Molecular diversity and ecology of microbial plankton

The history of microbial evolution in the oceans is probably as old as the history of life itself. In contrast to terrestrial ecosystems, microorganisms are the main form of biomass in the oceans, and form some of the largest populations on the planet. Theory predicts that selection should act more efficiently in large populations. But whether microbial plankton populations harbour organisms that are models of adaptive sophistication remains to be seen. Genome sequence data are piling up, but most of the key microbial plankton clades have no cultivated representatives, and information about their ecological activities is sparse.     

金属离子与氨基苯甲酸及吡啶单羧酸配合物的研究

合成了２１种金属离子Ｌａ（Ⅲ）Ｃｕ（Ⅱ）Ｎｉ（Ⅱ）和Ｃｏ（Ⅱ）与氨基苯甲酸及吡啶意境羧酸的化合物，其中１４种是尚未报道过的新化合物，通过元素分析，红外光谱、Ｘ－射线粉末衍射，ＴＧ－ＤＴＧ等表征了产物的结构特征和热分解过程，表明，配体酸中氨基和羧基的相对位置影响着配体酸与金属离子的反应能力和反应产物的稳定性。     

The HIC signalling pathway links CO2 perception to stomatal development

Stomatal pores on the leaf surface control both the uptake of CO2 for photosynthesis and the loss of water during transpiration. Since the industrial revolution, decreases in stomatal numbers in parallel with increases in atmospheric CO2 concentration have provided evidence of plant responses to changes in CO2 levels caused by human activity. This inverse correlation between stomatal density and CO2 concentration also holds for fossil material from the past 400 million years and has provided clues to the causes of global extinction events. Here we report the identification of the Arabidopsis gene HIC (for high carbon dioxide), which encodes a negative regulator of stomatal development that responds to CO2 concentration. This gene encodes a putative 3-keto acyl coenzyme A synthase--an enzyme involved in the synthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids. Mutant hic plants exhibit up to a 42% increase in stomatal density in response to a doubling of CO2. Our results identify a gene involved in the signal transduction pathway responsible for controlling stomatal numbers at elevated CO2.     

蛋白质结构中氨基酸残基聚集体的识别与分析

在蛋白质结构中，氨基酸残基并不是单独行使其功能．几个残基通常聚集在一起，共同承担生物学角色．本文通过对蛋白质结构内残基的空间分布进行分析，提取出从两个残基到五个残基的组合，并统计出它们出现的频率和频率分布．二元组在维系蛋白质三级结构中起重要作用，而三元组、四元组和五元组与蛋白质的功能有着密切的关系．这些多元组可为蛋白质结构及功能的研究提供必要的信息．     

保护氨基酸与羟基树脂的连接反应

在多肽固相合成中,分别采用酰氯法和活化酯法,研究了20种Fmoc氨基酸与Wang树脂的连接反应.除精氨酸外,其他氨基酸与树脂的连接效率均能达到80%以上.酰氯法反应速率快、操作简便,优于活化酯法.在酰氯法中,对于精氨酸,选择弱极法溶剂如DCM,延长反应时间至20h,连接效率接近80%.     

FADD prevents RIP3-mediated epithelial cell necrosis and chronic intestinal inflammation

Intestinal immune homeostasis depends on a tightly regulated cross talk between commensal bacteria, mucosal immune cells and intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Epithelial barrier disruption is considered to be a potential cause of inflammatory bowel disease; however, the mechanisms regulating intestinal epithelial integrity are poorly understood. Here we show that mice with IEC-specific knockout of FADD (FADD(IEC-KO)), an adaptor protein required for death-receptor-induced apoptosis, spontaneously developed epithelial cell necrosis, loss of Paneth cells, enteritis and severe erosive colitis. Genetic deficiency in RIP3, a critical regulator of programmed necrosis, prevented the development of spontaneous pathology in both the small intestine and colon of FADD(IEC-KO) mice, demonstrating that intestinal inflammation is triggered by RIP3-dependent death of FADD-deficient IECs. Epithelial-specific inhibition of CYLD, a deubiquitinase that regulates cellular necrosis, prevented colitis development in FADD(IEC-KO) but not in NEMO(IEC-KO) mice, showing that different mechanisms mediated death of colonic epithelial cells in these two models. In FADD(IEC-KO) mice, TNF deficiency ameliorated colon inflammation, whereas MYD88 deficiency and also elimination of the microbiota prevented colon inflammation, indicating that bacteria-mediated Toll-like-receptor signalling drives colitis by inducing the expression of TNF and other cytokines. However, neither CYLD, TNF or MYD88 deficiency nor elimination of the microbiota could prevent Paneth cell loss and enteritis in FADD(IEC-KO) mice, showing that different mechanisms drive RIP3-dependent necrosis of FADD-deficient IECs in the small and large bowel. Therefore, by inhibiting RIP3-mediated IEC necrosis, FADD preserves epithelial barrier integrity and antibacterial defence, maintains homeostasis and prevents chronic intestinal inflammation. Collectively, these results show that mechanisms preventing RIP3-mediated epithelial cell death are critical for the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis and indicate that programmed necrosis of IECs might be implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease, in which Paneth cell and barrier defects are thought to contribute to intestinal inflammation.     

钠离子依赖的中性氨基酸转运蛋白2(SNAT2)多克隆抗体的制备

钠离子依赖的中性氨基酸转运蛋白2(SNAT2)属于SLC38家族,参与小的中性氨基酸跨膜转运,在哺乳动物组织中广泛表达.SNAT2的功能紊乱可以导致许多神经性疾病,如阿尔茨海默症、帕金森症等.采用PCR方法扩增得到SNAT2氨基端75个氨基酸的编码序列,构建重组质粒pET28a-SNAT2-75aa,并将其转入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中,通过IPTG诱导表达重组蛋白.利用组氨酸标签蛋白经镍柱亲和纯化后得到了纯度在95%以上的SNAT2氨基端蛋白SNAT2-75aa,将其作为免疫原免疫新西兰大白兔,从而获得SNAT2多克隆抗体.采用巯丙基琼脂糖凝胶6B(Thiopropyl sepharose)固定抗原亲和纯化法进一步对该抗体进行纯化,纯化后的抗体效价至少提高10倍.蛋白免疫印迹确定该抗体对SNAT2具有高度的特异性,表明SNAT2多克隆抗体制备的成功,为进一步研究SNAT2蛋白的结构和功能奠定了生化基础.     

Zn(Val)2·H2O的晶体结构

目的研究氨基酸锌化合物的成键特点.方法将L-α-Val加入NaOH的甲醇溶液,室温下缓慢加入ZnAc2·2H2O的甲醇溶液中反应,得到棒状晶体.结果化学分析与元素分析结果表明,其可能组成为Zn(Val)2·H2O.用X-射线衍射法测定了它的晶体结构,属正交晶系,P21 21 21空间群,晶胞参数为a=0.746 36(10)nm;b=0.947 20(12)nm;c=2.068 7(3)nm;V=1.462 5(3)nm3;Z=4;Dc=1.434 g·cm-3;F(000)=664;μ=16.93 cm-1;R=0.064 1;WR=0.173 0.结论化合物为单核结构,Zn为五配位,Val通过氨基氮和羧基氧与Zn配位,水分子的氧也以配位键与Zn结合,形成一个四方锥几何构型.     

碱基与氨基酸二肽间的氢键相互作用

对于碱基-蛋白质之间的相互作用,氢键的形成及断裂起着重要的作用.选取7种氨基酸二肽和3种碱基,以它们之间形成单根氢键的体系为研究对象,在ab initioB3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)水平下进行结构优化,MP2/6-311++G(d,p)水平下进行能量的计算.同时应用ABEEMσπ/MM方法优化结构和计算能量.通过改变氢键相互作用区域的静电相互作用参数kH-bond和形成氢键的氢原子与其受体原子的孤对电子之间距离Rlp,H来拟合函数kH-bond(Rlp,H).用所得函数对选取的复合物进行结合能计算,其结果与ab initio方法所得的结果符合的很好.     

ACE2、AT2R、eNOS基因与原发性高血压相关性研究

原发性高血压（EH）是一种由遗传因素和环境因素共同作用导致的严重危害人类健康的心血管疾病。高血压疾病基因的研究有助于高血压发病机制的探讨,对其早期预防和及时治疗具有十分重要的理论意义和巨大的临床应用前景。至今研究者们已经发现有一百多种基因与原发性高血压的发病有关,特别是内皮型一氧化氮合酶（eNOS）更是研究的热点。已经确定肾素血管紧张素系统（RAS）在调控心血管功能时发挥重要作用,最近又在该系统中新发现了两个成员——血管紧张素转换酶2（ACE2）和血管紧张素Ⅱ2型受体（AT2R）,但是对其研究报道较少。文章分别从eNOS,ACE2和AT2R的生物学特性和作用机制的情况,探讨其与原发性高血压的相关性。     

两种氨基酸杂多化合物晶体结构及影响因素

以２：１８钼磷酸和２种氨基酸为原料，首次合成了结构不同的２种氨基酸钼磷酸杂多配合物，晶体结构测试得出二者的分子式：Ｃ６Ｈ２０Ｎ２Ｏ６４Ｐ２Ｍｏ１８·８Ｈ２Ｏｔ Ｃ１６Ｈ５２Ｎ８Ｏ１７６Ｐ４Ｍｏ４８·３０Ｈ２Ｏ，实验结果表明，当酸度和氨基酸种类不同时，阴离子结构将发生转变。     

cdc2 links the Drosophila cell cycle and asymmetric division machineries

Asymmetric cell divisions can be mediated by the preferential segregation of cell-fate determinants into one of two sibling daughters. In Drosophila neural progenitors, Inscuteable, Partner of Inscuteable and Bazooka localize as an apical cortical complex at interphase, which directs the apical-basal orientation of the mitotic spindle as well as the basal/cortical localization of the cell-fate determinants Numb and/or Prospero during mitosis. Although localization of these proteins shows dependence on the cell cycle, the involvement of cell-cycle components in asymmetric divisions has not been demonstrated. Here we show that neural progenitor asymmetric divisions require the cell-cycle regulator cdc2. By attenuating Drosophila cdc2 function without blocking mitosis, normally asymmetric progenitor divisions become defective, failing to correctly localize asymmetric components during mitosis and/or to resolve distinct sibling fates. cdc2 is not necessary for initiating apical complex formation during interphase; however, maintaining the asymmetric localization of the apical components during mitosis requires Cdc2/B-type cyclin complexes. Our findings link cdc2 with asymmetric divisions, and explain why the asymmetric localization of molecules like Inscuteable show cell-cycle dependence.     

小麦麸皮蛋白质的提取及其氨基酸组分分析

小麦麸皮主要含有纤维、蛋白质和淀粉,为实现其分层利用,提高其附加值,对小麦麸皮中的蛋白质分离工艺进行研究,并对其氨基酸组成进行分析。文章采用碱提酸沉方法提取小麦麸皮中的蛋白质,以小麦麸皮中蛋白质残留率为指标优化其提取效果。结果表明:在pH值为12左右、料液比为1∶15、温度为50℃、时间为3h时,小麦麸皮中蛋白质提取效果最佳,可达到小麦麸皮质量的15.85%,pH=3.8为最佳沉淀点;氨基酸组成分析表明小麦麸皮中含有13种氨基酸,其中8种必需氨基酸占提取蛋白质质量的20.4%,是一种良好的食用植物蛋白质资源。     

Retinoic acid signalling links left-right asymmetric patterning and bilaterally symmetric somitogenesis in the zebrafish embryo

During embryogenesis, cells are spatially patterned as a result of highly coordinated and stereotyped morphogenetic events. In the vertebrate embryo, information on laterality is conveyed to the node, and subsequently to the lateral plate mesoderm, by a complex cascade of epigenetic and genetic events, eventually leading to a left-right asymmetric body plan. At the same time, the paraxial mesoderm is patterned along the anterior-posterior axis in metameric units, or somites, in a bilaterally symmetric fashion. Here we characterize a cascade of laterality information in the zebrafish embryo and show that blocking the early steps of this cascade (before it reaches the lateral plate mesoderm) results in random left-right asymmetric somitogenesis. We also uncover a mechanism mediated by retinoic acid signalling that is crucial in buffering the influence of the flow of laterality information on the left-right progression of somite formation, and thus in ensuring bilaterally symmetric somitogenesis.     

N-(5-溴-2-羟基苄基)氨基酸衍生物及其金属配合物的合成、表征及抑菌活性

室温下以N-(5-溴-2-羟基苄基)氨基酸及其希夫碱为配体,水和甲醇为溶剂,采用分步法,将配体与金属离子按1:1的摩尔比在弱碱性条件下络合,合成了24种N-(5-溴-2-羟基苄基)氨基酸类金属配合物,并用核磁、红外光谱对其结构进行了表征.结果表明:在配合物中配体N-(5-溴-2-羟基苄基)氨基酸的羟基、氨基和羧基均参与了配位.抑菌测试表明,N-(5-溴-2-羟基苄基)氨基酸衍生物金属配合物的抑菌活性普遍高于其配体,并且还原型配合物活性要高于希夫碱型,对白色念珠菌的抑菌效果更为明显,均高达100%.     

Unusual stable isotope ratios in amino acid and carboxylic acid extracts from the Murchison meteorite

Much effort has been directed to analyses of organic compounds in carbonaceous chondrites because of their implications for organic chemical evolution and the origin of life. We have determined the isotopic composition of hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon in amino acid and monocarboxylic acid extracts from the Murchison meteorite. The unusually high D/H and 15N/14N ratios in the amino acid fraction (delta D = 1,370% after correction for isotope exchange; delta 15N = 90) are uniquely characteristic of known interstellar organic materials. The delta D value of the monocarboxylic acid fraction is lower (377%), but still consistent with an interstellar origin. These results confirm the extraterrestrial origin of both classes of compound, and provide the first evidence suggesting a direct relationship between the massive organo-synthesis occurring in interstellar clouds and the presence of pre-biotic compounds in primitive planetary bodies. The isotope data also bear on the historical problem of distinguishing indigenous material from terrestrial contaminants.     

酱油二次沉淀物氨基酸组分分析

本实验检测了广州地区常见的四种品牌的酱油的二次沉淀中的氨基酸,发现四种二次沉淀物中氨基酸的摩尔百份含量相近;二次沉淀物中蛋白质的疏水性比酱油中多肽的疏水性强;各种氨基酸参与二次沉淀形成的趋势各异。由此推测,由二次沉淀母体物质转变成沉淀的过程中,蛋白质的疏水作用和氨基酸侧链的反应不可忽视,而这个过程中可能在酶的催化作用下实现。