Pseudoalteromone B: A Novel 15C Compound from a Marine Bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. CGH2XX

A novel 15C compound, pseudoalteromone B (1), possessing a novel carbon skeleton, was obtained from a marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. CGH2XX. This bacterium was originally isolated from a cultured-type octocoral Lobophytum crassum, that was growing in cultivating tanks equipped with a flow-through sea water system. The structure of 1 was established by spectroscopic methods. Pseudoalteromone B (1) displayed a modestly inhibitory effect on the release of elastase by human neutrophils.     

Distribution of Protein Bodies and Phytate‐Rich Inclusions in Grain Tissues of Low and High Iron Rice Genotypes

The present study aims to understand whether genotypic differences in grain iron (Fe) concentration in four rice genotypes are related to its association with protein bodies containing phytate‐rich inclusions. Rice genotypes with high and low grain Fe concentrations in unpolished brown rice were grown in a greenhouse at Chiang Mai, Thailand, and grains were harvested at maturity. The presence of protein bodies and phytate‐rich inclusions in rice grain tissues were examined by means of light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The composition of mineral elements in different grain tissues was examined using energy dispersive X‐ray microanalysis (EDX) and chemical analysis. The relative distribution pattern of protein bodies in the tissues was similar among the four rice genotypes, which resembled the pattern of grain N concentrations in these tissues. The high grain Fe genotypes (based on brown rice Fe concentration) had more protein bodies containing phytate‐rich inclusions in the embryo and aleurone layer tissues than the low Fe genotypes. Phytate‐rich inclusions were not detected in the endosperm tissues in all genotypes. In conclusion, the presence of protein bodies with phytate‐rich inclusions predominantly in the embryo and aleurone regions of the grain is an important parameter contributing to the variation in brown rice Fe concentration among the genotypes, but not in the white rice (the endosperm). Iron associated with the phytate‐rich inclusions present in the embryo and aleurone layer tissues are largely lost during the polishing process to produce white rice.     

玉米淀粉合成酶SSⅡa启动子的克隆及功能分析

【目的】克隆玉米Zea mays淀粉合成酶SSⅡa启动子,并分析其功能,为进一步研究和应用SSⅡa启动子奠定基础。【方法】通过NCBI上公布的玉米基因组序列,在网站Maize GDB上BLAST查找到SSⅡa 5'侧翼序列,利用PCR方法从玉米B73中克隆SSⅡa启动子;通过Plant Care在线分析启动子顺式作用元件,用特异性引物分别克隆出长度为1 407、867、633、483和365 bp的片段,与植物表达载体p CAMBIA3301连接,构建5种5'缺失体的植物表达载体,命名为P1、P2、P3、P4和P5。用农杆菌介导法转化拟南芥Arabidopsis thaliana,获得转基因拟南芥。【结果】以玉米B73基因组DNA为模板,用特异性引物SSⅡa F/SSⅡaR进行扩增,得到2 526 bp序列;除草剂筛选的阳性拟南芥植株PCR验证均检测出gus基因;GUS组织化学分析表明,5种类型启动子构建的表达载体在成熟期叶片、果荚中均显蓝色;gus基因定量分析表明,成熟期5种转基因拟南芥叶片中,gus基因表达量P1最高,其他基本一致;种子中gus基因表达量P1和P2相近,且高于P3、P4和P5。【结论】成功克隆玉米SSⅡa启动子;构建的5种SSⅡa启动子缺失体表达载体在转基因拟南芥中均具有活性,长度为1 407 bp(P1)和867 bp(P2)的启动子具有胚乳特异性。     

Excavatoids O and P, new 12-hydroxybriaranes from the octocoral Briareum excavatum

Two new 12-hydroxybriarane diterpenoids, designated as excavatoids O (1) and P (2), were isolated from the octocoral Briareum excavatum. The structures of briaranes 1 and 2 were established on the basis of extensive spectral data analysis. Excavatoid P (2) is the first metabolite which possesses a 6β -chlorine atom in briarane analogues.     

南疆不同品种绵羊MSTN基因克隆及其组织表达谱分析

本研究旨在对山区型和田羊、平原型和田羊、卡拉库尔羊的MSTN基因进行组织表达谱分析。参考GenBank上（登录号：NM_001009428.1）绵羊MSTN基因序列设计引物,采用RT-PCR技术克隆绵羊MSTN基因序列,进行组织表达谱分析。结果表明：MSTN基因在各品种绵羊不同组织中表达的差异较大,MSTN在各品种绵羊的肌肉、肾脏和脾脏中都有表达,其中肌肉中表达量最高,其次是肾脏和脾脏;MSTN在山区型、平原型和田羊的心脏中表达丰度较低,而在卡拉库尔羊心脏中则几乎无表达;MSTN在山区型、平原型和田羊的肝脏中几乎无表达,而在卡拉库尔羊肝脏中则有一定量表达;MSTN在山区型和田羊、平原型和田羊与卡拉库尔羊的肺脏中则都无表达。     

Essential regulation of CNS angiogenesis by the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR124

The orphan G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) GPR124/tumor endothelial marker 5 is highly expressed in central nervous system (CNS) endothelium. Here, we show that complete null or endothelial-specific GPR124 deletion resulted in embryonic lethality from CNS-specific angiogenesis arrest in forebrain and neural tube. Conversely, GPR124 overexpression throughout all adult vascular beds produced CNS-specific hyperproliferative vascular malformations. In vivo, GPR124 functioned cell-autonomously in endothelium to regulate sprouting, migration, and developmental expression of the blood-brain barrier marker Glut1, whereas in vitro, GPR124 mediated Cdc42-dependent directional migration to forebrain-derived, vascular endothelial growth factor-independent cues. Our results demonstrate CNS-specific angiogenesis regulation by an endothelial receptor and illuminate functions of the poorly understood adhesion GPCR subfamily. Further, the functional tropism of GPR124 marks this receptor as a therapeutic target for CNS-related vascular pathologies.     

Ameliorative Effects of Melatonin against Hydrogen Peroxide‐Induced Oxidative Stress on Boar Sperm Characteristics and Subsequent In Vitro Embryo Development

Melatonin, the major secretory product of the pineal gland, scavenges a variety of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in vivo and in vitro, indicating that melatonin is a potent function as an antioxidant. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of melatonin in the presence or absence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) on sperm characteristics (motility, viability, survival rate, membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and mitochondria activity) and also to examine the developmental rates to the blastocysts stage of porcine oocytes fertilized in vitro with semen treated with or without melatonin (100 nm ) in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ (250 μm ). The sperm were treated with melatonin in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ for 3, 6, 9 and 12 h at 37°C and then analysed for the sperm characteristics. The porcine embryos were produced by in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization (IVM/IVF) using semen treated with or without melatonin (100 nm ) in the presence or absence of H₂O₂ (250 μm ) for 6 h. The semen characteristics, including motility, viability, survival rate, membrane integrity and mitochondria activity, were higher in the groups that were treated with melatonin in comparison to other groups, irrespective of incubation periods. Malondialdehyde levels in control, melatonin and melatonin + H₂O₂ groups were lower than H₂O₂ only group. A positive correlation was shown among motility, viability, survival rate and membrane integrity, but a negative correlation was observed between LPO and the other evaluation methods. The developmental rates to blastocysts of IVM/IVF porcine oocytes fertilized by semen treated with melatonin were significantly increased compared with any other groups, with the cell number of blastocysts shown to have a similar trend to the developmental rates. These results demonstrate that melatonin can improve the semen characteristics during in vitro storage and support the developmental ability of IVM/IVF embryos in pigs.     

Antioxidative Effects of Astaxanthin against Nitric Oxide‐Induced Oxidative Stress on Cell Viability and Gene Expression in Bovine Oviduct Epithelial Cell and the Developmental Competence of Bovine IVM/IVF Embryos

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the fundamental mechanism of bovine oviduct epithelial cell (BOEC) co‐culture on developmental capacity of bovine in vitro oocyte maturation/in vitro fertilization (IVM/IVF) embryos. We examined the effects of astaxanthin against nitric oxide‐induced oxidative stress on cell viability by MTT assay, lipid peroxidation (LPO) by using thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reaction for malondialdehyde (MDA) and the expression of antioxidant genes (CuZnSOD, MnSOD and Catalase) or apoptosis genes (Bcl‐2, Caspase‐3 and Bax) by RT‐PCR in BOEC. We also evaluated the developmental rates of bovine IVM/IVF embryos co‐cultured with BOEC pre‐treated with astaxanthin (500 μm ) in the presence or absence of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 1000 μm ) for 24 h. Cell viability in BOEC treated with SNP (50–2000 μm ) lowered, while astaxanthin addition (50–500 μm ) increased it in a dose‐dependent manner. Cell viability in astaxanthin plus SNP (1000 μm ) gradually recovered according to the increase in astaxanthin additions (100–500 mm ). The LPO in astaxanthin group (50–500 μM) gradually decreased in a dose dependent manner and among SNP or astaxanthin plus SNP group, SNP alone and astaxanthin (50 μM) plus SNP shown a significant increase than other groups (p < 0.05). Expression of apoptosis or antioxidant genes was detected by RT‐PCR. Bcl‐2 and antioxidant genes were detected in astaxanthin or astaxanthin plus SNP group, and Caspase‐3 and Bax genes were only found in SNP group. When bovine IVM/IVF embryos were cultured for 6–7 days under co‐culture system such as BOEC treated with astaxanthin in the presence or absence of SNP, the developmental ability to blastocysts in 500 μm astaxanthin group was the highest of all groups. These results suggest that astaxanthin has a antioxidative effect on cell viability and LPO of BOEC, and development of bovine IVM/IVF embryos due to the induction of antioxidant genes and suppression of apoptosis genes.     

采前处理对牛奶葡萄贮藏过程中生理生化特征的影响

以宣化牛奶葡萄的贮藏保鲜为研究对象,通过肥料组、奇宝组、益果灵组3种植物生长调节剂进行采前处理牛奶葡萄贮藏保鲜试验研究。结果表明:普通肥料组采前处理对牛奶葡萄贮藏的品质和寿命影响不显著,益果灵和奇宝2种植物调节剂对牛奶葡萄贮藏的品质和寿命的影响显著。     

Effects of Vibrio harveyi on plasma clotting protein (coagulogen) of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Blood clotting exhibits various important functions, including the prevention of body fluid loss and invasion of pathogens in shrimp. The effects of pathogenic Vibrio harveyi on plasma of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in vitro and in vivo were investigated in this study. The clotting protein (coagulogen) in plasma of white shrimp pre‐incubated with extracellular products (ECP) of V. harveyi was found apparently decreased and fast‐migrated in crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) gels. In addition, the coagulogen had been degraded to many low molecular‐weight protein bands in plasma pre‐incubated with ECP on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) gels. When pre‐challenged with bacterial cells and ECP of V. harveyi, the white shrimp began to die at about 30 and 16 h respectively. Moreover, plasma coagulogen was decreased more obvious in shrimp challenged with ECP than that with bacterial cells as visualized in CIE gels, and total plasma protein in both group of shrimp were all decreased. Haemolymph withdrawn from moribund shrimp pre‐challenged with V. harveyi or its ECP was observed unclottable. However, the addition of clotting factors (transglutaminase and/or Ca²⁺) to these unclottable plasma could apparently promote their re‐clotting ability as jelly‐like solid observed in microtubes. The recovery of clotting ability of plasma from moribund shrimp was due to the reformation of coagulogen (200 kDa) after adding the two clotting factors as shown on CIE and SDS‐PAGE gels. The present results suggest that the infection of V. harveyi in white shrimp may not only degrade coagulogen but also influence the presence of transglutaminase and Ca²⁺ ion.