Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) has a wide range of biological functions. We cloned the full-length cDNAs encoding PACAP and PACAP-related peptide (PRP) from the brain of largemouth bass...Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) has a wide range of biological functions. We cloned the full-length cDNAs encoding PACAP and PACAP-related peptide (PRP) from the brain of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and used real-time quantitative PCR to detect PRP- PACAP mRNA expression. The PRP-PACAP cDNA has two variants expressed via alternative splicing: a long form, which encodes both PRP and PACAP, and a short form, which encodes only PACAR Sequence analysis results are consistent with a higher conservation of PACAP than PRP peptide sequences. The expression of PACAP-Iong and PACAP-short transcripts was highest in the forebrain, followed by the medulla, midbrain, pituitary, stomach, cerebellum, intestine, and kidney; however, these transcripts were either absent or were weakly expressed in the muscle, spleen, gill, heart, fatty tissue, and liver. The level of PACAP-short transcript expression was significantly higher than expression of the long transcript in the forebrain, cerebella, pituitary and intestine, but lower than that of the long transcript in the stomach. PA CAP- long and PACAP-short transcripts were first detected at the blastula stage of embryogenesis, and the level of expression increased markedly between the muscular contraction stage and 3 d post hatch (dph). The expression of PACAP-long and PACAP-short transcripts decreased significantly in the brain following 4 d fasting compared with the control diet group. The down-regulation effect was enhanced as fasting continued. Conversely, expression levels increased significantly after 3 d of re-feeding. Our results suggest that PRP- PA CAP acts as an important factor in appetite regulation in largemouth bass.展开更多
Binding and releasing ligands are critical for the biological functions of many proteins,so it is important to determine these highly dynamic processes.Although there are experimental techniques to determine the struc...Binding and releasing ligands are critical for the biological functions of many proteins,so it is important to determine these highly dynamic processes.Although there are experimental techniques to determine the structure of a protein-ligand complex,it only provides a static picture of the system.With the rapid increase of computing power and improved algorithms,molecular dynamics(MD)simulations have diverse of superiority in probing the binding and release process.However,it remains a great challenge to overcome the time and length scales when the system becomes large.This work presents an enhanced sampling tool for ligand binding and release,which is based on iterative multiple independent MD simulations guided by contacts formed between the ligand and the protein.From the simulation results on adenylate kinase,we observe the process of ligand binding and release while the conventional MD simulations at the same time scale cannot.展开更多
The leaves of Aquilaria sinensis(Lour.) Gilg have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes in Guangdong Province,China.In this study,effects of ethanol extract of Aquilaria sinensis leaves on hypergl...The leaves of Aquilaria sinensis(Lour.) Gilg have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes in Guangdong Province,China.In this study,effects of ethanol extract of Aquilaria sinensis leaves on hyperglycemia were investigated in diabetic db/db mice.After 4 weeks of administration,the 95%ethanol(EtOH) extract of Aquilaria sinensis leaves (AE),especially at high dose level(600 mg/kg),activated AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK),resulting in reduced fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels in db/db mice.In addition,the oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT test) showed that AE could remarkably improve insulin resistance.Compared to Thiazolinediones(TZDs),no weight gain was observed after AE administration,which is a severe side effect of TZDs.The data suggested that AE could act as an activator of AMPK,and might be used as an alternative to TZDs in the management of obesity-related diabetes.展开更多
Objective To explore the mechanism of An-Pressing manipulation in relieving energy crisis in chronic myofascial trigger points(MTrPs)by observing the effects of An-Pressing manipulation on adenosine triphosphate(ATP),...Objective To explore the mechanism of An-Pressing manipulation in relieving energy crisis in chronic myofascial trigger points(MTrPs)by observing the effects of An-Pressing manipulation on adenosine triphosphate(ATP),adenosine 5′-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγcoactivator 1α(PGC-1α)pathway and mitochondrial ultrastructure of skeletal muscle cells in MTrPs rats.Methods Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a lidocaine group,and an An-Pressing manipulation group,with 12 rats in each group.The model group,lidocaine group and An-Pressing manipulation group were used to replicate the MTrPs rat model by blunt shock and centrifugal motion method.After modeling,the An-Pressing manipulation group was subjected to 7 times An-Pressing manipulation,once every other day;the lidocaine group was treated with 3 times of injection of lidocaine at the MTrPs,once every 6 d.The blank group and the model group were fed normally without intervention.After the intervention,local muscle tissue was taken to detect the content of ATP and the expression of AMPK,phosphorylated AMPK(phospho-AMPK),PGC-1α,and glucose transporter 4(GluT4),and the ultrastructure of mitochondria was observed under an electron microscope.Results Compared with the blank group,the ATP content in the model group was decreased(P<0.05),the protein expression levels of phospho-AMPK,PGC-1α,and GluT4 and the ratio of phospho-AMPK to AMPK were decreased(P<0.05);under the electron microscope,the number of mitochondria decreased,and they were deformed,small in volume,and had deformed cristae.Compared with the model group,the ATP contents in the An-Pressing manipulation group and the lidocaine group were increased(P<0.05),and the protein expression levels of phospho-AMPK,PGC-1α,and GluT4 and the ratio of phospho-AMPK to AMPK were increased(P<0.05);under the electron microscope,the number of mitochondria increased,the shape and size of the mitochondria were basically normal,and the cristae could be seen.Compared with the lidocaine group,phospho-AMPK and the ratio of phospho-AMPK to AMPK in the An-Pressing manipulation group were increased(P<0.05);under the electron microscope,the numbers of mitochondria were similar,and the shape and size of the mitochondria were basically normal without swelling,and the cristae could be observed.Conclusion An-Pressing manipulation can increase the ATP content in MTrPs tissue,improve the expression levels of PGC-1α and GluT4 proteins and the ratio of phospho-AMPK to AMPK;its mechanism may relate to the activation of AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway to promote the repair of mitochondrial damages.展开更多
Objective:To explore the mechanism of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion in Crohn disease(CD)treatment by observing the effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on protein expressions of colonic M2 macrophage ma...Objective:To explore the mechanism of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion in Crohn disease(CD)treatment by observing the effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on protein expressions of colonic M2 macrophage marker CD206,AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)and tuberous sclerosis complex(TSC)2.Methods:Twenty-six specific pathogen free male rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group and a herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group.The CD model was prepared by enema with the mixture of 5%(W/V)2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)and 50%ethanol at 2:1(volume ratio).After the model was successfully prepared,rats in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion at Qihai(CV 6)and bilateral Tianshu(ST 25).Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of rat colon;immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of colonic CD206 protein;Western blot,immuno fluorescence,and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RTqPCR)technologies were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2.Results:Compared with the normal group,rats in the model group showed damaged colonic mucosa,missing of the epithelial layer;thickened submucosa,vascular proliferation,massive infiltration of monocytes and lymphocytes,and cracked ulcers that reached the muscle layer.Rats in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group showed reduced intestinal inflammation and healing intestinal epithelium ulcers.Compared with the normal group,rat colonic CD206 protein expression,and the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2 were decreased in the model group(all P<0.Ol);compared with the model group,rat colonic CD206 protei n expression was in creased(P<Q.Q1),as well as the protein and mRNA expressions of AMPK and TSC2 in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can reduce intestinal inflammation in CD rats,increase colonic CD206 protein expression,and up-regulate the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31201985)the National Key Technology R&D Program of China(No.2012BAD26B03)
文摘Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) has a wide range of biological functions. We cloned the full-length cDNAs encoding PACAP and PACAP-related peptide (PRP) from the brain of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and used real-time quantitative PCR to detect PRP- PACAP mRNA expression. The PRP-PACAP cDNA has two variants expressed via alternative splicing: a long form, which encodes both PRP and PACAP, and a short form, which encodes only PACAR Sequence analysis results are consistent with a higher conservation of PACAP than PRP peptide sequences. The expression of PACAP-Iong and PACAP-short transcripts was highest in the forebrain, followed by the medulla, midbrain, pituitary, stomach, cerebellum, intestine, and kidney; however, these transcripts were either absent or were weakly expressed in the muscle, spleen, gill, heart, fatty tissue, and liver. The level of PACAP-short transcript expression was significantly higher than expression of the long transcript in the forebrain, cerebella, pituitary and intestine, but lower than that of the long transcript in the stomach. PA CAP- long and PACAP-short transcripts were first detected at the blastula stage of embryogenesis, and the level of expression increased markedly between the muscular contraction stage and 3 d post hatch (dph). The expression of PACAP-long and PACAP-short transcripts decreased significantly in the brain following 4 d fasting compared with the control diet group. The down-regulation effect was enhanced as fasting continued. Conversely, expression levels increased significantly after 3 d of re-feeding. Our results suggest that PRP- PA CAP acts as an important factor in appetite regulation in largemouth bass.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.91953101)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Science(XDB37040202)the Hefei National Science Center Pilot Project Funds,and the New Concept Medical Research Fund of USTC。
文摘Binding and releasing ligands are critical for the biological functions of many proteins,so it is important to determine these highly dynamic processes.Although there are experimental techniques to determine the structure of a protein-ligand complex,it only provides a static picture of the system.With the rapid increase of computing power and improved algorithms,molecular dynamics(MD)simulations have diverse of superiority in probing the binding and release process.However,it remains a great challenge to overcome the time and length scales when the system becomes large.This work presents an enhanced sampling tool for ligand binding and release,which is based on iterative multiple independent MD simulations guided by contacts formed between the ligand and the protein.From the simulation results on adenylate kinase,we observe the process of ligand binding and release while the conventional MD simulations at the same time scale cannot.
基金New-Century Talent Program,Ministry of Educating of China(Grant No.985-2-102-113)National Key Technology R&D Program"New Drug Innovation"of China(Grant No.2009ZX09311-004,2012ZX09301-002-002-002)
文摘The leaves of Aquilaria sinensis(Lour.) Gilg have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes in Guangdong Province,China.In this study,effects of ethanol extract of Aquilaria sinensis leaves on hyperglycemia were investigated in diabetic db/db mice.After 4 weeks of administration,the 95%ethanol(EtOH) extract of Aquilaria sinensis leaves (AE),especially at high dose level(600 mg/kg),activated AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK),resulting in reduced fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels in db/db mice.In addition,the oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT test) showed that AE could remarkably improve insulin resistance.Compared to Thiazolinediones(TZDs),no weight gain was observed after AE administration,which is a severe side effect of TZDs.The data suggested that AE could act as an activator of AMPK,and might be used as an alternative to TZDs in the management of obesity-related diabetes.
文摘Objective To explore the mechanism of An-Pressing manipulation in relieving energy crisis in chronic myofascial trigger points(MTrPs)by observing the effects of An-Pressing manipulation on adenosine triphosphate(ATP),adenosine 5′-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγcoactivator 1α(PGC-1α)pathway and mitochondrial ultrastructure of skeletal muscle cells in MTrPs rats.Methods Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a lidocaine group,and an An-Pressing manipulation group,with 12 rats in each group.The model group,lidocaine group and An-Pressing manipulation group were used to replicate the MTrPs rat model by blunt shock and centrifugal motion method.After modeling,the An-Pressing manipulation group was subjected to 7 times An-Pressing manipulation,once every other day;the lidocaine group was treated with 3 times of injection of lidocaine at the MTrPs,once every 6 d.The blank group and the model group were fed normally without intervention.After the intervention,local muscle tissue was taken to detect the content of ATP and the expression of AMPK,phosphorylated AMPK(phospho-AMPK),PGC-1α,and glucose transporter 4(GluT4),and the ultrastructure of mitochondria was observed under an electron microscope.Results Compared with the blank group,the ATP content in the model group was decreased(P<0.05),the protein expression levels of phospho-AMPK,PGC-1α,and GluT4 and the ratio of phospho-AMPK to AMPK were decreased(P<0.05);under the electron microscope,the number of mitochondria decreased,and they were deformed,small in volume,and had deformed cristae.Compared with the model group,the ATP contents in the An-Pressing manipulation group and the lidocaine group were increased(P<0.05),and the protein expression levels of phospho-AMPK,PGC-1α,and GluT4 and the ratio of phospho-AMPK to AMPK were increased(P<0.05);under the electron microscope,the number of mitochondria increased,the shape and size of the mitochondria were basically normal,and the cristae could be seen.Compared with the lidocaine group,phospho-AMPK and the ratio of phospho-AMPK to AMPK in the An-Pressing manipulation group were increased(P<0.05);under the electron microscope,the numbers of mitochondria were similar,and the shape and size of the mitochondria were basically normal without swelling,and the cristae could be observed.Conclusion An-Pressing manipulation can increase the ATP content in MTrPs tissue,improve the expression levels of PGC-1α and GluT4 proteins and the ratio of phospho-AMPK to AMPK;its mechanism may relate to the activation of AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway to promote the repair of mitochondrial damages.
文摘Objective:To explore the mechanism of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion in Crohn disease(CD)treatment by observing the effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on protein expressions of colonic M2 macrophage marker CD206,AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)and tuberous sclerosis complex(TSC)2.Methods:Twenty-six specific pathogen free male rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group and a herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group.The CD model was prepared by enema with the mixture of 5%(W/V)2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)and 50%ethanol at 2:1(volume ratio).After the model was successfully prepared,rats in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion at Qihai(CV 6)and bilateral Tianshu(ST 25).Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of rat colon;immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of colonic CD206 protein;Western blot,immuno fluorescence,and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RTqPCR)technologies were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2.Results:Compared with the normal group,rats in the model group showed damaged colonic mucosa,missing of the epithelial layer;thickened submucosa,vascular proliferation,massive infiltration of monocytes and lymphocytes,and cracked ulcers that reached the muscle layer.Rats in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group showed reduced intestinal inflammation and healing intestinal epithelium ulcers.Compared with the normal group,rat colonic CD206 protein expression,and the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2 were decreased in the model group(all P<0.Ol);compared with the model group,rat colonic CD206 protei n expression was in creased(P<Q.Q1),as well as the protein and mRNA expressions of AMPK and TSC2 in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can reduce intestinal inflammation in CD rats,increase colonic CD206 protein expression,and up-regulate the protein and mRNA expressions of colonic AMPK and TSC2.