Prophage encoding toxin/antitoxin system PfiT/PfiA inhibits Pf4 production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pf prophages are ssDNA filamentous prophages that are prevalent among various Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. The genomes of Pf prophages contain not only core genes encoding functions involved in phage replication, structure and assembly but also accessory genes. By studying the accessory genes in the Pf4 prophage in P. aeruginosa PAO1, we provided experimental evidence to demonstrate that PA0729 and the upstream ORF Rorf0727 near the right attachment site of Pf4 form a type II toxin/antitoxin (TA) pair. Importantly, we found that the deletion of the toxin gene PA0729 greatly increased Pf4 phage production. We thus suggest the toxin PA0729 be named PfiT for Pf 4 i nhibition t oxin and Rorf0727 be named PfiA for Pf iT a ntitoxin. The PfiT toxin directly binds to PfiA and functions as a corepressor of PfiA for the TA operon. The PfiAT complex exhibited autoregulation by binding to a palindrome (5′-AATTC N₅GTTAA -3′) overlapping the -35 region of the TA operon. The deletion of pfiT disrupted TA autoregulation and activated pfiA expression. Additionally, the deletion of pfiT also activated the expression of the replication initiation factor gene PA0727. Moreover, the Pf4 phage released from the pfiT deletion mutant overcame the immunity provided by the phage repressor Pf4r. Therefore, this study reveals that the TA systems in Pf prophages can regulate phage production and phage immunity, providing new insights into the function of TAs in mobile genetic elements.     

The protective effects of C16 peptide and angiopoietin-1 compound in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome

C16 peptide and angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) have been found to have anti-inflammatory activity in various inflammation-related diseases. However, their combined role in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has not been investigated yet. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of C16 peptide and Ang-1 in combination with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory insult in vitro and in vivo. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells were used as cell culture systems, and an ARDS rodent model was used for in vivo studies. Our results demonstrated that C16 and Ang-1 in combination significantly suppressed inflammatory cell transmigration by 33% in comparison with the vehicle alone, and decreased the lung tissue wet-to-dry lung weight ratio to a maximum of 1.53, compared to 3.55 in the vehicle group in ARDS rats. Moreover, C  +  A treatment reduced the histology injury score to 60% of the vehicle control, enhanced arterial oxygen saturation (SO₂), decreased arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO₂), and increased oxygen partial pressure (PO₂) in ARDS rats, while also improving the survival rate from 47% (7/15) to 80% (12/15) and diminishing fibrosis, necrosis, and apoptosis in lung tissue. Furthermore, when C  +  A therapy was administered 4 h following LPS injection, the treatment showed significant alleviating effects on pulmonary inflammatory cell infiltration 24 h postinsult. In conclusion, our in vitro and in vivo studies show that C16 and Ang-1 exert protective effects against LPS-induced inflammatory insult. C16 and Ang-1 hold promise as a novel agent against LPS-induced ARDS. Further studies are needed to determine the potential for C16 and Ang-1 in combination in treating inflammatory lung diseases.     

一种紫斑牡丹花茶的研制及其主要香气成分分析

以紫斑牡丹(Paeonia suffruticosa var. papaveracea)花瓣为原料,采用隔离窨制,对牡丹花茶窨制过程中花坯、配花量等主要影响因子进行研究。结果表明,密闭箱桶温度21 ℃、相对湿度90%、窨制时间48 h条件下经一窨一提获得的花茶,感官评审花与茶叶的协调度高、香气高锐持久、茶汤滋味醇正鲜爽。采用气相色谱-质谱联用仪分析花茶香气成分,新鲜花瓣与茶叶配比5:1窨制48 h的花茶苯乙醇、香叶醇、橙花醇含量较高,其香气高扬、茶汤醇正鲜爽,配比2.5:1的花茶上述成分含量和感官其次,而拌和型茶品透素欠鲜爽。发酵或发酵揉捻花瓣窨制的花茶乙醇、环氧芳樟醇及高级烷烃含量较高,其主要赋香物质低于新鲜花瓣含量,渥味明显,茶汤有浊气欠鲜爽。     

Glycine metabolomic changes induced by anticancer agents in A549 cells

Amino Acids - Glycine plays a key role in rapidly proliferating cancer cells such as A549 cells. Targeting glycine metabolism is considered as a potential means for cancer treatment. However, the...     

革兰氏阴性细菌外膜主要成分的跨膜转运机制研究进展

革兰氏阴性细菌的外膜由脂多糖、磷脂、外膜蛋白和脂蛋白等成分组成,是细菌抵御外界有害物质的首要物理屏障,与细菌致病性和耐药性密切相关.外膜各组分依赖特定的系统进行跨膜转运,包括脂多糖转运系统(lipopolysaccharide transport, Lpt)、脂质不对称维持系统(maintenance of lipid asymmetry, Mla)、β-桶状装配机器(β-barrel assembly machinery,Bam)以及脂蛋白定位系统(localization of lipoprotein,Lol).这些系统能够保证细菌外膜的完整与稳定,被视为维持细菌生命活动的"命门".因此,本文系统地综述革兰氏阴性细菌外膜主要成分的跨膜转运系统结构与功能,并对其未来研究方向进行展望,为新型靶向抗菌类药物研发提供新的思路.     

Apelin-13对LPS诱导人脐静脉内皮细胞屏障损伤的干预作用*

目的: 探讨Apelin-13对LPS诱导人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)屏障损伤的影响。方法: 将体外培养的HUVECs分为4组:正常对照组、LPS组、Apelin-13+LPS组、Apelin-13组。用5 μg/ml LPS作用细胞24 h, 复制屏障功能受损模型。1 μmol/L Apelin-13提前30 min给予,再给予LPS作用24 h,确定Apelin-13的影响。通过CCK8法检测Apelin-13对细胞活力的影响;Western blot检测血管内皮细胞钙粘蛋白(VE-cadherin)、纤维状肌动蛋白(F-actin)表达变化;免疫荧光检测VE-cadherin、F-actin的表达变化及核转录因子Kappa B(NF-κB p65)入核情况。结果: 与正常对照组相比,单独给予Apelin-13对细胞活力无明显影响。与正常对照组相比,LPS组细胞活力明显下降(P＜0.01),VE-cadherin蛋白表达下降(P＜0.01)、F-actin蛋白表达升高(P＜0.05),NF-κB p65入核明显增加。与LPS组相比,Apelin-13明显增加细胞活力(P＜0.01),VE-cadherin蛋白表达增加(P＜0.05)、F-actin蛋白表达下降(P＜0.01),蛋白NF-κB p65入核下降明显。结论: Apelin-13可减轻LPS诱导的人脐静脉内皮细胞损伤及屏障受损,其机制可能与抑制炎症相关。     

大兴安岭泥炭地不同菌根类型木本植物叶片凋落物分解及其温度敏感性差异

以我国大兴安岭多年冻土区泥炭地常见的3种外生菌根木本植物(细叶沼柳Salix rosmarinifolia、白桦Betula platyphylla和柴桦B.fruticosa)和4种欧石楠菌根木本植物(笃斯越桔Vaccinium uliginosum、狭叶杜香Ledum palustre、甸杜Chamaedaphne calyculata和小叶杜鹃Rhododendron parrifolum)为研究对象,通过315天培养试验测定10和20℃叶片凋落物分解过程中的碳(C)累积矿化量和重量损失,并分析其温度敏感性。结果表明:外生菌根植物叶片凋落物的C矿化量和重量损失在10和20℃均高于欧石楠菌根植物;外生菌根植物凋落物分解过程中C矿化量的温度敏感性系数高于欧石楠菌根植物,但重量损失的温度敏感性系数低于欧石楠菌根植物;在每一培养温度下,C矿化量和重量损失均与凋落物全氮(N)和全磷(P)浓度呈正相关,与C/N和C/P呈负相关;尽管C矿化量的温度敏感性系数与凋落物初始化学组成无显著相关性,但重量损失的温度敏感性系数与凋落物全N和全P浓度呈负相关,与C/N和C/P呈正相关。本研究结果为认识和预测气候变暖及其引起的物种组成变化对北方泥炭地植物凋落物分解的影响提供理论依据。     

板栗“燕山早丰”幼苗光合与碳氮代谢对干旱胁迫的响应

干旱是影响燕山地区板栗树生长和产量的主要因子。为了在整株水平上研究板栗幼苗对干旱胁迫的响应,本试验以盆栽“燕山早丰”板栗幼苗为研究对象,通过模拟自然干旱处理22 d,测定叶片光合特性,根、茎、叶生物量、脯氨酸、丙二醛、碳、氮等生理指标变化。结果表明: 与正常浇水相比,干旱胁迫下幼苗根、茎、叶含水量分别显著下降18.3%、29.0%和62.8%,脯氨酸(355.0%～1586.7%)和丙二醛(41.1%～81.3%)含量显著上升(茎中丙二醛除外),但叶部非光化学淬灭系数和净光合速率分别显著下降49.4%和77.4%;同时,茎和叶中非结构碳水化合物含量分别显著增加21.4%和69.5%,根中增加幅度未达显著差异水平;根和叶中硝态氮含量分别显著增加28.9%和26.8%,茎中增加幅度未达显著差异水平;根、茎、叶中铵态氮含量分别增加了16.2%、12.9%、217.6%,但仅在叶部差异显著。综上,干旱胁迫对燕山早丰板栗幼苗产生了较严重的伤害,显著抑制了其光合性能,但能够通过增强体内碳氮代谢来提高其适应干旱环境的能力。本研究结果可为当地板栗抗旱性资源选育和栽培提供参考。     

中亚热带濒危植物毛红椿和南方红豆杉种内与种间竞争差异

濒危植物是全球生物多样性的重要组成部分,为了弄清中亚热带地区不同生长型濒危乔木树种的竞争模式及其机制,研究了江西九岭山国家级自然保护区毛红椿和南方红豆杉的种内与种间竞争差异。结果表明: 阳性落叶树种毛红椿种群的竞争压力主要来自于同种个体,种内竞争指数占总竞争指数的66.4%,耐阴常绿树种南方红豆杉种群主要受种间竞争的影响,种间竞争指数占总竞争指数的68.7%。2种濒危植物受到的种内、种间以及总竞争强度均随着林木径级的增大而逐渐减小,表明竞争压力由幼林向成熟林逐渐降低。在生长过程中,毛红椿以种内竞争引起的自疏作用为主导,南方红豆杉则由种间竞争引起的他疏作用为主导。毛红椿和南方红豆杉种群在更新过程中,小径级个体都要经历强度较大的种内或种间竞争选择才能发育为成树。由于主要竞争压力的来源差异,对于生活在中亚热带同一区域内不同生长型的濒危植物应该采取不同的生物多样性保育措施。