Depth distribution and biological characteristics of the European eel Anguilla anguilla in Lough Ennell, Ireland

Using a longline survey, a total of 196 European eels Anguilla anguilla were collected at different depths in Lough Ennell (maximum depth 30 m), central Ireland. The catch per unit of effort of A. anguilla that were caught from 1 to 25 m depths was lowest at 0·5–5·0 m and greatest at the deepest depth range (22·5–25·0 m). Sub-samples of A. anguilla from depths of <15 m showed little or no difference in size, sex ratio, age, growth rate, condition factor, length–mass relationship, gonado-somatic index, fin index or eye index with fish from depths of >15 m. All fish examined were female yellow-phase A. anguilla that had ages from 7 to 20 years (mean ± s . d . = 10·3 ± 2·9 years), with growth rates from 24·0–60·8 mm year⁻¹ (mean ± s . d . = 40·7 ± 8·5 mm year⁻¹). Variations in the growth rates were greater in the shallow group than that of the deep group. This study suggested that deeper regions are important feeding habitats for A. anguilla and that fish in this lake were growing moderately fast compared to similar habitats and areas in the species' range.     

Differential activities of cellular and viral macro domain proteins in binding of ADP-ribose metabolites

Macro domain is a highly conserved protein domain found in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Macro domains are also encoded by a set of positive-strand RNA viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm of animal cells, including coronaviruses and alphaviruses. The functions of the macro domain are poorly understood, but it has been suggested to be an ADP-ribose-binding module. We have here characterized three novel human macro domain proteins that were found to reside either in the cytoplasm and nucleus [macro domain protein 2 (MDO2) and ganglioside-induced differentiation-associated protein 2] or in mitochondria [macro domain protein 1 (MDO1)], and compared them with viral macro domains from Semliki Forest virus, hepatitis E virus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, and with a yeast macro protein, Poa1p. MDO2 specifically bound monomeric ADP-ribose with a high affinity (K_d = 0.15 μM), but did not bind poly(ADP-ribose) efficiently. MDO2 also hydrolyzed ADP-ribose-1″ phosphate, resembling Poa1p in all these properties. Ganglioside-induced differentiation-associated protein 2 did not show affinity for ADP-ribose or its derivatives, but instead bound poly(A). MDO1 was generally active in these reactions, including poly(A) binding. Individual point mutations in MDO1 abolished monomeric ADP-ribose binding, but not poly(ADP-ribose) binding; in poly(ADP-ribose) binding assays, the monomer did not compete against polymer binding. The viral macro proteins bound poly(ADP-ribose) and poly(A), but had a low affinity for monomeric ADP-ribose. Thus, the viral proteins do not closely resemble any of the human proteins in their biochemical functions. The differential activity profiles of the human proteins implicate them in different cellular pathways, some of which may involve RNA rather than ADP-ribose derivatives.     

Analysis of Flavivirus NS5 Methyltransferase Cap Binding

The flavivirus 2′-O-nucleoside N-terminal RNA methyltransferase (MTase) enzyme is responsible for methylating the viral RNA cap structure. To increase our understanding of the mechanism of viral RNA cap binding we performed a detailed structural and biochemical characterization of the guanosine cap-binding pocket of the dengue (DEN) and yellow fever (YF) virus MTase enzymes. We solved an improved 2.1 Å resolution crystal structure of DEN2 Mtase, new 1.5 Å resolution crystal structures of the YF virus MTase domain in apo form, and a new 1.45 Å structure in complex with guanosine triphosphate and RNA cap analog. Our structures clarify the previously reported DEN MTase structure, suggest novel protein-cap interactions, and provide a detailed view of guanine specificity. Furthermore, the structures of the DEN and YF proteins are essentially identical, indicating a large degree of structural conservation amongst the flavivirus MTases. Guanosine triphosphate analog competition assays and mutagenesis analysis, performed to analyze the biochemical characteristics of cap binding, determined that the major interaction points are (i) guanine ring via π−π stacking with Phe24, N1 hydrogen interaction with the Leu19 backbone carbonyl via a water bridge, and C2 amine interaction with Leu16 and Leu19 backbone carbonyls; (ii) ribose 2′ hydroxyl interaction with Lys13 and Asn17; and (iii) α-phosphate interactions with Lys28 and Ser215. Based on our mutational and analog studies, the guanine ring and α-phosphate interactions provide most of the energy for cap binding, while the combination of the water bridge between the guanine N1 and Leu19 carbonyl and the hydrogen bonds between the C2 amine and Leu16/Leu19 carbonyl groups provide for specific guanine recognition. A detailed model of how the flavivirus MTase protein binds RNA cap structures is presented.     

HIV-1 Nef Dimerization Is Required for Nef-Mediated Receptor Downregulation and Viral Replication

Nef, a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) accessory factor capable of interaction with a diverse array of host cell signaling molecules, is essential for high-titer HIV replication and AIDS progression. Previous biochemical and structural studies have suggested that Nef may form homodimers and higher-order oligomers in HIV-infected cells, which may be required for both immune and viral receptor downregulation as well as viral replication. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation, we provide the first direct evidence for Nef dimers within HIV host cells and identify the structural requirements for dimerization in vivo. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis shows that the multiple hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions found within the dimerization interface of the Nef X-ray crystal structure are essential for dimerization in cells. Nef dimers localized to the plasma membrane as well as the trans-Golgi network, two subcellular localizations essential for Nef function. Mutations in the Nef dimerization interface dramatically reduced both Nef-induced CD4 downregulation and HIV replication. Viruses expressing dimerization-defective Nef mutants were disabled to the same extent as HIV that fails to express Nef in terms of replication. These results identify the Nef dimerization region as a potential molecular target for antiretroviral drug discovery.     

Oligomeric-State-Dependent Conformational Change of the BLUF Protein TePixD (Tll0078)

The photochemical reaction dynamics of a BLUF (sensors of blue light using FAD) protein, PixD, from a thermophilic cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1 (TePixD, Tll0078) were studied by pulsed laser-induced transient grating method. After the formation of an intermediate species with a red-shifted absorption spectrum, two new reaction phases reflecting protein conformational changes were discovered; one reaction phase manifested itself as expansion of partial molar volume with a time constant of 40 μs, whereas the other reaction phase represented a change in the diffusion coefficient D [i.e., the diffusion-sensitive conformational change (DSCC)]. D decreased from 4.9 × 10^− 11 to 4.4 × 10^− 11 m² s^− 1 upon the formation of the first intermediate, and subsequently showed a more pronounced decrease to 3.2 × 10^− 11 m² s^− 1 upon formation of the second intermediate. From a global analysis of signals at various grating wavenumbers, the time constant of D-change was determined to be 4 ms. Although the magnitude and rate constant of the faster volume change were independent of protein concentration, the amplitude of the signal that reflects the later DSCC significantly decreased as the protein concentration decreased. This concentration dependence suggests that two species exist in solution: a reactive species exhibiting the DSCC, and a second species that is nonreactive. The fraction of these species was found to be dependent on the concentration. The difference in reactivity was attributed to the different oligomeric states of TePixD (i.e., pentamer and decamer). The equilibrium of these states in the dark was confirmed by size-exclusion chromatography at various concentrations. These results demonstrated that only the decamer state is responsible for the conformational change. The results may suggest that the oligomeric state is functionally important in the signal transduction of this photosensory protein.     

脑微血管内皮细胞条件培养液对星形胶质细胞的影响及通络中药的干预特征

目的:揭示脑微血管内皮细胞生理、病理及通络中药处理后不同状态的培养液对正常星形胶质细胞影响的特征,从细胞间相互作用角度探讨脑微血管内皮细胞与星形胶质细胞的生物学关系,为阐释脑微环境稳定的血脑屏障维护机制以及通络中药通过内皮细胞调节脑内微环境理论假说提供新的证据。方法:制备正常、拟缺血和拟缺血合并通络救脑注射液处理的大鼠脑微血管内皮细胞条件培养液,观察其对星形胶质细胞活性和凋亡率的影响。结果:与正常星形胶质细胞相比,正常内皮细胞条件培养液能够降低正常星形胶质细胞的活性,并促进星形胶质细胞的凋亡;而拟缺血处理的内皮细胞条件培养液能够提高正常星形胶质细胞的活性和凋亡率;拟缺血合并通络药物处理的内皮细胞条件培养液对正常星形胶质细胞的活性有提高作用,并显著降低其凋亡率。结论:三种不同处理方式的内皮细胞条件培养液对正常星形胶质细胞活性和凋亡产生不同的影响,提示不同状态的微血管内皮细胞对脑内微环境产生影响,通络救脑注射液可能通过调节微血管内皮细胞的分泌而对星形胶质细胞发挥作用。     

每日2次和3次皮下注射诺和锐30疗效临床分析

目的:比较诺和锐30每日2次和3次皮下注射的疗效和安全性。方法:为期3个月的随机、开放式试验,100例2型糖尿病(T2DM)患者随机分为诺和锐30皮下注射2次(每日早、晚餐前)、3次(早、中、晚餐前)组,观测两组患者空腹血糖(FPG),中餐前血糖,晚餐前血糖,睡前的血糖值以及糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c),低血糖事件及其他不良事件差异。结果:诺和锐30皮下注射3次组总体血糖水平低于2次组,低血糖事件和其他不良反应发生次数无显著性差异。结论:两组治疗方法均能有效地降低血糖,3次治疗组控制餐后血糖更具优势,HbA1c降低更好,未增加低血糖风险。     

Lyophilized somatic cells direct embryonic development after whole cell intracytoplasmic injection into pig oocytes

The study investigated the feasibility of lyophilization for long-term preservation of somatic cells and embryonic development after whole cell intracytoplasmic injection (WCICI) into enucleated pig oocyte. Confluent cultured porcine fetal fibroblast (pFF) cells were lyophilized and stored at 4 °C for at least 6 months. Results showed that compared to non-lyophilized control cells, lyophilized cells had drastically reduced cellular viability (P < 0.01). WCICI of reconstituted lyophilized cells could support complete embryonic development. However, the rates of cleavage (64.7 ± 2.7 vs. 43.5 ± 4.7%) and blastocyst formation (18.2 ± 0.6 vs. 10.2 ± 1.6%) were lower than that of control (P < 0.05). Total nuclei number per blastocyst (30.4 ± 4.5 vs. 25.2 ± 4.7) and intensity of acetylation at histone H3 (AcH3) protein (55.9 ± 3.5 vs. 53.3 ± 3.8) did not differ (P > 0.05). The development ability of embryos, produced from lyophilized somatic cells, was further increased (19.5 ± 2.4 vs. 10.2 ± 1.6%; P < 0.05) by treatment with trichostatin A (TSA) for 24 h post-activation. These TSA-treated embryos also had AcH3 level comparable with in vitro fertilized embryos (63.1 ± 3.2 vs. 69.9 ± 1.3). In conclusion, our results suggest that lyophilized somatic cells can direct embryonic development up to blastocyst stage after WCICI into pig oocytes. Treatment of embryos, produced from lyophilized somatic cells, with TSA can further increase their in vitro developmental potential.     

蛋氨酸脑啡肽联合白细胞介素-2抗肿瘤作用研究

观察蛋氨酸脑啡肽(MEK)和注射用白细胞介素-2(IL-2)单独和联合应用的抗肿瘤效应。应用动物移植性肿瘤的体内试验法,分别观察MEK、IL-2和(MEK+IL-2)对肿瘤的抑瘤作用及小鼠生命延长率情况。MEK组、IL-2组和(MEK+IL-2)组的抑瘤作用分别为131.38%(P0.01)、69.63%(P0.01)、229.170%(P0.01),都有显著差异;生命延长率为:MEK组18.27%(P0.01),有显著差异;IL-2组9.31%(P0.01),无显著差异;(MEK+IL-2)组32.07%(P0.01),有显著差异。结果表明:MEK、IL-2和(MEK+IL-2)都对小鼠移植性瘤有一定的抑制作用,MEK和(MEK+IL-2)能够延长小鼠生命,而IL-2单独应用不能延长小鼠生命;MEK和IL-2联合应用时作用相加,而不良反应未相加。