A20 plays a critical role in the immunoregulatory function of mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess an immunoregulatory capacity and are a therapeutic target for many inflammation‐related diseases. However, the detailed mechanisms of MSC‐mediated immunosuppression remain unclear. In this study, we provide new information to partly explain the molecular mechanisms of immunoregulation by MSCs. Specifically, we found that A20 expression was induced in MSCs by inflammatory cytokines. Knockdown of A20 in MSCs resulted in increased proliferation and reduced adipogenesis, and partly reversed the suppressive effect of MSCs on T cell proliferation in vitro and inhibited tumour growth in vivo. Mechanistic studies indicated that knockdown of A20 in MSCs inhibited activation of the p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which potently promoted the production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)‐10. Collectively, these data reveal a crucial role of A20 in regulating the immunomodulatory activities of MSCs by controlling the expression of TNF‐α and IL‐10 in an inflammatory environment. These findings provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of various inflammatory‐associated diseases, and are a new reference for the future development of treatments for such afflictions.     

Differential Expression of microRNAs and their Regulatory Networks in Skin Tissue of Liaoning Cashmere Goat during Hair Follicle Cycles

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small noncoding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression. Herein, we investigated a selective number of miRNAs for their expression in skin tissue of Liaoning Cashmere goat during hair follicle cycles, and their intracellular regulatory networks were constructed based on bioinformatics analysis. The relative expression of six miRNAs (mir-103-3p, -15b-5p, 17-5p, -200b, -25-3p, and -30c-5p) at anagen phase is significantly higher than that at catagen and/or telogen phases. In comparison to anagen, the relative expression of seven miRNAs (mir-148a-3p, -199a-3p, -199a-5p, -24-3p, -30a-5p, -30e-5p, and -29a-3p) was revealed to be significantly up-regulated at catagen and/or telogen stages. The network analyses of miRNAs indicated those miRNAs investigated might be directly or indirectly involved in several signaling pathways through their target genes. These results provided a foundation for further insight into the roles of these miRNAs in skin tissue of Liaoning Cashmere goat during hair follicle cycles.     

Identification,Quantification, and System Analysis of Protein N‐ε Lysine Methylation in Anucleate Blood Platelets

Protein posttranslational modifications critically regulate a range of physiological and disease processes. In addition to tyrosine, serine, and threonine phosphorylation, reversible N‐ε acylation and alkylation of protein lysine residues also modulate diverse aspects of cellular function. Studies of lysine acyl and alkyl modifications have focused on nuclear proteins in epigenetic regulation; however, lysine modifications are also prevalent on cytosolic proteins to serve increasingly apparent, although less understood roles in cell regulation. Here, the methyl‐lysine (meK) proteome of anucleate blood platelets is characterized. With high‐resolution, multiplex MS methods, 190 mono‐, di‐, and tri‐meK modifications are identified on 150 different platelet proteins—including 28 meK modifications quantified by tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling. In addition to identifying meK modifications on calmodulin (CaM), GRP78 (HSPA5, BiP), and EF1A1 that have been previously characterized in other cell types, more novel modifications are also uncovered on cofilin, drebin‐like protein (DBNL, Hip‐55), DOCK8, TRIM25, and numerous other cytoplasmic proteins. Together, the results and analyses support roles for lysine methylation in mediating cytoskeletal, translational, secretory, and other cellular processes. MS data for this study have been deposited into the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE partner repository with the dataset identifier PXD012217.     

Actomyosin contraction during cellularization is regulated in part by Src64 control of Actin 5C protein levels

Src64 is required for actomyosin contraction during cellularization of the Drosophila embryonic blastoderm. The mechanism of actomyosin ring constriction is poorly understood even though a number of cytoskeletal regulators have been implicated in the assembly, organization, and contraction of these microfilament rings. How these cytoskeletal processes are regulated during development is even less well understood. To investigate the role of Src64 as an upstream regulator of actomyosin contraction, we conducted a proteomics screen to identify proteins whose expression levels are controlled by src64. Global levels of actin are reduced in src64 mutant embryos. Furthermore, we show that reduction of the actin isoform Actin 5C causes defects in actomyosin contraction during cellularization similar to those caused by src64 mutation, indicating that a relatively high level of Actin 5C is required for normal actomyosin contraction and furrow canal structure. However, reduction of Actin 5C levels only slows down actomyosin ring constriction rather than preventing it, suggesting that src64 acts not only to modulate actin levels, but also to regulate the actomyosin cytoskeleton by other means.     

Baseline susceptibility of Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée)) populations in Vietnam to Cry1Ab insecticidal protein

Susceptibility of Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry1Ab protein was studied between 2015 and 2016 with 11 ACB populations, collected from various geographical regions in Vietnam. A concentration range of Cry1Ab from 0.20 to 26.10 ng/cm² of diet was evaluated against F₁ ACB neonates using diet surface-overlay bioassays. Mortality data was recorded daily until seven days after infestation. Growth inhibition was recorded at the end of seven days. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) varied ≈3-fold among the different populations, ranging from 0.58 to 1.83 ng/cm² of diet with an overall mean of 0.86 ng/cm² of diet. Even the lowest concentration of 0.20 ng/cm² caused 73.53% growth inhibition. >90% growth inhibition was achieved at 0.82 ng/cm² or higher concentrations. The results reflect natural variation in Bt susceptibility among ACB populations rather than variation caused by prior exposure to selection pressures. LC₉₉ value (17.26 ng/cm²) was generated by pooling mortality data across different populations. The upper fiducial limit of LC₉₉ (24.38 ng/cm²) could be a potential diagnostic dose for future resistance monitoring programs. The findings from this study suggest that ACB populations in Vietnam are highly susceptible to Cry1Ab protein. This is the first report of Cry1Ab susceptibility of different ACB populations in Vietnam and will serve as a baseline for future resistance monitoring work.     

Biological conversion of propane to 2-propanol using group I and II methanotrophs as biocatalysts

Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology - Propane is the main component of liquefied petroleum gas and is derived from crude oil processing. Methanotrophic bacteria can convert...     

Variations in carbon source–sink relationships in subalpine fir across elevational gradients

• Cold‐adapted trees display acclimation in both carbon source and carbon sink capacity to low‐temperature stress at their upper elevational range limits. Hence a balanced carbon source–sink capacity might be required for their persistence and survival at the elevational tree limits.
• The present study examined the spatial dynamics of carbon source–sink relationship in subalpine fir (Abies fargesii) trees along elevational gradients in the northern slope of the temperate region and in the southern slope of the subtropics in terms of climate in the Qinling Mountain range, north‐central China.
• The results showed that non‐structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations in both the source and sink tissues increased with the increase in elevation. The ratio of carbon source–sink displayed a consistent decreasing trend with the increase in elevation and during growing season, showing that it was lowest at a ratio of 2.93 in the northern slope and at a ratio of 2.61 in the southern slope at the upper distribution elevations in the late growing season. Such variations of carbon source–sink ratio might be attributable to the balance between carbon source and sink activities, which changed seasonally across the elevational distribution range.
• We concluded that a ratio of carbon source–sink of at least 2.6 might be essential for subalpine fir trees to persist at their upper range limits. Therefore, a sufficient source–sink ratio and a balanced source–sink relationship might be required for subalpine fir trees to survive and develop at their upper elevational distribution limits.