Structure and Membrane Binding Properties of the Endosomal Tetratricopeptide Repeat (TPR) Domain-containing Sorting Nexins SNX20 and SNX21

Sorting nexins (SNX) orchestrate membrane trafficking and signaling events required for the proper distribution of proteins within the endosomal network. Their phox homology (PX) domain acts as a phosphoinositide (PI) recognition module that targets them to specific endocytic membrane domains. The modularity of SNX proteins confers a wide variety of functions from signaling to membrane deformation and cargo binding, and many SNXs are crucial modulators of endosome dynamics and are involved in a myriad of physiological and pathological processes such as neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and inflammation. Here, we have studied the poorly characterized SNX20 and its paralogue SNX21, which contain an N-terminal PX domain and a C-terminal PX-associated B (PXB) domain of unknown function. The two proteins share similar PI-binding properties and are recruited to early endosomal compartments by their PX domain. The crystal structure of the SNX21 PXB domain reveals a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR)-fold, a module that typically binds short peptide motifs, with three TPR α-helical repeats. However, the C-terminal capping helix adopts a highly unusual and potentially self-inhibitory topology. SAXS solution structures of SNX20 and SNX21 show that these proteins adopt a compact globular architecture, and membrane interaction analyses indicate the presence of overlapping PI-binding sites that may regulate their intracellular localization. This study provides the first structural analysis of this poorly characterized subfamily of SNX proteins, highlighting a likely role as endosome-associated scaffolds.     

广西12株狂犬病野毒株的g基因序列测定与分析

对广西12株狂犬病病毒株g基因全序列进行测序分析,结果显示广西毒株属于Ⅰ型,可分为3个群,即Ⅰ群、Ⅱ群和Ⅲ群.GX01、GX08、GX09、GX014、GX091、GX195、GX260、GXLA 8株为Ⅰ群,GX219、GX074、GXBM 3株为Ⅱ群,GXN119株为Ⅲ群.Ⅰ群的广西毒株g基因核苷酸的同源性为97.6%～99.9%,氨基酸同源性在97.7%～100%之间;Ⅱ群的核苷酸的同源性为98.2%～99.0%,氨基酸的同源性在98.5%～99.2%之间.糖蛋白在主要的抗原位点GⅠ、GⅡ区以及与中和抗原有关的36、263、367位氨基酸没有变异,GⅢ区上只有Ⅱ群在332位缬氨酸变异为异亮氨酸,G蛋白上的氨基酸主要在-2、-5、-13、-14、-15、-16、90、96、132、140、156、168、170、204、241、249、253、264、289、332、382、427、436、445、463、474位共26个氨基酸发生了变异,这些氨基酸的变异具有群的特异性.     

红外-核磁共振光谱-免疫亲和柱法解析梨孢镰孢菌代谢产物成分

利用红外光谱,核磁共振光谱结合免疫亲和柱的方法解析梨孢镰孢菌代谢产物成分,为真菌代谢产物的分析提供新的信息.将F.Poae菌株在GYM培养基上25℃条件下培养12 h后转至8℃培养12h,交替进行4周,将其代谢产物分离纯化、结晶,80℃干燥后用红外光谱议分析产物结构,然后利用免疫亲和柱特异性,比较产物经T-2免疫亲和柱纯化前后的1H核磁谱图.由红外谱图可判断目标组分存在与单端孢霉烯族毒素相同的特征官能团,初步判定产物为单端孢霉烯族毒素.通过1H核磁谱图比较T-2免疫亲和柱纯化前后物质结构一致.梨孢镰孢菌代谢产物成分为T-2毒素.红外-核磁共振光谱结合免疫亲和柱的方法解析梨孢镰孢菌代谢产物的方法在国内外尚未见报道.     

中枢神经细胞的高尔基复合体ACP活性分布的电镜观察

本文采用电镜金属盐法—酸性磷酸酶(ACP)细胞化学技术,用30mmol/L pipes缓冲液配制低浓度戊二醛进行固定。对成年大鼠的大脑大锥体细胞,小脑浦肯野氏细胞,脊髓前角运动细胞的高尔基复合体的ACP活性进行了实验研究和探讨。结果发现ACP活性分布在高尔基复合体的部份转移泡、浓缩泡及GERL部位。高尔基复合体呈ACP阳性反应,并显示出多种形态。     

青冈常绿阔叶林钾的生物循环研究

本文对分布于浙江建德的青冈常绿阔叶林K的生物循环进行了研究。群落各代表种类的K浓度大都在0．2～0．4％之间,其令藤本、草本＞下木层＞乔木层、亚乔木层植物,各器官中K浓度叶＞枝、根＞干。青冈中K浓度为下木层＞乔木层＞亚乔木层;幼嫩、同化和生殖器官中积累了较多的K。凋落物凋落之前,K有被回输的现象。K在群落中现存量为431．64kg／hm2,死地被层中积累量为25．88ky／hm2,土壤（A0－B层）中储存量为64298kg／hm2。群落K的存留量为53．83ky／hm2.a;归还量为51．89ky／hm2．a,其中大部分通过穿透水归还（占70％）;吸收量为105．72kg／hm2．a。降水输入了7．10kg／hm2．a的K。与世界上其它森林类型相比,青冈林K的循环速申和利用效申是对一定水热条件的正常反映。     

滇中次生常绿阔叶林优势树种的空间格局

采用Ripley的点格局分析方法对滇中次生常绿阔叶林中优势种滇青冈(Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides)和滇油杉(Keteleeria evelyniana)的分布格局以及不同径级分株之间的相互关系进行了分析.结果表明:(1)总体来看,两个优势物种各径级株数分布较均匀,二者的增长处于稳定期.(2)两个优势物种在总体上及不同径级阶段主要呈聚集分布.随径级的增加,滇青冈种群的聚集程度逐渐降低,而滇油杉种群的聚集程度呈现降低-增加-降低的趋势.两个优势物种的幼树、中树和大树主要呈空间正相关或无空间关联性.(3)两优势种群不同径级之间在不同尺度下基本上无关联性,这可能是二者的生存策略存在较大差异而造成的.研究表明,在滇中森林恢复过程中,应结合植物种群的密度控制及种间相互作用来构建群落的结构.     

二乙基亚硝胺诱导大鼠肝癌组织CLDN1基因表达及其甲基化

目的探讨二乙基亚硝胺（diethylnitrosamine,DEN）诱导大鼠肝癌发生中肝癌组织CLDN1基因表达及其启动子甲基化的规律。方法65只雄性Wistar大鼠随机选择40只作为模型组,其余作为正常组。模型组在1-12周饮用含DEN80mg／L的饮水以诱癌（每日8mg／kg）,各组在造模过程的第4周、8周、12周、16周随机5只取肝,第20周剩余大鼠取肝,应用RT-PCR方法检测肝组织CLDN1mRNA的表达,应用MSP法检测肝组织CLDN1启动子甲基化和非甲基化。结果模型大鼠病死率为10％（4／40）,正常组无死亡。至第20周,成瘤率达到100％。RT—PCR显示,与正常组比较,模型组在16周和20周CLDN1 mRNA表达下调（P〈0．05）,其他各周两组差异不显著。MSP结果表明,模型组肝组织CLDN1甲基化率达77．78％,而正常肝组织甲基化率为24％,两者比较差异有显著性（P〈0．01）。结论CLDN1启动子甲基化及CLDN1基因表达下调与大鼠肝癌病变相关,对其机制值得进一步深入研究。     

茉莉酸诱导侧根形成缺陷突变体asa1-1抑制子(soa)的鉴定与遗传分析

外源茉莉酸处理野生型拟南芥能够促进侧根的形成,而在asa1-1突变体中茉莉酸抑制侧根的形成,这与在该突变体背景下茉莉酸显著降低PIN2蛋白水平密切相关。为了进一步研究茉莉酸诱导PIN2蛋白水平下调的分子机制,文章采用正向遗传学的方法筛选asa1-1抑制子soa,期望获得茉莉酸处理后侧根发育恢复的突变体。通过筛选鉴定获得2个突变体:soa563和soa856。这2个突变体在10μmol/L茉莉酸甲酯处理条件下都能够恢复侧根发育,而且茉莉酸处理后PIN2蛋白水平降低的现象在soa563中被完全抑制,在soa856中被部分抑制。这些结果表明这两个突变基因可能影响了茉莉酸调控的PIN2蛋白水平下调途径,并且参于了茉莉酸对侧根发生的调控。对这两个基因的分离和功能研究将为阐明茉莉酸与生长素互作调控侧根发生的分子机制提供新的知识积累。     

胡杨叶片气孔导度特征及其对环境因子的响应

依据2005年对极端干旱区荒漠河岸林胡杨的观测资料,对胡杨气孔运动进行了分析研究以揭示胡杨的水分利用特征与抗旱机理。结果表明:(1)胡杨叶片气孔导度日变化呈现为周期波动曲线,其波动周期为2 h,傍晚(20:00)波动消失;净光合速率和蒸腾速率与气孔导度的波动相对应而呈现同步周期波动。(2)胡杨的阳生叶气孔导度高于阴生叶,且不同季节气孔导度值不同,阳生叶气孔导度的季节变幅大于阴生叶。(3)胡杨气孔导度与气温、相对湿度和叶水势有显著相关关系,当CO2浓度较小时,胡杨气孔导度随CO2浓度的增加而增加,当CO2浓度达到一定值后气孔导度不再增加,反而随CO2浓度的增加大幅度降低。(4)胡杨适应极端干旱区生境的气孔调节机制为反馈式反应,即由于叶水势降低导致气孔导度减小,从而减少蒸腾耗水,达到节约用水、适应干旱的目的,表明胡杨的水分利用效率随气孔限制值的增大而减小,二者呈显著负相关。     

MicroRNA-486 as a Biomarker for Early Diagnosis and Recurrence of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Early diagnosis is essential for improvements of prognosis and survival of the patients. Currently, there is no effective biomarker available in clinical settings for early detection of lung cancer. Altered expressions in many cancer types including NSCLC and stable existence in plasma make microRNAs (miRNAs) a group of potentially useful biomarkers for clinical assessments of patients with NSCLC.

Objectives

To evaluate the potential values of miRNAs as blood-based biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis in NSCLC patients.

Methods

Peripheral blood samples from healthy volunteers and early-staged NSCLC patients before and after surgery were collected, and plasma was separated. Expression of ten miRNAs in the plasma and tumor sections of the patients was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

MiRNA (miR)-486 and miR-150 were found to significantly distinguish lung cancer patients from healthy volunteers. Area under curve of miR-486 and miR-150 were 0.926 (sensitivity, 0.909; specificity, 0.818) and 0.752 (sensitivity, 0.818; specificity, 0.818), respectively. In response to therapy, patients with down-regulated miR-486 expression showed prolonged recurrence-free survival than those with un-reduced miR-486 expression (median, unreached vs. 19 months; hazard ratio, 0.1053; 95% confidence interval, 0.01045 to 1.060; P=0.056).

Conclusions

The results suggest that miR-486 and miR-150 could be potential blood-based biomarkers for early diagnosis of NSCLC. Monitoring change of miR-486 expression in plasma might be an effective and non-invasive method for recurrence prediction of early-staged NSCLC patients.