All-atom structural investigation of kinesin-microtubule complex constrained by high-quality cryo-electron-microscopy maps

In this study, we have performed a comprehensive structural investigation of three major biochemical states of a kinesin complexed with microtubule under the constraint of high-quality cryo-electron-microscopy (EM) maps. In addition to the ADP and ATP state which were captured by X-ray crystallography, we have also modeled the nucleotide-free or APO state for which no crystal structure is available. We have combined flexible fitting of EM maps with regular molecular dynamics simulations, hydrogen-bond analysis, and free energy calculation. Our APO-state models feature a subdomain rotation involving loop L2 and α6 helix of kinesin, and local structural changes in active site similar to a related motor protein, myosin. We have identified a list of hydrogen bonds involving key residues in the active site and the binding interface between kinesin and microtubule. Some of these hydrogen bonds may play an important role in coupling microtubule binding to ATPase activities in kinesin. We have validated our models by calculating the binding free energy between kinesin and microtubule, which quantitatively accounts for the observation of strong binding in the APO and ATP state and weak binding in the ADP state. This study will offer promising targets for future mutational and functional studies to investigate the mechanism of kinesin motors.     

Five new genera of the subfamily Psilodercinae (Araneae:Ochyroceratidae) from Southeast Asia

Five new genera of the spider family Ochyroceratidae with remarkable palpal and epigynal characters are described:Luzonacera Li & Li,gen.nov.,Qiongocera Li & Li,gen.nov.,Relictocera Li & Li,gen.nov.,Sinoderces Li & Li,gen.nov.,and Thaiderces Li & Li,gen.nov.Six new species are described based on specimens collected in China,Philippines,Vietnam,and Thailand:Luzonacera chang Li & Li,sp.nov.,Luzonacera duan Li & Li,sp.nov.,Qiongocera hongjunensis Li & Li,sp.nov.,Relictocera qiyi Li & Li,sp.nov.,Sinoderces nawanensis Li & Li,sp.nov.,and Thaidercesjian Li & Li,sp.nov.In addition,two Psiloderces species are transferred to other genera:Sinoderces exilis (Wang & Li,2013) comb.nov.and Thaiderces vulgaris (Deeleman-Reinhold,1995) comb.nov.All type specimens are deposited in the Institute of Zoology,Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS) in Beijing.     

油松雌性不育系球果蛋白质双向电泳技术的建立

本文建立了油松雌性不育系雌球果蛋白质组研究中的双向电泳技术.第一向采用固定pH值梯度(IPG)胶条在IPGphorTM等电聚焦仪上进行等电聚焦,第二向在恒功率且恒温条件下于Ettan-DALTTMⅡ高通量电泳仪上进行SDS-PAGE电泳,以银染和考马斯亮蓝两种方法染色.通过对全蛋白的提取、胶条pH值和胶条肿胀等技术环节的优化和比较,得到了重复性很高,分离效果良好的蛋白质双向图谱.     

Development of an Autofluorescent Whole-Cell Biocatalyst by Displaying Dual Functional Moieties on Escherichia coli Cell Surfaces and Construction of a Coculture with Organophosphate-Mineralizing Activity

Surface display of the active proteins on living cells has enormous potential in the degradation of numerous toxic compounds. Here, we report the codisplay of organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) on the cell surface of Escherichia coli by use of the truncated ice nucleation protein (INPNC) and Lpp-OmpA fusion systems. The surface localization of both INPNC-OPH and Lpp-OmpA-GFP was demonstrated by Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence microscopy, and a protease accessibility experiment. Anchorage of GFP and OPH on the outer membrane neither inhibits cell growth nor affects cell viability, as shown by growth kinetics of cells and stability of resting cultures. The engineered E. coli can be applied in the form of a whole-cell biocatalyst and can be tracked by fluorescence during bioremediation. This strategy of codisplay should open a new dimension for the display of multiple functional moieties on the surface of a bacterial cell. Furthermore, a coculture comprised of the engineered E. coli and a natural p-nitrophenol (PNP) degrader, Ochrobactrum sp. strain LL-1, was assembled for complete mineralization of organophosphates (OPs) with a PNP substitution. The coculture degraded OPs as well as PNP rapidly. Therefore, the coculture with autofluorescent and mineralizing activities can potentially be applied for bioremediation of OP-contaminated sites.     

丙酮酸对细菌L-乳酸发酵的促进作用

研究了丙酮酸在不同浓度和添加时间对LactobacilluscaseiL 乳酸发酵过程中葡萄糖转化率和L 乳酸产量的影响。结果表明 ,当丙酮酸的添加量为 30g·L- 1 时 ,L 乳酸的产量达到 74g·L- 1 。在 72h的发酵周期内 ,丙酮酸在 2 4h和 42h添加的效果好于其他时间添加。     

小麦和油菜中Cu和Zn的化学结合形态初步研究

1　引　　言微量元素在植物体中的化学结合形态的研究 ,对于充分了解其在植物体内的迁移转化机理 ,以及阐明其生理作用特征等都具有重要意义 .但是 ,至今为止 ,由于植物体内微量元素的化学结合形态比较复杂 ,而且差异很大 ,加上研究方法的限制 ,人们对于微量元素在植物体中存在的化学形态知之甚少 .参照国内外报道的一些资料[1～ 4 ] ,采用连续浸提的方法 ,初步探讨了Ｃｕ和Ｚｎ在小麦和油菜植株中的各种化学形态的含量和分异特征 ,试图阐明其在植物体内各种化学结合形态的差异性规律 ,为明确其在植物体内的转运机理和合理施用微量元素肥料…     

魔芋葡苷聚糖（KGM）凝胶为亲和层析载体与Sepharose4B的比较 …

将ＫＧＭ和Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ ４Ｂ凝胶在相同条件下活化、偶联接上染料Ｃｉｂａｃｒｏｎ Ｂｌｕｅ Ｆ３ＧＡ制成了ＫＧＭ和Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ ４Ｂ染料亲和吸附剂,并用来与牛血甭白蛋白（ＢＳＡ）作用,每毫升ＫＧＭ亲和吸附剂可吸附ＢＳＡ ２８ｍｇ,用ＮａＳＣＮ洗脱时间为８４．５％,而Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ ４Ｂ染料样和吸附剂每毫升可吸附ＢＳＡ １５．３ｍｇ,用ＮａＳＣＮ洗脱时间收迷８１．７％,并对两种凝胶的染     

Identification of the motifs and amino acids in aggrecan G1 and G2 domains involved in product secretion

Members of the large aggregating chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans are characterized by an N-terminal fragment known as G1 domain, which is composed of an immunoglobulin (IgG)-like motif and two tandem repeats (TR). Previous studies have indicated that the expressed product of aggrecan G1 domain was not secreted. Here we demonstrated that the inability of G1 secretion was associated with the tandem repeats but not the IgG-like motif, and specifically with TR1 of aggrecan. We also demonstrated that the G2 domain, a domain unique to aggrecan, had a similar effect on product secretion. The sequence of TR1 of G1 is highly conserved across species, which suggested similar functions played by these motifs. In a yeast two-hybrid assay, TR1 interacted with the calcium homeostasis endoplasmic reticulum protein. Deletion/mutation experiments indicated that the N-terminal fragment of TR1, in particular, the amino acids H(2)R(4) of this motif were key to its effect on product secretion. However, the N-terminal 55 amino acids were required to exert this function. Taken together, our study suggests a possible molecular mechanism for the function of the tandem repeats in product processing.     

伯克霍尔德氏菌ZYB002脂肪酶lipC24基因的克隆、表达及其酶学性质

【目的】克隆伯克霍尔德菌ZYB002菌株中的新型脂肪酶lip C24基因,测定其基本酶学性质,为后续深入研究该基因在菌株中的生理功能奠定基础。【方法】根据洋葱伯克霍尔德菌JK321菌株的全基因组DNA信息,直接设计引物从伯克霍尔德菌ZYB002菌株基因组中扩增出lip C24基因,并对之进行原核表达、重组蛋白的纯化及酶学性质分析。【结果】lip C24基因全长1317 bp,编码438个氨基酸残基;多肽链中具有保守五肽-G-X1-S-X2-G-序列;重组蛋白Lip C24的分子量为45 k Da;能有效水解各种对硝基苯酯,对中链脂肪酸的对硝基苯酯表现出偏爱性;其催化水解反应的最适温度为40℃,最适p H7.5;40℃下的半衰期为15.72 min,在p H 7.0-8.0的条件下,具有较好的稳定性。【结论】lip C24的编码产物为一个45 k Da蛋白,具有明显的脂肪酶活性,为中温中性脂肪酶。     

Nicotinate-Curcumin Impedes Foam Cell Formation from THP-1 Cells through Restoring Autophagy Flux

Our previous studies have indicated that a novel curcumin derivate nicotinate-curcumin (NC) has beneficial effects on the prevention of atherosclerosis, but the precise mechanisms are not fully understood. Given that autophagy regulates lipid metabolism, the present study was designed to investigate whether NC decreases foam cell formation through restoring autophagy flux in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-treated THP-1 cells. Our results showed that ox-LDL (100 μg/ml) was accumulated in THP-1 cells and impaired autophagy flux. Ox-LDL-induced impairment of autophagy was enhanced by treatment with the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) and rescued by the autophagy inducer rapamycin. The aggregation of ox-LDL was increased by CQ, but decreased by rapamycin. In addition, colocalization of lipid droplets with LC3-II was remarkably reduced in ox-LDL group. In contrast, NC (10 μM) rescued the impaired autophagy flux by significantly increasing level of LC3-II, the number of autophagolysosomes, and the degradation of p62 in ox-LDL-treated THP-1 cells. Inhibition of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling was required for NC-rescued autophagy flux. Notably, our results showed that NC remarkably promoted the colocalization of lipid droplets with autophagolysosomes, increased efflux of cholesterol, and reduced ox-LDL accumulation in THP-1 cells. However, treatment with 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or CQ reduced the protective effects of NC on lipid accumulation. Collectively, the findings suggest that NC decreases lipid accumulation in THP-1 cells through restoring autophagy flux, and further implicate that NC may be a potential therapeutic reagent to reverse atherosclerosis.