Mechanism of How Salt-Gradient-Induced Charges Affect the Translocation of DNA Molecules through a Nanopore

Experiments using nanopores demonstrated that a salt gradient enhances the capture rate of DNA and reduces its translocation speed. These two effects can help to enable electrical DNA sequencing with nanopores. Here, we provide a quantitative theoretical evaluation that shows the positive net charges, which accumulate around the pore entrance due to the salt gradient, are responsible for the two observed effects: they reinforce the electric capture field, resulting in promoted molecule capture rate; and they induce cationic electroosmotic flow through the nanopore, thus significantly retarding the motion of the anionic DNA through the nanopore. Our multiphysical simulation results show that, during the polymer trapping stage, the former effect plays the major role, thus resulting in promoted DNA capture rate, while during the nanopore-penetrating stage the latter effect dominates and consequently reduces the DNA translocation speed significantly. Quantitative agreement with experimental results has been reached by further taking nanopore wall surface charges into account.     

大鼠实验性脾虚证胃粘膜内分泌细胞变化的免疫组织化学研究

用正常成年雄性Wistar大鼠53只,体重100～150g,分为正常对照组、实验性脾虚组、自然恢复组和四君子汤治疗组。取胃,固定于Bouin液。制成石蜡切片,进行(1)HE染色;(2)免疫组织化学染色,按Sternberger PAP法显示胃泌素细胞(G细胞)、生长抑素细胞(D细胞)和5-HT细胞。根据细胞的免疫反应程度,将细胞分为强阳性、中等阳性和弱阳性三级,每例动物计数三种细胞各1,000个,并计算各级细胞占的百分比;(3)从正常对照组,脾虚组随机选择各5例动物,对D细胞和G细胞进行显微分光光度计的定量测定;(4)由四组动物随机选择各5例,进行G细胞和D细胞密度及G/D细胞比值的测定。本文的观察表明:(1)脾虚组胃粘膜未见明显的组织学变化;(2)内分泌细胞:与对照组相比,脾虚组G细胞和5-HT细胞中,弱阳性细胞增多,表明分泌活动增强;D细胞弱阳性和中等阳性细胞减少,强阳性细胞增多,表明分泌释放减弱,合成增强。与自然恢复组比较,治疗组G细胞和D细胞的分泌活动接近于对照组;5-HT细胞无明显的恢复;(3)显微分光光度计的测定结果与光镜观察一致,脾虚组G细胞胃泌素反应物的含量低于对照组,D细胞内生长抑素反应物的含量高于对照组;(4)脾虚组G细胞密度低于对照组(P<0.01),D细胞密度略高于对照组,G/D细胞比值也低于对照组(P<0.01)。本文结果提示,脾虚证这些内分泌细胞的分泌活动出现异常,可能是导致消化功能紊乱的原因之一。经四君子汤治疗后,内分泌细胞的分泌活动接近于对照组,说明此药对脾虚证有一定的治疗作用。     

RHCG基因在非小细胞肺癌中的表达及对细胞增殖的影响

为了探讨Rh type C glycoprotein (RHCG)对非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)细胞增殖的影响及可能的作用机制,本研究使用荧光定量PCR法检测12对NSCLC及癌旁组织样本中RHCG mRNA的表达水平及pcDNA3.1-RHCG质粒对A549细胞RHCG m RNA的表达;采用CCK-8法检测细胞增殖能力;运用PI染色法检测细胞周期;使用免疫印迹法检p-PI3K、PI3K、p-AKT以及AKT蛋白表达水平。本研究发现,与癌旁组织比较,NSCLC中RHCG m RNA表达水平明显降低。RHCG过表达能抑制NSCLC细胞系A549细胞增殖能力。此外,RHCG过表达使A549细胞周期G1/S期转化发生阻滞。本研究还发现,RHCG过表达可下调A549细胞p-PI3K/PI3K和p-AKT/AKT水平。本研究表明,RHCG抑制NSCLC细胞增殖的作用与其抑制PI3K/AKT信号通路有关。     

Viral RNA-binding ability conferred by SUMOylation at PB1 K612 of influenza A virus is essential for viral pathogenesis and transmission

Posttranslational modifications, such as SUMOylation, play specific roles in the life cycle of invading pathogens. However, the effect of SUMOylation on the adaptation, pathogenesis, and transmission of influenza A virus (IAV) remains largely unknown. Here, we found that a conserved lysine residue at position 612 (K612) of the polymerase basic protein 1 (PB1) of IAV is a bona fide SUMOylation site. SUMOylation of PB1 at K612 had no effect on the stability or cellular localization of PB1, but was critical for viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complex activity and virus replication in vitro. When tested in vivo, we found that the virulence of SUMOylation-defective PB1/K612R mutant IAVs was highly attenuated in mice. Moreover, the airborne transmission of a 2009 pandemic H1N1 PB1/K612R mutant virus was impaired in ferrets, resulting in reversion to wild-type PB1 K612. Mechanistically, SUMOylation at K612 was essential for PB1 to act as the enzymatic core of the viral polymerase by preserving its ability to bind viral RNA. Our study reveals an essential role for PB1 K612 SUMOylation in the pathogenesis and transmission of IAVs, which can be targeted for the design of anti-influenza therapies.     

Physiological control of an in-series connected pulsatile VAD: numerical simulation study

This paper investigates ventricular assist device (VAD)-assisted cardiovascular dynamics under proportion–integration–differentiation (PID) feedback control. Previously, we have studied the cardiovascular responses under the support of an in-series connected reciprocating-valve VAD through numerical simulation, and no feedback control was applied in the VAD. In this research, we explore the contribution of the VAD control on the circulatory dynamics assisted by the reciprocating-valve VAD, in response to the changing physiological conditions. The classical PID control algorithm is implemented to regulate the VAD stroke beat-to-beat, based on the error signal between the expected and the realistic mean aortic pressures. Simulation results show that under the PID VAD control, physiological variables such as left atrial, ventricular and systemic arterial pressures, cardiac output and ventricular volumes are satisfactorily maintained in the physiological ranges. With the online PID feedback control, operation of the reciprocating-valve VAD can be satisfactorily regulated to accommodate metabolic requirements under various physiological conditions including normal resting and exercise situations.     

Rational design of microRNA–siRNA chimeras for multifunctional target suppression

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in a variety of human diseases by simultaneously suppressing many gene targets. Thus, the therapeutic value of miRNAs has been intensely studied. However, there are potential limitations with miRNA-based therapeutics such as a relatively moderate impact on gene target regulation and cellular phenotypic control. To address these issues, we proposed to design new chimeric small RNAs (aiRNAs) by incorporating sequences from both miRNAs and siRNAs. These aiRNAs not only inherited functions from natural miRNAs, but also gained new functions of gene knockdown in an siRNA-like fashion. The improved efficacy of multifunctional aiRNAs was demonstrated in our study by design and testing of an aiRNA that inherited the functions of both miR-200a and an AKT1-targeting siRNA for simultaneous suppression of cancer cell motility and proliferation. The general principles of aiRNA design were further validated by engineering new aiRNAs mimicking another miRNA, miR-9. By regulating multiple cellular functions, aiRNAs could be used as an improved tool over miRNAs to target disease-related genes, thus alleviating our dependency on a limited number of miRNAs for the development of RNAi-based therapeutics.     

Mechanism of How Salt-Gradient-Induced Charges Affect the Translocation of DNA Molecules through a Nanopore

Experiments using nanopores demonstrated that a salt gradient enhances the capture rate of DNA and reduces its translocation speed. These two effects can help to enable electrical DNA sequencing with nanopores. Here, we provide a quantitative theoretical evaluation that shows the positive net charges, which accumulate around the pore entrance due to the salt gradient, are responsible for the two observed effects: they reinforce the electric capture field, resulting in promoted molecule capture rate; and they induce cationic electroosmotic flow through the nanopore, thus significantly retarding the motion of the anionic DNA through the nanopore. Our multiphysical simulation results show that, during the polymer trapping stage, the former effect plays the major role, thus resulting in promoted DNA capture rate, while during the nanopore-penetrating stage the latter effect dominates and consequently reduces the DNA translocation speed significantly. Quantitative agreement with experimental results has been reached by further taking nanopore wall surface charges into account.     

Architectural roles of Cren7 in folding crenarchaeal chromatin filament

Archaea have evolved various strategies in chromosomal organization. While histone homologues exist in most archaeal phyla, Cren7 is a chromatin protein conserved in the Crenarchaeota. Here, we show that Cren7 preferentially binds DNA with AT‐rich sequences over that with GC‐rich sequences with a binding size of 6~7 bp. Structural studies of Cren7 in complex with either an 18‐bp or a 20‐bp double‐stranded DNA fragment reveal that Cren7 binds to the minor groove of DNA as monomers in a head‐to‐tail manner. The neighboring Cren7 monomers are located on the opposite sides of the DNA duplex, with each introducing a single‐step sharp kink by intercalation of the hydrophobic side chain of Leu28, bending the DNA into an S‐shape conformation. A structural model for the chromatin fiber folded by Cren7 was established and verified by the analysis of cross‐linked Cren7‐DNA complexes by atomic force microscopy. Our results suggest that Cren7 differs significantly from Sul7, another chromatin protein conserved among Sulfolobus species, in both DNA binding and deformation. These data shed significant light on the strategy of chromosomal DNA organization in crenarchaea.