A divergent lineage among Octopus minor (Sasaki, 1920) populations in the Northwest Pacific supported by DNA barcoding

Octopus minor (Sasaki, 1920) is an important economic fishery resource in China. In order to explore the stock information and the phylogeographic status of O. minor, mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI, 565?bp) and 16S rRNA (493?bp) genes were amplified from 11 different sampling locations. Genetic diversity evaluated by haplotypic and nucleotidic diversity implied high diversity in Lianjiang, and relatively low diversity in Rongcheng, which suggests that effective measures to protect the O. minor resource in this area are urgently required. Private haplotypes and remarkable higher pairwise Φ_ST in Yilan are responsible for the deep genetic divergence between Yilan and the 10 other populations. Haplotypes networks and two clusters’ topological structure also support the distinct subgroups (lineages A and lineages B), which apparently possess smaller genetic variation than mean interspecies distance. Taiwan island and its strait may act as a natural barrier that restricts the gene flow from the mainland. Deep genetic divergence between mainland and Taiwanese east coasts suggests different genetic stock, indicating that different management strategies are required.     

Caspase-2 Short Isoform Interacts with Membrane-Associated Cytoskeleton Proteins to Inhibit Apoptosis

Caspase-2 (casp-2) is the most conserved caspase across species, and is one of the initiator caspases activated by various stimuli. The casp-2 gene produces several alternative splicing isoforms. It is believed that the long isoform, casp-2L, promotes apoptosis, whereas the short isoform, casp-2S, inhibits apoptosis. The actual effect of casp-2S on apoptosis is still controversial, however, and the underlying mechanism for casp-2S-mediated apoptosis inhibition is unclear. Here, we analyzed the effects of casp-2S on DNA damage induced apoptosis through “gain-of-function” and “loss-of-function” strategies in ovarian cancer cell lines. We clearly demonstrated that the over-expression of casp-2S inhibited, and the knockdown of casp-2S promoted, the cisplatin-induced apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. To explore the mechanism by which casp-2S mediates apoptosis inhibition, we analyzed the proteins which interact with casp-2S in cells by using immunoprecipitation (IP) and mass spectrometry. We have identified two cytoskeleton proteins, Fodrin and α-Actinin 4, which interact with FLAG-tagged casp-2S in HeLa cells and confirmed this interaction through reciprocal IP. We further demonstrated that casp-2S (i) is responsible for inhibiting DNA damage-induced cytoplasmic Fodrin cleavage independent of cellular p53 status, and (ii) prevents cisplatin-induced membrane blebbing. Taken together, our data suggests that casp-2S affects cellular apoptosis through its interaction with membrane-associated cytoskeletal Fodrin protein.     

Two independent growth factor-generated signals regulate c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels in Swiss 3T3 cells

Polypeptide growth factors that stimulate cell proliferation bind to cell surface receptors and activate intracellular signal transduction pathways. One major signalling pathway, initiated by phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover, involves activation of protein kinase C. Some polypeptide growth factors, including mitogens that activate protein kinase C, induce a rapid increase in expression of the proto-oncogenes, c-myc and c-fos. In order to characterize the signal transduction pathways responsible for proto-oncogene activation, we treated Swiss 3T3 cells with the tumor promoter phorbol dibutyrate to generate cells deficient in protein kinase C. These cells were then stimulated with platelet extract, bombesin, or epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the levels of c-myc and c-fos mRNA were determined. Platelet extract or bombesin, which stimulate PI turnover, were substantially weaker inducers of c-myc and c-fos mRNA levels in the protein kinase C-depleted cells, although some variability with platelet extract was noted. EGF, which does not stimulate PI turnover in several cell systems, was by contrast a potent inducer of both proto-oncogenes whether or not the cells were deficient in protein kinase C. Pretreatment of cells with phorbol dibutyrate caused little or no change in the basal levels of c-myc or c-fos mRNA, but led to a small but significant increase in basal levels of ornithine decarboxylase mRNA. These results demonstrate that EGF and growth factors that activate PI turnover induce expression of the c-myc and c-fos proto-oncogenes through different pathways.     

Salt-induced cooperativity in ATPase activity of plasma membrane-enriched fractions from cultured Citrus cells: kinetic evidence

ATPase activity was studied in plasma membrane-enriched fractions prepared from cultured Citrus sinensis L. cv. Osbeck cells. In general, properties of the plasma membrane ATPase from cultured cells, such as optimal pH and temperature. V_max and K_m were similar to those already observed in higher plants. The effects of high salt concentrations on ATPase activity were studied in membrane fractions derived from salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant cells grown in the presence or absence of salt. NaCl did not have an in vivo effect on V_max and the apparent K_m value for ATP. However, high concentrations of NaCl, or KCl, added in vitro, induced cooperativity in the enzyme and reduced the affinity of the enzyme for its substrate. Isoosmolar concentrations of sucrose or choline chloride failed to do so. Our results suggest that the plasma membrane ATPase of Citrus cells has more than one substrate-binding site on the native form of the enzyme which interact in the presence of salt and act independently in its absence.     

肝胆显像螯合物—氮基三乙酸单酰苯胺及其类似物的合成

本课题合成四个氮基三乙酸单酰苯胺(IDA)类及其类似物肝胆显像螯合物。(1)用家兔做了肝胆显像扫描实验,其显像效果较好。(2)～(3)为未见报道的化合物。     

Research Progress on Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms of Black Ginseng

In recent years, black ginseng, a new type of processed ginseng product, has attracted the attention of scholars globally. Ginsenoside and ginseng polysaccharide, the main active substances of black ginseng, have been shown to carry curative effects for many diseases. This article focuses on the mechanism of their action in anti-inflammatory response, which is mainly divided into three aspects: activation of immune cells to exert immune regulatory response; participation in inflammatory response-related pathways and regulation of the expression level of inflammatory factors; effect on the metabolic activity of intestinal flora. This study identifies active anti-inflammatory components and an action mechanism of black ginseng showing multi-component, multi-target, and multi-channel characteristics, providing ideas and a basis for a follow-up in-depth study of its specific mechanism.     

Quaternary structure of a cytoplasmic protein with ribonuclease activity from wheate seedling leaves. Kinetic manifestation of its "native", dissociated and reassociated forms]

Previous data on oligomeric nature and values of molecular masses of "native" and dissociated forms of cytoplasmic protein with ribonulcease activity from wheat seedling leaves (Bezenchukskaya 98) are confirmed by means of polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. Possible relation of the "native" enzyme form with 3':5'-cAMP is demonstrated by paper chromatography and the enzyme reassociation by the nucleotide. Study of kinetic manifestation of "native", dissociated and reassociated enzyme forms has revealed that the enzyme in the "normal" state has probably at least two active sites, "negative" homotropic cooperative interaction being establish-d between them at the definite degree of substrate saturation. The cooperativity disappears under dissociation, and it is discovered again under reassociation.     

Preferred conformations and flexibility of aminoacyl side chain of penicillins

Possible conformations of penicillin G; d and l isomers of ampicillin; α-amino-α-methyl-benzyl penicillins and 3- pyridyl methyl penicillin have been studied by an energy minimization procedure using empirical potential functions. The preferred conformations of these antibiotics have been correlated with their biological activity. The conformational requirement of the antibiotic to be active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative (β-lactamase-negative) bacterial strains seems to be the same. The reduced activity of penicillin G against Gram-negative bacteria has been attributed to its lower ability to permeate the outer membrane. The flexibility of the sidechains of these antibiotics is also shown to be important for the desired biological activity.     

辽宁省地表温度时空变化及影响因素

地温是评价气候变化的重要指标,对土壤的成分、结构以及形成和演化都具有很大影响。分析地温自身的时空变化规律以及与气候间的相互关系,对深入了解地气间相互作用的机理、明确气候变化的响应规律、预测未来地温的发展趋势等方面具有重要的科学意义。辽宁省位于内蒙古高原向渤海湾的过渡地带,地形地势复杂,此外辽宁省又处在季节性冻土区,地温的变化机制更具复杂性。利用辽宁省24个气象站点1960—2016年0cm地温(地表温度)数据和各气象要素(气温、日照时数、风速、降水量)数据资料,采用气候倾向率法、Mann-Kendall突变分析、小波周期分析等方法,系统的分析辽宁省地表温度的时空变化特征以及与气候要素间的关系。结果表明:辽宁省地表温度年际变化随时间向暖趋势发展,气候倾向率达0.36℃/10a,不同年代际存在不同的变化趋势,其中20世纪60—80年代低于多年平均地表温度,90年代至21世纪10年代高于多年平均地表温度,此外冬季地表温度增温幅度最大;突变分析显示在1995年发生突变,经检验其升高趋势显著;经周期分析显示辽宁省年地表温度具有30—46a和19—25a的两种时间尺度的周期变化;年地表温度呈西南向东北逐渐降低分布特征。相关分析表明,地表温度与气温的相关性最大,并且其大小在整个区域内呈西高东低的分布特点;在与降水的关系中,降水量高的年份地表温度均比较低,夏季受降水和日照时数的影响最显著,地表温度与风速均呈负相关,但夏季相关性较小,考虑夏季地表温度主要是受气温、日照和降水共同的作用,弱化了风速对地表温度的影响。