Compute simulation to characterize structure and function of chalcone synthase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scutellaria baicalensis</Emphasis> georgi

Prediction and analysis of molecular structure and biochemical function are of theoretical guiding significance for gene discovery and application, and considered as one of the central problem of computational biology. Here, some characteristic features of chalcone synthase (CHS) family from Scutellaria baicalensis were described via bioinformatic analysis, and showed as following: the nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences of three chs member genes shared high similarity in the molecular structures and physicochemical properties; SbCHS proteins were localized to the cytosol, and possessed a good hydrophobic nature, with lacking any transmembrane topological structure. The phylogram analysis suggested that they were a group genes with significant functional association and genetic conservation. The secondary structures of the SbCHSs were mainly composed of α-helixes and random coils, and the tertiary structures contained malonyl CoA linkers, besides, each of CHS-A and CHS-B with N-glycosylation motif included. Taken together, these results demonstrate that CHS family from S. baicalensis has the typical molecular structure and function of chalcone synthase, compared with the experimental data for Medicago sativa CHS protein.     

大肠杆菌二氢硫辛酸转乙酰基酶的外周结合结构域的溶液构象

丙酮酸脱氢酶复合体催化丙酮酸氧化脱羧,生成乙酰辅酶 A.该复合体由丙酮酸脱羧酶(E1)、二氢硫辛酸乙酰转移酶(E2)和二氢硫辛酸脱氢酶(E3)三种酶组成.大肠杆菌E2的外周亚基结合结构域(peripheral subunit-binding domain, PSBD)结合E1和E3,对丙酮酸脱氢酶复合物的结构和功能有重要作用.本研究采用PCR技术扩增了E2的PSBD的48个氨基酸残基区域编码序列（cDNA）,构建pET-32a-pp-Psbd表达载体,测序正确后转入BL21（DE3）中表达,目的蛋白质用镍柱和HiTrap SP柱纯化后达到电泳纯,质谱鉴定纯化后蛋白质分子量与理论值符合.pull-down结果表明,PSBD可分别与E1和E3结合.圆二色谱表征PSBD的二级结构主要为a-螺旋,当在0.5 mol/L NaCl的离子强度下,55.7% 的PSBD分子折叠为正确的构象.动态光散射实验发现,PSBD分子有3种不同的构象存在形式,因此,PSBD非常容易从折叠态转化为不和E1、E3结合的无规卷曲态,这种构象的相互转化为其功能性与E1、E3结合及解离提供了结构基础.     

Molecular characterization of seipin and its mutants: implications for seipin in triacylglycerol synthesis

The human lipodystrophy gene product Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy 2/seipin has been implicated in adipocyte differentiation, lipid droplet (LD) formation, and motor neuron development. However, the molecular function of seipin and its disease-causing mutants remains to be elucidated. Here, we characterize seipin and its mis-sense mutants: N88S/S90L (both linked to motoneuron disorders) and A212P (linked to lipodystrophy) in cultured mammalian cells. Knocking down seipin significantly increases oleate incorporation into triacylglycerol (TAG) and the steady state level of TAG, and induces the proliferation and clustering of small LDs. By contrast, overexpression of seipin reduces TAG synthesis, leading to decreased formation of LDs. Expression of the A212P mutant, however, had little effect on LD biogenesis. Surprisingly, expression of N88S or S90L causes the formation of many small LDs reminiscent of seipin deficient cells. This dominant-negative effect may be due to the N88S/S90L-induced formation of inclusions where wild-type seipin can be trapped. Importantly, coexpression of wild-type seipin and the N88S or S90L mutant can significantly reduce the formation of inclusions. Finally, we demonstrate that seipin can interact with itself and its mutant forms. Our results provide important insights into the biochemical characteristics of seipin and its mis-sense mutants, and suggest that seipin may function to inhibit lipogenesis.     

A New Perspective on Sexual Mixing among Men Who Have Sex with Men by Body Image

Background

“Casual sex” is seldom as non-selective and random as it may sound. During each sexual encounter, people consciously and unconsciously seek their casual sex partners according to different attributes. Influential to a sexual network, research focusing on quantifying the effects of physical appearance on sexual network has been sparse.

Methods

We evaluated the application of Log odds score (LOD) to assess the mixing patterns of 326 men who have sex with men (MSM) in Hong Kong in their networking of casual sex partners by Body Image Type (BIT). This involved an analysis of 1,196 respondents-casual sex partner pairs. Seven BITs were used in the study: Bear, Chubby, Slender, Lean toned, Muscular, Average and Other.

Results

A hierarchical pattern was observed in the preference of MSM for casual sex partners by the latter''s BIT. Overall, Muscular men were most preferred, followed by Lean toned while the least preferred was Slender, as illustrated by LOD going down along the hierarchy in the same direction. Marked avoidance was found between men who self-identified as Chubby and men of Other body type (within-group-LOD: 1.25–2.89; between-group-LOD: <−1). None of the respondents reported to have networked a man who self-identified as Average for casual sex.

Conclusions

We have demonstrated the possibility of adopting a mathematical prototype to investigate the influence of BIT in a sexual network of MSM. Construction of matrix based on culture-specific BIT and cross-cultural comparisons would generate new knowledge on the mixing behaviors of MSM.     

丙型肝炎病毒RNA多聚酶在昆虫细胞中的表达

ＨＣＶ ＮＳ５Ｂ基因片段克隆入ＢＡＣ－ＴＯ－ＢＡＣ＾ＴＭ重组杆状病毒表达系统的ｐＦＡＳＴＨＴｃ载体质粒,转化ＤＨ１０ＢＡＣ＾ＴＭ感受态细菌获得重组的Ｂａｃｍｉｄ质粒,将重组Ｂａｃｍｉｄ质粒转染Ｓｆ细胞,获得的重组杆状病毒可表达目的蛋白。免疫印迹和体外活性检测表明,所表达蛋白为ＨＣＶ ＮＳ５Ｂ蛋白,具有多聚酶活性。     

耐高温α-淀粉酶基因在马铃薯中的表达

我们将从地衣芽孢杆菌(Bacilluslicheniformis)克隆的约1．68kb的耐高温α-淀粉酶基因构建成表达载体,并转入根癌农杆菌。以马铃薯栽培品种“杂交荷兰7号”块茎圆盘为外植体,按本实验室建立起的再生实验系统[9]及杨美珠等的方法[8]进行转化。采取共培养、芽的诱导、芽的选择再生三步方法获得抗性芽。将抗性芽通过先诱导生根壮苗,再进行卡那霉素筛选,最后再诱导生根的方法得到可能的转基因植株。 对部分可能的转基因植株按改进的王广立等的PCR简单快速鉴定转基因植物的方法[12]进行检测,株号102001、102607、110402均可见到特异性片段的存在。参照张振清[13]及王福荣等[14]的方法对这些植株进行耐高温α—淀粉酶活力测定,这些植株具有相对较强的耐高温α—淀粉酶活性。实验结果表明,耐高温α—淀粉酶基因可能已转入上述植物基因组中,并获表达。