珍珠黄杨叶片的蛋白质提取方法探讨

蛋白质样品制备是双向电泳的核心.为了找到一种适合提取珍珠黄杨叶片蛋白质的方法,本文以该树种扦插苗的叶片为材料,用TCA-丙酮沉淀法、Tris-饱和酚法和2-D Clean-up Kit提取蛋白质,并进行双向凝胶电泳,采用银染法进行检测.结果表明,TCA-丙酮沉淀法得到的样品图谱背景模糊、拖尾;Tris-饱和酚法得到的样品图谱清晰,蛋白点饱满,无纵向或横向拖尾,但有蛋白点丢失;2-D Clean-Up Kit提取的蛋白质样品得到了较好双向电泳图谱.     

Phenotypic responses of hatchlings to constant versus fluctuating incubation temperatures in the multi-banded krait, Bungarus multicintus (Elapidae)

Most studies on egg incubation in reptiles have relied on constant temperature incubation in the laboratory rather than on simulations of thermal regimes in natural nests. The thermal effects on embryos in constant-temperature studies often do not realistically reflect what occurs in nature. Recent studies have increasingly recognized the importance of simulating natural nest temperatures rather than applying constant-temperature regimes. We incubated Bungarus multicintus eggs under three constant and one fluctuating-temperature regimes to evaluate the effects of constant versus fluctuating incubation temperatures on hatching success and hatchling phenotypes. Hatching success did not differ among the four treatments, and incubation temperature did not affect the sexual phenotype of hatchlings. Incubation length decreased as incubation temperature increased, but eggs incubated at fluctuating temperatures did not differ from eggs incubated at constant temperatures with approximately the same mean in incubation length. Of the hatchling phenotypes examined, residual yolk, fat bodies and locomotor performance were more likely affected by incubation temperature. The maximal locomotor speed was fastest in the fluctuating-temperature and 30 degrees C treatments and slowest in the 24 degrees C treatment, with the 27 degrees C treatment in between. The maximal locomotor length was longest in the fluctuating-temperature treatment and shortest in the 24 degrees C and 27 degrees C treatments, with the 30 degrees C treatment in between. Our results show that fluctuating incubation temperatures do not influence hatching success and hatchling size and morphology any differently than constant temperatures with approximately the same mean, but have a positive effect on locomotor performance of hatchlings.     

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) interacts with Bim and inhibits Bim-mediated apoptosis

The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bim acts as a sensor for apoptotic stimuli and initiates apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. To identify novel regulators of Bim, we employed the yeast two-hybrid system and isolated the human gene encoding macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a ubiquitously expressed proinflammatory mediator that has also been implicated in cell proliferation, the cell cycle and carcinogenesis. The interaction between MIF and Bim was confirmed by both in vitro and in vivo protein interaction assays. Intriguingly, protein complexes between MIF and the three major Bim isoforms (BimEL/BimL/BimS) could be detected in HEK293 and K562 cells, especially in cells undergoing apoptosis. Moreover, exogenous expression of MIF partially inhibited Bim-induced apoptosis in HEK293 cells. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of MIF increased apoptosis in K562 cells exposed to the chemical oxidant diamide. Endogenous MIF may regulate the pro-apoptotic activity of Bim and inhibit the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria.     

基于同源重组的裂殖壶菌遗传转化体系的构建及验证

【目的】裂殖壶菌是一种能高效生产DHA的海洋真菌;基因工程技术已经成功应用在微生物改造和代谢机理研究中,利用基因工程技术对裂殖壶菌进行改造首先需要构建适合裂殖壶菌的遗传转化体系;【方法】本文利用电转化的方法将含有18S r DNA同源重组片段的ble基因导入裂殖壶菌中,通过zeocin抗性平板筛选出阳性菌株,并设计ble基因引物,以裂殖壶菌基因组为模板,进行PCR验证ble基因是否成功结合到裂殖壶菌染色体上。【结果】筛选获得的抗性菌株基因组上确实PCR出ble基因片段,对改造菌株与原始菌株进行发酵培养,发现改造后菌株在生物量、油脂含量、DHA含量及脂肪酸分布等方面和原始菌株基本一致。【结论】抗性基因的插入不会影响菌株的正常代谢,该体系的构建为后续其他外源基因导入奠定基础。     

Iron metabolism in diabetes-induced Alzheimer’s disease: a focus on insulin resistance in the brain

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by an excessive accumulation of toxic amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and memory dysfunction. The onset of AD is influenced by age, genetic background, and impaired glucose metabolism in the brain. Several studies have demonstrated that diabetes involving insulin resistance and glucose tolerance could lead to AD, ultimately resulting in cognitive dysfunction. Even though the relationship between diabetes and AD was indicated by significant evidences, the critical mechanisms and metabolic alterations in diabetes induced AD are not clear until now. Recently, iron metabolism has been shown to play multiple roles in the central nervous system (CNS). Iron deficiency and overload are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Iron binds to Aβ and subsequently regulates Aβ toxicity in the CNS. In addition, previous studies have shown that iron is involved in the aggravation of insulin resistance. Considering these effects of iron metabolism in CNS, we expect that iron metabolism may play crucial roles in diabetic AD brain. Thus, we review the recent evidence regarding the relationship between diabetes-induced AD and iron metabolism.     

登革病毒血清型特异单克隆抗体的制备和鉴定

登革病毒 (Dengue virus,DENV) 是全球传播最为广泛的虫媒病毒,由于缺乏快速鉴别感染病毒血清型的诊断技术,导致异型交叉感染引起重症登革出血热病例居高不下。为实现免疫学方法快速鉴别诊断不同血清型DENV感染,本研究采用哺乳动物细胞293T表达并纯化了4种DENV血清型NS1蛋白,免疫小鼠后通过杂交瘤技术制备了针对NS1蛋白的单克隆抗体。利用酶联免疫吸附方法 (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)、间接免疫荧光法 (Indirect immunofluorescence assay,IFA)、免疫斑点杂交试验 (Dot blotting) 以及蛋白质免疫印迹试验 (Western blotting) 确认所制备的单克隆抗体能够有效识别天然病毒NS1以及重组NS1蛋白。获得的单克隆抗体包含2株可识别1–4型DENV NS1蛋白的通用型抗体及3株分别针对DENV-1、DENV-2和DENV-4的血清型特异抗体。以所制备的DENV NS1抗体为基础,采用双抗体夹心ELISA可快速鉴别不同血清型DENV。DENV血清型特异单克隆抗体的制备和甄别DENV血清型ELISA方法的建立为快速鉴别感染DENV血清型的临床诊断奠定了基础。     

Inhibition of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-induced Apoptosis by Silkworm Storage Protein 1

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays essential roles indispensable for cellular activity and survival, including functions such as protein synthesis, secretory and membrane protein folding, and Ca²⁺ release in cells. The ER is sensitive to stresses that can lead to the aggregation and accumulation of misfolded proteins, which eventually triggers cellular dysfunction; severe or prolonged ER stress eventually induces apoptosis. ER stress-induced apoptosis causes several devastating diseases such as atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes. In addition, the production of biopharmaceuticals such as monoclonal antibodies requires the maintenance of normal ER functions to achieve and maintain the production of high-quality products in good quantities. Therefore, it is necessary to develop methods to efficiently relieve ER stress and protect cells from ER stress-induced apoptosis. The silkworm storage protein 1 (SP1) has anti-apoptotic activities that inhibit the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. However, the role of SP1 in controlling ER stress and ER stress-induced apoptosis has not been investigated. In this paper, we demonstrate that SP1 can inhibit apoptosis induced by a well-known ER stress inducer, thapsigargin, by alleviating the decrease in cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential. Interestingly, SP1 significantly blocked increases in CHOP and GRP78 expression as well as ER Ca2+ leakage into the cytosol following ER stress induction. This indicates that SP1 protects cells from ER stressinduced apoptosis by functioning as an upstream inhibitor of apoptosis. Therefore, studying SP1 function can offer new insights into protecting cells against ER stress-induced apoptosis for future applications in the biopharmaceutical and medicine industries.     

Ageing related thyroid deficiency increases brain-targeted transport of liver-derived ApoE4-laden exosomes leading to cognitive impairment

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the prevalent cause of dementia in the ageing world population. Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) allele is the key genetic risk factor for AD, although the mechanisms linking ApoE4 with neurocognitive impairments and aberrant metabolism remains to be fully characterised. We discovered a significant increase in the ApoE4 content of serum exosomes in old healthy subjects and AD patients carrying ApoE4 allele as compared with healthy adults. Elevated exosomal ApoE4 demonstrated significant inverse correlation with serum level of thyroid hormones and cognitive function. We analysed effects of ApoE4-containing peripheral exosomes on neural cells and neurological outputs in aged or thyroidectomised young mice. Ageing-associated hypothyroidism as well as acute thyroidectomy augmented transport of liver-derived ApoE4 reach exosomes into the brain, where ApoE4 activated nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome by increasing cholesterol level in neural cells. This, in turn, affected cognition, locomotion and mood. Our study reveals pathological potential of exosomes-mediated relocation of ApoE4 from the periphery to the brain, this process can represent potential therapeutic target.Subject terms: Cognitive neuroscience, Alzheimer''s disease, Cellular neuroscience     

Triptolide prevents bone loss via suppressing osteoclastogenesis through inhibiting PI3K-AKT-NFATc1 pathway

Bone loss (osteopenia) is a common complication in human solid tumour. In addition, after surgical treatment of gynaecological tumour, osteoporosis often occurs due to the withdrawal of oestrogen. The major characteristic of osteoporosis is the low bone mass with micro-architectural deteriorated bone tissue. And the main cause is the overactivation of osteoclastogenesis, which is one of the most important therapeutic targets. Inflammation could induce the interaction of RANKL/RANK, which is the promoter of osteoclastogenesis. Triptolide is derived from the traditional Chinese herb lei gong teng, presented multiple biological effects, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation and immunosuppression. We hypothesized that triptolide could inhibits osteoclastogenesis by suppressing inflammation activation. In this study, we confirmed that triptolide could suppress RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) and RAW264.7 cells and inhibited the osteoclast bone resorption functions. PI3K-AKT-NFATc1 pathway is one of the most important downstream pathways of RANKL-induced osteogenesis. The experiments in vitro indicated that triptolide suppresses the activation of PI3K-AKT-NFATc1 pathway and the target point located at the upstream of AKT because both NFATc1 overexpression and AKT phosphorylation could ameliorate the triptolide suppression effects. The expression of MDM2 was elevated, which demonstrated the MDM-p53-induced cell death might contribute to the osteoclastogenesis suppression. Ovariectomy-induced bone loss and inflammation activation were also found to be ameliorated in the experiments in vivo. In summary, the new effect of anti-cancer drug triptolide was demonstrated to be anti-osteoclastogenesis, and we demonstrated triptolide might be a promising therapy for bone loss caused by tumour.