The nuclear matrix of Euglena gracilis (Euglenophyta): A stage of nuclear matrix evolution?

Euglena gracilis cell was extracted sequentially with CSK-Triton buffer, RSB-Magik solution and DNase-As solution. DGD embedment-free electron microscopy showed that in the extracted nucleus there was a residual non-chromatin fibrous network. That it could not be removed by hot trichloroacetic acid further supported the idea that it was a non-histone, non-chromatin fibrous protein network, and should be the internal network of the nuclear matrix. After the sequential extraction, the nuclear membrane was removed, leaving behind a layer of lamina; the chromatin was digested and eluted from the dense chromosomes and residual chromosomal structures that should be chromosomal scaffold were revealed. Western blot analysis with antiserum against rat lamins showed that nuclear lamina of the cell possessed two positive polypeptides, a major one and a minor one, which had molecular masses similar to lamin B and lamin A, respectively. Comparing these data with those of the most primitive eukaryote Archezoa and of higher eukaryotes, it was suggested that the lower unicellular eukaryote E. gracillis already had the nuclear matrix structure, and its nuclear matrix (especially the lamina) might represent a stage of evolutionary history of the nuclear matrix. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.

Regulation of zygotic gene activation in the preimplantation mouse embryo: Global activation and repression of gene expression

Superimposed on the activation of the embryonic genome in the preimplantation mouse embryo is the formation of a transcriptionally repressive state during the two-cell stage. This repression appears mediated at the level of chromatin structure, because it is reversed by inducing histone hyperacetylation or inhibiting the second round of DNA replication. We report that of more than 200 amplicons analyzed by mRNA differential display, about 45% of them are repressed between the two-cell and four-cell stages. This repression is scored as either a decrease in amplicon expression that occurs between the two-cell and four-cell stages or on the ability of either trichostatin A tan inhibitor of histone deacetylases) or aphidicolin tan inhibitor of replicative DNA polymerases) to increase the level of amplicon expression. Results of this study also indicate that about 16% of the amplicons analyzed likely are novel genes whose sequence doesn't correspond to sequences in the current databases, whereas about 20% of the sequences expressed during this transition likely are repetitive sequences. Lastly, inducing histone hyperacetylation in the two-cell embryos inhibits cleavage to the four-cell stage. These results suggest that genome activation is global and relatively promiscuous and that a function of the transcriptionally repressive state is to dictate the appropriate profile of gene expression that is compatible with further development.

Identical sequences but different expression patterns of Hira gene in gynogenetic and gonochoristic crucian carps

Hir/Hira (histone regulation) genes were first identified in yeast as negative regulators of histone gene expression. It has been confirmed that HIRA is a conserved family of proteins present in various animals and plants. In this paper, the cDNAs of the Hira homolog named CagHira and CaHira were isolated from gynogenetic gibel carp (gyno-carp) and gonochoristic color crucian carp (gono-carp) respectively. The full-length CagHira is 3,860 bp in length with an open reading frame (ORF) of 3,033 bp that encodes 1,011 amino acids, while the full-length CaHira is 3,748 bp in length and also has an ORF of 3,033 bp. The deduced amino acid sequences of both Hira homologs contain seven WD domains and show high identity with other HIRA family members. RT-PCR analyses revealed strong expression of Hira in the ovaries, whereas no expression was detected in the testes of either of the fishes. Hira transcription was not detected in the liver of gyno-carp, but a high level of Hira mRNA was observed in gono-carp. The temporal expression pattern showed that the Hira mRNA is consistently expressed during all embryonic development stages in gyno-carp. However, the abundance of CaHira mRNA significantly decreased (P < 0.05) shortly after fertilization and then increased again and remained stable from gastrula till hatching. The varying spatiotemporal expression patterns of Hira genes in gyno-carp and gono-carp may be associated with the differing reproductive modes used by these two closely related fishes. Our results suggest that Hira may play a role not only in the decondensation of sperm nucleus and the formation of pronucleus during fertilization, but also in gastrulation and the subsequent development of embryos.

Differential gene expression in fully-grown oocytes between gynogenetic and gonochoristic crucian carps

Silver crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) is a unique triploid bisexual species that can reproduce by gynogenesis. As all other gynogenetic animals, it keeps its chromosome integrity by inhibiting the first meiosis division (no extrusion of the first pole body). To understand the molecular events governing this reproduction mode, suppression subtractive hybridization was used to identify the genes differentially expressed in fully-grown oocytes of the gynogenetic and gonochoristic crucian carp (gyno-carp and gono-carp). From two specific subtractive cDNA libraries, the clones screened out by dot blots and virtual Northern blots were chosen to clone, full-length cDNA by RACE. Four differentially expressed genes were obtained. Two are novel genes and are expressed specifically in the oocytes. The gyno-carp stores much more mRNA of cyclin A2, a new member of the fish A-type cyclin gene, in its fully-grown oocyte than in the gono-carp. The last gene is histone H2A. The histone H2As of these two closely related crucian carps are quite different in the C-terminus. Preliminary characterization of the four genes has been analyzed by nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence and Northern analysis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparative investigation on spindle behavior and MPF activity changes during oocyte maturation between gynogenetic and amphimictic crucian carp

The spindle behavior and MPF activity changes in the progression of oocyte maturation were investigated and compared with cytological observation and kinase assay between gynogenetic silver crucian carp and amphimictic colored crucian carp. MPF activity was measured by using histone I-Il as phosphorylation substrate. There were two similar oscillatory MPF kinase activity changes during oocyte maturation in two kinds of fishes with different reproductive modes, but there existed some subtle difference between them. The subtle difference was that the first peak of MPF kinase activity was kept to a longer-lasting time in the gynogenetic silver crucian carp than in the amphimictic colored crucian carp. It was suggested that the difference may be related to the spindle behavior changes, such as tripolar spindle formation and spindle rearrangement in the gynogenetic crucian carp.

Chemical modifications of carboxylated chitosan

C-6-carboxylated chitosan obtained by oxidation of chitosan was selectively modified in order to obtain derivatives similar to bacterial antigens. Selective O-acetylation of 6-carboxyl chitosan afforded a modified polysaccharide with the 2-amino group available for further modifications to create carbonyl groups. A deaminative degradation reaction allowed the formation of oligosaccharides with terminal aldehyde groups. Reductive alkylation with lactose introduced lactityl branches which were oxidized with galactose oxidase to give aldehyde groups in its -galactose residues.

Chitin and chitosan dissolved in ionic liquids as reversible sorbents of CO2

A novel dissolving process for chitin and chitosan has been developed by using the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) as a solvent, and a novel application of chitin and chitosan as substitutes for amino-functionalized synthetic polymers for capturing and releasing CO2 has also been exploited based on this processing strategy.

Catalytic behavior of concentrated heteropolyacid solution in acylation of anisole with acetic anhydride

The catalytic behavior of concentrated heteropolyacid solution in acylation. of anisole with acetic anhydride has been investigated under the reaction conditions such as molar ratio of anisole to acetic anhydride, reaction temperature and mass ratio of reactant to catalyst. When the molar ratio of anisole to acetic anhydride is changed from 2:1 to 1:1, the yield of methoxyacetophenone (MOAP) increases a little, but when it is changed from 1: 1 to 1: 2, the yield has a greater increase from 15% to 30%. The yield of MOAP at the reaction temperature of 363 K doubles that at 333 K. The highest yield is obtained when the mass ratio of reactant to catalyst is 12.8. The conclusion is therefore that the heteropolyacid in acetic acid can effectively catalyze the acylation of anisole with acetic anhydride, and its activity and selectivity are comparable to those of acid clay and molecular sieve.

N-acetylchitooligosaccharide is a potent angiogenic inhibitor both in vivo and in vitro

N-Acetylchitooligosaccharide (N-acetyl-COs) was prepared by N-acetylation of chitooligosaccharide (COs). In vitro study using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) revealed that both N-acetyl-COs and COs inhibited the proliferation of HUVECs by inducing apoptosis. Treatment of HUVECs by N-acetyl-COs resulted in a significant reduction of density of the migration cells and repressed tubulogenesis process. The antiangiogenic effects of the oligosaccharides were further evaluated using in vivo zebrafish angiogenesis model, and the results showed that both oligosaccharides inhibited the growth of subintestinal vessels (SIV) of zebrafish embryos in a dose-dependent manner, as observed by endogenous alkaline phosphatase (EAP) staining assay. In contrast, no cytotoxicity was found when treating the NIH3T3 and several other cancer cells with the oligosaccharides. Our results also confirmed the antiangiogenic activity of N-acetyl-COs was significantly stronger than the parent oligosaccharide, COs. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Inc.

栉孔扇贝核心组蛋白的基因结构及H2A抗菌活性的研究

栉孔扇贝是我国传统的海水养殖品种，但自1997 年以来，养殖扇贝陆续爆发的大规模死亡，不但造成了巨大的经济损失，而且严重影响了该产业的健康发展。目前，虽然针对扇贝养殖环境、病原以及养殖技术等方面开展了大量的研究工作，提出了许多防病治病的措施，并取得了一定的成效。但由于引起养殖扇贝病害的病原和发病原因的多样性，大量使用抗菌素和农药后造成病原微生物抗药性的提高以及对环境造成的严重破坏，贝类养殖业要摆脱病害的困扰，必须开辟新的疾病防治途径。 从扇贝自身的免疫防御因子入手，筛选和克隆参与免疫防御的功能基因，尤其是一些新颖的具有抗菌活性的分子，对于深入探讨扇贝的免疫防御机制，指导扇贝的遗传改良和抗病品系的培育具有重要的意义；另一方面，可对抗菌效应物实现重组表达，开发新型的病害预防治疗制剂，取代目前普遍使用的抗生素和化学药物。抗菌效应物是机体在免疫应答过程中产生的多肽类物质，对侵入生物体内的细菌、病毒具有很强的免疫杀灭作用，对抗菌效应物的研究有助于深入了解机体先天性免疫防御的机制。 本研究在同源克隆策略的基础上，从利用构建的Genome Walking 文库中克隆到了栉孔扇贝核心组蛋白群的全长序列，该串联重复序列全长5671bp，包括各一个拷贝的组蛋白H4, H2B, H2A 和 H3。所有的核心组蛋白在3’侧翼序列均具有与其在细胞周期进化模式相关的特征结构，即两个不同的终止信号：发卡结构和至少一个多聚腺苷酸信号序列（AATAAA）。在5’区域的起始密码子上游37–45 bp处的保守的CAP位点（5’-PyCATTCPu-3’）存在于除H2B外的每一个基因中；规则的TATA 和CAAT元件也在核心组蛋白群中的个别的基因中找到。在H2B 和H2A基因的启动子区域，对于定位转录起始位点非常重要的元件（5’-GATCC-3’）也相对保守； 在H2B启动子区域存在着与其特征序列（5’-GGAATAAACGTATTC-3’）相似性很高的序列结构5’-GGATCGAAACGTTC-3’。增强子序列只发现存在于H4 和 H3基因中，其序列结构与组蛋白增强子序列(5’-TGATATATG-3’)基本匹配。在组蛋白基因群中存在着一些保守的序列和重复结构表明组蛋白基因的进化是采取“生与死的进化模 式”并伴随着强的纯化选择压力，使得该基因群变异较少以保持其基本功能。同时，利用18S rRNA做参照，探讨了H2A 和H2B作为分子系统进化分析的潜在分子标记，表明组蛋白H2A 和H2B可以作为分子系统进化分析得候选分子，它们在区分近缘种的分辨率上表现出了更高的灵敏度。该研究结果为进一步定性软体动物组蛋白重复单位提供了基础。 在脊椎动物中，组蛋白H2A通过特异性剪切其N末端产生新颖的抗菌肽的形式来参与宿主的免疫应答反应，在软体动物中是否存在同样的机制还未有研究报道。本研究利用上述克隆的H2A基因研究了其在病原胁迫下的表达变化规律并对其N末端39aa进行了重组表达和抗菌活性分析，以期为开发和利用软体动物的新颖的抗菌肽提供理论依据。半定量RT-PCR发现血细胞中H2A 的mRNA 在微生物感染前后的表达量没有任何显著的变化，表明H2A本身并不直接参与对病原的清除过程或者说病原微生物并不能诱导H2A的表达。因此，我们推测该基因可能象脊椎动物一样以前体形式存在，经剪切后参与宿主的免疫应答过程，为此我们研究了H2A的N末端的抗菌活性。通过将与脊椎动物buforin I同源的H2A的N末端39aa克隆到毕赤酵母表达载体pPIC9K实现了该基因N末端的重组表达。抑菌实验表明，重组产物具有广谱的抗菌活性，其对供试的革兰氏阳性菌藤黄微球菌表现出显著的抗菌活性，而对革兰氏阴性菌（鳗弧菌、亮弧菌）的抑菌活性则相对较弱；此外，重组产物对毕赤酵母GS115也表现出一定的杀菌活性，证明其具有抗真菌活性。上述研究结果证明组蛋白H2A的N末端是一种潜在的抗菌肽，但该抗菌肽是否参与机体的免疫应答过程需要进一步的深入研究。

Synthesized oversulphated, acetylated and benzoylated derivatives of fucoidan extracted from Laminaria japonica and their potential antioxidant activity in vitro

Three sulphated polysaccharide derivatives (oversulphated, acetylated and benzoylated fucoidan) were successfully synthesized, and their antioxidant activities were investigated employing various established in vitro systems. A novel catalyst N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) was used in acetylation and benzoylation reaction, and the degree of acetylation was evaluated using IR and NMR spectra. Both fucoidan derivatives possessed considerable antioxidant activity, and had stronger antioxidant ability than fucoidan in certain tests. The benzoylated fucoidan showed strongest superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, however, the acetylated fucoidan exhibited strongest activity on scavenging DPPH radical and reducing power. Available data obtained with in vitro models suggested that substituted groups of fucoidan played an important role on antioxidant activity. The mechanism on the antioxidant activity of sulphonyl, acetyl and benzoyl group is different. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Preparation of chitooligosaccharides from chitosan by a complex enzyme

Chitosan of 24% degree of acetylation was depolymerized by a mixture of cellulase, alpha amylase, and proteinase to give the title oligosaccharides. The removal of products by membrane separation permitted yield maximization of products having degree of polymerization in the 3-10 range. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.