Heme Oxygenase-2 Suppress TNF-α and IL6 Expression via TLR4/MyD88-Dependent Signaling Pathway in Mouse Cerebral Vascular Endothelial Cells

Heme oxygenase (HO) represents an intrinsic antiinflammatory system based on its ability to inhibit expression of proinflammatory cytokines. The constitutive isoform heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) has high expression and activity in cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (CMVEC). This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of HO-2 in regulation of TLR4/MyD88-dependent signaling and to study the effect of HO-2 on the expression and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6 (IL6) in CMVEC. HO-2 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and HO-2 overexpression plasmids were used to observe the effect of HO-2 on proinflammatory cytokines in CMVEC in vitro, and the results showed that the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of TNF-α and IL6 were increased and decreased, respectively, compared with control groups. LPS-stimulated TNF-α and IL6 mRNA and protein were also reduced in CMVEC treated with an inhibitor of TLR4 signaling, CLI-095, or HO-2 overexpression. CLI-095 and HO-2 overexpression both reduced TLR4 expression in CMVEC, and HO-2 shRNA blocked these effects of CLI-095. CLI-095 and HO-2 overexpression potently suppressed TLR4/MyD88-dependent proinflammatory cytokine expression in CMVEC. These results suggest that HO-2 plays an important role in protecting CMVEC against cytokine-mediated inflammation.     

Repeated pre-training sleep restriction in adolescent rats impaired spatial performance

Sleep and Biological Rhythms - Chronic sleep deprivation (SD) is an overwhelming problem in young students. Firstly, we investigated whether different levels of pre-training SD had effects on...     

The glycosylation of the extracellular loop of β2 subunits diversifies functional phenotypes of BK Channels

Large-conductance Ca²⁺- and voltage-activated potassium (MaxiK or BK) channels are composed of a pore-forming α subunit (Slo) and 4 types of auxiliary β subunits or just a pore-forming α subunit. Although multiple N-linked glycosylation sites in the extracellular loop of β subunits have been identified, very little is known about how glycosylation influences the structure and function of BK channels. Using a combination of site-directed mutagenesis, western blot and patch-clamp recordings, we demonstrated that 3 sites in the extracellular loop of β2 subunit are N-glycosylated (N-X-T/S at N88, N96 and N119). Glycosylation of these sites strongly and differentially regulate gating kinetics, outward rectification, toxin sensitivity and physical association between the α and β2 subunits. We constructed a model and used molecular dynamics (MD) to simulate how the glycosylation facilitates the association of α/β2 subunits and modulates the dimension of the extracellular cavum above the pore of the channel, ultimately to modify biophysical and pharmacological properties of BK channels. Our results suggest that N-glycosylation of β2 subunits plays crucial roles in imparting functional heterogeneity of BK channels, and is potentially involved in the pathological phenotypes of carbohydrate metabolic diseases.     

甜菜夜蛾谷氧还蛋白SeGrx原核表达、纯化及酶学性质分析

【目的】谷氧还蛋白(glutaredoxin, Grx)是生物体内依赖硫醇的抗氧化酶,在生物氧化胁迫和细胞凋亡等许多重要的生命活动中发挥作用。本研究旨在测定甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua谷氧还蛋白家族成员SeGrx1的基因序列以及酶催化反应特性,为揭示其在昆虫体内功能奠定基础。【方法】以前期获得的甜菜夜蛾转录组数据为基础,采用RACE-PCR技术克隆甜菜夜蛾Grx1基因cDNA全长序列。将甜菜夜蛾Grx1基因的ORF序列连接至pET-16b原核表达载体,转化至大肠杆菌Escherichia coli BL21菌株中,IPTG诱导融合蛋白表达后用镍柱和Superdex75/200分子筛纯化;采用荧光酶标仪测定纯化的SeGrx1的活性及酶促反应动力学参数。【结果】甜菜夜蛾SeGrx1基因(GenBank登录号: MK318813) cDNA全长738 bp,其中5′非编码区长40 bp,3′非编码区长347 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)全长351 bp,编码116个氨基酸,预测蛋白的相对分子量为12.57 kD,活性位点为CPYC,为双巯基谷氧还蛋白。SeGrx1中心由4个平行和反向平行的β-strand混合组成,外围被5个α螺旋包围。成功构建pET-16b-SeGrx1重组质粒并在大肠杆菌中高表达,经过诱导和纯化条件的优化,获得纯度在95%以上的SeGrx1目的蛋白。以人类谷氧还蛋白hGrx1为标准,SeGrx1比活力为0.577 U/mg pro,最大反应速度V_max为20.5 U/mg pro,米氏常数Km为14.3 nmol/L。【结论】本研究成功地在体外大量表达了甜菜夜蛾谷氧还蛋白SeGrx1,并且获得了它的酶促动力学参数,为进一步挖掘谷氧还蛋白的生物学功能,探索其在害虫防治中的应用提供了基础。     

酿酒酵母Mbp1缺陷型菌株的构建及其乙醇发酵特性

【目的】研究酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)工业菌株Mbp1基因的功能,探讨Mbp1基因对酿酒酵母乙醇发酵性能的影响。【方法】以酿酒酵母MF1015为出发菌株,用PCR方法构建Mbp1基因敲除组件Loxp-KanMX-Loxp,将敲除组件转化两种配型的酿酒酵母单倍体,通过单倍体复倍获得敲除Mbp1基因的二倍体突变菌株,研究突变菌株形态变化及乙醇发酵特性。【结果】敲除Mbp1基因后突变菌株生长曲线无显著变化,出芽率降低,细胞体积增大19.2%,对饥饿更敏感,较早出现假菌丝。甘蔗糖蜜在静置条件下发酵,突变菌株的乙醇产量明显低于野生型;在130 r/min的条件下发酵,突变菌株和野生型发酵液中的乙醇产量基本相同。【结论】Mbp1基因缺失使酿酒酵母的乙醇发酵能力下降并影响细胞的形态分化。     

不同抽薹性不结球白菜抽薹过程中碳氮指标的分析

以抽薹性不同的不结球白菜自交系为材料,研究了抽薹前后6个发育阶段叶片中碳水化合物、可溶性蛋白质、游离氨基酸含量的变化。结果表明,可溶性总糖、蔗糖、淀粉含量在花芽分化时不断升高,分化完成后下降,抽薹时又有所升高;还原糖仅在花芽分化中期升高;三个自交系相比,晚抽薹自交系08-1P-89在花芽分化时糖含量最高;可溶性蛋白质和游离氨基酸变化趋势与可溶性总糖基本一致,但游离氨基酸含量在抽薹时明显下降,整个过程中晚抽薹自交系含量都最高;在花芽分化过程和抽薹期,碳氮比呈升高趋势。