Separation methods for taurine analysis in biological samples

Taurine plays an important role in a variety of physiological functions, pharmacological actions and pathological conditions. Many methods for taurine analysis, therefore, have been reported to monitor its levels in biological samples. This review discusses the following techniques: sample preparation; separation and determination methods including high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, ion chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and hyphenation procedures. It covers articles published between 1990 and 2001.     

Developmentally regulated chromosome fragmentation linked to imprecise elimination of repeated sequences in paramecia

The chromosomes of ciliates are fragmented at reproducible sites during the development of the polyploid somatic macronucleus, but the mechanisms involved appear to be quite diverse in different species. In Paramecium aurelia, the process is imprecise and results in de novo telomere addition at locally heterogeneous positions. To search for possible determinants of chromosome fragmentation, we have studied an ~21-kb fragmentation region from the germ line genome of P. primaurelia. The mapping and sequencing of alternative macronuclear versions of the region show that two distinct multicopy elements, a minisatellite and a degenerate transposon copy, are eliminated by an imprecise mechanism leading either to chromosome fragmentation and the formation of new telomeres or to the rejoining of flanking sequences. Heterogeneous internal deletions occur between short direct repeats containing TA dinucleotides. The complex rearrangement patterns produced vary slightly among genetically identical cell lines, show non-Mendelian inheritance during sexual reproduction, and can be experimentally modified by transformation of the maternal macronucleus with homologous sequences. These results suggest that chromosome fragmentation in Paramecium is the consequence of imprecise DNA elimination events that are distinct from the precise excision of single-copy internal eliminated sequences and that target multicopy germ line sequences by homology-dependent epigenetic mechanisms.     

Antitumor promoting activities of 3-O-acyl-(-)epigallocatechins

As an exploratory investigation of antitumor promoting compounds, 3-O-acyl-(-)-epigallocatechins possessing a straight-, branched-, phenyl-inserted- or 1,4-phenylene-inserted-acyl chain of varying length from C4 to C18 were synthesized and evaluated their inhibitory effects against the activation of the Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA). It was indicated that the epigallocatechin derivatives having the straight- or branched-acyl chain of C8 to C11 carbon atoms achieve marked effects.     

Four Ubiquitously Expressed Genes,RD(D6S45)–SKI2W(SKIV2L)–DOM3Z–RP1(D6S60E), Are Present between Complement Component Genes FactorBandC4in the Class III Region of the HLA

The association of the HLA class III region with many diseases motivates the investigation of unidentified genes in the 30-kb segment between complement component genesBfandC4. RD,which codes for a putative RNA binding protein, is 205 bp downstream ofBf. SKI2W(HGMW-approved symbol SKIV2L), a DEVH-box gene probably involved in RNA turnover, is 171 bp downstream ofRD(HGMW-approved symbol D6S45).RP1(HGMW-approved symbol D6S60E) is located 611 bp upstream ofC4.The DNA sequence between humanRDandRP1was determined and the exon–intron structure ofSKI2Welucidated.SKI2Wconsists of 28 exons. The putative RNA helicase domain of Ski2w is encoded by 9 exons. Further analysis of the 2.5-kb intergenic sequence betweenSKI2WandRP1led to the discovery ofDOM3Z.The full-length cDNA sequence ofDOM3Zencodes 396 amino acids with a leucine zipper motif. Dom3z-related proteins are present in simple and complex eukaryotes. InCaenorhabditis elegans,Dom3z-related protein could be involved in the development of germ cells. HumanRD–SKI2WandDOM3Z–RP1are arranged as two head-to-head oriented gene pairs with unmethylated CpG sequences at the common 5′ regulatory region of each gene pair. The ubiquitous expression pattern suggests that these four genes are probably housekeeping genes.     

Inducers of plant systemic acquired resistance regulate NPR1 function through redox changes

NPR1 is an essential regulator of plant systemic acquired resistance (SAR), which confers immunity to a broad-spectrum of pathogens. SAR induction results in accumulation of the signal molecule salicylic acid (SA), which induces defense gene expression via activation of NPR1. We found that in an uninduced state, NPR1 is present as an oligomer formed through intermolecular disulfide bonds. Upon SAR induction, a biphasic change in cellular reduction potential occurs, resulting in reduction of NPR1 to a monomeric form. Monomeric NPR1 accumulates in the nucleus and activates gene expression. Inhibition of NPR1 reduction prevents defense gene expression, whereas mutation of Cys82 or Cys216 in NPR1 leads to constitutive monomerization, nuclear localization of the mutant proteins, and defense gene expression. These data provide a missing link between accumulation of SA and activation of NPR1 in the SAR signaling pathway.     

Three proline rotamases involved in calcium homeostasis play differential roles in stress tolerance,virulence and calcineurin regulation of Beauveria bassiana

FK506‐sensitive proline rotamases (FPRs), also known as FK506‐binding proteins (FKBPs), can mediate immunosuppressive drug resistance in budding yeast but their physiological roles in filamentous fungi remain opaque. Here, we report that three FPRs (cytosolic/nuclear 12.15‐kD Fpr1, membrane‐associated 14.78‐kD Fpr2 and nuclear 50.43‐kD Fpr3) are all equally essential for cellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis and contribute significantly to calcineurin activity at different levels in the insect‐pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana although the deletion of fpr1 alone conferred resistance to FK506. Radial growth, conidiation, conidial viability and virulence were less compromised in the absence of fpr1 or fpr2 than in the absence of fpr3, which abolished almost all growth on scant media and reduced growth moderately on rich media. The Δfpr3 mutant was more sensitive to Na⁺, K⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, metal chelate, heat shock and UVB irradiation than was Δfpr2 while both mutants were equally sensitive to Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺, H₂O₂ and cell wall‐perturbing agents. In contrast, the Δfpr1 mutant was less sensitive to fewer stress cues. Most of 32 examined genes involved in DNA damage repair, Na⁺/K⁺ detoxification or osmotolerance and Ca²⁺ homeostasis were downregulated sharply in Δfpr2 and Δfpr3 but rarely so affected in Δfpr1, coinciding well with their phenotypic changes. These findings uncover important, but differential, roles of three FPRs in the fungal adaptation to insect host and environment and provide novel insight into their essential roles in calcium signalling pathway.     

A human cancer-predisposing polymorphism in Cdc25A is embryonic lethal in the mouse and promotes ASK-1 mediated apoptosis

Background

Failure to regulate the levels of Cdc25A phosphatase during the cell cycle or during a checkpoint response causes bypass of DNA damage and replication checkpoints resulting in genomic instability and cancer. During G1 and S and in cellular response to DNA damage, Cdc25A is targeted for degradation through the Skp1-cullin-β-TrCP (SCF^β-TrCP) complex. This complex binds to the Cdc25A DSG motif which contains serine residues at positions 82 and 88. Phosphorylation of one or both residues is necessary for the binding and degradation to occur.

Results

We now show that mutation of serine 88 to phenylalanine, which is a cancer-predisposing polymorphic variant in humans, leads to early embryonic lethality in mice. The mutant protein retains its phosphatase activity both in vitro and in cultured cells. It fails to interact with the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), however, and therefore does not suppress ASK1-mediated apoptosis.

Conclusions

These data suggest that the DSG motif, in addition to its function in Cdc25A-mediated degradation, plays a role in cell survival during early embyogenesis through suppression of ASK1-mediated apoptosis.

     

转谷氨酰胺酶2抑制H1亚型流感病毒在MDCK细胞中的增殖

组织转谷酰胺酶(transglutaminase 2,TGM2)是一种普遍存在的多功能蛋白,与不同细胞的粘附和肿瘤形成有关.有证据表明,TGM2参与了宿主细胞与病毒间的相互作用,但是对于流感病毒在细胞内增殖的影响还未有报道.为了探究MDCK细胞中TGM2对H1N1亚型流感病毒增殖的影响,本研究构建了TGM2过表达和敲除...     

酿酒酵母RAVE复合物的155kD亚基Rav1p的克隆及其在大肠杆菌中的表达纯化

以酿酒酵母基因组DNA为模板,根据CenBank上公布的酿酒酵母Ravlp基因(rav1)序列和表达裁体特性设计 特异性引物,PCR扩增得到4 074 bp的DNA片段,将PCR产物和原核表达栽体pET28a(+)同时进行双酶切;双酶切后的PCR产物和表达栽体进行连接,构建成重组质粒pET28a-ravl.再将pET28a-ravl转化到BL21( DE3)感受态细胞中.经IPTG 16℃低温诱导40h表达His-tag融合的Ravlp.诱导后的菌体进行超声波破碎,然后用GE healthcare公司的AKTA蛋白纯化仪和His Trap HP I mL亲和层析柱纯化目的蛋白.SDS-PAGE电泳分析和Western blot分析显示在155 kD有明显的条带,成功实现了Ravlp在大肠杆菌中的表达纯化.     

猕猴声带肌运动神经终末特点的研究

本文通过银法对猕猴声带肌运动神经终末和运动终板的形态进行了观察。发现声带肌与四肢肌不同，除肌纤维纤细，排列不甚紧密度，其神经支配比较丰富，运动终板数目较多，形态多姿。本观察对研究各种动物声带肌的运动神经终末特点提供比较解剖学资料。