酿酒酵母酚类抑制物耐受性脂质组学研究

通过脂质组学分析方法从细胞膜磷脂分布方面探究适应进化酿酒酵母酚酸耐受性机制。主要利用高效液相色谱-质谱(LC-MS)对酚酸胁迫下适应进化菌株和原始菌株脂质成分检测并进行统计学比较分析。检测出565种脂质代谢物,包含细胞膜磷脂185种。相比初始菌株,适应进化菌株细胞膜中磷脂酰胆碱(PC)、磷脂酰乙醇胺(PE)和磷脂酰肌醇(PI)类磷脂分子相对含量增加,含有长链(C32-C36)和双不饱和脂酰链的磷脂分子含量增加。统计学分析表明显著性差异磷脂分子主要为含有长链不饱和脂酰链的PC和PE类磷脂分子。推测适应进化菌株通过膜磷脂重塑提高细胞膜完整性,对酚类抑制物起到选择性屏障作用,从而保持细胞活性。     

环境温度和体型大小对花绒寄甲成虫死亡率及产卵量的影响

[目的]花绒寄甲Dastarcus helophoroides是天牛类林木蛀干害虫的主要天敌昆虫,为提升花绒寄甲的人工繁育技术和繁育质量,在不同环境温度下,测试了不同体型大小的花绒寄甲对成虫死亡率和产卵量的影响.[方法]按成虫体型大小将花绒寄甲分成较大、较小和中等3组,根据前期不同温度下的饲养经验,分别测试成虫在20、24和28℃下的存活率和产卵量.[结果]体型相同的个体随环境温度升高死亡率增加;20℃时体型小的死亡率高,24℃和28℃各组死亡率无显著性差异;中等个体组在24℃和28℃下的产卵量大于在20℃下的产卵量;同一温度条件下,体型显著影响雌虫的产卵量,体型大者产卵量高.[结论]体型大小对成虫死亡率影响不明显,但对产卵量有较大影响.     

Increased Risk of Primary Sj?gren's Syndrome in Female Patients with Thyroid Disorders: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study in Taiwan

Background

A number of reports have indicated an association between thyroid diseases and primary Sjögren''s syndrome (pSS). However, fewer studies have investigated whether the presence of thyroid diseases is associated with increased risk of developing pSS. Thus, the aim of our study was to use a nationwide health claims database to explore the prevalence and risk of pSS in female patients with thyroid diseases.

Methods

From the Registry of Catastrophic Illness database in the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan, we identified 389 female patients with a diagnosis of pSS from 2005 to 2010. We also obtained 1945 control subjects frequency-matched on sex, 10-year age interval, and year of index date from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID2000). Both groups were retrospectively traced back to a period of eight years to obtain diagnosis of thyroid diseases prior to index date.

Results

A significantly higher risk of pSS was associated with the presence of thyroid diseases (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.6–2.9). Among the sub-categories of thyroid diseases, patients with thyroiditis (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI = 1.7–7.5), thyrotoxicosis (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.6–3.8), and unspecified hypothyroidism (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.2–4.6), and simple and unspecified goiter (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.3–3.3) were significantly associated with increased risk of pSS. The associations were generally stronger in the mid-forties to mid-sixties age group, except in patients with unspecified hypothyroidism.

Conclusions

The risk of pSS was significantly increased in female patients with thyroid diseases, particularly those in their mid-forties to mid-sixties. An increased awareness of the possibility of pSS in perimenopausal females with thyroid diseases is important to preserve their quality of life and to avoid comorbidity.     

Targeted Delivery of an Antigenic Peptide to the Endoplasmic Reticulum: Application for Development of a Peptide Therapy for Ankylosing Spondylitis

The development of suitable methods to deliver peptides specifically to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) can provide some potential therapeutic applications of such peptides. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is strongly associated with the expression of human leukocytic antigen-B27 (HLA-B27). HLA-B27 heavy chain (HC) has a propensity to fold slowly resulting in the accumulation of misfolded HLA-B27 HC in the ER, triggering the unfolded protein response, and forming a homodimer, (B27-HC)₂. Natural killer cells and T-helper 17 cells are then activated, contributing to the major pathogenic potentials of AS. The HLA-B27 HC is thus an important target, and delivery of an HLA-B27-binding peptide to the ER capable of promoting HLA-B27 HC folding is a potential mechanism for AS therapy. Here, we demonstrate that a His₆-ubiquitin-tagged Tat-derived peptide (THU) can deliver an HLA-B27-binding peptide to the ER promoting HLA-B27 HC folding. The THU-HLA-B27-binding peptide fusion protein crossed the cell membrane to the cytosol through the Tat-derived peptide. The HLA-B27-binding peptide was specifically cleaved from THU by cytosolic ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolases and subsequently transported into the ER by the transporter associated with antigen processing. This approach has potential application in the development of peptide therapy for AS.     

植物细胞工程技术生产紫杉醇研究进展

紫杉醇是一种二萜类生物碱,主要从红豆杉树皮中分离提取。目前采用植物细胞工程技术是提高紫杉醇产率、保护稀缺资源红豆杉、解决紫杉醇药源紧缺的一种最有效方法。该文对近十年来国内外有关采用植物细胞工程技术生产紫杉醇的研究进展,包括红豆杉细胞系的建立、悬浮培养条件的研究、生物反应器培养以及紫杉醇合成代谢调控方面的最新研究进展进行综述。并重点论述了前体、诱导子和代谢支路抑制剂对红豆杉细胞悬浮培养生产紫杉醇的影响,为植物细胞工程技术生产紫杉醇提供借鉴和参考。     

黄河三角洲典型植被与地下水埋深和土壤盐分的关系

土壤盐分和地下水埋深是影响黄河三角洲植被发育和分布的重要因素.本文通过野外调查与统计分析,研究了黄河三角洲区域典型植被(翅碱蓬 柽柳、刺槐、芦苇和棉花)、地下水埋深、土壤盐分之间的关系.结果表明: 研究区地下水埋深显著影响土壤盐分,平均影响系数为0.327,地下水埋深在0.5～1.5 m的土壤盐渍化最严重;整个研究区内植被发育较差,其中,研究区78%面积的归一化植被指数(NDVI)<0.4,地下水埋深、土壤盐分对天然植被分布有显著影响;土壤盐分对研究区翅碱蓬-柽柳、刺槐、芦苇及棉花NDVI的影响显著,地下水埋深对翅碱蓬-柽柳NDVI的影响显著,对芦苇、棉花、刺槐NDVI的影响不显著.     

反义长链非编码RNA与基因表达调控

反义长链非编码RNA(long non-coding RNA,lncRNA)是一类与其它转录物序列互补的内源性lncRNA。它们通过转录抑制、染色质重塑、核内RNA-RNA相互作用和胞浆RNA-RNA相互作用等机制,在转录及转录后水平调控靶基因的表达。反义lncRNA参与了X染色体失活、基因组印记及一些疾病的发生和发展过程,有希望成为疾病治疗的新靶点。     

正痘病毒基因结构及功能研究的几项进展

正痘病毒载体在重组疫苗研究中有广泛前景,但其罕见但较为严重的副反应阻碍了发展。正痘病毒属中具有较宽宿主范围的痘苗病毒和牛痘病毒具有典型的宿主范围基因K1L、CP77和C7L。这三个基因对不同宿主细胞具有选择性,可以扰乱宿主细胞信号通路,并且与病毒的毒力相关。