MoDEL (Molecular Dynamics Extended Library): a database of atomistic molecular dynamics trajectories

More than 1700 trajectories of proteins representative of monomeric soluble structures in the protein data bank (PDB) have been obtained by means of state-of-the-art atomistic molecular dynamics simulations in near-physiological conditions. The trajectories and analyses are stored in a large data warehouse, which can be queried for dynamic information on proteins, including interactions. Here, we describe the project and the structure and contents of our database, and provide examples of how it can be used to describe the global flexibility properties of proteins. Basic analyses and trajectories stripped of solvent molecules at a reduced resolution level are available from our web server.     

P-LISA技术

原位邻近式连接分析(proximity ligation in situ assay,P-LISA)是一种用来研究蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用的新方法。该方法能够对原位、瞬时、微弱的蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用进行定量分析和亚细胞定位,在药物研发和临床诊断中将有着重要的应用价值。     

下调PTEN基因对偏头痛大鼠三叉神经节CREB的调节作用

本研究利用RNAi重组腺病毒(AdR-siPTEN)下调偏头痛大鼠三叉神经节的PTEN(phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten)基因,探讨其对偏头痛大鼠行为学的影响,以及经Akt(serine-threonine kinase)信号途径对CREB(cAMP responseelement-binding protein)的调控情况。实验采用健康雄性SD大鼠,随机分为假手术组(Sham)、硝酸甘油模型组(GTN)、Ad-RFP非特异siRNA处理空载体对照组(Vehicle+GTN)、AdR-siPTEN下调组(AdR-siPTEN+GTN)。用AdR-siPTEN重组腺病毒对大鼠进行预处理,然后通过硝酸甘油(glyceryl trinitrate,GTN)法建立大鼠偏头痛模型,进行大鼠挠头和爬笼次数的检测,并用RT-PCR和Western-blot法进行相关基因的mRNA和蛋白检测。结果表明,当PTEN基因表达下调时,有效缓解了偏头痛导致的挠头和爬笼行为,并激活Akt信号途径,增加其下游作用因子CREB的表达,进而可能经"PTEN/Akt/CREB"信号通路影响神经突触可塑性,参与了偏头痛的发病机制。     

Statistical diagnostics emerging from external quality control of real-time PCR

Besides the application of conventional qualitative PCR as a valuable tool to enrich or identify specific sequences of nucleic acids, a new revolutionary technique for quantitative PCR determination has been introduced recently. It is based on real-time detection of PCR products revealed as a homogeneous accumulating signal generated by specific dyes. However, as far as we know, the influence of the variability of this technique on the reliability of the quantitative assay has not been thoroughly investigated. A national program of external quality assurance (EQA) for real-time PCR determination involving 42 Italian laboratories has been developed to assess the analytical performance of real-time PCR procedures. Participants were asked to perform a conventional experiment based on the use of an external reference curve (standard curve) for real-time detection of three cDNA samples with different concentrations of a specific target. In this paper the main analytical features of the standard curve have been investigated in an attempt to produce statistical diagnostics emerging from external quality control. Specific control charts were drawn to help biochemists take technical decisions aimed at improving the performance of their laboratories. Overall, our results indicated a subset of seven laboratories whose performance appeared to be markedly outside the limits for at least one of the standard curve features investigated. Our findings suggest the usefulness of the approach presented here for monitoring the heterogeneity of results produced by different laboratories and for selecting those laboratories that need technical advice on their performance.     

慢性缺氧大鼠肺血管c-myc及bcl-2基因表达研究

应用免疫组织化学和Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ杂交方法,对慢性缺氧大鼠肺组织（主要是肺血管壁）原癌基因ｃ－ｍｙｃ和抗凋亡基因ｂｃｌ－２表达进行了研究。免疫组织化学观察提示,正常对照组大鼠肺血壁Ｃ－ｍｙｃ和Ｂｃｌ－２蛋白仅为弱阳性或不表达,慢性缺氧１、２周组大鼠肺血管壁这两种抗原表达比对照组显著增强,呈强阳性,Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ杂交结果表明：慢性缺氧１、２周组大鼠肺组织内ｃ－ｍｙｃ和ｂｃｌ－２的ｍＲＮＡ表达比对照组显著增加,以上结果提示,ｃ－ｍｙｃ及ｂｃｌ－２两种基因调节的细胞增殖与凋亡可能参与了慢性缺氧性肺动脉高压的发病进程。     

Effects of population size and linkage on optimal selection intensity

Following Robertson (1970a) it is generally considered that for mass selection the selected proportion that maximises ultimate response is 0.5. This prediction has been partly tested by different authors. Here we explicitly address the question using computer simulations of selection in finite populations with linkage. The results show that the response achieved is always lower than the one predicted by standard methods, and that optimum selection intensity may be much lower than predicted unless population size is small.     

缩胆囊素受体拮抗剂对血浆缩胆囊素生物测定的影响

利用生物法测定了102例正常人空腹及进食二个油煎鸡蛋30min后血浆CCK浓度,结果分别为1.4±0.1pmol/L和4.9±0.4pmol/L(X±SE)。血浆CCK浓度不随性别和年龄而变化。本文研究了三种不同类型的CCK受体拮抗剂对CCK生物测定的影响。一组将L364,718(5.0nmol/L),丙谷胺(1.0mmol/L)或Bt_2-cGMP(0.1mmol/L)分别加入含8pmol/LCCK-8的人血浆,用SEP-PAK提取,另一组先提取血浆,于测定前向血浆提取物内加入上述拮抗剂,两组同时测定。结果显示,在有L364,718存在时仍可利用生物法测定血浆CCK浓度,如血中含有丙谷胺或Bt_2-cGMP则无法准确测定。     

吞咽障碍治疗仪的作用原理及效果

介绍了吞咽障碍严重损害人类健康,吞咽障碍治疗仪是通过电刺激方式来促进受损神经复苏,加强吞咽肌群的运动,提高病人吞咽能力,从而达到治疗目的,取得了良好的效果。     

二种吸痰方法的对比研究

目前临床上常用的吸痰方式在操作过程中会产生大量的微生物气溶胶,经实验测定,最高可达33970cfu／M^3的含菌微粒喷出,污染各种物品表面,干燥后形成再生气溶胶随气流漂散,造成空气污染和交叉感染。为此,研制了一种密闭式吸痰管,在操作使用中可将产生的痰液气溶胶完全封闭在吸痰管内,经试用,与常规使用的开放式吸痰管相比,可基本消除因吸痰操作所引起的空气微生物污染。     

Marker-assisted introgression of five QTLs controlling fruit quality traits into three tomato lines revealed interactions between QTLs and genetic backgrounds

The evaluation of organoleptic quality of tomato fruit requires physical, chemical and sensory analyses, which are expensive and difficult to assess. Therefore, their practical use in phenotypic selection is difficult. In a previous study, the genetic control of several traits related to organoleptic quality of fresh-market tomato fruit was investigated. Five chromosome regions strongly involved in organoleptic quality attributes were then chosen to be introgressed into three different recipient lines through marker-assisted selection. A marker-assisted backcross (MABC) strategy was performed, as all the favorable alleles for quality traits were provided by the same parental tomato line, whose fruit weight (FW) and firmness were much lower than those of the lines commonly used to develop fresh market varieties. Three improved lines were obtained after three backcrossing and two selfing generations. The implementation of the MABC scheme is described. The three improved lines were crossed together and with the recipient lines in a half-diallel mating scheme, and the simultaneous effect of the five quantitative trait locus (QTL) regions was compared in different genetic backgrounds. Significant effects of the introgressed regions and of the genetic backgrounds were shown. Additive effects were detected for soluble solid and reducing sugar content in two genetic backgrounds. A partially dominant effect on titratable acidity was detected in only one genetic background. In contrast, additive to dominant unfavorable effects of the donor alleles were detected for FW and locule number in the three genetic backgrounds. Recessive QTL effects on firmness were only detected in the two firmest genetic backgrounds. Comparison of the hybrids in the half-diallel gave complementary information on the effects of: (1) the alleles at the selected regions, (2) the genetic backgrounds and (3) their interaction. Breeding efficiency strongly varied according to the recipient parent, and significant interactions between QTLs and genetic backgrounds were shown for all of the traits studied.