Epidermal growth factor receptor pathway participates in growth promotion of chondrocytes by growth hormone from sex hormone-inhibited adolescent rats

AIM: To investigate the possibility that epidermal growth factor receptor pathway participates in the growth promotion by growth hormone (GH) of growth plate chondrocytes cultured in vitro from adolescent rats treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa). METHODS: The chondrocytes from tibial growth plate of 5-8 female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with GnRHa were cultured in monolayer. Specific pharmacological inhibitor of Janus kinase (JAK2 tyrphostin AG490, 1, 10, 100 nmol/L), EGFR kinase inhibitor AG1478 (0.1, 1, 10 nmol/L) and neutralizing antibodies against EGF (0.1, 1, 10 mg/L) were added before GH stimulation. The proliferation of chondrocytes was investigated by the methods of MTT and immunohistochemical staining for PCNA. Phosphorylations of ERK1/2 and EGFR were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: GH enhanced the proliferation of chondrocytes and the levels of ERK1/2 and EGFR phosphorylation in a dose dependent manner. The effect peaked at the concentration of 100 μg/L. Pretreatment with tyrphostin AG490 and AG1478 almost completely inhibited the proliferation of chondrocytes and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and EGFR by GH. However, the neutralizing antibodies against EGF only partially inhibited the effects of GH.CONCLUSION: GH achieves its direct effect on the promotion of cell proliferation by the activation of JAK2 pathway and the downstream end of MAPK-ERK signaling molecules. The promotion of cell proliferation can be mediated by activation of EGFR pathway. The results suggest that there is signaling cross-talk between GH and EGF-EGFR pathway.     

大肠杆菌外膜蛋白酶基因OmpT的克隆及表达

OmpT(Outer-membrane proteases T)是革兰氏阴性细菌分泌到细胞表面具有丝氨酸蛋白酶活性的一种重要蛋白。利用大肠杆菌OmpT降解抗菌肽特性来筛选和改造新型抗菌肽,可以为开发抗OmpT蛋白酶水解新抗菌肽序列提供新的思路和创造条件。根据大肠杆菌外膜蛋白酶OmpT的基因序列设计一对引物,应用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)方法,从大肠杆菌K12基因组中扩增获得一段为954 bp的序列,测序结果显示此序列与已公布序列同源性达99.99%。将其序列定向克隆到原核表达载体pET28a上构建重组表达质粒pET28a-OmpT。经IPTG诱导后,在表达宿主菌中特异性的表达出分子量约为36 kDa且具有生物活性的OmpT蛋白。生长曲线试验显示,抗菌肽LL37对带重组表达质粒pET28a-OmpT的大肠杆菌生长没有影响,而对照组的生长明显受到抗菌肽的抑制作用。     

Effects of NaCl and Ca^2＋ on Membrane Potential of Epidermal Cells of Maize Roots

The effects of salt-stress on plants involve not only the water stress caused by low osmotic pressure, but also the toxicity of excess Na^＋. A large amount of Na^＋ entering cells would reduce K^＋ uptake, which leads to an imbalance of K：Na ratio in cells. One of the reasons for the reduced K^＋-uptake is the closure of K^＋-channel which is controlled by membrane potential. Calcium is usually applied to improve the growth of plants on saline soils and shows positive influence in the integrality of cell membrane. This study applied glass microelectrode technique to monitoring the NaCl-induced changes of membrane potential of root epidermal cells of maize （Zea mays L., Denghai 11） seedlings at NaCl concentrations of 0, 8, 20, 50, 100, 200 mmol L^-1, respectively. The effect of Ca^2＋ on the changes of membrane potential caused by NaCl was also studied. The results showed that： NaCl caused cell membrane depolarization. The depolarization became greater and faster with increasing of NaCl concentration. Moreover, the extent of depolarization was positively correlated with NaCl concentration. The addition of calcium postponed the depolarization, and decreased the degree of depolarization caused by NaCl. High NaCl concentration leads to depolarization of maize root cell membrane, which can partly be counteracted by calcium.     

Cordyceps fumosorosea和Beauveria bassiana来源的碱性蛋白酶在毕赤酵母中的异源表达与性质测定

碱性蛋白酶作为广泛应用的蛋白酶之一,具有重要的工业应用价值。发掘优质的碱性蛋白酶基因,实现其高效表达,有助于更好的满足工业应用需求。分别将Cordyceps fumosorosea和Beauveria bassiana来源的碱性蛋白酶基因pa1及pa2与表达载体pPIC9连接,并在毕赤酵母GS115中实现高效表达。对于纯化后的重组蛋白PA1及PA2的酶学性质进行测定,二者最适pH均为8.5,最适温度均为60 ℃,与同类酶相比具有一定的优势;PA1及PA2的温度稳定性较好,50 ℃下酶活保持稳定,60 ℃下处理10 min,二者均保持70%左右的酶活;PA1及PA2的pH耐受范围宽泛,在pH 4.0~11.0的环境中处理1 h,均能保持80%以上的活性。此外,PA1及PA2对于表面活性剂和还原剂也表现出一定的耐受性。这些性质都表明PA1及PA2是具有工业应用潜力的优质碱性蛋白酶。     

Digestive enzyme activity during larval development of the Senegal sole (Solea senegalensis)

The activities of the main digestive enzymes (proteases, amylase, lipase) as well as those of acid and alkaline phosphatases were assessed during the larval development of the Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis. Important variations in specific activities of all the enzymes were observed during the period of study and were mostly related to the beginning or the end of metamorphosis. Both acid and alkaline protease activities were identified at early stages of development. Acid proteases accounted for only 10% of total protease activity in a 9 days-old larva, but exceeded 75% in a 33 days-old individual. Maximum lipase activity was related to the development of exocrine pancreas (days 6 to 10) and to metamorphosis. It is suggested this can be related to the metabolism of lipid reserves taking place during this morphological change. Activity of alkaline phosphatase decreased from day 5 to day 20 but therafter revealed a sharp increase, possibly linked to the development of enterocytes. The pattern of development of the main digestive enzymes found in S. senegalensis is similar to that described in other flatfish species.     

Combined antiparasitic and anti‐inflammatory effects of the natural polyphenol curcumin on turbot scuticociliatosis

The histiophagous scuticociliate Philasterides dicentrarchi is the aetiological agent of scuticociliatosis, a parasitic disease of farmed turbot. Curcumin, a polyphenol from Curcuma longa (turmeric), is known to have antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. We investigated the in vitro effects of curcumin on the growth of P. dicentrarchi and on the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in turbot leucocytes activated by parasite cysteine proteases. At 100 μm , curcumin had a cytotoxic effect and completely inhibited the growth of the parasite. At 50 μm , curcumin inhibited the protease activity of the parasite and expression of genes encoding two virulence‐associated proteases: leishmanolysin‐like peptidase and cathepsin L‐like. At concentrations between 25 and 50 μm , curcumin inhibited the expression of S‐adenosyl‐L‐homocysteine hydrolase, an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the amino acids methionine and cysteine. At 100 μm , curcumin inhibited the expression of the cytokines tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β) produced in turbot leucocytes activated by parasite proteases. Results show that curcumin has a dual effect on scuticociliatosis: an antiparasitic effect on the catabolism and anabolism of ciliate proteins, and an anti‐inflammatory effect that inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines in the host. The present findings suggest the potential usefulness of this polyphenol in treating scuticociliatosis.     

Advances in the study of activity additivity of supplemented proteases to improve digestion of feed protein by Penaeus vannamei

In vitro assays used porcine or bovine trypsin as models of exogenous enzymes to determine functioning in the presence of enzymatic extracts from the digestive gland of whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei. Using electrophoresis and zymograms, when enzymes from the shrimp were mixed in the absence of protein substrate, they hydrolysed the trypsin from bovine or porcine origin. Porcine or bovine trypsin, when mixed with shrimp enzymes in pH‐stat assays in the presence of shrimp commercial feed, fish meal, or casein, there was added activity to hydrolyse the protein substrate. Hydrolysis of protein substrate was twofold to threefold stronger if exogenous enzymes were added. Results suggest that porcine or bovine trypsin could be used as feed supplements for whiteleg shrimp P. vannamei to enhance hydrolysis of proteins in feeds, because the commercial enzymes contributed to the hydrolysis of the protein in the three substrates in the presence of shrimp enzymes.     

Epidermal response of the Japanese eel to environmental stress

Nonspecific responses of Japanese eels to environmental stress were monitored by assaying various lytic activities in eel epidermal extract. In fish maintained at 10 and 30 °C for up to 10 days, epidermal proteolytic activities due to serine protease and aminopeptidase and hemolytic activity varied within a 2-fold value range. Other proteolytic activities, due to cathepsins B and L, in the fish at 30 °C increased for up to 8 days and were 3.4 and 2.9-fold over those in fish maintained at 10 °C, respectively. This was accompanied by a 3.0-fold increase in bacteriolytic activity. Other forms of stress were exerted on the fishes by immersing them in a suspension of Flavobacterium columnare or giving them intraperitoneal injections of Edwardsiella tarda over 72 h. Although serine protease and aminopeptidase activities and hemolytic activity in the fishes exposed to F. columnare changed marginally, and were similar to those in the control fish, cathepsins B and L activities in the infected fishes increased more than 1.5-fold over their initial values over a 48 h period, along with a 4.5-fold increase in bacteriolytic activity. No marked change was detected in any of the lytic activities of the fishes exposed to E. tarda. These findings indicate that epidermal cathepsins B and L probably participate in bacteriolysis associated with Japanese eel skin and that their activities are elicited by environmental stimuli and may be an important nonspecific response of eels. Abbreviations: Cbz – carbobenzoxy; MCA – 4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide.     

G15对发情周期小鼠卵巢表皮生长因子受体表达的影响

【目的】研究G蛋白偶联雌激素受体(G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor,GPER)对发情周期小鼠卵巢表皮生长因子受体(Epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR)表达的影响。【方法】间情期小鼠腹腔注射GPER抑制剂G15,按注射剂量0.3,1.5和7.5nmol/只设3个注射组,另设腹腔注射等体积生理盐水的对照组;药物注射后,依次取发情前期、发情期、发情后期和间情期小鼠的卵巢,用免疫组织化学SP法和RT-PCR法分别检测各组小鼠发情周期不同阶段卵巢EGFR及其mRNA的表达。【结果】EGFR免疫组化阳性产物主要分布于卵巢的各级卵泡中,阳性染色随卵泡发育而逐渐增强,其中颗粒细胞越靠近卵母细胞染色越强,发情周期卵巢EGFR相对表达量表现为发情期发情前期间情期发情后期。小鼠注射G15后,各情期卵巢中EGFR的表达呈G15剂量依赖性减弱,除发情后期外,均极显著下降(P0.01);1.5和7.5nmol/只G15注射组各情期EGFR的相对表达量无显著差异(P0.05),但均极显著低于0.3nmol/只G15注射组(P0.01)。EGFR mRNA的变化规律与EGFR相对表达量的变化趋势完全一致。【结论】G15可在一定程度上通过GPER下调发情周期小鼠卵巢中EGFR的表达,从而影响发情周期卵巢的功能。     

两种化学型广藿香叶显微特征比较

以6个不同产地的2种化学型广藿香叶片为试材,采用数码显微系统对叶片的多种显微特征进行观察比较,采用SPSS 21.0、MEGA 7、SIMCA 14.1软件进行脉岛数、栅表比、气孔指数、非腺毛数、头状腺毛数、盾状腺毛数显微常数的方差分析、聚类分析和主成分分析试验,以期为广藿香叶片显微特征与化学型分型的研究及广藿香品质评价提供参考依据。结果表明:2种化学型广藿香叶表皮细胞形状、表皮细胞长宽比、气孔大小及类型相近;叶缘、叶长宽比、垂周壁形状、表皮细胞大小、栅表比、脉岛数、气孔指数、非腺毛数、头状腺毛数、盾状腺毛数差异显著,可以作为区分广藿香不同化学型的评判指标;四会、高州、雷州、阳春4个产地的广藿香归为一类,均为醇型,莲塘、龙洞产地归为一类,均为酮型。