An association study on the polymorphisms of dopaminergic genes with working memory in a healthy Chinese Han population

Working memory (WM) is a highly heritable cognitive trait that is involved in many higher-level cognitive functions. In the past few years, much evidence has indicated that the reduction of dopamine activity in human brain can impair the WM system of the neuropsychiatric disorders. In this study, we hypothesized that some genes in the dopamine system were involved in the individual difference of the cognitive ability in healthy population. To confirm this hypothesis, a population-based study was performed to examine the effects of COMT, DAT (1), DRD (1), DRD (2), DRD (3), and DRD (4) on WM spans. Our results indicated there were significant associations of TaqIA and TaqIB in DRD (2) with digital WM span, respectively (χ(2) = 9.460, p = 0.009; χ(2) = 6.845, p = 0.033). On the other hand, we found a significant interaction between Ser9Gly in DRD (3) and TaqIA of DRD (2) on digital WM span (F = 3.207, p = 0.013). COMT, DAT (1) , DRD (1), and DRD (4), however, had no significant effects on digital and spatial WM spans (χ(2)<3.84, p > 0.05). These preliminary results further indicated that certain functional variants in dopamine system, such as TaqIA and TaqIB of DRD (2), were possibly involved in difference of WM in a healthy population.     

Retinoic acid induces caspase-8 transcription via phospho-CREB and increases apoptotic responses to death stimuli in neuroblastoma cells

Caspase-8 is frequently deleted or silenced in neuroblastoma and other solid tumor such as medulloblastoma and small cell lung carcinoma. Caspase-8 expression can be re-established in neuroblastoma cell lines by treatment with demethylating agents or with IFN-gamma. Here we show that four different retinoic acid (RA) derivatives also increase caspase-8 protein expression in neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and small cell lung carcinoma cell lines. This increase in protein expression is mirrored by an increase in RNA expression in NB cells. However, the promoter region of the caspase-8 gene was not responsible for the induction of caspase-8 expression. Rather, we identified another intronic region containing a CREB binding site that was required for maximal induction of caspase-8 via RA. DNA-protein interaction assays revealed increased phospho-CREB binding to this response element in RA-treated NB cells. Furthermore, mutations of the CREB binding site completely blocked caspase-8 induction in the luciferase reporter system assay and transfection of dominant-negative form of CREB repressed the up-regulation of caspase-8 by RA. Importantly, RA-released cells maintained caspase-8 expression for at least 2-5 days and were more sensitive to doxorubicin and TNFalpha. Thus, RA treatment in conjunction with TNFalpha and/or subsets of cytotoxic agents may have therapeutic benefits.     

ARAP1: a point of convergence for Arf and Rho signaling.

We have identified ARAP1 and ARAP2 and examined ARAP1 as a possible link between phosphoinositide-, Arf-, and Rho-mediated cell signaling. ARAP1 contains Arf GAP, Rho GAP, Ankyrin repeat, Ras-associating, and five PH domains. In vitro, ARAP1 had Rho GAP and phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5) trisphosphate (PIP3)-dependent Arf GAP activity. ARAP1 associated with the Golgi. The Rho GAP activity mediated cell rounding and loss of stress fibers when ARAP1 was overexpressed. The Arf GAP activity mediated changes in the Golgi apparatus and the formation of filopodia, the latter a consequence of increased cellular activity of Cdc42. The Arf GAP and Rho GAP activities both contributed to inhibiting cell spreading. Thus, ARAP1 is a PIP3-dependent Arf GAP that regulates Arf-, Rho-, and Cdc42-dependent cell activities.     

Large scale of identification of differentially expressed genes in the regenerating rat liver after SISPH

After partial hepatectomy (PH), the remnant paren-chyma can completely recover lost liver mass and function in about one week[1,2]. Although adult hepa-tocytes are normally quiescent, they are readily primed to pass from G0 to G1 phase within 2―6 h after PH. The first peak of DNA synthesis appears 24 h after PH, while cell division peaks at 36 h. The liver cells then enter a second cell cycle, and redifferentiation and reconstruction of structure and function[3―6] take place. A great nu…     

Polymorphisms in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">DLG3</Emphasis> Gene is not Associated with Non-Syndromic Mental Retardation in the Chinese Han Population of Qin-Ba Mountain

Discs-large-related 3 (DLG3), a member of the membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs) protein family, playing an important role in regulating NMDA signal pathway and contributing to synaptic plasticity, may have an influence on the susceptibility of non-syndromic mental retardation (NSMR). To investigate the possible genetic contribution of DLG3 gene to the NSMR of Chinese Han population, we performed an association study of 556 subjects (118 NSMR, 116 borderline NSMR, and 322 controls in 275 males and 281 females) from Qin-Ba mountain region of Shaanxi province in the northwest of China by five common SNPs in the gene. The results showed that there was no positive association between the genetic variations of DLG3 and NSMR. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that DLG3 did not associate with NSMR in Chinese Han population; however, further studies are needed.     

No Observable Relationship Between the 12 Genes of Nervous System and Reasoning Skill in a Young Chinese Han Population

Reasoning skill is an advanced cognitive ability which is needed for drawing inferences from given information. It is well known that the ability depends on the neural network of the frontal and parietal brain regions. In this study, we hypothesized that some genes involved in neurotransmitter systems were related to reasoning skill. To confirm this hypothesis, we examined the effects of 13 genes (BDNF, NRSF, COMT, DBH, DRD ₂ , DRD ₃ , DAT ₁ , MAOA, GRM ₁, GRIN2B, TPH ₂ , 5-HT _2A , and 5-HT ₆ ) in neurotransmitter systems on the non-verbal reasoning and verbal reasoning skills. The results indicated there were on significant effects of the 17 functional variants of these genes on the performance of non-verbal reasoning and verbal analogical reasoning skills (χ² > 3.84, df = 1, P > 0.05). This study suggests that some of the functional variations in BDNF, COMT, DBH, DRD ₂ , DRD ₃ , MAOA, 5-HT _2A , 5-HT ₆ , GRM ₁ , and GRIN2B have no observable effects on the certain reasoning skills in a young healthy Chinese Han population.     

恒河猴(Macaca mulatta)生殖周期内性类固醇激素分泌规律的研究

本文用放射免疫测定法对7只雌性恒河猴(Macaca mulatta)的20个月经周期进行了雌二醇、孕酮和睾酮的动态测定分析,其中15个月经周期的中期都有睾酮和雌二醇峰(其峰值分别为1010.7±411.3pg/ml和179.1±91.3pg/ml),孕酮在黄体期的峰值为2.54±0.65ng/ml。正常黄体期的血清孕酮水平不低于1ng/ml。20个月经周期的平均天数为28.6±5.4天,滤泡期和黄体期分别为11.9±2,6和19.2±6.3天。月经周期可用公式Y=18.92±0.03×X~2 (Y:月经周期,X:黄体期。R=0.9444)表示。实验结果表明,测定周期内三种性类固醇激素可以准确确定排卵。睾酮在生殖周期内的分泌调节机制还待进一步研究。     

杂交油菜高产栽培多因素组合数学模型的研究

试验采用五因素五水平二次回归正交旋转组合设计,对影响油菜产量的播种期、密度、施氮肥量、施磷肥量和施钾肥量五个可控因子进行了研究,利用微机处理技术建立了油菜产量对五个栽培因子反应的数学模型．研究中运用数学模型优化筛选出油菜不同产量水平的各项栽培因子技术指标,为指导油菜生产、满足不同产量水平的需要,提供一系列切实可行的优化技术方案．通过大面积示范,效果很好．     

西双版纳次生林火烧前后土壤养分变化的研究

研究了火烧对西双版纳热带次生林下土壤养分的影响。火烧后０～１０ｃｍ土层的ｐＨ、有机质、全Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ和有效Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ都显著提高,ｐＨ、有机质、全Ｎ、Ｋ和有效Ｎ、Ｋ达０．１％显著水平,有效Ｐ达１％水平,全Ｐ达５％水平。但１０～３０ｃｍ土层的上述各指标均无显著变化。火烧前后各土层的Ｃ／Ｎ比率变化均不显著。     

卡尔文循环的数学模型

本文运用常微分方程组的数学方法,建立了卡尔文循环的数学模型。