Identification of disease resistance to Ustilago coicis in southern Coix germplasm / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identified the resistance of Coix to Ustilago coicis and screen the high disease-resistance Coix germplasm.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Field and laboratory biochemical methods were used for the resistance identification. Ninteen germplasms collected from 7 provinces in southern of China such as Yunnan, Zhejiang, Fujian etc. were inoculated with chlamydospore of U. coicis, respectively. The incidence of a disease in field was investigated and the level of resistance was evaluated. The PAL activity dynamic changes in different level resistant germplasms were further determined.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The result of field test showed 1 germplasm was immune, 1 germplasm was high resistance which incidence rate was under 20%, 6 germplasms were moderate resistance with the average incidence rates ranged within 20% - 40%, 11 of 19 germplasms that average incidence rates above 40% were identified as sensitive resistance. The value of PLA activity peak of resistant germplasm in seedling was significant higher and appeared earlier than that of the sensitive ones after inoculating.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Most collected C. lacryma-jobi germplasms are sensitive to smut in our investigation; the PAL activity may play important role in Coix germplasm for resistance to smut and the biochemical method may be as an aiding method to resistance identification of Coix germplasm.</p>

Antibody Preparation and Expression Analysis of a New Protein Mimecan in Pituitary Tumors / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

Mimecan belongs to a family of leucine-rich proteoglycans that are secreted into the extracellular matrix. In order to investigate the function of mimecan, the coding region of mimecan was amplifed from a human pituitary cDNA by PCR and the recombinant prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-M was constructed. The vactor was transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3)and the GST-M fusion protein of 38 Kd was ecpressed in the bacteria under induction of IPTG. After purification, the fusion protein was infucted into New Zealand rabbits to prepare polyclonal antibody. The antibody was tested by Western blotting for their specificity and sensitivity. Using the antibody it was found the mimecan was expressed highly in certain types of human pituitary tumor tissues. These results make it possible for studying the biological function of mimecan.

Effect of berberine on glucose transport in adipocyte and its mechanism / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To observe the effect of berberine on glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and to investigate its mechanism. Methods The glucose consumption of the cells was determined by the glucose oxidase method. The glucose transportation rate of the cells was assayed by the uptake of 2-deoxy-〔 3H〕-D-glucose. Protein kinase B (Akt) activity was detected by immunoprecipitation and Western blot. The gene expression of c-Cbl-associated protein (CAP) was detected by Northern blot. Results 0.1～200 ?mol/L berberine significantly increased glucose consumption in 3T3-L1 adipocytes with a dose-dependent effect, which was independent of insulin. The glucose transportation was significantly increased in adipocytes incubated with 0.1～10 ?mol/L berberine; the action began at 2 h and reached a peak value at 12 h. The results of immunoprecipitation and Western blot showed that berberine did not enhance Akt activity. The result of Northern blot indicated that berberine significantly decreased CAP mRNA expression. Conclusion Adipocytes are the important target cells of berberine. Berberine significantly increases glucose transportation and consumption in adipocytes, the action appeares to be independent of insulin signal pathway.

Resistin gene overexpression in adipose tissue of SD rats with high-fat diet and its correlation with leptin and insulin / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To observe expression of resistin gene in adipose tissue of SD rats fed with high-fat diet and its correlation to insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus and leptin. Methods Using RT-PCR to mRNA from adipose tissue, the products were obtained, purified, constructed and squenced. Once its squence was verified, semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Northern Blot were employed to study its expressions in adipose tissues of rats with different diets. Oral glucose tolerance test and insulin release test were performed in 2 groups of rats. Results (1) The resistin gene was successfully constructed and sequenced, which was in accordance with the data of genbank. (2) Compared with the control, the expression of resistin in adipose tissue of high-fat diet rats was significantly enhanced, and blood glucose, serum insulin and leptin levels were also elevated in high-fat diet rats (P