In vivo study on the effects of microcystin extracts on the expression profiles of proto-oncogenes (c-fos, c-jun and c-myc) in liver, kidney and testis of male Wistar rats injected i.v. with toxins

Microcystins (MCs) are a potent liver tumor promoter, possessing potent tumor-promoting activity and weak initiating activity. Proto-oncogenes are known to be involved in the tumor-promoting mechanisms of microcystin-LR. However, few data are available on the effects of MCs oil proto-oncogenes in the whole animal. To investigate the effects of MCs on the expression profile of the proto-oncogenes in different organs, male Wistar rats were injected intravenously with microcystin extracts at a dose of 86.7 mu g MC-LR eq/kg bw (MC-LR eq, MC-LR equivalents). mRNA levels of three proto-oncogenes c-fos, c-jun and c-myc in liver, kidney and testis were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR at several time points post-injection. Significant induction of these genes at transcriptional level was observed in the three organs. In addition, the increase of mRNA expression of all three genes was much higher in liver than in kidney and testis. Meanwhile, the protein levels of c-Fos and c-Jun were investigated by western blotting. Both proteins were induced in the three organs. However, elevations of protein levels were Much lower than those of mRNA levels. These findings suggest that the expression of c-fos, c-jun and c-myc might be one possible mechanism for the tumor-promoting activity and initiating activity of microcystins. (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

U19/Eaf2 knockout causes lung adenocarcinoma, B-cell lymphoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia

Upregulated gene 19 (U19)/ELL-associated factor 2 (Eaf2) is a potential human tumor suppressor that exhibits frequent allelic loss and downregulation in high-grade prostate cancer. U19/Eaf2, along with its homolog Eaf1, has been reported to regulate transcriptional elongation via interaction with the eleven-nineteen lysine-rich leukemia (ELL) family of proteins. To further explore the tumor-suppressive effects of U19/Eaf2, we constructed and characterized a murine U19/Eaf2-knockout model. Homozygous or heterozygous deletion of U19/Eaf2 resulted in high rates of lung adenocarcinoma, B-cell lymphoma, hepato cellular carcinoma and prostate intraepithelial neoplasia. Within the mouse prostate, U19/Eaf2 defficiency enhanced cell proliferation and increased epithelial cell size. The knockout mice also exhibited cardiac cell hypertrophy. These data indicate a role for U19/Eaf2 in growth suppression and cell size control as well as argue for U19/Eaf2 as a novel tumor suppressor in multiple mouse tissues. The U19/Eaf2 knockout mouse also provides a unique animal model for three important cancers: lung adenocarcinoma, B-cell lymphoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cyclin A2 is differentially expressed during oocyte maturation between gynogenetic silver crucian carp and gonochoristic color crucian carp

Silver crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) is a unique gynogenetic fish. Because of its specific genetic background and reproduction mode, it is an intriguing model system for understanding regulatory mechanism of oocyte maturation division. It keeps its chromosomal integrity by inhibiting the first meiotic division (no extrusion of the first pole body). The spindle behavior during oocyte maturation is significantly different from that in gonochoristic fish. The chromosomes are first arranged in a tripolar spindle, and then they turn around and are reunited mutually to form a normal bipolar spindle. A new member of the fish A-type cyclin gene, cyclin A2, has been isolated by suppression of subtractive hybridization on the basis of its differential transcription in fully-grown oocytes between the gynogenetic silver crucian carp and gonochoristic color crucian carp. There are 18 differing amino acids in the total 428 residues of cyclin A2 between the two forms of crucian carps. In addition, cDNAs of cyclin A1 and cyclin B have also been cloned from them. Thus two members of A-type cyclins, cyclin A1 and cyclin A2, are demonstrated to exist in fish, just as in frog, humans, and mouse. Northern blotting reveals that cyclin A2 mRNA is more than 20-fold and cyclin A1 mRNA is about 2-fold in fully grown oocytes of gynogenetic silver crucian carp compared to gonochoristic color crucian carp. However, cyclin B does not show such a difference between them. Western blot analysis also shows that the cyclin A2 protein stockpiled in fully grown oocytes of gynogenetic crucian carp is much more abundant than in gonochoristic crucian carp. Moreover, two different cyclin A2 expression patterns during oocyte maturation have been revealed in the two closely related crucian carps. For color crucian carp, cyclin A2 protein is translated only after hormone stimulation. For silver crucian carp, cyclin A2 protein can be detected throughout the process of maturation division. The different expression of cyclin A2 may be a clue to understanding the special maturation division of gynogenetic silver crucian carp.

Photoluminescence study of InxGa1-xAs/InyAl1-yAs one-side-modulation-doped asymmetric step quantum wells

Fourier transform photoluminescence measurements were carried out to investigate the optical transitions in InxGa1-xAs/InyAl1-yAs one-side-modulation-doped asymmetric step quantum wells. Samples with electron density n(s) between 0.8 and 5.3 x 10(12) cm(-2) rue studied. Strong recombination involving one to three populated electron subbands with the first heavy-hole subband is observed. Fermi edge singularity (FES) clearly can be observed for some samples. The electron subband energies in the InGaAs/InAlAs step quantum wells were calculated by a self-consistent method, taking into account strain and nonparabolicity effects and the comparison with the experimental data shows a good agreement. Our results can help improve understanding for the application of InGaAs/InAlAs step quantum wells in microelectronic and optoelectronic devices. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

贾第虫的“双等核”及其保持等同机制的研究

贾第虫是一类寄生于肠道的单细胞原生动物，也被认为是目前已知的最原始的真核细胞。它的一个十分奇特和令人感兴趣的特点是：具有在形态和大小上都很相似的左右对称的两个细胞核。已有一些证据表明贾第虫的这样的两个核在其它一些方面也都很相似甚至完全相同，如两核的DNA含量相等，两核都含有rDNA和至少一套染色体，并且在DNA复制、转录和核分裂等功能活动方面也基本都是同步的。但是，这两个核在基因的组成方面是否完全一致，甚至两核之间的对应基因（等位基因）的序列是否完全相同呢？若是，贾第虫为什么需要这样两个完全“等价”的细胞核（“双等核”）？这两个核又是如何长期保持一致而不会因两个核内发生不同的基因变异而产生差异呢？此外，目前普遍认为贾第虫至少是四倍体，即每个核至少为二倍体。那么同一个核内的等位基因是否序列也一致？保持其一致的机制又是什么？这些问题不仅饶有趣味，而且对于揭示贾第虫特殊的遗传机制乃至真核细胞基因组倍性的起源进化等问题具有重要意义。 本文首先对其两个核内是否有相同的基因组成进行了检验。我们选择了三个执行不同功能蛋白的基因为代表以检验贾第虫的两个细胞核是否都含有这些基因。这三个基因分别是：DNA拓扑异构酶II基因（topII）, 核仁蛋白KRR1基因（krr1）和目前贾第虫中报道的极少数含有内含子的基因之一的铁硫蛋白基因（fes）。利用荧光原位杂交(FISH)技术在两个核中进行了定位分析。结果表明这几个代表性的基因在贾第虫的两个细胞核中都同时存在。这提示着贾第虫的两核中具有相同的基因组成，也表明贾第虫的这两个核可能在功能方面也是“等价”的。 其次，我们对其两个核中的等位基因是否具有一致的序列进行了检验，并对其两核之间以及同一核内的等位基因保持一致的机制进行了研究。选择前人文献报道的存在多态位点（即这些位点可能是易变位点）的两个基因：fen1和pdi为研究对象，在自己建立的一个贾第虫克隆培养系上进行单细胞PCR和测序的跟踪分析。跟踪分析了18个月（约分裂1600代）后，检测到如下结果：尽管在fen1基因上尚未发现位点变异的规律，但在pdi基因上发现存在几个位点会间歇出现套峰。据此我们推测套峰的出现可能是由于其中一个等位基因发生了突变，而后套峰消失则可能是突变被恢复。这种等位基因的修复机制很可能是基因转换（gene conversion）。进而我们在贾第虫基因组中找到了参与基因转换的很多酶基因的同源基因，RT-PCR的结果也表明这些基因在贾第虫中是活跃转录的。这进一步提示了贾第虫中发生基因转换的可能性。因此以上结果不仅表明贾第虫的两核之间和同一核内的等位基因的序列都是一致的，同时还说明基因转换可能是同一核内等位基因保持一致的机制。至于两个核之间保持等位基因序列一致的机制，我们采用了两种染核的方法对大量的贾第虫细胞进行了观察，以期能从中找到两核保持等同的证据。结果发现在大量细胞群体中存在一定比例的单核细胞和一侧含有两个核的细胞。据此我们推测：贾第虫可能通过发生一侧细胞核的丢失或萎缩，然后由另外一侧的核进行复制，经过核的重排恢复正常的左右核的状态。这可能就是贾第虫消除两核基因出现的差异，保持两核之间等位基因一致乃至两个核完全等同的机制。

Simultaneous genotyping of multiplex single nucleotide polymorphisms of the K-ras gene with a home-made kit

Accurate and fast genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is important in the human genome project. Here an automated fluorescent method that can rapidly and accurately genotype multiplex known SNPs was developed by using a homemade kit, which has lower cost but higher resolution than commercial kit. With this method, oncogene K-ras was investigated, four known SNPs of K-ras gene exon 1 in 31 coloerctal cancer patients were detected. Results indicate that mutations were present in 8(26%) of 31 patients, and most mutations were localized in codon 12. The presence of these mutations is thought to be a critical step and plays an important role in human colorectal carcinogenesisas. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fullerenes-extracted soot: a new adsorbent for collecting volatile organic compounds in ambient air

Fullerenes-extracted soot (FES) is the by-product of fullerenes production. Retention characteristics at different temperatures for 17 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on FES are measured. The adsorption and desorption efficiencies for VOCs on FES adsorbent tubes range from 40.8 to 117%, most of them being 100+/-20%. The values are compared with Tenax GR, an adsorbent commonly used in environmental analysis. FES can be used as an adsorbent of low cost to collect VOCs in environmental samples. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of sulfate-reducing bacteria on corrosion behavior of mild steel in sea mud

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is very severe corrosion for constructions buried under sea mud environment. Therefore it is of great importance to carry out the investigation of the corrosion behavior of marine steel in sea mud. In this paper, the effect of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) on corrosion behavior of mild steel in sea mud was studied by weight loss, dual-compartment cell, electronic probe microanalysis (EPMA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM).combined with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that corrosion rate and galvanic current were influenced by the metabolic activity of SRB. In the environment of sea mud containing SRB, the original corrosion products, ferric (oxyhydr) oxide, transformed to iron sulfide. With the excess of the dissolved H2S, the composition of the protective layer formed of FeS transformed to FeS2 or other non-stoichiometric polysulphide, which changed the state of the former layer and accelerated the corrosion process.

Hydrogen permeation behavior and corrosion monitoring atmospheric of steel in cyclic wet-dry environment

Hydrogen permeation of 16Mn steel under a cyclic wet-dry condition was investigated by Devanathan-Stachurski's electrolytic cell with a membrane covered on the exit side by a nickel layer and the weight loss was measured for each wet-dry cycle. The results show that hydrogen permeation current change with different atmospheric environment: distilled water, seawater, and seawater containing 100 ppm H2S. The results show that seawater can induce an increase in the hydrogen permeation current due to the hydrolyzation reaction. And after the increase, equilibrium is reached due to the equilibrium of hydrolyzation reaction effect and the block of the rust layer. On the other hand, H2S contamination also can induce an increase in the maximum hydrogen permeation current due to the hydrolyzation reaction. And H2S contamination delays the time that hydrogen permeation is detected because of the formation of the FeS(1-x) film. The FeS(1-x) film can block the absorption of hydrogen onto the specimen surface. The surface potential change and the pH change of the metal surface control the hydrogen permeation current. And a clear linear correlation exists between the quantities of hydrogen permeated through the 16Mn steel and the weight loss. Based on the linear correlation, we monitored the corrosion rate by monitoring the hydrogen permeation current by a sensor outside. Good coherences were shown between results in laboratory and outside.

Rhein induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 cells

Rhein, an anthraquinone derivative of rhubarb, inhibits the proliferation of various human cancer cells. In this paper, we focused on studying the effects of rhein on human hepatocelluar carcinoma BEL-7402 cells and further understanding the underlying molecular mechanism in an effort to make the potential development of rhein in the treatment of cancers. Using MTT assay and flow cytometry, we demonstrate a critical role of rhein in the suppression of BEL-7402 cell proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The increase of apoptosis rate was observed after incubation of BEL-7402 cells with rhein at 50-200 mu M for 48 hours, and the cells exhibit typical apoptotic features including cellular morphological change and chromatin condensation. Moreover, rhein-induced cell cycle S-phase arrest. Additionally, after rhein treatment, expression levels of c-Myc gene were decreased, while those of caspase-3 gene were increased in a dose-dependent manner by using real-time PCR assay. The results demonstrate for the first time that cell cycle S-phase arrest is one of the mechanisms of rhein in inhibition of BEL-7402 cells. Rhein plays its role by inducing cell cycle arrest via downregulation of oncogene c-Myc and apoptosis through the caspase-dependent pathway. It is expected that rhein will be effective and useful as a new agent in hepatocelluar carcinoma treatment in the future.

云贵高原湖泊近代沉积作用的Fe、Mn、S指示

铁、锰、硫具有强烈的氧化还原敏感性，在湖泊沉积地球化学过程中扮演着重要的角色。铁、锰、硫控制了沉积物中的氧化还原分带，对磷及其它一些微量金属元素的形态和分布具有重要影响。因此本文中我们选择铁、锰、硫来指示湖泊沉积作用中氧化还原过程的变化，为进一步高精度提取环境信息奠定基础。本文对比阿哈湖、洱海和阳宗海，通过铁、锰、硫在湖水、孔隙水和沉积物体系内的垂直剖面特征分析，阐述了三湖沉积物中氧化还原过程的区别、氧化还原边界层对铁锰循环的控制作用以及铁-锰-硫对重金属的控制作用，深入探讨了铁、锰、硫及微量元素记录的早期成岩改造特征及其对湖泊沉积作用的指示意义，进一步阐明了沉积物中的有机质降解规律及早期成岩机制，获得了如下结论：1．阿哈湖水中铁、锰出现季节性释放，锰的季节性释放强度比铁大；在冬季和夏季，阿哈湖沉积物界面铁、锰均出现富集。冬季的富集程度强于夏季，锰的富集程度远远强于铁。沉积物表层由冬季的黄褐色转变为夏季的黑色，表示铁、锰氧化物层转变为FeS层。2．洱海沉积物中，铁、锰均在沉积物一水界面出现富集，界面以下，铁、锰的含量逐渐递降。铁、锰在孔隙水中产生扩散迁移，而在沉积物表层形成富集，说明洱海沉积物表层处于较好的含氧状况，氧化还原边界层处于沉积物中；阳宗海沉积物孔隙水中铁锰峰值均位于界面2cm处，而沉积物中铁在表层出现亏损，表明夏季阳宗海表层处于缺氧状态，氧化还原边界层位于湖水中。3．铁、锰的界面扩散和沉降通量在不同湖间差异较大。但锰的扩散通量占沉降通量的比例高于铁，锰在界面的沉积后再迁移程度和沉积记录的改造程度比铁显著。湖泊中铁、锰在有机质降解过程的驱动下，围绕沉积物一水界面形成氧化还原循环。其中锰的循环相当激烈，铁则较为缓和。铁、锰界面循环受氧化还原边界层和沉积物—水界面的双重控制。4．三湖沉积物界面处均存在硫酸盐的还原作用。洱海硫酸盐由于其含量较低以及表层良好的含氧状况因此不可能成为有机质降解的主要氧化剂，而阳宗海和阿哈湖则情况相反。阿哈湖沉积物柱芯好氧菌和SRB的分布进一步证实了表层处硫酸盐在SRB的参与下强烈的还原作用，同时说明有机质的好氧和厌氧降解并不是完全对立的；水体向沉积物内部扩散是高硫酸盐浓度湖泊的主要清除作用，而对于低硫酸盐含量湖泊而言，水体浮游生物如藻类吸收和同化作用应是水体硫酸盐的主要清除机制。5．三湖沉积物硫主要都以黄铁矿存在。阳宗海的AVS含量较高，AVS和FeS_2在界面的富集进一步证实了在阳宗海沉积物界面存在着强烈的硫酸盐还原作用；阿哈湖沉积物中硫酸盐的还原与季节无太大联系。在夏季和冬季，沉积物表层均表现出明显的SO_4~(2-)还原作用。只不过随着氧化还原边界层的迁移，SO_4~(2-)还原作用的范围也随之发生迁移。铁氧化物作为电子受体参与有机质分解的过程中，水铁矿和纤铁矿等Feo首先被还原而溶解出来。同时，Feo和Fec是可以互相转化的，针铁矿和赤铁矿等晶体铁氧化物可以向水铁矿和纤铁矿转化。6．三湖中Corg都表示出明显的降解趋势，证明了沉积物表层存在的早期成岩作用。洱海表现出“沉降一降解一堆积”三阶段分布特征，而阳宗海和阿哈湖沉积物中Corg表现出“降解一堆积”二阶段分布特征；洱海沉积物中有机质的选择性分解不明显，C／N指示沉积物有机质主要来自无纤维束的陆源植物；阿哈湖沉积物中C／N很高，均>20，且随深度增加呈现上升的趋势，说明阿哈湖沉积物中有机质含易降解的低N和难降解的高C，有机质主要来源于陆源输入。7．洱海和阳宗海沉积物中均存在明显的重金属再迁移现象。洱海沉积物中铁、锰循环对Pb、Cu的迁移影响很大；颗粒物的吸附一解析作用是影响Cd迁移的主要因素；洱海沉积物中可迁移释放的Ni含量并不高。8．阳宗海沉积物孔隙水中Ni、Cu、Cd均与铁、锰表现出良好的相关性，铁、锰氧化物的还原是造成它们在孔隙水表层富集的主要控制因素。而Pb与铁、锰呈现微弱的正相关。Pb、Cd相对于Cu、Ni的释放趋势较强，再迁移作用较剧烈。Pb、Cd在表层孔隙水中与一些有机、无机化合物络合，由于沉积物的吸附作用而再次沉降到沉积物表层形成富集。沉积物中重金属的再迁移主要受有机质降解、铁锰氧化物还原和硫化物沉积控制，但是不同的湖泊控制因索各不相同。

贵州红枫湖沉积物-水界面Fe、Mn地球化学研究

在地球环境的界面及其附近，发生着重要的物理、化学和生物反应，进行着频繁的物质交换和输送。研究和认识环境界面的地球化学过程对揭示环境演化、评价环境净化、认识成矿机理均具重要的科学意义。Fe、Mn是地表水环境中两个丰度最大的微量营养元素，也是典型的氧化还原敏感性元素，因其氧化物的吸附特性而对其它微量元素的地球化学行为有着显著的控制作用。因此，Fe、Mn地球化学的研究历来是水环境领域中令人瞩目的一个焦点。地表水环境中Fe、Mn的研究始于海底锰结核的发现及其成因问题的探讨，而Fe、Mn在湖泊研究中受到重视则始于湖泊富营养化问题的出现。二次大战使湖泊Fe、Mn的研究一度中断，直到七十年代因水资源短缺和水环境污染问题的出现才使这一研究重新受到重视，并于近十年得到迅速发展在采样技术、分析方法、Fe、Mn的形态、氧化还原作用、早期成岩作用以及地球化学循环机理的研究上取得了一系列重要的进展。其中以英国Davison的工作最引人注目。一般认为，Fe、Mn在湖泊中的行为受氧化还原边界层的控制。但是，由于研究方法的局限，缺乏将湖水和沉积物作为一个整体的系统研究。尤其是未能对沉积物-水界面及其附近Fe、Mn的行为开展细致的工作，因此在Fe、Mn循环机理的认识上尚存许多疑点。有鉴于此，本项研究着重探讨沉积物-水界面及其附近Fe、Mn的地球化学行为和特征。利用自制的湖泊沉积物和孔隙水取样装置，分别于春秋两季在红枫湖按垂直剖面采集湖水、界面水、孔隙水和沉积物样。采用滤膜技术作湖水、界面水和孔隙水Fe、Mn的形态分析，并作沉积物Fe、Fe~(3+)、Fe~(2+)、Mn、S和孔隙水P、HCO_(3~-)、SO_4~(2-)、NO_(3~-)等项目的分析，完成湖水、界面水的水化学全分析和沉积物的X-射线衍射分析。从而获得以下结果和认识：1.形态。湖水中Fe、Mn均呈微粒态；界面水中Fe呈微粒态，Mn则以微粒态为主，尚有部分离子态；孔隙水中Fe以离子态为主，存在部分胶体态，Mn则以离子态存在。2.特征剖面。春秋季湖水中距沉积物-水界面5m以上，Fe、Mn分布均一，5m以下，Fe、Mn均向界面递增10倍左右；界面水中，Fe、Mn继续向界面递增，但Fe在距界面10cm左右向界面略有递减，同时，在距界面20cm高度Fe的溶解态出现峰值分布，而Mn的溶解态则向界面递增；孔隙水中Fe、Mn均呈峰值分布，并均于12cm深度以下趋于稳定，其中Mn峰位于3cm深度，Fe峰则位下去8cm深度，Fe在10cm深度还存在一谷值分布；沉积物中Fe于7cm深度含量略呈下降趋势，Mn则在界面出现高值，并于0.5cm深度含理突降。3.界面通量。Fe在界面的沉降通量为10.9mg.cm~(-2)a~(-1)，扩散通量为-0.24mg.cm~(-2)a~(-1)，净重通量则为10.7mg.cm~(-2)a~(-1)，扩散量只有沉降通量的2%；Mn在界面的沉降通量为0.203mg.cm~(-2)a~(-1)，扩散通量为-0.062mg.cm~(-2)a~(-1)，净通量则为0.141mg.cm~(-2)a~(-1)，扩散通量占沉降通量的30%。Fe、Mn在界面的平流通量均可忽略不计。4.氧化还原作用。Fe、Mn在沉积物中按氧化电位的高低先后充当有机质分解的主要氧化剂，发生还原溶解，然后经扩散作用重新进入湖水中，并在氧化过程的作用下于界面附近形成微粒态Fe、Mn的富集。5.平衡矿物。沉积物孔隙水中Fe(II）的平衡矿物在8-12cm深度范围内为单硫铁矿（FeS)和黄铁矿（FeS_2)，12cm深度以下为菱铁矿（FeCO_3)；Mn（II）的平衡矿物则为菱锰矿（MnCO_3)。6.界面循环机理。在湖泊中Fe、Mn循环均受沉积物-水界面的控制围绕界面进行，循环过程由还原、扩散、氧化和沉降四个环节组成，其中Mn循环就在界面附近，而Fe循环则深入沉积物内部。Mn的界面循环相当激烈，Fe则较为缓和。Fe、Mn界面循环的结果使界面附近的湖水和沉积物中出现Fe、Mn的富集，其中Fe的富集程度 相对较小，Mn则非常显著。7.环境效应。Mn的界面循环可能导致~（210）Po的沉积后再迁移，而~（210）Pb的沉积后再迁移则可能与Fe的界面循环有关；Fe、Mn界面循环所形成的富集层对湖泊水库的水质构成严重的潜在威胁；根据Fe、Mn的还原优势作用带可以确定湖泊沉积物的氧化还原环境。