The p53 isoforms are differentially modified by Mdm2

The discovery that the single p53 gene encodes several different p53 protein isoforms has initiated a flurry of research into the function and regulation of these novel p53 proteins. Full-length p53 protein level is primarily regulated by the E3-ligase Mdm2, which promotes p53 ubiquitination and degradation. Here, we report that all of the novel p53 isoforms are ubiquitinated and degraded to varying degrees in an Mdm2-dependent and -independent manner, and that high-risk human papillomavirus can degrade some but not all of the novel isoforms, demonstrating that full-length p53 and the p53 isoforms are differentially regulated. In addition, we provide the first evidence that Mdm2 promotes the NEDDylation of p53β. Altogether, our data indicates that Mdm2 can distinguish between the p53 isoforms and modify them differently.     

MALE PEACH APHID ATTRACTION IN THE FIELD BY SEX PHEROMONES1)

Abstract Field trials by sex pheromone of aphid to trap peach aphids Myzus persicae have been carried out in 1995 and in 1996. Suitable time and the effect of ratio of two components nepetalactone and nepetalactol to apply the lure have been observed.     

Protective Effects of Pyridoxal Phosphate Against Glucose Deprivation-Induced Damage in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Abstract: When hippocampal cultures were deprived of glucose, massive release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an indicator of neuronal death, occurred via NMDA receptor activation. Addition of pyridoxal phosphate (PLP; 1 and 10 µ M ) inhibited this LDH release in a concentration-dependent manner. Prior exposure to PLP evoked more potent inhibitory effects on LDH release compared with those treated at the onset of glucose deprivation. Furthermore, PLP inhibited the reduction of intracellular content of pyruvate induced by glucose deprivation, which was accompanied by the reversal of intracellular ATP depletion. A noteworthy elevation of extracellular glutamate in response to glucose deprivation was completely reversed by addition of PLP. Aminooxyacetic acid, a potent inhibitor of PLP-dependent enzymes, antagonized the effects of PLP on LDH release, pyruvate production, and ATP formation. These results suggest that PLP protects neurons from glucose deprivation-induced damage by enhancing the formation of energy-yielding products and relieving extracellular load of glutamate. The observed phenomena further indicate that PLP might be used prophylactically against neuronal death induced by metabolic disorders.     

急进高海拔时健康人夜间睡眠、呼吸状态和血氧饱和度的变化

在海拔2300m选择健康成年男性5人,急进抵海拔4660m,用多导监测仪分别在两地连续7h监测夜间睡眠、呼吸状态和血氧饱和度变化,进行自身对比。结果发现:(1)急进高海拔后,总睡眠时间、有效睡眠指数、Ⅲ～Ⅳ期深睡眠均较中度高原减少(p<0.01);总觉醒时间、Ⅰ～Ⅱ期浅睡眠高海拔较中度高原增多(p<0.05):(2)急进高海拔后,有3名健康人出现周期性呼吸,其中1名健康者出现周期性呼吸119次,伴有中枢性睡眠呼吸暂停,最低Sao_2为78％;(3)同海拔高度夜间睡眠时与清醒时Sao_2相比较,中度高原下降4.2％,高海拔下降11.2％(p<0.01);高海拔与中度高原夜间清醒时Sao_2相比较下降7.4％,睡眠时下降14.4％(p<0.001)。结果提示:(1)睡眠加重了高原人原有的低氧血症;(2)低氧血症导致睡眠结构的紊乱和睡眠质量的降低;(3)睡眠中出现的周期性呼吸,应视为机体的一种自我保护机制;(4)频发的周期性呼吸或睡眠呼吸暂停将影响大脑机能。     

时域—频域结合分析法—一种分析果蝇求爱歌的新方法

我们设计了一种时域-频域结合分析法,并用此方法分析了6个种群12种果蝇的求爱歌,发现如果将时域与频域的研究结合起来,对求爱歌进行频谱分析,可以定量地揭示出求爱歌的频域特性及其在时域上的细微变化。我们还对果蝇求爱歌的时域模式进行了初步的探讨,发现它们是在同一基本成分上进行调制而产生的,亲缘关系较近的种具有相近的调制方式。在对杂交后代的求爱歌的频谱分析中,我们还发现频谱上的某些特点是能够遗传的。这一新的研究方法为果蝇的进化遗传学和神经遗传的研究提供了一种新的手段。     

华东地区黑果蝇自然群体同工酶遗传多态的研究

我们用标准垂直板聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和水平板琼脂糖凝胶电泳技术检测了黑果蝇(D.virilis)在合肥、芜湖、九江、南昌、福州、泉州和常州7个自然群体中Est-α、Est-β、Amy、Acph和α-Gpdh 5个座位的遗传变异,发现Est-α、Est-β和Amy 3个座位是高度多态的,Acph、α-Gpdh两个座位则是单态的。根据这5个座位等位基因的频率,我们计算了群体间的遗传距离。综合何朝珍报道的宁波、杭州、南京和洪泽4个群体的结果和我们的结果,我们作出系统树并发现泉州、福州两群体和其他群体在基因频率的分布和遗传距离方面有显著差异;分析显示这种差异与群体间地理隔离有关。     

模拟根系分泌物输入对高寒退化草地土壤微生物残体的影响

微生物残体是稳定土壤碳库的重要来源,对退化生境碳的固持和积累具有重要意义。植物根系分泌物作为植物-土壤-微生物"交流"的媒介,是调控土壤微生物残体迁移转化的关键。因此,以极度退化草地土壤为对象,以氨基糖为标志物,模拟研究了不同氮浓度（低氮-LN：0.1 gN/kg;高氮-HN：0.2 gN/kg）和多样性（3种化合物、9种化合物）根系分泌物输入对土壤微生物残体的影响。结果表明：（1）根系分泌物输入可显著增加高寒退化草地土壤微生物残体含量,且主要由真菌残体贡献。其中高氮和低多样性处理增加最明显,微生物残体和真菌残体分别增加了101.14%,125.16%,而低氮和高多样性处理微生物残体和真菌残体仅增加了35.79%,33.51%。（2）根系分泌物的输入可增加土壤β-葡萄糖苷酶、土壤磷酸酶和过氧化物酶活性,促进微生物的生长,而降低β-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶活性,减少微生物残体的分解。（3）回归分析结果显示,土壤微生物残体与土壤环境的C/N呈显著负相关,与微生物生物量C/N呈显著正相关。上述结果表明,在未来退化草地恢复中,可充分利用模拟根系分泌物输入的土壤固碳策略,即通过提高土壤氮的有效性,促进微生物的生长,加快代谢周转,进一步提高微生物残体含量。     

灌浆期高温对冬小麦籽粒氨基酸含量和组成的影响

以强筋小麦品种郑麦366和中筋小麦品种洛旱2号为材料,采用盆栽和人工气候室模拟的方法,研究了花后不同时段(灌浆前期即花后5 d,灌浆中期即花后15 d)和持续时间(处理2 d和4 d)的高温胁迫对籽粒氨基酸含量和积累量(以单粒中氨基酸含量表示)的影响。结果显示:(1)高温胁迫显著增加了小麦籽粒中必需氨基酸(EAA)、非必需氨基酸(NAA)和总氨基酸(TAA)含量,但降低了其积累量和EAA/TAA,2品种表现一致;(2)灌浆前期高温胁迫对2品种籽粒氨基酸含量的影响大于灌浆中期,而对氨基酸积累量的影响则相反;(3)高温持续时间对籽粒氨基酸含量的影响在2品种间存在差异,洛旱2号籽粒赖氨酸、EAA、NAA和TAA含量均随高温持续时间的延长显著增加,而郑麦366籽粒中上述指标仅在高温胁迫4 d下较对照增加显著;(4)从受高温胁迫的影响看,籽粒EAA/TAA对高温时段更敏感,而氨基酸含量表现为更易受高温持续时间的影响;(5)高温时段与持续时间的互作效应体现在:灌浆前期籽粒氨基酸积累量2品种均以高温胁迫4 d的影响最大,而灌浆中期则均以高温2 d的降幅最大。上述结果表明,小麦籽粒氨基酸及其组分对高温胁迫的响应不仅在品种间存在差异,且受高温时段和持续时间的影响。     

Refolding and purification of interferon-gamma in industry by hydrophobic interaction chromatography

A new technology for renaturation with simultaneous purification of the recombinant human interferon-gamma (rhIFN-gamma) in downstream of biotechnology is presented. The strategies to develop the new technology in industry scale were suggested. Based on chemical equilibrium and molecular interactions, the principle of rhIFN-gamma refolding by HPHIC was described. The kind of stationary and mobile phases were evaluated and found the former to contribute to the rhIFN-gamma refolding more than the latter. The extract containing the rhIFN-gamma in gram scale in 7.0 mol L(-1) guanidine hydrochloride solution of 700 mL was directly pumped into a unit of simultaneous renaturation and purification of proteins (USRPP, 10 x 300 mm i.d.) packed by small particle packings of hydrophobic interaction chromatography and a satisfactory recovery of bioactivity and mass of the rhIFN-gamma was obtained. With flow rate 100 mL min(-1) and a gradient elution by only one step in 4h, the purity and specific bioactivity approach to 95% and 8.7 x 10(7) IU(-1) mg, respectively. To evaluate the goodness of the presented new technology in this study, a usual method with the renaturation by dilution method firstly and then purification with a series of LC in literature was employed to compare with each other. The obtained result in terms of purity, recoveries of mass and bioactivity, cost time as well as expenses, the former is much better than the latter. Comparing the total bioactivity of rhIFN-gamma in the extract before to that after the renaturation by the USRPP, the total bioactivity of rhIFN-gamma increased 62-fold.     

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1)-producing B Cells Restore Antigen (Ag)-specific Immune Tolerance in an Allergic Environment

Restoration of the antigen (Ag)-specific immune tolerance in an allergic environment is refractory. B cells are involved in immune regulation. Whether B cells facilitate the generation of Ag-specific immune tolerance in an allergic environment requires further investigation. This paper aims to elucidate the mechanism by which B cells restore the Ag-specific immune tolerance in an allergic environment. In this study, a B cell-deficient mouse model was created by injecting an anti-CD20 antibody. The frequency of tolerogenic dendritic cell (TolDC) was assessed by flow cytometry. The levels of cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) was assessed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR, Western blotting, and methylation-specific PCR. The results showed that B cells were required in the generation of the TGF-β-producing TolDCs in mice. B cell-derived TSP1 converted the latent TGF-β to the active TGF-β in DCs, which generated TGF-β-producing TolDCs. Exposure to IL-13 inhibited the expression of TSP1 in B cells by enhancing the TSP1 gene DNA methylation. Treating food allergy mice with Ag-specific immunotherapy and IL-13 antagonists restored the generation of TolDCs and enhanced the effect of specific immunotherapy. In conclusion, B cells play a critical role in the restoration of specific immune tolerance in an allergic environment. Blocking IL-13 in an allergic environment facilitated the generation of TolDCs and enhanced the therapeutic effect of immunotherapy.