Biomedical subjects

Gang Lu

Publications and source records attributed to Gang Lu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Localization to the rhizoid tip implicates a Fucus distichus Rho family GTPase in a conserved cell polarity pathway.

Generation and expression of cell polarity in brown algal zygotes of the Fucales involve regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and localized secretion. We used degenerate PCR to isolate cDNAs that encode two small GTPases, FdRac1 and FdRab8, from zygotes of Fucus distichus (L.) Powell. Sequence analysis placed FdRac1 in the Rho family, which regulates actin, and FdRab8 in the Rab family, which regulates vesicle transport. As expected, bacterially expressed forms of both proteins bound GTP in vitro. When expressed in budding yeast, FdRac1 showed some functional overlap with CDC42, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rho family gene required for yeast cell polarity. Immunolocalization revealed an asymmetric distribution of FdRac1 in polarized zygotes and embryos, with FdRac1 concentrated at or near the growing tip of the algal rhizoid. Our data support the hypothesis that FdRac1 regulates algal cell polarity, possibly via the actin cytoskeleton. Because brown algae belong to the heterokont group, which diverged from other groups early in eukaryotic evolution, we argue that the Rho family function of regulating cell polarity is ancient and may extend throughout the eukaryotes.

Actins↗

PubMed2004

Biogenic capsules made of proteins and lipids.

Multilayer biogenic capsules with a micrometer scale were fabricated by self-assembly of proteins and lipids at the interface of emulsion droplets. The optical microscopy images demonstrate that spherical capsules at a fluid interface have uniform walls and the dried capsules possess a high mechanical strength. The hollow shells obtained provide a novel class of assembly with encapsulating drug molecules based on the layer-by-layer technique.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2004

The complexity of the visual cells and visual pathways of the sturgeon.

The visual cells in the retinae of the sturgeon were studied by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Our investigations revealed the presence of rods, two types of single cones, one type of double cone (two nonidentical cone components adhered together), and one type of twin cone (two identical cone components adhered together). In some of the cones, large glycogen bodies were present in the inner segments and all cones contained oil droplets. Such cone morphology was very similar to that described in the retinae of higher vertebrates, for example the chicken. DiI tracing of retinofugal pathways following uniocular injection demonstrated their bilateral localization and extensive termination in the diencephalon and mesencephalon of both sides. Fibers also crossed over from one side to another through commissures, including the posterior commissure. The complexity of the pathway surpassed that of the teleosts and further indicated the evolutionary importance of this fish.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Proteomic and functional characterization of endogenous adiponectin purified from fetal bovine serum.

Adiponectin is a plasma protein exclusively secreted from fat tissue. Many recent pharmacological studies suggest that recombinant adiponectin has multiple therapeutic potentials for obesity-related metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. However, the physiological relevance of these findings remains to be further established. In the present study, we have purified endogenous adiponectin from fetal bovine serum and characterized its post-translational modifications and physiological functions in animal models. Endogenous bovine serum adiponectin consists predominantly of full-length proteins that form multiple oligomeric complexes, including trimers, hexamers and higher molecular species. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that bovine serum adiponectin exists as multiple post-translationally modified isoforms with distinct molecular weight and isoelectric point. Further analysis using mass spectrometry and Edman degradation sequencing demonstrated that five conserved lysine residues (Lys 28, 60, 63, 72 and 96) within the collagenous domain of bovine adiponectin are hydroxylated and glycosylated by a glucosyl alpha(1-2)galactosyl group. Injection of endogenous bovine adiponectin into C57 mice potently decreased circulating glucose levels and enhanced lipid clearance after a high fat meal. Chronic administration of this protein for a period of two weeks significantly increased insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, and depleted hepatic lipid accumulation in high-fat fed mice. These results provide direct evidence that endogenous bovine adiponectin is a physiological hormone that can regulate lipid and glucose metabolism.

Adiponectin↗

PubMed2004

[Study on biological behavior of osteoblast and vascular endothelial cell culture].

OBJECTIVE: To study the biological behavior of osteoblast and vascular endothelial cell culture. METHODS: The osteoblasts and vascular endothelial cells were obtained from calvarial bone and renal cortex of 2-week rabbits respectively. The experiment were divided into group A (osteoblasts), group B (vascular endothelial cells) and group C (co-cultured osteoblasts and vascular endothelial cells). The cells were identified with cytoimmunochemical staining. The cellular biological behavior and compatibility were observed under inverted phase contrast microscope and with histological staining. The cells viability and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were measured. RESULTS: The cytoimmunochemical staining showed that the cultured cells were osteoblasts and vascular endothelial cells. The cellular compatibility of osteoblasts and vascular endothelial cells was good. The ALP activity was higher in group C than in group A and group B (P<0.01), and it was higher in group A than in group B (P<0.05). In group C, the cell proliferation were increased slowly early, but fast later. CONCLUSION: The cellular compatibility of osteoblasts and vascular endothelial cells were good. The vascular endothelial cells can significantly increased the osteoblast viability and ALP activity, and the combined cultured cells have greater proliferation ability.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMed2004

[Cloning the gene of rat premature nerve growth factor and constructing its eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-NGF].

OBJECTIVE: To clone the entire coding sequence of rat premature nerve growth factor (NGF) beta subunit and construct its eukaryotic expression vector. METHODS: The gene of premature nerve growth factor (NGF) beta subunit was amplified by RT-PCR from SD rat brain. RT-PCR product was ligated into pMD 18-T Vector, the recombinant plasmid was identified by the restriction enzymes, PCR and DNA sequence analysis. Then the gene of premature nerve growth factor (NGF) beta subunit was cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1. The recombinant plasmid pEGFP-NGF was identified by the restriction enzymes analysis. RESULTS: The DNA sequence was identical to the published sequence encoding NGF gene, the restriction enzymes mapping product of the recombinant plasmid pEGFP-NGF was nearly 750 bp which matched the expected size. CONCLUSION: The entire coding sequence of premature nerve growth factor (NGF) beta subunit was successfully cloned and its eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-NGF was constructed, which will provide the basis for studying the gene of NGF.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

[Research on critical aerating flux of internal-loop granular sludge bed nitrifying reactor].

The internal-loop granular sludge bed nitrifying reactor is a new type of aerobic nitrifying equipment and has taken on a good potential for nitrification. The critical aerating flux for liquid loop and critical aerating flux for fluidization of granular sludge are two important parameters for its operation. The relationship between liquid superficial velocity in riser (U1r) and aerating flux(Ugr) was studied, the model parameters were measured by experiment, and the relational expression was established. According to the model, the critical aerating flux for liquid loop and the critical aerating flux for fluidization of granular sludge were calculated as 1.017cm/min and 2.662cm/min, respectively. The experimental data from reactor operation showed that the two calculated critical aerating fluxes near the practical values. So they could be used to direct the design and operating optimization for the internal-loop granular sludge bed nitrifying reactor.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗

PubMed2003

Modulation by alpha-difluoromethyl-ornithine and aminoguanidine of pain threshold, morphine analgesia and tolerance.

The effects of alpha-difluoromethyl-ornithine (DFMO) and aminoguanidine, which might influence the metabolism of endogenous agmatine, on pain threshold, morphine analgesia and tolerance were investigated in mice. In the mouse acetic acid writhing test, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of DFMO or aminoguanidine significantly elevated the pain threshold as indicated by a decrease in the number of writhings. DFMO or aminoguanidine obviously increased the analgesic effect of morphine in the mouse acetic acid writhing test and the mouse heat radiation tail-flick assay. These effects of DFMO and aminoguanidine were antagonized by idazoxan (3 mg/kg, i.p.), which is a selective antagonist of the imidazoline receptor. In the mouse heat radiation tail-flick assay, aminoguanidine significantly prolonged the tail-flick latency of animals, suggesting that the pain threshold was elevated. Furthermore, both DFMO and aminoguanidine enhanced morphine analgesia and inhibited acute morphine tolerance in the mouse heat radiation tail-flick assay. Neither DFMO nor aminoguanidine inhibited the activity of nitric oxide synthase in different brain areas in mice in vivo. These results indicate that the substances involved in the metabolism of endogenous agmatine could modulate the pain threshold, morphine analgesia and tolerance, indicating the possible role of endogenous agmatine in the pharmacological effects of morphine.

Acetic Acid↗

PubMed2003

Probe selection for high-density oligonucleotide arrays.

High-density oligonucleotide microarrays enable simultaneous monitoring of expression levels of tens of thousands of transcripts. For accurate detection and quantitation of transcripts in the presence of cellular mRNA, it is essential to design microarrays whose oligonucleotide probes produce hybridization intensities that accurately reflect the concentration of original mRNA. We present a model-based approach that predicts optimal probes by using sequence and empirical information. We constructed a thermodynamic model for hybridization behavior and determined the influence of empirical factors on the effective fitting parameters. We designed Affymetrix GeneChip probe arrays that contained all 25-mer probes for hundreds of human and yeast transcripts and collected data over a 4,000-fold concentration range. Multiple linear regression models were built to predict hybridization intensities of each probe at given target concentrations, and each intensity profile is summarized by a probe response metric. We selected probe sets to represent each transcript that were optimized with respect to responsiveness, independence (degree to which probe sequences are nonoverlapping), and uniqueness (lack of similarity to sequences in the expressed genomic background). We show that this approach is capable of selecting probes with high sensitivity and specificity for high-density oligonucleotide arrays.

Cell Line↗

PubMed2003

Highly flexible polyelectrolyte nanotubes.

A pressure-filter-template approach was employed to prepare polyelectrolyte nanotubes through layer-by-layer deposition in the alumina template. With the thicker wall, the ordered polymer nanotubes possess a high flexibility. The results demonstrate that the electrostatic interactions of polyelectrolytes play a key role in fabricating water-soluble charged polymer nanotubes. The structure of the polyelectrolyte nanotube was confirmed by SEM, TEM, and UV, respectively.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Unique physiological and pathogenic features of Leptospira interrogans revealed by whole-genome sequencing.

Leptospirosis is a widely spread disease of global concern. Infection causes flu-like episodes with frequent severe renal and hepatic damage, such as haemorrhage and jaundice. In more severe cases, massive pulmonary haemorrhages, including fatal sudden haemoptysis, can occur. Here we report the complete genomic sequence of a representative virulent serovar type strain (Lai) of Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae consisting of a 4.33-megabase large chromosome and a 359-kilobase small chromosome, with a total of 4,768 predicted genes. In terms of the genetic determinants of physiological characteristics, the facultatively parasitic L. interrogans differs extensively from two other strictly parasitic pathogenic spirochaetes, Treponema pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi, although similarities exist in the genes that govern their unique morphological features. A comprehensive analysis of the L. interrogans genes for chemotaxis/motility and lipopolysaccharide synthesis provides a basis for in-depth studies of virulence and pathogenesis. The discovery of a series of genes possibly related to adhesion, invasion and the haematological changes that characterize leptospirosis has provided clues about how an environmental organism might evolve into an important human pathogen.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

PubMed2003

Existence of traveling wave solutions in a diffusive predator-prey model.

We establish the existence of traveling front solutions and small amplitude traveling wave train solutions for a reaction-diffusion system based on a predator-prey model with Holling type-II functional response. The traveling front solutions are equivalent to heteroclinic orbits in R(4) and the small amplitude traveling wave train solutions are equivalent to small amplitude periodic orbits in R(4). The methods used to prove the results are the shooting argument and the Hopf bifurcation theorem.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

A tweezers-like motion of the ATP-binding cassette dimer in an ABC transport cycle.

The ATPase components of ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters power the transporters by binding and hydrolyzing ATP. Major conformational changes of an ATPase are revealed by crystal structures of MalK, the ATPase subunit of the maltose transporter from Escherichia coli, in three different dimeric configurations. While other nucleotide binding domains or subunits display low affinity for each other in the absence of the transmembrane segments, the MalK dimer is stabilized through interactions of the additional C-terminal domains. In the two nucleotide-free structures, the N-terminal nucleotide binding domains are separated to differing degrees, and the dimer is maintained through contacts of the C-terminal regulatory domains. In the ATP-bound form, the nucleotide binding domains make contact and two ATPs lie buried along the dimer interface. The two nucleotide binding domains of the dimer open and close like a pair of tweezers, suggesting a regulatory mechanism for ATPase activity that may be tightly coupled to translocation.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

PubMed2003

Gene structure-based splice variant deconvolution using a microarray platform.

MOTIVATION: Alternative splicing allows a single gene to generate multiple mRNAs, which can be translated into functionally and structurally diverse proteins. One gene can have multiple variants coexisting at different concentrations. Estimating the relative abundance of each variant is important for the study of underlying biological function. Microarrays are standard tools that measure gene expression. But most design and analysis has not accounted for splice variants. Thus splice variant-specific chip designs and analysis algorithms are needed for accurate gene expression profiling. RESULTS: Inspired by Li and Wong (2001), we developed a gene structure-based algorithm to determine the relative abundance of known splice variants. Probe intensities are modeled across multiple experiments using gene structures as constraints. Model parameters are obtained through a maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) process/framework. The algorithm produces the relative concentration of each variant, as well as an affinity term associated with each probe. Validation of the algorithm is performed by a set of controlled spike experiments as well as endogenous tissue samples using a human splice variant array.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2003

[Flow model of internal-loop granular sludge bed nitrifying reactor].

Internal-loop granular sludge bed nitrifying reactor is a new type of aerobic nitrifying equipment and has shown a good potential for nitrification. To study the flow pattern and construct the flow model, the tracer tests were performed using pulse stimulus-response technique. Based on the experimental results, the flow pattern in the settling section and the circulating section of reactor were analyzed by axial dispersion model and tank-in-series model, respectively. The dispersion number D/uL of 0.00148 in the settling section indicates that its flow pattern is similar to plug flow reactor (PFR), and the series number N of 1.021 in the circulating section indicates that its flow pattern is similar to continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR). During steady state, the theoretic hydraulic retention time is 360 min, and the actual hydraulic retention time is 341.2 min. The percentage of dead space in the reactor is 5.22%, thereinto the dead space caused by biomass (db ) is 0.75 % and the hydraulic dead space (dh) is 4.47%, which shows that the structural performance of the reactor is excellent. Based on the experiments and analysis, a model of CSTR and PFR in series was constructed. The actual hydraulic retention time distribution of the reactor is in good agreement with the model predictions. Since the relative error between them is 8.56%, the model is accurate to describe the flow pattern. The results have laid a foundation for the kinetic model of the reactor and will be helpful for its design and operation.

Bioreactors↗

PubMed2002

Can vacancies lubricate dislocation motion in aluminum?

The interaction of vacancy with dislocations in Al is studied using the semidiscrete variational Peierls-Nabarro model with ab initio determined gamma surface. For the first time, we confirm theoretically the so-called vacancy lubrication effect on dislocation motion in Al, a discovery that can settle a long-standing controversy in dislocation theory for fcc metals. We provide insights into the lubrication effect by exploring the connection between dislocation mobility and its core width. We predict an increased dislocation splitting in the presence of vacancy. We find that on average there is a weak repulsion between vacancies and dislocations which is independent of dislocation character.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Genomic and physiological analysis of oxygen sensitivity and hypoxia tolerance in PC12 cells.

The mechanisms by which cells adapt and respond to changes in oxygen tension remain largely unknown. Our laboratory has used the PC12 cell line to study both biophysical and molecular responses to hypoxia. This chapter summarizes our findings. We found that membrane depolarization that occurred when PC12 cells were exposed to reduced O(2) was mediated by a specific potassium channel, the Kv1.2 channel. The membrane depolarization leads to increased Ca(2+) conductance through a voltage-sensitive channel, which in turn mediates the release of the neurotransmitters dopamine, adenosine, glutamate, and GABA. In addition, increased intracellular Ca(2+) and other signaling systems regulate hypoxia-induced gene expression, which contributes to the adaptive response to reduced O(2+). We identified several critical signaling pathways that regulate a complex gene expression profile in PC12 cells during hypoxia. These include the cAMP-protein kinase A, Ca(2+)-calmodulin, p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK; p38 kinase), and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKT as regulators of gene expression. Several of these pathways regulate hypoxia-specific transcription factors that are members of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) family. Recently, we have successfully used subtractive cDNA libraries and microarray analysis to identify the genomic profile that mediates the cellular response to hypoxia.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

[The influence of over-expansion on the blood supply of an axial-pattern flap].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of over-expansion on the viability and vascularity of an axial-pattern flap. METHODS: Tissue expanders were implanted subcutaneously on the buttock of the mini-pig. After over expansion, an axial-pattern over-expanded skin flap was elevated in the pig of the experimental group. The differences in flap survival, LDF, MDA content and fluorescein stain were observed between the control and the experimental groups. The vascular architecture changes were also recorded using histological and clearing specimen examination. RESULTS: The microcirculation in the distal segment of the axial flap was significantly weakened after over-expansion. There were injury manifestation, change in vessel distribution and reduction of vascular territory in the axial over-expanded flap. CONCLUSIONS: Over-expansion could cause chronic injuries to the axial vessel network and damage the blood supply of the axial-pattern flap.

Animals↗