糖化酶、木聚糖酶融合蛋白在毕赤酵母中的高效表达

通过RT-PCR方法,以埃默森篮状菌(Talaromyces emersonii)总RNA为模板,克隆出糖化酶(glucoamylase,amyA)基因的成熟肽编码序列(1 857 bp),编码618个氨基酸;以类芽孢杆菌(Paenibacillus sp.)H10-3基因组DNA为模板,克隆出木聚糖酶(xylanaseA,xynA)基因的成熟肽编码序列(636 bp),编码211个氨基酸.通过重叠延伸PCR( SOE-PCR)得到拼接片段amyA-l-xynA,并将其克隆到毕赤酵母表达载体pPIC9中,得到重组质粒pPIC9-amyA-l-xynA,重组质粒线性化后经电击转化到毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)GS115中,得到了表达成功的工程菌ALX2.在ALX2发酵上清液中同时检测到糖化酶活性(10.7 U/mL)和木聚糖酶活性( 51.8 U/mL).     

Expression of the cystine-glutamate exchanger (xc −) in retinal ganglion cells and regulation by nitric oxide and oxidative stress

The cystine-glutamate exchanger, system x_c ⁻, mediates the Na⁺-independent exchange of cystine into cells, coupled to the efflux of intracellular glutamate. System x_c ⁻ plays a critical role in glutathione homeostasis. Early studies of brain suggested that system x_c ⁻ was present primarily in astrocytes but not neurons. More recent work indicates that certain brain neurons have an active system x_c ⁻. In the retina, system x_c ⁻ has been demonstrated in Müller and retinal pigment epithelial cells. We have recently suggested that two protein components of system x_c ⁻, xCT and 4F2hc, are present in ganglion cells of the intact retina. Here, we have used (1) molecular and immunohistochemical assays to determine whether system x_c ⁻ is present in primary ganglion cells isolated from neonatal mouse retinas and (2) functional assays to determine whether its activity is regulated by oxidative stress in a retinal ganglion cell line (RGC–5). Primary mouse ganglion cells and RGC–5 cells express xCT and 4F2hc. RGC–5 cells take up [³H]glutamate in the absence of Na⁺, and this uptake is blocked by known substrates of system x_c ⁻ (glutamate, cysteine, cystine, quisqualic acid). Treatment of RGC–5 cells with NO and reactive oxygen species donors leads to increased activity of system x_c ⁻ associated with an increase in the maximal velocity of the transporter with no significant change in the substrate affinity. This is the first report of system x_c ⁻ in primary retinal ganglion cells and RGC–5 cells. Oxidative stress upregulates this transport system in RGC–5 cells, and the process is associated with an increase in xCT mRNA and protein but no change in 4F2hc mRNA or protein. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants EY014560 and EY012830.     

Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) regulates glucocorticoid metabolism through 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 in murine gonadotrope cells

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and its metabolite mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) have been classified as toxicants to the reproductive system at the testis level and DEHP may also impair reproductive axis function at the pituitary levels. However, MEHP is 10-fold more potent than DEHP in toxicity and little is known about the toxicological effect of MEHP on pituitary. In this study, we demonstrated that 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), not 11β-HSD1, is strongly expressed in murine gonadotrope LβT2 cells. Interestingly, MEHP inhibited Hsd11b2 mRNA level and 11β-HSD2 enzyme activity in LβT2 cells at as low as 10⁻⁷ M. Corticosterone (CORT) at a concentration of 10⁻⁶ M significantly inhibited LβT2 cell proliferation after 2-day culture, and 10⁻⁶ M RU486, an antagonist of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), reversed this inhibition. However, in the presence of 10⁻⁵ or 10⁻⁴ M MEHP, the minimal concentration of CORT to inhibit the proliferation of LβT2 cells was lowered to 10⁻⁷ M, and 10⁻⁶ M RU486 was not able to completely reverse the CORT effect. In conclusion, along with the regulation of GR, 11β-HSD2 may have a key role in glucocorticoid metabolism in LβT2 cells. MEHP may participate in the glucocorticoid metabolism in LβT2 cells through inhibition of 11β-HSD2 enzyme activity. Such perturbation may be of pathological significance as MEHP may interfere with the reproductive system at pituitary level through regulation of glucocorticoid metabolism, especially in neonates with higher risk of phthalates exposure.     

不同亚型流感病毒NS1蛋白在酵母菌细胞中转录激活功能的差异

非结构蛋白1（nonstructural protein1,NS1）是甲型流感病毒一种重要的调控蛋白,与病毒的毒力密切相关,本文检测了不同亚型流感病毒NS1蛋白在酵母菌细胞中的基因转录激活能力,将携带NS1基因的诱饵载体与空的猎物载体共转化AH109和Y187酵母菌细胞,观察AH109在QDO培养基上的生长情况,以X-α-gal为底物检测其分泌α-半乳糖苷酶的能力;通过ONPG实验定量分析Y187酵母菌细胞β-半乳糖苷酶活性的强弱,结果发现转化H1N1,H5N1和H9N2亚型流感病毒NS1基因的AH109酵母菌细胞能够在QDO培养基上生长,并分泌高水平的α-半乳糖苷酶,同时这些基因转化的Y187酵母菌细胞具有很强的β-半乳糖苷酶活性,与此相反,H3N2亚型流感病毒NS1基因转化AH109和Y187后,上述实验结果均为阴性,这说明H1N1,H5N1和H9N2亚型的NS1蛋白具有刺激酵母菌细胞基因转录的功能,而H3N2亚型的NS1蛋白缺乏这种能力,表明NS1蛋白型别的不同可造成其生物学活性的差异。     

Computational Modeling and Molecular Physiology Experiments Reveal New Insights into Shoot Branching in Pea

Bud outgrowth is regulated by the interplay of multiple hormones, including auxin, cytokinin, strigolactones, and an unidentified long-distance feedback signal that moves from shoot to root. The model of bud outgrowth regulation in pea (Pisum sativum) includes these signals and a network of five RAMOSUS (RMS) genes that operate in a shoot-root-shoot loop to regulate the synthesis of, and response to, strigolactones. The number of components in this network renders the integration of new and existing hypotheses both complex and cumbersome. A hypothesis-driven computational model was therefore developed to help understand regulation of shoot branching. The model evolved in parallel with stepwise laboratory research, helping to define and test key hypotheses. The computational model was used to verify new mechanisms involved in the regulation of shoot branching by confirming that the new hypotheses captured all relevant biological data sets. Based on cytokinin and RMS1 expression analyses, this model is extended to include subtle but important differences in the function of RMS3 and RMS4 genes in the shoot and rootstock. Additionally, this research indicates that a branch-derived signal upregulates RMS1 expression independent of the other feedback signal. Furthermore, we propose xylem-sap cytokinin promotes sustained bud outgrowth, rather than acting at the earlier stage of bud release.     

转Bt cry1Ab基因水稻对稻田弹尾虫种群数量的影响

以转Bt cry1Ab基因水稻克螟稻1号(KMD1)和克螟稻2号(KMD2)及其亲本非转基因水稻秀水11(XS11)为材料,于2003年9月和翌春4月,调查了KMD1和KMD2对水稻灌浆期和收割后休田期稻田土表落叶层中弹尾虫种群数量的影响.结果表明,KMD植株表达的cry1Ab杀虫蛋白可在稻田环境中残留160 d以上;在水稻灌浆期采用吸虫器法在稻田落叶层中采集到灰橄榄长角跳虫(Entomobrya griseoolivata)和钩圆跳虫(Bourletiella christianseni)等2种弹尾虫,其中灰橄榄长角跳虫在KMD1和KMD2稻田中的种群密度显著高于XS11稻田;在水稻收割后休田期采用网袋法采集到灰橄榄长角跳虫、钩圆跳虫、球角跳虫(Hypogastrura matura)和等节跳虫(Isotoma monochaeta)等4种弹尾虫,其中转Bt基因水稻稻田中的灰橄榄长角跳虫和球角跳虫的种群密度显著高于XS11稻田,且其植株组织残体生物量损失率显著高于XS11.     

蝉蜕活性成分的提取及其抑菌活性的研究

本文报道了对传统中药蝉蜕抑菌活性成分提取与抑菌活性研究结果。对4种提取方法和7种提取溶剂的提取效果进行了平行比较研究,研究结果显示,以体积分数95%乙醇作为提取溶剂,4种提取方法中,以超声波法提取时的浸膏得率最高。采用超声波提取法时,在7种提取溶剂中,以95%乙醇提取浸膏的得率最高。抑菌试验结果表明,不同方法获得提取物与对照组相比对Escheridia coli均有明显的抑菌作用(P≤0.05),但不同提取方法得到的提取物之间,并无显著的抑菌活性差异。其中采用超声波提取法,以95%乙醇为提取溶剂时,所得提取物的抑菌活性最高,对E.coli的最小抑菌浓度为0.078 mg/mL。该研究结果是蝉蜕抑菌成分的首次报道。     

棉铃虫核型多角体病毒orf86基因的原核表达、抗体制备与免疫印迹检测

棉铃虫核型多角体病毒(Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus,HearNPV)orf86是一个功能未知的基因。从HearNPV基因组中通过PCR得到orf86基因编码序列,将其构建于原核表达载体pGEX-4T-2,转化大肠杆菌BL21获得融合表达产物。融合表达蛋白经分离纯化后免疫新西兰大白兔,制备其多克隆抗体。用ELISA测定结果表明,ORF86多克隆抗体效价为1:5.12×105。利用该抗体Western印迹检测HearNPV感染的HZAM1细胞,检测到一个36kD的目的蛋白条带,与ORF86预期大小一致。结果表明该多抗可用于对orf86编码蛋白的检测和相关功能研究。     

Acidic NAADP-sensitive Calcium Stores in the Endothelium: AGONIST-SPECIFIC RECRUITMENT AND ROLE IN REGULATING BLOOD PRESSURE*

Accumulating evidence implicates nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) in the control of Ca²⁺-dependent functions. Little, however, is known concerning its role in the vascular endothelium, a major regulator of blood pressure. Here, we show that NAADP acetoxymethyl ester (NAADP-AM), a cell-permeant NAADP analog, increases cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration in aortic endothelial cells. We demonstrate that these signals and those evoked by acetylcholine are blocked by disrupting acidic organelles with bafilomycin A1. In contrast, Ca²⁺ signals in response to thrombin are only partially inhibited by bafilomycin A1 treatment, and those to ATP were insensitive, suggesting that recruitment of acidic stores is agonist-specific. We further show that NAADP-evoked Ca²⁺ signals hyperpolarize endothelial cells and generate NO. Additionally, we demonstrate that NAADP dilates aortic rings in an endothelium- and NO-dependent manner. Finally, we show that intravenous administration of NAADP-AM into anesthetized rats decreases mean arterial pressure. Our data extend the actions of NAADP to the endothelium both in vitro and in vivo, pointing to a previously unrecognized role for this messenger in controlling blood pressure.