The polycystins: a novel class of membrane-associated proteins involved in renal cystic disease

Polycystin-1, polycystin-2 and polycystin-L are the predicted protein products of the PKD1, PKD2 and PKDL genes, respectively. Mutations in PKD1 and PKD2 are responsible for almost all cases of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This condition is one of the commonest mendelian disorders of man with a prevalence of 1:800 and is responsible for nearly 10% of cases of end-stage renal failure in adults. The cloning of PKD1 and PKD2 in recent years has provided the initial steps in defining the mechanisms underlying renal cyst formation in this condition, with the aim of defining pharmacological and genetic interventions that may ameliorate the diverse and often serious clinical manifestations of this disease. The PKD genes share regions of sequence similarity, and all predict integral membrane proteins. Whilst the predicted protein domain structure of polycystin-1 suggests it is involved in cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions, the similarity of polycystin-2 and polycystin-L to the pore-forming domains of some cation channels suggests that they all form subunits of a large plasma membrane ion channel. In the few years since the cloning of the PKD genes, a consensus that defines the range of mutations, expression pattern, interactions and functional domains of these genes and their protein products is emerging. This review will therefore attempt to summarise these data and provide an insight in to the key areas in which polycystin research is unravelling the mechanisms involved in renal cyst formation. Received 22 February 1999; received after revision 5 July 1999; accepted 6 July 1999     

A 100 W-class traveling-wave thermoacoustic electricity generator

Experimental investigation on a traveling-wave thermoacoustic electricity generator is presented. In the experiment, more than 100 W electrical power was achieved under 2.5 MPa mean pressure, 64 Hz working frequency and 0.2 MPa pressure amplitude.     

乙型肝炎病毒x基因蛋白转导载体的构建

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白在细胞转化和肝癌的发生发展中具有重要作用.为了深入研究X蛋白的致癌机理构建了pTAT-GFP-X载体.该研究以克隆在真核表达载体pCMV-X质粒中的x基因为模板,设计了x基因的PCR引物,采用PCR方法扩增x基因,回收PCR产物,以XhoI和EcoRI酶切位点将PCR产物连接到蛋白转导系统pTAT-GFP载体中,再用XhoI和EcoRI酶对筛选的重组子进行酶切鉴定,获得了510bp的目的片段,表明已成功地将目的片段克隆在pTAT-GFP载体中.经DNA序列分析检测,显示克隆的x基因无突变.经SDS-PAGE和Westernblot检测证实,将重组质料pTAT-GFP-X转化致大肠杆菌BL21中,可表达pTAT-GFP-X融合蛋白.该pTAT-GFP-X载体蛋白转导系统的构建,为进行X蛋白的蛋白转导实验奠定了基础.pTAT-GFP-X融合蛋白具有穿透细胞膜进入细胞的能力,进而在细胞内发挥作用,与转基因不同,无需细胞内基因表达的过程,使得X蛋白的定量实验成为可能,X蛋白的蛋白转导实验更有助于探讨x基因的致癌机理.     

Type I phosphoinositide 3-kinases: potential antithrombotic targets?

Arterial thrombosis is the single most common cause of death and disability in industrialized societies and is the primary pathogenic mechanism underlying acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Platelets play a central role in this process, and as a consequence, a great deal of effort has gone into identifying the mechanisms regulating the adhesive function of platelets. Platelet adhesion is controlled by intracellular signaling pathways, with growing evidence for a major role for phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) in this process. Platelets express all type I PI3K isoforms, including p110α, p110β, p110δ and p110γ, with recent evidence suggesting important roles for p110γ and p110β in regulating distinct phases of the platelet activation process. Deficiency of p110 γ or inhibition of p110β produces a marked defect in arterial thrombosis without a corresponding increase in bleeding time, raising the possibility that inhibition of one or more PI3K isoforms may represent an effective antithrombotic approach. Received 3 January 2006; received after revision 20 February 2006; accepted 20 February 2006     

乙烯信号转导研究进展

就乙烯受体蛋白、乙烯信号转导途径分子组成、乙烯引发的植物信号转导等方面的最新进展予以综述,以期深入认识乙烯引发植物信号转导的分子机制。     

Identification of integrin-like in guard cells ofVicia faba

We addressed the existence and localization of integrin-like in guard cells ofVicia faba by using a probe of polyclonal antibody against the human integrin (α_vβ₃/β₅). Western blot results showed that three integrins-like of about 47.3, 43.7 and 41.1 ku were detected from the preparation of membrane fragments of purified guard cell protoplasts. Further research with immunofluorescent scanning microscopy indicated that those integrins-like were localized on plasma membrane of guard cells, most nearing the dorsal wall, which is consistent with the reception of signals from epidermal cells to guard cells. Thus our results indicate, for the first time, that integrins-like are present at guard cell plasma membrane ofVicia faba.     

一种改进的多级逻辑优化算法

基于变换化简法,提出了一种改进的适用于局部逻辑网络优化的多级逻辑优化算法,通过计算逻辑网络中门或连线处的可观测性无关项,可迅速得到最大允许函数集,从而节省了计算时间,并且提高了原算法的适用性。实验结果表明,改进后的算法可用于大规模集成电路的设计。     

逆境激素ABA的信息传导及其调控

报道了近年关于ABA信息传导的研究概况,细胞内信号传导途径,将此理论运用在微观上细胞水平的的调控以及宏观上农田的节水灌溉调控。     

植物小G蛋白研究进展

小G蛋白是和异三聚体G蛋白α亚基偶联的单体鸟苷酸结合蛋白,所有的小G蛋白从属于Ras超家族．植物小G蛋白超家族尤其是ROP家族在信号转导及生长发育中起了重要的“分子开关”作用,它们参与调控花粉管的伸长、根毛的发育及激素信号转导等过程．主要介绍了小G蛋白的种类、调节机制、ROP家族的功能及靶物,旨在揭示植物小G蛋白功能的多样性．     

酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae )蛋白激酶SCH9激活环磷酸化调控胁迫应答

通过比较野生型、△sch9和△sch9(SCH9-3HA)三种酵母茵种在葡萄糖、半乳糖、蔗糖和麦芽糖作碳源培养基上的生长表型研究SCH9是否参与酵母不同碳源代谢利用调控.结果显示,△sch9细胞茵落大小较野生型细胞小且有明显的生长缺陷,但这种生长缺陷在重新获得sch-3HA基因后得到恢复.通过比较野生型、△sch9和△sch9(SCH9-3HA)三种酵母茵种在渗透压胁迫和热胁迫条件下的生长表型发现sch9可能参与了酵母胁迫应答.利用抗SCH9570位磷酸化苏氨酸特异性抗体(anti-T570-P),通过变性免疫沉淀和免疫印迹方法,研究了生理条件下的△sch9(SCH9-3HA)细胞裂解液中SCH9激活环的磷酸化状态.结果显示,在生理条件下SCH9激活环T570位点发生了明显磷酸化.进一步研究了渗透压胁迫条件下SCH9激活环T570位点的磷酸化水平.结果表明,渗透压胁迫条件下SCH9激活环T570位点磷酸化水平较生理条件下显著增强.结果显示SCH9可能通过增强激活环磷酸化水平来参与调控酵母不同碳源代谢和胁迫应答.