Sphingosine 1-phosphate rapidly increases endothelial barrier function independently of VE-cadherin but requires cell spreading and Rho kinase

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) rapidly increases endothelial barrier function and induces the assembly of the adherens junction proteins vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin and catenins. Since VE-cadherin contributes to the stabilization of the endothelial barrier, we determined whether the rapid, barrier-enhancing activity of S1P requires VE-cadherin. Ca(2+)-dependent, homophilic VE-cadherin binding of endothelial cells, derived from human umbilical veins and grown as monolayers, was disrupted with EGTA, an antibody to the extracellular domain of VE-cadherin, or gene silencing of VE-cadherin with small interfering RNA. All three protocols caused a reduction in the immunofluorescent localization of VE-cadherin at intercellular junctions, the separation of adjacent cells, and a decrease in basal endothelial electrical resistance. In all three conditions, S1P rapidly increased endothelial electrical resistance. These findings demonstrate that S1P enhances the endothelial barrier independently of homophilic VE-cadherin binding. Junctional localization of VE-cadherin, however, was associated with the sustained activity of S1P. Imaging with phase-contrast and differential interference contrast optics revealed that S1P induced cell spreading and closure of intercellular gaps. Pretreatment with latrunculin B, an inhibitor of actin polymerization, or Y-27632, a Rho kinase inhibitor, attenuated cell spreading and the rapid increase in electrical resistance induced by S1P. We conclude that S1P rapidly closes intercellular gaps, resulting in an increased electrical resistance across endothelial cell monolayers, via cell spreading and Rho kinase and independently of VE-cadherin.     

Role of the substrate conformation and of the S1 protein in the cleavage efficiency of the T4 endoribonuclease RegB

The T4 endoribonuclease RegB is involved in the inactivation of the phage early messengers. It cuts specifically in the middle of GGAG sequences found in early messenger intergenic regions but not GGAG sequences located in coding sequences or in late messengers. In vitro RegB activity is very low but is enhanced by a factor up to 100 by the ribosomal protein S1. In the absence of clear sequence motif distinguishing substrate and non-substrate GGAG-containing RNAs, we postulated the existence of a structural determinant. To test this hypothesis, we correlated the structure, probed by NMR spectroscopy, with the cleavage propensity of short RNA molecules derived from an artificial substrate. A kinetic analysis of the cleavage was performed in the presence and absence of S1. In the absence of S1, RegB efficiently hydrolyses substrates in which the last G of the GGAG motif is located in a short stem between two loops. Both strengthening and weakening of this structure strongly decrease the cleavage rate, indicating that this structure constitutes a positive cleavage determinant. Based on our results and those of others, we speculate that S1 favors the formation of the structure recognized by RegB and can thus be considered a "presentation protein."     

生物素肼化学标记和DIG标记cDNA探针检测柑桔裂皮病类病毒

分别用生物素肼化学标记和ＤＩＧ标记我国柑桔裂皮病类病毒（ＣＥＶｄ）全长克隆ｃＤＮＡ,用以上探讨对不同来源的的核酸样品进行斑点杂交。两种探针可检出病柑桔总核酸的最低含量久为４００ｎｇ／斑点和８０ｎｇ／斑点;生物素肼标记ＣＥＶｄ－ＤＮＡ探讨针,可检出ＣＥＶｄ－ｃＤＮＡ的最低含量约为１０ｐｇ／斑点,研制的ＣＥＶｄ检测试剂盒能检测出发病和隐性带毒苗木中的ＣＥＶｄ,灵敏、特异、简便、快速。试剂盒已使用于检测     

Root cortical aerenchyma inhibits radial nutrient transport in maize (Zea mays)

Background and Aims

Formation of root cortical aerenchyma (RCA) can be induced by nutrient deficiency. In species adapted to aerobic soil conditions, this response is adaptive by reducing root maintenance requirements, thereby permitting greater soil exploration. One trade-off of RCA formation may be reduced radial transport of nutrients due to reduction in living cortical tissue. To test this hypothesis, radial nutrient transport in intact roots of maize (Zea mays) was investigated in two radiolabelling experiments employing genotypes with contrasting RCA.

Methods

In the first experiment, time-course dynamics of phosphate loading into the xylem were measured from excised nodal roots that varied in RCA formation. In the second experiment, uptake of phosphate, calcium and sulphate was measured in seminal roots of intact young plants in which variation in RCA was induced by treatments altering ethylene action or genetic differences.

Key Results

In each of three paired genotype comparisons, the rate of phosphate exudation of high-RCA genotypes was significantly less than that of low-RCA genotypes. In the second experiment, radial nutrient transport of phosphate and calcium was negatively correlated with the extent of RCA for some genotypes.

Conclusions

The results support the hypothesis that RCA can reduce radial transport of some nutrients in some genotypes, which could be an important trade-off of this trait.     

Saccharide-RNA recognition in a complex formed between neomycin B and an RNA aptamer.

BACKGROUND: Aminoglycoside antibiotics can target RNA folds with micromolar affinity and inhibit biological processes ranging from protein biosynthesis to ribozyme action and viral replication. Specific features of aminoglycoside antibiotic-RNA recognition have been probed using chemical, biochemical, spectroscopic and computational approaches on both natural RNA targets and RNA aptamers identified through in vitro selection. Our previous studies on tobramycin-RNA aptamer complexes are extended to neomycin B bound to its selected RNA aptamer with 100 nM affinity. RESULTS: The neamine moiety (rings I and II) of neomycin B is sandwiched between the major groove floor of a 'zippered-up' G.U mismatch aligned segment and a looped-out purine base that flaps over the bound antibiotic. Specific intermolecular hydrogen bonds are observed between the charged amines of neomycin B and base mismatch edges and backbone phosphates. These interactions anchor 2-deoxystreptamine ring I and pyranose ring II within the RNA-binding pocket. CONCLUSIONS: The RNA aptamer complexes with tobramycin and neomycin B utilize common architectural principles to generate RNA-binding pockets for the bound aminoglycoside antibiotics. In each case, the 2-deoxystreptamine ring I and an attached pyranose ring are encapsulated within the major groove binding pocket, which is lined with mismatch pairs. The bound antibiotic within the pocket is capped over by a looped-out base and anchored in place through intermolecular hydrogen bonds involving charged amine groups of the antibiotic.     

体细胞克隆牛产品安全分析

体细胞克隆技术是将已分化的体细胞移到去核的成熟卵母细胞中,通过体外激活和培养,再移植入受体母畜子宫内,繁殖出具有相同基因型后代的一种技术。该技术可以大幅提升繁殖效率,并提供高质、充足和营养丰富的动物食品。近年来,美国、日本和欧洲等国家相继宣布体细胞克隆动物食品可以上市。然而,目前体细胞克隆效率相当低下,即使是出生的克隆动物也往往伴随发育畸形或高死亡率等现象,在对克隆动物发育异常知之甚少的情况下,宣布克隆动物产品上市是否为时过早?以下综述了克隆牛肉、奶及其产品安全。