A charge-deficient analogue of spermine with chelating properties

1,12-Diamino-3,6,9-triazadodecane, a new isosteric and charge-deficient analogue of spermine, is synthesized. Unlike spermine, the new analogue is an excellent chelator of Cu2+ ions. Possible applications of this compound for studying enzymes of polyamine metabolism and cellular functions of spermine are discussed. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2005, vol. 31, no. 3; see also http://www.maik.ru.     

Characterization and fine mapping of <Emphasis Type="Italic">RppQ</Emphasis>, a resistance gene to southern corn rust in maize

Southern corn rust (SCR) is a fungal disease caused by Puccinia polysora Underw, which can infect maize and may result in substantial yield losses in maize production. The maize inbred line Qi319 carries the SCR resistance gene RppQ. In order to identify molecular markers linked to the RppQ gene, several techniques were utilized including random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), simple sequence repeat (SSR), and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). In addition, sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) techniques combined with bulked segregant analysis (BSA) were used. Seven RAPD markers, eight SSR markers, and sixty-three AFLP primer combinations amplified polymorphisms between two parents and two bulk populations. A large F₂ population was used for genetic analysis and for fine mapping of the RppQ gene region. One AFLP polymorphic band, M-CAA/E-AGC₃₂₄, was converted to a SCAR marker, MA7, which was mapped to a position 0.46 cM from RppQ. Finally, the RppQ gene was mapped between the SCAR marker MA7 and the AFLP marker M-CCG/E-AGA₁₅₇ with distances of 0.46 and 1.71 cM, respectively.     

Hepoxilins raise circulating insulin levels in vivo

We have demonstrated over a decade ago that hepoxilins cause the release of insulin from isolated pancreatic islets of Langerhans in vitro. However, no studies are available so far to indicate whether these compounds are active in vivo. The present study is the first to our knowledge which demonstrates that hepoxilins administered intra-arterially in the anaesthetized rat cause the release of insulin in the circulation. This release is dependent on the glucose status of the rat. Hence, animals fasted overnight do not respond to hepoxilin administration, while animals that have had free access to food respond to hepoxilins with a rise in insulin concentrations in blood. The hepoxilin effect is rapid and varies with different hepoxilins, the most potent of which is hepoxilin A(3) (HxA(3)) (both the 8S and the 8R enantiomers). Administration of 100 microg HxA(3) produces a rise in blood insulin equivalent to that caused by the administration of 5 mg glucose. In view of earlier evidence showing that these compounds cause a rise in intracellular calcium levels in vitro at a <1 microg/ml concentration through a receptor-mediated mechanism, we speculate that the actions of hepoxilins in causing the release of insulin from the pancreas may be due to alterations in calcium levels within the beta-cell. We believe that hepoxilins may represent new lead compounds as therapeutics in type II diabetes mellitus.     

凡纳滨对虾生物絮团养殖系统中不同生境细菌群落特征

【目的】凡纳滨对虾生物絮团养殖系统(biofloc-based culture system, BFS)是一种基于培育和调控微生物群落的新型生态养殖模式。然而,目前对于BFS在不同生境中的微生物群落特征及其构建过程还不清楚。【方法】采用16S rRNA基因测序技术探究BFS在3种不同生境(水体、絮团和对虾肠道)的细菌群落组成;通过溯源分析和中性模型等方法,探究不同生境细菌群落的特征及其构建过程。【结果】3种生境的微生物群落多样性和组成具有显著性差异,絮团和对虾肠道的群落结构和组成最为相似,溯源结果显示对虾肠道有98.76%的细菌类群来自絮团,仅有0.83%的细菌类群来自水体;3种生境共有的细菌主要为鲁杰氏菌(Ruegeria),在水体、絮团和对虾肠道中的丰度分别为1.72%、7.34%和6.00%,水体中特有的扩增子变异序列(amplicon sequence variants, ASV)数量为89个,主要属于海茎状菌(Maricaulis)和欧文威克斯菌(Owenweeksia),絮团中有56个,主要为莱茵海默氏菌(Rheinheimera),而对虾肠道中仅有10个,主要属于玫瑰杆菌(Roseobacter);中性模型结果表明,水体、絮团和对虾肠道细菌群落构建均符合中性模型,表明3种生境中细菌群落构建均受中性过程主导。【结论】在BFS系统中,不同生境的微生物群落具有显著差异,对虾肠道细菌主要来自生物絮团,而3种生境的细菌群落构建过程由中性过程主导。这些结果为调控生物絮团养殖系统中微生物群落提供了理论依据。     

病毒感染性疾病与肠道微生物关系研究进展

肠道微生物影响着人体的营养、代谢、免疫等多种生理活动,对人体健康有非常重要的影响.目前的研究表明,肠道微生物在病毒感染性疾病的感染及预后过程中发挥着重要的作用.本文分别总结了肠道病毒感染、非肠道病毒感染与肠道微生物的相互作用关系以及微生态调节干预病毒感染等内容,以期为相关研究的进一步深入和病毒感染性疾病的防治提供新思路...     

Dihydroquercetin (taxifolin) and other flavonoids as inhibitors of free radical formation at key stages of apoptosis

Formation of free radicals in mitochondria plays a key role in the development of apoptosis, which includes formation of superoxide by the respiratory chain, formation of radicals by cytochrome c-cardiolipin complex in the presence of hydrogen peroxide or lipids, and chain lipid peroxidation resulting in cytochrome c release from mitochondria and initiation of the apoptotic cascade. In this work the effect of taxifolin (dihydroquercetin) and some other antioxidants on these three radical-producing reactions was studied. Peroxidase activity of the complex of cytochrome c with dioleyl cardiolipin estimated by chemiluminescence with luminol decreased by 50% with quercetin, taxifolin, rutin, Trolox, and ionol at concentrations 0.7, 0.7, 0.8, 3, and 10 μM, respectively. The lipid radical production detected by coumarin C-525-activated chemiluminescence decreased under the action of rutin and taxifolin in a dose-dependent manner, so that a 50% inhibition of chemiluminescence was observed at the antioxidant concentrations of 3.7 and 10 μM, respectively. Thus, these two radical-producing reactions responsible for apoptosis onset are inhibited by antioxidants at rather low concentrations. Experiments performed on liver slices and mash showed that taxifolin, quercetin, naringenin, and Trolox have low inhibitory effect on the lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence in the tissue only at concentrations higher than 100 μM.     

Test of agronomic characteristics and amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis of new rice germplasm developed from transformation of genomic DNA of distant relatives

New rice lines, restorer line RB207 and maintainer line Yewei B, with better agronomic traits were separately developed from variant progeny of R207 (rice restorer line) and V20B (rice maintainer line) through transformation of genomic DNA ofEchinochloa crusgalli (C₄ plant) andOryza minuta, respectively. The phenotypes of the variant lines were apparently different from those of the receptors. Yewei B had stronger tolerance to high temperature than did V20B. The number of spikelets per panicle and the 1000-grain weight of RB207 increased by 40% over those of R207. The results of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis indicated that the polymorphism rates were both 4.4% between genomes of the variant lines and their receptors. Results demonstrated that special DNA segments fromE. crusgalli andO. minuta might integrate into the genome of cultivated rice and could be stably passed on. The study further shows that transformation of genomic DNA of distant relatives is an effective approach for creating new rice germ plasm. These authors contributed equally to this work.     

Adaptive reactions of the endocrine system of children living under conditions of contrasting photoperiods

Age-related changes in the levels of pituitary, thyroid, and sex hormones and their dependence on the day length were studied in 242 healthy 10-to 16-year-old boys born and permanently living in the southern part of Arkhangel’sk oblast. It was found that the serum levels of thyroid hormones, gonadotropins, and sex steroids underwent circannual changes. The minimum concentrations of thyroxine, testosterone, and estradiol and the maximum concentrations of triiodothyronine, lutcinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones, and progesterone were associated with the shortest days. In contrast, the longest days were associated with the maximum concentrations of thyroxine, testosterone, and estradiol and the minimum concentrations of triiodothyronine, luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones, and progesterone. A factor dependence of the thyroxine, triiodothyronine, testosterone, estradiol, and prolactin concentrations on the day length was found in the group examined. This dependence was more pronounced during the second half of adolescence.