Nuclear receptor coactivator PNRC2 regulates energy expenditure and adiposity

PNRC2 was identified in our laboratory as a general cofactor for nuclear receptors. To better characterize the physiological function of PNRC2, we used gene-targeting technology to generate PNRC2-null mice (PNRC2(-/-) mice). These PNRC2(-/-) mice are viable and fertile. PNRC2-null mice, especially male mice, are lean and are resistant to high fat diet-induced obesity but without the induction of insulin resistance. Male mice devoid of PNRC2 protein have a higher metabolic rate than wild-type mice. They consume more oxygen and produce more heat. Consistent with reduced adipose mass, the levels of leptin are lower in PNRC2(-/-) mice. This study provides evidence that PNRC2 plays one or more important roles in controlling the energy balance between energy storage and energy expenditure. PNRC2 may be a new target in the treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases.     

Quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis of signaling network dynamics

Protein phosphorylation mediated cellular signaling is a highly regulated, dynamic process that controls many aspects of cellular biology. Over the past few years many methods have been developed to quantify temporal dynamics of protein phosphorylation, including mass spectrometry, which can be applied in both an unbiased, discovery mode and in a targeted mode to monitor specific phosphorylation sites. Other methods, such as kinase activity assays and antibody microarrays, have been applied to quantify central nodes in the signaling network, yielding intriguing biological insights. This review provides a concise overview of the latest advances in the quantitative analysis of signaling dynamics including a brief commentary on the future of the field.     

Conversion of Lesquerolic Acid to 14-Oxo-11(<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>)-Eicosenoic Acid by Genetically Variable <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphingobacterium multivorum</Emphasis> Strains

This study focuses on the isolation and characterization of a high cadmium (Cd)-resistant bacterial strain, and possible exploitation of its Cd-accumulation and Cd-induced siderophore production property to improve plant growth in cadmium-contaminated soil through root colonization. The bacterial strain could tolerate up to 8 mM of Cd and could accumulate Cd intracellularly. The strain showed Cd-induced siderophore production maximally at 1.75 mM of Cd concentration under culture condition. It stimulated the growth of mustard and pumpkin plants in Cd-added soil through its establishment in rhizosphere. Through biochemical characterization and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the strain KUCd1, as the name given to it, was identified as a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.     

Phylogenetic classification of short environmental DNA fragments

Metagenomics is providing striking insights into the ecology of microbial communities. The recently developed massively parallel 454 pyrosequencing technique gives the opportunity to rapidly obtain metagenomic sequences at a low cost and without cloning bias. However, the phylogenetic analysis of the short reads produced represents a significant computational challenge. The phylogenetic algorithm CARMA for predicting the source organisms of environmental 454 reads is described. The algorithm searches for conserved Pfam domain and protein families in the unassembled reads of a sample. These gene fragments (environmental gene tags, EGTs), are classified into a higher-order taxonomy based on the reconstruction of a phylogenetic tree of each matching Pfam family. The method exhibits high accuracy for a wide range of taxonomic groups, and EGTs as short as 27 amino acids can be phylogenetically classified up to the rank of genus. The algorithm was applied in a comparative study of three aquatic microbial samples obtained by 454 pyrosequencing. Profound differences in the taxonomic composition of these samples could be clearly revealed.     

Observations of serotonin and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in palp sensory structures and the anterior nervous system of spionid polychaetes

Evidence suggests that ciliated sensory structures on the feeding palps of spionid polychaetes may function as chemoreceptors to modulate deposit-feeding activity. To investigate the probable sensory nature of these ciliated cells, we used immunohistochemistry, epi-fluorescence, and confocal laser scanning microscopy to label and image sensory cells, nerves, and their organization relative to the anterior central nervous system in several spionid polychaete species. Antibodies directed against acetylated alphatubulin were used to label the nervous system and detail the innervation of palp sensory cells in all species. In addition, the distribution of serotonin (5-HT) and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity was compared in the spionid polychaetes Dipolydora quadrilobata and Pygospio elegans. The distribution of serotonin immunoreactivity was also examined in the palps of Polydora cornuta and Streblospio benedicti. Serotonin immunoreactivity was concentrated in cells underlying the food groove of the palps, in the palp nerves, and in the cerebral ganglion. FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity was associated with the cerebral ganglia, nuchal organs and palp nerves, and also with the perikarya of ciliated sensory cells on the palps.     

Catechin and hydroxybenzhydrols as models for the environmental photochemistry of tannins and lignins.

The photochemistry of several model plant-derived compounds has been studied in aqueous solution. In particular, the reactions of catechin as a model tannin and methoxy-substituted hydroxybenzhydrols as model lignin functionalities were investigated. Tannins and lignins constitute a significant portion of the humic substances in aquatic systems, which are themselves the main component of dissolved organic matter thought to be responsible for the absorption and attenuation of light in these environments. Catechin (1) was found to undergo a reversible photoisomerization reaction to give epicatechin (2). Such a reaction is an explicit example of a photon absorbing process that enables catechin (1) and its derivatives to act as natural sunscreens by attenuating light energy through non-destructive reactions. The methoxy-substituted hydroxybenzhydrols were found to undergo photosolvolysis reactions via efficient generation of quinone methide intermediates. The intermediate quinone methides were observed to be longer lived, and thus more stable, than previously studied hydroxybenzhydrol derivatives. The meta-hydroxybenzhydrol isomer (5) was found to undergo additional chemistry leading to the production of a ring-closed fluorene from the quinone methide intermediate.     

寄生榆童锤角叶蜂的姬蜂种类研究(膜翅目,姬蜂科)

报道2种寄生榆童锤角叶蜂Agenocimbex elmina Li et Wu的姬蜂,其中1种为新种:天水镶颚姬蜂Hyposotertianshuiensis Sheng,sp.nov.;另一种为已知种:日本欧姬蜂Opheltes japonicus(Cushman,1924).     

Conserved enzymatic production and biological effect of O-acetyl-ADP-ribose by silent information regulator 2-like NAD+-dependent deacetylases.

Silent information regulator 2 (Sir2) family of enzymes has been implicated in many cellular processes that include histone deacetylation, gene silencing, chromosomal stability, and aging. Yeast Sir2 and several homologues have been shown to be NAD(+)-dependent histone/protein deacetylases. Previously, it was demonstrated that the yeast enzymes catalyze a unique reaction mechanism in which the cleavage of NAD(+) and the deacetylation of substrate are coupled with the formation of O-acetyl-ADP-ribose, a novel metabolite. We demonstrate that the production of O-acetyl-ADP-ribose is evolutionarily conserved among Sir2-like enzymes from yeast, Drosophila, and human. Also, endogenous yeast Sir2 complex from telomeres was shown to generate O-acetyl-ADP-ribose. By using a quantitative microinjection assay to examine the possible biological function(s) of this newly discovered metabolite, we demonstrate that O-acetyl-ADP-ribose causes a delay/block in oocyte maturation and results in a delay/block in embryo cell division in blastomeres. This effect was mimicked by injection of low nanomolar levels of active enzyme but not with a catalytically impaired mutant, indicating that the enzymatic activity is essential for the observed effects. In cell-free oocyte extracts, we demonstrate the existence of cellular enzymes that can efficiently utilize O-acetyl-ADP-ribose.     

Generation of diversity in the innate immune system: macrophage heterogeneity arises from gene-autonomous transcriptional probability of individual inducible genes.

Microbial products such as LPS stimulate macrophages to produce a wide diversity of inducible gene products needed for immediate host defense and priming of an appropriate acquired immune response. In this study, we have examined LPS-inducible gene expression in subclones of a mouse macrophage cell line, RAW264, using cDNA microarrays. Even archetypal target genes such as TNF-alpha were not induced in all subclones, and there was no absolute correlation between expression of pairs of genes. Nevertheless, the array analysis revealed clusters of genes that were more likely to be coexpressed. RAW264 cells stably transfected with luciferase reporter genes driven by LPS-responsive promoters revealed the same kind of clonal heterogeneity. The results indicate that each LPS-inducible gene has its own inherent probability of activation in response to LPS.     

植物的遗传转化及其应用(英文)

近年来,植物遗传转化研究有了长足的发展。已经达到能够通过简单的遗传控制手段研究具有新表现型的植物,甚至达到进入商业化的程度。这些手段包括植物生物学的主要研究技术以及植物组织培养和树种改良的一些实用方法。尽管采用农瘤杆菌和鸟枪法等技术的植物遗传转化系统已经得到了广泛的应用,但是在如何开发具有能够得到控制表达的转基因高产植物方面,在如何使所得到的转基因植物远离遗传危害等方面,目前的转化系统遇到了极大的技术挑战。已经提出了各种各样的方法用于将新基因稳定地导入120多种不同植物的核基因组。本文将讨论这些遗传转化系统所需的生物学要求和实际应用方面的需求、基因转化和转基因表达的研究策略、遗传转化植物的鉴定以及转基因植物与大众的认可。本文将分为七个部分加以讨论:一、导言;二 、基因转化到细胞里的方法;三、植物遗传转化策略;四、植物遗传转化的鉴定;五、植物遗传转化的实际应用;六、转基因植物与环境;七、未来植物遗传转化的需求与发展方向。