Small G proteins are expressed ubiquitously in lymphoid cells and do not correspond to Bcl-2

The bcl-2 gene is consistently associated with t(14; 18) chromosomal translocations observed in a large fraction of human B-cell lymphomas. The t(14; 18) translocation results in deregulated expression of the bcl-2 gene and synthesis of inappropriately high levels of the Bcl-2 protein. Gene transfer studies suggest a role for Bcl-2 in cell survival, growth enhancement and oncogenic transformation. To test the suggestion that GTP-binding by Bcl-2 may mediate its biological effects we characterized the GTP-binding proteins in lymphoid cells expressing Bcl-2. Expression of several small GTP-binding proteins was found to be ubiquitous and did not vary with levels of Bcl-2. By using immunological, electrophoretic and cell-fractionation techniques, we separated Bcl-2 from G proteins of small relative molecular mass (Mr) and showed that it is incapable of binding GTP. Our results show that small Mr G proteins are widely expressed in lymphoid cells and that Bcl-2 is not a novel member of this GTP-binding protein family.     

The bcl-2 gene encodes a novel G protein

Little is known about the biochemical or functional nature of the proteins encoded by the bcl-2 gene, which undergoes chromosomal translocation in approximately 85% of follicular lymphoma, 20% of diffuse large cell lymphoma and 10% of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia of B cells. Translocation of bcl-2 sequences from chromosome 18 to the JH segment of the immunoglobulin gene at chromosome band 14q32 in B cells results in deregulated expression of this gene, causing high steady state levels of bcl-2 messenger RNA2. DNA sequence data indicate that bcl-2 encodes two proteins by virtue of alternative splicing, designated as Bcl-2 alpha and Bcl-2 beta, with relative molecular masses of 26,000 and 22,000 respectively. Cell fractionation experiments indicate that the bcl-2 alpha gene product is located at the inner surface of the cell membrane, suggesting a possible role in mitogenic signal transduction. We report here that Bcl-2 alpha has GTP-binding activity and a protein sequence that suggests it belongs to the small molecular weight GTP-binding protein (G protein) family.     

氯化锰抑制化学致痫剂诱发大鼠大脑皮层和海马神经元痫样放电

应用化学致痫剂马桑内酯诱发大鼠大脑皮质痫样放电,于侧脑室注射无要钙通道阻滞剂氯化锰后观察对致痫动物皮层脑电图、海马电图和皮层诱发电位的影响。结果表明,侧有离室注射无机钙通道阻滞剂氯化锰,可抑制致病大鼠皮层诱发电位的振幅和脑电图、海马电图痫样波的频率和振幅。提示氯化锰的作用可能与阻抑马桑内酯致痫时Ca^2 内流有关。     

大黄鱼Rnd1基因表达载体构建及表达模式分析

为探究Rnd1基因在大黄鱼免疫应答过程中的作用,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术（qRT-PCR）对该基因的表达模式进行分析,同时构建原核表达载体pET-28a-Rnd1,并转化进大肠杆菌后诱导该蛋白的融合表达。研究结果表明:大黄鱼Rnd1基因ORF为699 bp,编码232个氨基酸;经序列多重比对和进化树构建发现,Rnd1的氨基酸序列高度保守;在健康大黄鱼的8个免疫组织中,Rnd1在肝脏中相对表达量最高,其次为脑,而在肠中表达量最低;变形假单胞菌攻毒后,Rnd1在肝脏中48 h时达到最高值,为对照组的25倍;在脾脏中则持续上调表达,尤其在48 h后升高更为明显。     

RhoE/Rnd3在肝癌组织中的表达及临床意义

通过观察RhoE/Rnd3在肝癌组织中的表达情况及其与临床病理分级的关系,为探索RhoE/Rnd3的生物学功能和临床意义提供依据。对166例组织标本(其中正常肝脏组织60例,原发性肝癌病人106例)利用免疫组化研究RhoE/Rnd3在组织中蛋白水平的表达变化。RhoE/Rnd3在正常肝脏组织中普遍表达,但在原发性肝癌组织中表达低下或缺失。免疫组化结果显示RhoE/Rnd3主要分布在细胞的胞浆中。RhoE/Rnd3在原发性肝癌组织中的表达(阳性率为78%,83/106),明显低于其在正常肝组织(阳性率为97%,58/60)。P<0.005。且RhoE/Rnd3的表达随肿瘤组织分化程度的降低染色强度有下降趋势(P<0.005)。RhoE/Rnd3在原发性肝癌组织中表达明显降低,表明其对肿瘤的发生发展起到负性调控作用,结合目前的研究结果,RhoE/Rnd3可能是一种新型的抑癌基因,参与肿瘤细胞的凋亡过程。     

HB-EGF可挽救ADAM17缺失导致的大脑皮层神经前体细胞分化迁移异常

ADAM17金属蛋白酶对多种生长因子的成熟和功能有重要作用.实验室前期研究发现ADAM17对于大脑皮层神经前体细胞的迁移分化有重要作用,本研究进一步探究ADAM17影响大脑皮层神经前体细胞的迁移分化的分子机制.在小鼠胚胎E14.5天,采用IUE技术用针对性shRNA降低在大脑皮层中高表达的ADAM17底物(HB-EGF,L1-CAM,NRG1)的表达,或者在敲低ADAM17的同时共表达底物质粒,在E18.5天取样切片染色观测大脑皮层神经前体干细胞的迁移分化.结果显示敲低HB-EGF表达的大脑皮层神经前体细胞迁移分化异常表型与敲低ADAM17的表型相似;过表达HB-EGF胞外段成熟蛋白可以拯救敲低ADAM17的大脑皮层神经前体细胞迁移受阻的现象.因此推论,HB-EGF是ADAM17调控大脑皮层神经前体细胞的迁移分化过程中的一个主要底物.     

Isolation ofosRACD gene encoding a small GTP-binding protein from rice

Using an improved version of mRNA differential display technology, we have obtained a differentially displayed fragment RDP-8. Homologous comparison indicated that the fragment RDP-8 has high homology with the gene encoding maize small GTP-binding protein. By screening cDNA library of the rice Nongken 58N pan icle using the newly obtained fragment RDP-8 as probe, we further found the full-length cDNA of osRACD gene that encodes a rice small GTP-binding protein. Asco mpared with maize RACD gene, the osRACD of rice shows remarkable homology in both nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence, 88% and 97% respectively. Evidence from RT-PCR study indicates that osRACD gene is related to photoperiod fertility conversion of photoperiod sensitive genic male sterility (PSGMS) rice.     

水稻OsRhoGDI2基因RNA干扰载体的构建

水稻OsRhoGDI2是通过酵母双杂交筛选到的小G蛋白Rho家族成员OsRacD互作蛋白的编码基因,为了研究OsRhoGDI2与OsRacD的相互作用及其在水稻发育中的功能联系,本研究基于序列比对的提示,选择了OsRhoGDI2基因长度为285 bp的特异区段,分别以正向和反向插入中间载体pKANNIBAL中,并亚克隆...     

A small GTP-binding protein dissociates from synaptic vesicles during exocytosis.

Low-molecular-weight GTP-binding proteins are strong candidates for regulators of membrane traffic. In yeast, mutations in the sec4 or ypt1 genes encoding small GTP-binding proteins inhibit constitutive membrane flow at the plasma membrane or Golgi complex, respectively. It has been suggested that membrane fusion-fission events are regulated by cycling of small GTP-binding proteins between a membrane-bound and free state, but although most of these small proteins are found in both soluble and tightly membrane-bound forms, there is no direct evidence to support such cycling. In rat brain a small GTP-binding protein, rab3A, is exclusively associated with synaptic vesicles, the secretory organelles of nerve terminals. Here we use isolated nerve terminals to study the fate of rab3A during synaptic vesicle exocytosis. We find that rab3A dissociates quantitatively from the vesicle membrane after Ca2(+)-dependent exocytosis and that this dissociation is partially reversible during recovery after stimulation. These results are direct evidence for an association-dissociation cycle of a small GTP-binding protein during traffic of its host membrane.     

胞二磷胆碱对大鼠脑缺血损伤后认知功能及海马神经元BCL-2,BAX表达和细胞凋亡的影响

探讨胞二磷胆碱对脑缺血损伤后大鼠认知功能和海马神经元BCL-2,BAX表达的影响.取健康Spra-gue-Dawley成年雄性大鼠60只,随机分为假手术对照组,缺血组和胞二磷胆碱组3组,每组20只.对缺血组和胞二磷胆碱组采用Zea Longa等法改良复制大脑中动脉狭窄(middle cerebral artery occlusion,MCAO)动物模型,通过Morris水迷宫系统观察各组大鼠学习记忆功能;免疫组化检测BCL-2,BAX表达,Tunel法检测神经元凋亡.胞二磷胆碱使Bcl-2蛋白表达从缺血对照组的39.88±5.41增加至55.13±8.17,BAX蛋白表达从缺血对照组的62.38±8.47下降至36.13±5.94,凋亡神经元从缺血对照组的18.67±3.86下降至14.67±4.25.胞二磷胆碱对脑缺血损伤后大鼠的神经保护作用可能是通过上调海马神经元Bcl-2蛋白、下调Bax蛋白的表达,减少海马神经元凋亡进而改善脑缺血损伤后大鼠的学习记忆能力.     

Structural basis of long-term potentiation in single dendritic spines

Dendritic spines of pyramidal neurons in the cerebral cortex undergo activity-dependent structural remodelling that has been proposed to be a cellular basis of learning and memory. How structural remodelling supports synaptic plasticity, such as long-term potentiation, and whether such plasticity is input-specific at the level of the individual spine has remained unknown. We investigated the structural basis of long-term potentiation using two-photon photolysis of caged glutamate at single spines of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Here we show that repetitive quantum-like photorelease (uncaging) of glutamate induces a rapid and selective enlargement of stimulated spines that is transient in large mushroom spines but persistent in small spines. Spine enlargement is associated with an increase in AMPA-receptor-mediated currents at the stimulated synapse and is dependent on NMDA receptors, calmodulin and actin polymerization. Long-lasting spine enlargement also requires Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Our results thus indicate that spines individually follow Hebb's postulate for learning. They further suggest that small spines are preferential sites for long-term potentiation induction, whereas large spines might represent physical traces of long-term memory.     

Dependence of Ypt1 and Sec4 membrane attachment on Bet2

Many small GTP-binding proteins are synthesized as soluble proteins that are post-translationally modified as a prerequisite for membrane attachment. Ypt1 and Sec4 are homologous Raslike GTP-binding proteins that have been proposed to regulate the specificity of vesicular traffic at different stages of the secretory pathway by cycling on and off membranes. Here we show that BET2, initially identified as a gene required for transport from endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi apparatus in yeast, encodes a factor that is needed for the membrane attachment of Ypt1 and Sec4. DNA sequence analysis has revealed that Bet2 is homologous to Dpr1 (Ram1), an essential component of a protein prenyltransferase that modifies Ras, enabling it to attach to membranes. We propose that Bet2 modifies Ypt1 and Sec4 in an analogous manner.     

Turning on and off recurrent balanced cortical activity

The vast majority of synaptic connections onto neurons in the cerebral cortex arise from other cortical neurons, both excitatory and inhibitory, forming local and distant 'recurrent' networks. Although this is a basic theme of cortical organization, its study has been limited largely to theoretical investigations, which predict that local recurrent networks show a proportionality or balance between recurrent excitation and inhibition, allowing the generation of stable periods of activity. This recurrent activity might underlie such diverse operations as short-term memory, the modulation of neuronal excitability with attention, and the generation of spontaneous activity during sleep. Here we show that local cortical circuits do indeed operate through a proportional balance of excitation and inhibition generated through local recurrent connections, and that the operation of such circuits can generate self-sustaining activity that can be turned on and off by synaptic inputs. These results confirm the long-hypothesized role of recurrent activity as a basic operation of the cerebral cortex.     

初孵扬子鳄大脑皮层组织学结构观察

本文用光镜对扬子鳄大脑皮层的组织学结构进行了研究 .扬子鳄大脑皮层可分为外网状层、细胞层和内网状层三层 ,神经细胞绝大多数集中于细胞层内 ,内、外网状层中零星分布一些小细胞 .从内侧到外侧 ,大脑皮层可分为海马、新皮质和梨状皮质三部分 ,三者之间无明显界线 ,细胞排布有所区别 .本文对扬子鳄的大脑皮层同其他脊椎动物的进行了比较讨论 .     

Modulation of intracortical synaptic potentials by presynaptic somatic membrane potential

Traditionally, neuronal operations in the cerebral cortex have been viewed as occurring through the interaction of synaptic potentials in the dendrite and soma, followed by the initiation of an action potential, typically in the axon. Propagation of this action potential to the synaptic terminals is widely believed to be the only form of rapid communication of information between the soma and axonal synapses, and hence to postsynaptic neurons. Here we show that the voltage fluctuations associated with dendrosomatic synaptic activity propagate significant distances along the axon, and that modest changes in the somatic membrane potential of the presynaptic neuron modulate the amplitude and duration of axonal action potentials and, through a Ca2+-dependent mechanism, the average amplitude of the postsynaptic potential evoked by these spikes. These results indicate that synaptic activity in the dendrite and soma controls not only the pattern of action potentials generated, but also the amplitude of the synaptic potentials that these action potentials initiate in local cortical circuits, resulting in synaptic transmission that is a mixture of triggered and graded (analogue) signals.     

Bcl-2 maintains B cell memory

The number of lymphocytes in an animal is remarkably constant despite antigen-driven proliferation and a high rate of B-cell lymphopoiesis. This reflects the relatively brief lifespan of many newly generated B cells and argues for a well-regulated death mechanism. Even so, a secondary immune response can be generated years after a primary exposure to antigen. Antigen that might restimulate B cells persists for extended periods on follicular dendritic cells in the light zone of germinal centres. Antigen-binding B cells have also been found months after the end of obvious cell division. The precise signal that enables certain B cells to emerge as long-term surviving memory cells is unknown. Bcl-2, an inner mitochondrial membrane protein, blocks programmed cell death in B cells. We report here that this proto-oncogene maintains immune responsiveness. Transgenic mice overproducing Bcl-2 have a long-term persistence of immunoglobulin-secreting cells and an extended lifetime for memory B cells.     

A role for adult TLX-positive neural stem cells in learning and behaviour

Neurogenesis persists in the adult brain and can be regulated by a plethora of external stimuli, such as learning, memory, exercise, environment and stress. Although newly generated neurons are able to migrate and preferentially incorporate into the neural network, how these cells are molecularly regulated and whether they are required for any normal brain function are unresolved questions. The adult neural stem cell pool is composed of orphan nuclear receptor TLX-positive cells. Here, using genetic approaches in mice, we demonstrate that TLX (also called NR2E1) regulates adult neural stem cell proliferation in a cell-autonomous manner by controlling a defined genetic network implicated in cell proliferation and growth. Consequently, specific removal of TLX from the adult mouse brain through inducible recombination results in a significant reduction of stem cell proliferation and a marked decrement in spatial learning. In contrast, the resulting suppression of adult neurogenesis does not affect contextual fear conditioning, locomotion or diurnal rhythmic activities, indicating a more selective contribution of newly generated neurons to specific cognitive functions.     

Neurons derived from radial glial cells establish radial units in neocortex

The neocortex of the adult brain consists of neurons and glia that are generated by precursor cells of the embryonic ventricular zone. In general, glia are generated after neurons during development, but radial glia are an exception to this rule. Radial glia are generated before neurogenesis and guide neuronal migration. Radial glia are mitotically active throughout neurogenesis, and disappear or become astrocytes when neuronal migration is complete. Although the lineage relationships of cortical neurons and glia have been explored, the clonal relationship of radial glia to other cortical cells remains unknown. It has been suggested that radial glia may be neuronal precursors, but this has not been demonstrated in vivo. We have used a retroviral vector encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein to label precursor cells in vivo and have examined clones 1-3 days later using morphological, immunohistochemical and electrophysiological techniques. Here we show that clones consist of mitotic radial glia and postmitotic neurons, and that neurons migrate along clonally related radial glia. Time-lapse images show that proliferative radial glia generate neurons. Our results support the concept that a lineage relationship between neurons and proliferative radial glia may underlie the radial organization of neocortex.