Nanoparticle self-assembly by a highly stable recombinant spider wrapping silk protein subunit

Artificial spider silk proteins may form fibers with exceptional strength and elasticity. Wrapping silk, or aciniform silk, is the toughest of the spider silks, and has a very different protein composition than other spider silks. Here, we present the characterization of an aciniform protein (AcSp1) subunit named W₁, consisting of one AcSp1 199 residue repeat unit from Argiope trifasciata. The structural integrity of recombinant W₁ is demonstrated in a variety of buffer conditions and time points. Furthermore, we show that W₁ has a high thermal stability with reversible denaturation at ∼71 °C and forms self-assembled nanoparticle in near-physiological conditions. W₁ therefore represents a highly stable and structurally robust module for protein-based nanoparticle formation.     

Response of rice (Oryza sativa) with root surface iron plaque under aluminium stress

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Rice (Oryza sativa) is an aquatic plant with a characteristic of forming iron plaque on its root surfaces. It is considered to be the most Al-tolerant species among the cereal crops. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of root surface iron plaque on Al translocation, accumulation and the change of physiological responses under Al stress in rice in the presence of iron plaque. METHODS: The japonica variety rice, Koshihikari, was used in this study and was grown hydroponically in a growth chamber. Iron plaque was induced by exposing the rice roots to 30 mg L(-1) ferrous iron either as Fe(II)-EDTA in nutrient solution (6 d, Method I) or as FeSO(4) in water solution (12 h, Method II). Organic acid in root exudates was retained in the anion-exchange resin and eluted with 2 m HCl, then analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after proper pre-treatment. Fe and Al in iron plaque were extracted with DCB (dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate) solution. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Both methods (I and II) could induce the formation of iron plaque on rice root surfaces. The amounts of DCB-extractable Fe and Al on root surfaces were much higher in the presence of iron plaque than in the absence of iron plaque. Al contents in root tips were significantly decreased with iron plaque; translocation of Al from roots to shoots was significantly reduced with iron plaque. Al-induced secretion of citrate was observed and iron plaque could greatly depress this citrate secretion. These results suggested that iron plaque on rice root surfaces can be a sink to sequester Al onto the root surfaces and Fe ions can pre-saturate Al-binding sites in root tips, which protects the rice root tips from suffering Al stress to a certain extent.     

Effects of endogenous beta-amyloid overproduction on tau phosphorylation in cell culture

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by beta-amyloid (Abeta) overproduction and tau hyperphosphorylation. Recent studies have shown that synthetic Abeta promotes tau phosphorylation in vitro. However, whether endogenously overproduced Abeta promotes tau phosphorylation and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we used mouse neuroblastoma N2a stably expressing wild-type amyloid precursor protein (APPwt) or the Swedish mutant APP (APPswe) to determine the alterations of phosphorylated tau and the related protein kinases. We found that phosphorylation of tau at paired helical filament (PHF)-1, pSer396 and pThr231 epitopes was significantly increased in cells transfected with APPwt and APPswe, which produced higher levels of Abeta than cells transfected with vector or amyloid precursor-like protein 1. The activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) was up-regulated with a concomitant reduction in the inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK-3 at its N-terminal Ser9 residue. In contrast, the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (CDK-5) and protein kinase C (PKC) was down-regulated. Inhibition of GSK-3 by LiCl, but not inhibition of CDK-5 by roscovitine, arrested Abeta secretion and tau phosphorylation. Inhibition of PKC by GF-109203X activated GSK-3, whereas activation of PKC by phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate inhibited GSK-3. These results suggest that endogenously overproduced Abeta induces increased tau phosphorylation through activation of GSK-3, and that inactivation of PKC is at least one of the mechanisms involved in GSK-3 activation.     

土族生物资源利用相关的传统知识多样性

生物资源利用相关的传统知识是对生物资源进行识别和利用的传统知识系统。随着现代生物技术的发展, 这类传统知识显示出其在科学、经济、文化乃至粮食安全战略方面的价值。本研究根据《生物多样性相关传统知识分类、调查与编目技术规定(试行)》, 对我国青海省土族聚集区的土族生物资源利用相关的传统知识进行了系统调查与编目, 并借鉴生物多样性测度方法, 创建了传统知识多样性指数计算方法, 对土族生物资源利用相关传统知识多样性进行分析。结果如下: (1)编目现存的土族生物资源利用相关的传统知识词条共424条; (2)土族传统知识的α多样性指数D_TK = 0.67, 表明其传统知识多样性较高; 土族传统知识的β_wtk多样性指数在不同的县域差异较大, 表明其在县域之间存在差异, 在空间上分布不连续、不均匀。本研究利用生物多样性指数验证了传统知识的定量研究方法, 说明传统知识多样性指数不仅可用于定量研究表征区域传统知识的多样性, 揭示不同空间区域内的分布特征, 还可为未来构建传统知识的定量研究体系提供重要的参考依据。     

TLR4全长及其截断体重组腺病毒的制备和功能鉴定

制备脂多糖 (LPS)Toll样受体 4 (TLR4 )全长及其胞内段缺失的TLR4截断体 (ΔTLR4 )的绿色荧光蛋白重组腺病毒并鉴定其功能 .用PCR方法扩增TLR4及ΔTLR4基因片段 ,酶切后亚克隆至腺病毒穿梭质粒中 ,形成带有目的基因的穿梭载体pAdTrack TLR4和pAdTrack ΔTLR4 .用BJ5 1 83细菌同源重组法将目的基因重组于腺病毒骨架载体中 ;将重组腺病毒质粒用PacⅠ酶切线性化后 ,用脂质体法转染HEK 2 93细胞进行腺病毒的包装扩增 .将重组腺病毒感染CHO K1细胞 ,采用荧光毒酶报告基因方法检测其对LPS诱导NF κB激活的影响 .酶切及测序表明 ,TLR4全长及其截断体ΔTLR4的重组腺病毒载体构建正确 .荧光素酶报告基因检测结果表明 ,TLR4全长及其截断体的重组腺病毒感染细胞对LPS诱导的反应具有不同的影响 ,Ad ΔTLR4明显抑制了LPS引起的NF κB激活 (P <0 0 5 ) ,Ad TLR4则使LPS引起的NF κB活性增强 (P <0 0 5 ) .LPS对细胞的激活作用依赖于TLR4的结构完整性     

一株生物表面活性剂产生菌的分离及其特性研究

模炼油厂污泥中分离得到1株生物表面活性剂产生菌C-3, 根据其生理生化特性和16S rDNA序列相似性分析, 将其鉴定为铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa)。初步研究了其产生物表面活性剂的最适条件, 在以植物油为碳源、30°C、初始pH 8、Ca2+浓度20 mg/L、250 mL三角瓶中装75 mL发酵液的条件下, 最利于菌株的生长和生物表面活性剂产生。它的成分为糖脂类物质, 临界胶束浓度(CMC)为50 mg/L, 具有很好的增溶效果。     

2型糖尿病患者醛糖还原酶基因5′调控区的多态性与功能

 为了探讨醛糖还原酶基因 5′调控区存在的可引起蛋白质表达发生改变的遗传变异及这些变异与糖尿病视网膜病变的相关性 ,应用PCR SSCP分析对醛糖还原酶基因 5′调控区 - 60 9～ + 4 0的DNA片段进行了筛选 .所有变异体均进行DNA序列分析并克隆至氯霉素乙酰转移酶报告基因载体(pCATreportervector) ,然后将重组质粒转染HeLa细胞 ,通过检测氯霉素乙酰转移酶的活性求出启动子的相对活性 .同时进行凝胶滞留试验与足纹分析以确定DNA与核蛋白的相互作用 .结果显示 ,在 1 45名 2型糖尿病患者及 1 2 3名正常对照的醛糖还原酶基因 5′调控区除野生型外 ,共发现 2种多态性 [C( - 1 0 6)T、C( - 1 2 )G].在正常对照与患者中 ,基因型WT WT ,WT C( - 1 2 )G和WT C( - 1 0 6)T的发生率无显著性差异 .在有视网膜并发症与无视网膜并发症的 2型糖尿病患者中 ,WT C( -1 0 6)T的发生率分别为 35 5%和 1 7 9% ( χ2 =4 0 0 ,P <0 0 5) ,WT C( - 1 2 )G的发生率分别为1 5 5%和 3 3% ( χ2 =3 43,P >0 0 5) .在有并发症的患者中 ,WT C( - 1 2 )G和WT C( - 1 0 6)T两者的总发生率为 42 3% ,显著高于无并发症的患者 ( 2 0 0 % ) ( χ2 =6 2 3,P <0 0 2 5) .野生型 ,C( - 1 2 )G和C( - 1 0 6)T等 3种调控序列的相对活性分别为     

文山松毛虫质型多角体病毒（DpwCPV）NS5蛋白基因的cDNA克隆及序列分析

通过对文山松毛虫质型多角体病毒(Dendrolimus punctatus Wenshanensis cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus, DpwCPV)的增殖、纯化,获得一株单一类型的质型多角体病毒。提纯的病毒粒子经SDS热酚法抽提得到基因组dSRNA,使用低熔点琼脂糖凝胶电泳分离并回收纯化第九片段S9。S9 RNA双链经高温变性,逆转录合成cDNA双链。根据DpwCPV与BmCPV1的同源性设计引物,将S9进行PCR扩增后,克隆到PMD18T载体上。最终获得一个977bp的序列,其中包含一个963bp的开放阅读框(ORF)。推测DpwCPV S9基因编码一个320个氨基酸的蛋白,分子量约为35560。     

氯化钇和氯化镨引起的人淋巴细胞DNA分子损伤的研究

用单细胞凝胶电泳法检测了稀土化合物氯化钇和氯化镨对人外周血淋巴细胞的ＤＮＡ损伤效应。结果表明,与对照相比,３种不同浓度的氯化钇和氯化镨均可引起淋巴细胞ＤＮＡ受损后ＤＮＡ迁移率的显著升高,受损伤细胞的百分率与对照差异明显,提示氯化钇和氯化镨具有一定的遗传毒性。     

CLUE-S模型在南京市土地利用变化研究中的应用

土地利用/覆盖变化模型是研究区域景观动态并解释其驱动机制的重要技术手段.应用CLUE-S模型,在Landsat TM影像等相关数据支持下,对南京地区1998-2006年土地利用的时空动态变化进行了研究.结果表明:各土地利用类型变化受地形因素影响最大,人均GDP与城镇用地和农业用地的分布呈显著相关,城乡主干道对土地利用变化的贡献显著大于省级及以上道路;海拔较高区域林地的发生比率较高,而地形低平区域农田、城建用地的发生比率较高.经检验,在300 m空间分辨率水平,对南京地区2003年、2006年土地利用状况模拟的精度分别达到了85.7%和84.1%;而通过将研究区分成若干子区,分别修正模型参数并重新模拟,准确率提高到89.7%和88.3%,分区赋值法有效地提高了模拟精度.研究表明,CLUE-S模型对城市发展的空间结构也有较强的预测能力,对指导城市规划、分析景观动态的驱动机制有重要参考价值.