Biosynthesis of selenosubtilisin: A novel way to target selenium into the active site of subtilisin

Glutathione peroxidase （GPx, EC1.11.1.9）, an important anti-oxidative selenoenzyme, can catalyze the reduction of harmful hydroperoxides with concomitant glutathione, thereby protecting cells and other biological issues against oxidative damage. It captures considerable interest in redesign of its function for either the mechanism study or the pharmacological development as an antioxidant. In order to develop a general strategy for specifically targeting and operating selenium in active sites of enzymes, the catalytically essential residue selenocysteine （Sec） was first successfully bioincorporated into the catalytic center of subtilisin by using an auxotrophic expression system. The studies of the catalytic activity and the steady-state kinetics demonstrated that selenosubtilisin is an excellent GPx-like biocatalyst. In comparison with the chemically modified method, biosynthesis exhibits obvious advantages： Sec could be site-directly incorporated into active sites of enzymes to overcome the non-specificity generated by chemical modification. This study provides an important strategy for specifically targeting and operating selenium in the active site of an enzyme.     

伽马辐照对斑马鱼胚胎谷胱甘肽还原酶活性及基因表达的影响

谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)是一种重要的抗氧化酶,其在生物体的抗氧化系统中起着关键作用.为了研究伽马辐照对斑马鱼胚胎GR活性及基因表达的影响,本实验用不同的辐照剂量(0.01、0.05、0.1、0.5和1 Gy)分别对三个发育时期(原肠胚期、体节期和咽囊期)的斑马鱼胚胎进行了辐照处理.分析了各组GR的活性,并采用荧光实时定量PCR技术(qRT-PCR)检测了GR基因的表达水平.结果显示,伽马辐照以剂量依赖的方式调整了斑马鱼胚胎GR的活性及GR基因的表达.随着辐照剂量的增加,GR活性及其mRNA的相对表达量呈现先升高后回落的趋势.这表明,GR是一种可以对伽马辐照作出早期预警的生物标志物.斑马鱼胚胎可以通过上调GR基因的表达,来增加GR的合成,从而提高对伽马射线的防御能力.但是,这种反应和调整是有限度的.咽囊期胚胎比其它两个时期的胚胎对伽马射线的防御能力更强.     

检测巯基物质的光学探针研究进展

巯基物质是生物体内主要的抗氧化剂,并以多种形式广泛存在.定量检测巯基物质在生化研究和相关疾病诊断方面意义突出.目前,利用高选择性、高灵敏度的光学探针开展巯基物质的检测研究已成为前沿课题之一.其中,荧光探针由于能够实现活体的原位、实时成像尤其受到关注.本文基于光学探针与巯基物质(主要包括谷胱甘肽、半胱氨酸和高半胱氨酸)的不同反应机理,就近年来该领域的研究新进展做了较系统的评述.所涉及的反应机理主要有:双键的麦克尔加成、苯环的亲核取代、金属的配位络合、巯基物质参与的氧化反应和成环反应、以及静电作用等.此外,还讨论了检测巯基物质的光学探针存在的问题,并展望了其发展趋势与应用前景.     

Effects of dietary nickel on detoxification enzyme activities in the midgut of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spodoptera litura</Emphasis> Fabricius larvae

Nickel accumulated in midugt of Spodoptera litura Fabricius could induce the expression of metallothionein, one of the most important detoxification proteins in organisms. In the present study, the effects of dietary nickel on the activities of detoxification enzymes, such as carboxylesterase （CarE） and giutathione S-transferase （GST） in the midgut of S. litura larvae have been studied to get an understanding of the detoxification mechanisms of S. litura larvae to excessive nickel. Results showed that CarE activities in the midgut of the 5th instar larvae decreased at lower levels of nickel （≤5 mg/kg）, while increased with increasing nickel doses at higher levels of nickel （≥10 mg/kg） exposure in successive 3 generations. CarE activities of the 6th instar larvae were also characterized as inhibited at low levels of nickel exposure, and improved at higher levels in the 1st generation. CarE activities of 6th instar larvae in the 2nd and 3rd generations were all lower than that in control. However, GST activities in the midgut of the 5th and 6th instar larvae all increased with increasing nickel doses （1 --20 mg/kg） in diets.     

N末端缺失萝卜谷胱甘肽磷脂氢过氧化物酶的表达、纯化及结构预测

将N末端定位信号缺失萝卜PHGPx（RsPHGPx）的cDNA 片段克隆到表达载体pGEX-6P-1上, 并转化至大肠杆菌内进行表达. 通过GST亲和层析、离子交换层析和凝胶过滤层析, 制备了用于晶体学研究的RsPHGPx. 其浓度约为10 g/L, 纯度超过95％, 具有PHGPx活性. 三维结构同源建模显示RsPHGPx的结构为典型的硫氧还蛋白折叠形式.     

促肝细胞生长素联合还原型谷胱甘肽治疗重度慢性乙型肝炎

目的观察促肝细胞生长素联合还原型谷胱甘肽治疗重度慢性乙型肝炎的临床疗效。方法选择60例重度慢性乙型肝炎随机分为对照组和治疗组各30例,比较治疗前后两组病人的临床症状和生化指标等方面的变化。对照组给予甘草酸二铵、香丹等抗炎保肝支持及防治并发症治疗;治疗组在此基础上加用促肝细胞生长素和还原型谷胱甘肽联合治疗。结果治疗组疗效明显优于对照组,治疗组在临床症状和生化指标改善等方面与对照组比疗效差异有显著性意义（P〈0．05）。结论两药联用有助于改善临床症状和生化指标。缩短重度慢性乙型肝炎的病程,防治疾病进展。     

Reactive oxygen species are crucial for hydroxychavicol toxicity toward KB epithelial cells

Betel quid (BQ) chewing shows a strong correlation to the incidence of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), leukoplakia and oral cancer. BQ contains mainly areca nut, lime, Piper betle leaf (PBL) and the inflorescence of P. betle (IPB). Hydroxychavicol (4-allyl-catechol, HC), as a major phenolic compound in PBL and IPB, is shown to induce oxidative stress, glutathione (GSH) depletion and cell cycle deregulation. Using bivariate BrdU/PI flow cytometry, KB cells in DNA synthesis (S phase) are shown to be sensitive to the toxic effect of HC and show cell cycle arrest and apoptosis following exposure to 0.1 and 0.3 mM HC. HC-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest are associated with mitochondrial membrane potential (m) depolarization as revealed by a decrease in rhodamine fluorescence. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (1 mM), superoxide dismutase (100 U/ml) and catalase (1000 U/ml) were effective in prevention of HC-induced GSH depletion (as indicated by chloromethylfluorescein fluorescence), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (by dichlorofluorescein fluorescence), cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. However, dimethylthiourea (2 mM), neocuproine (1 mM), 1,10-phenanthroline (200 M) and desferrioxamine (0.5 mM) showed little effect on HC-induced cell changes. HC elevated the cellular and mitochondrial GSH levels at moderate concentrations (0.05–0.1 mM), whereas at a concentration of 0.3 mM, inhibitory effects were noted. These results indicate that HC consumption may be associated with BQ-chewing-related oral mucosal diseases via GSH depletion, ROS production, mitochondrial dysfunction, cell cycle disturbance and the induction of apoptosis. These events are related to the production of superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide.Received 9 July 2003; received after revision 28 September 2003; accepted 24 October 2003     

硒与人体健康

本文主要论述了硒在人体内的吸收和排泄 ,它的主要生理功能和缺乏所引起的病症 ,以及如何补硒     

肝癌细胞对三氧化二砷诱导凋亡的敏感性与细胞内谷胱甘肽含量的关系

目的:比较肝癌BEL-7402和SMMC-7721细胞对三氧化二砷(As2O3)诱导凋亡的敏感性差异,探讨细胞内谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量与其作用的关系。方法:不同浓度As2O3作用BEL-7402和SMMC-7721细胞24~96 h,流式细胞仪检测细胞DNA含量,计算细胞凋亡百分率;GSH检测试剂盒检测细胞内GSH含量。结果:0.25μmol/L As2O3作用24 h,有效地诱导BEL-7402细胞凋亡;对SMMC-7721细胞来说,需要用1.0μmol/L As2O3作用24 h才能达到相同的抑制效果。1.0μmol/LAs2O3作用72 h时,BEL-7402细胞的凋亡率为(43.8±0.2)%,SMMC-7721细胞的凋亡率为(12.8±0.2)%,检测BEL-7402细胞内GSH为(18.7±1.4)nmol/mg;SMMC-7721细胞内GSH为(50.8±5.2)nmol/mg,两者比较均有显著差异。结论:肝癌BEL-7402和SMMC-7721细胞对As2O3诱导细胞凋亡的敏感性不同,可能与细胞内GSH含量有关。     

锌离子增强荧光光谱法测定谷胱甘肽

探讨了金属离子对还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)-邻苯二甲醛(OPA)体系荧光信号的影响,实验结果表明Zn2+对体系的荧光信号有增强作用,而且Zn2+能够提高GSH-OPA体系的稳定性,据此建立了一种以Zn2+作为荧光增强剂,快速简便测定还原型谷胱甘肽的新方法.GSH在1.3×10-8～1.4×10-6mol/L的范围内其浓度与体系相对荧光强度有良好的线性关系,检出限为1.1×10-8mol/L.本实验方法比较适合生物样品中还原型谷胱甘肽浓度的测定.