Oestrogen regulates the expression of cathepsin E-A-like gene through ER$$\upbeta $$ in liver of chicken ( Gallus gallus)

The cathepsin E-A-like, also known as ‘similar to nothepsin’, is a new member of the aspartic protease family, which may take part in processing of egg yolk macromolecules, due to it was identified in the chicken egg-yolk. Previously, studies have suggested that the expression of cathepsin E-A-like increased gradually during sexual maturation of pullets, but the exact regulation mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, to gain insight into the function and regulation mechanism of the gene in egg-laying hen, we cloned the cathepsin E-A-like gene and evaluated its evolutionary origin by using both phylogenetic and syntenic methods. The mode of the gene expression regulation was analysed through stimulating juvenile hens with \(17\upbeta \)-estradiol and chicken embryo hepatocytes with \(17\upbeta \)-estradiol combined with oestrogen receptor antagonists including MPP, ICI 182,780 and tamoxifen. Our results showed that cathepsin E-A-like was an orthologoues gene with nothepsin, which is present in birds but not in mammals. The expression of cathepsin E-A-like significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner after the juvenile hens were treated with \(17\upbeta \)-estradiol (\(P~<~0.05\)). Compared with the \(17\upbeta \)-estradiol treatment group, the expression of cathepsin E-A-like was not significantly changed when the hepatocytes were treated with \(17\upbeta \)-estradiol combined with MPP (\(P~<~0.05\)). In contrast, compared with the \(17\upbeta \)-estradiol combined with MPP treatment group, the expression of cathepsin E-A-like was significantly downregulated when the hepatocytes were treated with \(17\upbeta \)-estradiol combined with tamoxifen or ICI 182,780 (\(P~<~0.05\)). These results demonstrated that cathepsin E-A-like shared the same evolutionary origin with nothepsin. The expression of cathepsin E-A-like was regulated by oestrogen, and the regulative effect was predominantly mediated through ER-\(\upbeta \) in liver of chicken.     

Antimicrobial Peptides Protect Coho Salmon from Vibrio anguillarum Infections

Fish losses from infectious diseases are a significant problem in aquaculture worldwide. Therefore, we investigated the ability of cationic antimicrobial peptides to protect against infection caused by the fish pathogen Vibrio anguillarum. To identify effective peptides for fish, the MICs of certain antimicrobial peptides against fish pathogens were determined in vitro. Two of the most effective antimicrobial peptides, CEME, a cecropin-melittin hybrid peptide, and pleurocidin amide, a C-terminally amidated form of the natural flounder peptide, were selected for in vivo studies. A single intraperitoneal injection of CEME did not affect mortality rates in juvenile coho salmon infected with V. anguillarum, the causative agent of vibriosis. Therefore, the peptides were delivered continuously using miniosmotic pumps placed in the peritoneal cavity. Twelve days after pump implantation, the fish received intraperitoneal injections of V. anguillarum at a dose that would kill 50 to 90% of the population. Fish receiving 200 μg of CEME per day survived longer and had significantly lower accumulated mortalities (13%) than the control groups (50 to 58%). Fish receiving pleurocidin amide at 250 μg per day also survived longer and had significantly lower accumulated mortalities (5%) than the control groups (67 to 75%). This clearly shows the potential for antimicrobial peptides to protect fish against infections and indicates that the strategy of overexpressing the peptides in transgenic fish may provide a method of decreasing bacterial disease problems.     

粪臭素对胃蛋白酶部分理化性质的影响

采用紫外光谱法和荧光光谱法研究了粪臭素与胃蛋白酶的结合作用。观测到粪臭素使胃蛋白酶的紫外吸收峰增强,特征荧光峰淬灭。Stern-Volmer淬灭曲线显示,粪臭素对胃蛋白酶的荧光淬灭很可能是一个单一的静态淬灭过程。     

光合细菌M-01的培养条件优化研究

对光合细菌M-01的培养条件进行了优化研究,结果表明:菌株的生长温度为30℃时,最适培养光照为3000lx,最低接种浓度为6%。培养基正交试验研究表明其最优培养基配方为:氯化铵2.00g,磷酸氢二钾0.20g,乙酸钠4.00g,碳酸氢钠2.00g,氯化钠1.00g,酵母膏0.15g,硫酸镁0.20g,T.M储液少量,蒸馏水1000mL;其中乙酸钠为最大影响因子。     

4株鸽新城疫病毒的基因组序列与致病性分析

本研究对从北京、天津以及山东地区发病鸽群中分离到的4株鸽新城疫病毒（Newcastle disease virus,NDV）进行基因组测序和遗传进化分析,并进一步比较这些毒株对鸽子的致病性。研究通过特异性引物扩增4株鸽NDV的全长基因组序列后与GenBank上已登陆的所有鸽NDV毒株的序列进行遗传进化分析;通过病毒生物学特性的测定比较分离株的毒力;通过病毒感染1月龄肉鸽,检测分离株对鸽子的致病性。结果显示4株鸽NDV毒株均属于ClassⅡ类基因Ⅵb亚型病毒,其中Pigeon/China/BJ2018株、Pigeon/China/TJ2017株和Pigeon/China/BJ2013株属于VIb/4bii f亚型,Pigeon/China/SD2012株属于VIb/4bii d亚型。4株病毒与目前国内鸽NDV流行株属于同一进化分支,与鸡源经典疫苗株La Sota属于不同进化分支。对这四个毒株进行生物学特性测定,均为中等毒力毒株。4株病毒中,Pigeon/China/BJ2018株对1月龄肉鸽的致病性最强,通过肌肉注射途径攻毒后3d肉鸽开始表现临床症状,攻毒后第5d开始出现死亡,累计死亡率...     

TNT在大鼠晶状体内的代谢及其对晶状体中抗氧化相关酶活性的影响

大鼠皮下注射ＴＮＴ,以ＨＰＬＣ分析其在晶状体内的代谢过程,并检测晶状体谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶、谷胱甘肽还原酶及超氧化物歧化酶的活性变化。发现在注射ＴＮＴ后２ｈ即可在晶状体内检测到为量极少的ＴＮＴ及其代谢产物,第１２ｈ一氨基二硝基甲苯含量达最高峰。鼠龄较小的大鼠晶状体内ＴＮＴ及其代谢产物高于鼠龄较大的大鼠．多剂量注射ＴＮＴ时大鼠晶状体内一氨基二硝基甲苯于第２天达到高峰,ＴＮＴ于第５天达饱和状态,第１８天一氨基二硝基甲苯含量与ＴＮＴ含量相近。谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶、谷胱甘肽还原酶及超氧化物歧化酶活性在注射ＴＮＴ的第２天均有不同程度的升高,在第５天和第１８天维持在低活性状态。实验表明ＴＮＴ在晶状体内是通过硝基还原而代谢的．ＴＮＴ进入晶状体后初期可诱发晶状体抗氧化相关酶活性的增高,后期则导致晶状体抗氧化相关酶活性的降低。     

意蜂蜂王浆超氧化物歧化酶的分离纯化及部分性质

以意蜂Apis mellifera蜂王浆为材料,经过硫酸铵分段盐析,DEAE-Sepharose 柱层析和Sephacryl S-200凝胶过滤,得到纯化的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD),纯化倍数104.00,比活力53.05 U/mg。该SOD经SDS-PAGE显示单一蛋白带。温度对该酶活力的影响较小。Cu、Zn、Fe和Mn等元素含量测定发现该酶只含有Cu和Zn。酶经圆二色谱测定后,其α螺旋、β折叠和无规则卷曲蛋白构型的含量分别为26.1%、53.8%和22.0%。等电聚焦电泳测得酶的等电点为4.69、4.85和5.01。NR/R单向和双向SDS-PAGE表明该酶含有链内二硫键。氨基酸组成分析发现该酶由约402个氨基酸残基组成,其中Asp、Gly、Leu、Ala、Glu和Val的含量较高。脲可抑制SOD活性,并使其紫外光谱发生变化,荧光发射峰强度变小。溴乙酸（BrAc）抑制酶的活力,使其紫外光谱发生变化,荧光发射峰强度变小。二巯基苏糖醇（DTT）使酶的活力发生变化,紫外吸收峰增大,荧光发射峰变小。