Cell death induced by Pteris semipinnata L. is associated with p53 and oxidant stress in gastric cancer cells

In this study, we demonstrated that Ent-11alpha-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic-acid (5F) had stronger cytotoxicity against MKN-45, a gastric cancer cell line bearing wild-type p53 than MKN-28, another gastric cancer cell line containing missense mutation in p53. The rapid increase of ROS level was involved in the mechanism of cytotoxicity. Classical features of apoptosis induced by 5F were observed in MKN-45 cells only or more significant in MKN-45 cells than MKN-28 cells. Translocation of Bax from cytosol to mitochondria, reduction of delta psi m and DNA fragmentation were induced by 5F in the p53-dependent manner. We conclude that the expression of Bax and its downstream molecules requires the presentation of a wild-type p53 in the cells treated by 5F.     

云南萝芙木pnae基因全长克隆及其序列分析

根据已知的其他物种PNAE酶cDNA序列设计引物,采用RT-PCR技术从云南萝芙木叶片中扩增获得pnae基因部分cDNA序列即PNAE酶基因中间大片段,再用RACE技术获得其两端序列。序列拼接得到完整的1 004 bp的PNAE酶基因,根据获得的序列,分析得到795 bp的开放阅读框,编码264个氨基酸。序列分析显示,云南萝芙木中PNAE酶氨基酸序列与蛇根木中的该酶氨基酸序列同源性高达90%,但和其他植物物种中的PNAE酶氨基酸序列,以及其他物种间的PNAE酶氨基酸序列同源性都不高,在40%-60%之间,表明不同物种中PNAE酶氨基酸序列不具有全序列的高度同源性。进一步序列分析发现,在各植物的PNAE酶氨基酸序列中都存在两个高度保守的氨基酸区域,表明不同物种中PNAE酶存在共同的高度保守区段。     

Autosomal dominant avascular necrosis of femoral head in two Taiwanese pedigrees and linkage to chromosome 12q13

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) is a debilitating disease that commonly leads to destruction of the hip joint in adults. The etiology of ANFH is unknown, but previous studies have indicated that heritable thrombophilia (increased tendency to form thrombi) and hypofibrinolysis (reduced ability to lyse thrombi), alcohol intake, and steroid use are risk factors for ANFH. We recently identified two families with ANFH showing autosomal dominant inheritance. By applying linkage analysis to a four-generation pedigree, we excluded linkage between the family and three genes related to thrombophilia and hypofibrinolysis: protein C, protein S, and plasminogen activator inhibitor. Furthermore, by a genomewide scan, a significant two-point LOD score of 3.45 (recombination fraction [theta] = 0) was obtained between the family with ANFH and marker D12S85 on chromosome 12. High-resolution mapping was conducted in a second family with ANFH and replicated the linkage to D12S368 (pedigree I: LOD score 2.47, theta = 0.05; pedigree II: LOD score 2.81, theta = 0.10). When an age-dependent-penetrance model was applied, the combined multipoint LOD score was 6.43 between D12S1663 and D12S85. Thus, we mapped the candidate gene for autosomal dominant ANFH to a 15-cM region between D12S1663 and D12S1632 on chromosome 12q13.     

Secretory delivery of heterologous proteins in attenuated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio anguillarum</Emphasis> for potential use in vaccine design

To synthesize and secrete heterologous proteins in an attenuated Vibrio anguillarum strain for potential multivalent live vaccine development, different antigen-delivery systems based on bacterial-originated secretion signal peptides (SPs) were designed and identified in this work. Four SPs were derived from hemolysin of Escherichia coli, RTX protein of V. cholerae, hemolysin of V. anguillarum, zinc-metalloprotease of V. anguillarum, respectively, and their abilities to support secretion of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in an attenuated V. anguillarum strain MVAV6203 were assayed. Immunodetection of GFP showed that the capability of the tested signal leaders to direct secretion of GFP varied greatly. Although all the four signal peptide-fused GFPs could be expressed correctly and trapped intracellularly in recombinant strains, only the EmpA signal peptide could confer efficient secretion to GFP. For the investigation of its potential application in live bacteria carrier vaccines, a heterologous protein EseB of Edwardsiella tarda was fused to the SP(empA) antigen-delivery system and introduced into the strain MVAV6203. Further analysis of EseB demonstrated that the constructed SP(empA) antigen-delivery system could be used to secrete foreign protein in attenuated V. anguillarum and be available for carrier vaccines development.     

Nutritional Requirements of the Nematophagous Fungus Hirsutella rhossiliensis

Six natural media were examined for growth and sporulation of six isolates of the nematophagous fungus Hirsutella rhossiliensis , using solid and/or liquid culture. Twenty carbohydrates, 19 nitrogen (N) compounds, and nine vitamins were also tested for their effects on growth, sporulation, and spore germination of a further three isolates (ATCC46487, OWVT-1 and JA16-1). Variations in nutritional requirements existed among the fungal isolates. In general, V-8 juice agar (VA), cornmeal agar and potato dextrose agar were good media for growth, and malt extract agar, VA and yeast dextrose agar were good for sporulation of all six isolates. Glycogen was the best and sucrose, inulin, D- ( + ) - trehalose and soluble starch were also good carbon (C) sources for growth and spore germination of the three isolates ATCC46487, OWVT-1 and JA16-1 in both liquid and solid culture. None of the isolates utilized D- ( + )xylose as a C source. L- sorbose, D- ribose, citric acid and D- fructose were poor for growth of all isolates. The best C source for sporulation was D- ( + )-trehalose for ATCC46487, D- sorbitol for OWVT-1 and D- ( + )-cellobiose for JA16-1. Casein was the best N source for growth of ATCC46487 and OWVT-1, while peptone was best for JA16-1. L- asparagine, L- proline, and peptone were also good for growth of all three isolates. L - cystine was not utilized by H. rhossiliensis and DL- methionine inhibited growth of all isolates. Spore germination of all isolates was well supported by most N compounds examined but was inhibited by L- cystine. No significant difference in sporulation of ATCC46487 was observed among the N sources. DL- threonine was the best N source for spore production by OWVT-1 and L- phenylalanine was best for JA16-1. Vitamins generally enhanced fungal growth and sporulation, with thiamine having the greatest influence. Excluding some vitamins individually from the medium containing all other test vitamins sometimes increased growth and/or sporulation of certain isolates.     

Amplification, analysis and chromosome mapping of novel homeobox-containing and homeobox-flanking sequences in rice

Homeobox genes, widely distributed among animal and plant kingdoms, play an important role in developmental process. Several homeobox conserved fragments were amplified by PCR and the flanking regions were also obtained by an LM-PCR procedure. Sequencing and Southern analysis showed that they belong to a homeobox gene family of rice. Six homeobox-containing fragments were mapped on the molecular linkage map of rice. They were located on chromosomes 3, 4 and 7 respectively. It is noteworthy that there are 4 homeobox fragments located on rice chromosome 3 and the result is also consistent with the comparative genomics between rice and maize.     

角蛋白HGTP及其对羊毛发育的影响

羊毛的主要成分是角蛋白,其组分高甘氨酸-酪氨酸蛋白(HGTP)家族成员KAP6、KAP7和KAP8基因表达对羊毛细度和弯曲等特性具有重要影响。本文从羊毛的组成、角蛋白的生物学特征以及HGTP基因定位和表达对细度的影响等方面进行了综述,旨在为羊毛发育调控研究提供理论参考。     

A bold step toward 2012: JIPB's 2011 Editorial Board Meeting report

The 2011 JIPB Editorial Board Meeting,which coincided with the 2011 International Symposium on Integrative Plant Biology,was held at Lanzhou University,China,on August 26,2011.Over thirty editors were in attendance for this extremely productive event (Figure 1).The symposium,jointly organized by JIPB,Lanzhou University and four Chinese societies involved in plant science research,the Chinese Society for Cell Biology,Botanical Society of China,Genetics Society of China,and Chinese Society for Plant Physiology,drew nearly 400 participants from all over China and abroad.     

Fast Isolation of Highly Active Photosystem Ⅱ Core Complexes from Spinach

Purification of photosystem Ⅱ (PSII) core complexes is a time-consuming and low-efficiency process. In order to isolate pure and active PSII core complexes in large amounts, we have developed a fast method to isolate highly active monomeric and dimeric PSII core complexes from spinach leaves by using sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. By using a vertical rotor the process was completed significantly faster compared with a swing-out rotor. In order to keep the core complexes in high activity, the whole isolation procedure was performed in the presence of glycine betain and pH at 6.3. The isolated pigment-protein complexes were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, absorption spectroscopy, 77 K fluorescence spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography. Our results show that this method is a better choice for quick and efficient isolation of functionally active PSII core complexes.     

不同条件下两株溶磷菌溶磷量及葡萄糖脱氢酶基因表达与酶活分析北大核心CSCD

【目的】获得大豆根际土壤中溶磷能力较强的菌株,明确在菌株溶磷过程中葡萄糖脱氢酶(GDH)的作用特点及其基因的表达水平。【方法】利用溶磷圈方法分离与纯化溶磷菌株,采用Vitek 2系统和16S r RNA序列分析菌株的分类地位;测定2菌株的溶磷量、GDH活性,并根据GDH基因的保守区序列设计引物,克隆GDH基因,利用实时荧光定量PCR测定不同条件下基因的相对表达量。【结果】筛选出2株具有较强溶磷能力的溶磷菌,分别鉴定为Pseudomonas sp.和Enterobacter sp.,2菌株最高溶磷量分别为558μg/m L和478μg/m L;成功地克隆了2株溶磷菌的GDH基因,片段大小分别为2007 bp和2066 bp;2菌株在不同磷源、不同p H值培养基中GDH活性及基因表达量不同,菌株wj1在高磷条件下基因表达量最高,磷胁迫条件下基因表达量较低,而wj3在不同磷源条件下GDH基因表达量都较低。且GDH基因表达量及酶活的变化与wj3菌株溶磷量没有直接的关系。【结论】从大豆根际土壤中分离获得溶磷能力较强的菌株Pseudomonas sp.wj1和Enterobacter sp.Wj3,GDH活性及基因表达在2株菌溶磷过程中具有不同的作用特点,2菌株溶磷机制不完全相同。