Adventitious bud regeneration from leaf explants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Platanus occidentalis</Emphasis> L. and genetic stability assessment

The aim of this work is to develop a method of plant regeneration from leaf explants of Platanus occidentalis L. successfully. Woody plant medium (HortScience 16:453–459, 1981) and Murashige and Skoog (Physiol Plant 15:473–497, 1962) medium were used as induced and rooted basal medium, respectively. The effects of combinations of 6-BA, IBA, NAA and KT with different concentrations on adventitious bud regeneration from P. occidentalis leaf explants were compared. The results showed that the highest shoot regeneration frequency (90%) and maximum number (13.72 ± 0.44) of shoots per explant was recorded on WPM medium supplemented with 22.20 mmol l⁻¹ 6-BA and 0.49 mmol l⁻¹ IBA. A 40-day-old explants were much more productive for shoot formation than others in this study. The regenerated shoots were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1.33 mmol l⁻¹ 6-BA, 0.16 mmol l⁻¹ NAA and 2% (w/v) adenine, after 2-week shoots were transferred to 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.49 mmol l⁻¹ IBA for rooting. Hardened plantlets via acclimatization were transferred to pots and transplanted to the soil finally. To ascertain whether tissue culture had effects on the genetic stability of plantlets regenerated, the genetic diversity was assessed using RAPD marker. A total of 96 bands ranging from 0.5 to 2.2 kb with an average of 6.4 bands per primer, were obtained using 15 primers. Amplified products exhibited few of polymorphic patterns across all the plants of P. occidentalis and the overall frequency of detection of somaclonal polymorphisms was lower than 0.0104%. Yuehua Sun, Yanling Zhao, and Xiaojuan Wang contributed equally to this work.     

Synthesis of thermosensitive P(NIPAAm-co-HEMA)/cellulose hydrogels via “click” chemistry

Azide-modified cellulose and alkyne-modified poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-hydroxylethyl methacrylate) P(NIPAAm-co-HEMA) were synthesized. The two components were cross-linked once mixed together in the presence of Cu(I) catalyst, a type of Huisgen’s 1,3-dipolar azide–alkyne cycloaddition which is also defined as “click” chemistry, leading to the in situ formation of a series of novel thermosensitive P(NIPAAm-co-HEMA)/cellulose hydrogels. The gelation process was examined via rheology. The resulted hydrogels was studied via scanning electron microscope (SEM), equilibrium swelling ratio, swelling kinetics and temperature response kinetics. The obtained data presented that the formed hydrogels exhibited favorable thermosensitive properties upon temperature changes.     

Analyses of the Recycling Receptor, FcRn, in Live Cells Reveal Novel Pathways for Lysosomal Delivery

Lysosomes play a central role in the degradation of proteins and other macromolecules. The mechanisms by which receptors are transferred to lysosomes for constitutive degradation are poorly understood. We have analyzed the processes that lead to the lysosomal delivery of the Fc receptor, FcRn. These studies provide support for a novel pathway for receptor delivery. Specifically, unlike other receptors that enter intraluminal vesicles in late endosomes, FcRn is transferred from the limiting membrane of such endosomes to lysosomes, and is rapidly internalized into the lysosomal lumen. By contrast, LAMP-1 persists on the limiting membrane. Receptor transfer is mediated by tubular extensions from late endosomes to lysosomes, or by interactions of the two participating organelles in kiss-and-linger-like processes, whereas full fusion is rarely observed. The persistence of FcRn on the late endosomal limiting membrane, together with selective transfer to lysosomes, allows this receptor to undergo recycling or degradation. Consequently, late endosomes have functional plasticity, consistent with the presence of the Rab5 GTPase in discrete domains on these compartments.     

Electrostatic interaction in the NH2-terminus accelerates inactivation of the Kv1.4 channel

Inactivation of potassium channels plays an important role in shaping the electrical signalling properties of nerve and muscle cells. While it has been assumed that the rapid inactivation of the Kv1.4 channel is controlled by a “ball and chain” inactivation mechanism, the chain structure of the channel has not been well defined. Here, by conducting electrophysiological studies on variants containing mutations of the positively charged and negatively charged segments of the NH₂-terminal of the channel protein, we show that neutralization or deletion of the positively charged segment (residues 83-98) significantly slowed the inactivation process. Replacement of this positively charged segment with the negatively charged segment (residues 123-137), and vice versa, so that both segments were simultaneously positively or negatively charged, also slowed the inactivation process. Furthermore, the inactivation process was not changed when the positively charged and the negatively charged segments were interchanged. In contrast, the voltage dependence of activation and inactivation of the channels was not significantly altered by these mutants. These results indicate that the electrostatic interaction between the positively and negatively charged segments plays a critical role in the inactivation process of the Kv1.4 channel. Taken together, we propose that the electrostatic interaction accelerates the inactivation of the Kv1.4 channel by making it easier for the inactivation ball to access its binding site.     

Study on an amperometric immunosensor based on Nafion-cysteine composite membrane for detection of carcinoembryonic antigen

In this work, protonated l-cysteine was entrapped in Nafion (Nf) membrane by cation exchange function, forming Nf-Cys (cysteine) composite membrane, which was more stable, compact, biocompatible, and favorable for mass and electron transfer compared with Nf film solely. Then gold (Au) nanoparticles were adsorbed onto the electrode surface by thiol groups on the composite membrane. After that, nano-Au monolayer was formed, onto which carcinoembryonic antibody was loaded to prepare carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) immunosensor. The results indicated that the immunosensor had good current response for CEA using potassium ferricyanide as the redox probe. A linear concentration range of 0.01 to 100 ng/ml with a detection limit of 3.3 pg/ml (signal/noise = 3) was observed. Moreover, the morphology of the modified Au substrates was investigated with atomic force microscopy, and the electrochemical properties and performance of modified electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammograms and electrochemical impendence spectroscopy. The results exhibited that the immunosensor has advantages of simple preparation, high sensitivity, good stability, and long life expectancy. Thus, the method can be used for CEA analysis.     

Synthesis and luminescent properties of the first series of lanthanide complexes based on sebacate and 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylate

By using 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylate and sebacate as rigid and flexible mixed carboxylate linkers, five new 3D lanthanide complexes, [Ln(seb)_0.5(2,5-pydc)(H₂O)] (Ln = Eu (1), Nd (2), Sm (3), Pr (4) and Tb (5), H₂pydc = 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, H₂seb = sebacate acid) with macroporous structures, have been synthesized. Complexes 1-5 were characterized by elemental analysis, ICP spectrometer and IR spectroscopy. In particular, the structures of 1-3 were further determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural analyses reveal that complexes 1-3 have intricate 3D frameworks, which are constructed by 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylate and sebacate ligands. In addition, the thermogravimetric analysis of 1-3 and photoluminescent properties of 1 and 5 are also discussed in detail.     

原因不明子宫内膜薄雌激素受体α基因多态性及其表达

旨在探讨原因不明子宫内膜薄雌激素受体α(estrogen receptor alpha,ERα)基因多态性及其与表达的关系。选择120名原因不明子宫内膜薄患者为试验组,120名子宫内膜正常人群作为对照组。应用分子生物学的方法分析ERα基因PvuⅡ,XbaⅠ限制性片段长度多态性。通过逆转录-多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)和Western印迹法分析ERα表达。结果显示,P基因型频率试验组为47.1%,对照组为30.0%,OR值:2.076。试验组X基因型频率为20.8%,对照组为30.4%,OR值:0.602。Pvu II和Xba I限制性片段长度多态性在两组中均呈多态性分布。试验组ERα的mRNA和蛋白质表达均比对照组降低(P0.05)。由此得出,ERα基因多态性与原因不明子宫内膜薄有关,P等位基因可能是其危险因素,X等位基因可能是其保护因素。ERα在子宫内膜中原因不明子宫内膜薄中的表达低于子宫内膜厚度正常子宫内膜。     

All-trans retinol in rod photoreceptor outer segments moves unrestrictedly by passive diffusion

The visual pigment protein of vertebrate rod photoreceptors, rhodopsin, contains an 11-cis retinyl moiety that is isomerized to all-trans upon light absorption. Subsequently, all-trans retinal is released from the protein and reduced to all-trans retinol, the first step in the recycling of rhodopsin's chromophore group through the series of reactions that constitute the visual cycle. The concentration of all-trans retinol in photoreceptor outer segments can be monitored from its fluorescence. We have used two-photon excitation (720 nm) of retinol fluorescence and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching to characterize the mobility of all-trans retinol in frog photoreceptor outer segments. Retinol produced after rhodopsin bleaching moved laterally in the disk membrane bilayer with an apparent diffusion coefficient of 2.5 +/- 0.3 micro m(2) s(-1). The diffusion coefficient of exogenously added retinol was 3.2 +/- 0.5 micro m(2) s(-1). These diffusion coefficients are in close agreement with those reported for lipids, suggesting that retinol is not tightly bound to protein sites that would be diffusing much more slowly in the plane of the membrane. In agreement with this interpretation, a fluorescent-labeled C-16 fatty acid diffused laterally with a similar diffusion coefficient, 2.2 +/- 0.2 micro m(2) s(-1). Retinol also moved along the length of the rod outer segment, with an apparent diffusion coefficient of 0.07 +/- 0.01 micro m(2) s(-1), again suggesting that it is not tightly bound to proteins that would confine it to the disks. The axial diffusion coefficient of exogenously added retinol was 0.05 +/- 0.01 micro m(2) s(-1). In agreement with passive diffusion, the rate of axial movement was inversely proportional to the square of the length of the rod outer segment. Diffusion of retinol on the plasma membrane of the outer segment can readily account for the measured value of the axial diffusion coefficient, as the plasma membrane comprises approximately 1% of the total outer-segment membrane. The values of both the lateral and axial diffusion coefficients are consistent with most of the all-trans retinol in the outer segments moving unrestricted and not being bound to carrier proteins. Therefore, and in contrast to other steps of the visual cycle, there does not appear to be any specialized processing for all-trans retinol within the rod outer segment.