Formation of Adeno-Associated Virus Circular Genomes Is Differentially Regulated by Adenovirus E4 ORF6 and E2a Gene Expression

A central feature of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) latent life cycle is persistence in the form of both integrated and episomal genomes. However, the molecular processes associated with episomal long-term persistence of AAV genomes are only poorly understood. To investigate these mechanisms, we have utilized a recombinant AAV (rAAV) shuttle vector to identify circular AAV intermediates from transduced HeLa cells and primary fibroblasts. The unique structural features exhibited by these transduction intermediates included circularized monomer and dimer virus genomes in a head-to-tail array, with associated specific base pair alterations in the 5′ viral D sequence. In HeLa cells, the abundance and stability of AAV circular intermediates were augmented by adenovirus expressing the E2a gene product. In the absence of E2a, adenovirus expressing the E4 open reading frame 6 gene product decreased the abundance of AAV circular intermediates, favoring instead the linear replication form monomer (Rf_m) and dimer (Rf_d) structures. In summary, the formation of AAV circular intermediates appears to represent a new pathway for AAV genome conversion, which is consistent with the head-to-tail concatemerization associated with latent-phase persistence of rAAV. A better understanding of this pathway may increase the utility of rAAV vectors for gene therapy.     

辽宁黄海海岸交错带的景观变化与设计

辽宁黄海海岸交错带的景观近几十来年变化很快,其中许多景观变化是有意识的人类活动或人工管理形成的景观设计可以看作是已经出现或即将出现的景观变化。由于这一区域海岸交错带有不同的海岸带类型,因而也就有了不同的景观设计方案。     

Extracellular myocilin affects activity of human trabecular meshwork cells

The trabecular meshwork (TM), a specialized eye tissue, is a major site for regulation of the aqueous humor outflow. Malfunctioning of this tissue is believed to be responsible for development of glaucoma, a blinding disease. Myocilin is a gene linked to the most common form of glaucoma. The protein product has been localized to both intra and extracellular sites, but its function still remains unclear. This study was to determine whether extracellular myocilin presented in the matrix affects adhesion, morphology, and migratory and phagocytic activities of human TM cells in culture. Cell adhesion assays indicated that TM cells, while adhering readily on fibronectin, failed to attach on recombinant myocilin purified from bacterial cultures. Adhesion on fibronectin was also compromised by myocilin in a dose dependent manner. Myocilin in addition triggered TM cells to assume a stellate appearance with broad cell bodies and microspikes. Loss of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions was observed. TM cell migration on fibronectin/myocilin to scratched wounds was reduced compared to fibronectin controls. Myocilin, however, had little impact on phagocytic activities of TM cells. Cell attachment on fibronectin and migration of corneal fibroblasts, a control cell type, were not altered by myocilin. These results demonstrate that extracellular myocilin elicits anti-adhesive and counter-migratory effects on TM cells. Myocilin in the matrix of tissues could be exerting a similar influence on TM cells in vivo, impacting the flexibility and resilience required for maintenance of the normal aqueous outflow.     

Principles of protein folding--a perspective from simple exact models.

General principles of protein structure, stability, and folding kinetics have recently been explored in computer simulations of simple exact lattice models. These models represent protein chains at a rudimentary level, but they involve few parameters, approximations, or implicit biases, and they allow complete explorations of conformational and sequence spaces. Such simulations have resulted in testable predictions that are sometimes unanticipated: The folding code is mainly binary and delocalized throughout the amino acid sequence. The secondary and tertiary structures of a protein are specified mainly by the sequence of polar and nonpolar monomers. More specific interactions may refine the structure, rather than dominate the folding code. Simple exact models can account for the properties that characterize protein folding: two-state cooperativity, secondary and tertiary structures, and multistage folding kinetics--fast hydrophobic collapse followed by slower annealing. These studies suggest the possibility of creating "foldable" chain molecules other than proteins. The encoding of a unique compact chain conformation may not require amino acids; it may require only the ability to synthesize specific monomer sequences in which at least one monomer type is solvent-averse.     

Custom distinctions in the interaction of G-protein beta subunits with N-type (CaV2.2) versus P/Q-type (CaV2.1) calcium channels

Inhibition of N- (Cav2.2) and P/Q-type (Cav2.1) calcium channels by G-proteins contribute importantly to presynaptic inhibition as well as to the effects of opiates and cannabinoids. Accordingly, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying G-protein inhibition of voltage-gated calcium channels has been a major research focus. So far, inhibition is thought to result from the interaction of multiple proposed sites with the Gbetagamma complex (Gbetagamma). Far less is known about the important interaction sites on Gbetagamma itself. Here, we developed a novel electrophysiological paradigm, "compound-state willing-reluctant analysis," to describe Gbetagamma interaction with N- and P/Q-type channels, and to provide a sensitive and efficient screen for changes in modulatory behavior over a broad range of potentials. The analysis confirmed that the apparent (un)binding kinetics of Gbetagamma with N-type are twofold slower than with P/Q-type at the voltage extremes, and emphasized that the kinetic discrepancy increases up to ten-fold in the mid-voltage range. To further investigate apparent differences in modulatory behavior, we screened both channels for the effects of single point alanine mutations within four regions of Gbeta1, at residues known to interact with Galpha. These residues might thereby be expected to interact with channel effectors. Of eight mutations studied, six affected G-protein modulation of both N- and P/Q-type channels to varying degrees, and one had no appreciable effect on either channel. The remaining mutation was remarkable for selective attenuation of effects on P/Q-, but not N-type channels. Surprisingly, this mutation decreased the (un)binding rates without affecting its overall affinity. The latter mutation suggests that the binding surface on Gbetagamma for N- and P/Q-type channels are different. Also, the manner in which this last mutation affected P/Q-type channels suggests that some residues may be important for "steering" or guiding the protein into the binding pocket, whereas others are important for simply binding to the channel.     

自然越冬期软枣猕猴桃枝条组织结构及内源激素的变化特征

该试验以抗寒性不同的5年生软枣猕猴桃品种‘魁绿’、‘丰绿’和‘96-6’为试验材料,测定分析自然越冬期间枝条组织解剖结构、细胞膜透性和内源激素GA3、ABA、IAA含量水平的变化,以明确不同品种软枣猕猴桃越冬期间对低温的适应能力及其内在生理机制,为软枣猕猴桃抗寒品种的选育及鉴别提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)软枣猕猴桃枝条木质部比率大小依次为‘魁绿’>‘96-6’>‘丰绿’,皮层比率依次为‘丰绿’>96-6’>魁绿’,二者表现趋势相反,且‘魁绿’枝条的解剖结构与其他两品种差异显著。(2)在自然越冬期间,各品种软枣猕猴桃枝条相对电导率和MDA含量随温度变化均呈先升后降的趋势,在温度最低的1月份达到最高,其中‘魁绿’枝条的相对电导率和MDA含量变化幅度最小,而‘丰绿’受低温影响较大。(3)在11月份至2月份,随自然温度的变化,各品种软枣猕猴桃枝条的GA3和IAA含量均呈先降低后升高的变化趋势,ABA含量则呈先升后降的趋势,且都在1月份分别达到最低或最高值。研究发现,在自然越冬期间,低温对3个软枣猕猴桃品种的组织解剖结构、膜透性及内源激素含量均都造成较大的影响,品种‘魁绿’枝条的木质部比率最大、皮层比率最小,相对电导率和MDA含量变化幅度最小,内源激素含量GA3和ABA/GA3变化趋势较小,故其抗寒性比‘丰绿’和‘96-6’更强。     

全球寡核苷酸类药物开发现状与趋势

从产品开发角度分析寡核苷酸类药物的发展现状和未来趋势。     

Macrophages, estrogen and the microenvironment of breast cancer

Estrogen is a major mitogenic stimulus to established breast cancer. Estrogen sources include ovarian, extraglandular sites and breast tissue. Which source primarily maintains benign and breast cancer tissue estrogen concentrations remains unclear. While macrophages may comprise up to 50% of the mass of breast carcinomas, previous studies neglected to study them as possible sources of estrogen. We present evidence that breast macrophages constitute an in situ source of estradiol and that the amount produced is sufficient to mediate cellular proliferation. We utilized immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR to study cell-specific aromatase expression in (i) 29 breast biopsies, (ii) human monocytes/macrophages and (iii) a myeloid cell line (THP-1) capable of differentiating into macrophages. Use of a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) provided biologic confirmation of the role of aromatization in cell proliferation. We demonstrated considerable amounts of immunoreactive-aromatase (irARO) in breast tissue macrophages and a positive correlation between the proportion of irARO present in macrophages and lesion severity. Using in vitro techniques, we demonstrated that monocytes and THP-1 cells require differentiation into macrophages to produce aromatase in amounts approaching placental levels. The amount of estrogen produced by THP-1 cells stimulated MCF-7 cells to proliferate, an effect blocked by aromatase inhibitors. Estrogen production by macrophages in breast tissue appears sufficient to stimulate the proliferation of adjacent epithelial cells and to autoregulate cytokine production. These findings represent a new dimension of cellular regulation in breast tissue with major biologic implications, amenable to pharmacological manipulation.     

Diallyl trisulfide induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of A549 cells in vitro and in vivo

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality all over the world. In recent years, pulmonary adenocarcinoma has surpassed squamous cell carcinoma in frequency and is the predominant form of lung cancer in many countries. Epidemiological investigations have shown an inverse relationship between garlic (Allium sativum) consumption and death rate from many cancers. Diallyl trisulfide (DATS) is one of the garlic-derived compounds (also known as: organosulfer compounds, OSC). DATS can induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of many cancer cell lines. Our study demonstrated that the apoptotic incidents induced by DATS were a mitochondria-dependent caspase cascade through a significant decrease of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 that resulted in up-regulation of the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and the activity of caspase-3, -8, and -9. Eventually, DATS induced the apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, by establishing an animal model of female BALB/c nude mice with A549 xenografts, we found that oral gavage of DATS significantly retarded growth of A549 xenografts in nude mice without causing weight loss or any other side effects compared with the control group. All the evidence both in vitro and in vivo suggested that DATS could be an ideal anti-cancer drug.