TGF-beta1-induced PI3K/Akt/NF-kappaB/MMP9 signalling pathway is activated in Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia hemangioblasts

Overwhelming evidence from chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) research indicates that patients harbour quiescent CML stem cells that are responsible for blast crisis. While the haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) origin of CML was first suggested over 30 years ago, recently CML-initiating cells beyond HSCs are also being investigated. We have previously isolated fetal liver kinase-1-positive (Flk1(+)) cells carrying the BCR/ABL fusion gene from the bone marrow of Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph(+)) patients with hemangioblast property. Here, we show that these cells behave abnormally comparing with the hemangioblasts in healthy donors. These Ph(+) putative CML hemangioblast up-regulated TGF-β1 and result in activating matrix metalloproteinase-9 to enhance s-KitL and s-ICAM-1 secretion. Further studies showed that phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt/nuclear factor-κB signalling pathway was involved in CML pathogenesis. These findings provide direct evidence for the first time that hemangioblasts beyond HSCs play a critical role in the progression of CML.     

来源于铜绿假单胞杆菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa)所产蛋白酶PT121克隆表达及其在小肽合成上的应用

【目的】基于前期筛选到的P.aeruginosa PT121所产有机溶剂耐受性蛋白酶,本研究对该蛋白酶进行克隆表达,研究了重组蛋白的酶学性质及小肽合成上的应用。【方法】参考文献中报道的相似蛋白酶pseudolysin设计引物从菌株PT121基因组中克隆到耐有机溶剂蛋白酶PT121基因las B。构建诱导表达重组质粒p ET22b-las B,于大肠杆菌中进行表达。考察蛋白酶PT121酶学性质及小肽合成上的应用。【结果】序列分析表明las B基因编码信号肽、前肽及成熟肽3个部分,成熟肽部分含有301个氨基酸,分子量约33 k Da,属于金属蛋白酶M4家族。通过破碎条件优化,一步法制备得到较为纯净的重组蛋白酶PT121,其比活力达7700 U/mg,该酶呈现了较高的热稳定性,p H稳定性及溶剂耐受性,与野生菌P.aeruginosa PT121所产蛋白酶性质一致。在50%DMSO体系中高效催化合成了多种小肽,其中阿斯巴甜前体(Cbz-Asp-Phe-NH2)产率高达91%。【结论】蛋白酶PT121基因在大肠杆菌中克隆表达为进一步研究相关催化机理及分子改造奠定了基础。     

73例中国人血友病甲基因突变的分析

我们用Southern blotting、PCR、变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)和DNA测序等方法对73例血友病甲患者(经上海瑞金医院测定血浆FVⅢ:C和vWF:Ag诊断,其中无亲缘关系患者65例,按FVⅢ:C水平分为轻、中、重三型。FVⅢ:C< 2%为重型,共47例;FVⅢ:C 2%-5%为中型,共9例;FVⅢ:C5%-25%为轻型,共1 7例)进行FVⅢ基因突变检测。共检出内含子22倒位23例,均为重型,约占重型的49%,与国外报道相似。余下50例(其中无亲缘关系者45)用PCR-DGG E分析所有外显子及其侧翼内含子序列,发现异常条带则进行DNA测序。在17例患者中检出突变13种,其中无义突变5种,均为重型;错义突变6种,除1例外都是轻中型;小缺失2例,都是重型;其中,AA466Lys(AAG)-Thr(ACG)、719Tyr(TAC)-Stop(TAG)、AA826 Asp(GAC)-Glu(GAA)、312Ile(ATC)-xxC及AA1551-1552del(AGAA)为新发现的突变。有亲缘关系的患者都有相同的基因突变,而在无亲缘关系患者未发现相同突变。基因突变与临床表现基本相符。 Abstract:We use Southern blotting,PCR,denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(DGGE)and DNA sequencing to detect gene mutations of haemophilia A in Chinese population.73 cases(47 severe)(FVIII:C<2%),9 moderate(FVIII:C 2%~5%),17 mild(FVIII:C 5%~25%)of haemophilia A were first screened with Southern blotting,23 were found to be the intron 22 inversion type,all being severe cases.The remaining 50 cases without intron 22 in version were examined with PCR-DGGE.Genomic DNA were amplified using GC-clamped primers covering all the exons and all flanking intron regions.Abnormal bands were sequenced.13 different mutations were identified,including 5 nonsense mutations,6 missense mutations and 2 small deletions.5 mutations,AA466Lys(AAG)-Thr(ACG),AA719Tyr(TAC)-Stop(TAG),AA826Asp(GAC)-Glu(GAA),AA312Ile(ATC)-xxC and AA1551-1552del(AGAA)have not been reported before.Generally the genetic defects correspond to the clinical conditions.     

达斡尔族成人的体格,体型及半个多世纪来的变化

对内蒙古自治区莫力达瓦族３５３名（男１８７,女１６６）２０－６０岁达斡尔族进行了活体观察与测量,总结了达斡尔族的体格特征和类型。并在城乡之间和与半个世纪以前同一地区达斡尔族的体质资料之间进行了比较。     

The D-Lactate Dehydrogenase from Sporolactobacillus inulinus Also Possessing Reversible Deamination Activity

Hydroxyacid dehydrogenases are responsible for the conversion of 2-keto acids to 2-hydroxyacids and have a wide range of biotechnological applications. In this study, a D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH) from a Sporolactobacillus inulinus strain was experimentally verified to have both the D-LDH and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities (reversible deamination). The catalytic mechanism was demonstrated by identification of key residues from the crystal structure analysis and site-directed mutagenesis. The Arg²³⁴ and Gly⁷⁹ residues of this enzyme play a significant role in both D-LDH and GDH activities. His²⁹⁵ and Phe²⁹⁸ in DLDH744 were identified to be key residues for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity only whereas Tyr¹⁰¹ is a unique residue that is critical for GDH activity. Characterization of the biochemical properties contributes to understanding of the catalytic mechanism of this novel D-lactate dehydrogenase enzyme.     

ER-localized adenine nucleotide transporter ER-ANT1: an integrator of energy and stress signaling in rice

Most environmental perturbations have a direct or indirect deleterious impact on photosynthesis, and, in consequence, the overall energy status of the cell. Despite our increased understanding of convergent energy and stress signals, the connections between photosynthesis, energy and stress signals through putative common nodes are still unclear. Here we identified an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized adenine nucleotide transporter1 (ER-ANT1), whose deficiency causes seedling lethality in air but viable under high CO₂, exhibiting the typical photorespiratory phenotype. Metabolic analysis suggested that depletion of ER-ANT1 resulted in circadian rhythm disorders in sucrose synthesis and induced sucrose signaling pathways, indicating that the ER is involved in the regulation of vital energy metabolism in plants. In addition, the defect of ER-ANT1 triggers ER stress and activates the unfolded protein response in plant cells, suggesting ER stress and photorespiration are closely linked. These findings provide an important evidence for a key role of ER-localized ER-ANT1 in convergent energy and stress signals in rice. Our findings support the idea that ATP is a central signal involved in the plant response to a variety of stresses.     

In vitro culture expansion impairs chondrogenic differentiation and the therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells by regulating the unfolded protein response

In vitro expansion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been implicated in loss of multipotency, leading to impaired chondrogenic potential and an eventual therapeutic effect, as reported in our previous study. However, the precise regulatory mechanism is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) were involved in transformation of MSCs induced by in vitro culture based on the comparative profiling of in vitro cultured bone marrow MSCs at passage 3 (P3 BMSCs) vs. fresh P0 BMSCs by microarray analysis. Indeed, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed significantly lower expression levels of three key UPR-related molecules, ATF4, ATF6 and XBP1, in P3 BMSCs than P0 BMSCs. Further, we found that UPR suppression by 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) reduced the chondrogenic potential of P0 BMSCs and further cartilage regeneration. Conversely, UPR induction by tunicamycin (TM) enhanced the chondrogenic differentiation of P3 BMSCs and the therapeutic effect on cartilage repair. Thus, the decline in the chondrogenic potential of stem cells after in vitro culture and expansion may be due to changes in ER stress and the UPR pathway.