Signal transduction pathways implicated in neural recognition molecule L1 triggered neuroprotection and neuritogenesis

The signal transduction pathways involved in adhesion molecule L1-triggered neuritogenesis and neuroprotection were investigated using the extracellular domain of mouse or human L1 in fusion with the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin G or L1 purified from mouse brain by affinity chromatography. Substrate L1-triggered neuritogenesis and neuroprotection depended on distinct but also overlapping signal transduction pathways and on the expression of L1 at the neuronal cell surface. PI3 kinase inhibitors, Src family kinase inhibitors as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitors reduced both L1-triggered neuritogenesis and neuroprotection. In contrast, fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitors, a protein kinase A inhibitor, and an inhibitor of cAMP-mediated signal transduction pathways, blocked neuritogenesis, but did not affect L1-triggered neuroprotection. Proteolytic cleavage of L1 or its interaction partners is necessary for both L1-mediated neuritogensis and neuroprotection. Furthermore, L1-triggered neuroprotection was found to be associated with increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2, Akt and Bad, and inhibition of caspases. These observations suggest possibilities of differentially targeting signal transduction pathways for L1-dependent neuritogenesis and neuroprotection.     

AFM studies on the role of the protein RdgC in bacterial DNA recombination

Genetic studies of rdgC in different bacterial systems suggest that it may play a role in replication and recombination. However, the exact function of the corresponding protein, RdgC, is unknown. In this study, we have imaged complexes of RdgC with both linear and supercoiled circular plasmid DNA using atomic force microscopy. We confirm that RdgC does not target any specific sequences in double-stranded DNA, as has been suggested from biochemical data. However, we detect an increased affinity of the protein to DNA ends, and an ability to promote bending of DNA. Similar binding preferences have been reported for enzymes involved in recombination. Protein complexes with supercoiled plasmid DNA further enabled us to study the effect of RdgC on DNA superstructure. At high concentrations of protein we observed promotion of DNA condensation. Recombination is largely enhanced by close contacts of distant regions along the DNA strands, as can occur, for instance, through condensation. Our data thus support a possible function of RdgC as a midwife of recombination.     

小麦印度腥黑穗病菌和黑麦草腥黑粉菌检测标准分子构建

以小麦印度腥黑穗病菌和黑麦草腥黑粉菌为研究对象,采用分子克隆技术,分别构建了该两种真菌分子检测的标准分子。前者包括线粒体2297 bp的DNA序列以及rDNA710 bp的ITS序列,后者包括线粒体2.3kb的DNA序列以及rDNA710 bp的ITS序列。分别对该两个标准分子进行了性能评估试验,测试结果显示所构建的标准分子具有良好的特异性、均匀性和稳定性,能够满足小麦印度腥黑穗病菌和黑麦草腥黑粉菌分子检测需求。     

旋覆花素抑制血管内皮剥脱诱导的粘附分子表达

目的观察旋覆花素对内皮剥脱诱导的新生内膜形成过程中血管壁粘附分子OPN、ICAM-1、ILK表达的影响,为寻找该药物抑制新生内膜形成的作用靶标提供实验依据。方法采用主动脉球囊损伤后血管狭窄动物模型,用免疫组织化学和Western Blot方法分别检测血管壁中骨桥蛋白(osteopontin,OPN)、细胞间粘附分子-1(intercellular adhesion molecule-1,ICAM-1)、整合素偶联激酶(integrin-linked kinase,ILK)的表达变化及旋覆花素对其的影响。结果血管内皮剥脱可诱导血管壁平滑肌细胞大量增生,新生内膜呈弥漫性增厚,血管损伤局部组织中OPN、ICAM-1、ILK的表达均比正常对照组明显升高(P<0.05)。旋覆花素治疗组在球囊损伤后,血管内膜增生程度显著减轻,血管壁OPN、ICAM-1、ILK的表达均比模型组明显降低(P<0.05)。结论旋覆花素减缓新生内膜形成的效应与其抑制粘附分子的表达、阻断粘附分子信号传递有关。     

Reduced sialylation status in UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE)-deficient mice

Sialic acids are widely expressed as terminal carbohydrates on glycoconjugates of eukaryotic cells. They are involved in a variety of cellular functions, such as cell adhesion or signal recognition. The key enzyme of sialic acid biosynthesis is the bifunctional UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE), which catalyzes the first two steps of sialic acid biosynthesis in the cytosol. Previously, we have shown that inactivation of the GNE by gene targeting causes early embryonic lethality in mice, whereas heterozygous GNE-deficient mice are vital. In this study we compared the amount of membrane-bound sialic acids of wildtype mice with those of heterozygous GNE-deficient mice. For that we quantified membrane-bound sialic acid concentration in various organs of wildtype- and heterozygous GNE-deficient mice. We found an organ-specific reduction of membrane-bound sialic acids in heterozygous GNE-deficient mice. The overall reduction was 25%. Additionally, we analyzed transferrin and polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) by one- or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Transferrin-expression was unchanged in heterozygous GNE-deficient mice; however the isoelectric point of transferrin was shifted towards basic pH, indicating a reduced sialylation. Furthermore, the expression of polysialic acids on NCAM was reduced in GNE-deficient mice. Daniel Gagiannis and André Orthmann have contributed equally to this work.     

Visualizing single molecules interacting with nuclear pore complexes by narrow-field epifluorescence microscopy

The utility of single molecule fluorescence (SMF) for understanding biological reactions has been amply demonstrated by a diverse series of studies over the last decade. In large part, the molecules of interest have been limited to those within a small focal volume or near a surface to achieve the high sensitivity required for detecting the inherently weak signals arising from individual molecules. Consequently, the investigation of molecular behavior with high time and spatial resolution deep within cells using SMF has remained challenging. Recently, we demonstrated that narrow-field epifluorescence microscopy allows visualization of nucleocytoplasmic transport at the single cargo level. We describe here the methodological approach that yields 2 ms and approximately 15 nm resolution for a stationary particle. The spatial resolution for a mobile particle is inherently worse, and depends on how fast the particle is moving. The signal-to-noise ratio is sufficiently high to directly measure the time a single cargo molecule spends interacting with the nuclear pore complex. Particle tracking analysis revealed that cargo molecules randomly diffuse within the nuclear pore complex, exiting as a result of a single rate-limiting step. We expect that narrow-field epifluorescence microscopy will be useful for elucidating other binding and trafficking events within cells.     

Toll-like receptor 9 signaling has anti-inflammatory effects on the early phase of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced immune responses in the gastric mucosa are skewed toward T helper (Th) 1 phenotype, which is characterized by predominant production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ by helper T cells. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an essential role in mucosal defense against microbes through the recognition of bacterial molecules. Among the members of the TLR family, TLR9 recognizes bacterial unmethylated CpG DNA sites, and signal transduction of TLR9 induces production of a variety of cytokines, including type-I IFN (IFN-α/β). We investigated the expression and role of TLR9 in H. pylori-induced gastritis in mice. Expression of TLR9 mRNA in the gastric tissue increased after infection with H. pylori. TLR9 was mainly expressed in the macrophages, dendritic cells, and CD3⁺ cells in the gastric mucosa. Neutrophil infiltration and the expression levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ mRNA were higher in TLR9 knockout (KO) mice than in wild-type mice at 2 and 4 months after H. pylori inoculation. These differences in inflammatory parameters between H. pylori-infected wild-type and TLR9 KO mice disappeared 6 months after H. pylori inoculation. Expression of interleukin-4 mRNA, typical Th2 cytokine, in the gastric tissue did not differ between H. pylori-infected wild-type and TLR9 KO mice. Expression level of IFN-α/β mRNA in the TLR9 KO mice was lower than that in wild-type mice by 4 months after inoculation. Administration of IFN-α reduced H. pylori infection-induced increase in neutrophil infiltration and the expression levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ mRNA in TLR9 KO mice. Our findings suggest that TLR9 signaling plays important roles in the suppression of H. pylori-induced gastritis in the early phase via downregulation of Th1-type cytokines modulated by IFN-α.     

苯并[α]芘对不同修复潜力羊茅属植物的根系分泌物中几种低分子量有机物的影响

根系分泌物是植物与土壤间进行物质交换和信息传递的重要载体, 是植物响应外界胁迫的重要途径, 也是构成根际微生态特征的关键因素。根系分泌物与有机污染物的植物修复密切相关, 研究胁迫条件下不同修复潜力植物间根系分泌物的释放特征有助于揭示植物修复的内在机制。该文借助根际袋土培试验研究了苯并[α]芘(BaP)胁迫下5种羊茅属(Festuca)植物根系不同生长期(30-70天)几种低分子量有机物的分泌特征。结果表明: 1) BaP浓度在10.25-161.74 mg·kg^-1范围内时, 待试植物能有效地促进土壤中BaP的去除, 其修复潜力依次为苇状羊茅(F. arundinacea) > 草原羊茅(F. chelungkiangnica) ≥ 毛稃羊茅(F. rubra subsp. arctica) ≥ 贫芒羊茅(F. sinomutica) > 细芒羊茅(F. stapfii)。2) BaP胁迫增强了植物根系对可溶性糖的分泌: 随着胁迫强度的增大、胁迫期的延长, 其分泌量变化呈“先升后降”趋势。3) BaP胁迫促进了植物根系低分子量有机酸的释放, 植物的修复潜力越大, 有机酸高峰值出现时的胁迫浓度越高; 组成成分较稳定, 草酸、乙酸、乳酸和苹果酸为主要组分(>97.34%), 在修复潜力较强植物的根系分泌物中检测出微量的反丁烯二酸。4) BaP胁迫对氨基酸种类影响不大, 但对分泌量影响较大。其中, 苏氨酸、丝氨酸、甘氨酸、丙氨酸的分泌量随BaP胁迫强度的增强而剧增; 脯氨酸、羟脯氨酸和天冬氨酸近乎以加和效应甚至协同效应的形式参与植物对BaP胁迫的应激反应: 参与应激组分的分泌量随胁迫强度的增强而剧增, 植物的修复潜力越强, 参与的组分越多。可见BaP胁迫下, 5种羊茅属植物根系分泌物中几种低分子量有机物的释放特征与植物自身的修复潜力有关: 修复潜力越强, 释放量越多且成分也越复杂, 并呈现出较强的环境适应性及生理可塑性。     

Alkaline phosphatase vs luciferase as secreted reporter molecules in vivo

Secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) and Metridia luciferase (MLuc) are useful reporter molecules in vitro, but little is understood about their usefulness in vivo. In this study, we investigated in vivo activity of recombinant SEAP and MLuc in blood and urine. When SEAP-transfected cells or recombinant SEAP were injected into rats, substantial increase in the level of serum SEAP was observed. In contrast, activity of SEAP was not detected in urine of rats injected with either the SEAP-transfected cells or recombinant SEAP. SEAP activity was also undetectable in urine of SEAP-injected Nagase analbuminemic rats in which glomerular permeability to macromolecules is enhanced. When MLuc-transfected cells were implanted into rats, activity of MLuc was undetectable not only in urine but also in serum. Even immediately after intravenous injection of recombinant MLuc, activity of MLuc was not detected in serum. Subsequent experiments revealed that, in contrast to SEAP, MLuc was rapidly inactivated either by rat serum, fetal bovine serum, or human serum. Albumin was identified as the molecule responsible for the inhibition of MLuc activity. These data elucidated advantages and limitations of secreted reporter molecules SEAP and MLuc under in vivo situations.     

The anthraquinone emodin inhibits the non-exported FIKK kinase from Plasmodium falciparum

The FIKK family of kinases is unique to parasites of the Apicomplexan order, which includes all malaria parasites. Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent form of human malaria, has a family of 19 FIKK kinases, most of which are exported into the host red blood cell during malaria infection. Here, we confirm that FIKK 8 is a non-exported member of the FIKK kinase family. Through expression and purification of the recombinant kinase domain, we establish that emodin is a relatively high-affinity (IC₅₀ = 2 μM) inhibitor of PfFk8. Closely related anthraquinones do not inhibit PfFk8, suggesting that the particular substitution pattern of emodin is critical to the inhibitory pharmacophore. This first report of a P. falciparum FIKK kinase inhibitor lays the groundwork for developing specific inhibitors of the various members of the FIKK kinase family in order to probe their physiological function.