Effects of sarcolectin (SCL) on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Sarcolectin (SCL) is a tissue growth factor found in various human or animal tissues, functioning in balance with interferons (IFNs) that can inhibit growth and affect cell differentiation. Like somatotropin, SCL is found in the pituitary gland. In humans, the SCL gene is located on chromosome 12 (q12-q13) and expressed as a 55 kDa protein consisting of 469 amino-acids. After a single activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from more than 30 individuals, highly significant cell proliferation was found to peak after 7 days in culture. The presence of adherent cells was necessary for cell proliferation. SCL induced over-expression of alpha-IL-2 receptor (CD25) leading to proliferation of CD3+/CD4+/CD45RO+ T cells. Thus in PBMC, SCL induced CD4+ T cell growth and expression of inflammatory cytokine genes, including TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8. IFNs are also produced following activation as a feedback response which is maintained for about 20 days.     

Identification of an intronic splicing regulatory element involved in auto‐regulation of alternative splicing of SCL33 pre‐mRNA

In Arabidopsis, pre‐mRNAs of serine/arginine‐rich (SR) proteins undergo extensive alternative splicing (AS). However, little is known about the cis‐elements and trans‐acting proteins involved in regulating AS. Using a splicing reporter (GFP–intron–GFP), consisting of the GFP coding sequence interrupted by an alternatively spliced intron of SCL33, we investigated whether cis‐elements within this intron are sufficient for AS, and which SR proteins are necessary for regulated AS. Expression of the splicing reporter in protoplasts faithfully produced all splice variants from the intron, suggesting that cis‐elements required for AS reside within the intron. To determine which SR proteins are responsible for AS, the splicing pattern of the GFP–intron–GFP reporter was investigated in protoplasts of three single and three double mutants of SR genes. These analyses revealed that SCL33 and a closely related paralog, SCL30a, are functionally redundant in generating specific splice variants from this intron. Furthermore, SCL33 protein bound to a conserved sequence in this intron, indicating auto‐regulation of AS. Mutations in four GAAG repeats within the conserved region impaired generation of the same splice variants that are affected in the scl33 scl30a double mutant. In conclusion, we have identified the first intronic cis‐element involved in AS of a plant SR gene, and elucidated a mechanism for auto‐regulation of AS of this intron.     

A comparative genomic analysis of the alkalitolerant soil bacterium Bacillus lehensis G1

Bacillus lehensis G1 is a Gram-positive, moderately alkalitolerant bacterium isolated from soil samples. B. lehensis produces cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase), an enzyme that has enabled the extensive use of cyclodextrin in foodstuffs, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The genome sequence of B. lehensis G1 consists of a single circular 3.99 Mb chromosome containing 4017 protein-coding sequences (CDSs), of which 2818 (70.15%) have assigned biological roles, 936 (23.30%) have conserved domains with unknown functions, and 263 (6.55%) have no match with any protein database. Bacillus clausii KSM-K16 was established as the closest relative to B. lehensis G1 based on gene content similarity and 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis. A total of 2820 proteins from B. lehensis G1 were found to have orthologues in B. clausii, including sodium–proton antiporters, transport proteins, and proteins involved in ATP synthesis. A comparative analysis of these proteins and those in B. clausii and other alkaliphilic Bacillus species was carried out to investigate their contributions towards the alkalitolerance of the microorganism. The similarities and differences in alkalitolerance-related genes among alkalitolerant/alkaliphilic Bacillus species highlight the complex mechanism of pH homeostasis. The B. lehensis G1 genome was also mined for proteins and enzymes with potential viability for industrial and commercial purposes.     

拟南芥转录因子GRAS家族基因群响应渗透和干旱胁迫的初步探索

GRAS家族是一类植物特有的转录调控因子,已有报道表明该家族基因在植物生长发育和光信号转导过程中具有重要作用.目前在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)基因组中已鉴定了33个GRAS家族基因.利用功能基因组学和生物信息学手段,通过基因芯片数据挖掘和基因功能预测,对拟南芥GRAS家族基因在渗透和干旱胁迫过程中的应答模式进行了初步探索,提出了一类响应渗透胁迫和干旱胁迫的拟南芥GRAS家族基因.以SCL13为例,利用基因芯片相关性和GO分析,对其在渗透胁迫信号转导过程中可能的调控机制进行了预测和分析.这一研究将为阐明GRAS家族基因参与水分胁迫的分子机制提供新的思路,同时也为植物抗逆分子育种提供候选基因.     

The Influence of Respiration on Biofeedback Techniques

This research is based on previous studies which identified a specific respiratory pattern and inhalation-exhalation ratio, with which we were able to obtain significantly greater reductions in psychophysiological activation than with other respiratory patterns. The present study aimed to check the effectiveness of this respiratory pattern in learning based on biofeedback from the electrical conductance of the skin. The results obtained demonstrated that biofeedback combined with this respiratory pattern produced a significant reduction in psychophysiological activation and improved learning through biofeedback techniques.     

Hexapeptides that interfere with HIV-1 fusion peptide activity in liposomes block GP41-mediated membrane fusion

Upon receptor-mediated activation, the gp41 hydrophobic, conserved fusion peptide inserts into the target membrane and promotes the kind of perturbations required for the progression of the HIV-cell fusion reaction. Using a synthetic combinatorial library we have identified all d-amino acid hexapeptide sequences that inhibited the fusion peptide capacity of perturbing model membranes. Two hexapeptides that effectively inhibited the fusion peptide in these systems were subsequently shown to inhibit cell-cell fusion promoted by gp41 expressed at cell surfaces. These observations might be of importance for understanding the mechanisms underlying fusion peptide activity and suggest new strategies for screening compounds that target these viral sequences.     

牛ASCL2基因生物信息学分析

在人与小鼠中,A SCL2基因是一个母源表达的印记基因,在早期胚胎和胎盘发育中起重要作用。牛A SCL2基因的印记状态和印记的分子机理还没有被研究。本研究采用生物信息学方法对牛A SCL2基因分子进化、启动子和CpG岛区域以及蛋白的高级结构进行分析和预测,为进一步揭示该基因生物学功能和其分子调控机理奠定基础。对21种哺乳动物A SCL2基因的mRNA序列进化分析表明：这21种哺乳动物间的遗传距离小于0.536,且牛与猪遗传距离最小,为0.106,与基因进化树分析结果一致。CpG岛在线软件预测显示,在牛中,该基因上游5 k序列中有三个CpG岛。启动子在线软件预测和转录因子分析相结合显示,启动子最可能位于该基因5'端上游4725~4775 bp处CpG岛区域内,此区域包括大量潜在转录因子结合位点,并在4734 bp处存在一个TATA框。蛋白质在线软件分析表明,A SCL2基因编码一种螺旋-环-螺旋形转录因子,有α-螺旋、β-转角和无规则卷曲3种二级结构。