Emerging players in the initiation of eukaryotic DNA replication

Faithful duplication of the genome in eukaryotes requires ordered assembly of a multi-protein complex called the pre-replicative complex (pre-RC) prior to S phase; transition to the pre-initiation complex (pre-IC) at the beginning of DNA replication; coordinated progression of the replisome during S phase; and well-controlled regulation of replication licensing to prevent re-replication. These events are achieved by the formation of distinct protein complexes that form in a cell cycle-dependent manner. Several components of the pre-RC and pre-IC are highly conserved across all examined eukaryotic species. Many of these proteins, in addition to their bona fide roles in DNA replication are also required for other cell cycle events including heterochromatin organization, chromosome segregation and centrosome biology. As the complexity of the genome increases dramatically from yeast to human, additional proteins have been identified in higher eukaryotes that dictate replication initiation, progression and licensing. In this review, we discuss the newly discovered components and their roles in cell cycle progression.     

CSF and Brain Structural Imaging Markers of the Alzheimer's Pathological Cascade

Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and structural imaging markers are suggested as biomarkers amended to existing diagnostic criteria of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer''s disease (AD). But there is no clear instruction on which markers should be used at which stage of dementia. This study aimed to first investigate associations of the CSF markers as well as volumes and shapes of the hippocampus and lateral ventricles with MCI and AD at the baseline and secondly apply these baseline markers to predict MCI conversion in a two-year time using the Alzheimer''s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort. Our results suggested that the CSF markers, including Aβ42, t-tau, and p-tau, distinguished MCI or AD from NC, while the Aβ42 CSF marker contributed to the differentiation between MCI and AD. The hippocampal shapes performed better than the hippocampal volumes in classifying NC and MCI, NC and AD, as well as MCI and AD. Interestingly, the ventricular volumes were better than the ventricular shapes to distinguish MCI or AD from NC, while the ventricular shapes showed better accuracy than the ventricular volumes in classifying MCI and AD. As the CSF markers and the structural markers are complementary, the combination of them showed great improvements in the classification accuracies of MCI and AD. Moreover, the combination of these markers showed high sensitivity but low specificity for predicting conversion from MCI to AD in two years. Hence, it is feasible to employ a cross-sectional sample to investigate dynamic associations of the CSF and imaging markers with MCI and AD and to predict future MCI conversion. In particular, the volumetric information may be good for the early stage of AD, while morphological shapes should be considered as markers in the prediction of MCI conversion to AD together with the CSF markers.     

Crucial Involvement of Tumor-Associated Neutrophils in the Regulation of Chronic Colitis-Associated Carcinogenesis in Mice

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a major form of chronic inflammation that can frequently progress to colon cancer. Several studies have demonstrated massive infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages into the lamina propria and submucosa in the progression of UC-associated colon carcinogenesis. Macrophages contribute to the development of colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC). However, the role of neutrophils is not well understood. To better understand the involvement of tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) in the regulation of CAC, we used a mouse CAC model produced by administering azoxymethane (AOM), followed by repeated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) ingestion. This causes severe colonic inflammation and subsequent development of multiple tumors in mice colon. We observed that colorectal mucosal inflammation became increasingly severe with AOM and DSS treatment. Macrophages infiltrated the lamina propria and submucosa, together with a marked increase in neutrophil infiltration. The chemokine CXCL2 increased in the lamina propria and submucosal regions of the colons of the treated mice, together with the infiltration of neutrophils expressing CXCR2, a specific receptor for CXCL2. This process was followed by neoplastic transformation. After AOM and DSS treatment, the mice showed enhanced production of metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and neutrophil elastase (NE), accompanied by excessive vessel generation and cell proliferation. Moreover, CXCL2 promoted neutrophil recruitment and induced neutrophils to express MMP-9 and NE in vitro. Furthermore, administration of neutrophil-neutralizing antibodies after the last DSS cycle markedly reduced the number and size of tumors and decreased the expression of CXCR2, CXCL2, MMP-9, and NE. These observations indicate a crucial role for TANs in the initiation and progression of CAC and suggest that the CXCL2–CXCR2 axis might be useful in reducing the risk of UC-associated colon cancer.     

Interaction of cocaine-, benztropine-, and GBR12909-like compounds with wild-type and mutant human dopamine transporters: molecular features that differentially determine antagonist-binding properties

The widely abused psychostimulant cocaine is thought to elicit its reinforcing effects primarily via inhibition of the neuronal dopamine transporter (DAT). However, not all DAT inhibitors share cocaine's behavioral profile, despite similar or greater affinity for the DAT. This may be due to differential molecular interactions with the DAT. Our previous work using transporter mutants with altered conformational equilibrium (W84L and D313N) indicated that benztropine and GBR12909 interact with the DAT in a different manner than cocaine. Here, we expand upon these previous findings, studying a number of structurally different DAT inhibitors for their ability to inhibit [(3)H]CFT binding to wild-type, W84L and D313N transporters. We systematically tested structural intermediates between cocaine and benztropine, structural hybrids of benztropine and GBR12909 and a number of other structurally heterologous inhibitors. Derivatives of the stimulant desoxypipradrol (2-benzhydrylpiperidine) exhibited a cocaine-like binding profile with respect to mutation, whereas compounds possessing the diphenylmethoxy moiety of benztropine and GBR12909 were dissimilar to cocaine-like compounds. In tests with specific isomers of cocaine and tropane analogues, compounds with 3alpha stereochemistry tended to exhibit benztropine-like binding, whereas those with 3beta stereochemistry were more cocaine-like. Our results point to the importance of specific molecular features--most notably the presence of a diphenylmethoxy moiety--in determining a compound's binding profile. This study furthers the concept of using DAT mutants to differentiate cocaine-like inhibitors from atypical inhibitors in vitro. Further studies of the molecular features that define inhibitor-transporter interaction could lead to the development of DAT inhibitors with differential clinical utility.     

利用染色体片段置换系定位水稻落粒性主效QTL

水稻落粒性是与其生产密切相关的重要性状之一。以7个染色体片段置换系为材料,采用重叠群代换作图法对控制落粒性的2个主效QTL进行定位。结果表明,104个SSR标记在亲本间具有多态性,多态率为68.0%;4个置换系的落粒性与亲本日本晴的落粒性相似,表现难落粒。3个置换系与亲本93-11的落粒性相似,表现易落粒;7个染色体片段置换系在第1和第6染色体上检出7个置换片段,其长度分别为23.6、16.5、6.6、9.9、10.4、20.2和7.1 cM;qSH-1-1被定位在第1染色体RM472-RM1387之间,遗传距离约为6.6 cM。qSH-6-1为新发现的落粒性主效QTL,被定位在第6染色体RM6782-RM3430之间,遗传距离约为4.2 cM。利用染色体片段置换系能准确地定位水稻落粒性QTL,qSH-1-1与qSH-6-1的鉴定和初步定位为其进一步的精细定位、图位克隆及分子标记辅助选择奠定了基础。     

脂连素对小鼠急性肝损伤的保护作用

目的观察脂连素对刀豆蛋白A（ConA）所致小鼠急性肝损伤的干预作用,并对其机制进行初步探讨。方法雄性BALB／C小鼠17只,随机分为3组：ConA组6只：尾静脉注射ConA。脂连素组5只：在静脉注射ConA前腹腔内注射脂连素。对照组6只：尾静脉注射生理盐水。注射ConA后8小时留取血清检测各组ALT和TNF-α水平,肝组织进行HE染色,并检测NF-κB活性及肝细胞凋亡率。结果HE染色可见ConA组肝细胞水肿、变性,肝组织内淋巴细胞浸润、淤血等,脂连素组上述病理变化减轻（P〈0．01）。脂连素组ALT和TNF-α水平、NF-κB活性、肝细胞凋亡率均低于ConA组（P〈0．01或P〈0．05）。结论脂连素具有抗炎作用,其机制可能与减少TNF-α的产生、抑制肝组织NF-κB活性及抗肝细胞凋亡有关。     

黑曲霉X-1产木聚糖酶液体发酵工艺研究

目的:提高黑曲霉X-1菌株液体发酵木聚糖酶的产量.方法:采用单因素和正交试验对黑曲霉X-1菌株产木聚糖酶液体发酵培养基和培养条件进行了优化.结果:通过正交试验找出最大影响因素为玉米芯和葡萄糖的供应,优化后的最佳培养基和培养条件为:玉米芯粉3%,葡萄糖0.5%,蛋白胨1%,KH2PO4 0.5%,MgSO4·7HO 0.1%,Tween-80 0.‰,pH 6.5,30℃、200r/min摇瓶培养120h.结论:黑曲霉X-1菌株在优化后的培养基和培养条件下,木聚糖酶活力高达1 630.78U,比优化前木聚糖酶活力(724.63U)提高了125.05%.     

热带季节雨林林冠上方和林内近地层CO2浓度的时空动态及其成因分析

 为探讨西双版纳独特地方气候背景下,热带季节雨林CO₂浓度的时空变化特征和不同时间尺度上环境因素对森林CO₂浓度时间分布的作用,以及 为研究热带季节雨林的碳通量、净生态系统交换量(Net ecosystem exchange, NEE)等提供支持,我们利用热带季节雨林林冠上方和林内近地层 CO₂浓度连续监测资料,结合同步气象资料进行了统计分析。研究结果表明：在植被生理活动、土壤呼吸以及林内湍流的共同作用下,西双版纳 热带季节雨林CO₂浓度表现出明显的日变化、季节变化和林冠上下差异。在日尺度上,林冠上方的CO₂浓度时间变化曲线为“单峰型”,林内近 地层CO₂浓度时间变化曲线为“双峰型”,造成林内近地层傍晚第二个峰值的主要因子是地形因子作用下形成的局地环流。在季节尺度上,林冠 上方CO₂浓度主要受林冠代谢作用的影响,呈现雨季低、干季高的特点,而林内近地层的CO₂浓度则主要受地表呼吸过程所控制,季节变化趋势 与林冠上方相反。林冠上方CO₂浓度低于林内近地层CO₂浓度,且差异较大;在日尺度上,各月（除12月外）CO₂浓度的最大差值皆大于80 mg·m ^－3,且出现在傍晚;在季节尺度上,最大值为-62.9 mg·m^－3,出现在10月,最小值为-8.4 mg·m^－3,出现在12月。