Physical map of the genome of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (Nichols).

A physical map of the chromosome of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (Nichols), the causative agent of syphilis, was constructed from restriction fragments produced by NotI, SfiI, and SrfI. These rare-cutting restriction endonucleases cleaved the T. pallidum genome into 16, 8, and 15 fragments, respectively. Summation of the physical lengths of the fragments indicates that the chromosome of T. pallidum subsp. pallidum is approximately 1,030 to 1,080 kbp in size. The physical map was constructed by hybridizing a variety of probes to Southern blots of single and double digests of T. pallidum genomic DNA separated by contour-clamped homogeneous electric field electrophoresis. Probes included cosmid clones constructed from T. pallidum subsp. pallidum genomic DNA, restriction fragments excised from gels, and selected genes. Physical mapping confirmed that the chromosome of T. pallidum subsp. pallidum is circular, as the SfiI and SrfI maps formed complete circles. A total of 13 genes, including those encoding five membrane lipoproteins (tpn47, tpn41, tpn29-35, tpn17, and tpn15), a putative outer membrane porin (tpn50), the flagellar sheath and hook proteins (flaA and flgE), the cytoplasmic filament protein (cfpA), 16S rRNA (rrnA), a major sigma factor (rpoD), and a homolog of cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (cysS), have been localized in the physical map as a first step toward studying the genetic organization of this noncultivable pathogen.     

Phosphorylation of cardiac troponin I by mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1

Mst1 (mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1) is a ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinase and its activation in the heart causes cardiomyocyte apoptosis and dilated cardiomyopathy. Its myocardial substrates, however, remain unknown. In a yeast two-hybrid screen of a human heart cDNA library with a dominant-negative Mst1 (K59R) mutant used as bait, cTn [cardiac Tn (troponin)] I was identified as an Mst1-interacting protein. The interaction of cTnI with Mst1 was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation in both co-transfected HEK-293 cells (human embryonic kidney cells) and native cardiomyocytes, in which cTnI interacted with full-length Mst1, but not with its N-terminal kinase fragment. in vitro phosphorylation assays demonstrated that cTnI is a sensitive substrate for Mst1. In contrast, cTnT was phosphorylated by Mst1 only when it was incorporated into the Tn complex. MS analysis indicated that Mst1 phosphorylates cTnI at Thr(31), Thr(51), Thr(129) and Thr(143). Substitution of Thr(31) with an alanine residue reduced Mst1-mediated cTnI phosphorylation by 90%, whereas replacement of Thr(51), Thr(129) or Thr(143) with alanine residues reduced Mst1-catalysed cTnI phosphorylation by approx. 60%, suggesting that Thr(31) is a preferential phosphorylation site for Mst1. Furthermore, treatment of cardiomyocytes with hydrogen peroxide rapidly induced Mst1-dependent phosphorylation of cTnI at Thr(31). Protein epitope analysis and binding assays showed that Mst1-mediated phosphorylation modulates the molecular conformation of cTnI and its binding affinity to TnT and TnC, thus indicating functional significances. The results of the present study suggest that Mst1 is a novel mediator of cTnI phosphorylation in the heart and may contribute to the modulation of myofilament function under a variety of physiological and pathophysiological conditions.     

多聚ADP-核糖聚合酶抑制剂对高浓度锌损伤 PC12细胞的保护作用

探讨多聚ADP-核糖聚合酶(PARP)抑制剂3-氨基苯甲酰胺(3-AB)对400μmo1/L氯化锌损伤PC12细胞的保护作用及其对锌造成的细胞死亡类型的影响.应用MTT法,免疫细胞化学和Western印迹分别测定PC12细胞的存活率和PARP活性;用Hoechst 33342/PI荧光双染色、膜联蛋白V结合实验及DNA断裂分析等方法检测细胞死亡类型.结果表明在400μmol/L氯化锌的作用下,细胞存活率降至(22.7±4.6)%,PARP活性增强,坏死、凋亡和正常细胞百分比分别为(58.4±6.3)%、(18.0±5.6)%及(23.6±4.2)%;3-AB使细胞存活率提高至(76.9±4.7)%,PARP活性减弱,坏死细胞百分数降至(19.2±5.2)%,而正常和凋亡细胞百分数增加到(43.3±1.9)%和(37.5±6.5)%.实验证明,PARP参与了高浓度锌诱导的PC12细胞损伤,抑制PARP活性可提高细胞的存活率,而这种保护作用在于减少细胞的坏死而非凋亡.     

辣椒素及其受体

可以感受痛觉刺激的初级感觉神经元的周围末梢被称为伤害性感受器。这些小直径神经元的末梢可将化学、机械和热刺激信号转化为动作电位,并将这些信息上传到中枢,最后使机体产生痛觉或不舒服的感受。但到目前为止,人们对这些可探测到伤害性刺激的分子所知甚少。1997年成功克隆的辣椒素受体亚型1（vanilloid receptor subtype1,VR1)是近年来科学家们研究的“热点分子”,它是表达于伤害性感受器上的非选择性阳离子通道,已有诸多证据表明其可探测和整合诱发痛觉的化学和热刺激信号,基因敲除小鼠的研究分析也有力证明了该离子通道参与了疼痛及组织损伤后痛觉过敏的产生,而且是热诱发疼痛发生过程的关键分子。     

Comparative analysis of selenocysteine machinery and selenoproteome gene expression in mouse brain identifies neurons as key functional sites of selenium in mammals

Although dietary selenium (Se) deficiency results in phenotypes associated with selenoprotein depletion in various organs, the brain is protected from Se loss. To address the basis for the critical role of Se in brain function, we carried out comparative gene expression analyses for the complete selenoproteome and associated biosynthetic factors. Using the Allen Brain Atlas, we evaluated 159 regions of adult mouse brain and provided experimental analyses of selected selenoproteins. All 24 selenoprotein mRNAs were expressed in the mouse brain. Most strikingly, neurons in olfactory bulb, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and cerebellar cortex were exceptionally rich in selenoprotein gene expression, in particular in GPx4, SelK, SelM, SelW, and Sep15. Over half of the selenoprotein genes were also expressed in the choroid plexus. A unique expression pattern was observed for one of the highly expressed selenoprotein genes, SelP, which we suggest to provide neurons with Se. Cluster analysis of the expression data linked certain selenoproteins and selenocysteine machinery genes and suggested functional linkages among selenoproteins, such as that between SelM and Sep15. Overall, this study suggests that the main functions of selenium in mammals are confined to certain neurons in the brain.     

ADA-LacZ融合基因直接注射导入小鼠皮肤组织后的表达

将ADA－LacZ融合基因经直接注射导入小鼠皮肤组织,用注射点处的皮肤组织制作冰冻切片,经组织化学方法显示：此融合基因可在皮肤成纤维细胞中表达一种具有腺苷脱氨酶（ADA）和β-半乳糖昔酶（β-gal）双重酶活性的融合蛋白,这种直接将融合基因导入体内进行表达的方式．为在基因治疗和基因疫苗研究中探索一条新的简便可行的外源基因在体内表达的途径,提供了有益的实验依据。     

Programming microbial population dynamics by engineered cell-cell communication

A major aim of synthetic biology is to program novel cellular behavior using engineered gene circuits. Early endeavors focused on building simple circuits that fulfill simple functions, such as logic gates, bistable toggle switches, and oscillators. These gene circuits have primarily focused on single-cell behaviors since they operate intracellularly. Thus, they are often susceptible to cell-cell variations due to stochastic gene expression. Cell-cell communication offers an efficient strategy to coordinate cellular behavior at the population level. To this end, we review recent advances in engineering cell-cell communication to achieve reliable population dynamics, spanning from communication within single species to multispecies, from one-way sender-receiver communication to two-way communication in synthetic microbial ecosystems. These engineered systems serve as well-defined model systems to better understand design principles of their naturally occurring counterparts and to facilitate novel biotechnology applications.     

几种海洋动物药中氨基酸的测定

本文报道了中药瓦楞子、蛤壳、贝齿、鱼脑石、鹅管石中的氨基酸分析,结果表明分别含有13～16种氨基酸,为全面深入地研究和开发这几种海洋动物药提供参考依据。