Robo4 maintains vessel integrity and inhibits angiogenesis by interacting with UNC5B

Robo4 is an endothelial cell-specific member of the Roundabout axon guidance receptor family. To identify Robo4 binding partners, we performed a protein-protein interaction screen with the Robo4 extracellular domain. We find that Robo4 specifically binds to UNC5B, a vascular Netrin receptor, revealing unexpected interactions between two endothelial guidance receptors. We show that Robo4 maintains vessel integrity by activating UNC5B, which inhibits signaling downstream of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Function-blocking monoclonal antibodies against Robo4 and UNC5B increase angiogenesis and disrupt vessel integrity. Soluble Robo4 protein inhibits VEGF-induced vessel permeability and rescues barrier defects in Robo4(-/-) mice, but not in mice treated with anti-UNC5B. Thus, Robo4-UNC5B signaling maintains vascular integrity by counteracting VEGF signaling in endothelial cells, identifying a novel function of guidance receptor interactions in the vasculature.     

球孢白僵菌高渗适应性相关基因Bbmpd的克隆与表达分析

【目的】克隆与球孢白僵菌(Beauveria bassiana)的高渗适应性相关基因,并对其功能进行分析,以揭示球孢白僵菌对高渗等逆境适应的分子机理。【方法】利用YADE法克隆T-DNA的侧翼序列并进行基因组步行,获得突变基因的全长及上游序列;利用RT-PCR技术分析突变基因的表达特性以及与Bbhog1的关系;采用同源重组技术敲除Bbmpd基因。【结果】克隆得到插入突变基因及其上、下游序列全长3037bp。该基因与编码球孢白僵菌的1-磷酸甘露醇脱氢酶基因相似性为98%。Bbmpd的表达受高渗环境(0.8mol/L NaCl)的诱导,受Bbhog1信号途径的激活调节,Bbhog1缺失导致Bbmpd表达下调。Bbmpd缺失突变体在高渗胁迫下的生长受到明显抑制。Bbmpd缺失不影响球孢白僵菌在查氏培养基上的生长和产孢。【结论】由T-DNA突变体克隆了编码球孢白僵菌1-磷酸甘露醇脱氢酶基因Bbmpd,该基因的表达受高渗环境的诱导和Bbhog1的调控,与球孢白僵菌高渗适应性相关。     

小肠平滑肌胰岛素受体的特征及其蛋白激酶活性

 本实验对狗小肠平滑肌中胰岛素受体的结构和特征进行了分析研究。通过麦胚凝集素琼脂糖和两次Sepharose-CL-6B凝胶层析从平滑肌中纯化胰岛素受体,达到电泳纯。SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳证明胰岛素受体是由两个亚基组成的,分子量分别为135kD和90kD。磷酸化实验证明平滑肌胰岛素受体具有胰岛素依赖性蛋白激酶活性,能催化自身的β亚基磷酸化和底物的磷酸化。Scatchard分析表明胰岛素和受体的结合呈(?)协同效应,最大结合率为13μg胰岛素/mg蛋白质。     

黄花菜的采后生理与保鲜技术研究进展

黄花菜(Hemerocallis citrina Baroni,daylily)在我国有几千年的种植历史,是一种具有较高经济价值的特色蔬菜。通过对国、内外在黄花菜保鲜和贮藏的研究的了解,从黄花菜的生理、保鲜两方面对黄花菜的采后生理及保鲜技术进行了综述,同时也对黄花菜的应用价值进行了介绍。     

Novel aminopeptidase N inhibitors derived from antineoplaston AS2–5 (Part I)

Overexpression of zinc-dependent metalloproteinase, aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13), is considered to be involved in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis. Herein we describe the synthesis and in vitro enzymatic inhibition assay of antineoplaston AS2–5 scaffold peptidomimetic compounds. The results demonstrated that most of these l-iso-glutamine derivatives displayed selective inhibitory activity against APN as compared with MMP-2, with IC₅₀ values in the micromole range. The structure–activity relationships were also briefly discussed.     

GTPase Activity of MxB Contributes to Its Nuclear Location,Interaction with Nucleoporins and Anti-HIV-1 Activity

The human myxovirus resistance 2(Mx2/Mx B) protein, a member of interferon(IFN)-inducible dynamin-like large GTPases, restricts a number of virus infections. Inhibition of these viruses occurs at poorly-defined steps after viral entry and has a common requirement for Mx B oligomerization. However, the GTPase activity is essential for the anti-viral effects of Mx B against herpesviruses and HBV but not HIV-1. To understand the role of Mx B GTPase activity, including GTP binding and GTP hydrolysis, in restriction of HIV-1 infection, we genetically separated these two functions and evaluated their contributions to restriction. We found that both the GTP binding and hydrolysis function of Mx B involved in the restriction of HIV-1 replication. The GTPase activity of Mx B contributed to its nuclear location, interaction with nucleoporins(NUPs) and HIV-1 capsids. Furthermore, Mx B disrupted the association between NUPs and HIV-1 cores dependently upon its GTPase activity. The function of GTPase activity was therefore multi-faceted, led to fundamentally distinct mechanisms employed by wild-type Mx B and GTPase activity defective Mx B mutations to restrict HIV-1 replication.     

Frequency Analysis and Anti-Shock Mechanism of Woodpecker＇s Head Structure

The mechanical properties of the skull and the anti-shock characteristics of woodpecker＇s head were investigated by ex- periment and numerical simulation. We measured the micro-Young＇s modulus of the skull by nano-indentation method and calculated the macro-equivalent Young＇s modulus of the skull at different positions using homogenization theory. Based on the Computerized Tomography （CT） images of woodpecker head, we then built complete and symmetric finite element models of woodpecker＇s skull and its internal structure and performed modal analysis and stress spectrum analysis. The numerical results show that the application of pre-tension force to the hyoid bone can increase the natural frequency of woodpecker＇s head. The first natural frequency under the pre-tension force of 25 N reaches 57 Hz, which is increased by 21.3% from the non-pre-tension state and is more than twice the working frequency of woodpecker （20 Hz 25 Hz）. On the application of impact force to the tip of beak for 0.6 ms, high magnitudes of stress component occur at around 100 Hz and 8,000 Hz, far away from both the working frequencies and the natural frequencies of woodpecker head. The large gaps among the natural, working and stress response frequencies enable the woodpecker to effectively protect its brain from the resonance injury.     

Morusin induces apoptosis and suppresses NF-kappaB activity in human colorectal cancer HT-29 cells

Morusin is a pure compound isolated from root bark of Morusaustralis (Moraceae). In this study, we demonstrated that morusin significantly inhibited the growth and clonogenicity of human colorectal cancer HT-29 cells. Apoptosis induced by morusin was characterized by accumulation of cells at the sub-G₁ phase, fragmentation of DNA, and condensation of chromatin. Morusin also inhibited the phosphorylation of IKK-α, IKK-β and IκB-α, increased expression of IκB-α, and suppressed nuclear translocation of NF-κB and its DNA binding activity. Dephosphorylation of NF-κB upstream regulators PI3K, Akt and PDK1 was also displayed. In addition, activation of caspase-8, change of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO, and activation of caspase-9 and -3 were observed at the early time point. Downregulation in the expression of Ku70 and XIAP was exhibited afterward. Caspase-8 or wide-ranging caspase inhibitor suppressed morusin-induced apoptosis. Therefore, the antitumor mechanism of morusin in HT-29 cells may be via activation of caspases and inhibition of NF-κB.     

白介素-1β对高糖刺激的人肾小管上皮细胞转分化的影响

目的探讨炎症细胞因子白介素-1β（interleukin-1βIL-1β）对高糖刺激的人肾小管上皮细胞转分化的影响。-方法体外培养人肾近曲小管上皮细胞株（HKCs）,随机分为正常对照组（5.5 mmol/L normal glucose）;高糖组（30 mmol/L high glucose）;高糖＋IL-1β（5ng/ml）组。分别于处理后24h、48h、72h收集细胞,采用免疫细胞化学染色和Western蛋白印迹法检测细胞角蛋白-18（cytokeratin-18 CK-18）、α-平滑肌肌动蛋白（α-smooth muscle actinα-SMA）水平。结果高糖能够诱导肾小管上皮细胞α-SMA蛋白的合成增加,而肾小管上皮细胞的标志物CK-18的表达逐渐减少;IL-1β与高糖同时刺激可使肾小管上皮细胞α-SMA蛋白表达进一步增多,而其自身标志物CK-18的表达则明显下降。结论炎症因子IL-1β能增强高糖对肾小管上皮细胞转分化的作用。