The Escherichia coli protein YjjG is a house-cleaning nucleotidase in vivo

House-cleaning enzymes protect cells from the adverse effects of noncanonical metabolic chemical compounds. The Escherichia coli nucleotide phosphatase YjjG (B4374, JW4336) functions as a house-cleaning phosphatase in vivo. YjjG protects the cell against noncanonical pyrimidine derivatives such as 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (5-FdUridine), 5-fluorouridine, 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-FOA), 5-fluorouracil, and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. YjjG prevents the incorporation of potentially mutagenic nucleotides into DNA as shown for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). Its enzymatic activity in vitro towards noncanonical 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine monophosphate (5-FdUMP) is higher than towards canonical thymidine monophosphate (dTMP). The closest homolog in humans, HDHD4, does not show a protective effect against noncanonical nucleotides, excluding an involvement of HDHD4 in resistance against noncanonical nucleotides used for cancer chemotherapy. The substrate spectrum of YjjG suggests that its in vivo substrates are noncanonical pyrimidine derivatives, which might also include oxidized nucleobases such as 5-formyluracil and 5-hydroxyuracil.     

Elevation of the Hsp70 chaperone does not effect toxicity in mouse models of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Mutations in copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) account for 10-20% of a familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A common feature of SOD1 mutants is abnormal aggregation of the aberrant SOD1 in neurons and glia. We now report that in ALS transgenic mouse models the constitutively expressed heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is mislocalized into aggregates together with mutant SOD1 and ubiquitin. Forcing increased synthesis of Hsp70 ameliorates both aggregate formation and toxicity in primary motor neurons in culture. However, chronic increase in an inducible form of Hsp70 to about 10-fold its normal level is shown here not to affect disease course or pathology developed in mice from accumulation of any of three familial ALS causing SOD1 mutants with different underlying biochemical characteristics. Therefore, increasing Hsp70 to a level that is protective in mouse models of acute ischemic insult and selected neurodegenerative disorders is not sufficient to ameliorate mutant SOD1-mediated toxicity.     

甲醇溶液对木瓜蛋白酶催化活性的影响

试验结果表明,木瓜蛋白酶在一定浓度甲醇溶液中水解酪蛋白的活性显著上升;动力学测定表明,该酶在甲醇溶液中Km下降;在甲醇溶液中木瓜蛋白酶催化酪蛋白水解反应的最适pH为8.5,最适温度为70℃;紫外差示光谱研究表明,在甲醇溶液作用下木瓜蛋白酶的二级结构发生了变化;荧光发射光谱研究表明,木瓜蛋白酶在甲醇溶液中发射峰位向低波长移动,荧光峰值明显增高。     

Construction of artificial cyclic amide amidohydrolases using molecular imprinting technique

A general molecular imprinting approach is proposed to synthesize artificial enzymes to mimic the family of cyclic amide amidohydrolases which share similar active site and catalytic mechanism. The artificial enzymes were constructed by co-polymerizing 4(5)-vinylimidazole-Co²⁺-methacrylic acid clusters with divinylbenzene micro-spheres in the presence of corresponding substrates. The artificial enzymes mimicked creatininase and hydantoinase by showing specific affinity towards the corresponding substrates in buffer. The artificial hydantoinase also showed specific affinity towards corresponding substrate in organic solvent, and catalyzed the hydrolysis of hydantoin.     

Identification of a membrane-localized cysteine cluster near the substrate-binding sites of the Streptococcus equisimilis hyaluronan synthase

The membrane-bound hyaluronan synthase (HAS) from Streptococcus equisimilis (seHAS), which is the smallest Class I HAS, has four cysteine residues (positions 226, 262, 281, and 367) that are generally conserved within this family. Although Cys-null seHAS is still active, chemical modification of cysteine residues causes inhibition of wild-type enzyme. Here we studied the effects of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) treatment on a panel of seHAS Cys-mutants to examine the structural and functional roles of the four cysteine residues in the activity of the enzyme. We found that Cys226, Cys262, and Cys281 are reactive with NEM, but Cys367 is not. Substrate protection studies of wild-type seHAS and a variety of Cys-mutants revealed that binding of UDP-GlcUA, UDP-GlcNAc, or UDP can protect Cys226 and Cys262 from NEM inhibition. Inhibition of the six double Cys-mutants of seHAS by sodium arsenite, which can cross-link vicinyl sulfhydryl groups, also supported the conclusion that Cys262 and Cys281 are close enough to be cross-linked. Similar results indicated that Cys281 and Cys367 are also very close in the active enzyme. We conclude that three of the four Cys residues in seHAS (Cys262, Cys281, and Cys367) are clustered very close together, that these Cys residues and Cys226 are located at the inner surface of the cell membrane, and that Cys226 and Cys262 are located in or near a UDP binding site.     

灰渣场土壤酶活笥与植被和土壤化学性质的关系

通过野外调查和实验分析,研究了芜湖火力发电厂灰渣场土壤蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶和脲酶活性与土壤污染物及植被的关系。结果表明,灰渣场植被多以单种植物组成的斑块零散布,以草本植物为主,且多为1－2年生。同时,灰渣场3种土壤酶活性和渣场的自然环境条件具有较强的相关性,其中3种酶活性对环境胁迫的敏感性依次为脲酶＞蔗糖酶＞过氧化氢酶,3种酶活性与环境中因子的相关性整体表现为蔗糖酶＞脲酶＞过氧化氢酶。由于对环境胁迫为敏感,而且其活性与植被状况和土壤化学性质具有显著或极显著相关性,建议用脲酶活性作为废弃地复垦的一个指示指标。     

谷氨酸生产菌S9114中的谷氨酸脱氢酶的研究

谷氨酸脱氢酶 (GDH)是谷氨酸生物合成的关键酶 ,谷氨酸棒杆菌S91 1 4是目前我国味精工业应用最广泛的生产菌种 ,其谷氨酸脱氢酶的研究尚未见报道。分离纯化该菌中的谷氨酸脱氢酶 ,研究其辅酶组成 ,对揭示谷氨酸脱氢酶的分子结构和性质 ,提高谷氨酸产率很有必要。将培养至对数期中期的细胞离心收集并用含适量DTT、ED TA的Tris_HCl缓冲液 (pH 7 5 )洗涤 ,用Frenchpressurecellpress破碎 ,离心去除菌体碎片得无细胞抽提液。然后使用 KTA_10 0快速纯化系统经DEAE_纤维素柱、疏水柱 (HIC)、G_2 0 0凝胶过滤柱层析得到纯化大约 70倍的以NAD PH为辅酶的GDH和部分纯化的以NADH辅酶的GDH。这两个酶分别对NADPH、NADH高度专一 ,不能相互代替。经HPLC和SDS_PAGE测得前一种酶的分子量和亚基分子量分别为 188kD和 32kD ,表明该酶为具有相同亚基的六聚体。酶活性测定使用HITACHIU_30 0 0分光光度计利用NAD(P)H在 340nm氧化的初速度进行。蛋白质含量测定利用Bradford方法进行 ,并以牛血清白蛋白为标准蛋白。纯化结果表明S91 1 4中确实存在两种GDH ,其中以NADH为辅酶的GDH尚未见报道。和某些具有两种GDH的微生物一样 ,S91 1 4可能也是以NADPH为辅酶的GDH参与谷氨酸的合成代谢 ,以NADH为辅酶的GDH参与谷氨酸的分解代谢。     

湖南烙铁头蛇毒中一个新的舒缓激肽增强肽（TmF）

通过 70 %冷甲醇抽提、SephadexG 15分子筛和反相高效液相色谱C1 8层析 ,从湖南产烙铁头蛇毒 (Trimeresurusmucrosquamatus)冻干粉中纯化得到一个新的舒缓激肽增强肽 (BPP) ,命名为TmF。该小肽的氨基酸序列为pGlu Gly Arg Pro Leu Gly Pro Pro Ile Pro Pro (pGlu表示焦谷氨酸 )。序列结果分析表明 ,TmF和已经分离得到的BPPs有很高的序列同源性。MSI MS测定其分子量为 1.110 7kD。TmF的生物学活性和药理学活性检测的结果表明 ,它增强舒缓激肽 (BK) ( 1mg L)诱导的离体豚鼠回肠纵行肌收缩的活性为 ( 1.13± 0 .3)单位 (mg L) ;TmF ( 5 .0× 10 - 4mg kg)可以增强约 ( 14± 2 )mmHg的由BK( 5 .0× 10 - 5mg kg)诱导的舒张压下降 ;在抑制剂试验中 ,不同剂量的TmF和 5× 10 - 2 mg的血管紧张素转化酶保温 30min ,结果表明大约2 .0× 10 - 3mg的TmF表现出对ACE水解活性的半数抑制率 (IC50 )。     

Quinapril inhibits progression of heart failure and fibrosis in rats with dilated cardiomyopathy after myocarditis

The cardioprotective properties of quinapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, were studied in a rat model of dilated cardiomyopathy. Twenty-eight days after immunization of pig cardiac myosin, four groups rats were given 0.2 mg/kg (Q0.2, n = 11), 2 mg/kg (Q2, n = 11) or 20 mg/kg (Q20, n = 11) of quinapril or vehicle (V, n = 15) orally once a day. After 1 month, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), ±dP/dt, area of myocardial fibrosis, and myocardial mRNA expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-1, collagen-III and fibronectin were measured. Four of 15 (27%) rats in V and two of 11 (18%) in Q0.2 died. None of the animals in Q2 or Q20 died. The LVEDP was higher and ±dP/dt was lower in V (14.1 ± 2.0 mmHg and +2409 ± 150/–2318 ± 235 mmHg/sec) than in age-matched normal rats (5.0 ± 0.6 mmHg and +6173 ± 191/–7120 ± 74 mmHg/sec; all p < 0.01). After quinapril treatment, LVEDP was decreased and ±dP/dt was increased in a dose-dependent manner (10.8 ± 1.8 mmHg and +3211 ± 307/–2928 ± 390 mmHg/sec in Q0.2, 9.4 ± 1.5 mmHg and +2871 ± 270/–2966 ± 366 mmHg/sec in Q2, and 6.6 ± 1.5 mmHg, and +3569 ± 169/–3960 ± 203 mmHg/sec in Q20). Increased expression levels of TGF-1, collagen-III and fibronectin mRNA in V were reduced in Q20. Quinapril improved survival rate and cardiac function in rats with dilated cardiomyopathy after myocarditis. Furthermore, myocardial fibrosis was regressed and myocardial structure returned to nearly normal in animals treated with quinapril.     

呼伦贝尔典型退化草原土壤理化与微生物性状

以内蒙古克鲁伦河流域呼伦贝尔典型草原为对象,设置了轻度、中度和重度退化3种类型样地,研究不同程度退化草原的物种组成、地上生物量、土壤理化性状、土壤微生物数量和酶活性,以及微生物生物量的变化.结果表明: 中度退化样地的群落物种丰富度最大,轻度退化样地的地上生物量显著高于重度退化样地.退化样地的土壤水分、养分(有机质、全氮),微生物量碳、氮,以及微生物数量和酶活性显著下降,土壤容重显著增加.退化样地的土壤微生物生物量碳、氮在128～185和5.6～13.6 g·kg^-1,土壤脱氢酶和脲酶活性均与土壤容重呈显著负相关,与土壤全氮、有机质、微生物数量以及微生物生物量碳、氮呈显著正相关,地上生物量与土壤细菌和真菌数量呈不同程度的正相关.