Biomimetic zinc oxide replica with structural color using butterfly (Ideopsis similis) wings as templates

Nano-structured colorful zinc oxide (ZnO) replicas were produced using the wings of the Ideopsis similis butterfly as templates. The ZnO replicas we obtained exhibit iridescence, which was clearly observed under an optical microscope (OM). Field emission scanning electron microscope analysis shows that all the microstructure details are maintained faithfully in the ZnO replica. A computer model was established to simulate the diffraction spectral results, which agreed well with the OM images.     

Mechanical loading stimulates expression of connexin 43 in alveolar bone cells in the tooth movement model

Bone osteoblasts and osteocytes express large amounts of connexin (Cx) 43, the component of gap junctions and hemichannels. Previous studies have shown that these channels play important roles in regulating biological functions in response to mechanical loading. Here, we characterized the distribution of mRNA and protein of Cx43 in mechanical loading model of tooth movement. The locations of bone formation and resorption have been well defined in this model, which provides unique experimental systems for better understanding of potential roles of Cx43 in bone formation and remodeling under mechanical stimulation. We found that mechanical loading increased Cx43 mRNA expression in osteoblasts and bone lining cells, but not in osteocytes, at both formation and resorption sites. Cx43 protein, however, increased in both osteoblasts and osteocytes in response to loading. Interestingly, the upregulation of Cx43 protein by loading was even more pronounced in osteocytes compared to other bone cells, with an appearance of punctate staining on the cell body and dendritic process. Cx45 was reported to be expressed in several bone cell lines, but here we did not detect the Cx45 protein in the alveolar bone cells. These results further suggest the potential involvement of Cx43-forming gap junctions and hemichannels in the process of mechanically induced bone formation and resorption.     

Conditional expression of Smad7 in pancreatic beta cells disrupts TGF-beta signaling and induces reversible diabetes mellitus

Identification of signaling pathways that maintain and promote adult pancreatic islet functions will accelerate our understanding of organogenesis and improve strategies for treating diseases like diabetes mellitus. Previous work has implicated transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling as an important regulator of pancreatic islet development, but has not established whether this signaling pathway is required for essential islet functions in the adult pancreas. Here we describe a conditional system for expressing Smad7, a potent inhibitor of TGF-beta signaling, to identify distinct roles for this pathway in adult and embryonic beta cells. Smad7 expression in Pdx1+ embryonic pancreas cells resulted in striking embryonic beta cell hypoplasia and neonatal lethality. Conditional expression of Smad7 in adult Pdx1+ cells reduced detectable beta cell expression of MafA, menin, and other factors that regulate beta cell function. Reduced pancreatic insulin content and hypoinsulinemia produced overt diabetes that was fully reversed upon resumption of islet TGF-beta signaling. Thus, our studies reveal that TGF-beta signaling is crucial for establishing and maintaining defining features of mature pancreatic beta cells.     

Structural analysis of a rhomboid family intramembrane protease reveals a gating mechanism for substrate entry

Intramembrane proteolysis regulates diverse biological processes. Cleavage of substrate peptide bonds within the membrane bilayer is catalyzed by integral membrane proteases. Here we report the crystal structure of the transmembrane core domain of GlpG, a rhomboid-family intramembrane serine protease from Escherichia coli. The protein contains six transmembrane helices, with the catalytic Ser201 located at the N terminus of helix alpha4 approximately 10 A below the membrane surface. Access to water molecules is provided by a central cavity that opens to the extracellular region and converges on Ser201. One of the two GlpG molecules in the asymmetric unit has an open conformation at the active site, with the transmembrane helix alpha5 bent away from the rest of the molecule. Structural analysis suggests that substrate entry to the active site is probably gated by the movement of helix alpha5.     

“A simple and rapid method for isolating lichen photobionts“

For decades, lichenologists have developed numerous and varied methods to isolate lichen photobionts. Most procedures are tedious, slow, and require several months after the initial isolation to obtain clones. Furthermore, the purity of the isolated photobionts obtained by more rapid methods is not sufficient to establish phycobiont axenic cultures. We have developed a new method for isolating lichen photobionts from fruticose, foliose and crustose lichens. Basically, it involves homogenization of lichen thalli (from 15 mg to 2 g), a one-step centrifugation through Percoll ®, followed by washing with Tween 20 and sonication. With this simple and rapid method (which takes less than 2 h), photobiont cells are obtained in sufficient quantity and purity to obtain dozens of axenic algal cultures.     

Isolation and characterization of enantioselective DNA aptamers for ibuprofen

Single stranded DNA aptamers that can bind to ibuprofen, a widely used anti-inflammation drug, were selected from random DNA library of 10¹⁵ nucleotides by FluMag-SELEX process. Five different sequences were selected and their enantioselectivity and affinity were characterized. Three out of five aptamer candidates did not show any affinity to (S)-ibuprofen, but only to racemic form of ibuprofen, suggesting that they are (R)-ibuprofen specific aptamers. Another two aptamer candidates showed affinity to both racemic form and (S)-ibuprofen, which were considered as (S)-ibuprofen specific aptamers. The affinity of five ssDNA aptamers isolated was in a range of 1.5–5.2 μM. In addition, all of these five aptamers did not show any affinity to analogues of ibuprofen in its profen’s group (fenoprofen, flubiprofen, and naproxen) and the antibiotics of oxytetracycline, another control.     

褪黑素对胃癌小鼠Survivin表达的影响

目的探讨褪黑素对胃癌小鼠Survivin表达的影响。方法选用6-8周龄SPF级615近交系小鼠,接种胃癌MFC细胞,建立荷瘤小鼠模型并给予不同剂量的褪黑素处理,用Real-time PCR法和Western blot法检测肿瘤组织中Survivin mRNA和蛋白的表达。结果 Real-time PCR和Western-blot检测显示褪黑素各干预组小鼠胃癌组织中Survivin基因的表达水平下降且随褪黑素剂量增大而降低。结论褪黑素具有下调survivin的作用。褪黑素降低survivin的表达,可能是褪黑素抑制肿瘤的作用机制之一。     

上海市郊沿海防护林防护效应的研究

为分析上海市郊沿海防护林的防护效应,于2009年夏季对人民塘水杉(Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu et Cheng)基干林带前后不同观测点的风速、气温和空气相对湿度等气候因子进行了观测,并对该林带前后1 km处的防台风效应进行了比较;另外,以滨海森林公园的红叶椿(Ailanthus altissima 'Hongye' )林分为观测对象,比较分析了林带内不同垂直高度处的防风效应.结果表明,水杉基干林带具有明显的防风效果,林带内至林带后65 m范围内的风速较林带前均有不同程度的下降,以林带后25 m处的风速最低;在"莫拉克"台风登陆期间,水杉基干林带在较大尺度上具有明显的降低风速的作用;水杉基干林带在一定程度上能降低局部气温、提高空气相对湿度,以林带内的气温最低、空气相对湿度最高,从而达到改善林后小气候的作用.红叶椿林分内不同垂直高度处的防风效应有一定的差异,其中垂直高度2 m处的风速最大,而树冠处(垂直高度5 m)的风速最低.     

超声波骨密度测量技术的最新进展

骨质疏松等中老年的常见病和多发病也呈年轻化发展,如何进行有效的骨状况诊断,拥有一台可以信赖的、可以方便地应用的骨测量仪器显得更为重要。超声波骨测量技术是使用范围比较广泛的一种,本文对超声波测量法的最新发展进行了阐述。     

Amino Acid Residue Val362 Plays a Critical Role in Maintaining the Structure of C Terminus of Connexin 50 and in Lens Epithelial-fiber Differentiation

We have previously shown that connexin (Cx) 50, unlike the other two lens connexins, Cx43 and Cx46, promotes chicken lens epithelial-fiber differentiation in a channel-independent manner. Here, we show that deletion of the PEST motif at the C terminus (CT) domain of Cx50 attenuates the stimulatory effect of Cx50 on lens fiber differentiation. Valine 362, a residue located within the PEST domain, is functionally involved. The structure of the Cx50 CT predicted by molecular modeling revealed four α-helices and Val³⁶² was found to be located in the middle of the 3rd helix. Replacement of Val³⁶² with amino acid residues that disrupt the α-helical structure predicted by molecular modeling, such as arginine, glutamate, or phenylalanine, attenuated the stimulatory effects of Cx50 on lens differentiation, whereas replacement with threonine, isoleucine, leucine, or proline, which maintain the structure preserved the function of Cx50. Circular dichroism (CD) studies supported the structural predictions and showed that the substitution with Glu, but not Thr or Pro, disrupted the α-helix, which appears to be the structural feature important for lens epithelial-fiber differentiation. Together, our results suggest that Val³⁶² is important for maintaining the helical structure and is crucial for the role of Cx50 in promoting lens epithelial-fiber differentiation.