椰子织蛾CSP基因的克隆与序列分析

利用rapid-amplification of cDNA ends(RACE)技术,克隆获得了1条椰子织蛾(Opisina aremosella)的全长化感蛋白基因序列。该基因全长为561 bp,开放阅读框全长为393 bp,3′和5′端非编码序列分别为48、120 bp,编码130个氨基酸,所编码蛋白质的理论分子量为14.8 ku,等电点为5.85。同源性比对分析发现,椰子织蛾化感蛋白基因氨基酸序列有4个保守半胱氨酸位点且与其他昆虫化感蛋白基因在氨基酸的水平上相似性不高。除与棉红铃虫(Pectinophora gossypiella)相似度达71%外,与其他昆虫相比,均低于10%。SignalP预测显示,椰子织蛾化感蛋白基因所编码的前20个氨基酸为信号肽序列(MAMKYLIVLSCVLAAAIVAG)。系统进化树分析结果表明,椰子织蛾化感蛋白与稻纵卷叶螟(Cnaphalocrocis medinalis)、亚洲玉米螟(Ostrinia furnacalis)和家蚕(Bombyx mori)化感蛋白1、2、3、4聚为同一族,与家蚕化感蛋白1、2、3、4的进化程度最近。这为深入研究昆虫化学感受蛋白、揭开昆虫与环境化学信息联系的规律奠定理论基础。

A Mutant of PlxyCSP1 Protein in Plutella xylostella

[Objective] This study aimed to explore the effects of cysteine （Cys58） on the characteristics of PlxyCSP1 in P. Iostella combined with pesticide compounds. [Method] Cys58 of PlxyCSP1 was mutated into Trp58 by using overlap extension PCR method, and PlxyCSP1-M2 mutant was obtained. Expression vector was con- structed and the protein was detected by western blot. [Result] Expression vector pET32a-PlxyCSP1-M2 was constructed to express the 35kDa weight protein. [Conclusion] PlxyCSP1 mutant protein has been expressed successfully in prokaryotic ex- pression system.

Globulin-platelet model predicts minimal fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B virus infected patients

AIM： To establish a simple model consisting of the rou- tine laboratory variables to predict both minimal fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B virus （HBV）-infected patients. METHODS： We retrospectively investigated 114 chron- ic HBV-infected patients who underwent liver biopsy in two different hospitals. Thirteen parameters were analyzed by step-wise regression analysis and correla- tion analysis. A new fibrosis index [globulin/platelet （GP） model] was developed, including globulin （GLOB） and platelet count （PLT）. GP model = GLOB （g/mL） x 100/PLT （x 109/L）. We evaluated the receiver operating characteristics analysis used to predict minimal fibrosis and compared six other available models. RESULTS： Thirteen clinical biochemical and hemato- logical variables [sex, age, PLT, alanine aminotransfer- ase, aspartate aminotransferase （AST）, albumin, GLOB, total bilirubin （T.bil）, direct bilirubin （D.bil）, glutamyl-transferase, alkaline phosphatase, HBV DNA and pro- thrombin time （PT）] were analyzed according to three stages of liver fibrosis （F0-F1, F2-F3 and F4）. Bivariate Spearman＇s rank correlation analysis showed that six variables, including age, PLT, T.bil, D.bil, GLOB and PT, were correlated with the three fibrosis stages （FS）. Cor- relation coefficients were 0.23, -0.412, 0.208, 0.220, 0.314 and 0.212; and P value was 0.014, 〈 0.001, 0.026, 0.018, 0.001 and 0.024, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that only PLT and GLOB were signifi- cantly different in the three FS （PLT： F = 11.772, P 〈 0.001; GLOB： F = 6.612, P = 0.002）. Step-wise multiple regression analysis showed that PLT and GLOB were also independently correlated with FS （R2 = 0.237）. By Spearman＇s rank correlation analysis, GP model was significantly correlated with the three FS （r = 0.466, P 〈 0.001）. The median values in F0-F1, F2-F3 and F4 were 1.461, 1.720 and 2.634. Compared with the six available models （fibrosis index, AST-platelet ratio, FIB-4, fibrosis-cirrhosis index and age-AST model and age-PLT ratio）, GP model showed a highest correlation coefficient. The sensitivity and positive predictive value at a cutoff value 〈 1.68 for predicting minimal fibrosis F0-F1 were 72.4% and 71.2%, respectively. The speci- ficity and negative predictive value at a cutoff value 〈 2.53 for the prediction of cirrhosis were 84.5% and 96.7%. The area under the curve （AUC） of GP model for predicting minimal fibrosis and cirrhosis was 0.762 [95% confidence interval （CI）： 0.676-0.848] and 0.781 （95% CI： 0.638-0.924）. Although the differences were not statistically significant between GP model and the other models （P all 〉 0.05）, the AUC of GP model was the largest among the seven models. CONCLUSION： By establishing a simple model using available laboratory variables, chronic HBV-infected patients with minimal fibrosis and cirrhosis can be di- agnosed accurately, and the clinical application of this model may reduce the need for liver biopsy in HBV- infected patients.

The ubiquitin-specific protease 17 is involved in virus-triggered type I IFN signaling

Viral infection initiates a series of signaling cascades that activate the transcription factors nuclear factor kappa B and interferon regulatory factor 3, which collaborate to induce transcription of genes for type I interferons （IFNs） and other cytokines. Here we report that the deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin-specific protease 17 （USP17） is required for virus-induced RIG-I- and melanoma differentiation-associated protein-5 （MDA5）-mediated type I IFN signaling. Knockdown of endogenous USP17 inhibited virus-, cytoplasmic poly（I：C）- and poly（dA：dT）-induced activation of the IFN-β promoter and cellular antiviral responses. We further found that knockdown of USP17 inhibited RIG-I- and MDA5-induced but not downstream activator-induced activation of the IFN-β promoter, which was correlated with an increase in ubiquitination levels of RIG-I and MDA5. Taken together, our findings suggest that USP17 functions through deubiquitination of RIG-I and MDA5 to regulate virus-induced type I IFN signaling.

Gene cloning and prokaryotic expression of recombinant flagellin A from Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The Gram-negative Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a common pathogen in humans and marine animals. Bacteria flagellins play an important role during infection and induction of the host immune response. Thus, flagellin proteins are an ideal target for vaccines. We amplified the complete flagellin subunit gene （tTaA） from V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802. We then cloned and expressed the gene into Escherichia coli BL21 （DE3） cells. The gene coded for a protein that was 62.78 kDa. We purified and characterized the protein using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and Anti-His antibody Western blotting, respectively. Our results provide a basis for further studies into the utility of the FlaA protein as a vaccine candidate against infection by Vibrio parahaemolyticus. In addition, the purified FlaA protein can he used for further functional and structural studies.

Low Peptone Dose as Inductor of Alkaline Protease Promoter Used for Invertase Gene Expression in Yarrowia lipolytica

According literature, the induction of Yarrowia lipolytica alkaline protease promoter （PXPR2） is efficient in pH 〉 6.0 and with high peptone dose. To establish optimal pH and peptone concentration for induction of invertase gene （suc2 of Saccharomyces cerevisaie） under PXPR2 in new Y. lipolytica A-101 invertase positive （Suc＋） transformants their growth on Bioscreen C was analyzed. Minimal mineral medium with thiamine （MMT） and sucrose （1%）, adjusted to pH from 5.8 to 7.6 and supplemented by 0-0.1% of peptone was used. Biomass （OD）, maximal specific growth rate （μmax） and consumed sucrose were measured. Maximal yeasts growth, resulting from the optimal PXPR2 induction, was observed at pH 7.2 and with very low peptone doses （0.0025% and 0.01%）. For five clones （A-101 1356-5; A-101 B54-6; A-101 B57-4; A-101 A18 and W29 ura3-302） only 0.005% of peptone was needed. Amount of hydrolyzed sucrose varied from 24% to 83% and μmax from 0.06 to 0.28 hl. Suc^＋ clones differ in growth parameters, so the site of yeast cassette integration into genome influences expression level of suc2 under PXPR2. Designing large scale processes with Y. lipolytica Suc^＋ clones peptone concentration has to be 100 times smaller than recommended so far.

Characterization of functional domains of human p100 protein interacting with signal transducer and activator of transcription-6 (STAT-6)

In the present study, the interaction of human p100 protein with signal transducer and activator of transcription-6 (STAT-6) was investigated. It was proved that the staphylococcal nuclease (SN)-like and tudor (TD) domains containing in p100 protein acting as a adaptor to recruit STAT-6 to the basal transcription machinery, enhanced the STAT-6 mediated transcription activity. The interaction between STAT-6 and the p100 protein was mediated by the full-length of the SN-like domain, whereas individual fragments of SN-like domain showed no binding activity to STAT-6. In line with these results, the SN-like domain was directly engaged in the enhancement of STAT-6 mediated activation of gene transcription in vivo. Yet the TD domain had no ability to increase the transcription activation, but it was still required for the sufficient activation of transcription.

Solid-state electrochemiluminescence protein biosensor with aptamer substitution strategy

One solid-state electrochemiluminescence （ECL） protein biosensor based on the competing reaction and substitute reaction between protein-to-DNA aptamer and DNA-to-DNA aptamer was proposed. Additionally, the biosensor was based on ECL photo-quenching effect of ferrocene （Fc） to tris（2,2-bipyridyl）ruthenium（II） （Ru（bpy）2＋）. It was built up by modification of Au nanoparticles （AuNPs） and Ru（bpy）32＋ on one Au electrode firstly, and then self-assembly of one special double-stranded DNA （dsDNA） onto the electrode. This dsDNA was prepared by hybridization of one Fc labeled molecular beacon single-stranded DNA（ssDNA） and one anti-thrombin aptamer ssDNA. Without the target protein, this Fc-dsDNA/Ru（bpy）2＋- AuNPs/Au elec- trode trigged strong ECL signal, so we called it ECL ＂signal on＂ state. When thrombin was present in the sensing solution, the protein reacted with its aptamer from the Fc-dsDNA/Ru（bpy）3^2＋-AuNPs/Au electrode. Then the left molecular beacon ssDNA on the electrode recovered to its normal stem-loop structure and consequently its Fc labeler was close enough to the electrode surface to quench the ECL signal from Ru（bpy）3^2＋. It was in ECL ＂signal off＂ state. We measured the decrease in ECL intensity to sense the target protein. This was one endeavour to sense protein by using un-labeling target or probe strategy, which gave higher sensitivity and selectivity due to the better combination efficiency of protein and the un-labeled aptamer. 6.25 fmo/L thrombin was detected out,