AiC1qDC-1, a novel gC1q-domain-containing protein from bay scallop Argopecten irradians with fungi agglutinating activity

The globular C1q-domain-containing (C1qDC) proteins are a family of versatile pattern recognition receptors via their globular C1q (gC1q) domain to bind various ligands including several PAMPs on pathogens. In this study, a new gC1q-domain-containing protein (AiC1qDC-1) gene was cloned from Argopecten irradians by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approaches and expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis. The full-length cDNA of AiC1qDC-1 was composed of 733 bp, encoding a signal peptide of 19 residues and a typical gC1q domain of 137 residues containing all eight invariant amino acids in human C1qDC proteins and seven aromatic residues essential for effective packing of the hydrophobic core of AiC1qDC-1. The gC1q domain of AiC1qDC-1, which possessed the typical 10-stranded beta-sandwich fold with a jelly-roll topology common to all C1q family members, showed high homology not only to those of Cl qDC proteins in mollusk but also to those of C1qDC proteins in human. The AiC1qDC-1 transcripts were mainly detected in the tissue of hepatopancreas and also marginally detectable in adductor, heart, mantle, gill and hemocytes by fluorescent quantitative real-time PCR. In the microbial challenge experiment, there was a significant up-regulation in the relative expression level of AiC1qDC-1 in hepatopancreas and hemocytes of the scallops challenged by fungi Pichia pastoris GS115, Gram-positive bacteria Micrococcus luteus and Gram-negative bacteria Listonella anguillarum. The recombinant AiC1qDC-1 (rAiC1qDC-1) protein displayed no obvious agglutination against M. luteus and L. anguillarum, but it aggregated P. pastoris remarkably. This agglutination could be inhibited by D-mannose and PGN but not by LPS, glucan or D-galactose. These results indicated that AiC1qDC-1 functioned as a pattern recognition receptor in the immune defense of scallops against pathogens and provided clues for illuminating the evolution of the complement classical pathway. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular characterization and subcellular localization of Carassius auratus interferon regulatory factor-1

Interferon (IFN)-regulatory transcription factor-1 (IRF-1) has been studied in mammals and fish but little is known about the relationship between its gene structure and nuclear 'ion of IRF-1 protein. In this study, a cDNA encoding Carassius auratus IRF-1 (CaIRF-1) was isolated from an interferon-producing cell line, C. ouratus blastulae embryonic (CAB) cells, exposed to UV-inactivated grass carp hemorrhagic virus (GCHV). The CaIRF-1 genomic locus exhibits exon-intron arrangements similar to those of other vertebrate IRF-1 loci, with nine exons and eight introns, although together with pufferfish IRF-1, CaIRF-1 distinguishes itself from other vertebrate IRF-1 genes by a relatively compact genomic size. Similar to the known IRF-1 genes, CaIRF-1 is ubiquitously expressed, and is upregulated in vitro and in vivo in response to virus, Poty I:C, or CAB INF-containing supernatant (ICS). Subcellular localization analysis confirms the nuclear distribution of CaIRF-1 protein, and reveals two nuclear localization signals (NILS), any one of which is sufficient for nuclear translocation of CaIRF-1. One NLS Locates to amino acids 117-146, and appears to be the structural and functional equivalent of the NLS in mammalian IRF-1. The second NLS (amino acids 73-115) is found within the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of CaIRF-1, and contains two regions rich in basic amino acids (''(KDKSINK101)-K-95" and ''(75)KTWKANFR(82)"). In comparison with mammalian IRF-1, in which the corresponding amino acid stretch does not seem to drive nuclear translocation, five conserved basic amino acids (K-75, K-78, R-82, K-95, and K-101) and one non-conserved basic amino acid (K-97) are present in this NLS from CaIRF-1. This observation suggests that K97 Of CaIRF-1 might be essential for the function of its second NLS, wherein the six basic aminoacids might cooperate to drive CaIRF-1 to the nucleus. Therefore, the current study has revealed a new nuclear localization motif in the DBD of a vertebrate IRF-1. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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.

Effect of replacement of dietary fish meal by meat and bone meal and poultry by-product meal on growth and feed utilization of gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio

Triplicate groups of gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio (initial body weight: 5.25 +/- 0.02 g) were fed for 8 weeks at 20-25 degreesC on five isonitrogenous (crude protein: 400 g kg(-1)) and isoenergetic diets (gross energy: 17 kJ g(-1)). Meat and bone meal (MBM) or poultry by-product meal (PBM) were used to replace fish meal at different levels of protein. The control diet contained fish meal as the sole protein source. In the other four diets, 150 or 500 g kg(-1) of fish meal protein was substituted by MBM (MBM15, MBM50) or PBM (PBM15, PBM50). The results showed that feeding rate for the MBM50 group was significantly higher than for other groups except the PBM50 group (P < 0.05). Growth rate in the MBM15 group was significantly higher than that in the control (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in growth between the control and other groups (P > 0.05). Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio in MBM50 was significantly lower while that in MBM15 was significantly higher (P < 0.05). Replacement of fish meal by MBM at 500 g kg(-1) protein significantly decreased apparent dry matter digestibility (ADC(D)) and gross energy (ADC(E)) while apparent protein digestibility (ADC(P)) was significantly decreased by the replacement of MBM or PBM (P < 0.05). The results suggest that MBM and PBM could replace up to 500 g kg(-1) of fish meal protein in diets for gibel carp without negative effects on growth while 150 g kg(-1) replacement by MBM protein improved feed utilization.

电化学电容分析法研究

生物分子识别及其之间的相互作用是各种生命运动现象的基础，任何分子层次上的生命科学方面的研究归根到底都是生物分子之间或是生物分子和其他有机、无机分子作用的研究。生物体组织的功能化也正是来源于生物分子活性位点的相互识别。例如，蛋白分子的三维结构组装作用，DNA分子之间及DNA和RNA之间的识别作用构成了生命体的遗传信息，酶对底物的专一催化作用，抗原-抗体的特异结合也是建立在对底物分子的结构识别基础上。因而对生物分子识别及相互作用的研究，可以帮助理解生物分子结构和功能及各种生命运动现象的本质。对生物分子识别进行实时，原位的跟踪监测而无需附加其他的标记分子和修饰等手段，一直是分析化学家研究的重点。本研究论文正是基于此研究思想来构造新型电化学分子识别传感器，并对免疫分子识别，金属离子的检测，磷脂仿生膜的离子诱导效应，自组装膜表面酸碱性及溶胶-凝胶内生物分子性质等方面进行了研究。1.利用电化学电容检测技术和实验装置原理，在金属铝片上通过阳极氧化的方法制备了电容测定所需的绝缘层，并以此层作为电化学测定的对电极，对电容测定起到了关键性的稳定作用，同时避免了在工作电极上烦琐的组装，提高了测定的敏感度。利用金属氧化膜为绝缘层，对protein A和小鼠免疫蛋白G的作用，鼠IgG和羊抗鼠IgG在溶液中的相互作用进行了实时的电容信号测定。表明电化学电容方法和测量装置的可行性。2.将功能化的烷基链自组装于电极表面，对其表面的酸碱平衡进行研究，电容分析方法是方便且直接的测量手段。通过对巯基丙酸的自组装电极的表面酸碱滴定及表面P_(ka)值的测定。讨论了界面电容变化的机理和影响因素。研究结果和应用其他方法测定值相一致。3.将磷脂分子和长链烷基硫醇通过疏水作用组装于金电极表面，在钙离子诱导作用下对该体系进行了电化学电容的测量。通过对电容信号的分析，推测钙离子和磷脂分子作用机理。4.将Sol-Gel技术应用于电容测定的绝缘层和生物分子固定化。通过控制硅醇聚合的酸度和时间，形成极小孔洞的致密的网状结构。利用功能化的硅醇，通过自组装技术将上述聚合产物固定于金电极表面，同时将生物分子聚合固定于溶胶表面或包埋于其网格内。对其电容信号的测定结果表明，该体系是良好的电容分析方法的研究基底。以钾离子传感器为例，研究了本体系的实际应用。将谷胱甘肽固定于溶胶表面，对溶液中的钾离子的电容响应进行测量，表明在较高浓度区有很好的线性。

Induction of cytogenetic adaptive response in spermatogonia and spermatocytes by pre-exposure of mouse testis to low-dose C-12(6+) ions

To investigate the effects of pre-exposure of mouse testis to low-dose C-12(6+) ions on cytogenetics of spermatogonia and spermatocytes induced by subsequent high-dose irradiation. the testes of outbred Kun-Ming strain mice were irradiated with 0.05 Gy of C-12(6+) ions as the pre-exposure dose, and then irradiated with 2 Gy as challenging dose at 4 h after per-exposure. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARPs) activity and PARP-1 protein expression were respectively measured by using the enzymatic and Western blot assays at 4 h after irradiation; chromosomal aberrations in spermatogonia and spermatocytes were analyzed by the air-drying method at 8 h after irradiation. The results showed that there was a significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations and significant reductions of PARP activity and PARP-1 expression level in the mouse testes irradiated with 2 Gy of C-12(6+) ions. However, pre-exposure of mouse testes to a low dose of C-12(6+) ions significantly increased PARPs activity and PARP-1 expression and alleviated the harmful effects induced by a subsequent high-dose irradiation. PARP activity inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB) treatment blocked the effects of PARP-1 on cytogenetic adaptive response induced by low-dose C-12(6+) ion irradiation. The data suggest that pre-exposure of testes to a low dose of heavy ions can induce cytogenetic adaptive response to subsequent high-dose irradiation. The increase of PARP-1 protein induced by the low-dose ionizing irradiation may be involved in the mechanism of these observations. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

一种催化甲状腺素脱碘的抗体酶

目的　模拟生物体内一族重要的含硒酶 甲状腺素脱碘酶 ,制备催化甲状腺素脱碘的含硒抗体酶。方法用杂交瘤技术制备出抗甲状腺素的单克隆抗体 4C5 ,再用化学修饰法将催化基团硒代半胱氨酸引入到抗体的抗原结合部位 ,得到含硒抗体酶Se 4C5 ;通过RIA方法测定抗体酶活力。结果　抗体酶Se 4C5有明显的催化甲状腺素脱碘活性 ,其Vmax为 2 70pmol·min- 1 ·mg- 1 (protein) ;催化反应速率与底物浓度的双倒数图为一组平行线 ;对底物甲状腺素的特异性高于天然酶 ;6 丙基 2 硫代尿嘧啶对其活力起抑制作用 ,是二硫苏糖醇 (DTT)的竞争性抑制剂。结论　首次制备出有天然脱碘酶活性的抗体酶 ,催化机制属于双底物乒乓反应机制

GUS基因在优化海带表达系统中的应用

本文研究了如何应用GUS基因优化海带表达系统。首先研究了GUS在各种海带材料中的本底值，而后以GUS基因作为报告基因比较了几种基因工程常用启动子在海带中启动瞬间表达的效率。选择表达效率较高的真核藻类启动子与GUS基因融合，在海带中获得了稳定表达的结果。分别用组织化学染色法和荧光分析法对海带雌配子体、雄配子体、孤雌生殖海带幼孢子体和二倍体海带孢子体等四种不同的材料的GUS本底进行了检测到GUS本底。荧光分析法所得数据显示，这四种材料的GUS活性分别为3.4±0.3、5.2±0.8、14.4±1.8、12.5±1.4 (pmol MU mg~(-1) protein min~(-1))，与高等植物类似，说明GUS基因可作为报造基因用于海带基因工程研究。选用真核藻启动子FCP启动子、高等植物基因工程中常用的高效Ubi启动子和CaMV35S启动子，与GUS基因融合构建四种质粒，通过基因松的方法转化孤雌生殖海带幼孢子体，比较GUS基因在海带中的瞬间表达量。实验结果表明，与CaMV35S和FCP融合的GUS基因在海带中表达效率较高。采用基因松的方法用FCP启动子－GUS基因转化海带雌配子体，通过诱导孤雌生殖获得孤雌生殖海带幼孢子体，用组织染色法检测到了GUS活性，并从海带的总DNA扩增到了FCP启动子－GUS基因的特征条带，从而提示了FCP启动子能引导外源基因在海带中稳定表达。为了找寻高效筛选元件进行孤雌生殖海带对草丁膦的敏感性实验，用统计学的方法得出了草丁膦对不同长度孤雌海带的半致死剂量。研究发现海带全长0.5-1.6cm范围内，草丁膦的LD_(50)与海带长度不相关，同时发现浓度在2-5μg/ml狭小范围内的草丁膦对孤雌海带比高浓度具有更为明显的毒性反应。本文结果提示草丁膦抗性基因－bar基因有可能成为海带基因工程更为理想的选择标记，因为海带对草丁膦比对氯霉素和潮霉素更敏感，而后两者是目前采用的筛选压力。本文结果为海带表达系统的优化，提供了有效的报告基因、启动子和选择标记元件。

A novel heme-containing protein with anti-HIV-1 activity from skin secretions of Bufo andrewsi

A novel protein, named BAS-AH, was purified and characterized from the skin of the toad Bufo andrewsi. BAS-AH is a single chain protein and the apparent molecular weight is about 63 kDa as judged by SDS-PAGE. BAS-AH was determined to bind heme (0.89 mol heme/mol protein) as determined by pyridine haemochrome analysis. Fifty percentage cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of BAS-AH on C8166 cells was 9.5 mu M. However, at concentrations that showed little effect oil cell viability, BAS-AH displayed dose dependent inhibition oil HIV-1 infection and replication. The antiviral selectivity indexes corresponding to the measurements of syncytium formation and HIV-1 p24 (CC50/EC50) were 14.4 and 11.4, respectively, corresponding to the . BAS-AH also showed an inhibitory effect on the activity of recombinant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (IC50 = 1.32 mu M). The N-terminal sequence of BAS-AH was determined to be NAKXKADVIGKISILLGQDNLSNIVAM, which exhibited little identity with other known anti-HIV-1 proteins. BAS-AH is devoid of antibacterial, protcolytic, trypsin inhibitory activity, (L)-amino acid oxidase activity and catalase activity. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anti-HIV-1 activity of trichobitacin, a novel ribosome-inactivating protein

AIM: To determine whether trichobitacin, a novel ribosome-inactivating protein purified from the root tubers of Trichosanthes kirilowii, possesses the anti-HIV activity. METHODS: The inhibition of syncytial cell formation induced by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1),was determined under microscope, reduction of HIV-1 p24 antigen expression level was measured by ELISA, and decrease in numbers of HIV-1 antigen positive cells in acutely and-chronically infected cultures were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: Trichobitacin Was-found to greatly suppress syncytial cell formation induced by HIV-1 and to markedly reduce both expression of HIV-1 p24 antigen and the number of HIV antigen positive cells in acutely but not chronically HIV-1 infected culture. The median inhibitory concentration (IC50) in inhibition of syncytial cell formation and HIV antigen positive cells were 5 mu g.L-1 (95 % confidence limits: 1.3 - 20 mu g.L-1) and 0.09 mg.L-1 (95 % confidence limits: 0.011 - 0.755 mg.L-1), respectively. CONCLUSION: Trichobitacin is a novel ribosome-inactivating protein with anti-HIV-l activity.

Preparation and characterization of three monoclonal antibodies against HIV-1 p24 capsid protein

HIV4 p24 detection provides a means to aid the early diagnosis of HIV-1 infection, track the progression of disease and assess the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy. In the present study, three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) p3JB9, p5F1 and p6F4 against HI

Effects of ammonium on growth, nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism of Potamogeton maackianus A. Benn

Growth, nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism in relation to eutrophication were studied for a submerged plant Potamogeton maackianus, a species common in East Asian shallow lakes. The plants were grown in six NH4+-N concentrations (0.05, 0.50, 1.00, 3.50, 5.00 and 10.00 mg/L) for six days. NH4+-N levels in excess of 0.50 mg/L inhibited the plant growth. The relationships between external NH4+-N availability and total nitrogen (TN), protein-N, free amino acid-N (FAA-N) and NH4+-N in plant tissues, respectively, conformed to a logarithmic model suggesting that a feedback inhibition mechanism may exist for ammonium uptake. The response of starch to NH4+-N was fitted with a negative, logarithmic curve. Detailed analysis revealed that the influx NH4+-N had been efficiently incorporated into organic-N and eventually stored as protein at the expense of starch accumulation. These data suggest that this species may be able to tolerate high levels of ammonium when dissolved oxygen is sufficient.

Molecular characterisation and inductive expression of a fish protein arginine methyltransferase 1 gene in response to virus infection

Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) is currently thought as an effector to regulate interferon (IFN) signalling. Here Paralichthys olivaceus PRMT1 (PoPRMT1) gene was identified as a vitally induced gene from UV-inactivated Scophthalmus maximus Rhabdovirus (SMRV)-infected flounder embryonic cells (FEC). PoPMRT1 encodes a 341-amino-acid protein that shares the conserved domains including post-I, motif I, II and III. Homology comparisons show that the putative PoPMRT1 protein is the closest to zebrafish PMRT1 and belongs to type I PRMT family (including PRMT1, PRMT2, PRMT3, PRMT4, PRMT6, PRMT8). Expression analyses revealed an extensive distribution of PoPMRT1 in all tested tissues of flounder. In vitro induction of PoPRMT1 was determined in UV-inactivated SMRV-infected FEC cells, and under the same conditions, flounder Mx wash also transcriptionally up-regulated, indicating that an IFN response might be triggered. Additionally, live SMRV infection of flounders induced an increased expression of PoPRMT1 mRNA and protein significantly in spleen, and to a lesser extent in head kidney and intestine. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed a major cyptoplasmic distribution of PoPRMT1 in normal FEC but an obvious increase occurred in nucleus in response to UV-inactivated SMRV. This is the first report on in vitro and in vivo expression of fish PRMT1 by virus infection, suggesting that PoPRMT1 might be implicated in flounder antiviral immune response. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.