Relationship between molecular and enological features of Patagonian wine yeasts: relevance in selection protocols

Summary In this paper, a study of the relationship between genetic patterns, obtained by the combination of mtDNA-RFLP and PCR-amplified inter-δ sequence DNA polymorphism analysis, and relevant enological phenotypic data (fermentative power, specific productivity, volatile and total acidity) was carried out on Argentinean Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolates from north Patagonia. The use of a powerful statistical tool, Generalized Procrustes analysis, allowed us to weigh the relationship for each isolate in particular, denoting a good enough degree of agreement between molecular and physiological data for most of the population analysed. The inclusion of a physiological feature, as the killer sensitivity biotype, within identification methods resulted in a higher degree of discrimination among isolates and in better correlation between both characterizations. The combined use of methods based on molecular polymorphisms and killer biotype could be applied so as not to miss any isolate with differential enological properties in selection protocols.     

副监护子CHIP与神经退行性疾病

CHIP属于连接酶类,具有E3泛素连接酶活性,参与能量代谢途径和新陈代谢。包括阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer'sdisease,AD)、帕金森病(Parkinson'sdisease,PD)、亨廷顿病(Huntington'sdisease,HD)等在内的神经退行性疾病的主要病理学特征之一——细胞中异常蛋白的聚集,如tau蛋白和α-突触核蛋白等,副监护子CHIP与分子伴侣,如Hsc70/Hsp70、Hsp90等相互作用对这些异常蛋白的产生具有调节作用。最近研究表明,CHIP改变了Hsc70和Hsp90介导调节的信号通路中蛋白折叠和降解的平衡,参与细胞内蛋白质的质量控制;Hsp70/CHIP伴侣系统在tau蛋白生物学和tau蛋白病理学机制中具有重要作用;CHIP可以作为α-突触核蛋白蛋白酶体降解途径和溶酶体降解途径的分子开关。这些研究进展对于进一步揭示神经退行性疾病的发病机制和研制新一代治疗药物具有重要的作用。     

Temporal correlation of the memory deficit with Alzheimer-like lesions induced by activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3

We have reported that activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) by ventricle injection of wortmannin (WT) and GF-109203X (GFX) induces Alzheimer-like memory deficit in rats [Liu et al., J. Neurochem. 87 (2003), 1333]. To further explore the factors responsible for the memory loss, we studied here the temporal alterations of GSK-3, tau phosphorylation, beta-amyloid (Abeta), and acetylcholine (ACh) after injection of WT/GFX, and analyzed their correlation with the memory loss. We observed that the severe memory deficit occurred at 24 and 48 h, and simultaneously, GSK-3 activation, tau hyperphosphorylation at Thr231, Ser396, and Ser404 and decline of ACh in hippocampus were detected, and these changes were mostly recovered at 72 and 96 h after the injection of WT/GFX. Remarkable increase of Abeta and intracellular accumulation of argentophilic substances were detected at 72 h. Pearson analysis showed that the memory deficit was correlated with GSK-3 activation, tau hyperphosphorylation, and decline of ACh but not with Abeta overproduction. Our data provide direct evidence demonstrating that activation of GSK-3 by WT/GFX may cause memory deficit through tau hyperphosphorylation and suppression of ACh in hippocampus.     

Differential effect of three-repeat and four-repeat tau on mitochondrial axonal transport

Tau protein is present in six different splice forms in the human brain and interacts with microtubules via either 3 or 4 microtubule binding repeats. An increased ratio of 3 repeat to 4 repeat isoforms is associated with neurodegeneration in inherited forms of frontotemporal dementia. Tau over-expression diminishes axonal transport in several systems, but differential effects of 3 repeat and 4 repeat isoforms have not been studied. We examined the effects of tau on mitochondrial transport and found that both 3 repeat and 4 repeat tau change normal mitochondrial distribution within the cell body and reduce mitochondrial localization to axons; 4 repeat tau has a greater effect than 3 repeat tau. Further, we observed that the 3 repeat and 4 repeat tau cause different alterations in retrograde and anterograde transport dynamics with 3 repeat tau having a slightly stronger effect on axon transport dynamics. Our results indicate that tau-induced changes in axonal transport may be an underlying theme in neurodegenerative diseases associated with isoform specific changes in tau's interaction with microtubules.     

温度对不同年龄大鼠海马器官型脑片长期培养中细胞活性和tau蛋白表达的影响

探讨在海马器官型脑片的长期培养过程中,温度对不同年龄大鼠的海马脑片细胞活性和tau蛋白表达的影响,并以此为依据建立一种研究tau相关疾病的模型.选用出生后1周、2周、4周和8周的Wistar大鼠制备海马器官型脑片,培养温度分别为34℃和37℃,培养时间为21d,在培养过程中,检测培养基中的乳酸脱氢酶的含量以判断脑片的活性,采用免疫印迹技术检测细胞骨架蛋白tau的含量的变化.结果如下:(1)温度对海马脑片的细胞活性影响:34℃较37℃能在较长的时间内保持细胞活性,而在同一培养温度时,不同年龄鼠的脑片的细胞活性变化趋势一致;(2)温度对海马脑片的tau蛋白表达的影响:成年鼠(4周和8周)的海马脑片tau蛋白在34℃时能维持较长时间的稳定表达,而在37℃时tau的表达量随培养时间的延长而显著下降,且随鼠龄的增加,这种影响越明显.温度对1周和2周龄乳鼠的海马脑片tau蛋白的表达无影响.结论为:34℃培养条件下,4周和8周龄大鼠制备的海马器官型脑片能更长时间维持脑片的活性和tau蛋白的稳定表达,从而可望成为研究与tau蛋白相关疾病(如老年性痴呆)的理想模型.     

重庆市26个南亚果实蝇种群mtDNA 16S rRNA基因部分序列及其系统进化

对重庆市26个南亚果实蝇Bactrocera(Zeugodacus)tau(Walker)种群线粒体16S rRNA基因进行测序,获得长约350bp片段的序列。对获得的序列分析表明,A,T,C,G平均含量分别为35·0%,41·3%,7·2%,16·5%,其中保守位点数342个,变异位点数5个,简约信息位点2个,自裔位点2个,所有碱基转换总数为136,替换总数为50。利用MEGA2·1软件重建系统发生树,发现其中21个南亚果实蝇种群未出现分化,另外有5个南亚果实蝇种群出现了分化,但遗传分化程度小。     

Role of caspase-3 in tau truncation at D421 is restricted in transgenic mouse models for tauopathies

Truncated tau is widely detected in Alzheimer's disease brain, and caspase-3 has been considered as a major executioner for tau truncation at aspartate421 (D421), according to its capability of cleaving recombinant tau in vitro . Here we investigated the relationship between D421 truncated tau and caspase-3 in two transgenic mouse models for tauopathies. In adult transgenic mice, activated caspase-3 could not be detected in neurons containing truncated tau, with the exception of a few glia-like cells or neurons in postnatal mice. Caspase-3 expression exhibited a dramatic decrease at the early development stage, and kept at constantly low levels during adult stages in both wild type and transgenic mice. On the other hand, co-incubating brain homogenates from adult tau transgenic mice and ethanol-treated postnatal mice promoted tau truncation at D421, which was mildly reduced by caspase inhibitor, but completely suppressed by phosphatase inhibitor, indicating that hyperphosphorylated tau becomes a poor substrate for truncation at D421. Taken together, our study shows that insufficient caspase-3 expression and hyperphosphorylated status of tau in the adult transgenic mouse brain restrict caspase-3 as an efficient enzyme for tau truncation in vivo . Clearly, there is a caspase-3 independent mechanism responsible for tau truncation at D421 in these models.     

瓜实蝇和南亚果实蝇在我国的分布差异

瓜实蝇Zelugodacus cucurbitae和南亚果实蝇Zelugodacus tau是两种主要以葫芦科植物为寄主的瓜类实蝇,主要分布于我国南部和中部地区。在实际研究中发现南亚果实蝇和瓜实蝇分类地位、寄主范围和生活史相近,但分布区域可能存在差异。因此,采用性诱剂诱集法在全国14个省(自治区)对这两种实蝇的分布进行调查,结果显示南亚果实蝇在我国整个南部地区均有分布,瓜实蝇在我国的分布范围较小,主要分布于北纬25°以南。结合气候数据发现两种实蝇的分布范围基本上和各地年平均气温一致,瓜实蝇主要在年平均温度20℃以上的区域分布,南亚果实蝇则在年平均温度为15℃以上的区域均有分布。这种地理分布的差异可能是两种实蝇对气候环境和寄主植物适应能力不同所致。