ERK activation by Ca2+ ionophores depends on Ca2+ entry in lymphocytes but not in platelets, and does not conduct membrane scrambling

Rapid Ca²⁺-dependent phospholipid (PL) reorganization (scrambling) at the plasma membrane is a mechanism common to hematopoietic cells exposing procoagulant phosphatidylserine (PS). The aim of this research was to determine whether activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway was required for PL scrambling, based on a single report analyzing both responses induced by Ca²⁺ ionophores in megakaryoblastic HEL cells. Ca²⁺ ionophore-stimulated ERK phosphorylation was induced in platelets without external Ca²⁺, whereas exogenous Ca²⁺ entry was crucial for ERK activation in Jurkat T cells. In both cells, membrane scrambling only occurred following Ca²⁺ entry and was not blocked by inhibiting ERK phosphorylation. Furthermore, ERK proteins are strongly phosphorylated in transformed B lymphoblastic cell lines, which do not expose PS in their resting state. Overall, the data demonstrated that ERK activation and membrane scrambling are independent mechanisms. A. Arachiche, I. Badirou: These authors contributed equally to this work. Received 18 June 2008; received after revision 24 September 2008; accepted 1 October 2008     

Cardiolipin, the heart of mitochondrial metabolism

Cardiolipin is a unique phospholipid, which is almost exclusively localized in the mitochondrial inner membrane where it is synthesized from phosphatidylglycerol and cytidinediphosphate-diacylglycerol. After primary synthesis, the mature acyl chain composition of cardiolipin is achieved by at least two remodeling mechanisms. In the mitochondrial membrane cardiolipin plays an important role in energy metabolism, mainly by providing stability for the individual enzymes and enzyme complexes involved in energy production. Moreover, cardiolipin is involved in different stages of the mitochondrial apoptotic process and in mitochondrial membrane dynamics. Cardiolipin alterations have been described in various pathological conditions. Patients suffering from Barth syndrome have an altered cardiolipin homeostasis caused by a primary deficiency in cardiolipin remodeling. Alterations in cardiolipin content or composition have also been reported in more frequent diseases such as diabetes and heart failure. In this review we provide an overview of cardiolipin metabolism, function and its role in different pathological states. Received 16 January 2008; received after revision 26 February 2008; accepted 26 March 2008     

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     

A Low Power Error Detection in the Syndrome Calculator Block for Reed-Solomon Codes: RS(204,188)

Reed-Solomon (RS) codes have been widely adopted in many modern communication systems. This paper describes a new method for error detection in the syndrome calculator block of RS decoders. The main feature of this method is to prove that it is possible to compute only a few syndrome coeffi-cients — less than half — to detect whether the codeword is correct. The theoretical estimate of the prob-ability that the new algorithm failed is shown to depend on the number of syndrome coefficients computed. The algo...     

猪生殖—呼吸综合症(征)

近年来,国际兽疫机构和许多发达国家均已确认出现了一种新猪病——“猪生殖—呼吸综合症”,给养猪业带来莫大经济损失.本文对该病的分布、命名、病原学、流行病学、临床症状、病理剖检、诊断和预防作了全面综述.旨在引起我国有关部门和生产单位的重视与研究,特别是俄罗斯与日本都确认发生了该病,我们是邻国更宜注意,推测我国亦会有该病发生.     

The Ror receptor tyrosine kinase family

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) participate in numerous developmental decisions. Ror RTKs are a family of orphan receptors that are related to muscle specific kinase (MuSK) and Trk neurotrophin receptors. MuSK assembles acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction [1, 2], and Trk receptors function in the developing nervous system (reviewed in [3-5]). Rors have been identified in nematodes, insects and mammals. Recent studies have begun to shed light on Ror function during development. In most species, Rors are expressed in many tissue types during development. Analyses of mutants that are defective in the single nematode Ror demonstrate a role in cell migration and in orienting cell polarity. Mice lacking one of the two Ror gene products display defects in bone and heart formation. Similarly, two different human bone development disorders, dominant brachydactyly B and recessive Robinow syndrome, result from mutations in one of the human Ror genes. Received 17 April 2001; received after revision 2 July 2001; accepted 4 July 2001     

对虾白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)基因组细菌双杂交系统的构建

细菌双杂交系统是新近建立的一种研究蛋白质间相互作用的方法.应用细菌双杂交系统,分别以pBT、pTRG诱饵质粒构建编码WSSV基因组DNA随机片段的融合表达质粒pBT-wssv、pTRG-wssv.重组质粒共转化双杂交报告菌株XLl-Blue MRF′,通过LB-TCK平板筛选对虾白斑综合征病毒中有相互作用的蛋白质.本研究中我们构建了WSSV基因组细菌双杂交系统,用于筛选WSSV中有相互作用的蛋白,为该病毒功能基因组的研究打下良好的基础.     

重组SARS冠状病毒S蛋白的原核表达研究

目的克隆表达SARS冠状病毒的主要结构蛋白(S蛋白)。方法合成SARS冠状病毒S蛋白特异性基因片断并克隆入pET32a原核表达载体,转化BL21菌,经IPTG诱导高效表达得到重组S蛋白,并通过W estern印迹对重组蛋白质进行鉴定。结果重组蛋白质经镍柱亲和层析得到了部分纯化,免疫动物后得到SARS病毒的多克隆抗体。结论经E lisa检测,表达的重组S蛋白基本具备检测病人血清中抗SARS病毒IgG和IgM的能力,可进一步用于S蛋白功能研究与SARS诊断试剂盒的研制。     

“后毕业综合症”探析

大学生毕业后在面对从学校到社会这一巨大转变时,普遍发生了严重的心理问题,这些问题没有引起社会、学校、企业足够的关注。初步探讨这一巨大转变带来的问题,分析这些问题出现的原因,并尝试给出相应的调适策略。     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合症的观察及护理

通过对55例阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合症患者术前、术后的护理及观察，总结了护理体会，着重对术前、术后健康教育及心理、术后伤口出血情况，气管切开护理，咽部水肿，饮食及口腔清洁，并发症观察护理进行了总结，并通过术前，术后血氧饱和度、呼吸、心率的监测，总结了阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合症患者的手术疗效。