一株海洋产电菌Shewanella sp. S2的筛选和产电分析

以厦门白城海域的潮间带表面沉积物为菌种来源筛选得到一株具有电催化活性的菌株S2,该菌株的16S rRNA和gyrB基因发育树与Shewanella oneidensis MR-1同支,相似性分别为98.5%和87%,葡萄糖、木糖、半乳糖等碳源利用及最佳生长的NaCl浓度与S.oneidensis MR-1有显著差别,因此初步鉴定为Shewanella属菌株,命名为Shewanella sp.S2。初步研究了菌株S2产电活性,在以乳酸作为碳源产电时,电压最高为150mV,相应的电流密度为66.1mA/m2。     

鼎湖血桐种群生物学及遗传多样性初步研究

采用点格局分析、径级结构分析以及微卫星筛选等方法,对鼎湖山保护区20hm2永久样地中的鼎湖血桐进行了种群生物学及遗传多样性研究。结果表明:鼎湖血桐是一种r-对策型阳生植物,种群年龄结构呈金字塔型;植株受光照不足的胁迫,种群大部分个体聚集分布于光照充足的林窗中;通过磁珠富集法筛选出鼎湖血桐特异性微卫星引物13对,其中2对具备多态性,多态百分率为15.4%,多态信息含量在0～0.3734之间,平均期望杂合度为0.0756,远低于同属其它植物。研究表明鼎湖血桐对环境变化的适应范围较窄,遗传多样性较低,应对其种质资源进行多样性评估与保护。     

Chromium Improves Protein Deposition Through Regulating the mRNA Levels of IGF-1, IGF-1R,and Ub in Rat Skeletal Muscle Cells

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of three different chromium forms—chromic chloride (CrCl₃), chromium picolinate (CrPic), and a newly synthesized complex of chromium chelated with small peptides (CrSP)—on protein metabolism in vitro. In cultured skeletal muscle cells, CrSP was able to increase the basal and insulin-stimulated levels of protein deposition in skeletal muscles cells. CrCl₃ and CrPic augmented insulin-stimulated protein synthesis. At the molecular level, insulin significantly increased the mRNA levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor. These impacts could be enhanced by the addition of chromium, especially CrSP. The mRNA levels of ubiquitin were significantly reduced when cells were cultured with chromium or/and insulin. Assuming that the mRNA level increase or decrease results in increased or decreased levels of these proteins, chromium would improve protein anabolism and reduce protein catabolism and then prove protein deposition in rat skeletal muscle cells.     

寒冷诱导产热时大鼠棕色脂肪能量代谢相关蛋白谱的变化

棕色脂肪组织(BAT)的生理作用与白色脂肪显著不同,它以产热的形式释放能量而不是将能量以ATP的形式储存．线粒体是在能量代谢和维持细胞稳态中具有重要功能的细胞器．为了更好地了解棕色脂肪中的能量代谢过程,运用双向电泳及质谱相结合的技术,分离了大鼠白色和棕色脂肪线粒体,对其差异蛋白质谱进行了系统分析和鉴定．参与脂肪和氨基酸代谢、三羧酸循环及线粒体呼吸链的蛋白质在棕色脂肪线粒体中的表达明显高于白色脂肪线粒体,在寒冷诱导下这些蛋白质的表达进一步上调．此外,参与辅酶Q合成的一系列COQ 基因在棕色脂肪中经寒冷适应后表达明显上调．该研究表明,辅 酶Q合成的增高在非颤栗性产热中具有重要作用,为进一步了解棕色脂肪特异性的能量代谢提供了新的思路．     

Mutation of the pore glutamate affects both cytoplasmic and external dequalinium block in the rat olfactory CNGA2 channel

Dequalinium has recently been reported to block CNGA1 and CNGA2 channels expressed in Xenopus laevis. Using the inside-out configuration of the patch-clamp technique, we examined the effects of dequalinium on rat olfactory CNGA2 channels expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells and studied aspects of its molecular mechanism of action. We found that cytoplasmic dequalinium blocked wild-type (WT) CNGA2 channels in a voltage-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ of approximately 1.3 M at a V_m of + 60 mV, and an effective fractional charge, z, of +0.8 (z=2, =+0.4), suggesting that cytoplasmic dequalinium interacts with a binding site that is about two fifths of the way along the membrane electric field (from the intracellular side). Neutralizing the negatively charged pore lining glutamate acid residue (E342Q) still allows effective channel block by cytoplasmic dequalinium with an IC₅₀ of approximately 2.2 M at a V_m of +60 mV but now having a z of +0.1 (=+0.05), indicating a profoundly decreased level of voltage-dependence. In addition, by comparing the extent of block under different levels of channel activation, we show that the block by cytoplasmic dequalinium displayed clear state-dependence in WT channels by interacting predominantly with the closed channel, whereas the block in E342Q channels was state-independent. Application of dequalinium to the external membrane surface also blocked currents through WT channels and the E342Q mutation significantly increased the IC₅₀ for external block approximately fivefold. These results confirm dequalinium as a potent, voltage-dependent and state-dependent blocker of cyclic-nucleotide-gated channels, and show that neutralization of the E342 residue profoundly affects the block by both cytoplasmic and external application of dequalinium.     

Receptor activator of NF-kappaB (RANK) cytoplasmic motif, 369PFQEP373, plays a predominant role in osteoclast survival in part by activating Akt/PKB and its downstream effector AFX/FOXO4

Receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) plays a crucial role in osteoclast differentiation, function, and survival. RANKL exerts its effect by activating its receptor RANK (receptor activator of NF-kappaB), which recruits various intracellular signaling molecules via specific motifs in its cytoplasmic tail. Previously, we identified three RANK cytoplasmic motifs (Motif 1, 369PFQEP373; Motif 2, 559PVQEET564; and Motif 3, 604PVQEQG609) mediating osteoclast formation and function. Here, we investigated RANK cytoplasmic motifs involved in osteoclast survival. Motif 1, in contrast to its minimal role in osteoclast formation and function, plays a predominant role in promoting osteoclast survival. Moreover, whereas Motif 2 and Motif 3 are highly potent in osteoclast formation and function, they exert a moderate effect on osteoclast survival. We also investigated the role of these motifs in activating Akt/protein kinase B (PKB), which has been implicated in RANKL-induced osteoclast survival. Motif 1, but not Motif 2 or Motif 3, is able to stimulate Akt/PKB activation. Because Akt/PKB has been shown to utilize distinct downstream effectors (glycogen synthase kinase-3beta, FKHR/FOXO1a, BAD, and AFX/FOXO4) to regulate cell survival, we next determined which downstream effector(s) is activated by Akt/PKB to promote osteoclast survival. Our data revealed that RANKL only stimulates AFX/FOXO4 phosphorylation, indicating that AFX/FOXO4 is a key downstream target activated by Akt/PKB to modulate osteoclast survival. Taken together, we conclude that Motif 1 plays a predominant role in mediating osteoclast survival in part by activating Akt/PKB and its downstream effector AFX/FOXO4.     

Folding behavior of chaperonin-mediated substrate protein

Chaperonin-mediated protein folding is complex. There have been diverse results on folding behavior, and the chaperonin molecules have been investigated as enhancing or retarding the folding rate. To understand the diversity of chaperonin-mediated protein folding, we report a study based on simulations using a simplified Gō-type model. By considering effects of affinity between the substrate protein and the chaperonin wall and spatial confinement of the chaperonin cavity, we study the thermodynamics and kinetics of folding of an unfrustrated substrate protein encapsulated in a chaperonin cavity. The affinity makes the hydrophobic residues of the protein bind to the chaperonin wall, and a strong (or weak) affinity results in a large (or small) effect of binding. Compared with the folding in bulk, the folding in chaperonin cavity with different strengths of affinity shows two kinds of behaviors: one with less dependence on the affinity but more reliance on the spatial confinement effect and the other relying strongly on the affinity. It is found that the enhancement or retardation of the folding rate depends on the competition between the spatial confinement and the affinity due to the chaperonin cavity, and a strong affinity produces a slow folding while a weak affinity induces a fast folding. The crossover between two kinds of folding behaviors happens in the case that the favorable effect of confinement is balanced by the unfavorable effect of the affinity, and a critical affinity strength is roughly defined. By analyzing the contacts formed between the residues of the protein and the chaperonin wall and between the residues of the protein themselves, the role of the affinity in the folding processes is studied. The binding of the residues with the chaperonin wall reduces the formation of both native contacts and nonnative contact or mis-contacts, providing a loose structure for further folding after allosteric change of the chaperonin cavity. In addition, 15 single-site-mutated mutants are simulated in order to test the validity of our model and to investigate the importance of affinity. Inspiringly, our results of the folding rates have a good correlation with those obtained from experiments. The folding rates are inversely correlated with the strength of the binding interactions, i.e., the weaker the binding, the faster the folding. We also find that the inner hydrophobic residues have larger effects on the folding kinetics than those of the exterior hydrophobic residues. We suggest that, besides the confinement effect, the affinity acts as another important factor to affect the folding of the substrate proteins in chaperonin systems, providing an understanding of the folding mechanism of the molecular chaperonin systems.     

Impaired arachidonic acid-mediated dilation of small mesenteric arteries in Zucker diabetic fatty rats

Arachidonic acid (AA) is a precursor of important vasoactive metabolites, but the role of AA-mediated vasodilation in Type 2 diabetes is not known. Using Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, we examined the effects of AA in small mesenteric arteries preconstricted with endothelin. In ZDF rat mesenteric arteries, 1 microM AA produced only one-third the amount of dilation as in vessels from lean control animals. In lean control rats, the effect of AA was significantly and predominantly inhibited by the lipoxygenase inhibitors baicalein and cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-cyanocinnamate (CDC). However, baicalein and CDC had no effect on AA-mediated dilation in ZDF rat mesenteric arteries. The major [3H]AA metabolite produced by isolated mesenteric arteries in both lean and ZDF rats was 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), but the amount of [3H]12-HETE produced by ZDF rat vessels was only 36% of that of control vessels. In addition, 12-HETE produced similar amounts of dilation in lean and ZDF rat mesenteric arteries. Immunoblot analysis showed an 81% reduction in 12-lipoxygenase protein in ZDF rat mesenteric arteries. Immunofluorescence labeling showed strong nitrotyrosine signals in ZDF rat mesenteric arteries that colocalized with 12-lipoxygenase in endothelium, and 12-lipoxygenase coprecipitation with anti-nitrotyrosine antibodies was enhanced in ZDF rat vessels. We conclude that AA-mediated relaxation in ZDF rat small mesenteric arteries is impaired due to reduced 12-lipoxygenase protein and activity. Increased oxidative stress and nitration of 12-lipoxygenase may underlie the impairment of AA-mediated relaxation in small mesenteric arteries of diabetic rats.     

Giemsa-C带揭示的绵枣儿多倍体复合体染色体变异

绵枣儿是分布在东亚的多倍体复合体。以Giemsa-C带法对分布在中国的绵枣儿24个居群进行了染色体变异分析。AA和BB细胞型大部分居群未发现变异,分别具a2和b1染色体的近着丝点着丝粒带。AABB虽无居群内变异,但居群间有所不同。其中柳林、商南和徐州居群带型相同,带纹丰富。元宝山居群只有b1的近着丝粒带,而灵岩山居群具a2和b1的近着丝粒带。根据已有的研究资料推测,绵枣儿b1和a2上的近着丝粒带显示的应当是高度重复的rRNA基因;大庆和文县居群一个体该位点的杂合可能是由于部分rRNA拷贝的同源染色体间转移;AABB起源后随时间推移会发生rRNA重复位点的丢失;柳林等居群丰富的带纹可能是其刚刚起源时重复基因关闭的表征,随时间推移同样可能会丢失。另外大量的实验证据表明,BB比AA细胞型可能更易于发生染色体结构变异。     

甲磺酸伊马替尼对单侧输尿管梗阻小鼠肾间质纤维化的保护作用

目的研究甲磺酸伊马替尼（STI571）改善单侧输尿管梗阻（UUO）小鼠肾间质纤维化的作用及机制。方法48只小鼠随机分为4组：假手术组,模型组,小剂量治疗组（80mg/kg/d）,大剂量治疗组（160mg/kg/d）。采用左侧输尿管双结扎的方法建立UUO模型,治疗组每天以STI57180、160mg/Kg灌胃。分别于术后第8,11d分别处死各组小鼠6只。光镜下观察肾脏病理改变。用免疫组化技术检测肾组织TGF-β1、PAI-1、α-SMA和PCNA的表达。结果治疗组的肾间质纤维化定量显著低于模型组（P〈0.05）,且不同剂量组之间存在显著差异（P〈0.05）。模型组和治疗组左肾TGF-β1、PAI-1、α-SMA和PCNA的表达均随梗阻时间延长而逐渐增加,治疗组α-SMA和PCNA的表达较模型组明显减低（P〈0.05）。结论甲磺酸伊马替尼可显著减轻UUO小鼠梗阻侧肾脏间质纤维化,下调α-SMA和PCNA的表达,减少肾间质细胞外基质的沉积,对UUO小鼠肾间质纤维化有一定防治作用。