Identification of differentially expressed immune-relevant genes in Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Trionyx sinensis) infected with Aeromonas hydrophila

Expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis is an efficient tool for gene discovery and profiling gene expression. Aeromonas hydrophila, a ubiquitous waterborne bacterium, is one of the most frequent pathogens isolated from diseased aquatic organisms. In order to understand the molecular mechanism of anti-bacteria immune response in reptile, we have investigated the differentially expressed genes in Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Trionyx sinensis) experimentally infected with A. hydrophila by suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). Forty-two genes were identified from more than 200 clones, of which 25 genes are found for the first time in reptiles, and classified into 6 categories: 18 in defense/immunity. 4 in catalysis, 2 in retrotransposon; 2 in cell signal transduction, 5 in cell metabolism, 10 in protein expression, and 1 in cell structure. Of the 42 differentially expressed genes, 6 genes, IL-8, serum amyloid A (SAA), CD9, CD59, activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and cathepsin L genes, were further observed to be up-regulated in the infected turtles by virtual Northern hybridization and RT-PCR assays. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cell surface display of functionally active lipases from Yarrowia lipolytica in Pichia pastoris

The lipase genes of Yarrowia lipolytica, LIPY7 and LIPY8, fused with FLO-flocculation domain sequence from Saccharomyces cerevisiae at their N-termini, were expressed in Pichia pastoris KM71. Following the induction with methanol, the recombinant proteins were displayed on the cell surface of P. pastoris, as confirmed by the confocal laser scanning microscopy. The LipY7p and LipY8p were anchored on P. pastoris via the flocculation functional domain of Flo 1 p. The surface-displayed lipases were characterized for their application as the whole-cell biocatalyst. These lipases can also be cleaved off from their anchor by enterokinase treatment to yield functionally active proteins in the supernatant offering an alternative purification method for LipY7p and LipY8p. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Regulation by hetC of genes required for heterocyst differentiation and cell division in Anabaena sp strain PCC 7120

Unlike those of the wild-type strain, proheterocysts of the Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 hetC strain keep dividing. ftsZ, the most critical cell division gene, is up-regulated in hetC proheterocysts. Heterocyst differentiation genes hglD, hglE, patB, nijB, and xisA are no longer expressed in the hetC mutant. hetC also regulates the expression of patA, a pattern formation gene.

Cloning of biologically active genomes from a Helicoverpa armigera single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus isolate by using a bacterial artificial chromosome

Purification of genotypes from baculovirus isolates provides understanding of the diversity of baculoviruses and may lead to the development of better pesticides. Here, we report the cloning of different genotypes from an isolate of Helicoverpa armigera single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaSNPV) by using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC). A transfer vector (pHZB10) was constructed which contained an Escherichia coli mini-F replicon cassette within the upstream and downstream arms of HaSNPV polyhedrin gene. Hz2e5 cells were co-transfected with wild-type HaSNPV DNA and pHZB10 to generate recombinant viruses by homologous recombination. The DNA of budded viruses (BVs) was used to transform E. coli. One of the bacmid colonies, HaBacHZ8, has restriction enzyme digestion profiles similar to an in vivo cloned strain HaSNPV-G4, the genome of which has been completely sequenced. For testing the oral infectivity, the polyhedrin gene of HaSNPV was reintroduced into HaBacHZ8 to generate the recombinant bacmid HaBacDF6. The results of one-step growth curves, electron microscopic examination, protein expression analysis and bioassays indicated that HaBacDF6 replicated as well as HaSNPV-G4 in vitro and in vivo. The biologically functional HaSNPV bacmids obtained in this research will facilitate future studies on the function genomics and genetic modification of HaSNPV. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

中国沙棘(Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. sinensis)不同种群对干旱胁迫的响应差异与干旱诱导蛋白的分析

沙棘广泛分布于亚欧大陆的温带地区和亚洲亚热带的高海拔地区。沙棘能适应多种生态环境，能耐受多种逆境(如干旱、低温、高温和盐害等)。在中国，沙棘常常被用作植被恢复中的先锋树种而大量栽培。本文以中国沙棘为试验材料，探索沙棘适应干旱机制，以及沙棘对干旱胁迫的适应机制是否存在种群间的差异，同时试图通过分析干旱胁迫下沙棘叶片蛋白质表达变化探索沙棘适应干旱胁迫的分子机理。 对三个分别来自低海拔湿润地区、低海拔干旱地区和高海拔湿润地区的中国沙棘种群进行干旱胁迫处理。干旱胁迫能提高根冠比，比叶面积，降低平均叶面积和总生物量，提高沙棘的抗氧化性酶活性、脯氨酸含量、脱落酸(ABA)含量、降低光合作用，提高长期用水效率。实验中的这两个低海拔种群比高海拔种群抵抗干旱的能力更强,不同的种群采用了不同的策略来耐受干旱胁迫和过氧化胁迫。 在2004 年度的实验中，干旱胁迫处理下，高海拔湿润种群(道孚种群)严重失水，生长也受到更大的抑制，非气孔因素在抑制光合作用方面占支配地位，抗坏血酸含量下降，ABA和脯氨酸含量增加幅度比九寨沟种群的要高，这可能是因为道孚种群严重失水而引起的；而低海拔湿润种群(九寨沟种群)的体内水分状况几乎不受干旱的影响，生长情况也较道孚种群要好。 在2005 年度的试验中，和高海拔湿润地区种群(道孚)相比较，低海拔干旱地区种群(定西)在叶片相对水含量、根冠比、抗氧化酶活性(过氧化氢酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶)、保护性物质(脯氨酸，脱落酸)含量等方面都要高，光能热耗散能力也更强，而且气体交换参数(气孔扩散阻力和胞间CO2浓度等)对干旱也更不敏感。 分析了干旱胁迫下沙棘叶片蛋白质表达的变化。共发现319 个蛋白质，有4 个蛋白在干旱胁迫下消失(Putative ABCtransporter ATP-binding protein 、Hypothetical proteinXP-515578，热激蛋白Hslu219 和一个没得到鉴定的蛋白)，4 个只在干旱胁迫下出现(没命名的蛋白质产物，对甲基苯-丙酮酸双加氧酶，NTrX 和一个没得到鉴定的蛋白)，46 个蛋白质的表达丰度变化显著，包括32 个干旱负调蛋白，14 个干旱正调蛋白(3 个Rubisco 的大亚基、J-type–co-chaperone Hsc20、putative protein DSM3645-2335、putative acyl-COA 脱氢酶、nesprin-2 和两个没有得到鉴定的蛋白质)。这些蛋白质参与了氮代谢调控、抗氧化行物质的合成、脂肪酸β－氧化、核骨架构造、[Fe-S]基团组装、物质跨膜运输、细胞分裂或作为分子伴侣和蛋白质酶起作用。putative ABC transporter ATP-binging protein、NtrX、nesprin-2 和Hslu 是本试验新发现的高等植物蛋白，我们主要从它们的保守结构域或在其他生物中的同源物来猜测它们的功能。实验结果为我们研究植物抗干旱机制提供了新线索和新视野。 Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is widly distributed throughtout the temperatureresiogn of Europe and Asia and sub-tropical plateau zone of Asia. H. rhamnoides can adapatseveral different environments, and can tolerant several envioronmental stresses (e.g, lowtemperature, high temperature, drought and salty). It has been widely used in forest restoration asthe pioneer species in China. In present study, we applied H.rhamnoides subsp. Sinensis asexperimental materials to study its drought-tolerant mechanism, and expected to findpopulational difference in drought-tolerant mechanism that may exist among populations, and tryto get some insight in drought-tolerant mechanism of it at morecular level through analyzing thechange of leaf protein expression. Three populations from high altitude wet zone, low altitude wet zone and low altitude arid znoe,respectively, were applied in our experiment, and were subjected to drought. Drought increasedthe root/shoot ratio(RS), special leaf area, long-term water use efficinency, activity of antioxidantenzymes, proline content and abscisic acid (ABA) content, declined the net photosynthesis rate(A), average leaf area (ALA), total biomass (TB). Both two low altitude populations were moredrought-tolerant than the high altitude population, and different population applied differentstratedgies to tolerant oxidant stress and drought stress. The results of the exprement in 2004 showed that Daofu population was more drought-sensitivethan Jiuzhai population. Under drought conditions, leaf relative water content (RWC) greatlydecreased in Daofu population, but not in Jiuzhai population. The large loss of water in Daofupopulation resulted in a limitation on A mainly caused by non-stomatal factors, severer suppression in growth rate and a significant reduction in ascorbic acid (AsA) content, comparedwith Jiuzhai population. The greater increase in content of ABA and proline in Daofu populationmay be also induced by large loss in water, so that enable plants to cope with sever drought. In the exprement of 2005, drought significantly increased RS, activities of catalase (CAT),peroxidase (POD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and alsosignificantly increased ABA and proline contents. On the other hand, compared with Daofupopulation, drought induced larger RS and activities of CAT, GPX and APX, and higher ABAcontent in Dingxi population, whereas gas exchange traits, e.g., stomatal limitation value (LS) andintercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), were less responsive to drought in Dingxi population thanthose in Daofu population. All these factors enable Dingxi population to tolerant drought betterthan Daofu population. The leaf protein profile of seabuchthorn subjected to drought was analyzed. Altogether 319proteins were detected in well-watered sample, four proteins disappeard by drought (putativeABCtransporter ATP-binding protein, hypothetical protein XP-515578, Hslu219and aunidentified protein), four only appeared under drought (a probable nitrogen regulation protein(NtrX), a 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase , an unnamed protein product and an identified protein), 32 drought down-regulated proteins, and 14 drought up-regulated proteins (nine wereidentified: three large subunits of Rubisco, a hypothetical protein DSM3645-23351, a putativeacyl-COA dehydrogenase, a nesprin-2, a J-type-co-chaperone HSC20 and two unmatchedproteins). These proteins may involve in β-oxidation, cross-membrane transport, cell division,cytoskeleton stabilization, iron-sulfur cluster assembly, nitrogen metabolism regulation andantioxidant substance biosynthesis or function as molecular chaperone or protease. Four proteins(a putative ABC transporter ATP-binging protein, NtrX, nesprin-2, Hslu) were new found in highplants, and their functions were estimated from their conserved domain or their homologues inother organism. Our results provided new clue and new insight for us to study thedrought-tolerant mechanism in plants.

人载脂蛋白APOA5的克隆表达纯化及相互作用蛋白研究

人类的载脂蛋白A5（apolipoprotein A5，APOA5）是一个新近发现的载脂蛋白家族成员。它在血浆中的含量比其他载脂蛋白低1-2个数量级，但能显著影响血浆三酰甘油水平，对血脂代谢具有重要意义，可以作为降血脂药物治疗中一个强有力的潜在靶标。 由于APOA5在血浆中含量低，直接从血浆中分离纯化很困难，国内一直没有报道简易可靠的纯化方法。为进一步研究APOA5的生物学特性，探讨其与TG代谢中的其它关键成分之间的相互关系，揭示其在脂类代谢相关疾病中的重要地位，必须有大量的蛋白和抗体用于基础研究。因此本研究首先利用基因工程技术，诱导表达纯化APOA5蛋白，免疫动物制备多克隆抗体，为进一步研究人肝脏细胞中APOA5的相互作用蛋白，研究APOA5蛋白在肝脏细胞中的功能奠定基础。 为了深入研究APOA5在肝脏中如何行使功能，我们采用细菌双杂交技术寻找与APOA5相互作用的蛋白因子。并采用Pull-down技术，免疫荧光及免疫共沉淀技术进一步确证其在体外和体内的相互作用关系，为进一步阐明APOA5在体内的生理功能提供了新的线索。 第一部分 APOA5基因的克隆、原核表达、纯化及其多克隆抗体的制备 本研究首先应用基因克隆技术，从人肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721的cDNA中扩增出1.1 kb的ApoA5基因全长序列。然后将其克隆至表达载体pThioHisD，构建原核表达载体pTH-APOA5。该重组质粒转化至大肠杆菌 BL21（DE3），成功实现人APOA5融合蛋白在大肠杆菌中的表达。经发酵得到高效表达的融合蛋白。 融合蛋白在 IPGT 诱导下以包涵体的形式大量表达。利用融合蛋白上的一段组氨酸序列，用镍离子亲和柱进行纯化和复性后，获得较高纯度的人APOA5融合蛋白。利用该融合蛋白免疫新西兰大耳白兔，获得了高效价的兔抗人APOA5多克隆抗体，Western Blot结果显示此多克隆抗体与APOA5特异性结合。 第二部分 细菌双杂交筛选与APOA5相互作用的蛋白 本实验首先构建了pBT-APOA5重组质粒，经双酶切、PCR和测序鉴定证明重组诱饵质粒构建成功，并进行了表达、自激活鉴定。Western Blot鉴定证实报告菌株中表达了分子量为 68 kD左右的重组融合蛋白，与预测的分子量APOA5（41 kD）/lamda cI （27 kD）一致。自激活实验证明诱饵蛋白不能单独激活报告基因，可用于筛选人肝脏cDNA文库。经过双重抗性筛选和回复筛选，分离出10个阳性克隆。对结果进行生物信息学分析，得到7个与APOA5相互作用的蛋白，其中BI1为细胞凋亡调节因子；ATP6、CYTB、ND2、COX-1为线粒体表达蛋白； ALB、TTR为血清蛋白。 第三部分 APOA5与BI1相互作用的确证 首先构建了BI1的原核表达载体pGEX-5X-3-BI1，利用Pull-down实验检测了APOA5与BI1在体外具有相互作用。然后构建了BI1的真核表达载体pCDNA3.1-HA-BI1和APOA5的真核表达载体pCDNA3.1-APOA5，并验证其表达。通过免疫荧光细胞内共定位研究发现，靶蛋白APOA5主要分布于胞浆，与BI1在HEK293细胞有共定位，即APOA5与BI1存在相互作用的可能。最后利用免疫共沉淀手段，在HEK293细胞中确证了靶蛋白APOA5与BI1在体内的相互作用。 上述研究结果，为深入研究APOA5在体内的生物学功能提供了新的思路。 Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) is a newly discovered protein belongs to apolipoprotein family. APOA5’s concentration is 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than other apolipoproteins in the circulation. APOA5 significantly affected plasma triglyceride levels, which is important on lipid metabolism. APOA5 has strong potential to be used as a hypolipidemic drug target. Large amount of APOA5 protein and antibodies are needed in basic research, such as biological characteristics study of the APOA5, its relationship with other key components in TG metabolism, its role played in Lipid metabolism-related diseases. Due to its low concentration in plasma, separation and purification of APOA5 from the plasma is very difficult. Until now no report on simple and reliable method for purification has been published in China. In this study, we firstly got APOA5 recombinant protein using genetic engineering technology. The purified recombinant protein was used to immunize rabbits to get antiserum. It is important for further study of the APOA5 protein-interacting protein. And it lays the foundation for studing APOA5 function in liver. In order to study APOA5 function in liver, we used bacterial two-hybrid technology to find the APOA5 protein interactor. Pull-down, immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation techniques were used to further confirm the interaction between APOA5 with its interactor in vitro and in vivo. All of these stdudies provided new clues on its physiological functions in vivo. Part I: Cloning, prokaryotic expression, purification and polyclonal antibody preparation of APOA5 First of all, we amplified APOA5 CDS sequence from the human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721, and subcloned into Expression vector pThioHisD, and got the recombinants named pTH-APOA5. The plasmid was transformed to BL21 (DE3). E. coli BL21(DE3) cells bearing the pTH-APOA5 plasmid were cultured and APOA5 protein synthesis was induced by the addition of IPTG. Recombinant protein was expression in the form of inclusion. Inclusion bodies were dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline containing 8 M urea and 40 mM imidazole, then applied to a Ni2+ affinity column, and were eluted in a buffer containing 4 M urea and 200 mM imidazole. Fractions containing the APOA5 protein were pooled and dialyzed against buffer containing phosphate-buffered saline. Antiserum to recombinant human APOA5 was generated by immuning rabbit. Western Blot showed that this antiserum specific binding with APOA5. Part II Two-hybrid system screening protein interactions with the APOA5 The coding sequence of human APOA5 was amplified using synthetic oligonucleotide primers from pTH-APOA5 vector and was subcloned into the pBT plasmidc to yield pBT-APOA5 vector. DNA sequencing was performed to verify that no unwanted mutations occurred during the process of plasmid vector construction. We verified recombinant protein expression and tested self-activation by pBT-APOA5 prior to screening. Western Blot verified inducing a 68 kD band, consistent with the predicted molecular weight (APOA5 41 kD, lamda cI 27 kD). pBT-APOA5 can be used for screening human liver cDNA library because it can not self-activation. Totally 10 positive clones were isolated. The nucleotide sequence of the positive clones were determined and compared to NCBI nucleotide sequence databases. We got 7 protein which interact with APOA5, included BI1(Apoptosis regulator); ATP6, CYTB, ND2, COX-1(Mitochondrial protein) and ALB, TTR(Serum protein). Part III Confirming of interaction between APOA5 with BI1 pGEX-5X-3-BI1 vector was subcloned at first. Pull-down experiments were used to detect the interaction between APOA5 with BI1 in vitro. Later, pCDNA3.1-HA-BI1 and pCDNA3.1-APOA5 were subcloned. Through immunofluorescence co-localization study, we found APOA5 mainly distributed in the cytoplasm. APOA5 is co-localization with BI1 in HEK293 cells. Finally, we verified interaction between APOA5 with BI1 in vivo through immunoprecipitation.

自养氨氧化混合种群特性和共存机理初步研究

组特殊自养氨氧化混合种群，表现：无机环境种群生长迅速、生物量高；在一个完全无机的自养生长环境中，不仅保持高氨氧化速率，并出现丰富的异养微生物种群；该种群置于异养、厌氧环境中，迅速表现出产氢特征。对于这样一个特殊的生态体系，研究其共生机理，以及联接这些种群之间的碳源和能源问题，将具有非常重要意义。我们拟从种群特征、细胞表面分泌产物、游离体系产物多糖、蛋白和脂肪酸方面开展研究。 第一部分，自养氨氧化混合种群的基本特征。采用氨氧化培养基，进行种群氨氧化特征研究；采用扫描电镜观察自养混合种群的微观特征；沉降、离心去除微生物种群，分析水相中的总有机碳、糖类等物质；利用LB培养基进行种群的分离、纯化，并采用DGGE手段对微生物种群结构进行分析。结果表明，接入菌种后（2/5000（V/V）），培养液中氨（200mg/L）在3－5天内快速降解；亚硝酸盐与氨氮变化呈负相关趋势，仅有少量硝酸盐含量（< 30mg/L）。氨氧化种群的生物量增长与氨氧化趋势一致，初始生物量7.75 mg/L(蛋白含量)，3-5天后生物量快速增长，并达到最高63.06 mg/L（蛋白含量）。电镜图片显示，种群外包裹一层粘液。离心除去菌体后，检测培养液总有机碳和糖的含量，同样表现出与生物量增长相似的特征，分别由初始的3.73、2.35 mg/L，3－5内天迅速增加，并分别达到最大值35.19、27.45 mg/L。经初步分离、纯化并对纯化菌株进行测序，获得了10株异养微生物分别为布鲁氏菌科苍白杆菌属、纤维单孢菌、类芽孢菌属、黄杆菌属、无色杆菌、鞘脂单胞菌、嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌、噬氢菌属、硫红球菌、假单胞菌；DGGE显示，约有20分条离带，我们对其中的两条优势条带进行切割回收测序，鉴定为欧洲亚硝化单胞菌（Nitrosomonas eur）。 第二部分：混合种群自养-异养菌共生的可能机制。在对微生物种群特征初步分析基础上，针对胞外糖类组分可能被微生物代谢分解，我们重点对微生物细胞蛋白质与糖类进行分析。采用超声结合RIPA裂解液裂解，SDS-PAGE电泳分析混合种群总蛋白种类，并通过氨基酸分析仪及红外光谱法分析氨基酸组成及蛋白红外特征。采用超声破碎结合反复冻融对细胞样品进行处理，提取液采用醇沉、Sevage脱氮白，凝胶过滤方法脱盐和分级分离。对提取物的糖分析包括：紫外扫描，红外光谱，核磁共振，单糖组成分析；扫描电镜观察菌群破裂现象。SDS-PAGE分析结果表明：氨氧化种群不同生长阶段都显示出42kD蛋白表达量很高，d4时42kD蛋白表达已经很强，4-7d内一直持续这种过量表达，直到d8后表达开始减弱。说明42kD蛋白可能与氨氧化密切相关。红外光谱分析显示：细胞提取物的特征峰分布在3427.42cm-1、1718.18 cm-1和1681.72 cm-1、1160.07和1086.74 cm-1，分别对应为OH、 C=O、C－O－C基团，表明具有蛋白的典型特征；氨基酸分析显示蛋白中的Gly,Asp,Ala,Glu含量相对较高。 提取物中胞外多糖分离谱图得到不均一组分，共得到6个收集峰；紫外扫描在201－213 nm处有多糖吸收峰，同样表明多糖成分不均一性；多糖红外光谱特征峰主要分别在3400.49 cm-1、2920.28 cm-1、1154.54和1087.52 cm-1，对应OH、－CH2－ or CH 、C－O－H or C－O－C等多糖特征基团；多糖提取物核磁共振1H d4.3～5.9之间出现强吸收峰，这是1H中，多糖存在的明显证据，1H NMR中，其中O-乙酰基的甲基上的氢信号为d1.1～1.3之间。糖肟全苯甲酸酯衍生物的HPLC测定中，得到单一的单糖峰，由于时间问题，还未进行更深入的试验；电镜图片显示，种群中的细胞有大量的破裂现象。 实验表明，自养氨氧化混合种群显示出快速的氨氧化速率，氨氧化过程生物量和有机质的增加明显。微生物种群包裹粘液层，并分离纯化出大量的异养菌；去除菌体后的游离培养液中存在有机质（包括多糖）说明无机自养生长体系中存在异养菌生长、繁殖的二次碳源；细胞提取物中蛋白条带数目多、种类丰富；细胞多糖提取物具有明显的多糖特征，以及单糖的存在。结合种群的显微特征和游离体系中的有机质的检测结果，我们认为，无机自养生长体系中，种群细胞生长过程中发生的破裂现象可能是导致大量的蛋白、多糖释放到游离胞外，并成为其他异养菌生长的碳源和氮源。这可能是自养体系中，大量异养菌共生的可能机制，至于是什么原因引起种群生长过程中产生的破裂现象，还有待下一步深入研究。 A group of mixed autotrophic ammonia oxidizing populations, having much biological characteristic tested by concerned personnel for pilot test: Performed rapid population growth and obtained high biomass in inorganic environment; Not only maintained a high rate of ammoxidation, promoted a wealth of heterotrophic microbial populations growth in a totally inorganic and autotrophic growth environment; Placed in heterotrophic and anaerobic environment,had the performance characteristics that could rapidly produce hydrogen.For such a special ecological system, Study its symbiotic mechanism and the connection between these populations of carbon and energy issues, will have a very important significance. We intended from the characteristics of the population, the secretion product of cell surface, free substance in the liquid medium like polysaccharide, protein and fatty acids carrying out research. Part I: The basic features of mixed autotrophic ammonia oxidizing populations . Use inorganic liquid medium, processed study for ammonia oxidation characteristics of the population; we used scanning electron microscopy to get micro-features of autotrophic ammonia oxidizing populations .The medium was carried out settlement and centrifugal then removed the microbial populations, after all of that we analysis the water phase for total organic carbon(TOC), carbohydrate and other substances; Solid ammonia oxidizing medium was adopted to separation and purification of population, DGGE means was for structure analysis of microbial population. The results showed that after the inoculum of bacteria (2 / 5000 (V / V)), ammonia in the culture medium (200 mg / L) was rapid degradation in 3-5 days; ammonia and nitrite have the negative correlation between changes in the trend, then only a small amount of nitrate content (<30mg / L). The biomass growth of ammoxidation population in line with the trend of ammonia oxidation, the initial volume of it was 7.75 mg / L (protein content), in 3-5 days upto 63.06 mg / L (protein content). Electron microscope image showed, the populations were wrapped in a layer of mucus, including the a large number ruptted micorbe , Centrifuge to remove bacteria, then detected the medium for total organic carbon and sugar content, result took on the same characteristics with biomass growth, that were from the initial 3.73、2.35 mg / L respectively, in 3-6 days achieved rapid increase in the maximum to 35.19、27.45 mg / L respectively. After initial separation、 purification ,then processed sequencing to strains purified and got the result that there were 10 heterotrophic microorganisms : Brucella Branch pale bacillus, Cellu lomonas, Bacillus species category, a Flavobacterium, colorless Bacteria, Aeromonas sheath fat, little support maltophilia Aeromonas, macrophages species hydrogen, sulphur-MI, Pseudomonas bacteria spores; DGGE display, there were 20 separation bands approximately. Part II: Mixed populations that autotrophic - heterotrophic bacteria symbiotic mechanism. On the basis of preliminary analysis of microbial population characteristics, aiming at extracellular carbohydrate components might be decomposition by microbial, we focused on microbial cell protein and carbohydrate analysis. Using ultrasound combined with RIPA lysis cracking the cells, SDS-PAGE electrophoresis analysis the total protein species of the population, and through the amino acid analyzer studied the compositions of amino acid and infrared spectroscopy analysis of a protein infrared characteristics. Using ultrasound combined with repeatedly freezing and thawing to treated the cell sample, then took the means that alcohol precipitation, deproteinization by Sevage, gel filtration aimed at desalination and grade separation to deal with the lysates . The extraction of sugar analysis included: UV scanning, IR, NMR, single-sugar composition analysis. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that: 42 kD protein expression was very high at different growth stages of mixed autotrophic ammonia oxidizing populations , on the fourth day, 42 kD protein expression had been very strong, 4-7d, it had continued this excessive expression, then started to weaken after 7 days. 42 kD protein that might be closely associated with ammonia oxidation. Infrared spectral analysis showed that: cell extracts with the characteristic that the peak distribution in 3427.42 cm-1、1718.18 cm-1 and 1681.72 cm-1、1160.07 cm-1 and 1086.74 cm-1 corresponding to OH、C = O、C-O-C Groups which had the typical characteristics of protein; and analysis showed that amino acids including Gly, Asp, Ala, Glu ,the content in the protein is relatively high. Exopolysaccharide in the extracts had the separation map that it was uneven, received a total of six collection peaks by the detection mode of phenol-sulphruic acid method ; ultraviolet scan in the 201-213 nm department had polysaccharide absorbing peak, the same ingredients that polysaccharide heterogeneity; infrared polysaccharide spectral characteristics of the main peak at 3400.49 cm-1, 2920.28 cm-1, 1154.54 and 1087.52 cm-1, corresponding OH,-CH2-or CH, C-O-H or C-O-C;and other characteristics of polysaccharide group; 1H NMR of polysaccharide extract appeared absorption peak between d4.3 ~5.9, which is the apparent evidence of polysaccharide, In 1H NMR, the hydrogen signal of one of O-acetyl was between 1.1 to 1.3. The determination of Sugar oxime whole benzoate derivatives by HPLC, there was a single-sugar peak, as a matter of time, yet more in-depth test. Summary: Mixed autotrophic ammonia oxidizing populations show us that it had the ability in ammonia oxidizing and it was great, organic matter and biomass increased significantly in the process of ammonia oxidation. Microbial populations was wrapped up slime layer, the phenomenon of cell breakdown obviously, and there were a lot of separation and purification of the heterotrophic bacteria; a lot of organic matter (including polysaccharides)remined in the medium that removal of cell indicated the inorganic system existed secondary carbon sources that could be used by the heterotrophic bacteria ; there were a large number proteins bands of cell extract, rich variety; cell extracts of polysaccharide had obvious characteristics of polysaccharide, and the existence evidence of single-sugar. Combined population of microscopic characteristics and free of organic matter in the test results, we believe that the health of inorganic system, population growth occurred in the course of the breakdown of the phenomenon is likely to lead to a lot of protein and polysaccharide released into the extracellular free, And other heterotrophic bacteria use them to the growth as carbon and nitrogen. This may be autotrophic system, the large number of heterotrophic bacteria symbiotic mechanism.

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.

Expressed sequence tags from the zhikong scallop (Chlamys farreri): Discovery and annotation of host-defense genes

A high-quality cDNA library was constructed from whole body tissues of the zhikong scallop, Chlamys farreri, challenged by Listonella anguillarum. A total of 5720 clones were sequenced, yielding 5123 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Among the 3326 unique genes identified, 2289 (69%) genes had no significant (E-value < 1e-5) matches to known sequences in public databases and 194 (6%) matched proteins of unknown functions. The remaining 843 (25%) genes that exhibited homology with genes of known functions, showed broad involvement in metabolic processes (31%), cell structure and motility (20%), gene and protein expression (12%), cell signaling and cell communication (8%), cell division (4%), and notably, 25% of those genes were related to immune function. They included stress response genes, complement-like genes, proteinase and proteinase inhibitors, immune recognition receptors and immune effectors. The EST collection obtained in this study provides a useful resource for gene discovery and especially for the identification of host-defense genes and systems in scallops and other molluscs. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Method for large-scale isolation and purification of R-phycoerythrin from red alga Polysiphonia urceolata Grev

R-phycoerythrin was isolated and purified from a red alga, Polysiphonia urceolata Grev, using Streamline column combined with ion-exchange chromatography or hydroxyapatite chromatography. The purity of R-phycoerythrin isolated by Streamline column was up to 1.66 and the yield of R-phycoerythrin could be as high as 0.68 mg/g frozen P. urceolata. All the eluates from Streamline column were divided into two equivalent parts, respectively. One part was pumped into the ion-exchange column loaded with Q-Sepharose and the other was applied to the adsorption column loaded with hydroxyapatite. The purities of R-phycoerythrin purified using these two methods were both up to 3.26, more than 3.2 the commonly accepted criterion. The yield of purified R-phycoerythrin from the ion-exchange chromatography was 0.40 mg/g frozen P. urceolata and that from the hydroxyapatite chromatography could reach 0.34 mg/g frozen P. urceolata. The purified protein had three absorption peaks at 498, 535, and 565 nm and displayed a fluorescence maximum at 580 nm, which was consistent with the typical spectrum of R-phycoerythrin. The purified R-PE was also identified with electrophoresis. Only one single protein band appeared on native-PAGE with silver staining. SDS-PAGE demonstrated the presence of one 20 kDa major subunit, and one low intensity band corresponding to 33 kDa subunit. The results indicate that using the expanded bed adsorption combined with ion-exchange chromatography or hydroxyapatite chromatography, R-phycoerythrin can be purified from frozen P. urceolata on large scale. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development of expressed sequence tags from the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians

The bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians, introduced from North America, has become one of the most important aquaculture species in China. Inan effort to identify scallop genes involved in host defense, a high-quality cDNA library was constructed from whole body tissues of the bay scallop. A total of 5828 successful sequencing reactions yielded 4995 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) longer than 100 bp. Cluster and assembly analyses of the ESTs identified 637 contigs (consisting of 2853 sequences) and 2142 singletons, totaling 2779 unique sequences. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) analysis showed that the majority (73%) of the unique sequences had no significant homology (E-value >= 0.005) to sequences in GenBank. Among the 748 sequences with significant GenBank matches, 160 (21.4%) were for genes related to metabolism, 131 (17.5%) for cell/organism defense, 124 (16.6%) for gene/protein expression, 83 (11.1%) for cell structure/motility, 70 (9.4%) for cell signaling/communication, 17 (2.3%) for cell division, and 163 (21.8%) matched to genes of unknown functions. The list of host-defense genes included many genes with known and important roles in innate defense such as lectins, defensins, proteases, protease inhibitors, heat shock proteins, antioxidants, and Toll-like receptors. The study provides a significant number of ESTs for gene discovery and candidate genes for studying host defense in scallops and other molluscs.

VTA-NAc内orexin A在吗啡和性奖赏相关行为中作用的研究

There are a lot of differences in the neural mechanisms underlying between drug reward and natural reward despite the common neual basis. Undoubtedly, revealing the common and the different mechanisms underlying drug reward and natural reward will promote the development of research on drug addiction. Among diversified natural rewards, sex is often compared to drug because sexual reward has more similarities to drug. The mesolimbic dopamine system (VTA-NAc pathway) is a common pathway activated by natural reinforcers and addictive drugs, mediating reward, emotion and motivation under physiological conditions. The neuroadaptations taking place in the central nervous system including the mesolimbic dopamine system after repeatedly drug taking leads to persistent drug craving, Orexin, a neuropeptide produced in the lateral hypothalamus, plays an important role in reward-associated, motivated behaviors. Orexin neurons have extensive projections to the mesolimbic dopamine system. In order to further investigate the roles of orexin A in drug reward, this study examined the regulatory roles of orexin A in the VTA and NAcSh on drug reinforcement (acqusition of morphine CPP) and drug-seeking behavior (expression of morphine CPP). Moreover, the roles of orexin A on drug reward were compared with sexual reward. The main results are as follows: 1. The expression of morphine CPP was inhibited by intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) administered OX1R antagonist SB334867; 2. The male unconditioned sexual motivation was not affected by i.c.v. administered SB334867. However, i.c.v. given orexin A inhibited unconditioned sexual motivation in sexually high-motivated rats but did not affect sexual motivation in low-motivated rats; 3. The acquisition and expression of morphine CPP was inhibited by SB334867 microinjected into the VTA. SB334867 or orexin A injected into the NAcSh did not influence the acquisition of morphine CPP, but orexin A increased the locomotor activity in rats treated with morphine (3mg/kg); 4. SB334867 microinjected into the VTA did not affect male copulatory behavior, neither affect the acqusition of copulatory CPP; 5. The expression of copulatory CPP was associated with increased Fos protein expression in hypothalamic orexin A neurons, and SB334867 microinjected into the VTA inhibited expression of copulatory CPP. These results suggest that, (1) endogenous orexin A is not involved in male unconditioned sexual motivation, but involved in drug craving; (2) orexin A in the VTA instead of in the NAc is involved in drug reinforcement; (3) orexin A in the VTA is critical for drug-seeking behavior, but it is still unclear for the role of orexin A in the NAcSh; (4) in contrast to drug reinforcement, orexin A in the VTA is not involved in reinforcing effect of sexual reward. Orexin A plays a role both in drug-seeking behavior and in sexual reward-seeking behavior, but the different orexin A neuron populations may be responsible for the roles of orexin A in two types of reward. In a word, the differential roles of orexin A in drug and sexual reward are found in the present study, which provides some evidence for further research on the mechanisms of drug addiction.

Altered of apoptotic markers of both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways induced by hepatitis C virus infection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Background: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has emerged as a leading cause of cirrhosis in the U. S. and across the world. To understand the role of apoptotic pathways in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we studied the mRNA and protein expression patterns of apoptosis-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from patients with HCV infection.Methods: the present study included 50 subjects which plasma samples were positive for HCV, but negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV). These cases were divided into four groups according to METAVIR, a score-based analysis which helps to interpret a liver biopsy according to the degree of inflammation and fibrosis. mRNA expression of the studied genes were analyzed by reverse transcription of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and protein levels, analyzed by ELISA, was also conducted. HCV genotyping was also determined.Results: HCV infection increased mRNA expression and protein synthesis of caspase 8 in group 1 by 3 fold and 4 fold, respectively (p < 0.05). in group 4 HCV infection increased mRNA expression and protein synthesis of caspase 9 by 2 fold and 1,5 fold, respectively (p < 0.05). Also, caspase 3 mRNA expression and protein synthesis had level augumented by HCV infection in group 1 by 4 fold and 5 fold, respectively, and in group 4 by 6 fold and 7 fold, respectively (p < 0.05).Conclusions: HCV induces alteration at both genomic and protein levels of apoptosis markers involved with extrinsic and intrinsic pathways.

Charakterystyka ekspresji receptorów scavenger w błonach komórkowych monocytów ludzkich u pacjentów z chorobą niedokrwienną serca

Wydział Biologii: Instytut Biologii Eksperymentalnej

Prediction and prevention of venous thrombosis in pregnancy

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains the leading cause of maternal mortality. Reports identified further research is required in obese and women post caesarean section (CS). Risk factors for VTE during pregnancy are periodically absent indicating the need for a simple and effective screening tool for pregnancy. Perturbation of the uteroplacental haemostasis has been implicated in placenta mediated pregnancy complications. This thesis had 4 main aims: 1) To investigate anticoagulant effects following a fixed thromboprophylaxis dose in healthy women post elective CS. 2) To evaluate the calibrated automated thrombogram (CAT) assay as a potential predictive tool for thrombosis in pregnancy. 3) To compare the anticoagulant effects of fixed versus weight adjusted thromboprophylaxis dose in morbidly obese pregnant women. 4) To investigate the LMWH effects on human haemostatic gene and antigen expression in placentae and plasma from the uteroplacental , maternal and fetal circulation. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), thrombin antithrombin (TAT), CAT and anti-Xa levels were analysed. Real-time PCR and ELISA were used to quantify mRNA and protein expression of TFPI and TF in placental tissue. In women post CS, anti-Xa levels do not reflect the full anticoagulant effects of LMWH. LMWH thromboprophylaxis in this healthy cohort of patients appears to have a sustained effect in reducing excess thrombin production post elective CS. The results of this study suggest that predicting VTE in pregnant women using CAT assay is not possible at present time. The prothrombotic state in pregnant morbidly obese women was substantially attenuated by weight adjusted but not at fixed LMWH doses. LMWH may be effective in reducing in- vivo thrombin production in the uteroplacental circulation of thrombophilic women. All these results collectively suggest that at appropriate dosage, LMWH is effective in attenuating excess thrombin generation, in low risk pregnant women post caesarean section or moderate to high risk pregnant women who are morbidly obese or tested positive for thrombophilia. The results of the studies provided data to inform evidence-based practice to improve the outcome for pregnant women at risk of thrombosis.