Sphingomyelin-rich domains are sites of lysenin oligomerization: Implications for raft studies

Lysenin is a self-assembling, pore-forming toxin which specifically recognizes sphingomyelin. Mutation of tryptophan 20 abolishes lysenin oligomerization and cytolytic activity. We studied the interaction of lysenin WT and W20A with sphingomyelin in membranes of various lipid compositions which, according to atomic force microscopy studies, generated either homo- or heterogeneous sphingomyelin distribution. Liposomes composed of SM/DOPC, SM/DOPC/cholesterol and SM/DPPC/cholesterol could bind the highest amounts of GST-lysenin WT, as shown by surface plasmon resonance analysis. These lipid compositions enhanced the release of carboxyfluorescein from liposomes induced by lysenin WT, pointing to the importance of heterogeneous sphingomyelin distribution for lysenin WT binding and oligomerization. Lysenin W20A bound more weakly to sphingomyelin-containing liposomes than did lysenin WT. The same amounts of lysenin W20A bound to sphingomyelin mixed with either DOPC or DPPC, indicating that the binding was not affected by sphingomyelin distribution in the membranes. The mutant lysenin had a limited ability to penetrate hydrophobic region of the membrane as indicated by measurements of surface pressure changes. When applied to detect sphingomyelin on the cell surface, lysenin W20A formed large conglomerates on the membrane, different from small and regular clusters of lysenin WT. Only lysenin WT recognized sphingomyelin pool affected by formation of raft-based signaling platforms. During fractionation of Triton X-100 cell lysates, SDS-resistant oligomers of lysenin WT associated with membrane fragments insoluble in Triton X-100 while monomers of lysenin W20A partitioned to Triton X-100-soluble membrane fractions. Altogether, the data suggest that oligomerization of lysenin WT is a prerequisite for its docking in raft-related domains.     

A型肉毒毒素联合眼袋整形术对眼周皮肤松弛患者的疗效观察

目的:探讨A型肉毒毒素联合眼袋整形术对眼周皮肤松弛患者的治疗效果和对患者满意度的影响,为临床提供参考。方法:选取2015年6月至2016年6月间因眼周皮肤松弛来我院治疗的患者60例。患者根据自身意愿选择治疗方式,按其选择的治疗方式分组为对照组(n=28)和治疗组(n=32)。对照组采用单纯眼袋整形术进行治疗,治疗组采用A型肉毒毒素联合眼袋整形术治疗。治疗后对两组患者均随访6个月。观察记录患者手术后鱼尾纹的改善效果、眼袋减轻的情况和眼周皮肤光泽的改善效果。观察患者并发症的发生情况。随访结束时采用自制的满意度调查问卷对患者满意度进行调查。结果:经过治疗,治疗组鱼尾纹改善率为100.00%,明显高于对照组的60.71%;治疗组眼袋改善率为96.88%,明显高于对照组的32.14%;治疗组皮肤光泽改善率为87.50%,明显高于对照组的53.57%,差异均具有统计学意义(均P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者切口红肿、少量分泌物、小血肿的发生率比较无明显差异(P0.05),治疗组术眼红肿与外眦部切口瘀痕发生率明显少于对照组(P0.05)。治疗组总满意率为93.75%(30/32),明显高于对照组的67.86%(19/28),差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:A型肉毒毒素与眼袋整形术联合应用在眼周皮肤松弛的治疗上有较好的疗效和安全性,能明显降低患者术眼红肿与外眦部切口瘀痕的发生,并提高患者满意率,值得在临床上推广应用。     

A Comparison of Soil Microbial Community Structure, Protozoa and Nematodes in Field Plots of Conventional and Genetically Modified Maize Expressing the Bacillus thuringiens is CryIAb Toxin

Field trials were established at three European sites (Denmark, Eastern France, South-West France) of genetically modified maize (Zea mays L.) expressing the CryIAb Bacillus thuringiensis toxin (Bt), the near-isogenic non-Bt cultivar, another conventional maize cultivar and grass. Soil from Denmark was sampled at sowing (May) and harvest (October) over two years (2002, 2003); from E France at harvest 2002, sowing and harvest 2003; and from SW France at sowing and harvest 2003. Samples were analysed for microbial community structure (2003 samples only) by community-level physiological-profiling (CLPP) and phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA), and protozoa and nematodes in all samples. Individual differences within a site resulted from: greater nematode numbers under grass than maize on three occasions; different nematode populations under the conventional maize cultivars once; and two occasions when there was a reduced protozoan population under Bt maize compared to non-Bt maize. Microbial community structure within the sites only varied with grass compared to maize, with one occurrence of CLPP varying between maize cultivars (Bt versus a conventional cultivar). An overall comparison of Bt versus non-Bt maize across all three sites only revealed differences for nematodes, with a smaller population under the Bt maize. Nematode community structure was different at each site and the Bt effect was not confined to specific nematode taxa. The effect of the Bt maize was small and within the normal variation expected in these agricultural systems.     

The cDNA and genomic DNA organization of a novel toxin SHT-I from spider Ornithoctonus huwena

Spider venoms are complex mixtures of neurotoxicpeptides, proteins and low molecular mass organicmolecules. Their neurotoxic activity is due to the interac-tion of the venom components with cellular receptors, inparticular ion channels. Spider venoms have…     

白喉毒素E154位突变及生物活性评价

在量子化学计算的基础上,结合目前关于白喉毒素结构与功能的研究状况,选择把白喉毒素催化区的第154位谷氨酸分别突变为天冬氨酸和精氨酸,研究此处电荷性质的改变对生物活性的影响.通过基因定点突变方法制备这两个突变体基因,并在大肠杆菌表达系统中获得高效表达,在此基础上对它们的生物活性进行了评价.结果表明,与重组野生型白喉毒素相比,突变体E154D的整体动物毒性和细胞毒性略有增加,而E154R的毒性下降.     

Mediation of adenylyl cyclase sensitization by PTX-insensitive GalphaoA, Galphai1, Galphai2 or Galphai3

Chronic activation of mu-opioid receptors, which couple to pertussis toxin-sensitive Galphai/o proteins to inhibit adenylyl cyclase (AC), leads to a compensatory sensitization of AC. Pertussis toxin-insensitive mutations of Galphai/o subtypes, in which the pertussis toxin-sensitive cysteine is mutated to isoleucine (Galpha ), were used to determine whether each of the Galphai/o subtypes is able to mediate sensitization of AC. Galpha , G , G or G were individually transiently transfected into C6 glioma cells stably expressing the mu-opioid receptor, or transiently co-expressed with the mu-opioid receptor into human embryonic kidney (HEK)293T cells. Cells were treated with pertussis toxin to uncouple endogenous Galphai/o proteins, followed by acute or chronic treatment with the mu-opioid agonist, [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO). Each Galphai/o subtype mediated acute DAMGO inhibition of AC and DAMGO-induced sensitization of AC. The potency for DAMGO to stimulate sensitization was independent of the Galphai/o subtype, but the level of sensitization was increased in clones expressing higher levels of Galphai/o subunits. Sensitization of AC mediated by a component of fetal bovine serum, which was also dependent on the level of functional Galphai/o subunits in the cell, was observed. This serum-mediated sensitization partially masked mu-opioid-mediated sensitization when expressed as percentage overshoot due to an apparent increase in AC activity.     

A型肉毒素膀胱内阻滞治疗女性膀胱过度活动症的临床效果观察

目的：探讨A型肉毒素膀胱内阻滞治疗女性膀胱过度活动症的临床效果。方法：选择2010年10月至2012年10月,哈尔滨医科大学附属第四医院泌尿外科收治的女性膀胱过度活动症患者24例,随机分为治疗组和对照组,治疗组（A组）选用国产A型肉毒素（衡力）100IU治疗,用10mL生理盐水稀释后,通过膀胱镜进行壁内注射;对照组（B组）患者给予口服经典的抗胆碱制剂,酒石酸托特罗定片,每天口服2次,每次2mg,疗程不少于6周。于治疗前,治疗后1周和4周观察和比较两组患者的1PSS评分、初尿意膀胱容量、最大膀胱容量。结果：与治疗前比较,A组治疗后1周,IPSS评分显著下降（P〈0．05）,初尿意膀胱容量及最大膀胱容量显著上升（P〈0．05）,治疗后第2周和第4周均维持在相当水平,残余尿量第1周未见明显下降（P〉0．05）,第4周时与基线比较下降明显（P〈0．05）;B组于治疗后第4周时,以上三项指标与治疗前比较才有统计学差异（P〈0．05）,残余尿量在第1周即有明显下降（P〈0．05）,并且第4周时仍维持第1周水平（P〉0．05）。此外,治疗后第1周两组比较以上指标比较有统计学差异（P〈0．05）,而治疗后第4周无明显差异（P〉0．05）。结论：经尿道膀胱壁内肉毒素A注射和口服酒石酸托特罗定均是治疗女性膀胱过度活动症的有效方法,但A型肉毒素膀胱内注射起效更快,同时由于其接触性和直观性,疗效更确切。     

PRODUCTION OF 7-DEOXY-OKADAIC ACID BY A NEW CALEDONIAN STRAIN OF PROROCENTRUM LIMA (DINOPHYCEAE)

7-Deoxy-okadaic acid and okadaic acid were identified as the major diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins produced by a New Caledonian strain of Prorocentrum lima Ehrenberg. Dinophysistoxin-1 was not produced by this strain. The cellular concentrations of 7-deoxy-okadaic acid were about one tenth that of okadaic acid and were maximal (∼1.4 pg·cell ^{− 1}) during the stationary growth phase of batch culture. Autolytic hydrolysis of cell extracts did not increase the concentrations of 7-deoxy-okadaic acid, whereas okadaic acid production increased more than 4-fold, indicating that 7-deoxy-okadaic acid, unlike okadaic acid, is not directly derived from large sulfated precursors. 7-Deoxy-okadaic acid could be detected by liquid chromatography-selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry, HPLC-fluorescence detection after derivatization with 9-anthryldiazomethane (ADAM), and inhibition of protein phosphatases. The solvent washes currently used for solid-phase clean-up of ADAM-derivatized DSP samples elute derivatized 7-deoxy-okadaic acid, indicating that the current sample clean-up protocol for HPLC-fluorescence detection would miss any contamination by this toxin.     

玉米幼苗萎蔫过程中某些理化性质变化的研究

玉米幼苗在暂时性萎蔫期间失水速率相对较慢,可溶性糖,脯氨酸等渗透调度物质的积累较多,ＳＯＤ活性增加,而在永久性萎缩期间失水速率较快,渗透调节物质减少,ＳＯＤ活性下降,在玉米幼苗萎蔫的全过程中,叶绿素,蛋白质含量及ＣＡＴ,ＰＯＤ活性等迅速下降,质膜透性增大,膜脂过氧化加剧。     

转Bt基因抗虫玉米对亚洲玉米螟幼虫几种主要酶系活性的影响

研究了表达Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白的转Bt基因抗虫玉米对亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis (uenée) 幼虫解毒酶、保护酶和中肠蛋白酶活性的影响,测定比较了取食转Bt基因玉米后幼虫体内α-乙酸萘酯酶、乙酰胆碱酯酶、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶、过氧化氢酶、超氧化物歧化酶、中肠总蛋白酶、类胰蛋白酶和类胰凝乳蛋白酶的活力。结果表明,取食转Bt基因玉米48 h后亚洲玉米螟幼虫体内的α-乙酸萘酯酶、谷胱甘肽S转移酶活力明显低于对照;而乙酰胆碱酯酶活力显著高于对照,在取食48 h、60 h和72 h的活力分别是对照的2.00、1.50和2.50倍。保护酶系、中肠总蛋白酶、弱碱性类胰蛋白酶和类胰凝乳蛋白酶的活性在取食48 h后明显受到抑制;但强碱性类胰蛋白酶的活性显著高于对照,取食48 h、60 h和72 h的活力分别是对照的4.00、1.67和1.33倍。乙酰胆碱酯酶和强碱性类胰蛋白酶可能与亚洲玉米螟对Bt的抗性有关。