The Cytotoxic Effect of α-Synuclein Aggregates

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder involving a functional protein, α-synuclein, whose primary function is related to vesicle trafficking. However, α-synuclein is prone to form aggregates, and these inclusions, known as Lewy bodies, are the hallmark of Parkinson's disease. α-synuclein can alter its conformation and acquire aggregating capacity, forming aggregates containing β-sheets. This protein's pathogenic importance is based on its ability to form oligomers that impair synaptic transmission and neuronal function by increasing membrane permeability and altering homeostasis, generating a deleterious effect over cells. First, we establish that oligomers interfere with the mechanical properties of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) membrane, as demonstrated by nanoindentation curves. In contrast, nanoindentation revealed that the α-synuclein monomer's presence leads to a much more resistant lipid bilayer. Moreover, the oligomers’ interaction with cell membranes can promote lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, suggesting the activation of cytotoxic events.     

Computational Analysis Reveals a Critical Point Mutation in the N-Terminal Region of the Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Responsible for the Cross-Species Infection with Canine Distemper Virus

Infection of hosts by morbilliviruses is facilitated by the interaction between viral hemagglutinin (H-protein) and the signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM). Recently, the functional importance of the n-terminal region of human SLAM as a measles virus receptor was demonstrated. However, the functional roles of this region in the infection process by other morbilliviruses and host range determination remain unknown, partly because this region is highly flexible, which has hampered accurate structure determination of this region by X-ray crystallography. In this study, we analyzed the interaction between the H-protein from canine distemper virus (CDV-H) and SLAMs by a computational chemistry approach. Molecular dynamics simulations and fragment molecular orbital analysis demonstrated that the unique His28 in the N-terminal region of SLAM from Macaca is a key determinant that enables the formation of a stable interaction with CDV-H, providing a basis for CDV infection in Macaca. The computational chemistry approach presented should enable the determination of molecular interactions involving regions of proteins that are difficult to predict from crystal structures because of their high flexibility.     

Fusion Proteins Cpn10-E^rns with Properties of Generating CSFV-Neutralized Antibodies

IntroductionClassical swine fever(CSF), included in the listA of the Office International des Epizooties(OIE), is ahighly contagious disease of domestic pigs and is con-sidered as the mostharmful disease occurring in pigs allover the world[1]. Outbreaks o…     

Effect of Notoginsenoside-Rg1 on the Expression of Several Proteins in the Striatum of Rat Models with Parkinson＇s Disease

After establishing hemi-Parkinsonian rat models, the relationships between neuron death and the expression of several proteins, such as c-Fos, GFAP, GDNF, NF-κB and some cytokines were determined. Therapeutics experiments with notoginsenoside-Rg1 were carried out. The research results show that the expressions of GFAP, NF-Kκ and c-Fos will obviously increase in the lesion side of the striatum and the expression of GDNF will decrease, which implies that the signal transduction pathway may participate in the apoptosis in neurons. The levels of some cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β in the striatum of PD rat models increased compared to those of normal rats. The results of the therapeutics experiments show that notoginsenoside-Rg1 may repress the immune inflammation response and regulate the immune function through the neuro-immune molecular network. Therefore, notoginsenoside-Rg1 can be used as an effective drug for anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation, and can be used in the therapy of Parkinson＇s disease（PD）.     

猪传染性胃肠炎病毒聚合酶基因反义RNA对病毒的抑制作用

通过PCR扩增出猪传染性胃肠炎病毒(TGEV)聚合酶部分片段,反向插入逆转录病毒表达载体pLXSN中,用脂质体法将重组质粒plxas-pol转染PA317细胞,经抗生素G418筛选出稳定的产毒细胞克隆,分别扩大培养后,取其上清液感染小鼠成纤维细胞NIH3T3,细胞克隆产生的重组病毒效价达9.0×105CFU/mL。用高效价假病毒感染IBRS2细胞,再经抗生素G418筛选,提取细胞克隆总RNA,经RT-PCR证明plxas-pol整合入IBRS2细胞。以TGEV感染IBRS2细胞和具有抗性的IBRS2细胞所产生的细胞病变为指标,证明该反义RNA对病毒有明显抑制作用,抑制率约为80%。用2×103和4×102TCID50/mL剂量的TGEV感染时,引起细胞死亡的时间分别为21 h和27 h,与对照组相比,抗性细胞系可明显延迟因病毒感染引起细胞死亡的时间。     

Fluorescent humic substances–arsenic complex in well water in areas where blackfoot disease is endemic in Taiwan

The relationship between the four components, (1) fluorescence intensity, (2) arsenic concentration, (3) pH and (4) total dissolved solids, (TDS) measured in well waters from areas in Taiwan where blackfoot disease (BFD) is endemic was studied, as well as the relationships between the four degrees of BFD and each of the above four symptomatic components, in order to evaluate the etiological factors of BFD more progressively. The following 95% confidence intervals were obtained in well water samples (n = 1189): fluorescence intensity, 26.837–32.570; arsenic concentration, 0.103–0.127 mg dm^?3; pH, 7.466–7.519; and TDS 733.063–801.647 mg dm^?3. Fluorescence intensities of the four degrees of BFD were not all the same (F = 64.54, P < 0.001), and nor were arsenic concentrations (F = 72.03, P < 0.001), pH values (F = 7.30, P < 0.001), nor TDS values (F = 10.76, P < 0.001). In addition, multiple comparisons indicate that the higher the epidemical degree, the higher the fluorescence intensities, arsenic concentrations and pH values become; however, such a relationship is not found for TDS values. Moreover, the fluorescence intensities have positive linear correlations with arsenic concentrations (r = 0.49, P < 0.001), pH (r = 0.25, P < 0.001), and TDS (r = 0.18, P < 0.001), as do the arsenic concentrations with pH (r = 0.22, P < 0.001). Of the four epidemical degree groups, pairs are not significantly different from one another in correlation coefficients between fluorescence intensity and arsenic concentration, which implies a steady relationship between fluorescent compounds and arsenic. We conclude that fluorescent compounds in well water, as possible etiological factors of BFD, are closely related to arsenic along with pH and TDS values in the areas where BFD is endemic. In addition, we infer that a complex is formed by fluorescent compounds, arsenic and other metals.     

蛙虹彩病毒cop基因的克隆表达及亚细胞定位

从蛙虹彩病毒(Rana gryliovirus,RGV)基因组中克隆了含凋亡相关结构域的新基因-cop(Caspaserecruit ment domain only protein,COP)基因的全部编码区,成功构建了重组表达载体,进行了原核表达,并在鲤鱼上皮瘤细胞(Epithelioma papulosumcyprini,EPC)中进行了亚细胞定位.序列分析表明,RGVcop基因全长288 bp,编码一个长为95 aa,分子量为10.4×103的推定蛋白.二级结构预测表明其含有5个α螺旋.同源性比对分析显示,RGVcop与其他6株虹彩病毒及人类cop相关蛋白同源性最高为94%,最低为33%.重组原核表达质粒pET28a-COP转化大肠杆菌BL21后,经IPTG诱导表达,获得一条约14×103的融合蛋白.重组真核表达质粒pEGFPN3-COP转染EPC细胞,经DAPI染色后,在荧光显微镜下观察显示重组蛋白在整个细胞中均有分布.     

Taura 综合征病毒主要结构蛋白的表达与纯化

根据Taura综合征病毒(TSV)基因组,设计特异性引物,从感染病毒组织中提取组织总RNA后扩增,分别将3个主要结构蛋白基因VP1、VP2和VP3克隆到pGEM TEasyVector.与表达载体连接后,导入大肠杆菌中诱导表达,并纯化目的蛋白.诱导表达的融合蛋白分子量分别为54.2×103、43×103和57.1×103,在变性条件下过柱纯化VP1和VP2,一次可以纯化10mg以上纯度较高的蛋白.     

非终身免疫传染病模型解的适定性

本文将讨论非终生免疫性传染病模型解的适定性及正则性；同时证明了整体解的存在，以及解对初值的连续依赖。