双重荧光染色监测听毛细胞游离钙

豚鼠耳蜗分离外毛细胞经fluo-3和fura-red染色后,用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜监测其胞内游离钙的空间分布和动态变化,以fluo-3/fura-red荧光比值大小指示游离钙浓度的高低。外毛细胞胞内游离钙呈不均匀分布,荧光比值分别为细胞质1.71±0.85,质膜1.61±0.75,表皮板1.47±0.65及胞核1.39±0.66,显示细胞质游离钙浓度最高而胞核游离钙浓度最低。静息状态下连续扫描时荧光比值变化小于0.1,而在受到机械刺激后荧光比值增加幅度达0.3—1.2。实验结果表明,fluo-3和fura-red双发射比例法能更准确反映听毛细胞胞内钙的空间分布和动态变化,第二信使钙可能参与了听毛细胞的机械-电换能过程,研究了换能过程中听毛细胞钙信号的时空模式。     

二硝基氟苯修饰的黑色素瘤细胞激活树突状细胞诱导特异性T细胞反应

目的:探索半抗原二硝基氟苯(DNP)修饰的恶性黑色素瘤细胞(恶黑)激活树突状细胞(DC)后,在体外诱导特异性T细胞反应的抗肿瘤效应。方法:采用DNP修饰恶黑细胞M3(H-2d),然后在体外激活BALB/c小鼠(H-2d)外周血来源的DC,用于激发自体的T细胞,观察对T细胞的增殖和特异性T细胞的杀伤功能。结果:经DNP修饰的M3细胞激活的DC,其诱发的T细胞增殖能力和对M3细胞的特异性杀伤效应均明显高于未修饰的M3细胞组和DC组。结论:DNP修饰M3所激活的DC可以诱导更强的恶黑特异性T细胞效应。     

Overexpression of two chrysanthemum DgDREB1 group genes causing delayed flowering or dwarfism in Arabidopsis

We isolated 13 DREB1 (dehydration responsive element binding factor 1) genes from chrysanthemum and further divided them into three groups, DgDREB1A, DgDREB1B and DgDREB1C, based on the phylogenetic analysis. Each group showed their unique expression patterns under cold, dehydration and salt stress conditions. Arabidopsis plants overexpressing DgDREB1A (1A plants) exhibited significantly stronger tolerance to freezing and drought than those overexpressing DgDREB1B (1B plants) and the control plants. In addition, 1A plants showed delayed flowering, but not dwarfism; while 1B plants showed dwarfism, but not delayed flowering. In 1A plants, the expression of three stress-related DREB1-downstream genes, COR47, COR15A, and RD29A, was strongly induced while the expression of CO and FT, two photoperiod responsive flowering-time genes, was inhibited. In 1B plants, the expression of GA2ox7, a GA-deactivation enzyme gene, was dramatically enhanced. The results above strongly suggest that members from different DgDREB1 groups may have distinct effects on plant development: DgDREB1A may be involved in photoperiod-related flowering-time determination and DgDREB1B in GA-mediated plant development.     

温度对干旱、盐胁迫下两种黄芪属种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

为探讨温度对干旱、盐胁迫下黄芪属种子萌发和幼苗生长特性的影响,以黄芪属蒙古黄芪和扁茎黄芪2种种子为研究对象,纯净水处理为对照组,NaCl、PEG处理为实验组,设置4个渗透势水平(0、-0.1、-0.3、-0.5 MPa),置于5种不同的温度(10、15、20、25、30 ℃)下,每日观察并记录两种种子萌发和幼苗生长情况。结果表明：旱盐胁迫下蒙古黄芪和扁茎黄芪种子萌发最适宜的温度分别为25和20 ℃左右;蒙古黄芪耐高温不耐低温,而扁茎黄芪恰恰相反;但25和20 ℃均适宜两种幼苗生长,包括胚根、胚轴和子叶的生长。蒙古黄芪各处理组(除未发芽的种子)的平均发芽时间都比扁茎黄芪长;NaCl胁迫程度的增加使得两种种子的最终发芽率降低,但蒙古黄芪的耐盐性高于扁茎黄芪;随着PEG胁迫程度的增加,二者的发芽均受到抑制,甚至会出现完全不萌发,但扁茎黄芪的耐旱性高于蒙古黄芪;在相同的渗透势时,尤其是-0.5 MPa,PEG比NaCl对两种种子的影响大;交互胁迫作用下,随着渗透势的增加两种幼苗的鲜重、干重以及胚根、胚轴、子叶的长和宽变化较大;利用Design Expert软件预测发现：温度25 ℃、NaCl渗透势为-0.1 MPa,温度24 ℃、PEG渗透势为-0.04 MPa的处理是蒙古黄芪种子萌发和幼苗生长达到最优化的组合;而扁茎黄芪最优化的组合则为23 ℃下NaCl渗透势为-0.07 MPa的处理,20 ℃下PEG渗透势为-0.13 MPa的处理。     

Preparation and characterization of nano-hydroxyapatite/chitosan cross-linking composite membrane intended for tissue engineering

In this paper, a series of nano-hydroxyapatite(n-HA)/chitosan cross-linking composite membranes (n-HA; 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 wt%) were successfully developed by a simple casting/solvent evaporation method. n-HA with size about 20 nm in vertical diameter and about 100 nm in horizontal diameter was successfully synthesized by a hydro-thermal precipitation method, and then dispersed into chitosan/genipin solution with the aid of continuous ultrasound to develop n-HA/chitosan cross-linking composite membranes. The detailed characterizations including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water adsorption and tensile test were performed. With the analysis of FTIR spectra and TGA spectra, it suggested that there was existence of possible interactions between polymer and n-HA. Meanwhile, the n-HA content was greatly effected on the morphology as well as the tensile property of composite membrane. In vitro cytotoxicity test suggested that the developed n-HA/chitosan cross-linking composite membrane was non-cytotoxicity against L929 cells after 24 h's incubation might be suitable for further in vivo application.     

The Gut Bacteria Associated with Camponotus japonicus Mayr with Culture-Dependent and DGGE Methods

The bacterial composition and distribution in the different gut regions of Camponotus japonicus were investigated using both culture-dependent method and culture-independent method of polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR–DGGE). Five different bacterial strains were isolated using culture-dependent method, and they all belong to the phylum Firmicutes, including three genera of bacteria Bacillus, Paenibacillus, and Enterococcus. Bacillus cereus and Enterococcus mundtii were found in the midgut; Paenibacillus sp. was isolated from the hindgut; and the other two Bacillus spp. were isolated from the crop. Twelve distinct DGGE bands were found using PCR–DGGE method, and their sequences blasting analysis shows that they are members of the Proteobacteria and the Firmicutes, respectively, including three genera (Pseudomonas, Candidatus Blochmannia, Fructobacillus) and one uncultured bacterium, in which Pseudomonas was the most dominant bacteria group in all the three gut regions. According to the DGGE profile, the three gut regions had very similar gut communities, and all the DGGE bands were presented in the midgut and hindgut, while just two bands representing Blochmannia were not present in the crop. The results of our study indicate that the gut of C. japonicus harbors several other bacteria besides the obligate endosymbionts Blochmannia, and more work should be carried on to verify if they are common in the guts of other Camponotus ants.     

Biodegradable Effect of PLGA Membrane in Alveolar Bone Regeneration on Beagle Dog

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a principle adopted from guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Wherein, GBR is used for the healing of peri-implant bony dehiscences, for the immediate placement of implants into extraction sockets and for the augmentation of atrophic alveolar ridges. This procedure is done by the placement of a resorbable or non-resorbable membrane that will exclude undesirable types of tissue growth between the extraction socket and the soft tissue to allow only bone cells to regenerate in the surgically treated lesion. Here, we investigated the biodegradable effect of polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) membrane in the alveolar bone on Beagle dogs. Results show that both collagen and PLGA membrane had been fully resorbed, biodegraded, at four weeks post-operative reentry into the alveolar bone. Histological results under light microscopy revealed formation of new bone trabeculae in the extraction sites on both collagen and PLGA membrane. In conclusion, PLGA membrane could be a potential biomaterials for use on GBR and GTR. Nevertheless, further studies will be necessary to elucidate the efficiency and cost effectiveness of PLGA as GBR membrane in clinical.     

Stable silencing of β-lactoglobulin (BLG) gene by lentivirus-mediated RNAi in goat fetal fibroblasts

β-lactoglobulin (BLG), a dominant allergen in goat milk, is difficult to remove by traditional biochemical methods. Its elimination from goat milk by genetic modification therefore poses a major challenge for modern goat breeders. A shRNA targeting BLG mRNA with high interference efficiency was identified, with which lentiviral vectors were used for mediating stable shRNA interference in goat-fetal fibroblast cells. Apart from high efficiency in the knockdown of BLG expression in these cells, lentivector-mediated RNAi manifested stable integration into the goat genome itself. Consequently, an in vitro model for goat BLG-content control was compiled, and a goat-cell line for accompanying transgenetic goat production created.     

Proofreading exonuclease on a tether: the complex between the E. coli DNA polymerase III subunits α, ε, θ and β reveals a highly flexible arrangement of the proofreading domain

A complex of the three (αεθ) core subunits and the β₂ sliding clamp is responsible for DNA synthesis by Pol III, the Escherichia coli chromosomal DNA replicase. The 1.7 Å crystal structure of a complex between the PHP domain of α (polymerase) and the C-terminal segment of ε (proofreading exonuclease) subunits shows that ε is attached to α at a site far from the polymerase active site. Both α and ε contain clamp-binding motifs (CBMs) that interact simultaneously with β₂ in the polymerization mode of DNA replication by Pol III. Strengthening of both CBMs enables isolation of stable αεθ:β₂ complexes. Nuclear magnetic resonance experiments with reconstituted αεθ:β₂ demonstrate retention of high mobility of a segment of 22 residues in the linker that connects the exonuclease domain of ε with its α-binding segment. In spite of this, small-angle X-ray scattering data show that the isolated complex with strengthened CBMs has a compact, but still flexible, structure. Photo-crosslinking with p-benzoyl-L-phenylalanine incorporated at different sites in the α-PHP domain confirm the conformational variability of the tether. Structural models of the αεθ:β₂ replicase complex with primer-template DNA combine all available structural data.