Lysine as a heme iron ligand: A property common to three truncated hemoglobins from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Background

The nuclear genome of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii encodes a dozen hemoglobins of the truncated lineage. Four of these, named THB1–4, contain a single ~130-residue globin unit. THB1, which is cytoplasmic and capable of nitric oxide dioxygenation activity, uses a histidine and a lysine as axial ligands to the heme iron. In the present report, we compared THB2, THB3, and THB4 to THB1 to gain structural and functional insights into algal globins.

The cholangiocyte primary cilium in health and disease

Cholangiocytes, like most cells, express primary cilia extending from their membranes. These organelles function as antennae which detect stimuli from bile and transmit the information into cells regulating several signaling pathways involved in secretion, proliferation and apoptosis. The ability of primary cilia to detect different signals is provided by ciliary associated proteins which are expressed in its membrane. Defects in the structure and/or function of these organelles lead to cholangiociliopathies that result in cholangiocyte hyperproliferation, altered fluid secretion and absorption. Since primary cilia dysfunction has been observed in several epithelial tumors, including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), primary cilia have been proposed as tumor suppressor organelles. In addition, the loss of cilia is associated with dysregulation of several molecular pathways resulting in CCA development and progression. Thus, restoration of the primary cilia may be a potential therapeutic approach for several ciliopathies and CCA.     

Coupling of the polyamine and iron metabolism pathways in the regulation of proliferation: Mechanistic links to alterations in key polyamine biosynthetic and catabolic enzymes

Many biological processes result from the coupling of metabolic pathways. Considering this, proliferation depends on adequate iron and polyamines, and although iron-depletion impairs proliferation, the metabolic link between iron and polyamine metabolism has never been thoroughly investigated. This is important to decipher, as many disease states demonstrate co-dysregulation of iron and polyamine metabolism. Herein, for the first time, we demonstrate that cellular iron levels robustly regulate 13 polyamine pathway proteins. Seven of these were regulated in a conserved manner by iron-depletion across different cell-types, with four proteins being down-regulated (i.e., acireductone dioxygenase 1 [ADI1], methionine adenosyltransferase 2α [MAT2α], Antizyme and polyamine oxidase [PAOX]) and three proteins being up-regulated (i.e., S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase [AMD1], Antizyme inhibitor 1 [AZIN1] and spermidine/spermine-N¹-acetyltransferase 1 [SAT1]). Depletion of iron also markedly decreased polyamine pools (i.e., spermidine and/or spermine, but not putrescine). Accordingly, iron-depletion also decreased S-adenosylmethionine that is essential for spermidine/spermine biosynthesis. Iron-depletion additionally reduced ³H-spermidine uptake in direct agreement with the lowered levels of the polyamine importer, SLC22A16. Regarding mechanism, the “reprogramming” of polyamine metabolism by iron-depletion is consistent with the down-regulation of ADI1 and MAT2α, and the up-regulation of SAT1. Moreover, changes in ADI1 (biosynthetic) and SAT1 (catabolic) partially depended on the iron-regulated changes in c-Myc and/or p53. The ability of iron chelators to inhibit proliferation was rescuable by putrescine and spermidine, and under some conditions by spermine. Collectively, iron and polyamine metabolism are intimately coupled, which has significant ramifications for understanding the integrated role of iron and polyamine metabolism in proliferation.     

The mimics of Nε-acyl-lysine derived from cysteine as sirtuin inhibitors

Sirtuin inhibitors as physiological research tools and therapeutic potentials have caught many attentions in last decades. The mimics of acyl lysine have been approved to be a very efficient strategy for development of mechanism-based sirtuin inhibitors. In current study, a novel scaffold of l-S-(3-carboxamidopropyl) cysteine (l-CAPC) has been exploited for design and synthesis of sirtuin inhibitors. As a result, the mimics of N^ε-acyl-lysine derived from cysteine including small molecules (5a–m) and peptides (9a–m) have been synthesized. Among these, the peptides 9g and 9h were found to be the most inhibitory potency and selectivity against SIRT2.     

利用硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐同步富集厌氧甲烷氧化微生物的比较实验

【背景】反硝化厌氧甲烷氧化(Denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation,DAMO)是以硝酸盐或亚硝酸盐为电子受体以甲烷为电子供体的厌氧氧化过程,对认识全球碳氮循环、削减温室气体排放和开发废水脱氮新技术等方面具有重要意义。【目的】认识以硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐为电子受体的DAMO微生物富集过程和结果的差异性。【方法】在序批式反应器(Sequencing batch reaetor,SBR)内接种混合物,分别以硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐为电子受体连续培养800 d,定期检测反应器基质浓度变化、计算转化速率;利用16S rRNA基因系统发育分析研究功能微生物的多样性,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术定量测定功能微生物。【结果】以亚硝酸盐为电子受体的1、3号反应器富集到了DAMO细菌,未检测到DAMO古菌;以硝酸盐为电子受体的2号反应器富集到了DAMO细菌和古菌的混合物;3个反应器的脱氮速率经过初始低速期、快速提升期,最终达到稳定,但2号快速提升期开始时间比1、3号晚了80 d左右,达到稳定的时间更长,稳定最大速率为1、3号的44.7%、40.3%。【结论】硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐对富集产物有决定性影响;以硝酸盐为电子受体富集得到的DAMO古菌和细菌协同体系可以长期稳定共存,DAMO古菌可能是协同体系中脱氮速率的限制性因素。     

精准扶贫视角下生态系统服务与贫困人口生计耦合关联分析

在生态文明建设和精准扶贫背景下,处理好贫困区生态系统保护和扶贫开发间的关系,是如期实现2020年全面建成小康社会的基础。以全国717个贫困市、区、县为研究对象,构建了精准扶贫视角下生态系统服务与贫困人口生计耦合的评价指标体系和灰色关联耦合模型,分析中国贫困区生态系统服务和贫困人口生计耦合的主要影响因素以及耦合度的时空演变规律,结果表明:(1) 2015年中国贫困区生态系统服务和人口生计两个系统各指标间的关联度在0.363—0.964。其中,生态系统服务对贫困人口生计的综合关联度为0.793,贫困人口生计对生态系统服务的综合关联度为0.740。(2) 2000—2015年生态系统服务和人口生计耦合度长时间序列呈"W"型变化,年际间波动变化明显,但整体维持在0.770—0.801之间。(3) 2000—2015年生态系统服务与贫困人口生计耦合度最高的区域主要集中分布在西部区域,主要包括西藏省、四川省西北藏区及青海省南部,东中部区域的耦合度相对较低,中国贫困区生态系统服务与贫困人口生计间耦合的空间分异显著。(4) 2000—2015年生态系统服务与贫困人口生计耦合度呈上升趋势的区县有92个,占中国全部贫困区县数量的12.83%;呈下降趋势的区县有163个区县,占中国全部贫困区县数量的22.73%;保持稳定不变的区县有462个,占中国全部贫困区县数量的64.44%。这些结论可为区域精准扶贫制定针对性政策,如期实现脱贫,提供参考和借鉴。     

京津冀城市群用水效率及其与城市化水平的关系

深入分析京津冀城市群用水效率与城市化水平的相互关系,揭示不同城市城市化水平对水资源利用效率的影响,有助于缓解水资源短缺问题。结合超效率数据包络模型,定量分析了京津冀城市群不同行业的用水效率,从人口、经济、社会与土地等不同城市化角度,全面分析了城市发展水平与生活、工业、农业三大行业用水效率之间的相互关系。主要结论为:(1)2006—2015年,京津冀城市群生活和工业用水效率总体上略微下降,而农业用水效率明显上升;不同城市之间存在明显差别,唐山、衡水与沧州市各行业用水效率均较高,邯郸和邢台市各行业用水效率均偏低。(2)城市发展水平对不同行业用水效率的影响存在明显差异。城市化水平的提升可以显著提高生活用水效率,但对工业和农业用水效率具有不同程度的负向影响。综合用水效率仅受到经济城市化的显著影响,相关系数达0.19,表明提高用水效率的关键是进一步调整经济产业结构。(3)城市化水平与用水效率梯度的匹配状态较差。一方面,京津冀13个城市中达到匹配的城市仅有4个,占京津冀城市总数的30.77%,匹配程度较低。另一方面,不存在城市化水平和用水效率双高型的城市,匹配层次较低。综上所述,针对京津冀城市化发展与用水效率的失衡关系,应审视水资源投入产出结构并尝试行业联动等节水发展模式。     

漓江河岸带枫杨群落主要木本植物种间联结与相关分析

种间联结能够反映植物群落中物种间的关系和群落的稳定程度,对植被的恢复与重建、生物多样性保护等具有重要的意义和价值。为了解漓江河岸带枫杨群落的种间联结特征,基于2×2联列表,通过方差比率(VR)、χ~2检验、Pearson相关系数、Spearman秩相关系数检验及PCA排序等,对枫杨群落主要木本植物种间关联性进行定量分析和生态种组划分。结果表明:(1)乔木层、灌木层以及乔木和灌木层的总体种间关联性均呈不显著正联结,表明枫杨群落处于较稳定的阶段;(2)χ~2检验结果显示,绝大多数种对呈不显著关联,说明群落各种对间关联较弱,各物种间呈独立分布格局;(3)Pearson相关检验和Spearman秩相关检验发现各层次的显著率均较低,种间相关性不显著的种对占绝大部分,种间相关性不强;(4)χ~2检验、Pearson相关系数检验和Spearman秩相关系数检验结果虽具有一致性,但也存在一定的差异,Spearman秩相关系数检验更具灵敏性,结合3种方法使用效果更佳;(5)根据PCA排序和种间联结关系,将20个主要物种划分为4个生态种组。     

基于MODIS NDVI的辽河保护区成立前后植被覆盖时空动态研究

以2010年成立以自然生态恢复为主的辽河保护区为研究对象,基于中分辨率成像光谱仪(MODIS)获取的500米分辨率的归一化植被指数(NDVI)数据,研究了辽河保护区成立前(2000—2009年)和成立后(2010—2015年)植被覆盖时空动态。结果表明:(1)2000—2015年NDVI呈现持续增加趋势;2000—2009年NDVI的年际增加主要发生在夏季,2010—2015年NDVI的年际增加主要发生在春季和冬季。辽河保护区成立后春季NDVI的逐年增加有利于该区域防风固沙功能的提升。(2)季节尺度上,2000—2009年春季降水量与春季和夏季NDVI显著正相关,夏季气温与夏季NDVI显著负相关;2010—2015年仅夏季NDVI动态受春季气温和夏季日照时数变化的影响。(3)月尺度上,气温是影响辽河保护区NDVI变化的主要气候因素,2000—2015年NDVI动态对气温变化的响应存在1个月的滞后期;2000—2009年NDVI动态对降水变化的响应存在1个月的滞后期,2010—2015年则无滞后效应。(4)2000—2009年影响NDVI动态的人类活动主要为农田耕作;辽河保护区成立后,河岸带封育区内的自然恢复和小型人工湿地建设促进了NDVI增加,大型人工湿地建设和人工经营牧草地对NDVI动态无显著影响。     

太原汾河蓄水区浮游植物细胞密度及其与营养元素的关系

水体营养元素是影响水体生态系统的重要因素,决定着水体中不同的浮游生物群落结构,也是评价水质和水体营养状态的重要指标。对太原汾河蓄水区9个样点浮游植物和各项水环境及营养元素进行了调查与分析,调查期间发现(1)该流域蓝藻和绿藻为主要优势类群,即构成了以蓝-绿藻门为主要的浮游群落。平水期与丰水期优势种均以蓝藻门的微小色球藻(Chroococcus minutus)、微小平裂藻(Merismopedia tenuissima)、小颤藻(Oscillatoria tenuis)、铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)为主,其丰度分别占平水期和丰水期藻细胞总数的42.95%和59.24%。叶绿素a含量随地理位置变化明显,中下游显著高于上游。(2)太原汾河蓄水区水质均达到富营养状态。由于太原汾河蓄水区沿途的生活垃圾、污水的不合理排放,导致汾河中总氮、总磷等指标偏高,最终导致整个水体处于轻度富营养状态或中度富营养状态。(3)叶绿素a含量与水温、总氮、总磷呈显著正相关,与有机物含量呈极显著正相关,总磷的影响最为明显,说明磷可能是该地区浮游植物生长的限制因子。