亚油酸对纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂-1表达的影响及其机制

目的探讨过氧化体增殖物激活型受体α（PPARα）的特异性激活物亚油酸对HepG2细胞1型纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂（PAI-1）mRNA表达及其活性的影响和在该基因转录调控中的作用机制.方法用不同浓度亚油酸为诱导因素刺激HepG2细胞,采用半定量RT-PCR法检测PAI-1mRNA水平,发色底物法检测PAI-1的活性变化.构建四个含PAI-1启动子序列从-804～＋17间不同长度片段驱动的荧光素酶报告基因质粒,体外瞬时转染HepG2细胞,检测荧光素酶的活性.结果与对照组相比,亚油酸组能使HepG2细胞PAI-1mRNA表达及蛋白活性显著升高（P＜0.05,P＜0.01）,且呈一定剂量依赖性;亚油酸诱导可使PAI-1转录活性显著升高（P＜0.01）;与转染质粒PAI-pGL3-A（-804/＋17）相比较,当转染质粒含有PAI-pGL3-B（-636/＋17）、PAI-pGL3-C（-449/＋17）时,荧光素酶活性显著降低（P＜0.01）;共转染PPARα表达质粒（PPARα-pSG5）的细胞在亚油酸诱导下PAI-1转录活性显著升高（P＜0.01）.结论亚油酸可以增加HepG2细胞PAI-1mRNA表达及其蛋白活性,调节PAI-1的基因转录,PPARα参与亚油酸对PAI-1基因的表达调控;在PAI-1启动子-804～-636、-449～-276区域内存在亚油酸作用的调控PAI-1基因表达的序列.     

HIV-1 p24和gp41融合基因表达载体的构建及融合蛋白的表达纯化

目的用基因重组技术将HIV-1p24基因以及gp41基因具有抗原线性中和表位的部分重组连接，构建重组质粒，并在大肠埃希菌中高效表达融合蛋白。方法设计带有酶切位点的引物，分别PCR扩增p24和gp41两个基因，将它们分别连接到pMD18-T载体中，测序验证后，挑选出含有目的基因的正确克隆。将p24片段酶切后连接到gp41基因所在的pMD18T载体中，再将连接后的两个基因酶切，重新连接到pET21a表达载体中。将表达载体转染大肠埃希菌诱导表达，经Western-blot验证表达正确。结果融合蛋白p24-gp41在大肠埃希菌中高效表达。结论融合蛋白p24-gp41可以在pET21a表达载体中高效表达。     

Honeybees and cell lines as models of DNA methylation and aging in response to diet

DNA methylation patterns change as individuals grow older, and DNA methylation appears susceptible to modification by the diet. Thus DNA methylation may be a mechanism through which diet can affect aging and longevity. We propose that effects on DNA methylation also contribute to the extension in lifespan observed in response to dietary restriction. Relationships between diet-induced changes in DNA methylation and parallel effects on aging and/or lifespan could, of course, be purely associative. Proof of these ideas requires experimental model systems in which it is possible to manipulate genome methylation status and to measure effects on aging and/or lifespan. Commonly-used short-lived and genetically-malleable metazoan species, such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila, are not suitable for such studies; the C. elegans genome is not methylated, and DNA methylation in Drosophila is dissimilar from mammalian DNA methylation, occurring at cytosines at sites other than in CpG sequences. The honeybee provides a potentially unique and tractable model for such studies. Female larval development into the long-lived queen phenotype or short-lived worker is determined purely by diet (royal jelly) through an effect on DNA methylation, and honeybee DNA methylation mirrors that of the mammalian genome. Mammalian cell lines and biochemical approaches offer complementary tools to address specific components of hypotheses relating to effects of diet on aging through DNA methylation in a more targeted manner. Our studies using mammalian cell lines are revealing effects of Sirt1 on DNA methylation, and indicate that Sirt1 and resveratrol affect the expression of different sets of genes.