A novel ferritin subunit involved in shell formation from the pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata)

Iron is one of the most important minor elements in the shell of bivalves. This study was designed to investigate the involvement of ferritin, the principal protein for iron storage, in shell formation. A novel ferritin cDNA from the pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata) was isolated and characterized. The ferritin cDNA encodes a 206 amino acid polypeptide, which shares high similarity with snail soma ferritin and the H-chains of mammalian ferritins. Oyster ferritin mRNA shows the highest level of expression in the mantle, the organ for shell formation. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that oyster ferritin mRNA is expressed at the highest level at the mantle fold, a region essential for metal accumulation and contributes to metal incorporation into the shell. Taken together, these results suggest that ferritin is involved in shell formation by iron storage. The identification and characterization of oyster ferritin also helps to further understand the structural and functional properties of molluscan ferritins.     

Inhibition of selectin-mediated cell adhesion and prevention of acute inflammation by nonanticoagulant sulfated saccharides. Studies with carboxyl-reduced and sulfated heparin and with trestatin a sulfate

Selectins play a major role in the inflammatory reaction by initiating neutrophil attachment to activated vascular endothelium. Some heparin preparations can interact with L- and P-selectin; however, the determinants required for inhibiting selectin-mediated cell adhesion have not yet been characterized. We now report that carboxyl-reduced and sulfated heparin (prepared by chemical modifications of porcine intestinal mucosal heparin leading to the replacement of carboxylates by O-sulfate groups) and trestatin A sulfate (obtained by sulfation of trestatin A, a non-uronic pseudo-nonasaccharide extracted from Streptomyces dimorphogenes) exhibit strong anti-P-selectin and anti-L-selectin activity while lacking antithrombin-mediated anticoagulant activity. In vitro experiments revealed that both compounds inhibited P-selectin- and L-selectin-mediated cell adhesion under laminar flow conditions. Moreover, carboxyl-reduced and sulfated heparin and trestatin A sulfate were also active in vivo, as assessed by experiments showing 1) that microinfusion of trestatin A sulfate reduced by 96% leukocyte rolling along rat mesenteric postcapillary venules and 2) that both compounds inhibited (by 58-81%) neutrophil migration into thioglycollate-inflamed peritoneum of BALB/c mice. These results indicate that nonanticoagulant sulfated saccharides targeted at P-selectin and L-selectin may have therapeutic potential in inflammatory disorders.     

Ultrasensitive nucleic acid biosensors for early cancer diagnostics

We have developed ultrasensitive nucleic acid detection systems involving an amplification step where the analytical signal correlates directly to the amount of nucleic acid in the solution So far, we have performed nucleic acid quantification on several breast cancer susceptibility genes and were able to detect nucleic acid amounts that ranged from 0.1–1.0 fg of nucleic acid, which is at least 1000 times more sensitive than conventional fluorescent detection methods. The biosensors are so sensitive that they can be used for direct detection of breast cancer susceptibility genes in mRNA without involving a PCR step.     

Spindlin1, a novel nuclear protein with a role in the transformation of NIH3T3 cells

spindlin1, a novel human gene recently isolated by our laboratory, is highly homologous to mouse spindlin gene. In this study, we cloned cDNA full-length of this novel gene and send it to GenBank database as spindlin1 (Homo sapiens spindlin1) with Accession No. AF317228. In order to investigate the function of spindlin1, we studied further the subcellular localization of Spindlin1 protein and the effects of spindlin1 overexpression in NIH3T3 cells. The results showed that the fusion protein pEGFP-N1-spindlin1 was located in the nucleus and the C-terminal is correlated with nuclear localization of Spindlin1 protein. NIH3T3 cells which could stably express spindlin1 as a result of RT-PCR analysis compared with the control cells displayed a complete morphological change; made cell growth faster; and increased the percentage of cells in G2/M and S phase. Furthermore, overexpressed spindlin1 cells formed colonies in soft agar in vitro and formed tumors in nude mice. Our findings provide direct evidence that spindlin1 gene may contribute to tumorigenesis.     

慢性胃炎肠化生CD_(44)、CD_(44V6)及Cyclin D_1、Cyclin E的表达和意义

目的探讨慢性胃炎胃粘膜肠化生CD44、CD44V6及cyclin D1、Cyclin E表达的意义。方法利用免疫细胞化学技术对39例伴有肠化生的慢性胃炎和5例正常人胃窦粘膜的活检组织进行检查。结果正常人胃窦粘膜上皮,腺上皮对CD44、CD44V6、Cyclin D1和Cyclin E均为阴性,但在有神经内分泌样细胞的粘膜,CD44V6和cyclin D1为阳性。慢性胃炎肠化生区和不典型增生区除CD44为阴性外,CD44V6、cyclin D1和cyclin E均呈现不同的阳性反应,但未见有阳性的神经内分泌样细胞。间质细胞大都呈阳性反应。结论CD44V6、cyclin D1和cyclin E可能是胃癌前状态的早期事件,而CD44可能为胃癌晚期的标志物。     

植酸酶及其热稳定性研究进展

植酸酶能降解植物性饲料中的植酸盐类,释放出无机磷酸,对于提高饲料中磷的利用率,减轻畜禽高磷排泄物对环境的污染以及促进单胃动物对饲料中矿质营养的吸收利用有重要作用,因此植酸酶的研究有重要的科学和实用价值。获得高活性高热稳定性的植酸酶是近年来植酸酶工业的研究热点和难点,综述了植酸酶及其热稳定性研究的现状和提高植酸酶热稳定性方法的最新进展 。     

武汉东湖颗粒悬浮物的结构与元素组成

本研究于1989-1990对武汉东湖营养水平不同的二个湖区的颗粒悬浮物的干物质结构和元素组成进行了分析。综合平均值表明,浮游动物的现存量约为浮游植物的1/4,浮游动物群落以小型的原生动物和轮虫占优势。从年平均值来看,浮游生物的干重占颗粒悬浮物干物质的2.5-7.6%,浮游生物碳量占颗粒悬浮物碳量的4.0-9.8%;颗粒悬浮物的碳/氮比与一般浮游植物的比值相似,但明显大于多数浮游动物;颗粒悬浮物的碳与干物重之比约为一般浮游生物的3/4;颗粒悬浮物的灰分含量约为45%,显着高于除硅藻以外的其它浮游生物。从数量上来看,有机碎屑是东湖生态系统颗粒悬浮物最重要的组成部分,而活体浮游生物只占颗粒悬浮物很小的一部分(<10%);这意味着在东湖来自以浮游植物为核心的食物网的有机碎屑的形成速率显着大于有机碎屑的矿化速率。       

雌激素对多巴胺能神经元功能调节作用的研究进展

帕金森病（Parkinson‘s disease,PD)是中枢神经系统多巴胺（Dopamine,DA) 能神经元退行性疾病,其发病率具有明显的性别差异。性腺类固醇激素,尤其是雌激素,可在垂体、下丘脑、中脑边缘系统和黑质－纹状体（nigrostriatal,NS)系统等水平影响DA能神经递质系统的功能。而且,雌激素的使用剂量和时间的不同,可影响DA能神经元的活性。本文就雌激素与DA的关系及PD发病具有性别差异方面的新近进展作简要概述。