RanBPM is an acetylcholinesterase-interacting protein that translocates into the nucleus during apoptosis

Acetylcholinesterase （ACHE） expression may be induced during apoptosis in various cell types. Here, we used the C-terminal of AChE to screen the human fetal brain library and found that it interacted with Ran-binding protein in the microtubule-organizing center （RanBPM）. This interaction was further confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation analysis. In HEK293T cells, RanBPM and AChE were heterogeneously expressed in the cisplatin-untreated cytoplasmic extracts and in the cisplatin-treated cytoplasmic or nuclear extracts. Our previous studies performed using morphologic methods have shown that AChE translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus during apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that RanBPM is an AChE-interacting protein that is translocated from the cytoplasm into the nucleus during apoptosis, similar to the translocation observed in case of ACHE.     

Development of plant communities after restoration of the Antaibao mining site, China

To investigate the dynamic changes in the artificial vegetation in an abandoned mining site, we analyzed the relationships among community types, environmental variables and community structure in the process of vegetation restoration in the Antaibao mining site, China by survey of the communities and use of biological dating methods. By means of the quantitative classification method (two-way indicator-species analysis, TWINSPAN) and the ordination technique (de-trended correspondence analysis, DCA; and de-trended canonical correspondence analysis, DCCA), the plant communities were classified into seven groups: community I, Robinia pseudoacacia + Pinus tabulaeformis-Caragana korshinskii-Agropyron cristatum; community II, Robinia pseudoacacia-Hippophae rhamnoides-Artemisia capillaries; community III, Ulmus pumila-Elaeagnus angustifolia-Artemisia capillaries;community IV, Caragana korshinskii-Agropyron cristatum + Artemisia capillaries; community V, Hippophae rhamnoides-Elymus dahuricus; community VI, Elaeagnus angustifolia + Hippophae rhamnoides-Brassica jucea;community VII, Hippophae rhamnoides + Elaeagnus angustifolia-Salsola collina. We conclude that the community types and diversity are mainly influenced by the succession time and the soil organic matter content. The forest community is more adaptable to the special inhabitation than the shrub community.     

Novel strategies to mine alcoholism-related haplotypes and genes by combining existing knowledge framework

High-throughout single nucleotide polymorphism detection technology and the existing knowledge provide strong support for mining the disease-related haplotypes and genes. In this study, first, we apply four kinds of haplotype identification methods (Confidence Intervals, Four Gamete Tests, Solid Spine of LD and fusing method of haplotype block) into high-throughout SNP genotype data to identify blocks, then use cluster analysis to verify the effectiveness of the four methods, and select the alcoholism-related SNP haplotypes through risk analysis. Second, we establish a mapping from haplotypes to alcoholism-related genes. Third, we inquire NCBI SNP and gene databases to locate the blocks and identify the candidate genes. In the end, we make gene function annotation by KEGG, Biocarta, and GO database. We find 159 haplotype blocks, which relate to the alcoholism most possibly on chromosome 1∼22, including 227 haplotypes, of which 102 SNP haplotypes may increase the risk of alcoholism. We get 121 alcoholism-related genes and verify their reliability by the functional annotation of biology. In a word, we not only can handle the SNP data easily, but also can locate the disease-related genes precisely by combining our novel strategies of mining alcoholism-related haplotypes and genes with existing knowledge framework. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 30570424, 60601010 and 30600367), the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China, (Grant No.2007AA02Z329), the Key Science and Technology Program of Heilongjiang Province(Grant No.GB03C602-4), Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province (Grant No. F2008-02), Youth Science Foundation of Harbin Medical University (Grant No. 060045) and Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province Education Department (Grant Nos. 11531113 and 1152hq28).     

Molecular cloning and expression of a novel trehalose synthase gene from Enterobacter hormaechei

Background  

Trehalose synthase (TreS) which converts maltose to trehalose is considered to be a potential biocatalyst for trehalose production. This enzymatic process has the advantage of simple reaction and employs an inexpensive substrate. Therefore, new TreS producing bacteria with suitable enzyme properties are expected to be isolated from extreme environment.     

Transgenic Expression of Walleye Dermal Sarcoma Virus rv-cyclin Gene in Zebrafish and Its Suppressive Effect on Liver Tumor Development After Carcinogen Treatment

A retrovirus homologue gene of cellular cyclin D ₁ , walleye dermal sarcoma virus rv-cyclin gene (orf A or rv-cyclin), was expressed in the livers of zebrafish under the control of liver fatty acid-binding protein (lfabp) promoter. To prevent possible fatality caused by overexpression of the oncogene, the GAL4/upstream activation sequence (GAL4/UAS) system was used to maintain the transgenic lines. Thus, both GAL4-activator [Tg(lfabp:GAL4)] and UAS-effector [Tg(UAS:rvcyclin)] lines were generated, and the rv-cyclin gene was activated in the liver after crossing these two lines. Since no obvious neoplasia phenotypes were observed in the double-transgenic line, cancer susceptibility of the transgenic fish expressing rv-cyclin was tested by carcinogen treatment. Unexpectedly, transgenic fish expressing rv-cyclin gene (rvcyclin+) were more resistant to the carcinogen than siblings not expressing this gene (rvcyclin–). Lower incidences of multiple and malignant liver tumors were observed in rvcyclin+ than in rvcyclin– fish, and the liver tumors in the rvcyclin+ group appeared later and were less malignant. These results suggest that expression of rv-cyclin protects the fish liver from carcinogen damage and delays onset of malignancy. These findings indicate that transgenic fish models are powerful systems for investigating mechanisms of inhibition and regression of liver tumors.     

Pneumococcal proteins PspA and PspC induce CXCL8 production in human neutrophils: implications in pneumococcal infections

Surface-exposed pneumococcal virulence proteins pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) and pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC) play important roles in the pathogenesis of invasive pneumococcal diseases. Human neutrophils are principle antimicrobial effector cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems. In this study, we investigated the effects of PspA and PspC on the up-regulation of chemokine CXCL8 in human neutrophils, and characterized the underlying intracellular signaling pathways. Both PspA and PspC were found to induce the release of newly synthesized CXCL8. Synergistic effect was observed in the combined treatment of PspA and PspC on the release of CXCL8. Products from PspA-deficient or PspC-deficient mutant pneumococcus that did not express PspA or PspC induced significantly less release of CXCL8 than wild type pneumococcus. Both PspA and PspC could activate p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathways in neutrophils, while inhibition of NF-κB and p38 MAPK could suppress the release of CXCL8 from neutrophils induced by PspA and PspC. Together, our results demonstrated that the induction of CXCL8 in human neutrophils activated by PspA and PspC was regulated by p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathways.     

Discovery of trans-3,4'-bispyridinylethylenes as potent and novel inhibitors of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) for the treatment of cancer: Synthesis and biological evaluation

A novel series of Akt/PKB inhibitors derived from a screening lead (1) has been prepared. The novel trans-3,4'-bispyridinylethylenes described herein are potent inhibitors of Akt/PKB with IC(50) values in the low double-digit nanomolar range against Akt1. Compound 2q shows excellent selectivity against distinct families of kinases such as tyrosine kinases and CAMK, and displays poor to modest selectivity against closely related kinases in the AGC and CMGC families. The cellular activities including inhibition of cell growth and phosphorylation of downstream target GSK3 are also described. The X-ray structure of compound 2q complexed with PKA in the ATP binding site was determined.