Proteomic analysis of Rac1 signaling regulation by guanine nucleotide exchange factors

The small GTPase Rac1 is implicated in various cellular processes that are essential for normal cell function. Deregulation of Rac1 signaling has also been linked to a number of diseases, including cancer. The diversity of Rac1 functioning in cells is mainly attributed to its ability to bind to a multitude of downstream effectors following activation by Guanine nucleotide Exchange Factors (GEFs). Despite the identification of a large number of Rac1 binding partners, factors influencing downstream specificity are poorly defined, thus hindering the detailed understanding of both Rac1's normal and pathological functions. In a recent study, we demonstrated a role for 2 Rac-specific GEFs, Tiam1 and P-Rex1, in mediating Rac1 anti- versus pro-migratory effects, respectively. Importantly, via conducting a quantitative proteomic screen, we identified distinct changes in the Rac1 interactome following activation by either GEF, indicating that these opposing effects are mediated through GEF modulation of the Rac1 interactome. Here, we present the full list of identified Rac1 interactors together with functional annotation of the differentially regulated Rac1 binding partners. In light of this data, we also provide additional insights into known and novel signaling cascades that might account for the GEF-mediated Rac1-driven cellular effects.     

Human CD8+ T cells transduced with an additional receptor bispecific for both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV‐1 recognize both epitopes

Tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) infection are closely intertwined, with one‐quarter of TB/HIV coinfected deaths among people died of TB. Effector CD8⁺ T cells play a crucial role in the control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and HIV‐1 infection in coinfected patients. Adoptive transfer of a multitude of effector CD8⁺ T cells is an appealing strategy to impose improved anti‐MTB/HIV‐1 activity onto coinfected individuals. Due to extensive existence of heterologous immunity, that is, T cells cross‐reactive with peptides encoded by related or even very dissimilar pathogens, it is reasonable to find a single T cell receptor (TCR) recognizing both MTB and HIV‐1 antigenic peptides. In this study, a single TCR specific for both MTB Ag85B_199‐207 peptide and HIV‐1 Env_120‐128 peptide was screened out from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a HLA‐A*0201⁺ healthy individual using complementarity determining region 3 spectratype analysis and transferred to primary CD8⁺ T cells using a recombinant retroviral vector. The bispecificity of the TCR gene‐modified CD8⁺ T cells was demonstrated by elevated secretion of interferon‐γ, tumour necrosis factor‐α, granzyme B and specific cytolytic activity after antigen presentation of either Ag85B_199‐207 or Env_120‐128 by autologous dendritic cells. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report proposing to produce responses against two dissimilar antigenic peptides of MTB and HIV‐1 simultaneously by transfecting CD8⁺ T cells with a single TCR. Taken together, T cells transduced with the additional bispecific TCR might be a useful strategy in immunotherapy for MTB/HIV‐1 coinfected individuals.     

The chondrocyte-intrinsic circadian clock is disrupted in human osteoarthritis

Peripheral clocks are essential for driving cell differentiation. In osteoarthritis, loss of the normal differentiated chondrocyte (cartilage cell) phenotype is causative of disease. We investigated whether clock gene expression differed in osteoarthritic compared to “healthy” chondrocytes and used RNAi to determine whether the differences observed could affect chondrocyte phenotype. Following serum shock, PER2 expression was significantly higher, whereas BMAL1 expression was significantly lower, in osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Knockdown of BMAL1 in “healthy” chondrocytes was associated with higher cell proliferation and MMP13 expression, features characteristic of the osteoarthritic chondrocyte phenotype. Chondrocyte-intrinsic clock disruption may be a critical early step in osteoarthritis development.     

Genome Characteristics,Phylogeny and Varying Host Specificity of Polish Kra and Ros Isolates of Tomato torrado virus

The genome sequences of two Polish Kra and Ros isolates of Tomato torrado virus (ToTV) were determined and compared with data of previously described ToTV isolates and other Torradovirus members. Whole‐genome sequence comparisons revealed 97.0–99.6% nucleotide sequence identities and close relatedness, with other known ToTV isolates. The high homology between Kra, Ros and Wal'03 ToTVs is likely responsible for the similar symptoms observed on infected plants. However, the symptoms differed in intensity and various host specificity. We report that Kra ToTV caused a milder expression of symptoms on Solanum tuberosum than Wal'03. We hypothesize this may be a result of the significant variability observed within the 3′‐UTR of RNA1 of Kra as well as of Ros ToTV isolates. In the light of this fact, potato may be considered an indicator plant for distinguishing Kra and Wal'03 ToTV isolates.     

Novel benzimidazol-2-ylidene carbene precursors and their silver(I) complexes: Potential antimicrobial agents

Novel benzimidazolium salts were synthesized as N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors, these NHC precursors were metallated with Ag₂O in dichloromethane at room temperature to give novel silver(I)–NHC complexes. Structures of these benzimidazolium salts and silver(I)–NHC complexes were characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR and LC–MS spectroscopic techniques. A series of benzimidazolium salts and silver(I)–NHC complexes were tested against standard bacterial strains: Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the fungal strains: Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. The results showed that benzimidazolium salts inhibited the growth of all bacteria and fungi strains and all silver(I)–NHC complexes performed good activities against different microorganisms.     

Discovery and preliminary structure–activity relationship of 1H-indazoles with promising indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) inhibition properties

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1)-mediated kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation is identified as an important immune effector pathway in the tumor cells to escape a potentially effective immune response. IDO1 is an attractive target for anticancer therapy and the discovery of IDO1 inhibitors has been intensely ongoing in both academic research laboratories and pharmaceutical organizations. Our study discovered that 1H-indazole was a novel key pharmacophore with potent IDO1 inhibitory activity. A series of new 1H-indazole derivatives were synthesized and determined the enzyme inhibitory activities, and the compound 2g exhibited the highest activity with an IC₅₀ value of 5.3 μM. The structure–activity relationships (SARs) analysis of the 1H-indazole derivatives as novel IDO1 inhibitors indicated that the 1H-indazole scaffold is necessary for IDO1 inhibition, and the substituent groups at the both 4-position and 6-position largely affect inhibitory activity. The docking model exhibited that the effective interactions of 1H-indazoles with ferrous ion of heme and key residues of hydrophobic Pocket A and B ensured the IDO1 inhibitory activities. The study suggested that the 1H-indazole was a novel interesting scaffold for IDO inhibition for further development.     

多棘扁甲轮在中国的新记录及对扁甲轮属的评论

正相对于西方而言,古北区的东侧,轮虫的研究资料非常缺乏~([3])。中国现存的很多轮虫资料也已经非常陈旧~([4—6]),当然,近年也有一些论文相继报道了这一淡水系统中非常重要的浮游动物类群~([7—12]),其中不乏涉及分子方法研究轮虫分类~([13])和轮虫的生态研究~([14])。但是从已有的资料可以发现,很多已知的轮虫分布大多集中在武汉、海南、洞庭湖、西藏等地,我们可以看到一个很显然的现象,即只有中国的这些地方被较为详细地研究过,     

江永普通野生稻遗传多样性和籼粳基因频率监测分析

以栽培稻的8个籼-粳测验种为对照,采用39对SSR引物检测了江永野生稻居群在1982年、2008年、2017年的遗传多样性,采用38对In Del引物检测了江永野生稻居群在1982年、2008年、2017年的籼-粳基因频率。结果表明:在1982年取样保存在异位圃的40份样本的遗传多样性稍高于2008年、2017年原位保护区样本的遗传多样性;2008年取的样本数虽然比2017年多,但两次取的样本之间遗传多样性几乎没差异。不同年份取的样本之间的遗传分化系数Fst都很小,基因流Nm都较大,分化不明显。通过聚类分析和主坐标分析(PCo A),发现野生稻居群与4份栽培粳稻聚为一类,4份栽培籼稻单独聚成一类,显示江永野生稻与粳稻的血缘近于籼稻;籼-粳基因频率的分析表明,野生稻样本多属粳稻型,少数属偏粳稻型,原位保护区的偏粳稻类型单株数占取样单株总数的比例,2008年比1982年的增加了10.0%,2017年比2008年的增加了1.6%,显示江永野生稻原位保护区生境条件有利野生稻从粳稻型向偏粳稻型变异,随着野生稻产生环境适应性变异,籼型基因频率在提高。