灯盏花产黄酮内生放线菌筛选及产黄酮能力的初步研究

通过黄酮类物质特异颜色反应和可见分光光度法,筛选产黄酮的灯盏花内生放线菌,研究灯盏花产黄酮内生放线菌在PDA、高氏1号和淀粉3种培养基上的产黄酮能力。结果表明:59株灯盏花内生放线菌中,8株菌的镁粉+浓盐酸、氯化铝、浓氨水3种颜色反应均成阳性,能够产生黄酮。形态学观察初步鉴定这8株菌均为链霉菌属(Streptomyces)。3种培养基中,在PDA培养基上灯盏花产黄酮内生放线菌的菌丝体生物量、黄酮含量和产量较高。8株灯盏花产黄酮内生放线菌中,菌株RA′1-7生长较好,菌株ELA′3-2和RA2-1菌丝体黄酮含量较高,菌株ELA′3-2菌丝体黄酮产量较高。     

1株Alternaria sp.真菌菌丝提取物对玉米种子发芽促进作用的研究

从健康的野生山枣根部分离得到1株真菌,经分子鉴定其为支链孢属Alternaria sp.并且对其进行液体培养到生长期后,菌丝体用4层纱布滤出,40℃烘干,研磨后用乙醇浸提3次,合并滤液,并测定其菌丝醇提取物的浓度,配成1、10、100μg/mL的浓度,进行玉米种子催芽试验。结果表明,浓度为1、10μg/mL的醇提取物,均可提高玉米种子的发芽指数,而浓度为100μg/mL的醇提取物则会降低玉米种子发芽指数。     

MALDI-TOF/TOF和LC-MS/MS液质联用分析大鼠脑脉络丛的多肽组

脉络丛(choroid plexus,CP)位于血液与脑脊液(cerebrospinal fluid,CSF)之间,不仅是CSF的重要来源,而且是构成血液-脑脊液屏障(blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier,BCB)的组织基础.CP参与脑组织中一些血源性多肽的输送以及自身多肽合成的生理过程,在维持脑微环境动态平衡和调节中枢神经系统的正常功能方面起到非常重要的作用.本研究分别运用MALDI-TOF/TOF和LC-MS/MS液质联用系统分析了成年SD大鼠血液-脑脊液屏障(即脉络丛组织)中的多肽组.共鉴定到163个多肽(P0.001),这些多肽为69种蛋白质的降解肽段,其中ATP合酶(ATP synthase),细胞色素c(cytochrome c),血红蛋白(hemoglobin),NADH-辅酶Q氧化还原酶(NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase),β珠蛋白(beta-globin)这5种蛋白质的肽段数占总肽段数的50%以上,并且部分多肽序列相似度高,类似其前体蛋白的逐步降解片段,而这些前体蛋白质的分子量多数在10kD至20kD之间.上述研究结果为SD大鼠脉络丛组织的生理功能研究及组织多肽组学的研究方法提供了有价值的科学资料.     

产低温脂肪酶菌株Psychrobacter sp.7342的筛选及粗酶性质研究

从南北极环境土样中筛选到1株产脂肪酶细菌7342,16SrDNA序列分析表明该菌株属于Psychrobacter sp..p-NPP法研究显示,菌株7342所产粗酶液的最适温度为30℃、最适pH值为8.0,对热较稳定;Co2+和Cs+对粗酶液有激活作用,而Na+、Sr2+等7种金属离子对其均有不同程度的抑制作用;粗酶液能在高浓度的SDS、Tween20等变性剂中表现出较好的稳定性.     

基于线粒体Cytb基因全序列探讨两爪鳖和山瑞鳖的系统进化关系

采用PCR方法对两爪鳖(Carettochelys insculpta)和山瑞鳖(Pdea steindachneri)mtDNA的细胞色素b基因(Cytb)进行了扩增和测序,并结合GenBank中已公布的其它15种龟鳖类和两种鳄类的同源序列,进行了序列变异比较和系统发生分析.以凯门鳄和扬子鳄为外群,采用邻接(neighbor ioining,NJ)法、最大简约(maximum likelihood,ML)法和最大似然(maximum parsimony,MP)法重建分子系统树.结果均支持将龟鳖目分为3支:侧颈龟科(Pelomedusidae)(非洲侧颈龟Pelomedusa subrufa),两爪鳖科(Carettochelyidae)(两爪鳖Carettochelys insculpta)和一支由其它15种现生龟鳘类组成的进化支.在这里两爪鳘科被认为可能代表一新的亚目;而山瑞鳖聚于鳖科(Trionychidae)中,与中华鳌(Pelodiscus sinensis)最先聚成一支,再依次与马来鳖(Dogania subplana)、非洲鳖(Trionyx triunguis)、印度箱鳖(Lissemys punctata)聚成一组.     

DDR1 regulates the stabilization of cell surface E‐cadherin and E‐cadherin‐mediated cell aggregation

The stabilization of cell surface E‐cadherin is important for the maintenance of apical junction complexes and epithelial polarity. Previously, we reported that discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) forms a complex with E‐cadherin at adhesive contacts; however, the regulatory role of DDR1 in the stabilization of cell surface E‐cadherin and E‐cadherin‐mediated cell behaviors remained undefined. To gain insight into these questions, we utilized two stable clones depleted for DDR1 via the small interfering RNA (siRNA) technique, and we over‐expressed DDR1 in MDCK cells. We performed Western blotting, immunofluorescence analysis, flow cytometry, and cell aggregation studies to investigate the effect of DDR1 on cell surface E‐cadherin. The results showed that both DDR1/2 and E‐cadherin use their extracellular domains to form DDR/E‐cadherin complexes. Neither the depletion nor the over‐expression of DDR1 changed the expression level of E‐cadherin in MDCK cells. Collagen disrupted the formation of E‐cadherin complexes and caused E‐cadherin to accumulate in the cytoplasm; however, over‐expression of DDR1 stabilized E‐cadherin on the cell surface and decreased its cytoplasmic accumulation. Furthermore, independently of collagen stimulation, the depletion of DDR1 resulted in a decrease in the level of cell surface E‐cadherin, which consequently caused its cytoplasmic accumulation and decreased E‐cadherin‐mediated cell aggregation. These results indicate that DDR1 can increase the stability of cell surface E‐cadherin and promote MDCK cell aggregation, which may be mediated through the formation of DDR1/E‐cadherin complexes. Overall, these findings have implications for the physiological roles of DDR1 in association with the maintenance of both the adhesion junction and epithelial polarity. J. Cell. Physiol. 224: 387–397, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effects of low-dose ketanserin on atherosclerosis in rats and rabbits

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that a small dose of ketanserin, which enhances baroreflex activity, prevents the early lesions of atherosclerosis. In experiment 1, baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was measured in 31 spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) in a conscious state using a computerized blood pressure monitoring system. Four weeks later, the rats were administered vitamin D3 and fed a high-cholesterol diet for 8 weeks to induce atherosclerosis. Then their hearts and aortae were removed for pathological examination. A negative correlation was found between BRS and the scores of coronary (r = -0.460, P < 0.01) and aortic atherosclerosis (r = -0.448, P < 0.05) in SHR. In experiment 2, SHRs were divided into 3 groups (n = 10 in each group) and received a dose of ketanserin of 0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/kg (i.g.), respectively. At the smallest dose (0.3 mg/kg), ketanserin did not lower blood pressure but enhanced BRS. In experiment 3, SHRs were administered vitamin D3, fed a high-cholesterol diet, and simultaneously treated with low-dose ketanserin. The atherosclerosis scores of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group (coronary score: 0.90 ± 0.14 vs. 1.76 ± 0.27, P < 0.05; aortic scores: 1.00 ± 0.39 vs. 2.18 ± 0.41, P < 0.05). In experiment 4, male New Zealand White rabbits were fed a high-cholesterol diet and treated with low-dose ketanserin at the same time. The atherosclerosis scores of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group (aortic scores: 0.26 ± 0.20 vs. 0.60 ± 0.31, P < 0.05). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated, for the first time, that low-dose ketanserin prevented the development of atherosclerosis independent of its blood pressure lowering action in SHRs and New Zealand White rabbits at least in part via enhancement of arterial baroreflex function.     

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan/ZnO nanoparticle composite membranes

Novel chitosan/ZnO nanoparticle (CS/nano-ZnO) composite membranes were prepared via the method of sol-cast transformation and studied by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDX). The characterization revealed that ZnO nanoparticles dispersed homogeneously within the chitosan matrix. The mechanical and antibacterial properties of the product were investigated. The results showed that the ZnO content had an effect on the mechanical properties of CS/nano-ZnO composite membranes, and that the antibacterial activities of CS membranes for Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus were enhanced by the incorporation of ZnO. Further, CS/nano-ZnO composite membranes with 6-10 wt % ZnO exhibited high antibacterial activities.