芍药甘草汤及其活性成分的脑保护作用机制研究概述

芍药甘草汤由东汉张仲景创立,仅有芍药和甘草两味药物组成,具有调和肝脾,缓急止痛的功效,是经典的止痛方剂,临床主要用于血虚津伤所导致的各种内脏疼痛,腓肠肌痉挛的治疗中。已经展开的基础研究主要集中解痉、止痛和抗炎方面的机理研究。近年逐步认识到芍药甘草汤及其活性成分在神经保护领域的作用,在脑卒中、帕金森病、阿尔海默氏症、癫痫等中枢神经系统疾病基础研究中,取得成果。文章研读近年来国内外相关文献,分别从芍药、甘草的活性成份以及芍药甘草汤方剂在脑保护领域进行的基础研究的进展做一综述,显示了芍药甘草汤及其活性成分可以抑制脑组织免疫炎症反应、抑制氧化反应、抗谷氨酸毒性,改善脑血流、抗细胞凋亡和保护神经元的作用,阐述了芍药甘草汤的多途径、多靶点的药理优势及在脑保护领域的应用前景。     

A new method for the determination of critical polyethylene glycol concentration for selective precipitation of DNA fragments

Separation strategies based on size-selective precipitation of DNA fragments with polyethylene glycol (PEG) have been used for achieving desired DNA interval in automated sample preparation for next-generation sequencing. By varying PEG concentration, DNA fragments of different sizes can be precipitated onto surfaces of carboxyl-coated paramagnetic particles selectively, and therefore, the desired DNA interval can be obtained. However, one of the crucial points in this approach is to determine the critical PEG concentration for DNA fragment of a certain size. The aim of this work was to develop a convenient and reliable method for accurately determining the critical PEG concentration. In our method, at a fixed concentration of sodium chloride (NaCl), recovered DNA samples obtained with different PEG concentrations were directly quantified, and their concentrations as a function of the PEG concentration were fitted by the logistic function. The critical PEG value was easily and accurately determined from the fitted logistic function. The repeatability and stability of the critical PEG value were assessed, showing an excellent reliability of the method. Based on this method, critical PEG values of different-size DNA fragments were determined at different NaCl concentrations. The effectiveness of the method was also demonstrated by selective precipitation of DNA fragments.     

Synthetic biology: advancing biological frontiers by building synthetic systems

Advances in synthetic biology are contributing to diverse research areas, from basic biology to biomanufacturing and disease therapy. We discuss the theoretical foundation, applications, and potential of this emerging field.     

松嫩平原盐碱地中耐(嗜)盐菌的生物多样性

【目的】分离纯化松嫩平原盐碱地中可培养的耐盐菌和嗜盐菌,并分析其生物多样性。【方法】采用纯培养法和定向富集法从该地区盐碱土样中分离耐盐菌和嗜盐菌,然后通过16S rRNA基因同源性比对鉴定所分离细菌的系统发育学地位,从而获取松嫩平原盐碱地中耐盐菌和嗜盐菌的多样性信息。【结果】共分离到细菌40株,分属于细菌域中3个门(Actinobacteria,Firmicutes,γ-Proteobacteria)、8个科、16个属、34个种。其中多数菌株属于厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),最优势属为葡球菌属(Staphylococcus)(8株,占总菌株的20%),其次依次为盐单胞菌属(Halomonas)(5株,12.5%)、芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)(4株,10%)、大洋芽胞杆菌属(Oceanbacillus)(4株,10%)、库克菌属(Kocuria)(4株,10%)和假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)(3株,7.5%)等。其中9株细菌的16S rRNA基因序列与最近缘种的同源性在97.2%-99.0%之间,可能为新种。菌株耐盐能力主要在5%-10%之间,其中62.5%的菌株为耐盐菌,其余则为中度嗜盐菌。所有菌株的耐碱能力在pH 9-12之间,其中60%的菌株耐碱能力则高达pH 12,除两株为嗜碱菌,其余均为耐碱菌。【结论】研究结果表明,松嫩平原盐碱地中耐盐菌与嗜盐菌种群丰富,主要以葡萄球菌和盐单胞菌为主,菌株不仅耐盐能力高而且耐碱能力也高,并且该地区可能含有丰富的耐盐菌和嗜盐菌的新物种。     

高产壳聚糖酶菌株的筛选及分类鉴定

目的：筛选一株高产壳聚糖酶的菌株。方法：通过形态学、生理生化及16S rDNA序列测定,对菌株进行分类鉴定。在培养基中以壳聚糖为唯一碳源,对长白山天池边的土样进行筛选。结果：获得一株产壳聚糖酶活力较高的菌株,最大酶活力达0．325U／ml。结论：经16S rDNA序列比对,该菌株与Beta proteobacterium的同源性高达99％。结合《伯杰细菌鉴定手册》（第九版）,将该菌株鉴定为Beta proteobacterium属的一个种,定名为Beta proteobacterium sp．T1。     

The protamine family of sperm nuclear proteins

The protamines are a diverse family of small arginine-rich proteins that are synthesized in the late-stage spermatids of many animals and plants and bind to DNA, condensing the spermatid genome into a genetically inactive state. Vertebrates have from one to 15 protamine genes per haploid genome, which are clustered together on the same chromosome. Comparison of protamine gene and amino-acid sequences suggests that the family evolved from specialized histones through protamine-like proteins to the true protamines. Structural elements present in all true protamines are a series of arginine-rich DNA-anchoring domains (often containing a mixture of arginine and lysine residues in non-mammalian protamines) and multiple phosphorylation sites. The two protamines found in mammals, P1 and P2, are the most widely studied. P1 packages sperm DNA in all mammals, whereas protamine P2 is present only in the sperm of primates, many rodents and a subset of other placental mammals. P2, but not P1, is synthesized as a precursor that undergoes proteolytic processing after binding to DNA and also binds a zinc atom, the function of which is not known. P1 and P2 are phosphorylated soon after their synthesis, but after binding to DNA most of the phosphate groups are removed and cysteine residues are oxidized, forming disulfide bridges that link the protamines together. Both P1 and P2 have been shown to be required for normal sperm function in primates and many rodents.     

The twin-arginine translocation system and its capability for protein secretion in biotechnological protein production

The biotechnological production of recombinant proteins is challenged by processes that decrease the yield, such as protease action, aggregation, or misfolding. Today, the variation of strains and vector systems or the modulation of inducible promoter activities is commonly used to optimize expression systems. Alternatively, aggregation to inclusion bodies may be a desired starting point for protein isolation and refolding. The discovery of the twin-arginine translocation (Tat) system for folded proteins now opens new perspectives because in most cases, the Tat machinery does not allow the passage of unfolded proteins. This feature of the Tat system can be exploited for biotechnological purposes, as expression systems may be developed that ensure a virtually complete folding of a recombinant protein before purification. This review focuses on the characteristics that make recombinant Tat systems attractive for biotechnology and discusses problems and possible solutions for an efficient translocation of folded proteins.     

Specificity of a DNA-based (DNAzyme) peroxidative biocatalyst

A complex formation between hemin and a congruous oligonucleotide not only greatly enhances the former’s peroxidative activity but also results in a biocatalyst (DNAzyme) with a novel specificity. Herein substrate, regio-, enantiomeric, and diastereomeric selectivities of heme, the DNAzyme, and the enzyme horseradish peroxidase are comparatively examined.     

Maximum tag to body size ratios for an endangered coho salmon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">O. kisutch</Emphasis>) stock based on physiology and performance

Many coho salmon stocks (Oncorhynchus kisutch) have been in decline during the past three decades. Canada’s most endangered salmon stock, the Thompson River coho salmon, is being studied extensively as managers attempt to reverse these population declines. Investigators are using acoustic telemetry to track the migratory behaviour and survival of the Thompson River (and other) coho salmon stocks. Coho salmon pre-smolts are relatively small compared with salmonid species that are typically studied using acoustic telemetry; therefore the identification of the appropriate sizes of fish and tags to use is critical. This study tested the effects of surgically implanting the three smallest sizes of acoustic tags currently available on the growth, survival, tag retention, swimming performance and physical condition of coho salmon pre-smolts for 300 days post-surgery. Maximum tag size to body size ratios ranged from 15–17% by fork length and 7–8% by mass for the three tag sizes (11 cm fork length for a 6 × 19 mm tag, 12.5 cm for a 7 × 19 mm tag, and 14 cm for a 9 × 21 mm tag). Based on our results, it is unlikely that coho salmon pre-smolts implanted with acoustic transmitters following these size guidelines would have poor survival in studies of freshwater migratory behaviour as a result of the surgery or the tag.     

Temporal changes in species diversity and composition in abandoned fields in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-Himalayan landscape,Nepal

Secondary succession is an increasing phenomenon due to global changes in agriculture policies and practices. The empirical findings are biased towards the temperate zone. Abandonment of agriculture fields is less frequent in the subtropical and tropical zones where agriculture areas are, in general, expanding. But there are exceptions; a rapid rate of abandonment of agricultural fields have taken place in the arid trans-Himalayan region, due to today’s globalization of economy. We analysed agriculture fields that were abandoned between 1950 and 2003 in a large u-valley in central Nepal (3400 m a.s.l.). The potential forest vegetation is dominated by Pinus wallichina and shrubs of junipers and cotoneaster species. We tested the intermediate richness hypothesis in relation to vegetation cover, soil development and whether old-field succession is convergent or divergent with species data from 242 1 m² plots in 5 age-classes. The main species compositional turnover expressed by Detrended Correspondence Analyses (DCA) correlated, as expected, with time after abandonment. Fields that were abandoned a long time ago are closer to forest at the periphery of the agricultural landscape. Moisture of the soil significantly increased with age of abandonment, but total vegetation cover and pH were negatively related to age. Beta diversity expressed in DCA SD-units showed an increasing trend with age of abandonment, supporting the divergence pattern in old-field succession. The reason why the succession is not converging may be due to browsing by domestic animals that prevent a closed canopy of pines and juniper to develop. There was a significant hump-shaped pattern in species richness along the temporal gradient, which agrees with the intermediate species-richness hypothesis. There was a rapid increase in species richness in plots close to the villages that were used for haymaking which increased the seed input significantly.