国内首例皮瘤丝孢酵母真菌血症分离株的表型及rDNA序列鉴定

目的通过对1例“脂膜炎”患者外周血分离株的表型及分子生物学鉴定,报道国内首例皮瘤丝孢酵母菌血症。方法采集患者的血及鼻咽结节组织标本通过真菌培养获得分离株,经沙氏培养基、马铃薯培养基、科玛嘉念珠菌显色培养后形态学观察及API 20C AUX系统鉴定,最后经PCR扩增rDNA基因测序证实。采用CLSI制定的M27-A2微量稀释法对病原菌株进行7种药物的体外药敏试验。结果分离株通过表型和分子生物学鉴定为“皮瘤丝孢酵母”。药敏结果显示菌株对两性霉素B耐药,氟康唑、伏立康唑、伊曲康唑、5-氟胞嘧啶敏感。卡泊芬净的抑菌浓度较低,而米卡芬净的抑菌浓度相对较高。患者因多种并发症死亡。结论皮瘤丝孢酵母引起的真菌血症为我国首例报道。API 20C AUX酵母鉴定系统可作为鉴定皮瘤丝孢酵母快速而简便的方法。通过分子生物学DNA序列检测分析能鉴定皮瘤丝孢酵母。     

Impacts of Cd(II) on the conformation and self-aggregation of Alzheimer's tau fragment corresponding to the third repeat of microtubule-binding domain

Environmental exposure to some heavy metals such as cadmium appears to be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), however, definite mechanism of their toxicity in AD remains to be elucidated. Previous studies largely focused on the metal ions binding to beta-amyloid, however, very few papers concerned the interaction between tau and metal ions. For the first time, we investigated the impacts of Cd(II) on the conformation and self-aggregation of Alzheimer's tau peptide R3, corresponding to the third repeat of microtubule-binding domain. The initial state of R3 was proven to be dimeric linked by intermolecular disulfide bond, in the non-reducing buffer (Tris-HCl buffer pH7.5, containing no reducing reagent). In this paper, we show that Cd(II) can accelerate heparin-induced aggregation of R3 or independently induce the aggregation of R3, as monitored by ThS fluorescence. In the presence of Cd(II), the resulting R3 filaments became much smaller, as revealed by electron microscopy. Binding to the Cd(II) ion, the dimeric R3 partially lost its random coil, and converted to alpha-helix structure, as revealed by CD and Raman spectrum. Stoichiometric analysis of CD signal against the ratio of [Cd(II)]/[R3] suggested that the coordination intermediate consisted of two R3 dimers binding to a central cadmium ion. As the seed, the coordination intermediate could extensively accelerate the self-aggregation of R3 via promoting the nucleation step. On the other hand, gain in alpha-helix structure on the peptide chain, by coordinating with Cd(II), could be a critical role to promote self-aggregation, as revealed by Raman spectrum. These results provide a further insight into the mechanism of tau filament formation and emphasize the possible involvement of Cd(II) in the pathogenesis of AD.     

化龙山七筋姑种内二倍体与四倍体表型分化分析

七筋姑(Clintonia udensis Trautv. et Mey.)属百合科(Liliaceae)七筋姑属(Clintonia Raf.),多年生草本,具有二倍体(2n=14)和四倍体(4n=28)两种倍性。在陕西化龙山地区,二倍体主要分布在南坡海拔2 450 m处,四倍体主要生长在北坡海拔1 900 m左右,成为研究种内多倍体分化的理想材料。该研究从七筋姑营养和繁殖系统出发,研究其不同倍性的表型分化,揭示不同倍性的生态适应特征,为阐明七筋姑种内多倍体的演化提供线索。研究表明：(1)在根、茎、叶、花、果实、种子的11个性状中,二倍体的果实体积性状最为稳定(CV=0.02),叶长性状遗传多样性最高(CV=0.85);四倍体中果实体积性状也最为稳定(CV=0.06),而花数量性状多样性最高(CV=0.42)。(2)四倍体的果实体积平均值明显高于二倍体,但种子数量平均值显著少于二倍体,果实体积和种子体积性状在不同倍性间的分化占比最高(V_st=0.69)。(3)四倍体营养器官表型性状的遗传变异丰富度低于二倍体,其平均变异系数(CV=0.16)小于二倍体的变异系数(CV=0.44);在繁殖系统表型性状中,四倍体的遗传变异丰富度高于二倍体,平均变异系数(CV=0.30)大于二倍体(CV=0.26)。(4)显著性分析表明,二倍体与四倍体表型性状差异显著(P<0.05),而繁殖系统性状在不同倍性间无显著差异(P>0.05);PCA分析同样显示二倍体与四倍体间存在明显差异。四倍体显著的表型差异是对低海拔环境长期适应的结果。     

Proterozoic phytoplankton and timing of Chlorophyte algae origins

Abstract: Morphological and reproductive features and cell wall ultrastructure and biochemistry of Proterozoic acritarchs are used to determine their affinity to modern algae. The first appearance datum of these microbiota is traced to infer a minimum age of the divergence of the algal classes to which they may belong. The chronological appearance of microfossils that represent phycoma‐like and zygotic cysts and vegetative cells and/or aplanospores, respectively, interpreted as prasinophyceaen and chlorophyceaen microalgae is related to the Viridiplantae phylogeny. An inferred minimum age of the Chlorophyte origin is before c. 1800 Ma, the Prasinophyceae at c. 1650 Ma and the Chlorophyceae at c. 1450 Ma. These divergence times differ from molecular clock estimates, and the palaeontological evidence suggests that they are older.     

汉滩病毒核蛋白羧基端多肽原核表达载体的构建及表达

本文为建立分型检测方法,探讨了汉滩病毒(Hantaan virus,HTNV)核蛋白羧基端多肽的抗原性。首先,分别构建编码HTNV核蛋白及其羧基端多肽的原核表达载体pRSETA—S、pRSETA—S—C;然后,将其转化入表达菌BL21(DE3)pLySs诱导表达,采用SDS—PAGE、Westem—blot进行鉴定。我们成功构建了pRSET A—S及pRSETA—S—C原核表达载体。SDS-PAGE显示目的蛋白大量表达,呈不溶状态,Westem—blot显现目的蛋白具有良好的抗原性。为大量制备分型用核蛋白多肽抗原创造了条件。     

Role of the transmembrane domain 4/extracellular loop 2 junction of the human gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor in ligand binding and receptor conformational selection

Recent crystal structures of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) show the remarkable structural diversity of extracellular loop 2 (ECL2), implying its potential role in ligand binding and ligand-induced receptor conformational selectivity. Here we have applied molecular modeling and mutagenesis studies to the TM4/ECL2 junction (residues Pro(174(4.59))-Met(180(4.66))) of the human gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor, which uniquely has one functional type of receptor but two endogenous ligands in humans. We suggest that the above residues assume an α-helical extension of TM4 in which the side chains of Gln(174(4.60)) and Phe(178(4.64)) face toward the central ligand binding pocket to make H-bond and aromatic contacts with pGlu(1) and Trp(3) of both GnRH I and GnRH II, respectively. The interaction between the side chains of Phe(178(4.64)) of the receptor and Trp(3) of the GnRHs was supported by reciprocal mutations of the interacting residues. Interestingly, alanine mutations of Leu(175(4.61)), Ile(177(4.63)), and Met(180(4.66)) decreased mutant receptor affinity for GnRH I but, in contrast, increased affinity for GnRH II. This suggests that these residues make intramolecular or intermolecular contacts with residues of transmembrane (TM) domain 3, TM5, or the phospholipid bilayer, which couple the ligand structure to specific receptor conformational switches. The marked decrease in signaling efficacy of I177A and F178A also indicates that IIe(177(4.63)) and Phe(178(4.64)) are important in stabilizing receptor-active conformations. These findings suggest that the TM4/ECL2 junction is crucial for peptide ligand binding and, consequently, for ligand-induced receptor conformational selection.     

Determination of benflumetol in human plasma by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of benflumetol in human plasma is described. Benflumetol in plasma samples was extracted with a glacial acetic acid-ethyl acetate (1:100, v/v) mixture at pH 4.0. Chromatography was performed on a Spherisorb C₁₈ column using a methanol-water-glacial acetic acid-diethyl amine (93:6:1:0.03, v/v) mixture as the mobile phase and UV-VIS detection at 335 nm. The identity and purity of the benflumetol peak were carefully examined, and the internal standard method was applied for its quantitation. The absolute recovery of benflumetol in spiked plasma samples was 92.91% over the concentration range 5–4000 ng/ml. The recovery of internal standard “8212” at a concentration of 300 ng/ml in spiked plasma was 84.85%. The detection limit of benflumetol was 11.8 ng/ml. Plasma concentration-time profiles in healthy volunteer adults were measured after a single-dose oral administration of 500 mg of benflumetol. The assay procedures were within the quality control limits.     

转基因水稻克螟稻2号定量检测用质粒标准分子研制及不确定度评价

转基因作物的食用安全和环境安全一直受到消费者与各国政府及相关机构人员高度重视。质粒标准分子是转基因核酸量值的载体,为实现转基因植物核酸量值准确性、可比性和有效性提供保障。描述了转基因水稻克螟稻2号质粒标准分子(pKMD2)的研制过程,包括质粒构建、特异性、均匀性、稳定性、可替代性和量值及不确定度评价等方面。量值结果表明pKMD2质粒标准分子所含两个基因片段比值为1.032,不确定度为0.032,可以替代基因组作为阳性标准品用于实验室质控、含量检测及贸易争端等领域。     

利用生物信息学研究肥胖与2型糖尿病患者肝组织基因表达变化

目的:利用芯片数据分析工具对GEO基因芯片数据进行数据挖掘,系统分析肥胖与2型糖尿病患者肝组织相关基因表达的变化,探讨肥胖与2型糖尿病的联系及糖尿病早期预防和诊断的新靶点。方法:首先在公共芯片数据库中选择肥胖与2型糖尿病相关芯片数据(GSE15653),利用R等芯片数据分析工具分析肥胖与2型糖尿病患者肝组织基因的表达变化,并预测相关差异表达基因在血中蛋白表达。结果:肥胖患者与正常人肝组织比较发现412个差异表达基因,其中上调表达基因212个,下调表达基因200个,2型糖尿病患者中控制良好者与正常人肝组织比较发现486个差异表达基因,其中上调表达基因253个,下调表达基因233个,而2型糖尿病患者中控制不良者与正常人肝组织比较发现1051个差异表达基因,其中上调表达基因560个,下调表达基因491个;2型糖尿病控制良好者与肥胖患者肝组织有263个相同的表达变化基因,而2型糖尿病控制不良者与肥胖患者肝组织有131个相同的表达变化基因;结合蛋白质组学结果分析肥胖与2型糖尿病相关的差异表达基因中有30个蛋白表达产物是分泌型蛋白。结论:肥胖及2型糖尿病患者肝组织与正常肝组织比较基因表达均发生明显变化,其基因表达变化数目随疾病的严重性增加而增多,而且2型糖尿病的控制情况与肝组织基因表达变化有密切关系。肥胖与2型糖尿病相关的差异表达基因中表达分泌型蛋白的可进一步用于研发监测疾病发生发展的候选靶分子。