Local and global effects of Mg2+ on Ago and miRNA-target interactions

Three magnesium ions (Mg(2+)), named Mg1 (in Mid domain), Mg2 and Mg3 (both in PIWI domain), located at the small RNA binding domain of Argonaute (Ago) protein, are important for sequence-specific miRNA-target interactions. Such conjunction between the Ago protein and miRNA raises the question: How do Mg(2+) ions participate in the recognition process of miRNA by Ago or its target. Furthermore, it is still unclear whether the Mg(2+) ions contribute to the local or global stability of the miRNA complex. In this work, we have performed a series of 16 independent molecular dynamic simulations (MD) to characterize the functions of Mg(2+), hydration patterns and the conformational events involved in the miRNA-target interactions. The cross correlation analysis shows that Mg1 and Mg2 significantly enhance a locally cooperated movement of the PAZ, PIWI and Mid domains with the average correlation coefficient of ～0.65, producing an "open-closed" motion (rotation Angle, 46.5°) between the PAZ and PIWI domains. Binding of Mg3 can globally stabilize the whole Ago protein with the average RMSD of ～0.34 ?, compared with the systems in absence of Mg3 (average RMSD?=?～0.43 ?). Three structural water molecules surrounding the Mg(2+)-binding regions also stabilize these ions, thus facilitating the recognition of miRNA to its target. In addition, the thermodynamic analysis also verifies the positive contribution of all three Mg(2+) to the binding of miRNA to Ago, as well as the importance Mg2 plays in the cleavage of the miRNA targets.     

Fomitiporia pentaphylacis and F. tenuitubus spp. nov. (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) from Guangxi, southern China

Two specimens of Hymenochaetaceae were collected from Guangxi, southern China, during a recent field trip in August 2011. They are described and illustrated here as two new species, Fomitiporia pentaphylacis and F. tenuitubus, based on a combination of morphological and phylogenetic (ITS and nLSU sequences) data. The two species share subglobose to globose, hyaline and thick-walled basidiospores with strongly cyanophilous in cotton blue and dextrinoid reaction in Melzer??s reagent. These characters are typical for Fomitiporia, differing from other genera in Hymenochaetaceae. F. pentaphylacis resembles F. pusilla in field by its minute basidiocarps, but F. pusilla has distinctly multiple tube layers and smaller basidiospores. F. tenuitubus is similar to F. erecta in both macro- and micro-morphological features, except its larger basidiocarps, smaller pores, and slightly shorter basidiospores. In the phylogenetic perspective, the two species nested within the Fomitiporia clade, but were separated from other sampled species as well as from each other.     

Fabrication of Bionic Superhydrophobic Manganese Oxide/Polystyrene Nanocomposite Coating

A superhydrophobic manganese oxide/polystyrene (MnO2/PS) nanocomposite coating was fabricated by a facile spraying process.The mixture solution of MnO2/PS was poured into a spray gun,and then sprayed onto the copper substrate using 0.2 MPa nitrogen gas to construct superhydrophobic coating.The wettability of the composite coating was measured by sessile drop method.When the weight ratio of MnO2 to PS is 0.5:1,the maximum of contact angle (CA) (140°) is obtained at drying temperature of 180 ℃.As the content of MnO2 increases,the maximum of CA (155°) is achieved at 100 ℃.Surface morphologies and chemical composition were analyzed to understand the effect of the content of MnO2 nanorods and the drying temperature on CA.The results show that the wettability of the coating can be controlled by the content ofMnO2 nanorods and the drying temperature.Using the proposed method,the thickness of the coating can be controlled by the spraying times.If damaged,the coating can be repaired just by spraying the mixture solution again.     

Design, synthesis and biological activity of 6-substituted carbamoyl benzimidazoles as new nonpeptidic angiotensin II AT₁ receptor antagonists

A series of 6-substituted carbamoyl benzimidazoles were designed and synthesised as new nonpeptidic angiotensin II AT(1) receptor antagonists. The preliminary pharmacological evaluation revealed a nanomolar AT(1) receptor binding affinity for all compounds in the series, and a potent antagonistic activity in an isolated rabbit aortic strip functional assay for compounds 6f, 6g, 6h and 6k was also demonstrated. Furthermore, evaluation in spontaneous hypertensive rats and a preliminary toxicity evaluation showed that compound 6g is an orally active AT(1) receptor antagonist with low toxicity.     

转Bar基因甘蓝型油菜叶片蛋白质组变化的初步分析

采取SDS-PAGE与MALDI-TOF-MS联用的方法,对抗除草剂转Bar基因T1代甘蓝型油菜与普通栽培油菜的叶片蛋白质组进行比较性研究,获得差异蛋白质组的重要信息,并初步探讨差异蛋白的主要功能,以期找到与转Bar基因油菜抗除草剂有关的蛋白质,揭示其抗性机理.双向电泳表达图谱研究表明,Bar基因的转入使得转基因油菜中的差异蛋白表达质与量发生了显著变化,共得到16个发生差异表达的蛋白质点,其中11个经质谱分析功能得到鉴定,这些鉴定出的蛋白质涉及多个生理过程,如能量与代谢、信号转导、代谢相关蛋白离子转运和防御应答等.     

亚砷酸钠对胰岛β细胞的Nrf2及其调控的抗氧化酶表达的影响

目的检测亚砷酸钠对小鼠胰岛B细胞的核转录因子Nrf2及其调控的抗氧化酶硫氧还蛋白（Srx）,y-谷氨酰半胱氨酸连接酶催化亚基（Gele）表达的影响。方法应用2、4、6、8、10t2mol／L亚砷酸钠（NaAs02）作用MIN6细胞6h,通过WesternBlot检测Nrf2蛋白表达;利用Real—timePCR检测抗氧化酶Srx、Oclc的mRNA表达。结果4／μmol／L亚砷酸钠染毒6h后,Nrf2的蛋白表达显著增高,并随着亚砷酸钠剂量的增大,Nrf2蛋白表达也随之增多。抗氧化酶Srx、GelcmRNA在2μmol／L亚砷酸钠染毒6h后开始出现明显的诱导表达,并随亚砷酸钠剂量的增加而表达增强。结论亚砷酸钠能诱导小鼠胰岛B细胞Nrf2蛋白及其调控的抗氧化酶Srx和Gclc基因的表达,并存在显著地剂量依赖性。     

shRNA抑制宫颈癌Hela细胞株HPV18 E6、E7基因表达的研究

应用短发夹RNA(Short hairpin RNA,shRNA)表达载体抑制宫颈癌Hela细胞株HPV18 E6、E7基因的表达。应用已鉴定的shRNA表达载体pHPV1、pHPV2转染Hela细胞,G418筛选阳性细胞,建立稳定转染细胞株;倒置荧光显微镜检测转染情况;提取细胞内总RNA,RT-PCR方法检测HPV18 E6、E7 mRNA;WesternBlot检测HPV18 E6、E7蛋白表达的变化;采用灰度分析软件对PCR扩增条带与蛋白质条带进行灰度分析。pHPV1实验组细胞内HPV18 E6、E7 mRNA含量分别为阴性对照组的31%、38%,E6、E7蛋白分别为阴性对照组的37%、31%;pHPV2实验组细胞内HPV18 E6、E7 mRNA含量分别为阴性对照组的54%、77%,E6、E7蛋白分别为阴性对照组的52%、83%。pHPV1、pHPV2表达载体能抑制Hela细胞HPV18 E6、E7的表达,针对外显子区434-452的pHPV1抑制作用更强。     

下丘脑室旁核注射GLP-1 对糖尿病大鼠中枢GLP-1 受体表达

目的:探讨下丘脑室旁核(hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus,PVN)注射GLP-1(胰高血糖素样肽-1)对糖尿病大鼠胃排空的影响及机制。方法:30只Wistar大鼠随机分为正常对照组(NC组)、糖尿病组(DM组)和GLP-1干预组(GLP-1组),每组各10只。DM组和GLP-1组腹腔注射链脲佐菌素,三组大鼠均PVN区埋置套管,恢复7d,GLP-1组微量注射0.5μg/0.5μl的GLP-1,NC组和DM组大鼠PVN区微量注射等体积生理盐水。甲基纤维素-酚红灌胃法检测胃排空;半定量RT-PCR检测大鼠下丘脑GLP-1RmRNA的表达。结果:DM组胃排空率较NC组明显升高(P<0.05),GLP-1组胃排空明显低于DM组(P<0.05),GLP-1组和NC组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。GLP-1组下丘脑GLP-1RmRNA的表达明显高于DM组和NC组(P<0.05),并与胃排空率成负相关(P<0.05)。DM组和NC组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:PVN区注射GLP-1可以抑制糖尿病大鼠早期胃排空加速,作用机制可能和促进下丘脑GLP-1受体表达有关。