Conotoxins of the O-superfamily affecting voltage-gated sodium channels

The venoms of predatory cone snails harbor a rich repertoire of peptide toxins that are valuable research tools, but recently have also proven to be useful drugs. Among the conotoxins with several disulfide bridges, the O-superfamily toxins are characterized by a conserved cysteine knot pattern: C-C-CC-C-C. While ω-conotoxins and κ-conotoxins block Ca²⁺ and K⁺ channels, respectively, the closely related δ- and μO-conotoxins affect voltage-gated Na⁺ channels (Na_v channels). δ-conotoxins mainly remove the fast inactivation of Na_v channels and, thus, functionally resemble long-chain scorpion α-toxins. μO-conotoxins are functionally similar to μ-conotoxins, since they inhibit the ion flow through Na_v channels. Recent results from functional and structural assays have gained insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms. Both types of toxins are voltage-sensor toxins interfering with the voltage-sensor elements of Na_v channels. Received 27 December 2006; received after revision 30 January 2007; accepted 19 February 2007     

血清转铁蛋白受体的研究进展及临床意义

血清转铁蛋白受体(sT fR)是完整的细胞受体的一个可溶性节段,通过酶免疫法或免疫浊度法可从血清中检出。sT fR反映机体贮存铁的数量以及所需铁的数量,是判断机体是否缺铁的一项敏感指标。sT fR可以定量评价骨髓幼红细胞的生成,尤其适用于评价各类骨髓红系显著增生的溶血性贫血。     

药物分子对接网格研究与进展

药物分子对接所涉及的搜索空间非常巨大,需要耗费大量的时间,并且对计算环境也有较高的要求．将网格技术应用于药物分子对接中,能有效解决上述问题．通过应用改进的遗传算法多种群竞争机制的对接演化模型GADock,以信息熵控制设计空间的收缩,增强了进化的有效性,显著地提高了对接效率、利用网格数据传输和网格任务调度等网格技术对分子对接过程进行了优化,有效利用了网格节点资源,并降低了药物分子的对接时间．实例测试表明了药物分子对接与网格技术相结合的合理性及有效性．     

PPAR γ partial agonist, KR-62776, inhibits adipocyte differentiation via activation of ERK

Indenone KR-62776 acts as an agonist of PPARγ without inducing obesity in animal models and cells. X-ray crystallography reveals that the indenone occupies the binding pocket in a different manner than rosiglitazone. 2-Dimensional gel-electrophoresis showed that the expression of 42 proteins was altered more than 2.0-fold between KR-62776- or rosiglitazone-treated adipocyte cells and control cells. Rosiglitazone down-regulated the expression of ERK1/2 and suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in these cells. However, the expression of ERK1/2 was up-regulated in KR-62776-treated cells. Phosphorylated ERK1/2, activated by indenone, affects the localization of PPARγ, suggesting a mechanism for indenone-inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. The preadipocyte cells are treated with ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, a large amount of the cells are converted to adipocyte cells. These results support the conclusion that the localization of PPARγ is one of the key factors explaining the biological responses of the ligands. Received 04 March 2009; received after revision 13 March 2009; accepted 17 March 2009     

Bitter peptides and bitter taste receptors

Bitter peptides are a structurally diverse group of oligopeptides often generated in fermented, aged, and hydrolyzed food products that make them unfavorable for consumption. Humans perceive bitterness by a repertoire of 25 human bitter receptors, termed T2Rs. Knowledge of the structural features of bitter receptors and of the factors that stimulate bitter receptors will aid in understanding the mechanism responsible for bitter taste perception. This article reviews the current knowledge regarding structural features of bitter peptides and bitter taste receptors. Received 24 November 2008; received after revision 11 December 2008; accepted 16 December 2008     

正常脐血TCR Vα亚家族的分布和克隆性表达

目的:了解正常脐血中T细胞受体(TCR)Vα亚家族T细胞的分布和克隆性情况.方法:利用RT-PCR分别扩增10例正常脐血单个核细胞的TCR Vα29个亚家族基因,了解各Vα亚家族的利用情况.阳性的PCR产物进一步经荧光素标记和基因扫描分析产物的CDR3长度,了解T细胞的克隆性.9例健康成人外周血和T细胞株Jurkat作为对照.结果:正常脐血T细胞平均表达17.30±5.48个Vα亚家族,占全部家族的59.65%±18.89%,以Vα3,4,5,6,8,10,12,13,15,17,21和Vα25为多见,健康成人外周血T细胞则大部分表达Vα亚家族,Vα1,6和Vα13在脐血中的表达率高于健康成人对照组,而Vα14和Vα16的表达率则低于对照组.T细胞株Jurkat则仅表达Vα1亚家族.基因扫描显示10例脐血中有2例在Vα24和Vα28 T细胞出现寡克隆性,其余均为多克隆性.结论:脐血中TCR Vα亚家族T细胞分布存在倾斜性,绝大部分TCR Vα亚家族T细胞均呈多克隆性,极个别可出现寡克隆性.     

Liver X receptors in cardiovascular and metabolic disease

Liver X receptors (LXRs) α and β are nuclear oxysterol receptors and metabolic sensors initially found to regulate cholesterol metabolism and lipid biosynthesis. Recent studies have elucidated the importance of LXR in the development of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. LXR agonists prevent development of atherosclerosis by modulation of metabolic as well as inflammatory gene expression in rodent models. Moreover, LXR activation inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis and lowers serum glucose levels, indicating possible application of LXR activation in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. However, first-generation LXR agonists elevate hepatic and serum trigylceride levels, making subtype-specific agonists and selective LXR modulators rather than unselective LXR agonists a potential pharmacological strategy. This review summarizes the multiple physiological and pathophysiological implications of LXRs and observations that identify LXRs as potential targets for therapeutic interventions in human cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Received 30 August 2005; received after revision 10 October 2005; accepted 4 November 2005     

Natural sweet macromolecules: how sweet proteins work

A few proteins, discovered mainly in tropical fruits, have a distinct sweet taste. These proteins have played an important role towards a molecular understanding of the mechanisms of taste. Owing to the huge difference in size, between most sweeteners and sweet proteins, it was believed that they must interact with a different receptor from that of small molecular weight sweeteners. Recent modelling studies have shown that the single sweet taste receptor has multiple active sites and that the mechanism of interaction of sweet proteins is intrinsically different from that of small sweeteners. Small molecular weight sweeteners occupy small receptor cavities inside two subdomains of the receptor, whereas sweet proteins can interact with the sweet receptor according to a mechanism called the ‘wedge model’ in which they bind to a large external cavity. This review describes these mechanisms and outlines a history of sweet proteins. Received 11 February 2006; received after revision 31 March 2006; accepted 11 May 2006     

Snake venom components and their applications in biomedicine

Snake envenomation is a socio-medical problem of considerable magnitude. About 2.5 million people are bitten by snakes annually, more than 100,000 fatally. However, although bites can be deadly, snake venom is a natural biological resource that contains several components of potential therapeutic value. Venom has been used in the treatment of a variety of pathophysiological conditions in Ayurveda, homeopathy and folk medicine. With the advent of biotechnology, the efficacy of such treatments has been substantiated by purifying components of venom and delineating their therapeutic properties. This review will focus on certain snake venom components and their applications in health and disease. Received 6 July 2006; received after revision 14 August 2006; accepted 28 September 2006     

基于数理统计的高速公路MTC收费车道通行能力——以上海高速公路为例

在高速公路收费站MTC车道向ETC车道转变过程中,改造时序方案的研究需要对MTC车道、ETC车道的通行能力进行准确、合理的分析取值.然而,目前国内的规范标准中,给出的MTC车道服务时间参考值普遍比上海市各高速公路收费站的实际情况偏小.将高速公路收费站入口、出口MTC车道区别对待,尝试采用概率论中数理统计的数学分析方法来确定MTC车道服务时间值的分布特性及最大似然估计值,进而确定MTC收费车道的通行能力,并通过案例应用进一步验证数值的可信性.