Deregulation of Cdc2 kinase induces caspase-3 activation and apoptosis

Progression of the cell cycle and control of apoptosis are tightly linked processes. It has been reported that manifestation of apoptosis requires cdc2 kinase activity yet the mechanism(s) of which is largely unclear. In an attempt to study the role of human MDM2 (HDM2) in interphase and mitosis, we employed the Xenopus cell-free system to study HDM2 protein stability. Interestingly, HDM2 is specifically cleaved in Xenopus mitotic extracts but not in the interphase extracts. We demonstrate that HDM2 cleavage is dependent on caspase-3 and that activation of cdc2 kinase results in caspase-3 activation in the Xenopus cell-free system. Furthermore, expression of cdc2 kinase in mammalian cells leads to activation of caspase-3 and apoptosis. Taken together, these data indicate that deregulation of cdc2 kinase activity can trigger apoptotic machinery that leads to caspase-3 activation and apoptosis.     

大豆异黄酮对去卵巢大鼠骨密度及骨代谢影响的实验研究

目的 探讨大豆异黄酮对去卵巢大鼠骨丢失的防治作用及其作用机理。方法 选用卵巢切除大鼠所诱发的骨质疏松模型,给与大豆异黄酮治疗。三个月后测定大鼠骨密度及骨代谢相关生化指标。结果 大豆异黄酮可提高卵巢切除大鼠的骨密度及血清雌激素水平,降低尿钙（Ca),尿磷（P）及尿羟脯氨酸（HOP）的排泄,同时降低血清总碱性磷酸酶（ALP）,骨碱性磷酸酶（BALP）,及抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶（TRACP）的活性,还可使血清骨钙素（BGP）的浓度降低,促使卵巢切除大鼠子宫的相对重量增加,其作用与剂量相关。结论 小剂量大豆异黄酮有类似雌激素样作用,可有效防治卵巢切除大鼠的骨量丢失,其作用机制可能是通过降低骨转换率实现的。     

Edible insects in China: Utilization and prospects

The use of edible insects has a long history in China, where they have been consumed for more than 2000 years. In general, the level of acceptance is high for the consumption of insects in China. Many studies on edible insects have been conducted in the last 20 years, and the scope of the research includes the culture of entomophagy and the identification, nutritional value, farming and breeding of edible insects, in addition to food production and safety. Currently, 324 species of insects from 11 orders are documented that are either edible or associated with entomophagy in China, which include the common edible species, some less commonly consumed species and some medicinal insects. However, only approximately 10 to 20 types of insects are regularly consumed. The nutritional values for 174 species are available in China, including edible, feed and medicinal species. Although the nutritional values vary among species, all the insects examined contain protein, fat, vitamins and minerals at levels that meet human nutritional requirements. Edible insects were, and continue to be, consumed by different ethnic groups in many parts of China. People directly consume insects or food products made from insects. The processing of products from insect protein powder, oil and chitin, and the development of healthcare foods has been studied in China. People also consume insects indirectly by eating livestock that were fed insects, which may be a more acceptable pathway to use insects in human diets. Although limited, the data on the food safety of insects indicate that insects are safe for food or feed. Incidences of allergic reactions after consuming silkworm pupae, cicadas and crickets have been reported in China. Insect farming is a unique breeding industry in rural China and is a source of income for local people. Insects are reared and bred for human food, medicine and animal feed using two approaches in China: the insects are either fully domesticated and reared completely in captivity or are partially raised in captivity, and the insect habitat is manipulated to increase production. Depending on the type of relationship the insect has with humans, plants and the environment, different farming strategies are used. The social and scientific communities must work together to promote the use of insects as food and feed.     

导入外源DNA小麦变异类型的光合特性研究(简报)

花粉管通道法是我国学者周光宇等在调查远缘杂交时提出的一种外源基因导入方法。本实验系用花粉管通道技术将C_4植物高粱总DNA(2D)导入C_3作物小麦甘麦8号(G8)和陇春13号(L13),结果在其后代中出现了广泛变异,并从中选育到了丰产、抗逆性强的小麦新品系89144(G8×2D)和89122(L13×2D)。连续几年的大田试验结果表明,其株形、抗锈性及经济产量显著优于其小麦亲本品种。为了进一步阐明这两个变异系光合性状优于其亲本     

胡桃楸个体有性生殖过程研究

胡桃楸是东北东部山地阔叶红松林的重要组成树种。以胡桃楸个体有性生殖过程为研究对象,通过定株定枝调查,研究了胡桃楸芽种群分化、物候及散粉规律、颗粒生长发育过程及环境影响因子。结果表明：１．胡桃楸壮龄树芽种群分化简单。２．胡桃楸个体间花期物候差异很大,并具有典型的雌雄异熟现象。３．胡桃幼果期生长速度快,生长分化现象严重,疏果率高;进入果实生长后期之后,生长速度及疏果率均显著降低。     

CD95 (Fas) ligand-expressing vesicles display antibody-mediated, FcR-dependent enhancement of cytotoxicity

Bioactive Fas ligand (FasL)-expressing vesicles were generated (vesicle preparation, VP) from two cell lines overexpressing FasL. The effect of NOK-1 anti-FasL mAb (mouse IgG1) on the cytotoxicity of FasL VP against various targets was determined. At high concentrations (1-10 microg/ml), NOK-1 inhibited the cytotoxicity. By contrast, NOK-1 in the dose range of 1-100 ng/ml significantly enhanced cytotoxicity against the FcR(+) LB27.4, M59, and LF(+) targets, but not the FcR(-) Jurkat and K31H28 hybridoma T cell targets. The ability to enhance FasL VP-mediated cytotoxicity could be blocked by the FcR-specific mAb 2.4G2. Enhancement was also observed with FcR(+) A20 B lymphoma but not with the FcR(-) A20 variant. Enhancement of FasL VP cytotoxicity was observed with five IgG anti-FasL mAbs, but not with an IgM anti-FasL mAb. Inhibition was observed with high doses of all mAb except the IgG anti-FasL mAb G247-4, which is specific to a segment outside the FasL binding site. Interestingly, under identical conditions but in the presence of 2.4G2, G247-4 inhibited the cytotoxicity of FasL VP. In addition, G247-4 inhibited the FasL VP-mediated killing of FcR(-) Jurkat. The data demonstrate that FasL-expressing bioactive vesicles display a property heretofore unknown in bioactive agents that express FasL-mediated cytotoxicity. The mechanism of the Ab-mediated, FcR-dependent enhancement of cytotoxicity of bioactive vesicles and its physiological significance are discussed.     

Overexpression of a Lotus corniculatus AP2/ERF transcription factor gene,LcERF080, enhances tolerance to salt stress in transgenic Arabidopsis

The APETALA2/ethylene-responsive element binding factors (AP2/ERF) play central roles in the stress response in plants. In this study, we identified and isolated a novel salt stress-related gene, LcERF080, that encodes an AP2/ERF protein in Lotus corniculatus cultivar Leo. LcERF080 was classified into the B-4 group of the ERF subfamily based on multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic characterization. Expression of LcERF080 was strongly induced by salt, abscisic acid, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, methyl jasmonate, and salicylic acid stresses. Subcellular localization assay confirmed that LcERF080 is a nuclear protein. LcERF080 overexpression in Arabidopsis resulted in pleiotropic phenotypes with a higher seed germination rate and transgenic plants with enhanced tolerance to salt stress. Further, under stress conditions, the transgenic lines exhibited elevated levels of soluble sugars and proline as well as relative moisture contents but a lower malondialdehyde content than in control plants. The expression levels of hyperosmotic salinity response genes COR15A, RD22, and P5CS1 were found to be elevated in the LcERF080-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants compared to the wild-type plants. These results reveal that LcERF080 is involved in the responses of plants to salt stress.