Gating of inward rectifier K+ channels by proton-mediated interactions of N- and C-terminal domains

Ion channels play an important role in cellular functions, and specific cellular activity can be produced by gating them. One important gating mechanism is produced by intra- or extracellular ligands. Although the ligand-mediated channel gating is an important cellular process, the relationship between ligand binding and channel gating is not well understood. It is possible that ligands are involved in the interactions of different protein domains of the channel leading to opening or closing. To test this hypothesis, we studied the gating of Kir2.3 (HIR) by intracellular protons. Our results showed that hypercapnia or intracellular acidification strongly inhibited these channels. This effect relied on both the N and C termini. The CO(2)/pH sensitivities were abolished or compromised when one of the intracellular termini was replaced. Using purified N- and C-terminal peptides, we found that the N and C termini bound to each other in vitro. Although their binding was weak at pH 7.4, stronger binding was seen at pH 6.6. Two short sequences in the N and C termini were found to be critical for the N/C-terminal interaction. Interestingly, there was no titratable residue in these motifs. To identify the potential protonation sites, we systematically mutated most histidine residues in the intracellular N and C termini. We found that mutations of several histidine residues in the C but not the N terminus had a major effect on channel sensitivities to CO(2) and pH(i). These results suggest that at acidic pH, protons appear to interact with the C-terminal histidine residues and present the C terminus to the N terminus. Consequentially, these two intracellular termini bound to each other through two short motifs and closed the channel. Thus, a novel mechanism for K(+) channel gating is demonstrated, which involves the N- and C-terminal interaction with protons as the mediator.     

下丘脑—垂体—性腺（男）轴内分泌调节控制的数理模型

本文在总结了大量实验事实的基础上提出了一个下丘脑—垂体—性腺(男性)轴内分泌的调节反馈模型。与已有的横型比较,本模型克服了它们的一些困难和不太合理之处,从而与实验符合得更好些。     

OsGRF4 controls grain shape,panicle length and seed shattering in rice

Traits such as grain shape, panicle length and seed shattering, play important roles in grain yield and harvest. In this study, the cloning and functional analysis of PANICLE TRAITS 2 (PT2), a novel gene from the Indica rice Chuandali (CDL), is reported. PT2 is synonymous with Growth‐Regulating Factor 4 (OsGRF4), which encodes a growth‐regulating factor that positively regulates grain shape and panicle length and negatively regulates seed shattering. Higher expression of OsGRF4 is correlated with larger grain, longer panicle and lower seed shattering. A unique OsGRF4 mutation, which occurs at the OsmiRNA396 target site of OsGRF4, seems to be associated with high levels of OsGRF4 expression, and results in phenotypic difference. Further research showed that OsGRF4 regulated two cytokinin dehydrogenase precursor genes (CKX5 and CKX1) resulting in increased cytokinin levels, which might affect the panicle traits. High storage capacity and moderate seed shattering of OsGRF4 may be useful in high‐yield breeding and mechanized harvesting of rice. Our findings provide additional insight into the molecular basis of panicle growth.     

小麦胚芽蛋白的研究进展

小麦胚芽是面粉加工过程中的副产物,小麦胚芽蛋白具有良好的氮溶解度、起泡性、乳化性以及保水性、氨基酸比例平衡,不仅是饮料、食品以及医疗产品良好的添加剂,而且具有较强的产品开发潜力。对小麦胚芽蛋白的组成成分、理化性质、提取以及麦胚蛋白产品开发利用这四个方面进行简要的介绍,旨在为小麦胚芽蛋白的全面开发利用提供依据。     

Isolation and characterization of endophytic fungi from Camptotheca acuminata

In this study, a total of 161 endophytic fungal isolates from Camptotheca acuminata were obtained and classified to 16 taxa according to morphological and molecular analysis. These taxa were composed of 2 frequent genera (Botryosphaeria and Fusarium) and 14 infrequent groups such as Xylaria, Diaporthe, Rhizopus, Epicoccum, and Preussia, demonstrating that fungal endophytes in C. acuminata were highly abundant and diverse. Antimicrobial activity screening using filter-paper diffusion method showed that 47.6 % of the tested isolates had antimicrobial activity against at least one of the test microorganisms. Screening of fungal endophyte-derived camptothecin analogues by TLC and LC–MS/MS³ demonstrated that a strain Botryosphaeria dothidea, X-4 could produce 9-methoxycamptothecin (9-MCPT) when cultured in Sabouraud’s dextrose broth for 12 days under shake flask and bench-scale fermention conditions. This work showed that the fungal endophytes from C. acuminata could be an alternative source for the production of 9-MCPT and other natural antimicrobial compounds.     

Potential role of cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) in diabetic cardiomyopathy in diabetic rats: An in vivo approach

The present study aimed to evaluate the importance of cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) of diabetic cardiomyopathy in diabetic rats. The rats were induced with diabetic using streptozotocin and total triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were determined. The range of myocardial enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) were also estimated, further, the Immuno histochemical analysis and western blot investigation were determined for the actual activity of C3G. Results indicated that the marker enzymes such as CK, LD and AST were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in STZ administered rats (DM group), while the levels of these elevated marker enzymes of cardiac injury significantly (P < 0.05) declined in the DM + C3G group, as compared to the diabetic group of rats. Additionally, a decrease in the level of TNF-alpha and interleukin-6, was noticed in the C3G treated group as compared to diabetic group. Finally, blotting analysis clearly confirmed that theC3G treatment resulted to higher level response of Bcl-2 and lower level response of caspase-3 and BAX. In conclusion, C3G a natural antioxidant may prevent cardiovascular complications by ameliorating oxidative damage, inflammation, metabolic dysfunctions and apoptosis pathways in type 2 diabetes.