Nuclear organization of centromeric domains is not perturbed by inhibition of histone deacetylases

It is well established that modification of lysines in histone molecules correlates with gene expression and chromatin structure. It is not known whether this operates entirely at a local level, e.g. through the recruitment of specific proteins, or whether histone modifications might impact on more long-range aspects of chromatin organization. There is a distinctive organization of chromatin within the nucleus and the chromatin at the nuclear periphery of mammalian cells appears to be hypoacetylated. Previously it had been suggested that inhibition of histone deacetylases by TSA causes a gross remodeling of nuclear structure, specifically the recruitment of centromeric heterochromatin to the nuclear periphery. Here, we have quantified the nuclear organization of histone modifications and the localization of centromeric domains in human cells before and after TSA treatment. TSA alters the nuclear distribution of histone acetylation, but not that of histone methylation. TSA elevates levels of histone acetylation at the nuclear periphery but we see no alteration in the position of centromeric domains in the nuclei of treated cells. We conclude that the distinctive nuclear localization of centromeric domains is independent of histone acetylation.     

Protein phosphatase PP1 is required for normal DNA methylation in Neurospora

Covalent modifications of histones integrate intracellular and extracellular cues to regulate the genome. H3 Lys 9 methylation (H3K9me) can direct heterochromatin formation and DNA methylation, while phosphorylation of H3 Ser 10 (H3S10p) drives gene activation and chromosome condensation. To examine the relationship between H3S10p, H3K9me, and DNA methylation in Neurospora crassa, we built and tested mutants of the putative H3S10 phosphatase, PP1. A PP1-impaired mutant showed increased H3S10p and selective reduction of methylation of H3K9 and DNA. Similarly, amino acid substitutions of H3S10 abolished methylation of H3K9 and DNA. Thus, H3S10 dephosphorylation by PP1 is required for DNA methylation of some loci.     

Histone deacetylase activity is necessary for chromosome condensation during meiotic maturation in Xenopus laevis

Chromosome condensation is thought to be an essential step for the faithful transmission of genetic information during cellular division or gamete formation. The folding of DNA into metaphase chromosomes and its partition during the cell cycle remains a fundamental cellular process that, at the molecular level, is poorly understood. Particularly, the role of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activities in establishing and maintaining meiotic metaphase chromosome condensation has been little documented. In order to better understand how metaphase chromosome condensation is achieved during meiosis, we explored, in vivo, the consequences of HDAC activities inhibition in a Xenopus oocyte model. Our results show that deacetylase activity plays a crucial role in chromosome condensation. This activity is necessary for correct chromosome condensation since the earlier stages of meiosis, but dispensable for meiosis progression, meiosis exit and mitosis entry. We show that HDAC activity correlates with chromosome condensation, being higher when chromosomes are fully condensed and lower during interphase, when chromosomes are decondensed. In addition, we show that, unlike histone H4, Xenopus maternal histone H3 is stored in the oocyte as a hypoacetylated form and is rapidly acetylated when the oocyte exits meiosis.     

Precipitation of fibrinogen, fibrinogen degradation products and fibrin monomer by histone H3

Incubation of histone H3 with normal citrated plasma resulted in the formation of insoluble aggregates, as determined by turbidity measurements. The precipitate was subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, confirming that fibrinogen was a major component. Purified fibrinogen precipitated rapidly as determined with turbidity experiments and experiments with radioiodinated protein. The amount of fibrinogen precipitation was strongly dependent on H3 concentration. Variation of ionic strength (0.2-0.84) and pH (5.3-7.4), however, had little or no effect on the reaction. Fibrinogen subjected to gelatin-Sepharose chromatography or dialysis against 3.3M urea reacted equivalently with H3. Precipitation of 125I-fibrinogen by H3 was strongly favored by increasing temperature (4 degrees-45 degrees C). Precipitation of fibrinogen by protamine was maximized by decreasing the temperature. In addition, formation of insoluble fibrinogen-protamine aggregates was highly dependent on ionic strength and pH, suggesting that different types of protein-interaction are involved in the two studied precipitation reactions. Of the fibrinogen degradation products, only fragment X precipitated significantly when incubated with H3. Radioiodinated fibrin monomer also precipitated when incubated with H3 in solutions of sufficient ionic strength to prevent spontaneous polymerization. The extent of precipitation was equivalent for fibrin monomer and fibrinogen. Fragment D inhibited the precipitation of fibrinogen by H3 or protamine. These studies indicate that the proteins termed "paracoagulants" are not all equivalent and that the hydrophobic domain of H3 plays a critical role in fibrinogen precipitation.     

槲皮素、异鼠李素对Cu2+介导极低密度脂蛋白氧化修饰的影响

目的　观察槲皮素 (Que)及异鼠李素 (Iso)对 Cu2 +介导的极低密度脂蛋白 (VL DL)氧化修饰的影响。方法　采用一次性密度梯度离心法分离人血浆 VL DL,用 Cu2 +进行体外氧化修饰 ,抗氧化组在温育前加入不同浓度的 Que和 Iso。分别检测脂蛋白中丙二醛 (MDA)、维生素 E(Vit E)及超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)活性。结果　Que和 Iso可明显降低 OX- VL DL 中 MDA含量 ,延缓 OX- VL DL 中 Vit E含量的减少 ;显著提高脂蛋白中 SOD活性。结论　 Que和 Iso可显著抑制 Cu2 +诱导的 VL DL 的氧化修饰 ,且二者的作用相近 ,这与其抗自由基氧化活性密切相关。     

Culture bovine prospermatogonia with 2i medium

Germplasm cryopreservation and expansion of gonocytes/prospermatogonia or spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are important; however, it's difficult in cattle. Since inhibitors of Mek1/2 and Gsk3β (2i) can enhance pluripotency maintenance, effects of 2i-based medium on the cultivation of bovine prospermatogonia from the cryopreserved tissues were examined. The testicular tissues of newborn bulls were well cryopreserved. High mRNA levels of prospermatogonium/SSC markers (PLZF, GFRα-1) and pluripotency markers (Oct4/Pouf5, Sox2, Nanog) were detected and the PLZF⁺/GFRα-1⁺ prospermatogonia were consistently identified immunohistochemically in the seminiferous cords. Using differential plating and Percoll-based centrifugation, 41.59% prospermatogonia were enriched and they proliferated robustly in 2i medium. The 2i medium boosted mRNA abundances of Pouf5, Sox2, Nanog, GFRα-1, PLZF, anti-apoptosis gene Bcl2, LIF receptor gene LIFR and enhanced PLZF protein expression, but suppressed mRNA expressions of spermatogonial differentiation marker c-kit and pro-apoptotic gene Bax, in the cultured prospermatogonia. It also alleviated H₂O₂-induced apoptosis of the enriched cells and decreased histone H3 lysine (K9) trimethylation (H3K9me3) and its methylase Suv39h1/2 mRNA level in the cultured seminiferous cords. Overall, 2i medium improves the cultivation of bovine prospermatogonia isolated from the cryopreserved testes, by inhibiting Suv39h1/2-mediated H3K9me3 through Mek1/2 and Gsk3β signalling, evidencing successful cryopreservation and expansion of bovine germplasm.     

槲皮素的结构修饰及生物活性研究进展

槲皮素是蔬菜、水果、中药中常见的黄酮类化合物,是天然的抗氧化剂,具有抗癌、抗糖尿病、抗菌、抗炎、抗病毒等生物活性。由于槲皮素生物利用度低,限制了其在临床上的应用。通过各种方法设计和合成新的槲皮素衍生物,以改善其缺点,进而发挥预防和治疗疾病的作用。通过对槲皮素衍生物的合成及其抗癌、抗糖尿病、抗炎、抗菌和抗病毒活性进行综述,并对其构效关系进行分析,为天然化合物的开发和利用奠定基础。     

青黛表面改性对口腔溃疡双层膜质量与药效的影响

目的 采用溶剂浇铸法制备口腔溃疡双层膜剂,研究青黛表面改性前后对膜剂质量与药效的影响。方法 通过单因素实验设计和响应面优化法优选膜剂最佳处方,并对膜剂表面形貌、黏附时间、抗拉强度、含量测定以及体外药物释放等性能进行评估。进一步采用化学灼烧法建立大鼠口腔溃疡模型,考察膜剂对溃疡组织肿瘤坏死因子-α（tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α）、白细胞介素-1β（interleukin-1β,IL-1β）、IL-6以及口腔溃疡组织形态的影响。结果 空白隔离层确定为25 mg/mL的乙基纤维素乙醇溶液,载药膜最佳处方为63 mg/mL PVA17-88、55 mg/mL PVP K30、3.0 mg/mL明胶与0.047 mL/mL甘油。青黛表面改性后,双层膜剂比未改性双层膜剂具有更加光滑均一的外观、更高的含量均匀性和有效成分靛蓝释放率。药效学结果表明,与模型组相比,阳性组与青黛改性膜剂组显著降低了溃疡组织TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6的含量（P＜0.05）,并减少了炎症细胞的浸润,溃疡组织愈合程度较高。结论 青黛改性之后的口腔溃疡双层膜剂具有更好的质量与更佳的疗效,具有较好的应用前景。