关于蒙古绣线菊毛枝变种及回折绣线菊的学名订正

支持将蒙古绣线菊毛枝变种提升为种的等级且于宁夏绣线菊同种,但其合法学名应为Spiraea tomentulosa(Yu)Y.Z.Zhao。与此同时,本文发现了真正的蒙古绣线菊的毛枝变种--S. mongolica Maxim.var.pubescens Y.Z.Zhao et T.J.Wang。     

p38MAPK-regulated induction of p62 and NBR1 after photodynamic therapy promotes autophagic clearance of ubiquitin aggregates and reduces reactive oxygen species levels by supporting Nrf2–antioxidant signaling

Emerging evidence indicates that oxidative stress instigates the formation of ubiquitin (Ub) aggregates, substrates of autophagy, through a process requiring the ubiquitin binding adaptors p62/SQSTM1 and NBR1. Here, we have investigated the role of p62 and NBR1 in cell survival after hypericin-mediated photodynamic therapy (Hyp-PDT), a procedure known to incite robust reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy pathways. We found that Hyp-PDT stimulated the formation of p62- and NBR1-associated Ub aggregates in normal and cancer cells, which were ultimately removed by autophagy, through a mechanism partially regulated by p38^MAPK. In line with this, genetic or pharmacological p38^MAPK inhibition reduced p62 and NBR1 levels and aggregate formation and impaired Nrf2 activation, thus increasing photo-oxidative stress and cell death. p62-deficient cells, or cells lacking p62 and with reduced levels of NBR1 (through siRNA knockdown), also displayed reduced aggregate formation but exhibited attenuated ROS levels, reduced caspase activation, and improved survival after Hyp-PDT. The increased resistance to photo-oxidative stress exhibited by cells lacking p62 and/or NBR1 was overruled by the inhibition of p38^MAPK, which restored cytotoxic ROS levels, thus indicating the relevance of this signal in the control of cell viability. Taken together these findings provide evidence that in photodynamically treated cells a p38^MAPK-regulated pathway coordinates the p62/NBR1-mediated clearance of cytosolic aggregates and mitigates PDT-induced proteotoxicity. They also reveal that a functional p38^MAPK–Nrf2 signal is required to keep ROS levels in check and protect against PDT-induced proteotoxicity, independent of aggregate formation.     

河南禹县山西组中麟木属( Lepidodendron )的两个新种

本文对华夏植物群鳞木属植物的研究现状进行了综述,讨论了华夏木属是否废除的问题。根据华夏木属与鳞木属基本特征相同,只是叶座形态、叶痕形态与鳞木属不同,这些特征只能作鳞木属分种的依据,同意《中国古生代植物》的处理意见。本文还描述了河南禹县山西组鳞木属的两个新种,即:Lepidod endron huayanense Ma(spnov.), L. yuxianense. Ma(sp. nov.).     

Phasing out the bad—How SQSTM1/p62 sequesters ubiquitinated proteins for degradation by autophagy

The degradation of misfolded, ubiquitinated proteins is essential for cellular homeostasis. These proteins are primarily degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and macroautophagy/autophagy serves as a backup mechanism when the UPS is overloaded. How autophagy and the UPS are coordinated is not fully understood. During the autophagy of misfolded, ubiquitinated proteins, referred to as aggrephagy, substrate proteins are clustered into larger structures in a SQSTM1/p62-dependent manner before they are sequestered by phagophores, the precursors to autophagosomes. We have recently shown that SQSTM1/p62 and ubiquitinated proteins spontaneously phase separate into micrometer-sized clusters in vitro. This enabled us to characterize the properties of the ubiquitin-positive substrates that are necessary for the SQSTM1/p62-mediated cluster formation. Our results suggest that aggrephagy is triggered by the accumulation of substrates with multiple ubiquitin chains and that the process can be inhibited by active proteasomes.     

LRRC25 inhibits type I IFN signaling by targeting ISG15‐associated RIG‐I for autophagic degradation

The RIG‐I‐like receptors (RLRs) are critical for protection against RNA virus infection, and their activities must be stringently controlled to maintain immune homeostasis. Here, we report that leucine‐rich repeat containing protein 25 (LRRC25) is a key negative regulator of RLR‐mediated type I interferon (IFN) signaling. Upon RNA virus infection, LRRC25 specifically binds to ISG15‐associated RIG‐I to promote interaction between RIG‐I and the autophagic cargo receptor p62 and to mediate RIG‐I degradation via selective autophagy. Depletion of either LRRC25 or ISG15 abrogates RIG‐I‐p62 interaction as well as the autophagic degradation of RIG‐I. Collectively, our findings identify a previously unrecognized role of LRRC25 in type I IFN signaling activation by which LRRC25 acts as a secondary receptor to assist RIG‐I delivery to autophagosomes for degradation in a p62‐dependent manner.     

Expression of glycoprotein-processing enzymes in Escherichia coli as fusion proteins

A truncated Man9-mannosidase gene and a full-length -1,4-galactosyltransferase gene were isolated from human kidney and placenta cDNAs, respectively. Both genes were cloned in plasmid pMAL-c2 to produce fusions with maltose-binding protein. Fusion products were purified by affinity chromatography. Purified enzymes were assayed using pyridyl-amino labelled oligosaccharides as substrates and analysed by HPLC.     

The Carbohydrate-linked Phosphorylcholine of the Parasitic Nematode Product ES-62 Modulates Complement Activation

Parasitic nematodes manufacture various carbohydrate-linked phosphorylcholine (PCh)-containing molecules, including ES-62, a protein with an N-linked glycan terminally substituted with PCh. The PCh component is biologically important because it is required for immunomodulatory effects. We showed that most ES-62 was bound to a single protein, C-reactive protein (CRP), in normal human serum, displaying a calcium-dependent, high-avidity interaction and ability to form large complexes. Unexpectedly, CRP binding to ES-62 failed to efficiently activate complement as far as the C3 convertase stage in comparison with PCh-BSA and PCh-containing Streptococcus pneumoniae cell wall polysaccharide. C1q capture assays demonstrated an ES-62-CRP-C1q interaction in serum. The three ligands all activated C1 and generated C4b to similar extents. However, a C2a active site was not generated following ES-62 binding to CRP, demonstrating that C2 cleavage was far less efficient for ES-62-containing complexes. We proposed that failure of C2 cleavage was due to the flexible nature of carbohydrate-bound PCh and that reduced proximity of the C1 complex was the reason that C2 was poorly cleaved. This was confirmed using synthetic analogues that were similar to ES-62 only in respect of having a flexible PCh. Furthermore, ES-62 was shown to deplete early complement components, such as the rate-limiting C4, following CRP interaction and thereby inhibit classical pathway activation. Thus, flexible PCh-glycan represents a novel mechanism for subversion of complement activation. These data illustrate the importance of the rate-limiting C4/C2 stage of complement activation and reveal a new addition to the repertoire of ES-62 immunomodulatory mechanisms with possible therapeutic applications.