Molecular identification and expression analysis of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) is a crucial component of almost the entire tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily signaling pathway. In the present study, a TRAF2 gene has been cloned from grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The full-length cDNA is 3162 bp, including a 60 bp 5' untranslated region (UTR), a 1611 bp open reading frame, and a 1491 bp 3' UTR. The polyadenylation signal (AATAAA) and the mRNA instability motifs (ATTTTA, ATTTA) were followed by a poly(A) tail in the 3' UTR. No signal peptide or transmembrane region has been found in the putative amino acids of grass carp TRAF2 (gcTRAF2). Phylogenetic tree analysis clearly showed that gcTRAF2 is nearest to the TRAF2 gene of goldfish. The identity of gcTRAF2 with its homologs in other vertebrates ranges from 56% to 97%. It is characterized by one RING-type signature at the N-terminus, one zinc finger in the middle part, and one conserved TRAF domain consisting of a C-proximal (TRAF-C) subdomain and a N-proximal (TRAF-N) subdomain. The identity of TRAF-C among all TRAF2 homologs in vertebrates varies from 78% to 97%, whereas the identity of TRAF-N ranges from 56% to 100%. The recombinant gcTRAF2 has been expressed in Escherichia coli using pET-32a expression vector. The rabbit anti-gcTRAF2 polyclonal antibody was obtained. The expression of gcTRAF2 in different organs was examined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. It was widely distributed in heart, head kidney, thymus, brain, gill, liver, spleen, and trunk kidney. This is the first report of a TRAF2 homolog molecule in fish.

Cloning and expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) cDNA from red seabream Pagrus major

A fragment of TNFalpha cDNA sequence from red seabream was cloned by homology cloning approach with two degenerated primers which were designed based on the conserved regions of other animals' TNF sequences. The sequence was elongated by 3' and 5' RACE to get the full length CDS sequence. This sequence contained 1264 nucleotides that included a 5' UTR of 85 bp, a 3' UTR of 514 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 666 bp which could encode 222 amino acids propeptide. In 3' UTR, there were several mRNA instability motifs and three endotoxin-responsive sequences, but the sequence lacked the polyadenylation signal. The deduced peptide had a clear transmembrane domain, a TNFalpha family signature and a TNF2 family profile. The cell attachment sequence and the glycosaminoglycan attachment sites were also found in the sequence. The red seabream TNF sequence shared relatively high similarity with both mammalian TNFalpha and TNFbeta by multiple sequence alignments. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the piscine TNFalpha were located independently in a different branch compared with mammalian TNFalpha and TNFbeta. Based on the primary and secondary structure analysis and gene expression study, we could concluded that the red seabream TNF should be a TNFalpha, not TNFbeta. RT-PCR was used to study TNFa transcript expression. 24 h after the red seabream was challenged by Vibrio anguillarum, the RS TNFalpha transcript expression were detected in blood, brain, gill, heart, head kidney, kidney, Ever, muscle and spleen. Results showed that TNFalpha mRNA was constitutively expressed in parts of the tissues both in stimulated and unstimulated fish and the expression could be enhanced after the pathogen infection.

Construction of shuttle, expression vector of human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNF-alpha) gene and its expression in a cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

The construction of the shuttle, expression vector of human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNF-alpha) gene and its expression in a cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 was reported. The 700-bp hTNF cDNA fragments have been recovered from plasmid pRL-rhTNF, then inserted downstream of the promoter PpsbA in the plasmid pRL439. The resultant intermediary plasmid pRL-TC has further been combined with the shuttle vector pDC-8 to get the shuttle, expression vector pDC-TNF. The expression of the rhTNF gene in Escherichia coil has been analyzed by SDS-PAGE and thin-layer scanning, and the results show that the expressed TNF protein with these two vectors is 16.9 percent (pRL-TC) and 15.0 percent (pDC-TNF) of the total proteins in the cells, respectively, while the expression level of TNF gene in plasmid pRL-rhTNF is only 11.8 percent. Combined with the participation of the conjugal and helper plasmids, pDC-TNF has been introduced into Anabaena sg PCC 7120 by triparental conjugative transfer, and the stable transgenic strains have been obtained. The existence of the introduced plasmid pDC-TNF in recombinant cyanobacterial cells has been demonstrated by the results of the agarose electrophoresis with the extracted plasmid samples and Southern blotting with alpha-(32)p labeled hTNF cDNA probes, while the expression of the hTNF gene in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 has been confirmed by the results of Western blotting with extracted protein samples and human TNF-alpha monoclonal antibodies. The cytotoxicity assays using the mouse cancer cell line L929 proved the cytotoxicity of the TNF in the crude extracts from the transgenic cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120.

A novel tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member (CsTL) from Ciona savignyi: Molecular identification and expression analysis

A novel invertebrate TNF ligand was identified and characterized in Ciona savignyi. The CsTL cDNA consisted of 995 nucleotides and encoded 281 amino acids. A conserved TNF family signature and several motifs of TNF ligand superfamily were identified in deduced amino acid sequence of CsTL. Phylogenetic analysis grouped CsTL, CiTNF (predicted TNF ligand superfamily homolog in Ciona intestinalis) and urchin TL1A with their own cluster apart from mammalian TNF alpha, LTA, TNFSF15 and fish TNFa proteins. Expression studies demonstrated that CsTL mRNA is present in all tested tissues from unchallenged ascidians and its expression was significantly upregulated in hemocytes following LIPS injection. The recombinant CsTL protein expressed using a baculovirus expression system showed potential cytotoxic activity in L929 cells. Present results indicated that TNF ligand superfamity molecules are present in marine invertebrates. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

TNFa在鱼腥藻7120中的高效表达和对宿主光合作用的影响

蓝藻分子生物学的飞速发展已使其成为生物学的前沿。近几年来，以蓝藻为宿主的基因工程发展迅速，使转基因蓝藻已有希望制备药物或处理环境问题。但迄今为止，国内外用蓝藻表达外源基因的表达效率都不高。为了使转基因蓝藻在应用上产生较好的社会效益和经济效益，必须进一步提高外源基因在蓝藻中的表速效率，以及提高光合效率、加速生长。 本研究用人肿瘤坏死因子a（Human Tumor Necrosis Factora简称hTNFa）作为外源目的基因。它是由巨噬细胞和单核细胞受到刺激后产生的一种多功能蛋白质细胞因子。hTNFcc多种生物学效应并作为信号传导体，其中最引人注目的是它对肿瘤组织和肿瘤细胞直接地、特异性和广谱性地杀伤作用，极有希望制成抗癌剩的天然因子之一。但是用大肠杆菌得到的重组产物需要严格纯化，通常用于静脉注射，但由于毒副作用大，十几年来国内外一直停留在临床实验阶段，我们研究组建议用蓝藻为宿主表达hTNFa制备口服剂，来减缓毒副作用，已经得到了转基因鱼腥藻，并测得产物具有抑瘤的生物学活性。但是表达效率一直不高，并且它的表达对蓝藻生长有些抑制。 由于蓝藻是原核生物，基因的表达调控主要是在转录水平和翻译水平。因此，寻找在蓝藻中高效的启动子，改变SD序列的结构是提高外源基因在蓝藻中表达效率的有效手段。本研究将连有不同SD序列的TNFa cDNA克隆到穿梭表达载体pRL-489的启动子（PpsbA）下游，构建2个鱼腥藻7120的穿梭表达载体（pMD-489-TNF1，2），通过三亲接合转移法分别导八鱼腥藻7120细胞。用放射免疫法定量分析TNFa在转基因蓝藻中的表达效率。结果表明，有效地提高了TNFa在鱼腥藻7120中的表达。TNFa的表达量占总可溶性蛋白的2.1 - 2.9%和0.15%，表达效率分别提高到原来的21 - 29倍和1.5倍。 在培养转基因鱼腥藻中，观测到它们在形态和生理上都发生了变化，这反应了TNFcc基因的转入和表达对宿主光合作用的影响。 光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜的观察发现：转基因鱼腥藻比野生型异形胞数目减少约30%。转入空质粒的营养细胞比野生型略大，转TNFa基因的鱼腥藻异形胞体积明显增加，而营养细胞比正对照和野生型小。到了生长后期，转TNFa因的鱼腥藻营养细胞体积明里增大，多与异形胞相当，有的甚至比异形胞大。转pMD-489-TNFI的鱼腥藻细胞内出现明显的空腔。通过透射电子显微镜的观察发现：转基因藻中的类囊体膜片屡结构更加明显。转基因藻和野生藻的生长曲线的比较表明，转入空质粒pRL-489对宿主的生长几乎没有影响，甚至还略快于野生型;TNFa的表达对细胞的生长有一定副作用，胞内TNFa的含量高时，细胞数增长缓慢，并且平台期时细胞数有一定下降。 从光合作用光强曲线的分析可见，转TNFa因的鱼腥藻有较低的光饱和点，暗示了TNFa的表达可以增强宿主对光的敏感性;同时，TNFa的转入使宿主的呼吸作用加强，几乎比野生型和转空质粒的正对照高一倍，显示了TNFa基因的转入和表达可能给宿主带来更大的代谢负荷;在光饱和点以上，几种藻的真实光合放氧能力大致相同，表明TNFa的表达没有破坏宿主的光合反应中心。 从室温吸收光谱分析可见，转基因蓝藻有相对较高的类胡萝卜素和叶绿素a蓝峰，转TNF谌因的鱼腥藻显示了藻蓝蛋白含量有所降低。因为蓝藻的主要天线色素为藻胆蛋白，藻蓝蛋白相对含量的下降可能与宿主对光更敏感有关。 从低温荧光发射光谱分析可见，转TNFa基因的鱼腥藻7120光系统II能量分配较高。可能是TNFa基因的转入提高了藻胆蛋白的吸收和传递光能的效率。 从叶绿素荧光动力学分析可见，鱼腥藻7120在生长的过程中PSII的活性存在一个变化的过程。TNFa的转入和表达在对数后期提高了宿主的光系统II原初光能转化效率。 从转基因藻光系统I和光系统II光合放氧活性分析与TNFa表达随培养时间变化曲线表明，转TNFcc基因鱼腥藻的光合放氧活性比野生型和正对照高，尤其是显著地提高了宿主的Psn活性。 用自然界中原来不存在的转基因鱼腥藻作上述研究表明：原来只存在于高等、异养的人类和哺乳动物中的TNFa基因，一旦转入最古老的放氧光合生物后，其表达可被调控;同时TNFa的表达又能影响宿主的光合作用。它提高了宿主对光的敏感性、光系统II的活性和对光能的利用率。这似乎都表明TNFa在蓝藻细胞中起信号传导体的作用。而且，这些数据的积累，还有助于我们优化培养条件，提高TNFa的表达效率，为产业化做好准备。

小麦杂交坏死蛋白质组学研究

小麦杂交坏死是某些小麦杂交种表现出的叶片提前逐渐死亡的现象。它是由两个坏死基因Ne1和Ne2在杂交种中相遇后发生显性互补引起的。坏死从叶片尖端逐渐过渡到叶片基部，从成熟叶片发展到幼嫩叶片。一些严重坏死的F1完成它的生活周期前就在不同的生长阶段死去，无法获得F1种子，这就限制了携带优良性状的亲本的选择和优良基因的交流。另外，小麦杂交坏死是一个独特的研究植物程序性死亡的遗传系统。虽然小麦杂交坏死这种现象已经发现很多年，但其详细的分子机理却仍然未知。对小麦杂交坏死的分子机理进行深入研究将有助于克服小麦杂交利用中杂交坏死的遗传障碍，此外，也为深入研究植物的PCD机理提供可操作靶分子。 本论文采用高通量蛋白质组研究技术对小麦杂交坏死进行了研究。携带坏死基因Ne2的小麦品种Pan555（P）和携带坏死基因Ne2的小麦品种Zheng891（Z）生长发育完全正常，将两个亲本杂交，所得杂交F1代PZF1表现杂交坏死。在小麦生长阶段8，旗叶（Flag leaf）刚刚出现，PZF1的旗叶下第一片叶子（FL-1）还是完全绿色，FL-2叶尖开始有坏死斑出现。在这个阶段，分别将PZF1，P，Z的FL-2叶剪成相等的尖，中，基三段。我们选择的PZF1的FL-2叶，其叶尖段已经有成片的坏死斑出现;中间段零星出现少量坏死斑点;基部段和亲本一样还是完全的绿色，代表坏死进程中的不同阶段。又选PZF1的FL-1和FL-2分别代表杂交坏死启动前和杂交坏死启动后。两个亲本P和Z的FL-2叶的三段及FL-1叶正常，都是完全绿色。 首先分别分析了PZF1，P和Z的FL-2叶的尖、中、基三段的蛋白表达情况。在PZF1的尖、中、基三段共检测到23个差异表达蛋白点。这23个点在两个亲本的尖、中、基三段中的表达丰度没有显著差异（p<0.05），说明这23个蛋白的差异表达不是由于叶段的不同引起，确与杂交坏死相关。对这23个蛋白进行了MALDI-TOF质谱鉴定，其中18个得到成功鉴定。然后对PZF1，P和Z的FL-1叶和FL-2叶的蛋白表达情况进行了分析。与PZF1的FL-1叶比较，在FL-2叶中检测到19个蛋白上调，20个蛋白下调。这39个蛋白的丰度在两个亲本的FL-1和FL-2叶之间没有显著差异，说明这39个蛋白的差异表达不是由于叶位的不同引起，确与杂交坏死相关。对这39个蛋白进行质谱鉴定其中26个得到成功鉴定。 根据被鉴定蛋白的功能及其表达丰度的变化，对这些蛋白在小麦杂交坏死中可能的作用进行了讨论。与PZF1的FL-2叶基部相比，S-腺苷同型半胱氨酸水解酶（S-adenosyl homocysteine hydrolase）在中部极显著（p<0.01）下调，而在中部和尖段之间没有显著差异，保持低丰度不变。腺苷甲硫氨酸3（AdoMet synthase 3）和甲硫氨酸合成酶1（Methionine synthase 1）都在PZF1的FL-2叶尖段上调。甲基化循环中的这3个酶比例的不协调可能会以不同的方式加速细胞老化。 与PZF1的FL-1叶比较，尿卟啉环脱羧酶（Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase）在FL-2叶中下调，这将引起尿卟啉环III的积累。脂加氧酶（Lipoxygenases）在FL-2叶中上调。尿卟啉环III的积累和脂加氧酶的上调都会引起细胞内活性氧的增加。另外活性氧和脂加氧酶都会使脂发生过氧化作用，进而导致细胞膜完整性受到破坏，最终可能导致细胞死亡。 与基部段比较，在PZF1的FL-2叶的尖段和/或中间段;以及与PZF1的FL-1叶比较，在FL-2叶中，都有很多防御性蛋白的上调，这暗示应对活性氧、脂过氧化、甲基化循环中三个酶比例的不协调等引起的对细胞的破坏作用，细胞可能启动了抗细胞死亡系统来应对这种细胞内部的胁迫。 然而，与基部段比较，一些能量相关蛋白在PZF1的FL-2叶的尖段和/或中间段;以及与PZF1的FL-1叶比较，在FL-2叶中的异常表达可能会以干扰能量循环的方式加速细胞死亡。另外，与FL-2基部段比较，在尖段和/或中间段，以及与PZF1的FL-1比较，在FL-2中，都有一些防御性蛋白、蛋白合成相关的蛋白以及单链DNA结合蛋白下调，它们的变化可能会降低细胞的抵抗力，蛋白合成能力以及DNA修复能力。细胞正常代谢的很多方面都受到干扰从而使PZF1叶细胞最终走向死亡。 本研究中发现了三个甲基化循环中的酶变化，而且S-腺苷同型半胱氨酸水解酶是在坏死进程的较早阶段发生下调，它的变化可能是小麦杂交坏死的一个诱因，这暗示小麦杂交坏死可能是一个表观遗传学事件。另外本研究还发现一些和活性氧，脂氧化等相关的蛋白的变化，而活性氧增加和脂氧化都是细胞凋亡的典型特征。所以本研究为表观遗传细胞凋亡和氧化胁迫细胞凋亡的研究提供了很有价值的信息。

非晶状体βγ晶状体蛋白与三叶因子蛋白复合物诱导兔胸主动脉环内皮依赖的持续收缩效应

脊椎动物中,非晶状体βγ-晶状体蛋白广泛分布于各种组织,但是功能知之甚少.三叶因子在创伤修复与肿瘤发生中具有重要作用,其分子作用机制尚不清楚.非晶状体βγ晶状体蛋白与三叶因子蛋白复合物(βγ-CAT)是一个从大蹼铃蟾皮肤分泌物中分离的一类全新的蛋白复合物.研究表明,βγ-CAT能够诱导离体的兔胸主动脉产生快速而持续的收缩,结合药理学抑制剂,细胞培养,激光共聚焦显微镜和免疫荧光原位组化,从细胞和分子水平对其作用机制进行研究.结果表明:.βγ-CAT诱导兔胸主动脉产生的收缩效应为剂量依赖(2-35 nmol/L)和内皮依赖(P＜0.01).在βγ-CAT(25nmol/L)处理的主动脉环的内皮细胞层检测到肿瘤坏死因子-α的释放.同时,βγ-CAT能够诱导原代培养的兔胸主动脉内皮细胞(RAEC)快速释放肿瘤坏死因子-α,βγ-CAT(25nmol/L)分别处理5和30min,RAEC释放的肿瘤坏死因子-α的浓度分别为(34.17±5.10)pg/mL和(98.01±4.67)pg/mL(P＜0.01).表明肿瘤坏死因子-α在βγ-CAT诱导兔胸丰动脉产生的收缩效应中发挥重要作用.为进一步深入研究非晶状体βγ晶状体蛋白与三叶因子的生理功能提供了新的思路和线索.

Two Immunoregulatory Peptides with Antioxidant Activity from Tick Salivary Glands

Ticks are blood-feeding arthropods that may secrete immunosuppressant molecules, which inhibit host inflammatory and immune responses and provide survival advantages to pathogens at tick bleeding sites in hosts. In the current work, two families of immunoregulatory peptides, hyalomin-A and -B, were first identified from salivary glands of hard tick Hyalomma asiaticum asiaticum. Three copies of hyalomin-A are encoded by an identical gene and released from the same protein precursor. Both hyalomin-A and -B can exert significant anti-inflammatory functions, either by directly inhibiting host secretion of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemotectic protein-1, and interferon-gamma or by indirectly increasing the secretion of immunosuppressant cytokine of interleukin-10. Hyalomin-A and -B were both found to potently scavenge free radical in vitro in a rapid manner and inhibited adjuvant-induced inflammation in mouse models in vivo. The JNK/SAPK subgroup of the MAPK signaling pathway was involved in such immunoregulatory functions of hyalomin-A and -B. These results showed that immunoregulatory peptides of tick salivary glands suppress host inflammatory response by modulating cytokine secretion and detoxifying reactive oxygen species.

Association of early growth response-1 gene polymorphisms with total IgE and atopy in asthmatic children

Early growth response-1 (Egr-1) is expressed in human airways and found to modulate tumor necrosis factor, immunoglobulin E (IgE), airway responsiveness, and interleukin-13-induced inflammation in mice. We investigated the effects of Chinese-tagging singl

A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF LESIONS OF AREA-7 OF THE PARIETAL CORTEX ON THE SHORT-TERM VISUAL SPATIAL MEMORY OF RHESUS-MONKEYS (MACACA-MULATTA)

This research is focused on the contribution of area 7 to the short-term visual spatial memory. Three rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were trained in the direct delayed response task in which 5 delay intervals were used in each session. When each monkey reached the criterion of 90% correct responses in 5 successive sessions, two monkeys underwent a surgery while the other one received a sham operation as a control. In the first stage of the surgery, bilateral areas 7a, 7b and 7ip of the parietal cortex of two monkeys were precisely lesioned. After 7 days of recuperation, the monkeys were required to do the same task. The average percentage of correct responses in the lesioned animals decreased from 94.7% to 89.3% and 93.3% to 82.0% respectively (no significance, P > 0.05, n = 2). In addition, the monkeys' complex movements were mildly impaired. The lesioned monkeys were found to have difficulty picking up food from the wells. In the second stage, bilateral area 7m was lesioned. In the 5 postoperative sessions, the average percentage of correct responses in one monkey, with a relatively precise 7m lesion, decreased from 94.7% to 92.2% (no significance, P > 0.05), while the other monkey, with widely spread necrosis of lateral parietal cortex, showed an. obvious decline in performance, but still over the chance level. After 240 trials this monkey reattained the normal criterion. The results of this research suggest that the lesions of area 7 of the parietal cortex did not significantly affect the short-term visual spatial memory, which has been shown to be sensitive to lesions of the prefrontal cortex; they also support the notion of dissociation of spatial functions in the prefrontal and parietal cortices.

Changes of tissue endothelin-1 and nitric oxide synthase in a sheep model of large intestinal obstruction

Large intestinal obstruction (LIO) in farm animals can cause a ischaemic necrosis of intestinal tissue, eventually leading to death. The roles of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) are not well understood in the process of LIO, but evidence suggests that endothelial-derived mediators may participate. In the present study, ET-1 concentration and total nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity were measured in heart, liver, pancreas, lung and kidney in a model of LIO in sheep. Our data demonstrated that ET-1 concentration and NOS activity were altered, with significant increases of ET-1 in heart, lung and kidney and of NOS activity in pancreas and kidney, but a marked decline of NOS activity in liver (p<0.05). It is postulated that these alterations in NOS activity and ET-1 concentration may contribute to the progressive loss of organ function, and finally lead to death in LIO in sheep.

用酶联免疫吸附试验快速检测虹鳟的传染性胰脏坏死病病毒

<正> 我国于1987年从进口的虹鳟中分离了传染性胰脏坏死病病毒(Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus简称IPNV),并进行了血清学鉴定。由于病鱼没有特有的临床症状,所以迅速查找鱼体内特异性的病毒是十分必要的。本文报道了用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)鉴定细胞培养中分离出的IPN病毒及从鱼组织中直接检测IPN

虹鳟传染性胰脏坏死病病毒(IPNV)的初步研究

山西省虹鳟试验场用从日本引进的鱼卵孵化的虹鳟稚鱼暴发流行病,死亡率高达90％以上。经组织培养分离到病毒,能在鲑鳟细胞系中产生细胞病变,形成直径0.5—1mm的空斑。感染健康虹鳟稚鱼能复制出与天然发病相同的症状和死亡率。病毒对氯仿不敏感,耐酸、耐热。病毒负染后电镜观察为直径55—65mm的二十面体颗粒,无囊膜,具单层衣壳。经血清学鉴定为传染性胰脏坏死病病毒(Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus简称IPNV)在血清学交叉中和反应中与抗IPN-Sp株的抗血清有强烈的交叉反应,