Solution structure of the N‐terminal domain of DC‐UbP/UBTD2 and its interaction with ubiquitin

DC‐UbP/UBTD2 is a ubiquitin (Ub) domain‐containing protein first identified from dendritic cells, and is implicated in ubiquitination pathway. The solution structure and backbone dynamics of the C‐terminal Ub‐like (UbL) domain were elucidated in our previous work. To further understand the biological function of DC‐UbP, we then solved the solution structure of the N‐terminal domain of DC‐UbP (DC‐UbP_N) and studied its Ub binding properties by NMR techniques. The results show that DC‐UbP_N holds a novel structural fold and acts as a Ub‐binding domain (UBD) but with low affinity. This implies that the DC‐UbP protein, composing of a combination of both UbL and UBD domains, might play an important role in regulating protein ubiquitination and delivery of ubiquitinated substrates in eukaryotic cells.     

Construction and Characterization of a CTLA-4-Targeted scFv–Melittin Fusion Protein as a Potential Immunosuppressive Agent for Organ Transplant

Immunotoxins with selective cytotoxicity are frequently used as therapeutic immunosuppressive agents in solid-organ transplantation because of their efficiency and high specificity. In this study, we present a new recombinant immunotoxin termed anti-CTLA-4-scFv–melittin prepared from Escherichia coli aimed at clearing activated T cells at the same time avoiding all-round decline in systematic immunity. This fusion protein is composed of anti-CTLA-4-scFv unit and melittin analog unit with properties of low immunogenicity and selective cytotoxicity to CTLA-4-positive T cells. In preliminary biological activity assays, our results confirmed the feasibility of activated T cell clearance strategy and there were significant differences in cell survival rates between CTLA-4-positive group and control group at all experimental concentrations of the immunotoxin. The selective cytotoxicity, low immunogenicity, and low production cost make it an attractive alternate to traditional immunosuppressants.     

U-Shape Suppressive Effect of Phenol Red on the Epileptiform Burst Activity via Activation of Estrogen Receptors in Primary Hippocampal Culture

Phenol red is widely used in cell culture as a pH indicator. Recently, it also has been reported to have estrogen-like bioactivity and be capable of promoting cell proliferation in different cell lines. However, the effect of phenol red on primary neuronal culture has never been investigated. By using patch clamp technique, we demonstrated that hippocampal pyramidal neurons cultured in neurobasal medium containing no phenol red had large depolarization-associated epileptiform bursting activities, which were rarely seen in neurons cultured in phenol red-containing medium. Further experiment data indicate that the suppressive effect of the phenol red on the abnormal epileptiform burst neuronal activities was U-shape dose related, with the most effective concentration at 28 µM. In addition, this concentration related inhibitory effect of phenol red on the epileptiform neuronal discharges was mimicked by 17-β-estradiol, an estrogen receptor agonist, and inhibited by ICI-182,780, an estrogen receptor antagonist. Our results suggest that estrogen receptor activation by phenol red in the culture medium prevents formation of abnormal, epileptiform burst activity. These studies highlight the importance of phenol red as estrogen receptor stimulator and cautions of careful use of phenol red in cell culture media.     

P物质在家兔延髓腹侧面加压区的升压作用及其机制探讨

在乌拉坦麻醉，三碘季铵酚制动，人工呼吸的家兔上观察到，延髓腹侧面加压区给予Ｐ物质使血压呈剂量依赖性升高，但对心率无明显影响。ＶＳＭｐ给予ＳＰ受体阻断使ＢＰ明显降低并可阻断ＳＰ升压效应，ＶＳＭｐ给予酚妥拉明或哌唑嗪预处理使ＳＰ升压效应减弱或消失，而给予育亨宾或心得安对ＳＰ升压效应无明显影响。ＶＳＭｐ给予ＳＰ可使肾交感神经放电显著增加，并伴有ＢＰ显著升高；ＶＳＭｐ给予ＤＳＰ使ＲＳＮＤ和ＢＰ明显降低并可     

An efficient, practical synthesis of 2-methoxyestradiol

An efficient and practical scheme to synthesize 2-methoxyestradiol has been developed. The key step was the copper-mediated methoxylation using ethyl acetate as a co-catalyst to introduce a methoxyl group. These synthetic procedures of four steps from 17β-estradiol as starting material gave 2-methoxyestradiol with a 61% overall yield.     

荔枝和龙眼种子发育过程中ABA含量及对外源ABA敏感性的变化

在荔枝和龙眼种子发育过程中,内源ＡＢＡ水平先是上升,至大约７８～８０ＤＰＡ时出现高峰,之后两者ＡＢＡ含量均不断下降。果实成熟时采收的种子,ＡＢＡ含量比高峰时分别下降近６倍。另外,随着种子的发育,种子及其胚轴对外源ＡＢＡ的敏感性（ＳＡＢＡ）亦持续下降。１０－４ｍｏｌ／ＬＡＢＡ可以完全抑制９０ＤＰＡ前的荔枝和龙眼种子的萌发,但对成熟种子１０－２ｍｏｌ／ＬＡＢＡ亦不能抑制其萌发。龙眼种子离体胚轴的ＳＡＢＡ高于荔枝。ＡＢＡ含量与敏感性的这种变化可能是两种顽拗性种子成熟时萌动,进而不耐脱水贮藏的重要原因之一。     

嗜盐耐盐微生物抗盐胁迫相关离子转运蛋白研究进展

离子转运蛋白在维持细胞内pH稳态、离子动态平衡等方面发挥着重要作用。钠离子转运体和钾离子转运体在嗜盐耐盐微生物中广泛存在,其"保钾排钠"机制是微生物抗盐胁迫的两大策略之一。近年来,嗜盐耐盐微生物中许多新型钠、钾离子转运体被陆续发现,如RDD蛋白、UPF0118蛋白、DUF蛋白和KimA蛋白等;Fe³⁺、Mg²⁺等其他金属离子的转运蛋白也被证实可通过影响微生物胞内相容性溶质的合成起到渗透调节的作用。本文综述了嗜盐耐盐微生物中抗盐胁迫相关的各类离子转运蛋白,分析其分子结构和工作机理,并对这些蛋白在农业方面的应用进行了展望。继续发现新的离子转运蛋白,探究抗盐胁迫相关离子转运蛋白的结构和机理,解析各转运系统的协同作用及分子调控机制,将进一步加深对嗜盐耐盐微生物抗盐胁迫调控的认识,并为盐碱地农作物的改良等提供新的思路。     

番茄种子经激光和咖啡因处理后其当代生物效应的研究

咖啡因具有抑制一些酶的活性,可减弱或消除生物体自身对激光引起的生物效应的修复作用。试验证明咖啡因对番茄种子萌发有强烈的抑制作用,咖啡因和激光复合处理生物效应显著,可降低番茄种子的发芽,并促进番茄果实增大和生长前期速率加快。