Analysis of the subcellular localization of the proteins Rep, Rep' and Cap of porcine circovirus type 1

Porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) encodes two major ORFs. The cap gene comprises the major structural protein of PCV, the rep gene specifies Rep and Rep', which are both essential for initiating the replication of the viral DNA. Rep corresponds to the full-length protein, whereas Rep' is a truncated splice product that is frame-shifted in its C-terminal sequence. In this study, the cellular localization of PCV1-encoded proteins was investigated by immune fluorescence techniques using antibodies against Rep, Rep' and Cap and by expression of viral proteins fused to green and red fluorescence proteins. Rep and Rep' protein co-localized in the nucleus of infected cells as well as in cells transfected with plasmids expressing Rep and Rep' fused to fluorescence proteins, but no signal was seen in the nucleoli. Rep and Rep' carry three potential nuclear localization signals in their identical N-termini, and the contribution of these motifs to nuclear import was experimentally dissected. In contrast to the rep gene products, the localization of the Cap protein varied. While the Cap protein was restricted to the nucleoli in plasmid-transfected cells and was also localized in the nucleoli at an early stage of PCV1 infection, it was seen in the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm later in infection, suggesting that a shuttling between distinct cellular compartments occurs.     

Flat crossed-coil detector for blood flow measurement using nuclear magnetic resonance

A new flat crossed-coil nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) detector can be used to measure flood flow at many regions of the body, is introduced. It is compared, bothin vitro andin vivo, with the already proven cylindrical crossed-coil n.m.r. detector. Both detectors use a single high-field homogenous magnet. A single-sideband receiver reduces the effect of transmitter leakage into the receiver coil to allow the use of a high-level transmitter field. Preliminary application of the flat crossed-coil detector to the detection of cerebral blood flow is presented.     

Immunolocalization of lamins and nuclear pore complex proteins by atomic force microscopy

The nuclear envelope functions as a selective barrier separating the nuclear from the cytosolic compartment. Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) mediate nuclear import and export of macromolecules and, therefore, are potential regulators of gene expression. In this study we applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize the three dimensional (3D) structure of individual NPCs in the absence and presence of two different antibodies, one directed against a pore protein (gp62) and another directed against Xenopus lamin LIII, a component of the nuclear lamina, a filament meshwork localized on the nucleoplasmic side of the nuclear envelope (NE) adjacent to and interacting with NPCs. Using 12-nm gold-labelled secondary antibodies and transmission electron microscopy we could clearly localize the primary single anti-gp62 antibody on NPCs and the primary single anti-LIII antibody between NPCs. Using AFM, the secondary antibodies against anti-gp62 could be detected as particles 7 nm in height on the nucleoplasmic face of NPCs. The secondary antibodies against anti-LIII could be clearly identified between NPCs. The secondary antibodies, attached to a 12-nm colloidal gold particle and visualized on glass, revealed similar shapes and heights as found on NEs. According to the 3D images, the volume of a single gold particle conjugated with secondary antibodies was 10 203 nm³. This volume is equivalent to the volume of 38 IgG molecules associated with one individual gold particle. A similar volume of 11 987 nm³ was calculated from a model assuming that the 150-kDa IgG molecules perfectly cover the spherical gold particle. We conclude that AFM can be used for identifying antibodies or other macromolecules associated with biomembranes.     

Role of H+ ions in volume and voltage of epithelial cell nuclei

Condensation of chromatin depends upon the ion composition in the cell nucleus. We tested in isolated nuclei of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells the influence of various ions on nuclear volume (i. e. DNA packing) and intranuclear voltage. After isolation, nuclei were superfused with cytosolic solutions in which Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and H⁺ ions were varied. With video-imaging and microelectrode techniques nuclear volume and intranuclear potential were measured in response to the various ions. In control cytosolic solution, isolated nuclei exhibited an intranuclear electrical potential of –6.5±0.5 mV (relative to a reference electrode in the cytosolic solution) corresponding to a nuclear volume of 250±10 fl (n=104). Changing the Na⁺, K⁺ or free Ca²⁺ concentration in the superfusate in the physiological range resulted in minor changes of volume and intranuclear potential whereas pH altered both parameters dramatically. Nuclear swelling and intranuclear negative voltage increased with alkalinization and decreased when pH was reduced. An intact nuclear envelope was found to be no prerequisite for maintaining intranuclear negativity, indicating that the composition and functional state of nuclear chromatin rather than specific ion permeabilities of the nuclear envelope determine nuclear electrical potential. We present a model that explains nuclear volume and voltage on the basis of interaction between negatively charged DNA and positively charged histones of the nuclear chromatin.     

核辐射对机体的影响

机体受到一定剂量核辐射后会出现多个器官结构和功能的改变.本文综述了机体受到低剂量核辐射后出现的免疫细胞数量和功能变化,包括淋巴细胞总数和部分亚群数量、淋巴细胞转化率、血清免疫球蛋白含量以及单核细胞功能等变化.同时还综述了核辐射对内分泌及遗传的影响.     

党参多糖介导Nrf2通路对缺氧缺血性脑损伤的抗氧化和神经保护作用

目的　研究党参多糖对缺氧缺血性脑损伤的抗氧化和神经保护作用及其机制。 方法　采用Rice法建立HIBI模型。假手术组和模型组灌胃给予生理盐水，模型加药组灌胃给予党参多糖。分别进行神经功能学评分，观察脑积水量，脑组织病理学改变，神经元细胞凋亡情况，脑组织脂质过氧化物水平，抗氧化和神经保护相关蛋白表达水平。 结果　党参多糖能显著改善模型大鼠神经功能、脑水肿（P<0.01）和病理改变，降低细胞凋亡率（P<0.01）和Bax表达（P<0.01），降低LDH和MDA含量（P<0.01）；同时，上调Bcl-2表达（P<0.01）和SOD活性（P<0.01），增加bFGF、BDNF、PSD95、SYP、Nrf2和HO-1表达（P<0.01）。 结论　党参多糖对缺氧缺血性脑损伤具有抗氧化和神经保护作用，可能与介导Nrf2信号通路相关。     

Ras homolog gene family H (RhoH) deficiency induces psoriasis-like chronic dermatitis by promoting TH17 cell polarization

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Studies on homologous recombination in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The introduction of exogenous DNA into the nuclear genome of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii occurs predominantly via non-homologous (illegitimate) recombination and results in integration at apparently-random loci. Using truncated and modified versions of the C. reinhardtii ARG7 gene in a series of transformation experiments, we demonstrate that homologous recombination between introduced DNA molecules occurs readily in C. reinhardtii, requires a region of homology of no more than 230 bp, and gives rise to intact copies of ARG7 in the nuclear genome. Evidence is presented for homologous recombination between introduced ARG7 DNA and the resident copy of the gene, and for the de-novo synthesis of the ARG7 sequence during transformation.     

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase induced by lipid-associated membrane proteins of Ureaplasma urealyticum is regulated by nuclear factor κB-mediated mechanism in murine macrophages

U.urealyticumisthesmallestprokaryoticorgan ismcapableofself replication.Thetinymicroor ganismcouldbeisolatedfromurogenital,placen tasandtherespiratorytractsofpreterminfants.Moreover,U.urealyticuminfectionmaybein volvedinnon specificurethritis(NSU),prostati tis,postpartumfever,infertility,pelvicinflamma torydisease,neonatalpneumoniaandevenchronic lungdisease(CLD)[1].ItisknownthatU.urealyticumlackscellwallstructureandcontains abundantmembraneproteins,butitspathogenicity isstillunknownclearly.…