Immunolocalization of the oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1(Olig1) in brain tumors

Recent in situ hybridization studies showed that mRNA levels of OLIGl and OLIG2 transcription factors are elevatedin oligodendrogliomas.We raised polyclonal antibodies against a synthetic peptide homologous to the human tran-scription factor Oligl and studied by immunohistochemistry the expression of Oligl in 84 brain tumors and in non-neoplastic brain tissues.All oligodendrogliomas,oligoastrocytomas,and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumorsshowed moderate to strong intranuclear immunoreactivity in cells morphologically identified as oligodendrocytes.

Tissue expression and immunolocalization of cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated gene in postinfarction dysfunctional myocardium

Background Cellular Repressor of E1A-stimu-lated gene(CREG) is widely expressed in adult tissues such as the brain,heart,lung,liver,intestine and kidney in mice.It is not known whether tissue CREG is decreased in the common setting of myocardial infarction which may lead to heart failure.We studied the expression and protein localization of CREG and its main receptor(IFR2R) in a mouse model of myocardial infarction.Methods Male mice were randomized to proximal left anterior descending ligation.The animals were killed on day 1,3,7,14,and 28 after ligation to examine gene expression and protein production of CREG and IGF2R from the infarct,peri-infarct,and contralateral zones of infarcted heart.Results There was decreased CREG mRNA production throughout the myocardium at dav 1,and the expression gradually increased at day 28 after myocardial infarction.The decreased expression of this glycoprotein was not confined strictly to the infarct or peri-infarct zones but also expressed by cardiac myocytes within the myocardium in the contralateral normal zone.Levels of CREG protein in the infarct and peri-infarct zones declined to 1/3- to 1/2-fold of normal levels and declined to 1/2- to 2/3- fold in the contralateral zone.Finally,the expression of the IGF2R mRNA transcripts was downregulated at day 3 and 7 after ligation in the infarct and peri-infarct zones,suggesting that the signal transduction pathways necessary for CREG in the heart remain intact as CREG biosynthesis decreases. Conclusions CREG is constantly present in a model of large myocardial infarction and is decreased at the early stage within the myocardium.The decreased expression of this glycoprotein is not only confined strictly to the infarct or periinfarct zone but also is expressed by cardiac myocytes within the myocardium contralateral to the infarct.Therefore CREG production decreased due to myocardial stress response to injury.

Myotropic activity and immunolocalization of selected neuropeptides of the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides (Coleoptera: Silphidae)

Burying beetles (Nicrophorus sp.) are necrophagous insects with developed parental care. Genome of Nicrophorus vespilloides has been recently sequenced, which makes them interesting model organism in behavioral ecology. However, we know very little about their physiology, including the functioning of their neuroendocrine system. In this study, one of the physiological activities of proctolin, myosuppressin (Nieve? MS), myoinhibitory peptide (Trica-MIP-5) and the short neuropeptide F (Nicve-sNPF) in N. vespilloides have been investigated. The tested neuropeptides were myoactive on N. vespilloides hindgut. After application of the proctolin increased hindgut contraction frequency was observed (EC50 value was 5.47 x 10-8 mol/L). The other tested neuropeptides led to inhibition of N. vespilloides hindgut contractions (Nicve-MS: IC50 = 5.20 x 10~5 mol/L;Trica-MIP-5: IC50 = 5.95 x 10-6 mol/L;Nicvc-sNPF: IC50 = 4.08 x 10-5 mol/L). Moreover, the tested neuropeptides were immunolocalized in the nervous system of N. vespilloides. Neurons containing sNPF and MIP in brain and ventral nerve cord (VNC) were identified. Proctolin-immunolabeled neurons only in VNC were observed. Moreover, MIP-immunolabeled varicosities and fibers in retrocerebral complex were observed. In addition, our results have been supplemented with alignments of amino acid sequences of these neuropeptides in beetle species. This alignment analysis clearly showed amino acid sequence similarities between neuropeptides. Moreover, this allowed to deduce amino acid sequence of N. vespilloides proctolin (RYLPTa), Nicve-MS (QDVDHVFLRFa) and six isoforms ofNicve-MIP (Nicve-MIP-1一 DWNRNLHSWa;Nicve-MIP-2—AWQNLQGGWa;Nicve-MIP-3—AWQNLQGGWa;Nicve-MlP-4—AWKNLNNAGWa;Nicve-MIP-5—SEWGNFRGSWa;Nicve-MIP-6— DPAWTNLKGIWa;and Nicve-sNPF—SGRSPSLRLRFa).

Immunolocalization of gap junction proteins-like matter at mesophyll protoplasts from Vicia faba

Intercellular connections and communications play very important roles during organisms growth and development. Although plasmodesmata and gap junction as intercellular channels are different in anatomy and structure, they exhibit striking similarities in their functions. It is suggested that they have some similar biochemical regulation mechanism. Connexins are the transfer of cytoplasmic material by conformational changes.

Immunolocalization of Arabinogalactan Proteins and Pectins in Floral Buds of Cucumber （Cucumis sativus L.） During Sex Determination

Abstract: Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and pectins were detected in the floral buds of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) during its sex determination using the following monoclonal antibodies: MAC 207 (recognizes AGP epitopes); JIM 8 (recognizes a subset of AGP epitopes); and JIM 5 and JIM 7 (epitopes of pectins esterified to various degrees). In the stem apex meristem (SAM) of the cucumber, epitopes of MAC 207, JIM 7, and JIM 5 were localized in the cells from second to third peripheral layers when the sex organ primodium began to differentiate; epitopes of MAC 207 and JIM 5 were also detected in the ragged edge cells. A very dense labeling signal with MAC 207 was observed in the carpel and pistil primodium. The AGP epitopes recognized by JIM 8 were localized in the anther of the male flower and the anther-like portion of the stagnant stamen of the female flower. This suggests that the AGPs and pectins in the SAM of the cucumber are closely associated with the differentiation of the SAM, from meristematic cells to floral primodium. The subset of AGPs recognized by JIM 8 may play an important role in stamen formation.

Na^+/HCO_3^- cotransporter is expressed on β and α cells during rat pancreatic development

AIM To determine the expression and localization of the electrogenic Na^+/HCO_3^- cotransporter(NBC1) in rat pancreas during development. METHODS The rat pancreas from postnatal and embryos removed from the uterus of pregnant rats that had been sacrificed by CO2 asphyxiation were used. Rat pancreas from embryonic day(E) 15.5 and E18.5 rat embryos was isolated under a stereomicroscope. Rat pancreas from postnatal(P) days 0, 7, 14, 21 and adult was directly isolated by the unaided eye. The RT-PCR analysis of the NBC1 specific region on rat pancreastissues from different developmental stages. The two antibodies which target the NBC1 common COOHterminal region and NH2-terminal region detected a clear band of about 145 k Da in the Western blot analysis. The localization of NBC1 was examined by immuno-fluorescence detection. RESULTS The results revealed the first peak of NBC1 expression at E18.5 and the second peak at P14. Meanwhile, the low NBC1 expression occurred at P7 and adult stages. Our results demonstrated, for the first time, the presence of NBC1 in the plasma membrane of β and α cells, as well as in the basolateral membrane of acinar cells of the rat pancreas at different stages of development. CONCLUSION The data strongly suggests that NBC1 is diversely expressed in the pancreas at different developmental stages, where it may exert its functions in pancreatic development especially islet cell growth through HCO_3^- transport and pH regulation.

Detection of Hepatitis E Virus and Serum Antibodies against Hepatitis E Virus in Livestock in Heilongjiang Province

[Objective] To observe the distribution of hepatitis E virus （HEV） in livestock in Hailongjiang Province. [Method] The serum samples collected from two regions of Heilongjiang Province included 719 samples from pigs older than 3 months old, 840 samples from pigs younger than 3 months old, 505 bovine serum samples and 515 ovine serum samples. The samples were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ ELISA）. [ Result] The pigs had the highest level of antibodies against HEV, and the positive rate of HEV was 89.71%, indicating pigs were more likely to be infected by HEV than other livestock populations. HEV was detected in 59 porcine serum samples, three bovine serum samples and one ovine serum sample collected from Heilongjiang Province. The positive rate of HEV in pigs was higher in Heilongjiang Province than in Jinlin Province and Liaoning Province. [ Conclusion] HEV infection was wide in pigs in Heilongjiang Province, and the infection rate was higher in the old pigs than in the young pigs.

Functional characterization of a Niemann-Pick type C2 protein in the parasitoid wasp Micropfitis mediator

Niemann-Pick type C2 （NPC2） is a type of small soluble protein involved in lipid metabolism and triglyceride accumulation in vertebrates and arthropods. Recent stud- ies have determined that NPC2 also participates in chemical communication of arthropods. In this work, two novel NPC2 proteins （MmedNPC2a and MmedNPC2b） in Microplitis mediator were identified. Real-time quantitative PCR （qPCR） analysis revealed that Mmed- NPC2a was expressed higher in the antennae than in other tissues of adult wasps compared with MmedNPC2b. Subsequent immunolocalization results demonstrated that NPC2a was located in the lymph cavities of sensilla placodea. To further explore the binding charac- terization of recombinant MmedNPC2a to 54 candidate odor molecules, a fluorescence binding assay was performed. It was found MmedNPC2a could not bind with selected fatty acids, such as linoleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and octadecenoic acid. How- ever, seven cotton volatiles, 4-ethylbenzaldehyde, 3,4-dimethylbenzaldehyde, fl-ionone, linalool, m-xylene, benzaldehyde and trans-2-hexen-l-al showed certain binding abilities with MmedNPC2a. Moreover, the predicted 3D model of MmedNPC2a was composed of seven r-sheets and three pairs of disulfide bridges. In this model, the key binding residues for oleic acid in CjapNPC2 of Camponotus japonicus, Lue68, Lys69, Lys70, Phe97, Thr103 and Phe127, are replaced with Phe85, Ser86, His87, Leu113, Tyr119 and Ile143 in MmedNPC2a, respectively. We proposed that MmedNPC2a in M. mediator may play roles in perception of plant volatiles.

AMP-activated kinase in human spermatozoa： identification, intracellular localization, and key function in the reRulation of sperm motility

AMP-activated kinase （AMPK）, a protein that regulates energy balance and metabolism, has recently been identified in boar spermatozoa where regulates key functional sperm processes essential for fertilization. This work＇s aims are AMPK identification, intracellular localization, and their role in human spermatozoa function. Semen was obtained from healthy human donors. Sperm AMPK and phospho-Thr172-AMPK were analyzed by Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence. High- and low-quality sperm populations were separated by a 40%-80% density gradient. Human spermatozoa motility was evaluated by an Integrated Semen Analysis System （ISAS） in the presence or absence of the AMPK inhibitor compound C （CC）. AMPK is localized along the human spermatozoa, at the entire acrosome, midpiece and tail with variable intensity, whereas its active form, phospho-Thr172-AMPK, shows a prominent staining at the acrosome and sperm tail with a weaker staining in the midpiece and the postacrosomal region. Interestingly, spermatozoa bearing an excess residual cytoplasm show strong AMPK staining in this subcellular compartment. Both AMPK and phospho-Thr172-AMPK human spermatozoa contents exhibit important individual variations. Moreover, active AMPK is predominant in the high motility sperm population, where shows a stronger intensity compared with the low motility sperm population. Inhibition of AMPK activity in human spermatozoa by CC treatment leads to a significant reduction in any sperm motility parameter analyzed： percent of motile sperm, sperm velocities, progressivity, and other motility coefficients. This work identifies and points out AMPK as a new molecular mechanism involved in human spermatozoa motility. Further AMPK implications in the clinical efficiency of assisted reproduction and in other reproductive areas need to be studied.

Localization of urea transporter B in the developing bovine rumen

Urea nitrogen secreted from blood to rumen is a crucial factor shaping the symbiotic relationship between host ruminants and their microbial populations.Passage of urea across rumen epithelia is facilitated by urea transporter B(UT-B),but the long-term regulation of these proteins remains unclear.As ruminal function develops over a period of months,the developing rumen is an excellent model with which to investigate this regulation.Using rumen epithelium samples of calves from birth to 96 d of age,this study performed immunolocalization studies to localize and semi-quantify UT-B protein development.As expected,preliminary experiments confirmed that ruminal monocarboxylate transporter 1(MCT1)short chain fatty acid transporter protein abundance increased with age(P<0.01,n=4).Further investigation revealed that ruminal UT-B was present in the first few weeks of life and initially detected in the basolateral membrane of stratum basale cells.Over the next 2 months,UT-B staining spread to other epithelial layers and semi-quantification indicated that UT-B abundance significantly increased with age(P<0.01,n=4 or 6).These changes were in line with the development of rumen function after the advent of solid feed intake and weaning,exhibiting a similar pattern to both MCT1 transporters and papillae growth.This study therefore confirmed age-dependent changes of in situ ruminal UT-B protein,adding to our understanding of the long-term regulation of ruminal urea transporters.