骨髓间充质干细胞移植对木瓜蛋白酶和钴60照射所致肺气肿大鼠肺泡壁细胞凋亡的影响

目的：观察大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞（MSCs）移植对木瓜蛋白酶和钴60照射所致的肺气肿大鼠肺泡壁细胞的凋亡以及Bcl-2、Bax蛋白表达的影响,初步探讨骨髓MSCs移植改善木瓜蛋白酶和钴60照射所致肺气肿的机制。方法：雌性Lewis大鼠随机分为正常对照组、肺气肿组和肺气肿＋MSCs移植组。观察移植28 d后肺组织形态学变化;采用DNA缺口末端标记法（TUNEL）检测肺泡壁细胞的凋亡;免疫组化法检测Bcl-2蛋白、Bax蛋白在肺泡壁细胞中的表达。结果：肺气肿组、肺气肿＋MSCs移植组均出现肺气肿改变,但肺气肿＋MSCs移植组较轻 肺气肿＋MSCs移植组肺组织平均内衬间隔、平均肺泡面积明显低于肺气肿组（P〈0.01）,而肺泡细胞数明显高于肺气肿组（P〈0.01） TUNEL结果显示肺泡壁细胞凋亡指数在肺气肿组、肺气肿＋MSCs移植组大鼠明显高于正常对照组,肺气肿＋MSCs移植组肺泡壁细胞凋亡指数明显低于肺气肿组（P〈0.01） 免疫组化结果显示肺气肿＋MSCs移植组Bcl-2染色阳性细胞百分比高于肺气肿组（P〈0.01）,肺气肿＋MSCs移植组Bax染色阳性细胞百分比明显低于肺气肿组（P〈0.01）,肺气肿＋MSCs移植组Bcl-2/Bax比值高于肺气肿组。结论：骨髓MSCs移植之所以改善木瓜蛋白酶和钴60照射所致肺气肿,可能与骨髓MSCs移植抑制肺气肿大鼠肺泡壁细胞的凋亡,以及上调肺组织Bcl-2蛋白的表达和下调Bax蛋白的表达有关。     

小花棘豆中毒对家兔生精细胞p53、Bcl-2和Bax表达的影响

探讨小花棘豆中毒对家兔睾丸生精细胞p53、Bcl-2和Bax基因的影响。将24只公兔随机分为对照组和试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组,试验组饲粮分别按照Ⅰ组15%、Ⅱ组30%、Ⅲ组45%的比例添加小花棘豆,对照组仅饲喂苜蓿干草,试验期70 d。分别于攻毒后第14天、第35天、第70天每次每组随机采集2只家兔的睾丸,通过Real-time q PCR检测生精细胞p53、Bcl-2和Bax m RNA的表达,免疫组化和Western Blot检测生精细胞p53、Bcl-2和Bax蛋白的表达。结果显示,试验Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组家兔睾丸生精细胞p53、Bcl-2和Bax m RNA的表达均与对照差异极显著(p0.01),试验Ⅰ组家兔睾丸生精细胞p53、Bcl-2和Bax m RNA的表达均与对照差异显著(p0.05);试验组家兔生精细胞中Bcl-2蛋白表达均明显低于对照,p53和Bax蛋白表达均明显高于对照,其差异性随中毒时间的延长而变化。结果表明小花棘豆中毒可导致家兔睾丸组织生精细胞凋亡相关基因p53、Bcl-2和Bax表达异常,且与小花棘豆中毒呈现一定的时间-剂量效应。     

损毁或高频刺激丘脑底核对黑质神经元的保护作用

目的：探讨损毁或高频刺激丘脑底核（STN）对帕金森病（PD）大鼠黑质致密部神经元的保护作用及其可能的发生机制。方法：应用每羟基多巴胺（6-OHDA）制备偏侧PD大鼠模型,于丘脑底核（STN）区分别植入刺激电极给以高频电刺激,或注入鹅膏蕈氨酸（IA）进行损毁后,观察PD大鼠行为改变;运用尼氏（Nissl）染色、DNA原位末端标记技术（TUNEL）、免疫组化方法检测并分析黑质致密部（SNc）神经元存活及凋亡发生情况。结果：刺激组黑质致密部凋亡神经元的阳性率显著低于模型组与损毁组（P〈0．05）。与正常大鼠相比,刺激组Bel-2染色呈强阳性,Bel-2／Bax比值较高,模型组、损毁组SNc区的Bcl-2表达有所下调,Bax表达增加,Bcl-2／Bax比值降低（P〈0．05）,虽然损毁组SNc的凋亡阳性神经元少于模型组（P〈0．05）,但二者的Bel-2、Bax的表达及Bel-2／Bax比值无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。结论：损毁或高频刺激SIN对PD大鼠黑质SNc神经元存在保护作用,高频刺激的长期保护作用更为明显。     

促红细胞生成素通过JNK通路对再灌注损伤肺细胞凋亡的影响

目的：探讨促红细胞生成素（EPO）后处理是否通过抑制C-Jun氨基末端激酶（JNK）活化来减轻再灌注损伤肺细胞的凋亡。方法：雄性SD大鼠40只,随机分成5组（n=8）：对照组（C组）、肺缺血/再灌注组（I/R组）、促红细胞生成素干预组（EPO组）、促红细胞生成素+溶剂对照组（P组）、促红细胞生成素+SP600125组（SP组）。各组分别于再灌注2 h留取左肺组织,电镜检测超微结构损伤;免疫组化法测定Bax、Bcl-2蛋白的表达。结果：与C组相比,I/R组肺组织超微结构损伤明显,Bcl-2蛋白表达、Bcl-2/Bax比值明显降低,Bax蛋白表达明显升高（P<0.01）;EPO组、P组、SP组与I/R组相比,组织损伤有所减轻,Bcl-2蛋白表达、Bcl-2/Bax比值明显升高,Bax蛋白表达明显降低（P<0.01）;SP组与EPO组相比,组织损伤明显减轻,Bcl-2蛋白表达、Bcl-2/Bax比值明显升高,Bax蛋白表达明显降低（P<0.01）。结论：I/R通过激活JNK导致大鼠肺泡结构严重破坏,肺内细胞大量凋亡;EPO可通过抑制JNK的激活而减轻I/R损伤。     

镉对小鼠精子和生精细胞超微结构及生精细胞bcl-2、bax基因表达的影响

研究镉暴露对小鼠附睾精子和睾丸生精细胞超微结构的变化以及镉对生精细胞凋亡相关基因bcl-2、bax表达水平的影响。采用24只雄性ICR小鼠随机分为4组,每组6只,分别以0.183、0.915、1.83mg/kg氯化镉腹腔注射,每天1次,连续5次,设阴性对照生理盐水组。于第6天透射电镜观察附睾精子超微结构、睾丸生精细胞核和线粒体超微结构的变化,免疫组化方法检测生精细胞Bcl-2、Bax表达水平。透射电镜观察显示,0.183mg/kg组精子超微结构无显著性变化,0.915mg/kg组精子头部两侧膜与头部胞质间隙轻微扩大,线粒体嵴间腔扩大且轻度空泡化,但与对照组相比无统计学意义(P>0.05)。1.83mg/kg组头部两侧膜与胞质间隙扩大,与对照组相比有显著性差异(P<0.05),尾部线粒体嵴间腔扩大且轻度空泡化,与对照组相比有显著性差异(P<0.05)。3种剂量处理组睾丸生精细胞核超微结构异常发生率显著高于对照组(P<0.05),且随着处理浓度的升高异常发生率升高;1.83mg/kg组线粒体肿胀空泡化发生率显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。3种剂量实验组生精细胞Bcl-2表达水平(吸光度)显著低于对照组(P<0.01),0.915mg/kg组Bax表达水平显著高于对照组和0.183、1.83mg/kg组(P<0.01)。3种剂量实验组Bcl-2/Bax吸光度比值显著低于对照组(P<0.01);0.915mg/kg组Bcl-2/Bax比值显著低于1.83mg/kg组(P<0.01)。上述结果提示:高浓度镉诱导附睾精子超微结构改变,高中低浓度镉致睾丸生精细胞超微结构的改变,生精细胞超微结构发生凋亡现象。镉对Bcl-2、Bax表达水平的改变可能是生精细胞凋亡的分子机制之一。     

双酚A对中国林蛙生精细胞凋亡和Bax、Bcl-2表达的影响

为探讨双酚A(BPA)对两栖动物生精细胞凋亡及相关蛋白Bax和Bcl-2表达的影响.将雄性中国林蛙(Rana chensinensis)分别暴露于10-7、10-6、10-5 mol/L BPA水体中持续3 d、5 d、7 d,取其精巢组织.用原位末端转移酶法(TUNEL)和甲基绿-派诺宁法(Methyl Green-Pyronine)检测生精细胞凋亡,用免疫组织化学方法检测生精细胞的Bax和Bcl-2表达.结果显示,各BPA处理组中国林蛙生精细胞凋亡指数(Apoptotic index,AI)均显著高于对照组,10-6 mol/L与10-7 mol/L BPA处理组生精细胞的AI差异不显著,10-5 mol/L BPA处理组生精细胞的AI与前两组相比显著增高;在同一BPA浓度处理组,生精细胞AI随处理时间的延长而增高.与对照组相比,各BPA处理组Bax表达上调,Bcl-2表达下调,差异均显著;生精细胞AI与Bax/Bcl-2表达呈正相关.这些结果提示,BPA可导致中国林蛙的生精细胞凋亡,而生精细胞凋亡的发生与Bax/Bcl-2表达比值的变化密切相关.     

维生素E对老年大鼠卵巢颗粒细胞保护作用机制的探讨

目的：通过观察维生素E（VE）对老年雌性大鼠卵巢凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2、Bax的影响及对其抗氧化能力的影响,探讨VE延缓卵巢衰老的作用和机制。方法：采用自然衰老雌性大鼠,给予不同剂量外源性VE,用免疫组化方法观察卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡调控蛋白Bcl-2、Bax的表达,用Western Blot法检测卵巢Bcl-2、Bax蛋白含量,用生化法测定血清总超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活力和丙二醛（MDA）含量。结果：与成年对照组相比,老年对照组Bcl-2表达明显降低、Bax表达明显升高（P〈0．01）,血清中SOD活力下降、MDA含量显著升高（P〈0．01）。与老年对照组相比,VE纽Bcl-2表达升高,Bax表达降低（P〈0．05）,MDA含量显著减少（P〈0．01）。结论：VE可调控凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2、Bax的表达和对抗自由基对颗粒细胞的损伤,对卵巢颗粒细胞具有一定的保护作用。     

L-硝基精氨酸对大鼠急性脑缺血损伤后炎症因子及细胞凋亡的影响

目的：观察L-硝基精氨酸（L—NA）对局灶性脑缺血损伤后炎症因子和神经细胞凋亡的影响。探讨L—NA保护脑缺血损伤组织的作用机制。方法：健康雄性SD大鼠,体重250—280g,随机分为3组（n=10）：假手术组（SH组）、缺血组（IS组）、L—NA治疗组（L—NA组）。IS、L—NA组采用线栓法制备大鼠局灶性脑缺血损伤模型。L-NA组每次腹腔注射L—NA20mg／kg,每日2次,连续3d。IS组给予等量的生理盐水。将大鼠断头取脑,采用免疫组化法检测脑组织中TNF—α表达变化,放免法检测IL-1β水平变化,流式细胞仪测定脑组织神经元凋亡率、Bcl-2蛋白、Bax蛋白表达及Bcl-2蛋白与Bax蛋白比值（Bcl-2／BaX）。结果：与SH组比较,IS组脑缺血灶范围内TNF-α表达明显增强,IL-1β水平显著升高,神经凋亡率及Bax蛋白表达升高,Bcl-2／BaX降低;与IS组比较,L—NA组脑缺血灶范围内TNF-α表达及IL-1β水平显著降低,神经凋亡率降低,Bcl-2蛋白表达及Bcl-2／BaX升高,Bax蛋白表达降低结论：L—NA通过抑制TNF-α和IL-1β的升高,增加Bcl-2蛋白表达,降低Bax蛋白表达,调节Bcl-2／Bax平衡,对脑缺血大鼠脑神经元产生一定程度的保护作用。     

缺血后处理对肺缺血／再灌注损伤的保护作用及其机制

目的：探讨缺血后处理（聃）是否通过抑制P38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（P38MAPK）活化来减轻再灌注损伤肺细胞的凋亡。方法：雄性SD大鼠40只,随机分成5组（n=8）,即对照组（C组）、肺缺血／再灌注组（I／R组）、肺缺血／再灌注＋缺血后处理组（IPO组）、缺血后处理＋溶剂对照组（D组）、缺血后处理＋SB203580组（SB组）。各组分别于再灌注2h留取左肺组织,检测肺组织湿／干重比（W／D）和总肺含水量（TLW）;光镜观察肺组织形态学结构改变并进行肺组织损伤定量评估（IQA）;原住末端标记法（TUNEL）检测肺细胞凋亡情况并计算凋亡指数（AI）;RT-PCR和免疫组化法测定Bax、Bcl-2基因和蛋白的表达。结果：与C组相比,I／R组W／D、TLW、IQA和AI均显著升高（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）,肺组织结构发生明显损伤;Bcl-2、Bcl-2／Bax基因及蛋白表达明显降低,Bax基因及蛋白表达明显升高（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）;IPO组、D组、SB组与I／R组相比,w／D、TLW、IQA和AI均显著降低（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）,肺组织结构损伤情况有所改善;Bcl-2、Bcl-2／Bax基因及蛋白表达明显升高,Bax基因及蛋白表达明显降低（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）;D组与IPO组比较各项指标均无明显差异（均P〉0．05）;SB组与IPO组相比,肺组织W／D、TLW、IQA和AI均显著降低（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）,肺组织结构未见明显损伤;Bcl-2、Bcl-2／Bax基因及蛋白表达明显升高,Bax基因及蛋白表达明显降低（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）。结论：I／R通过激活P38MAPK导致大鼠肺泡结构严重破坏,肺内细胞大量凋亡;IPO可能是通过抑制P38MAPK通路的激活而减轻L／R损伤。     

PTSD与杏仁核神经元细胞凋亡的关系

目的观察创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）大鼠杏仁核神经元细胞凋亡相关基因的表达与细胞凋亡的发生,从杏仁核神经元细胞凋亡揭示PTSD的部分发病机制。方法成年健康雄性Wister大鼠50只,随机分为连续单一刺激（single prolonged stress,SPS）模型的1d、4d、7d、14d组及正常对照组。应用免疫组化和Western Blotting技术检测凋亡相关基因Bax、Bcl-2在PTSD杏仁核神经元的表达;采用TUNEL法检测PTSD大鼠杏仁核神经元细胞凋亡。结果PTSD大鼠杏仁核神经元凋亡相关基因Bax于4d达高峰,Bcl-2于1d表达最高,Bax／Bcl-2比值逐渐升高,于4d达到峰值,之后渐趋下降。TUNEL阳性细胞在SPS各组模型均出现,4d达最高峰。结论PTSD大鼠杏仁核神经元细胞凋亡中,凋亡相关基因Bax、Bcl-2各自发挥促进凋亡和抑制凋亡的作用,Bax／Bcl-2比值升高促进细胞发生凋亡,可能与杏仁核调节的PTSD恐惧异常的发病机制相关。     

Strigolactone-Regulated Hypocotyl Elongation Is Dependent on Cryptochrome and Phytochrome Signaling Pathways in Arabidopsis

Seedling development including hypocotyl elongation is a critical phase in the plant life cycle. Light regula- tion of hypocotyl elongation is primarily mediated through the blue light photoreceptor cryptochrome and red/far-red light photoreceptor phytochrome signaling pathways, comprising regulators including COP1, HY5, and phytochrome- interacting factors （PIFs）. The novel phytohormones, strigolactones, also participate in regulating hypocotyl growth. However, how strigolactone coordinates with light and photoreceptors in the regulation of hypocotyl elongation is largely unclear. Here, we demonstrate that strigolactone inhibition of hypocotyl elongation is dependent on cryp- tochrome and phytochrome signaling pathways. The photoreceptor mutants cry1 cry2, phyA, and phyB are hyposensi- tive to strigolactone analog GR24 under the respective monochromatic light conditions, while cop1 and pifl pif3 pif4 pif5 （pifq） quadruple mutants are hypersensitive to GR24 in darkness. Genetic studies indicate that the enhanced respon- siveness of cop1 to GR24 is dependent on HY5 and MAX2, while that of pifq is independent of HY5. Further studies demonstrate that GR24 constitutively up-regulates HY5 expression in the dark and light, whereas GR24-promoted HY5 protein accumulation is light- and cryptochrome and phytochrome photoreceptor-dependent. These results suggest that the light dependency of strigolactone regulation of hypocotyl elongation is likely mediated through MAX2-dependent promotion of HY5 expression, light-dependent accumulation of HY5, and PIF-regulated components.     

Cell Wall,Cytoskeleton, and Cell Expansion in Higher Plants

To accommodate two seemingly contradictory biological roles in plant physiology, providing both the rigid structural support of plant cells and the adjustable elasticity needed for cell expansion, the composition of the plant cell wall has evolved to become an intricate network of cellulosic, hemicellulosic, and pectic polysaccharides and protein. Due to its complexity, many aspects of the cell wall influence plant cell expansion, and many new and insightful observations and technologies are forthcoming. The biosynthesis of cell wall polymers and the roles of the variety of proteins involved in polysaccharide synthesis continue to be characterized. The interactions within the cell wall polymer network and the modification of these interactions provide insight into how the plant cell wall provides its dual function. The complex cell wall architecture is controlled and organized in part by the dynamic intracellular cytoskeleton and by diverse trafficking pathways of the cell wall polymers and cell wall-related machinery. Meanwhile, the cell wall is continually influenced by hormonal and integrity sensing stimuli that are perceived by the cell. These many processes cooperate to construct, maintain, and manipulate the intricate plant cell wall--an essential structure for the sustaining of the plant stature, growth, and life.     

Organelle pH in the Arabidopsis Endomembrane System

The pH of intracellular compartments is essential for the viability of cells. Despite its relevance, little is known about the pH of these compartments. To measure pH in vivo, we have first generated two pH sensors by combining the improved-solubility feature of solubility-modified green fluorescent protein （GFP） （smGFP） with the pH-sensing capabil- ity of the pHluorins and codon optimized for expression in Arabidopsis. PEpHluorin （plant-solubility-modified ecliptic pHluorin） gradually loses fluorescence as pH is lowered with fluorescence vanishing at pH 6.2 and PRpHluorin （plant- solubility-modified ratiomatric pHluorin）, a dual-excitation sensor, allowing for precise measurements. Compartment- specific sensors were generated by further fusing specific sorting signals to PEpHluorin and PRpHluorin. Our results show that the pH of cytosol and nucleus is similar （pH 7.3 and 7.2）, while peroxisomes, mitochondrial matrix, and plastidial stroma have alkaline pH. Compartments of the secretory pathway reveal a gradual acidification, spanning from pH 7.1 in the endoplasmic reticulum （ER） to pH 5.2 in the vacuole. Surprisingly, pH in the trans-Golgi network （TGN） and mul- tivesicular body （MVB） is, with pH 6.3 and 6.2, quite similar. The inhibition of vacuolar-type H＋-ATPase （V-ATPase） with concanamycin A （ConcA） caused drastic increase in pH in TGN and vacuole. Overall, the PEpHluorin and PRpHluorin are excellent pH sensors for visualization and quantification of pH in vivo, respectively.     

Dissecting the Heat Stress Response in Chlamydomonas by Pharmaceutical and RNAi Approaches Reveals Conserved and Novel Aspects

To study how conserved fundamental concepts of the heat stress response （HSR） are in photosynthetic eukaryotes, we applied pharmaceutical and antisense/amiRNA approaches to the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The Chlamydomonas HSR appears to be triggered by the accumulation of unfolded proteins, as it was induced at ambient temperatures by feeding cells with the arginine analog canavanine. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine strongly retarded the HSR, demonstrating the importance of phosphorylation during activation of the HSR also in Chlamydomonas. While the removal of extracellular calcium by the application of EGTA and BAPTA inhibited the HSR in moss and higher plants, only the addition of BAPTA, but not of EGTA, retarded the HSR and impaired thermotoler- ance in Chlamydomonas. The addition of cycloheximide, an inhibitor of cytosolic protein synthesis, abolished the attenu- ation of the HSR, indicating that protein synthesis is necessary to restore proteostasis. HSP90 inhibitors induced a stress response when added at ambient conditions and retarded attenuation of the HSR at elevated temperatures. In addition, we detected a direct physical interaction between cytosolic HSP90A/HSP70A and heat shock factor 1, but surprisingly this interaction persisted after the onset of stress. Finally, the expression of antisense constructs targeting chloroplast HSP70B resulted in a delay of the cell＇s entire HSR, thus suggesting the existence of a retrograde stress signaling cascade that is desensitized in HSP7OB-antisense strains.     

Emerging roles of miR-210 and other non-coding RNAs in the hypoxic response

Hypoxia is a key component of the tumor microenviron- merit and represents a well-documented source of thera- peutic failure in clinical oncology. Recent work has provided support for the idea that non-coding RNAs, and in particular, microRNAs, may play important roles in the adaptive response to low oxygen in tumors. Specifically, all published studies agree that the induction of microRNA- 210 （miR-210） is a consistent feature of the hypoxic re- sponse in both normal and malignant cells, miR-210 is a robust target of hypoxia-inducible factors, and its overex- pression has been detected in a variety of diseases with a hypoxic component, including most solid tumors. High levels of miR-210 have been linked to an in vivo hypoxic sig- nature and to adverse prognosis in breast and pancreatic cancer patients. A wide variety of miR-210 targets have been identified, pointing to roles in mitochondrial metabol- ism, angiogenesis, DNA damage response, apoptosis, and cell survival. Such targets are suspected to affect the devel- opment of tumors in multiple ways; therefore, an increased knowledge about miR-210＇s functions may lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in cancer.     

A New β-Estradiol-lnducible Vector Set that Facilitates Easy Construction and Efficient Expression of Transgenes Reveals CBL3-Dependent Cytoplasm to Tonoplast Translocation of CIPK5

Transient and stable expression of transgenes is central to many investigations in plant biology research. Chemical regulation of expression can circumvent problems of plant lethality caused by constitutive overexpression or allow inducible knock （out/down） approaches. Several chemically inducible or repressible systems have been described and successfully applied. However, cloning and application-specific modification of most available inducible expression systems have been limited and remained complicated due to restricted cloning options. Here we describe a new set of 57 vectors that enable transgene expression in transiently or stably transformed cells. All vectors harbor a synthetically optimized XVE expression cassette, allowing I~-estradiol mediated protein expression. Plasmids are equipped with the reporter genes GUS, GFP, mCherry, or with HA and Strepll epitope tags and harbor an optimized multiple cloning site for flexible and simple clon- ing strategies. Moreover, the vector design allows simple substitution of the driving promoter to achieve tissue-specificity or to modulate expression ranges of inducible transgene expression. We report details of the kinetics and dose-dependence of expression induction in Arabidopsis leaf mesophyll protoplasts, transiently transformed Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, and stably transformed Arabidopsis plants. Using these vectors, we investigated the influence of CBL （Calcineurin B-like） protein expression on the subcellular localization of CIPKs （Calcineurin B-like interacting protein kinases）. These analyses uncovered that induced co-expression of CBL3 is fully sufficient for dynamic translocation of CIPK5 from the cytoplasm to the tonoplast. Thus, the vector system presented here facilitates a broad range of research applications.     

ERK1/2 mediates lung adenocarcinoma cell proliferation and autophagy induced by apelin-13

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of apelin in the cell proliferation and autophagy of lung adenocarcin- oma. The over-expression of APJ in lung adenocarcinoma was detected by immunohistochemistry, while plasma apelin level in lung cancer patients was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our findings revealed that apelin-13 significantly increased the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, the expression of cyclin D1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3A/B （LC3A/B）, and beclinl, and con- fwmed that apelin-13 promoted A549 cell proliferation and induced A549 cell autophagy via ERK1/2 signaling. More- over, there are pores on the surface of human lung adeno- carcinoma cell line A549 and apelin-13 causes cell surface smooth and glossy as observed under atomic force micros- copy. These results suggested that ERK1/2 signaling pathway mediates apelin-13-induced lung adenocarcinoma cell proliferation and autophagy. Under our experimental condition, autophagy associated with 3-methyladenine was not involved in cell proliferation.     

Perturbation of Auxin Homeostasis Caused by Mitochondrial FtSH4 Gene-Mediated Peroxidase Accumulation Regulates Arabiclopsis Architecture

Reactive oxygen species and auxin play important roles in the networks that regulate plant development and morphogenetic changes, However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between them are poorly understood. This study isolated a mas （More Axillary Shoots） mutant, which was identified as an allele of the mitochondrial AAA-protease AtFtSH4, and characterized the function of the FtSH4 gene in regulating plant development by medi- ating the peroxidase-dependent interplay between hydrogen peroxide （H2Oz） and auxin homeostasis. The phenotypes of dwarfism and increased axillary branches observed in the mas （renamed as ftsh4-4） mutant result from a decrease in the IAA concentration. The expression levels of several auxin signaling genes, including IAA1, IAA2, and IAA3, as well as several auxin binding and transport genes, decreased significantly in ftsh4-4 plants. However, the H202 and peroxidases levels, which also have IAA oxidase activity, were significantly elevated in ftsh4-4 plants. The ftsh4-4 phenotypes could be reversed by expressing the iaaM gene or by knocking down the peroxidase genes PRX34 and PRX33. Both approaches can increase auxin levels in the ftsh4-4 mutant. Taken together, these results provided direct molecular and genetic evidence for the interaction between mitochondrial ATP-dependent protease, H2O2, and auxin homeostasis to regulate plant growth and development.     

Regulation of Cytokinesis by Exocyst Subunit SEC6 and KEULE in Arabidopsis thaliana

Proper vesicle tethering and membrane fusion at the cell plate are essential for cytokinesis. Both the vesicle tethering complex exocyst and membrane fusion regulator KEULE were shown to function in cell plate formation, but the exact mechanisms still remain to be explored. In this study, using yeast two-hybrid （Y-2-H） assay, we found that SEC6 interacted with KEULE, and that a small portion of C-terminal region of KEULE was required for the interaction. The direct SEC6-KEULE interaction was supported by further studies using in vitro pull-down assay, immunoprecipitation, and in vivo bimolecular florescence complementation （BIFC） microscopy, sec6 mutants were male gametophytic lethal as reported; however, pollen-rescued sec6 mutants （PRsec6） displayed cytokinesis defects in the embryonic cells and later in the leaf pavement cells and the guard cells. SEC6 and KEULE proteins were co-localized to the cell plate during cytokine- sis in transgenic Arabidopsis. Furthermore, only SEC6 but not other exocyst subunits located in the cell plate interacted with KEULE in vitro. These results demonstrated that, like KEULE, SEC6 plays a physiological role in cytokinesis, and the SEC6-KEULE interaction may serve as a novel molecular linkage between arriving vesicles and membrane fusion machin- ery or directly regulate membrane fusion during cell plate formation in plants.