Geometrical comparison of two protein structures using Wigner‐D functions

In this article, we develop a quantitative comparison method for two arbitrary protein structures. This method uses a root‐mean‐square deviation characterization and employs a series expansion of the protein's shape function in terms of the Wigner‐D functions to define a new criterion, which is called a “similarity value.” We further demonstrate that the expansion coefficients for the shape function obtained with the help of the Wigner‐D functions correspond to structure factors. Our method addresses the common problem of comparing two proteins with different numbers of atoms. We illustrate it with a worked example. Proteins 2014; 82:2756–2769. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

杯山药零余子愈伤组织诱导及植株再生的研究

对怀山药（Ｄｉｏｓｃｏｒｅａ ｏｐｐｏｓｉｔａ）零余子愈伤组织的诱导、分化、再生苗的生根和移栽进行了研究。结果表明：⑴在不同激素组合的培养基上怀山药零余子均能产生愈作组织,而且具有一次成苗的能力。ＢＡ２ｍｇ／Ｌ＋ＮＡＡ２ｍｇ／Ｌ的培养基对诱导愈伤组织最有利,其出愈率达１００％;⑵在愈伤组织的分化中,ＢＡ１ｍｇ／Ｌ＋ＮＡＡ１ｍｇ／Ｌ的激素组合是最佳的,其分化率为６３．６％,且多形成丛生芽;⑶再生植株     

Biogeographic differences in plant–soil biota relationships contribute to the exotic range expansion of Verbascum thapsus

1. Exotic plant species can evolve adaptations to environmental conditions in the exotic range. Furthermore, soil biota can foster exotic spread in the absence of negative soil pathogen–plant interactions or because of increased positive soil biota–plant feedbacks in the exotic range. Little is known, however, about the evolutionary dimension of plant–soil biota interactions when comparing native and introduced ranges.
2. To assess the role of soil microbes for rapid evolution in plant invasion, we subjected Verbascum thapsus, a species native to Europe, to a reciprocal transplant experiment with soil and seed material originating from Germany (native) and New Zealand (exotic). Soil samples were treated with biocides to distinguish between effects of soil fungi and bacteria. Seedlings from each of five native and exotic populations were transplanted into soil biota communities originating from all populations and subjected to treatments of soil biota reduction: application of (a) fungicide, (b) biocide, (c) a combination of the two, and (d) control.
3. For most of the investigated traits, native populations showed higher performance than exotic populations; there was no effect of soil biota origin. However, plants developed longer leaves and larger rosettes when treated with their respective home soil communities, indicating that native and exotic plant populations differed in their interaction with soil biota origin. The absence of fungi and bacteria resulted in a higher specific root length, suggesting that V. thapsus may compensate the absence of mutualistic microbes by increasing its root–soil surface contact.
4. Synthesis. Introduced plants can evolve adaptations to soil biota in their new distribution range. This demonstrates the importance of biogeographic differences in plant–soil biota relationships and suggests that future studies addressing evolutionary divergence should account for differential effects of soil biota from the home and exotic range on native and exotic populations of successful plant invaders.

     

The “biological ego”. From Garrod's “chemical individuality” to Burnet's “self”

Starting from the conceptual premises of Garrod, who as long ago as 1902 spoke of chemical individuality, and of Burnet (1949), who recognized as self one's own molecular antigenic structures (as opposed to the antigenic alien: the non- self), the discovery and understanding of HLA antigens and of their extraordinarily individual and differentiated polymorphisms have gained universal recognition. Transplant medicine has now dramatically stressed, within man's knowledge of himself, the characteristic of his biological uniqueness. Today man, having become aware of being a biological antigenic-molecular individuality which is unique and different from that of all of his fellow men (except for monozygotic twins), can therefore easily consider himself a true biological Ego.Abbreviations BMT bone marrow transplantation - GVHD graft versus host disease - HLA human leukocyte antigens - MHC major histocompatibility complex - MLC mixed lymphocyte culture - MLR mixed lymphocyte reaction     

Collagen regulates the ability of endothelial progenitor cells to protect hypoxic myocardium through a mechanism involving miR‐377/VE‐PTP axis

The possibility to employ stem/progenitor cells in the cardiovascular remodelling after myocardial infarction is one of the main queries of regenerative medicine. To investigate whether endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) participate in the restoration of hypoxia‐affected myocardium, we used a co‐culture model that allowed the intimate interaction between EPCs and myocardial slices, mimicking stem cell transplantation into the ischaemic heart. On this model, we showed that EPCs engrafted to some extent and only transiently survived into the host tissue, yet produced visible protective effects, in terms of angiogenesis and protection against apoptosis and identified miR‐377‐VE‐PTP axis as being involved in the protective effects of EPCs in hypoxic myocardium. We also showed that collagen, the main component of the myocardial scar, was important for these protective effects by preserving VE‐PTP levels, which were otherwise diminished by miR‐377. By this, a good face of the scar is revealed, which was so far perceived as having only detrimental impact on the exogenously delivered stem/progenitor cells by affecting not only the engraftment, but also the general protective effects of stem cells.     

The prognostic value of the furosemide stress test in predicting delayed graft function following deceased donor kidney transplantation

Objectives and methods: The Furosemide Stress Test (FST) is a novel dynamic assessment of tubular function that has been shown in preliminary studies to predict patients who will progress to advanced stage acute kidney injury, including those who receive renal replacement therapy (RRT). The aim of this study is to investigate if the urinary response to a single intraoperative dose of intravenous furosemide predicts delayed graft function (DGF) in patients undergoing deceased donor kidney transplant.

Results: On an adjusted multiple logistic regression, a single 100?mg dose of intraoperative furosemide after the anastomosis of the renal vessels (FST) predicted the need for RRT at 2 and 6?h post kidney transplantation (KT). Recipient urinary output was measured at 2 and 6?h post furosemide administration. In receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the FST predicted DGF with an area-under-the curve of 0.85 at an optimal urinary output cut-off of <600 mls at 6?h with a sensitivity of and a specificity of 83% and 74%, respectively.

Conclusions: The FST is a predictor of DGF post kidney transplant and has the potential to identify patients requiring RRT early after KT.     

Defining the optimal cryoprotectant and concentration for cryopreservation of limbal stem cells

Limbal stem cell (LSC) deficiency causes progressive loss of vision but may be treated by transplant of autologous LSCs. Cryopreservation has the potential to indefinitely extend the lifespan of LSCs allowing re-transplant in case of graft failure. In this study, we aimed to identify the optimal cryoprotectant and cryoprotectant concentration for LSC cultures. Suspension cultures derived from cadaveric corneoscleral rims were cooled to 4 °C with Me₂SO, propylene glycol or ethylene glycol at a concentration of 5%, 10% or 15%. Cell tolerance was measured in terms of membrane integrity, colony-forming efficiency and alamarBlue^® reduction. Increasing cryoprotectant concentration above 5% reduced membrane integrity, metabolism and colony-forming efficiency. Cryoprotectant choice did not significantly influence these characteristics. Cells demonstrating Side Population were maintained after cryopreservation with 5% propylene glycol in vapour phase liquid nitrogen for 1 week, indicating that cryopreservation of LSCs with relatively low cryoprotectant concentration (5%) has promise in low-temperature eye banking.     

肠道菌群与帕金森病的相关性研究

人体内肠道菌群数量庞大,参与机体物质与能量代谢,对机体的生理活动具有重要调节作用。近年来,众多研究表明,肠道菌群稳态在维持大脑和神经系统的正常功能中发挥着重要作用,肠道菌群失调与帕金森病(Parkinson’s disease,PD)等神经疾病的发作密切相关。目前,针对PD发病机制与肠道菌群失调的研究成果丰富,表明肠道菌群在PD发病中起着重要的诱导作用。本文梳理了肠道菌群紊乱与PD发生的相关国内外文献,通过深入分析PD患者肠道菌群的变化特征,讨论了PD与肠道菌群变化间的关系;同时,探讨了粪便移植技术在PD治疗中的应用,旨在为有效预防与治疗PD提供可靠的理论依据。