Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha cDNA cloning and its mRNA and protein tissue specific expression in domestic yak (Bos grunniens) from Qinghai-Tibetan plateau

Adaptation to hypoxia is regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), a heterodimeric transcription factor consisting of an oxygen-regulated a-subunit and a constitutively expressed beta-subunit. How animals living on Qinghai-Tibetan plateau adapt to the extreme hypoxia environment is known indistinctly. In this study, the Qinghai yak which has been living at 3000-5000 m attitude for at least two millions of years was selected as the model of high hypoxia-tolerant adaptation species. The HIF-1 alpha ORFs (open reading frames) encoding for two isoforms of HIF-1 alpha have been cloned from the brain of the domestic yak. Its expression of HIF-1 alpha was analyzed at both mRNA and protein levels in various tissues. Both its HIF-1 alpha mRNA and protein are tissue specific expression. Its HIF-1 alpha protein's high expression in the brain, lung, and kidney showed us that HIF-1 alpha protein may play an important role in the adaptation to hypoxia environment. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cloning of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha cDNA from a high hypoxia tolerant mammal - plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae)

Hypoxia-inducible factor I is a transcription factor composed of HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta. It plays an important role in the signal transduction of cell response to hypoxia. Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) is a high hypoxia-tolerant and cold adaptation species livin only at 3000-5000m above sea level on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In this study, HIF-1alpha cDNA of plateau pika was cloned and its expression in various tissues was studied. The results indicated that plateau pika HIF-1alpha cDNA was highly identical to those of the human (82%), bovine (89%), mouse (82%), and Norway rat (77%). The deduced amino acid sequence (822 bp) showed 90%, 92%, 86%, and 86% identities with those of the human, bovine, house mouse, and Norway rat, respectively. Northern blot analyses detected two isoforms named pLHIF-1alpha and pSHIF-1alpha. The HIF-1alpha mRNA was highly expressed in the brain and kidney, and much less in the heart, lung, liver, muscle, and spleen, which was quite different from the expression pattern of mouse mRNA. Meanwhile, a new variant of plateau pika HIF-1alpha mRNA was identified by RT-PCR and characterized. The deduced protein, composed of 536 amino acids, lacks a part of the oxygen-dependent degradation domain (ODD), both transactivation domains (TADs), and the nuclear localization signal motif (NLS). Our results suggest that HIF-1alpha may play an important role in the pika's adaptation to hypoxia, especially in brain and kidney, and pika HIF-1alpha function pattern may be different from that of mouse HIF-1alpha. Further-more, for the high ratio of HIF-1alpha homology among the animals, the HIF-1alpha gene may be a good phylogenetic performer in recovering the true phylogenetic relationships among taxa. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Heterodimerization of integrin Mac-1 subunits studied by single-molecule imaging

Heterodimerization of integrin Mac-1 (alpha(M) beta(2)) Subunits plays important role on regulating leukocytes adhesion to extracellular matrix or endothelial cells. Here, using total internal reflection microscopy, we investigated the heterodimerization of integrin Mac-1 subunits at the single-molecule level in live cells. Individual alpha(M) subunit fused to the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) was imaged at the basal plasma membrane of live Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Through analysis of mean square displacement (MSD), diffusion coefficient, the size of restricted domain and fraction of molecules undergoing restricted diffusion, we found that as compared with the diffusion in the absence of beta(2) subunit, the diffusion of single-molecule of alpha(M)-YFP was suppressed significantly in the presence of beta(2) subunit. Thus, based on the oligomerization-induced trapping model, we suggested that in the presence of beta(2) subunit, the am subunit may form heterodimer with it. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Waterborne exposure to fluorotelomer alcohol 6:2 FTOH alters plasma sex hormone and gene transcription in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis of zebrafish

Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) have shown estrogenic activity in vitro and in vivo, but the mechanism of this activity is not known. In this study, 18-week-old zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to 0, 0.03, 0.3 and 3.0 mg/l 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctan-1-ol (6:2 ETCH) for 7 days, and the effects on plasma sex hormone levels were measured followed by use of real-time PCR to examine selected gene expression in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and liver. Exposure to 6:2 FTOH significantly increased plasma estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) levels in both males and females. Furthermore, the ratio of T/E2 was reduced in females while increased in males. In females, the increase of E2 was accompanied by up-regulated hepatic estrogenic receptor alpha (ER alpha) and vitellogenin (VTG1 and VTG3) expression. In males, the elevation of the T level is consistent with the up-regulation of cytochrome P450 c17 alpha-hydroxylase, 17, 20-lase (CYP17) and the down-regulation of cytochrome P450 aromatase A (CYP19A). The present study demonstrated that waterborne exposure to 6:2 FTOH alter plasma sex hormone levels and the ratio of T/E2, as well as the transcriptional profiles of some genes in the HPG axis and liver. The results suggested that FTOHs may disturb fish reproduction through endocrine disrupted activity. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Extended application of edge-to-edge matching model to HCP/HCP (alpha-Mg/MgZn2) system in magnesium alloys

In the present work, the edge-to-edge matching model has been introduced to predict the orientation relationships (OR) between the MgZn2 phase which has hexagonal close packed (HCP) structure and the HCP a-Mg matrix. Based on the crystal structures and lattice parameters only, the model has predicted the two most preferred ORs and they are: (1) [1 1 2 3](alpha-Mg) vertical bar vertical bar]1 1 2 3](alpha-Mg), (0 0 0 1)(alpha-Mg) 0.27 degrees from (0 0 0 1)(MgZn2), (1 0 1 1)(alpha-Mg) 26.18 degrees from (1 1 2 2)(MgZn2), (2) [1 0 1 0](alpha-Mg),vertical bar vertical bar[1 1 2 0](MgZn2), (0 0 0 1)(alpha-Mg) vertical bar vertical bar(0 0 0 1)(MgZn2), (1 0 1 1)(alpha-Mg) 3.28 degrees from ( 1 1 2 2)(MgZn2). Four experimental ORs have been reported in the alpha-Mg/MgZn2 system, and the most frequently reported one is ideally the OR (2). The other three experimental ORs are near versions of the OR (2). The habit plane of the OR (2) has been predicted and it agrees well with the experimental results.

Diversities in hepatic HIF-1, IGF-I/IGFBP-1, LDH/ICD, and their mRNA expressions induced by CoCl2 in Qinghai-Tibetan plateau mammals and sea level mice

Ochotona curzoniae and Microtus oeconomus are the native mammals living on the Qinghai-TibetanPlateau of China. The molecular mechanisms of their acclimatization to the Plateau-hypoxia remain unclear. Expressions of hepatic hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 alpha, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)/IGF binding protein (BP)-1(IGFBP-1; including genes), and key metabolic enzymatic genes [lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-A/isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD)] are compared in Qinghai-Tibetan- Plateau mammals andsea- level mice after injection of CoCl2 (20, 40, or 60 mg/ kg) and normobaric hypoxia (16.0% O-2, 10.8% O-2, and 8.0% O-2) for 6 h, tested by histochemistry, Western blot analysis, ELISA, and RT-PCR. Major results are CoCl2 markedly increased 1) HIF-1 alpha only in mice, 2) hepatic and circulatory IGF-I in M. oeconomus, 3) hepatic IGFBP-1 in mice and O. curzoniae, and 4) LDH-A but reduced ICD mRNA in mice (CoCl2 20 mg/kg) but were unchanged in the Tibetan mammals. Normobaric hypoxia markedly 1) increased HIF-1 alpha and LDH-A mRNA in mice and M. oeconomus (8.0% O-2) not in O. curzoniae, and 2) reduced ICD mRNA in mice and M. oeconomus (8.0% O-2) not in O. curzoniae. Results suggest that 1) HIF-1 alpha responsiveness to hypoxia is distinct in lowland mice and plateau mammals, reflecting a diverse tolerance of the three species to hypoxia; 2) CoCl2 induces diversities in HIF-1, IGF-I/IGFBP-1 protein or genes in mice, M. oeconomus, and O. curzoniae. In contrast, HIF-1 mediates IGFBP-1 transcription only in mice and in M. oeconomus (subjected to severe hypoxia); 3) differences in IGF-I/IGFBP-1 expressions induced by CoCl2 reflect significant diversities in hormone regulation and cell protection from damage; and 4) activation of anaerobic glycolysis and reduction of Krebs cycle represents strategies of lowland-animals vs. the stable metabolic homeostasis of plateau- acclimatized mammals.

气相爆轰波马赫反射的实验和数值研究

爆燃和爆轰是自然界中普遍存在的两种自然现象。在一定条件下爆燃完成向爆轰的转变，爆轰形成以后会出现典型的胞格结构，在爆轰波传播过程中遇到障碍物时会发生马赫反射。对这些现象的理论和实验研究在工程和科学上都有着重大的意义。在本文的实验研究中，采用爆轰激波管和烟熏膜技术对可燃气体DDT过程及爆轰波马赫反射问题进行了研究。在不同初压和楔角的情况下进行了系统的实验，得到了清晰的胞格结构图象和三波点轨迹图象。在本文的数值模拟中采用了简化的二阶段化学反应模型，整个化学反应过程被分为两个阶段：诱导反应阶段和放热反应阶段。该模型采用两个无量纲参数α和β来表示化学反应的进程。初始时刻两个参数值都为1，诱导反应开始时α的值由1逐渐减小到0，进入放热反应阶段β的值逐渐减小直到化学反应达到平衡。本文采用了全新的数值方法CE／SE对可燃气体的DDT过程和爆轰波马赫反射问题进行了数值模拟。CE／SE方法是一种在概念和方法上都和以往不同的数值方法。该方法具有构造简单、分辨率高等优点，同时格式保证了在局部和全局均满足时空意义上的守恒律。本文的研究结果表明：爆轰波遇到楔面会发生类似冲击波的正规反射和马赫反射现象。在不同楔角和初压条件下，反射前后爆轰波的胞格尺寸、形状等性质都会有明显的差别。同时三波点迹线与楔面的夹角也会有相应的变化。这些结果对于深入理解可燃气体的DDT过程和爆轰波的马赫反应射机理有重要价值。最后需要提出的是我们把全新的CE／SE方法推广到带有化学反应的流动计算中，计算结果表明这种推广是成功的。

Angular distribution and conversion of multi-keV L-shell X-ray sources produced from nanosecond laser irradiated thick-foil targets

An experimental study on the angular distribution and conversion of multi-keV X-ray sources produced from 2 ns-duration 527nm laser irradiated thick-foil targets on Shenguang II laser facility (SG-II) is reported. The angular distributions measured in front of the targets can be fitted with the function of f(theta) = alpha+ (1- alpha)cos(beta) theta (theta is the viewing angle relative to the target normal), where alpha = 0.41 +/- 0.014, beta = 0.77 +/- 0.04 for Ti K-shell X-ray Sources (similar to 4.75 keV for Ti K-shell), and alpha = 0.085 +/- 0.06, beta = 0.59 +/- 0.07 for Ag/Pd/Mo L-shell X-ray Sources (2-2.8 keV for Mo L-shell, 2.8-3.5 keV for Pd L-shell, and 3-3.8 keV for Ag L-shell). The isotropy of the angular-distribution of L-shell emission is worse than that of the K-shell emission at larger viewing angle (>70 degrees), due to its larger optical depth (stronger self-absorption) in the cold plasma side lobe Surrounding the central emission region, and in the central hot plasma region (emission region). There is no observable difference in the angular distributions of the L-shell X-ray emission among Ag, Pd, and Mo. The conversion efficiency of Ag/Pd/Mo L-shell X-ray sources is higher than that of the Ti K-shell X-ray sources, but the gain relative to the K-shell emission is not as high as that by using short pulse lasers. The conversion efficiency of the L-shell X-ray sources decrease, with increasing atomic numbers (or X-ray photon energy), similar to the behavior of the K-shell X-ray Source.

湖南尖吻蝮蛇毒出血毒素的圆二色性和化学修饰

用远紫外CD谱研究了湖南产尖吻蝮蛇毒的两个出血毒素(DaHT-1、DaHT-2)的溶液构象, 计算得DaHT-1的#alpha#螺旋、#beta#折叠、无规卷曲的含量分别为36.9%, 35.5%, 27.6%; DaHT-2的#alpha#螺旋、#beta#折叠、无规卷曲分别为23.4%, 31.3%, 45.3%。随pH的增大或减小。温度和pH对CD谱的影响相似。0.02mol/L EDTA便导致两个出血毒素呈极度的无序状态。胰蛋白酶不影响它们的出血活性。图4表4参10

硒对小麦和水稻种子萌发的生态毒理效应的比较研究

通过水培试验,比较研究了硒在不同浓度下对小麦和水稻种子萌发及幼苗生长的生态毒理效应。结果表明,硒在适量范围内(<0.5 mg.L-1)对种子萌发过程中各生理指标有促进作用,高剂量(>5 mg.L-1)时,对种子活力、α-淀粉酶及幼苗和根生长具有胁迫效应。硒对小麦种子发芽各指标抑制率大于水稻,硒对种子根伸长的抑制率远远大于发芽抑制率。对硒浓度与种子发芽各项指标抑制率相关分析,呈显著正相关。应用小麦根伸长抑制率可作为化学物质生态风险评价的一项生物标志物。

Se对小麦种子发芽与根伸长抑制的生态毒理效应

采用水培试验研究了Se对小麦发芽时的胁迫效应,并结合土培试验,研究比较了3种土壤(石灰土、红壤、黄棕壤)Se污染对小麦种子发芽率和根伸长的生态毒理效应。结果表明,Se在适量范围内(<0.5mg·L-1)对种子萌发过程中各生理指标有促进作用,高剂量(>5mg·L-1)时,对种子活力、α-淀粉酶及幼苗和根生长具有胁迫效应。对Se浓度与种子发芽各项指标抑制率相关分析,呈显著正相关。按EC25比较,根长抑制率>根干重抑制率>茎叶长抑制率>α-淀粉酶抑制率>发芽抑制率,Se污染对根生长抑制最为敏感。不同土壤对种子发

银鲫两个蛋白合成相关基因全长cDNA的克隆及其特征分析

通过构建雌核发育银鲫心跳期SMARTcDNA质粒文库并从文库中随机挑选克隆测序 ,克隆得到银鲫翻译起始因子 3亚单位 2 (GTIF3 S2 )和翻译延伸因子 1亚单位α(GEF 1α)基因全长cDNA。银鲫翻译起始因子 3亚单位 2基因cDNA全长 12 80bp ,开放阅读框位于 117— 10 91bp之间 ,编码 32 5个氨基酸。其推断的氨基酸序列存在三个WD结构域。该基因在鱼类中为首次报道。银鲫翻译延伸因子 1亚单位alpha基因cDNA全长 1784bp ,开放阅读框位于82— 14 6 7

U19/Eaf2 Binds to and Stabilizes von Hippel-Lindau Protein

Studies have firmly established a key regulatory role for the tumor suppressor pVHL in the regulation of the vascular system and normal spermatogenesis. Here, we report that knockout of the newly identified tumor suppressor U19/Eaf2 also caused vascular system abnormalities and aspermatogenesis, suggesting a potential link between U19/Eaf2 and pVHL. Coimmunoprecipitation and in vitro binding assays showed an association between U19/Eaf2 and pVHL, whereas deletion mutagenesis revealed the requirement of the NH2 terminus of U19/Eaf2 and both the alpha and beta domains of pVHL for this binding. U19/Eaf2 stabilizes pVHL, as shown by protein stability and pulse-chase studies. Testes and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) derived from U19/Eaf2 knockout mice expressed reduced levels of pVHL, indicating that full in vivo expression of pVHL indeed requires U19/Eaf2. As expected, U19/Eaf2 knockout MEF cells exhibited an increased level and activity of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1 alpha), a protein typically regulated via a pVHL-mediated degradation pathway. Furthermore, angiogenesis in a Matrigel plug assay was significantly increased in U19/Eaf2 knockout mice. The above observations argue that U19/Eaf2 can modulate HIF1 alpha and angiogenesis, possibly via direct binding and stabilization of pVHL. [Cancer Res 2009;69(6):2599-606]

Studies on the non-covalent complexes between oleanolic acid and cyclodextrins using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Non-covalent inclusion complexes formed between an anti-inflammatory drug, oleanolic acid (OA), and alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins (CDs) were investigated by means of solubility studies and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn). The order of calculated association constants (K-1:1) of complexes between OA and different CDs in solution is in good agreement with the order of their relative peak intensities and the relative CID energies of the complexes under the same ESI-MSn conditions. These results indicate a direct correlation between the behaviors of solution- and gas-phase complexes. ESI-MS can thus be used to evaluate solution-phase non-covalent complexes successfully. The experimental results show that the most stable 1:1 inclusion complexes between three CDs and OA can be formed, but 2:1 CD-OA complexes can be formed with beta- and gamma-CDs. Multi-component complexes of alpha-CD-OA-beta-CD (1:1:1), alpha-CD-OA-gamma-CD (1:1:1) and beta-CD-OA-gamma-CD (1:1:1) were found in equimolar CD mixtures with excess OA. The formation of 2:1 and multi-component 1:1:1 non-covalent CD-OA complexes indicates that beta- and gamma-CD are able to form sandwich-type inclusion non-covalent complexes with OA. The above results can be partly supported by the relative sizes of OA and CD cavities by molecular modeling calculations.

Inhibitory effects and mechanisms of high molecular-weight phlorotannins from Sargassum thunbergii on ADP-induced platelet aggregation

We evaluated the effects of high molecular-weight phlorotannins from Sargassum thunbergii (STP) on ADP-induced platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in New Zealand white rabbits and Wistar rats. The inhibition of STP on platelet aggregation was investigated using a turbidimetric method, and the levels of the terminal products of AA metabolism were measured using the corresponding kits for maleic dialdehyde (MDA), thromboxane B-2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F-1 alpha (6-keto-PGF(1 alpha)) by colorimetry and radioimmunoassay, as appropriate. We found that STP could inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation, and the inhibitory ratio was 91.50% at the STP concentration of 4.0 mg/mL. Furthermore, STP markedly affected AA metabolism by decreasing the synthesis of MDA (P < 0.01) and increasing the synthesis of 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha), thus changing the plasma TXB2/6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) balance when the platelets were activated (P < 0.01). Therefore, STP altered AA metabolism and these findings