Function of a membrane-embedded domain evolutionarily multiplied in the GPI lipid anchor pathway proteins PIG-B,PIG-M,PIG-U,PIG-W,PIG-V,and PIG-Z

Distant homology relationships among proteins with many transmembrane regions (TMs) are difficult to detect as they are clouded by the TMs’ hydrophobic compositional bias and mutational divergence in connecting loops. In the case of several GPI lipid anchor biosynthesis pathway components, the hidden evolutionary signal can be revealed with dissectHMMER, a sequence similarity search tool focusing on fold-critical, high complexity sequence segments. We find that a sequence module with 10 TMs in PIG-W, described as acyl transferase, is homologous to PIG-U, a transamidase subunit without characterized molecular function, and to mannosyltransferases PIG-B, PIG-M, PIG-V and PIG-Z. We conclude that this new, membrane-embedded domain named BindGPILA functions as the unit for recognizing, binding and stabilizing the GPI lipid anchor in a modification-competent form as this appears the only functional aspect shared among all proteins. Thus, PIG-U's likely molecular function is shuttling/presenting the anchor in a productive conformation to the transamidase complex.     

长链非编码RNA及其与疾病相关性的研究进展*

人类基因组中,用于蛋白质编码的核酸序列约占1.5%,另外98.5%的非蛋白编码基因被视为"噪音"序列,并未引起人们的注意。随着测序技术的发展,人们发现大部分的基因被转录成RNA,其中多数为长度大于200nt且不编码蛋白质的长链非编码RNA(Long non-coding RNA, lncRNA),其作用机制包括支架分子、引导分子等,广泛参与细胞发育、增殖及迁移过程,且其水平的改变又与肿瘤、代谢性疾病等相关。本文主要对lncRNA的分类、作用机制及涉及的疾病等进行综述,为进一步研究lncRNA的功能机制奠定基础。     

Evolutionary analysis of the multigene pregnancy-specific β1-Glycoprotein family: Separation of historical and nonhistorical signals

The pregnancy-specific ₁-glycoproteins (PSG) form a large family of closely related proteins. Using newly developed methods of sequence analysis, in combination with protein modeling, we provide a framework for investigating the evolution and biological function of genes like the PSG. Evolutionary trees, based on C-terminal sequence, group PSG genes in a manner consistent with their genomic organization. Trees constructed using the N-terminal domain sequences are unreliable as an indicator of phylogeny because of non-neutral processes of sequence change. During duplication of the PSG genes, evolutionary pressures have resulted in a gradient of constrained change across each gene. The N-terminal domains show a nonrandom pattern of amino acid substitutions clustered in the immunoglobulin complementarity-determining region (CDR)-like regions, which appear to be important in the function of the protein.     

The plant homeodomain finger protein MESR4 is essential for embryonic development in Drosophila

Misexpression Suppressor of Ras 4 (MESR4), a plant homeodomain (PHD) finger protein with nine zinc‐finger motifs has been implicated in various biological processes including the regulation of fat storage and innate immunity in Drosophila. However, the role of MESR4 in the context of development remains unclear. Here it is shown that MESR4 is a nuclear protein essential for embryonic development. Immunostaining of polytene chromosomes using anti‐MESR4 antibody revealed that MESR4 binds to numerous bands along the chromosome arms. The most intense signal was detected at the 39E‐F region, which is known to contain the histone gene cluster. P‐element insertions in the MESR4 locus, which were homozygous lethal during embryogenesis with defects in ventral ectoderm formation and head encapsulation was identified. In the mutant embryos, expression of Fasciclin 3 (Fas3), an EGFR signal target gene was greatly reduced, and the level of EGFR signal‐dependent double phosphorylated ERK (dp‐ERK) remained low. However, in the context of wing vein formation, genetic interaction experiments suggested that MESR4 is involved in the EGFR signaling as a negative regulator. These results suggested that MESR4 is a novel chromatin‐binding protein required for proper expression of genes including those regulated by the EGFR signaling pathway during development. genesis 53:701–708, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

植物肉桂酰辅酶A还原酶基因克隆研究进展

木质素单体合成的过程中涉及了许多酶的参与,而肉桂酰辅酶A还原酶(cinnamoyl-CoA reductase,CCR)是该过程中的一个关键酶。综述了CCR基因在植物体内的克隆、基因功能及在植物组织中的表达情况,并介绍了该基因在植物的抗病虫害和抗逆性研究、饲草和能源上的应用潜力,为进一步研究CCR基因生物学功能和利用奠定了基础。     

Specific features of ex‐obese patients significantly influence the functional cell properties of adipose‐derived stromal cells

Adipose‐derived stromal cells (ADSC) are increasingly used in clinical applications due to their regenerative capabilities. However, ADSC therapies show variable results. This study analysed the effects of specific factors of ex‐obese patients on ADSC functions. ADSC were harvested from abdominal tissues (N = 20) after massive weight loss. Patients were grouped according to age, sex, current and maximum body mass index (BMI), BMI difference, weight loss method, smoking and infection at the surgical site. ADSC surface markers, viability, migration, transmigration, sprouting, differentiation potential, cytokine secretion, telomere length and mtDNA copy number were analysed. All ADSC expressed CD73, CD90, CD105, while functional properties differed significantly among patients. A high BMI difference due to massive weight loss was negatively correlated with ADSC proliferation, migration and transmigration, while age, sex or weight loss method had a smaller effect. ADSC from female and younger donors and individuals after weight loss by increase of exercise and diet change had a higher activity. Telomere length, mtDNA copy number, differentiation potential and the secretome did not correlate with patient factors or cell function. Therefore, we suggest that factors such as age, sex, increase of exercise and especially weight loss should be considered for patient selection and planning of regenerative therapies.     

Royal jelly: can it reduce physiological strain of growing rabbits under Egyptian summer conditions?

Exposure of growing rabbits to heat stress during summer adversely affects their performance leading to major production losses. A total number of 48 rabbits, unsexed V-line weaned rabbits, were randomly divided into four experimental groups, temperature ranged from high at 32°C to low at 23°C. Animals of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th group were individually orally given 200, 400 or 800 mg royal jelly (RJ)/kg BW once a week, respectively, to evaluate RJ ability to reduce physiological strain resulted from heat stress. Weekly BW gain increased by 10.4, 11.8 and 10.8%, and feed conversion ratio was significantly improved by 20, 24 and 18% with RJ treatments. Serum total protein, albumin and globulin increased, whereas serum total lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides decreased with RJ treatments. Creatinine was reduced by 21, 30 and 18% and uric acid by 14, 25 and 18% compared with the heat stressed control with the three doses of RJ. Glucose level increased significantly to reach 116, 125, and 120% of heat stressed control. Calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase increased significantly with RJ treatments indicating the occurrence of active bone deposition. Thyroid hormone levels increased significantly to reach 108, 111, and 112% of heat stressed control rabbits with the three doses of RJ, counteracting the hypothyroid state resulted from heat stress. It can be concluded that RJ administration to heat stressed growing rabbits can reduce physiological strain resulted from heat stress.     

奇异果甜蛋白及其基因工程

奇异果甜蛋白(thaumatin)是迄今为止最甜的物质之一,对其研究具有很重要的意义。奇异果甜蛋白的生化性质基本清楚,基因序列和氨基酸序列都已测定。它的甜味可能是由奇异果甜蛋白上特定基团和受体结合引起的。对奇异果甜蛋白的生理功能知之甚少。近二十年来,在奇异果甜蛋白的基因工程上取得了一定进展,但仍然存在许多困难。 Abstract:Thaumatin is one of the sweetest substances known to date,it is important to study the thaumatin.The biochemical properties of thaumatin have been clarified clearly.Thaumatin had been isolated and sequenced.The mechanism of the sweetness of thaumatin may be due to the combination of some special groups and the receptors.The exact function of thaumatin is still not clear.Although gene engineering of thaumatin has been carried out for 20 years,there are still some difficulties to be solved for using in the market.