Isolation and Functional Characterization of a Salt-Responsive Calmodulin-Like Gene MpCML40 from Semi-Mangrove Millettia pinnata

Salt stress is a major increasing threat to global agriculture. Pongamia (Millettia pinnata), a semi-mangrove, is a good model to study the molecular mechanism of plant adaptation to the saline environment. Calcium signaling pathways play critical roles in the model plants such as Arabidopsis in responding to salt stress, but little is known about their function in Pongamia. Here, we have isolated and characterized a salt-responsive MpCML40, a calmodulin-like (CML) gene from Pongamia. MpCML40 protein has 140 amino acids and is homologous with Arabidopsis AtCML40. MpCML40 contains four EF-hand motifs and a bipartite NLS (Nuclear Localization Signal) and localizes both at the plasma membrane and in the nucleus. MpCML40 was highly induced after salt treatment, especially in Pongamia roots. Heterologous expression of MpCML40 in yeast cells improved their salt tolerance. The 35S::MpCML40 transgenic Arabidopsis highly enhanced seed germination rate and root length under salt and osmotic stresses. The transgenic plants had a higher level of proline and a lower level of MDA (malondialdehyde) under normal and stress conditions, which suggested that heterologous expression of MpCML40 contributed to proline accumulation to improve salt tolerance and protect plants from the ROS (reactive oxygen species) destructive effects. Furthermore, we did not observe any measurable discrepancies in the development and growth between the transgenic plants and wild-type plants under normal growth conditions. Our results suggest that MpCML40 is an important positive regulator in response to salt stress and of potential application in producing salt-tolerant crops.     

Hormonal Responses to Susceptible,Intermediate, and Resistant Interactions in the Brassica napus–Leptosphaeria maculans Pathosystem

Hormone signaling plays a pivotal role in plant–microbe interactions. There are three major phytohormones in plant defense: salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET). The activation and trade-off of signaling between these three hormones likely determines the strength of plant defense in response to pathogens. Here, we describe the allocation of hormonal signaling in Brassica napus against the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans. Three B. napus genotypes (Westar, Surpass400, and 01-23-2-1) were inoculated with two L. maculans isolates (H75 8-1 and H77 7-2), subsequently exhibiting three levels of resistance: susceptible, intermediate, and resistant. Quantitative analyses suggest that the early activation of some SA-responsive genes, including WRKY70 and NPR1, contribute to an effective defense against L. maculans. The co-expression among factors responding to SA/ET/JA was also observed in the late stage of infection. The results of conjugated SA measurement also support that early SA activation plays a crucial role in durable resistance. Our results demonstrate the relationship between the onset patterns of certain hormone regulators and the effectiveness of the defense of B. napus against L. maculans.     

Different Expression of Mitochondrial and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Genes in Epicardial Adipose Tissue Depends on Coronary Atherosclerosis

The aim of our study was to analyze mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) gene expression profiles in subcutaneous (SAT) and epicardial (EAT) adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and myocardium in patients with and without CAD undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Thirty-eight patients, 27 with (CAD group) and 11 without CAD (noCAD group), undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valvular surgery were included in the study. EAT, SAT, intercostal skeletal muscle, and right atrium tissue and blood samples were collected at the start and end of surgery; mRNA expression of selected mitochondrial and ER stress genes was assessed using qRT-PCR. The presence of CAD was associated with decreased mRNA expression of most of the investigated mitochondrial respiratory chain genes in EAT, while no such changes were seen in SAT or other tissues. In contrast, the expression of ER stress genes did not differ between the CAD and noCAD groups in almost any tissue. Cardiac surgery further augmented mitochondrial dysfunction in EAT. In our study, CAD was associated with decreased expression of mitochondrial, but not endoplasmic reticulum stress genes in EAT. These changes may contribute to the acceleration of coronary atherosclerosis.     

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Oat Beta-Glucans in a Crohn’s Disease Model: Time- and Molar Mass-Dependent Effects

Background: The incidence of Crohn’s disease (CD) is increasing worldwide, and it has currently become a serious public health issue in society. The treatment of CD continues throughout a patient’s lifetime, and therefore, it is necessary to develop new, effective treatment methods, including dietotherapy. The present study aimed to determine the effects of consumption of oat beta-glucans with different molar mass on colon inflammation (colitis) in the early stages of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced CD in an animal model. Methods: Sprague–Dawley rats (control and TNBS-induced CD) were divided into three dietary groups and fed for 3 days (reflecting acute inflammation) or 7 days (reflecting remission) with a feed containing 1% low (βGl) or high (βGh) molar mass oat beta-glucan or a feed without this polysaccharide. The level of colon inflammatory markers and the expression of cytokines and their receptor genes were measured by ELISA and RT-PCR methods, respectively. Results: Acute inflammation or remission (3 or 7 days after TNBS administration, respectively) stages of experimentally induced CD were characterized by an increase in the level of inflammatory markers (IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, CRP, MPO, COX, and PGE2) and the disruption of some cytokine signaling pathways as well as macro- and microscopic changes of colon tissue. The consumption of oat beta-glucans reduced the level of inflammatory markers and recovered the signaling pathways and histological changes, with stronger effects of βGl after 7 days of colitis. Conclusions: Dietary oat beta-glucans can reduce colitis at the molecular and organ level and accelerate CD remission.     

"偶然"流溢在现代陶艺中的艺术魅力

现代陶艺作为一种工艺美术品,是某一种生活方式和审美思想与审美情趣的载体,是创作者在自己生命旅程中的每个驿站里对情感体悟的一个表达;它是一种记忆、一种记录,更是一种镌刻在生命中的永恒。所以说现代陶艺创作是在“偶然”间捕捉感觉,而并非是在刻意地塑造感觉。     

真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1(+)-Vasostatin的构建及其在293T细胞中的表达

目的构建真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1(+)-Vasostatin并检测其在真核细胞内的表达水平。方法将带有信号肽的Vasostatin基因片段克隆至pcDNA3.1(+)真核表达载体上,经酶切鉴定及测序分析证明构建成功后,以脂质体介导法转染293T细胞,通过Westernblot法,检测其在293T细胞内的表达水平。结果所构建的真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1(+)-Va-sostatin转染293T细胞后,在其裂解的上清液中,检测到目的基因的表达。结论已成功构建了pcDNA3.1(+)-Vasostatin表达载体,并在真核细胞中表达了目的蛋白。     

Ⅱ型B族链球菌表面免疫相关蛋白基因的克隆和原核表达

目的重组表达Ⅱ型B族链球菌表面免疫相关蛋白(Surfaceimmunogenicprotein,SIP)基因,为进一步免疫学研究提供目标蛋白。方法用PCR的方法从GBSⅡ型标准株的基因组DNA中扩增出SIP基因,用T/A克隆法将其插入pMD18T载体,构建原核表达载体pET32aSIP,用BL21(DE3)/pET系统表达TrixSIP融合蛋白,SDSPAGE和质谱分析鉴定表达产物,并对表达蛋白进行初步纯化。结果PCR扩增产物经测序,证实与GenBank中Ⅰa/c型GBS的SIP的基因序列同源性为99%。SDSPAGE显示,经IPTG诱导后BL21(DE3)/pET32aSIP总蛋白中出现一条相对分子质量为66000的新蛋白带。质谱分析和蛋白质库的比较证实其为B族链球菌表面免疫相关蛋白(SIP)的可能性分数为74。结论已成功表达并初步纯化SIP,为SIP在细菌致病中的作用研究以及相关疫苗的制备奠定了基础。     

人BLys 78-285的高效表达、纯化及功能鉴定

目的 克隆人B淋巴细胞刺激因子(B-lymphocyte stimulator,BLyS)胞外区cDNA,并行高效表达、纯化及功能鉴定。方法 提取 HL-60细胞总RNA,经RT-PCR扩增编码人 BLyS胞外区 78-285氨基酸 cDNA,行序列测定后,构建高效原核表达载体pQE-80L,经 IPTG诱导表达及 Ni-NTA层析纯化,SDS-PAGE和 Wester blot检测活性。结果 RT-PCR扩增得到627bp的DNA片段,序列分析与CenBank中报道的编码BLyS 78-285的cDNA序列一致,并在大肠杆菌中得到高效表达,纯化后纯度可达95％,并能刺激B淋巴细胞增殖。结论 成功克隆人 BLyS胞外区cD-NA,并获得了高效表达,纯化产物具有生物学活性,为进一步研究奠定了基础。     

有效增强重组腈代谢酶系表达活性的策略

讨论并提出了有效增强重组腈代谢酶系表达活性的多种策略。根据所选用的载体和宿主的不同表达特性,同时克隆目的基因上、下游的正向调控序列可直接增强酶表达水平;强化翻译后的修饰,可有效提高活性;除了常用的大肠杆菌克隆表达体系外,开发新型宿主-载体系统可为重组酶的活性表达提供新的途径;随着生物信息学技术的迅速发展,利用已知三维结构的蛋白对目标酶进行突变位点设计及结构与功能预测,将有望加快腈代谢酶系的定点突变研究进程。