假单胞菌DLL-E4尿黑酸降解基因的克隆与功能的初步分析

通过接合转移将质粒pSC123上的转座子Tn5随机插入到DLL-E4基因组DNA中,从大约8,000个突变子中筛选到1株在LB培养基上积累红褐色物质的突变株M18,该突变株不能以L-苯丙氨酸(L-Phenylalanine, Phe)为唯一碳源生长。SEFA-PCR扩增转座子侧翼序列发现其与已报道的尿黑酸1,2-双加氧酶基因hmgA的同源性为92%。将hmgA定向克隆至表达载体pET-29a中,转化至Escherichia coli BL21,经IPTG诱导后可表达分子量约为48kD的蛋白;诱导后转化子粗酶液对尿黑酸有很好的降解效果。将hmgA连入自杀性载体pEX19Gm,通过同源重组整合至M18染色体中,使其恢复了DLL-E4利用Phe的能力,证实了HmgA是尿黑酸苯环裂解酶。     

枯草芽孢杆菌壳聚糖酶水解制备低脱乙酰度壳寡糖及其组分分析

对来源于枯草芽孢杆菌菌株168(Bacillus subtilis 168)的壳聚糖酶编码基因进行了序列优化及全合成,并在毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)中实现了分泌表达,表达产物的蛋白质浓度达到0.30mg/ml。表达的壳聚糖酶最适p H为5.6,最适温度为55℃,比酶活达84.54U/ml。该酶在50℃及以下较稳定。利用该酶水解低脱乙酰度壳聚糖并使用超高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱(ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry,UPLC-QTOF MS)对产物的组分进行了分离及鉴定。根据一级质谱信息,推测酶解产物中包含至少37种聚合度2~18,不同脱乙酰度的壳寡糖组分。综上,利用毕赤酵母分泌表达了来源于枯草芽孢杆菌菌株168的壳聚糖酶基因,利用表达产物水解制备了低脱乙酰度壳寡糖并对其组分进行了分析,可为后续壳寡糖结构与功能关系的研究提供参考。     

Narrow H3K4me2 is required for chicken PGC formation

The development of primordial germ cells (PGCs) undergoes epigenetic modifications. The study of histone methylation in regulating PGCs is beneficial to understand the development and differentiation mechanism of germ stem cells. Notably, it provides a theoretical basis for directed induction and mass acquisition in vitro. However, little is known about the regulation of PGC formation by histone methylation. Here, we found the high enrichment of H3K4me2 in the blastoderm, genital ridges, and testis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing was performed and the results revealed that genomic H3K4me2 is dynamic in embryonic stem cells, PGCs, and spermatogonial stem cells. This trend was consistent with the H3K4me2 enrichment in the gene promoter region. Additionally, narrow region triggered PGC‐related genes (Bmp4, Wnt5a, and Tcf7l2) and signaling pathways (Wnt and transforming growth factor‐β). After knocking down histone methylase Mll2 in vitro and vivo, the level of H3K4me2 decreased, inhibiting Cvh and Blimp1 expression, then repressing the formation of PGCs. Taken together, our study revealed the whole genome map of H3K4me2 in the formation of PGCs, contributing to improve the epigenetic study in PGC formation and providing materials for bird gene editing and rescue of endangered birds.     

Mini-Incision versus Standard Incision Total Hip Arthroplasty Regarding Surgical Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Purpose

It remains controversial whether mini-incision (MI) benefits patients in total hip arthroplasty (THA). We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effects of MI on surgical and functional outcomes in THA patients.

Methods

A systematic electronic literature search (up to May 2013) was conducted to identify RCTs comparing MI with standard incision (SI) THA. The primary outcome measures were surgical and functional outcomes. According to the surgical approach taken, MI THA patients were divided into four subgroups for sub-group meta-analysis. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) or risk differences (RDs) with accompanying 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and pooled using a fixed-effect or random-effect model according to the heterogeneity.

Results

A total of 14 RCTs involving THA 1,174 patients met the inclusion criteria. The trials were medium risk of bias. The overall meta-analysis showed MI THA reduced total blood loss (95% CI, -201.83 to -21.18; p=.02) and length of hospital stay ( 95% CI, -0.67 to -0.08; p=.01) with significant heterogeneity. However, subgroup meta-analysis revealed posterior MI THA had perioperative advantages of reduced surgical duration ( 95% CI, -8.45 to -2.67; P<.001), less blood loss ( 95% CI, -107.20 to -1.73; P=.04) and shorter hospital stay ( 95% CI, -0.74 to -0.06; p=.002) with low heterogeneity. There were no significant differences between MI and SI THA groups in term of pain medication dose, functional outcome (HHS), radiological outcome or complications (P>.05, respectively).

Conclusions

Although no definite overall conclusion can be arrived at on whether MI THA is superior to SI THA, posterior MI THA clearly result in a significant decrease in surgical duration, blood loss and hospital stay. It seems to be a safe minimally invasive surgical procedure without increasing the risk of component malposition or complications.     

A bispecific antibody targeting HER2 and PD-L1 inhibits tumor growth with superior efficacy

Activation of the programmed cell death protein 1 and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) signaling axis plays important roles in intrinsic or acquired resistance to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-directed therapies in the clinic. Therefore, therapies simultaneously targeting both HER2 and PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathways are of great significance. Here, aiming to direct the anti-PD-L1 responses toward HER2-expressing tumor cells, we constructed a humanized bispecific IgG1 subclass antibody targeting both HER2 and PD-L1 (HER2/PD-L1; BsAb), which displayed satisfactory purity, thermostability, and serum stability. We found that BsAb showed enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity in vitro. In the late phase of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-humanized HER2⁺ tumor xenograft models, BsAb showed superior therapeutic efficacies as compared with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) or combination treatment strategies. In cynomolgus monkeys, BsAb showed favorable pharmacokinetics and toxicity profiles when administered at a 10 mg/kg dosage. Thus, HER2/PD-L1 BsAb was demonstrated as a potentially effective option for managing HER2⁺ and trastuzumab-resistant tumors in the clinic. We propose that the enhanced antitumor activities of BsAb in vivo may be due to direct inhibition of HER2 signaling or activation of T cells.     

Efficient genome editing in cultured cells and embryos of Debao pig and swamp buffalo using the CRISPR/Cas9 system

Myostatin (MSTN), a protein encoded by growth differentiation factor 8 (GDF8), is primarily expressed in skeletal muscle and negatively regulates the development and regeneration of muscle. Accordingly, myostatin-deficient animals exhibit a double-muscling phenotype. The CRISPR/Cas9 system has proven to be an efficient genome-editing tool and has been applied to gene modification in cells from many model organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster, zebrafish, mouse, rat, sheep, and human. Here, we edited the GDF8 gene in fibroblasts and embryos of Debao pig and swamp buffalo using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutation efficiency in fibroblasts was as high as 87.5% in pig and 78.9% in buffalo. We then obtained single-cell clones with mutations at the specific sites of the GDF8 gene by screening with G418 in fibroblasts of pig and buffalo. In addition, the frequencies of Cas9/gRNA-mediated mutations were at 36 and 25% in the intracytoplasmic sperm injection embryos of pig and in vitro fertilization embryos of buffalo, respectively. Our work demonstrates that the Cas9/gRNA system is a highly efficient and fast tool for genome editing in cultured cells and embryos of Debao pig and swamp buffalo. These results can be helpful for the establishment of a new animal strain that can generate more meat.     

谷氨酰胺转氨酶研究进展

谷氨酰胺转氨酶是一种催化酰基转移反应的转移酶,它可使蛋白分子间和分子内产生共价交联,从而改变蛋白的功能特性,在食品、医药、化妆品、纺织等领域具有重要的潜在应用价值。研究表明,谷氨酰胺转氨酶广泛存在于生物组织中。为了更好的研究开发这一资源,对谷氨酰胺转氨酶的来源、理化特性、作用机制、功能以及工业生产的现状进行了综述,其中重点探讨了不同来源的谷氨酰胺转氨酶在理化特性以及底物特异性方面的差异。     

丹参2 酮戊二酸依赖性双加氧酶基因克隆及表达分析

以商洛紫花丹参为材料,对其转录组序列SRA020132进行Blast分析,采用PCR技术克隆得到丹参2-酮戊二酸依赖性双加氧酶基因Sm2-ODD1,GenBank登录号为JN935923。Sm2-ODD1基因全长1 365bp,包含3个外显子和2个内含子;cDNA全长1 189bp,读码框951bp,编码316个氨基酸残基;预测的编码蛋白具有2-酮戊二酸依赖性双加氧酶中结合2-酮戊二酸和亚铁离子的"H-T-D"、"H-X"和"R-Y-S"保守基序以及"果冻状"空间结构。表达分析显示,Sm2-ODD1在丹参各个器官都表达,但表达水平具有组织特异性,在根中表达量最高,在叶中表达量最低;该基因表达明显受到MeJA、GA3和ABA的诱导,可能参与了丹参萜类代谢下游途径。     

水稻品种超氧物歧化酶(SOD)活性与氧抑光合的关系

O_2抑光合程度不同的水稻品种,SOD活性存在差异。在40％O_2下,SOD活性被诱导增加水平高、延续时间长的品种,表现O_2抑光合程度小,反之则O_2抑光合程度大。在自然条件下,强光、高温都是诱导SOD活性变化的因素。选择SOD活性高、O_2抑光合程度小的种质资源可能有利于适应对光合不利的逆境条件。