微小根毛霉感染机理研究

本文在首次报告二例肺结核、糖尿病患者合并感染肺微小根毛霉的基础上,进一步探讨免疫功能受损与微小根毛霉感染关系。本文采用不同剂量~(60)Co-γ全身辐照小鼠,然后以不同途径注射同剂量的微小根毛霉的孢囊孢子,观察动物的感染情况和感染后的真菌检出率,结果发现各种辐射剂量均在辐射后7-14日感染菌的检出率最高;各种脏器感染菌的检出率以脾脏最高(66.7—81.8％);淋巴结最低(0.0—25.0％);其他脏器的感染菌检出率也有不同程度的差异。     

Global Metabolomic Profiling of Mice Brains following Experimental Infection with the Cyst-Forming Toxoplasma gondii

The interplay between the Apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii and its host has been largely studied. However, molecular changes at the metabolic level in the host central nervous system and pathogenesis-associated metabolites during brain infection are largely unexplored. We used a global metabolomics strategy to identify differentially regulated metabolites and affected metabolic pathways in BALB/c mice during infection with T. gondii Pru strain at 7, 14 and 21 days post-infection (DPI). The non-targeted Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics analysis detected approximately 2,755 retention time-exact mass pairs, of which more than 60 had significantly differential profiles at different stages of infection. These include amino acids, organic acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and vitamins. The biological significance of these metabolites is discussed. Principal Component Analysis and Orthogonal Partial Least Square-Discriminant Analysis showed the metabolites’ profile to change over time with the most significant changes occurring at 14 DPI. Correlated metabolic pathway imbalances were observed in carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, energetic metabolism and fatty acid oxidation. Eight metabolites correlated with the physical recovery from infection-caused illness were identified. These findings indicate that global metabolomics adopted in this study is a sensitive approach for detecting metabolic alterations in T. gondii-infected mice and generated a comparative metabolic profile of brain tissue distinguishing infected from non-infected host.     

Mechanism of template-independent nucleotide incorporation catalyzed by a template-dependent DNA polymerase

Numerous template-dependent DNA polymerases are capable of catalyzing template-independent nucleotide additions onto blunt-end DNA. Such non-canonical activity has been hypothesized to increase the genomic hypermutability of retroviruses including human immunodeficiency viruses. Here, we employed pre-steady state kinetics and X-ray crystallography to establish a mechanism for blunt-end additions catalyzed by Sulfolobus solfataricus Dpo4. Our kinetic studies indicated that the first blunt-end dATP incorporation was 80-fold more efficient than the second, and among natural deoxynucleotides, dATP was the preferred substrate due to its stronger intrahelical base-stacking ability. Such base-stacking contributions are supported by the 41-fold higher ground-state binding affinity of a nucleotide analog, pyrene nucleoside 5'-triphosphate, which lacks hydrogen bonding ability but possesses four conjugated aromatic rings. A 2.05 A resolution structure of Dpo4*(blunt-end DNA)*ddATP revealed that the base and sugar of the incoming ddATP, respectively, stack against the 5'-base of the opposite strand and the 3'-base of the elongating strand. This unprecedented base-stacking pattern can be applied to subsequent blunt-end additions only if all incorporated dAMPs are extrahelical, leading to predominantly single non-templated dATP incorporation.     

Single-turnover kinetic analysis of the mutagenic potential of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine during gap-filling synthesis catalyzed by human DNA polymerases lambda and beta

In the presence of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) damage, many DNA polymerases exhibit a dual coding potential which facilitates efficient incorporation of matched dCTP or mismatched dATP. This also holds true for the insertion of 8-oxodGTP opposite template bases dC and dA. Employing single-turnover kinetic methods, we examined human DNA polymerase beta and its novel X-family homolog, human DNA polymerase lambda, to determine which nucleotide and template base was preferred when encountering 8-oxodG and 8-oxodGTP, respectively. While DNA polymerase beta preferentially incorporated dCTP over dATP, DNA polymerase lambda did not modulate a preference for either dCTP or dATP when opposite 8-oxodG in single-nucleotide gapped DNA, as incorporation proceeded with essentially equal efficiency and probability. Moreover, DNA polymerase lambda is more efficient than DNA polymerase beta to fill this oxidized single-nucleotide gap. Insertion of 8-oxodGTP by both DNA polymerases lambda and beta occurred predominantly against template dA, thereby reiterating how the asymmetrical design of the polymerase active site differentially accommodated the anti and syn conformations of 8-oxodG and 8-oxodGTP. Although the electronegative oxygen at the C8 position of 8-oxodG may induce DNA structural perturbations, human DNA ligase I was found to effectively ligate the incorporated 8-oxodGMP to a downstream strand, which sealed the nicked DNA. Consequently, the erroneous nucleotide incorporations catalyzed by DNA polymerases lambda and beta as well as the subsequent ligation catalyzed by a DNA ligase during base excision repair are a threat to genomic integrity.     

抗酶抑制因子结构、功能与代谢的研究进展

抗酶抑制因子是一种热不稳定蛋白,与鸟氨酸脱羧酶同源,但不具有鸟氨酸脱羧酶活性,经泛素依赖途径被降解.抗酶抑制因子与抗酶高度亲和,抑制抗酶功能,恢复鸟氨酸脱羧酶活性.研究发现,抗酶抑制因子还能够调节多胺转运,抑制细胞周期蛋白D1的降解,以及加速中心粒复制,从而促进细胞增殖及肿瘤发生.     

Construction of a cross-species cell landscape at single-cell level

Individual cells are basic units of life. Despite extensive efforts to characterize the cellular heterogeneity of different organisms, cross-species comparisons of landscape dynamics have not been achieved. Here, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to map organism-level cell landscapes at multiple life stages for mice, zebrafish and Drosophila. By integrating the comprehensive dataset of > 2.6 million single cells, we constructed a cross-species cell landscape and identified signatures and common pathways that changed throughout the life span. We identified structural inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction as the most common hallmarks of organism aging, and found that pharmacological activation of mitochondrial metabolism alleviated aging phenotypes in mice. The cross-species cell landscape with other published datasets were stored in an integrated online portal—Cell Landscape. Our work provides a valuable resource for studying lineage development, maturation and aging.     

青海沙棘果粉抗氧化活性的研究

为了深入了解青海沙棘果粉的品质,助其实现规模化生产,从1,1-二苯基苦基苯肼自由基(DPPH·)体系、羟基自由基(·OH)体系、超氧阴离子自由基(O-2·)体系和亚硝酸盐(NO-2)的清除效果方面着手,研究了其体外清除自由基活性。结果表明,青海沙棘果粉对DPPH·、·OH、O-2·和NO-2均有清除作用,且对DPPH·、·OH的清除能力优于O-2·和NO-2。     

Polymorphisms of the DNA Methyltransferase 1 Associated with Reduced Risks of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Increased Risks of Gastric Atrophy

Introduction

DNA methyltransferase-1(DNMT1) is an important enzyme in determining genomic methylation patterns in mammalian cells. We investigated the associations between SNPs in the DNMT1 gene and risks of developing H. pylori seropositivity, gastric atrophy and gastric cancer in the Chinese population.

Methods

The study consisted of 447 patients with gastric cancer; 111 patients with gastric atrophy; and 961 healthy controls. Five SNPs, rs10420321, rs16999593, rs8101866, rs8111085 and rs2288349 of the DNMT1 gene were genotyped. Anti-H.pylori IgG was detected by ELISA. Gastric atrophy was screened by the level of serum pepsinogen Ιand II and then confirmed by endoscopy and histopatholgical examinations.

Results

The age- and sex-adjusted OR of H. pylori seropositivity was 0.67 (95%CI: 0.51–0.87) for rs8111085 TC/CC genotypes, significantly lower than the TT genotype in healthy controls. The adjusted OR of H.pylori seropositivity was 0.68 (95%CI: 0.52–0.89) for rs10420321 AG/GG genotypes. In addition, patients carrying rs2228349 AA genotype have a significantly increased risk for H.pylori seropositivity (OR = 1.67; 95%CI: 1.02–2.75). Further haplotype analyses also showed that the ATTTG and ATCTA are significantly associated with increased risks in H.pylori infection compared to the GTCCG haplotype (OR = 1.38, 95%CI: 1.08–1.77; OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.09–1.80). The adjusted ORs of gastric atrophy were 1.66 (95%CI: 1.06–2.61) for rs10420321 GG genotype, and 1.67 (95%CI 1.06–2.63, P = 0.03) for rs8111085 CC genotype, but no association was found between SNPs in the DNMT1 gene and risk of developing gastric cancer.

Conclusions

Individuals with rs10420321 GG and rs8111085 CC genotype of the DNMT1 gene were associated with reduced risks for H.pylori infection. On the other hand, higher risks of gastric atrophy were found in the carriers with these two genotypes compared to other genotypes. Our results suggested that SNPs of DNMT1 could be used as genotypic markers for predicting genetic susceptibilities to H.pylori infection and risks in gastric atrophy.     

伤胁迫对蚕豆叶片中茉莉酸分布的影响

在植物应对伤害等环境刺激的反应中,已知茉莉酸(JA)作为一种重要的信号分子在植物体内长距离运输,但目前对JA的细胞和亚细胞定位知之甚少。本研究用免疫荧光显微镜技术和免疫胶体金电镜技术证明茉莉酸分布在蚕豆叶片叶肉细胞的叶绿体、表皮细胞的细胞壁、保卫细胞的细胞壁、细胞质、叶绿体和细胞核上。其中保卫细胞的叶绿体和细胞核是JA分布的主要场所。叶片的局部灼伤可提高JA在质外体和气孔保卫细胞中的水平。由此推测,伤胁迫下JA分配的改变可能与植物体防御反应密切相关,并参与了对气孔运动的调控。     

A Na+/H+ antiporter gene of the moderately halophilic bacterium Halobacillus dabanensis D-8T: cloning and molecular characterization

A gene encoding a Na(+)/H(+) antiporter was cloned from a chromosomal DNA of Halobacillus dabanensis strain D-8(T) by functional complementation. Its presence enabled the antiporter-deficient Escherichia coli strain KNabc to survive in the presence of 0.2 M NaCl or 5 mM LiCl. The gene was sequenced and designated as nhaH. The deduced amino-acid sequence of NhaH consists of 403 residues with a calculated molecular mass of 43,481 Da, which was 54% identical and 76% similar to the NhaG Na(+)/H(+) antiporter of Bacillus subtilis. The hydropathy profile was characteristic of a membrane protein with 12 putative transmembrane domains. Everted membrane vesicles prepared from E. coli cells carrying nhaH exhibited Na(+)/H(+) as well as Li(+)/H(+) antiporter activity, which was pH-dependent with highest activities at pH 8.5-9.0 and at pH 8.5, respectively. Moreover, nhaH confers upon E. coli KNabc cells the ability to grow under alkaline conditions.