The role of cytoskeleton in glucose regulation

Cytoskeleton plays an important role in glucose regulation, mainly in the following three aspects. First, cytoskeleton regulates insulin secretion by guiding intracellular transport of insulin-containing vesicles and regulating release of insulin. Second, cytoskeleton is involved in insulin action by regulating distribution of insulin receptor substrate, GLUT4 translocation, and internalization of insulin receptor. In addition, cytoskeleton directs the intracellular distribution of glucose metabolism related enzymes including glycogen synthase and many glycolysis enzymes. Published in Russian in Biokhimiya, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 5, pp. 592–597.     

Intermedin 1-53 in central nervous system elevates arterial blood pressure in rats

Intermedin (IMD) is a novel member of the calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) family identified from human and other vertebrate tissues. Preprointermedin can generate various mature peptides by proteolytic cleavage. Amino acid sequence analysis showed cleavage sites located between two basic amino acids at Arg93-Arg94 resulting in the production of prepro-IMD(95-147), namely IMD(1-53). The present study was designed to determine the effects of the IMD(1-53) fragment in the central nervous system (CNS) on mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate in normal rats and its possible mechanism. Rats were given doses of adrenomedullin (ADM) or IMD(1-53), intracerebroventricularly or intravenously, respectively, with continuous blood pressure and heart rate monitoring for 45min. Analysis with CGRP receptor antagonist CGRP(8-37), ADM receptor antagonist ADM(22-52), and anti-prepro-IMD antibody showed that 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 nmol/kg IMD(1-53), caused a dose-dependent elevation in blood pressure, which was more prominent than the increase with equivalent IMD(1-47) or ADM. As well, IMD(1-53) caused a persistent increase in heart rate. The CNS action of IMD(1-53) could be blocked by ADM(22-52), CGRP(8-37), or prepro-IMD antibody. In contrast to the CNS action, intravenous administration of IMD(1-53) induced a depressor effect. These results suggest that IMD(1-53) is an important regulatory factor in mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate through its central and peripheral bioaction.     

Complementary screening, identification and application of a novel class II 5-enopyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase from Bacillus cereus

A novel aroA gene encoding 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase from Bacillus cereus was identified and overexpressed by genomic library construction and complementary screening. The enzyme was then purified to homogeneity. We also transformed the aroA _{B. cereus} gene into Arabidopsis thaliana by a floral dip method, and demonstrated that transgenic A. thaliana plants exhibited significant glyphosate resistance compared with the wild type. These results strongly suggested that the strategy was highly efficient and advantageous for rapidly cloning aroA genes from microorganisms in natural environments.     

Pluripotency and Chimera Competence of an Embryonic Stem Cell Line from the Sea Perch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lateolabrax japonicus</Emphasis>)

A stable GFP-expressing (GFP⁺LJES1) cell strain was developed from the LJES1 cells obtained from sea perch (Lateolabrax japonicus,) embryos. GFP⁺LJES1 cells were induced in vitro by RA to differentiate into a variety of cell types and also had the ability to form embryoid body-like structures in suspension culture. To determine the differentiation potential of LJES1 cells in vivo, GFP⁺LJES1 cells were transplanted into sea perch and zebrafish embryos at mid-blastula stage. Twenty out of 478 transplanted sea perch embryos contained GFP-expressing LJES1 cells 24 h after microinjection. Fifteen chimera embryos developed into fry. In these chimeras, the GFP⁺LJES1 cells contributed to a variety of tissues including the head and trunk. In zebrafish, 221 embryos were microinjected with GFP⁺LJES1 cells and 22 chimera embryos and fries expressing GFP were obtained. Donor GFP⁺LJES1 cells contributed to various tissues in head and trunk of zebrafish embryos and hatched fry.     

水稻BAC在玉米有丝分裂染色体上FISH杂交体系的构建

 以水稻细菌人工染色体(BAC)为探针在玉米有丝分裂的细胞学制片上进行荧光原位杂交(FISH),探讨玉米基因组C_ot DNA对BAC探针重复序列的封阻、杂交后洗脱的严谨度、杂交液中FAD的浓度变化、水稻BAC探针的特异性重复序列的封阻对FISH杂交信号特异性的影响.初步形成了一套以水稻BAC探针在玉米有丝分裂染色体上进行BAC-FISH杂交的优化技术体系.研究结果表明：使用玉米基因组C_ot DNA来封阻水稻BAC探针的重复序列玉米基因组C _ot DNA的C_ot值应小于50,同时还需根据不同探针调整C_ot DNA的C_ot值及与探针的比例;而降低杂交液中FAD浓度和适度控制杂交后洗脱的严谨度,尤其是使用水稻BAC探针本身特异的重复序列的封阻对BAC-FISH杂交信号特异性的改善具有较好的效果.     

Successful Splenectomy for Hypersplenism in Wilson’s Disease: A Single Center Experience from China

Splenomegaly and pancytopenia are common in Wilson’s disease (WD) and splenectomy is one of the conventional treatments for splenomegaly and the associated pancytopenia. However, splenectomy remained controversial for hypersplenism in WD as it was reported that splenectomy leaded to serious emotional and neurological deterioration in WD patients with hypersplenism. In the current study, we present our experiences in 70 WD patients with hypersplenism who had undergone splenectomy, outlining the safety and efficacy of splenectomy in WD. The clinical database of 70 WD patients with hypersplenism who had undergone splenectomy in our hospital between 2009 and 2013 were reviewed and followed-up regularly. Before splenectomy, all the patients accepted a short period of anti-copper treatment with intravenous sodium 2, 3-dimercapto-1-propane sulfonate (DMPS). All the patients demonstrated a marked improvement in platelet and leucocyte counts after splenectomy. No severe postoperative complication was observed. In particular, none of the 37 patients with mixed neurologic and hepatic presentations experienced neurological deterioration after splenectomy, and none of the patients with only hepatic presentations newly developed neurological symptoms. During the one year follow-up period, no patient presented hepatic failure or hepatic encephalopathy, no hepatic patient newly developed neurological presentations, and only 3 patients with mixed neurologic and hepatic presentations suffered neurological deterioration and these 3 patients had poor compliance of anti-copper treatment. Quantative analysis of the neurological symptoms in the 37 patients using the Unified Wilson’s Disease Rating Scale (UWDRS) showed that the neurological symptoms were not changed in a short-term of one week after splenectomy but significantly improved in a long-term of one year after splenectomy. Additionally, compared to that before splenectomy, the esophageal gastric varices in most patients significantly improved one year after splenectomy. Thus, we may conclude that splenectomy is a safe and effective therapeutic measure for hypersplenism in WD patients who had been preoperatively treated with DMPS for powerful anti-copper therapy.