末梢终止在前脑,还有部分神经纤维向后下行,经同侧神经索,其神经末梢终止在食道下神经节.结论:双斑蟋触角感受器传入神经纤维进入脑后主要投射到触角叶和触角机械感觉运动中枢,少部分投射到前脑和食道下神经节.这种多重投射模式可能在双斑蟋嗅觉信息传递整合、触角运动调节、味觉和摄食活动等方面发挥重要作用.     

Genes expression of metalloproteinases (<Emphasis Type="Italic">MMP</Emphasis>-1, <Emphasis Type="Italic">MMP</Emphasis>-2, <Emphasis Type="Italic">MMP</Emphasis>-9, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">MMP</Emphasis>-12) associated with psoriasis

Using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we measured mRNA amounts of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs): MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-12 genes in psoriatic lesions and unaffected skin of the same patients. We observed significant (about 15-fold) increase in the expression level of matrix metalloproteinase MMP-1 and MMP-12 genes associated with psoriasis. The results of our studies of MMP gene expression in cultured primary human keratinocytes treated with interleukin (IL)-17 have shown upregulation of MMP gene expression both in cultured keratinocytes and in psoriatic skin lesions. Therefore, upregulation of MMP genes in the skin affected by psoriasis could result from IL-17 effects on skin cells.     

温度植被干旱指数在蒙古高原干旱监测中的应用

以蒙古高原为研究区,选择2000—2019年植物生长季的MODIS归一化植被指数(NDVI)和陆地表面温度(LST)构建NDVI-LST特征空间,由该特征空间计算蒙古高原温度植被干旱指数(TVDI);利用Theil-Sen Median趋势分析、Mann-Kendall检验及Hurst指数方法分析蒙古高原TVDI的时空变化特征和未来的变化趋势,利用偏相关分析法探究气象因子与蒙古高原TVDI之间的关系。结果表明: 2000—2019年,蒙古高原TVDI以0.0001·a^-1呈增大趋势,期间,蒙古高原的干旱情况小幅加重,其中,草甸草原和典型草原干旱情况逐渐减轻,而荒漠草原和高山草地干旱情况加重。蒙古高原TVDI的Hurst指数均值为0.45,小于0.5的地区面积占比为71.5%,说明大部分地区2000—2019年的TVDI变化趋势与过去相反。中部的荒漠草原地区和东部的草甸草原地区未来干旱情况可能加重;典型草原的大部分地区以及内蒙古境内的荒漠草原未来干旱可能减轻;高山草地地区的干旱变化无法确定。蒙古高原有33.6%的地区TVDI与气温呈显著正相关,34.8%的地区TVDI与降水量呈显著负相关,其中,典型草原受气象因子的影响最显著。     

湖北房县下寒武统西蒿坪段钉形骨片化石

本文对采自湖北房县三座庵剖面下寒武统西蒿坪段的钉形骨片(nail-shaped)化石进行了研究,系统厘定和描述了2属2种,分别为Parazhijinites guizhouensis和Cambroclavus angxianensis;其中以C.fangxianensis骨片化石最为丰富,由三种类型的骨片组成,它们可能...