NPR3 protects cardiomyocytes from apoptosis through inhibition of cytosolic BRCA1 and TNF-α

Natriuretic peptide receptor 3 (NPR3) is a clearance receptor by binding and internalizing natriuretic peptides (NPs) for ultimate degradation. Patients with cardiac failure show elevated NPs. NPs are linked to poor long-term survival because of their apoptotic effects. However, the underling mechanisms have not been identified yet. Here we report the role of NPR3 in anti-apoptosis via the breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein (BRCA1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α ). To demonstrate a role for NPR3 in apoptosis, stable H9C2 cardiomyocyte cell lines using shRNA to knockdown NPR3 were generated. The activities of caspase-3, 8, and 9 were significantly increased in NPR3 knockdown H9C2 cardiomyocytes. Knockdown of NPR3 increased the expression of BRCA1. Also NPR3 knockdown remarkably increased the activity of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), a positive regulatory element for BRCA1 expression. BRCA1 showed dispersed nuclear localization in non-cardiomyocytes while predominantly cytoplasmic localization in H9C2 cells. Meanwhile, NPR3 knockdown significantly increased TNF-α gene expression. These data show that NPR3 knockdown in H9C2 cells triggered both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. NPR3 protects cardiomyocytes from apoptosis through inhibition of cytosolic BRCA1 and TNF-α, which are regulators of apoptosis. Our studies demonstrate anti-apoptosis role of NPR3 in protecting cardiomyocytes and establish the first molecular link between NP system and programmed cell death.     

城市绿化对空气质量的影响研究——以中国27个省会城市为例

城市间绿化程度与空气污染比较及相关差异分析是提出城市环境管理措施的重要前提。选择全国27个主要省会城市,基于网络街景照片测定绿色指数差异,对比空气主要质量指标[空气质量指数(AQI)、细颗粒物(PM_2.5)、可吸入颗粒物(PM₁₀)、二氧化硫(SO_2)、二氧化氮(NO_2)、臭氧(O_3)、一氧化碳(CO)]的基础上,探讨了二者相关关系,旨在为提升环境质量、改善绿化水平提供基础数据。结果表明:(1)济南市和重庆市的绿色指数最高,分别达到是11.70%和11.55%,呼和浩特市和拉萨市城市绿色指数最低,在4%～5%。(2)海口市的空气质量最好,AQI为39.66,郑州市和济南市的空气质量最差,AQI年均值分别为117.34和113.93。但是不同空气指标城市排序间差异较大,比如PM_2.5、PM₁₀、NO_2以及SO_2年平均最低的城市都是海口,拉萨市年平均CO含量最低(0.55 mg·m^-3),哈尔滨市年平均O_3含量最低(77.08μg·m^-3)。(3)相关关系分析发现,增加城市的绿色程度,伴随着空气质量的改善,如沈阳、南宁、合肥等城市;但对于某些城市,则存在明显的正相关,如兰州、昆明、贵阳等城市,这意味着城市越绿伴随着空气污染的加重。尽管大量研究已经表明,城市绿色植被能够起到滞尘降低污染的作用,目前我国主要城市的空气污染程度,仅依靠城市绿化改善已经远远不够,甚至某一些城市绿色植被存在阻碍空气流通的作用。上述研究结果为科学规划城市绿化、提升空气质量提供基础数据支撑。     

DELAYED HEADING DATE1 interacts with OsHAP5C/D,delays flowering time and enhances yield in rice

Heading date is an important agronomic trait affecting crop yield. The GRAS protein family is a plant‐specific super family extensively involved in plant growth and signal transduction. However, GRAS proteins are rarely reported have a role in regulating rice heading date. Here, we report a GRAS protein DHD1 (Delayed Heading Date1) delays heading and enhances yield in rice. Biochemical assays showed DHD1 physically interacts with OsHAP5C/D both in vitro and in vivo. DHD1 and OsHAP5C/D located in the nucleus and showed that rhythmic expression. Both DHD1 and OsHAP5C/D affect heading date by regulating expression of Ehd1. We propose that DHD1 interacts with OsHAP5C/D to delay heading date by inhibiting expression of Ehd1.     

Genome sequencing and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing of an early flowering Mini‐Citrus (Fortunella hindsii)

Hongkong kumquat (Fortunella hindsii) is a wild citrus species characterized by dwarf plant height and early flowering. Here, we identified the monoembryonic F. hindsii (designated as ‘Mini‐Citrus’) for the first time and constructed its selfing lines. This germplasm constitutes an ideal model for the genetic and functional genomics studies of citrus, which have been severely hindered by the long juvenility and inherent apomixes of citrus. F. hindsii showed a very short juvenile period (~8 months) and stable monoembryonic phenotype under cultivation. We report the first de novo assembled 373.6 Mb genome sequences (Contig‐N50 2.2 Mb and Scaffold‐N50 5.2 Mb) for F. hindsii. In total, 32 257 protein‐coding genes were annotated, 96.9% of which had homologues in other eight Citrinae species. The phylogenomic analysis revealed a close relationship of F. hindsii with cultivated citrus varieties, especially with mandarin. Furthermore, the CRISPR/Cas9 system was demonstrated to be an efficient strategy to generate target mutagenesis on F. hindsii. The modifications of target genes in the CRISPR‐modified F. hindsii were predominantly 1‐bp insertions or small deletions. This genetic transformation system based on F. hindsii could shorten the whole process from explant to T₁ mutant to about 15 months. Overall, due to its short juvenility, monoembryony, close genetic background to cultivated citrus and applicability of CRISPR, F. hindsii shows unprecedented potentials to be used as a model species for citrus research.     

ATL3 Is a Tubular ER-Phagy Receptor for GABARAP-Mediated Selective Autophagy

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Increased chalcopyrite bioleaching capabilities of extremely thermoacidophilic Metallosphaera sedula inocula by mixotrophic propagation

Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology - Extremely thermoacidophilic Crenarchaeota belonging to the order Sulfolobales, such as Metallosphaera sedula, are metabolically versatile...     

枯草芽孢杆菌中一种新型双向启动子的功能鉴定

本研究旨在通过转录组分析预测的方法,由地衣芽孢杆菌中筛选获得一种新型双向启动子,鉴定其启动强度。以已知强组成型启动子pShuttle-09为对照,检测其对克劳氏芽孢杆菌碱性蛋白酶基因的表达活性。成功构建了3种重组碱性蛋白酶表达载体及对应的工程菌株。在新型启动子pLA和其反向启动子pLB调控转录下,克劳氏芽孢杆菌碱性蛋白酶表达活性达到164 U/mL和111 U/mL。结果表明,pLA的启动强度明显高于pShuttle-09和pLB,pLA启动子与pLB启动子均可表达碱性蛋白酶。从而为枯草芽孢杆菌表达系统中异源基因的表达提供一个新的方向,也为原核生物中共同表达两种基因提供了新的思路。     

An analysis of intraoperative blood transfusion of cardiac surgery in one hospital from 2014 to 2016

To investigate the usage of blood componentsfor cardiac surgery inthe First Hospital of Lanzhou University, data from January 2014 to December 2016 were collected for analysis, including the number of cardiac surgeries and blood transfusions. There were 1 589 males and 1 076 females, aged from 1 to 73 years, with an average age of (53.97 ± 11.33) years, in this study. The results showed that the rate of blood-free surgery in the hospital increased year by year,while the proportion of blood-used operation to total operations decreased every year. The ratio of plasma and platelets used in cardiac surgery decreased, while the cryoprecipitate ratio used in cardiac surgery increased. This study indicates that the transfusion medical level in cardiac surgery is improved continuously, and that the infusion of blood components has become more secure, efficient and rational.     

Transient expression of a TaGRF4-TaGIF1 complex stimulates wheat regeneration and improves genome editing

Science China Life Sciences - Genome editing is an unprecedented technological breakthrough but low plant regeneration frequencies and genotype dependence hinder its implementation for crop...