LEP and LEPR are possibly a double-edged sword for wound healing

Wound healing is a complex and error-prone process. Wound healing in adults often leads to the formation of scars, a type of fibrotic tissue that lacks skin appendages. Hypertrophic scars and keloids can also form when the wound-healing process goes wrong. Leptin (Lep) and leptin receptors (LepRs) have recently been shown to affect multiple stages of wound healing. This effect, however, is paradoxical for scarless wound healing. On the one hand, Lep exerts pro-inflammatory and profibrotic effects; on the other hand, Lep can regulate hair follicle growth. This paper summarises the role of Lep and LepRs on cells in different stages of wound healing, briefly introduces the process of wound healing and Lep and LepRs, and examines the possibility of promoting scarless wound healing through spatiotemporal, systemic, and local regulation of Lep levels and the binding of Lep and LepRs.     

Thermostability enhancement of polyethylene terephthalate degrading PETase using self- and nonself-ligating protein scaffolding approaches

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) hydrolase enzymes show promise for enzymatic PET degradation and green recycling of single-use PET vessels representing a major source of global pollution. Their full potential can be unlocked with enzyme engineering to render activities on recalcitrant PET substrates commensurate with cost-effective recycling at scale. Thermostability is a highly desirable property in industrial enzymes, often imparting increased robustness and significantly reducing quantities required. To date, most engineered PET hydrolases show improved thermostability over their parental enzymes. Here, we report engineered thermostable variants of Ideonella sakaiensis PET hydrolase enzyme (IsPETase) developed using two scaffolding strategies. The first employed SpyCatcher-SpyTag technology to covalently cyclize IsPETase, resulting in increased thermostability that was concomitant with reduced turnover of PET substrates compared to native IsPETase. The second approach using a GFP-nanobody fusion protein (vGFP) as a scaffold yielded a construct with a melting temperature of 80°C. This was further increased to 85°C when a thermostable PETase variant (FAST PETase) was scaffolded into vGFP, the highest reported so far for an engineered PET hydrolase derived from IsPETase. Thermostability enhancement using the vGFP scaffold did not compromise activity on PET compared to IsPETase. These contrasting results highlight potential topological and dynamic constraints imposed by scaffold choice as determinants of enzyme activity.     

Comparative bioinformatics analysis and abiotic stress responses of expansin proteins in Cucurbitaceae members: watermelon and melon

Protoplasma - Watermelon and melon are members of the Cucurbitaceae family including economically significant crops in the world. The expansin protein family, which is one of the members of the...     

Subcellular Distribution and Chemical Forms of Cadmium in the Medicine Food Homology Plant <i>Platycodon grandiflorum</i> (Jacq.) A.DC.

Although Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A.DC. is a renowned medicine food homology plant, reports of excessive cadmium (Cd) levels are common, which affects its safety for clinical use and food consumption. To enable its Cd levels to be regulated or reduced, it is necessary to first elucidate the mechanism of Cd uptake and accumulation in the plant, in addition to its detoxification mechanisms. This present study used inductively couple plasma-mass-spectrometry to analyze the subcellular distribution and chemical forms of Cd in different tissues of P. grandiflorum. The experimental results showed that Cd was mainly accumulated in the roots [predominantly in the cell wall (50.96%–61.42%)], and it was found primarily in hypomobile and hypotoxic forms. The proportion of Cd in the soluble fraction increased after Cd exposure, and the proportion of insoluble phosphate Cd and oxalate Cd increased in roots and leaves, with a higher increase in oxalate Cd. Therefore, it is likely that root retention mechanisms, cell wall deposition, vacuole sequestration, and the formation of low mobility and low toxicity forms are tolerance strategies for Cd detoxification used by P. grandiflorum. The results of this study provide a theoretical grounding for the study of Cd accumulation and detoxification mechanisms in P. grandiflorum, and they can be used as a reference for developing Cd limits and standards for other medicine food homology plants.     

厌氧真菌纤维降解酶及其应用潜力的研究进展

反刍动物的瘤胃是已知的纤维降解能力最强的天然发酵罐,其发酵粗纤维的能力很大程度上依赖于其中栖息的各类微生物的功能。厌氧真菌作为瘤胃内的一类低丰度菌群,最先定殖到宿主动物摄入的纤维质饲料上,并通过分泌大量高效的碳水化合物活性酶降解粗纤维。然而,由于缺乏足够的基因组信息和有效的厌氧真菌遗传操作系统,目前国内外对厌氧真菌分泌的纤维降解酶及其降解机制的研究进展有限。本文对厌氧真菌的分类及已发表的基因组信息进行概述,介绍了各类纤维降解酶及纤维小体的组成结构和催化机制特点,并对纤维降解酶在生物质能、饲料处理、纺织造纸及食品加工等方面的应用进行总结。研究厌氧真菌纤维降解酶的作用特性,将有助于完善其在瘤胃环境中有效竞争资源并降解粗纤维的知识体系,也将进一步了解其生物技术应用潜力,为工业生产中应用酶制剂提供新思路。     

林麝源蜡样芽孢杆菌SCBCM001株的分离鉴定及全基因组序列分析

【背景】细菌性疾病是林麝规模化养殖的重要制约因素,蜡样芽孢杆菌曾在林麝化脓灶中检出,但是目前对林麝源蜡样芽孢杆菌的研究报道很少。【目的】对分离自病死林麝肝脏中的一株疑似蜡样芽孢杆菌进行分离鉴定和全基因组序列分析,为林麝相关疾病的防治奠定基础。【方法】将病原菌纯化培养后,对病原菌进行生化试验、药敏试验和小鼠致病性试验;并通过第3代单分子测序技术进行全基因组测序,根据测序结果进一步评估物种间的亲缘关系,并进行基因功能注释和遗传进化分析。【结果】该病原菌经平均核苷酸相似度分类和系统发育树分析属于蜡样芽孢杆菌群,生化结果符合蜡样芽孢杆菌的一般特征,将分离菌株命名为SCBCM001。该菌株对小鼠的半数致死量为8.3×107 CFU,对大多数β-内酰胺类、四环素和磺胺异噁唑耐药,对氨基糖苷类、头孢氨苄、头孢哌酮和亚胺培南等药物敏感;全基因组测序结果表明该菌株的染色体大小为5292570bp,GC含量为35.37%,多位点序列分型显示该菌株属于ST427序列类型。在菌株SCBCM001基因组内发现hblA、hblC、hblD、nheA、nheB、clo和cytK等多种毒力因子,同时菌株携带对β-内酰...     

汉阳陵陶俑表面微生物群落结构与种群多样性分析

【背景】汉阳陵是我国截至目前发现的规模最大、陪葬级别最高的汉代陶俑群,出土了大量形神毕肖的裸体俑群,考古学家认为这种裸体陶俑原本“着衣、装木臂”,称为“着衣式陶俑”,为皇室独有,异常珍贵。然而这些推测尚无科学依据,而且陶俑表面附着微生物可能会腐蚀俑体。【目的】通过比较研究汉陶俑表面微生物的组成差异,为汉裸体陶俑着有衣物且装有断臂的推测提供一定的科学佐证,同时为汉陶俑微生物腐蚀的防控提供靶标。【方法】应用微生物高通量测序与纯培养相结合的方法,对着衣式陶俑不同部位微生物进行测定。【结果】高通量测序结果显示女俑头部微生物多样性较高;男俑上半身微生物多样性最高,腿部居中,头部较低。汉陶俑表面微生物组成按俑的类别及不同部位聚集在一起,其优势菌为放线菌门的克洛斯氏菌属、糖多孢菌属、假诺卡氏菌属及链霉菌科,其他各部位优势类群相对丰度存在差异,断臂处与碳循环相关功能微生物的相对丰度最高。纯培养结果显示女俑头部的可培养细菌数量高于男俑头部可培养的细菌数量;男俑上身与腿部可培养的微生物数量高于男俑头部,表明上半身与腿部可能有衣物覆盖,导致其营养差异。【结论】汉陶俑头部与身体表面部位微生物多样性与组成存在明...     

非侵入物理疗法——红光照射改善脂多糖诱发小鼠抑郁样行为

目的 抑郁的发生机制不清及药物的临床疗效不佳,导致其成为世界难题。已有研究发现甲醛的气态暴露或液态腹腔注射都可直接诱发小鼠抑郁样行为,而内源甲醛是否参与抑郁的发生尚不清楚。本研究探索脂多糖（lipopolysaccharide,LPS）是否通过刺激内源甲醛产生而诱发小鼠抑郁的分子机制;并观察非侵入物理疗法——630 nm红光照射是否能激活甲醛脱氢酶而降解甲醛,从而改善小鼠抑郁样行为。方法 雄性成年C57BL/6J小鼠随机分组：a.对照组,腹腔注射磷酸缓冲液（phosphate buffer solution,PBS）;b.抑郁模型组,按浓度梯度腹腔注射LPS;c.红光干预组,按浓度梯度腹腔注射LPS后并定时进行630 nm全身红光照射。采用旷场实验（open field test,OFT）、糖水偏爱（suorose preference test,SPT）、悬尾实验（tail suspension test,TST）、强迫游泳（forced swimming test,FST）等方法,评估小鼠的抑郁样行为;用甲醛荧光（Na-FA,特异甲醛荧光探针）定量法及整脑甲醛荧光成像法,检测小鼠脑...     

皖西大别山北坡苔藓植物区系

该研究于2019-2021年4次对安徽大别山北坡进行苔藓植物野外考察和标本采集,对采集到的1 517份标本鉴定以及文献整理,统计分析该区苔藓植物物种组成、区系地理组成;并与华东、华中、华北等地的苔藓植物区系地理组成进行比较,以明确大别山北坡苔藓植物区系的归属问题。结果表明：(1)安徽大别山北坡共有苔藓植物80科180属482种(包括种以下单位);该次调查增加了12科40属206种,其中安徽省新记录种9个。(2)发现受威胁苔藓植物2种——滇西高领藓(Glyphomitrium minutissimum)属于极危(CR),瘤根真藓(Bryum bornholmense)属于易危(VU)。(3)大别山北坡苔藓植物区系拥有3个世界性单种科,14个世界性单种属,且有34个世界性寡种属(2～6种),该区单种属和寡种属(48属)占该区总属数的26.67%,表明该区苔藓植物起源古老。(4)大别山北坡苔藓植物区系地理成分复杂多样,以北温带成分(26.43%)和东亚成分(24.89%)为主,热带亚洲成分(14.54%)次之。(5)安徽大别山北坡苔藓植物区系与华东(西天目山、清凉峰、阳际峰)区系的关系最为密...     

晋北典型针叶人工林叶功能性状特征及其与土壤因子的关系

为了解释植物叶片的资源分配特征及其与土壤因子间的适应策略,该研究以黄土高原东北缘山西省大同市新荣区油松、樟子松人工纯林及其柠条混交林为对象,采用样方法采集样木树冠中部生长良好的轮生枝中东西南北4个方向的枝条,并在每个枝条上选择里、中、外3处有代表性的当年生叶和多年生叶;采用 “S”形采样法在每个样方内选取9个取样点,用土钻采集各样点0～20 cm土壤样品;测定分析不同造林模式下油松、樟子松异龄叶功能性状特征、土壤理化性质以及二者的关系,为人工林培育及经营提供理论支撑。结果表明：(1)不同造林模式下油松及樟子松叶功能性状的差异集中在化学计量之间;随着叶龄增长,油松、樟子松均表现出干物质含量上升,氮磷含量下降的特征。(2)土壤全磷、全氮含量分别是油松当年及多年生叶的主要解释因子,土壤全磷与当年生叶碳氮比、有机碳、碳磷比均呈显著正相关关系,与全氮、叶面积及叶干物质含量呈显著负相关关系,土壤全氮与多年生叶全磷含量呈正相关关系,与叶有机碳、碳磷比、碳氮比则呈显著负相关关系。(3)樟子松当年生叶功能性状的关键土壤因子是土壤容重、全磷含量,其与叶碳氮磷的比值、干物质含量、碳含量呈正相关关系,而与氮磷含量呈负相关关系;多年生叶功能性状的关键土壤因子是土壤容重、含水量、pH,其与叶氮磷含量呈正相关关系,与碳含量、干物质含量、比叶面积等呈负相关关系。(4)油松及樟子松纯林的叶功能性状更易向关键土壤因子含量更高的方向偏移,说明与柠条混交可有效分异叶片生长对主要土壤因子的集中需求,但混交造林模式下林木长势有所衰弱;结合研究区资源匮乏现状,林木种植密度较大,竞争加剧了生存压力导致林木生长受限。