Biochemical characterization of the mitochondrial tRNASer(UCN) T7511C mutation associated with nonsyndromic deafness

We report here the biochemical characterization of the deafness-associated mitochondrial tRNA^Ser(UCN) T7511C mutation, in conjunction with homoplasmic ND1 T3308C and tRNA^Ala T5655C mutations using cybrids constructed by transferring mitochondria from lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from an African family into human mtDNA-less (ρ°) cells. Three cybrids derived from an affected matrilineal relative carrying the homoplasmic T7511C mutation, exhibited ~75% decrease in the tRNA^Ser(UCN) level, compared with three control cybrids. This amount of reduction in the tRNA^Ser(UCN) level is below a proposed threshold to support a normal rate of mitochondrial protein synthesis in lymphoblastoid cell lines. This defect is likely a primary contributor to ~52% reduction in the rate of mitochondrial protein synthesis and marked defects in respiration and growth properties in galactose-containing medium. Interestingly, the T5655C mutation produces ~50% reduction in the tRNA^Ala level in mutant cells. Strikingly, the T3308C mutation causes a significant decrease both in the amount of ND1 mRNA and co-transcribed tRNA^Leu(UUR) in mutant cells. Thus, mitochondrial dysfunctions caused by the T5655C and T3308C mutations may modulate the phenotypic manifestation of the T7511C mutation. These observations imply that a combination of the T7511C mutation with two mtDNA mutations accounts for the high penetrance of deafness in this family.     

稻田蜘蛛与飞虱制约关系及其利用

1972—1991年间,我们对稻田蜘蛛及其相关害虫—褐稻虱进行了较为系统的调查研究。本文主要论述稻田蜘蛛种类多,发生量大,繁殖力强.与稻飞虱的季节消长、生态分布、变态类型相一致,彼此制约关系明显,有良好的保护利用价值。创造有利于蜘蛛发生发展的环境,合理施用化学农药,既是保护利用蜘蛛的有效途径,又可保护飞虱的其它天敌,发挥多种天敌联合控制飞虱的作用,在经济、生态与社会三方面都可收到显著效益。     

浙江西门岛海洋特别保护区大型底栖动物功能群特征及其与环境的关系

为研究浙江西门岛海洋特别保护区大型底栖动物功能群的变化规律及其与环境因子的关系,作者分别于2010年4月(春季)、11月(秋季),2011年8月(夏季)和2012年2月(冬季)进行了4个航次的大型底栖动物调查,共鉴定出大型底栖动物78种,根据其食性类型划分为浮游生物食者、植食者、肉食者、杂食者、碎屑食者5种功能群.各功能群平均密度从高到低依次为浮游生物食者＞肉食者＞植食者＞碎屑食者＞杂食者,平均生物量从高到低依次为浮游生物食者＞碎屑食者＞肉食者＞杂食者＞植食者.单因素方差分析结果表明,大型底栖动物各功能群的密度和生物量季节间均无显著性差异.典范对应分析结果表明,影响大型底栖动物功能群的主要环境因子包括温度、溶解氧、溶解态无机磷和表层沉积物的中值粒径,排序轴对功能群-环境关系的贡献率计算结果表明环境变量可以较好地解释功能群的变化情况.     

一株生物表面活性剂产生菌的分离及其特性研究

模炼油厂污泥中分离得到1株生物表面活性剂产生菌C-3, 根据其生理生化特性和16S rDNA序列相似性分析, 将其鉴定为铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa)。初步研究了其产生物表面活性剂的最适条件, 在以植物油为碳源、30°C、初始pH 8、Ca2+浓度20 mg/L、250 mL三角瓶中装75 mL发酵液的条件下, 最利于菌株的生长和生物表面活性剂产生。它的成分为糖脂类物质, 临界胶束浓度(CMC)为50 mg/L, 具有很好的增溶效果。     

Targeting NADPH Oxidase and Phospholipases A2 in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is marked by an increase in the production of extracellular beta amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles associated with a decline in brain function. Increases in oxidative stress are regarded as an early sign of AD pathophysiology, although the source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the mechanism(s) whereby beta amyloid peptides (Aβ) impact oxidative stress have not been adequately investigated. Recent studies provide strong evidence for the involvement of NADPH oxidase and its downstream oxidative signaling pathways in the toxic effects elicited by Aβ. ROS produced by NADPH oxidase activate multiple signaling pathways leading to neuronal excitotoxicity and glial cell-mediated inflammation. This review describes recent studies demonstrating the neurotoxic effects of Aβ in conjunction with ROS produced by NADPH oxidase and the downstream pathways leading to activation of cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) and secretory PLA₂. In addition, this review also describes recent studies using botanical antioxidants to protect against oxidative damage associated with AD. Investigating the metabolic and signaling pathways involving Aβ NADPH oxidase and PLA₂ can help understand the mechanisms underlying the neurodegenerative effects of oxidative stress in AD. This information should provide new therapeutic approaches for prevention of this debilitating disease.     

云南红豆杉紫杉烷2α-O-苯甲酰转运酶基因的克隆及定性

通过RACE技术,克隆了云南红豆杉紫杉烷2α-O-苯甲酰转运酶基因(TyTBT),该酶催化2-去苯甲酰-7,13-二乙酰巴卡亭Ⅲ生成7,13-二乙酰巴卡亭Ⅲ,是紫杉醇合成途径中的关键酶之一.TyTBT基因cDNA全长1481 bp,含有1 320 bp的开放读码框,编码440个氨基酸的多肽,分子量为50 050 Da,等电点为6.17.氨基酸序列比对表明TyTBT同植物酰化酶家族的其它成员有较高的相似性,超过67%,同东北红豆杉和曼地亚红豆杉的紫杉烷2α-O-苯甲酰转运酶氨基酸序列的一致性和相似性达到最高,分别为95%和96%.广泛地比对分析证明这种较高的相似性在红豆杉属的其它酶家族中具有普遍性,进化树分析表明同东北红豆杉和曼地亚红豆杉的紫杉烷2α-O-苯甲酰转运酶(TBT)的相似性高于紫杉醇合成途径中的其它酰化酶.     

A novel RGD-toxin protein,Lj-RGD3, from the buccal gland secretion of Lampetra japonica impacts diverse biological activities

RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) motif toxin proteins from snake venoms, saliva glands secretion of leech or tick have typical characteristics of inhibiting platelet aggregation, angiogenesis, and tumor growth. Here we report cloning and characterization of a novel RGD-toxin protein from the buccal gland of Lampetra japonica. In an attempt to study the activities of anticoagulant in the buccal gland secretion of L. japonica, we established buccal gland cDNA library and identified a gene encoding a predicted protein of 118 amino acids with 3 RGD motifs. The predicted protein was named Lj-RGD3. We generated the cDNA of Lj-RGD3 and obtained the recombinant protein rLj-RGD3. The polyclonal antibodies against rLj-RGD3 recognized the native Lj-RGD3 protein in buccal gland secretion in Western blot analyses. The biological function studies reveal that rLj-RGD3 inhibited human platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner with IC₅₀ value at 5.277 μM. In addition, rLj-RGD3 repressed bFGF-induced angiogenesis in the chick chorioallantoic membrane model. rLj-RGD3 also inhibited the adhesion of ECV304 cells to vitronectin. Furthermore, rLj-RGD3 induced apoptosis and significantly inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion evoked by bFGF in ECV304 cells. Taken together, these results suggested that rLj-RGD3 is a novel RGD-toxin protein possessing typical functions of the RGD-toxin protein.