Triple mutated antibody scFv2F3 with high GPx activity: insights from MD, docking, MDFE, and MM-PBSA simulation

By combining computational design and site-directed mutagenesis, we have engineered a new catalytic ability into the antibody scFv2F3 by installing a catalytic triad (Trp²⁹–Sec⁵²–Gln⁷²). The resulting abzyme, Se-scFv2F3, exhibits a high glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, approaching the native enzyme activity. Activity assays and a systematic computational study were performed to investigate the effect of successive replacement of residues at positions 29, 52, and 72. The results revealed that an active site Ser⁵²/Sec substitution is critical for the GPx activity of Se-scFv2F3. In addition, Phe²⁹/Trp–Val⁷²/Gln mutations enhance the reaction rate via functional cooperation with Sec⁵². Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the designed catalytic triad is very stable and the conformational flexibility caused by Tyr¹⁰¹ occurs mainly in the loop of complementarity determining region 3. The docking studies illustrated the importance of this loop that favors the conformational shift of Tyr⁵⁴, Asn⁵⁵, and Gly⁵⁶ to stabilize substrate binding. Molecular dynamics free energy and molecular mechanics-Poisson Boltzmann surface area calculations estimated the pK _a shifts of the catalytic residue and the binding free energies of docked complexes, suggesting that dipole–dipole interactions among Trp²⁹–Sec⁵²–Gln⁷² lead to the change of free energy that promotes the residual catalytic activity and the substrate-binding capacity. The calculated results agree well with the experimental data, which should help to clarify why Se-scFv2F3 exhibits high catalytic efficiency.     

羟基磷灰石义眼台植入联合一期钛钉打孔术的效果研究

目的：探讨国产医用钛钉系统联合改良羟基磷灰石义眼台钛钉打孔术的手术效果。方法：选择32只健康家兔并将其分两组,在球内容摘除术后分别行单纯义眼台植入及义眼台植入联合一期钛钉打孔术,于2、4、6、12w时每组分别处死4只家兔,观察和评价家兔对钛钉的生物耐受性及HA植入物的血管化过程。以动物实验为基础,对87例患者行羟基磷灰石义眼台一期植入联合钛钉打孔术,随访12个月,观察其手术效果及与此术式相关的并发症,总结分析国产医用钛钉系统联合改良羟基磷灰石义眼台钛钉打孔术的手术效果及优点。结果：动物实验显示：一期钛钉植入术未发生钛钉移位、排斥,扫描电镜结果表明：2、4、6、12w时两组HA血管化过程无显著差异,6w时钛钉周围1mm范围内与其完全对应的环行区域内血管化程度没有显著差异。临床实验显示：改良术式与二期打孔术相比,义眼片活动度显著提高（P〈0．01）,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。两组术后肉芽肿的发生率比较无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。结论：一期植入钛钉生物相容性好,改良术式临床效果佳,术后并发症少。     

降解组测序技术在植物miRNA研究中的应用

目前, 利用芯片技术和miRNA测序可快速、准确地检测到物种中所含有的miRNA。随着越来越多的miRNA被发现, miRNA靶基因的确定已成为研究miRNA生物学功能的关键。传统的miRNA靶基因的寻找主要依赖生物信息学预测、AGO蛋白免疫共沉淀和荧光素酶法等。随着高通量测序技术的持续革新, 出现了一种新的miRNA靶基因的检测方法, 即降解组测序(degradome sequencing)法, 该方法拥有高通量测序技术、生物信息学分析和RACE验证三者的优势, 并已成功应用于拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)、水稻(Oryza sativa)和小立碗藓(Physcomitrella patens)等模式植物miRNA靶基因的检测。基于已发表的相关文献和联川生物降解组测序平台, 该文对降解组测序技术应用于植物miRNA靶基因的研究进展及其实验原理进行了综述, 同时对运用该技术可进行的更深入研究进行了讨论。     

Soil microbial properties under different vegetation types on Mountain Han

This study investigated the influence of broadleaf and conifer vegetation on soil microbial communities in a distinct vertical distribution belt in Northeast China.Soil samples were taken at 0-5,5-10 and 10-20 cm depths from four vegetation types at different altitudes,which were characterized by poplar(Populus davidiana)(1250-1300 m),poplar(P.davidiana) mixed with birch(Betula platyphylla)(1370-1550 m),birch(B.platyphylla)(1550-1720 m),and larch(Larix principis-rupprechtii)(1840-1890 m).Microbial biomass and community structure were determined using the fumigation-extraction method and phospholipid fatty acid(PLFA) analysis,and soil fungal community level physiological profiles(CLPP) were characterized using Biolog FF Microplates.It was found that soil properties,especially soil organic carbon and water content,contributed significantly to the variations in soil microbes.With increasing soil depth,the soil microbial biomass,fungal biomass,and fungal catabolic ability diminished;however,the ratio of fungi to bacteria increased.The fungal ratio was higher under larch forests compared to that under poplar,birch,and their mixed forests,although the soil microbial biomass was lower.The direct contribution of vegetation types to the soil microbial community variation was 12%.If the indirect contribution through soil organic carbon was included,variations in the vegetation type had substantial influences on soil microbial composition and diversity.     

Developmental Potential of Prepubertal Mouse Oocytes Is Compromised Due Mainly to Their Impaired Synthesis of Glutathione

Although oocytes from prepubertal animals are found less competent than oocytes from adults, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Using the mouse oocyte model, this paper has tested the hypothesis that the developmental potential of prepubertal oocytes is compromised due mainly to their impaired potential for glutathione synthesis. Oocytes from prepubertal and adult mice, primed with or without eCG, were matured in vitro and assessed for glutathione synthesis potential, oxidative stress, Ca²⁺ reserves, fertilization and in vitro development potential. In unprimed mice, abilities for glutathione synthesis, activation, male pronuclear formation, blastocyst formation, cortical granule migration and polyspermic block were all compromised significantly in prepubertal compared to adult oocytes. Cysteamine and cystine supplementation to maturation medium significantly promoted oocyte glutathione synthesis and blastocyst development but difference due to maternal age remained. Whereas reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels increased, Ca²⁺ storage decreased significantly in prepubertal oocytes. Levels of both catalytic and modifier subunits of the γ-glutamylcysteine ligase were significantly lower in prepubertal than in adult oocytes. Maternal eCG priming improved all the parameters and eliminated the age difference. Together, the results have confirmed our hypothesis by showing that prepubertal oocytes have a decreased ability to synthesize glutathione leading to an impaired potential to reduce ROS and to form male pronuclei and blastocysts. The resulting oxidative stress decreases the intracellular Ca²⁺ store resulting in impaired activation at fertilization, and damages the microfilament network, which affects cortical granule redistribution leading to polyspermy.     

Common gene variants in RAD51, XRCC2 and XPD are not associated with clinical outcome in soft-tissue sarcoma patients

BackgroundDNA repair mechanisms play a major role in cancer risk and progression. Germline variants in DNA repair genes may result in altered gene function and/or activity, thereby causing inter-individual differences in a patient's tumor recurrence capacity. In genes of the DNA repair pathway the gene variants RAD51 rs1801320 G > C, XRCC2 rs3218536 G > A and XPD rs13181 A > C have been previously related to genetic predisposition and prognosis of various cancer entities. In this study we investigated the association between these polymorphisms and time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS) in soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) patients after curative surgery.MethodsTwo hundred sixty STS patients were included in this retrospective study. Germline DNA was genotyped by 5′-exonuclease (TaqMan) technology. Kaplan Meier curves and multivariate Cox proportional models were calculated for TTR and OS.ResultsA statistically significant association was observed between tumor grade and adjuvant radiotherapy and TTR and between tumor grade and OS. No association was found between RAD51 rs1801320 G > C, XRCC2 rs3218536 G > A and XPD rs13181 A > C and TTR and OS in univariate and multivariate analysis.ConclusionOur results underline a prognostic effect of tumor grade and adjuvant radiotherapy in STS patients but indicate no association between RAD51 rs1801320 G > C, XRCC2 rs3218536 G > A and XPD rs13181 A > C and clinical outcome in STS patients after curative surgery.     

Extraocular Muscle Characteristics Related to Myasthenia Gravis Susceptibility

Background

The pathogenesis of extraocular muscle (EOM) weakness in myasthenia gravis might involve a mechanism specific to the EOM. The aim of this study was to investigate characteristics of the EOM related to its susceptibility to myasthenia gravis.

Methods

Female F344 rats and female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received injection with Ringer solution containing monoclonal antibody against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR), mAb35 (0.25 mg/kg), to induce experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis, and the control group received injection with Ringer solution alone. Three muscles were analyzed: EOM, diaphragm, and tibialis anterior. Tissues were examined by light microscopy, fluorescence histochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. Western blot analysis was used to assess marker expression and ELISA analysis was used to quantify creatine kinase levels. Microarray assay was conducted to detect differentially expressed genes.

Results

In the experimental group, the EOM showed a simpler neuromuscular junction (NMJ) structure compared to the other muscles; the NMJ had fewer synaptic folds, showed a lesser amount of AChR, and the endplate was wider compared to the other muscles. Results of microarray assay showed differential expression of 54 genes in the EOM between the experimental and control groups.

Conclusion

Various EOM characteristics appear to be related to the increased susceptibility of the EOM and the mechanism of EOM weakness in myasthenia gravis.     

yeaI基因对奶牛源大肠杆菌NJ17生物学特性的影响

c-di-GMP是细菌中广泛存在的第二信使,可通过效应蛋白参与调控细菌的生物被膜形成、运动性和毒力等生物学特性。YeaI因含有能结合c-di-GMP分子的EGEVF基序,可能作为c-di-GMP效应蛋白发挥作用。[目的] 研究yeaI基因缺失对奶牛源大肠杆菌临床分离株NJ17生物学特性的影响。[方法] 构建NJ17的yeaI缺失株（NJ17ΔyeaI）及回复株cNJ17ΔyeaI,分析yeaI对NJ17生物学特性（如生长特性、生物被膜形成能力和对小鼠乳腺上皮细胞（EpH₄-Ev）的黏附）的影响。[结果] 成功构建NJ17的yeaI缺失株（NJ17ΔyeaI）及其回复株（cNJ17ΔyeaI）;与野生株NJ17相比,缺失株NJ17ΔyeaI生长特性及耐药性无显著变化,生物被膜形成能力显著下降,运动性显著升高（P<0.05）;透射电镜检测结果表明,yeaI缺失影响NJ17菌毛和鞭毛的形成;实时定量PCR（qPCR）结果显示,yeaI基因显著抑制NJ17鞭毛基因filG和motB的转录水平（P<0.05）;血清杀菌实验表明,yeaI缺失能显著增强其抵抗血清杀菌作用（P<0.05）;对EpH₄-Ev细胞黏附实验表明,yeaI缺失对NJ17黏附性无显著影响（P>0.05）。[结论] yeaI对奶牛源大肠杆菌NJ17的生物学特性具有重要的调控作用。