Amino acid sequences of α-skeletal muscle actin isoforms in two species of rattail fish, Coryphaenoides acrolepis and Coryphaenoides cinereus

SUMMARY: The cDNA clones of α-skeletal actins were isolated from the skeletal muscle of two species of rattail fish, Coryphaenoides acrolepis and Coryphaenoides cinereus . The complete nucleotide sequences of the cDNA and their deduced amino acid sequences were determined. Each of the two species had two α-skeletal actin cDNA. The nucleotide sequences of the coding region of the two α-skeletal actin isoform genes within each species had 92.0 and 91.8% homology. From the cDNA sequences of the four α-skeletal actin isoforms in the two species, amino acid sequences of 377 amino acid residues were deduced. It was predicted that the two N-terminal amino acid residues of each protein are processed after translation. The amino acid sequences of α-skeletal actin 1 in the two Coryphaenoides species were identical, as were the amino acid sequences of α-skeletal actin 2 in the two species. The amino acid sequences of the two α-actin isoforms, α-skeletal actin 1 and α-skeletal actin 2, differed by only a single amino acid, Ala/Ser at the 155th position. Northern blot analysis showed that a similar amount of each of the two α-actin isoform mRNA was expressed in the skeletal muscle of the two Coryphaenoides species.     

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Modulate Weibel-Palade Body Degranulation and Actin Cytoskeleton Rearrangement in PMA-Stimulated Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFAs) produce cardiovascular benefits by improving endothelial function. Endothelial cells store von Willebrand factor (vWF) in cytoplasmic Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs). We examined whether LC n-3 PUFAs regulate WPB degranulation using cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs were incubated with or without 75 or 120 µM docosahexaenoic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid for 5 days at 37 °C. WPB degranulation was stimulated using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), and this was assessed by immunocytochemical staining for vWF. Actin reorganization was determined using phalloidin-TRITC staining. We found that PMA stimulated WPB degranulation, and that this was significantly reduced by prior incubation of cells with LC n-3 PUFAs. In these cells, WPBs had rounded rather than rod-shaped morphology and localized to the perinuclear region, suggesting interference with cytoskeletal remodeling that is necessary for complete WPB degranulation. In line with this, actin rearrangement was altered in cells containing perinuclear WPBs, where cells exhibited a thickened actin rim in the absence of prominent cytoplasmic stress fibers. These findings indicate that LC n-3 PUFAs provide some protection against WBP degranulation, and may contribute to an improved understanding of the anti-thrombotic effects previously attributed to LC n-3 PUFAs.     

Cloning and expression analysis of the ATP-binding cassette transporter gene MFABC1 and the alternative oxidase gene MfAOX1 from Monilinia fructicola

Brown rot, caused by Moniliniafructicola (G Wint) Honey, is a serious disease of peach in all commercial peach production areas in the USA, including South Carolina where it has been primarily controlled by pre-harvest application of 14-alpha demethylation (DMI) fungicides for more than 15 years. Recently, the Qo fungicide azoxystrobin was registered for brown rot control and is currently being investigated for its potential as a DMI fungicide rotation partner because of its different mode of action. In an effort to investigate molecular mechanisms of DMI and Qo fungicide resistance in M fructicola, the ABC transporter gene MfABC1 and the alternative oxidase gene MfAOX1 were cloned to study their potential role in conferring fungicide resistance. The MfABC1 gene was 4380 bp in length and contained one intron of 71 bp. The gene revealed high amino acid homologies with atrB from Aspergillus nidulans (Eidam) Winter, an ABC transporter conferring resistance to many fungicides, including DMI fungicides. MfABC1 gene expression was induced after myclobutanil and propiconazole treatment in isolates with low sensitivity to the same fungicides, and in an isolate with high sensitivity to propiconazole. The results suggest that the MfABC1 gene may be a DMI fungicide resistance determinant in M fructicola. The alternative oxidase gene MfAOX1 from M fructicola was cloned and gene expression was analyzed. The MfAOX1 gene was 1077 bp in length and contained two introns of 54 and 67 bp. The amino acid sequence was 63.8, 63.8 and 57.7% identical to alternative oxidases from Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) Winter, Aspergillus niger van Teighem and A nidulans, respectively. MfAOX1 expression in some but not all M fructicola isolates was induced in mycelia treated with azoxystrobin. Azoxystrobin at 2 microg ml(-1) significantly induced MfAOX1 expression in isolates with low MfAOX1 constitutive expression levels.     

Haemangiopericytoma: histological spectrum, immunohistochemical characterization and prognosis

Canine haemangiopericytoma (CHP) is a vascular neoplasm thought to be derived from pericytes. The histological pattern and immunohistochemical profile were studied in 31 CHPs. Twenty-three subjects were followed for 2 years to evaluate the correlation among tumour location, histotype, immunostaining and outcome of the disease. Of the 31 CHPs examined, 20 exhibited a perivascular whorled pattern, 8 were storiform and 3 were epithelioid. All tumours were positive for vimentin and negative for cytokeratin, factor VIII-related antigen, glial fibrillary acidic protein and S-100 protein. Seventeen CHPs were positive for actin and nine co-expressed desmin. Six CHPs were also positive for CD34 antigen. The panel of immunohistochemical markers used confirmed the vascular lineage of CHP and aided in the exclusion of other mesenchymal tumours. Of the 23 dogs submitted to follow-up, 6 had recurrence or metastases of the primary tumour. The epithelioid pattern or a noncutaneous location were associated with a poorer prognosis.     

中华羊茅 Epichloё内生真菌的actin 序列分析

Epichloё内生真菌与禾本科植物很常见。现已有大量关于禾草Epichloё内生真菌系统演化研究的报道,但是尚未发现中华羊茅所带Epichloё内生真菌系统演化方面的研究。本研究经过检测采自青海、甘肃、四川等地中华羊茅8个种群的Epichloё内生真菌带菌率发现8个种群的Epichloё内生真菌均带有Epichloё内生真菌,带菌率为100%。该结果为研究中华羊茅所带Epichloё内生真菌系统演化的研究提供了优良的材料。因此,本研究通过克隆actin(act)序列,并与已报道Epichloё内生真菌act序列构建系统进化树。结果表明,供试菌act序列在进化树上成单支分布,表明该菌属于同一种Epichloё内生真菌,且可能是一个新种。此外,遗传距离分析也证明了供试菌为同一菌种。进化关系同时发现分布在相同或相近地理位置的Epichloё内生真菌聚集在同一个分支,表明它们之间的亲缘关系较近,表明Epichloё内生真菌亲缘关系与宿主采集地密切相关。     

Internal standards for mRNA quantitative expression in hypoxic astrocytes

AIM: To investigate the effect of hypoxia on glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), β-actin and endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE)-2 mRNA levels in cultured mouse brain astrocytes (AC). METHODS:AC from neonatal mouse brain was incubated for 24h in serum-free medium under hypoxic or normoxic conditions.The amount of transferred RNA was estimated using ethidium bromide stained 28SrRNA and 18S rRNA.The levels of tested mRNA were evaluated by Northern blot RNA hybridizat ion.RESULTS: The GAPDH mRNA was up-regulated to 503.0% of the normoxic controls in hypoxic AC (n=10. P<0.01), while the level of β-actin mRNA in hypoxic AC was down-regulated to 50.3% of control levels (n=6. P<0.01). In contrast, the ECE-2 mRNA level was not affected by hypoxia. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that GAPDH and β-actin are not suitable for the internal standards for quantitative mRNA expression analysis in AC after hypoxia or ischemia. ECE-2 may function as an alternative in such circumstance.     

Transgenic medaka with brilliant fluorescence in skeletal muscle under normal light

ABSTRACT:   Green fluorescent protein ( GFP ) and red fluorescent protein ( RFP ) genes regulated by the medaka skeletal muscle actin promoter were microinjected into fertilized d-rR medaka eggs to establish transgenic medaka lines. Intense fluorescence was detected in skeletal muscle. During development, GFP and RFP became detectable in anterior somites at the 12- and 30-somete stages, respectively. After hatching, intense fluorescence in skeletal muscle enabled individual fish to be identified under normal lighting without fluorescent microscopy. Fluorescence was also observed in the gills and esophagus of the adult fish. These data indicated that medaka lines are convenient not only for the study of skeletal muscle but also for the identification of cells or individuals in various studies.     

Metrafenone: studies on the mode of action of a novel cereal powdery mildew fungicide

Powdery mildew fungi are among the major pathogens causing diseases of cereals in the world. The mode of action of a novel systemic benzophenone fungicide, metrafenone, which is based on a precursor that is discussed in the preceding paper, has been analysed on the powdery mildew fungi of barley (Blumeria graminis Speer f. sp. hordei Marchal) and wheat (Blumeria graminis Speer f. sp. tritici Marchal). Preventive treatments reduced germination and blocked development beyond formation of appressoria, which penetrated less often. Moreover, metrafenone turned out to be an efficient curative fungicide, which rapidly affected fungal survival at low concentrations. The fungicide induced swelling, bursting and collapse of hyphal tips, resulting in the release of globules of cytoplasm. Bifurcation of hyphal tips, secondary appressoria and hyperbranching were also frequently observed. A histochemical analysis showed that metrafenone caused disruption of the apical actin cap and apical vesicle transport as well as weakening of the cell wall at hyphal tips. Finally, metrafenone strongly reduced sporulation. Reduced sporulation was associated with malformation of conidiophores that showed irregular septation, multinucleate cells and delocalisation of actin. Microtubules appeared to be only secondarily affected in metrafenone-treated B. graminis. The results suggest that the mode of action of metrafenone interferes with hyphal morphogenesis, polarised hyphal growth and the establishment and maintenance of cell polarity. Metrafenone likely disturbs a pathway regulating organisation of the actin cytoskeleton.     

模式植物狗尾草响应不同干旱及盐胁迫表达的内参基因actin及其应用

为了研究应用于狗尾草响应不同干旱及盐胁迫基因表达的内参基因,本研究从网站https://phytozome.jgi.doe. gov/pz/portal.html上获得狗尾草A10品系8个actin基因的cDNA序列,设计荧光定量PCR引物,以不同程度的干旱及不同浓度盐胁迫处理的狗尾草幼苗cDNA做模板,进行荧光定量PCR试验,通过实时荧光定量PCR扩增片段电泳分析,扩增曲线及溶解曲线综合分析,结果表明登录号Sevir.9G114100对应的actin基因是8个actin基因中最合适的内标基因。并对所选内标的实用性进行了验证,验证的结果与转录组数据的结果保持一致,证明所选内标基因可用于后续狗尾草响应不同干旱及盐胁迫狗尾草转录组基因表达的验证工作,为深入研究狗尾草功能基因奠定分子基础。     

茶树根系Actin基因克隆及表达分析

采用SSH技术分析了VA菌根处理后福鼎大白茶根系基因差异表达情况,获得了差异序列,序列比对显示,在下调表达序列中可能包含了10种未知功能的基因;在上调表达序列中可能包含了5种可能的基因。采用RACE技术获得了Actin基因全长序列,Actin基因长1β606βbp (GenBank, 登录号KJ946252),具有1β131βbp开放阅读框（1^st~1β131^st）,编码377个氨基酸。分子生物信息学分析表明,Actin蛋白分子量约30.69βkD,等电点为5.27,定位于细胞核等亚细胞区位。研究还显示,Actin在不同品种中表达无显著差异,对非生物性胁迫响应也较弱。