Seasonal changes in photosystem II organisation and pigment composition in Pinus sylvestris

Conifers of the boreal zone encounter considerable combined stress of low temperature and high light during winter, when photosynthetic consumption of excitation energy is blocked. In the evergreen Pinus sylvestris L. these stresses coincided with major seasonal changes in photosystem II (PSII) organisation and pigment composition. The earliest changes occurred in September, before any freezing stress, with initial losses of chlorophyll, the D1-protein of the PSII reaction centre and of PSII light-harvesting-complex (LHC II) proteins. In October there was a transient increase in F₀, resulting from detachment of the light-harvesting antennae as reaction centres lost D1. The D1-protein content eventually decreased to 90%, reaching a minimum by December, but PSII photochemical efficiency [variable fluorescence (F_v)/maximum fluorescence (F_m)] did not reach the winter minimum until mid-February. The carotenoid composition varied seasonally with a twofold increase in lutein and the carotenoids of the xanthophyll cycle during winter, while the epoxidation state of the xanthophylls decreased from 0.9 to 0.1 from October to January. The loss of chlorophyll was complete by October and during winter much of the remaining chlorophyll was reorganised in aggregates of specific polypeptide composition, which apparently efficiently quench excitation energy through non-radiative dissipation. The timing of the autumn and winter changes indicated that xanthophyll de-epoxidation correlates with winter quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence while the drop in photochemical efficiency relates more to loss of D1-protein. In April and May recovery of the photochemistry of PSII, protein synthesis, pigment rearrangements and zeaxanthin epoxidation occurred concomitantly. Indoor recovery of photosynthesis in winter-stressed branches under favourable conditions was completed within 3 d, with rapid increases in F₀, the epoxidation state of the xanthophylls and in light-harvesting polypeptides, followed by recovery of D1-protein content and F_v/F_m, all without net increase in chlorophyll. The fall and winter reorganisation allow Pinus sylvestris to maintain a large stock of chlorophyll in a quenched, photoprotected state, allowing rapid recovery of photosynthesis in spring.Abbreviations Elips early light-induced proteins - EPS epoxidation state - F₀ instantaneous fluorescence - F_m maximum fluorescence - F_v variable fluorescence - LHC II light-harvesting complex of PSII - LiDS lithium dodecyl sulfate This research was supported by the Swedish Natural Science Research Council. We wish to thank Dr. Adrian Clarke¹ (Department of Plant Physiology, University of Umeå, Sweden) for advice on electrophoresis, valuable discussion and providing antibodies. Dr. Stefan Jansson¹ and Dr. Torill Hundal (Department for Biochemistry, University of Stockholm, Sweden) provided antibodies. Jan Karlsson¹ helped with the HPLC, Dr. Marianna Krol gave advice on green gels and Dr. Vaughan Hurry (Cooperative Research Centre for Plant Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia) provided valuable discussion.     

Microtubules, schizophrenia and cognitive behavior: preclinical development of davunetide (NAP) as a peptide-drug candidate

NAP (davunetide) is an active fragment of activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP). ADNP and the homologous protein ADNP2 provide cell protection. ADNP is essential for brain formation, proper development and neuronal plasticity, all reported to be impaired in schizophrenia. ADNP haploinsufficiecy inhibits social and cognitive functions, major hallmarks in schizophrenia. Imbalance in ADNP/ADNP2 expression in the schizophrenia brain may impact disease progression. NAP treatment partly ameliorates ADNP haploinsufficiecy. The microtubule, stable tubule-only polypeptide (STOP)-deficient mice were shown to provide a reliable model for schizophrenia. Daily intranasal NAP treatment significantly decreased hyperactivity in STOP-deficient mice and protected visual memory, supporting further clinical development.     

Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) Regulation of Sympathetic Neuron Neuropeptide Y and Catecholamine Expression

Abstract: Two forms of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), the 38- and 27-amino-acid forms (PACAP38 and PACAP27, respectively), which share amino acid sequence homology with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), were evaluated for their abilities to regulate sympathetic neuron catecholamine and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression. PACAP38 and PACAP27 potently and efficaciously stimulated NPY and catecholamine secretion in primary cultured superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons; 100- to 1,000-fold higher concentrations of VIP were required to modulate secretion, suggesting that SCG neurons express the PACAP-selective type I receptor. PACAP38 elicited a sustained seven- to ninefold increase in the rate of NPY secretion and three-fold stimulation in the rate of catecholamine release. PACAP38 and PACAP27 produced parallel neuronal NPY and catecholamine release, but cellular levels of NPY and catecholamines were differentially regulated. Sympathetic neuron NPY content was decreased, whereas cellular total catecholamine levels were elevated by the PACAP peptides; total NPY and catecholamine levels (secreted plus cellular content) were increased. In concert with the increased total peptide and transmitter production, pro-NPY and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA levels were elevated. Furthermore, PACAP38 was more efficacious than PACAP27 in regulating pro-NPY and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA. SCG neuronal expression of mRNA encoding the type I PACAP receptor further supported the studies demonstrating that sympathetic neuronal levels of NPY and catecholamine content and secretion and mRNA are differentially regulated by the PACAP peptides.     

重组GIP蛋白的原核优化表达及其生物活性的研究

葡萄糖依赖性促胰岛素多肽或抑胃肽(glucose-dependentinsulinotropicpolypeptideorgastricinhibitorypeptide,GIP)是由42个氨基酸组成的胃肠调节肽,在高血糖背景下能够刺激胰岛素释放,能够抑制胃酸分泌、促进神经细胞增生,具有广泛的临床应用价值.化学提取或人工合成GIP,成本过高,不宜规模化生产,故应用基因工程技术研制重组人GIP(rhGIP)并探讨其生物活性有积极的现实意义.人工合成具有大肠杆菌偏爱密码子的编码GIP成熟肽的cDNA序列,利用pET32a( )系统进行原核表达;在小规模发酵条件下,进行优化诱导表达和目的蛋白的亲和纯化;通过检测SD大鼠胃酸分泌和血糖浓度,对纯化后的rhGIP进行生理活性研究;通过形态学观察和培养基中NO含量测定,检测rhGIP对PC12细胞NO自由基生成量的影响;应用Aβ25-35加入培养基造成PC12细胞神经损伤模型,分别以高、中、低剂量rhGIP作用于此模型,通过MTT(2-(4,5-dimethylthia-zol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide)法测定PC12细胞的活性.结果显示,成功克隆了人GIP基因,诱导表达的rhGIP占细胞总蛋白质的35%,部分可溶,部分以包涵体形式存在.经过诱导表达的重组蛋白质分子质量约为26ku,与理论值相符.纯化后的rhGIP具有免疫活性.优化诱导表达条件为表达菌生长密度A600值0.50,IPTG浓度0.5mmol/L,温度37℃,诱导表达时间4h.裂解上清液经固定化金属亲和层析一步法层析后,表达的水溶性rhGIP融合蛋白的最后得率为1.2mg/L菌液,纯度为85%.纯化后的rhGIP能够使SD大鼠胃液pH值增高,其抑制胃酸分泌作用与生理盐水对照组比较差异有显著性(P<0.05),而rhGIP组和标准品GIP组比较差异无显著性.在高血糖背景下,注射rhGIP15min后,大鼠血浆血糖浓度较基础血糖显著降低(P<0.05),30min时与单独注射葡萄糖的模型对照组比较,差异无显著性,而rhGIP组和标准品GIP组其差异不显著.在rhGIP对神经细胞的营养和对PC12细胞免受神经损伤和缺氧损伤影响的研究中发现,用rhGIP培养PC12细胞32h后,rhGIP组NO含量极显著低于正常对照组(P<0.01),细胞存活较多,神经突起延伸较好,中、高剂量rhGIP组均较神经损伤和缺氧损伤组活性显著升高(P<0.05),且细胞活性呈剂量依赖关系,rhGIP组与标准品GIP组差异不显著,与正常对照组亦无显著差异.研究结果表明,已得到高效表达的rhGIP融合蛋白,该蛋白质具有免疫活性,具有抑制胃酸分泌和降低大鼠血浆血糖浓度的生理活性,并且对神经细胞有营养和保护作用.     

A molecular dynamics study of the interaction of D-peptide amyloid inhibitors with their target sequence reveals a potential inhibitory pharmacophore conformation

The self-assembly of soluble proteins and peptides into β-sheet-rich oligomeric structures and insoluble fibrils is a hallmark of a large number of human diseases known as amyloid diseases. Drugs that are able to interfere with these processes may be able to prevent and/or cure these diseases. Experimental difficulties in the characterization of the intermediates involved in the amyloid formation process have seriously hampered the application of rational drug design approaches to the inhibition of amyloid formation and growth. Recently, short model peptide systems have proved useful in understanding the relationship between amino acid sequence and amyloid formation using both experimental and theoretical approaches. Moreover, short d-peptide sequences have been shown to specifically interfere with those short amyloid stretches in proteins, blocking oligomer formation or disassembling mature fibrils. With the aim of rationalizing which interactions drive the binding of inhibitors to nascent β-sheet oligomers, in this study, we have carried out extensive molecular dynamics simulations of the interaction of selected d-peptide sequences with oligomers of the target model sequence STVIIE. Structural analysis of the simulations helped to identify the molecular determinants of an inhibitory core whose conformational and physicochemical properties are actually shared by nonpeptidic small-molecule inhibitors of amyloidogenesis. Selection of one of these small molecules and experimental validation against our model system proved that it was indeed an effective inhibitor of fibril formation by the STVIIE sequence, supporting theoretical predictions. We propose that the inhibitory determinants derived from this work be used as structural templates in the development of pharmacophore models for the identification of novel nonpeptidic inhibitors of aggregation.     

入侵杂草五爪金龙在切割处理下的再生能力

对五爪金龙(Ipomoea cairica (Linn.) Sweet)进行切割试验,对其在不同光环境及不同季节的萌芽率、成活率、主茎长度和生物量等进行研究。结果表明:五爪金龙切条越短其萌芽越迟,其成活率、主茎长度和生物量下降;五爪金龙在光下和林下的成活率无显著差异,但林下生物量较低;切条越短,林下条件越不利于主茎的伸长;冬季五爪金龙的主茎长度和生物量最低;夏季在光下和林下不能再生的最长切条长度均为4 cm;秋季均为1 cm;而冬季光下为1 cm,林下为3 cm;春季光下则为4 cm,林下为5 cm。春季时将五爪金龙切割为5 cm并置于林下是最经济的防除方法;如果不考虑季节性及光条件,应将其切割至1 cm以下的片段,可以有效防止五爪金龙再生。     

木瓜三萜对吲哚美辛致胃黏膜损伤小鼠胃酸分泌及胃黏膜屏障的影响

观察木瓜三萜对吲哚美辛致胃黏膜损伤小鼠胃酸分泌及胃黏膜屏障的影响,在此基础上探讨其可能的机制。实验时,将小鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、木瓜三萜(50、100mg/kg)和奥美拉唑(20mg/kg)组。将给药组灌胃给予相应的药物,正常组和模型组灌胃给予0.5%羧甲基纤维素钠溶液,给药6小时后,除正常组外,灌胃给予20mg/kg的吲哚美辛,每天一次,连续7天。末次给药次日,小鼠用水合氯醛麻醉后,固定,剪开腹腔,进行胃黏膜血流量的测定,然后取胃检测胃液量、胃液酸度和胃结合黏液量;检测胃黏膜中表皮生长因子基因(EGF)和三叶因子1基因(TFF1)的mRNA和蛋白表达。研究发现:吲哚美辛致胃黏膜损伤模型组小鼠胃液分泌量,胃液酸度、胃黏膜血流量、胃结合黏液量及胃黏膜组织中EGF和TFF1的mRNA和蛋白表达明显降低,与正常组比较均具有统计学差异(P<0.01);用木瓜三萜预处理后,上述异常的变化均得到了有效逆转,与模型组比较具有显著性差异(P<0.05,P<0.01)。实验结果表明木瓜三萜(50、100mg/kg)对吲哚美辛致小鼠胃黏膜损伤具有较好的保护作用,通过上调EGF和TFF1的表达水平,增加胃液分泌量、胃液酸度、胃黏膜血流量、胃结合黏液量,恢复胃黏膜防御屏障的功能可能是其治疗吲哚美辛致胃黏膜损伤的机制之一。