Engineering Escherichia coli for efficient conversion of glucose to pyruvate

Escherichia coli TC44, a derivative of W3110, was engineered for the production of pyruvate from glucose by combining mutations to minimize ATP yield, cell growth, and CO2 production (DeltaatpFH DeltaadhE DeltasucA) with mutations that eliminate acetate production [poxB::FRT (FLP recognition target) DeltaackA] and fermentation products (DeltafocA-pflB DeltafrdBC DeltaldhA DeltaadhE). In mineral salts medium containing glucose as the sole carbon source, strain TC44(DeltafocA-pflB DeltafrdBC DeltaldhA DeltaatpFH DeltaadhE DeltasucA poxB::FRT DeltaackA) converted glucose to pyruvate with a yield of 0.75 g of pyruvate per g of glucose (77.9% of theoretical yield; 1.2 g of pyruvate liters(-1).h(-1)). A maximum of 749 mM pyruvate was produced with excess glucose. Glycolytic flux was >50% faster for TC44 producing pyruvate than for the wild-type W3110 during fully aerobic metabolism. The tolerance of E. coli to such drastic changes in metabolic flow and energy production implies considerable elasticity in permitted pool sizes for key metabolic intermediates such as pyruvate and acetyl-CoA. In strain TC44, pyruvate yield, pyruvate titer, and the rate of pyruvate production in mineral salts medium were equivalent or better than previously reported for other biocatalysts (yeast and bacteria) requiring complex vitamin feeding strategies and complex nutrients. TC44 offers the potential to improve the economics of pyruvate production by reducing the costs of materials, product purification, and waste disposal.     

高通量血液透析联合加巴喷丁治疗终末期肾病并发皮肤瘙痒症的临床疗效研究

目的观察高通量血液透析联合加巴喷丁治疗终末期肾病(ESRD)并发皮肤瘙痒症的有效性和安全性。方法选择ESRD并发皮肤瘙痒症的维持性血液透析患者,分为高通量血液透析联合加巴喷丁组(A组)、高通量血液透析联合盐酸赛庚啶组(B组)、常规通量血液透析联合加巴喷丁组(C组)和常规通量血液透析联合盐酸赛庚啶组(D组)。所有患者均规律血液透析2~3次/周,每次透析后晚间服用加巴喷丁200mg或每天服盐酸赛庚啶2mg;检测6个月前后血尿素氮(BUN)、血清肌酐(Scr)、全段甲状旁腺素(iPTH)、血钙(Ca2+)、血磷(P)实验室指标以及根据视觉模拟评分(VAS)对其皮肤瘙痒评分,进行疗效评价,同时观察不良反应。结果皮肤瘙痒症状得到不同程度改善,睡眠明显改善,未观察到严重不良反应。检测6个月前后BUN、Scr、Ca2+检测指标差值各组间差异无统计学意义(P0.05);而A、B组P、iPTH较C、D组明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);A组与其他组间的VAS差值比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论高通量血液透析联合短期小剂量加巴喷丁治疗ESRD并发皮肤瘙痒症较其他治疗组效果好,进一步证实了高通量血液透析在清除中大分子物质方面的优势,其长期应用疗效有待进一步观察。     

Delayed cardioprotection by sevoflurane preconditioning: a novel mechanism via inhibiting Beclin 1-mediated autophagic cell death in cardiac myocytes exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation injury

Sevoflurane preconditioning has shown to exert delayed caridioprotection against subsequent ischemia and reperfusion injury, but the mechanisms underlying is unclear. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or knockdown of Beclin 1 leads to enhanced cardiac myocyte survival. Our study aimed to test whether sevoflurane preconditioning provides a second window of anesthetic preconditioning (SWOP) via inhibit Beclin 1-mediated autophagic cell death. H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into five groups: Control (CON) group; hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) group, rat cardiomyocytes was exposed in the airtight container for 2 h followed by 1 h of reoxgenation; SWOP group, rat cardiomyocytes was exposed to 1 h of 2.5% sevoflurane 24 h before H/R; Autophagic inhibitors, 3-methyladenine (3-MA, 10 mM) was added to culture medium 15 min before sevoflurane exposure (3-MA+SWOP group) or cells were treated by 3-MA alone (3-MA group). The cell proliferation was significantly increased in SWOP group (79.49 ± 1.37%, P < 0.05) when compared to H/R group (62.2 ± 6.49%, P < 0.05). 3-MA administered before SWOP significantly attenuated the H/R induced autophagy and cell death. H/R injury up-regulated the expression of LC3-II and Beclin 1 proteins (342 ± 66% and 163 ± 18%, respectively, P < 0.05) compared to the CON group (100%), which were increased in SWOP group (202 ± 77% and 128 ± 8%, respectively, P < 0.05). The expression of LC3-II and Beclin 1 proteins was decreased in 3-MA group (110 ± 28% and 97 ± 6%, respectively) and 3-MA+SWOP group (93 ± 7% and 98 ± 6%, respectively) compared with H/R group, but Bcl-2 was upregulated in 3-MA group (158 ± 4%) and 3-MA+SWOP group (156 ± 5%) compared to H/R group (103 ± 7%). In conclusion, sevoflurane preconditioning confers delayed cardioprotection via inhibition Beclin 1-mediated autophagic cell death in cardiac myocytes 24 h before exposed to H/R injury.     

Paeoniflorin protects HUVECs from AGE-BSA-induced injury via an autophagic pathway by acting on the RAGE

The aim of our study was to investigate the protective effects of Paeoniflorin (PF) against injury induced by AGE-modified bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and to examine the underlying mechanisms of these effects. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine cell viability. Protein expression levels were determined by western blotting. For function-blocking experiments, we used small interfering RNA molecules (siRNA) for function-blocking experiments. At 6 h, we found that 100 μg/mL AGE-BSA reduced the viability of HUVECs. However, pretreatment with PF restored cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. AGE-BSA increased the levels of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3-II (LC3-II) and the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). Expression of p62 protein was also increased, but not at a statistically significant level. Pretreatment with PF further increased levels of LC3-II and RAGE, but reduced the expression of p62. In cells transfected with Atg5 and RAGE siRNA, cell viability and expression of LC3-II decreased in both the AGE-BSA and PF + AGE-BSA treatments. PF can protect HUVECs from AGE-BSA-induced injury by upregulating autophagy and promoting the completion of autophagy flux. RAGE plays an important role in this autophagic protection effect.     

Hepatic autophagy fluctuates during the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Introduction and objectivesAutophagy has emerged as a critical regulatory pathway in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the variability of hepatic autophagy during NAFLD development remains controversial. This study aimed to elucidate the dynamics of hepatic autophagy and its underlying mechanism during NAFLD development both in vivo and in vitro.Materials and methodsAutophagy markers were evaluated in the livers of mice fed a high fat diet or a methionine-choline-deficient diet and in HepG2 cells treated with palmitic acid (PA) by western blotting. Intrahepatic and intracellular triacylglycerol levels were assessed using biochemical quantification and lipid staining. Autophagic flux was monitored using an LC3 turnover assay and tandem mRFP-GFP-LC3 fluorescence analysis.ResultsHepatic autophagy was enhanced in early stages but blocked at later stages of NAFLD development both in vivo and in vitro. Analysis of autophagic flux revealed that both autophagic synthesis and degradation were initially activated and progressively inhibited afterwards. The activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a central regulator of autophagy, was found to be negatively correlated with autophagic synthesis; moreover, pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1 by rapamycin alleviated hepatic steatosis through recovery of autophagic flux in hepatocytes with prolonged PA treatment.ConclusionsHepatic autophagy fluctuates during the development of NAFLD in which mTORC1 signalling plays a critical regulatory role, suggesting a therapeutic potential of autophagy modulation by targeting the mTORC1 signalling pathway in NAFLD.     

高通量血液透析对维持性血液透析患者β_2-微球蛋白和甲状旁腺激素及左心功能的影响

目的观察高通量血液透析(HFHD)对维持性血液透析患者β2-微球蛋白(β2-MG)、甲状旁腺激素(PTH)及左心功能的影响。方法选取2010年1月—2013年4月在我院血液净化中心行维持性血液透析患者70例,将其随机分为HFHD组38例和常规血液透析(HD)组32例,分别于治疗前及治疗6个月后检测两组患者生化指标(尿素氮、肌酐、钙、磷、PTH、β2-MG);并测量左室舒张末内径(LVEDd)、左心室射血分数(LVEF)、左房室瓣前向血流E峰与A峰比值(E/A)。结果治疗前后两组患者尿素氮、肌酐、钙比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后HFHD组血磷、PTH、β2-MG均低于HD组(P0.05)。治疗后两组LVEDd比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);HFHD组LVEF、E/A高于HD组(P0.05)。结论 HFHD对维持性血液透析患者的β2-MG、PTH有明显清除作用,并可改善左心功能,优于HD。     

自噬与心肌病相关性的研究进展

自噬这个词来源于希腊语,原意为“吃自己”和“精确的细胞作用”。自噬从最初发现到如今经历了近50年,研究发现自噬可以被许多刺激所激活,包括饥饿、毒素、氧化应激和感染。在正常情况下,心肌细胞自噬维持在较低的情况,但在应激反应的高度激活下,自噬活动增强并在调节心脏稳态和功能中起重要作用。该文对自噬与心肌病相关性的研究进展进行综述。     

Autophagy related protein 9A increase in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma and the role in apoptosis

The majority of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases are associated with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Autophagy related protein 9A (ATG9A) is a transmembrane protein required for autophagosome formation. In order to investigate the role of ATG9A in HBV-associated HCC, ATG9A protein expression was determined in tumor liver tissues and compared with adjacent nontumor tissues from HCC patients with or without HBV infection. In HBV-associated HCC tissues, ATG9A protein level was increased in tumor liver tissues, but not in cases of non-HBV HCC. Our findings suggested that ATG9A might be involved in HBV and cancer cell survival. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the function of ATG9A in HBV replication using RNA interference to evaluate the HBV DNA level using real-time PCR. In the present study, there were no significant differences between shATG9A-transfected HepG2.2.15 cells and the mock control. However, we found that silencing ATG9A affected apoptosis in HepG2.2.15 and HepG2 cell lines. Our results indicated that ATG9A might be partly involved in the survival of HCC. Thus, the inhibition of ATG9A together with other targets might be a potential drug target for HCC treatment.     

微管末端结合蛋白1在Siha细胞自噬时的表达和意义

目的 探讨宫颈癌Siha细胞自噬过程中微管末端结合蛋白1（EB1）基因的表达变化。 方法 Hank平衡盐溶液（HBSS）和秋水仙素处理体外培养的宫颈癌Siha细胞,分别采用实时定量PCR和Western blotting检测EB1基因、LC3和p62的表达,荧光显微镜检测特异性绿色荧光蛋白（GFP)-LC3以证实自噬体形成。结果 宫颈癌Siha细胞随HBSS作用时间延长,LC3 mRNA、EB1 mRNA、LC3-Ⅱ蛋白和EB1蛋白的表达均呈时间依赖性增加,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。EB1 mRNA和LC3 mRNA表达呈正相关,具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。p62 mRNA和蛋白在HBSS作用后的表达呈时间依赖性降低,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),EB1 mRNA和p62 mRNA表达呈负相关,具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。GFP-LC3结果显示,在HBSS作用12 h后,Siha细胞胞质中GFP-LC3强度和数目明显增加,含有GFP信号的细胞数量也明显增加。秋水仙素处理后,LC3、p62和EB1 mRNA及蛋白均未发生显著改变,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但此时几乎检测不到含GFP-LC3荧光信号的细胞。 结论 EB1在饥饿状态Siha细胞中高表达,此时伴随LC3表达增加、p62表达降低以及自噬体形成增加,而用秋水仙素破坏EB1赖以作用的微管时,上述现象消失,充分表明EB1参与细胞自噬的可能。     

微管相关蛋白1轻链3及Beclin-1在硅沉着病大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞中的表达

目的观察自噬相关蛋白——微管相关蛋白1轻链3(LC-3)、Beclin-1在硅沉着病大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞中的表达,从细胞自噬角度探讨硅沉着病形成的分子机制。方法 50只成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为2组(n=25):对照组和硅沉着病模型组,每组再分5个时相组。采用非暴露气管灌注二氧化硅(SiO2)粉尘混悬液法(50g/L)建立大鼠硅沉着病模型。分别于造模后1、3、7、14及28 d分批处死5只大鼠,进行原位支气管肺泡灌洗,获取肺泡巨噬细胞,进行培养纯化和富集后用于后续研究。HE染色及透射电子显微镜观察肺泡巨噬细胞形态学改变;免疫细胞化学法检测LC-3、Beclin-1的表达及分布;免疫印迹法检测LC-3、Beclin-1的蛋白表达量。结果与对照组相比模型组肺泡巨噬细胞体积较大,胞质丰富,部分细胞内可见硅沉着吞噬颗粒,电镜下可见自噬体形成;模型组LC-3、Beclin-1在各时间点的表达较对照组均增多(P0.05),1 d即开始增多,随着时间的延长表达逐渐增多,至14 d时达高峰(P0.05),28d时回落,但仍高于对照组的表达。结论在硅沉着病大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞中有自噬的激活,肺泡巨噬细胞自噬参与了大鼠硅沉着病的病理进程。