Two Phytophthora parasitica cysteine protease genes,PpCys44 and PpCys45, trigger cell death in various Nicotiana spp. and act as virulence factors

Proteases secreted by pathogens have been shown to be important virulence factors modifying plant immunity, and cysteine proteases have been demonstrated to participate in different pathosystems. However, the virulence functions of the cysteine proteases secreted by Phytophthora parasitica are poorly understood. Using a publicly available genome database, we identified 80 cysteine proteases in P. parasitica, 21 of which were shown to be secreted. Most of the secreted cysteine proteases are conserved among different P. parasitica strains and are induced during infection. The secreted cysteine protease proteins PpCys44/45 (proteases with identical protein sequences) and PpCys69 triggered cell death on the leaves of different Nicotiana spp. A truncated mutant of PpCys44/45 lacking a signal peptide failed to trigger cell death, suggesting that PpCys44/45 functions in the apoplastic space. Analysis of three catalytic site mutants showed that the enzyme activity of PpCys44/45 is required for its ability to trigger cell death. A virus-induced gene silencing assay showed that PpCys44/45 does not induce cell death on NPK1 (Nicotiana Protein Kinase 1)-silenced Nicotiana benthamiana plants, indicating that the cell death phenotype triggered by PpCys44/45 is dependent on NPK1. PpCys44- and PpCys45-deficient double mutants showed decreased virulence, suggesting that PpCys44 and PpCys45 positively promote pathogen virulence during infection. PpCys44 and PpCys45 are important virulence factors of P. parasitica and trigger NPK1-dependent cell death in various Nicotiana spp.     

Circular RNA ciRS‐7 promotes tube formation in microvascular endothelial cells through downregulation of miR‐26a‐5p

Atherosclerosis is one of the most common and crucial heart diseases involving the heart and brain. At present, atherosclerosis and its major complications comprise the leading causes of death worldwide. Our purpose was to identify the role of ciRS‐7 in atherosclerosis. Tubulogenesis of HMEC‐1 cell was evaluated utilizing tube formation assay. Cell Counting Kit‐8 assay and flow cytometry were utilized to test viability and apoptosis. Migration assay was utilized to determine the migration capacity of experimental cells. Western blot was applied to examine apoptosis and tube formation‐associated protein expression. In addition, the above experiments were repeated when silencing ciRS‐7, overexpressing ciRS‐7, and upregulating miR‐26a‐5p. HMEC‐1 cells formed tube‐like structures over time. Silencing ciRS‐7 suppressed viability, migration, and tube formation but promoted apoptosis. Oppositely, overexpressing ciRS‐7 reversed the effect in HMEC‐1 cells. miR‐26a‐5p expression was elevated by silencing ciRS‐7 and reduced by overexpressing ciRS‐7. Moreover, overexpressing ciRS‐7 facilitated viability, migration, and tube formation via upregulating miR‐26a‐5p. Conclusively, overexpressing ciRS‐7 mobilized phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway and suppressed c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK)/p38 pathway. ciRS‐7 exerted influence on apoptosis, viability, migration, and tube formation through mediating PI3K/AKT and JNK/p38 pathways by miR‐26a‐5p downregulation in HMEC‐1 cells.     

Liver X receptor activation induces podocyte injury via inhibiting autophagic activity

Podocyte injury plays a key role in the occurrence and development of kidney diseases. Decreased autophagic activity in podocyte is closely related to its injury and the occurrence of proteinuria. Liver X receptors (LXRs), as metabolic nuclear receptors, participate in multiple pathophysiological processes and express in several tissues, including podocytes. Although the functional roles of LXRs in the liver, adipose tissue and intestine are well established; however, the effect of LXRs on podocytes function remains unclear. In this study, we used mouse podocytes cell line to investigate the effects of LXR activation on podocytes autophagy level and related signaling pathway by performing Western blotting, RT-PCR, GFP-mRFP-LC3 transfection, and immunofluorescence staining. Then, we tested this effect in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry were employed to explore the effects of LXR activation on podocytes function and autophagic activity. We found that LXR activation could inhibit autophagic flux through blocking the formation of autophagosome in podocytes in vitro which was possibly achieved by affecting AMPK, mTOR, and SIRT1 signaling pathways. Furthermore, LXR activation in vivo induced autophagy suppression in glomeruli, leading to aggravated podocyte injury. In summary, our findings indicated that activation of LXRs induced autophagy suppression, which in turn contributed to the podocyte injury.

     

Cardamonin induces G2/M arrest and apoptosis via activation of the JNK–FOXO3a pathway in breast cancer cells

Cardamonin (CD), a naturally occurring chalcone isolated from large black cardamom, was previously reported to suppress the proliferation of breast cancer cells. However, its precise molecular anti‐tumor mechanisms have not been well elucidated. In this study, we found that CD markedly inhibited the proliferation of MDA‐MB 231 and MCF‐7 breast cancer cells through the induction of G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a pivotal role in the inhibition of CD‐induced cell proliferation. Treatment with N‐acetyl‐cysteine (NAC), an ROS scavenger, blocked CD‐induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis in this study. Quenching of ROS by overexpression of catalase also blocked CD‐induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. We showed that CD enhanced the expression and nuclear translocation of Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3a) via upstream c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase, inducing the expression of FOXO3a and its target genes, including p21, p27, and Bim. This process led to the reduction of cyclin D1 and enhancement of activated caspase‐3 expression. The addition of NAC markedly reversed these effects, knockdown of FOXO3a using small interfering RNA also decreased CD‐induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis. In vivo, CD efficiently suppressed the growth of MDA‐MB 231 breast cancer xenograft tumors. Taken together, our data provide a molecular mechanistic rationale for CD‐induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in breast cancer cells.     

一种紫斑牡丹花茶的研制及其主要香气成分分析

以紫斑牡丹(Paeonia suffruticosa var. papaveracea)花瓣为原料,采用隔离窨制,对牡丹花茶窨制过程中花坯、配花量等主要影响因子进行研究。结果表明,密闭箱桶温度21 ℃、相对湿度90%、窨制时间48 h条件下经一窨一提获得的花茶,感官评审花与茶叶的协调度高、香气高锐持久、茶汤滋味醇正鲜爽。采用气相色谱-质谱联用仪分析花茶香气成分,新鲜花瓣与茶叶配比5:1窨制48 h的花茶苯乙醇、香叶醇、橙花醇含量较高,其香气高扬、茶汤醇正鲜爽,配比2.5:1的花茶上述成分含量和感官其次,而拌和型茶品透素欠鲜爽。发酵或发酵揉捻花瓣窨制的花茶乙醇、环氧芳樟醇及高级烷烃含量较高,其主要赋香物质低于新鲜花瓣含量,渥味明显,茶汤有浊气欠鲜爽。     

革兰氏阴性细菌外膜主要成分的跨膜转运机制研究进展

革兰氏阴性细菌的外膜由脂多糖、磷脂、外膜蛋白和脂蛋白等成分组成,是细菌抵御外界有害物质的首要物理屏障,与细菌致病性和耐药性密切相关.外膜各组分依赖特定的系统进行跨膜转运,包括脂多糖转运系统(lipopolysaccharide transport, Lpt)、脂质不对称维持系统(maintenance of lipid asymmetry, Mla)、β-桶状装配机器(β-barrel assembly machinery,Bam)以及脂蛋白定位系统(localization of lipoprotein,Lol).这些系统能够保证细菌外膜的完整与稳定,被视为维持细菌生命活动的"命门".因此,本文系统地综述革兰氏阴性细菌外膜主要成分的跨膜转运系统结构与功能,并对其未来研究方向进行展望,为新型靶向抗菌类药物研发提供新的思路.     

荫蔽处理对不同耐荫性大豆GmPIF4s编码基因表达的影响

光敏色素互作因子(PIFs)是光信号响应的关键负调控因子,其中PIF4作为该家族核心成员在响应外界光温变化,整合多种激素合成和信号转导中起着关键性作用。为了明确大豆GmPIF4s ［phytochrome interaction factor 4s of Glycine max (L.) Merr.］ 的功能和编码基因对荫蔽诱导的表达响应,该研究以耐荫性大豆‘南豆25’(ND25)和不耐荫性大豆‘荣县冬豆’(RD)为材料,通过生物信息学和分子生物学等方法,比较分析了豆科植物PIF4s的生物信息学特点,并采用qRT PCR方法分析大豆不同组织(根、茎、叶、茎尖分生组织)、全光照和12 h/12 h光周期下不同荫蔽时间诱导叶片GmPIF4s及其不同耐荫性大豆材料间GmPIF4s的表达特征,为培育高产、耐荫的大豆品种提供理论依据。 结果表明：(1)在豆科植物中鉴定到53个同源PIF4s,其中大豆包含7个同源GmPIF4s,长度介于296~562氨基酸之间,分子量范围为41 491.9~62 228.39 Da,所有GmPIF4s均包含有bHLH结构域,无跨膜结构,为亲水性蛋白且定位于细胞核中;蛋白二级及三级结构预测显示,GmPIF4a、GmPIF4b与拟南芥AtPIF4结构最为相似。(2)qRT PCR分析表明,GmPIF4s基因表达具有组织特异性;在耐荫性大豆品种ND25中,GmPIF4a、GmPIF4b、GmPIF4d相对表达量在根、叶、茎和茎尖分生组织中表达最高,除GmPIF4a、GmPIF4e、GmPIF4f外,其余GmPIF4s在地上部各组织中表达量均相对较高;不耐荫性大豆品种RD中, GmPIF4a、GmPIF4b、GmPIF4c、GmPIF4d在叶中相对表量较高,除GmPIF4f和GmPIF4g外,其余GmPIF4s在地上部各组织中表达量均相对较高。(3)全光照下荫蔽处理时间延长,大豆GmPIF4a、GmPIF4b、GmPIF4c、GmPIF4d基因均受荫蔽的强烈诱导,表达量显著上调;12 h/12 h光周期条件下无论是正常光还是荫蔽条件下,随着处理时间的延长,白天GmPIF4s表达量呈现下调趋势,夜晚却呈现上调表达趋势,推测GmPIF4s受昼夜节律调控。(4)荫蔽条件下GmPIF4s在不同耐荫性大豆的表达显示,随着荫蔽时间的延长,耐荫性大豆品种ND25与不耐荫性大豆品种RD的GmPIF4a、GmPIF4b、GmPIF4c、GmPIF4d均上调表达,但在不耐荫性大豆品种RD中表达量相对更高,并于荫蔽处理8 h后两材料的GmPIF4s表达差异达到极显著水平。