High-density comparative BAC mapping in the black muntjac (Muntiacus crinifrons): molecular cytogenetic dissection of the origin of MCR 1p+4 in the X1X2Y1Y2Y3 sex chromosome system

The black muntjac (Muntiacus crinifrons, 2n = 8[female symbol]/9[male symbol]) is a critically endangered mammalian species that is confined to a narrow region of southeastern China. Male black muntjacs have an astonishing X1X2Y1Y2Y3 sex chromosome system, unparalleled in eutherian mammals, involving approximately half of the entire genome. A high-resolution comparative map between the black muntjac (M. crinifrons) and the Chinese muntjac (M. reevesi, 2n = 46) has been constructed based on the chromosomal localization of 304 clones from a genomic BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) library of the Indian muntjac (M. muntjak vaginalis, 2n = 6[female symbol]/7[male symbol]). In addition to validating the chromosomal homologies between M. reevesi and M. crinifrons defined previously by chromosome painting, the comparative BAC map demonstrates that all tandem fusions that have occurred in the karyotypic evolution of M. crinifrons are centromere-telomere fusions. The map also allows for a more detailed reconstruction of the chromosomal rearrangements leading to this unique and complex sex chromosome system. Furthermore, we have identified 46 BAC clones that could be used to study the molecular evolution of the unique sex chromosomes of the male black muntjacs.     

Molecular biomarkers in cardiac hypertrophy

Cardiac hypertrophy is characterized by an increase in myocyte size in the absence of cell division. This condition is thought to be an adaptive response to cardiac wall stress resulting from the enhanced cardiac afterload. The pathogenesis of heart dysfunction, which is one of the primary causes of morbidity and mortality in elderly people, is often associated with myocardial remodelling caused by cardiac hypertrophy. In order to well understand the potential mechanisms, we described the molecules involved in the development and progression of myocardial hypertrophy. Increasing evidence has indicated that micro‐RNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy. In addition, molecular biomarkers including vascular endothelial growth factor B, NAD‐dependent deacetylase sirtuin‐3, growth/differentiation factor 15 and glycoprotein 130, also play important roles in the development of myocardial hypertrophy. Knowing the regulatory mechanisms of these biomarkers in the heart may help identify new molecular targets for the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy.     

基于核型和分子系统学方法对中国猪尾鼠分类与分布的讨论

猪尾鼠属（Typhlomys）是啮齿类中的孑遗类群,片段化分布于我国南方和越南最北部的山地森林。前期我们基于形态和分子系统学的方法将猪尾鼠属现生类群划分为4个物种。但该分类系统仍存在争议和有待于解决的问题：一方面,有学者对大娄山猪尾鼠等是否应属于种级分类单元抱有疑问;另一方面,秦岭、南岭和广西周边的猪尾鼠种群的分类地位仍未有定论。因此,本研究采用核型分析以及分子系统学分析的方法,对我国猪尾鼠的分类及分布进行进一步梳理。本研究首次报道了中华猪尾鼠和大娄山猪尾鼠的G带核型和Ag-NORs的数目和分布,其中中华猪尾鼠2n=36,核型为14(M, SM) + 20 (A),XY (SM, A),Ag-NORs 6个;大娄山猪尾鼠2n=56,核型为2 (SM) + 52 (A),XX (SM, SM ),Ag-NORs 4个。上述核型与已报道的沙巴猪尾鼠核型（2n=38）存在显著差异,支持上述类群均为独立物种。基于线粒体Cyt b,ND2和COⅠ基因的进化关系分析,秦岭种群应属于大娄山猪尾鼠、南岭种群应属于中华猪尾鼠。而来自红河以东的云南南部的种群以及贵州南部的种群情况复杂,暗示云南、贵州和广西的喀斯特地区可能还存在未知的分类单元。     

Protein interaction analysis of ST14 domains and their point and deletion mutants

ST14 (suppression of tumorigenicity 14) is a transmembrane serine protease that contains a serine protease catalytic (SP) domain, an SEA domain, two complement subcomponent C1r/s (CUB) domains, and four low density lipoprotein receptor class A domains. Glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins with SP, CUB, and low density lipoprotein receptor domains and their corresponding mutants were generated to analyze protein interactions with these domains. Modified glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays demonstrated the interaction between the SP domain and hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-1. With the same method, a CUB domain-interacting protein was isolated and turned out to be the transmembrane protein with epidermal growth factor-like and two follistatin-like domains 1 (TMEFF1). Quantitative real time PCR revealed that the expression of the TMEFF1 gene was dependent on the transfection of the ST14 gene in the RKO cell line. Our results also suggested that ST14 and TMEFF1 were co-expressed in the human breast cancer cell line MCF7, human placenta, kidney, and liver tissues. Interestingly, these two genes were co-up-regulated in kidney tumors versus normal tissues, consistent with our results that showed the dependence of TMEFF1 expression on ST14 in RKO cells. Finally, homology modeling studies suggested that TMEFF1 might form a complex with ST14 by an interaction between epidermal growth factor and CUB domains.     

Establishment, characterization and immortalization of a fibroblast cell line from the Chinese red belly toad Bombina maxima skin

The skin of the amphibian Bombina maxima is rich in biologically active proteins and peptides, most of which have mammalian analogues. The physiological functions of most of the mammalian analogues are still unknown. Thus, Bombina maxima skin may be a promising model to reveal the physiological role of these proteins and peptides because of their large capacity for secretion. To investigate the physiological role of these proteins and peptides in vitro, a fibroblast cell line was successfully established from Bombina maxima tadpole skin. The cell line grew to form a monolayer with cells of a uniform shape and abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, which are typical characteristics of fibroblasts. Further identification at a molecular level revealed that they strongly expressed the fibroblast marker protein vimentin. The chromosome number of these cells is 2n = 28, and most of them were diploid. Growth property analysis showed that they grew well for 14 passages. However, cells showed decreased proliferative ability after passage 15. Thus, we tried to immortalize the cells through the overexpression of SV40 T antigen. After selecting by G418, cells stably expressed SV40 large T antigen and showed enhanced proliferative ability and increased telomerase activity. Signal transduction analysis revealed functional p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in immortalized Bombina maxima dermal fibroblasts. Primary fibroblast cells and the immortalized fibroblast cells from Bombina maxima cultured in the present study can be used to investigate the physiological role of Bombina maxima skin-secreted proteins and peptides. In addition, the methods for primary cell culturing and cell immortalization will be useful for culturing and immortalizing cells from other types of amphibians.     

K562 cell growth activity and metabolism characteristics in APA microencapsulated culture and modeling study

Cell microencapsulation is likely to play a major role in cell and transplantation therapies in the next decade. The microcapsules provide a special microenvironment in which cells always have different behaviors compared with free non-encapsulated culture. In this work, the behaviors of K562 leukemia cells were studied once entrapped in solid and liquefied APA microcapsules as well as in free non-encapsulated culture. Glucose pulse culture was employed to characterize the growth and metabolism of microencapsulated K562 cells. And mathematical modeling was presented to develop a basis for the deeper understanding of cells responses to different culture environments. Based on the results of experiments and modeling, it was found that cells presented a better growing pattern and maintain the activity at a higher level for extending time. The concentration of lactate was higher in solid microcapsules culture than that of liquefied microcapsules culture, but the cell number was lower. And the lactate yield coefficients (lactate/glucose) were 0.8129, 0.6978 and 0.601 for free non-encapsulated, solid microcapsules and liquefied microcapsules culture, respectively. An increase of glucose concentration led a decrease of cell activity, The glucose consumption ratio were 99.9%, 86.8%, 49.4% and 28.6% with the decrease in its concentration from 2 to 4, 6, 10 g/L, however, the lactate yield coefficient were 0.7184, 0.6654, 0.8239 and 0.9693, respectively.     

Cross species applicability of abundant protein depletion columns for ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

In plants, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) is an important enzyme in the Calvin cycle, catalyzing the first step of carbon fixation. Because of its critical role in photosynthesis, RuBisCO comprises 30-60% of the total protein content in green leaf tissue and represents a major protein which can interfere with determination of lower abundance proteins in plant proteomics. A potential solution to aid in the determination of low level proteins in plant proteomics are RuBisCO immunodepletion columns. Two formats, spin and LC, of Seppro IgY RuBisCO depletion columns were evaluated for cross species applicability. The spin and LC columns were found to deplete arabidopsis RuBisCO by greater than 90 and 98%, respectively, and automation could be achieved with the LC format. Canola RuBisCO was depleted to a similar extent, and there was evidence suggesting that corn and tobacco RuBisCO were also highly depleted in flow through fractions. Model proteins were spiked into samples to provide insight into the degree of non-specific binding. Finally, improved detection and identification of lower abundance proteins was demonstrated after depletion.