棉花纤维发育相关基因GhPRP10的克隆及其功能分析

利用电子序列拼接结合RT-PCR技术,从12DPA(开花后天数)棉纤维中克隆到1个编码富含脯氨酸蛋白(PRPs)基因,命名为GhPRP10(登录号KP036633)。GhPRP10基因开放阅读框为684bp,编码228个氨基酸,其中脯氨酸(Pro)含量为34.6%。序列分析发现GhPRP10蛋白具有N端信号肽和富含脯氨酸区域,属于第一类PRPs。实时荧光定量PCR(RT-PCR)结果显示,GhPRP10在棉纤维组织中优势表达,在纤维发育过程中的表达量呈现先升高后降低的趋势,在18DPA纤维中表达量最高。利用Gateway技术构建植物过量表达载体,转入烟草BY-2悬浮细胞,表型观察和细胞长度测量结果显示,转GhPRP10基因细胞比野生型细胞显著增长。根据该基因的组织表达特征和转基因细胞表型分析,推测GhPRP10基因在纤维伸长和次生壁合成过程中发挥作用。     

Endothelial cell and macrophage regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell calcification modulated by cholestane-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol

The cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate vascular calcification remain poorly understood. In our previous study, oxysterol cholestane-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol (Triol) was shown to promote vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) calcification. In this study, by using direct coculture, non-contact transwell coculture, and culture with conditioned media, we investigated the roles of endothelial cells (ECs) and macrophages in the regulation of VSMCs calcification in the absence or presence of Triol. In vitro calcification was induced by incubation of VSMCs with beta-glycerophosphate. The results showed that ECs inhibited VSMCs calcification, as manifested by the reduction of calcium deposition in extracellular matrix. This effect of ECs on calcification was via the secreted soluble factors. Furthermore, the stimulation of ECs by Triol had no influence on ECs inhibition of calcification. On the other hand, macrophages promoted VSMCs calcification via the secreted soluble factors such as reactive oxygen species, which was further enhanced by Triol. Our results supported the roles for ECs and macrophages in vascular calcification, modulated by oxysterols in atherosclerotic plaque.     

Identification of metabolic fluxes in hepatic cells from transient 13C-labeling experiments: Part I. Experimental observations

An experimental set-up for acquiring metabolite and transient (13)C-labeling data in mammalian cells is presented. An efficient sampling procedure was established for hepatic cells cultured in six-well plates as a monolayer attached to collagen, which allowed simultaneous quenching of metabolism and extraction of the intracellular intermediates of interest. Extracellular concentrations of glucose, amino acids, lactate, pyruvate, and urea were determined by GC-MS procedures and were used for estimation of metabolic uptake and excretion rates. Sensitive LC-MS and GC-MS methods were used to quantify the intracellular intermediates of tricarboxylic acid cycle, glycolysis, and pentose phosphate pathway and for the determination of isotopomer fractions of the respective metabolites. Mass isotopomer fractions were determined in a transient (13)C-labeling experiment using (13)C-labeled glucose as substrate. The absolute amounts of intracellular metabolites were obtained from a non-labeled experiment carried out in exactly the same way as the (13)C-labeling experiment, except that the media contained naturally labeled glucose only. Estimation of intracellular metabolic fluxes from the presented data is addressed in part II of this contribution.     

Recombinant mussel adhesive protein as a gene delivery material

Efficient target gene delivery into eukaryotic cells is important for biotechnological research and gene therapy. Gene delivery based on proteins, including histones, has recently emerged as a powerful non-viral DNA transfer technique. Here, we investigated the potential use of a recombinant mussel adhesive protein, hybrid fp-151, as a gene delivery material, in view of its similar basic amino acid composition to histone proteins, and cost-effective and high-level production in Escherichia coli. After confirming DNA binding affinity, we transfected mammalian cells (human 293T and mouse NIH/3T3) with foreign genes using hybrid fp-151 as the gene delivery carrier. Hybrid fp-151 displayed comparable transfection efficiency in both mammalian cell lines, compared to the widely used transfection agent, Lipofectamine 2000. Our results indicate that this mussel adhesive protein may be used as a potential protein-based gene-transfer mediator.     

供核细胞对体细胞核移植效率的影响

利用体细胞核移植技术克隆动物、生产转基因家畜具有极大的应用潜力。然而,核移植效率低下、克隆后代形态异常等问题仍然制约着体细胞核移植技术的产业化进展。影响体细胞核移植效率的因素很多,该文着重从供核细胞的类型、细胞体外培养、细胞凋亡及转基因操作等方面阐述其对体细胞核移植效率的影响。     

人同源盒基因NKX3.1对前列腺癌细胞的诱导凋亡作用

构建人同源盒基因NKX3.1 cDNA真核表达载体,研究其在前列腺癌细胞PC-3、LNCaP 中的表达及对细胞的促凋亡作用.以人前列腺癌细胞LNCaP细胞中的总RNA为模板,RT-PCR扩增NKX3.1基因全长编码片段,将NKX3.1 cDNA重组到真核表达载体pcDNA3.1（+）中; 将pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1表达载体瞬时转染前列腺癌细胞PC-3和LNCaP 细胞,用RT-PCR和Western印迹检测NKX3.1 cDNA在转录水平和蛋白水平的表达;绘制细胞生长曲线,观察NKX3.1对前列腺癌细胞增殖的抑制作用;用DNA/ladder和流式细胞术检测NKX3.1对前列腺癌细胞凋亡的影响,进一步用RT PCR检测凋亡相关基因caspase3、caspase8、caspase9、Apaf1、survivin和Bcl2表达的变化.人同源盒基因NKX3.1 cDNA真核表达载体pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1经酶切及测序鉴定正确. pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1转染PC-3和LNCaP细胞后,经RT-PCR和Western印迹证明能有效表达NKX3.1.生长曲线显示,前列腺癌细胞转染NKX3.1 cDNA后细胞增殖受到抑制;前列腺癌细胞转染NKX3.1 cDNA 48 h后,DNA电泳呈现具有凋亡特征的DNA ladder;流式细胞术检测出现明显凋亡峰;RT-PCR检测凋亡相关基因.结果显示,caspase3、caspase8、caspase9基因表达明显增加,Bcl2基因表达明显减少.本研究成功构建了真核表达载体pcDNA3.1 NKX3.1, 转染PC3和LNCaP细胞后能有效表达,并对细胞具有诱导凋亡作用     

阿司匹林对体外培养骨髓基质细胞成骨性分化的影响

目的:探讨阿司匹林对骨髓基质细胞成骨性分化的影响。方法:培养SD大鼠骨髓基质细胞(BMSCs),传代3次后进行成骨诱导分化,诱导培养基中加入不同浓度阿司匹林(0.5、1、2、5、10mmol/L),同时设立对照组。采用cck-8法分析细胞增殖情况。比较阿司匹林组与对照组在细胞碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性、骨钙素(OC)分泌量、钙结节染色等方面的成骨性差异。结果:阿司匹林无促进细胞增殖活性,而高浓度阿司匹林能够强烈抑制细胞增殖。0.5、1、2mmol/L浓度阿司匹林可促进BMSCs的成骨性分化,中低浓度组碱性磷酸酶含量、骨钙素分泌量在不同阶段显著高于对照组。14天茜素红染色可见中低浓度组钙结节数量高于对照组。结论:中低浓度阿司匹林作用于骨髓基质细胞可促进其成骨细胞特性表达,这表明阿司匹林有促进骨代谢合成的作用。     

Kv1.3 钾离子通道在卵巢癌细胞株中的表达及活性

目的:研究Kv1.3钾离子通道在SKOV3卵巢癌细胞中的表达及其在细胞增殖和细胞周期中的作用。方法:应用RT-PCR和免疫细胞化学鉴别Kv1.3钾离子通道在SKOV3卵巢癌细胞中的表达。应用MTT和流式细胞技术观察KV1.3钾离子通道对SKOV3卵巢癌细胞增殖及细胞周期的影响。结果:4-氨基吡啶是Kv1.3钾离子通道特异性阻滞剂。不同浓度的4-氨基吡啶可以明显抑制SKOV3细胞的增殖,并且细胞周期也受到影响。G0/G1细胞比例增加,S期和G2/M期细胞比例下降。结论:Kv1.3钾离子通道在SKOV3卵巢癌细胞中表达,并且在细胞增殖及细胞周期变换中扮演着重要的角色。     

Fucoidin enhances dendritic cell-mediated T-cell cytotoxicity against NY-ESO-1 expressing human cancer cells

Scavenger receptor A (SR-A) plays a crucial role in affecting the dendritic cell-mediated presentation of cancer testis antigens to T cells against human cancer cells. Here we use a dendritic cell-mediated model to verify that a sulphated polysaccharide, fucoidin, can regulate the adverse regulatory function of SR-A, and lead to the up-regulation of the anti-tumor immunological response. SR-A is a receptor of calreticulin (CRT) existing on the surface of dendritic cells (DCs). CRT is a specific receptor for a NY-ESO-1 cancer testis antigen, and CRT itself is responsible for the cross-presentation of NY-ESO-1 to CD8+ cells and the induction of anti-tumor immunity. Flow cytometrical analysis (FACS) showed that fucoidin was able to significantly enhance the binding ratio of NY-ESO-1 to human DCs in a concentration dependent manner, and that the addition of fucoidin promoted the DC maturation upon stimulation of NY-ESO-1. Results from a cytotoxicity assay indicated that fucoidin-treated DCs stimulated the CD8+ T cells more effectively than non-treated DCs via a cross-presentation pathway. Furthermore, it was found that after stimulated by fucoidin-treated DCs, the CD8+ T cells can release more IFN-γ than non-fucoidin-treated cells as detected by intracellular IFN-γ staining. We conclude that fucoidin enhances the cross-presentation of NY-ESO-1 to T cells leading to an increase of T-cell cytotoxicity against NY-ESO-1 expressing human cancer cells.