Characterization of Nef-CXCR4 interactions important for apoptosis induction

The HIV-1 Nef protein was analyzed for apoptotic structural motifs that interact with the CXCR4 receptor and induce apoptosis in CD4(+) lymphocytes. Two apoptotic motifs were identified. One centered on Nef amino acids (aa) 50 to 60, with the overlapping 20-mer peptides retaining about 82% of the activity of the full Nef protein. The second centered on aa 170 to 180, with the overlapping 20-mer peptides retaining about 30% of the activity of the full protein. Significant apoptotic abilities were observed for 11-mer motif peptides spanning aa 50 to 60 and aa 170 to 180, with a scrambled version of the 11-mer motif peptide corresponding to aa 50 to 60 showing no apoptotic ability. Hallmarks of apoptosis, such as the formation of DNA ladders and caspase activation, that were observed with the full-length protein were equally evident upon exposure of cells to these motif peptides. A CXCR4 antibody and the endogenous ligand SDF-1alpha were effective in blocking Nef peptide-induced apoptosis as well as the physical binding of a fluorescently tagged Nef protein, while CCR5 antibodies were ineffective. The CXCR4-negative cell line MDA-MB-468 was resistant to the apoptotic peptides and became sensitive to the apoptotic peptides upon transfection with a CXCR4-expressing vector. A fluorescently tagged motif peptide and Nef protein displayed physical binding to CXCR4-transfected MDA-MB-468 cells, but not to CCR5-transfected cells. The removal of the apoptotic motif sequences from the full-length protein completely eliminated the ability of Nef to induce apoptosis. However, these modified Nef proteins still retained the ability to enhance viral infectivity. Thus, specific sequences in the Nef protein appear to be necessary for Nef protein-induced apoptosis as well as for physical interaction with CXCR4 receptors.     

Antifibrotic effect of the Chinese herbs, Astragalus mongholicus and Angelica sinensis, in a rat model of chronic puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis

Nephrotic syndrome has long been treated in China with two herbs, Astragalus mongholicus and Angelica sinensis, which may have antifibrotic effects. METHODS: Rats with chronic puromycin-induced nephrosis were treated with Astragalus and Angelica 3 mL/d (n = 7) or enalapril 10 mg/kg/d (n = 7). Normal control rats (n = 7) received saline rather than puromycin, and an untreated control group (n = 7) received puromycin but no treatment. After 12 weeks, stained sections of the glomerulus and tubulointerstitium were evaluated for injury. Immunohistochemistry staining measured extracellular matrix components, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1), osteopontin, ED-1-positive cells, and alpha-actin. TGFbeta1 mRNA was assessed by in situ hybridization. Renin, ACE activity, angiotensin, and aldosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay or colorimetry. In the untreated rats, chronic renal injury progressed to marked fibrosis at 12 weeks. Astragalus and Angelica significantly reduced deterioration of renal function and histologic damage. Expressions of type III and IV collagen, fibronectin, and laminin also decreased significantly. This anti-fibrotic effect was similar to that of enalapril. The herbs had no effect on the renin-angiotensin system but did reduce the number of ED-1-positive, and alpha-actin positive cells and expression of osteopontin compared to untreated controls. The combination of Astragalus and Angelica retarded the progression of renal fibrosis and deterioration of renal function with comparable effects of enalapril. These effects were not caused by blocking the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system, but associated with suppression of the overexpression of TGFbeta1 and osteopontin, reduction of infiltrating macrophages, and less activation of renal intrinsic cells [corrected].     

呼吸道不同部位的微生物分布特点及药敏分析

目的指导临床合理选用抗生素,预防减少呼吸道感染的发生及深入.方法取痰、喉室的分泌物及喉癌术后气管内的分泌物进行细菌培养和药敏试验.结果呼吸科呼吸道感染的病原菌中以白色念球菌居首位,其次革兰阴性杆菌检出率高,对亚胺培南的耐药性最低.耳鼻喉科声带息肉患者喉室的病原菌中以草绿链球菌居首位,对阿莫西林-棒酸,头孢1、2代敏感.耳鼻喉科喉癌术后气管切开患者下呼吸道感染的病原菌中,既有革兰阳性菌（以肺炎链球菌为主）又有革兰阴性杆菌（以铜绿假单胞菌、醋酸钙不动杆菌为主）,革兰阴性杆菌较革兰阳性菌多,均对头孢他啶有较高的敏感率.结论由于细菌的分布特点不一,耐药性不一样,最好依据细菌学选择敏感抗生素,当病原菌不明时,需要经验用药时则根据其筛查出的细菌排序的流行趋势选择抗生素.     

仙台病毒核衣壳蛋白基因的克隆与原核表达

目的利用原核表达系统表达仙台病毒(Sendai Virus,SV)核衣壳蛋白。方法根据GenBank上发表的仙台病毒(Sendai Virus,SV)核衣壳蛋白基因序列,设计并合成一对引物,通过RT-PCR扩增出核衣壳蛋白全长cDNA序列,将其克隆至原核表达载体pET-30a,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)PlysS,于37℃1mmol/LIPTG条件下诱导表达,大肠杆菌裂解物经SDS-PAGE分析,在相对分子质量约60×103处出现一新蛋白带,与预期目的蛋白分子量相符。结果Western blot检测表明,表达产物能与兔抗SV阳性血清发生特异性反应,出现单一反应带,表明其具有免疫原性。结论为建立以重组NP蛋白为诊断抗原检测SV奠定基础。     

氨基酸对于Monascus ruber生物合成Monacolin K影响的研究

在Monacolin K发酵中添加氨基酸后发现较高质量浓度的氨基酸高度抑制了Monacolin K的产量。0.1 g.L-1的D-甲硫氨酸在发酵第4 d添加可以提高产量30%以上,而L-甲硫氨酸则没有此功能,D,L-甲硫氨酸因D-甲硫氨酸的关系也有一定的增产效果。以甲硫氨酸代替蛋白胨作为主要氮源,则抑制了polyketide途径的前期步骤,因此严重抑制了色素及Monacolin K的生产。另外,发现1 g.L-1的L-苯丙氨酸的添加时间越早越有利于Monacolin K的生产,在起始时添加发酵单位可达135.9 mg.L-1,可能是因为L-苯丙氨酸经过脱氨后,可以进入polyketide途径从而促进了Monacolin K的生产。     

引入CpG基序的汉滩病毒G2糖蛋白基因的克隆及表达

构建汉滩病毒G2糖蛋白的真核表达载体,并加入可增强小鼠免疫刺激作用的CpG基序,检测其可否在真核细胞中表达。参照Genebank中汉滩病毒M的全基因序列设计引物,引物两端引入可增强小鼠免疫刺激作用的CpG基序及双酶切位点,通过聚合酶链反应(PCR)获得含CpG基序的G2片段,并将其与T载体pMD18-T相连,测序后克隆至真核表达载体pcDNA3.1 上,将此真核表达载体以脂质体法转染至真核细胞Vero-E6中,利用间接免疫荧光法(IFA)检测发现转染后的Vero-E6中出现特异性的绿色荧光。结果表明本实验成功构建了汉滩病毒包膜糖蛋白G2的重组体。     

血管内皮生长因子与肺癌治疗

肺癌是世界上主要癌症杀手之一,大部分肺癌病人都死于肿瘤转移所引起的并发症.由于现在大部分的肺癌病人预后不佳,因此寻找新方法、新途径治疗尤为重要.抗血管生成是目前的肿瘤治疗研究热点之一.对目前以抗血管内皮生成因子为手段的肺癌治疗方面的研究作一综述.     

125I和65Zn在大蟾蜍体内的吸收与分布

利用同位素示踪法研究了不同引入途径的125I和65Zn在大蟾蜍体内的吸收与分布。无论采用注射还是灌喂的方法,蟾蜍对125I的残留动态差别不大,都可分为快清除期和平台期,0～2d为快清除期,3～7d为平台期,经过了快清除期之后,残留的125I约为起始量的8%,并维持到实验结束。注射了65Zn后,0～7d的吸收动态曲线有所起伏,但波动很小,其波动范围为102.4%～114.48%。表明大部分的65Zn仍留在体内,几乎没有排出体外。注射65Zn的转移并不明显。但灌喂65Zn的动态变化则大些,而且转移明显。其活度曲线出现阶段性下降,有两个下降期,第一个下降期为4h～3d,第二个下降期为5～7d。说明灌喂组对65Zn的转移比注射组的活跃,但在实验的第7d残留率仍在60%以上。     

Alterations in DNA methylation and genome structure in two rice mutant lines induced by high pressure

Pressure is expected to be an important parameter to affect characteristics of matters and control rate and equilibrium of chemical reactions. As a fundamental thermodynamic variable, it also has effects on bio-macromolecules and a lot of physiological an…     

Oligodendrocytes regulate formation of nodes of Ranvier via the recognition molecule OMgp

The molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of oligodendrocytes in formation of the nodes of Ranvier (NORs) remain poorly understood. Here we show that oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein (OMgp) aggregates specifically at NORs. Nodal location of OMgp does not occur along demyelinated axons of either Shiverer or proteolipid protein (PLP) transgenic mice. Over-expression of OMgp in OLN-93 cells facilitates process outgrowth. In transgenic mice in which expression of OMgp is down-regulated, myelin thickness declines, and lateral oligodendrocyte loops at the node-paranode junction are less compacted and even join together with the opposite loops, which leads to shortened nodal gaps. Notably, each of these structural abnormalities plus modest down-regulation of expression of Na(+) channel alpha subunit result in reduced conduction velocity in the spinal cords of the mutant mice. Thus, OMgp that is derived from glia has distinct roles in regulating nodal formation and function during CNS myelination.