理解运动行为抑制调控的新视角：乙酰胆碱门控氯离子通道受体

Acetylcholine, the first identified neurotransmitter, plays crucial roles in various brain functions. One well-known case is its involvement as an activating neurotransmitter in the regulation of locomotion. However, its inhibitory regulatory role, particularly in locomotion, remains poorly understood. In a study conducted by Polat et al., the authors investigated the inhibitory role of acetylcholine in locomotion in C. elegans. In this organism, the acetylcholine-gated chloride channel receptor consists of four subunits. The authors thoroughly examined the loss-of-function of each subunit in movement regulation. Interestingly, the mutant worms were still capable of performing various movements such as forward, backward crawling, and turning, suggesting that the overall movement was not significantly affected. However, quantitative behavior analysis revealed subtle yet significant differences in the timing and postures of the movement in these mutants. Furthermore, the authors employed optogenetics to stimulate a specific neuron involved in backward crawling and demonstrated that the loss-of-function of the receptors in individual neurons affects the transitioning between locomotion modes. This work provides evidence for the inhibitory regulatory role of acetylcholine in locomotion. The loss-of-function of acetylcholine-gated chloride channel receptors likely disrupts the balance of neuronal and circuit physiology, thereby affecting the regulation of locomotion. Moreover, this study highlights the powerful role of quantitative behavior analysis in discovering and understanding more sophisticated functions of neural circuits.     

Direct binding of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein G to the Sm site of small nuclear RNA. Ultraviolet light cross-linking of protein G to the AAU stretch within the Sm site (AAUUUGUGG) of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein reconstituted in vitro.

The major small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) U1, U2, U5 and U4/U6 participate in the splicing of pre-mRNA. U1, U2, U4 and U5 RNAs share a highly conserved sequence motif PuA(U)nGPu, termed the Sm site, which is normally flanked by two hairpin loops. The Sm site provides the major binding site for the group of common proteins, B', B, D1, D2, D3, E, F and G, which are shared by the spliceosomal snRNPs. We have investigated the ability of common snRNP proteins to recognize the Sm site of snRNA by using ultraviolet light-induced RNA-protein cross-linking within U1 snRNP particles. The U1 snRNP particles, reconstituted in vitro, contained U1 snRNA labelled with 32P. Cross-linking of protein to this U1 snRNA occurred only in the presence of the single-stranded stretch of snRNA that makes up the conserved Sm site. Characterization of the cross-linked protein by one and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis indicated that snRNP protein G had become cross-linked to the U1 snRNA. This was confirmed by specific immunoprecipitation of the cross-linked RNA-protein complex with an anti-G antiserum. The cross-link was located on the U1 snRNA by fingerprint analysis with RNases T1 and A; this demonstrated that the protein G has been cross-linked to the AAU stretch within the 5'-terminal half of the Sm site (AAUUUGUGG). These results suggest that the snRNP protein G may be involved in the direct recognition of the Sm site.     

铁皮石斛花总RNA提取方法的比较研究

为筛选铁皮石斛(Dendrobiumofficinale)花总RNA提取方法,对8种提取方法进行了比较研究,包括改良CTAB-LiCl法(M1)、改良CTAB-异丙醇法(M2)、改良SDS-LiCl法(M3)、改良SDS-异丙醇法(M4)、多糖多酚植物RNA提取试剂盒法(M5)、柱式植物RNAout 2.0试剂盒法(M6)、RNAprep Pure多糖多酚植物总RNA提取试剂盒法(M7)和Biospin多糖多酚植物总RNA提取试剂盒法(M8)。结果表明,以M4和M5提取的总RNA带型清晰,完整性好,A260 nm/A280 nm为1.8～2.0,A260 nm/A230 nm大于2.0,RNA产率分别为(159.45±1.45)和(170.84±3.53)μg/g。利用M4、M5提取霍山石斛、金钗石斛、鼓槌石斛和美花石斛花的总RNA,样品的完整性、浓度和纯度均符合质量要求。以M4、M5提取的铁皮石斛总RNA为模板,扩增Actin基因片段,扩增产物大小与预期一致且条带单一。这说明M4、M5方法操作简便,结果重复性好,能够较好地提取石斛属植物花的总RNA。     

江西省2010年柯萨奇病毒A组24型变异株的全基因组序列分析

急性出血性结膜炎(Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis,AHC)是目前人类最常见的眼病之一,柯萨奇病毒A组24型变异株(Coxsackievirus A24 variant,CV-A24v)是近年来报道引起该病的主要病原体。本研究选取10株来自江西省2010年AHC暴发疫情的CV-A24v,采用特异性引物扩增并测定其全基因组序列。对该10条CV-A24v的全基因组序列进行系统发育分析以及重组分析,计算本研究测定的江西10条以及GenBank中所有22条CV-A24v的全基因组序列的氨基酸置换熵值,并预测其正向选择位点。结果表明,在江西10条CV-A24v基因组序列中未检测到重组。基于全基因组序列构建的最大似然树表明江西10株CV-A24v属于GIV基因型,且分处于两条传播链。对上述32条CV-A24v序列的氨基酸置换熵值计算,共得到25个易突变位点(熵值>0.6),易突变概率最高的区段为2A区。基于Datamonkey中FUBAR和FEL模型分析,发现位于结构蛋白VP2区的234位氨基酸为两种模型共同获得的CV-A24v的正向选择位点。本研究分析了江西10株CV-A24v的全基因组序列特征,为CV-A24v引起的AHC防控工作提供了基础资料。     

幼虫密度和温度对水芹叶象甲未成熟阶段生长发育的影响

[目的]为明确不同幼虫密度和不同温度条件对水芹叶象甲Hypera sp.未成熟阶段生长发育的影响.[方法]在室内条件下对不同幼虫饲养密度和不同温度条件饲养的水芹叶象甲未成熟阶段(卵、幼虫、预蛹和蛹)的存活和生长发育进行研究.[结果]幼虫密度对水芹叶象甲幼虫、预蛹和蛹的存活和生长发育均具有显著影响.水芹叶象甲幼虫、预蛹和蛹在50头/盒的密度条件下的存活率均显著高于其它密度条件,且发育历期显著短于其它密度条件.此外,各密度条件下的雌蛹重均显著重于雄蛹重,但性比(♀/♂)不受密度条件的影响.温度条件对水芹叶象甲卵、幼虫、预蛹和蛹的存活和生长发育亦均具有显著影响.27℃条件下的幼虫和蛹的存活率均显著高于其它温度条件,1龄幼虫在30℃条件下的存活率显著高于其它温度条件,而3龄幼虫在27℃条件下的存活率显著高于其它温度条件,但温度条件对2龄幼虫的存活率无显著影响.水芹叶象甲各龄期幼虫及各虫态的发育历期随着温度升高而显著缩短.[结论]幼虫饲养密度和温度是影响水芹叶象甲种群变化的重要因子,这将为分析水芹叶象甲种群动态变化规律,以 及提高该虫的预测预报和综合防控水平提供依据.     

α/β-Hydrolase Domain Containing Protein 15 (ABHD15) – an Adipogenic Protein Protecting from Apoptosis

Our knowledge about adipocyte metabolism and development is steadily growing, yet many players are still undefined. Here, we show that α/β-hydrolase domain containing protein 15 (Abhd15) is a direct and functional target gene of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), the master regulator of adipogenesis. In line, Abhd15 is mainly expressed in brown and white adipose tissue and strongly upregulated during adipogenesis in various murine and human cell lines. Stable knockdown of Abhd15 in 3T3-L1 cells evokes a striking differentiation defect, as evidenced by low lipid accumulation and decreased expression of adipocyte marker genes. In preconfluent cells, knockdown of Abhd15 leads to impaired proliferation, which is caused by apoptosis, as we see an increased SubG1 peak, caspase 3/7 activity, and BAX protein expression as well as a reduction in anti-apoptotic BCL-2 protein. Furthermore, apoptosis-inducing amounts of palmitic acid evoke a massive increase of Abhd15 expression, proposing an apoptosis-protecting role for ABHD15. On the other hand, in mature adipocytes physiological (i.e. non-apoptotic) concentrations of palmitic acid down-regulate Abhd15 expression. Accordingly, we found that the expression of Abhd15 in adipose tissue is reduced in physiological situations with high free fatty acid levels, like high-fat diet, fasting, and aging as well as in genetically obese mice. Collectively, our results position ABHD15 as an essential component in the development of adipocytes as well as in apoptosis, thereby connecting two substantial factors in the regulation of adipocyte number and size. Together with its intricate regulation by free fatty acids, ABHD15 might be an intriguing new target in obesity and diabetes research.     

小鼠初级听皮质神经元的强度调谐特性与机制分析

强度是声音的基本参数之一,听神经元的强度调谐在听觉信息处理方面具有重要意义．以往研究发现γ-氨基丁酸(γ-aminobutyric acid, GABA)能抑制性输入在强度调谐的形成过程中起重要作用,但对抑制性输入与局部神经回路之间的关系并不清楚．本实验通过在体细胞外电生理记录和神经药理学方法,分析了小鼠初级听皮质神经元的强度调谐特性,结果显示：单调型神经元在声刺激强度自中等强度增高时潜伏期缩短(P < 0.05)且发放持续时间延长(P < 0.05),非单调型神经元在声刺激强度自最佳强度增高时潜伏期不变且发放持续时间缩短(P < 0.01)．注射GABA能阻断剂荷包牡丹碱(bicuculline, Bic)后,39.3%的神经元强度调谐类型不变,42.9%的神经元非单调性减弱,17.9%的神经元非单调性增强．表明GABA能抑制并非是形成非单调性的唯一因素,兴奋性输入本身的非单调性和高阈值非GABA能抑制的激活也可能在其中发挥作用．推测由兴奋性和抑制性输入所构成的局部神经功能回路及其整合决定了听皮质神经元的强度调谐特性．     

苦瓜叶片结构与白粉病抗性的关系

以不同抗白粉病的苦瓜品系幼苗为材料,对它们的叶片及上下表皮厚度、栅栏组织及海绵组织厚度、叶片结构紧密度及疏松度、蜡质含量、比叶重、气孔及茸毛密度等叶片结构进行观察比较,探讨苦瓜白粉病抗性与其主要叶片结构指标的关系。结果显示:（1）抗病苦瓜品系叶片的蜡质含量显著高于感病品系,与病情指数呈显著负相关关系,蜡质层是其抵抗和延迟病原菌侵入的一个有力结构屏障。（2）感病品系叶片的气孔和叶背面茸毛数量显著多于抗病品系,且叶背面的气孔及茸毛密度与病情指数呈显著正相关关系,即气孔和茸毛越少越抗病。（3）抗病苦瓜品系的叶片栅栏组织以及海绵组织排列整齐、紧密,而高感品系的叶片组织出现大量孔隙,较难观察到完整细胞。（4）抗病品系叶片厚度、下表皮厚度、栅栏组织厚度、叶片结构紧密度明显高于感病品系,而感病品系的海绵组织厚度、叶片结构疏松度明显高于抗病品系;且苦瓜比叶重与其白粉病抗性关系不大。研究认为,苦瓜叶片蜡质含量、叶背面气孔及茸毛密度可以作为苦瓜白粉病抗性鉴定的参考指标。     

自发性高血压大鼠和Wistar大鼠脑动脉平滑肌细胞膜电流的比较

目的:探讨自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)和Wistar大鼠脑动脉(BA)平滑肌细胞膜电流的异同。方法:应用全细胞膜片钳技术研究SHR和Wistar大鼠BA平滑肌细胞在电流密度、电流组成以及自发性瞬时外向K+电流(STOCs)特性的异同。结果:①当指令电压为0、+20、+40和+60mV时,SHR与Wistar大鼠BA平滑肌细胞间电流密度存在统计学差异(P<0.01)。②SHR与Wistar大鼠BA平滑肌细胞膜电流都对1 mmol/L电压依赖的K+通道(Kv)阻断剂4AP和1 mmol/L大电导Ca2+激活K+通道(BKCa)阻断剂TEA敏感。③SHR的STOCs发放频率和电流幅度都远大于Wistar大鼠。1 mmol/LTEA基本完全阻断STOCs通道电流,而4-AP对STOCs没有影响。结论:SHR和Wistar大鼠脑动脉平滑肌细胞的电流密度存在差异,两种平滑肌细胞外向电流都由BKCa和Kv通道组成。SHR大鼠平滑肌细胞更易诱发由BKCa通道介导的STOCs。