A novel function for the Tec family tyrosine kinase Itk in activation of beta 1 integrins by the T-cell receptor

Stimulation of T cells via the CD3--T-cell receptor (TCR) complex results in rapid increases in beta 1 integrin-mediated adhesion via poorly defined intracellular signaling events. We demonstrate that TCR-mediated activation of beta 1 integrins requires activation of the Tec family tyrosine kinase Itk and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K)-dependent recruitment of Itk to detergent-insoluble glycosphingolipid-enriched microdomains (DIGs) via binding of the pleckstrin homology domain of Itk to the PI 3-K product PI(3,4,5)-P(3). Activation of PI 3-K and the src family kinase Lck, via stimulation of the CD4 co-receptor, can initiate beta 1 integrin activation that is dependent on Itk function. Targeting of Itk specifically to DIGs, coupled with CD4 stimulation, can also activate beta 1 integrin function independently of TCR stimulation. Changes in beta 1 integrin function mediated by TCR activation of Itk are also accompanied by Itk-dependent modulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Thus, TCR-mediated activation of beta 1 integrins involves membrane relocalization and activation of Itk via coordinate action of PI 3-K and a src family tyrosine kinase.     

Uncharged tRNA activates GCN2 by displacing the protein kinase moiety from a bipartite tRNA-binding domain

Protein kinase GCN2 regulates translation in amino acid-starved cells by phosphorylating elF2. GCN2 contains a regulatory domain related to histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS) postulated to bind multiple deacylated tRNAs as a general sensor of starvation. In accordance with this model, GCN2 bound several deacylated tRNAs with similar affinities, and aminoacylation of tRNAphe weakened its interaction with GCN2. Unexpectedly, the C-terminal ribosome binding segment of GCN2 (C-term) was required in addition to the HisRS domain for strong tRNA binding. A combined HisRS+ C-term segment bound to the isolated protein kinase (PK) domain in vitro, and tRNA impeded this interaction. An activating mutation (GCN2c-E803V) that weakens PK-C-term association greatly enhanced tRNA binding by GCN2. These results provide strong evidence that tRNA stimulates the GCN2 kinase moiety by preventing an inhibitory interaction with the bipartite tRNA binding domain.     

白鲜皮中白鲜碱含量测定

白鲜皮中白鲜碱含量测定朱丹妮徐强邱南生（中国药科大学,南京２１００３８）ＴｈｅｑｕａｎｔｉｔａｔｉｖｅｄｅｔｅｒｍｉｎａｔｉｏｎｏｆｄｉｃｔａｍｉｎｅｉｎｒｏｏｔｂａｒｋｏｆＤｉｃｔａｍｎｕｓｄａｓｙｃａｒｐｕｓＴｕｒｃｚ．ＺｈｕＤａｎＮｉ,Ｘｕ...     

神经营养因子GDNF编码顺序的克隆及表达产物的纯化

根据基因库中的顺序,设计了胶质细胞源神经营养因子（ＧＤＮＦ）基因的ＰＣＲ引物,以此从人基因组ＤＮＡ中扩增并克隆了ＧＤＮＦ的编码序列,经ＤＮＡ测序确认后,该片段克隆到表达质粒ｐＥＴ－３ａ中,转化大肠杆菌ＢＬ２１（ＤＥ３）．培养的重组菌经ＩＰＴＧ诱导,在Ｔ７启动子调控下表达出ｈＧＤＮＦ蛋白．经电泳分析表明ＧＤＮＦ主要存在于细菌包涵体中．从培养菌中制备包涵体,经充分洗涤,溶解于含８ｍｏｌ／Ｌ尿素的变性缓冲液中．经ＳＰ－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ柱层析分离,梯度洗脱,以１５％ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ检查含ＧＤＮＦ的部分．将含单体ＧＤＮＦ部分进行复性,再次用ＳＰ－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ离子柱分离同源二体ＧＤＮＦ．最后经ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ制备电泳纯化,纯度大于９５％．经Ｎ端测序表明序列正确．经测定,每升培养菌可得约１０ｍｇ纯化的ＧＤＮＦ．     

Screening genetically modified organisms using multiplex-PCR coupled with oligonucleotide microarray

In this research, we developed a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (multiplex-PCR) coupled with a DNA microarray system simultaneously aiming at many targets in a consecutive reaction to detect a genetically modified organism (GMO). There are a total of 20 probes for detecting a GMO in a DNA microarray which can be classified into three categories according to their purpose: the first for screening GMO from un-transgenic plants based on the common elements such as promoter, reporter and terminator genes; the second for specific gene confirmation based on the target gene sequences such as herbicide-resistance or insect-resistance genes; the third for species-specific genes which the sequences are unique for different plant species. To ensure the reliability of this method, different kinds of positive and negative controls were used in DNA microarray. Commercial GM soybean, maize, rapeseed and cotton were identified by means of this method and further confirmed by PCR analysis and sequencing. The results indicate that this method discriminates between the GMOs very quickly and in a cost-saving and more time efficient way. It can detect more than 95% of currently commercial GMO plants and the limits of detection are 0.5% for soybean and 1% for maize. This method is proved to be a new method for routine analysis of GMOs.     

Identification of core genes and outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma by bioinformatics analysis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common malignant liver disease in the world. However, the mechanistic relationships among various genes and signaling pathways are still largely unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate potential core candidate genes and pathways in HCC. The expression profiles GSE14520, GSE25097, GSE29721, and GSE62232, which cover 606 tumor and 550 nontumour samples, were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Furthermore, HCC RNA-seq datasets were also downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were filtered using R software, and we performed gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathway analysis using the online databases DAVID 6.8 and KOBAS 3.0. Furthermore, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network complex of these DEGs was constructed by Cytoscape software, the molecular complex detection (MCODE) plug-in and the online database STRING. First, a total of 173 DEGs (41 upregulated and 132 downregulated) were identified that were aberrantly expressed in both the GEO and TCGA datasets. Second, GO analysis revealed that most of the DEGs were significantly enriched in extracellular exosomes, cytosol, extracellular region, and extracellular space. Signaling pathway analysis indicated that the DEGs had common pathways in metabolism-related pathways, cell cycle, and biological oxidations. Third, 146 nodes were identified from the DEG PPI network complex, and two important modules with a high degree were detected using the MCODE plug-in. In addition, 10 core genes were identified, TOP2A, NDC80, FOXM1, HMMR, KNTC1, PTTG1, FEN1, RFC4, SMC4, and PRC1. Finally, Kaplan-Meier analysis of overall survival and correlation analysis were applied to these genes. The abovementioned findings indicate that the identified core genes and pathways in this bioinformatics analysis could significantly enrich our understanding of the development and recurrence of HCC; furthermore, these candidate genes and pathways could be therapeutic targets for HCC treatment.     

Overexpression of soybean ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme gene GmUBC2 confers enhanced drought and salt tolerance through modulating abiotic stress-responsive gene expression in Arabidopsis

Previous studies have shown that ubiquitination plays important roles in plant abiotic stress responses. In the present study, the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme gene GmUBC2, a homologue of yeast RAD6, was cloned from soybean and functionally characterized. GmUBC2 was expressed in all tissues in soybean and was up-regulated by drought and salt stress. Arabidopsis plants overexpressing GmUBC2 were more tolerant to salinity and drought stresses compared with the control plants. Through expression analyses of putative downstream genes in the transgenic plants, we found that the expression levels of two ion antiporter genes AtNHX1 and AtCLCa, a key gene involved in the biosynthesis of proline, AtP5CS, and the copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase gene AtCCS, were all increased significantly in the transgenic plants. These results suggest that GmUBC2 is involved in the regulation of ion homeostasis, osmolyte synthesis, and oxidative stress responses. Our results also suggest that modulation of the ubiquitination pathway could be an effective means of improving salt and drought tolerance in plants through genetic engineering.