重组葡激酶和水蛭素融合蛋白的血栓靶向性机制

为解释以凝血因子Xa(FXa)的识别序列为连接肽的葡激酶和水蛭素的融合蛋白(命名为SFH)在体内的强溶栓和低出血的特征,研究分析了SFH的两个血栓靶向性作用机理.首先采用ELISA和免疫组化的方法在体外分析了由水蛭素游离的C末端赋予的SFH对血栓的靶向性,结果显示SFH对凝血酶和富含凝血酶的血栓具有更高的亲和力.为阐明SFH抗凝活性在血栓部位的靶向性释放,构建表达了仅在水蛭素N末端连接FXa识别序列的水蛭素衍生物(命名为FH).体外试验结果表明完整的FH无抗凝活性,在体内FH可以发挥抗栓作用,且出血副作用较低,这些结果说明FXa的识别序列可以封闭水蛭素的抗凝活性,在体内FH可以由于FXa的成功裂解而释放其抗凝活性,且其抗凝活性可能仅局限于血栓局部.这就间接说明了SFH的抗凝活性可以在血栓局部进行靶向性释放.以上两个血栓靶向性作用机理是SFH在体内发挥更高溶栓效率和降低出血副作用的重要机制.     

中国象蜡蝉科一新属新种（半翅目：蜡蝉总科）

记述中国象蜡蝉科(半翅目:蜡蝉总科)1新属:滕象蜡蝉属 Dictyotenguna gen. n.,其模式种为周氏滕象蜡蝉 Dictyotenguna choui sp. nov..简要介绍了东洋界和东古北界象蜡蝉系统学发展概况。模式标本保存于中国科学院动物研究所国家动物博物馆。     

The novel type II toxin–antitoxin PacTA modulates Pseudomonas aeruginosa iron homeostasis by obstructing the DNA-binding activity of Fur

Type II toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems are widely distributed in bacterial and archaeal genomes and are involved in diverse critical cellular functions such as defense against phages, biofilm formation, persistence, and virulence. GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) toxin, with an acetyltransferase activity-dependent mechanism of translation inhibition, represents a relatively new and expanding family of type II TA toxins. We here describe a group of GNAT-Xre TA modules widely distributed among Pseudomonas species. We investigated PacTA (one of its members encoded by PA3270/PA3269) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and demonstrated that the PacT toxin positively regulates iron acquisition in P. aeruginosa. Notably, other than arresting translation through acetylating aminoacyl-tRNAs, PacT can directly bind to Fur, a key ferric uptake regulator, to attenuate its DNA-binding affinity and thus permit the expression of downstream iron-acquisition-related genes. We further showed that the expression of the pacTA locus is upregulated in response to iron starvation and the absence of PacT causes biofilm formation defect, thereby attenuating pathogenesis. Overall, these findings reveal a novel regulatory mechanism of GNAT toxin that controls iron-uptake-related genes and contributes to bacterial virulence.     

苏云金芽胞杆菌Rpp39杀虫晶体蛋白基因的鉴定及cry2Aa12基因的克隆表达

[目的]本研究的目的是分析从四川生态条件下分离的苏云金芽胞杆菌Rpp39菌株的特性,从分子水平上揭示该菌株对鳞翅目高毒力的原因;进一步从中分离克隆cry2Aa基因,并对其进行初步的表达研究.[方法]本研究主要采用扫描电镜观察、PCR-RFLP鉴定法和SDS-PAGE分析法研究菌株的特性;采用PCR直接克隆法克隆cry2Aa全长基因,并亚克隆到原核表达载体pET-30a中,构建重组表达质粒pET-2Aa,再转入受体菌E.coli.BL21(DE3)中进行诱导表达;采用室内生物测定法测定表达产物对小菜蛾和水稻二化螟的毒力.[结果]经扫描电镜观察菌株Rpp39主要产生菱形、方形和圆形3种伴胞晶体;SDS-PAGE分析表明主要产生130 kDa和60 kDa左右2种蛋白;经PCR-RFLP鉴定,该菌株含有cry1Aa、cry1Ab、cry1Ac、cry1Ia和cry2Aa五类杀虫晶体蛋白基因;1种cry2Aa类杀虫晶体蛋白全长基因被克隆,序列分析显示该基因的开放阅读框(ORF)为1902 bps,编码由634个氨基酸组成的蛋白质,氨基酸序列与Cry2Aa1蛋白同源性为99.7%,被国际Bt杀虫晶体蛋白基因命名委员会命名为cry2Aa12.重组表达质粒pET-2Aa在E.coli BL21(DE3)中,经IPTG诱导能正常表达,SDS-PAGE电泳验证含有65 kDa表达蛋白.生物活性测定表明表达的包涵体蛋白对小菜蛾和二化螟具有杀虫活性,LC50分别为5.4 μg/mL和22.3μg/mL.[结论]菌株Rpp39及从中分离克隆的cry2Aa12基因来自四川生态条件,丰富了菌株及基因的资源,在资源积累方面具有重要意义.     

Extensive pyrosequencing reveals frequent intra-genomic variations of internal transcribed spacer regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA

Background

Internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) is already one of the most popular phylogenetic and DNA barcoding markers. However, the existence of its multiple copies has complicated such usage and a detailed characterization of intra-genomic variations is critical to address such concerns.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study, we used sequence-tagged pyrosequencing and genome-wide analyses to characterize intra-genomic variations of internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions from 178 plant species. We discovered that mutation of ITS2 is frequent, with a mean of 35 variants per species. And on average, three of the most abundant variants make up 91% of all ITS2 copies. Moreover, we found different congeneric species share identical variants in 13 genera. Interestingly, different species across different genera also share identical variants. In particular, one minor variant of ITS2 in Eleutherococcus giraldii was found identical to the ITS2 major variant of Panax ginseng, both from Araliaceae family. In addition, DNA barcoding gap analysis showed that the intra-genomic distances were markedly smaller than those of the intra-specific or inter-specific variants. When each of 5543 variants were examined for its species discrimination efficiency, a 97% success rate was obtained at the species level.

Conclusions

Identification of identical ITS2 variants across intra-generic or inter-generic species revealed complex species evolutionary history, possibly, horizontal gene transfer and ancestral hybridization. Although intra-genomic multiple variants are frequently found within each genome, the usage of the major variants alone is sufficient for phylogeny construction and species determination in most cases. Furthermore, the inclusion of minor variants further improves the resolution of species identification.     

长江口崇明东滩湿地沉积物对磷的吸附特征

研究了崇明东滩湿地低(S1)、中(S2)、高(S3)潮滩沉积物对磷的吸附特征。结果表明,沉积物吸磷过程主要发生在前24 h内,随后近于达到平衡状态。沉积物对PO43--P的平均吸附速率在0~0.5 h内最大,均超过了140 mg.kg-1.h-1;快速吸附过程主要发生在前11 h,前11 h的平均快速吸附速率表现为S1>S3>S2,且沉积物中细颗粒成分越多,沉积物对PO43--P的平均快速吸附速率越大。沉积物对磷的吸附等温线符合Langmuir吸附等温方程,根据Langmuir方程计算,沉积物对磷的吸附容量均>200 mg.kg-1,同时沉积物对PO43--P的吸附容量也表现为S1>S3>S2。原因可能同S1中细颗粒成分、有机碳和常量金属元素(Al、Ca、Fe、Mg)的百分含量较多而S2中细颗粒成分、有机碳和常量金属元素的百分含量较少有关。温度和pH值也影响沉积物对PO43--P的吸附作用。     

The role of astrocytes in oxidative stress of central nervous system: A mixed blessing

Central nervous system (CNS) maintains a high level of metabolism, which leads to the generation of large amounts of free radicals, and it is also one of the most vulnerable organs to oxidative stress. Emerging evidences have shown that, as the key homeostatic cells in CNS, astrocytes are deeply involved in multiple aspects of CNS function including oxidative stress regulation. Besides, the redox level in CNS can in turn affect astrocytes in morphology and function. The complex and multiple roles of astrocytes indicate that their correct performance is crucial for the normal functioning of the CNS, and its dysfunction may result in the occurrence and progression of various neurological disorders. To date, the influence of astrocytes in CNS oxidative stress is rarely reviewed. Therefore, in this review we sum up the roles of astrocytes in redox regulation and the corresponding mechanisms under both normal and different pathological conditions.     

Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei LC01 positively modulates intestinal microflora in healthy young adults

Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei LC01 (LC01) can tolerate intestinal stresses and has antioxidant activity. To evaluate the effect of the bacterium on human intestinal microflora, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial was carried out. Fifty-two healthy adult volunteers were randomized equally to two groups. One group consumed 12% (wt/vol) skimmed milk supplemented with 10¹⁰ CFU of LC01 each day for the 4-week treatment period, and then consumed placebo in the next treatment period, separated by a 2-week washout. The other group followed the reverse order. Group-specific real-time PCR and biochemical analyses was used to determine the intestinal bacterial composition of fecal samples collected at the end of every period, and the concentration of short-chain fatty acids and ammonia. A significant inhibition in fecal Escherichia coli and increase in Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Roseburia intestinalis were observed after consumption of LC01. Acetic acid and butyric acid were significantly higher in the probiotic stage and fecal ammonia was significantly lower. The results indicated a modulation effect of LC01 on the intestinal microflora of young adults, suggesting a beneficial effect on bowel health. LC01 may have potential value as a probiotic.     

High prevalence of serum folate receptor autoantibodies in children with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

Background: Supplementation of folic acid by pregnant mothers is thought to lower the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the offspring. Folic acid is taken up by cells via receptors with high affinity for folate and reduced folic acid derivatives. However, this is blocked by the presence of folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAA). Cerebral FRAA have been detected with high frequency in children with ASDs, suggesting the existence of a link between folic acid uptake and disease aetiology.

Methods: We investigated the frequency of FRAA in serum samples from 40 children with ASDs and 42 gender- and age-matched children with typical development (TD). Serum FRAA concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: We found a significant difference in the frequency of serum FRAA in the two study cohorts. Serum FRAA were present in 77.5% (31/40) of children with ASDs compared with 54.8% (23/42) of TD children (p?=?0.03746, Fischer’s exact test). Thus, serum FRAA are more prevalent in children with ASDs than in TD children.

Conclusions: Our data suggest that children with ASDs may have defects in folic acid absorption that play a role in the onset of ASDs.