Characterization of Recombinant Human Cardiac KCNQ1/KCNE1 Channels (I Ks) Stably Expressed in HEK 293 Cells

The present study was designed to characterize pharmacological, biophysical and electrophysiological properties of the recombinant human cardiac I _Ks (KCNQ1/KCNE1) channels at physiological temperature. Human cardiac KCNQ1 and KCNE1 genes were cotransfected into HEK 293 cells, and a cell clone stably expressing both genes was selected. Membrane currents were recorded using a perforated patch-clamp technique. The typical I _Ks was slowly activated upon depolarization voltages in HEK 293 cells stably expressing human cardiac KCNQ1 and KCNE1 genes, and the current was inhibited by I _Ks blockers HMR 1556 and chromanol 293B, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀s) of 83.8 nM and 9.2 μM, respectively. I _Ks showed a significant temperature-dependent increase in its magnitude upon elevating bath temperature to 36°C from room temperature (21°C). The current was upregulated by the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol, and the effect was reversed by H89. In addition, I _Ks was inhibited by Ba²⁺ in a concentration-dependent manner (IC₅₀ = 1.4 mM). Action potential clamp revealed a “bell-shaped” time course of I _Ks during the action potential, and maximal peak current was seen at the plateau of the action potential. A significant use- and frequency-dependent increase of I _Ks was observed during a train of action potential clamp. These results indicate that the recombinant human cardiac I _Ks stably expressed in HEK 293 cells is similar to native I _Ks in drug sensitivity and regulated by Ba²⁺ and β-adrenoceptor via the cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A pathway. Importantly, the current exhibits significant temperature dependence, a bell-shaped time course during action potential and prominent use- or frequency-dependent accumulation during a train of action potentials.     

Ten novel tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA markers from Asiatic black bear, Ursus thibetanus

Ten polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for the endangered Formosan black bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus) from a partial genomic library enriched for GAAA repeat. Polymorphism of these loci was evaluated in 27 Formosan black bear specimens of unknown relationship. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 5 to 15 and the observed heterozygosity of each locus ranged from 0.556 to 0.889. These loci should provide useful molecular tools to study conservation genetics of the Formosan black bear and other Asiatic black bears.     

Development and characterization of microsatellite loci for Rosa odorata var. gigantea Rehder & E. H. Wilson (Rosaceae)

Eighteen microsatellite markers were developed from Rosa odorata var. gigantea (Rosaceae), including 11 new microsatellite markers and 7 modified microsatellite loci having been developed from other Rosa species. About 27 wild individuals from 3 populations were used to screen polymorphism of these 18 microsatellite makers. The average allele number of these markers was 3.9 per locus, ranging from 2 to 9. The expected and observed heterozygosities varied from 0.2711 to 0.8043 and from 0.0370 to 0.5556, respectively. Cross-species amplification in other eight Rosa species showed their potential use for congeneric species. These microsatellite primers will be used for population genetics studies, constructing genetic linkage maps or locating quantitative trait locus (QTL) of R. odorata var. gigantea and related species.     

Glycoside modification of oleanolic acid derivatives as a novel class of anti-osteoclast formation agents

Oleanolic acid, a natural product, possesses an anti-osteoclast formation activity. Targeting at discovery of novel and potent anti-bone resorption agents, 22 glycosides of oleanolic acid derivatives (including d-galactopyranosides, d-glucopyranosides, d-xylopyranoses, d-arabopyranoses and d-glycuronic acids) were synthesized at phase-transfer-catalyzed conditions (K₂CO₃, Bu₄NBr, CH₂Cl₂-H₂O) and their inhibitory activity on the formation of osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (OCLs) induced by 1α, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D₃ was evaluated in a co-culture assay system. The structure-activity relationships of these compounds were also discussed.     

Identification of an aberrant cell line among human adipose tissue-derived stem cell isolates

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSC) are isolated from the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of adipose tissue and considered an excellent cell source for regenerative medicine. During the isolation and propagation of several human ADSC cell lines, we observed the emergence of an unusual cell line designated HADSC-6. Although initially fibroblast-like as typical ADSC are, HADSC-6 cells became homogeneously cuboid in shape, had very little cytoplasm, and formed aggregates with capsule-like boundary. Proliferation assay showed that HADSC-6 grew much faster than typical HADSC cell lines, such as HADSC-20. Immunocytochemistry showed that HADSC-6 did not express endothelial markers CD31 and vWF, and matrigel tube formation assay showed that it was unable to form endothelial-like tube structures. However, LDL uptake, a reliable endothelial marker, was positively identified. Chromosomal analysis showed that HADSC-6 cells were hypertriploid, and soft agar colony formation assay showed that they were able to proliferate and form large colonies in an anchorage-independent manner. However, tumorigenicity test showed that HADSC-6 was unable to form tumors in athymic mice. RT-PCR analysis showed that both HADSC-6 and HADSC-20 expressed VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-D, and VEGFR1 but not VEGFR2 or VEGFR3. VEGF-C, however, was expressed at a high level in HADSC-20 but undetectable in HADSC-6. In the IGF system, IGF-1 was abundantly expressed in HADSC-20 but marginally detectable in HADSC-6, and IGF-1R was abundantly expressed in HADSC-6 but not detectable in HADSC-20. In the FGF system, bFGF was abundantly expressed in HADSC-20 but marginally detectable in HADSC-6, and FGFR1 was abundantly expressed in both. Taken together, these results suggested that HADSC-6 cells were spontaneously transformed from the endothelium; therefore, they were further compared to previously published data of four naturally occurring human angiosarcoma cell lines. The results showed that the established angiosarcoma cell lines exhibit considerable variations among themselves and HADSC-6 displayed most of these variable characteristics.     

A genotype-to-phenotype map of in vitro selected RNA-cleaving DNAzymes: implications for accessing the target phenotype

Herein, we describe a case study into the population dynamics of in vitro selection, using RNA-cleaving DNAzymes as a model system. We sought to understand how the composition of the population can change over time in response to different levels of selection pressure, and how well these changes are correlated with selection of the target phenotype. The model population is composed of 857 DNAzyme clones representing 215 discrete sequence classes, which had previously been identified from two parallel selection experiments, conducted under an increasingly stringent, or permissive and constant selection time pressure. In this report, we determined the principal phenotypic properties (i.e. k_obs, maximum cleavage yield and PCR efficiency) from a sample of 58 clones representing 46 different major and minor sequence classes from various rounds of each selection experiment. Interestingly, a positive correlation between the catalytic rate constant and the corresponding frequency and temporal position of a given DNAzyme was not consistently observed; however, the strength of the correlation was qualitatively higher under conditions of more stringent selection time pressure. These results suggest that the selective sampling paradigm on which in vitro selection is based, may underestimate the true functional capacity of any given random-sequence library.     

生长素介导OsRGP1和OsSuS参与水稻地上部基部向重陛弯曲生长

在水稻幼苗被放平后,地上部重力响应部位(地上部基部)的上半部生长比下半部生长慢,从而导致地上部基部发生向上弯曲,发生不对称生长的向重性反应.通过抑制差减杂交(SSH)实验发现,水稻地上部基部向重性弯曲生长过程中,反复糖基化多肽OsRGPl和蔗糖合成酶OsSuS在基部上下部有不对称表达.我们还采用Reahime PCR开展进一步研究.实验结果显示OsRGP1和OsSuS的表达受到IAA的调控.通过生物信息学分析也发现OsRGP1和OsSuS的启动子上存在着生长素的调控元件,生长素极性运输抑制剂TIBA处理能够消除OsRGP1和OsSuS在向重性过程中的不对称表达,这进一步说明向重性过程中不对称分布的生长素介导了OsRGP1和OsSuS基因的不对称表达.另外,向重性反应过程中,检测到基部下半部的己糖浓度增加.因此,OsRGP1的不对称表达可能有助于下半部细胞壁多糖的积累,进而促进了下半部细胞壁的扩张.OsSuS不对称表达也有可能会引起己糖在上下半部的不对称分布.己糖和细胞壁多糖在下半部的积累可能在下部细胞扩张从而导致向重性弯曲生长中起一定的作用.     

Therapeutic effects of repeated immersions in warm chlorhexidine solution on severe frostbite of rabbit feet

The shaved right hind feet of male rabbits weighing 2.5 to 3.0 kg were immersed in −25 °C alcohol to produce experimental severe frostbite. The changes in tissue temperature were recorded by a thermocouple probe inserted subcutaneously.In the first experiment the therapeutic effects of repeated immersion of frostbitten feet in 40 °C 0.1% chlorhexidine (CHX) were observed. The average survival area (ASA) in the untreated control group was 15.6% and in the CHX group, 69.4%. The difference between them is significant.In the second experiment the effects of rapid thawing in 40 °C water when the feet were frozen and the effects of CHX were compared; ASA of both groups (49.0 and 60.4%) was greater than that of the control group (18.6%), but there was no distinct difference between these therapeutic groups.Results of the third experiment demonstrated that repeated immersion in 40 °C water for 6 days was not only useless, but was also harmful (13.6%). At the same time, repeated immersion in 20 °C 0.1% CHX solution was useless as well. Only when the two factors (warmer temperature and CHX) were combined, i.e., repeated immersion in 40 °C rather than 20 °C 0.1% CHX solution were the effects obvious (58.4%).Experiment 4 investigated the relationship between the first immersion time and the therapeutic effects. Results showed that even with the first immersion at 72 hr after thawing, repeated immersion in 40 °C 0.1% CHX solution was still useful; the ASA (53.0%) was greater than that of the control group (17.6%).Experiment 5 concerned the relationship between therapeutic effects and continual days of immersions. The ASA values in control and 1-, 3-, and 6-day groups were 14.2, 36.6, 58.4, and 69.4%, respectively.In the final experiment, the effects of CHX-Cl and CHX-Ac were compared. The ASA values were 71.3 and 77.7%; there was no significant difference between them.All of the above experiments proved that repeated immersions in 40 °C 0.1% CHX solution is a useful therapeutic measure in treatment of severe experimental frostbite of rabbit feet. It is useful even when the first immersion is at 72 hr after thawing of the frozen limbs.     

Regulation of compound leaf development in Medicago truncatula by fused compound leaf1, a class M KNOX gene

Medicago truncatula is a legume species belonging to the inverted repeat lacking clade (IRLC) with trifoliolate compound leaves. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying development of trifoliolate leaves in legumes remain largely unknown. Here, we report isolation and characterization of fused compound leaf1 (fcl1) mutants of M. truncatula. Phenotypic analysis suggests that FCL1 plays a positive role in boundary separation and proximal-distal axis development of compound leaves. Map-based cloning indicates that FCL1 encodes a class M KNOX protein that harbors the MEINOX domain but lacks the homeodomain. Yeast two-hybrid assays show that FCL1 interacts with a subset of Arabidopsis thaliana BEL1-like proteins with slightly different substrate specificities from the Arabidopsis homolog KNATM-B. Double mutant analyses with M. truncatula single leaflet1 (sgl1) and palmate-like pentafoliata1 (palm1) leaf mutants show that fcl1 is epistatic to palm1 and sgl1 is epistatic to fcl1 in terms of leaf complexity and that SGL1 and FCL1 act additively and are required for petiole development. Previous studies have shown that the canonical KNOX proteins are not involved in compound leaf development in IRLC legumes. The identification of FCL1 supports the role of a truncated KNOX protein in compound leaf development in M. truncatula.