Membrane Permeation Induced by Aggregates of Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptides

Several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases as well as nonneuropathic diseases such as type II diabetes and atrial amyloidosis are associated with aggregation of amyloid polypeptides into fibrillar structures, or plaques. In this study, we use molecular dynamics simulations to test the stability and orientation of membrane-embedded aggregates of the human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) implicated in type II diabetes. We find that in both monolayers and bilayers of dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) hIAPP trimers and tetramers remain inside the membranes and preserve their β-sheet secondary structure. Lipid bilayer-inserted hIAPP trimers and tetramers orient inside DPPG at 60° relative to the membrane/water interface and lead to water permeation and Na⁺ intrusion, consistent with ion-toxicity in islet β-cells. In particular, hIAPP trimers form a water-filled β-sandwich that induce water permeability comparable with channel-forming proteins, such as aquaporins and gramicidin-A. The predicted disruptive orientation is consistent with the amphiphilic properties of the hIAPP aggregates and could be probed by chiral sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy, as predicted by the simulated SFG spectra.     

Enhanced resistance to stripe rust disease in transgenic wheat expressing the rice chitinase gene RC24

Stripe rust is a devastating fungal disease of wheat worldwide which is primarily caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp tritici. Transgenic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) expressing rice class chitinase gene RC24 were developed by particle bombardment of immature embryos and tested for resistance to Puccinia striiformis f.sp tritici. under greenhouse and field conditions. Putative transformants were selected on kanamycin-containing media. Polymease chain reaction indicated that RC24 was transferred into 17 transformants obtained from bombardment of 1,684 immature embryos. Integration of RC24 was confirmed by Southern blot with a RC24-labeled probe and expression of RC24 was verified by RT-PCR. Nine transgenic T₁ lines exhibited enhanced resistance to stripe rust infection with lines XN8 and BF4 showing the highest level of resistance. Southern blot hybridization confirmed the stable inheritance of RC24 in transgenic T₁ plants. Resistance to stripe rust in transgenic T₂ and T₃ XN8 and BF4 plants was confirmed over two consecutive years in the field. Increased yield (27–36 %) was recorded for transgenic T₂ and T₃ XN8 and BF4 plants compared to controls. These results suggest that rice class I chitinase RC24 can be used to engineer stripe rust resistance in wheat.     

NaCl处理下两种引进红树的光合及抗氧化防御能力

在长期盐胁迫(28天, NaCl浓度从100 mmol·L^-1升至400 mmol·L^-1)下, 比较研究了引进的无瓣海桑(Sonneratia apetala)和拉关木(Laguncularia racemosa)幼苗叶片的气体交换、叶绿素含量、最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)、O₂^-_· 产生速率以及抗氧化酶的活性, 探讨了两种红树幼苗光合、抗氧化防御能力的差异与耐盐性的关系。结果显示: NaCl处理没有明显地影响两种红树幼苗的生长, 表明盐生植物对盐环境的适应性, 但两种红树的生理反应对NaCl处理存在较大的差异。在实验的第28天(苗木的NaCl累计处理浓度递增到400 mmol·L^-1)时, 与对照相比, 无瓣海桑叶片的净光合速率、水分利用效率增加, 气孔导度、蒸腾速率和胞间CO₂浓度/大气CO₂浓度(C_i/C_a)相应降低; 然而, 拉关木叶的净光合速率、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率均回落到对照的水平, 而气孔导度和C_i/C_a均增加, 表明同样的NaCl浓度处理对拉关木叶的净光合速率影响大于无瓣海桑。在NaCl处理期间, 无瓣海桑F_v/F_m一直保持在0.8以上, 而拉关木的F_v/F_m为0.75以下, 说明无瓣海桑具有高于拉关木的潜在最大光合能力。在实验的第7天(NaCl浓度为100 mmol·L^-1)和14天(苗木的NaCl累计处理浓度递增到200 mmol·L^-1)时, 两种红树O₂^-_· 产生速率迅速增加, 在实验的第28天(苗木的NaCl累计处理浓度递增到400 mmol·L^-1)时, 无瓣海桑O₂^-_· 产生速率是对照的5.3倍, 差异极显著, 此时, 拉关木叶中O₂^-_· 产生速率已降低到低于对照的水平。盐处理诱导了两种红树叶中抗氧化酶(超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)、过氧化物酶(POD))活性增加, 但拉关木增加的幅度大于无瓣海桑, 表明拉关木能响应盐胁迫并上调抗氧化酶活性, 降低盐诱导的膜脂过氧化, 提高耐盐的能力, 无瓣海桑通过提高水分利用效率来保持体内的水分, 同时, 保持PSII的最大光化学量子产量, 使得无瓣海桑在高盐处理时仍能保持高于对照水平的光合速率。     

利于甘露糖蛋白纯化的新生隐球菌培养方法研究

目的 研究发酵法培养新生隐球菌的可能性,探索发酵法较传统方法培养上清用于纯化甘露糖蛋白的优势.方法 采用发酵法培养新生隐球菌CAP67,收集上清使用ConA琼脂糖凝胶4B亲和柱亲和纯化隐球菌甘露糖蛋白.结果 从新生隐球菌无荚膜株CAP67的发酵培养上清中获得了毫克级的甘露糖蛋白.结论 发酵法可以成功培养新生隐球菌,上清可用于纯化隐球菌甘露糖蛋白,与传统方法相比具有耗时少,产量高等优点.     

CREG活化ILK/VEGF促进内皮细胞血管新生

目的:探讨E1A激活基因阻遏子(Cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated gene,CREG)对血管内皮细胞血管新生的影响及其机制。方法:将重组腺病毒CREG载体(Ad-GFP-CREG)和腺病毒GFP载体(Ad-GFP)转染人血管内皮细胞株(vascularendothelialcell,VE),转染后细胞分别命名为ADCREG和ADGFP。内皮细胞基质胶血管形成实验观察其比较3组细胞血管发生情况。应用Western blotting测定细胞中CREG、整合素连接激酶(integrin-linked kinase,ILK)和血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growthfactor,VEGF)的表达。应用ILK激酶活性突变的质粒转染和不同浓度的VEGF中和抗体转染VE后进行细胞血管形成能力检测。结果:体内基质胶血管形成实验显示,腺病毒介导的CREG过表达显著促进VE的血管形成能力,血管密度、数量和交叉点均较对照组ADGFP和VE显著增多(P<0.01)。同时,Westernblot分析证实CREG过表达显著增加了ILK与VEGF的表达;转染ILK激酶失活质粒导致ADCREG成血管能力显著减弱(P<0.001)。应用VEGF中和抗体干预后,ADCREG细胞的成血管能力也呈现剂量依赖性下降。并且ILK激酶活性受到抑制的ADCREG细胞中VEGF表达降低。结论:CREG基因过表达通过活化ILK/VEGF信号通路促进了内皮细胞血管新生。     

种植年限对寿光设施大棚土壤生态环境的影响

为探讨不同种植年限对设施大棚土壤生态环境的影响,研究了不同种植年限的大棚土壤物理性状、化学性状以及微生物区系的差异变化,并对种植年限与土壤理化性状和微生物数量之间的相关性进行了统计分析。结果表明,随种植年限增加,土壤容重和pH值均明显下降,而土壤孔隙度、土壤EC值和土壤盐分含量则显著升高,有机质含量也呈增长的趋势;土壤全氮和全磷量均持续升高,土壤全钾、硝态氮和速效钾均先升高后降低;随着设施大棚种植年限的增长,细菌数量先上升后下降,放线菌数量先迅速升高后保持相对稳定,只有真菌数量呈持续增加的趋势。这说明由于大量的有机无机肥料投入,种植年限不同的设施大棚土壤均出现一定酸化现象,养分失衡,微生态平衡遭到破坏,盐分含量显著升高,存在明显的环境风险。应提倡合理科学施肥,以保证设施大棚土壤的生态环境安全。     

Negative Affect Mediates Effects of Psychological Stress on Disordered Eating in Young Chinese Women

Background

The bi-relationships between psychological stress, negative affect and disordered eating has been well studied in western culture, while tri-relationship among them, i.e. how some of those factors influence these bi-relationships, has rarely been studied. However, there has been little related study in the different Chinese culture. This study was conducted to investigate the bi-relationships and tri-relationship between psychological stress, negative affect, and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in young Chinese women.

Methodology

A total of 245 young Chinese policewomen employed to carry out health and safety checks at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo were recruited in this study. The Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Beck Depression Inventory Revised (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) were administered to all participants.

Principal Findings

The total scores of PSS-10, BDI-II and BAI were all highly correlated with that of EAT-26. The PSS-10 score significantly correlated with both BDI-II and BAI scores. There was no statistically significant direct effect from perceived stress to disordered eating (–0.012, 95%CI: –.038∼0.006, p = 0.357), however, the indirect effects from PSS-10 via affect factors were statistically significant, e.g. the estimated mediation effects from PSS to EAT-26 via depression and anxiety were 0.036 (95%CI: 0.022∼0.044, p<0.001) and 0.015 (95%CI: 0.005∼0.023, p<0.01), respectively.

Conclusions

Perceived stress and negative affects of depression and anxiety were demonstrated to be strongly associated with disordered eating. Negative affect mediated the relationship between perceived stress and disordered eating. The findings suggest that effective interventions and preventative programmes for disordered eating should pay more attention to depression and anxiety among the young Chinese female population.     

Coexpression of the High Molecular Weight Glutenin Subunit 1Ax1 and Puroindoline Improves Dough Mixing Properties in Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum)

Wheat end-use quality mainly derives from two interrelated characteristics: the compositions of gluten proteins and grain hardness. The composition of gluten proteins determines dough rheological properties and thus confers the unique viscoelastic property on dough. One group of gluten proteins, high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS), plays an important role in dough functional properties. On the other hand, grain hardness, which influences the milling process of flour, is controlled by Puroindoline a (Pina) and Puroindoline b (Pinb) genes. However, little is known about the combined effects of HMW-GS and PINs on dough functional properties. In this study, we crossed a Pina-expressing transgenic line with a 1Ax1-expressing line of durum wheat and screened out lines coexpressing 1Ax1 and Pina or lines expressing either 1Ax1 or Pina. Dough mixing analysis of these lines demonstrated that expression of 1Ax1 improved both dough strength and over-mixing tolerance, while expression of PINA detrimentally affected the dough resistance to extension. In lines coexpressing 1Ax1 and Pina, faster hydration of flour during mixing was observed possibly due to the lower water absorption and damaged starch caused by PINA expression. In addition, expression of 1Ax1 appeared to compensate the detrimental effect of PINA on dough resistance to extension. Consequently, coexpression of 1Ax1 and PINA in durum wheat had combined effects on dough mixing behaviors with a better dough strength and resistance to extension than those from lines expressing either 1Ax1 or Pina. The results in our study suggest that simultaneous modulation of dough strength and grain hardness in durum wheat could significantly improve its breadmaking quality and may not even impair its pastamaking potential. Therefore, coexpression of 1Ax1 and PINA in durum wheat has useful implications for breeding durum wheat with dual functionality (for pasta and bread) and may improve the economic values of durum wheat.