Phosphorylation and stabilization of TAp63gamma by IkappaB kinase-beta

Post-translational modification of the p53 family members is key to their regulation. Here we report the phosphorylation of TAp63gamma, but not DeltaNp63gamma, by IkappaB kinase beta (IKKbeta). Activation of IKKbeta by gamma radiation or tumor necrosis factor-alpha led to increased TAp63gamma protein levels in cells. IKKbeta, but not its kinase-defective mutant IKKbeta-K44A, led to this observed stabilization of TAp63gamma. This stabilization of TAp63gamma in response to gamma radiation was significantly decreased in the absence of IKKbeta. Phosphorylation of TAp63gamma blocks ubiquitylation and possible degradation of this protein. We postulate that phosphorylation of TAp63gamma by IKKbeta stabilizes the TAp63gamma protein by blocking ubiquitylation-dependent degradation of this protein.     

N-Acyl homoserine lactonase promotes prevention of Erwinia virulence with zwittermicin A-producing strain Bacillus cereus

Zwittermicin A (ZwA), a hybrid polyketide- peptide antibiotic, and N-acyl -homoserine-lactonase (AHL-lactonase), a kind of quorum-quenching enzyme, have the potential to prevent the virulence of Erwinia carotovora, which is a major pathogen of soft rot. The purpose of this study was to combine the two agents in one host to improve their prevention efficacy. AHL-lactonase was over-expressed in the ZwA-producing strain Bacillus cereus and derivates were identified to create genetically modified (GM) strains. The comparative results showed that neither ZwA nor AHL-lactonase impacted the yield of the other; the increased yield of ZwA could promote the prevention efficacy of GM strains; Coexistence of ZwA and AHL-lactonase in the GM strains had better prevention efficacy than either has separately. It is a potential therapy to provide more effective prevention and withstand gradually increasing pesticide-resistance by combining the two antibacterial agents.     

秦岭羚牛的生态与保护对策

秦岭羚牛被世界自然保护联盟列为易危物种.是中国的国家Ⅰ级重点保护野生动物,仅分布于中国陕西省南部的秦岭大巴山地区.从分布、栖息地、种群状况、集群特征、活动规律、食性、季节性迁移行为、繁殖生态和防御行为等方面概述了秦岭羚牛的生态习性,并提出了对该物种的保护与管理建议.     

The denitrification capability of cluster 1 Defluviicoccus vanus-related glycogen-accumulating organisms

The denitrification capability of Cluster 1 Defluviicoccus vanus-related glycogen-accumulating organisms (DvGAOs) is investigated. A sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with acetate as the sole carbon source was operated under alternating anaerobic-aerobic conditions to enrich Cluster 1 DvGAOs. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that more than 85% of the bacterial population present in the reactor bound to the probes previously designed for Cluster 1 DvGAOs. A series of batch tests were performed to evaluate the capability of the community to reduce nitrate and nitrite. The tests were carried out both before and after the adaptation of the culture to anoxic conditions, and with both the intracellularly stored carbon and acetate as the electron donors. It was found that Cluster 1 DvGAOs were able to reduce nitrate but most likely unable to reduce nitrite. When un-adapted Cluster 1 DvGAOs were exposed to nitrate for the first time, a lag phase of approximately 4 h occurred, which was likely required for the synthesis of the necessary enzymes.     

Critical role of angiopoietins/Tie-2 in hyperglycemic exacerbation of myocardial infarction and impaired angiogenesis

Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) are the two ligands of the Tie-2 receptor, a receptor tyrosine kinase that is expressed on the endothelium. A balanced angiopoietin/Tie-2 system is critical for the maintenance of vascular integrity. We investigated the potential role of a disrupted angiopoietin/Tie-2 system on hyperglycemic exacerbation of myocardial infarction and impaired angiogenesis. Using streptozotocin (STZ) mice subjected to myocardial ischemia, we examined the effects of shifting the Ang-2-to-Ang-1 ratio on myocardial infarction size, apoptosis, bone marrow (BM) cell-endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) differentiation, and angiogenesis. In control mice, myocardial ischemia increased expression of both Ang-2 and Tie-2. In STZ mice, Ang-2 expression was elevated, whereas Tie-2 expression was reduced, and neither was significantly altered by ischemia. Myocardial infarct size and apoptosis were increased in STZ compared with control mice. Using in vivo administration of an adenovirus containing Ang-1 or Ang-2, we found that shifting the Ang-2-to-Ang-1 ratio to favor Ang-1 reduced myocardial apoptosis and infarct size in STZ mice, while shifting the Ang-2-to-Ang-1 ratio to favor Ang-2 resulted in a significant increase in myocardial infarct size and apoptosis in control mice. Myocardial ischemia-stimulated BM cell-EPC differentiation was inhibited and myocardial angiogenesis was reduced in STZ mice. Systemic administration of Ad-Ang-1 restored BM cell-EPC differentiation and increased myocardial VEGF expression and angiogenesis in STZ mice. Our data demonstrate that disturbed angiopoietin/Tie-2 signaling contributes to the hyperglycemic exacerbation of myocardial infarction and impaired angiogenesis. Restoration of the Ang-2-to-Ang-1 ratio may be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of diabetic myocardial ischemic diseases.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phthalic acid esters in the soil-radish (Raphanus sativus) system with sewage sludge and compost application

We studied the accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in a latosolic red soil and radish (Raphanus sativus) with application of sewage sludge at rates of 10, 20 and 40 g kg(-1) soil or compost at rate of 10 g kg(-1) soil. In radish the concentrations of individual PAHs and PAEs varied from non-detectable to 803 microg kg(-1) dry weight (d.w.) and from non-detectable to 2048 microg kg(-1) d.w., respectively. Compared to the control, higher application rates of sewage sludge resulted in pronounced increases in shoot, root and soil concentrations of PAHs and PAEs. PAE concentrations in radish grown in soil spiked with sludge compost were higher while the PAH concentrations were comparable to those receiving 10 g kg(-1) of sewage sludge. However, the root biomass of radish in soil amended with compost was significantly higher and the shoot-to-root ratio was significantly lower than in the other treatments. The bioconcentration factors (BCFs, the ratio of contaminant concentration in plant tissue to the soil concentration) of di-n-butyl phthalate and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in both shoots and roots and of total PAH concentrations in roots were less than 1.0, but some BCFs for individual PAHs were high with a maximum value of 80.     

Improved Cardiac Contractility of Human Recombinant Growth Hormone on the Congestive Heart Failure of Pig

1Introduction Congestiveheartfailureisamultipleaetiology,high prevalence,cardiovasculardisorderwithpoorprognosis. Medicaltreatmentofdilatedcardiomyopathyisaimedat alleviatingthesymptomsofheartfailure.Diuretics,ACE inhibitorsandbeta blockershavefavourableeffectson symptoms,exercisecapacityandmortality[1-3].Growth hormone(GH)andinsulin likegrowthfactor(IGF) 1 areinvolvedinseveralphysiologicalprocessessuchas thecontrolofmusclemassandfunction,bodycomposi tionandtheregulationofnutrientmetaboli…     

Screening the Main Factors Affecting Extraction of the Antimicrobial Substance from Bacillus sp. fmbJ using the Plackett–Burman Method

Summary The Plackett–Burman screening method was utilized as a tool to evaluate the importance of the selected six factors, including methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pH and time, which are relevant to the extraction of the antimicrobial substance produced by Bacillus sp. fmbJ. The main factors that affected the extraction of the antimicrobial substance were determined as methanol (P < 0.0001), ethanol (P < 0.0001), pH (P = 0.0032), and time (P < 0.0001) by using the JMP software. Within the test ranges, methanol, ethanol, and time showed a significant positive relativity to the total extracted amounts respectively; while pH had a significant negative effect. The maximum prediction profile indicated that the total extracted amounts for the antimicrobial substance would reach 50.21 mg/100 ml with 99.64% probability.     

超选择子宫动脉栓塞治疗子宫肌瘤

目的探讨超选择子宫动脉栓塞治疗子宫肌瘤的方法及疗效。方法子宫肌瘤65例采用Seldinger技术经皮股动脉插管至双侧髂内动脉,造影了解肿瘤的血供来源后,超选至两侧子宫动脉,缓慢注入平阳霉素碘油乳剂或PVA微粒栓塞治疗。结果患者症状缓解率为93．2％,月经增多,痛经,尿频、尿急,贫血等1-3个月内恢复正常。并发症：除栓塞综合征外,可见阴道不规则流血,腰腿痛,可自行恢复。治疗后3-6个月肌瘤缩小率在30％-68％之间。中短期疗效较稳定,末见复发。治疗前后性激素水平变化无明显差异。结论子宫动脉栓塞术治疗子宫肌瘤操作简单安全,疗效好。超选择子宫动脉插管其分支栓塞,并发症少,具有较大的临床应用价值。