一株撕裂蜡孔菌的分离培养及其系统发育分析

目的:分离出一株撕裂蜡孔菌(Ceriporia lacerata),通过PDAY培养基培养后,进行了培养特性及系统发育分析.方法:PDAY培养基培养菌丝体,电镜扣描获得菌丝微观形态,利用分子生物学方法对其rRNA基因内转录间区(ITS区)进行了克隆测序,与Genbank中已有的有关序列进行比较.结果:其ITS区与撕裂蜡孔菌同源率为98.8%～100%,属于一单独分支中,与白囊耙齿菌(Irpex lacteus)、射脉菌(Phlebia albida)及齿白木层孔菌(Leucophellinus irpicoides)的同源率为83.7%、81.2%及83.5%.结论:形态结果及分子鉴定表明撕裂蜡孔菌(Ceriporia lacerata)培养成功,菌丝体的获得为进一步开发利用提供了依据.     

Amino acids 149 and 294 of human lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase affect fatty acyl specificity

We identified two regions of human LCAT (hLCAT) that when mutated separately to the corresponding rat sequence (E149A and Y292H/W294F) and transiently expressed in COS-1 cells increased phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity by 5.5- and 2.8-fold, respectively, and increased cholesteryl ester (CE) formation by 2.9- and 1.4-fold, respectively, relative to hLCAT using substrate particles containing 1-16:0,2-20:4-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAPC). In contrast, both activities with 1-16:0,2-18:1-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) substrate were similar among the three LCAT proteins. The triple mutant (E149A/Y292H/W294F) had increased PLA2 activity with PAPC similar to that observed with the E149A mutation alone; however, unlike E149A, the triple mutant demonstrated a 50% decrease in activity with POPC for both PLA2 activity and CE formation, suggesting an interaction between the two regions of LCAT. Additional mutagenesis studies demonstrated that W294F, but not Y292H, increased PLA2 activity by 3-fold with PAPC without affecting activity with POPC. The E149A/W294F double mutation mimicked the LCAT activity phenotype of the triple mutant (more activity with PAPC, less with POPC). In conclusion, separate mutation of two amino acids in hLCAT to the corresponding rat sequence increases activity with PAPC, whereas the combined mutations increase PAPC and decrease POPC activity, suggesting that these amino acids participate in the LCAT PC binding site and affect fatty acyl specificity.     

棉株上烟粉虱若虫种群的垂直分布与统计方法研究

对烟粉虱Bemisiatabaci在棉花植株上的垂直分布调查发现 ,烟粉虱在棉株各部位均有分布 ,且分布极不均匀 ,统计分析表明棉株各部位间烟粉虱的种群数量存在显著的差异。棉花顶部烟粉虱的若虫数量约占全棉株若虫总量的 1 6%,通过对棉株各部位烟粉虱的若虫数量与整株若虫总量的回归分析 ,建立了相应的回归方程式     

Overexpression of malate dehydrogenase in transgenic tobacco leaves: enhanced malate synthesis and augmented Al-resistance

Numerous studies with transgenic plants have demonstrated that overexpression of enzymes related to organic acid metabolism under the control of CaMV 35S promoter increased organic acid exudation and Al-resistance. The synthesis of organic acids requires a large carbon skeleton supply from leaf photosynthesis. Thus, we produced transgenic tobacco overexpressing cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (MDH) cDNA from Arabidopsis thaliana (amdh) and the MDH gene from Escherichia coli (emdh), respectively, under the control of a leaf-specific light-inducible promoter (Rubisco small subunit promoter, PrbcS) in the present study. Our data indicated that an increase (120–130%) in MDH-specific activity in leaves led to an increase in malate content in the transgenic tobacco leaves and roots as well as a significant increase in root malate exudation compared with the WT plants under the acidic (pH 4.5) conditions irrespective of 300 μM Al³⁺ stress absence or presence. After being exposed to 25 μM Al³⁺ in a hydroponic solution, the transgenic plants exhibited stronger Al-tolerance than WT plants and the degree of A1 tolerance in the transgenic plants corresponded with the amount of malate secretion. When grown in an Al-stress perlite medium, the transgenic tobacco lines showed better growth than the WT plants. The results suggested that overexpression of MDH driven by the PrbcS promoter in transgenic plant leaves enhanced malate synthesis and improved Al-resistance.     

Statistical-mechanical theory of DNA looping

The lack of a rigorous analytical theory for DNA looping has caused many DNA-loop-mediated phenomena to be interpreted using theories describing the related process of DNA cyclization. However, distinctions in the mechanics of DNA looping versus cyclization can have profound quantitative effects on the thermodynamics of loop closure. We have extended a statistical mechanical theory recently developed for DNA cyclization to model DNA looping, taking into account protein flexibility. Notwithstanding the underlying theoretical similarity, we find that the topological constraint of loop closure leads to the coexistence of multiple classes of loops mediated by the same protein structure. These loop topologies are characterized by dramatic differences in twist and writhe; because of the strong coupling of twist and writhe within a loop, DNA looping can exhibit a complex overall helical dependence in terms of amplitude, phase, and deviations from uniform helical periodicity. Moreover, the DNA-length dependence of optimal looping efficiency depends on protein elasticity, protein geometry, and the presence of intrinsic DNA bends. We derive a rigorous theory of loop formation that connects global mechanical and geometric properties of both DNA and protein and demonstrates the importance of protein flexibility in loop-mediated protein-DNA interactions.     

大鼠原代肝细胞培养方法的建立

目的：探索混合胶原凝胶培养肝细胞的方法,观察培养鼠肝细胞的功能与形态特征,用于评价中药十八反的作用机理。方法：两步法分离鼠肝细胞,与鼠尾胶原溶液混合接种于培养板,观察培养鼠肝细胞的形态学特征和生化指标。采用RT-PCR技术。检测药物对P450亚酶CYP3A1表达的影响,进一步确证该体系的可靠性。结果：双层胶原培养体系可观察到典型的肝细胞形态特征,肝细胞功能检测显示肝细胞合成分泌的尿素、白蛋白,而乳酸脱氢酶漏出量较少。药物对P450亚酶CYP3A1表达的影响呈良好的剂量依赖性,同时双层胶原具有保持肝细胞活性的优点。可作为原代肝细胞培养的条件。结论：混合胶原凝胶培养能保留体内的细胞功能和活性,特别是保留药物代谢酶的活性。     

An Atomic Force Microscope Study Revealed Two Mechanisms in the Effect of Anticancer Drugs on Rate-Dependent Young’s Modulus of Human Prostate Cancer Cells

Mechanical properties of cells have been recognized as a biomarker for cellular cytoskeletal organization. As chemical treatments lead to cell cytoskeletal rearrangements, thereby, modifications of cellular mechanical properties, investigating cellular mechanical property variations provides insightful knowledge to effects of chemical treatments on cancer cells. In this study, the effects of eight different anticancer drugs on the mechanical properties of human prostate cancer cell (PC-3) are investigated using a recently developed control-based nanoindentation measurement (CNM) protocol on atomic force microscope (AFM). The CNM protocol overcomes the limits of other existing methods to in-liquid nanoindentation measurement of live cells on AFM, particularly for measuring mechanical properties of live cells. The Young’s modulus of PC-3 cells treated by the eight drugs was measured by varying force loading rates over three orders of magnitude, and compared to the values of the control. The results showed that the Young’s modulus of the PC-3 cells increased substantially by the eight drugs tested, and became much more pronounced as the force load rate increased. Moreover, two distinct trends were clearly expressed, where under the treatment of Disulfiram, paclitaxel, and MK-2206, the exponent coefficient of the frequency- modulus function remained almost unchanged, while with Celebrex, BAY, Totamine, TPA, and Vaproic acid, the exponential rate was significantly increased.     

Evidence for a quantitative trait locus affecting low levels of apolipoprotein B and low density lipoprotein on chromosome 10 in Caucasian families

High plasma apolipoprotein B (apoB) and LDL cholesterol levels increase cardiovascular disease risk. These highly correlated measures may be partially controlled by common genetic polymorphisms. To identify chromosomal regions that contain genes causing low plasma levels of one or both parameters in Caucasian families ascertained for familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL), we conducted a whole-genome scan using 443 microsatellite markers typed in nine multigenerational families with at least two members with FHBL. Both variance components and regression-based linkage methods were used to identify regions of interest. Common linkage regions were identified for both measures on chromosomes 10q25.1-10q26.11 [maximum log of the odds (LOD) = 4.2 for LDL and 3.5 for apoB] and 6q24.3 (maximum LOD = 1.46 for LDL and 1.84 for apoB). There was also evidence for linkage to apoB on chromosome 13q13.2 (LOD = 1.97) and to LDL on chromosome 3p14.1 at 94 centimorgan (LOD = 1.52). Bivariate linkage analysis provided further evidence for loci contributing to both traits (6q24.3, LOD = 1.43; 10q25.1, LOD = 1.74). We evaluated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes within our linkage regions to identify variants associated with apoB or LDL levels. The most significant finding was for rs2277205 in the 5' untranslated region of acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase short/branched chain and LDL (P = 10(-7)). Three additional SNPs were associated with apoB and/or LDL (P < 0.01). Although only the linkage signal on chromosome 10 reached genome-wide statistical significance, there are likely multiple chromosomal regions with variants that contribute to low levels of apoB and LDL and that may protect against coronary heart disease.     

SHIV-XJ02170感染恒河猴后期的传代特点和env基因变异

目的研究SHIV-XJ02170在中国恒河猴感染后期传代过程中病毒和宿主的变化特点,并分析env基因的序列变异。方法将感染中国恒河猴G0401V后期（5年）的SHIV-XJ02170病毒垂直传代2只猴（G0401V→G0402V→0403V）,同时,剔除G0401V猴CD8＋T细胞使潜伏的病毒大量复制后传代1只猴（G0401V→G0404V）,应用流式细胞术、病毒载量测定、序列分析等方法研究该病毒在猴体内长期适应后的病毒和免疫学指标及序列变异特点。结果 G0401V在感染后期仍能稳定传代,且表现出毒力增强的特点。其传代猴G0402V在传代后41 d死亡,外周血CD4＋T淋巴细胞衰竭,仅为43个/mL,符合艾滋病感染猴快速进展型的特征。剔除体内CD8＋T细胞之后的传代猴G0404V的表现类似G0401V,即长期低水平的病毒血症水平。env基因序列分析发现SHIV-XJ02170在G0401V体内长期适应后发生了可遗传的序列变异,并引起糖基化位点的改变。结论 SHIV-XJ02170在猴体长期适应后的传代过程中表现出向强毒株过渡的特征,为进行SHIV-XJ02170感染性克隆的构建奠定了良好的实验基础。     

RNAi knockdown of Oryza sativa root meander curling gene led to altered root development and coiling which were mediated by jasmonic acid signalling in rice

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a well-known defence hormone, but its biological function and mechanism in rice root development are less understood. Here, we describe a JA-induced putative receptor-like protein (OsRLK, AAL87185) functioning in root development in rice. RNA in situ hybridization revealed that the gene was expressed largely in roots, and a fusion protein showed its localization on the plasma membrane. The primary roots in RNAi transgenic rice plants meandered and curled more easily than wild-type (WT) roots under JA treatment. Thus, this gene was renamed Oryza sativa root meander curling (OsRMC). The transgenic primary roots were shorter, the number of adventitious roots increased and the number of lateral roots decreased as compared to the WT. As well, the second sheath was reduced in length. Growth of both primary roots and second sheaths was sensitive to JA treatment. No significant change of JA level appeared in the roots between the transgenic rice line and WT. Expression of RSOsPR10, involved in the JA signalling pathway, was induced in transgenic rice. Western blotting revealed OsRMC induced by JA. Our results suggest that OsRMC of the DUF26 subfamily involved in JA signal transduction mediates root development and negatively regulates root curling in rice.