A Novel Method for Generating Nested Deletions Using the in Vitro Bacteriophage T3 DNA Packaging System

To sequence a DNA segment inserted into a cosmid vector underthe directed sequencing strategy, we established a simple andrapid method for generating nested deletions which uses thein vitro packaging system of bacteriophage T3 DNA. The principleis based on the previous finding that this system can translocateany linear double-stranded DNA up to 40 kb into the phage capsidin a time-dependent manner and the encapsulated DNA becomesDNase-resistant. For this purpose, we constructed a cosmid vectorthat carries two different antibiotic selection markers at bothsides of the multiple cloning site, and after insertion of aDNA segment, the clone was linearized by -terminase at the cossite. After the packaging reaction in vitro followed by DNasetreatment, the encapsulated DNA was introduced into Escherichiacoli cells to give clones with unidirectional deletions by differentialantibiotic selection. Restriction and sequence analyses of deletionclones demonstrated that an ordered set of clones with nesteddeletions, ranging from less than 1 kb to 25 kb, was createdfrom either the end of the DNA segment. Thus, nested deletionclones that cover the entire region of a 40-kb cosmid insertcan be obtained by a single packaging reaction, and its restrictionmap can be simultaneously obtained.     

Interleukin-8 activates microtubule-associated protein 2 kinase (ERK1) in human neutrophils

The signal transduction initiated by the human cytokine interleukin-8 (IL-8), the main chemotactic cytokine for neutrophils, was investigated and found to encompass the stimulation of protein kinases. More specifically, IL-8 caused a transient, dose and time dependent activation of a Ser/Thr kinase activity towards myelin basic protein (MBP) and the MBP-derived peptide APRTPGGRR patterned after the specific concensus sequence in MBP for ERK enzymes. The activated MBP kinase was furthermore identified as an extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1) based on several criteria such as substrate specificity, molecular weight, activation-dependent mobility shift, and recognition by anti-ERK antibodies. For comparison, the chemotactic response of neutrophils to a stimulus of bacterial origin (fMet-Leu-Phe or fMLP) was also examined and found to involve the activation of a similar ERK enzyme. The present data clearly indicate that in terminally differentiated, non-proliferating human cells, the MBP kinase/ERK activity can serve other purposes than mitogenic signaling, and that processes such as chemotaxis, induced by bacterial peptides as well as by human cytokines like IL-8, involve the regulation of ERK enzyme.Abbreviations IL-8 interleukin-8 - fMLP fMet-Leu-Phe - MBP myelin basic protein - ERK extracellular signal regulated kinase - MAP2 microtubule-associated protein 2 - PK-A cAMP dependent protein kinase - PKI protein kinase inhibitor - PMSF phenyl-methanesulfonyl fluoride - PVDF poly-vinylidene difluoride - HBSF Hank's buffered salt solution - DAB 3,3-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride - PNPP p-nitrophenyl-phosphate - HSA human serum albumin - EGTA [ethylenebis (oxyethylenenitrilo)]tetraacetic acid - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

Trusting the Health System and COVID 19 Restriction Compliance

We examine the extent to which exposure to higher relative COVID-19 mortality (RM), influences health system trust (HST), and whether changes in HST explain the perceived ease of compliance with pandemic restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on evidence from two representative surveys covering all regions of 28 European countries before and after the first COVID-19 wave, and using a difference in differences strategy together with Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM), we document that living in a region with higher RM during the first wave of the pandemic increased HST. However, the positive effect of RM on HST is driven by individuals over 45 years of age, and the opposite effect is found among younger cohorts. Furthemore, we find that a higher HST reduces the costs of complying with COVID-19 restrictions, but only so long as excess mortality does not exceed the average by more than 20%, at which point the ease of complying with COVID-19 restrictions significantly declines, offsetting the positive effect of trust in the healthcare system. Our interpretation of these estimates is that a higher RM is interpreted as a risk signal among those over 45, and as a signal of health-care system failure among younger age individuals.     

The Escherichia coli adenylyl cyclase complex: stimulation by GTP and other nucleotides.

Escherichia coli cells permeabilized by treatment with low concentrations of toluene contain an adenylyl cyclase activity that can be stimulated 3.6-7.6-fold by GTP. The stimulatory effect of GTP is maximal at concentrations of the nucleotide in the physiological range (above 0.7 mM). Studies of the dependence of velocity on substrate (ATP) concentration indicate that the velocity vs. substrate plots are sigmoid in the absence of GTP but hyperbolic in the presence of GTP, suggesting an allosteric regulatory site that can be occupied by either ATP or GTP. Replacement of ATP by AMPPNP as substrate results in velocity vs. substrate plots that are hyperbolic in the absence or presence of GTP, although GTP increases the Vmax by a factor of 2.2; these findings indicate that AMPPNP specifically occupies the substrate site and GTP exclusively occupies the regulatory site. A test of the capacity of other guanine nucleotides to stimulate adenylyl cyclase activity showed that 2'-deoxy-GTP was almost as effective as GTP, but that GDP, GMP, ppGpp, and 3',5'-cGMP were not stimulatory effectors; GTP-gamma-S and GMPPNP stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity but to a lesser degree than did GTP. In addition to the previous indication that ATP can occupy the regulatory site on adenylyl cyclase, it was found that CTP and UTP were potent stimulators. Thus, all the naturally occurring RNA precursor nucleoside triphosphates are capable of stimulating adenylyl cyclase activity. In contrast, PPPi inhibits adenylyl cyclase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Identification of tyrosines 154 and 307 in the extracellular domain and 653 and 766 in the intracellular domain as phosphorylation sites in the heparin-binding fibroblast growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (flg).

Four tyrosine residues have been identified as phosphorylation sites in the tyrosine kinase isoform of the heparin-binding fibroblast growth factor receptor flg (FGF-R1). Baculoviral-insect cell-derived recombinant FGF-R1 was phosphorylated and fragmented with trypsin while immobilized on heparin-agarose beads. Phosphotyrosine peptides were purified by chromatography on immobilized anti-phosphotyrosine antibody and analyzed by Edman degradation and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Tyrosine residue 653, which is in a homologous spatial position to major autophosphorylation sites in the catalytic domain of the src and insulin receptor kinases, is the major intracellular FGF-R1 phosphorylation site. Residue 766 in the COOH-terminus outside the kinase domain is a secondary site. Tyrosine residues 154 and 307, which are in the extracellular domain of transmembrane receptor isoforms and are in an unusual sequence context for tyrosine phosphorylation, were also phosphorylated.     

信号分子在生物脱氮中的作用及检测方法

生物脱氮是由微生物主导的地球氮循环中的重要环节之一,主要包括硝化、反硝化和厌氧氨氧化(anaerobic ammonium oxidation,anammox)等过程。在微生物联合作用下,污水中的有机氮及氨氮经一系列作用转化为氮气,这种经济高效、环境友好的处理工艺在世界范围内得到广泛应用。群体感应(quorum sensing,QS)以信号分子为媒介通过改变菌群密度和周围环境变化来调节微生物的各种行为。大量的研究已证实调控QS信号分子在生物脱氮中具有应用潜力。本文介绍了各种信号分子类型,从基因组学、实际应用等方面综述了各类信号分子以及检测方法,同时针对酰基高丝氨酸内酯(acyl homoserine lactones,AHLs)类信号分子在生物脱氮中的作用进行详细介绍。然而不足之处在于信号分子研究只是停留在实验室阶段,仅仅研究了单一信号分子对生物脱氮的影响。未来可将信号分子应用于实际污水,研究多种信号分子共同作用以及多种微生物之间的QS现象。     

基于果蝇口腔感染的肠道训练免疫模型研究（英文）

目的 利用果蝇作为遗传工具从个体和分子层面研究果蝇的训练免疫效应,并为后续深入研究其分子机制提供依据。方法 首先构建无菌果蝇模型,在此基础上构建果蝇成虫及跨发育阶段训练免疫模型,用两种革兰氏阴性菌——胡萝卜软腐欧文氏菌（Erwinia carotovora carotovora 15）及铜绿假单胞菌（Pseudomonas aeruginosa）分别经口腔感染果蝇。在第一次感染完全消退后进行再次感染,然后通过比较果蝇在两个感染阶段的存活率和细菌量来衡量训练免疫的潜在效果。通过实时荧光定量PCR检测相应先天免疫相关基因的表达水平,研究革兰氏阴性菌对免疫缺陷（IMD）通路的诱导作用。结果 果蝇成虫及幼虫初次感染均可提高二次感染后的生存率、细菌清除效率及死亡时能承受的最高细菌负荷;二次感染的果蝇中,IMD通路中免疫反应基因的基础表达比未感染的高,这提供了获得感染抗性的分子基础;果蝇的免疫反应主要发生在中肠,二次免疫比初次免疫的效应更迅速且剧烈;二次免疫的果蝇中,肠道干细胞的数量显著多于初次感染。结论 果蝇肠道中强大的训练免疫可由同源或异源革兰氏阴性菌口腔感染引发,且免疫记忆可在整个发育阶段持...     

依达拉奉右莰醇联合丁苯酞治疗对老年大动脉粥样硬化型脑卒中患者血清PTX3、lp-PLA2以及MES的影响

摘要 目的：探讨依达拉奉右莰醇联合丁苯酞对老年大动脉粥样硬化（LAA）型脑卒中患者血清五聚素3（PTX3）、脂蛋白相关磷脂酶A2（Lp-PLA2）以及微栓子信号（MES）的影响。方法：回顾性选取2021年9月-2022年9月在本院收治的120例老年LAA型脑卒中患者,根据其不同治疗方案分为对照组（56例）,采用依达拉奉右莰醇单独治疗,和观察组（64例）,采用依达拉奉右莰醇联合丁苯酞治疗。观察两组患者的临床疗效;对比两组患者治疗前后神经功能[脑卒中量表（NIHSS）及中枢神经特异性蛋白（S-100β）、神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）]状态、炎症因子[血清五聚素3（PTX3）、脂蛋白相关磷脂酶A2（Lp-PLA2）]水平及脑血流微栓子信号（MES）阳性率变化。记录不良反应发生情况。结果：观察组患者治疗有效率为95.31%,高于对照组的78.57%（χ²=7.653 ,P=0.006）;治疗后,观察组患者NIHSS评分、S-100β及NSE水平低于对照组（P＜0.05）;观察组PTX3、Lp-PLA2水平及MES阳性率低于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组与对照组总不良反应发生率比较无差异（6.25 % vs 5.36 %）（Fisher=1.000）。结论：依达拉奉右莰醇联合丁苯酞可有效提高临床疗效,促进老年LAA型患者神经功能恢复,降低PTX3、lp-PLA2水平及MES阳性率,控制病情发展,且安全性较好。