洋葱苯丙氨酸解氨酶基因AcPAL2的克隆与表达分析

利用简并PCR技术和RACE技术克隆得到了一条洋葱的苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)基因全长cDNA序列。该cDNA序列全长2349 bp,编码长685个氨基酸残基的多肽序列,命名为AcPAL2。Blast分析表明该序列与虎眼万年青Galtonia saundersiae、野蕉Musa balbisiana的相似性均较高。Real-time PCR表达及花青素含量分析表明,红皮洋葱该基因表达量最大,而黄皮和白皮洋葱表达量极低;在红皮洋葱中该基因在膨大初期大量表达,并迅速降低至一定程度后趋于相对平稳表达,且与花青素的积累过程相一致。     

溶酶体中的组织蛋白酶及其在肌肉成熟中的作用

介绍了肌细胞中的溶酶体的结构和功能、溶酶体蛋白酶及影响其稳定性的因素、组织蛋白酶A、B、D、H和L的特性及其在肌肉成熟中的作用。     

Functional Analysis of Lysosomes During Mouse Preimplantation Embryo Development

Lysosomes are acidic and highly dynamic organelles that are essential for macromolecule degradation and many other cellular functions. However, little is known about lysosomal function during early embryogenesis. Here, we found that the number of lysosomes increased after fertilization. Lysosomes were abundant during mouse preimplantation development until the morula stage, but their numbers decreased slightly in blastocysts. Consistently, the protein expression level of mature cathepsins B and D was high from the one-cell to morula stages but low in the blastocyst stage. One-cell embryos injected with siRNAs targeted to both lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 and 2 (LAMP1 and LAMP2) were developmentally arrested at the two-cell stage. Pharmacological inhibition of lysosomes also caused developmental retardation, resulting in accumulation of lipofuscin. Our findings highlight the functional changes in lysosomes in mouse preimplantation embryos.     

Nicotinic acid promotes lysosomal free cholesterol efflux via LXRα/NPC1 pathway in macrophages

AIM To explore the effects of nicotinic acid (NA) on lysosomal free cholesterol efflux in macrophages and its underlying mechanism. METHODS Macrophages induced from human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 by phorbol myristate acetate served as the cell model. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was applied to observe the effects of NA on lysosomal free cholesterol efflux in macrophages loaded with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). The influences of nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) antagonist Ned-19, Ca²⁺ chelator BAPTA, liver X receptor α (LXRα) siRNA and Niemann-Pick C1 protein (NPC1) siRNA on NA effects were also evaluated. RT-qPCR and Western blot were conducted to evaluate the influence of NA, Ned-19 and BAPTA on LXRα mRNA and NPC1 protein expression. RESULTS NA dose-dependently promoted lysosomal free cholesterol efflux in macrophages. This effect was markedly inhibited by Ned-19 and BAPTA. NA increased NPC1 protein and LXRα mRNA expression. These effects were also attenuated by Ned-19 and BAPTA remarkably. LXRα siRNA significantly inhibited the promoting effect of NA on NPC1 protein expression. Silencing of LXRα and NPC1 with siRNA remarkably abolished the effect of NA on lysosomal free cholesterol efflux. CONCLUSION NA promotes lysosomal free cholesterol efflux in macrophages. This effect may be mediated by the increased production of NAADP, which subsequently promotes Ca²⁺ release through lysosomal transient receptor potential mucolipin 1 (TRPML1) channel and finally up-regulates NPC1 protein expression via LXRα.     

Status of autophagy,lysosome activity and apoptosis during corpus luteum regression in cattle

Corpus luteum (CL) regression is required during the estrous cycle. During CL regression, luteal cells stop producing progesterone and are degraded by apoptosis. However, the detailed mechanism of CL regression in cattle has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate autophagy, lysosome activity, and apoptosis during CL regression in cattle. The expression of autophagy-related genes (LC3α, LC3β, Atg3, and Atg7) and the protein LC3-II was significantly higher in the late CL than in the mid CL. In addition, autophagy activity was significantly increased in the late CL. Moreover, gene expression of the autophagy inhibitor mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) was significantly lower in the late CL than in the mid CL. Lysosome activation and expression of cathepsin-related genes (CTSB, CTSD, and CTSZ) showed significant increases in the late CL and were associated with an increase in cathepsin B protein. In addition, mRNA expression and activity of caspase 3 (CASP3), an apoptotic enzyme, were significantly higher in the late CL than in the mid CL. These results suggest simultaneous upregulation of autophagy-related factors, lysosomal enzymes and apoptotic mediators, which are involved in regression of the bovine CL.     

Significant anti-proliferation of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells by combined treatment with chloroquine and dexamethasone

AIM：To explore the promoting action of chloroquine on the anti-proliferation effect of dexamethasone on acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. METHODS：CCK-8 assay was used to assess the viability of the dexamethasone-resistant human acute lymphoblastic leukemia CEM-C1 cell line treated with the combination of chloroquine and dexamethasone. Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR and LysoTracker Red staining were utilized to examine the mechanism. RESULTS：Combination of chloroquine and dexamethasone significantly inhibited the proliferation of CEM-C1 cells compared with control group (P<0.01). The combination of chloroquine and dexamethasone increased the abundance of glucocorticoid receptor and inhibited lysosomal function, while lysosomal inhibitor bafilomycin A1 also increased glucocorticoid signaling. CONCLUSION：Dexamethasone combined with chloroquine triggers an anti-proliferation effect on CEM-C1 cells via a lysosome-mediated pathway.