Expression of the large isoform of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activase gene driven by rbcS promoter in Oryza sativa enhances the photosynthetic capacity

In order to investigate the effect of large isoform of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) activase (RuBPCO-A) on photosynthesis, cDNA of the enzyme (rca) was transferred to rice cultivars (Oryza sativa f. japonica cv. Nipponbare) under the control of RuBPCO small subunit gene promoter (rbcS) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Transgenic rice plants were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern and Western blot analyses. Net photosynthetic rate (P _N) values of the T₁ transgenic lines 34 (T34) and 40 (T40) were 45.26 and 46.32 % higher than that of the control plants, respectively. At the same time, their carboxylation efficiency and RuBPCO initial activity, quantum yield of electron transport in photosystem 2 (Φ_PS2), and steady state photochemical fluorescence quenching (q_P) increased. In addition, heading time of the transgenic rice was advanced. Thus increasing the amount of large isoform of RuBPCO-A in the transgenic rice might have a stimulatory effect on both photosynthesis and plant growth.     

KfoE encodes a fructosyltransferase involved in capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis in Escherichia coli K4

Escherichia coli K4 synthesizes a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) consisting of a fructose-branched chondroitin (GalNAc-GlcA(fructose)n), which is a biosynthetic precursor of chondroitin sulfate. Here, the role of kfoE in the modification of the chondroitin backbone was investigated using knock-out and recombinant complementation experiments. kfoE disruption and complementation had no significant effect on cell growth. CPS production was increased by 15 % in the knock-out strain, and decreased by 21 % in the knock-out strain complemented with recombinant kfoE. CPS extracted from the knock-out strain was chondroitin, whereas CPS extracted from the complemented strain was a fructose-branched chondroitin. The results demonstrated that the kfoE gene product altered the fructose group at the C3 position of the GlcA residue during production of K4CPS.     

A concentration-dependent mechanism by which serum albumin inactivates replacement lung surfactants.

Endogenous lung surfactant, and lung surfactant replacements used to treat respiratory distress syndrome, can be inactivated during lung edema, most likely by serum proteins. Serum albumin shows a concentration-dependent surface pressure that can exceed the respreading pressure of collapsed monolayers in vitro. Under these conditions, the collapsed surfactant monolayer can not respread to cover the interface, leading to higher minimum surface tensions and alterations in isotherms and morphology. This is an unusual example of a blocked phase transition (collapsed to monolayer form) inhibiting bioactivity. The concentration-dependent surface activity of other common surfactant inhibitors including fibrinogen and lysolipids correlates well with their effectiveness as inhibitors. These results show that respreading pressure may be as important as the minimum surface tension in the design of replacement surfactants for respiratory distress syndrome.     

利诺吡啶对豚鼠耳蜗外毛细胞和Deiters细胞钾电流的抑制

为探讨KCNQ家族钾通道在耳蜗外毛细胞和Deiters细胞的功能性表达,我们观察并记录了KCNQ家族钾通道阻滞剂利诺吡啶对豚鼠耳蜗单离外毛细胞(outer hair cells,OHCs)和Deiters细胞总钾电流的影响。采用酶孵育加机械分离法分离豚鼠耳蜗单个OHCs和Deiters细胞：运用膜片钳技术,在全细胞模式下记录正常细胞外液中8个外毛细胞和5个Deiters细胞的总钾电流,并观察100μmol／L和200μmol／L利诺吡啶对外毛细胞和Deiters细胞总钾电流的影响。结果观察到,在正常细胞外液中的单离外毛细胞,可记录到四乙基二乙胺敏感的外向性钾电流和静息膜电位附近激活的内向性钾电流(the K^ current activated at negative potential,IKa)两种钾电流,而在单离Deiters细胞中只记录到外向整流性钾电流。在细胞外液中,加入100μmol／L利诺吡啶后,OHCs中的四乙基二乙胺敏感的钾电流峰电流成分被抑制,稳态电流幅值减小,且电流的失活时问常数明显延长;在细胞外液中加入100μmol／L和200μmol／L利诺吡啶后,OHCs的内向性钾电流IKa被完全抑制;而细胞外液中利诺吡啶终浓度为200μmol／L时,Deiters细胞的外向整流性钾电流幅值无明显变化。由此我们推测,KCNQ家族钾通道存在于豚鼠耳蜗外毛细胞,其介导的钾电流是四乙基二乙胺敏感的钾电流的组成部分,并构成全部的IKn,其功能是介导细胞内K^ 外流和防止细胞过度去极化;KCNQ家族钾通道不存在于豚鼠耳蜗Dciters细胞。     

MicroRNA-30a sensitizes tumor cells to cis-platinum via suppressing beclin 1-mediated autophagy

Autophagy is activated in cancer cells during chemotherapy and often contributes to tumor chemotherapy resistance. In this study, we characterized the role of microRNA-30a (miR-30a) in the coordination of cancer cell apoptosis and autophagy, which determines the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy. First, the autophagy activity in cancer cells increased after cis-dichloro-diamine platinum (cis-DDP) or Taxol treatment, as indicated by the enhanced expression of beclin 1, a key regulator of autophagy, and increased number of LC3-positive autophagosomes. Second, miRNA screening using a TaqMan probe-based quantitative RT-PCR assay identified that miR-30a, a miRNA that targets beclin 1, was significantly reduced in tumor cells by cis-DDP treatment. Forced expression of miR-30a significantly reduced beclin 1 and the autophagy activity of tumor cells induced by cis-DDP. Third, the blockade of tumor cell autophagy activity by miR-30a expression or 3-methyladenine significantly increased tumor cell apoptosis induced by cis-DDP treatment. Finally, an in vivo tumor implantation mouse model clearly showed that elevation of miR-30a in implanted tumor cells by administration of the recombinant lentivirus expressing miR-30a strongly enhanced cis-DDP-induced apoptosis of tumor cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrate for the first time that miR-30a can sensitize tumor cells to cis-DDP via reducing beclin 1-mediated autophagy and that increasing miR-30a level in tumor cells represents a novel approach to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy during cancer treatment.     

湖北地区宫颈癌组织中人乳头瘤病毒16型E7基因的分离、克隆和序列分析

采用加端聚合酶链反应技术,从湖北地区一宫颈癌患者癌组织ＤＮＡ中分离出人乳头瘤病毒１６型（ＨＰＶ１６）Ｅ７基因,并在ｐＵＣ１８载体中克隆。经限制性核酸内切酶分析和ＤＮＡ序列分析,确认了含ＨＰＶ１６Ｅ７重组克隆质粒,命名ｐＨＰＶ１６Ｅ７─ＨＢ。ＤＮＡ序列分析表明,ＨＰＶ１６Ｅ７─ＨＢ基因全长２９４ｂｐ（与报道的标准株基因长度相同）,但其核苷酸顺序中有两处发生了Ｃ→Ｔ突变,即第４３位密码子ＣＡＡ变为ＴＡＡ,第７６位ＣＧＴ变为ＴＧＴ;前者使谷氨酰胺密码子变为终止密码,即无义奕变（ｎｏｎｓｅｎｓｅｍｕｔａｔｉｏｎ）。这种突变发生在２９４个碱基的ＤＮＡ扩增产物之中,不像是ＰＣＲ本身的错配,而很可能是湖北株与标准株之间的结构差异。     

多粘类芽胞杆菌SC2基因敲除体系的建立

摘要:【目的】建立多粘类芽胞杆菌SC2 的基因敲除体系。【方法】利用电转化把温敏型自杀质粒pRN5101导入到多粘类芽胞杆菌SC2中。采用基因重组技术敲除SC2 中的多粘菌素基因E(pmxE),得到突变株SC2-E。利用抗细菌性能检测和高效液相色谱分析合成多粘菌素的能力,来证实pmxE基因是否被敲除。【结果】成功构建了多粘类芽胞杆菌SC2 的基因敲除体系。pRN5101转入SC2后能够在28℃复制,39℃自杀。突变株失去了合成多粘菌素的能力,成功敲除pmxE基因,验证了此体系的可用性。【结论】首次构建了多粘类芽胞杆菌的基因敲除体系,拓展了pRN5101的使用范围,为研究多粘类芽胞杆菌的基因功能提供了高效的遗传操作工具。     

中国乌蜂虻亚科二新种记述──（双翅目：蜂虹科）

本文记述乌蜂虹亚科Ｕｓｉｉｎａｅ２新种,分别隶属于Ｕｓｉａ（乌蜂虹属）和Ｐａｒａｇｅｒｏｎ（拟驼蜂虹属）,并对有关属的特征及分类情况作了概述。