Protein Kinase A Rescues Microtubule Affinity-regulating Kinase 2-induced Microtubule Instability and Neurite Disruption by Phosphorylating Serine 409

Microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 2 (MARK2)/PAR-1b and protein kinase A (PKA) are both involved in the regulation of microtubule stability and neurite outgrowth, but whether a direct cross-talk exists between them remains unclear. Here, we found the disruption of microtubule and neurite outgrowth induced by MARK2 overexpression was blocked by active PKA. The interaction between PKA and MARK2 was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation and immunocytochemistry both in vitro and in vivo. PKA was found to inhibit MARK2 kinase activity by phosphorylating a novel site, serine 409. PKA could not reverse the microtubule disruption effect induced by a serine 409 to alanine (Ala) mutant of MARK2 (MARK2 S409A). In contrast, mutation of MARK2 serine 409 to glutamic acid (Glu) (MARK2 S409E) did not affect microtubule stability and neurite outgrowth. We propose that PKA functions as an upstream inhibitor of MARK2 in regulating microtubule stability and neurite outgrowth by directly interacting and phosphorylating MARK2.     

泛素连接酶Smurf1不同亚型的功能研究

Smad泛素调节因子1(Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor 1,Smurf1)是一种HECT类的泛素连接酶,它参与许多生命活动的调节,如神经发育、细胞极性、骨的重塑和肿瘤形成等.虽然目前对Smurf1的了解较为深入,但在研究过程中并未对它的两种亚型Smurf1 L和Smurf1 S(两者在一级结构上仅相差26个氨基酸残基)进行详细区分,且偏重于对Smurf1 S的研究.因此本文对Smurf1上述两种亚型的功能(特别是Smurf1 L)进行了更加深入的探索.利用RT-PCR、免疫荧光和蛋白质印迹(Western blot)等实验技术,我们从组织表达、亚细胞定位和对底物的降解能力这三个方面深入研究了Smurf1 S和Smurf1 L的不同之处.实验结果表明:一方面,Smurf1 S的组织分布比Smurf1 L更加广泛,表达量更高;另一方面,两者的亚细胞定位也有所不同,Smurf1 L在有丝分裂期定位于纺锤体,而Smurf1 S则可能主要分布于胞质中.此外,Smurf1 S对底物的降解比Smurf1 L更彻底,且前者的降解效应有剂量依赖性.上述成果对今后更为精确地研究Smurf1的功能具有重要意义.     

Effects of mother's dietary exposure to acesulfame-K in Pregnancy or lactation on the adult offspring's sweet preference

This study investigates whether mother's exposure to the artificial sweetener acesulfame-K (AK) during pregnancy or lactation affected her adult offspring's sweet preference. It was found that mother's dietary exposure to AK in pregnancy or lactation decreased the preference thresholds for AK and sucrose solutions in the adult offspring, whereas the preference pattern and the most preferred concentration for AK or sucrose solution were unchanged. Furthermore, the preference scores in the exposure groups were increased significantly when compared with the control group at a range of concentrations for AK or sucrose solution. The existence of AK and its dynamic changes within 24 h in amniotic fluid during pregnancy or in mother's milk during lactation after a single oral infusion of AK solution were revealed by the methods of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Our data suggest that AK can be ingested by the prenatal or postnatal mice through their mother's amniotic fluid or breast milk, producing a long-dated function on the adult's sweet preference.     

微藻三酰甘油合成途径及其最新研究进展

三酰甘油(triacylglycerols,TAGs)是动物、植物、微生物和微藻细胞主要的储藏性脂类,它可应用于食品、轻工业和生物燃料等方面,是一种新型可再生能源——生物柴油生产的重要原料。与高等油料作物相比,微藻具有光合作用效率高、生长速度快、油脂产量高、不占用农业耕地和适应多种生长环境等优势,是一种潜在的新型生物柴油生产原料。然而,目前人们对有机体,尤其是微藻细胞内TAG合成与积累的分子机制及细胞的代谢调控机制还知之甚少。对TAG合成的一系列重要过程,包括脂肪酸的合成,TAG生物合成的主要途径和旁路途径,以及与TAG合成相关的关键酶和重要基因等进行了综述,特别对微藻细胞中与TAG合成相关的关键基因的最新研究进展进行了总结,旨在更好地了解油脂代谢的调控途径,为最大限度地供应生物柴油的生产原料提供理论基础。     

普通鸬鹚鸟卵溶菌酶与巢密度及卵顺序和新城疫病毒母源抗体关系

亲鸟可通过母体作用向鸟卵传递不同的免疫物质,用于免疫防御,对提高子代生存率至关重要。本研究在青海湖鸬鹚岛共采集60枚普通鸬鹚(Palacrocorax carbo)鸟卵,并同时记录巢密度和卵顺序,通过血凝抑制试验和溶解实验分别测定鸟卵溶菌酶浓度和新城疫病毒(Newcastle disease virus,NDV)母源抗体效价。对鸟卵溶菌酶浓度与巢密度进行Pearson相关分析,利用单因素方差(One way ANOVA)分析鸟卵溶菌酶浓度与卵顺序关系,利用t检验分析新城疫病毒阳性鸟卵与阴性鸟卵溶菌酶浓度差异性,对新城疫病毒阳性鸟卵抗体效价与溶菌酶浓度进行Spearman相关分析。(1)不同窝的鸟卵溶菌酶浓度与巢密度呈正相关性(r=0.886,P0.000 1);(2)同一窝内鸟卵溶菌酶浓度随着卵顺序的增加而增加(F=3.95,P0.05),且新城疫病毒阳性鸟卵的溶菌酶量高于阴性鸟卵(t=4.08,df=58,P0.001);(3)在新城疫病毒阳性鸟卵中,其新城疫病毒抗体效价与溶菌酶含量呈负相关关系(r=﹣0.840,P0.001)。上述结果表明,亲鸟会根据繁殖密度和卵顺序来调节向鸟卵分配的溶菌酶,同时会调节向鸟卵中传递抗新城疫病毒母源抗体和溶菌酶浓度,从而使免疫防御作用最大化。     

Dynamic Changes of Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Dopamine Concentrations in the Ventral Tegmental Area-Nucleus Accumbens Projection During the Expression of Morphine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference in Rats

Our previous study demonstrated that morphine dose- and time-dependently elevated dopamine (DA) concentrations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) during the expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats. However, still unknown are how DA concentrations dynamically change during the morphine-induced CPP test and whether tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) plays a vital role in this process. In the present study, we measured dynamic changes in TH and phosphorylated TH serine 40 (pTH Ser(40)) and pTH Ser(31) proteins in the VTA, and DA concentrations in the NAc at 5 min intervals during a 30 min morphine-induced CPP test. Rats that underwent morphine-induced CPP training significantly preferred the morphine-paired chamber during the CPP expression test, an effect that lasted at least 30 min in the drug-free state. DA concentrations in the NAc markedly increased at 15 min when the rats were returned to the CPP boxes to assess the expression of preference for the previously drug-paired chamber. DA concentrations then declined 2 h after the CPP test. TH and pTH Ser(40) levels, but not pTH Ser(31) levels, in the VTA were enhanced during the CPP test. These results indicated that TH and the phosphorylation of TH Ser(40) in the VTA may be responsible for DA synthesis and release in the NAc during the behavioral expression of conditioned reward elicited by a drug-associated context.     

城市化对鸟类的影响：从群落到个体

世界范围急剧的城市化进程所带来的生态问题,尤其是城市化对鸟类的影响引起了生态学家越来越多的关注。关注点从最初的群落水平,逐渐向种群水平和个体水平深入。在群落水平上,现有的研究展示了城市化对鸟类群落组成、物种的丰富度、多度、生物量和多样性等多方面存在的不同程度的影响;而物种水平的研究探讨了城市化影响鸟类群落格局的内在原因:不同的鸟类物种对城市化具有不同的反应;而个体水平的研究,更是进一步从鸟类行为、生活史特征等方面揭示城市化压力和鸟类的适应对策。大量的证据说明,城市化所带来的土地使用的改变、人为干扰、热岛效应、食物资源改变、巢捕食、夜间灯光等,不同程度地对城市鸟类产生了影响。     

亚健康便秘人群结肠黏膜蛋白质组的筛选鉴定与临床应用

筛选亚健康便秘人群结肠黏膜变化的分子标志物,为亚健康便秘人群的结肠黏膜改变机制提供理论依据.采用双向凝胶电泳(two-dimensional electrophoresis,2-DE)对亚健康便秘人群及健康志愿者结肠黏膜组织进行蛋白质分离,ImageMaster2D Elite分析软件进行图像分析,基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱(matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flightmass spectrometry,MALDI-TOF-MS)得到相应的肽质量指纹图(peptide mass fingerprint,PMF),搜索数据库鉴定差异蛋白.建立了亚健康便秘人群及健康志愿者结肠黏膜组织2-DE图谱,分析出其凝胶的平均蛋白质点数(501.00±37.16,536.00±41.63),两者平均差异蛋白质点数为46.00±7.82,取20个表达量明显改变的蛋白质点进行质谱分析,鉴定出17个蛋白质.其中7个蛋白质点表达下调,10个蛋白质点表达上调.差异蛋白质点包括蛋白质合成与分解、分子伴侣、氧化还原调节及信号传导等相关蛋白质.随即应用免疫印迹(Western blot)技术分析差异蛋白β-actin、YWHAZ及PBP-Ⅰ(phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteinⅠ)在两类组织中的表达水平及临床意义.结果表明,亚健康便秘人群和健康志愿者的结肠黏膜组织蛋白表达存在差异,β-actin、YWHAZ表达下调及PBP-Ⅰ上调参与了亚健康便秘的发生,对此状态进行合理干预,可使身体向健康转化.