以点杂交方法对人β型血珠蛋白基因的染色质结构与功能进行的研究

我采用点杂交的方法,对人β型血珠蛋白基因簇的染色质结构与基因转录活性之间的关系进行了研究。以对DNase Ⅰ消化的敏感性作为染色质的结构参数,我将β型血珠蛋白基因簇中11个区域之间以及其与不表达基因区(乳糖白蛋白和免疫球蛋白不变区λ轻链基因)的染色结构进行比较。实验的细胞系统为K 562红白血病细胞与人胚皮肤细胞株(HES)。所获得的结果提示,在细胞核内,表达基因的染色质结构疏松,对DNase Ⅰ消化的敏感性远较不表达基因区的为高。此外,本文还对有关点杂交的方法学问题进行了较为详尽的讨论。     

A genetic adaptive pattern＊low hemoglobin concentration in the himalayan highlanders

Mean hemoglobin （Hb） concentration of about 3 500 subjects derived from 17 studies of Himalayan highlanders （Tibetans, Sherpas, and Ladakhis） was compared with lowlanders （Chinese Han, Indian Tamils） lived in the Himalayas, and European climbers during Everest expeditions as well as Andean natives. The results found that Hb concentration in Himalayan highlanders was systemically lower than those reported for Andean natives and lowland immigrants. These comparative data demonstrated that a healthy native population may successfully reside at high altitude without a significant elevation in Hb, and the lower Hb levels of Himalayan highlanders than those of migrated lowlanders and Andean natives are an example of favourable adaptation over the generations. In addition, excessive polycythemia has frequently been used as a marker of chronic mountain sickness （CMS）. Altitude populations who have a higher Hb concentration also have a higher incidence of CMS. The low Hb in Himalayans suggested as showing adaptation over many generations in Tibetan stock. Recent work in Tibet, suggested that Tibetans there may have adapted to high altitude as a result of evolutionary pressure selecting for genes which give an advantage at altitude. All of the population genomic and statistical analysis indicated that EPAS1 and EGLN1 are mostly likely responsible for high altitude adaptation and closely related to low Hb concentration in Tibetans. These data supported the hypothesis that Himalayan highlanders have evolved a genetically different erythropoietic response to chronic hypoxia by virtue of their much longer exposure to high altitude.     

Evaluation of the antiparasitic activity of the chitosan-silver nanocomposites in the treatment of experimentally infested pigeons with Pseudolynchia canariensis

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of chitosan-silver nanocomposites in the treatment of experimentally infested pigeons with Pseudolynchia canariensis (P. canariensis) with evaluation of different immunological parameters before and after treatment. Therefore, fourteen birds were divided into 2 groups; group1(infested group including 12 birds) which subdivided into 6 sub-groups experimentally infested pigeons 2 pigeons each, and five group of them were treated with chitosan-silver nanocomposites and sub-group number 6 was treated with deltamethrin while, group 2 including two pigeons were kept as control negative ones. P. canariensis flies distributed under the wing and /or under the tail in infested group and these pigeons showed significantly lower RBCs and higher WBCs than that in non-infested pigeons. The cell mediated immune response against experimentally infested pigeons with P. canariensis was studied. P. canariensis infestation in pigeons have a negative impact on pigeon’s blood parameters, increase TNF-α and IL-1β cytokines levels. This study cleared out the role of P. canariensis in the induction of a case of oxidative stress indicated by high level of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) with low antioxidant capacity in shape of reduced zinc concentration in the sera of experimentally infested pigeon. Chitosan-silver nanocomposite has a promising effect in the elimination of P. canariensis infestation in pigeons.     

Identification of glyoxalase 1 polymorphisms associated with enzyme activity

The glyoxalase system and its main enzyme, glyoxalase 1 (GLO1), protect cells from advanced glycation end products (AGEs), such as methylglyoxal (MG) and other reactive dicarbonyls, the formation of which is increased in diabetes patients as a result of excessive glycolysis. MG is partly responsible for harmful protein alterations in living cells, notably in neurons, leading to their dysfunction, and recent studies have shown a negative correlation between GLO1 expression and tissue damage. Neuronal dysfunction is a common diabetes complication due to elevated blood sugar levels, leading to high levels of AGEs. The aim of our study was to determine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the GLO1 gene influence activity of the enzyme. In total, 125 healthy controls, 101 type 1 diabetes, and 100 type 2 diabetes patients were genotyped for three common SNPs, rs2736654 (A111E), rs1130534 (G124G), and rs1049346 (5′-UTR), in GLO1. GLO1 activity was determined in whole blood lysates for all participants of the study.     

Superfamily of plant monomeric GTP-binding proteins: 2. Rab proteins are the regulators of vesicles trafficking and plant responses to stresses

In plants, Rab proteins represent the largest family of monomeric GTP-binding proteins (mG-proteins). As distinct from animal cells comprising 40 subfamilies of Rab proteins, which are the key regulators of intracellular vesicular transport, numerous Rab proteins in Arabidopsis and other plant species could be grouped in only eight subfamilies on the basis of their functional properties. The available data concerning the involvement of these mG-proteins in the control of vesicle trafficking agree generally with the paradigms accepted for other eukaryotes. On the other hand, these proteins play an important role in plant responses to abiotic and biotic factors, indicating specific for plants functions of Rab proteins.     

Extracellular hemoglobin combined with an O2-generating material overcomes O2 limitation in the bioartificial pancreas

The bioartificial pancreas encapsulating pancreatic islets in immunoprotective hydrogel is a promising therapy for Type 1 diabetes. As pancreatic islets are highly metabolically active and exquisitely sensitive to hypoxia, maintaining O₂ supply after transplantation remains a major challenge. In this study, we address the O₂ limitation by combining silicone-encapsulated CaO₂ (silicone-CaO₂) to generate O₂ with an extracellular hemoglobin O₂-carrier coencapsulated with islets. We showed that the hemoglobin improved by 37% the O₂-diffusivity through an alginate hydrogel and displayed antioxidant properties neutralizing deleterious reactive O₂ species produced by silicone-CaO₂. While the hemoglobin alone failed to maintain alginate macroencapsulated neonate pig islets under hypoxia, silicone-CaO₂ alone or combined to the hemoglobin restored islet viability and insulin secretion and prevented proinflammatory metabolism (PTGS2 expression). Interestingly, the combination took the advantages of the two individual strategies, improved neonate pig islet viability and insulin secretion in normoxia, and VEGF secretion and PDK1 normalization in hypoxia. Moreover, we confirmed the specific benefits of the combination compared to silicone-CaO₂ alone on murine pseudo-islet viability in normoxia and hypoxia. For the first time, our results show the interest of combining an O₂ provider with hemoglobin as an effective strategy to overcome O₂ limitations in tissue engineering.     

Polymorphisms in the IL-18 and IL-12B genes and their association with the clinical outcome in Croatian patients with Type 1 diabetes

Genetic variants of IL-18 and IL-12B may be important in immunoregulatory abnormalities, observed in the patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), that contribute to individual differences in response to a treatment. Therefore, we examined the significance of IL-18-137G/C, IL-18-607C/A, and IL-12B A/C polymorphisms in Croatians (187 patients, 236 controls), not only as factors that contribute to susceptibility to T1DM, but also as determinants of the clinical presentation of disease.     

以聚乙二醇为层析伴侣同时制备SOD、过氧化氢酶和血红蛋白

发展了一条从红细胞裂解液中同时制备超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶和血红蛋白的新工艺。采用0 75 %的聚乙二醇600作为层析伴侣,使血红蛋白直接流过阴离子交换层析柱,同时吸附SOD和过氧化氢酶。经过梯度洗脱获得SOD和过氧化氢酶组分,再经过疏水性相互作用层析与凝胶过滤层析相串联,使SOD和过氧化氢酶得到纯化。纯化后的SOD和过氧化氢酶的比活力分别达到15932u/mg和65918u/mg ,血红蛋白的纯度达到99.9%以上。总回收率为:SOD ,47.4% ;过氧化氢酶,29.6% ;血红蛋白,88.7%。