Disruption of the Arabidopsis SMC4 gene, AtCAP-C, compromises gametogenesis and embryogenesis

In higher eukaryotes, the condensin complex is a multisubunit apparatus that plays a pivotal role in the coordinated condensation of chromatin during mitosis. The catalytic subunits, CAP-E and CAP-C, members of the SMC family of ATPases, form a heterodimer, the activity of which is controlled by the non-SMC subunits CAP-D2, CAP-G and CAP-H. Here, we report the characterization of a T-DNA insertion mutant of the Arabidopsis CAP-C gene. Analysis of the progeny of selfed heterozygotes revealed that the homozygous null genotype is embryo lethal, with arrest occurring at or before the globular stage of development. Patterning defects associated with altered planes of cytokinesis were found in both the embryo and the suspensor. Crosses of heterozygotes with wild type plants revealed both male and female gametophytic defects. Stretched chromatin was observed between segregating mitotic chromosomes in pollen produced by selfed heterozygotes. Additionally, some plants heterozygous for the T-DNA insertion exhibited loss of apical dominance and mild fasciation, indicating a semi-dominant effect of the mutation. These results reveal a critical role for AtCAP-C during cell division and, unlike our previous studies on the AtCAP-E genes, suggest that no redundant factors for AtCAP-C exist in the Arabidopsis genome.     

重组C8orf32蛋白的表达、纯化及抗体制备

C8orf32是一种功能未知基因,其mRNA含量在乳腺癌组织中显著高于正常乳腺组织。将其开放式阅读框插入pGEX-6P1原核表达载体T7启动子控制下的GST编码基因下游,构建了C8orf32蛋白表达质粒pGEX-6P-C8。表达质粒转化入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)菌株,经IPTG诱导,成功表达了GST- C8orf32融合蛋白。经带有GST标签的位点特异性蛋白酶切割除去GST-C8orf32融合蛋白的GST标签,获得了N端带有8个多余氨基酸残基的C8orf32蛋白,蛋白纯度为95%左右。N端氨基酸序列分析表明该蛋白N端氨基酸序列正确,质谱鉴定进一步证明所表达C8orf32蛋白的正确性。用制备的C8orf32蛋白免疫新西兰白兔,获得了能够正确识别C8orf32蛋白的抗血清。该蛋白及其抗体的成功制备,为进一步研究C8orf32蛋白的结构功能和体内分布打下了基础。     

甘草酸二铵对于HCV相关性B—NHLCD25-和CD25＋T细胞增殖影响研究

目的：本研究初步探究甘草酸二铵（Diammonium Glycyrrihizinate,DG）对HCV相关性B细胞非霍奇金淋巴瘤（B-cellnon-Hodgkin-Slymphoma,B-NHL）CD25-T细胞、CD25＋T细胞的免疫调控作用。方法：应用流式细胞分析仪检测HCV相关性B-NHLCD4＋CD25＋T细胞占CD4＋1r细胞的比例、CD25＋细胞占总PBMC比例,并与单纯HcV感染患者、健康人检测结果相对照。应用免疫磁珠分离法（MACS）分选获得CD25-和CD25＋细胞,将两者和未分选的外周血单个核细胞（peripheralblood mononuclear cell。PBMC）以CFSE标染孵育72小时后,应用流式细胞分析仪将APCCD3阳性细胞设定为门检测CD25T细胞、未分选T细胞、CD25＋T细胞的增殖情况,及甘草酸二铵干预后的CD25-T细胞、CD25＋T细胞增殖情况。结果：应用流式细胞分析仪检测健康人、单纯HCV感染者和HCV相关性B—NHL患者在CD4＋CD25＋占总CD4＋细胞比例和CD25＋占总细胞比例上均呈现逐步递增的关系（分别为33．94％±2．18％,57．95％±1．77％,70．24％±12．75％,P〈0．05;18．16％±2．23％,33．45％±1132％,54.69％±8．66％,P〈0．05）。CFSE标染后孵育72小时检测（MI＋M2）分裂相百分比呈现CD25-T细胞最高、未分选T细胞其次、CD2YT细胞最低的表现（分别为74．4％±1．2％,63．1％±5．4％,47．2％±5．9％,P〈0．05）。甘草酸二铵干预后CD25-T细胞较未干预CD25T细胞M1分裂相百分比增加（分别为57．7％±4．2％,46．5％±5．6％,P〈0．05）。甘草酸二铵干预后CD25＋T细胞较未干预cD25＋1r细胞M1分裂相百分比减少（分别为14．7％±1．3％,22．1％±4．1％,P〈0．05）。结论：HCV相关性B-NHLCIM＋CD25＋、CD25＋细胞百分比较单纯HCV感染者、健康人明显增加,提示存在T细胞免疫抑制,且抑制程度重于单纯HCV感染。去除CD25＋细胞后CD25T细胞增殖较未去除CD25＋的T细胞增殖活跃,说明HCV相关性B-NHL患者的CD25＋细胞能够抑制CD25-T细胞增殖。而DG干预后HCV相关性B-NHLCD25＋T细胞增殖M1分裂相减少,而CD25T细胞增殖M1分裂相增加,表明DG对HCV相关性B-NHL具有抑制CD25＋T细胞增殖而促进CD25-T细胞增殖的积极免疫调节作用。     

释放巴氏钝绥螨对沙田柚上橘全爪螨的防治效果

2007～2008年开展释放巴氏钝绥螨Amblyseius barkeri(Hughes)防治沙田柚上橘全爪螨Panonychus citri McGregor试验示范。结果表明:巴氏钝绥螨能在江西省吉安市沙田柚果园大量繁殖,每株成年沙田柚树上释放3～4盒巴氏钝绥螨,每盒含巴氏钝绥螨600头以上,可有效控制橘全爪螨的危害,减少施药次数和农药用量,节约防治成本,改善橘园生态环境和果品品质。     

Role of Rho kinase in sphingosine 1-phosphate-mediated endothelial and smooth muscle cell migration and differentiation

The role of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P)-induced Rho kinase (ROCK) activation in the angiogenic responses of pulmonary artery-derived endothelial cells (PAEC) and smooth muscle cells (PASMC) was examined. S1P, a biologically active phospholipid that regulates angiogenesis, promoted PAEC chemotaxis and capillary morphogenesis; furthermore, this activity was unaltered by pretreatment with the pharmacological inhibitor of ROCK, H1152. In contrast, S1P (500 nM) significantly inhibited spontaneous PASMC chemotaxis and differentiation; however, this inhibition was eradicated upon H1152 pretreatment. Similarly, PASMCs transfected with ROCK II siRNA diminished S1P-induced inhibition of the development of multi-cellular structures. Analysis by RT-PCR identified the presence of S1P₁ and S1P₃ receptors on both PAECs and PASMCs, while S1P₂ receptor expression was confined to only PASMCs. Consistent with this observation, the S1P₁ and S1P₃ receptor antagonist, VPC23019, virtually abolished the S1P-initiated PAEC differentiation but did not impede the S1P-induced inhibition of PASMC differentiation. However, the S1P₂ receptor antagonist, JTE013, had no effect on S1P-mediated differentiation of PAECs but abolished the S1P-induced inhibition of PASMC function. Co-cultured endothelial and smooth muscle cells differentiated into “neovascular-like” networks, which were significantly inhibited by S1P. The inhibition of co-culture differentiation in both PAECs and PASMCs was negated by H1152 pretreatment. However, when smooth muscle cells were added to S1P-initiated endothelial cell networks, additional S1P treatment did not inhibit the cellular networks generated by these cells. In conclusion, S1P-induced PAEC angiogenic responses are regulated by S1P₁ and/or S1P₃ receptors independent of Rho kinase activation, whereas S1P₂ receptor-mediated curtailment of PASMC function by S1P.     

Age-associated changes in erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity: correlation with total antioxidant potential

Oxidative stress is believed to play a central role in aging and age-associated diseases. It leads to oxidative changes in human red blood cells (RBCs) in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we evaluated the oxidative damage to the erythrocytes during aging in the humans using RBC as a model, by measuring the cytosolic antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. GPx activity was found to be significantly decreased as a function of human age and positively correlated with total antioxidant capacity, while negatively correlated with SOD activity. Thus, results of the present study showed involvement of oxidative stress as one of the risk factors, which can initiate and/or promote human aging.     

Design, synthesis and SAR of thienopyridines as potent CHK1 inhibitors

A novel series of CHK1 inhibitors based on thienopyridine template has been designed and synthesized. These inhibitors maintain critical hydrogen bonding with the hinge and conserved water in the ATP binding site. Several compounds show single digit nanomolar CHK1 activities. Compound 70 shows excellent enzymatic activity of 1 nM.