Iron metabolism in diabetes-induced Alzheimer’s disease: a focus on insulin resistance in the brain

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by an excessive accumulation of toxic amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and memory dysfunction. The onset of AD is influenced by age, genetic background, and impaired glucose metabolism in the brain. Several studies have demonstrated that diabetes involving insulin resistance and glucose tolerance could lead to AD, ultimately resulting in cognitive dysfunction. Even though the relationship between diabetes and AD was indicated by significant evidences, the critical mechanisms and metabolic alterations in diabetes induced AD are not clear until now. Recently, iron metabolism has been shown to play multiple roles in the central nervous system (CNS). Iron deficiency and overload are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Iron binds to Aβ and subsequently regulates Aβ toxicity in the CNS. In addition, previous studies have shown that iron is involved in the aggravation of insulin resistance. Considering these effects of iron metabolism in CNS, we expect that iron metabolism may play crucial roles in diabetic AD brain. Thus, we review the recent evidence regarding the relationship between diabetes-induced AD and iron metabolism.     

几个生态因子对黄盖鲽的影响

黄盖鲽(Psuedopleuronectes yokohameGünther)是鲽科中的冷温性鱼类,广泛分布在日本、朝鲜及我国的东海、黄海和渤海。地方种群多,洄游范尉小,适应能力强,既是底栖生物食性,又可耐较低的温度,虽非名贵鱼种,却具有一定的经济价值,在开展近海增殖时,不存在越冬和效益外流问题。因此,早在60年代,日本山口县和大分县的学者们,便开始着手该品种的人工孵化和增殖放流试验。80年代初已达年放流2—3cm的稚鱼苗7.0×10~6尾的水平。为了在渤海开展增殖工作,建立综     

单核细胞增多性李斯特菌氨基肽酶Lmo1711体外表达及其酶活分析

对单核细胞增多性李斯特菌(简称单增李斯特菌)lmo1711基因编码的氨基肽酶进行克隆表达与纯化,并研究该重组蛋白的体外酶学特性。首先通过生物信息学分析预测Lmo1711与氨基肽酶家族成员的亲缘关系及关键活性位点的保守性。利用SWISS-MODEL模拟预测该蛋白的空间结构;构建Lmo1711原核表达载体并转化入E.coli Rosetta中,诱导表达重组目的蛋白,并利用镍离子亲和层析方法纯化目的蛋白;以氨基酸-对硝基苯胺偶联物为底物,Lmo1711通过水解底物N端氨基酸残基产生游离对硝基苯胺单体,405 nm处检测吸光值对该产物进行检测从而分析Lmo1711的酶学特性。在此基础上系统研究Lmo1711对不同氨基酸残基底物的催化特异性,及不同金属离子对该酶活性的影响。经原核表达纯化获得49.3 kDa的重组Lmo1711蛋白,与预测分子量一致;生物信息学分析推测Lmo1711属于M29氨基肽酶家族,且存在保守关键氨基酸活性位点(Glu250、Glu316、His345、Tyr352、His378、Asp380);酶活分析显示,Lmo1711具有较强的氨基肽酶活性,针对不同底物的结合和催化能力差异较大,对亮氨酸残基的亲和程度最高;Lmo1711氨基肽酶活性具有金属离子依赖性,Co~(2+)、Cd~(2+)、Zn~(2+)等多种金属离子均能显著增强其活性,其中Co~(2+)的激活效应最显著。本试验首次发现并证实,单增李斯特菌Lmo1711属于M29氨基肽酶家族成员,具有较强的催化活性,且对金属离子具有不同程度的依赖性。     

Catalase, but not MnSOD, inhibits glucose deprivation-activated ASK1-MEK-MAPK signal transduction pathway and prevents relocalization of Daxx: hydrogen peroxide as a major second messenger of metabolic oxidative stress

Overexpression of catalase, but not manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), inhibited glucose deprivation-induced cytotoxicity and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) activation in human prostate adenocarcinoma DU-145 cells. Suppression of JNK1 activation by catalase overexpression resulted from inhibition of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) activation by preventing dissociation of thioredoxin (TRX) from ASK1. Overexpression of catalase also inhibited relocalization of Daxx from the nucleus to the cytoplasm as well as association of Daxx with ASK1 during glucose deprivation. Taken together, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) rather than superoxide anion (O(2) (*-)) acts as a second messenger of metabolic oxidative stress to activate the ASK1-MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK)-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway.     

Rht10基因对‘鲁麦15’农艺性状和光合生理特性的影响

利用鲁麦15、Rht10鲁麦15、Ms2鲁麦15及Ms2+Rht10鲁麦15近等基因系为试验材料,研究了Rht10基因对小麦农艺性状、净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)等光合生理特性的影响.结果表明,Rht10使小麦的挑旗、抽穗、开花期均推迟了4～5 d;Rht10对鲁麦15和Ms2鲁麦15的降秆强度分别为53.77%和53.00%,穗长显著缩短(P<0.05),千粒重显著减少,但对有效穂数无显著影响(P>0.05).含有Rht10基因的材料与不含此基因的材料之间的光合生理参数普遍存在显著差异,但在不同时期不同参数差异正负不同;在灌浆后期,Rht10对Pn有显著正效应(P<0.05);从开花期到灌浆后期,Pn与气孔导度(Gs)、胞间二氧化碳浓度(Ci)总体变化趋势相同,且相关性显著,表明Pn在一定程度上受气孔因素的限制;在灌浆中后期,Rht10对Gs有明显的正效应;在抽穗和开花期,Rht10对Tr有明显的正效应;Rht10对叶片水分利用效率(WUE)在4个生育期有明显的负效应.由此可见,Rht10基因对小麦的生育期、株高、穗长都有明显的不利影响,对各项光合生理参数也有普遍正向或负向的影响,在利用Rht10进行杂交育种时应充分考虑此基因带来的不利效应.     

Trigoxyphins H and I: two new daphnane diterpenoids from Trigonostemon xyphophylloides

Two new daphnane diterpenoids (1 and 2), together with four known analogues (3-6) were isolated from Trigonostemon xyphophylloides. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activities against the SPCA-1 (human lung cancer) and BEL-7402 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) cancer cell lines. Trigoxyphin I (2) showed modest cytotoxicity against two tumor cell lines.     

细菌素Paracin 1.7的纯化与性质

[目的]分离纯化(Lactobacillus paracasei)HD1.7所产生的细菌素并分析其特性.[方法]细菌素Paracin1.7的纯化采用色谱技术,其分子量检测采用十二烷基磺酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE),利用琼脂扩散法测定细菌素活力.[结果]Paracin 1.7分离于我国传统发酵食品酸菜发酵液中,其产生菌为副干酪乳杆菌.Paracin 1.7可以抑制其它微生物的生长,为细菌素.该菌在稳定期可产生大量Paracin 1.7.经过阳离子交换层析、凝胶过滤层析以及高效液相色谱(HPLC),对该细菌素进行了初步纯化,并经Tricine-SDS-PAGE检测其分子量大约为11 kDa.Paracin 1.7抑菌谱较广,其抑菌范围包括Proteus,Bacillus,Enterobacter,Staphylococcus,Escherichia,Lactobacillus,Microccus,Pseudomonas,Salmonella,Saccharomyces,其中有些为食品源致病菌.该细菌素在酸性及高温下稳定,对几种蛋白质酶敏感.该细菌素对敏感菌株的作用方式为抑菌.在4℃保存4个月后,Paraein 1.7的抑菌活性保持稳定.[结论]基于细菌素Paracin 1.7的性质,该细菌素可用作食品防腐剂.     

Choline transporter‐like protein 4 (CTL4) links to non‐neuronal acetylcholine synthesis

Synthesis of acetylcholine (ACh) by non‐neuronal cells is now well established and plays diverse physiologic roles. In neurons, the Na⁺‐dependent, high affinity choline transporter (CHT1) is absolutely required for ACh synthesis. In contrast, some non‐neuronal cells synthesize ACh in the absence of CHT1 indicating a fundamental difference in ACh synthesis compared to neurons. The aim of this study was to identify choline transporters, other than CHT1, that play a role in non‐neuronal ACh synthesis. ACh synthesis was studied in lung and colon cancer cell lines focusing on the choline transporter‐like proteins, a five gene family choline‐transporter like protein (CTL)1–5. Supporting a role for CTLs in choline transport in lung cancer cells, choline transport was Na⁺‐independent and CTL1–5 were expressed in all cells examined. CTL1, 2, and 5 were expressed at highest levels and knockdown of CTL1, 2, and 5 decreased choline transport in H82 lung cancer cells. Knockdowns of CTL1, 2, 3, and 5 had no effect on ACh synthesis in H82 cells. In contrast, knockdown of CTL4 significantly decreased ACh secretion by both lung and colon cancer cells. Conversely, increasing expression of CTL4 increased ACh secretion. These results indicate that CTL4 mediates ACh synthesis in non‐neuronal cell lines and presents a mechanism to target non‐neuronal ACh synthesis without affecting neuronal ACh synthesis.