北京鸭脑钙调素的分离纯化和性质的研究

钙调素(Calmodulin,简称CaM)是一种多生理功能的调节蛋白,在脑的功能活动中有重要作用。本文采用苯基琼脂糖(phenyl-Sepharose CL 4B)层析和葡聚糖凝胶(Sephadex G-50)过滤法,从北京鸭脑中分离纯化出CaM。纯化的CaM经SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)和等电聚焦(IEF)电泳鉴定均为一条区带。分子量为19kD,等电点(pI)为4.15,消光系数为1.83。 对纯化的鸭脑CaM的活性和性质进行了研究。它可明显地激活牛环核苷酸磷酸二酯酶活性,在有Ca~(2+)存在的条件下,SDS-PAGE中出现电泳迁移速度的改变,紫外吸收光谱具有已知CaM特有的吸收多峰形,并观察了Ca~(2+)对荧光发射光谱的影响。其氨基酸组成中,1/3是酸性氨基酸,苯丙氨酸和酪氨酸的比例为8:2。与猪CaM和牛CaM的物理化学性质作了比较。     

Molecular characterization of avian-like H1N1 swine influenza a viruses isolated in Eastern China, 2011

Currently, three predominant subtypes of influenza virus are prevalent in pig populations worldwide: H1N1, H3N2, and H1N2. European avian-like H1N1 viruses, which were initially detected in European pig populations in 1979, have been circulating in pigs in eastern China since 2007. In this study, six influenza A viruses were isolated from 60 swine lung samples collected from January to April 2011 in eastern China. Based on whole genome sequencing, molecular characteristics of two isolates were determined. Phylogenetic analysis showed the eight genes of the two isolates were closely related to those of the avian-like H1N1 viruses circulating in pig populations, especially similar to those found in China. Four potential glycosylation sites were observed at positions 13, 26, 198, 277 in the HA1 proteins of the two isolates. Due to the presence of a stop codon at codon 12, the isolates contained truncated PB1-F2 proteins. In this study, the isolates contained 591Q, 627E and 701N in the polymerase subunit PB2, which had been shown to be determinants of virulence and host adaptation. The isolates also had a D rather than E at position 92 of the NS1, a marker of mammalian adaptation. Both isolates contained the GPKV motif at the PDZ ligand domain of the 3′ end of the NS1, a characteristic marker of the European avian-like swine viruses since about 1999, which is distinct from those of avian, human and classical swine viruses. The M2 proteins of the isolates have the mutation (S31N), a characteristic marker of the European avian-like swine viruses since about 1987, which may confer resistance to amantadine and rimantadine antivirals. Our findings further emphasize the importance of surveillance on the genetic diversity of influenza A viruses in pigs, and raise more concerns about the occurrence of cross-species transmission events.     

Improving the Secretory Expression of an α-Galactosidase from Aspergillus niger in Pichia pastoris

α-Galactosidases are broadly used in feed, food, chemical, pulp, and pharmaceutical industries. However, there lacks a satisfactory microbial cell factory that is able to produce α-galactosidases efficiently and cost-effectively to date, which prevents these important enzymes from greater application. In this study, the secretory expression of an Aspergillus niger α-galactosidase (AGA) in Pichia pastoris was systematically investigated. Through codon optimization, signal peptide replacement, comparative selection of host strain, and saturation mutagenesis of the P1’ residue of Kex2 protease cleavage site for efficient signal peptide removal, a mutant P. pastoris KM71H (Mut^s) strain of AGA-I with the specific P1’ site substitution (Glu to Ile) demonstrated remarkable extracellular α-galactosidase activity of 1299 U/ml upon a 72 h methanol induction in 2.0 L fermenter. The engineered yeast strain AGA-I demonstrated approximately 12-fold higher extracellular activity compared to the initial P. pastoris strain. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the highest yield and productivity of a secreted α-galactosidase in P. pastoris, thus holding great potential for industrial application.     

不同加热方式对嗜肺军团菌环介导等温扩增检测法的影响

目的:研究不同的加热方式对嗜肺军团菌环介导等温扩增检测法的影响方法:用已知的13株嗜肺军团菌样本,采用空气浴、水浴和PCR仪同时进行环介导等温扩增,观察沉淀反应、荧光反应以及产物电泳结果。结果:水浴和PCR仪加热LAMP反应的沉淀产物较多,荧光反应较强,电泳检测结果较为明显。空气浴的3种检测结果均较弱。结论:采用水浴和PCR仪进行环介导等温扩增反应的效果较好,从仪器设备的成本及实验条件考虑,采用水浴是环介导等温扩增反应首选的加热方式。     

黏菌代谢产物及其生物活性的研究进展

黏菌代谢产物的研究显示出其较高的应用价值,并取得了较大的进展。本文综述了从黏菌中分离得到的100余个代谢产物,主要包括:脂肪酸、氨基酸、生物碱、萘醌、芳香族化合物、萜类化合物以及酯或其衍生品等。阐述了其抑菌、抗肿瘤、细胞毒及抗氧化活性,简要介绍了化合物的构效关系,同时对黏菌生物活性的研究方法及生物化学特征进行了总结,分析了不同黏菌类群代谢产物的异同。最后对黏菌代谢产物的研究提出了问题与展望。     

Effects of endogenous beta-amyloid overproduction on tau phosphorylation in cell culture

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by beta-amyloid (Abeta) overproduction and tau hyperphosphorylation. Recent studies have shown that synthetic Abeta promotes tau phosphorylation in vitro. However, whether endogenously overproduced Abeta promotes tau phosphorylation and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we used mouse neuroblastoma N2a stably expressing wild-type amyloid precursor protein (APPwt) or the Swedish mutant APP (APPswe) to determine the alterations of phosphorylated tau and the related protein kinases. We found that phosphorylation of tau at paired helical filament (PHF)-1, pSer396 and pThr231 epitopes was significantly increased in cells transfected with APPwt and APPswe, which produced higher levels of Abeta than cells transfected with vector or amyloid precursor-like protein 1. The activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) was up-regulated with a concomitant reduction in the inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK-3 at its N-terminal Ser9 residue. In contrast, the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (CDK-5) and protein kinase C (PKC) was down-regulated. Inhibition of GSK-3 by LiCl, but not inhibition of CDK-5 by roscovitine, arrested Abeta secretion and tau phosphorylation. Inhibition of PKC by GF-109203X activated GSK-3, whereas activation of PKC by phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate inhibited GSK-3. These results suggest that endogenously overproduced Abeta induces increased tau phosphorylation through activation of GSK-3, and that inactivation of PKC is at least one of the mechanisms involved in GSK-3 activation.     

中枢神经细胞的高尔基复合体ACP活性分布的电镜观察

本文采用电镜金属盐法—酸性磷酸酶(ACP)细胞化学技术,用30mmol/L pipes缓冲液配制低浓度戊二醛进行固定。对成年大鼠的大脑大锥体细胞,小脑浦肯野氏细胞,脊髓前角运动细胞的高尔基复合体的ACP活性进行了实验研究和探讨。结果发现ACP活性分布在高尔基复合体的部份转移泡、浓缩泡及GERL部位。高尔基复合体呈ACP阳性反应,并显示出多种形态。     

菌株DN2对烟草薄片制备液中烟碱的降解

使用O.intermedium DN2降解烟草薄片制备液中的烟碱。研究了各种工艺参数对烟碱降解的影响,单因素考察结果表明烟草薄片制备液中烟碱降解的最适条件是:添加0.1%的酵母膏,使用氨水将pH调节到7.0,接种15%种子液,培养温度30oC。在上述条件下,采用30L发酵罐对烟草薄片制备液进行3个批次的半连续发酵,烟碱的平均降解速率为140.55mg/L/h,高于其他烟碱降解菌株。该结果表明菌株DN2可以用来降低烟草薄片中的烟碱含量。     

Synchrotron-based infrared and X-ray imaging shows focalized accumulation of Cu and Zn co-localized with beta-amyloid deposits in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the misfolding and plaque-like accumulation of a naturally occurring peptide in the brain called amyloid beta (Abeta). Recently, this process has been associated with the binding of metal ions such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). It is thought that metal dyshomeostasis is involved in protein misfolding and may lead to oxidative stress and neuronal damage. However, the exact role of the misfolded proteins and metal ions in the degenerative process of AD is not yet clear. In this study, we used synchrotron Fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy (FTIRM) to image the in situ secondary structure of the amyloid plaques in brain tissue of AD patients. These results were spatially correlated with metal ion accumulation in the same tissue sample using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (SXRF) microprobe. For both techniques, a spatial resolution of 5-10 microm was achieved. FTIRM results showed that the amyloid plaques have elevated beta-sheet content, as demonstrated by a strong amide I absorbance at 1625cm(-1). Using SXRF microprobe, we find that AD tissue also contains "hot spots" of accumulated metal ions, specifically Cu and Zn, with a strong spatial correlation between these two ions. The "hot spots" of accumulated Zn and Cu were co-localized with beta-amyloid plaques. Thus for the first time, a strong spatial correlation has been observed between elevated beta-sheet content in Abeta plaques and accumulated Cu and Zn ions, emphasizing an association of metal ions with amyloid formation in AD.