Relationship of stigma behaviors and breeding system in three Mazus (Phrymaceae) species with bilobed stigma

Sensitive stigma has been recognized to facilitate outcrossing. We hypothesized that species with different levels of sensitivity might have corresponding differences in components of their breeding system. In this study, three Mazus species with bilobed stigmas were used to test the hypothesis. We explored stigma behaviors of the species in reaction time, recovery time, permanent closing time, and the minimum pollen load causing permanent closure. We investigated floral traits, pollinator type and behavior, pollination intensity, and natural schedule of pollen deposition on stigma. Moreover, we evaluated the mating system of the species by checking seed set after controlled pollination treatments, namely, natural flowers with open pollination, enclosed flowers without pollination, and enclosed flowers with self and outcross hand pollination. Results indicated that stigma of M. pumilus (N. L. Burman) Steenis was not sensitive, whereas stigmas of M. miquelii Makino and M. stachydifolius (Turcz.) Maxim. closed and reopened quickly in response to pollination. Accordingly, hand pollination treatments revealed that seed set of self-spontaneous pollination in M. pumilus was similar to the other treatments. For M. miquelii, outcross pollen resulted in significantly higher seed set than self-pollen.Mazus stachydifolius was self-incompatible. Additionally, the corresponding characteristics in other components of the breeding system for each species were found. Our study indicated that the sensitivity of bilobed stigma might be linked with floral traits and the mating system in a given species. Sensitive stigma should be regarded as an evolutionary mechanism for enhancement of outcrossing.     

逆病毒载体介导双耐药基因在脐血CD34+细胞中的表达和抗性研究

为探讨转染醛脱氢酶基因(ALDHl)和多药耐药基因(MDRl)的人脐血CD34+细胞能否同时增强对活性环磷酰胺(4-HC)和MDRl基因靶药的抗性,构建了同时含ALDHl和MDRl双耐药基因的逆转录病毒表达质粒GlNa-ALDHl-IRES-MDRl,经LipofectAMINE介导转染GP+E86和PA317包装细胞,采用含长春新碱(VCR)和4-HC的培养基克隆选择后收集重组病毒上清于单向型GP+E86与双嗜型PA317包装细胞行乒乓交互感染,获得PA317重组病毒生产细胞(最高滴度达5.6×105CFU／ml),将含ALDHl和MDRl双耐药基因重组病毒的上清在细胞生长因子刺激下重复感染人脐血CD34+细胞,用PCR、RT-PCR、Southernblot、Northernblot、FACS和MTT等方法检测外源ALDHl与MDRl基因在CD34+细胞中的转移和表达。结果显示逆转录病毒载体介导的双耐药基因已经整合人转染靶细胞基因组并获得有效表达,同时传递不同的耐药表型。经双耐药基因修饰的脐血CD34+细胞对4-HC和VCR药物同时产生抗性,其IC50值分别比未转染细胞高4倍和7.2倍,本研究为开展肿瘤基因治疗的临床研究奠定了实验基础。     

一株产蓝色素菌株生物学特性及色素基本性质的研究

对一株从土壤中筛选的产蓝色素链霉菌-ZLT菌株进行了生物学特性和色素基本特性的研究。根据其形态、培养特征和生理生化特性分析,该产蓝色素菌株为链霉菌属,命名为链霉菌-ZLT。与现有报道的放线菌蓝色素相比,该色素纯度较高,无毒副作用,初步认为该色素为一种新的天然蓝色素。     

A recombinant anti-erbB2, scFv-Fc-IL-2 fusion protein retains antigen specificity and cytokine function

Elevated erbB2 expression is detected in many in situ and invasive human ductal carcinomas. Anti-erbB2 antibody directed at the extracellular domain of erbB2 can result in an antitumor response in some patients with tumors overexpressing erbB2 oncoprotein. By combining interleukin 2 (IL-2) activities with a tumor specific antibody, immunotherapy of tumors might be more effective in the future. In this study, a fusion protein consisting of erbB2 single chain antibody (scFv), Fc fragment of human IgG1 and IL-2 was constructed. The molecular weight of fusion proteins is 66 kDa, only one third of whole antibody-IL-2 fusion protein or 44% whole Ig molecule. The fusion proteins retained the activities of both antigen binding and IL-2. The scFv-Fc-IL-2 fusion protein may have advantages over whole antibody-IL-2 fusion proteins, such as smaller molecule, better activity of penetration, more favorable pharmacokinetic properties.     

Could CCI or FBCI Fully Eliminate the Impact of Curve Flexibility When Evaluating the Surgery Outcome for Thoracic Curve Idiopathic Scoliosis Patient? A Retrospective Study

PurposeTo clarify if CCI or FBCI could fully eliminate the influence of curve flexibility on the coronal correction rate.MethodsWe reviewed medical record of all thoracic curve AIS cases undergoing posterior spinal fusion with all pedicle screw systems from June 2011 to July 2013. Radiographical data was collected and calculated. Student t test, Pearson correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data.Results60 were included in this study. The mean age was 14.7y (10-18y) with 10 males (17%) and 50 females (83%). The average Risser sign was 2.7. The mean thoracic Cobb angle before operation was 51.9°. The mean bending Cobb angle was 27.6° and the mean fulcrum bending Cobb angle was 17.4°. The mean Cobb angle at 2 week after surgery was 16.3°. The Pearson correlation coefficient r between CCI and BFR was -0.856(P<0.001), and between FBCI and FFR was -0.728 (P<0.001). A modified FBCI (M-FBCI) = (CR-0.513)/BFR or a modified CCI (M-CCI) = (CR-0.279)/FFR was generated by curve estimation has no significant correlation with FFR (r=-0.08, p=0.950) or with BFR (r=0.123, p=0.349).ConclusionsFulcrum-bending radiographs may better predict the outcome of AIS coronal correction than bending radiographs in thoracic curveAIS patients. Neither CCI nor FBCI can fully eliminate the impact of curve flexibility on the outcome of correction. A modified CCI or FBCI can better evaluating the corrective effects of different surgical techniques or instruments.     

NM23-H1、 DJ1 和 TIM1 在低分化鼻咽鳞癌 组织和 CNE2 细胞株中共同表达

鼻咽癌为一种好发于鼻咽顶前壁及咽隐窝的头颈肿瘤, 98% 属低分化鳞癌 . 鼻咽癌就诊的患者中约 75% 已有颈淋巴结转移,颅神经受累 ( Ⅱ ~ Ⅵ, Ⅸ ~ Ⅻ ) 也较易发生. CNE2 为一种低分化鼻咽鳞癌细胞系,其生物学行为具有低分化鼻咽鳞癌的一些共同特点 . 选择恶性程度高的鼻咽癌组织 ( Ⅳ期,低分化鼻咽鳞癌 ) 和恶性程度高的低分化鼻咽鳞癌细胞株 CNE2 为研究样本,应用双向凝胶电泳技术获得了 6 例分辨率较高、重复性较好的低分化鼻咽鳞癌组织和 CNE2 细胞系双向凝胶电泳图谱,利用基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱 (MALDI-TOF-MS) 技术,分析了 145 个蛋白质斑点 ( 组织 66 个点,细胞株 79 个点 ),共鉴定出了 74 种蛋白质,其中瘤基因 DJ1、转移相关基因 NM23-H1 和磷酸丙糖激酶异构酶 1(TIM1) 3 种蛋白质,在 CNE2 细胞系和该 6 例低分化鼻咽鳞癌组织中均共同表达 . 并进一步应用 RT-PCR 法检测低分化鼻咽鳞癌细胞系 CNE2 和 12 例低分化鼻咽鳞癌组织三者 mRNA 的表达：在细胞系 CNE2 和 3 例Ⅳ期低分化鼻咽鳞癌病人的组织中三者全表达, 3 例Ⅲ期及 6 例Ⅱ期也各有 1 例为全表达,而在正常对照的 6 例慢性鼻咽炎组织中未检测到三者的同时表达且有一例为全阴性, NM23-H1、 DJ1 和 TIM1 三者的 mRNA 在Ⅲ、Ⅳ期低分化鼻咽鳞癌组织共同表达,与正常对照组织相比,发现两者有显著性差异 (x²=10.214 , P＜0.005). NM23-H1、 DJ1 和 TIM1 三者的共同表达,可能与低分化鼻咽鳞癌的发生发展有关.     

Hair concentrations of calcium, iron, and zinc in pregnant women and effects of supplementation

In this investigation, the concentration levels of hair elements of calcium, iron, and zinc were measured in pregnant women from Tianjin metropolis, China. The subjects were 93 cases of pregnant women who had been suffering from calcium, iron, or zinc deficiency judged by blood tests at the mid-term of the second trimester or early in the third trimester. Of these 93 cases, 82 subjects had their hair element levels measured when the blood tests were conducted. Then, they were supplied with mineral element nutrients of gluconic acidic zinc (noted as Zn-nutrient), gluconic acidic calcium (Ca-nutrient), or/and ferrous sulfate (Fe-nutrient) which were correspondent to the deficient element(s) for more than 2 mo before 84 subjects returned to hospital for further diagnoses and had their hair element levels measured for the second time. Finally, in the third trimester or nearparturient phase, 13 subjects had their hair element levels measured again. Except for the deficiencies of calcium, iron, or/and zinc, these subjects were all healthy without symptoms of any diseases. The concentrations of hair Ca, Fe, and Zn were measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. These concentrations of the three hair elements measured at three different times were statistically analyzed. From the analyses, it was clear that hair concentrations of Ca, Fe, and Zn could reflect the effects of supplementation. Also, the mutual resistant effects among Ca-, Fe-, and Zn-nutrients were revealed. However, by appropriate combination, the mutual resistant effects could be depressed and mutual promotional effects might be enhanced. Finally, it could be concluded that mineral element deficiencies might be convalesced by adequate compensations of mineral element nutrients.     

拔节期与抽穗期玉米抗纹枯病相关QTL的初步定位

以玉米自交系R15(抗)×478(感)的F_2分离群体为作图群体,构建了包含146个SSR标记位点的遗传连锁图谱,覆盖玉米基因组1666 cM,平均图距11．4 cM。通过麦粒嵌入法对229个F_(2：4)家系进行人工接种纹枯病菌,于玉米拔节期和抽穗期进行纹枯病的抗性鉴定。应用复合区间作图法分析两个时期的抗病QTL及遗传效应。结果共检测到17个抗性QTL,其中以拔节期病情指数为指标共检测到9个QTL,分别位于第1、2、3、4、5、6、和10染色体上,可解释的表型变异为3．72%-9．26%;以抽穗期的病情指数为指标共在7条染色体上检测到10个抗玉米纹枯病的QTL,分布于第2、3、4、5、6、8和9染色体上。单个QTL可解释的表型变异为4．27%-9．27%。两个时期共检测出2个共同QTL,它们分别位于第2染色体的bnlgl662-bnlg1940区间和第6染色体的umc1006-umc1723区间。定位结果表明两个时期检测出的抗性QTL的差异表达与玉米不同发育时期基因的时空表达有密切关系,从而反映在纹枯病的抗性位点差异性上．这为玉米抗病选育提供新的信息。     

Declining expression of a single epithelial cell‐autonomous gene accelerates age‐related thymic involution

Age‐related thymic involution may be triggered by gene expression changes in lymphohematopoietic and/or nonhematopoietic thymic epithelial cells (TECs). The role of epithelial cell‐autonomous gene FoxN1 may be involved in the process, but it is still a puzzle because of the shortage of evidence from gradual loss‐of‐function and exogenous gain‐of‐function studies. Using our recently generated loxP‐floxed‐FoxN1(fx) mouse carrying the ubiquitous CreER^T (uCreER^T) transgene with a low dose of spontaneous activation, which causes gradual FoxN1 deletion with age, we found that the uCreER^T‐fx/fx mice showed an accelerated age‐related thymic involution owing to progressive loss of FoxN1⁺ TECs. The thymic aging phenotypes were clearly observable as early as at 3–6 months of age, resembling the naturally aged (18–22‐month‐old) murine thymus. By intrathymically supplying aged wild‐type mice with exogenous FoxN1‐cDNA, thymic involution and defective peripheral CD4⁺ T‐cell function could be partially rescued. The results support the notion that decline of a single epithelial cell‐autonomous gene FoxN1 levels with age causes primary deterioration in TECs followed by impairment of the total postnatal thymic microenvironment, and potentially triggers age‐related thymic involution in mice.     

Slit-Robo signaling mediates lymphangiogenesis and promotes tumor lymphatic metastasis

The Slit family of guidance cues binds to Roundabout (Robo) receptors to modulate neuronal, leukocytic, and endothelial migration. Slit-Robo signaling had been reported to function as chemoattractive signal for vascular endothelial cells during angiogenesis. In this study, we found that Robo1 was expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells to mediate the migration and tube formation of these cells upon Slit2 stimulation, which were specifically inhibited by the function-blocking antibody R5 to Slit2/Robo1 interaction. To further explore the lymphangiogenic effect and significance mediated by Slit-Robo signaling, we intercrossed Slit2 transgenic mice with a non-metastatic RIP1-Tag2 mouse tumor model, and found that transgenic overexpression of Slit2 significantly enhanced tumor lymphangiogenesis and subsequently promoted mesenteric lymph node metastasis of pancreatic islet tumors. Taken together, our findings reveal that through interacting with Robo1, Slit2 is a novel and potent lymphangiogenic factor and contributes to tumor lymphatic metastasis.