Identification of the gene for vitamin K epoxide reductase

Vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR) is the target of warfarin, the most widely prescribed anticoagulant for thromboembolic disorders. Although estimated to prevent twenty strokes per induced bleeding episode, warfarin is under-used because of the difficulty of controlling dosage and the fear of inducing bleeding. Although identified in 1974 (ref. 2), the enzyme has yet to be purified or its gene identified. A positional cloning approach has become possible after the mapping of warfarin resistance to rat chromosome 1 (ref. 3) and of vitamin K-dependent protein deficiencies to the syntenic region of human chromosome 16 (ref. 4). Localization of VKOR to 190 genes within human chromosome 16p12-q21 narrowed the search to 13 genes encoding candidate transmembrane proteins, and we used short interfering RNA (siRNA) pools against individual genes to test their ability to inhibit VKOR activity in human cells. Here, we report the identification of the gene for VKOR based on specific inhibition of VKOR activity by a single siRNA pool. We confirmed that MGC11276 messenger RNA encodes VKOR through its expression in insect cells and sensitivity to warfarin. The expressed enzyme is 163 amino acids long, with at least one transmembrane domain. Identification of the VKOR gene extends our understanding of blood clotting, and should facilitate development of new anticoagulant drugs.     

Neuronal inhibition by the peptide FMRFamide involves opening of S K+ channels

Neurotransmitters modulate the activity of ion channels through a variety of second messengers, including cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP and the products of phosphatidylinositol breakdown. Little is known about how different transmitters acting through different second-messenger systems interact within a cell to regulate single ion channels. We here describe the reciprocal actions of serotonin and the molluscan neuropeptide, FMRFamide, on individual K+ channels in Aplysia sensory neurons. In these cells, serotonin causes prolonged all-or-none closure of a class of background conductance K+ channels (the S channels) through cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation. Using single-channel recording, we have found that FMRFamide produces two actions on the S channels; it increases the probability of opening of the S channels via a cAMP-independent second-messenger system and it reverses the closures of S channels produced by serotonin or cAMP.     

用连续逆流式超临界双塔浓缩和精制维生素K1

文中研究了用连续逆流式超临界双塔浓缩和精制维生素K₁的工艺方法。第一塔压力18～24MPa，温度35～50℃；第二塔压力8～11MPa，温度40～60℃；CO₂与原料质量流量比由37.5到70。产品为清亮黄色油状液体，维生素K1的质量分数可达97.24%。     

发酵乳杆菌β-半乳糖苷酶转糖基活性研究

从传统发酵乳制品中筛选到1株转糖基活性较高的乳杆菌,经16S rDNA菌种鉴定为发酵乳杆菌（Lactobacillus fermentum, EU621851）K4。以乳糖为底物,研究β-半乳糖苷酶粗酶液在不同pH、乳糖浓度、反应温度和时间的转糖基活性。结果表明在pH 5.5、乳糖20%、温度50℃条件下反应48h,转糖基活性最高,能生成多种低聚半乳糖。研究发现在低乳糖含量（5%）和pH 5～7范围内都具有明显的转糖基活性。用牛奶为原料进行转糖基能力测定,结果该酶既能降低牛乳中的乳糖含量,又能生成低聚半乳糖。因此,菌株Lb. fermentum K4在乳制品发酵中具有潜在的应用价值。     

基于光诱导荧光的维生素K1检测方法研究

建立一种灵敏度高、选择性好的基于紫外光诱导荧光的维生素K1(VK1)检测方法.不发荧光的VK1经紫外光(254nm,15W)照射后可转变为具有很高荧光量子产率的光化产物,检测出其特征荧光峰在465nm处;当加入咪唑并经光诱导后,光化产物荧光特性发生变化,在330nm处又出现一新的较强荧光发射峰,两峰间的stokes位移长达135nm.同时发现,随着VK1浓度的增加,465nm处的荧光峰强度增加,而330nm处的峰强度反而减小.方法的检出限为0.003#g·mL-1(S/N=3),对1.0#g·mL-1 VK1溶液进行11次平行测定,相对标准偏差(RSD)为2.4%.该法用于注射液及人血清中VK1含量测定,回收率为97%~104%,结果令人满意.     

Nitric oxide: A potential key point of the signaling network leading to plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis

The endogenous signaling network of plants plays important roles in mediating the exogenous factor-induced biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a key signaling molecule in plants recently. Numerous studies demonstrated that the main signaling molecules such as salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and NO were not only involved in regulating plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis but also interacted to form a complex signaling network by mutual inhibition and/or synergy. The recent progress in the signal network of plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis has been discussed in this paper. Furthermore, we propose a hypothetical model to show that NO might act as a potential molecular switch in the signaling network leading to plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis.     

Nitric oxide:A potential key point of the signaling network leading to plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis

The endogenous signaling network of plants plays important roles in mediating the exogenous factor-induced biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a key signaling molecule in plants recently. Numerous studies demonstrated that the main signaling molecules such as salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and NO were not only involved in regulating plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis but also interacted to form a complex signaling network by mutual inhibition and/or synergy. The recent progress in the signal network of plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis has been discussed in this paper. Furthermore, we propose a hypothetical model to show that NO might act as a potential molecular switch in the signaling network leading to plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis.