The effect of M‐phase stage‐dependent kinase inhibitors on inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor 1 (IP3R1) expression and localization in pig oocytes

At fertilization, inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor type 1 (IP₃R1) has a crucial role in Ca²⁺ release in mammals. Expression levels, localization and phosphorylation of IP₃R1 are important for its function, but it still remains unclear which molecule(s) regulates IP₃R1 behavior in pig oocytes. We examined whether there was a difference in localization of IP₃R1 after in vitro or in vivo maturation of pig oocytes. In mouse oocytes, large clusters of IP₃R1 were formed in the cortex of the oocyte except in a ring‐shaped band of cortex adjacent to the spindle. However, no such clusters of IP₃R1 were observed in pig oocytes and there was no difference in its localization between in vitro and in vivo matured oocytes. We next tried to clarify which factor(s) regulates IP₃R1 localization, phosphorylation and expression using M‐phase stage‐dependent kinase inhibitors. Our results show that treatments with roscovitine (p34^cdc2 kinase inhibitor) or U0126 (mitogen‐activated protein kinase inhibitor) did not affect IP₃R1 expression or localization in pig oocytes, although the latter strongly inhibited phosphorylation. However, treatment with BI‐2536, an inhibitor of polo‐like kinase 1 (Plk1), dramatically decreased the expression level of IP₃R1 in pig oocytes in a dose‐dependent manner. From these results, it is suggested that Plk1 is involved in the regulation of IP₃R1 expression in pig oocytes.     

Astragalus polysaccharides improve chronic heart failure by promoting myocardial FFA metabolism via AMPK pathway

AIM: To investigate the effect of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on chronic heart failure and its mechanism. METHODS: Male SD rats (n=32) were randomly divided into control group, sham group, model group and APS group (8 rats in each group). The left coronary artery ligation in the rats was conducted to establish myocardial infarction heart failure model. After modeling, the rats in APS group were given APS (3 g·kg^-1·d^-1) by intragastric administration for 6 weeks. Left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVD), left ventricular systolic diameter (LVS), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional shortening (FS) were detected by echocardiography. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes. The concentrations of free fatty acid (FFA) in the serum and myocardium were observed by the method of acetyl coenzyme A synthetase and acetyl coenzyme A oxidase (ACS-ACOD). The protein levels of total AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT-1) were measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: No significant difference in each index between sham group and control group was observed. Compared with control group, LVEF and FS in model group was significantly decreased, while LVD and LVS was significantly increased (P<0.05). The LVEF and FS in APS group were significantly improved compared with model group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between APS group and control group. LVD and LVS in APS group were obviously improved compared with mo-del group (P<0.05), and the difference was significant compared with control group (P<0.05). Compared with control group, focal myocardial necrosis increased, and residual myocardial cells reduced in model group, while those was much better in APS group as compared with model group (P<0.05). The FFA concentrations in the serum and myocardium in model group increased significantly compared with control group (P<0.05), while those decreased significantly in APS group as compared with model group (P<0.05). The protein levels of p-AMPK, CPT-1, and cell membrane FAT/CD36 in model group decreased significantly compared with control group (P<0.05), and those in APS group increased obviously compared with control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: APS improves chronic heart failure by activating the AMPK pathway and promoting myocardial ingestion and utiliation of FFA.     

Role of PAR-2 in tryptase mediated IEC-6 cell injury

AIM: To investigate the role of protease activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) in the process of tryptase mediated IEC-6 cell injury. METHODS: The rat intestinal epithelial cell line IEC-6 was treated with tryptase at different concentrations (1 μg/L, 10 μg/L, 100 μg/L and 1 000 μg/L) in the presence or absence of PAR-2 antagonist FSLLRY-NH2 for 12 h respectively. The cell survival rate was detected by MTT assay. The protein levels of PAR-2 and cleaved-caspase 3 were determined by Western blotting. The LDH activity was also measured. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the cell survival rates were significantly decreased in 100 μg/L and 1 000 μg/L tryptase treated groups, the LDH activities were significantly increased in 10 μg/L to 1 000 μg/L tryptase treated groups, and the protein levels of PAR-2 and cleaved caspase 3 were significantly increased in 100 μg/L and 1 000 μg/L tryptase treated groups (P<0.05). Compared with 1 000 μg/L tryptase treated group, the LDH activity and cleaved caspase 3 protein level were dramatically decreased while the survival rate was significantly increased in the presence of PAR-2 antagonist FSLLRY-NH2 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Tryptase induces IEC-6 cell injury in a dose-dependent manner by activating PAR-2.     

Role of TGF-β1-activated p38 MAPK in up-regulation of PAI-1 expression by TGF-β1 in human ovarian cancer cells

AIM: To investigate the relationship between up-regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) expression and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) pathways by TGF-β1 in human ovarian cancer cells. METHODS: PAI-1 expression in human ovarian cancer cells treated with TGF-β1(10 μg/L)was assayed by real-time PCR and Western blotting. The activation of p38 MAPK and ERK was determined by Western blotting using phosphorylated p38 MAPK and phosphorylated ERK antibodies. Specific p38 MAPK inhibitor(SB203580) or ERK inhibitor(PD98059) was used to inhibit their activation. RESULTS: TGF-β1 up-regulated the expression of PAI-1, and activated p38 MAPK and ERK pathways in the ovarian cancer cells. Inhibition of p38 MAPK activation by SB203580 resulted in significant inhibition of the mRNA expression of PAI-1 induced by TGF-β1. However, inhibition of ERK activation did not significantly alter TGF-β1-induced increase in PAI-1 mRNA level. CONCLUSION: TGF-β1-activated p38 MAPK pathway contributes to the up-regulation of PAI-1 expression by TGF-β1 in ovarian cancer cells.     

Chemerin promotes proliferation of mouse vascular smooth muscle cells by up-regulating p-JNK

AIM: To investigate the proliferation property of stable chemerin gene knockdown vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: The normal VSMCs, chemerin gene interfering control VSMCs and stable chemerin gene knockdown VSMCs were divided into normal group, PDGF group, control group and knockdown group. The VSMCs in PDGF group were given platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) to initiate proli-feration. The cell counting and BrdU assay were employed to investigate the proliferation property of VSMCs. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: The cell number and BrdU A value in PDGF-BB-treated VSMCs significantly increased as compared with the normal VSMCs(CONCLUSION: Chemerin promotes the proliferation of mouse vascular smooth muscle cells by up-regulating p-JNK production.     

设施油桃果实发育过程中有机酸代谢的研究

以设施栽培"超红珠"油桃为试材,测定了果实发育过程有机酸含量及相关代谢酶——柠檬酸合酶(CS)、苹果酸酶(ME)、苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)的活性,并对果实中有机酸积累及酶活性的关系进行了分析。研究结果表明:随油桃果实发育,其有机酸含量呈先升高后降低趋势,于盛花后49d达到最高值;苹果酸含量与总有机酸含量变化趋势相似;柠檬酸含量呈逐渐升高趋势,至果实成熟有所降低;果实成熟期苹果酸与柠檬酸含量相近。有机酸相关代谢酶CS活性变化与柠檬酸含量相关性不大;果实发育后期ME活性逐渐升高,促进了苹果酸的降解和转化;MDH活性变化与苹果酸含量显著相关。因此抑制果实发育前期MDH的活性、促进果实发育后期ME的活性可以降低果实酸含量,提高糖酸比。     

Cloning of Thymidine Kinase Gene of Duck Plague Virus Using Degenerate PCR

The DNA of duck plague virus （DPV） thymidine kinase （TK） gene was cloned and sequenced from a vaccine virus in the study. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers for the consensus site of herpesvirus UL24, TK, and glycoprotein H（gH） gene were used in the polymerase chain reaction （PCR） to amplify DNA product with 3 741-base-pairs （bp） in size. DNA sequence analysis revealed a 1 077-base-pairs （bp） open reading frame （ORF） encoding a 358 amino acid polypeptide homologous to herpesvirus TK proteins. The predicted TK protein shared 31.2, 41.3, 35.7, 37.4, and 28.4% identity with herpes simplex virus typel, equine herpesvirus type 4, Marek＇s disease virus 2, herpesvirus turkey, and infectious laryngotracheitis virus, respectively. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of other herpesvirus TK proteins showed that these proteins were not conserved on the whole, otherwise the portion of the TK proteins corresponding to the nucleotide binding domain and the nucleoside binding site were highly conserved among herpesvirus. Comparison with the amino acid sequences of the conserved nucleotide and nucleoside binding domains of other eleven herpesvirus TK proteins to the predicted DPV peptide confirmed its identity as the DPV TK protein.     

丝兰皂甙对绵羊瘤胃酶活及日粮养分48 h降解率的影响

将12只装有永久性瘘管的成年雄性东北细毛羊随机分为4组,分别饲喂含0,100,200和300 m g/kg丝兰皂甙的饲粮,研究了不同水平丝兰皂甙对绵羊瘤胃内纤维素酶、总脱氢酶活性的影响,及其对全混合日粮有机物(OM)、干物质(DM)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)48 h瘤胃降解率的影响。结果表明,各试验组绵羊瘤胃内的总脱氢酶平均活性依次为95.62,97.36,99.48和101.54 U/mL,与对照组(第1组)相比,第4组总脱氢酶活性提高了6.2%;纤维素酶平均活性第2、3和4组分别较对照组(44.66 U/mL)提高了5.2%,8.5%和16.7%,其中第4组同1、2组相比达显著水平(P<0.05),第1、2、3组间差异不显著(P>0.05);第2、3、4组OM瘤胃48 h降解率分别为59.90%,62.28%和64.65%,均高于对照组的58.74%,其中第4组高于对照组10.06%,二者差异显著(P<0.05);DM和NDF 48 h降解率均以第4组最高,分别为57.54%和34.12%,显著高于对照组的13.07%和13.06%;1~4组ADF 48 h降解率虽有上升趋势,但4组间差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

甜菜碱醛脱氢酶基因转化速生杨107的研究

利用农杆菌介导法将甜菜碱醛脱氢酶(BADH)基因导入速生杨107号中,以提高其耐盐性.对650个叶盘进行抗生素筛选获得25株抗性芽,PCR检测表明,BADH基因已整合到其中10株的基因组中.耐盐筛选结果表明,转基因植株在NaCl浓度为50、100mmol/L的生根培养基上生长情况均好于未转化植株;相对电导率测定结果表明,在同等盐胁迫下转基因植株细胞膜较未转化植株能更好的保持其完整性.     

蔷薇科果树中山梨醇代谢的酶

介绍了参与山梨醇代谢的三种酶。6-磷酸山梨醇脱氢酶催化6-磷酸葡萄糖和6-磷酸山梨醇之间的可逆反应,主要存在于叶片中,对山梨醇的合成起重要作用,而几乎不参与山梨醇的氧化;山梨醇脱氢酶主要存在于果实中,在NAD~+或NADP~+存在下催化山梨醇向果糖或葡萄糖的转化;山梨醇氧化酶则氧化山梨醇转化为葡萄糖。这三种酶的性质和季节性变化具有不同特点。