Alterations in gene expression of series key enzymes in mevalonic acid pathway detected by RNA array in spontaneously hypertensive rats

AIM: To explore the alteration in gene expressions of several enzymes in mevalonic-acid (MVA) pathway in SHR.METHODS: 294 samples of total RNA were extrated from the tissues of ventriculum, aortic smooth muscle, liver and kidney in SHR and WKY. RNA array was used to determine the mRNA level of several enzymes in mevalonic acid pathway.RESULTS: (1) Systolic blood pressure of SHR surpassed that in WKY since the 6th week (P<0.01). (2) The level of cholesterol in serum was significantly lower in SHR than that in WKY (P<0.01), while that in tissue between two bands had no difference. (3) The gene overexpressions of four enzymes in the four tissues of SHR (P<0.01), including farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FDS), isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase (IDI), farnesyltransferase alpha subunit (FT1), farnesyltransferase beta subunit (FT2), which catalyze the vital mid-productions in MVA pathway, were observed. (4) Gene overexpressions of some enzymes assayed in MVA pathway in SHR renal tissue were observed since 4th week (P<0.01), including 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl -coenzyme A reductase (HMGR), mevalonate kinase (MVK), mevalonate decarboxylase (MVD), squalene synthetase (SQS) and squalene epoxidase (SQ). (5) The gene expressions of these enzymes in ventriculum, aortic smooth muscle and liver showed no difference between two band rats, eg HMGR, MVK, MVD, SQS, SQ.CONCLUSION: The gene expressions of several enzymes in mevalonic acid non-cholesterol pathway in SHR ascend and the mechanism will be further explored.     

欧洲山芥皂苷合成关键酶基因Bv-beta-AS 克隆及表达分析

 以能够产生抗虫皂苷的高抗小菜蛾资源G 型欧洲山芥（Barbarea vulgaris R. Br.）B44 为材料,利用RACE 技术克隆出皂苷合成关键酶beta–香树脂合成酶的基因（Barbarea vulgaris beta-amyrin synthase,Bv-beta-AS）。该基因编码区序列长为2 289 bp（GenBank 登录号JQ172795）,推导其编码762个氨基酸;在基因组水平上长度为4 107 bp （GenBank 登录号JQ172796）,含有15 个内含子。Bv-beta-AS编码的氨基酸具有beta–香树脂合成酶基因家族的保守序列,即DCTAE 序列和QW 特征序列,氨基酸多序列比对和进化树分析表明,该基因与拟南芥beta–香树脂合成酶基因的相似性最高,为74%。利用荧光定量PCR 对欧洲山芥在小菜蛾诱导下该基因的表达进行研究,结果表明,该基因受虫害诱导时上调表达,但是上升到12 h 达顶峰后随时间推移呈回归的趋势。从序列特征和表达模式上推测,Bv-beta-AS 可能是抗虫皂苷合成途径的一个关键酶的基因。     

A prototype decision support system for sustainable urban tree planting programs

The prototype decision support system (PDSS) described within this paper represents one of the first of its kind in the urban forest/civil engineering research arena. The primary objective of this research was to develop a user-friendly, intuitive PDSS that provides users with tools for improved micro-management of the urban forest canopy. The secondary objective was to generate further discussion with respect to the relevance of viewing the urban forest as a municipal infrastructure, and designing and implementing sound management plans with the same rigor and attention to detail that is adhered to in the design and implementation of its civil engineering counterparts. The PDSS is divided into seven modules: (1) determination of potential native and non-native tree species available for planting; (2) defining the plantable and non-plantable areas in a defined region; (3) determination of planting locations; (4) species diversity assignment; (5) evaluating age distribution; (6) evaluating canopy cover, and (7) shadow analysis. Within each module the PDSS provides flexibility with respect to user input and constraints and for ease of use contains downloadable user reference guides. The PDSS was developed in three components, using three commonly used software programs: (1) SMODT, which is a south to south-central Ontario, Canada database of trees, developed in Microsoft Access Database; (2) ArcTrees, which is a GIS-based application that uses customized tools to map the plantable and non-plantable area in the urban environment, and (3) TreeModules, which uses a customized user interface in Microsoft Excel to carry out functions for Module 1 and Modules 3 through 7 inclusive. The PDSS uses rule-based algorithms that interact with expert knowledge and heuristics to draw inferences based on guided user inputs, through customized user-interfaces.     

柑橘CHS基因序列多态性及表达水平对类黄酮生物合成的影响

查尔酮的合成是类黄酮生物合成途径中的一个关键节点。从10个柑橘种质中克隆了查尔酮合成酶(chalcone synthase,CHS)基因,并对其不同时期的果实和叶片中的类黄酮含量进行了测定,分析了CHS基因的序列多态性与类黄酮含量之间的关系;同时通过qRT-PCR检测了CHS基因在不同种质之间以及同一种质的不同组织间的表达差异。结果表明,柑橘CHS基因的核苷酸序列高度保守,相似度达98%以上。聚类分析表明,CHS氨基酸序列的多态性有物种特异性,而且与类黄酮含量有一定的相关性。CHS基因的表达水平在不同种质、部位及生长发育时期有显著差异,这些差异与类黄酮的含量有显著的相关性,说明CHS基因对类黄酮的生物合成有明显影响。     

果实特异启动子调控薄皮甜瓜ACC合成酶cDNA反义表达载体的构建

应用反义RNA技术抑制甜瓜成熟过程中内源乙烯的合成,从而培育耐贮运品种是解决甜瓜延熟保鲜难题的可行新方法。根据GenBank中甜瓜、黄瓜ACC合成酶基因氨基酸保守序列设计引物,从成熟的薄皮甜瓜(齐甜1号)果肉组织中提取总RNA,经RT-PCR扩增得到约0.7kb的ACC合成酶cDNA片段,将其克隆到质粒载体pGEM-TEasy中,测序表明,该基因为777bp,编码258个氨基酸;从番茄(东农706)叶片组织中提取总DNA,经PCR扩增得到约2.2kb的E8基因片段,将其克隆到质粒载体pGEM-TEasy中,测序表明,该基因为2192bp;以pCAM2301为起始植物表达载体,pCAM-GT为中间载体,成功构建了果实特异启动子(E8)调控薄皮甜瓜ACC合成酶cDNA反义表达载体,采用冻融法将其转入根癌农杆菌LBA4404,得到了完整的Ti质粒表达载体系统。     

环境胁迫下大头芥花青素积累及其相关结构基因的表达

以大头芥（红叶大头芥）为试材,研究模拟干旱、低温和强光等环境胁迫下红叶大头芥中花青素含量及其与花青素合成途径中CHI、DFR和ANS等结构基因表达的关系。首先通过同源克隆法在红叶大头芥中克隆了CHI、DFR和ANS基因,其开放阅读框分别为759、1 157、1 004 bp,分别编码253、385、334个氨基酸。实时荧光定量RT-PCR结果表明,在环境胁迫下,红叶大头芥中花青素的积累和结构基因的大量表达需要一定处理时间的诱导。CHI基因在强光、低温和模拟干旱胁迫下的表达量无明显变化,且表达量极低|而DFR和ANS基因在低温、强光胁迫下的转录表达量随胁迫时间的延长而增加,对红叶大头芥中花青素的合成起到了重要的调控作用,且强光胁迫下DFR和ANS的表达量约为低温胁迫的两倍,推测低温和强光胁迫可能诱导了红叶大头芥中花青素合成途径不同的调控机制。     

High-level diterpene production by transient expression in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nicotiana benthamiana</Emphasis>

Background

Characterization of plant terpene synthases is typically done by production of recombinant enzymes in Escherichia coli. This is often difficult due to solubility and codon usage issues. Furthermore, plant terpene synthases which are targeted to the plastids, such as diterpene synthases, have to be shortened in a more or less empirical approach to improve expression. We report here an optimized Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression assay in Nicotiana benthamiana for plant diterpene synthase expression and product analysis.

Results

Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression of plant diterpene synthases in N. benthamiana led to the accumulation of diterpenes within 3 days of infiltration and with a maximum at 5 days. Over 50% of the products were exported onto the leaf surface, thus considerably facilitating the analysis by reducing the complexity of the extracts. The robustness of the method was tested by expressing three different plant enzymes, cembratrien-ol synthase from Nicotiana sylvestris, casbene synthase from Ricinus communis and levopimaradiene synthase from Gingko biloba. Furthermore, co-expression of a 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase from tomato and a geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase from tobacco led to a 3.5-fold increase in the amount of cembratrien-ol produced, with maximum yields reaching 2500 ng/cm².

Conclusion

With this optimized method for diterpene synthase expression and product analysis, a single infiltrated leaf of N. benthamiana would be sufficient to produce quantities required for the structure elucidation of unknown diterpenes. The method will also be of general use for gene function discovery, pathway reconstitution and metabolic engineering of diterpenoid biosynthesis in plants.

     

Isolation and characterization of a new d-limonene synthase gene with a different expression pattern in Citrus unshiu Marc

We isolated a new d-limonene synthase gene (CitMTSE2) from Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) and compared its mRNA expression pattern with that of the previously isolated CitMTSE1. The predicted protein of CitMTSE2 showed 84.2% identity to that of CitMTSE1 at the amino acid level and possessed the typical structure and chemical features of general monoterpene synthases, such as transit peptides in the N-terminus, sequence motifs of RR and DDXXD, and cation-dependent reactions. A functional test demonstrated that CitMTSE2 is a d-limonene synthase gene.Under different expression regulations in response to the fruit developmental stage, the mRNA expression of CitMTSE2 indicated a specificity to fruit tissue and was different from that of CitMTSE1. Occurring mainly in peel at an early stage of fruit development, the mRNA expression profile of CitMTSE2 was similar to that of d-limonene biosynthesis in C. unshiu.     

Preparation and identification of monoclonal antibodies against synthetic human inhibin α、βA、βB fragments and its preliminary application

AIM: Preparation and identification of McAbs against synthetic human inhibin α、βA、 or βB fragments and its immunohistochomical application in cancers.METHODS: The fragment of inhibin subunits α(1-26)(37-65), βA(1-28)(82-114), βΒ(1-28)(85-115) have been synthesized. Inhibin isolated from porcine follicle fluid and synthetic polypeptide fragments were used as antigen. Intraperitoneal immunization was performed on BALB/c mice, then boosted with intraspleen injection was performed 3 days prior to fusion. After fusion, selection and cloning procedures, 14 hybridoma cell lines were successfully obtained and their immunological characteristics were analyzed. After purification, McAbs were applied to immunohistochemical staining in gonadal tumors and other cancers.RESULTS: We obstained 14 stable cell lines which can secret McAbs againsting INH α、βA or βB subunit. The titre of ascites were 1×10^-4-1×10^-6. Immunohistochemical positive staining were observed in ovarian granulosa cell tumor (100%), ovarian mucinos tumor, embryonal carcinoma of the ovary, testis spermocytoma, embryonal carcinoma of the testis, In 40 samples of breast cancers, each INH subunit positive rates were over 70%.CONCLUSION: The INH's McAbs prepared by ourselves were usefull for cancer immunohistochemistry.     

遮光性套袋对黄肉桃类胡萝卜素合成及相关基因表达的影响

以‘金童6号’和‘金童8号’黄肉桃为试材,于花后60 d时套袋对果实进行遮光处理,研究遮光对果实叶绿素和类胡萝卜素积累的影响,以及类胡萝卜素合成关键基因的表达差异。结果表明：伴随果实成熟,叶绿素含量逐渐降低,且3个采样时期套袋果实中的叶绿素含量均显著低于不套袋的对照;类胡萝卜素含量逐渐升高,但未成熟期套袋果实低于对照,成熟期则显著高于对照。利用高效液相色谱（HPLC）对果肉类胡萝卜素组分的分析表明：在黄肉桃果实未成熟期,类胡萝卜素以叶黄素和β–胡萝卜素积累为主,表现出叶绿体合成途径特征;进入成熟期,有色体类胡萝卜素合成途径占据优势,形成更为稳定的酯化类隐黄质和紫黄质,并且套袋果实中酯化类胡萝卜素的积累水平明显高于对照果实。此外,分子证据表明伴随果实成熟,类胡萝卜素合成关键基因HDR（羟甲基丁烯基–4–二磷酸还原酶）、PSY1（八氢番茄红素合成酶1）、PSY2（八氢番茄红素合成酶2）、PDS（八氢番茄红素脱氢酶）和HYB（β–胡萝卜素羟化酶基因）在套袋和不套袋果实中均呈现上调表达趋势。值得注意的是,DXS（1–脱氧– D–木酮糖–5–磷酸合成酶基因）、PSY2和PDS基因在成熟期套袋果实中的表达水平低于对照,而HYB基因的表达水平显著高于对照。     

灵芝细胞中异源表达透明颤菌血红蛋白基因提高胞外多糖的产量

在灵芝(Ganoderma lingzhi)中异源表达透明颤菌血红蛋白(Vitreoscilla hemoglobin,VHb)基因,采用一氧化碳差异波谱分析的方法检测转基因菌株的生物活性,并对野生型菌株和工程菌株进行发酵,通过荧光定量PCR对灵芝多糖生物合成途径上的葡萄糖磷酸变位酶(α-phosphoglucomutase,PGM)、尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶(uridinediphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase,UGP)和β-1,3-葡聚糖合酶(β-1,3-glucan synthase,GLS)3个基因的转录水平进行分析。研究表明:透明颤菌血红蛋白基因(Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene,vgb)在灵芝中能够成功表达,并且具有生物活性;工程菌株中胞外多糖的最高产量达0.83g/L,比野生型菌株提高了88.6%;与野生型菌株相比,工程菌株中多糖生物合成途径上PGM、UGP和GLS基因的相对表达量分别是1.52、1.55和3.85。异源表达透明颤菌血红蛋白基因是提高灵芝胞外多糖产量的一种有效方法。     

辣椒素生物合成相关基因研究进展

辣椒素是一种仅在辣椒属植物中合成的十分重要的次生代谢产物,其生物合成受遗传和环境的双重影响。辣椒中辣椒素含量的高低决定辣度的大小。辣椒素类物质是由香草基胺与C9-C11支链脂肪酸合成,前者来源苯丙氨基酸途径,后者来源于缬氨酸或亮氨酸。参与辣椒素合成途径中目前已知的酶有:苯丙氨酸裂解酶(PAL)、肉桂酸水解酶(Ca4H)、对香豆酸水解酶(C3H)、咖啡酸转甲氧基酶(COMT)、氨基转移酶(pAMT)、支链氨基酸转移酶(BCAT)、β-酮脂酰-ACP合酶(KAS)、酰基运载蛋白(ACL)、酰基-ACP-硫酯酶(FAT)、去饱和酶、酰基CoA合成酶(ACS)和辣椒素合成酶(capsaicin synthase,CS)等。目前,参与辣椒素类物质生物合成的PAL、Ca4H、COMT、pAMT、KAS、ACL、FAT、ACS和CS基因已经克隆出来,相应功能也做了初步的研究。综述了辣椒素生物合成相关基因的克隆和特性研究的最新进展,并探讨了辣椒素基因研究存在的问题和今后研究的方向。     

欧洲葡萄VvMYB6正向调控花青素合成

从欧洲葡萄‘粉红亚都蜜’中克隆到1个MYB转录因子基因VvMYB6。VvMYB6蛋白定位在细胞核,其N端包含1个保守的R2R3结构域。在葡萄中,VvMYB6主要在在根、花器官及果实发育早期表达。在烟草中异位表达VvMYB6,显著促进花瓣和雄蕊中花青素的积累;代谢组分析发现,相比野生型,转基因植株花中累积高含量的飞燕草色素和矢车菊色素。转基因烟草植株中查尔酮合酶(CHS)、查尔酮异构酶(CHI)、黄烷酮4–还原酶(DFR)、花青素合酶(ANS)和UDP葡萄糖–类黄酮–O–葡萄糖基转移酶(UFGT)基因表达显著上调。结果表明VvMYB6正向调控花青素合成。     

Effects of rosiglitazone,a PPARγ ligand,on chemoprevention of MNNG-induced gastric cancer in rats

AIM: To examine the chemo-preventive effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ) ligand rosiglitazone (RSG) on a rat model of gastric carcinogenesis induced by chemical carcinogen N-methyl-N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). We also attempted to identify novel anti-cancer mechanisms of rosiglitazone.METHODS: Ninety male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into six groups: group A (control group); group B (MNNG group); group C, D and E (RSG group, given different concentrations of rosiglitazone). The treatment procedures were terminated at 40th week. Stomach was harvested and gastric carcinoma was verified by histology. The gastric cancer incidence in different groups was calculated. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the chemo-preventive effects of PPARγ ligand, we examine the gene expression profiles of MNNG induced gastric cancer and the rosiglitazone treated gastric cancer with Uniset Rat I Bioarray microarray.RESULTS: Incidence of gastric cancer in group A-E was 0% (0/10), 70% (14/20), 15% (3/20), 30% (6/20) and 30% (6/20), respectively. Gastric cancer incidence in group C, D and E was significantly lower than that in group B (P<0.01). A gene that showed prominent responses in rosiglitazone treated group was identified. The hypertension-related, calcium-regulated gene (HCaRG) was significantly upregulated in rat gastric carcinoma in rosiglitazone treated group when compared to MNNG group. The expression of HCaRG was down-regulated in human gastric cancerous tissue. CONCLUSION: PPARγ ligand rosiglitazone has a potent chemo-preventive effect against gastric cancer development in rats. Upregulation of HCaRG may be one of the mechanisms underlying the chemo-preventive effect of rosiglitazone in gastric cancer.     

Progress of silicon dioxiode induces liver cancer periphery fibrosis in experimental research

Therapeutic efficiency of advanced stage liver cancer is insufficiency, which has become the hot spot of research. Clinical observation found that prognosis of liver cancer with integrity amicula was better. It is generally accepted that silicon dioxiode (SiO2) can induce pulmonary fibrosis, resulting in the formation of pneumosilicosis. Use of SiO2 as embolism material induces hepatic fibrosis and forms the fibrosis amicula around the liver carcinoma, and then restrains the recurrence and metabasis of liver cancer, which has been turned into one of the aspect of liver carcinoma therapy. The possible mechanisms of inducing hepatic fibrosis by SiO2 are peroxidative damage by free radical, releasing of active cytokines, or inducing cell apoptosis and the activation of HSC etc.     

柿法呢基焦磷酸合酶基因的克隆与序列分析

在萜类生物合成途径中起重要作用的关键酶—法呢基焦磷酸合酶(Farnesyl Diphos-phate Synthase,FPS),对植物的生长发育、抗逆性以及次生代谢都起着重要的调节作用。通过cDNA末端快速克隆的技术(Rapid-amplification of cDNA Ends,RACE)从柿果实中克隆到法呢基焦磷酸合酶基因cDNA片段,并进行了序列的相关分析。结果表明:所克隆的FPS基因和NCBI数据库中已登录的云杉、腊梅、百合等植物FPS基因核苷酸序列的同源性分别达到88%、75%、73%,并且与香蕉、水稻、橄榄等植物FPS基因氨基酸序列的同源性分别达到72%、67%、66%。该基因已提交GenBank数据库,登录号为JN108022。     

Expression of osteopontin in endometrial carcinoma and cervical cancer

AIM: To study the expression and significance of osteopontin (OPN) in endometrial carcinoma and cervical cancer. METHODS: Immunohistochemical S-P assay was used to detect the expression of OPN in paraffin-embedded sections of 30 cases of endometrial carcinoma, 20 cases of cervical cancer and 30 cases of normal control tissues. The relationship between OPN expression and clinical-pathological characteristics was evaluated. RESULTS: The positive immunostaining rates of OPN in endometrial carcinoma (70%) and cervical cancers (55%) were significantly higher than that in the normal secretive and proliforative endometrium (50% and 10%) and normal cervical epithelium (10%), respectively (P<0.01). The positive immunostaining rate of OPN in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the cervix was 53.3% and 60%, respectively, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The positive immunostaining rate of OPN in stage Ⅲ and stage Ⅱ and G3 and G2 of endometrial carcinoma was significantly higher than that in stage Ⅰ and type G1 of endometrial carcinoma. The positive immunostaining rate of OPN in stage Ⅱb and type G3 of cervical cancer was significantly higher than that in stage Ⅰa and type G1 of cervical cancer. CONCLUSION: OPN is significantly highly expressed in both endometrial carcinoma and cervical cancer, and its expression is closely related to the stage and grading of these malignant tumors.     

Significance and alterations of p14ARF gene of CDKN2A locus in gastric cancer

AIM:To investigate the significance and changes of p14^ARF gene in gastric cancer.METHODS:The tumors and gastric tissues neighboring carcinoma from 48 patients with gastric cancer were studied. The homozygous deletions, mutations, methylation of the CpG islands, and mRNA expression of p14^ARF gene were assessed by PCR, PCR-SSCP, PCR based methylation assay, and RT-PCR.RESULTS:①The homozygous deletion rate of p14^ARF was 31.3% (15/48), and no homozygous deletions were examined in all the gastric tissues neighboring tumor. ②There were no point mutations of p14^ARF in 33 gastric cancers without homozygous deletion and in the matched gastric tissues adjacent to tumor. ③Methylation rate of the CpG islands of p14^ARF was significantly higher in gastric cancers(47.9%, 23/48) than that in gastric tissues neighboring cancer (4.2%, 2/48)(P＜0.01).④ No expression of p14^ARF mRNA was detected in 45.8%(22/48) of gastric cancers. Moreover, the negative rate (100%, 3/3) of p14^ARF mRNA of gastric cancers with the combined methylation of exons 1β and 2 was significantly higher than that (15%, 3/20) of the sole methylation of exon2(P＜0.05). CONCLUSION:p14^ARF gene is frequently inactivated by homozygous deletion and methylation of the 5' CpG islands in gastric cancer, which may play an important role in the development of gastric cancer.     

Rab1A knockdown inhibits malignant biological behaviors of breast carcinoma cells by inhibiting phosphorylation of AKT

AIM: To investigate the role of Rab1A gene in the malignant biological behaviors of breast carcinoma cells. METHODS: The expression levels of Rab1A in breast carcinoma tissues and normal adjacent tissues, and the basic expression level of Rab1A in different breast carcinoma cell lines were measured by Western blot. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting Rab1A was designed, synthetized and transfected into the breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells. After validation of efficiency of Rab1A gene expression knock-down, the malignant biological behaviors of the MDA-MB-231 cells were measured by CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay, Transwell assay and flow cytometry. The protein levels were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Rab1A was expressed in normal breast tissue and cells at low level, and at high level in the cancer tissues and cancer cells (P<0.05). Compare with control group, after knock-down of Rab1A expression, the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells was significantly inhibited (P<005), the abilities of migration and invasion were reduced (P<0.05), the apoptosis was decreased (P<0.05), the percentage of G²/M phase was increased, the protein levels of p53, Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and PTEN were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the protein levels of Bcl-2, cyclin D1, cyclin B1, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), p-AKT and mTOR were significantly decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Rab1A modulates the breast carcinoma cell viability, inhibits the migration and invasion abilities, induces G² arrest and effectively regulates the cell growth-, cell cycle-and apoptosis-related proteins. Knock-down of Rab1A expression inhibits the evolution and development of breast cancer by inhibiting the phosphorylation of AKT pathway, and Rab1A may function as a potential target in breast carcinoma treatment.