分类: 生物学 >> 生物物理学 >> 生物物理、生物化学与分子生物学 提交时间: 2016-05-15
摘要: The cyclic nucleotide-binding (CNB)-like protein (CNB-L) from Brucella abortus shares sequence homology with CNB domain-containing proteins. We determined the crystal structure of CNB-L at 2.0 angstrom resolution in the absence of its C-terminal helix and nucleotide. The 3D structure of CNB-L is in a twofold symmetric form. Each protomer shows high structure similarity to that of cGMP-binding domain-containing proteins, and likely mimics their nucleotide-free conformation. A key residue, Glu17, mediates the dimerization and prevents binding of cNMP to the canonical ligand-pocket. The structurally observed dimer of CNB-L is stable in solution, and thus is likely to be biologically relevant. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
分类: 生物学 >> 生物医药 提交时间: 2017-05-10
摘要: The genetic program of embryonic stem (ES) cells is orchestrated by a core of transcription factors that has OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG as master regulators. Protein levels of these core factors are tightly controlled by autoregulatory and feed-forward transcriptional mechanisms in order to prevent early differentiation. Recent studies have shown that knockdown of Esrrb (estrogen-related-receptor beta), a member of the nuclear orphan receptor family, induces differentiation of mouse ES cells cultured in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor. It was however not known how knocking down Esrrb exerts this effect. Herein we have identified two ESRRB binding sites in the proximal 5'-untranslated region of the mouse Oct4 gene, one of which is in close proximity to a NANOG binding site. Both ESRRB and NANOG are necessary for maintaining the activity of this promoter in ES cell lines. We have also demonstrated that the two transcription factors interact through their DNA binding domains. This interaction reciprocally modulates their transcriptional activities and may be important to fine-tune ES cell pluripotency. Supporting all of these data, stable transfection of Esrrb in ES cell lines proved sufficient to sustain their characteristics in the absence of leukemia-inhibitory factor. In summary, our experiments help to understand how Esrrb coordinates with Nanog and Oct4 to activate the internal machinery of ES cells.
分类: 地球科学 >> 空间物理学 提交时间: 2017-03-10
摘要: In this paper, a novel X-band broadband single-layer unit cell with attached phase-delay lines for reflectarray antennas is proposed to surmount the limitation of the reflectarray bandwidth. The unit cell is composed of three circular rings, each with a pair of gaps which are mutually placed orthogonally, and two identical circular phase-delay lines are attached to the outer ring to provide the required reflection phase. After the simulation for the unit cell carried out, a large reflecting phase range of about 600�and almost linear phase curve are achieved at the center frequency of 10 GHz. Parallel phase curves of different frequencies ranging from 9 GHz to 12 GHz are also obtained. To validate the broadband performance of the proposed unit cell, a 9 �9 center-fed reflectarray antenna operating at X band is designed and simulated. Simulation results show that the designed antenna has 34% 1-dB gain bandwidth, which demonstrates that an obvious improvement on the bandwidth has been achieved compared to the previous works. Besides, the cross-polarization level is decreased to -40 dB by a mirror symmetric element arrangement.
分类: 生物学 >> 生物物理学 提交时间: 2016-05-11
摘要: Cyanohydrin derivatives as enterovirus 71 (EV71) 3C protease (3C(pro)) inhibitors have been synthesized and assayed for their biochemical and antiviral activities. Compared with the reported inhibitors, cyanohydrins (1S,2S,2'S,5S)-16 and (1R,2S,2'S,5S)-16 exhibited significantly improved activity and attractive selectivity profiles against other proteases, which were a result of the specific interactions between the cyanohydrin moiety and the catalytic site of 3C(pro). Cyanohydrin as an anchoring group with high selectivity and excellent inhibitory activity represents a useful choice for cysteine protease inhibitors.
分类: 生物学 >> 生物物理学 >> 细胞生物学 提交时间: 2016-05-11
摘要: Many receptor-mediated endocytic processes are mediated by constitutive budding of clathrin-coated pits (CCPs) at spatially randomized sites before slowly pinching off from the plasma membrane (60100 s). In contrast, clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) coupled with regulated exocytosis in excitable cells occurs at peri-exocytic sites shortly after vesicle fusion (similar to 10 s). The molecular mechanism underlying this spatiotemporal coupling remains elusive. We show that coupled endocytosis makes use of preformed CCPs, which hop to nascent fusion sites nearby following vesicle exocytosis. A dynamic cortical microtubular network, anchored at the cell surface by the cytoplasmic linker-associated protein on microtubules and the LL5 beta/ELKS complex on the plasma membrane, provides the track for CCP hopping. Local diacylglycerol gradients generated upon exocytosis guide the direction of hopping. Overall, the CCP-cytoskeleton-lipid interaction demonstrated here mediates exocytosis-coupled fast recycling of both plasma membrane and vesicular proteins, and it is required for the sustained exocytosis during repetitive stimulations.
分类: 生物学 >> 生物物理学 提交时间: 2016-05-05
摘要: Natural killer (NK) cells exert a crucial role in early immune responses as a major innate effector component. However, the underlying mechanisms of NK cell development remain largely elusive. Here we show that robust autophagy appears in the stage of immature NK cells (iNKs), which is required for NK cell development. Autophagy defects result in damaged mitochondria and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that leads to apoptosis of NK cells. Autophagy protects NK cell viability during development through removal of damaged mitochondria and intracellular ROS. Phosphorylated Forkhead box O (FoxO)1 is located to the cytoplasm of iNKs and interacts with Atg7, leading to induction of autophagy. FoxO1 deficiency or an inactive FoxO1(AAA) mutant abrogates autophagy initiation in iNKs and impairs NK cell development and viral clearance. Therefore we conclude that FoxO1-mediated autophagy is required for NK cell development and NK cell-induced innate immunity.
分类: 生物学 >> 生物物理学 提交时间: 2016-05-11
摘要: Advances in RNA research and RNA nanotechnology depend on the ability to manipulate and probe RNA with high precision through chemical approaches, both invitro and in mammalian cells. However, covalent RNA labeling methods with scope and versatility comparable to those of current protein labeling strategies are underdeveloped. A method is reported for the site- and sequence-specific covalent labeling of RNAs in mammalian cells by using tRNA(Ile2)-agmatidine synthetase (Tias) and click chemistry. The crystal structure of Tias in complex with an azide-bearing agmatine analogue was solved to unravel the structural basis for Tias/substrate recognition. The unique RNA sequence specificity and plastic Tias/substrate recognition enable the site-specific transfer of azide/alkyne groups to an RNA molecule of interest invitro and in mammalian cells. Subsequent click chemistry reactions facilitate the versatile labeling, functionalization, and visualization of target RNA.
提交时间: 2017-05-02
摘要: Cathode interlayer is essential to inverted bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells [PSCs]. A series of zwitterionic ammonium and neutral amino organic molecules are introduced into inverted PSCs as cathode interlayer and power conversion efficiency [PCE]
分类: 生物学 >> 生物物理学 提交时间: 2016-05-05
摘要: Growing evidence indicates that B cells are not the only source of immunoglobulin (Ig). To investigate this discovery further, we used mu MT mice, which have a disruption of the first transmembrane exon of the mu heavy chain and do not express the membrane form of IgM. These mice lack mature B cells and thus serve as a good model to explore Ig expression by liver epithelial cells. We found that Ig heavy chains (mu, delta, gamma and alpha) and light chains (kappa and lambda) were expressed in sorted liver epithelial cells of mu MT mice. Surprisingly, each heavy chain class showed its respective variable region sequence characteristics in their variable region, instead of sharing the same VDJ usage, which suggests that class switching does not occur in liver epithelial cells. Moreover, the gamma and alpha chains, but not the mu and delta chains, showed mutations in the variable region, thus indicating that different classes of Ig have different activities. Our findings support the concept that non-B cells, liver epithelial cells here, can produce different classes of Ig.
分类: 医学、药学 >> 基础医学 提交时间: 2017-12-07 合作期刊: 《南方医科大学学报》
摘要: Objective To investigate the effect of ganoderic acid A (GA-A) on the biological behaviors of human osteosarcoma cells in vitro. Methods MG63 and HOS cells were treated with 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mmol/L GA-A, and the changes in cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration were evaluated using MTT assay, flow cytometry, and Transwell assay, respectively. The expressions of STAT3, p38, and NF-κB1 in the cells were analyzed by Western blotting. Results GA-A effectively inhibited the proliferation of human osteosarcoma HOS and MG-63 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and induced obvious cell apoptosis in both cells. Treatment with 0.5 mmol/L GA-A also resulted in significant inhibition of the invasion of both cells. The results of Western blotting showed that GA-A down-regulated the expression level of phosphorylated STAT3 and increased the phosphorylation level of p38 and NF-κB1 expression in both cells. Conclusion GA-A can induce proliferation inhibition, apoptosis and suppression of invasion in human osteosarcoma HOS and MG-63 cells.
分类: 物理学 >> 普通物理:统计和量子力学,量子信息等 提交时间: 2017-05-02
摘要: We used cesium stearate (CsSt) to modify the interface of the electron- extracting contact in inverted organic solar cells. Surface microstructure, optical properties, and electrical characterization as well as exciton generation rate and dissociation probability were investigated to understand the impact of CsSt on the interface contact. The results indicated that by incorporation of CsSt, the surface morphology and energy level as well as conductivity of a zinc oxide (ZnO) film were improved. On the basis of the above properties, highly efficient inverted organic solar cells have been demonstrated by using a ZnO nanoparticle film and CsSt stacked bilayer structure as the cathode interfacial layer. The insertion of a CsSt layer between the ZnO film and active layer improved the electron extraction efficiency, and a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.69% was achieved. The PCE was improved by 20% as compared to the reference device using a ZnO-only electron extraction layer.
分类: 物理学 >> 普通物理:统计和量子力学,量子信息等 提交时间: 2017-05-02
摘要: Environmentally benign hybrid interlayers are prepared by modifying the zinc sulfide (ZnS) with phenanthroline/derivatives and utilized in inverted polymer solar cells (PSCs). Performances of the inverted PSCs are improved enormously by incorporating these hybrid inter- layers, as which can effectively improve the energy level alignment, electron mobility, surface morphology, and interfacial contact. Greatly improved power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 7.79%, 8.00%, 7.47%, and 7.56% are achieved with these hybrid interlayers ZnS-BCP, ZnS-Bphen, ZnS-Mphen, and ZnS-Phen, respectively, compared to the PCE of 2.99% of the reference ZnS-based device, based on PTB7:PC71BM active layer. Our results demonstrate that hybrid interfacial materials comprising inorganic and organic semiconductor possess promising potential to improve the performance of organic electronic devices, and set an example to develop this novel class of interfacial materials for electronic devices.
分类: 生物学 >> 生物物理学 提交时间: 2016-05-11
摘要: Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 2 (CHD2) has been associated with a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability. However, it is largely unknown whether and how CHD2 is involved in brain development. Here, we demonstrate that CHD2 is predominantly expressed in Pax6(+) radial glial cells (RGs) but rarely expressed in Tbr2(+) intermediate progenitors (IPs). Importantly, the suppression of CHD2 expression inhibits the self-renewal of RGs and increases the generation of IPs and the production of neurons. CHD2 mediates these functions by directly binding to the genomic region of repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor (REST), thereby regulating the expression of REST. Furthermore, the overexpression of REST rescues the defect in neurogenesis caused by CHD2 knockdown. Taken together, these findings demonstrate an essential role of CHD2 in the maintenance of the RGs self-renewal levels, the subsequent generation of IPs, and neuronal output during neurogenesis in cerebral cortical development, suggesting that inactivation of CHD2 during neurogenesis might contribute to abnormal neurodevelopment. Stem Cells2015;33:1794-1806
分类: 生物学 >> 生物物理学 提交时间: 2016-05-12
摘要: Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy is distinct among nanoscale imaging tools in its ability to image protein dynamics in living cells. Structured illumination microscopy (SIM) stands out in this regard because of its high speed and low illumination intensities, but typically offers only a twofold resolution gain. We extended the resolution of live-cell SIM through two approaches: ultrahigh numerical aperture SIM at 84-nanometer lateral resolution for more than 100 multicolor frames, and nonlinear SIM with patterned activation at 45- to 62-nanometer resolution for approximately 20 to 40 frames. We applied these approaches to image dynamics near the plasma membrane of spatially resolved assemblies of clathrin and caveolin, Rab5a in early endosomes, and a-actinin, often in relationship to cortical actin. In addition, we examined mitochondria, actin, and the Golgi apparatus dynamics in three dimensions.
分类: 医学、药学 >> 基础医学 提交时间: 2017-12-07 合作期刊: 《南方医科大学学报》
摘要: 目的为研究人肝癌细胞系HepG2线粒体DNA ( mtDNA)缺失后的放射生物学特性,建立并鉴定mtDNA缺失HepG2(p0HepG2)细胞系。测定辐射干预下mtDNA缺失(CRh00)肝癌细胞的凋亡情况、侵袭能力以及辐射敏感性的变化。方法在含有嗅化乙锭(EB)、丙酮酸、尿嚓陡的特殊培养基中培养HepG2细胞,经30次传代后,有限稀释法筛选完全去除mtDNA的克隆。去除丙酮酸及尿嚓陡后,观察细胞的存活情况。PCR法鉴定mtDNA的缺失。用6MvX射线梯度剂量照射HepG2细胞和p0HepG2细胞,平板克隆法绘制生长曲线,线性二次方程拟合生存曲线,计算α/β。2Gy剂量辐射细胞,24 h后用Hochest33342细胞核染色,比较HepG2细胞与p0HepG2凋亡率的差异。用Transwell法测定两种不同细胞的侵袭能力。结果在含EB特殊培养环境下,HepG2细胞可持续生长传代至30代,去除丙酮酸和尿嚓陡后,细胞短时间内大量死亡。经PCR法证实mtDNA完全缺失。p0HepG2细胞a/p显著低于正常HepG2细胞,辐射抵抗能力增强。辐射干预后p0HepG2的凋亡比例显著减少。p0HepG2穿膜细胞数显著增多。结论在EB长期诱导下,HepG2肝癌细胞可被成功诱导为mtDNA缺失细胞。p0HepG2细胞的辐射抵抗性显著增强,抗凋亡能力及侵袭能力均提高。
提交时间: 2017-05-02
摘要: Polycrystalline ZnSnN2 thin films were successfully prepared by DC magnetron sputtering at room temperature. Both the as-deposited and annealed films showed n-type conduction, with electron concentration varying between 1.6 x 10[18] and 2.3 x 10[17] cm[-3
分类: 物理学 >> 普通物理:统计和量子力学,量子信息等 提交时间: 2017-05-02
摘要: Planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells were fabricated through a low temperature approach. We find that the device performance significantly depends on the external bias before and during measurements. By appropriate optimization of the bias conditions, we could achieve an 8-fold increase in the power conversion efficiency. The significant improvement in device performance might be caused by the ion motion in the perovskite under the external electric field.
分类: 生物学 >> 生物物理学 提交时间: 2016-05-11
摘要: It has been demonstrated that passenger strand cleavage is important for the activation of RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which is a crucial step for siRNA-mediated gene silencing. Herein, we report that isonucleotide (isoNA) modification around the cleavage site of the passenger strand would affect the in vitro potency of modified siRNAs by altering the motion pattern of the Ago2-PAZ domain. According to western blotting, q-PCR and antiviral test results, we proved that D-isonucleotide (isoNA) modification at the position 8 of the passenger strand (siMek1-S08D), which is adjacent to the cleavage site, markedly improved the in vitro potency of the modified siRNA, whereas siRNAs with D-isoNA incorporation at position 9 (siMek1-S09D) or L-isoNA incorporation at positions 8 and 9 (siMek1-S08L, siMek1-S09L) displayed lower activity compared to native siRNA. Kinetics evaluation of passenger strand cleavage induced by T. thermophilus Ago (Tt-Ago) showed that D-isoNA modification at position 8 of the passenger strand had no significant influence on the cleavage rate, but L-isoNA modification at position 8 slowed the cleavage rate markedly. Moreover, the results of molecular dynamics simulations showed that D-isoNA modification at position 8 affected the open-close motion of the PAZ domain in the Ago/siRNA complex, which may promote the loading of RISC and release of a passenger strand cleavage product, and consequently accelerate the activation of RISC and enhance silencing activity. However, D-isoNA modification at position 9 or L-isoNA modification at position 8 or 9 exerted opposite influences on the motion of the Ago-PAZ domain.
分类: 生物学 >> 生物物理学 提交时间: 2016-05-15
摘要: PTEN is a tumour suppressor frequently mutated in many types of cancers. Here we show that targeted disruption of PTEN leads to neoplastic transformation of human neural stem cells (NSCs), but not mesenchymal stem cells. PTEN-deficient NSCs display neoplasm-associated metabolic and gene expression profiles and generate intracranial tumours in immunodeficientmice. PTEN is localized to the nucleus in NSCs, binds to the PAX7 promoter through association with cAMP responsive element binding protein 1 (CREB)/CREB binding protein (CBP) and inhibits PAX7 transcription. PTEN deficiency leads to the upregulation of PAX7, which in turn promotes oncogenic transformation of NSCs and instates 'aggressiveness' in human glioblastoma stem cells. In a large clinical database, we find increased PAX7 levels in PTEN-deficient glioblastoma. Furthermore, we identify that mitomycin C selectively triggers apoptosis in NSCs with PTEN deficiency. Together, we uncover a potential mechanism of how PTEN safeguards NSCs, and establish a cellular platform to identify factors involved in NSC transformation, potentially permitting personalized treatment of glioblastoma.
分类: 物理学 >> 普通物理:统计和量子力学,量子信息等 提交时间: 2017-05-02
摘要: Layered bismuth oxyhalide nanomaterials have received much more interest as promising photocatalysts because of their unique layered structures and high photocatalytic performance, which can be used as potential inorganic photosensitizers in tumor photodynamic therapy (PDT). In recent years, photocatalytic materials have been widely used in PDT and photothermal therapy (PTT) as inorganic photosensitizers. This investigation focuses on applying layered bismuth oxyhalide nanomaterials toward cancer PDT, an application that has never been reported so far. The results of our study indicate that the efficiency of UV- triggered PDT was highest when using BiOCl nanoplates followed by BiOCl nanosheets, and then TiO2. Of particular interest is the fact that layered BiOCl nanomaterials showed excellent PDT effects under low nanomaterial dose (20 μg mL−1) and low UV dose (2.2 mW cm−2 for 10 min) conditions, while TiO2 showed almost no therapeutic effect under the same parameters. BiOCl nanoplates and nanosheets have shown excellent performance and an extensive range of applications in PDT.