LATS1 K751 acetylation blocks activation of Hippo signalling and switches LATS1 from a tumor suppressor to an oncoprotein

Science China Life Sciences - Large tumor suppressor 1 (LATS1) is the key kinase controlling activation of Hippo signalling pathway. Post-translational modifications of LATS1 modulate its kinase...     

First fossil fruits of Elaeocarpus (Elaeocarpaceae) in East Asia: Implications for phytogeography and paleoecology

The genus Elaeocarpus contains approximately 360 species and occurs in mesic forest communities from India, through to China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Australia, and New Caledonia. Elaeocarpus fossils are best known from the Eocene to the Miocene of Australia and the late Pliocene–early Pleistocene of India, but have not been documented from East Asia before. Here we describe six new species of Elaeocarpus, E. nanningensis sp. nov. from the late Oligocene Yongning Formation of the Nanning Basin, E. presikkimensis sp. nov. from the Miocene Erzitang Formation of the Guiping Basin, E. prerugosus sp. nov., E. prelacunosus sp. nov., E. preserratus sp. nov., and E. preprunifolioides sp. nov. from the late Miocene Foluo Formation of the Nankang Basin in Guangxi, South China. This is the first reliable report for the genus occurring in East Asia, and the fossils indicate that Elaeocarpus had colonized this region by the late Oligocene and represented by a morphologically diverse group of species by the late Miocene. This sheds new insights into the timing and migration patterns of the genus in East Asia. Elaeocarpus is typically a rainforest genus occurring in mesic forests. Based on the habitat of their morphologically similar modern relatives we propose that these three sedimentary basins were warm and wet adjacent to mountainous regions with the evergreen or rain forests during the late Oligocene to Miocene.     

Effects of magnolol and honokiol blend on performance,egg quality,hepatic lipid metabolism,and intestinal morphology of hens at late laying cycle

Magnolol and its isomer honokiol are polyphenols with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. We evaluated the effects of magnolol and honokiol supplementation alone or in combination with hen diets during the late laying cycle. A total of 540 Jingfen pink-shell laying hens (50 weeks old) were randomly assigned to six treatments: a control diet and diets supplemented with 300 mg/kg magnolol (M₃₀₀), honokiol (H₃₀₀), or 300 mg/kg total phenols with a magnolol/honokiol ratio of 2:1 (M₂₀₀H₁₀₀), 1:2 (M₁₀₀H₂₀₀), and 1:1 (M₁₅₀H₁₅₀). Compared with that of the control, all supplementation groups had higher laying rates and the M₃₀₀, M₁₀₀H₂₀₀, and M₁₅₀H₁₅₀ groups showed comparatively lower feed conversion ratios. Magnolol and honokiol supplementation increased the Haugh units of fresh eggs at week 62 and alleviated the decline of the Haugh units of eggs stored for 14 days. Compared with that of the control group, the serum total antioxidant capacity of the M₁₀₀H₂₀₀ and M₁₅₀H₁₅₀ groups significantly increased, and all supplementation groups had higher total antioxidant capacity and lower malondialdehyde content in the liver. With respect to lipid metabolism, the M₂₀₀H₁₀₀ and M₁₅₀H₁₅₀ groups had lower total and relative liver weights compared with those of the control and H₃₀₀ groups. The mRNA expression levels of CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1, fatty acid synthase and stearyl coenzyme A desaturase 1 involved in lipogenesis; microsomal triglyceride transfer protein and apolipoprotein B involved in fatty acid transport; and the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta were lower in all supplementation groups compared with those in the control. With respect to gut health, the heights of the jejunum and ileum villi significantly increased in all supplementation groups compared with those of the control, and the jejunum villus heights of the M₃₀₀ and M₁₅₀H₁₅₀ groups were higher than those of the H₃₀₀ and M₁₀₀H₂₀₀ groups. The H₃₀₀ and M₁₅₀H₁₅₀ groups had higher mRNA expression levels of zonula occludens-1 in the ileum compared with those in the control and M₃₀₀ groups, whereas all supplementation groups had higher mRNA levels of claudin-1 than that of the control group. In conclusion, magnolol and honokiol improved hen performance and the albumen quality of fresh and stored eggs by improving the antioxidant capacity, liver lipid metabolism, and intestinal health of laying hens. The combination of magnolol and honokiol at a 1:1 ratio may be an optimal choice for hen diet supplementation.     

Erratum to: MYH7B variants cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by activating the CaMK-signaling pathway

Science China Life Sciences -     

七角星蜡蚧在云南省的分布与危害

[目的]七角星蜡蚧(半翅目:蚧次目:蚧科:蜡蚧属)是一种外来入侵害虫,自2013年在云南省西双版纳州勐仑镇发现以来,中国大陆再无系统性的调查。近年来作者在云南省收集蚧虫期间,在多地发现七角星蜡蚧为害,现对其在云南省的发生情况进行报道,以期为其监测和防治提供参考。[方法]2016年10月—2021年9月,对云南省15州(市)的64个县(区市)进行了系统调查,详细研究了七角星蜡蚧的分布、寄主及一些生物学习性。[结果]七角星蜡蚧在云南省西双版纳州的景洪市、勐腊县(勐仑镇和磨憨镇)、勐海县(打洛镇),普洱市的宁洱县,德宏州的盈江县(那邦镇),红河州的河口县、金平县(勐拉乡和者米乡)4州(市)7县(市)9地有分布,新增8个分布点。除宁洱县外,其余发生地均位于边境线上,表明其可能为境外多点入侵。在云南该虫危害寄主植物共4科4属5种,包括杧果和莲雾2种经济树种。七角星蜡蚧多寄生在叶片背面,沿叶脉分布,1年发生多代。在河口县的龙船花上,该虫每雌产卵38~50粒,虫口密度达185~250头·叶^-1。[结论]七角星蜡蚧在云南省零星分布,尚未造成严重损害,但有向内扩散的趋势,应加以警惕。     

转基因玉米生物育种技术的专利分析及产业发展建议

通过研究转基因玉米育种技术的专利文献,可分析各国转基因玉米生物育种技术的发展趋势、研发领域的分布、跨国种业集团的产业布局。利用MS Excel和Innography等分析软件,采用图表分析方法对世界转基因玉米生物育种的专利文献进行定性分析和定量分析。结果发现,中国是转基因玉米生物育种的主要研发国家之一,其中基因编辑技术处于领先地位;我国创新主体仍以大专院校、科研院所为主,缺乏科研成果的转化动力,需要加大对转基因技术产业的扶植力度和知识产权服务。研究结果旨在为研究者确定研究方向、跟踪竞争对手的研究进展、分析跨国种业集团的产业布局、制定产业发展政策等提供参考建议。     

Genome-scale analysis of Mannheimia succiniciproducens metabolism

Mannheimia succiniciproducens MBEL55E isolated from bovine rumen is a capnophilic gram-negative bacterium that efficiently produces succinic acid, an industrially important four carbon dicarboxylic acid. In order to design a metabolically engineered strain which is capable of producing succinic acid with high yield and productivity, it is essential to optimize the whole metabolism at the systems level. Consequently, in silico modeling and simulation of the genome-scale metabolic network was employed for genome-scale analysis and efficient design of metabolic engineering experiments. The genome-scale metabolic network of M. succiniciproducens consisting of 686 reactions and 519 metabolites was constructed based on reannotation and validation experiments. With the reconstructed model, the network structure and key metabolic characteristics allowing highly efficient production of succinic acid were deciphered; these include strong PEP carboxylation, branched TCA cycle, relative weak pyruvate formation, the lack of glyoxylate shunt, and non-PTS for glucose uptake. Constraints-based flux analyses were then carried out under various environmental and genetic conditions to validate the genome-scale metabolic model and to decipher the altered metabolic characteristics. Predictions based on constraints-based flux analysis were mostly in excellent agreement with the experimental data. In silico knockout studies allowed prediction of new metabolic engineering strategies for the enhanced production of succinic acid. This genome-scale in silico model can serve as a platform for the systematic prediction of physiological responses of M. succiniciproducens to various environmental and genetic perturbations and consequently for designing rational strategies for strain improvement.     

Listera fugongensis (Orchidaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China

Listera fugongensis, a new species from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is probably related to Listera nipponica, but differs from it by having green flowers, petals slightly wider than lateral sepals, and a toothed lip with ciliate margins.     

Impact of phenolic compounds on hydrothermal oxidation of cellulose

The effect of phenolic compounds on hydrothermal oxidation of cellulose was studied using a batch reactor at 300 degrees C with H(2)O(2) as oxidant. Intermediate products, as well as the yields of acetic acid produced in the oxidation of cellulose, phenolic compounds, and cellulose-phenolic compound mixtures were examined. Phenolic compounds used were phenol, 1,4-benzenediol, 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol, and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol. In the case of oxidation of cellulose-phenolic compound mixtures, (1) formic acid, a basic oxidation product from carbohydrates, decreased considerably, (2) 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde and 2-furaldehyde, acid-catalyzed dehydration products from carbohydrates, appeared, and (3) the yield of acetic acid increased compared to that in the oxidation of cellulose. From these results, phenolic compounds seem to inhibit the oxidation of cellulose under hydrothermal conditions. The inhibition of the oxidation of cellulose by phenolic compounds seems to be related closer to the stability of phenolic compounds under oxidation conditions rather than the ease to remove phenolic hydrogen on the OH group.