Combinatorial signals of activin/nodal and bone morphogenic protein regulate the early lineage segregation of human embryonic stem cells

Cell fate commitment of pre-implantation blastocysts, to either the inner cell mass or trophoblast, is the first step in cell lineage segregation of the developing human embryo. However, the intercellular signals that control fate determination of these cells remain obscure. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) provide a unique model for studying human early embryonic development. We have previously shown that Activin/Nodal signaling contributes to maintaining pluripotency of hESCs, which are derivatives of the inner cell mass. Here we further demonstrate that the inhibition of Activin/Nodal signaling results in the loss of hESC pluripotency and trophoblast differentiation, similar to BMP4-induced trophoblast differentiation from hESCs. We also show that the trophoblast induction effect of BMP4 correlates with and depends on the inhibition of Activin/Nodal signaling. However, the activation of BMP signaling is still required for trophoblast differentiation when Activin/Nodal signaling is inhibited. These data reveal that the early lineage segregation of hESCs is determined by the combinatorial signals of Activin/Nodal and BMP.     

合理利用网络资源为《微生物学》教学服务

充分利用网络上的教学资源 ,经过整理、修正、补充之后应用到微生物学的教学中 ,提高微生物学的教学质量和教学效率。     

Analysis of synonymous codon usage in H5N1 virus and other influenza A viruses

In this study, we calculated the codon usage bias in H5N1 virus and performed a comparative analysis of synonymous codon usage patterns in H5N1 virus, five other evolutionary related influenza A viruses and a influenza B virus. Codon usage bias in H5N1 genome is a little slight, which is mainly determined by the base compositions on the third codon position. By comparing synonymous codon usage patterns in different viruses, we observed that the codon usage pattern of H5N1 virus is similar with other influenza A viruses, but not influenza B virus, and the synonymous codon usage in influenza A virus genes is phylogenetically conservative, but not strain-specific. Synonymous codon usage in genes encoded by different influenza A viruses is genus conservative. Compositional constraints could explain most of the variation of synonymous codon usage among these virus genes, while gene function is also correlated to synonymous codon usages to a certain extent. However, translational selection and gene length have no effect on the variations of synonymous codon usage in these virus genes.     

Technical note phytoremediation of triazophos by Canna indica Linn. in a hydroponic system

The phytoremediation of triazophos (O, O-diethyl-O-(1-phenyl-1, 2, 4-triazole-3-base) sulfur phosphate, TAP) by Canna indica Linn. in a hydroponic system was studied. After 21 d of exposure, the removal kinetic constant (K) of TAP was 0.0229-0.0339 d(-1) and the removal percentage of TAP was 41-55% in the plant system and the K and removal percentage of TAP were about 0.002 d(-1) and 1%, respectively, in darkness and disinfected control. However, the K and removal percentage of TAP were 0.006 d(-1) and approximately 11%, respectively, in the treatment with eluate from the media of constructed wetland. The contribution of plant to the remediation of TAP was 74% and C. indica played the most important role in the hydroponic system. Under the stress of TAP and without inorganic phosphorus nutrient, the activity of phosphatase in the plant system increased and phytodegradation was observed. The production and release of phosphatase is seen as the key mechanism for C. indica to degrade TAP. C. indica, which showed the potential of phytoremediation of TAP, and is commonly used in constructed wetland, so the technique of phytoremediation of TAP from contaminated water can be developed with the combination of constructed wetland.     

人血小板因子4在大肠杆菌中的高效表达及活性研究

为了提高人血小板因子 4(humanplateletfactor 4,hPF4)的表达 ,在PT7 7 hPF4表达质粒的基础上 ,采用PCR定位突变技术 ,改造人血小板因子 4(hPF4)cDNA基因片段 ,去除cDNA 3′端非翻译区AT富含序列 ,改用大肠杆菌强串联终止密码子TAATAA ,成功构建了高效表达质粒pBV2 2 0 hPF4。摇瓶发酵重组人血小板因子 4的产量达 1 60mg L较原表达质粒PT7 7 hPF4表达量提高了近 80倍。经包涵体的洗涤、变性、复性后 ,采用鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜血管生成抑制实验测定复性后rhPF4的生物学活性 ,结果显示 :rhPF4具有抑制血管生成活性。     

MTT比色法测定促肝细胞生长物质对肝细胞生长的刺激活性

本实验建立了用简便的ＭＴＴ比色法对促肝细胞生长物质的促肝细胞增殖作用的测定方法,确定了实验的最适条件。与传统的３Ｈ ＴｄＲ掺入法进行比较的结果显示,ＭＴＴ比色法与３Ｈ ＴｄＲ掺入法测定结果基本相符,灵敏度相近,但消除了同位素的污染,是一个测定促肝细胞生长物质刺激肝细胞增殖活性的简便方法。     

贵州黔西县少数民族ABO血型分布及基因频率调查

对贵州黔西县1260例6个少数民族人群红细胞ABO表现型进行了检测;结果如下:贵州黔西县布依族、满族、苗族、白族这四个民族的ABO血型基因频率很相近,彝族和仡佬族与这4个民族的差别较大,布依族,苗族,满族,白族ABO血型分布为O>B>A>AB,彝族为O>A>B>AB,仡佬族为A>O>B>AB;经Hardy Weinberg吻合度检测可以证明贵州黔西县的ABO血型表现型分布状况及基因频率相对稳定,其分布符合hardy Weinberg平衡,获得了该地ABO血型系统群体遗传学数据,为群体遗传学的研究提供了一定的资料。     

高效降解棉酚菌株的选育及脱毒条件的研究

From mildewed cottonseed cake and stock cultUres of mold and yeast We select more than ten strains of yeastS and molds which can degrade cotton Phenol. At last we got four strains which can degrade cotton phenol highly effeted after mutagenized by physical and chemical factors and induced by cotton Phenol. They belong to Candida tropicalis, Torulopsis candida, Aspergillus flavus and ASPergillus niger. By small and medium size fermenfations, the content of dissociated cottom Phenol all reach safe criterion (…     

Effects of methotrexate on the viscoelastic properties of single cells probed by atomic force microscopy

Methotrexate is a commonly used anti-cancer chemotherapy drug. Cellular mechanical properties are fundamental parameters that reflect the physiological state of a cell. However, so far the role of cellular mechanical properties in the actions of methotrexate is still unclear. In recent years, probing the behaviors of single cells with the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) has contributed much to the field of cell biomechanics. In this work, with the use of AFM, the effects of methotrexate on the viscoelastic properties of four types of cells were quantitatively investigated. The inhibitory and cytotoxic effects of methotrexate on the proliferation of cells were observed by optical and fluorescence microscopy. AFM indenting was used to measure the changes of cellular viscoelastic properties (Young’s modulus and relaxation time) by using both conical tip and spherical tip, quantitatively showing that the stimulation of methotrexate resulted in a significant decrease of both cellular Young’s modulus and relaxation times. The morphological changes of cells induced by methotrexate were visualized by AFM imaging. The study improves our understanding of methotrexate action and offers a novel way to quantify drug actions at the single-cell level by measuring cellular viscoelastic properties, which may have potential impacts on developing label-free methods for drug evaluation.