BNIPL-2, a novel homologue of BNIP-2, interacts with Bcl-2 and Cdc42GAP in apoptosis

The execution phase of apoptosis is characterized by marked changes in cell morphology that include contraction and membrane blebbing. Little is known about the mechanisms underlying this process. We report here the identification of a novel member of BNIPL family, designated Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19kDa interacting protein 2 like-2 (BNIPL-2), which interacts with Bcl-2 and Cdc42GAP. We found that the human BNIPL-2 shares homology to human BNIP-2 and also possesses a BNIP-2 and Cdc42GAP homology (BCH) domain. Deletion experiments indicated that the BCH domain of BNIPL-2 is critical for its interactions with the Bcl-2 and Cdc42GAP and also for its cell death-inducing function. Our data showed that BNIPL-2 may be a linker protein located at the front end of Bcl-2 pathway for DNA fragmentation and Cdc42 signaling for morphological changes during apoptosis. We propose that BNIPL-2 protein may play an important role in regulation of both pathways for DNA fragmentation and for formation of membrane blebs in apoptotic cells.     

The apoptosis-associated protein BNIPL interacts with two cell proliferation-related proteins,MIF and GFER

Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa interacting protein 2-like, BNIP-2-like (BNIPL) is a recently cloned and characterized apoptosis-associated protein that shares 72% homology with BNIP-2. It is highly expressed in human placenta and lung. A yeast two-hybrid system was used to obtain two BNIPL-interacting proteins, MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor) and GFER (growth factor erv1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)-like). The interactions were confirmed by glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay in vitro and co-immunoprecipitation assay in vivo. Colony formation assay and cell proliferation test suggest that overexpression of BNIPL could inhibit the growth of BEL-7402 cells. These findings suggest that BNIPL may physically bind to cell proliferation-related proteins, MIF and GFER.     

Expression,purification and functional characterization of a recombinant scorpion venom peptide BmTXKbeta

BmTXKbeta, a scorpion toxin isolated from the Chinese scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK), was expressed as a GST fusion protein in BL21 (DE3) strain. The recombinant GST-BmTXKbeta protein was purified by affinity chromatography. When treated with enterokinase, the GST-BmTXKbeta fusion protein released an approximate 6.5kDa protein which was the expected size for correctly processed. About 2mg purified recombinant BmTXKbeta protein (rBmTXKbeta) was produced from 1l bacterial culture, using this expression and purification system. The function of rBmTXKbeta was studied on the rabbit atrial myocyte by whole-cell patch clamp technique. The results showed that rBmTXKbeta inhibited the transient outward current (I(to)) of rabbit atrial myocyte with recovery after washout and the inhibition was concentration-dependent. The rBmTXKbeta prolonged the action potential duration of rabbit atrial myocyte in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas it did not affect the action potential amplitude.     

褐煤风化过程中微生物群落的演替

对采自辽宁省前屯煤矿的6种不同风化程度的褐煤样品进行扫描电子显微镜观察发现:刚采掘出来的褐煤表面几乎没有微生物存在.经5个月、1年及4年堆积风化的褐煤中也只见到休眠孢子和少量菌丝.将褐煤样品在潮湿状态下培养10天后,扫描电镜观察发现:刚采出来的褐煤及经5个月风化的褐煤表面有大量放线菌生长,而且菌落周围有褐煤被降解迹象.经1年风化的褐煤中除有大量放线菌及细菌生长外,真菌也有所增加.而在经4年风化褐煤中主要是真菌明显增加.平板计数结果同样说明褐煤风化过程中微生物存在演替现象:放线菌为褐煤初期降解的主要微生物,随后是细菌,在风化程度较高的褐煤中,真菌则为优势降解菌.三株优势放线菌为诺卡氏菌(Nocardia Sp.),束丝放线菌(Actinosynnema Sp.)和链霉菌(Streptomyces sp.).两株优势细菌均为节杆菌(Arthrobacter sp.).两株曲霉为栖土曲霉(A.terricola)及褚曲霉(A.ochraceous),为褐煤风化过程的优势真菌.     

Seasonal variations of mercury levels and human health risk in vegetables from Arid Oasis (Shihezi city), Xinjiang,Northwest China

The purpose of this study was to investigate the seasonal variations of mercury levels and human health risk in vegetables that were collected from farmland, home garden, and plastic greenhouse in summer and winter 2016 in Arid Oasis (Shihezi city), Xinjiang, Northwest China. The results showed that the levels of mercury in fresh vegetables were lower in winter (0.003–0.025 mg·kg^?1) than in summer (0.001–0.035 mg·kg^?1). Single factor pollution (P) in vegetables indicated that all vegetables were polluted in diverse levels. The exceeding rate in different vegetables was 0.00% to 88.89% in summer and 0.00% to 100% in winter compared with limits of pollutants in vegetables. The value of bio-concentration factor (BCF) revealed that the mercury absorption capacity of 10 species vegetables decreased in the following order: pea seedling > spinage > caraway > lettuces > pakchoi > celery > crowndaisy chrysanthemum > chives > spinach > shallot. The daily intake (DI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) of mercury for children (2–12 years), young adults (18–45 years), and quinquagenarian (>45 years) indicated that non-carcinogenic values were below the threshold values except one sampling sit from farmland around the industrial parks. Furthermore, the THQ of open field in summer was higher than plastic greenhouse in winter. Under the same pollution level, children had more non-carcinogenic risk than young adults and quinquagenarian.     

Development of functional antibodies against influenza B virus by activation-induced cytidine deaminase in hybridoma cells

Highlights
1. Class-switch recombination was mimicked in hybridomas through a controllable expression system of activation-induced cytidine deaminase.
2. IgG antibodies were generated through this system in an anti-Flu B IgM hybridoma 7G1.
3. IgG1 and IgG2a subtypes of 7G1 present improved antiviral activity in vitro and in vivo.     

Morphology,Morphogenesis, and Phylogeny of Urosoma caudata (Ehrenberg, 1833) Berger, 1999 (Ciliophora,Hypotrichia) based on a Chinese Population

We report the morphology and morphogenesis of Urosoma caudata (Ehrenberg, 1833) Berger, 1999 based on in vivo observation and protargol impregnation and provide an improved diagnosis of U. caudata based on previous and current work. Urosoma caudata differs from its congeners mainly by the combination of the following features: tail‐like posterior end, colorless cortical granules, and two macronuclear nodules. Urosoma caudata shares most of the ontogenetic features with its congeners: the oral primordium of the opisthe develops apokinetally, and the frontal‐ventral‐transverse cirral anlagen develop in five streaks. However, a unique morphogenetic characteristic is recognizable: the anlagen of three dorsal kineties occur de novo to the left of the parental structures differing from their intrakinetal origin in other Urosoma species. The first record of the 18S rRNA gene sequence for the species is also provided. Phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rRNA gene sequence data suggest that the genus Urosoma is a nonmonophyletic group.     

乐安江沉积物中金属污染的潜在生态风险评价

选择污染严重的乐安江河流沉积物为对象,利用风险因子Ｅ和风险指数ＲＩ等定量诊断工具开展沉积物中重金属污染的潜在生态风险评价。根据风险指标体系和空间分异规律,将流域划分居不同特征的４种生态风险功能区。对比评价效果。潜在生态风险评价与地积累 情况大同小异,可以相互补充和借鉴。     

Biodegradation of p-nitrophenol by Pseudomonas aeruginosa HS-D38 and analysis of metabolites with HPLC–ESI/MS

Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain HS-D38 was capable of mineralizing p-nitrophenol (PNP) as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen and energy. Degradation of 200 mg L^?1 PNP was examined in different media including: (i) MSM (mineral salts medium, no carbon and nitrogen source); (ii) addition of 1% ammonium chloride as additional nitrogen source (ANM); and (iii) addition of 1% glucose as a carbon source (ACM). Complete degradation of 200 mg L^?1 PNP was achieved in 12 h in MSM. Additional ammonium chloride accelerated the PNP degradation, but additional glucose inhibited this process. This strain metabolized as high concentration as 300 and 500 mg L^?1 of PNP in 14 h and 24 h, respectively, in MSM. The degradation was accompanied by release of stoichiometric amount of nitrate from PNP. During the bacterial growth on PNP, hydroquinone and 1,2,4-benzenetriol were observed as the key degradation intermediates by using a combination of techniques, including HPLC–DAD and LC–ESI/MS compared with the authentic standards. These results indicated that PNP was degraded via a hydroquinone pathway.