Apposite insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor glycosylation is critical to the maintenance of vascular smooth muscle phenotype in the presence of factors promoting osteogenic differentiation and mineralization

Vascular calcification is strongly linked with increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. Vascular calcification is an active cell-mediated process that involves the differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to an osteoblast-like phenotype. Several inhibitors of this process have been identified, including insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). In this study, we examined the role of the IGF receptor (IGFR) and the importance of IGFR glycosylation in the maintenance of the VSMC phenotype in the face of factors known to promote osteogenic conversion. IGF-I (25 ng/ml) significantly protected VSMCs from β-glycerophosphate-induced osteogenic differentiation (p < 0.005) and mineral deposition (p < 0.01). Mevalonic acid depletion (induced by 100 nm cerivastatin) significantly inhibited these IGF protective effects (p < 0.01). Mevalonic acid depletion impaired IGFR processing, decreased the expression of mature IGFRs at the cell surface, and inhibited the downstream activation of Akt and MAPK. Inhibitors of N-linked glycosylation (tunicamycin, deoxymannojirimycin, and deoxynojirimycin) also markedly attenuated the inhibitory effect of IGF-I on β-glycerophosphate-induced mineralization (p < 0.05) and activation of Akt and MAPK. These results demonstrate that alterations in the glycosylation of the IGFR disrupt the ability of IGF-I to protect against the osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of VSMCs by several interrelated mechanisms: decreased IGFR processing, reduced IGFR cell-surface expression, and reduced downstream signaling via the Akt and MAPK pathways. IGF-I thus occupies a critical position in the maintenance of normal VSMC phenotype and protection from factors known to stimulate vascular calcification.     

人IL-6和TNF突变体重组融合蛋白表达质粒的构建及在大肠杆菌中的表达

本文利用PCR技术,对人肿瘤坏死因子α(hTNFα)基因进行了改造,并将其与人白细胞介素-6(hIL-6)成熟肽编码区cDNA进行融合,构建了5′IL-6-TNF△融合蛋白的表达质粒pBVIL6-TNFA△。DNA序列分析证明,PCR扩增片段核苷酸序列与引物设计序列及相应的cDNA序列完全一致;重组子用限制性内切酶酶切鉴定,含有正确的IL6-TNF△融合cDNA片段;表达产物经SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳,分子量约为37kD,与预计的相符合;生物学活性分析初步表明,该融合蛋白具有抗肿瘤活性。     

Class IIa bacteriocins: biosynthesis, structure and activity

In the last decade, a variety of ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides or bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria have been identified and characterized. As a result of these studies, insight has been gained into fundamental aspects of biology and biochemistry such as producer self protection, membrane-protein interactions, and protein modification and secretion. Moreover, it has become evident that these peptides may be developed into useful antimicrobial additives. Class IIa bacteriocins can be considered as the major subgroup of bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria, not only because of their large number, but also because of their activities and potential applications. They have first attracted particular attention as listericidal compounds and are now believed to be the next in line if more bacteriocins are to be approved in the future. The present review attempts to provide an insight into general knowledge available for class IIa bacteriocins and discusses common features and recent findings concerning these substances.     

Gekko-sulfated glycopeptide inhibits tumor angiogenesis by targeting basic fibroblast growth factor

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a therapeutic target of anti-angiogenesis. Here, we report that a novel sulfated glycopeptide derived from Gekko swinhonis Guenther (GSPP), an anticancer drug in traditional Chinese medicine, inhibits tumor angiogenesis by targeting bFGF. GSPP significantly decreased the production of bFGF in hepatoma cells by suppressing early growth response-1. GSPP inhibited the release of bFGF from extracellular matrix by blocking heparanase enzymatic activity. Moreover, GSPP competitively inhibited bFGF binding to heparin/heparan sulfate via direct binding to bFGF. Importantly, GSPP abrogated the bFGF-stimulated proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, whereas it had no inhibitory effect on endothelial cells in the absence of bFGF. Further study revealed that GSPP prevented bFGF-induced neovascularization and inhibited tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. These results demonstrate that GSPP inhibits tumor angiogenesis by blocking bFGF production, release from the extracellular matrix, and binding to its low affinity receptor, heparin/heparan sulfate.     

叶酸缺乏致胎鼠宫内发育迟缓及肝脏胰岛素生长因子系统表达变化

目的：叶酸是一种水溶性B族维生素,在体内氨基酸与核苷酸代谢中起重要作用,是胎儿生长发育所必须的营养素。本文通过建立叶酸缺乏的孕鼠模型,探讨叶酸缺乏对胎鼠宫内发育的影响,并研究胎鼠肝脏组织中胰岛素生长因子（IGF）系统的表达变化。方法：雌性C57BL／6J小鼠叶酸缺乏组6只、正常对照组6只,分别饲以不舍叶酸和含2mg叶酸／kg的纯合饲料。四周后与雄鼠交配,于怀孕第13．5天（13．5dpc）对孕鼠剖腹取胎,观察和评价胎鼠发育指标,并对宫内发育迟缓（IUGR）比率进行统计。用Real-timePCR法检测胎鼠肝脏组织中胰岛素生长因子I（IGFI）、胰岛素生长因子I受体（IGFIR）、胰岛素生长因子II（IGFII）、胰岛素生长因子II受体（IGFIIR）、胰岛素生长因子结合蛋白1（IGFBP-1）和胰岛素生长因子结合蛋白3（IGFBP-3）mRNA的相对表达水平。结果：叶酸缺乏组雌鼠合笼前每日体重增长量降低,13．5dpc胎鼠吸收胎和死胎比率升高,胎重下降,IUGR比率显著升高,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;叶酸缺乏组胎鼠肝脏组织中IGFII和IGFIIRmRNA的相对表达水平均低于正常对照组（P〈0．05）,IGFI、IGFIR、IGFBP-1和IGFBP-3mRNA的相对表达水平两组间没有差异（P〉0．05）。结论：叶酸缺乏会导致小鼠孕中期胎鼠IUGR比率升高及胎肝IGFII和IGFIIRmRNA的表达水平降低,提示叶酸缺乏对IGF系统基因的调控,可能与胎鼠I-UGR发生机制有关。     

DNA测序中常见影响因素的研究

对测序中的模板、引物、测序反应条件及测序反应纯化方法和仪器操作等进行研究。结果显示测序模板的纯度影响测序的质量 ,浓度对测序的长度有影响。引物设计时除符合一般设计原则外 ,Tm值最好在5 0℃～ 6 0℃之间 ,且无成串的G、C。改变变性、退火、延伸的时间和温度对特殊DNA模板的序列测定有较好的效果。测序反应产物的纯化有几种方法 ,以 70 %乙醇沉淀法最经济、方便。因此模板的纯度和浓度对测序成功与否起决定作用。最佳反应条件可降低成本 ,提高测序成功率 ,乙醇沉淀法是首选的测序反应产物纯化方法。仪器操作熟练、正确与否也会影响测序结果。     

Bac-to-Bac/BmNPV杆状病毒在家蚕幼虫中表达重组鲎C因子

鲎C因子是鲎血细胞中一种对内毒素具有高亲和力的丝氨酸蛋白酶,被内毒素激活后可水解人工合成的三肽底物,因而能替代传统的鲎试剂用于内毒素检测。通过RT-PCR从东方鲎血细胞中扩增出鲎C因子基因(factor C)序列,利用Bac-to-Bac/BmNPV杆状病毒表达系统在家蚕幼虫中表达该蛋白,并对其进行活性测定。结果显示:被感染的家蚕血清稀释后能检测到Factor C活性,稀释500倍的血清可以用于内毒素检测,且其灵敏度能达到0.2 EU/mL,有望开发新型的、低成本的内毒素检测试剂。     

大兴安岭北坡火烧迹地森林景观恢复及其影响因子——以郁闭度指标为例

1987年发生在大兴安岭北坡的特大火灾造成了森林资源的巨大损失,森林景观恢复一直是人们关注的热点.本研究选取与森林生产力密切相关的郁闭度因子作为研究对象,以ArcView、ArcGIS等地理信息系统软件为研究平台,采用1987年和2000年两期森林资源二类调查数据,对郁闭度、火烧强度、抚育类型和地形因子等进行分级,利用Kendall等级相关分析、相似性分析等方法,探讨了森林郁闭度格局的恢复状况以及火烧强度、更新类型、地形因子对郁闭度恢复的影响.结果表明,2000年郁闭度等级构成与1987年火前相比发生了明显变化,无林地以及高郁闭度等级比重明显下降,较低郁闭度等级比重显著上升;火烧强度对火后恢复的影响最为关键,火烧强度与郁闭度等级呈负相关;更新措施短期内对郁闭度恢复影响不显著,但可以缩短森林演替的周期,对未来针叶林群落生产力恢复具有重要的促进作用;地形因子中坡度对郁闭度恢复影响最为明显,其次为坡位,坡向影响最弱.