Suppression of innate antiviral response by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus M protein is mediated through the first transmembrane domain

Coronaviruses have developed various measures to evade innate immunity, We have previously shown that severe acute respiratory syndrome （SARS） coronavirus M protein suppresses type I interferon （IFN） production by impeding the formation of functional TRAF3-containing complex. In this study, we demonstrate that the IFN-antagonizing activity is specific to SARS coronavirus M protein and is mediated through its first transmembrane domain （TM 1） located at the N terminus. M protein from human coronavirus HKU 1 does not inhibit IFN production. Whereas N-linked glycosylation of SARS coronavirus M protein has no influence on IFN antagonism, TM1 is indispensable for the suppression of IFN production. TM 1 targets SARS coronavirus M protein and heterologous proteins to the Golgi apparatus, yet Golgi localization is required but not sufficient for IFN antagonism. Mechanistically, TM 1 is capable of binding with RIG-I, TRAF3, TBK1 and IKK~, and preventing the interaction of TRAF3 with its downstream effectors. Our work defines the molecular architecture of SARS coronavirus M orotein reouired for suooression of innate antiviral re^nnn^e.

SIRTain regulators of premature senescence and accelerated aging

The sirtuin proteins constitute class III histone deacetylases （HDACs）. These evolutionarily conserved NAD＋-dependent enzymes form an important component in a variety of cellular and biological processes with highly divergent as well as convergent roles in maintaining metabolic homeostasis, safeguarding genomic integrity, regulating cancer metabolism and also inflammatory responses. Amongst the seven known mammalian sirtuin proteins, SIRT1 has gained much attention due to its widely acknowledged roles in pro- moting longevity and ameliorating age-associated pathologies. The contributions of other sirtuins in the field of aging are also gradually emerging. Here, we summarize some of the recent discoveries in sirtuins biology which clearly implicate the functions of sirtuin proteins in the regulation of premature cellular senescence and accelerated aging. The roles of sirtuins in various cellular processes have been extrapolated to draw inter-linkage with anti-aging mechanisms. Also, the latest findings on sirtuins which might have potential effects in the process of aging have been reviewed.

Effects of La^(3+) and Gd^(3+) on Ca^(2+) influx in rat hepatoma H-35 cells

Effects of La93+) and Gd3+ on Ca2+ influx were investigated in rat hepatoma H-35 cells by measuring the initial rate of45Ca2+ uptake. It was found that the maximum initial rate of Ca2+ uptake was increased six- to ten-fold at low concentrations of La3+ and Gd3+. Kinetic analyses by measuring the initial rate of Ca2+ influx at different external Ca2+ concentrations indicated the existence of two intracellular exchangeable components in the basal Ca2+ system, with low and high affinities for Ca2+,and only one class of Ca2+ binding sites was observed in the La3+- or Gd3+-treated cells. For high affinity, La3+ and Gd3+ increased both kinetic parameters Km and V(max of basal Ca2+ influx. La3+ and Gd3+ compete directly with Ca2+ for Ca2+ binding site for low affinity. The kinetics is competitive.

Synthetic biology： a new approach to stud bioloaical pattern formation

The principles and molecular mechanisms underlying biological pattern formation are difficult to elucidate in most cases due to the overwhelming physiologic complexity associated with the natural context. The understanding of a particular mechanism, not to speak of underlying universal principles, is difficult due to the diversity and uncertainty of the biological systems. Although current genetic and biochemical approaches have greatly advanced our understanding of pattern formation, the progress mainly relies on experimental phenotypes obtained from time- consuming studies of gain or loss of function mutants. It is prevailingly considered that synthetic biology will come to the application age, but more importantly synthetic biology can be used to understand the life. Using periodic stripe pattern formation as a paradigm, we discuss how to apply synthetic biology in understanding biological pattern formation and hereafter foster the applications like tissue engineering.