FUNDC1 regulates mitochondrial dynamics at the ER–mitochondrial contact site under hypoxic conditions

In hypoxic cells, dysfunctional mitochondria are selectively removed by a specialized autophagic process called mitophagy. The ER–mitochondrial contact site (MAM) is essential for fission of mitochondria prior to engulfment, and the outer mitochondrial membrane protein FUNDC1 interacts with LC3 to recruit autophagosomes, but the mechanisms integrating these processes are poorly understood. Here, we describe a new pathway mediating mitochondrial fission and subsequent mitophagy under hypoxic conditions. FUNDC1 accumulates at the MAM by associating with the ER membrane protein calnexin. As mitophagy proceeds, FUNDC1/calnexin association attenuates and the exposed cytosolic loop of FUNDC1 interacts with DRP1 instead. DRP1 is thereby recruited to the MAM, and mitochondrial fission then occurs. Knockdown of FUNDC1, DRP1, or calnexin prevents fission and mitophagy under hypoxic conditions. Thus, FUNDC1 integrates mitochondrial fission and mitophagy at the interface of the MAM by working in concert with DRP1 and calnexin under hypoxic conditions in mammalian cells.     

荻幼苗对复合盐碱胁迫的生理响应

该研究以荻(Miscanthus sacchariflorus)幼苗为材料,模拟中国东北大庆盐碱地的低、中、高浓度盐碱土壤环境,考察不同盐碱处理浓度及其不同处理时间(0~25d)对荻幼苗各项生理指标的影响,以界定荻幼苗的复合盐碱耐受范围,为荻类能源植物的耐盐碱性筛选和在园林中的应用提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)随着复合盐碱胁迫时间的延长和胁迫程度加剧,荻幼苗叶绿素含量不断降低,根活力在低、中浓度处理下随时间不断升高,而在高浓度处理时先降低后上升再降低;同时,幼苗相对电导率和MDA含量则不断升高。(2)随着复合盐碱胁迫时间延长,荻幼苗SOD、POD、CAT、APX、GR活性和ASA、GSH含量一般在低浓度处理时缓慢升高,而高浓度处理时则呈先升高后降低的趋势。研究发现,荻幼苗能够通过调节自身保护酶系统活性和抗氧化物积累,清除体内过多活性氧和自由基,保护细胞结构,有效抵御外界低、中浓度的复合盐碱胁迫,但其对高浓度的复合盐碱胁迫基本没有抵抗能力。     

不同生态烟区烤烟δ~(13)C值与生理及品质特征的比较研究

以烤烟品种K326为试验材料,在云南、福建和河南三个生态烟区大田种植,自烟叶生理成熟期起至工艺成熟期,分4次采集中部(第11叶位)烟样,对烟叶的δ13 C值、总碳、全氮、光合色素等进行测定,比较不同生态烟区烤烟δ13 C值的分布、生理生态适应性及品质特征。结果表明:(1)三个生态烟区烟叶δ13 C值、总碳、碳氮比、比叶重、叶绿素a、总叶绿素含量均表现为云南福建河南,全氮含量则为河南云南福建,叶绿素b含量为云南河南福建,类胡萝卜素含量为河南福建云南,其中的δ13 C值、总碳、碳氮比、类胡萝卜素含量在福建和云南烟区间较为接近。(2)烟叶δ13 C值与总碳含量在云南呈正相关,在福建、河南呈负相关关系;三个生态烟区烟叶δ13 C值与全氮含量均呈负相关关系;δ13 C值与光合色素含量在云南、河南烟区均呈正相关关系,在福建烟区均呈负相关关系;δ13 C值与烟碱、氮、钾、氯呈负相关关系,与总糖、还原糖呈正相关关系。(3)云南烤烟香韵丰富,刺激性中等,化学成分协调性最好;河南烤烟香气量较高,刺激性较大;福建烤烟在香气量和化学成分协调性方面表现较差。研究发现,烟叶δ13 C值与烟叶的生理特征、品质特征存在紧密联系,用烟叶的δ13 C值、生理指标、化学品质可区分不同生态烟区烤烟香气风格和品质特征。     

iQPR法处理水对SD鼠生物安全性的研究

iQPR技术处理污水是一项新型尖端的技术,此技术可以成功降低污水乃至受到污染的地下水中的各种污染指标。但是,iQPR技术处理污水尤其是地下水是否存在潜在的生物安全性问题有待于进一步研究。因此,为评估iQPR技术对生物安全性的影响,本研究首先分析了三种不同iQPR法处理水的水质成分;其次系统研究了iQPR水对SD鼠在个体水平、组织水平和病理形态学损伤的研究。研究表明:iQPR处理的水质成分较对照组普通饮用水好,在个体组织水平检测未见异常,尽管其中一组iQPR处理水造成了SD鼠的脾小体增大,但是可能的原因是水处理环节存在微生物污染现象,因此,初步认定此技术未造成SD大鼠的个体损伤。本研究为揭示iQPR处理的水对生物体的安全性评价提供一个理论依据。     

Overexpression of ZEB2‐AS1 promotes epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition and metastasis by stabilizing ZEB2 mRNA in head neck squamous cell carcinoma

The long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been increasingly appreciated as key players underlying tumourigenesis and hold great potentials as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. However, their roles in head neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have remained incompletely known. Here, we sought to reveal the oncogenic roles and clinical significance of a tumour‐associated lncRNA, zinc finger E‐box binding homeobox 2 antisense RNA 1 (ZEB2‐AS1), in HNSCC. ZEB2‐AS1 was aberrantly overexpressed in a fraction of HNSCC samples. Its overexpression significantly associated with large tumour size, cervical node metastasis and reduced overall and disease‐free survival. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASO)‐mediated ZEB2‐AS1 depletion markedly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion while triggered apoptosis in HNSCC cells in part via modulating ZEB2 mRNA stability. Enforced overexpression of ZEB2 largely attenuated the phenotypic changes resulted from ZEB2‐AS1 inhibition except the impaired cell proliferation. In addition, ZEB2‐AS1 was required for TGF‐β1‐induced epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro. Significantly reduced tumour growth and lung metastasis were observed in ZEB2‐AS1‐depleted cells in HNSCC xenograft animal models. Taken together, our findings reveal that overexpression of ZEB2‐AS1 associates with tumour aggressiveness and unfavourable prognosis by serving as a putative oncogenic lncRNA and a novel prognostic biomarker in HNSCC.     

Immobilization of laccase onto modified PU/RC nanofiber via atom transfer radical polymerization method and application in removal of bisphenol A

In this study, 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was used as the monomers for surface grafting on electrospun PU/RC nanofiber membrane via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method, and the PU/RC‐poly(HEMA) nanofiber membrane was investigated as a carrier for LAC. Free and immobilized LAC was characterized, and efficiency of bisphenol A (BPA) removal was determined. The results indicated that the PU/RC‐poly(HEMA)‐LAC showed relatively higher pH stability, temperature stability, and storage stability than free and PU/RC‐LAC; moreover, more than 60% of the PU/RC‐poly(HEMA)‐LAC activity was retained after 10 cycles of ABTS treatment. Notably, the BPA removal efficiency of PU/RC‐poly(HEMA)‐LAC membrane generally ranged from 87.3 to 75.4% for the five cycles. Therefore, the PU/RC‐poly(HEMA) nanofiber membrane has great potential as a carrier for the LAC immobilization for various industrial applications and bioremediation.     

Design and synthesis of a new fluorescent probe for cascade detection of Zn2+ and H2PO4− in water and targeted imaging of living cells

Design and synthesis of new fluorescence probes with good water‐solubility is of great importance to better understanding the significant role of ions which are related to biology and the environment. As important ions, zinc ion (Zn²⁺) and dihydrogen phosphate ion (H₂PO₄^?) display essential roles in living systems, and quantitative detection of these ions in water is still a challenge. In order to consider the significant role of the galactose moiety in the design of a water‐soluble fluorescence sensor, herein, we have developed a novel probe, Gal‐AQTF, for the cascade detection of Zn²⁺ and H₂PO₄^? with excellent selectivity in water. Through the introduction of the galactose moiety onto the sensor AQTF, which has been reported earlier by us, the water‐solubility, cell compatibility and targeting ability were enhanced. Gal‐AQTF has been successfully applied in the imaging of the living cells of HepG2 and A549, and illustrated good selectivity for the HepG2 cells which overly express the asialoglycoprotein (ASGP) receptor.     

Design and Optimization of a Graphene Modulator Based on Hybrid Plasmonic Waveguide with Double Low-Index Slots

Plasmonics - Graphene modulators based on surface plasmonic waveguides enable a strong interaction between light and graphene because great electric field enhancement occurs in the sub-wavelength...