Proteomic analysis of Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis (Cyanophyta) in response to a combination of Selenium, Iodine and Zinc treatment

钝顶螺旋藻(Spirulina（Arthrospira）platensis869S)是一种蓝藻，具有多种保健作用，而且是一种运用生物技术富集微量元素的良好材料。本文利用蛋白质组学技术研究了钝顶螺旋藻对培养基中添加复合微量元素（硒Se，碘I和锌Zn）的分子响应机制，文中采用的Se，I和Zn浓度为非致死浓度。结果表明，20mg.L-1Se，900mg.L-1I和10mg.L-1Zn浓度组对藻体生长没有影响，且藻体富集的3种微量元素浓度较高，分别为77.25µg.g-1D.W的硒，18.55µg.g-1D.W的碘和216.6µg.g-1D.W的锌。高浓度复合微量元...Spirulina（Arthrospira） platensis strain 869S, a cyanobacterium, exhibits myriad health benefits and is a suitable matrix for biotechnological incorporation of new food trace element preparations. Proteomic analysis was carried out to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the response of this alga to a mixture of trace elements in the growth medium. In our study, we used the cultu...学位：理学硕士院系专业：生命科学学院生物学系_生物化学与分子生物学学号：2162008115376

In Silico Studies on Structural Function of Melanin Concentrating Hormone Receptor 1 Through Docking Approach, Towards Designing Drug for Treating Obesity

Melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1 is a G-protein coupled protein receptor expressed in the lateral hypothalamus and zona incerta, part of the nervous system that regulates feeding behavior and energy homeostasis. It is involved in the stimulation of appetite, this was seen when synthetic MCHR1 or MCH was administered to mice and it resulted in induced obesity due to the enhanced feeding. Many researchers have successfully find out the functions of several proteins, using computational approach. It is in this context that in this study the structural function of melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1 through docking studies has been done to make sure that those who are working to address the problem of obesity while trying to discover the effective drugs gain much insight about this receptor. The in silico methods have been used to predict the model of melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1. The template used for model prediction was human delta opioid receptor with the accession number 4N6H. The predicted model has been evaluated and found to be of good quality. Docking was done to investigate the interaction between the ligand; a bifunctional peptide ‘1-oleoyl-r-glycerol’ and the predicted model of melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1 which showed that fourteen residues interacted between the predicted model and ligand. Among interacting residues, it was realized that some of them are involved in sugar metabolism. Thus this study suggests a potential candidate for drug design against cancer and diabetes. Keywords: obesity, MCHR-1, docking, structural function, 3D structure, phylogenetic analysis, interacting residue

Phi Class of Glutathione S-transferase Gene Superfamily Widely Exists in Nonplant Taxonomic Groups

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) constitute a superfamily of enzymes involved in detoxification of noxious compounds and protection against oxidative damage. GST class Phi (GSTF), one of the important classes of plant GSTs, has long been considered as plant specific but was recently found in basidiomycete fungi. However, the range of nonplant taxonomic groups containing GSTFs remains unknown. In this study, the distribution and phylogenetic relationships of nonplant GSTFs were investigated. We identified GSTFs in ascomycete fungi, myxobacteria, and protists Naegleria gruberi and Aureococcus anophagefferens. GSTF occurrence in these bacteria and protists correlated with their genome sizes and habitats. While this link was missing across ascomycetes, the distribution and abundance of GSTFs among ascomycete genomes could be associated with their lifestyles to some extent. Sequence comparison, gene structure, and phylogenetic analyses indicated divergence among nonplant GSTFs, suggesting polyphyletic origins during evolution. Furthermore, in silico prediction of functional partners suggested functional diversification among nonplant GSTFs

Prediction and validation of the structural features of Ov58GPCR, an immunogenic determinant of Onchocerca volvulus.

Onchocerciasis is a severely debilitating yet neglected tropical disease (NTD) that creates social stigma, generates and perpetuates poverty, and leads ultimately in some cases to irreversible unilateral or bilateral blindness if untreated. Consequently, the disease is a major impediment to socioeconomic development. Many control programs have been launched for the disease with moderate successes achieved. This mitigated hit is partially due to the lingering need for reliable, non-invasive and easily applicable tools for mapping endemic regions and post-elimination surveillance. In this work, bioinformatics analyses combined with immunological assays were applied in a bid to develop potential tools for diagnosis and assessing the success of drug treatment programs. We report that (i) the O. volvulus antigen, Ov58GPCR is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) conserved in related nematodes, (ii) synthetic peptides predicted to be in the extracellular domain (ECD) of Ov58GPCR are indeed immunogenic epitopes in actively-infected individuals, (iii) synthetic peptide cocktails discriminate between actively-infected individuals, treated individuals and healthy African controls, (iv) polyclonal antibodies against one of the peptides or against the bacterially-expressed ECD reacted specifically with the native antigen of O. volvulus total and surface extracts, (v) Ov58GPCR is transcribed in both larvae and adult parasite stages, (vi) IgG and IgE responses to the recombinant ECD decline with ivermectin treatment. All these findings suggest that the extracellular domain and synthetic peptides of Ov58GPCR, as well as the specific immune response generated could be harnessed in the context of disease diagnosis and surveillance.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Temperature and pH define the realised niche space of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are a globally distributed group of soil organisms that play critical roles in ecosystem function. However, the ecological niches of individual AM fungal taxa are poorly understood. We collected > 300 soil samples from natural ecosystems worldwide and modelled the realised niches of AM fungal virtual taxa (VT; approximately species-level phylogroups). We found that environmental and spatial variables jointly explained VT distribution worldwide, with temperature and pH being the most important abiotic drivers, and spatial effects generally occurring at local to regional scales. While dispersal limitation could explain some variation in VT distribution, VT relative abundance was almost exclusively driven by environmental variables. Several environmental and spatial effects on VT distribution and relative abundance were correlated with phylogeny, indicating that closely related VT exhibit similar niche optima and widths. Major clades within the Glomeraceae exhibited distinct niche optima, Acaulosporaceae generally had niche optima in low pH and low temperature conditions, and Gigasporaceae generally had niche optima in high precipitation conditions. Identification of the realised niche space occupied by individual and phylogenetic groups of soil microbial taxa provides a basis for building detailed hypotheses about how soil communities respond to gradients and manipulation in ecosystems worldwide