E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF123-deficient mice exhibit reduced parasitemia and mortality in rodent malaria (Plasmodium yoelii 17XL) infection

Increased levels of several human ubiquitin ligases, including ring finger protein 123 (RNF123), in red blood cells with Plasmodium falciparum infection, have been reported. RNF123 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that is highly expressed in erythroid cells. However, the function of the RNF123 gene and the relationship between the RNF123 gene and malarial parasite has not been clarified in vivo. In this study, we generated RNF123-deficient mice using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and analyzed malaria susceptibility and erythrocyte morphology. The levels of parasitemia 5 days post-infection and mortality 21 days post-infection with the lethal type of rodent malaria (Plasmodium yoelii 17XL) in RNF123-deficient mice was significantly lower than that in wild-type mice. In contrast, red blood cell morphology in RNF123-deficient mice was almost normal. These results suggest that erythrocytic RNF123 plays a role in susceptibility to rodent malaria infection, but does not play a role in erythrocyte morphology.     

响应面法优化类芽胞杆菌HB172198产褐藻胶裂解酶发酵培养基

为了提高类芽胞杆菌新种HB172198产褐藻胶裂解酶活力,本研究采用响应面法对该菌株液体发酵培养基进行了优化实验。在单因素实验和Plackett-Burman试验筛选出海藻酸钠、胰蛋白胨、NaCl、MgSO4·7H2O等4个显著影响产酶因素的基础上,通过Box-Behnken设计及响应面法进行回归分析,得出产褐藻胶裂解酶最佳发酵培养基,其成分为:海藻酸钠7.50 g/L、胰蛋白胨13.57 g/L、NaCl 29.75 g/L、MgSO4·7H2O 0.08 g/L。优化条件下该菌株最大酶活性达14.60 U/mL,是优化前的1.87倍。本研究为菌株HB172198产褐藻胶裂解酶的大规模生产和工业应用提供了重要的理论依据。     

Morphology and phylogeny of four marine or brackish water spirotrich ciliates (Protozoa,Ciliophora) from China,with descriptions of two new species

In this study, we investigated the morphology and molecular phylogeny of four marine or brackish spirotrichean ciliates found in China, namely: Caryotricha sinica sp. nov., Prodiscocephalus orientalis sp. nov., P. cf. borrori, and Certesia quadrinucleata. Caryotricha sinica is characterized by its small size, seven cirral rows extending posteriorly to about 65% of the cell length, and four transverse cirri. Prodiscocephalus orientalis differs from its congeners mainly by the number of cirri in the “head” region and on the ventral side. The SSU rDNA sequence of P. cf. borrori differs from that of other population of P. borrori by ca. 40 bp. Consequently, the nominal species P. borrori is considered to be a species-complex. New data are provided for Certesia quadrinucleata. The Chinese population of C. quadrinucleata, for example, has fewer left marginal cirri than the other populations for which such data are available. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA sequence data show that the genus Caryotricha is monophyletic. All typical “discocephalids” with a discoid “head” form a strongly supported clade that is sister to the unstable uronychiids + pseudoamphisiellids clade within the Euplotia. The genus Certesia forms a sister group to the Euplotes clade, also within the Euplotia assemblage.     

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Storage Roots in Cassava During Postharvest Physiological Deterioration

Plant Molecular Biology Reporter - Cassava is an important starchy and food crop; however, the commercial value of cassava is seriously constrained by postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD)....     

Two new rocaglamide derivatives from twigs of Aglaia odorata var. microphyllina

Phytochemical investigation of Aglaia odorata var. microphyllina led to the isolation of two new rocaglamide derivatives and three known ones. The structures of the two new compounds were elucidated as 8b-methoxy-desmethylrocaglamide (1) and 3′-hydroxy-8b-methoxy-rocaglamide (2) by spectroscopic techniques (IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR) and comparing with published data. All the five compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against K562 cell line by MTT method. The results indicated that the OH at 8b position was a decisive group for cytotoxic activity.     

利用环形染色体构象捕获技术对Bci11b基因座位在细胞核内空间组织的研究

环形染色体构象捕获（4c）技术实现了在全基因组范围内捕获与4c靶位点发生相互作用的基因座位,因而通过4C相关技术可以进一步研究靶基因座位在细胞核内的空间组织形式。该文以ABclllb基因座位作为4C分析的靶位点,通过优化4C分析的反向巢式PCR扩增条件,实现4C分析PCR的高效扩增：并通过有限克隆筛选与普通测序分析相结合的方法,在全基因组范围内捕获到一些与BcHlb基因座位发生潜在相互作用的基因座位。这些基因座位与靶位点间的相互作用既有发生在相同染色体内的,也有发生在不同染色体之间的。这些基因座位间的相互作用表明了Bclllb基因座位在细胞核内复杂的空间组织形式。     

Molecular cloning and expression of five glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes from Banana (Musa acuminata L. AAA group, cv. Cavendish)

Key message

Three tau class MaGSTs responded to abiotic stress, MaGSTF1 and MaGSTL1 responded to signaling molecules, they may play an important role in the growth of banana plantlet.

Abstract

Glutathione S-transferases (GST) are multifunctional detoxification enzymes that participate in a variety of cellular processes, including stress responses. In this study, we report the molecular characteristics of five GST genes (MaGSTU1, MaGSTU2, MaGSTU3, MaGSTF1 and MaGSTL1) cloned from banana (Musa acuminate L. AAA group, cv. Cavendish) using a RACE-PCR-based strategy. The predicted molecular masses of these GSTs range from 23.4 to 27.7 kDa and their pIs are acidic. At the amino acid level, they share high sequence similarity with GSTs in the banana DH-Pahang (AA group) genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the deduced amino acid sequences of MaGSTs also have high similarity to GSTs of other plant species. Expression analysis by semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that these genes are differentially expressed in various tissues. In addition, their expression is regulated by various stress conditions, including exposure to signaling molecules, cold, salinity, drought and Fusarium oxysporum f specialis(f. Sp) cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4) infection. The expression of the tau class MaGSTs (MaGSTU1, MaGSTU2 and MaGSTU3) mainly responded to cold, salinity and drought while MaGSTF1 and MaGSTL1 expressions were upregulated by signaling molecules. Our findings suggest that MaGSTs play a key role in both development and abiotic stress responses.