HDAC1和HDAC2对小鼠卵母细胞组蛋白去乙酰化的作用

旨在探索组蛋白去乙酰化酶1 (histone deacetylase 1,HDAC1)和组蛋白去乙酰化酶2 (histone deacetylase 2,HDAC2)在卵母细胞减数分裂期组蛋白去乙酰化过程中的作用。首先利用免疫荧光技术,检测HDAC1与HDAC2在体细胞及卵母细胞不同时期的表达分布,然后分别利用抑制剂抑制HDAC1和HDAC2的活性,观察其对卵母细胞组蛋白去乙酰化的作用。结果:HDAC1与HDAC2分布在间期的体细胞和卵母细胞的细胞核中,但分裂期细胞中只有卵母细胞染色体上存在HDAC1的表达,抑制酶活性后该HDAC1的表达也消失;在小鼠卵母细胞第一次减数分裂双线期(germinal vesicle stage,GV期)卵母细胞体外成熟液中添加TSA (trichostatin A,HDACs广谱抑制剂)、Pyroxamide (HDAC1特异性抑制剂)、Santacruzamate A (HDAC2特异性抑制剂),发现Pyroxamide和Santacruzamate A均能显著抑制卵母细胞减数分裂过程中组蛋白乙酰化修饰的去除,但未能达到广谱抑制剂的抑制效果。研究表明,小鼠卵母细胞在减数分裂组蛋白去乙酰化过程中,HDAC1和HDAC2均具有组蛋白去乙酰化的作用,且与HDAC2相比,HDAC1发挥着主要的去乙酰化作用,这为组蛋白去乙酰化作用机理提供理论参考。     

Functions of histone H2A variants

One way that cells alter their chromatin structure is by incorporating histone variants into their nucleosomes. Unlike canonical histones, which are deposited behind the replication fork during the S‐phase of cell division, the accumulation of histone variants is independent of DNA replication. However, among the histone variants, H2A variants play an important role in DNA replication, damage repair, recombination and gene expression. This paper provides a review of H2A histone variants and their functions, exchange in the chromatin and depositional modes by specific chaperones.     

NLRP9B protein is dispensable for oocyte maturation and early embryonic development in the mouse

Nlrp9a, Nlrp9b and Nlrp9c are preferentially expressed in oocytes and early embryos in the mouse. Simultaneous genetic ablation of Nlrp9a and Nlrp9c does not affect early embryonic development, but the function of Nlrp9b in the process of oocyte maturation and embryonic development has not been elucidated. Here we show that both Nlrp9b mRNA and its protein are expressed in ovaries and the small intestine. Moreover, the NLRP9B protein was restricted to oocytes in the ovary and declined with oocyte aging. After ovulation and fertilization, NLRP9B protein was found in preimplantation embryos. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that it was mainly localized in the cytoplasm in the oocytes and blastomeres. Thus, this protein might play a role in oocyte maturation and early embryonic development. However, knockdown of Nlrp9b expression in GV-stage oocytes using RNA interference did not affect oocyte maturation or subsequent parthenogenetic development after Nlrp9b-deficient oocytes were activated. Furthermore, Nlrp9b knockdown zygotes could reach the blastocyst stage after being cultured for 3.5 days in vitro. These results provide the first evidence that the NLRP9B protein is dispensable for oocyte maturation and early embryonic development in the mouse.     

Quercetin supports bovine preimplantation embryo development under oxidative stress condition via activation of the Nrf2 signalling pathway

Nrf2 is a master regulator for antioxidant machinery against oxidative stress in bovine preimplantation embryos. The endogenous or exogenous modulation of Nrf2-KEAP1 system in bovine embryos may contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms behind the response of embryos to stress conditions. Therefore, here we aimed to investigate the protective effect of quercetin on bovine preimplantation embryos exposed to higher atmospheric oxygen concentration. For that, blastocysts, which were developed from zygotes cultured in media supplemented with or without quercetin under high oxygen level (20%), were subjected intracellular ROS level and mitochondrial analysis, and determining blastocyst formation rate and total cell number. Moreover, mRNA and protein expression level of Nrf2 and selected downstream antioxidant genes were investigated in the resulting blastocysts. Quercetin supplementation in vitro culture did not affect cleavage and blastocyst rate until day 7. However, quercetin supplementation resulted in higher blastocyst total cell number and reduction of intracellular ROS level accompanied by increasing mitochondrial activity compared with control group in both day 7 and day 8 blastocysts. Moreover, quercetin supplementation induced mRNA and protein of Nrf2 with subsequent increase in the expression of downstream antioxidants namely: NQO1, PRDX1, CAT and SOD1 antioxidants. In conclusion, quercetin protects preimplantation embryos against oxidative stress and improves embryo viability through modulation of the Nrf2 signalling pathway.     

用单胚mRNA差显方法克隆羊早期胚胎发育阻滞形成的相关基因

为探讨山羊体外培养胚胎发育阻滞的发生机理,用单胚mRNA差异显示技术,对来源于体内发育和体外培养的山羊早期8~16细胞期胚胎的基因表达进行了研究,获得体内发育胚胎特异表达的一些片段,并对其中1个片段进行了分析。结果表明,该片段与犬信号肽酶复合体25亚基(SPC25)基因具有92%的同源性。SPC蛋白可通过切除相关前体蛋白的信号肽,成为成熟的分泌蛋白而影响和作用于早期胚胎发育过程。该基因可望对克服早期胚胎发育阻滞有重要作用。     

KDM2B在小鼠卵母细胞及早期胚胎发育过程中的表达分析

本研究旨在分析KDM2B在小鼠卵母细胞和早期胚胎中的表达规律,为KDM2B在卵母细胞减数分裂及胚胎发育过程中的生物学作用奠定基础。选择20只6～8周龄小鼠为试验动物,收集GV期、MⅡ期卵母细胞、2-细胞、4-细胞、8-细胞、囊胚各阶段胚胎,根据GenBank上已公布的小鼠(Mus musculus)KDM2B序列设计引物,采用实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)检测KDM2B在胚胎各阶段mRNA的表达水平;通过免疫荧光染色定位KDM2B蛋白在胚胎各阶段的分布。结果显示,GV期卵母细胞KDM2B mRNA的表达量极显著高于MⅡ期(P<0.01);在2-细胞、4-细胞和8-细胞mRNA表达量较低,囊胚期其表达量极显著升高(P<0.01);卵母细胞成熟过程中,KDM2B在GV期主要表达于细胞核中,MⅡ期卵母细胞核中的荧光信号极显著减弱(P<0.01),早期胚胎发育过程中,KDM2B蛋白在2-细胞、4-细胞、8-细胞胚胎中均不表达,囊胚期重新表达于细胞核。综上表明,本研究成功建立KDM2B在小鼠卵母细胞及胚胎细胞中的时空及时序表达模式,关于KDM2B参与调控减数分裂与胚胎发育过程具体的作用机制有待进一步研究。     

神经介素B及其受体NMBR参与抗A型流感病毒H1N1亚型感染的信号通路

NMB/NMBR通过调节A型流感病毒（IAV/H1N1/PR8）感染诱导的细胞因子表达而参与抗IAV的先天性免疫反应。为探究其发挥抗IAV/H1N1感染的信号通路,本文用PR8和WSN毒株分别感染MLE-12细胞和小鼠,用NF-κB抑制剂BAY11-7028单独或联合NMB处理MLE-12细胞,小鼠后腿肌内注射NMB和NMBRA,采用RT-PCR和qRT-PCR分析NMB、NMBR、IL-6、IFN-α和NP基因表达变化,采用Western blot分析NMB、NMBR、P65/p-P65、IκBα和NP蛋白表达的变化。结果显示,BAY11-7028可促使PR8和WSN感染的MLE-12细胞中NMB、NMBR、IL-6和IFN-α基因表达水平均下降和NP基因表达水平上升,并降低NMB、NMBR和p-P65蛋白表达水平和提升IκBα和NP蛋白表达水平。然而,NMB联合BAY 11-7028诱导PR8或WSN感染后的细胞中IL-6和NP表达出现极显著下降和IFN-α显著上升。此外,NMB抑制PR8和WSN感染的小鼠肺组织内p-P65和NP蛋白表达水平和促进IκBα蛋白表达水平;NMBRA联合NMB抵消NMB对PR8或WSN感染后的这些蛋白表达水平的调节作用。综上表明,NMB/NMBR通过调节PR8和WSN感染的MLE-12细胞和小鼠体内的NF-κB信号通路上P65蛋白磷酸化和IκBα的表达,进而影响下游细胞因子IL-6和IFN-α基因的表达,从而发挥抗IAV/H1N1感染的先天性免疫应答反应。     

干扰素对鸡胚内H9N2亚型禽流感病毒滴度的影响

为探讨干扰素在动物上的运用,笔者利用H9N2亚型禽流感病毒与不同剂量干扰素（IFN）一起接种鸡胚,运用HA方法测定病毒效价,研究了干扰素干扰H9N2亚型禽流感病毒在鸡胚内增殖的情况,试验结果表明,高中低剂量干扰素都有抑制病毒增殖的作用,而3个试验组之间没有明显差异（P>0.05）。但是在一定的时间内,高剂量组干扰素与中低剂量组相比能够明显的抑制病毒增殖,表明高剂量组干扰素在一定时间内抑制H9N2禽流感病毒的作用比较明显,这在生产中有一定的应用价值。     

Multiple amino acid substitutions are involved in the adaptation of H9N2 avian influenza virus to mice

To explore adaptation of avian influenza virus to mice we previously performed serial lung-to-lung passages of the influenza A/Chicken/Jiangsu/7/2002 (H9N2) strain, resulting in the isolation of a variant influenza strain lethal for mice. We now report that virulence correlates with improved growth characteristics on mammalian cells and extended tissue tropism in vivo. Sequencing of the complete genomes of the wild-type and mouse-adapted viruses revealed 25 amino acid substitutions. Some were found to reiterate known substitutions in human and swine H9N2 influenza isolates. Functions affected include nuclear localization signals and sites of protein and RNA interaction, while others are known determinants of pathogenicity and host specificity such as the viral polymerase PB2 E627K substitution. These observations suggest that enhanced growth characteristics and modified cell tropism may contribute to increased virulence in mice. We conclude that multiple amino acid substitutions are likely to be involved in the adaptation of H9N2 avian influenza virus to mice.     

Demands for carbohydrates as major energy substrates depend on the preimplantation developmental stage in pig embryos: Differential use of fructose by parthenogenetic diploids before and after the 4-cell stage in the pig

The embryo culture technique has been improving, but the detailed demands for energy substrates such as glucose, fructose, pyruvate and lactate of preimplantation embryos are still unclear. In the present study, the demands of pig preimplantation embryos at each different developmental stage were investigated by use of parthenogenetic diploids as a model of pig preimplantation embryos. Pig parthenogenetic diploids showed different use of glucose and fructose before and after the 4-cell stage. Although glucose supported the development of pig embryos throughout the preimplantation stages and even maintained the expansion and hatching of blastocysts, it suppressed development to the blastocyst stage when glucose coexisted with pyruvate and lactate from 4 h after activation, but not after 48 h (early 4-cell stage). Since ketohexokinase that metabolizes fructose was not expressed in 2-cell and 4-cell diploids, a medium that included only fructose as a major energy substrate did not support early cleavage of pig diploids beyond the 4-cell stage, and almost no diploids developed to the morula stage just as in a medium without carbohydrates. These results may explain the different suppressive effects on pig preimplantation development between glucose and fructose when pyruvate and lactate were present in a medium. In addition, 4-cell diploids that had been cultured in a medium with pyruvate and lactate developed to the expanded blastocyst stage without any carbohydrates as a major energy substrate. These results show that the demands for carbohydrates are different depending on the developmental stage in pig preimplantation embryos.     

猪流感病毒H1N1、H1N2和H3N2亚型多重RT-PCR诊断方法的建立

对我国分离到的猪流感病毒和GenBank数据库中已有的猪流感病毒H1N1、H1N2和H3N2亚型毒株的HA、NA基因核苷酸序列进行分析,分别选出各个病毒亚型HA和NA基因中高度保守且特异的核苷酸区域,设计扩增猪流感病毒H1和H3、N1和N2亚型的2套多重PCR特异性引物,建立了猪流感H1N1、H1N2和H3N2亚型病毒多重RT-PCR诊断方法。采用该方法对H1N1、H1N2、H3N2亚型猪流感病毒标准参考株进行RT-PCR检测,结果均呈阳性,对扩增得到的片段进行序列测定和BLAST比较,表明为目的基因片段。其它几种常见猪病病毒和其它亚型猪流感病毒的RT-PCR扩增结果都呈阴性。对107EID50/0.1mL病毒进行稀释,提取RNA进行敏感性试验,RT-PCR最少可检测到102EID50的病毒量核酸。对40份阳性临床样品的检测结果是H1N1、H1N2和H3N2亚型分别为16份、1份和20份,其它3份样品同时含有H1N1和H3N2亚型猪流感病毒,和鸡胚分离病毒结果100%一致。试验证明建立的猪流感病毒H1N1、H1N2和H3N2亚型多重RT-PCR诊断方法是一种特异敏感的诊断方法,可用于临床样品的早期快速诊断和分型。     

Significance of CCN2 expression in bovine preimplantation development

In mammalian preimplantation development, the first cell lineage segregation occurs during the blastocyst stage, when the inner cell mass and trophectoderm (TE) differentiate. Species‐specific analyses are essential to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underlie this process, since they differ between various species. We previously showed that the reciprocal regulation of CCN2 and TEAD4 is required for proper TE differentiation in bovine blastocysts; however, the function of CCN2 during early embryogenesis has remained otherwise elusive. The present study assessed the spatiotemporal expression dynamics of CCN2 in bovine embryos, and evaluated how changes to CCN2 expression (using a CCN2 knockdown (KD) blastocyst model) regulate the expression of pluripotency‐related genes such as OCT4 and NANOG. The conducted quantitative PCR analysis revealed that CCN2 mRNA was expressed in bovine oocytes (at the metaphase stage of their second meiosis) and embryos. Similarly, immunostaining detected both cytoplasmic and nuclear CCN2 at all analyzed oocyte and embryonic stages. Finally, both OCT4 and NANOG expression levels were shown to be significantly reduced in CCN2 KD blastocysts. Together, these results demonstrate that bovine CCN2 exhibits unique expression patterns during preimplantation development, and is required for the proper expression of key regulatory genes in bovine blastocysts.     

Cleavage-embryo genes and transposable elements are regulated by histone variant H2A.X

During mammalian preimplantation development, stimulation of zygotic genome activation (ZGA) and transposable elements (TEs) shapes totipotency profiling. A rare mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) subpopulation is capable of transiently entering a state resembling 2-cell stage embryos, with subtypes of TEs expressed and ZGA genes transiently activated. In this study, we found that deletion of H2A.X in mESCs led to a significant upregulation of ZGA genes and misregulated TEs. ChIP-seq analysis indicated a direct association of H2A.X at the Dux locus for silencing the Dux gene and its downstream ZGA genes in mESCs. We also demonstrated that histone variant H2A.X is highly enriched in human cleavage embryos when ZGA genes and TEs are active. Therefore, we propose that H2A.X plays an important role in regulating ZGA genes and TEs to establish totipotency.     

间隙连接蛋白Cx43和Cx45在体外受精绵羊早期胚胎中的表达

为了研究间隙连接蛋白Cx43和Cx45在体外受精绵羊胚胎早期发育过程各阶段的表达情况，利用RT—PCR扩增得到绵羊。Cx43（43ku）及Cx45（45ku）基因的mRNA，并进行序列测定。收集绵羊未成熟和成熟卵母细胞以及体外受精早期胚胎各发育阶段的卵裂球细胞，通过RT—PCR半定量检测Cx43和Cx45基因的mRNA表达量；通过免疫组织化学方法结合激光扫描共聚焦显微镜检测Cx43和Cx45蛋白在绵羊体外受精的早期胚胎发育过程中的表达情况及表达区域。结果表明，在绵羊卵母细胞成熟过程以及早期胚胎发育的各个时期，Cx43及Cx45在mRNA水平和蛋白水平均有表达；Cx43、Cx45蛋白主要分布在细胞膜表面，在细胞质和细胞核中表达微弱。研究结果为进一步探索Cx43和Cx45在绵羊早期胚胎发育过程中的作用提供了试验数据。     

H2O2与Fe2+、Cu2+、Zn2+协同作用对桑自由基伤害和保护酶活性的影响

研究了H2O2与Fe2+等金属离子产生的自由基胁迫对桑树生理特性的影响,旨在为桑树的抗逆栽培提供理论参考。以桑树叶片为材料,研究H2O2与Fe2+、Cu2+、Zn2+协同作用对桑自由基伤害和保护酶活性的影响。结果表明:经H2O2-Fe2+、H2O2-Cu2+和H2O2-Zn2+3种体系溶液处理的桑.OH含量分别提高34.38%、8.14%和5.43%;O2.-含量分别降低78.77%、54.75%和63.84%;1,1-二苯基苦基苯肼(DPPH)清除率分别降低44.60%、57.34%和54.64%;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性分别提高44.45%、36.02%和28.28%;多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性分别降低68.18%、86.58%和54.78%;过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性分别降低97.46%、96.57%和68.02%;过氧化物酶(POD)活性分别降低22.22%、提高7.42倍和66.67%。H2O2与Fe2+等的协同作用破坏了桑细胞内自由基动态平衡,导致自由基含量提高,保护酶活性受到显著影响。