Mitochondrial replacement in macaque monkey offspring by first polar body transfer

Dear Editor, Mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)mutations are maternally inherited to the offspring and mitochondrial replacement therapy(MRT)provides a promising approach...     

利用离体叶片鉴定杨树耐盐潜力

以受体杨树107和转基因杨树18-1的一年生枝条为材料,采用Hoagland营养液水培方法,添加不同浓度的NaCl,检测二者植株生长以及叶中Na＋和K＋含量的变化。结果表明,在0.6%NaCl处理下18-1生根率明显高于107,生物量较大,叶片中Na＋积累量是107的1.45倍左右。以107和18-1离体叶片为材料,NaCl处理下测定其生理活性指标,发现18-1叶盘的失绿速度和相对电导率都显著低于107叶盘。把离体叶片接种在改良MS培养基上,1.2%NaCl处理可使107叶盘几乎停止伸长,细胞大小不再增加;而18-1叶盘培养7天后伸长了近50%。以上结果表明利用离体叶片可以鉴定出不同基因型杨树的耐盐潜力。     

Pellino 1 is required for interleukin-1 (IL-1)-mediated signaling through its interaction with the IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4)-IRAK-tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) complex

The signaling pathway downstream of the mammalian interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R)/Toll-like receptor (TLR) is evolutionally conserved with that mediated by the Drosophila Toll protein. Toll initiates its signal through the adapter molecule Tube and the serine-threonine kinase Pelle. Pelle is highly homologous to members of the IL-1R-associated kinase (IRAK) family in mammals. Recently, a novel Pelle-interacting protein called Pellino was identified in Drosophila. We now report a mammalian counterpart of Pellino, termed Pellino 1, which is required for NF kappa B activation and IL-8 gene expression in response to IL-1, probably through its signal-dependent interaction with IRAK4, IRAK, and the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6). The Pellino 1-IRAK-IRAK4-TRAF6 signaling complex is likely to be intermediate, located between the IL-1 receptor complex and the TAK1 complex in the IL-1 pathway.     

巴西橡胶树 HbNAC1基因启动子的克隆及序列分析

NAC转录因子是植物特有的一类转录调控因子,在植物的生长发育、激素调节和境胁迫应答中具有重要的功能。为研究NAC转录因子在巴西橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)抗逆胁迫中的功能,本项目组根据巴西橡胶树NAC转录因子-HbNAC1基因序列,通过Genome Walking方法从巴西橡胶基因组DNA中获得了长度为1861bp的HbNAC1基因的5’调控区片段,序列分析表明该段序列含有一个典型的真核生物核心启动子区域,转录起始位点T位于起始密码子上游52bp处。该启动子序列除了含有TATA-box、CAAT-box等基本顺式作用元件外,还具有茉莉酸响应元件以及大量光顺式作用元件和逆境胁迫诱导相关的顺式调控元件,这表明HbNAC1基因在橡胶树逆境胁迫应答过程具有重要功能,其启动子可能是一个光诱导型和组织特异性启动子。     

In vivo cancer targeting and imaging with semiconductor quantum dots

We describe the development of multifunctional nanoparticle probes based on semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) for cancer targeting and imaging in living animals. The structural design involves encapsulating luminescent QDs with an ABC triblock copolymer and linking this amphiphilic polymer to tumor-targeting ligands and drug-delivery functionalities. In vivo targeting studies of human prostate cancer growing in nude mice indicate that the QD probes accumulate at tumors both by the enhanced permeability and retention of tumor sites and by antibody binding to cancer-specific cell surface biomarkers. Using both subcutaneous injection of QD-tagged cancer cells and systemic injection of multifunctional QD probes, we have achieved sensitive and multicolor fluorescence imaging of cancer cells under in vivo conditions. We have also integrated a whole-body macro-illumination system with wavelength-resolved spectral imaging for efficient background removal and precise delineation of weak spectral signatures. These results raise new possibilities for ultrasensitive and multiplexed imaging of molecular targets in vivo.     

万座嗜酸两面菌硫代谢相关膜蛋白基因的筛选

活性巯基在浸矿微生物硫代谢的过程中起着重要的作用,半胱氨酸残基作为蛋白质中活性巯基的提供者,为筛选硫代谢相关蛋白质基因提供了依据。本研究以极端嗜酸热古菌万座嗜酸两面菌Acidianus manzaensis为研究对象,基于其全基因组注释信息,筛选出编码富半胱氨酸残基的潜在硫代谢相关膜蛋白基因,并通过RT-qPCR实验对筛选出来的基因进行表达水平验证,同时利用生物信息学方法对其进一步分析。研究表明,与在亚铁中生长的细胞相比,单质硫培养下的细菌中与能量代谢相关的β-葡糖苷酶,与电子传递相关的ATP合成酶、NADH-辅酶Q氧化还原酶基因均表达上调,说明硫代谢途径可能与能量代谢和电子传递有着重要的联系。此外,还有三个假定蛋白基因表达上调,这三个假定膜蛋白中,ARM75161.1、ARM75436.1中的半胱氨酸都位于保守区域,且均有一个半胱氨酸残基暴露于膜外,而ARM75580.1中的半光氨酸不位于保守区域。其中ARM75436.1具有CXXXC结构域,且该结构域中半胱氨酸残基处于同一个β-折叠中。这些假定蛋白可能参与A. manzaensis中硫代谢途径。     

东亚三角涡虫RhoA基因的原核表达及组织定位

为了表达东亚三角涡虫RhoA蛋白,采用温控表达载体pBV220-IL1,构建了原核表达重组质粒pBV220-IL1-RhoA,转化到E.coli DH5α中,利用42℃热激诱导表达,并进行了分离纯化和Western杂交鉴定,利用荧光免疫组织化学技术检测了在涡虫体内的分布。SDS-PAGE电泳表明诱导表达的融合蛋白约为18 kDa,Western杂交结果显示是目的蛋白,荧光免疫组织化学结果表明RhoA蛋白在东亚三角涡虫神经系统处表达。     

Immuno-stimulating properties of diosgenyl saponins isolated from Paris polyphylla

The effects of three diosgenyl saponins isolated from Paris polyphylla on the immuno-stimulating activity in relation to phagocytosis, respiratory burst, and nitric oxide production in mouse macrophage cells RAW 264.7 have been investigated. Our results showed that all three diosgenyl saponins significantly enhanced phagocytic activity that increased with the concentration of saponins to reach a maximum, and then tended to decrease with higher concentrations. Saponins with sugar moiety directly induced respiratory burst response in RAW 264.7 cells that increased with the concentrations and reached a maximum, then decreased with higher concentrations after 2-h incubations, however, diosgenin had no PMA-triggered respiratory burst response. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with saponins with sugar moiety for 24-h caused a significant increase in the production of nitric oxide, while diosgenin had no effect at all. Consequently, relationship between molecular structures of three diosgenyl saponins and their immunomodulatory activities was discussed, and a possible mechanism of immuno-stimulating function of diosgenyl saponins was accordingly explored.