Subcellular pH and predicted pH-dependent features of proteins

A characteristic of two-dimensional proteomics gels is a general bimodal distribution of isoelectric (pI) values. Discussion of this feature has focussed on the balance of acidic and basic ionisable residues, and potential relationships between pI distributions and organism classification or protein subcellular location. Electrostatics calculations on a set of protein structures with known subcellular location show that predicted folded state pI are similar to those calculated from sequence alone, but adjusted according to a general stabilising effect from interactions between ionisable groups. Bimodal distributions dominate both pI and the predicted pH of maximal stability. However, there are significant differences between these features. The average pH of maximal stability generally follows organelle pH. Average pI values are well removed from organelle pH in most subcellular environments, consistent with the view that proteins have evolved to carry (on average) net charge in a given subcellular location, and relevant to discussion of solubility in crowded environments. Correlation of the predicted pH of maximum stability with subcellular pH suggests an evolutionary pressure to adjust folded state interactions according to environment. Finally, our analysis of ionisable group contributions to stability suggests that Golgi proteins have the largest such term, although this dataset is small.     

Comparative proteomics of high light stress in the model alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

High light (HL) stress adversely affects growth, productivity and viability of photosynthetic organisms. The green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a model system to study photosynthesis and light stress. Comparative proteomics of wild-type and two very high light (VHL)-resistant mutants, VHL(R)-S4 and VHL(R)-S9, revealed complex alterations in response to excess light. A two-dimensional reference map of the soluble subproteome was constructed representing about 1500 proteins. A total of 83 proteins from various metabolic pathways were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting. Quantitative comparisons of 444 proteins showed 105 significantly changed proteins between wild type and mutants under different light conditions. Commonly, more proteins were decreased than increased, but different proteins were affected in each genotype. Proteins uniquely altered in either VHL(R) mutant may be involved in VHL resistance. Such candidate proteins similarly altered without light stress, thus possibly contributing to "pre-adaptation" of mutants to VHL, included decreased levels of a DEAD box RNA helicase (VHL(R)-S4) and NAB1 and RB38 proteins (VHL(R)-S9), and increased levels of an oxygen evolving enhancer 1 (OEE1) isoform and an unknown protein (VHL(R)-S4). Changes from increased levels in HL to decreased levels in excess light, included OEE1 (VHL(R)-S9) or the reverse change for NAB1, RB38, beta-carbonic anhydrase and an ABC transporter-like protein (VHL(R)-S4).     

Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry protein profiling identifies ubiquitin and ferritin light chain as prognostic biomarkers in node-negative breast cancer tumors

Novel prognostic biomarkers are imperatively needed to help direct treatment decisions by typing subgroups of node-negative breast cancer patients. The current study has used a proteomic approach of SELDI-TOF-MS screening to identify differentially cytosolic expressed proteins with a prognostic impact in 30 node-negative breast cancer patients with no relapse versus 30 patients with metastatic relapse. The data analysis took into account 73 peaks, among which 2 proved, by means of univariate Cox regression, to have a good cumulative prognostic-informative power. Repeated random sampling (n = 500) was performed to ensure the reliability of the peaks. Optimized thresholds were then computed to use both peaks as risk factors and, adding them to the St. Gallen ones, improve the prognostic classification of node-negative breast cancer patients. Identification of ubiquitin and ferritin light chain (FLC), corresponding to the two peaks of interest, was obtained using ProteinChip LDI-Qq-TOF-MS. Differential expression of the two proteins was further confirmed by Western blotting analyses and immunohistochemistry. SELDI-TOF-MS protein profiling clearly showed that a high level of cytosolic ubiquitin and/or a low level of FLC were associated with a good prognosis in breast cancer.     

Anthocyanin Accumulation Mediated by Blue Light and Cytokinin in Arabidopsis Seedlings

It has been reported that pigmentation In plants Is stimulated by light and cytoklnln （CTK）; however, the signaling pathways and the relationship between light and CTK Involved In the regulation of anthocyanln accumulation remain to be elucidated. We Investigated （i） the role of blue light （BL） and CTK In anthocyanln accumulation ; and （ii） the relationship between BL and CTK In wild type （WT） and by4 mutants of Arabidopsis thaiiana. Two-d-old seedlings grown on medium with or without klnetln （KT） or zeatln （ZT） In darkness were Irradiated using BL at different fluence rates for 3 d before the anthocyanln content was determined using a spectrophotometrlc method. Anthocyanln accumulation was strongly Induced by BL In WT seedlings but not In hy4 seedlings, which demonstrated that CRY1 Is the main photoreceptor for BL. Both KT and ZT enhanced the response of the WT seedlings to BL In a dose-dependent manner, whereas they were not sufficient to promote anthocyanln eccumulatlon In darkness. In addition, data from experiments using the hy4 mutant showed that the CTK effect of BL was also CRYl-dependent. The results from experiments with three different treatment programs showed that the relationship between BL and KT In anthocyanln accumulation of Arabidopsis seedlings seems neither muItlpllcatlve nor additive coactlon, but rather Interaction. BL Is necessary for anthocyanln accumulation, and KT might be Involved In the BL signaling pathway.     

Preparation of Monoclonal Antibodies against Human Ventricular Myosin Light Chain 1 （HVMLC1） for Functional Studies

Using purified recombinant human ventricular myosin light chain 1 (HVMLC 1) as the antigen,three monoclonal antibodies,designated C8,C9 and B 12,were prepared.Immunoblot experiments demonstratedthat all monoclonal antibodies could react with the ventricular myosin light chain 1 isolated from differentsources,such as human,rat or pig.It was also demonstrated that C8 was directed against the NN part of theN-fragment (amino acid 1-40) of HVMLC1,and both C9 and B12 against the C-fragment (amino acid 99-195).The affinity constants of C8,C9 and B12 were 3.20×10~8,8.60×10~7 and 1.77×10~8 M~(-1),respectively,determined by non-competitive ELISA.The isotype of B12 was determined as lgG2a,whereas the isotype ofboth C8 and C9 were IgG1.In the presence of C9 or B12,the actin-activated Mg~(2 )ATPase activity of myosinwas greatly inhibited,but there was almost no effect on the Mg~(2 )ATPase activity for C8.B12 and C9 alsoinhibited the superprecipitation of porcine cardiac native actomyosin (myosin B) and reconstituted actomyosin,but C8 did not.The results indicate that all three monoclonal antibodies could bind the intact myosin molecule,but B12 and C9 might more easily react with epitopes located in the C-fragment of HVMLC1.The inhibitoryeffects of B 12 and C9 on ATPase activity and superprecipitation assays show that light chain 1,particularlythe C-fragment domain,is involved in the modulation of the actin-activated Mg~(2 )ATPase activity of myosinand,as a consequence,plays an essential role in the interaction of actin and myosin.     

Effects of light on direct and indirect defences against herbivores of young plants of Mallotus japonicus demonstrate a trade-off between two indirect defence traits

Background and Aims

Although most studies on plant defence strategies have focused on a particular defence trait, some plant species develop multiple defence traits. To clarify the effects of light on the development of multiple defence traits, the production of direct and indirect defence traits of young plants of Mallotus japonicus were examined experimentally under different light conditions.

Methods

The young plants were cultivated under three light conditions in the experimental field for 3 months from May to July. Numbers of ants and pearl bodies on leaves in July were examined. After cultivation, the plants were collected and the developments of trichomes and pellucid dots, and extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) on the leaves were examined. On plants without nectar-collecting insects, the size of EFNs and the volume of extrafloral nectar secreted from the EFNs were examined.

Key results

Densities of trichomes and pellucid dots did not differ significantly among the plants under the different light conditions, suggesting that the chemical and physical defences function under both high and low light availability. The number of EFNs on the leaves did not differ significantly among the plants under the different light conditions, but there appeared to be a trade-off between the size of EFNs and the number of pearl bodies; the largest EFNs and the smallest number of pearl bodies were found under high light availability. EFN size was significantly correlated with the volume of extrafloral nectar secreted for 24 h. The number of ants on the plants was smaller under low light availability than under high and moderate light availability.

Conclusions

These results suggest that direct defence traits function regardless of light conditions, but light conditions affected the development of indirect defence traits.     

低温弱光胁迫及恢复对切花菊光合作用和叶绿素荧光参数的影响

以切花菊品种‘神马’为试材,在偏低温弱光(16℃/12℃,PFD100μmol.m-2.s-1)和临界低温弱光(12℃/8℃,PFD60μmol.m-2.s-1)下分别胁迫11d,然后转入正常条件(22℃/18℃,PFD450μmol.m-2.s-1)恢复11d,研究不同低温弱光强度及恢复对菊花光合作用和叶绿素荧光参数的影响.结果表明:低温弱光导致菊花叶片的净光合速率(Pn)和气孔限制值(Ls)下降,而胞间CO2浓度(Ci)上升.偏低温弱光胁迫下菊花叶片暗适应下最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)和初始荧光(Fo)无明显变化,但光适应下最大光化学效率(Fv′/Fm′)在处理前期略有下降,后期则有所回升;而临界低温弱光处理的Fo明显升高,Fv/Fm和Fv′/Fm′显著降低.PSⅡ光合电子传递量子效率(ΦPSⅡ)、光化学猝灭系数(qP)和表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)均随着低温弱光胁迫程度的增加和时间的延长而降低;偏低温弱光处理植株在解除胁迫后能迅速恢复到对照水平,而临界低温弱光处理植株回升速度较慢;同时,低温弱光胁迫下吸收光强用于分配光化学反应部分(Prate)的比例减少,而天线热耗散(Drate)和反应中心的能量耗散(Ex)比例上升,但天线热耗散为过剩光能的主要分配途径.     

超声波骨密度测量技术的最新进展

骨质疏松等中老年的常见病和多发病也呈年轻化发展,如何进行有效的骨状况诊断,拥有一台可以信赖的、可以方便地应用的骨测量仪器显得更为重要。超声波骨测量技术是使用范围比较广泛的一种,本文对超声波测量法的最新发展进行了阐述。