Molecular cloning, characterization and functional analysis of a 2C-methyl- D-erythritol 2, 4-cyclodiphosphate synthase gene from ginkgo biloba

2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2, 4-cyclodiphosphate synthase (MECPS, EC: 4.6.1.12) is the fifth enzyme of the non-mevalonate terpenoid pathway for isopentenyl diphosphate biosynthesis and is involved in the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway for ginkgolide biosynthesis. The full-length mecps cDNA sequence (designated as Gbmecps) was cloned and characterized for the first time from gymnosperm plant species, Ginkgo biloba, using RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) technique. The full-length cDNA of Gbmecps was 874 bp containing a 720 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a peptide of 239 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 26.03 kDa and an isoelectric point of 8.83. Comparative and bioinformatic analyses revealed that GbMECPS showed extensive homology with MECPSs from other species and contained conserved residues owned by the MECPS protein family.Phylogenetic analysis indicated that GbMECPS was more ancient than other plant MECPSs. Tissue expression pattern analysis indicated that GbMECPS expressed the highest in roots, followed by in leaves, and the lowest in seeds. The color complementation assay indicated that GbMECPS could accelerate the accumulation of beta-carotene. The cloning, characterization and functional analysis of GbMECPS will be helpful to understand more about the role of MECPS involved in the ginkgolides biosynthesis at the molecular level.     

沈阳样区土壤与景观关系的研究

土壤是连续分布在地球陆地表面的自然客体,其发生发展与景观密不可分.在野外调查的基础上,对辽宁沈阳样区100个土壤剖面形态特征、颗粒组成、化学特征等进行对比研究,按照《中国土壤系统分类(修订三稿)》的标准,共划分出淋溶土、雏形土与新成土3个土纲和续分的5个亚纲、7个土类、9个亚类、9个土族、14个土系.土壤性质和类型与景观特征有很好的对应关系,土壤性质是地形部位、母质基础、水分状况等景观要素的综合体现,也是长期气候等环境变化与人为活动影响的综合结果.     

Fork head transcription factor is required for ovarian mature in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)

Background

The NCI-60 is a collection of tumor cell lines derived from a variety of human adult cancer tissue types and is commonly used for genetic analysis and screening of potential chemotherapeutic agents. We wanted to understand the contributions of specific mechanisms of genomic instability to the etiology of cancers represented by the NCI-60.

Results

We screened the NCI-60 for dysregulated homologous recombination by using the gene cluster instability (GCI) assay we pioneered, and for defects in base excision repair by sensitivity to 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine (hmdUrd). We identified subsets of the NCI-60 lines that either displayed the characteristic molecular signature of GCI or were sensitive to hmdUrd. With the exception of the NCI-H23 lung cancer line, these phenotypes were not found to overlap. None of the lines examined in either subset exhibited significant changes in the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), neither did any of the lines in either subset exhibit microsatellite instability (MSI) indicative of defects in DNA mismatch repair.

Conclusions

Gene cluster instability, sensitivity to hmdUrd and sister chromatid exchange are mechanistically distinct phenomena. Genomic instability in the NCI-60 appears to involve only one mechanism of instability for each individual cell line.     

Heat shock does not induce gammaH2AX foci formation but protects cells from N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced genotoxicity

The involvement of DNA damage in heat shock-induced cell death remains controversial. To investigate whether heat shock can induce DNA damage, we tested the induction of gammaH2AX foci formation, a sensitive indicator for DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), by heat shock treatment in several cell lines including HeLa, CHL, HepG2, and 293 cells, as well as human spermatozoa. Although heat shock treatment can decrease cell viability, no induction of gammaH2AX foci formation was observed in any of these cells. In addition, a p53-deficient cell line (U2OSE6tet24) and a flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1)-deficient cell line (FL-FEN1(-)) also did not show induction of gammaH2AX foci after heat shock treatment. Finally, it was found that 30min of pre-heat shock can inhibit gammaH2AX foci formation induced by an alkylating agent, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), which is known to induce gammaH2AX foci formation. On the other hand, heat shock after MNNG treatment did not affect the gammaH2AX foci formation induced by MNNG. Taken together, these data suggest that although heat shock might influence the gammaH2AX foci formation process, it does not induce DNA damage in the cells tested in this study.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a glutathione S-transferase gene from Ginkgo biloba.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play an important role in the response of plants to changing environmental conditions. Here, we report the cloning of the GST gene for GST from Ginkgo biloba, a native medicinal plant species in China, by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA (designated as GbGST) was 1008 bp and contained a 684 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 228 amino acids. The genomic sequence of GbGST was also obtained. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that GbGST expressed in all tested tissues of G. biloba, including leaf, root and stem and the expression of GbGST could be induced by UV, MJ and drought treatments, suggesting that GbGST was potentially involved in plant's stress tolerance. To our knowledge, this is the first GST cDNA cloned from Ginkgoaceae. Based on comparative analyses of amino acid sequence, phylogeny, predicted three-dimensional structure together with the gene structure, the GbGST should be classified into the tau class.     

Structure-directed combinatorial library design

In recent years pharmaceutical companies have utilized structure-based drug design and combinatorial library design techniques to speed up their drug discovery efforts. Both approaches are routinely used in the lead discovery and lead optimization stages of the drug discovery process. Fragment-based drug design, a new power tool in the drug design toolbox, is also gaining acceptance across the pharmaceutical industry. This review will focus on the interplay between these three design techniques and recent developments in computational methodologies that enhance their integration. Examples of successful synergistic applications of these three techniques will be highlighted. Opinion regarding possible future directions of the field will be given.     

钙调蛋白拮抗剂对人胃癌细胞效应机理的研究——钙调蛋白与磷酸二酯酶活性测定分析

我们曾经证明钙调蛋白(Calmodulin,CaM)拮抗剂三氟拉嗪(Trifluoperazine,TFP)有抑制人胃癌细胞增殖和诱导细胞形态向正常分化的效应。本文用CaM活性测定箱方法测定了TFP处理的人胃癌MGC-803细胞胞质内的CaM活性。同时也测定了磷酸二酯酶(Phosphodiesterase.PDE)活性的变化。结果表明TFP选择性抑制胞质内依赖Ca²⁺/CaM的PDE活性。氨茶碱有抑制CaM活化PDE的作用。本文对TFP作用机理及在调控癌细胞增殖及分化中的意义进行讨论。     

Synthesis, crystal structure and optical properties of a new lead bismuth borate

A new phase of the compound PbBiBO₄ has been successfully synthesized via the standard solid-state reaction, and the crystal structure has been determined from X-ray monocrystal diffraction data. It crystallizes in orthorhombic space group Cmca (No. 64) with lattice constants a = 10.782(3) Å, b = 10.502(3) Å, c = 7.477(2) Å, Z = 8. The crystal structure is characterized by a three-dimensional structure consisting of BiO₆ octahedra, PbO₄ tetrahedra and BO₃ triangles. The BiO₆ octahedra compose the layers through the O(2) atoms and O(3) atoms along the [1 0 1] direction, which connects the BO₃ trigonal groups by sharing the O(3) and two O(1) atoms and links the PbO₄ tetrahedra through the O(2) atoms. The UV–Vis–NIR Diffuse-Reflectance spectrum shows that the ultraviolet cutoff edge for the PbBiBO₄ crystal is about 310 nm. Functional groups in the sample were identified by Infrared spectrum.