Protein kinase C delta null mice exhibit structural alterations in articular surface,intra-articular and subchondral compartments

IntroductionStructural alterations in intra-articular and subchondral compartments are hallmarks of osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease that causes pain and disability in the aging population. Protein kinase C delta (PKC-δ) plays versatile functions in cell growth and differentiation, but its role in the articular cartilage and subchondral bone is not known.MethodsHistological analysis including alcian blue, safranin O staining and fluorochrome labeling were used to reveal structural alterations at the articular cartilage surface and bone–cartilage interface in PKC-δ knockout (KO) mice. The morphology and organization of chondrocytes were studied using confocal microscopy. Glycosaminoglycan content was studied by micromass culture of chondrocytes of PKC-δ KO mice.ResultsWe uncovered atypical structural demarcation between articular cartilage and subchondral bone of PKC-δ KO mice. Histology analyses revealed a thickening of the articular cartilage and calcified bone–cartilage interface, and decreased safranin O staining accompanied by an increase in the number of hypertrophic chondrocytes in the articular cartilage of PKC-δ KO mice. Interestingly, loss of demarcation between articular cartilage and bone was concomitant with irregular chondrocyte morphology and arrangement. Consistently, in vivo calcein labeling assay showed an increased intensity of calcein labeling in the interface of the growth plate and metaphysis in PKC-δ KO mice. Furthermore, in vitro culture of chondrocyte micromass showed a decreased alcian blue staining of chondrocyte micromass in the PKC-δ KO mice, indicative of a reduced level of glycosaminoglycan production.ConclusionsOur data imply a role for PKC-δ in the osteochondral plasticity of the interface between articular cartilage and the osteochondral junction.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0720-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Kosteletzkya virginica, a halophytic species with potential for agroecotechnology in Jiangsu Province, China

Kosteletzkya virginica (L.) Presl. is a perennial dicot halophytic species, that grows in brackish portions of coastal tidal marshes of the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States. New saline mudflats have been increasing every year in Northern Jiangsu, China. In 1993, we introduced K. virginica (L.) into China from the Halophyte Biotechnology Center (University of Delaware, USA) as a potential species to improve the soil and develop ecologically sound saline agriculture. Our nearly 10 years of experimental research, both in a test garden and in the field, indicated that K. virginica adapts excellently to the heavy saline soils of Jiangsu Province, China. The average seed yield of K. virginica in 2001 at Yancheng was 638 kg/ha from 1-year old seedlings. There were significant variations among individuals from the unselected population of K. virginica on growth, quality, and seed yield traits. There is great potential to increase the seed yield if superior clones are selected. The seed yield of 35 selected individuals was six times greater than that of the average. Four growth traits of K. virginica were found to have a significant correlation with seed yield. However, there was no strong positive or negative correlation among seed quality traits. The mean seed weight and the germination ratio of the 35 selected individuals of K. virginica were 16.36±0.32 g and 76.11±1.82%, respectively. The percentage content of oil and crude protein in the seeds was 11.28±0.67 and 8.17±0.19%, respectively. The percentage of seed vigor of the selected individuals was 99%, as determined by soft X-ray radiography.     

OC-IΔD86 (Oryzacystatin-IΔD86)基因的原核表达及活性分析

根据OC-IΔD86基因序列, 设计合成了7条寡核苷酸片段, 通过重叠延伸PCR技术合成了OC-IΔD86基因, 利用设计好的BamH I/ Xho I酶切位点将OC-IΔD86基因克隆到原核表达载体pet21b中, 在1 mmol/L的IPTG 诱导后5 h, OC-IDD86融合基因在大肠杆菌中得到表达, 表达产物处于可溶状态, 其表达量占总蛋白的11.4%, 可溶性蛋白的16.4%; 利用Ni-NTA系统纯化该蛋白并经PEG20000浓缩后, 活性分析表明该蛋白酶抑制剂在体外表现出对木瓜蛋白酶明显的抑制作用。这为转OC-IΔD86基因的抗根结线虫植物基因工程抗体制备, 以及进一步体内的抗根结线虫研究奠定了基础。     

条斑紫菜抗高温和快速生长细胞株系HB的建立及栽培

本文主要应用单细胞培养技术培育紫菜新品系,以建立紫菜细胞工程快速育苗系统。通过酶解技术分离出紫菜叶状体细胞,并进行多克隆,从中获得4个细胞纯系植株(HA,HB,HC,HD)。对该4个细胞株系进行了纯系培养,并对其细胞苗和丝状体的生长速度和抗高温(19℃,21℃,23℃,25℃)性进行了测定。结果显示,船株系具有较高的抗高温性和最快生长速度。在1998年到2000年间,在江苏省启东县海丰海区对HB株系进行了海上栽培实验,结果显示,实验组的产量高于当地对照组产量,证明了条斑紫菜船株系不仅具有较高的抗高温性,而且也有较快生长速度。本实验说明应用细胞工程进行条斑紫菜育种是一条很好的快速育种途径。     

细胞核CaMK和Calcineurin 对大鼠心肌肥厚发生的作用

目的:研究大鼠心肌肥厚时,钙依赖的蛋白激酶和蛋白磷酸酶在心肌细胞膜、细胞浆和细胞核的分布规律,以探讨核钙信号与核反应在心肌肥厚发生过程中的病理生理意义.方法:制备腹主动脉缩窄大鼠心肌肥厚模型,同位素32P掺入法分别测定心肌细胞核、细胞浆和细胞膜的蛋白激酶活性及用无机磷生成显色法测定其蛋白磷酸酶活性.结果:腹主动脉缩窄术后4周大鼠心肌显著肥厚,伴有明显的血液动力学异常.与正常对照组相比较,腹主动脉缩窄心肌肥厚组心肌细胞核钙调素蛋白激酶(CaMK)活性增加101.1%(P＜0.01),其膜的酶活性升高40.2%(P＜0.01),而胞浆的酶活性不变(P＞0.05);心肌细胞核钙调神经磷酸酶(Calcineurin)活性增加43.6%(P＜0.05),膜和胞浆中其活性增加无显著性(P＞0.05).正常组和腹主动脉缩窄心肌肥厚组心肌细胞CaMK和Calcineurin活性分布为核＞膜＞胞浆(P＜0.01).结论:腹主动脉缩窄心肌肥厚时核内钙依赖的CaMK和Calcineurin活性增加,提示压力超负荷时细胞核内钙调节的蛋白磷酸化和去磷酸化水平增高,可能在介导心肌肥厚的发生中起重要作用.     

滞育和非滞育棉铃虫前胸腺的形态解剖学比较研究

该文用解剖镜和电子显微镜对滞育和非滞育棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera前胸腺的形态解剖结构进行了比较研究。结果发现滞育棉铃虫的前胸腺细胞及其细胞间隙相对较小,不易着色,细胞核规则,较小,细胞质中几乎见不到光滑内质网和粗面内质网,线粒体极少,这些观察到的现象充分说明滞育棉铃虫的前胸腺活性较低。     

亚热带山地草地退化系列上种群更新研究

从种子库,幼苗和种子雨等方面对亚热带山地草地退化系列上5种植物的种群更新进行了研究,结果表明：（1）引入种多年生黑麦草（Lolium perenne)和白三叶（Trifolium repens)种群在轻度和中度退化条件下能够正常更新,但不能忍受草地进一步的退化;（2）本地种对草地退化的胁迫表现出较强的承受能力。簇生卷耳（Cerastium caespitosum)、箭叶蓼（Polygonum sagittatum)和华蒲公英（Taraxacum sinicum)的种群更新分别在中度、重度和极度退化草地上处于最佳状态;（3）若要防治草地退化,就应当地引入种的种群更新受到抑制时采取有效措施。     

重金属镉、锌在菹草叶细胞中的超微定位观察

水环境污染中十分突出的是重金属的污染 ,主要来源为流入物、渗漏和大气沉降 (Ｌａｒｃｈｅｒ ,1995 )。由于重金属污染物不但不能被微生物所分解 ,而且能在生物体内富集 ,并通过水生食物链的生物放大作用而对高营养级的生物甚至人类造成危害 ,因此日益引起人们的特别关注。许多研究从超微结构损伤和生理生化的角度研究了重金属对植物的毒害机制。施国新等 (2 0 0 0 )观察了重金属汞、镉污染对水生植物黑藻叶细胞的超微结构损伤。彭鸣等 (1991)研究了重金属镉、铅诱导的玉米超微结构的变化。李荣春 (2 0 0 0 )研究了Ｃｄ、Ｐｂ及其复合污染…     

微乳体系中11β-羟基甲羟孕酮的C1,2生物脱氢

为改善过程传质,提高甾类药物中间体11β-羟基甲羟孕酮C1,2生物脱氢转化率,采用简单节杆菌Arthrobacter simplex UR016菌株在Tween-80/乙醇/食油/水构成的微乳体系中进行生物脱氢,并考察了微乳体系组成、转化温度、投料浓度对脱氢反应的影响。结果表明:以菌体培养液作为水相,食油作为油相构建微乳体系,食油最适加量为10g/L,表面活性剂Tween-80加量为4g/L;底物经醇溶后水析投料,乙醇最适加量为发酵液体积的7%(V/V);最适转化温度为33oC;当底物浓度为4g/L时,在构建的微乳体系中转化46h,脱氢转化率达88.6%,与水相转化工艺相比提高了66.2%。在该体系中疏水性11β-羟基甲羟孕酮底物得到了有效的增溶和扩散,生物脱氢转化率明显提高。