Microwave-assisted Nile red method for in vivo quantification of neutral lipids in microalgae

In vivo determination of neutral lipids with Nile red fluorescence has been used as a rapid screening method for certain types of microalgae, but has been unsuccessful in others, particularly those with thick, rigid cell walls that prevent penetration of the fluorescence dye into the cell. To solve the problem, a microwave-assisted Nile red staining method for microalgal lipid determination was developed. In a two-step staining protocol, 50 and 60 s were selected as the optimal microwave times for the pretreatment and staining process, respectively. Moreover, several calibration methods for quantitative analysis of neutral lipids in microalgae were investigated and compared with conventional gravimetric methods. Factors that affected the in vivo quantification of cellular neutral lipids were also investigated. Application of the new method for detection and quantification of neutral lipids in a number of green microalgae was demonstrated.     

血浆蛋白质组学的研究进展

血浆蛋白质组学是研究血浆蛋白质的功能和变化的一门科学。血浆中蕴藏着生命机体的所有信息,因此只有彻底了解血浆中存在哪些蛋白质,才能知道如何利用血浆来预测人体对疾病的易感性并监控疾病的进程,以期达到对疾病进行早诊断早治疗。由于血浆蛋白质组动态范围大,给研究带来了很大的困难。尤其是高丰度蛋白质的存在影响了低丰度蛋白质的检测率。而低丰度蛋白质都是有意义的具有临床诊断价值的蛋白质。因此去除高丰度蛋白质的干扰成了血浆蛋白质组学研究的关键。近年来,血浆蛋白质组学相关研究技术也得到了长足进展,为深入研究血浆蛋白质做出了重要贡献。血浆蛋白质组学作为一种无创性的研究方法,值得我们去探讨。本文就血浆蛋白质组学研究进展情况做一简要综述。     

Prediction of potential drivers connecting different dysfunctional levels in lung adenocarcinoma via a protein–protein interaction network

Lung cancer is a serious disease that threatens an affected individual's life. Its pathogenesis has not yet to be fully described, thereby impeding the development of effective treatments and preventive measures. “Cancer driver” theory considers that tumor initiation can be associated with a number of specific mutations in genes called cancer driver genes. Four omics levels, namely, (1) methylation, (2) microRNA, (3) mutation, and (4) mRNA levels, are utilized to cluster cancer driver genes. In this study, the known dysfunctional genes of these four levels were used to identify novel driver genes of lung adenocarcinoma, a subtype of lung cancer. These genes could contribute to the initiation and progression of lung adenocarcinoma in at least two levels. First, random walk with restart algorithm was performed on a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network constructed with PPI information in STRING by using known dysfunctional genes as seed nodes for each level, thereby yielding four groups of possible genes. Second, these genes were further evaluated in a test strategy to exclude false positives and select the most important ones. Finally, after conducting an intersection operation in any two groups of genes, we obtained several inferred driver genes that contributed to the initiation of lung adenocarcinoma in at least two omics levels. Several genes from these groups could be confirmed according to recently published studies. The inferred genes reported in this study were also different from those described in a previous study, suggesting that they can be used as essential supplementary data for investigations on the initiation of lung adenocarcinoma. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Accelerating Precision Medicine through Genetic and Genomic Big Data Analysis edited by Yudong Cai & Tao Huang.     

人热休克蛋白gp96基因的克隆及其在大肠杆菌中的表达与纯化

热休克蛋白gp96是热休克蛋白90家族成员,能够引起非特异性和特异性免疫反应。得到大量高纯度的蛋白质是研究开发gp96的关键。然而重组的gp96容易在E．coli中降解,并在一定条件下形成多聚体。实验先将人gp96基因克隆到pET-30a载体上并在E．coli Blstar中表达,再经过亲和层析、阴离子交换、分子筛分别纯化gp96。最终去掉了大部分的降解片段和多聚体,得到一定量的可溶性gp96,为进一步研究其结构和功能打下一定的基础。     

An isoform of GTPase regulator DOCK4 localizes to the stereocilia in the inner ear and binds to harmonin (USH1C)

The driving forces for the regulation of cell morphology are the Rho family GTPases that coordinate the assembly of the actin cytoskeleton. This dynamic feature is a result of tight coupling between the cytoskeleton and signal transduction and is facilitated by actin-binding proteins (ABPs). Mutations in the actin bundling and PDZ domain-containing protein harmonin are the causes of Usher syndrome type 1C (USH1C), a syndrome of congenital deafness and progressive blindness, as well as certain forms of non-syndromic deafness. Here, we have used the yeast two-hybrid assay to isolate molecular partners of harmonin and identified DOCK4, an unconventional guanine exchange factor for the Rho family of guanosine triphosphatases (Rho GEF GTPases), as a protein interacting with harmonin. Detailed molecular analysis revealed that a novel DOCK4 isoform (DOCK4-Ex49) is expressed in the brain, eye and inner ear tissues. We have further provided evidence that the DOCK4-Ex49 binds to nucleotide free Rac as effectively as DOCK2 and DOCK4 and it is a potent Rac activator. By immunostaining using a peptide antibody specific to DOCK4-Ex49, we showed its localization in the inner ear within the hair bundles along the stereocilia (SC). Together, our data indicate a possible Rac-DOCK4-ABP harmonin-activated signaling pathway in regulating actin cytoskeleton organization in stereocilia.     

Changes in anti-heat shock protein 27 antibody and C-reactive protein levels following cardiac surgery and their association with cardiac function in patients with cardiovascular disease

The relationship between serum anti-heat shock protein (Hsp)27 antibody and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and indices of cardiac function were investigated in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or heart valve replacement. The changes in anti-Hsp27 antibody titers and hs-CRP levels were compared among patients undergoing off-pump and on-pump CABG or valvular heart replacement. Fifty-three patients underwent off-pump, on-pump CABG, and heart valvular replacement in each group. Serum anti-Hsp27 titers and hs-CRP values were measured 24 h before and after the operation and at discharge. Echocardiography was performed before surgery and before discharge. The results were compared with values from 83 healthy controls. hs-CRP levels increased and anti-Hsp27 antibody decreased following surgery (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively), although these changes were independent of operative procedure (P = 0.361 and P = 0.120, respectively). Anti-Hsp27 antibody levels were higher at the time of discharge (P = 0.016). Only in coronary patients were anti-Hsp27 antibody levels negatively associated with E/E′ (r = −0.268, P = 0.022), a marker of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. In conclusions, anti-Hsp27 antibody levels are associated with indices of cardiac function in coronary patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass had no significant effect on the induction of changes in anti-Hsp27 levels. Moreover, anti-Hsp27 antibody levels fell in all groups postoperatively; this may be due to the formation of immune complexes of antigen–antibody, and antibody levels were higher at the time of discharge.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12192-012-0358-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Secretory type of recombinant thioredoxin h induces ER stress in endosperm cells of transgenic rice

Thioredoxin h (TRX h) functions as a reducing protein and is present in all organisms. As a new approach for inducing the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, TRX h (OsTRX23) was expressed as a secretory protein using the endosperm-specific glutelin GluB-1 promoter and a signal peptide. In transgenic rice seeds, the majority of the recombinant TRX h accumulated in the ER but some was also localized to the protein body IIs (PB-IIs). The rice grain quality was dependent on the TRX h accumulation level. Increased TRX h expression resulted in aberrant phenotypes, such as chalky and shriveled features, lower seed weight and lower seed protein content. Furthermore, the accumulation of some seed storage proteins (SSPs) was significantly suppressed and the morphology of the protein bodies (PB-Is and PB-IIs) changed according to the level of TRX h. SSPs, such as 13 kDa prolamin and GluA, were specifically modified via the reducing action of TRX h. These changes led to the activation of the ER stress response, which was accompanied by the expression of several chaperone proteins. Specifically, the ER stress markers BiP4 and BiP5 were significantly up-regulated by an increase in the level of TRX h. These results suggest that changes in the conformation of certain SSPs via the action of recombinant TRX h lead to an induced ER stress response in transgenic rice seeds.     

Absence of ganglioside GM1 in astroglial cells from newborn rat brain

An immunohistochemical method utilizing anti-ganglioside GM1 antiserum combined with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique was applied to a mixed cell population in primary cultures of newborn rat brain. Ganglioside GM1 was demonstrated to be present in neurons and oligodendroglia, but was absent in astroglia. This demonstration was confirmed using a newly developed biotinylated choleragen-avidin-peroxidase procedure. Primary cultures from newborn rat brain cells that had been subjected to a single treatment with trypsin (first passage) and then cultured for 14 days were predominately (95%) composed of astrocytes that stained positively for glial fibrillary acidic protein but were negative for GM1 ganglioside. This preparation contained only 0.34 nmol ganglioside NeuNAc per mg protein compared to 23.9 nmol gangliosidic NeuNAc/mg protein for a five day culture of newborn rat brain mixed cell culture that had not been subjected to passage. Prolongation of culture time from 5 to 21 days in the latter preparation reduced the ganglioside NeuNAc content to 4.9 nmol gangliosidic NeuNAc/mg protein as the proportion of astrocytes in the culture increased. Ganglioside GM1 could not be detected by TLC analysis of the lipid extract obtained from the “pure” astrocyte culture, although small amounts of GM3 and some polysialogangliosides were detected. About half of the label incorporated upon 24 h incubation of astrocytes in the presence of $\text{N-[}{}^3\text{H]acetylmannosammine}$ appeared in ganglioside GM3. It is concluded that astrocytes in mixed cell primary cultures from newborn rat brain, as well as astrocytes in astroglial preparations derived from such cultures, do not contain ganglioside GM1.     

温度胁迫下棉花粉蚧热激蛋白基因的表达分析

【目的】为了研究热激蛋白 Hsp70, Hsp70-4和Hsp90在棉花粉蚧Phenacoccus solenopsis抵抗逆温中的作用。【方法】在测序棉花粉蚧转录组的基础上,分析了该虫热激蛋白Hsp70基因家族的2个序列［Pshsp70（GenBank登录号为KJ909505）和Pshsp70-4（GenBank登录号为KJ909506）］和Hsp90基因家族的1个序列,［Pshsp90(GenBank登录号为KJ909507)］,采用实时荧光定量 PCR（RT-qPCR）检测了在不同温度（18和32℃恒温, 37, 39, 41, 43和45℃热激1 h 后26℃恢复1 h)下棉花粉蚧不同发育阶段（2龄若虫、3龄若虫、雌成虫）3种热激蛋白基因的表达量。【结果】Pshsp70 cDNA序列包含1 923 bp的开放阅读框,编码641个氨基酸,理论分子量和等电点分别为70.9 kDa和5.65; Pshsp70-4 cDNA序列包含1 962 bp的开放阅读框,编码654个氨基酸,理论分子量和等电点分别为71.8 kDa和5.38;Pshsp90 cDNA序列包含2 172 bp的开放阅读框,编码724个氨基酸,理论分子量和等电点分别为83.5 kDa和4.93。Pshsp70 和Pshsp70-4均含有Hsp70基因家族高度保守的基序,Pshsp70编码的氨基酸序列与烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci和家蚕Bombyx mori等昆虫的Hsp70 的氨基酸序列一致性为 85%;Pshsp70-4编码的氨基酸序列与白蜡蚧Ericerus pela和点蜂缘蝽Riptortus pedestris等昆虫的Hsp70的氨基酸序列一致性高达95%;Pshsp90也含有Hsp90基因家族高度保守的基序,Pshsp90编码的氨基酸序列与赤拟谷盗Tribolium castaneum和东亚小花蝽Orius sauteri等昆虫的Hsp90 的氨基酸序列一致性为 87%。热激蛋白基因表达量分析结果表明,在18℃恒温条件下,粉蚧2龄若虫的3个PsHsps基因的mRNA相对表达量均比对照(26℃)低,在32℃恒温条件下,各龄期的Hsp70基因的相对表达量均显著高于对照。在37~45℃下热激1 h并在26℃下恢复1 h,棉花粉蚧3个龄期的3个热激蛋白PsHsps基因的相对表达量随温度的升高总体呈增加趋势,相关性分析表明,除Pshsp70-4在雌成虫中的表达量与热胁迫温度的相关系数为0.225外,各龄期中3个基因的表达量与温度的相关系数均大于0.6,显著相关;43℃和45℃胁迫下,各龄期的3个热激蛋白基因相对表达量均显著高于对照组（P<0.05）。【结论】棉花粉蚧热激蛋白基因的表达与温度呈正相关,在该虫应对高温中起着重要作用。     

植物色氨酸一天冬氨酸重复序列蛋白响应逆境胁迫的调控作用

干旱、盐渍、低温等逆境胁迫会严重影响植物的正常生长发育,导致植物的许多响应基因被诱导表达,其蛋白质产物能够保护植物免受胁迫的伤害。色氨酸一天冬氨酸重复序列蛋白（wD40蛋自）在植物中广泛存在,参与植物体内众多代谢反应的调控,如花的发育、开花、花青素的生物合成、激素响应、渗透胁迫等。WD40蛋白含有40-60个氨基酸的保守的wD重复序列,其c末端为色氨酸．天冬氨酸（Trp-Asp,WD）,形成一个p螺旋桨（p—propeller）结构,通过调节多蛋白复合体的组装而影响蛋白质与蛋白质、蛋白质与DNA间的相互作用。本文综述植物WD40蛋白响应逆境胁迫的调控作用。