The p53 isoforms are differentially modified by Mdm2

The discovery that the single p53 gene encodes several different p53 protein isoforms has initiated a flurry of research into the function and regulation of these novel p53 proteins. Full-length p53 protein level is primarily regulated by the E3-ligase Mdm2, which promotes p53 ubiquitination and degradation. Here, we report that all of the novel p53 isoforms are ubiquitinated and degraded to varying degrees in an Mdm2-dependent and -independent manner, and that high-risk human papillomavirus can degrade some but not all of the novel isoforms, demonstrating that full-length p53 and the p53 isoforms are differentially regulated. In addition, we provide the first evidence that Mdm2 promotes the NEDDylation of p53β. Altogether, our data indicates that Mdm2 can distinguish between the p53 isoforms and modify them differently.     

Functional analysis of a miRNA‐like small RNA derived from Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus

Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (BmCPV) is a major pathogen of the economic insect silkworm, Bombyx mori. Virus‐encoded microRNAs (miRNAs) have been proven to play important roles in host–pathogen interactions. In this study we identified a BmCPV‐derived miRNA‐like 21 nt small RNA, BmCPV‐miR‐1, from the small RNA deep sequencing of BmCPV‐infected silkworm larvae by stem‐loop quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR) and investigated its functions with qPCR and lentiviral expression systems. Bombyx mori inhibitor of apoptosis protein (BmIAP) gene was predicted by both target prediction software miRanda and Targetscan to be one of its target genes with a binding site for BmCPV‐miR‐1 at the 5′ untranslated region. It was found that the expression of BmCPV‐miR‐1 and its target gene BmIAP were both up‐regulated in BmCPV‐infected larvae. At the same time, it was confirmed that BmCPV‐miR‐1 could up‐regulate the expression of BmIAP gene in HEK293T cells with lentiviral expression systems and in BmN cells by transfecting mimics. Furthermore, BmCPV‐miR‐1 mimics could up‐regulate the expression level of BmIAP gene in midgut and fat body in the silkworm. In the midgut of BmCPV‐infected larvae, BmCPV‐miR‐1 mimics could be further up‐regulated and inhibitors could lower the virus‐mediated expression of BmIAP gene. With the viral genomic RNA segments S1 and S10 as indicators, BmCPV‐miR‐1 mimics could up‐regulate and inhibitors down‐regulate their replication in the infected silkworm. These results implied that BmCPV‐miR‐1 could inhibit cell apoptosis in the infected silkworm through up‐regulating BmIAP expression, providing the virus with a better cell circumstance for its replication.     

MALE PEACH APHID ATTRACTION IN THE FIELD BY SEX PHEROMONES1)

Abstract Field trials by sex pheromone of aphid to trap peach aphids Myzus persicae have been carried out in 1995 and in 1996. Suitable time and the effect of ratio of two components nepetalactone and nepetalactol to apply the lure have been observed.     

Styles of verbal expression of emotional and physical experiences: A study of depressed patients and normal controls in China

Sixty depressed patients and 52 normal controls completed three selfreport inventories: the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and a new Verbal Style Investigation Schedule (VESIS) developed by the first author. The VESIS uses 16 key emotional and physical terms from Western inventories and identified the words and phrases most commonly used by Chinese patients to express these feeling states. Chinese subjects commonly used the key term itself for only 3 or the 16 key terms; they usually preferred to use other words or phrases to express the feeling state. We categorized these Chinese expressions into four styles of verbal expression: Psychological, Somatic, Neutral (i.e., a mixture of psychological and somatic) and Deficient (i.e., lack of expression because of denial or suppression). Three of the 12 key emotional terms of the VESIS (depressed, fearful, and anxiousness) were more commonly expressed in a somatic or neutral mode than the other key emotional terms. The key terms suicidal interest and being punished were more commonly expressed in a deficient style than other key emotional terms. The somatic factor score of the SCL-90 was not correlated with increased somatic expression of emotional states; thus patients who have multiple somatic complaints are not more likely to express emotions somatically. The hypothesis of somatization is discussed in light of this study.     

轮生钩藻的形态特征及其系统位置

十年前在云南省早泥盆世的地层中发现了轮生钩藻(Uncataella verticillata),限于当时的材料,其分类位置未定。本研究所用材料采自它的模式标本产地,化石植物保存良好,首次发现了着生在植物体上的雌性生殖器官——藏卵器。根据藏卵器和植物体其它部分显示的形态特征,本文修订了它的原始描述并对其系统位置进行了探讨,认为轮生钩藻是一种原始的轮藻植物,很可能属于直立轮藻目直立轮藻科中的一个成员。     

非洲紫罗兰叶片脱分化过程中核酸蛋白质和滨粉含量动态的研究

本文测定了非洲紫罗兰（Ｓａｉｎｔｐａｕｌｔａｉｏｎａｎｔｈａ）叶片脱分化过程中核酸、蛋白质和波粉的含量。结果表明：发生脱分化的叶片中的蛋白质和淀粉含量均低于对照,而ＲＮＡ含量则高于对照,ＤＮＡ含量无明显差异。叶片培养的第一天内,发生脱分化的叶片中的蛋白质含量明显下降,对照中的蛋白质含量上升。脱分化过程中,淀粉含量有一个上升、下降、再上升的变化过程,对照中淀粉含量一直上升。     

Modulation of SPARC Expression during Butyrate-Induced Terminal Differentiation of Cultured Human Keratinocytes: Regulation via a TGF-β-Dependent Pathway

Expression of SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine), a 43-kDa extracellular matrix-associated glycoprotein involved in tissue remodeling, was quantitated during normal human keratinocyte (NHK) growth in culture and as a function of sodium n-butyrate (NaB)-induced differentiation to mature enucleate cornified envelopes (CEs). Low levels of SPARC expression were observed in the basal-like cells of control NHKs, with isolated cells showing intense SPARC expression on the ventral surface. After addition of NaB, SPARC expression increased and the pattern of expression shifted to one involving predominantly suprabasal cells (i.e., spinous cells, pre-CEs, and mature CEs). Dense deposits of SPARC often surrounded the mature CEs. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that approximately 13% of NHKs expressed SPARC within 24 h of seeding into culture. This fraction of SPARC⁺ cells increased with time and peaked immediately postconfluence (31.3 ± 6.3% SPARC⁺). Cellular SPARC expression then decreased to baseline levels during entrance into plateau phase growth. SPARC was detectable in all phases of the cell cycle. SPARC levels were more intense and heterogeneous within the G₂/M and G₁ phases while S phase cells exhibited relatively homogeneous, low intensity, SPARC expression. During NaB-induced NHK differentiation, SPARC intracellular content increased prior to the onset of CE formation (i.e., 2 days after its addition) followed by a period of extracellular accumulation which coincided with the time of maximal CE generation (i.e., Days 4 and 5 after NaB addition). Correlation of cell size with anti-SPARC immunoreactivity revealed a predominance of SPARC expression in cells with a suprabasal phenotype. NHKs cultured on fibronectin (FN), an established modulator of epidermal cell maturation in vitro, showed a similar response to NaB. In general, however, the level of NaB-induced SPARC expression was considerably reduced in FN cultures correlating with a lower efficiency of CE formation. Induced SPARC expression was, in large part, dependent on autocrine transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) production since incubation in the presence of NaB + neutralizing antibodies to TGF-β inhibited both the expression of SPARC by 72% and development of mature CEs.     

植物乳杆菌培养上清对不同血清型沙门氏菌的抑制效果及作用机理

【目的】探究植物乳杆菌培养上清(Lactobacillus plantarum culture supernatant,LPC)对3种血清型沙门氏菌猪霍乱(Salmonella cholerae,SC)、肠炎(Salmonella enteritidis,SE)和鸡白痢(Salmonella pullorum, SP)的生长和致病性的抑制作用效果及机理。【方法】将2%LPC与3种沙门氏菌分别共培养后,采用比浊法及牛津杯抑菌圈试验检测沙门氏菌生长情况及LPC中的主要抑菌物质,使用实时荧光定量PCR (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, qRT-PCR)探究沙门氏菌致病性相关基因表达水平,最后通过结晶紫染色法检测沙门氏菌的生物被膜。【结果】2%LPC能够显著抑制3种沙门氏菌的生长,其作用效果与庆大霉素(gentamicin, GM)相近且对SE的生长抑制效果优于GM,其主要抑菌物质为有机酸;2%LPC对3株沙门氏菌SPI-1编码的主要毒力基因(InvA、InvF、SopE、SopB、SipB、HilA和SipA)、SPI-2毒...