Zerumbone attenuates MPP+-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by inhibition of oxidative stress

AIM: To investigate the role of zerumbone (ZER) in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced cytotoxicity of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. METHODS: Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and the protective effect of ZER against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxicity was measured by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression of Parkinson disease protein 7 (PARK7) was knocked-down by using PARK7-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The protein levels of PARK7, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: MMP⁺ remarkably reduced the cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The SH-SY5Y cell injury model was established by treatment with MPP⁺ at 600 μmol/L for 24 h. ZER up-regulated the protein levels of PARK7 and Nrf2 (P<0.05), alleviated apoptosis (P<0.05), and reduced ROS production (P<0.05) in the SH-SY5Y cell injury model. Meanwhile, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) had the similar functions. Moreover, significant reductions in the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P<0.05), and obvious increases in apoptosis (P<0.05) and ROS level (P<0.05) were demonstrated in PARK7-knockdown cells. CONCLUSION: ZER protects SH-SY5Y cells against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxi-city, which may be related to activation of PARK7/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and subsequent attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis.     

EPS364, a Novel Deep-Sea Bacterial Exopolysaccharide,Inhibits Liver Cancer Cell Growth and Adhesion

The prognosis of liver cancer was inferior among tumors. New medicine treatments are urgently needed. In this study, a novel exopolysaccharide EPS364 was purified from Vibrio alginolyticus 364, which was isolated from a deep-sea cold seep of the South China Sea. Further research showed that EPS364 consisted of mannose, glucosamine, gluconic acid, galactosamine and arabinose with a molar ratio of 5:9:3.4:0.5:0.8. The relative molecular weight of EPS364 was 14.8 kDa. Our results further revealed that EPS364 was a β-linked and phosphorylated polysaccharide. Notably, EPS364 exhibited a significant antitumor activity, with inducing apoptosis, dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Huh7.5 liver cancer cells. Proteomic and quantitative real-time PCR analyses indicated that EPS364 inhibited cancer cell growth and adhesion via targeting the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that EPS364 is a promising antitumor agent for pharmacotherapy.     

NO对大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区DA神经元的调节

实验观察了微量注射 NOS抑制剂 L -NAME及微量联合注射 NO的前体 L-精氨酸( L-Arg) L-NAME于大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区( VTA)对该部位多巴胺神经元的调节。发现VTA注射 L -NAME( 1 mg/ 5μL )后 ,伏隔核( Acb)多巴胺 ( DA )代谢产物—双羟苯乙酸( DOPAC)水平升高到注射前的 1 2 2 .5% ( P <0 .0 0 1 ) ,小剂量注射 L-NAME( 0 .2 mg/ 5μL)对伏隔核 DOPAC水平无明显影响 ;同样方法联合注射 L-Arg( 3 0 0 μg/ 5μL) L-NAME( 1 mg/5μL)后 ,伏隔核 DOPAC水平无明显变化。结论 :VTA微量注射 L-NAME兴奋了该部位的DA神经元 ,而 L -Arg L -NAME联合注射 ,却不能影响 DA神经元的活动 ,说明 NO可以通过L-Arg-NOS-NO途径参与 VTA多巴胺神经元的调节     

果树自交不亲和性的遗传与生理机制及其研究

在简要介绍植物（包括果树）自交不亲和性与生理控制机制的基础上，着重对梨、苹果、杏等果树自交不亲和性的研究进行了综述，内容包括花柱内花粉管生长特点、花柱S糖蛋白的特性与作用机理以及果树自交不亲和的分子生物学研究，并提出了该领域有待研究的问题。     

茉莉酸对苹果气孔运动及抗旱性的影响

50、75、100、150 mg／L JA处理苹果叶片表皮，使开放气孔的气孔开度分别减小27．4％、37．5％、56．9％和63．8％，使关闭后的气孔在光下开放时气孔开度分别减小15％、18％、28．8％、52．5％、61．3％；处理植株后干旱胁迫，叶片相对电导率分别降低15％、18％、31％、58％，脯氨酸含量分别提高0．09％、0．40％、0．42％、0．54 ng／gFW，可溶性糖含量分别提高1．89％、2．53％、3．80％、5．06％。25 mg／L JA处理与对照均无显著差别。JA的作用表现出明显的浓度效应。     

苹果梨花芽孕育期生长锥细胞超微结构的观察

利用透射电镜对苹果梨花芽孕育期芽内生长锥细胞进行了观察，结果显示，在花芽孕育形成的过程中，生长锥细胞的超微结构发生了一系列变化：蛋白体和脂类小滴逐渐增加；核外膜向外延伸到胞质中与内质网相连，其上分布的核糖体增多；线粒体和内质网数目丰富且分布均匀；核糖体大量游散在胞质中；质体呈浅裂，中央缢缩；微管分布于靠近质膜处等。以上超微结构的变化表现出细胞旺盛分裂和分化的特点，反映了花芽孕育过程中的细胞学特征。     

女性身体·五四话语·革命救赎

在革命意识形态成为主流话语左右着文学创作时,丁玲试图通过对女性身体的革命救赎寓言化书写将女性书写融入主流话语体系之中。女性主体意识在这一过程中被深度扼制。然而,女身书写的自身逻辑却在另一层面干扰着文本意义的生成,不自觉地流露出作者未被泯灭的女性意识。     

SiC-W层状复合材料增韧机理分析

为分析SiC－W层状复合材料增韧性机理，对以SiC陶瓷胶片为基体层，金属W为夹层的SiC－W层状复合材料进行了力学性能测试，并用电镜法得到其断面显微结构照片。试验结果表明：1）与SiC单材料断裂韧性相比，SiC－W层状复合材料的断韧性增大；2）在基体层厚度不变，夹层厚度为10－50μm时，SiC－W层状复合材料的断裂韧性随夹层厚度的增加而增大，而抗弯强度随之下降；3）材料在不同方向断裂韧性不同。SiC－W层状复合材料裂韧性增大的原因是：1）夹层晶体颗粒大于基体体层的，其沿晶断裂形式延长了裂纹扩展路径；2）断裂过程中有晶片拨出消耗了能量；3）二级层状结构中片层间的微裂阻止了断裂裂纹的扩展。     

盐胁迫对4种禾本科牧草种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

通过NaCl溶液(0、1.5、3.0、6.0、9.0g/L)处理4种禾本科牧草种子,测定了种子萌发和幼苗生长有关指标。结果表明:美洲狼尾草较耐盐,在9.0g/L盐溶液处理下比其它品种维持了高的发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数,并且其相对值高,以及较高的相对苗长和根长,盐处理显著提高几种牧草幼苗质膜相对透性,总体上降低胚乳的利用速度和利用效率。     

桑蚕卵中酯酶A_4的研究

取产后两天内25℃保存的桑蚕卵为材料,精制酯酶A_4。将滞育卵中精制的酶液置5℃下冷藏,冷藏初期酶活性极低,大致在12～13日达最大值。以后迅速降低,体外保存的温度条件与酯酶A_4活性有关,较高的保存温度能促使酶活性峰提早出现:而低温保护能延缓酶的活化进程。酯酶A_4精制过程中,通过Sephadex G-25凝胶过滤,将大部分物质分段与酶分离排除,在5℃条件下,酶活性峰出现以前的任何时候加入排除分段物质,都可以停止酶的活性化,只有当重新除去所加的排除分段物质时,酶的活性化进程才得以继续。