Marinifaba aquimaris gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel chitin‐degrading gammaproteobacterium in the family Alteromonadaceae isolated from seawater of the Mariana Trench

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek - A novel Gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, oxidase-positive and catalase-negative bacterium, designated strain SM1970T, was isolated from a seawater sample collected from...     

Knockout of Nr2e3 prevents rod photoreceptor differentiation and leads to selective L-/M-cone photoreceptor degeneration in zebrafish

Mutations in the photoreceptor cell-specific nuclear receptor gene Nr2e3 increased the number of S-cone photoreceptors in human and murine retinas and led to retinal degeneration that involved photoreceptor and non-photoreceptor cells. The mechanisms underlying these complex phenotypes remain unclear. In the hope of understanding the precise role of Nr2e3 in photoreceptor cell fate determination and differentiation, we generated a line of Nr2e3 knockout zebrafish using CRISPR technology. In these Nr2e3-null animals, rod precursors undergo terminal mitoses but fail to differentiate as rods. Rod-specific genes are not expressed and the outer segment (OS) fails to form. Formation and differentiation of cone photoreceptors is normal. Specifically, there is no increase in the number of UV-cone or S-cone photoreceptors. Laminated retinal structure is maintained. After normal development, L-/M-cones selectively degenerate, with progressive shortening of OS that starts at age 1 month. The amount of cone phototransduction proteins is concomitantly reduced, whereas UV- and S-cones have normal OS lengths even at age 10 months. In vitro studies show Nr2e3 synergizes with Crx and Nrl to enhance rhodopsin gene expression. Nr2e3 does not affect cone opsin expression. Our results extend the knowledge of Nr2e3's roles and have specific implications for the interpretation of the phenotypes observed in human and murine retinas. Furthermore, our model may offer new opportunities in finding treatments for enhanced S-cone syndrome (ESCS) and other retinal degenerative diseases.     

Association of GRM7 Variants with Different Phenotype Patterns of Age-Related Hearing Impairment in an Elderly Male Han Chinese Population

Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the Glutamate metabotrophic receptor 7 gene (GRM7) have recently been identified by the genome-wide association study (GWAS) as potentially playing a role in susceptibility to age-related hearing impairment (ARHI), however this has not been validated in the Han Chinese population. The aim of this study was to determine if these SNPs are also associated with ARHI in an elderly male Han Chinese population. In this case-control candidate genes association study, a total of 982 men with ARHI and 324 normal-hearing controls subjects were studied. Using K-means cluster analysis, four audiogram shape subtypes of ARHI were identified in the case group: ‘‘flat shape (FL)’’, ‘‘sloping shape (SL)’’, ‘‘2-4 kHz abrupt loss (AL) shape’’ and ‘‘8 kHz dip (8D) shape’’. Results suggested that the SNP rs11928865 (A>T) of GRM7 was significantly associated with ARHI after adjusting for non-genetic factors (p= 0.000472, OR= 1.599, 95%CI= 1.229~2.081). Furthermore, frequency of TT genotype (rs11928865) were significant higher in the SL subgroup and AL subgroup with compared to controls group (p= 9.41E-05, OR= 1.945, 95%CI= 1.393~2.715; p= 0.000109, OR= 1.915, 95%CI= 1.378~2.661 adjusted, respectively) after Bonferroni correction. However, there wasn’t significant difference in the frequency of the TT genotype between cases in the FL subgroup or the 8D subgroup with when compared with controls. Results of the current study suggest that, in an elderly male Han Chinese population, GRM7 SNP rs11928865 (TT) occurs more frequently in ARHI patients with SL and AL phenotype patterns.     

Cloning and molecular characterization of a novel rolling-circle replicating plasmid, pK1S-1, from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki K1

Bacillus thuringiensis, an entomopathogenic bacterium belonging to the B. cereus group, harbors numerous extra-chromosomal DNA molecules whose sizes range from 2 to 250 kb. In this study, we used a plasmid capture system (PCS) to clone three small plasmids from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Kl which were not found in B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-1, and determined the complete nucleotide sequence of plasmid pKlS-1 (5.5 kb). Of the six putative open reading frames (ORF2-ORF7) in pKlS-1, ORF2 (MobKl) showed approximately 90% aa identity with the Mob-proteins of pGI2 and pTX14-2, which are rolling circle replicating group VII (RCR group VII) plasmids from B. thuringiensis. In addition, a putative origin of transfer (oriT) showed 95.8% identity with those of pGI2 and pTX14-2. ORF3 (RepK1) showed relatively low aa identity (17.8～25.2%) with the Rep protein coded by RCR plasmids, however. The putative double-strand origin of replication (dso) and single-strand origin of replication (sso) of pKlS-1 exhibited approximately 70% and 64% identities with those of pGI2 and pTX14-2. ORF6 and 7 showed greater than 50% similarities with alkaline serine protease, which belongs to the subtilase family. The other 2 ORFs were identified as hypothetical proteins. To determine the replicon of pKlS-1, seven subclones were contructed in the B. thuringiensis ori-negative pHTIK vector and were electroporated into a plasmid cured B. thuringiensis strain. The 1.6 kb region that included the putative ORF3 (ReplK), dso and ORF4, exhibited replication ability. These findings identified pKlS-1 as a new RCR group VII plasmid, and determined its replication region.     

天然抗氧化剂丹参酮Ⅱ—A对肝细胞脂质过氧化产物与DNA相互作用的影响

［３Ｈ］花生四烯酸标记的肝细胞,经ＦｅＣｌ２－ＤＴＰＡ启动脂质过氧化后,细胞ＤＮＡ出现放射性,并随保温时间增加而逐渐增高,表明在细胞内脂质过氧化产物与ＤＮＡ发生相互作用,生成了一种ＤＮＡ加成物,经测定它具有特征荧光光谱,显示较低的增色效应和Ｔｍ值。用高度敏度荧光图象显微镜直接观察发现丹参酮Ⅱ－Ａ经细胞摄取后主要滞留在细胞膜与胞浆中。它能有效地抑制细胞脂质过氧化,减少脂质－ＤＮＡ加成物的产生,并阻止了细胞存活率和Ｏ６甲基鸟嘌呤转移酶活性的降低,其抑制率与ＶｉｔＥ,ＢＨＴ相近,但显著高于ＮａＮ３,甘露醇和ＳＯＤ。上述结果提示丹参酮Ⅱ－Ａ是一种新的有效的细胞内脂质过氧化产物与ＤＮＡ相互作用的抑制剂。它对ＤＮＡ的保护作用可能是通过清除脂类自由基而阻断脂质过氧化的链式反应,抑制ＤＮＡ加成物的生成,从而减少了细胞毒性。     

植被光合呼吸模型在长白山温带阔叶红松林的优化及验证

植被光合呼吸模型(VPRM)关键参数的确定和优化是准确计算生态系统净CO_2交换(NEE)的基础。利用中国通量观测研究联盟(China FLUX)长白山站温带阔叶红松林2005年的通量观测资料,对VPRM的4个参数(最大光能利用率ε_0、光照为半饱和条件下光合有效辐射值PAR0和呼吸参数(α、β))进行优化,并使用2006年的观测资料对参数优化前后的模拟结果进行评估。结果表明:参数优化后,VPRM能够较好地模拟长白山地区2006年植物生长季NEE的变化。对30min NEE模拟的平均误差为-1.81μmol m~(-2)s~(-1),相关系数为0.72,模拟NEE平均日变化的峰值约为观测值的91%,相关系数为0.97。但在植物非生长季模型对森林NEE的模拟效果较差。模型模拟30min NEE的平均误差为0.39μmol m~(-2)s~(-1),相关系数仅为0.10,并且模拟低估NEE平均日变化白天吸收峰值约82%,日变化模拟值与观测值的相关系数为0.50。通过分析不同天气个例,发现模型可以较好地模拟晴天条件下NEE的变化,而对阴雨天NEE的模拟误差较大。该研究有利于提高VPRM模型对温带落叶阔叶林NEE的模拟能力,对进一步改进区域陆地NEE的模拟具有重要意义。     

Effect of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Resectable Colorectal Liver Metastases

Background

Whether patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) receive survival benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy remains controversial.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 466 patients with resectable CRLM between 2000 and 2010. Patient characteristics and survival data were recorded.

Results

The patients were divided into one group with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (group NC, n = 121) and another without (group WN, n = 345). There was no difference in 5-year survival (52% vs. 48%) between the two groups. No significant differences were identified between the two groups in terms of 30-day mortality (1.7% vs. 1.2%) or morbidity (33.9% vs. 25.8%). A primary tumor at stage T4, ≥4 liver metastases, the largest liver metastasis ≥5 cm in diameter, and a serum CEA level ≥5 ng/ml were independent prognostic factors. By assigning one point to each, the patients were divided into a low-risk group (0–2) and a high-risk (3–4). The patients in the low-risk group received no survival benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy, whereas those in the high-risk group received survival benefit (5-year survival, 39% vs. 33%, P = 0.028).

Conclusions

Preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not increase mortality or complications. Not all resectable patients, only those with >2 independent risk factors, received survival benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy.     

Structural Basis for Dimerization and Catalysis of a Novel Esterase from the GTSAG Motif Subfamily of the Bacterial Hormone-sensitive Lipase Family

Hormone-sensitive lipases (HSLs) are widely distributed in microorganisms, plants, and animals. Microbial HSLs are classified into two subfamilies, an unnamed new subfamily and the GDSAG motif subfamily. Due to the lack of structural information, the detailed catalytic mechanism of the new subfamily is not yet clarified. Based on sequence analysis, we propose to name the new subfamily as the GTSAG motif subfamily. We identified a novel HSL esterase E25, a member of the GTSAG motif subfamily, by functional metagenomic screening, and resolved its structure at 2.05 Å. E25 is mesophilic (optimum temperature at 50 °C), salt-tolerant, slightly alkaline (optimum pH at 8.5) for its activity, and capable of hydrolyzing short chain monoesters (C2–C10). E25 tends to form dimers both in the crystal and in solution. An E25 monomer contains an N-terminal CAP domain, and a classical α/β hydrolase-fold domain. Residues Ser¹⁸⁶, Asp²⁸², and His³¹² comprise the catalytic triad. Structural and mutational analyses indicated that E25 adopts a dimerization pattern distinct from other HSLs. E25 dimer is mainly stabilized by an N-terminal loop intersection from the CAP domains and hydrogen bonds and salt bridges involving seven highly conserved hydrophilic residues from the catalytic domains. Further analysis indicated that E25 also has some catalytic profiles different from other HSLs. Dimerization is essential for E25 to exert its catalytic activity by keeping the accurate orientation of the catalytic Asp²⁸² within the catalytic triad. Our results reveal the structural basis for dimerization and catalysis of an esterase from the GTSAG motif subfamily of the HSL family.