From phenotype to genotype: a Bayesian solution

The study of biological systems commonly depends on inferring the state of a 'hidden' variable, such as an underlying genotype, from that of an 'observed' variable, such as an expressed phenotype. However, this cannot be achieved using traditional quantitative methods when more than one genetic mechanism exists for a single observable phenotype. Using a novel latent class Bayesian model, it is possible to infer the prevalence of different genetic elements in a population given a sample of phenotypes. As an exemplar, data comprising phenotypic resistance to six antimicrobials obtained from passive surveillance of Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 are analysed to infer the prevalence of individual resistance genes, as well as the prevalence of a genomic island known as SGI1 and its variants. Three competing models are fitted to the data and distinguished between using posterior predictive p-values to assess their ability to predict the observed number of unique phenotypes. The results suggest that several SGI1 variants circulate in a few fixed forms through the population from which our data were derived. The methods presented could be applied to other types of phenotypic data, and represent a useful and generic mechanism of inferring the genetic population structure of organisms.     

延衰合剂对D-半乳糖衰老模型小鼠学习记忆及抗氧化能力的影响(英文)

为观察延衰合剂(Yanshuai mixture,YSM)的延缓衰老作用,采用D-半乳糖连续颈背部皮下注射诱导亚急性衰老小鼠模型,造模同时给予YSM低、中、高剂量灌胃,连续10周。观察小鼠衰老征象,Moriss水迷宫检测学习记忆功能,测定血清及脑组织中总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)。结果显示,与模型组比较,YSM各剂量组均能使小鼠逃避潜伏期明显缩短,原平台象限游泳时间明显延长(P<0.05);YSM高剂量组T-AOC、SOD活性显著升高(P<0.01),MDA水平显著下降(P<0.01)。表明YSM可明显改善衰老小鼠学习记忆功能,提高抗氧化能力,从而可能具有较好的延缓衰老的作用。     

Notch signaling and Notch signaling modifiers

Originally discovered nearly a century ago, the Notch signaling pathway is critical for virtually all developmental programs and modulates an astounding variety of pathogenic processes. The DSL (Delta, Serrate, LAG-2 family) proteins have long been considered canonical activators of the core Notch pathway. More recently, a wide and expanding network of non-canonical extracellular factors has also been shown to modulate Notch signaling, conferring newly appreciated complexity to this evolutionarily conserved signal transduction system. Here, I review current concepts in Notch signaling, with a focus on work from the last decade elucidating novel extracellular proteins that up- or down-regulate signal potency.     

Subcellular distribution of glutathione precursors in Arabidopsis thaliana

Glutathione is an important antioxidant and has many important functions in plant development, growth and defense. Glutathione synthesis and degradation is highly compartment-specific and relies on the subcellular availability of its precursors, cysteine, glutamate, glycine and γ-glutamylcysteine especially in plastids and the cytosol which are considered as the main centers for glutathione synthesis. The availability of glutathione precursors within these cell compartments is therefore of great importance for successful plant development and defense. The aim of this study was to investigate the compartment-specific importance of glutathione precursors in Arabidopsis thaliana. The subcellular distribution was compared between wild type plants (Col-0), plants with impaired glutathione synthesis (glutathione deficient pad2-1 mutant, wild type plants treated with buthionine sulfoximine), and one complemented line (OE3) with restored glutathione synthesis. Immunocytohistochemistry revealed that the inhibition of glutathione synthesis induced the accumulation of the glutathione precursors cysteine, glutamate and glycine in most cell compartments including plastids and the cytosol. A strong decrease could be observed in γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-EC) contents in these cell compartments. These experiments demonstrated that the inhibition of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GSH1) - the first enzyme of glutathione synthesis - causes a reduction of γ-EC levels and an accumulation of all other glutathione precursors within the cells.     

葡糖酸醋杆菌内源复制片段的克隆

采用改进的碱裂解法提取Gluconacetobacter hansenii ATCC23769自发不产膜突变体的内源隐蔽质粒。用不同的限制性内切酶对混合质粒直接进行酶切,酶切后的片段混合物与pUC18载体连接构建重组载体。重组载体回转入G.hansenii ATCC23769获得隐蔽质粒上具有复制能力的片段,序列结果分析表明:该片段上没有某些其他质粒所具有的Rep蛋白。利用该片段,构建了能同时在大肠杆菌和葡糖酸醋杆菌中复制的质粒载体,体内的抗生素抗性实验证明该载体具有良好的稳定性。     

大桑菊合剂的提取工艺研究

目的:大桑菊合剂为医院制剂,由桑叶、菊花、薄荷、连翘、鱼腥草等中药经乙醇提取制成,为完善大桑菊合剂的制备工艺,对该制剂的制备工艺进行初步的研究。方法:①实验设计:以加水量、提取时间、提取次数和醇沉浓度为考察因素,各因素均取3水平,采用正交试验L(934)优选制备工艺。②含量测定方法:以大桑菊饮合剂中总黄酮的含量为指标,以芦丁为标准品,利用紫外分光光度计于503nm下测定吸光值,计算样品中总黄酮的含量,以此作为筛选大桑菊合剂最佳制备工艺的重要指标。结果:最佳制备工艺为不浸泡,加8倍水,提取3次,每次1小时。结论:经正交设计优化的大桑菊合剂的中药制备工艺合理、可行。     

Crystal structure of human T-protein of glycine cleavage system at 2.0 A resolution and its implication for understanding non-ketotic hyperglycinemia

T-protein, a component of the glycine cleavage system, catalyzes the formation of ammonia and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate from the aminomethyl moiety of glycine attached to the lipoate cofactor of H-protein. Several mutations in the human T-protein gene cause non-ketotic hyperglycinemia. To gain insights into the effect of disease-causing mutations and the catalytic mechanism at the molecular level, crystal structures of human T-protein in free form and that bound to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-CH3-H4folate) have been determined at 2.0 A and 2.6 A resolution, respectively. The overall structure consists of three domains arranged in a cloverleaf-like structure with the central cavity, where 5-CH3-H4folate is bound in a kinked shape with the pteridine group deeply buried into the hydrophobic pocket and the glutamyl group pointed to the C-terminal side surface. Most of the disease-related residues cluster around the cavity, forming extensive hydrogen bonding networks. These hydrogen bonding networks are employed in holding not only the folate-binding space but also the positions and the orientations of alpha-helix G and the following loop in the middle region, which seems to play a pivotal role in the T-protein catalysis. Structural and mutational analyses demonstrated that Arg292 interacts through water molecules with the folate polyglutamate tail, and that the invariant Asp101, located close to the N10 group of 5-CH3-H4folate, might play a key role in the initiation of the catalysis by increasing the nucleophilic character of the N10 atom of the folate substrate for the nucleophilic attack on the aminomethyl lipoate intermediate. A clever mechanism of recruiting the aminomethyl lipoate arm to the reaction site seems to function as a way of avoiding the release of toxic formaldehyde.     

Cellular localization and subcellular distribution of Unc-33-like protein 6, a brain-specific protein of the collapsin response mediator protein family that interacts with the neuronal glycine transporter 2

Unc-33-like protein (Ulip)6, a brain-specific phosphoprotein of the Ulip/collapsin response mediator protein family, was originally identified in our laboratory by yeast two-hybrid screening using the cytoplasmic N-terminal domain of the neuronal glycine transporter, glycine transporter (GlyT) 2, as a bait. Here, the interaction of Ulip6 with the N-terminal domain of GlyT2 was found to be specific for this member of the Ulip/collapsin response mediator protein family and to involve amino acids 135-184 of GlyT2. In pull-down assays and coimmunoprecipitation experiments with rat spinal cord extract, the presence of phosphatase inhibitors significantly enhanced binding of Ulip6 to GlyT2. Subcellular fractionation of spinal cord and retina homogenates at different developmental stages showed Ulip6 immunoreactivity to be associated with light vesicles that were distinct from GlyT2-containing and synaptic vesicles. Immunocytochemistry revealed punctate Ulip6 immunoreactivity in both somatic regions and processes of cultured spinal neurones; no colocalization with GlyT2 or other synaptic marker proteins was found. In retina, which expresses only GlyT1 but not GlyT2, Ulip6 was detected in the inner plexiform layer and along the somata and processes of selected bipolar, amacrine and ganglion cells. Our data support a model in which Ulip6 transiently interacts with GlyT2 in a phosphorylation-dependent manner.     

Translocation of 15N indicates nitrogen recycling in the mat-forming lichen Cladonia portentosa

Nitrogen translocation was measured in Cladonia portentosa during 2 yr growth in Scottish heathland. Translocation was predicted to occur if N is resorbed from senescent basal tissue and recycled within the thallus. (15)N was introduced into either the lower (TU thalli) or upper (TD thalli) 25 mm of 50-mm-long thalli as (15)N-NH(4) (+), (15)N-NO(3) (-) or (15)N-glycine. Labelled thalli were placed within intact lichen cushions, either upright (TU) or inverted (TD). Vertical distribution of label was quantified immediately following labelling and after 1 and 2 yr. Independently of the form of introduced label, (15)N migrated upwards in TU thalli, with new growth being a strong sink. Sink regions for (15)N during year 1 (including new growth) became sources of (15)N translocated to new growth in year 2. Upward migration into inverted bases was minimal in TD thalli, but was again marked in new growth that developed from inverted apices. Relocation of N to regions of growth could facilitate internal N recycling, a process postulated to explain the ecological success of mat-forming lichens.