Visualization of ceramide channels in lysosomes following endogenous palmitoyl-ceramide accumulation as an initial step in the induction of necrosis

In this study, we showed that the dual addition of glucosyl ceramide synthase and ceramidase inhibitors to A549 cell culture led to the possibility of ceramide channel formation via endogenous palmitoyl-ceramide accumulation with an increase in cholesterol contents in the lysosome membrane as an initial step prior to initiation of necrotic cell death. In addition, the dual addition led to black circular structures of 10–20 nm, interpreted as stain-filled cylindrical channels on transmission electron microscopy. The formation of palmitoyl-ceramide channels in the lysosome membrane causes the liberation of cathepsin B from lysosomes for necrotic cell death. On the other hand, necrotic cell death in the dual addition was not caused by oxidative stress or cathepsin B activity, and the cell death was free from the contribution of the translation of Bax protein to the lysosome membrane.     

Kinetics of the competitive reactions of isomerization and peptide bond cleavage at l‐α‐ and d‐β‐aspartyl residues in an αA‐crystallin fragment

d ‐β‐aspartyl (Asp) residue has been found in a living body such as aged lens crystallin, although l ‐α‐amino acids are constituents in natural proteins. Isomerization from l ‐α‐ to d ‐β‐Asp probably modulates structures to affect biochemical reactions. At Asp residue, isomerization and peptide bond cleavage compete with each other. To gain insight into how fast each reaction proceeds, the analysis requires the consideration of both pathways simultaneously and independently. No information has been provided, however, about these competitive processes because each reaction has been studied separately. The contribution of Asp isomers to the respective pathways has still been veiled. In this work, the two competitive reactions, isomerization and spontaneous peptide bond cleavage at Asp residue, were simultaneously observed and compared in an αA‐crystallin fragment, S⁵¹LFRTVLD⁵⁸SG⁶⁰ containing l ‐α‐ and d ‐β‐Asp58 isomers. The kinetics showed that the formation of l ‐ and d ‐succinimide (Suc) intermediate, as a first step of isomerization, was comparable at l ‐α‐ and d ‐β‐Asp. Although l ‐Suc was converted to l ‐β‐Asp, d ‐Suc was liable to return to the original d ‐β‐Asp, the reverse reaction marked enough to consider d ‐β‐Asp as apparently stable. d ‐β‐Asp was also resistant to the peptide bond cleavage. Such apparent less reactivity is probably the reason for gradual and abnormal accumulation of d ‐β‐Asp in a living body under physiological conditions. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Drosophila Chitinase 2 is expressed in chitin producing organs for cuticle formation

The architecture of the outer body wall cuticle is fundamental to protect arthropods against invading pathogens and numerous other harmful stresses. Such robust cuticles are formed by parallel running chitin microfibrils. Molting and also local wounding leads to dynamic assembly and disassembly of the chitin-matrix throughout development. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that organize proper chitin-matrix formation are poorly known. Recently we identified a key region for cuticle thickening at the apical cell surface, the cuticle assembly zone, where Obstructor-A (Obst-A) coordinates the formation of the chitin-matrix. Obst-A binds chitin and the deacetylase Serpentine (Serp) in a core complex, which is required for chitin-matrix maturation and preservation. Here we present evidence that Chitinase 2 (Cht2) could be essential for this molecular machinery. We show that Cht2 is expressed in the chitin-matrix of epidermis, trachea, and the digestive system. There, Cht2 is enriched at the apical cell surface and the dense chitin-matrix. We further show that in Cht2 knockdown larvae the assembly zone is rudimentary, preventing normal cuticle formation and pore canal organization. As sequence similarities of Cht2 and the core complex proteins indicate evolutionarily conserved molecular mechanisms, our findings suggest that Cht2 is involved in chitin formation also in other insects.     

高山植物全缘叶绿绒蒿在不同海拔地区的传粉生态学研究

为了探明高山植物全缘叶绿绒蒿(Meconopsis integrifolia)的繁育系统特点和其对高山气候环境的繁殖适应特征, 我们沿海拔梯度选择了5个样地(样地1 (4452 m)、样地2 (4215 m)、样地3 (4081 m)、样地4 (3841 m)、样地5 (3681 m))对其传粉生态学进行了连续2年的观察试验。结果发现, 样地1、2的全缘叶绿绒蒿的单花寿命显著长于样地3、4和5。花开放早期柱头高于花药, 之后花药不断伸长, 并在开放中后期与柱头接触, 说明全缘叶绿绒蒿具有不完全雌雄异位的花部特征。自然状态下, 柱头可授能力持续期约8天(雌蕊先熟), 但花药于开花第5天才散粉, 花粉寿命约2天, 说明全缘叶绿绒蒿为雌雄异熟, 但存在一定的重叠期。人工授粉试验表明, 全缘叶绿绒蒿自交部分亲和, 且不存在无融合生殖现象。各样地中自然对照的结实率显著低于人工异交处理的结实率, 说明自然状态下全缘叶绿绒蒿存在一定程度的传粉限制。传粉昆虫观察发现, 样地1和2的传粉昆虫主要是蝇类, 样地3、4和5的传粉昆虫主要是蝇类和蓟马(Thripidae spp.), 蝇类在不同植株间的活动能够保证异花传粉结实, 同时, 蝇类和蓟马在花内的活动会引起“协助自交”。全缘叶绿绒蒿约65%的观察个体存在“自动自交”。蝇类在各样地的访花频率存在显著差异, 样地1访花频率最低, 样地2访花频率最高。各样地的结实由于异花传粉者的不足而受到传粉限制。两种不同类型的自交机制恰恰为该植物异花传粉者不足提供了一定程度的繁殖补偿。全缘叶绿绒蒿不分泌花蜜, 当环境温度降低时, 采取为昆虫提供保温庇护场所的方式来吸引传粉者。     

Regulation of cellular adhesion molecule expression in murine oocytes, peri-implant ation and post-implantation embryos

Expression of the adhesion molecules, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, NCAM, CD44, CD49d (VLA-4, a chain), and CDlla (LFA-1, a chain) on mouse oocytes, and pre- and peri-implantation stage embryos was examined by quantitative indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. ICAM-1 was most strongly expressed at the oocyte stage, gradually declining almost to undetectable levels by the expanded blastocyst stage. NCAM, also expressed maximally on the oocyte, declined to undetectable levels beyond the morula stage. On the other hand, CD44 declined from highest expression at the oocyte stage to show a second maximum at the compacted 8-cell/morula. This molecule exhibited high expression around contact areas between trophecto-derm and zona pellucida during blastocyst hatching. CD49d was highly expressed in the oocyte, remained significantly expressed throughout and after blastocyst hatching was expressed on the polar trophecto-derm. Like CD44, CD49d declined to undetectable levels at the blastocyst outgrowth stage. Expression of both     

青菜的高效再生和农杆菌介导B.t.及CpTI基因的转化

分别对培养基中适宜的激素组成和AgNO3 添加浓度进行研究 ,建立了青菜下胚轴和子叶外植体的高效再生系统 ,青菜品种“矮抗青”的最高芽分化频率下胚轴可达 6 5 % ,子叶为 5 2 %左右。在此基础上 ,对影响转化频率的不同因素进行了探讨 ,共获 94株卡那霉素抗性植株。对转基因植株总DNA的Southernblot ting分析证明 ,B .t .基因和CpTI基因已整合到青菜植株的细胞核基因组中。经过抗虫性筛选试验 ,从转基因植株的T3 代筛选到 7个转B .t.基因的抗虫纯合株系和 5个转CpTI基因的抗虫纯合株系 ,并进入田间小区青菜抗虫新品种试验     

Genetic mapping of a new semi-dwarf gene, sd-t(t), in indica rice and estimating of the physical distance of the mapping region

Application and functional study of dwarf and semi-dwarf genes are of great importance to both crop breeding and molecular biology. A new semi-dwarf gene, sd-t(t), non-allelic to sd-1, had been identified in an indica rice variety, Aitaiyin 2. In this study the gene was genetically mapped by using an F2 population, which consisted of 474 individuals developed from a cross between Aitaiyin 2 and B30. The sd-t(t) gene was located between the RFLP markers R514 and R1408B with a distance of 1.1 cM to R514, and 4.5 cM to R1408B on chromosome 4. A physical contig covering the sd-t(t) mapping region was further constructed by screening a BAG library with R514 and R1408B as probes, and the physical distance between R514 and R1408B was estimated at approximately 147 kb. This result will facilitate map-based cloning of the sd-t(t) gene.     

一位46,XY,t(11;18)平衡易位携带者的联会复合体分析

运用表面铺展联会复合体(synaptonemal cotnplex,SC)的电镜技术对一位46,XY,t(11;18)平衡易位携带者性细胞进行SC观察,分析了30个精母细胞(从早粗线期→晚粗线期)中SC图象,这些精母细胞中均显示了1个性二价体、20个常染色体二价体(SC)和1个四价体。对其中的21个四价体配对行为进行分析,发现有20个四价体发生部分异源配对,其中4、14和2个四价体分别发生在早、中和晚粗线期,发生在早粗线期的异源配对是一种直接的异源配对,与以前报道的发生在晚粗线期经联会调整的异源配对不同。并对该患者发生生殖失败的机制进行了讨论。