Development and characterization of a continuous cell line (EL) from the liver of European eel Anguilla anguilla

In the present study, a new hepatic tissue‐origin cell line from European eel Anguilla anguilla has been developed and characterized. This cell line designated EL has been maintained in Leibovitz L‐15 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum over 72 months, and subcultured more than 90 times. The EL cell line consisted predominantly of fibroblast‐like cells, which could survive over 100 days in vitro, and could grow at 15–32°C. The optimum temperature for growth was 27°C. The chromosome analysis revealed a modal diploid karyotype of 2n = 38. The origin of this cell line was confirmed by the 18S recombinant (r)RNA sequencing. The susceptibility test indicated significant cytopathic effects in the EL cells with regard to the Rana grylio virus and the Herpesvirus anguillae. The viral replication was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and polymerase chain reaction analysis. Following poly (I:C) exposure, the expression levels of the immune‐related molecules interferon regulatory factor‐7 (irf7) and transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) were downregulated in EL cells, whereas the expression levels of the rf3 and the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) were upregulated. All four genes were significantly upregulated following inflammation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These data suggested the application of EL cell line for viral identification, as well as for immunodiagnosis and pharmacological targeting.     

(Z)-3-Hexenol Induces Tea Defense against Ectropis grisescens in the Field

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - The tea geometrid Ectropis grisescens is an important pest of tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze). It feeds on the new leaves and tender...     

Quorum Sensing System Used as a Tool in Metabolic Engineering

Quorum sensing (QS) is a ubiquitous cell–cell communication mechanism in microbes that coordinates population‐level cell behaviors, such as biofilm production, virulence, swarming motility, and bacterial persistence. Efforts to engineer QS systems to take part in metabolic network regulation represent a promising strategy for synthetic biology and pathway engineering. Recently, design, construction, and implementation of QS circuits for programmed control of bacterial phenotypes and metabolic pathways have gained much attention, but have not been reviewed recently. In this article, the architectural organizations and genetic contributions of the naturally occurring QS components to understand the mechanisms are summarized. Then, the most recent progress in application of QS toolkits to develop synthetic networks for novel cell behaviors creation and metabolic pathway engineering is highlighted. The current challenges in large‐scale application of these QS circuits in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering fields are discussed and future perspectives for further engineering efforts are provided.     

Rapid anti‐depressant‐like effects of ketamine and other candidates: Molecular and cellular mechanisms

Major depressive disorder takes at least 3 weeks for clinical anti‐depressants, such as serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors, to take effect, and only one‐third of patients remit. Ketamine, a kind of anaesthetic, can alleviate symptoms of major depressive disorder patients in a short time and is reported to be effective to treatment‐resistant depression patients. The rapid and strong anti‐depressant‐like effects of ketamine cause wide concern. In addition to ketamine, caloric restriction and sleep deprivation also elicit similar rapid anti‐depressant‐like effects. However, mechanisms about the rapid anti‐depressant‐like effects remain unclear. Elucidating the mechanisms of rapid anti‐depressant effects is the key to finding new therapeutic targets and developing therapeutic patterns. Therefore, in this review we summarize potential molecular and cellular mechanisms of rapid anti‐depressant‐like effects based on the pre‐clinical and clinical evidence, trying to provide new insight into future therapy.     

广西乐业大石围天坑群种子植物区系研究

广西乐业大石围天坑群(以下简称大石围天坑群)是最典型的塌陷型天坑群。该研究采用样线法和样方法对大石围天坑群的种子植物进行了实地调查,并结合已有资料综合分析了大石围天坑群种子植物区系特征。结果表明:大石围天坑群野生种子植物丰富,有137科445属863种;在科级和属级水平上,地理成分以热带成分为主,中国特有成分相对贫乏;与热带区系的联系主要以泛热带成分为主,与温带区系的联系主要以北温带成分为主;大石围天坑群的热带科和温带科之比以及热带属和温带属之比,均小于中国乐业-凤山世界地质公园,其种子植物区系更能反映该地区过去植物组成的"原貌",即温带成分比例过去的比现代的高,是全球气候变暖的有力证据:天坑群保育了82种珍稀濒危植物,包括30属67种野生兰科植物,是现存珍稀濒危植物的"避难所"。     

岩溶石山台湾桤木生长表现及根瘤生物量特征

了解台湾桤木(Alnus formosana)在岩溶石山的生长表现以及根瘤生物量的特征,对石山植被的恢复与重建具有重要意义。该文采用典型样地调查方法对岩溶石山4.5年生台湾桤木与速生乡土树种任豆(Zenia insignis)、顶果木(Acrocarpus fraxinifolius)进行了调查研究,并用方差分析方法进行统计和评价。结果表明:台湾桤木平均胸径、树高、材积和冠幅分别为8.39 cm、7.72 m、0.0271 m3和3.18 m,均大于任豆和顶果木,且差异达到极显著水平;台湾桤木冠长达6.01 m,分别比任豆和顶果木增加106.53%和70.25%;台湾桤木在岩溶石山表现出速生的特性。对台湾桤木样株的根瘤生长状况进行深入调查分析发现,台湾桤木根瘤生物量平均每株达52.77 g,根瘤在水平方向分布从树干基部至树冠投影范围均有生长,离树干50 cm与离树干50～100 cm范围的根瘤生物量相近,离树干100 cm至树冠投影范围的根瘤生物量最多,三个地段的根瘤分别占整株根瘤生物量的15.7%、16.9%、67.4%;大根瘤(直径≥1 cm)在离树干100 cm至树冠投影范围分布最多;根瘤在垂直方向主要分布在0～20 cm土层,20～40 cm土层少有根瘤出现;台湾桤木在岩溶石山表现出良好的结瘤固氮特性。该研究结果可为台湾桤木在岩溶石山的推广发展提供科学依据。     

低海拔地区黑苦荞酚类物质含量、组成及抗氧化活性研究

为探究黑苦荞的市场利用价值,该研究选择种植于湖北江汉平原低海拔地区的川荞1号和九江苦荞作为材料,分析苦荞籽粒中游离酚、结合酚、总酚、游离黄酮、结合黄酮和总黄酮的含量,利用DPPH自由基法、ABTS自由基法和铁离子还原抗氧化法(FRAP)三种抗氧化测试模型综合评价其体外抗氧化活性,并运用高效液相色谱(HPLC)技术对其酚类物质的组成进行鉴定。结果表明:(1)川荞1号籽粒的总酚和总黄酮含量显著高于九江苦荞,分别为27.38 mg GAE·g~(-1)DW、31.46 mg RE·g~(-1)DW和12.71 mg GAE·g~(-1)DW、14.68 mg RE·g~(-1)DW;其中游离酚与游离黄酮含量显著高于结合酚与结合黄酮含量,均占总酚和总黄酮含量的79%以上,且九江苦荞中结合酚和结合黄酮的含量高于川荞1号。(2)苦荞籽粒中酚类物质主要由芦丁、槲皮素、表儿茶素、山奈酚、山奈酚-3-芸香糖苷和槲皮素-3-O-芸香糖苷-3'-O-吡喃葡萄糖苷等黄酮类化合物组成,其中游离酚以芦丁和槲皮素为主,结合酚以表儿茶素和芦丁为主。(3)苦荞籽粒提取物均具有一定的抗氧化活性,黑苦荞川荞1号游离态DPPH、ABTS和FRAP抗氧化能力值分别为30.14、11.03、18.84 mg TE·g~(-1)DW,高于九江苦荞,而结合态三种抗氧化能力值低于九江苦荞,但黑苦荞川荞1号总抗氧化能力显著高于九江苦荞。在低海拔地区江汉平原,种植的黑苦荞川荞1号籽粒具有较高含量的酚类物质,符合后续的食品加工的生产要求,市场开发前景广阔。     

有氧运动和白藜芦醇对2型糖尿病大鼠肾脏JAK2及TGF-β1的影响

目的: 研究有氧运动和白藜芦醇对2型糖尿病大鼠肾脏Janus激酶2(JAK2)及转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)表达的影响,探讨运动与白藜芦醇改善糖尿病肾损伤的可能作用机制。方法: SD大鼠经5周高糖高脂饲料喂养加腹腔注射链脲佐菌素(STZ)建立糖尿病模型后,将糖尿病大鼠随机分为糖尿病安静组(DC组),糖尿病运动组(DE组),糖尿病药物组(DR组)和糖尿病运动药物组(DER组),每组各12只,另设正常对照组(NC组)。运动组大鼠进行8周的有氧运动(跑速为20 m/min),每天运动60 min,每周运动6 d;药物组大鼠进行8周的白藜芦醇灌胃(每天45 mg/kg,7天/周)。8周末,检测血糖、24 h尿白蛋白(24 h UA)、血肌酐(Scr)、血尿素氮(BUN)的变化;采用荧光定量PCR检测肾脏JAK2 mRNA的表达,免疫组织化学法和Western blot法检测肾脏JAK2和TGF-β1的表达。结果: 8周干预后,与NC组相比, DC组血糖浓度、24 h UA、Scr、BUN均显著上升(P＜0.05),肾组织病理损伤加重,肾组织TGF-β1、JAK2和JAK2 mRNA的表达均明显增加(P＜0.05)。与DC组相比,DE、DR和DER组血糖浓度、24 h UA、Scr、BUN均显著下降(P＜0.05),肾组织病理损伤减轻,肾组织TGF-β1、JAK2和JAK2 mRNA的表达均明显减少(P＜0.05),且DER组的降低更显著,与DE、DR组相比差异有显著性(P＜0.05)。结论: 有氧运动、白藜芦醇及联合干预可能通过下调肾脏JAK2 mRNA表达,抑制JAK2蛋白的合成,使TGF-β1表达减少,从而改善糖尿病大鼠肾脏损伤的病理性变化。有氧运动联合白藜芦醇干预减轻肾脏病理损伤的效果优于单一的有氧运动或白藜芦醇干预。     

不同水肥一体化方式对苹果氮素吸收利用特性及产量和品质的影响

以‘嘎啦/八棱海棠’为试材,借助¹⁵N同位素示踪技术,研究了撒施(T₁)、滴灌施氮(T₂)和渗灌施氮(T₃)对嘎啦苹果氮素吸收利用、分配特性和产量品质的影响,以期进一步完善苹果园水肥一体化技术,挖掘提高氮素利用率的途径。结果表明: T₃处理苹果叶片的叶面积、叶绿素和氮含量显著高于T₁和T₂处理。各时期土壤矿化氮(N_min)含量在20~40 cm土层表现为T₃＞T₂＞T₁处理,在0~20 cm土层表现为T₂＞T₃＞T₁处理。同一器官的Ndff值(树体各器官从肥料中吸收到的¹⁵N占该器官全氮量的比例)在各时期均以T₃处理最高,T₂其次,T₁处理最低。果实成熟期的树体¹⁵N利用率表现为T₃＞T₂＞T₁处理,其中T₃处理的树体¹⁵N利用率为24.2%,分别是T₂和T₁处理的1.19和1.65倍。果实成熟期T₁处理的¹⁵N分配率在营养器官最高,T₂处理在贮藏器官最高,T₃处理在生殖器官最高。各处理的单果重、产量、可溶性固形物、硬度、可溶性糖及糖酸比均以T₃处理最高,T₂其次,T₁处理最低。渗灌施氮处理显著促进了嘎啦苹果树体叶片生长和氮素利用,并提高了果实产量和品质。