PLoS Genetics
·
2024
·Vol. 20
·期 3
·e1011170
·
IF 4
Yonglin Ruan,Xuehui Li,Xinyi Wang,Gang Zhai,Qiyong Lou,Xia Jin,Jiangyan He,Jie Mei,Wuhan Xiao,Jianfang Gui,Zhan Yin
The regulatory mechanism of gonadal sex differentiation, which is complex and regulated by multiple factors, remains poorly understood in teleosts. Recently, we have shown that compromised androgen and estrogen synthesis with increased progestin leads to all-male differentiation with proper testis development and spermatogenesis in cytochrome P450 17a1 ( cyp17a1 )-/- zebrafish. In the present study, the phenotypes of female-biased sex ratio were positively correlated with higher Fanconi anemia complementation group L ( fancl ) expression in the gonads of doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 1 ( dmrt1 )-/- and cyp17a1 -/-; dmrt1 -/- fish. The additional depletion of fancl in cyp17a1 -/-; dmrt1 -/- zebrafish reversed the gonadal sex differentiation from all-ovary to all-testis (in cyp17a1 -/-; dmrt1 -/-; fancl -/- fish). Luciferase assay revealed a synergistic inhibitory effect of Dmrt1 and androgen signaling on fancl transcription. Furthermore, an interaction between Fancl and the apoptotic factor Tumour protein p53 (Tp53) was found in vitro . The interaction between Fancl and Tp53 was observed via the WD repeat domain (WDR) and C-terminal domain (CTD) of Fancl and the DNA binding domain (DBD) of Tp53, leading to the K48-linked polyubiquitination degradation of Tp53 activated by the ubiquitin ligase, Fancl. Our results show that testis fate in cyp17a1 -/- fish is determined by Dmrt1, which is thought to stabilize Tp53 by inhibiting fancl transcription during the critical stage of sexual fate determination in zebrafish.
Gonadal sex differentiation is known as the queen of problems in evolutionary biology, and the mechanisms that determine sexual fate vary widely among teleosts. Traditionally, Dmrt1 and androgen signaling have been essential for testis differentiation, and estrogen signaling has been essential for ovary differentiation. The all-testis phenotype observed in cyp17a1 -/- zebrafish, has led to the conclusion that androgen signaling is dispensable for testis differentiation in zebrafish. By analyzing a series of mutant zebrafish lines, we show here that Dmrt1 sufficiently promotes all-testis differentiation in cyp17a1 -deficient zebrafish albeit the compromised androgen and estrogen synthesis. In addition, we observed that zebrafish Dmrt1 and androgen signaling probably stabilize Tp53 by inhibiting the transcription of a ubiquitin ligase, Fancl. Our current study provides new insights into the interactive signals that regulate sexual fate determination in teleosts.
研究领域:
发育生物学
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分子生物学
·
遗传学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE
·
2023
·
IF 2.2
Wenjiao Liu,Ting Gong,Yongjian Xu
Testosterone is a key crucial hormone synthesized by steroidogenic enzymes that initiate and maintain spermatogenesis and secondary sexual characteristics in adult males. The taste receptor family 1 subunit 3 (T1R3) is reported to be associated with male reproduction. T1R3 can regulate the expressions of steroidogenic enzymes and affect testosterone synthesis . In this study, we addressed the question of whether the expression of steroid synthase was associated with T1R3 and its downstream-tasting molecules during testicular development . The results showed an overall upward trend in testosterone and morphological development in testes from Congjiang Xiang pigs from pre-puberty to sexual maturity. Gene expression levels of testicular steroidogenic acute regulatory protein ( StAR ), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase ( 3β-HSD ), cytochrome P450c17 ( CYP17A1 ) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase ( 17β-HSD ) were increased from pre-puberty to sexual maturity. Protein expression changes of CYP17A1 and 3β-HSD were consistent with mRNA. The relative abundance of tasting molecules ( TAS1R3 , phospholipase Cβ2, PLCβ2 ) was increased from pre-puberty to puberty ( P < 0.05), with no further significant changes in expression from puberty to sexual maturity. Steroidogenic enzymes (3β-HSD and CYP17A1) were strongly detected in Leydig cells from pre-puberty to sexual maturity, while tasting molecules were localized in Leydig cells and spermatogenic cells. Correlation analysis showed that the genes mentioned above (except for PLCβ2 ) were positively correlated with testosterone levels and morphological characteristics of the testes at different developmental stages of Congjiang Xiang pigs. These results suggest that steroidogenic enzymes regulate testosterone synthesis and testicular development, and that taste receptor T1R3, but not PLCβ2, may associate with this process.
研究领域:
生殖生物学
·
内分泌学
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分子生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Frontiers in Oncology
·
2021
·
IF 6.244
Hu Zengchun,Cheng Chuandong,Wang Yue,Chen Tianrui,Tu Junhong,Niu Chaoshi,Xing Rong,Wang Yang,Xu Yinghui
Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial neuroendocrine tumor in childhood. Although many studies have tried to find effective treatments, there are still numerous limitations in current clinical targeted therapy. So, it is important to find new therapeutic targets and strategies from a new perspective. Our previous study reported that the androgen receptor (AR) promotes the growth of neuroblastoma in vitro and in vivo. Based on documentary investigation, we postulated that the AR–SCAP–SREBPs-CYP17/HMGCR axis may regulate cholesterol and androgens synthesis and form a positive enhancement loop promoting NB progression. Clinical samples and Oncomine database analysis proved the activation of AR–SCAP–SREBPs-CYP17/HMGCR axis in neuroblastoma. The combination of inhibitors of HMGCR (statins) and CYP17A1 (abiraterone acetate) showed synergistic effect that significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration with decreased expression of related genes detected in vitro and in vivo suggesting the dual-targeted therapy had the potential to inhibit the progression of neuroblastoma in spite of its MYCN status. This study provides new ideas for clinical treatment of neuroblastoma with efficacy and reduced toxicity.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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药理学
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分子生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
·
2022
·
IF 5.195
Ying-Li Cai,Feng Zhang,Xiu-Xiu Dou,Hua-Wu Zeng,Gao-Song Wu,Yan-Lin Liang,Xi-Ke Xu,Jing Zhao,Ji Ye,Wei-Dong Zhang
Ethnopharmacological relevance Dingkun Pill (DKP), a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, was modified from Bujing decoction and Xusijiangsheng pill by the imperial physician in the Qing dynasty (1700′ s). It was believed to treat various gynecological diseases by nourishing qi and blood. Accumulating evidence indicates that it is effective in treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of action DKP against PCOS need to be further elucidated. Aim of the study To investigate the therapeutic effect and action mechanism of DKP against PCOS using an integrated approach of metabolomics and network pharmacology . Materials and methods The rat model of PCOS was established by dehydroepiandrosterone . An integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology strategy was applied to systemically clarify the mechanism of DKP against PCOS. Theca cells were prepared to evaluate the effect of DKP and its ingredients on testosterone synthesis in vitro. Results The pharmacological experiments demonstrated that DKP could effectively convert the disordered estrous cyclicity, decrease the level of testosterone and the luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone ratio, and inhibit abnormal follicle formation in PCOS rats. By metabolomics analysis, 164 serum endogenous differential metabolites and 172 urine endogenous differential metabolites were tentatively identified. Steroid hormone biosynthesis and ovarian steroidogenesis were the most significantly impacted pathways. Based on network pharmacology and metabolomics studies, the ingredient-target-pathway network of DKP in the treatment of PCOS was constructed. Among the 10 key targets, CYP17A1 , CYP19A1 , STS, AR, ESR1, and MYC were closely involved in ovarian androgen synthesis. In theca cell-based assay of testosterone synthesis, DKP and its two active compounds (ligustilide and picrocrocin) showed inhibitory effects. Conclusion DKP effectively improved symptoms in rats with dehydroepiandrosterone-induced PCOS. The mechanism of DKP in the treatment of PCOS is related to the CYP17A1 enzyme required for androgen synthesis.
研究领域:
药理学
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中医
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妇科
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代谢组学
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网络药理学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Frontiers in Pharmacology
·
2022
·
IF 5.988
Zhang Wensen,Cui Na,Su Fazhi,Wang Yangyang,Yang Bingyou,Sun Yanping,Guan Wei,Kuang Haixue,Wang Qiuhong
Radix Rehmanniae (RR, from Radix Rehmanniae (Gaertn.) DC.) is a natural medicine used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) since ancient times for the treatment of blood disorders. RR is steamed to get Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (RP), which has a tonic effect on blood; the content of 5-hydromethylfurfural (5-HMF) increases more than four times after steaming. Studies have shown that 5-HMF has positive pharmacological effects on cardiovascular and hematological disorders. This study aimed to explore and verify the impact of 5-HMF on rats with chemotherapy-induced blood deficiency syndrome (BDS). Rats were given cyclophosphamide (CP) and acetophenhydrazine (APH) to induce BDS, the coefficients of some organs (liver, spleen, and kidney) were measured, and a routine blood test examined the coefficients of several peripheral blood cells. Metabolomics and network pharmacology were combined to find important biomarkers, targets, and pathways. Western blot was used to detect the expression of CYP17A1 and HSD3B1 proteins in the spleen. All these findings suggested that the 5-HMF significantly increased the number of peripheral blood cells and reversed splenomegaly in rats. In addition, 5-HMF upregulated CYP17A1 and HSD3B1 protein expression in splenic tissues. Also, 5-HMF ameliorated chemotherapy-induced BDS in rats, and its therapeutic mechanism might depend on steroid hormone biosynthesis and other pathways. It acts on blood deficiency via multiple targets and pathways, which is unique to Chinese medicine.
研究领域:
药理学
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中医药
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代谢组学
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网络药理学
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血液学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
·
2024
·
IF 6.2
Ling-Zi Xia,Li-Lan Liu,Jun-Zhe Yue,Zhen-Yu Lu,Jie Zheng,Ming-Zhe Jiang,Min Lin,Jiaming Liu,Hai-Tao Gao
Phthalates (PEs) are widely used plasticizers in polymer products, and humans are increasingly exposed to them. This study was designed to investigate the alleviative effect of phytochemicals quercetin (Que) against male reproductive toxicity caused by the mixture of three commonly used PEs (MPEs), and further to explore the underlying mechanism. Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly and evenly divided into control group, Que group, MPEs group and MPEs+Que group ( n = 12); The oral exposure doses of MPEs and Que were 450 mg/kg/d and 50 mg/kg/d, respectively. After 91 days of continuous intervention, compared with control group, the testes weight, epididymis weight, serum sex hormones, and anogenital distance were significantly decreased in MPEs group ( P < 0.05); Testicular histopathological observation showed that all seminiferous tubules were atrophy, leydig cells were hyperplasia, spermatogenic cells growth were arrested in MPEs group. Ultrastructural observation of testicular germ cells showed that the edges of the nuclear membranes were indistinct, and the mitochondria were severely damaged with the cristae disrupted, decreased or even disappeared in MPEs group. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis showed that testicular CYP11A1, CYP17A1 and 17β-HSD were up-regulated, while StAR, PIWIL1 and PIWIL2 were down-regulated in MPEs group ( P < 0.05); However, the alterations of these parameters were restored in MPEs+Que group. The results indicated MPEs disturbed steroid hormone metabolism, and caused male reproductive injuries; whereas, Que could inhibit MPEs’ male reproductive toxicity, which might relate to the restored regulation of steroid hormone metabolism.
研究领域:
毒理学
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药理学
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生殖生物学
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内分泌学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
TOXICOLOGY
·
2016
·
IF 3.817
Xu Wang,Yijie Bai,Guyue Cheng,Awais Ihsan,Feng Zhu,Yulian Wang,Yanfei Tao,Dongmei Chen,Menghong Dai,Zhengli Liu,Zonghui Yuan
Quinoxaline 1,4-dioxides (QdNOs) are widely used as a kind of antibacterial growth promoter in animal husbandry. The adrenal cortex was found to be one of the main toxic targets of QdNOs, accompanied by a decreased aldosterone level. However, the way in which QdNOs decrease production of the hormone aldosterone is far from clear. To illustrate the mechanism by which QdNOs damage the adrenal cortex and decrease aldosterone hormone levels, the QdNOs were screened to choose the drug with most toxic effects on aldosterone production, and then to reveal the mechanism between the gene and protein profiles in human adrenocortical cells (NCI-H295R cells). The results found that quinocetone (QCT) showed the highest adrenal toxic effect among QdNOs. After exposing H295R cells to 10 and 20 μM QCT for 24 h, compared with blank cells, the gene and protein expression profiles obtained were analyzed by microarray and MALDI TOF/TOF mass spectrometry, respectively. The results of microarray analysis suggested that ABCG1 and SREBF1, which were involved in the cholesterol biosynthetic and metabolic processes, and CYP17A1, NR4A2 and G6PD, which were related to aldosterone biosynthesis, were important molecular targets. It has been speculated that PKC and ERK pathways might be involved in the reduction of aldosterone production caused by QCT, through enhanced mRNA expression of CYP17A1. Additionally, JNK and p38MAPK signal transduction pathways might participate in apoptosis induced by QCT. Twenty-nine and 32 protein spots were successfully identified when cells were treated with 10 and 20 μM QCT, respectively. These identified proteins mainly included material synthesis and energy metabolism-related proteins, transcription/translation processing-related proteins, signal transduction proteins, cytoskeletal proteins, molecular chaperones, proteins related to response to stress, and transport proteins. Further investigations suggested that oxidative stress caused by QCT was exacerbated through disruption of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE anti-oxidative stress pathway. Taken together, the data demonstrated for the first time that the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway plays a crucial role in adrenal toxicity, and that CYP17A1 was the key switch to reduce the aldosterone production induced by QCT. Furthermore, large numbers of genes and proteins and entry points for research in the inhibition of aldosterone synthesis induced by QCT were offered, which will provide new insight into the adrenal toxicity of QdNOs and help to provide a theoretical foundation for the formulation of safety controls for products obtained from animals and to design new QdNOs with less harmful effects.
研究领域:
毒理学
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药理学
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内分泌学
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分子生物学
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细胞生物学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
eLife
·
2022
·
IF 8.713
Gang Zhai,Tingting Shu,Guangqing Yu,Haipei Tang,Chuang Shi,Jingyi Jia,Qiyong Lou,Xiangyan Dai,Xia Jin,Jiangyan He,Wuhan Xiao,Xiaochun Liu,Zhan Yin
Disruption of androgen signaling is known to cause testicular malformation and defective spermatogenesis in zebrafish. However, knockout of cyp17a1, a key enzyme responsible for the androgen synthesis, in ar-/- male zebrafish paradoxically causes testicular hypertrophy and enhanced spermatogenesis. Because Cyp17a1 plays key roles in hydroxylation of pregnenolone and progesterone (P4), and converts 17α-hydroxypregnenolone to dehydroepiandrosterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone to androstenedione, we hypothesize that the unexpected phenotype in cyp17a1-/-;androgen receptor (ar)-/- zebrafish may be mediated through an augmentation of progestin/nuclear progestin receptor (nPgr) signaling. In support of this hypothesis, we show that knockout of cyp17a1 leads to accumulation of 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) and P4. Further, administration of progestin, a synthetic DHP mimetic, is sufficient to rescue testicular development and spermatogenesis in ar-/- zebrafish, whereas knockout of npgr abolishes the rescue effect of cyp17a1-/- in the cyp17a1-/-;ar-/- double mutant. Analyses of the transcriptomes among the mutants with defective testicular organization and spermatogenesis (ar-/-, ar-/-;npgr-/- and cyp17a-/-;ar-/-;npgr-/-), those with normal phenotype (control and cyp17a1-/-), and rescued phenotype (cyp17a1-/-;ar-/-) reveal a common link between a downregulated expression of insl3 and its related downstream genes in cyp17a-/-;ar-/-;npgr-/- zebrafish. Taken together, our data suggest that genetic or pharmacological augmentation of the progestin/nPgr pathway is sufficient to restore testis organization and spermatogenesis in zebrafish with the depletion of androgen signaling.
研究领域:
生物学
·
生殖生物学
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内分泌学
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遗传学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ACS Synthetic Biology
·
2023
·
IF 4.7
Ruosi Zhang,Mingdong Yao,Haidi Ma,Wenhai Xiao,Ying Wang,Yingjin Yuan
Substrate competition within a metabolic network constitutes a common challenge in microbial biosynthesis system engineering, especially if indispensable enzymes can produce multiple intermediates from a single substrate. Androstenedione (4AD) is a central intermediate in the production of a series of steroidal pharmaceuticals; however, its yield via the coexpression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (CYP17A1) in a microbial chassis affords a nonlinear pathway in which these enzymes compete for substrates and produce structurally similar unwanted intermediates, thereby reducing 4AD yields. To avoid substrate competition, we split the competing 3β-HSD and CYP17A1 pathway components into two separate Yarrowia lipolytica strains to linearize the pathway. This spatial segregation increased substrate availability for 3β-HSD in the upstream strain, consequently decreasing the accumulation of the unwanted intermediate 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17OHP5) from 94.8 ± 4.4% in single-chassis monocultures to 24.8 ± 12.6% in cocultures of strains expressing 3β-HSD and CYP17A1 separately. Orthologue screening to increase CYP17A1 catalytic efficiency and the preferential production of desired intermediates increased the biotransformation capacity in the downstream pathway, further decreasing 17OHP5 accumulation to 3.9%. Furthermore, nitrogen limitation induced early 4AD accumulation (final titer, 7.71 mg/L). This study provides a framework for reducing intrapathway competition between essential enzymes during natural product biosynthesis as well as a proof-of-concept platform for linear steroid production.
研究领域:
代谢工程
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生物技术
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药学
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微生物生物技术
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
·
2023
·
IF 4.5
Peipei Pan,Zina Wen,Feifei Ma,Zhen Lei,Chengshuang Pan,Qianjin Fei,Erpo Tian,Yiyan Wang,Qiqi Zhu,Huitao Li,Xiaoheng Li,Ying Zhong,Ren-Shan Ge,Ren-ai Xu
Bisphenol S (BPS) is a novel bisphenol A (BPA) analogue, a ubiquitous environmental pollutant that disrupts male reproductive system. Whether BPS affects Leydig cell maturation in male puberty remains unclear. Male Sprague–Dawley rats (age of 35 days) were daily gavaged to 0, 1, 10, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day from postnatal days 35–56. BPS at 1–10 mg/kg/day and higher doses markedly reduced serum testosterone and progesterone levels but it at 200 mg/kg/day significantly increased estradiol level. BPS at 100 and 200 mg/kg/day significantly elevated serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. BPS at 1–10 mg/kg/day and higher doses significantly reduced inhibin A and inhibin B levels. BPS at 100 and 200 mg/kg/day markedly increased CYP11A1 + Leydig cell number, but did not affect HSD11B1 + (a mature Leydig cell marker) cell number. BPS at 10 mg/kg/day and higher doses significantly downregulated the expression of Cyp11a1 and at 100 and 200 mg/kg/d significantly lowered Cyp17a1 , Hsd11b1 , and Nr5a1 in the testes. BPS at 100 and/or 200 mg/kg/day significantly elevated Lhb in the pituitary. BPS at 100 and 200 mg/kg/day significantly increased the phosphorylation of AKT1, AKT2, and CREB without affecting total AKT1, AKT2, and CREB levels. BPS at 1–100 μM significantly suppressed testosterone production and induced proliferation of primary immature Leydig cells after 24 h of treatment and these actions were reversed by estrogen receptor α antagonist, ICI 182780, and partially reversed by vitamin E. BPS at 0.1–10 μM significantly increased oxidative stress of Leydig cells in vitro. BPS also directly inhibited 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 activity at 10–100 μM. In conclusion, BPS causes hypergonadotropic androgen deficiency in male rats during pubertal exposure via activating ESR1 and inducing ROS in immature Leydig cells and directly inhibiting 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 activity.
研究领域:
生殖生物学
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内分泌学
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毒理学
·
环境健康
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）