The effect of homocysteine on airway smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts

AIM: To study the effect of homocysteine (HCY) on proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts and the effect of HCY on collagen prodution of airway fibroblasts. METHODS: [³H]-TdR incorpora- tion was measured in cultured airway smooth muscle cells. The [³H]-TdR and [³H]-proline incorporation were mea- sured in cultured airway fibroblasts. RESULTS: HCY induced proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts in a concentration - dependent manner. HCY also induced collagen production of airway fibroblasts in a concentration - dependent manner. The inhibitors of protein kinase C, H7 and polymyxin B, inhibited HCY - induced proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells. CONCLUSIONS: HCY induced proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts, HCY also induced collagen production of airway fibroblasts. The HCY - induced proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells may be related to the pathway of PKC signal transduction.     

茶树中提纯总RNA的研究

在克氏一步法分离总RNA的基础上 ,根据茶树叶片生化成分特点 ,做了部分修改 ,并研究了不同浓度的L -半胱氨酸和可溶性聚乙烯吡咯烷酮 (PVP)、不溶性PVP对提取的RNA纯度、回收率和完整性的影响。分光光度计检测和变性琼脂糖凝胶电泳结果证明 :使用本方法并加入 5- 10mmol LL -半胱氨酸或 4 % - 6 %可溶性PVP能提高RNA纯度和 (或 )回收率 ,研磨时加入5% - 10 %不溶性PVP对提高RNA完整性有较好的效果     

拟南芥AtCYS6基因酵母双杂交诱饵载体的构建及鉴定

为了筛选与拟南芥半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂基因AtCYS6相互作用的蛋白,构建其酵母双杂交诱饵表达载体。本研究利用PCR方法扩增得到拟南芥AtCYS6的基因片段,与诱饵载体pGBKT7连接构建诱饵表达载体,经双酶切以及测序检测验证重组载体构建成功后,通过醋酸锂法将诱饵表达载体pGBKT7-AtCYS6与空载体pGBKT7分别转化到Y2HGold酵母菌株,检测其是否有自激活能力以及对宿主酵母菌株是否有毒性作用。结果表明:经PCR扩增后得到了AtCYS6基因,成功构建了无自激活和没有毒性的诱饵表达载体pGBKT7-AtCYS6。本研究结果可进一步为筛选与AtCYS6相互作用的蛋白质及功能研究提供科学依据。     

无核荔枝半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂基因克隆及序列分析

[目的]对无核荔枝的半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂基因进行克隆,并对其序列下进行分析。[方法]根据构建的无核荔枝胚败育SSH消减文库的半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂EST序列,通过RACE技术获得半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制基因的核苷酸序列并应用生物信息学软件进行分析。[结果]获得一个635 bp的半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制基因序列,预测该序列含有321 bp的开放阅读框,推导其编码的蛋白质含106个氨基酸,具有半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂保守区,与多个物种的半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂基因具有较高的同源性。[结论]为进一步研究半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂在植物中的生理功能奠定了基础。     

Post-cutting quality changes of fresh-cut artichokes treated with different anti-browning agents as evaluated by image analysis

Fresh-cut processing can add convenience to artichoke consumption, although post-cutting browning is still a major problem. Different compounds (ascorbic acid, citric acid, cysteine, and their combination, ethanol, sodium chloride, 4-hexylresorcinol) were tested at different concentrations in two experiments. An algorithm for rapid colour measurements by means of image analysis was implemented, and allowed measurement of L*, a*, and b* values from the whole quarter surface and from the browned areas, while the external appearance of artichoke quarters was evaluated using an anchored subjective scale. Cysteine (0.5%) was the most effective treatment to prevent browning as evaluated by colour attributes and appearance score. Its effectiveness was improved by increasing the pH of the solution from the natural pH (2.1) to pH 3, resulting in L* values of browned areas about 30% higher than controls (27.4 and 21.5 respectively). The mean values of appearance scores for cysteine treated samples were all above the limit of marketability (score 3), significantly higher than in control samples which had mean values below this limit. All colour parameters were significantly correlated with appearance scores, and L* of the whole quarter surface had the highest correlation. The results represent a step forward in research on anti-browning treatments for fresh-cut artichokes, also providing an objective tool for colour evaluation.     

Identification of Molecular Marker Linked to Salt Tolerance Gene in Alfalfa

The study has established the F2 offspring obtained by crossing salt-tolerant with salt-sensitive alfalfa, and appraised the salt-tolerant F2 offspring seedling was evaluated in pot culture. With the F2 segregated population, the research has obtained a molecular marker linked with salt-tolerant genes of alfalfa using the improved BSA combined with RAPD. The RAPD PCR products were excised from the agarose gel and purified using a kit, then were mixed with pMD-18T vector and sequenced. Sequencing result indicated the RAPD marker was 1 438 bp in length. Similarity researches using blast in Genbank indicated that the nucleotide sequence of the RAPD marker showed 93% and 91% similarity with mth2-6el8 gene fragment （347 bp） and ruth2-33122 gene fragment （334 bp） of Medicago truncatula respectively. Medicago truncatula is a close relative of alfalfa and Mth2-6el8 is a molecular marker of the gene coding for a cysteine protease which was saltinducible in some plants. These results indicated the RAPD marker was possibly related to cysteine protease genes in alfalfa.     

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of the main gliadin-degrading cysteine endopeptidase EP8 from triticale

During the development and maturation of cereal grains, storage proteins are accumulated in the starchy endosperm. The enzymes responsible for the mobilisation of stored proteins during seed germination are cysteine endopeptidases and serine carboxypeptidases. In our previous study, we purified the major gliadin-degrading cysteine, endopeptidase EP8, from germinating triticale kernels. We confirmed in an experiment with exogenous gibberellic acid (GA₃) that this enzyme is synthesised in aleurone during germination. In this study, the nucleotide sequence of EP8, a barley EP-A (HvEPA) homologue, and the expression pattern during grain development and germination have been analysed. Additionally, by comparing the activity of purified EP8 with the activity pattern of crude enzymatic extracts, the lack of enzyme activity in some tissues and during certain developmental stages has been demonstrated. The correlation of the results of the EP8 expression analysis with the activity pattern of this endopeptidase allowed us to formulate a hypothesis regarding the mechanism of EP8 activity regulation. We believe that the absence of active EP8 until the third day of germination may be associated with high levels of endogenous cystatin TrcC-4, which has the ability to inhibit EP8 in vitro.     

Research progress in guanylin family

Guanylin family, described in recent 10 years, is a series of small peptides (including guanylin, uroguanylin and lymphoguanylin) with structural and functional similarities to heat-stable enterotoxins (STs) elaborated by various pathogenic bacteria. They are abundance of cysteines and are endogenous activators of guanylyl cyclase-C (GC-C) receptors. Immunoreactive guanylin family peptides are localized in many human organs and tissues, especially in gastrointestinal tract and kidney, and play an important role in regulation of water and salt homeostasis. Recent studies showed that the mRNA levels of guanylin family peptides were down-regulated in colorectal cancers; oral intake of uroguanylin might suppress polyp formation in Apc(Min/+) mouse, and ¹¹¹In-labeled-ST peptide analog might specifically target human colon cancers. These evidences highlight that guanylin family may have a potential application in diagnosis and therapy effects of colorectal cancers.     

The activity of amino acids produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paenibacillus macerans</Emphasis> and from commercial sources against the root-knot nematode <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne exigua</Emphasis>

The rhizobacterium Paenibacillus macerans was grown in tryptic soy broth and after separating the cells by centrifugation the activity of fractions of the supernatant was tested against Meloidogyne exigua juveniles. From HPLC analyses and spectral data, the most active fractions were found to contain alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, threonine and valine, which were probably produced by bacterial hydrolysis of proteic nutrients. Amino acids from commercial sources were then assayed to confirm these results and to evaluate their potential for the control of nematodes. LC₅₀ of 26 and 283 μg ml⁻¹ were shown for the nematicide aldicarb and L-cysteine respectively when tested on M. exigua juveniles. At a concentration 38.4 times>LC₅₀, the amino acid diminished the nematode population on coffee plants to values statistically equal to those obtained with aldicarb at a concentration 19.2 times>LC₅₀.     

An Overview of Proteinase Inhibitors

Proteinase inhibitors are proteins in the body that regulate the catalytic activity of proteinases. They are important in a large variety of physiologic processes including coagulation, digestion, tumor metastasis and immunity. Proteinase inhibitors are categorized as either nonspecific proteinase inhibitors or class-specific proteinase inhibitors. Nonspecific proteinase inhibitors are comprised soley of the alpha macroglobulins, most notably alpha2-macroglobulin. Class-specific proteinase inhibitors are subcategorized as serine proteinase inhibitors, aspartic proteinase inhibitors, metalloproteinase inhibitors, and cysteine proteinase inhibitors. Each subcategory is made up of numerous inhibitors. As the roles of individual proteinase inhibitors are determined, the therapeutic use of natural and synthetic proteinase inhibitors is also being investigated. The purpose of this article is to review the history and classification of proteinase inhibitors and their relevance to veterinary medicine.