18β-甘草次酸抑制微动脉平滑肌细胞外向电流

本文旨在观察18β-甘草次酸(18β-glycyrrhetinic acid,18βGA)对微动脉平滑肌细胞膜电流的影响。分离出豚鼠小脑前下动脉(anterior inferior cerebellar artery,AICA)和肠系膜动脉(mesenteric artery,MA)后,用酶消化法制备单个血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth muscle cells,VSMCs),应用全细胞膜片钳技术记录平滑肌细胞外向电流的变化。结果显示:(1)1mmol/L4氨基吡啶(4-aminopyridine,4-AP)和1mmol/L tetraethylammonium(TEA)都可以部分抑制微动脉平滑肌细胞的外向电流。(2)18βGA电压和浓度依赖性地抑制微动脉平滑肌细胞外向电流。18βGA主要抑制0～+40mV电压区间的激活电流,其中对+40mV激活电流的抑制作用最强。10、30和100μmol/L18βGA对AICA平滑肌细胞外向电流(+40mV)的抑制率分别为(25.3±7.1)%、(43.1±10.4)%和(68.4±3.9)%,对MA平滑肌细胞外向电流(+40mV)的抑制率分别为(13.2±...     

Novel structural components of the ventral disc and lateral crest in Giardia intestinalis

Giardia intestinalis is a ubiquitous parasitic protist that is the causative agent of giardiasis, one of the most common protozoan diarrheal diseases in the world. Giardia trophozoites attach to the intestinal epithelium using a specialized and elaborate microtubule structure, the ventral disc. Surrounding the ventral disc is a less characterized putatively contractile structure, the lateral crest, which forms a continuous perimeter seal with the substrate. A better understanding of ventral disc and lateral crest structure, conformational dynamics, and biogenesis is critical for understanding the mechanism of giardial attachment to the host. To determine the components comprising the ventral disc and lateral crest, we used shotgun proteomics to identify proteins in a preparation of isolated ventral discs. Candidate disc-associated proteins, or DAPs, were GFP-tagged using a ligation-independent high-throughput cloning method. Based on disc localization, we identified eighteen novel DAPs, which more than doubles the number of known disc-associated proteins. Ten of the novel DAPs are associated with the lateral crest or outer edge of the disc, and are the first confirmed components of this structure. Using Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) with representative novel DAP::GFP strains we found that the newly identified DAPs tested did not recover after photobleaching and are therefore structural components of the ventral disc or lateral crest. Functional analyses of the novel DAPs will be central toward understanding the mechanism of ventral disc-mediated attachment and the mechanism of disc biogenesis during cell division. Since attachment of Giardia to the intestine via the ventral disc is essential for pathogenesis, it is possible that some proteins comprising the disc could be potential drug targets if their loss or disruption interfered with disc biogenesis or function, preventing attachment.     

野生罗汉果遗传多样性的ISSR分析

应用ISSR分子标记方法对采自广西和广东的7个罗汉果（Siraitia grosvenorii）野生居群共130个个体进行了遗传多样性分析。15个ISSR引物共扩增到了111个位点,其中91个是多态性位点,占82.0%。Nei′s基因多样性指数(H_e)为 0.248,Shannon 信息多样性指数（I） 为0.354。罗汉果不同居群的遗传多样性水平差异较大,居群多态位点百分率在 28.2%－55.6%之间,Nei′s基因多样性指数为0.080－0.209,Shannon 信息多样性指数为0.123－0.310。永福居群（YF）和金秀居群（JX）的遗传多样性水平较高,其周边居群的遗传多样性水平逐渐降低,居群间产生了较大的遗传分化（G_st = 0.569）。居群间的遗传距离与地理距离相关性不明显（r =0.369,P = 0.115）。UPGMA聚类图中,7个居群的个体按居群各自聚在一起。     

急性心肌缺血对血液流变学和心脏收缩功能改变的影响

在麻醉开胸狗观察了急性心肌缺血对血液流变学和心脏收缩功能改变的影响。在阻断狗前降支冠脉1h内,血液流变学各参数发生异常变化,表现为高、低切变率下全血粘度(ηbh、ηb1)、血浆粘度、血细胞压积和纤维蛋白原升高,红细胞电泳时间缩短。同步描记心电、心音和颈动脉搏动图而记录的心脏收缩时间间期,表现为射血前期(PEP)延长、左室射血时间(LVET)缩短和PEP/LVET比值增大。此外,动脉舒张压(DAP)升高,心输出量(CO)减少。上述各参数均与对照值有明显差异,P<0.05。缺血40min时,对ηb1和PEP/LVET或DAP进行相关分析,呈明显正相关,P<0.05;ηb1和CO呈明显负相关,P<0.01。结果提示,心肌缺血后发生的血液流变学异常变化,具有增加射血阻力和减少心输出量的作用。     

Development of a novel spatiotemporal depletion system for cellular cholesterol

Cholesterol is an essential component of mammalian cell membranes whose subcellular concentration and function are tightly regulated by de novo biosynthesis, transport, and storage. Although recent reports have suggested diverse functions of cellular cholesterol in different subcellular membranes, systematic investigation of its site-specific roles has been hampered by the lack of a methodology for spatiotemporal manipulation of cellular cholesterol levels. Here, we report the development of a new cholesterol depletion system that allows for spatiotemporal manipulation of intracellular cholesterol levels. This system utilizes a genetically encoded cholesterol oxidase whose intrinsic membrane binding activity is engineered in such a way that its membrane targeting can be controlled in a spatiotemporally specific manner via chemically induced dimerization. In combination with in situ quantitative imaging of cholesterol and signaling activity measurements, this system allows for unambiguous determination of site-specific functions of cholesterol in different membranes, including the plasma membrane and the lysosomal membrane.     

香港嘉道理农场次生林区碰撞诱捕网和黑光灯捕虫器采集所得鞘翅目甲虫多样性比较

本文根据1990-1995年在香港嘉道理农场次生林区采集的昆虫标本,首次分析了鞘翅目及其优势科的种类、数量和季节性变化,以及由碰撞诱捕网和黑光灯捕虫器采集所得甲虫在种类、数量和季节性上的差异。在13260号标本中,已鉴定到科的有13253号,分属45科,231种。其中,朽木甲科(Alleculidae)、毛蕈甲科(Biphyllidae)、丸甲科(Byrrhidae)、坚甲科(Colydiidae)、拟球甲科(Corylophidae)、隐食甲科(Cryptophagidae)、水缨甲科(Hydroscaphidae)、伪叶甲科(Lagliidae)、薪甲科(Lathridiidae)、泽甲科(Limnichidae)、黑蕈甲科(Zopheridae)等11个科为香港地区的首次报道,约占本次调查科总数的25％。分析表明：(1)该次生林区的鞘翅目甲虫以蛀木性为主。天牛科(Cerambycidae)、瓢虫科(Coccinellidae)、象甲科(Curculionidae)、花蚤科(Mordellidae)、金龟甲科(Scarabaeidae)、小蠹科(Scolytidae)等6科均为多样性较高(种类≥15或者个体数量≥200)的优势科。(2)鞘翅目个体数量季节性明显,每年自2月开始数量逐渐增加,6—7月为甲虫发生的高峰期,8月显著减少。各优势科甲虫的季节性也存在一定的差异,庞大的小蠹标本数量(85％)说明在此调查期间该科正处于大发生时期。(3)黑光灯捕虫器所捕的甲虫科类和种类较之碰撞诱捕网所捕不尽相同,黑光灯捕虫器所捕的甲虫数量发生高峰期比碰撞诱捕网所捕的甲虫提前一个月。(4)各项多样性指数对不同捕虫器采集所得鞘翅目的测度差异明显,黑光灯捕虫器所捕甲虫的多样度和均匀度指数高于碰撞诱捕网。     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis secretory proteins CFP-10, ESAT-6 and the CFP10:ESAT6 complex inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced NF-kappaB transactivation by downregulation of reactive oxidative species (ROS) production

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) causes death of 2-3 million people annually and is considered one of the most successful intracellular pathogens to persist inside the host macrophage. Recent studies have implicated the role of RD-1 region of Mtb genome in the mycobacterial pathogenesis. The role of RD-1-encoded secretory proteins of Mtb in modulation of macrophage function has not been investigated in detail. Here we show that RD-1 encoded two major secretory proteins, namely, culture filtrate protein-10 kDa (CFP-10) and early secreted antigenic target-6 kDa (ESAT-6), and their 1:1 CFP-10:ESAT6 complex inhibit production of reactive oxidative species (ROS) in RAW264.7 cells. These proteins also downregulated the bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ROS production, which, in turn, downregulated LPS-induced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) p65 DNA-binding activity, as well as inhibited the NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene (chloramphenicol acetyl transferase) expression in the treated macrophages. Moreover, addition of N-acetyl cysteine, which is a scavenger of ROS, also inhibited LPS-induced reporter gene expression by scavenging the ROS, thereby preventing NF-kappaB transactivation. These studies indicate that the secretory proteins CFP-10, ESAT-6 and the CFP10:ESAT6 complex of Mtb can inhibit LPS-induced NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression via downregulation of ROS production.     

MD-2 mediates the ability of tetra-acylated and penta-acylated lipopolysaccharides to antagonize Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide at the TLR4 signaling complex

We have demonstrated previously that tetra-acylated LPS derived from the oral bacterium, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and penta-acylated msbB LPS derived from a mutant strain of Escherichia coli can antagonize the ability of canonical hexa-acylated E. coli LPS to signal through the TLR4 signaling complex in human endothelial cells. Activation of the TLR4 signaling complex requires the coordinated function of LPS binding protein (LBP), CD14, MD-2, and TLR4. To elucidate the specific molecular components that mediate antagonism, we developed a recombinant human TLR4 signaling complex that displayed efficient LPS-dependent antagonism of E. coli LPS in HEK293 cells. Notably, changes in the expression levels of TLR4 in HEK293 cells modulated the efficiency of antagonism by P. gingivalis LPS. Both soluble (s) CD14 and membrane (m) CD14 supported efficient P. gingivalis LPS-dependent and msbB LPS-dependent antagonism of E. coli LPS in the recombinant TLR4 system. When cells expressing TLR4, MD-2, and mCD14 were exposed to LPS in the absence of serum-derived LBP, efficient LPS-dependent antagonism of E. coli LPS was still observed indicating that LPS-dependent antagonism occurs downstream of LBP. Experiments using immunoprecipitates of sCD14 or sMD-2 that had been pre-exposed to agonist and antagonist indicated that LPS-dependent antagonism occurs partially at sCD14 and potently at sMD-2. This study provides novel evidence that expression levels of TLR4 can modulate the efficiency of LPS-dependent antagonism. However, MD-2 represents the principal molecular component that tetra-acylated P. gingivalis LPS and penta-acylated msbB LPS use to antagonize hexa-acylated E. coli LPS at the TLR4 signaling complex.     

Evaluation of DNA Variants Associated with Androgenetic Alopecia and Their Potential to Predict Male Pattern Baldness

Androgenetic alopecia, known in men as male pattern baldness (MPB), is a very conspicuous condition that is particularly frequent among European men and thus contributes markedly to variation in physical appearance traits amongst Europeans. Recent studies have revealed multiple genes and polymorphisms to be associated with susceptibility to MPB. In this study, 50 candidate SNPs for androgenetic alopecia were analyzed in order to verify their potential to predict MPB. Significant associations were confirmed for 29 SNPs from chromosomes X, 1, 5, 7, 18 and 20. A simple 5-SNP prediction model and an extended 20-SNP model were developed based on a discovery panel of 305 males from various European populations fitting one of two distinct phenotype categories. The first category consisted of men below 50 years of age with significant baldness and the second; men aged 50 years or older lacking baldness. The simple model comprised the five best predictors: rs5919324 near AR, rs1998076 in the 20p11 region, rs929626 in EBF1, rs12565727 in TARDBP and rs756853 in HDAC9. The extended prediction model added 15 SNPs from five genomic regions that improved overall prevalence-adjusted predictive accuracy measured by area under the receiver characteristic operating curve (AUC). Both models were evaluated for predictive accuracy using a test set of 300 males reflecting the general European population. Applying a 65% probability threshold, high prediction sensitivity of 87.1% but low specificity of 42.4% was obtained in men aged <50 years. In men aged ≥50, prediction sensitivity was slightly lower at 67.7% while specificity reached 90%. Overall, the AUC=0.761 calculated for men at or above 50 years of age indicates these SNPs offer considerable potential for the application of genetic tests to predict MPB patterns, adding a highly informative predictive system to the emerging field of forensic analysis of externally visible characteristics.