The Lipid-Bound Apolipoprotein A-I Cysteine Mutant (N74C) Inhibits the Activation of NF-κB,JNK and p38 in Endotoxemic Mice and RAW264.7 Cells

Our previous studies showed that recombinant high-density lipoprotein (rHDL) rHDL74 exhibited higher anti-inflammatory capabilities compared to wild-type rHDL (rHDLwt), while rHDL228 showed hyper-proinflammation. In this paper, we further investigated the potential mechanisms involved in their different inflammatory functions using two models: endotoxemic mice and the RAW264.7 inflammation model. Our results showed that 24 h after the injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), mice treated with rHDL74 had a significant decrease in plasma CRP (P<0.01 vs. rHDLwt; P<0.01 vs. LPS), MCP-1 (P<0.05 vs. rHDLwt; P<0.01 vs. LPS) and CD14 (P<0.01 vs. LPS) compared with the mice treated with rHDLwt or the controls that received LPS only. Similar to our previous study, rHDL228 increased the plasma level of CRP (P<0.05 vs. LPS) and MCP-1 (P<0.01 vs. LPS). Our immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis showed that rHDL74 inhibited the activation of NF-κB in endotoxemic mice and JNK and p38 in the RAW264.7 inflammation model, while rHDL228 exacerbated the activation of NF-κB and ERK. In summary, our data suggest that rHDL74 exhibits higher anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing inflammatory factors and inhibiting the activation of NF-κB, JNK and p38, while rHDL228 appears to be hyper-proinflammation by increasing these inflammatory factors and aggravating the activation of NF-κB and ERK.     

Overexpression of cloned genes using recombinant Escherichia coli regulated by a T7 promoter: II. Two-stage continuous cultures and model simulations

A two-stage culture strategy was studied for continuous high-level production of a foreign protein in the chemically inducible T7 expression system. The first stage is dedicated to the maintenance of plasmid-bearing cells and the second stage to the target protein synthesis by induction of cells coming from the first stage. On entering the second stage, recombinant cells undergo a gradual induction of the target gene expression. These plasmid-bearing cells experience dynamic changes in intracellular compositions and specific growth rates with their individual residence times. Therefore, the overall cultural characteristics in the production stage are really averages of the contributions from the various cells with different residence times. The behavior of the two-stage culture is described by a model, which accounts for dynamic variations of cell growth and protein synthesis rates with cell residence times. Model simulations were compared with experimental results at a variety of operating conditions such as inducer concentration and dilution rate. This model is useful for understanding the behavior of two-stage continuous cultures. (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

皮下种植黑色素瘤对小鼠血液中脂肪和氨基酸代谢的影响*

目的:探讨皮下种植黑色素瘤对小鼠血液中相关脂肪和氨基酸代谢的影响。方法:野生型小鼠皮下种植B16黑色素瘤细胞,两周后观察小鼠并取不同的组织称重,检测血液中甘油三酯、葡萄糖、脂肪酸、炎症因子的水平。利用质谱方法检测血液中氨基酸的水平。结果:野生型小鼠皮下肿瘤种植2周后体重没有明显变化,脾脏和肝脏的重量明显增加,皮下脂肪组织和腹腔脂肪组织的重量没有明显变化。血液中甘油三酯的水平明显增高,葡萄糖和甘油的水平明显下降。血液中炎症因子Interleukin 6(IL6)和Interferon gamma(IFNγ)的水平明显增加。血液的质谱结果显示有四种氨基酸的水平有明显变化,其中胱氨酸(Cystine)增加了约30倍,丝氨酸(Serine)、谷氨酰胺(Glutamine)和色氨酸(Tryptophan)分别有不同程度的降低。结论:皮下黑色素瘤显著影响小鼠机体营养状态和炎症,并特异性影响血液中氨基酸的代谢。     

Effects of caffeine on in vivo and in vitro oocyte maturation in mice

The objective was to investigate, using a mouse model, the effects of caffeine on the number of ovulated oocytes, the rate of oocyte maturation, the susceptibility of oocytes to activating stimuli, spindle morphology, and distribution of cortical granules (CGs). Mice were given caffeine (150 mg/kg body weight ip) at various times relative to hCG (-2, 0, and +2h); in an in vitro study, 1, 5 or 10 mM caffeine was added to the maturation culture. Caffeine had no effect on the quality of oocytes in vivo maturation, but caffeine was detrimental to the quality of oocytes matured in vitro. Further studies are needed to determine caffeine concentration in follicles relative to that in culture medium.     

A Potent Class of GPR40 Full Agonists Engages the EnteroInsular Axis to Promote Glucose Control in Rodents

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by impaired glucose homeostasis due to defects in insulin secretion, insulin resistance and the incretin response. GPR40 (FFAR1 or FFA1) is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), primarily expressed in insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells and incretin-producing enteroendocrine cells of the small intestine. Several GPR40 agonists, including AMG 837 and TAK-875, have been disclosed, but no GPR40 synthetic agonists have been reported that engage both the insulinogenic and incretinogenic axes. In this report we provide a molecular explanation and describe the discovery of a unique and potent class of GPR40 full agonists that engages the enteroinsular axis to promote dramatic improvement in glucose control in rodents. GPR40 full agonists AM-1638 and AM-6226 stimulate GLP-1 and GIP secretion from intestinal enteroendocrine cells and increase GSIS from pancreatic islets, leading to enhanced glucose control in the high fat fed, streptozotocin treated and NONcNZO10/LtJ mouse models of type 2 diabetes. The improvement in hyperglycemia by AM-1638 was reduced in the presence of the GLP-1 receptor antagonist Ex(9–39)NH₂.     

Interactive effects of seed availability,water depth,and phosphorus enrichment on cattail colonization in an Everglades wetland

The relative importance of seed availability, waterdepth, and soil phosphorus (P) concentrations oncattail (Typha domingensis pers.) earlyestablishment in an Everglades wetland area wasexamined using seed bank analysis and controlledexperiments. The experiments measured seed germinationand seedling growth in tanks with cattail seedaddition subjected to two P concentrations(un-enriched vs. enriched) and water depth (saturatedvs. flooded soils). A limited seed bank (223 ± 69m²) of cattail was found in the surface soil ofthe area studied. The germination of added seeds wasinhibited under flooded conditions, and only 0.6% ofthe germination was found. In contrast,under-saturated soil conditions, a maximum of 6% and15% germination was observed in P-un-enriched andP-enriched treatments, respectively. High mortality ofseedlings occurred regardless of P treatments followinga cold spell. However, P enrichment resulted inincreased seedling growth and asexual propagation.These results suggested the importance of theconcurrence of appropriate hydrologic regimes, Penrichment, and air temperature on the recruitment ofplant species.     

ALLMAPS: robust scaffold ordering based on multiple maps

The ordering and orientation of genomic scaffolds to reconstruct chromosomes is an essential step during de novo genome assembly. Because this process utilizes various mapping techniques that each provides an independent line of evidence, a combination of multiple maps can improve the accuracy of the resulting chromosomal assemblies. We present ALLMAPS, a method capable of computing a scaffold ordering that maximizes colinearity across a collection of maps. ALLMAPS is robust against common mapping errors, and generates sequences that are maximally concordant with the input maps. ALLMAPS is a useful tool in building high-quality genome assemblies. ALLMAPS is available at: https://github.com/tanghaibao/jcvi/wiki/ALLMAPS.     

PtdIns(4,5)P2 and PtdIns3P coordinate to regulate phagosomal sealing for apoptotic cell clearance

Phagocytosis requires phosphoinositides (PIs) as both signaling molecules and localization cues. How PIs coordinate to control phagosomal sealing and the accompanying switch of organelle identity is unclear. In this study, we followed dynamic changes in PIs during apoptotic cell clearance in Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P₂) and phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PtdIns3P), which accumulate transiently on unsealed and fully sealed phagosomes, respectively, are both involved in phagosome closure. We identified PtdIns3P phosphatase MTM-1 as an effector of PtdIns(4,5)P₂ to promote phagosomal sealing. MTM-1 coordinates with the class II PI3 kinase PIKI-1 to control PtdIns3P levels on unsealed phagosomes. The SNX9 family protein LST-4 is required for sealing, and its association with unsealed phagosomes is regulated by PtdIns(4,5)P₂, PIKI-1, and MTM-1. Loss of LST-4 or its retention on phagosomes disrupts sealing and suppresses PtdIns3P accumulation, indicating close coupling of the two events. Our findings support a coincidence detection mechanism by which phagosomal sealing is regulated and coupled with conversion from PtdIns(4,5)P₂ enrichment on unsealed phagosomes to PtdIns3P enrichment on fully sealed phagosomes.     

来源卤化二型聚酮类生物合成基因簇的两种关键功能基因鉴定与表达

为催化卤化产物,挖掘具有生物活性的新卤化物提供新的方法途径,拟构建卤化酶原核表达载体催化天然卤化物的卤化过程.对链霉菌Streptomyces sp.FJS31-2基因组中一个II型PKS类产物zunyimycin生物合成基因簇进行系列分析,针对其中的后修饰酶卤化酶基因和单加氧酶基因进行原核表达纯化.通过分子生物学手段...