Rodlet cells in epidermal explant cultures of Lepomis Macrochirus

Sunfish rodlet cells were examined in vitro using a novel tissue explant system. Outgrowth of epidermal cell layers from explanted fish scales enabled both live cell videomicroscopy and immunocytochemical analysis of rodlet cells within the cell layer. Cells stained with fluorescent phallotoxin and antibody to tubulin showed that F‐actin is a component of the fibrous capsule that envelopes the cell and a microtubule network extends from the basal to apical ends of the cell interior. The fibrous capsule is also enriched for phosphotyrosine suggesting a potential signal‐transducing capability is present in this structure. Videomicroscopy analysis of live explant cultures demonstrated that rodlet cells are immobile and that interior structures are highly dynamic. Rodlet sacs can undergo extension and retraction, while intracellular particles can move rapidly within these cells. Fish scale tissue explants provide a useful system for analyzing the molecular composition and dynamic behavior of rodlet cells.     

Highly selective screening of the bioactive compounds in Huoxue capsule using immobilized β2-adrenoceptor affinity chromatography

A highly selective assay was developed for screening compounds that bind to the porcine recombinant β₂-adrenoceptor (β₂-AR) with affinity chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF–MS). The methodology involved selective screening with immobilized β₂-AR, a highly accurate identification via Q-TOF–MS, and a functional evaluation of the screened compounds with a sensitive myograph system. Ferulic acid, hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), and naringin were confirmed to be the bioactive compounds in Huoxue capsule that specifically bound to the β₂-AR. These compounds produced a concentration-dependent relaxation of arteries that were contracted by treatment with phenylephrine, and the relaxation caused by these compounds was attenuated in the presence of ICI 118551, a type of β₂-AR antagonist. Our data indicate that the use of an immobilized receptor is potentially an alternative method for the rapid screening of bioactive compounds in a complex matrix because of its high specificity. β₂-AR affinity chromatography was valuable in focusing attention on the further investigation of ferulic acid, HSYA, and naringin as β₂-AR agonists.     

Molecular typing of meningococci: recommendations for target choice and nomenclature

The diversity and dynamics of Neisseria meningitidis populations generate a requirement for high resolution, comprehensive, and portable typing schemes for meningococcal disease surveillance. Molecular approaches, specifically DNA amplification and sequencing, are the methods of choice for various reasons, including: their generic nature and portability, comprehensive coverage, and ready implementation to culture negative clinical specimens. The following target genes are recommended: (1) the variable regions of the antigen-encoding genes porA and fetA and, if additional resolution is required, the porB gene for rapid investigation of disease outbreaks and investigating the distribution of antigenic variants; (2) the seven multilocus sequence typing loci-these data are essential for the most effective national, and international management of meningococcal disease, as well as being invaluable in studies of meningococcal population biology and evolution. These targets have been employed extensively in reference laboratories throughout the world and validated protocols have been published. It is further recommended that a modified nomenclature be adopted of the form: serogroup: PorA type: FetA type: sequence type (clonal complex), thus: B: P1.19,15: F5-1: ST-33 (cc32).     

Influence of tyrosine-kinase Wzc activity on colanic acid production in Escherichia coli K12 cells

Bacterial tyrosine-kinases have been demonstrated to participate in the regulation of capsule polysaccharides (CPS) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) production and export. However, discrepant data have been reported on the molecular mechanism responsible for this regulation depending on the bacterial species analyzed. Special attention was previously paid to the tyrosine-kinase Wzc_ca of Escherichia coli K-12, which is involved in the production of the exopolysaccharide, colanic acid, and autophosphorylates by using a cooperative two-step process. In this work, we took advantage of these observations to investigate in further detail the effect of Wzc_ca phosphorylation on the colanic acid production. First, it is shown that expression of the phosphorylated form of Wzc prevents production of colanic acid whereas expression of the non-phosphorylated form allows biosynthesis of this exopolysaccharide. However, we provide evidence that, in the latter case, the size distribution of the colanic acid polymer is less scattered than in the case of the wild-type strain expressing both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of Wzc. It is then demonstrated that colanic acid production is not merely regulated by an on/off mechanism and that, instead, both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of Wzc are required to promote colanic acid synthesis. Moreover, a series of data suggests that besides the involvement of phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of Wzc in the production of colanic acid, two particular regions of this kinase play as such an important role in the synthesis of this exopolysaccharide: a proline-rich domain located in the N-terminal part of Wzc_ca, and a tyrosine cluster present in the C-terminal portion of the enzyme. Furthermore, considering that polysaccharides are known to facilitate bacterial resistance to certain environmental stresses, it is shown that the resistance of E. coli to desiccation is directly connected with the phosphorylation state of Wzc_ca.     

多重干预RAAS对大鼠慢性心功能不全心室重构及血钾的影响

目的探讨多重干预RAAS对大鼠慢性心功能不全心室重构及血钾的影响。方法实验采用缩窄大鼠腹主动脉法建立慢性压力负荷致心功能不全动物模型,选6周龄20只雌性SD大鼠,随机分4组(每组5只),B组(手术模型组)、C组(卡托普利组)、D组(卡托普利+缬沙坦组)、E组(卡托普利+缬沙坦+螺内酯组),另随机抽取5只同龄雌性SD大鼠假手术作为对照(A组)。给药8周后用Doppler超声心动图检测大鼠心脏结构和心功能各项参数的变化,放射免疫法测定血浆AngⅡ,ALDO浓度,并生化检测血钾水平。结果腹主动脉结扎后第9周,与A组比较,B组舒张末期室间隔厚度(IVSTD)、舒张末期左室后壁厚度(LVPWTD)、相对室壁厚度(RWT)、左室重量(LVM)、左室重量与体重比(LVM/BW)均显著提高(P<0.05);C、D、E组与B组相比,LVM,LVM/BW下降显著(P<0.05)。各药物干预组(C、D、E)血浆AngⅡ,ALDO水平明显低于B组(P<0.05),以联合应用螺内酯组明显。各药物干预组与A组和B组相比较,血钾水平差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论联合应用卡托普利、缬沙坦及螺内酯多重干预RAAS能明显改善大鼠慢性心功能不全心室重构,对血钾无明显影响。     

Influence of KfoG on capsular polysaccharide structure in Escherichia coli K4 strain

An enzyme KfoG with unknown function is coded by the gene kfoG. Gene kfoG belongs to genes from region 2, which are responsible for structure of capsular polysaccharide. Only two enzymes, KfoG and KfoC, coded by genes from region 2, have a glycosyltransferase motif. KfoC is the bifunctional enzyme, which is able to add both GalNAc and GlcUA on nascent polysaccharide, termed chondroitin polymerase. KfoG was predicted to be a fructosyltransferase. The gene that codes the KfoG enzyme was disrupted using homological recombination and absence of this gene was confirmed on both DNA and RNA levels. After disruption no structural changes have been observed, what indicates that fructose branching of the chondroitin backbone is not caused by enzymes, which are coded by genes from region 2 of the K4 capsular gene cluster.     

Analysis of the shortvein cis-regulatory region of the decapentaplegic gene of Drosophila melanogaster

In mammals, the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily controls a variety of developmental processes. In Drosophila, by contrast, a single member of the superfamily, decapentaplegic (dpp) performs most TGF-beta developmental functions. The complexity of dpp functions is reflected in the complex cis-regulatory sequences that flank the gene. Dpp is divided into three regions: Hin, including the protein-coding exons; disk, including 3' cis-regulatory sequences; and shortvein (shv), including noncoding exons and 5' cis-regulatory sequences. We analyzed the cis-regulatory structure of the shortvein region using a nested series of rearrangement breakpoints and rescue constructs. We delimit the molecular regions responsible for three mutant phenotypes: larval lethality, wing venation defects, and head capsule defects. Multiple overlapping elements are responsible for larval lethality and wing venation defects. However, the area regulating head capsule formation is distinct, and resides 5' to these elements. We have demonstrated this by isolating and describing two novel dpp alleles, which affect only the adult head capsule.     

Gelation conditions and transport properties of hollow calcium alginate capsules

The diameter, membrane thickness, and compression intensity of hollow Ca-alginate capsules were measured at different gelation conditions, such as the reactant concentration, dropping velocity, and gelation time. The optimum operation conditions for preparing capsules were determined at 100 g/L CaCl(2), 10 g/L sodium alginate (Na-alginate), a dropping velocity of 150 droplets/min, and a gelation time of 10 min. Diffusion of some saccharide and amino acid from bulk solution into capsules was investigated, and the diffusion coefficients were calculated by the developed mathematical model. All the tested substances can diffuse easily into the capsules. The combined diffusion coefficients of the capsule D(m) are 92-99% as large as their diffusion coefficients in pure water, while the diffusion coefficients in the capsule membrane D(1) are 60-95% as large as those. By employing polyethylene glycol (PEG) and bovine serum albumin (fraction V) (BSA(V)), the molecular weight cut-off of the capsule was determined. For linear macromolecules, hollow Ca-alginate capsules have a molecular weight cut-off of 4000. No diffusion of BSA(V) into the capsules was observed.     

参乌胶囊及其有效成分二苯乙烯苷对老年大鼠脊髓腰节段细胞凋亡调节因子及p-CREB的影响

目的观察中药新复方参乌胶囊及其有效成分何首乌二苯乙烯苷对老年大鼠脊髓腰节段细胞凋亡及信号转导通路的影响。方法雄性SD大鼠,分为青年组（6月龄）、老年组（24月龄）、老年＋参乌胶囊小剂量（0.8 g/kg）、参乌胶囊大剂量（1.6 g/kg）、二苯乙烯苷小剂量（0.03 g/kg）、二苯乙烯苷大剂量（0.06 g/kg）组。应用Western blot方法检测大鼠脊髓腰节段Bax、Bcl-2及磷酸化cAMP反应元件结合蛋白（p-CREB）的变化及药物的干预作用。结果与6月龄青年大鼠相比,24月龄老年大鼠脊髓腰节段凋亡促进因子Bax的表达增加,凋亡抑制因子Bcl-2的表达减少,神经元存活信号转导通路中p-CREB的表达降低。参乌胶囊和二苯乙烯苷分别灌胃给药3个月能够抑制老年大鼠脊髓腰节段内BAX的表达,增强Bcl-2表达。参乌胶囊还能够上调p-CREB表达。结论乌胶囊及二苯乙烯苷能够改善老年大鼠脊髓腰节段Bax、Bcl-2和p-CREB的变化,提示该药可能具有延缓脊髓衰老的作用。