As_2O_3干预口腔鳞癌A431细胞EGFR表达的研究

目的：研究三氧化二砷（As2O3）对人口腔鳞癌A431细胞生长的抑制作用,探讨其抗肿瘤的机制。方法：合成特异性靶向到肿瘤细胞表面表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）的近红外荧光分子对比剂EGF-Cy5.5,验证试剂合成的靶向特异性。口腔鳞状细胞癌A431细胞系暴露于浓度分别为0μM,0.5μM,2.5μM和5.0μM的三氧化二砷溶液中0,24 h,48 h和72 h。共聚焦显微镜、流式细胞仪及免疫组化证实EGFR的表达水平,上述实验均测量三次,结果取平均值。结果：EGF-Cy5.5靶向荧光对比剂的标记率为68%~70%。对比对照组,越高浓度的三氧化二砷处理的肿瘤细胞其获得的细胞荧光信号强度越小,这与药物浓度越高细胞表面表达EGFR的量越少相一致。流式细胞仪显示,在72小时,作用于细胞的三氧化二砷药物浓度分别为0.5μM,2.5μM,和5.0μM,其相对应获得的细胞EGFR表达量分别为57.28±3.2%（P〈0.05）,29.91±2.2%（P〈0.01）和10.73±2.4%（P〈0.01）,明显低于对照组的细胞EGFR表达量74.42±1.8%,（P〈0.05）。结论：本研究应用近红外荧光分子成像的方法体外检测口腔鳞状细胞癌A431的EGFR表达水平,实验证明三氧化二砷对其EGFR具有明显的抑制作用,且抑制作用具有时间-剂量依赖性。     

Identification of the synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 receptor binding site in botulinum neurotoxin A

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) inhibit neurotransmitter release by hydrolysing SNARE proteins. The most important serotype BoNT/A employs the synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 (SV2) isoforms A-C as neuronal receptors. Here, we identified their binding site by blocking SV2 interaction using monoclonal antibodies with characterised epitopes within the cell binding domain (H_C). The site is located on the backside of the conserved ganglioside binding pocket at the interface of the H_CC and H_CN subdomains. The dimension of the binding pocket was characterised in detail by site directed mutagenesis allowing the development of potent inhibitors as well as modifying receptor binding properties.     

Dimer–Dimer Interaction of the Bacterial Selenocysteine Synthase SelA Promotes Functional Active-Site Formation and Catalytic Specificity

The 21st amino acid, selenocysteine (Sec), is incorporated translationally into proteins and is synthesized on its specific tRNA (tRNA^Sec). In Bacteria, the selenocysteine synthase SelA converts Ser-tRNA^Sec, formed by seryl-tRNA synthetase, to Sec-tRNA^Sec. SelA, a member of the fold-type-I pyridoxal 5′-phosphate-dependent enzyme superfamily, has an exceptional homodecameric quaternary structure with a molecular mass of about 500 kDa. Our previously determined crystal structures of Aquifex aeolicus SelA complexed with tRNA^Sec revealed that the ring-shaped decamer is composed of pentamerized SelA dimers, with two SelA dimers arranged to collaboratively interact with one Ser-tRNA^Sec. The SelA catalytic site is close to the dimer–dimer interface, but the significance of the dimer pentamerization in the catalytic site formation remained elusive. In the present study, we examined the quaternary interactions and demonstrated their importance for SelA activity by systematic mutagenesis. Furthermore, we determined the crystal structures of “depentamerized” SelA variants with mutations at the dimer–dimer interface that prevent pentamerization. These dimeric SelA variants formed a distorted and inactivated catalytic site and confirmed that the pentamer interactions are essential for productive catalytic site formation. Intriguingly, the conformation of the non-functional active site of dimeric SelA shares structural features with other fold-type-I pyridoxal 5′-phosphate-dependent enzymes with native dimer or tetramer (dimer-of-dimers) quaternary structures.     

Mechanisms of cohesin-mediated gene regulation and lessons learned from cohesinopathies

Cohesins are conserved and essential Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) protein-containing complexes that physically interact with chromatin and modulate higher-order chromatin organization. Cohesins mediate sister chromatid cohesion and cellular long-distance chromatin interactions affecting genome maintenance and gene expression. Discoveries of mutations in cohesin's subunits and its regulator proteins in human developmental disorders, so-called “cohesinopathies,” reveal crucial roles for cohesins in development and cellular growth and differentiation. In this review, we discuss the latest findings concerning cohesin's functions in higher-order chromatin architecture organization and gene regulation and new insight gained from studies of cohesinopathies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Chromatin and epigenetic regulation of animal development.     

Systematic study of photoluminescence,lyoluminescence and mechanoluminescence in Ce3+‐ and Eu3+‐activated Li3PO4 phosphors

Li₃PO₄ phosphor was prepared using a modified solid‐state diffusion technique. In this work, photoluminescence, lyoluminescence and mechanoluminescence studies were carried out in a Li₃PO₄ microcrystalline powder doped with different rare earths. In photoluminescence studies, characteristic emission of Ce and Eu was observed. The lyoluminescence glow curves of Li₃PO₄ microcrystals show that lyoluminescence intensity initially increases with time and then decreases exponentially. The decay time consists of two components for all masses. The dependence of decay time, especially the longer component, on mass has been investigated. Experiments on γ‐irradiated crystals have proved that the light emission originates from the recombination of released F‐centres with trapped holes (V₂‐centres) at the sulfuric acid–solid interface. Incorporation of bivalent alkali in solid lithium phosphate leads to an enhancement of lyoluminescence. A possible explanation for the experimental results has been attempted. The phosphor has a mechanoluminescence single glow peak. Mechanoluminescence intensity under various loading conditions was investigated. It is observed that mechanoluminescence intensity increases with increasing impurity concentration and increasing piston impact velocity. The results may be considered as only being of academic interest in solid‐state materials. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

P13K—Akt—mTORC1信号途径在细胞生长增殖中的调控作用

P13K-AKT—mTORCl信号途径在细胞生长增殖中起重要调控作用,P13K-Akt—mTORl信号途径能够调节细胞周期相关蛋白基因的表达来调控细胞的增殖;同时,P13K—Akt-mTORl信号途径也能够调控细胞的生长和大小;P13K-Akt-mTORCl信号途径的异常活化与肿瘤发生紧密相关。就P13K—AKT-mTORCl信号途径在细胞生长增殖中的作用作一综述。     

低钾型周期性麻痹相关的Cchl1a3基因R528H敲入小鼠模型的构建

目的：构建低钾型周期性麻痹相关的Cchl1a3基因R528H敲入小鼠模型。方法将 Cchl1a3-knock-in打靶载体电转染ES细胞,经过G418和Ganciclovoir筛选阳性ES细胞克隆并用PCR和DNA测序法鉴定。将阳性ES克隆注射到小鼠囊胚,获得嵌合体小鼠。通过杂交获得的杂合子小鼠与FLP小鼠交配繁育获得去neo杂合子小鼠,并用PCR和DNA测序进行鉴定。将去neo杂合子小鼠交配得到纯合子后代,进行生长发育等方面的观察。结果打靶载体成功转染ES细胞,PCR和DNA测序法证实9个ES细胞克隆发生正确的同源重组。通过显微注射获得7只嵌合体小鼠。将嵌合体小鼠交配繁育的杂合子小鼠和FLP小鼠交配获得9只去neo杂合子小鼠,最终得到15只去neo纯合子小鼠。该小鼠在发育至性成熟阶段,精神、饮食及活动状态良好,但是在4个月龄时逐渐出现脱毛,皮肤破溃甚至死亡。结论成功构建Cchl1a3基因 R528H 突变的纯合子小鼠,为研究人类CACNA1S基因功能和阐明低钾型周期性麻痹发生的分子机制奠定了基础。     

Dopamine D2 receptor-mediated Akt/PKB signalling: initiation by the D2S receptor and role in quinpirole-induced behavioural activation

The short and long isoforms of the dopamine D2 receptor (D2S and D2L respectively) are highly expressed in the striatum. Functional D2 receptors activate an intracellular signalling pathway that includes a cAMP-independent route involving Akt/GSK3 (glycogen synthase kinase 3). To investigate the Akt/GSK3 response to the seldom-studied D2S receptor, we established a rat D2S receptor-expressing cell line [HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293/rD2S]. We found that in HEK-293/rD2S cells, the D2/D3 agonists bromocriptine and quinpirole significantly induced Akt and GSK3 phosphorylation, as well as ERK1/2 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2) activation. The D2S receptor-induced Akt signals were profoundly inhibited by the internalization blockers monodansyl cadaverine and concanavalin A. Activation of the D2S receptor in HEK-293/rD2S cells appeared to trigger Akt/phospho-Akt translocation to the cell membrane. In addition to our cell culture experiments, we studied D2 receptor-dependent Akt in vivo by systemic administration of the D2/D3 agonist quinpirole. The results show that quinpirole evoked Akt-Ser⁴⁷³ phosphorylation in the ventral striatum. Furthermore, intra-accumbens administration of wortmannin, a PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) inhibitor, significantly suppressed the quinpirole-evoked behavioural activation. Overall, we demonstrate that activation of the dopamine D2S receptor stimulates Akt/GSK3 signalling. In addition, in vivo Akt activity in the ventral striatum appears to play an important role in systemic D2/D3 agonist-induced behavioural activation.     

Sesquiterpenoids from the Resina Commiphora Promoting the Apoptotic Activity of PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cells

Four new germacrane-type sesquiterpenes commiphoranes M1-M4 ( 1 - 4 ) together with eighteen sesquiterpenes were isolated from the Resina Commiphora. The structures and relative configurations of new substances were determined by using spectroscopic methods. Biological activity investigation revealed that nine compounds including 7 , 9 , 14 , 16 , (+)- 17 , (−)- 17 , 18 , 19 , and 20 could induce the apoptosis of prostate cancer originated PC-3 cells, through classic apoptosis signaling pathway, even using flow cytometry showed that the compound (+)- 17 caused apoptosis of PC-3 cells more than 40 %, suggesting their potential therapeutic application in the development of novel drugs against prostate cancer.