Prenatal exclusion of Leigh syndrome due to T8993C mutation in the mitochondrial DNA

Leigh syndrome (LS) is a mitochondrial encephalopathy that is caused by a mutation either in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or in the nuclear encoded genes of the mitochondrial proteins. Prenatal diagnosis of defects in the mtDNA is usually problematic because of mtDNA heteroplasmy and tissue specificity. However, the mutations T8993 G/C in the ATP synthase subunit 6 gene of the mtDNA show a more even tissue distribution and do not appear to change significantly over time. There are only few reports of prenatal diagnosis of the T8993G mutation in Leigh disease. Here we describe the first prenatal genetic testing of T8993C in a fetus of a mother whose previous child had died of Leigh syndrome due to the T8993C mutation. Mutant load in the chorionic villus sample (CVS) as well as in amniocytes was undetectable, thus predicting a very high likelihood of an unaffected outcome, indicative of a healthy baby. The diagnosis was confirmed after birth. Gathering data on the prenatal diagnosis of mtDNA mutations is of great importance so that prenatal diagnosis of both T8993G and T8993C mutations can be offered routinely. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

低剂量镉诱导细胞氧化损伤的机理研究

镉是一种有毒重金属,能诱导酿酒酵母的氧化损伤.为了研究低剂量镉诱导细胞氧化损伤的作用,通过有葡萄糖和无葡萄糖的酵母培养基,用浓度2 μmol/L和10 μmol/L的CdCl2染毒酿酒酵母10 h后,统计酿酒酵母细胞的存活率,并用HPLC-EC法测定酿酒酵母线粒体DNA中8-OH-dG/105dG比值.结果表明:无葡萄糖条件下,10μmol/L的CdCl2染毒时酿酒酵母对Cd2 的耐受性比有葡萄糖时明显高(P＜0.01),而且线粒体DNA氧化损伤程度也明显低(P＜0 01);但2 μmol/L的CdCl2染毒时,酿酒酵母对Cd2 的耐受性和线粒体DNA氧化损伤程度与有葡萄糖条件下相比差异不显著(P＞0.05).因此,本文认为低浓度Cr主要对酿酒酵母细胞质中蛋白造成氧化损伤,浓度升高时则对线粒体DNA也产生氧化损伤.     

Mitochondrial toxicity and in vitro biological effects of ambient PM2.5 from an urban site in China

Abstract

The roles of PM_2.5-induced mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress on mast cell degranulation were examined in vitro. Mast cells were treated with suspensions of PM_2.5 in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium at concentrations from 25 to 200?mg/L in the absence or presence of 10?mmol/L N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Biological effects and mitochondrial function were assessed by determining cell viability, β-hexosaminidase release, interleukin-4 secretion, reactive oxygen species generation, adenosine triphosphate production, potential alteration of mitochondrial membrane, and activities of mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes I and III. Exposure of mast cells to PM_2.5 induced reduction of adenosine triphosphate production, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, and inhibition of the activity of complex III. Co-treatment of mast cells exposed to PM_2.5 with N-acetyl-L-cysteine attenuated cytotoxicity and the production of reactive oxygen species, and decreased the release of β-hexosaminidase and interleukin-4. Evidently, PM_2.5-induced oxidative stress plays an essential role in mitochondrial toxicity and mast cell activation.     

细胞凋亡的线粒体途径调控

细胞凋亡是近年来研究的一个热点问题，涉及到细胞内许多复杂的生化过程．线粒体是真核生物能量和代谢的中心，也是细胞凋亡信号传导途径中起关键调节作用的细胞器，对细胞凋亡的线粒体途径调控机制进行研究具有重要意义．本文综述了细胞凋亡过程中线粒体途径的信号传导及其调控机制、线粒体对细胞凋亡信号的反应、细胞凋亡过程中线粒体功能丧失几方面的研究进展．图1参43     

DIDP通过线粒体-Caspase途径诱导昆明小鼠肝脏损伤的研究

为探究DIDP（Di-iso-decyl phthalate,邻苯二甲酸二异癸酯）对肝脏的影响及其可能的分子机制,以昆明小鼠为研究对象,选用Res（resveratrol,白藜芦醇）为抗氧化剂,分别设置对照组,0.15、1.5、15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组,Res组,150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP+Res组,灌胃染毒9 d后,对小鼠肝脏切片进行HE染色观察,并检测ROS（reactive oxygen,活性氧）、GSH（glutathione,谷胱甘肽）、MDA（malondialdehyde,丙二醛）、Cyt-C（cytochromec,细胞色素C）、Caspase-3和血清中的ALT（alanine aminotransferase,丙氨酸氨基转移酶）含量.结果表明:与对照组相比,15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组小鼠血清中ALT含量极显著上升（P < 0.01）;HE染色结果显示,15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组小鼠出现肝细胞水肿、肝索紊乱、肝窦以及肝中央静脉扩张等现象;15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组小鼠肝脏ROS含量显著上升（P < 0.05）,GSH含量显著下降（P < 0.05）,150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组小鼠肝脏MDA含量极显著上升（P < 0.01）;1.5、15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组小鼠肝脏中c（Cyt-C）极显著上升（P < 0.01）;15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP组小鼠肝脏中Caspase-3表达量极显著上升（P < 0.01）.DIDP染毒剂量的增加对肝脏的各种损伤程度呈上升趋势,Res可减轻上述DIDP对肝脏造成的各种损伤.研究显示,15、150 mg/（kg·d）DIDP可诱导肝脏组织氧化应激水平上升,进而造成线粒体损伤,导致细胞凋亡,造成肝功能受损,因此,线粒体-Caspase途径可能是DIDP诱导肝脏损伤的潜在机制之一.      

The plausibility of a role for mercury in the etiology of autism: a cellular perspective

Autism is defined by a behavioral set of stereotypic and repetitious behavioral patterns in combination with social and communication deficits. There is emerging evidence supporting the hypothesis that autism may result from a combination of genetic susceptibility and exposure to environmental toxins at critical moments in development. Mercury (Hg) is recognized as a ubiquitous environmental neurotoxin and there is mounting evidence linking it to neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism. Of course, the evidence is not derived from experimental trials with humans but rather from methods focusing on biomarkers of Hg damage, measurements of Hg exposure, epidemiological data, and animal studies. For ethical reasons, controlled Hg exposure in humans will never be conducted. Therefore, to properly evaluate the Hg-autism etiological hypothesis, it is essential to first establish the biological plausibility of the hypothesis. This review examines the plausibility of Hg as the primary etiological agent driving the cellular mechanisms by which Hg-induced neurotoxicity may result in the physiological attributes of autism. Key areas of focus include: (1) route and cellular mechanisms of Hg exposure in autism; (2) current research and examples of possible genetic variables that are linked to both Hg sensitivity and autism; (3) the role Hg may play as an environmental toxin fueling the oxidative stress found in autism; (4) role of mitochondrial dysfunction; and (5) possible role of Hg in abnormal neuroexcitory and excitotoxity that may play a role in the immune dysregulation found in autism. Future research directions that would assist in addressing the gaps in our knowledge are proposed.     

微生物处理技术在有机污染物降解中的应用

微生物处理有机污染物是一种费用低,效果好,无二次污染且操作简单的处理方法。综述了国内外几种微生物处理有机污染物技术的研究进展。     

Transforming ecology and conservation biology through genome editing

As the conservation challenges increase, new approaches are needed to help combat losses in biodiversity and slow or reverse the decline of threatened species. Genome-editing technology is changing the face of modern biology, facilitating applications that were unimaginable only a decade ago. The technology has the potential to make significant contributions to the fields of evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation, yet the fear of unintended consequences from designer ecosystems containing engineered organisms has stifled innovation. To overcome this gap in the understanding of what genome editing is and what its capabilities are, more research is needed to translate genome-editing discoveries into tools for ecological research. Emerging and future genome-editing technologies include new clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) targeted sequencing and nucleic acid detection approaches as well as species genetic barcoding and somatic genome-editing technologies. These genome-editing tools have the potential to transform the environmental sciences by providing new noninvasive methods for monitoring threatened species or for enhancing critical adaptive traits. A pioneering effort by the conservation community is required to apply these technologies to real-world conservation problems.     

一种经济、简单的微生物基因组DNA的提取方法

获得一定浓度和纯度的DNA是进行分子生物学研究的基础。破解细胞壁与细胞膜是获得基因组DNA的前提，而蛋白质和核酸物质的分离是获得高质量DNA产物的关键。目前，主要采用的破壁方法有：冷冻研磨法、溶菌酶法、EDTA测等，这些方法一般采用复杂的裂解液体系，并借助蛋白酶K和RNA酶的帮助来获得高质量的抽提产物。由于细胞裂解体系不仅配制十分麻烦，而日部分药品有毒操作危险性大，此外部分药品及相关酶试剂价格昂贵。本文充分利用DNA在不同温度下自身可变性与复性的特性和在高盐与高温条件下蛋白质能够变性并沉淀。以无菌的SDS（c／c=20％）和NaCl（c/c=8％）的混合液作裂解体系，在沸水浴中破壁膜并使得部分的蛋白质变性和DNA变性并得到初步分离；随后在60℃和72℃水浴中使变性的DNA复性和重新凝聚，同时让RNA、蛋白质和细胞壁碎片等杂质降解或沉淀，从而获得高质量的DNA产物。