Asymmetric dimethylarginine protects PC12 cells against glutamate-induced excitotoxic damage

AIM: To investigate the effects of asymmetric dimethylaoyoinine (ADMA) on glutamate-induced PC12 cell damage and its mechanisms. METHODS: PC12 cells were treated with different concentrations of glutamate as an in vitro excitotoxic trauma model. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Glutamate cytotoxicity was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. Intercellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by dihydrorhodamine123 (DHR) staining and flow cytometric (FCM) analysis. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production were detected by using commercial kits with a spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Glutamate at concentrations of 1 mmol/L to 6 mmol/L dose-dependently decreased PC12 cell viability. Pretreatment 30 min with ADMA prior to administration of glutamate significantly attenuated the inhibition of cell viability, LDH release and ROS accumulation induced by glutamate. Pretreatment with ADMA significantly inhibited the increases in NOS activity and NO production caused by glutamate. CONCLUSION: ADMA obviously protects PC12 cells against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity by inhibiting NOS activity, overproduction of NO and accumulation of intracellular ROS.     

Caelastrol and pristimerin derived from Leigongteng inhibit promoter activity of HLA-B*2705 gene

AIM: To screen the effective chemicals, which can suppress the promoter activity of the HLA-B*2705 gene as potential therapeutic agents. METHODS: The HeLa-HLA-B27, 293T-HLA-B27 stable transfectants were used to monitor the effect of 12 264 chemicals through high throughput screening (HTS). Chemicals which regulates HLA-B*2705 promoter activity more than 150% or less than 60% were picked out for the further IC50/EC50 and cell viability detection. RESULTS: (1) The primary screening used by 293T-HLA-B27 stable transfectant yielded about 5.1% hits which either suppressed (556 chemicals) or enhanced (68 chemicals) the HLA-B*2705 promoter activity. (2) A reconfirmation screening was carried out with these 624 of the candidates using transfected HeLa-HLA-B27 cells. Seventy hits were confirmed. (3) Based on the bioinformatics of those positive hits, 40 chemicals were selected for in-depth analysis by dose-response experiment and IC50/EC50 detection. Six suppressors showed potential pharmacological activities. Interestingly, two suppressors (celastrol and pristimerin) are derived from Leigongteng, a herbal medicine already used for several decades for treatment of immune regulatory and inflammatory diseases. Four active chemicals were computer designed with no relevance to the above structures. CONCLUSION: Chinese traditional herb Nansheteng and Leigongteng might be the potential drugs for HLA-B27 positive patients. These results provide new direction for research in both the therapeutics and the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis.     

Mechanism of mesenteric lymph reperfusion aggravates multiple organ injury in superior mesenteric artery occlusion shock rats

AIM: To explore the mechanism of mesenteric lymph reperfusion (MLR) aggravates multiple organ injury in superior mesenteric artery occlusion (SMAO) shock rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: in sham group, only anesthetization and operation were performed; in MLR group, occlusion of mesenteric lymphatics (ML) for 1 h followed by 2 h of reperfusion; in SMAO group, occlusion of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for 1 h followed by 2 h reperfusion; in MLR+SMAO group, occlusion of SMA and ML for 1 h followed by 2 h of reperfusion. The homogenates of liver, kidney, myocardium and lung were prepared for determining the activities of free radical, nitric oxide, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and cell membrane ATPase. RESULTS: The MDA, NO contents and NOS, MPO activities of multiple organic homogenate in SMAO and MLR+SMAO group were higher than those in sham and MLR group, and these indexes in MLR+SMAO were increased significantly than those in SMAO group. The SOD and ATPase activities of muliple organic homogenate in SMAO and MLR+SMAO group were lower than those in sham and MLR group, and those in MLR+SMAO group was decreased obviously than those in SMAO group. CONCLUSION: The MLR enhances the multiple organ free radical injury, NO synthesis and release, PMN detention and decreases the activity of cell membrane ATPase, aggravating the major organs injury in SMAO shock rats. Intestinal lymphatic pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of SMAO shock.     

樱桃番茄新品种樱红1号的选育

樱红1号是以荷兰樱桃番茄品种樱桃红为母本,以日本樱桃番茄品种ペペ为父本杂交后通过系统选育而成的早熟樱桃番茄新品种。植株无限生长类型,果实圆球形,亮红色,无绿肩,番茄红素含量46.8 mg·kg^-1,可溶性糖49.9 g·kg^-1,总酸0.58 %,VC 475 mg·kg^-1,口感佳,风味浓,果实硬,耐贮运。高抗烟草花叶病毒病（TMV）,抗根结线虫;田间表现高抗枯萎病,耐青枯病。单果质量15~20 g,每667 m²产量3 000~3 500 kg,适合全国大部分地区露地和保护地栽培。     

新疆龙蒿开花习性及花芽分化研究

通过对新疆龙蒿整个生长周期的动态观测,发现新疆龙蒿在5月下旬～7月初进行花芽分化,其过程可分为花轴分化期、花序分化期和花器官分化期;顶生花芽和侧生花芽均由营养锥分化而成;舌状花为雌花,管状花为两性花.     

早熟大白菜新品种津秋65的选育

津秋65是由自交不亲和系H38和H218配制而成的秋早熟包头型大白菜一代杂种。生育期65 d（天）左右,株高45 cm, 开展度55 cm,球高37 cm,横径14 cm,单株质量2.5 kg左右。株型紧凑,叶深绿色,叶纹适中,叶球帮色浅绿,球顶叠抱。 品质优良,对霜霉病、软腐病和病毒病的抗性强于对照秋绿60。每667 m²净菜产量4 000 kg左右,适宜河北、河南、山东、 山西、辽宁、内蒙古、陕西等地种植。     

西瓜EST资源的SSR信息分析

对5 034条西瓜无冗余EST序列进行了搜索,共检索出347个SSR,检出率为6.89 %,平均分布距离为7.49 kb。包括91种重复基元,其中二核苷酸和三核苷酸重复基元占主导地位,分别占总SSR的39.48 %和46.68 %。AT是二核苷酸中的优势基元,占二核苷酸重复类型的23.35 %。三核苷酸重复基元分布比较分散,优势基元GAA仅占三核苷酸重复类型的8.64 %。理论上表明这些EST-SSR具有较高的可用性。     

秋播小型大白菜新品种京秋娃娃菜的选育

京秋娃娃菜是由两个自交不亲和系配制而成的秋播小型大白菜一代杂种。成熟期55 d（天）,株型半直立,株高32 cm,开展度36 cm,叶色绿,外叶数8片,球叶数38片;叶球合抱,筒形,球色绿,内叶浅黄色,叶球高24 cm,直径10 cm,球形指数2.4,叶球质量0.6 kg左右,净菜率62.4 %。每667 m2净菜产量约5 000 kg。高抗病毒病,抗霜霉病和黑腐病。适合北京、河北、山东、辽宁、黑龙江、吉林、内蒙古等地秋季栽培,目前累计推广面积400 hm²。     

高等植物果实开裂相关基因的研究进展

以拟南芥为例,概述了高等植物果实形成脱落区的相关基因及下游分离基因,探讨各基因间的互作关系,以期为调控植物果实脱落奠定理论基础,为尽快解决农业实践问题提供指导.     

野菊嫩茎的组织培养

在适宜的培养条件下,利用野菊花的嫩茎作为外植体,用组织培养的方法,在MS培养基上生长良好,获得再生植株.练苗后,成活率达100%,生长势强,茎粗壮叶色浓绿.结果表明:利用组织培养的方式对野菊花进行扩繁,简便易行.