Visualization of Src and FAK Activity during the Differentiation Process from HMSCs to Osteoblasts

Non-receptor protein kinases FAK and Src play crucial roles in regulating cellular adhesions, growth, migration and differentiation. However, it remains unclear how the activity of FAK and Src is regulated during the differentiation process from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to bone cells. In this study, we used genetically encoded FAK and Src biosensors based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to monitor the FAK and Src activity in live cells during the differentiation process. The results revealed that the FAK activity increased after the induction of differentiation, which peaked around 20-27 days after induction. Meanwhile, the Src activity decreased continuously for 27 days after induction. Therefore, the results showed significant and differential changes of FAK and Src activity upon induction. This opposite trend between FAK and Src activation suggests novel and un-coupled Src/FAK functions during the osteoblastic differentiation process. These results should provide important information for the biochemical signals during the differentiation process of stem cells toward bone cells, which will advance our understanding of bone repair and tissue engineering.     

核定位信号肽提高核糖体区打靶载体转染效率的研究

核糖体区打靶载体(10～14 kb)是中南大学医学遗传学国家重点实验室构建的一种具有定点整合能力的非病毒载体,具有安全性好及长期稳定表达的特点,但是较低的转染率成为其应用于临床的主要障碍．核定位信号肽可以促进非病毒载体进入细胞核,从而提高其转染效率．但是核定位信号肽提高外源基因表达的能力却严重受到其与DNA偶联方式及偶联剂的影响．采用偶联剂SPB可以通过静电作用将核糖体区打靶载体与SV40 核定位信号肽有效结合,并且可以防止其被DNase降解．应用聚乙烯亚胺转染人原代皮肤成纤维细胞后,激光共聚焦显微镜观察显示,核定位信号肽可以在60 min内携带12 kb的质粒DNA进入细胞核．转染后48 h,流式细胞仪检测GFP表达,结果显示转染率提高了4～5倍．聚乙烯亚胺是一种毒性小,而且价格低廉的高分子转染试剂,广泛被应用于体内基因治疗的研究中,上述研究将会促进核糖体区打靶载体在临床基因治疗中的应用．     

心肌α肌球蛋白重链启动子驱动的CREG 蛋白表达载体 的构建及鉴定

目的:构建心肌特异性α-肌球蛋白重链(α-myosin heavy chain,α-MHC)启动子启动E1A基因阻遏子(cellular repressorof E1A-stimulated genes,CREG)和增强型绿色荧光蛋白(enhanced green fluorescent protein,EGFP)融合的真核表达载体。绿色荧光蛋白作为报告基因,方便在心肌细胞中直接观察CREG蛋白的表达,为心肌特异性转CREG基因动物模型制备提供载体。方法:用BamH I和EcoR I双酶切pcDNA3.1 myc-His/hCREG质粒得到CREG基因,亚克隆入增强绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒pEGFP-N1中,构建pCREG-EGFP-N1;根据Genebank中公布的α-MHC基因的启动子序列,人工合成pUC57-α-MHC启动子基因序列,经Ase I和Nhe I双酶切得到启动子α-MHC,亚克隆入pCREG-EGFP-N1中替代原CMV启动子,构建pα-MHC-CREG-EGFP-N1,测序鉴定。用脂质体法将该质粒转染体外培养的小鼠原代心肌细胞,荧光显微镜下观测绿色荧光蛋白的表达;Western blot检测CREG蛋白的表达。结果:成功构建pα-MHC-CREG-EGFP-N1质粒,酶切及测序结果正确;成功转染入原代培养小鼠心肌细胞,在荧光显微镜下可见绿色荧光蛋白的表达,Western blot检测到CREG蛋白的表达。结论:重组质粒pα-MHC-CREG-EGFP-N1体外转染入原代培养小鼠心肌细胞后,目的基因能够在心肌细胞中有效表达,检测方法简便可靠,为下一步建立心肌细胞特异性表达CREG的过表达转基因小鼠、深入探讨CREG在心肌疾病发生中的生物学功能研究奠定了基础。     

离子液体-水双相体系中Gibberella intermedia C1双羟化去氢表雄酮(DHEA)

【目的】考察离子液体-水双相体系中赤霉菌(Gibberella intermedia C1)双羟化甾体类底物去氢表雄酮(DHEA)生成三羟基雄甾烯酮(7α,15α-di OH-DHEA)的生物转化过程。【方法】比较5种不同种类的离子液体([Hmim][PF_6]、[Bmim][PF_6]、[Bmim][BF_4]、[Bmim][NTF2]、[Emim][EtSO_4])对底物转化率和产物得率的影响。优化该双相体系中离子液体的浓度、底物的投料浓度及投料时间等。【结果】选择[Emim][EtSO_4]作为构建该体系的离子液体。摇瓶中最适双相体系转化条件为:菌体生长12 h后,向转化培养基中加入0.8%(体积比)的[Emim][Et SO4],同时投加6 g/L底物DHEA。在5 L发酵罐上,当转化至60 h时,产物浓度高达5.03±0.21 g/L,7α,15α-diOH-DHEA产物摩尔得率达到最高75.5%。【结论】确定了离子液体-水双相转化体系的最适转化条件,并在5 L发酵罐中进行了实验,为该体系的工业化应用奠定了基础。     

马铃薯杂种F1的SSR鉴定

为选育抗黑痣病、高产优质的马铃薯新品种,选用引进品种‘大西洋’分别与‘陇薯6号’、‘陇薯7号’杂交,获得了杂种F1代,利用SSR标记技术对‘大西洋’与‘陇薯6号’的42个杂种F1、‘大西洋’与‘陇薯7号’的9个杂种F1单株进行了鉴定。从59对SSR引物中筛选出2对在亲本间存在差异、扩增稳定、条带清晰的引物S184和STM1049,用于‘大西洋’ב陇薯6号’杂种F1、‘大西洋’ב陇薯7号’杂种F1及其亲本的基因组DNA扩增。SSR带型分析显示,杂种F1的SSR带型呈双亲互补型、缺失型、父本型和母本型4类,依据带型特征鉴定出供试的51个马铃薯杂种F1单株均为真杂种,表明SSR分子标记技术用于马铃薯杂种真实性鉴定是可行的。该研究可为进一步开展马铃薯杂交后代目标性状优异株系选育提供依据。     

庚型肝炎病毒E2区cDNA在毕赤酵母中的表达及抗原性鉴定

从含有庚型肝炎病毒(GBVC/HGV)包膜蛋白E2 cDNA(559bp)的质粒pGEX\|E2中,扩增得到能够编码日本血吸虫谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)和GBVC/HGV包膜蛋白E2的融合基因片段。将此长度为1324bp的DNA片段插入到酵母表达载体pPIC9K中,使之位于α因子信号肽下游,且与之同框。通过电激转化将构建的重组表达质粒pPIC9K\|GST\|E2插入到Pichia pastoris GS115菌株染色体中。筛选His\++Mut\+s表型的转化子,震荡培养,用05%甲醇诱导表达5d后,在培养液中得到表达的GSTE2融合蛋白。经过表达条件的优化,GSTE2蛋白可占培养液中总蛋白的50%。通过谷胱甘肽亲和层析柱纯化,GSTE2融合蛋白的纯度可达95%左右。以庚型肝炎病人血清为探针,进行免疫印迹及ELISA实验,结果表明该融合蛋白具有能被庚型肝炎病人血清特异性识别的抗原性。     

Conductive Hole‐Selective Passivating Contacts for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

Defect state passivation and conductivity of materials are always in opposition; thus, it is unlikely for one material to possess both excellent carrier transport and defect state passivation simultaneously. As a result, the use of partial passivation and local contact strategies are required for silicon solar cells, which leads to fabrication processes with technical complexities. Thus, one material that possesses both a good passivation and conductivity is highly desirable in silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells. In this work, a passivation‐conductivity phase‐like diagram is presented and a conductive‐passivating‐carrier‐selective contact is achieved using PEDOT:Nafion composite thin films. A power conversion efficiency of 18.8% is reported for an industrial multicrystalline silicon solar cell with a back PEDOT:Nafion contact, demonstrating a solution‐processed organic passivating contact concept. This concept has the potential advantages of omitting the use of conventional dielectric passivation materials deposited by costly high‐vacuum equipment, energy‐intensive high‐temperature processes, and complex laser opening steps. This work also contributes an effective back‐surface field scheme and a new hole‐selective contact for p‐type and n‐type silicon solar cells, respectively, both for research purposes and as a low‐cost surface engineering strategy for future Si‐based PV technologies.     

Association of a novel point mutation in MSH2 gene with familial multiple primary cancers

Background

Multiple primary cancers (MPC) have been identified as two or more cancers without any subordinate relationship that occur either simultaneously or metachronously in the same or different organs of an individual. Lynch syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that increases the risk of many types of cancers. Lynch syndrome patients who suffer more than two cancers can also be considered as MPC; patients of this kind provide unique resources to learn how genetic mutation causes MPC in different tissues.

Methods

We performed a whole genome sequencing on blood cells and two tumor samples of a Lynch syndrome patient who was diagnosed with five primary cancers. The mutational landscape of the tumors, including somatic point mutations and copy number alternations, was characterized. We also compared Lynch syndrome with sporadic cancers and proposed a model to illustrate the mutational process by which Lynch syndrome progresses to MPC.

Results

We revealed a novel pathologic mutation on the MSH2 gene (G504 splicing) that associates with Lynch syndrome. Systematical comparison of the mutation landscape revealed that multiple cancers in the proband were evolutionarily independent. Integrative analysis showed that truncating mutations of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes were significantly enriched in the patient. A mutation progress model that included germline mutations of MMR genes, double hits of MMR system, mutations in tissue-specific driver genes, and rapid accumulation of additional passenger mutations was proposed to illustrate how MPC occurs in Lynch syndrome patients.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that both germline and somatic alterations are driving forces of carcinogenesis, which may resolve the carcinogenic theory of Lynch syndrome.

     

The Selective Impairment of Resting-State Functional Connectivity of the Lateral Subregion of the Frontal Pole in Schizophrenia

Objective

Although extensive resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) changes have been reported in schizophrenia, rsFC changes of the frontal pole (FP) remain unclear. The FP contains several subregions with different connection patterns; however, it is unknown whether the FP subregions are differentially affected in schizophrenia. To explore this possibility, we compared rsFC differences of the FP subregions between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls.

Method

One hundred healthy controls and 91 patients with schizophrenia underwent resting-state functional MRI with a sensitivity-encoded spiral-in (SENSE-SPIRAL) imaging sequence to reduced susceptibility-induced signal loss and distortion. The FP was subdivided into the orbital (FPo), medial (FPm), and lateral (FPl) subregions. Mean fMRI time series were extracted for each FP subregion and entered into a seed-based rsFC analysis.

Results

The FP subregions exhibited differential rsFC patterns in both healthy controls and schizophrenia patients. Direct comparison between groups revealed reduced rsFCs between the bilateral FPl and several cognitive-related regions, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus, temporal cortex and inferior parietal lobule in schizophrenia. Although the FPl exhibited obvious atrophy, rsFC changes were unrelated to volumetric atrophy in the FPl, to duration of illness, and to antipsychotic medication dosage. No significant differences were observed in the rsFCs of other FP subregions.

Conclusion

These findings suggest a selective (the lateral subregion) functional disconnection of the FP subregions in schizophrenia.     

Increased anxiety-like behavior and enhanced synaptic efficacy in the amygdala of GluR5 knockout mice

GABAergic transmission in the amygdala modulates the expression of anxiety. Understanding the interplay between GABAergic transmission and excitatory circuits in the amygdala is, therefore, critical for understanding the neurobiological basis of anxiety. Here, we used a multi-disciplinary approach to demonstrate that GluR5-containing kainate receptors regulate local inhibitory circuits, modulate the excitatory transmission from the basolateral amygdala to the central amygdala, and control behavioral anxiety. Genetic deletion of GluR5 or local injection of a GluR5 antagonist into the basolateral amygdala increases anxiety-like behavior. Activation of GluR5 selectively depolarized inhibitory neurons, thereby increasing GABA release and contributing to tonic GABA current in the basolateral amygdala. The enhanced GABAergic transmission leads to reduced excitatory inputs in the central amygdala. Our results suggest that GluR5 is a key regulator of inhibitory circuits in the amygdala and highlight the potential use of GluR5-specific drugs in the treatment of pathological anxiety.