Effect of CHOP expression knock-down on apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells

AIM:To study the effect of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) on the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial HK2 cells. METHODS:The serum mRNA levels of CHOP in the patients with acute kidney injury and healthy controls were detected by qPCR. In vitro, renal tubular epithelial HK2 cells were divided into control group, negative group (transfected with negative control siRNA), si-CHOP group (transfected with CHOP siRNA), and induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). The viability of the cells was measured by MTT assay, and the apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein levels of nuclear antigen Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blot. RESULTS:Compared with the healthy controls, the serum mRNA levels of CHOP in the patients with acute kidney injury were increased significantly (P<0.05). Transfection with CHOP siRNA significantly decreased the expression of CHOP in the renal tubular epithelial HK2 cells (P<0.05). Knock-down of CHOP expression by siRNA significantly increased the viability of renal tubular epithelial HK2 cells (P<0.05), decreased the apoptotic rate (P<0.05), increased the expression of Ki-67 and PCNA (P<0.05), and down-regulated the protein level of cleaved caspase-3 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:The serum mRNA levels of CHOP were increased in the patients with acute kidney injury. Knock-down of CHOP expression inhibits the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells by regulating the expression of proliferation-and apoptosis-related proteins.     

Comparison of phenolic profiles and antioxidant activities in skins and pulps of eleven grape cultivars(Vitis vinifera L.)

Eleven grape cultivars were analysed to explore the variety differences of fresh grape phenolic profiles. The results showed that free phenolics were predominant in grape skins and pulps, and showed the higher antioxidant activities than bound. In 11 cultivars, Muscat Kyoho extracts had the highest total phenolic content in skins(10.525 mg GAE g~(–1) FW) and pulps(1.134 mg GAE g~(–1) FW), and exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavening capacity(EC_(50)=11.7 μg mL~(–1)) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity(ORAC) value(190.57 μmol TE g~(–1) FW) of free phenolic in skin. In addition, the most abundant phenolics in grape skins were found to be flavonoids such as kaempferol in Kyoho skin(541.2 μg g~(–1) FW), rutin, catechin and epicatechin in Muscat Kyoho skin(262.3, 86.3 and 70.0 μg g~(–1) FW, respectively). Furthermore, the principal component analysis showed a strong difference of phenolic profiles with the cultivars, existing forms and distributions. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis showed a significant linear correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidant activity(P0.05). Therefore, both skins and pulps were rich sources of bioactive phenolic compounds, and Muscat Kyoho was the ideal source among all samples.     

土耳其斯坦裂体吸虫23kDa蛋白基因的序列分析及抗原表位预测

为研究土耳其斯坦裂体吸虫23 kDa蛋白的生物学特性,以土耳其斯坦裂体吸虫cDNA为模版,利用PCR对23 kDa基因进行扩增,并将其克隆到T-easy载体后进行序列测定。利用生物信息学对其结构、抗原指数进行分析,并对其抗原表位进行预测。序列分析结果表明,该虫体的23 kDa基因长度为657 bp,A+T含量为57.38%,与曼氏血吸虫、埃及血吸虫和日本血吸虫的23 kDa基因的相似性分别为85.24%、83.71%和81.89%。蛋白二级结构分析表明,23 kDa蛋白经过4次跨膜,主要由6个α-螺旋、3个β-折叠、7个β转角和若干个无规则卷曲构成。抗原表位预测结果表明,该蛋白有3个B细胞抗原表位。综合分析土耳其斯坦裂体吸虫23 kDa蛋白是一种较好的抗原分子,是土耳其斯坦裂体吸虫疫苗的重要候选分子。     

华山松大小蠹2个甲羟戊酸路径基因的克隆与表达

香叶基二磷酸合酶/法尼基焦磷酸（G/FPPS）和异戊二烯焦磷酸异构酶（IDI）是单萜和倍半萜生物合成途径分支点的关键酶。通过克隆华山松大小蠹DaG/FPPS和DaIDI基因的全长序列，预测基因和编码蛋白的性质、结构和功能，并对序列特征和不同发育时期（幼虫、蛹、初羽化期成虫和扩散期成虫）以及不同组织（头、前中肠、后中肠、后肠和剩余躯体）DaG/FPPS和DaIDI表达的研究，旨在揭示DaG/FPPS和DaIDI在华山松大小蠹信息化学物质合成中的分子调控机制。采用RT-PCR和RACE克隆华山松大小蠹DaG/FPPS和DaIDI基因，DNAStar、Blast、ExpasyProtscale、SignalP 4.1、PSORT和TargetP等多种生物信息学方法对基因全长cDNA序列、基本理化性质、系统进化关系、信号肽和蛋白亚细胞定位等进行分析。用Real-time PCR检测DaG/FPPS和DaIDI在华山松大小蠹不同发育时期和不同组织中的表达。结果表明，克隆获得华山松大小蠹香叶基二磷酸合酶/法尼基焦磷酸DaG/FPPS和异戊二烯焦磷酸异构酶DaIDI全长cDNA序列，分别命名为DaG/FPPS和DaIDI，DaG/FPPS编码的氨基酸序列与山松大小蠹DpF/GPPS相似度最高达95%，氨基酸序列含有一个RALS 四肽基序、7 个异戊烯基转移酶保守区（Ⅰ-Ⅶ）和2个典型的DD**D的天冬氨酸富含区；DaIDI编码的氨基酸序列与山松大小蠹IDI相似度最高，达到92%。Expasy Protscale结果表明DaG/FPPS蛋白疏水性氨基酸明显多于亲水性氨基酸，推测其为疏水性蛋白，而DaIDI蛋白亲水性氨基酸数量大于疏水性氨基酸，故推测DaIDI为亲水性蛋白，有较好的水溶性。信号肽预测结果表明，DaG/FPPS和DaIDI均不含信号肽，TargetP结果表明，DaG/FPPS和DaIDI蛋白含线粒体靶向肽，结合PSORT结果推测DaG/FPPS和DaIDI均定位于线粒体。华山松大小蠹DaG/FPPS和DaIDI在不同发育时期和不同组织中均有表达，其中完全羽化期与扩散期成虫保持一致，该阶段表达量最高，不同组织中前中肠表达量最高。     

甘蓝型油菜茎秆菌核病抗性与木质素及其单体比例的相关性分析及QTL定位

菌核病是一类非专一性的植物真菌病原菌，寄主范围广泛，严重危害农作物的生产。对高世代重组自交系群体(RIL)及F₂群体终花期茎秆进行菌核病抗性接种鉴定，根据构建的近红外模型对接种鉴定的茎秆木质素含量、单体组分比例进行测定，并进行相关性分析和QTL定位。结果表明在2013年和2014年RIL群体茎秆菌斑大小与木质素含量呈极显著负相关，相关系数分别为–0.348和–0.286，与单体G/S呈显著正相关，相关系数分别为0.198和0.167。2014年F₂群体菌斑大小与木质素含量呈极显著负相关，相关系数为–0.306，与单体G/S相关性为0.142。F_2:3家系抗(感)植株茎部切片间苯三酚染色观察表明抗性较强的材料木质素含量高于抗性较弱的材料。根据已构建的重组自交系高密度SNP遗传图谱，利用复合区间作图法对上述性状进行QTL分析，共检测到18个QTL，其中9个菌核病抗性相关QTL分布于A05、A06、C04和C06染色体，单个QTL可解释的表型变异为2.38%~12.05%；3个木质素含量QTL分别位于A04、A05和C01染色体，单个QTL可解释表型变异的2.03%~13.75%。6个木质素单体G/S QTL分布于A08、C03和C07染色体，单个QTL可解释表型变异的2.06%~8.66%。本文研究结果为油菜菌核病抗性育种提供了新的思路和理论基础。     

Simultaneous detection of multiple mycotoxins in broiler feeds using a liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry

Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites that are typically present in grain and feed ingredients used for animal feeds. An analytical method using LC-ESI-MS/MS was developed to quantify nine mycotoxins, consisting of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁), AFB₂, AFG₁, AFG₂, T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), zearalenone (ZEA) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in broiler feeds. In total, 100 samples of broiler feeds were collected from poultry farms in Central Thailand. The survey found that AFB₁ and ZEA were the most prevalent mycotoxins in the feed samples at percentages of 93% and 63%, respectively. The limit of detections (LODs) of investigated mycotoxins was 0.20–0.78 ng/g. AFB₂, DON, AFG₁, NIV and T-2 toxin were also detectable at low contamination levels with percentages of 20%, 9%, 7%, 5% and 1%, respectively, whereas OTA and AFG₂ were not detected in any of the feed samples. These results suggest that there is a very low level of risk of the exposure to mycotoxins in feeds obtained from broiler farms in Central Thailand.     

Research progress on autophagy in treatment of glioma

Autophagy is a transport pathway from the cytoplasm to the lysosome, which is a major intracellular degradation/recycling system ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells. Autophagy regulation has achieved some gratifying results in the treatment of glioma. It is currently an exciting field of clinical development. In chemotherapy or radiotherapy, autophagy-related drugs are currently used in vitro and in vivo for treating tumors with significant effects. Autophagy inducers and inhibitors may potentially block tumor formation and enhance the anti-cancer immune response. A more comprehensive understanding of the role of autophagy in different stages of glioma development may guide the development of new therapeutic strategies.     

高粱光敏色素A基因的克隆、蛋白结构与长短日照诱导表达模式

光敏色素是一类红光/远红光受体,对植物光形态建成、外部形态和生理功能等方面起着重要的调节作用。为明晰光敏色素A在调控高粱光形态建成发育过程中的作用,本研究比较分析光温敏感程度不同的高粱品种Btx623、Rio、Tx430和LH645的PhyA基因序列和PHYA蛋白的保守结构域,利用qRT-PCR明确长短日照条件处理下PhyA基因的表达模式。结果表明,Btx623、Rio和Tx430之间PhyA基因序列存在非同义突变,LH645在PhyA基因的第7个外显子上插入了5 bp碱基序列;高粱PhyA蛋白中含有1个PAS-2结构域、1个GAF结构域、1个Phytochrome结构域、2个PAS结构域、1个组氨酸激酶A结构域和1个类似组氨酸激酶的ATP激酶结构;遗传进化树分析表明,单子叶和双子叶植物PhyA蛋白明显聚为2大类,高粱PhyA、谷子PhyA和玉米PhyA1、PhyA2聚为一个亚类,相互间亲缘关系较近,与水稻PhyA同源性相对较远;在短日照(SD)条件下各时期PhyA基因转录水平变化显著,Rio PhyA基因转录水平较Btx623和Tx430变化明显,LH645 PhyA基因转录变化不显著,在长日照(LD)条件下Rio PhyA基因转录水平低于Btx623和Tx430,LH645 PhyA基因转录水平变化不显著。以上结果表明,PhyA受光周期诱导,推测其在高粱光形态建成中起重要调控作用。本研究为进一步解析PhyA基因功能及其在调控高粱光形态建成发育过程中的作用提供理论基础。     

湖南永州尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒的蛋白组分及毒性分析

采用Nano–LC–ESI–MS/MS蛋白鉴定技术对湖南永州尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒蛋白组分进行质谱分析,应用常规体外试管法对尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒体外溶血值进行检测,采用改良寇式法对尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒LD_(50)进行测定。结果显示:尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒含有50种蛋白,蛋白相对分子质量集中在1.0×10~4～2.0×10~4(46.9%)、4.0×10~4～5.0×10~4(22.4%)、2.0×10~4～3.0×10~4(10.6%)和7.0×10~4～8.0×10~4(7.6%),其中代表性的高丰度蛋白有蛇毒金属蛋白酶A(11.7%)、蛇毒金属蛋白酶H1(9.8%)、蕲蛇类凝血酶–2(7.3%)、抗凝血酶A–A亚基(6.8%),低丰度蛋白(0.1%)有Ecto–5'–核苷酸酶、碱性磷脂酶A2 DAV–N6、生长分化因子11;蛇毒引起红细胞溶血的最低质量浓度为60.00μg/mL,尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒对KM小鼠的LD_(50)为7.1796mg/kg,攻毒小鼠出现呼吸急促、躁动不安、注射部位出现奇特瘙痒和大面积溃烂,至死亡。