INFLUENCE OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION ON THE EXPRESSION OF PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN AND DNA POLYMERASE α IN SKELETONEMA COSTATUM (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)1

To evaluate the effects of UV radiation on the expression of DNA replication‐related genes in phytoplankton, the mRNA levels of DNA polymerase α and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in a marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum (Greville) Cleve, were studied using the methods of real‐time quantitative PCR. Treating the algal cultures with UVC radiation for 15 min caused severe mortality during the 24‐h period after treatment. A significant amount of thymine dimers was detected in the treated cultures, and the mRNA levels of DNA polymerase α and PCNA increased by as much as 140 and 23 pmol·(g total RNA)^?1, respectively, compared with the control experiments. In contrast, massive cell deaths did not occur in cultures receiving UVA/B radiation, and the formation of thymine dimers was inconspicuous. Also, UVA/B did not enhance the expression levels of DNA polymerase α or PCNA. Based on the calculation of biologically effective UV doses, daily exposure to sunlight may increase the expression of DNA polymerase α or PCNA genes in S. costatum by 12% at sea surface. This level of increase does not seriously affect the value of using these genes as growth indicators, but caution is needed in the extrapolation of this conclusion to all phytoplankton species.     

The Glycine-Alanine Dipeptide Repeat from C9orf72 Hexanucleotide Expansions Forms Toxic Amyloids Possessing Cell-to-Cell Transmission Properties

Hexanucleotide expansions, GGGGCC, in the non-coding regions of the C9orf72 gene were found in major frontotemporal lobar dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients (C9FTD/ALS). In addition to possible RNA toxicity, several dipeptide repeats (DPRs) are translated through repeat-associated non-ATG-initiated translation. The DPRs, including poly(GA), poly(GR), poly(GP), poly(PR), and poly(PA), were found in the brains and spinal cords of C9FTD/ALS patients. Among the DPRs, poly(GA) is highly susceptible to form cytoplasmic inclusions, which is a characteristic of C9FTD/ALS. To elucidate DPR aggregation, we used synthetic (GA)₁₅ DPR as a model system to examine the aggregation and structural properties in vitro. We found that (GA)₁₅ with 15 repeats fibrillates rapidly and ultimately forms flat, ribbon-type fibrils evidenced by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The fibrils are capable of amyloid dye binding and contain a characteristic cross-β sheet structure, as revealed by x-ray scattering. Furthermore, using neuroblastoma cells, we demonstrated the neurotoxicity and cell-to-cell transmission property of (GA)₁₅ DPR. Overall, our results show the structural and toxicity properties of GA DPR to facilitate future DPR-related therapeutic development.     

浙江雁荡山蝴蝶种类调查初报

初步查清浙江雁荡山境内蝴蝶种类有118种,隶属于9科77属,其中凤蝶科Papilionidae 21种,粉蝶科Pieridae 10种,环蝶科Amathusiidae 1种,眼蝶科Satyridae 15种,蛱蝶科Nymphalidae 34种,珍蝶科Acraeidae 1种,蚬蝶科Riodinidae 3种,灰蝶科Lycaenidae 17种,弄蝶科Hesperiidae 16种;浙江省新记录种7种,新记录属1属.这些蝴蝶分布在雁荡山15037 hm2范围内.     

工业真菌高效产酶突变技术与高产机制

工业真菌是酶制剂的重要生产微生物,其菌种改良具有重要应用价值。综述了产酶工业真菌的应用、突变育种技术进展和高效产酶机制的分析策略,尤其是基于组学水平的基因组、转录组和蛋白质组的分析等,最后总结了高产机制在菌株改良上的应用。     

水稻矮杆多分蘖突变体CA648的光合生理特性分析

本研究分析了水稻矮杆多分蘖突变体丛矮648 (CA648)及对照中花11 (ZH11)在分蘖期叶片的叶绿素含量、光合速率,还原糖、蔗糖含量以及POD酶活力。结果表明,分蘖期ZH11剑叶中叶绿素含量高于CA648。水稻分蘖前期,CA648的净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率都低于ZH11,胞间CO2浓度高于ZH11;而在分蘖盛期(分蘖期后20 d)两种材料的净光合速率差异显著,ZH11净光合速率比CA648高17.5%,同时CA648的气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度和蒸腾速率都低于ZH11;而分蘖后期ZH11与CA648净光合速率几乎相同。分蘖盛期CA648叶片还原糖含量明显比对照高;而茎杆还原糖含量与对照无差异。CA648叶片蔗糖含量低于对照,约为ZH11的77.5%;而茎杆的蔗糖含量高于对照,比ZH11高30.7%。两种材料POD酶活力差异明显,其中在分蘖盛期,CA648叶、茎中的POD酶活力分别比ZH11高73.0%、16.8%。     

Reduced Ca2+ transport across sarcolemma but enhanced spontaneous activity in cardiomyocytes isolated from left atrium-pulmonary veins tissue of myopathic hamster

Background  

Several lines of evidence point to a particularly important role of the left atrium (LA) in initiating and maintaining atrial fibrillation (AF). This role may be related to the location of pulmonary veins (PVs) in the LA. The aim of the present study was to investigate the action potential (AP) and ionic currents in LA-PV cardiomyocytes isolated from Bio14.6 myopathic Syrian hamsters (36-57 week-old) versus age-matched F1B healthy control hamsters.     

Coexpression of CYP11B2 or CYP11B1 with adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase for assessing the potency and selectivity of aldosterone synthase inhibitors

Excessive production of aldosterone has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension and heart failure. One approach to ameliorate the deleterious effects of aldosterone is to suppress its biosynthesis. The enzyme aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) is responsible for the final step of aldosterone synthesis. It requires electron transfer from the adrenodoxin/adrenodoxin reductase system to catalyze the production of aldosterone. A stable cell line simultaneously overexpressing recombinant human CYP11B2 as well as human adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase was established to help maximize the enzyme activity. The homogenate of these cells was used to develop an in vitro CYP11B2 assay using 11-deoxycorticosterone as a substrate. By the same strategy, another stable cell line simultaneously overexpressing human 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1), an enzyme responsible for the final step of cortisol biosynthesis, and the two electron transfer proteins was also established, and an in vitro CYP11B1 assay using 11-deoxycortisol as a substrate was likewise developed to assess the selectivity of CYP11B2 inhibitors. FAD286, a reference CYP11B2 inhibitor, inhibited CYP11B2 and CYP11B1 activities with IC₅₀ values of 1.6 ± 0.1 and 9.9 ± 0.9 nM (mean ± SEM, n = 3–6), respectively. Kinetics studies revealed that the compound inhibited the activity of both enzymes competitively with respective K_i values of 0.8 ± 0.04 and 2.2 ± 0.2 nM (n = 3–4). These assays can be used for assessing the potency and selectivity of CYP11B2 inhibitors for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure.