Programmed cell death of secretory cavity cells in fruits of Citrus grandis cv. Tomentosa is associated with activation of caspase 3-like protease

Previously, we found that secretory cell degradation typically occurred through programmed cell death during secretory cavity development in Citrus sinensis L. (Osbeck). This finding indicated that secretory cavities could be utilized as a new cell biology model for investigating the regulatory mechanisms of plant programmed cell death. To study further the programmed cell death during secretory cavity development in Citrus fruit, we studied the morphogenetic characteristics of secretory cavities during their development in Citrus grandis cv. Tomentosa. Using light microscope- and electron microscope-TUNEL assays, immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry, we described the precise spatial and temporal alterations in caspase 3-like distribution, chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation during the programmed cell death of secretory cavity cells. Caspase 3-like was found to be significantly located in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus of secretory cavity cells undergoing programmed cell death, and caspase 3-like is closely associated with chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation. Interestingly, both caspase 3-like and DNA fragmentation were detected in the nucleoli. Our findings suggest that caspase 3-like may be involved in the programmed cell death of secretory cavity cells, especially in chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, nuclear degradation and the degradation of certain organelles.     

基于3种线粒体标记探讨中日沿海角木叶鲽遗传多样性差异

角木叶鲽(Pleuronichthys cornutus)是东亚沿海重要的鲽形目经济鱼类, 为更好地保护和开发利用其种质资源, 有必要全面了解其遗传背景。本研究测定了中国和日本沿海7个群体200尾角木叶鲽线粒体控制区(CR) 5'端、细胞色素b (Cytb)和NADH脱氢酶第二亚基(ND2)基因序列, 比较不同标记在解析遗传多样性和种群结构上的可行性与有效性, 阐明中日沿海角木叶鲽群体间出现遗传分化的分子机制。CR序列分析发现中日沿海7个角木叶鲽群体遗传多样性表现出较高的单倍型多样性(H_d = 0.9699)和较低的核苷酸多样性(π = 0.0061); 各群体间无显著的遗传分化(F_ST = -0.0197-0.0184, P > 0.05); 单倍型网络未显示出明显的地理聚群和谱系结构; 分子方差分析(AMOVA)表明变异主要发生在群体内部(> 99.17%)。进一步通过Cytb和ND2基因分别与CR序列对比分析, 结果表明群体遗传多样性均表现为高H_d (0.9683-0.9829)低π (0.0050-0.0063)模式, 仅有ND2基因分析F_ST值(F_ST = 0.0302, P < 0.05)显示了中国碣石(GDJS)和日本明石(JAP)群体间显著的低水平遗传分化现象。CR、Cytb和ND2的单倍型网络图均无明显的地理聚类和谱系结构, AMOVA分析也显示变异主要来源于群体内(> 98.39%)。种群历史动态分析结果显示, 角木叶鲽可能在第四纪中更新世晚期经历了群体扩张事件, 扩张时间分别为31.93-9.58万年前(CR)、27.53-22.02万年前(Cytb)和26.99-18.75万年前(ND2)。综上所述, 中日沿海的角木叶鲽具有较高遗传多样性, GDJS和JAP群体间存在低度分化; ND2基因比CR和Cytb序列更适于分析角木叶鲽种群遗传结构, 选择多个遗传标记可有效弥补单一标记分析遗传多样性的局限性; 推测冰期两大独立避难所的形成及GDJS和JAP群体距离相隔较远是其发生遗传分化的主要原因。研究结果为中日沿海角木叶鲽渔业资源的种质保护与可持续利用提供了理论依据。     

木质素和氮含量对植物残体分解的影响

 在25 ℃和水分含量为400 g·kg-1（以风干土计）条件下对19种植物残体进行培养实验,同时进行田间填埋试验,研究残体的木质素和N含量对其在土壤中分解的影响。相关分析表明,不同植物残体的分解速率与其初始全N含量呈正相关,与初始木质素含量、木质素与N含量之比呈负相关。逐步回归分析进一步表明,植物残体的C分解与全N及木质素含量的数学关系可表达成：Y=B0+B1N+B2L。式中,B0、B1和B2为回归系数,N和L分别表示植物残体的初始全N含量及木质素含量。Y可分别表示为植物残体C分解的一级动力学常数、培     

Tpd3‐Pph21 phosphatase plays a direct role in Sep7 dephosphorylation in Candida albicans

Septins are a component of the cytoskeleton and play important roles in diverse cellular processes including cell cycle control, cytokinesis and polarized growth. In fungi, septin organization, dynamics and function are regulated by phosphorylation, and several kinases responsible for the phosphorylation of several septins have been identified. However, little is known about the phosphatases that dephosphorylate septins. Here, we report the characterization of Tpd3, a structural subunit of the PP2A family of phosphatases, in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. We found that tpd3Δ/Δ cells are defective in hyphal growth and grow as pseudohyphae under yeast growth conditions with aberrant septin organization. Western blotting detected hyperphosphorylation of the septin Sep7 in cells lacking Tpd3. Tpd3 and Sep7 colocalize at the bud neck and can coimmunoprecipitate. Furthermore, we discovered similar defects in cells lacking Pph21, a catalytic subunit of the PP2A family, and its physical association with Tpd3. Importantly, purified Tpd3‐Pph21 complexes can dephosphorylate Sep7 in vitro. Together, our findings strongly support the idea that the Tpd3‐Pph21 complex dephosphorylates Sep7 and regulates morphogenesis and cytokinesis. The tpd3Δ/Δ mutant is greatly reduced in virulence in mice, providing a potential antifungal target.     

果胶甲酯酶的结构与功能研究进展

果胶甲酯酶(PME)是一种重要的果胶酶,其水解果胶中的甲酯基从而释放甲醇并降低果胶的甲酯化程度。目前在食品加工、茶饮料、造纸等生产工艺中有着广泛的应用前景。随着对PME的深入研究,已报道了几种不同来源的酶晶体结构,对这些已获得的晶体结构进行分析发现,PME属于右手平行β-螺旋结构,其催化残基为2个保守的天冬氨酸和1个谷氨酰胺残基,并且在催化过程中分别起到了一般酸碱、亲核试剂以及稳定中间体的作用。同时对其底物特异性进行分析,初步了解其底物与活性位点的识别机制。文中针对这几个相关方面进行了系统的综述。     

HDAC6 is required for epidermal growth factor-induced beta-catenin nuclear localization

Nuclear translocation of beta-catenin is a hallmark of Wnt signaling and is associated with various cancers. In addition to the canonical Wnt pathway activated by Wnt ligands, growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) also induce beta-catenin dissociation from the adherens junction complex, translocation into the nucleus, and activation of target genes such as c-myc. Here we report that EGF-induced beta-catenin nuclear localization and activation of c-myc are dependent on the deacetylase HDAC6. We show that EGF induces HDAC6 translocation to the caveolae membrane and association with beta-catenin. HDAC6 deacetylates beta-catenin at lysine 49, a site frequently mutated in anaplastic thyroid cancer, and inhibits beta-catenin phosphorylation at serine 45. HDAC6 inactivation blocks EGF-induced beta-catenin nuclear localization and decreases c-Myc expression, leading to inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. These results suggest that EGF-induced nuclear localization of beta-catenin is regulated by HDAC6-dependent deacetylation and provide a new mechanism by which HDAC inhibitors prevent tumor growth.     

Improved production of ginseng polysaccharide by adding conditioned medium to Panax notoginseng cell cultures

By adding 50% (v/v) filtered culture broth to fresh MS medium, the specific growth rate of Panax notoginseng was increased from 0.046 d–1 to 0.068 d–1, and the polysaccharide production and productivity reached 1.21 g l–1 and 61 mg/(ld), respectively, which were 1.3- and 2.3-fold of the control. Further supplementation of the conditioned medium with sucrose, ammonium, nitrate and phosphate gave a cell density of 13.7 g l–1 and a specific growth rate of 0.086 d–1. Polysaccharide production was 1.65 g l–1 and the productivity was 78 mg/(ld).     

α-酮戊二酸依赖型双加氧酶催化特性及反应耦联辅因子对其催化羟基化反应的影响

【目的】以重组大肠杆菌表达的枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)L-异亮氨酸双加氧酶(L-isoleucine dioxygenase,IDO)为研究对象,考察其催化L-异亮氨酸(L-Ile)羟基化反应的影响因素,构建IDO催化合成羟基氨基酸的反应体系。【方法】通过Ni-NTA亲和层析法从重组大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)BL21/p ET28a-ido中纯化获得重组IDO,以L-Ile为底物,考察重组IDO催化羟基化反应的影响因素,并进一步针对耦联反应优化α-酮戊二酸(α-KG)在重组IDO酶促转化体系中的添加浓度。【结果】基于重组IDO催化L-Ile羟基化的活性测定,计算该酶Km为0.247 mmol/L,kcat为1.260 s-1,kcat/Km为5.101 L/(mmol·s),与其他同源酶动力学参数比较分析表明,重组IDO的底物亲和性及催化效率较高。重组IDO催化反应的最适温度为20°C、最适p H为7.0;在35°C以下较为稳定;反应体系中Fe2+最适浓度为1 mmol/L。重组IDO可催化不同L-氨基酸反应,对L-异亮氨酸、L-正亮氨酸、L-甲硫氨酸的活性较高。通过优化α-KG浓度,反应体系中添加30 mmol/Lα-KG时,可将底物浓度提高至70 mmol/L,产物4-羟基异亮氨酸(4-HIL)的摩尔产率达66.20%,表明α-KG作为反应耦联辅因子,其浓度对重组IDO催化L-Ile羟基化具有显著影响。【结论】重组IDO的底物亲和性、催化效率、最适催化条件、稳定性等基本性质有利于催化L-Ile羟基化反应。在其催化反应体系中,α-KG作为反应耦联辅因子,对酶促转化效果影响显著。研究结果为4-HIL及其他羟基氨基酸的酶促转化提供了研究基础。     

Adiponectin Attenuates Lung Fibroblasts Activation and Pulmonary Fibrosis Induced by Paraquat

Pulmonary fibrosis is one of the most common complications of paraquat (PQ) poisoning, which demands for more effective therapies. Accumulating evidence suggests adiponectin (APN) may be a promising therapy against fibrotic diseases. In the current study, we determine whether the exogenous globular APN isoform protects against pulmonary fibrosis in PQ-treated mice and human lung fibroblasts, and dissect the responsible underlying mechanisms. BALB/C mice were divided into control group, PQ group, PQ + low-dose APN group, and PQ + high-dose APN group. Mice were sacrificed 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after PQ treatment. We compared pulmonary histopathological changes among different groups on the basis of fibrosis scores, TGF-β₁, CTGF and α-SMA pulmonary content via Western blot and real-time quantitative fluorescence-PCR (RT-PCR). Blood levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were determined by ELISA. Human lung fibroblasts WI-38 were divided into control group, PQ group, APN group, and APN receptor (AdipoR) 1 small-interfering RNA (siRNA) group. Fibroblasts were collected 24, 48, and 72 hours after PQ exposure for assay. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined via Kit-8 (CCK-8) and fluorescein Annexin V-FITC/PI double labeling. The protein and mRNA expression level of collagen type III, AdipoR1, and AdipoR2 were measured by Western blot and RT-PCR. APN treatment significantly decreased the lung fibrosis scores, protein and mRNA expression of pulmonary TGF-β₁, CTGF and α-SMA content, and blood MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). Pretreatment with APN significantly attenuated the reduced cell viability and up-regulated collagen type III expression induced by PQ in lung fibroblasts, (p<0.05). APN pretreatment up-regulated AdipoR1, but not AdipoR2, expression in WI-38 fibroblasts. AdipoR1 siRNA abrogated APN-mediated protective effects in PQ-exposed fibroblasts. Taken together, our data suggests APN protects against PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner, via suppression of lung fibroblast activation. Functional AdipoR1 are expressed by human WI-38 lung fibroblasts, suggesting potential future clinical applicability of APN against pulmonary fibrosis.     

肿瘤坏死因子－α（TNF－α）对常见呼吸道病毒的抑制作用

用人重组肿瘤坏死因子－α（Ｔｕｍｏｒｎｅｃｒｏｓｉｓｆａｃｔｏｒ－α,ＴＮＦ－α）和人天然α干扰素（Ｉｎｔｅｒｆｅｒｏｎ－α－,ＩＦＮ－α）在人胚胎肺纤维母细胞（ＨＥＦ）和Ｈｅｐ－２细胞系上对常见呼吸道病毒所致细胞病变抑制进行比较观察。病毒包括不同型别的腺病毒５株,单疱病毒Ⅰ型（ＨＳＶ－Ｉ）１株,鼻病毒１株,仙台病毒１株,ＶＳＶ１株。结果提示ＴＮＦ－α和ＩＦＮ－α均具有广谱抗病毒活性。ＴＮＦ－α的抑毒作用能被ＴＮＦ－α申抗和ＩＦＮ－β单抗完全去除,被ＩＦＮ－α单抗部分去除ＴＮＦ－α的抗病毒效应。ＴＮＦ－－α中和试验的结果提示：ＴＮＦ抗病毒活性仍为ＩＦＮ－β诱生所介导。