Mechanism of the subcellular localization of the actin binding protein adducin
Adducin蛋白在細胞骨架的調節上扮演著重要的角色。然而,近來有許多研究指出,骨架蛋白也會出現在細胞核並參與轉錄調控,因此本研究的目的即在探討adducin蛋白是否會進入細胞核中,並參與轉錄調控或具有其他功能。在本研究中,我們將綠色螢光蛋白(GFP)標示的adducin質體DNA,利用轉染技術送入老鼠纖維母細胞株NIH3T3中表現。NIH3T3細胞原本並無adducin蛋白的表現,在共軛焦顯微鏡下觀察,野生型的GFP-adducin蛋白會表現於細胞核與細胞質中。由於adducin蛋白尾端序列攜有可能往核內運輸的訊號,於是將位在此一訊號中的離胺酸718及離胺酸719進行突變,結果發現此一突變株只能在細胞質中表現。此外,蛋白磷酸脢C(protein kinase C)已知能磷酸化adducin蛋白在絲胺酸716及絲胺酸726的位置,於是假設其磷酸化是否與其在細胞內的分布有關。將adducin的絲胺酸726置換成丙胺酸,並不影響其在細胞內的分布。然而將絲胺酸716置換成丙胺酸後,則完全只在細胞核中表現。由於adducin可分布於細胞核,因此我們懷疑adducin蛋白可能與細胞分裂有關,於是本研究利用流式細胞儀分析adducin轉染後NIH3T3細胞的細胞週期。流式細胞儀的分析結果顯示,攜有GFP-adducin或其突變株的細胞與未經轉染的NIH3T3細胞的細胞週期並沒有顯著差異。其次,為了避免因轉染的效率不高而造成統計上的誤差,我們利用顯微鏡追蹤技術觀察攜有GFP-adducin的細胞株,結果顯示攜有adducin突變株的NIH3T3細胞株仍能正常分裂。再者,因為adducin能與細胞骨架中的肌動蛋白結合,所以adducin不同的分布位置可能影響細胞附著與細胞展延的效率。細胞展延試驗的結果顯示,adducin及其突變株對細胞附著與細胞展延的效率並無明顯的影響。本研究的結果證明,adducin的確帶有往核內運輸的訊號,其在細胞質中的分布可能也同時受到絲胺酸716磷酸化的影響。然而adducin的功用似乎與纖維母細胞的分裂與展延無明顯的關聯性。Adducin, an actin binding protein, is known to play an important role in the regulation of the membrane cortical cytoskeleton. More and more evidence indicates that proteins involved in the cytoskeletal regulation could also reside in the nucleus and participate in gene regulation. Thus, the goal of this study is to examine whether adducin is expressed in the nucleus and involved in certain nuclear events. In this study, adducin and its various mutants were fused with green fluorescent protein (GFP) and transfected into mouse NIH3T3 fibroblasts which do not have endogenous adducin for monitoring their subcellular distribution under a laser scanning confocal microscope. The wild-type GFP-adducin was found to be present both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm. The COOH-tail of adducin contains a motif analogous to the nuclear localization signal (NLS). Mutation of two lysine residues (lysine 718 and lysine 719) located within this motif abolished the nuclear localization of adducin. Moreover, adducin is known to be phosphorylated by protein kinase C at serine 716 and 726. Substitution of adducin serine 726 with alanine had no effect on its subcellular localization. In contrast, substitution of adducin serine 716 with alanine led to only nuclear expression. Nuclear localization of adducin renders it possible that adducin may be involved in the regulation of cell division cycle. For cell cycle analysis, flow cytometry was applied. The results of flow cytometry indicated that expression of adducin and its mutants in NIH3T3 fibroblasts did not affect their cell cycle progression. To further examine the effect of adducin on cell division, NIH3T3 cells transiently transfected by adducin were monitored by time lapse video microscopy. The video clearly showed that the cells with GFP-adducin underwent cell division to generate two daughter cells. Since adducin is well known to bind to actin and thereby regulate microfilaments, we wondered that expression of adducin in NIH3T3 cells might affect their adhesion and spreading onto extracellular matrix proteins. The results of cell spreading assays showed that adducin appeared not to affect cell spreading. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the subcellular distribution of adducin is likely regulated by two signals, one is the nuclear localization signal and the other is the phosphorylation status of the serine 716. However, enforced expression of exogenous adducin in fibroblasts such as NIH3T3 cells does not alter their cell cycle or cell spreading on fibronectin.
丹尼爾寶寶的酗酒日記--酒精對斑馬魚胚胎頭骨與腦下垂體基因的影響
長期以來,臨床研究發現酒精會影響人類胚胎的正常發育,但是其分子機 制尚不清楚。在本研究中利用RNA 定位雜交的方式觀察酒精對於胚胎發育過程 中shh、sox9a、sox9b、col2a1、hand2 的影響,發現這些基因的表現均會受到酒 精的抑制。這項結果顯示在胚胎發育過程中,酒精透過對上述基因的影響,造成 神經脊細胞減少,細胞遷移異常,以及干擾軟骨細胞分化的現象,進而造成頭骨 發育的嚴重缺陷。此外,實驗中亦發現生長激素在腦下垂體的表現亦受到酒精抑 制。這項研究的結果成功地從基因的層次深入了解胎兒酒精中毒症候群造成頭骨 畸形及生長遲緩的病理機制。 It was known that prenatal alcohol exposure may cause serious birth defects and developmental disabilities. The molecular mechanism of this fetal alcohol syndrome still remains unclear. As revealed by whole mount RNA in situ hybridization, it was shown that expression of a number of craniofacial cartilage-related genes, including shh, sox9a, sox9b, col2a1 and hand2, were all inhibited in zebrafish embryo by alcohol exposure. It suggests that alcohol exposure may result in reducing neural crest cell production, interfering neural crest migration, preventing chondrogenesis and eventually cause craniofacial defects. In addition, the transcriptional profile of pituitary hormones were investigated by RNA in situ hybridization. It appears that only growth hormone, but not prolactin and thyroid stimulating hormone, was inhibited by alcohol exposure. The reduction of growth hormone transcription was also confirmed by real time PCR. It also appears that the expression of upstream transcription factor pit1 and downstream target gene igf1 remains unchanged. It suggests that the reduction of gh transcription is mediated by a PIT1-independent pathway. The transcriptional profile of alcohol-exposed embryo was investigated by gene microarray analysis. It appears that the expression profiles of a number of development, cellular signaling, cell growth and apoptosis related genes have be affected by 1.5% alcohol treatment. It was noted that a number of retinal-specific genes were all repressed significantly. It consists with histochemical observation that alcohol exposure results in loss lamination and disturbed differentiation. This study help us understanding the molecular mechanism of fetal alcohol syndrome.
心手相連的正方形
正方形兩條對角線的交點(即中心點)距四頂點等長,也與四邊等距。如果將正方形的頂點比擬成它的「手」,兩對角線的交點當成它的「心」,則兩個正方形頂點間、中心點間、或頂點與中心點間的線段相連(或重合),就如同「手」或「心」彼此相連。本文即探索當多個正方形間「心手相連」時,衍生圖形間的面積關係。而四個正方形中某幾個頂點相接(邊未重疊),恰圍出兩個三角形的圖形則是本內容討論圖形的主體架構,我們以此架構向外作出「層出不窮」的正方形,再配合中心點連接成四邊形,將推導出這些四邊形與基準正方形(Reference Square)間的面積關係。In a square, the lengths from the intersection point (center point) of two diagonal lines to the four apexes are the same, and so are they from that point to the four sides. If the apexes are “hands” and the intersection point of two diagonal lines is the “heart” of a square, the connection or overlap of two squares’ apexes and apexes, center point and center point, or apexes and center points is just like the connection of hands with hearts. In this article, hence, we are to explore the relation in area of derivative graphs formed by several squares connected “heart in hand.” When some apexes of four squares are overlain without sides overlapped, two triangles are created. And that’s the theme we are going to discuss. Furthermore, we extend the operation to infinitely overlain squares and frame out quadrangles referring to the center points of some squares. Then, the relation in areas of these overlapped squares and the Reference Square would be deduced.
無紫外光下的抑菌-可見光奈米光觸媒研發
In this experiment, we hope to produce appropriate-sized nano particles of by using the chitin. By mixing the particles with the metal of Ti, Fe and Zn of proper proportions and therefore narrow their band gaps. Thus, the Bacteriostasis of LightPhotocatalysts could appear under the environment where the energy is lower than ultraviolet ray. We use de-acetylated chitin in three ways -- chelating agent, surfactant and protecter. Then we put a thin layer of the mixture of chitin and metal nano particles on a piece of glass, and afterwards, sintering the mixture on the glass. Next, we scan the surface of the glass with AFM(Atomic Force Microscopy) to measure its particle size. The result we got showed that the surface-roughness of the Ti-Fe nano particles was 30.642nm, the best solution of all the samples. Yet, in this experiment, Fe was not suitable. Therefore we should choose the sample of Ti-Zn mixture, which is slightly smaller in roughness. According to the result we got from the experiment, we found that, under the yellow light, the survivable strain-number ratio of the sintered Ti-Fe-Zn mixture on the glass and empty glass was 0.09±0.06. This was much better than the survivable strain-number ratio of 0.17±0.06, the result we got out from the glass of pure Ti and empty glass. From the measurement, we found that the proportion of mixture could lower the excitation energy Ti needs. Through this experiment, we hope to create a layer of film containing nano particles, and by applying it to daily-use products, we could prevent harmful bacteria. 本實驗的目的,就是希望可以利用幾丁質製作出適當粒徑大小的金屬奈米顆粒,混合適當比例的鈦、鐵、鋅金屬,使其能隙變窄,讓我們能在低於紫外光能量的光譜下,產生奈米光觸媒的抑菌效果。筆者在實驗中利用去乙醯化之幾丁質在本實驗中扮演三種角色:螯合劑、介面活性劑及保護劑,以將幾丁質與金屬奈米顆粒均勻塗抹於玻璃上,並以燒結玻璃的方式進行實驗。並且利用AFM掃描玻璃表面,確認其表面尺度,驗證的結果Ti-Fe混合比例的奈米顆粒之表面粗糙度為30.642nm,為最佳狀態,但在本實驗中Fe並不適用,故應以粗糙度僅次於Ti-Fe的Ti-Zn混合比例為主。根據實驗的結果,在綠光下,混合比例的Ti-Fe-Zn玻璃與空白玻璃的菌落數比,菌落存活率為0.09±0.06,相較於純Ti的0.17±0.06來的低,代表混合比例可降低Ti所需之激發能量。經過此實驗未來筆者希望可以以幾丁質製作出一層含奈米顆粒的薄膜,應用到各種生活用品防止細菌的危害。