The WEE1 regulators CPEB1 and miR-15b switch from inhibitor to activators at G2/M

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in the AGO-containing RISC complex control messenger RNA (mRNA) translation by binding to mRNA 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR). The relationship between miRNAs and other regulatory factors that also bind to mRNA 3′UTR, such as CPEB1 (cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein), remains elusive. We found that both CPEB1 and miR-15b control the expression of WEE1, a key mammalian cell cycle regulator. Together, they repress WEE1 protein expression during G1 and S-phase. Interestingly, the 2 factors lose their inhibitory activity at the G2/M transition, at the time of the cell cycle when WEE1 expression is maximal, and, moreover, rather activate WEE1 translation in a synergistic manner. Our data show that translational regulation by RISC and CPEB1 is essential in cell cycle control and, most importantly, is coordinated, and can be switched from inhibition to activation during the cell cycle.     

关于（荒野）殖民化

由于人类体验自然的渴望日益增长,在政治和实践层面,在城市中提供接触自然的机会显得越来越必要。关于“城市荒野”的思想和规划旨在提供一种特殊的自然体验。鉴于不同荒野思想之间存在冲突,风景园林师必须设法了解已有的荒野认知及其含义。通过 3 个荒野类别—“未知荒野”“特定荒野”和“过程荒野”,探讨发展千年的荒野理念,并提出“殖民化”（colonisations）概念作为理解荒野理念发展的一个关键。自然过程伴随着动植物对空间的殖民,而人类进入和占有空间的殖民过程则包含生理、心理和精神 3 个层面的内容。空间命名是一种特殊的、具有精神和象征意味的殖民化形式。例如,人类在城市中发现野生植被,称其为“野性自然”或“城市荒野”。然而,如今大多数（尤其官方）的荒野定义中均排除了人类干扰：一旦被殖民,真正的荒野就不复存在。科学研究对自然过程的殖民化已取得很多成果,但对于人类有关自然和荒野的认知和态度了解并不多。对于风景园林师来说,这有助于更好地理解如何“基于自然进行设计和建造”,对创造令人满意的景观也非常重要。探讨与“城市荒野”有关的论述、规划和设计观点及思想。 由于人类体验自然的渴望日益增长,在政治和实践层面,在城市中提供接触自然的机会显得越来越必要。关于“城市荒野”的思想和规划旨在提供一种特殊的自然体验。鉴于不同荒野思想之间存在冲突,风景园林师必须设法了解已有的荒野认知及其含义。通过 3 个荒野类别—“未知荒野”“特定荒野”和“过程荒野”,探讨发展千年的荒野理念,并提出“殖民化”（colonisations）概念作为理解荒野理念发展的一个关键。自然过程伴随着动植物对空间的殖民,而人类进入和占有空间的殖民过程则包含生理、心理和精神 3 个层面的内容。空间命名是一种特殊的、具有精神和象征意味的殖民化形式。例如,人类在城市中发现野生植被,称其为“野性自然”或“城市荒野”。然而,如今大多数（尤其官方）的荒野定义中均排除了人类干扰：一旦被殖民,真正的荒野就不复存在。科学研究对自然过程的殖民化已取得很多成果,但对于人类有关自然和荒野的认知和态度了解并不多。对于风景园林师来说,这有助于更好地理解如何“基于自然进行设计和建造”,对创造令人满意的景观也非常重要。探讨与“城市荒野”有关的论述、规划和设计观点及思想。     

Quantitative Analysis of the Whole-Body Metabolic Fate of Branched-Chain Amino Acids

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Angiostatin production in cultivation of recombinant Pichia pastoris fed with mixed carbon sources

A recombinant strain of Pichia pastoris with a phenotype of Mut^S was used to produce angiostatin. Due to the low methanol consumption rate of this strain, both methanol and glycerol feedings, that produced oscillation in dissolved O₂ concentration, were used during the expression phase to improve cell growth and angiostatin expression. However, enhanced cell growth led to nitrogen limitation that suppressed further production of angiostatin, but addition of ammonia allowed angiostatin concentration to reach 108 mg l^–1 after an expression period of 96 h. The ratio of consumed glycerol to methanol of 1.5:1 (w/w) in the expression phase suggested that methanol played an important role in the metabolism of carbon sources.     

Conservation and Immunogenicity of Novel Antigens in Diverse Isolates of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

BackgroundEnterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) are common causes of diarrheal morbidity and mortality in developing countries for which there is currently no vaccine. Heterogeneity in classical ETEC antigens known as colonization factors (CFs) and poor efficacy of toxoid-based approaches to date have impeded development of a broadly protective ETEC vaccine, prompting searches for novel molecular targets.MethodologyUsing a variety of molecular methods, we examined a large collection of ETEC isolates for production of two secreted plasmid-encoded pathotype-specific antigens, the EtpA extracellular adhesin, and EatA, a mucin-degrading serine protease; and two chromosomally-encoded molecules, the YghJ metalloprotease and the EaeH adhesin, that are not specific to the ETEC pathovar, but which have been implicated in ETEC pathogenesis. ELISA assays were also performed on control and convalescent sera to characterize the immune response to these antigens. Finally, mice were immunized with recombinant EtpA (rEtpA), and a protease deficient version of the secreted EatA passenger domain (rEatAp_H134R) to examine the feasibility of combining these molecules in a subunit vaccine approach.ConclusionsCollectively, these data suggest that novel antigens could significantly complement current approaches and foster improved strategies for development of broadly protective ETEC vaccines.     

The Ketogenic Diet Alters the Hypoxic Response and Affects Expression of Proteins Associated with Angiogenesis,Invasive Potential and Vascular Permeability in a Mouse Glioma Model

Background

The successful treatment of malignant gliomas remains a challenge despite the current standard of care, which consists of surgery, radiation and temozolomide. Advances in the survival of brain cancer patients require the design of new therapeutic approaches that take advantage of common phenotypes such as the altered metabolism found in cancer cells. It has therefore been postulated that the high-fat, low-carbohydrate, adequate protein ketogenic diet (KD) may be useful in the treatment of brain tumors. We have demonstrated that the KD enhances survival and potentiates standard therapy in a mouse model of malignant glioma, yet the mechanisms are not fully understood.

Methods

To explore the effects of the KD on various aspects of tumor growth and progression, we used the immunocompetent, syngeneic GL261-Luc2 mouse model of malignant glioma.

Results

Tumors from animals maintained on KD showed reduced expression of the hypoxia marker carbonic anhydrase 9, hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha, and decreased activation of nuclear factor kappa B. Additionally, tumors from animals maintained on KD had reduced tumor microvasculature and decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and vimentin. Peritumoral edema was significantly reduced in animals fed the KD and protein analyses showed altered expression of zona occludens-1 and aquaporin-4.

Conclusions

The KD directly or indirectly alters the expression of several proteins involved in malignant progression and may be a useful tool for the treatment of gliomas.     

A novel RGD-toxin protein,Lj-RGD3, from the buccal gland secretion of Lampetra japonica impacts diverse biological activities

RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) motif toxin proteins from snake venoms, saliva glands secretion of leech or tick have typical characteristics of inhibiting platelet aggregation, angiogenesis, and tumor growth. Here we report cloning and characterization of a novel RGD-toxin protein from the buccal gland of Lampetra japonica. In an attempt to study the activities of anticoagulant in the buccal gland secretion of L. japonica, we established buccal gland cDNA library and identified a gene encoding a predicted protein of 118 amino acids with 3 RGD motifs. The predicted protein was named Lj-RGD3. We generated the cDNA of Lj-RGD3 and obtained the recombinant protein rLj-RGD3. The polyclonal antibodies against rLj-RGD3 recognized the native Lj-RGD3 protein in buccal gland secretion in Western blot analyses. The biological function studies reveal that rLj-RGD3 inhibited human platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner with IC₅₀ value at 5.277 μM. In addition, rLj-RGD3 repressed bFGF-induced angiogenesis in the chick chorioallantoic membrane model. rLj-RGD3 also inhibited the adhesion of ECV304 cells to vitronectin. Furthermore, rLj-RGD3 induced apoptosis and significantly inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion evoked by bFGF in ECV304 cells. Taken together, these results suggested that rLj-RGD3 is a novel RGD-toxin protein possessing typical functions of the RGD-toxin protein.     

抑制肿瘤生长活性的内皮生长抑制剂EDI-8t

对内源性的内皮生长抑制剂的序列来源分析后,用RT-PCR方法从人脐带中获得了417bp的cDNA,并克隆到毕赤酵母表达载体pPIC9,然后转化毕赤酵母GS115获得重组表达菌株。表达菌株通过甲醇诱导表达后,将发酵液通过分离纯化获得重组蛋白纯品,命名为EDI-8t。体外实验结果表明,这个胶原蛋白VIII来源的rhEDI-8t蛋白能特异性地抑制牛主动脉内皮细胞的增殖和迁移,并能引起内皮细胞的凋亡。动物体内实验结果表明,rhEDI-8t蛋白样品可有效抑制裸鼠皮下肝癌肿瘤的生长,抑制效果和参照品endostatin相同。但在小鼠黑色素瘤肺转移模型中,rhEDI-8t显示了高于参照品的抑癌效果。