Iron Binding and Autoreduction by Citrate: Are These Involved in Signalling by Iron Regulatory Protein-l?

Ferric ions bind to citrate and undergo an autoreduction to form a ferrous-citrate complex, greatly increasing the redox activity of the iron complex. Ferrous ions and citrate are also essential for the enzymic activity of aconitase. Aconitase, with its iron-sulphur cluster has a versatile structure which allows it to act as an iron regulatory protein (IW-1). The purpose of this study was to see whether iron binding, and its autoreduction by citrate, could play a physiological signalling role in iron regulation. Significant amounts of ferrous ions were associated with citrate, when measured using ferrozine, however, these did not appear to activate iron-requiring aconitase.     

The p75 neurotrophin receptor: effects on neuron survival in vitro and interaction with death domain-containing adaptor proteins

The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) is a death domain (DD) containing receptor of the TNF/FAS(APO-1) family. p75NTR has recently been shown to mediate apoptosis in certain types of neurons as well as in oligodendrocytes. The molecular mechanisms by which p75NTR stimulates apoptosis are still unknown. Here, we have tested whether overexpression of p75NTR could modulate survival of sympathetic neurons cultured in the presence or absence of NGF. Moreover, using the yeast two-hybrid system, we tested whether p75NTR intracellular domain was able to dimerize or interact with known DD-containing proteins including FADD, RIP, RAIDD and TRADD. We found that over-expression of p75NTR had no effect on the survival of sympathetic neurons cultured in the presence of NGF but instead delayed neuronal death following NGF deprivation. These results strongly support the finding that p75NTR is not involved in the apoptosis process induced by NGF deprivation in sympathetic neurons. We also foun d that the intracellular domain of p75NTR failed to associate either with itself or with other known DD-containing proteins. This suggests that the mechanisms by which p75NTR triggers apoptosis in certain cell types are different from those used by other receptors of the TNF/FAS family.     

Maximum glucoamylase production by a temperature-sensitive mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in batch culture

In order to maximize the glucoamylase production by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae in batch culture, first a temperature-controlled expression system for a foreign gene in S. cerevisiae was constructed. A temperature-sensitive pho80 mutant of S. cerevisiae for the PHO regulatory system, YKU131, was used for this purpose. A DNA fragment bearing the promoter of the PHO84 gene, which encodes an inorganic phosphate (P_i) transporter of S. cerevisiae and is derepressed by P_i starvation, was used as promoter. The glucoamylase gene connected with the PHO84 promoter was ligated into a YEp13 vector, designated pKU122. When the temperature-sensitive pho80 ^ts mutant harboring the plasmid pKU122 is cultivated at a lower temperature, the expression of glucoamylase gene is repressed, but at a higher temperature it is expressed. Next the effect of temperature on the specific growth rate, μ, and specific production rate, ρ, was investigated. Maximum values of ρ and ρ at various temperatures were at 30°C and 34°C, respectively. The optimal cultivation temperature strategy for maximum production of glucoamylase by this recombinant strain in batch culture was then determined by the Maximum principle using the relationships of μ and ρ to the cultivation temperature. Finally, the optimal strategy was experimentally realized by changing the cultivation temperature from Tμ (30°C) to Tρ (34°C) at the switching time, t_s. Received 18 September 1997/ Accepted in revised form 07 January 1998     

应用PCR产物直接银染测序技术检测大肠癌p53基因点突变

应用PCR-SSCP结合PCR产物直接银染测序技术对24例大肠癌p53基因第5-7外显子进行点突变的研究。结果检出5例(26.7%)阳性,均为错义突变;其中3例为碱基GC到 AT的转换, 1例为GC到TA的颠换,另1例为AT到CG的颠换,后者尚未见报道。突变位点分布在p53基因第141、175、245、248和258位密码子,其中4例发生在CpG位点。本文对p53基因点突变谱的分析为大肠癌的病因学研究提供了科学依据, 并讨论了PCR产物直接银染测序技术的优越性。 Abstract:Mutations in exon 5~7 of p53 were screened in 24 cases of colorectal carcinoma by a combination of PCR-SSCP and PCR-product DNA silver sequencing.The results showed that all 5(26.7%) cases of point mutations detected were missense mutations,including 3 cases of GC to AT transitions,1 case of GC to TA transversion and another case of AT to CG transversion.The latter has not been reported before.The mutations occurred at codons 141,175,245,248 and 258 respectively,and 4 cases of these five mutations occurred at CpG dinucleotides.The analysis of p53 mutation spectra can provide clues to the etiology of colorectal carcinoma.The advantages of DNA silver sequencing are also discussed.     

Porcine α-1,3-galactosyltransferase: full length cDNA cloning, genomic organization, and analysis of splicing variants

Full length cDNA and genomic DNA of porcine -1,3-galactosyltransferase were isolated, and their structures were analysed. The coding region was encoded by six exons as in the mouse, and the length of each exon was conserved between the two species. The porcine exons were designated Exon 4–9, since in the mouse coding exons started from Exon 4. Introns tended to be longer in the porcine gene; the distance from Exon 4 to the 3-end of Exon 9 was 24 kb, while this region was 18 kb in the mouse gene. The cDNA structure was extended from the previous data to the 3-end and to the 5 side of the cDNA. In addition to a cDNA clone with all coding exons, clones lacking parts of these exons were isolated and their structures were determined. One variant lacked Exon 5; the second, Exons 5 and 6; and the third, Exons 5, 6 and 7. The last variant was not found in the mouse, and cDNA transfection of this variant yielded scarcely any enzymatic activity using asialo 1-acid glycoprotein as a substrate, and decreased activity using N-acetyllactosamine as a substrate.     

结直肠癌组织miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达水平与上皮间充质转化和预后的关系分析

摘要 目的：探讨结直肠癌（CRC）组织微小RNA-137-3p（miR-137-3p）、微小RNA-410-3p（miR-410-3p）的表达与上皮间充质转化（EMT）和预后的关系。方法：选取2017年2月至2019年2月本院收治的115例接受CRC根治术治疗的患者，采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应（qRT-PCR）检测癌组织及癌旁组织中miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达、EMT标志物E-钙粘蛋白（E-cadherin）、波形蛋白（Vimentin）的mRNA表达并进行相关性分析，分析癌组织中miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达与CRC临床病理特征的关系。术后随访3年，采用Kaplan-Meier法分析miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p高表达和低表达患者的预后情况。结果：癌组织中miR-137-3p表达及E-cadherin mRNA表达水平低于癌旁组织，miR-410-3p表达及Vimentin mRNA表达水平高于癌旁组织（P＜0.05）。癌组织中miR-137-3p表达与E-cadherin mRNA表达水平、miR-410-3p表达与Vimentin mRNA表达水平分别呈正相关（P＜0.05），癌组织中miR-137-3p表达与Vimentin mRNA表达水平、miR-410-3p表达与E-cadherin mRNA表达水平分别呈负相关（P＜0.05）。miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达与TNM分期、肿瘤分化程度、淋巴结转移有关（P＜0.05）。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析显示，miR-137-3p低表达、miR-410-3p高表达患者3年累积生存率下降（P＜0.05）。结论：CRC组织中miR-137-3p表达下调、miR-410-3p表达上调，miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达水平与EMT密切相关，且miR-137-3p高表达、miR-410-3p低表达患者的预后更好。     

Regulation of virulence and antibiotic resistance by two-component regulatory systems in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa ubiquitously inhabits soil and water habitats and also causes serious, often antibiotic resistant, infections in immunocompromised patients (e.g. cystic fibrosis). This versatility is mediated in part by a large repertoire of two-component regulatory systems that appear instrumental in the regulation of both virulence processes and resistance to antimicrobials. Major two-component regulatory system proteins demonstrated to regulate these diverse processes include PhoP–PhoQ, GacA–GacS, RetS, LadS, and AlgR, among others. Here, we summarize the current body of knowledge of these and other two-component systems that provides insight into the complex regulation of virulence and resistance in P. aeruginosa .     

肺磨玻璃结节中ki-67的表达及与P53,EGFR,CEA相关性研究

目的:为探究不同病理类型的肺磨玻璃结节(ground-glass opacity,GGO)中ki-67的表达情况及其与肺癌相关标志物p53、p63、EGFR等表达的相关性。方法:收集从2012年10月至2014年10月我院胸外科收治的254例GGO病人的临床病史、影像、病理及血常规等资料予以回顾性分析。结果:Ki-67表达量从良性组(n=66),不典型腺瘤样增生(atypical adenomatous hyperplasia,AAH,n=27),到原位癌(adenocarcinoma in situ,AIS,n=11),微浸润腺癌(minimally invasive adenocarcinoma,MIA,n=108),最后到浸润性腺癌(invasive adenocarcinoma,IAC,n=42)即随着早期肺癌的演进过程不断增高。Ki-67与各标志物的相关系数为0.386(p53,P0.001)、0.227(EGFR,P=0.024)、0.441(CEA,P0.001)。通过ROC曲线分析得到ki-67来判别良恶性GGO的曲线下面积和最佳阈值,也得到了早期肺癌演进过程中ki-67阈值变化。恶性GGO组全血细胞中平均单核细胞含量低于良性组GGO,且差异有统计学意义。结论:ki-67表达量在不同病理类别的GGO中有显著性差异,且在肺癌演进过程中依次增高,可作为鉴别早期肺癌不同病理类型的参考依据和预后因子;ki-67与P53、EGFR及CEA的表达具有一定的相关性。     

HOXD10和P53蛋白在肝细胞癌组织中表达及其临床病理学意义

目的:探讨同源异型盒基因HOXD10和P53蛋白在原发性肝细胞癌hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC组织中的表达及其临床病理学意义。方法:采用免疫组化法检测62例HCC及癌旁肝组织、20例肝脏良性病变组织中HOXD10、P53蛋白的表达,并分析HCC组织中HOXD10、P53蛋白的表达与HCC患者临床病理特征的关系。结果:低分化HCC组织中HOXD10蛋白的表达显著低于中、高分化HCC、癌旁及良性病变肝组织(P0.05)。而低分化HCC组织中P53的表达显著高于中高分化HCC组织(P0.05)。HCC组织中HOXD10蛋白的表达与脉管内癌栓呈负相关(r=-0.299,P=0.026),而HCC组织中HIXD10、P53蛋白表达与患者的性别、年龄、肿瘤大小、多结节、周边肝硬化均无显著相关性(P0.05)。结论:HOXD10的低表达和P53的高表达与低分化HCC密切相关,可能作为HCC治疗和预后预测的参考指标。