闽南渔场游泳动物优势种种群聚集特性

基于2016年4月和10月闽南渔场渔业资源的专项调查数据,运用相对性重要指数、平均拥挤度指数、聚块指数、Cassie指标、Mrisita指数等方法分析闽南渔场游泳动物优势种组成及其种群聚集特性,比较不同的季节、类群和种类及其相互间的聚集状态,探究种群聚集驱动因子,旨在发现闽南渔场游泳动物优势种种群聚集的特征、内在规律和形成机制。结果表明,闽南渔场游泳动物优势种共17种,其中鱼类6种、虾类3种、蟹类4种、头足类4种;鱼类中六指马鲅（Polydactylus se-xfilis）聚集强度最强,头足类中火枪乌贼（Loligo beka）聚集强度最强;虾类和蟹类中春季以哈氏仿对虾（Parapenaeopsis hardwickii）和拥剑梭子蟹（Portunus gladiator）的聚集强度最强,而秋季以鹰爪虾（Trachypenaeus curvirostris）和日本蟳（Charybdis japonica）的聚集强度最强;鱼类、虾类、蟹类和头足类中春季分别以二长棘犁齿鲷（Evynnis cardinali）、鹰爪虾、三疣梭子蟹（P. trituberculatus）和火枪乌贼的平均拥挤度最高,而秋季分别以带鱼（Trichiurus lepturus）、鹰爪虾、拥剑梭子蟹和杜氏枪乌贼（Loligo duvaucelii）的平均拥挤度最高;闽南渔场游泳动物优势种的平均拥挤度呈现出秋季高于春季,虾类、蟹类种群聚集强度大于鱼类、头足类的特点。     

The influence of PAMAM dendrimers surface groups on their interaction with porcine pepsin

In this study the ability of three polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers with different surface charge (positive, neutral and negative) to interact with a negatively charged protein (porcine pepsin) was examined. It was shown that the dendrimer with a positively charged surface (G4 PAMAM-NH₂), as well as the dendrimer with a neutral surface (G4 PAMAM-OH), were able to inhibit enzymatic activity of pepsin. It was also found that these dendrimers act as mixed partially non-competitive pepsin inhibitors. The negatively charged dendrimer (G3.5 PAMAM-COOH) was not able to inhibit the enzymatic activity of pepsin, probably due to the electrostatic repulsion between this dendrimer and the protein. No correlation between changes in enzymatic activity of pepsin and alterations in CD spectrum of the protein was observed. It indicates that the interactions between dendrimers and porcine pepsin are complex, multidirectional and not dependent only on disturbances of the secondary structure.     

Crystal structure of the C-terminal domain of Mu phage central spike and functions of bound calcium ion

Bacteriophage Mu, which has a contractile tail, is one of the most famous genus of Myoviridae. It has a wide host range and is thought to contribute to horizontal gene transfer. The Myoviridae infection process is initiated by adhesion to the host surface. The phage then penetrates the host cell membrane using its tail to inject its genetic material into the host. In this penetration process, Myoviridae phages are proposed to puncture the membrane of the host cell using a central spike located beneath its baseplate. The central spike of the Mu phage is thought to be composed of gene 45 product (gp45), which has a significant sequence homology with the central spike of P2 phage (gpV). We determined the crystal structure of shortened Mu gp45Δ1-91 (Arg92–Gln197) at 1.5 Å resolution and showed that Mu gp45 is a needlelike structure that punctures the membrane. The apex of Mu gp45 and that of P2 gpV contained iron, chloride, and calcium ions. Although the C-terminal domain of Mu gp45 was sufficient for binding to the E. coli membrane, a mutant D188A, in which the Asp amino acid residue that coordinates the calcium ion was replaced by Ala, did not exhibit a propensity to bind to the membrane. Therefore, we concluded that calcium ion played an important role in interaction with the host cell membrane.     

Approximation of bias and mean-squared error in two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses

Mendelian randomization (MR) is a type of instrumental variable (IV) analysis that uses genetic variants as IVs for a risk factor to study its causal effect on an outcome. Extensive investigations on the performance of IV analysis procedures, such as the one based on the two-stage least squares (2SLS) procedure, have been conducted under the one-sample scenario, where measures on IVs, the risk factor, and the outcome are assumed to be available for each study participant. Recent MR analysis usually is performed with data from two independent or partially overlapping genetic association studies (two-sample setting), with one providing information on the association between the IVs and the outcome, and the other on the association between the IVs and the risk factor. We investigate the performance of 2SLS in the two-sample–based MR when the IVs are weakly associated with the risk factor. We derive closed form formulas for the bias and mean squared error of the 2SLS estimate and verify them with numeric simulations under realistic circumstances. Using these analytic formulas, we can study the pros and cons of conducting MR analysis under one-sample and two-sample settings and assess the impact of having overlapping samples. We also propose and validate a bias-corrected estimator for the causal effect.     

When size does matter: organelle size influences the properties of transport mediated by molecular motors

Background

Organelle transport is driven by the action of molecular motors. In this work, we studied the dynamics of organelles of different sizes with the aim of understanding the complex relation between organelle motion and microenvironment.

Methods

We used single particle tracking to obtain trajectories of melanosomes (pigmented organelles in Xenopus laevis melanophores). In response to certain hormones, melanosomes disperse in the cytoplasm or aggregate in the perinuclear region by the combined action of microtubule and actin motors.

Results and conclusions

Melanosome trajectories followed an anomalous diffusion model in which the anomalous diffusion exponent (α) provided information regarding the trajectories' topography and thus of the processes causing it. During aggregation, the directionality of big organelles was higher than that of small organelles and did not depend on the presence of either actin or intermediate filaments (IF). Depolymerization of IF significantly reduced α values of small organelles during aggregation but slightly affect their directionality during dispersion.

General significance

Our results could be interpreted considering that the number of copies of active motors increases with organelle size. Transport of big organelles was not influenced by actin or IF during aggregation showing that these organelles are moved processively by the collective action of dynein motors. Also, we found that intermediate filaments enhance the directionality of small organelles suggesting that this network keeps organelles close to the tracks allowing their efficient reattachment. The higher directionality of small organelles during dispersion could be explained considering the better performance of kinesin-2 vs. dynein at the single molecule level.     

The potentiation of myeloperoxidase activity by the glycosaminoglycan-dependent binding of myeloperoxidase to proteins of the extracellular matrix

Background

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an abundant hemoprotein expressed by neutrophil granulocytes that is recognized to play an important role in the development of vascular diseases. Upon degranulation from circulating neutrophil granulocytes, MPO binds to the surface of endothelial cells in an electrostatic-dependent manner and undergoes transcytotic migration to the underlying extracellular matrix (ECM). However, the mechanisms governing the binding of MPO to subendothelial ECM proteins, and whether this binding modulates its enzymatic functions are not well understood.

Methods

We investigated MPO binding to ECM derived from aortic endothelial cells, aortic smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts, and to purified ECM proteins, and the modulation of these associations by glycosaminoglycans. The oxidizing and chlorinating potential of MPO upon binding to ECM proteins was tested.

Results

MPO binds to the ECM proteins collagen IV and fibronectin, and this association is enhanced by the pre-incubation of these proteins with glycosaminoglycans. Correspondingly, an excess of glycosaminoglycans in solution during incubation inhibits the binding of MPO to collagen IV and fibronectin. These observations were confirmed with cell-derived ECM. The oxidizing and chlorinating potential of MPO was preserved upon binding to collagen IV and fibronectin; even the potentiation of MPO activity in the presence of collagen IV and fibronectin was observed.

Conclusions

Collectively, the data reveal that MPO binds to ECM proteins on the basis of electrostatic interactions, and MPO chlorinating and oxidizing activity is potentiated upon association with these proteins.

General significance

Our findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction of MPO with ECM proteins.     

Honokiol: A non-adipogenic PPARγ agonist from nature

Background

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists are clinically used to counteract hyperglycemia. However, so far experienced unwanted side effects, such as weight gain, promote the search for new PPARγ activators.

Methods

We used a combination of in silico, in vitro, cell-based and in vivo models to identify and validate natural products as promising leads for partial novel PPARγ agonists.

Results

The natural product honokiol from the traditional Chinese herbal drug Magnolia bark was in silico predicted to bind into the PPARγ ligand binding pocket as dimer. Honokiol indeed directly bound to purified PPARγ ligand-binding domain (LBD) and acted as partial agonist in a PPARγ-mediated luciferase reporter assay. Honokiol was then directly compared to the clinically used full agonist pioglitazone with regard to stimulation of glucose uptake in adipocytes as well as adipogenic differentiation in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. While honokiol stimulated basal glucose uptake to a similar extent as pioglitazone, it did not induce adipogenesis in contrast to pioglitazone. In diabetic KKAy mice oral application of honokiol prevented hyperglycemia and suppressed weight gain.

Conclusion

We identified honokiol as a partial non-adipogenic PPARγ agonist in vitro which prevented hyperglycemia and weight gain in vivo.

General significance

This observed activity profile suggests honokiol as promising new pharmaceutical lead or dietary supplement to combat metabolic disease, and provides a molecular explanation for the use of Magnolia in traditional medicine.     

Seasonal acclimatization to the hot summer over 60 days in the Republic of Korea suppresses sweating sensitivity during passive heating

The main objective of this study was to determine the central mechanisms involved in suppression of thermal sweating after seasonal acclimatization (SA) during passive heating (immersing the legs in 43 °C hot water for 30 min). Testing was performed in July (before-SA) and August (after-SA) [25.2±2.2 °C, 73.9±10.3% relative humidity (RH), Cheonan (Chungnam,126° 52′N, 33.38′E), in the Republic of Korea. All experiments were carried out in an automated climatic chamber (25.0±0.5 °C and RH 60.0±3.00%). Twelve healthy men (height, 174.6±5.40 cm; weight, 65.4±5.71 kg; age, 22.7±2.90 yr) participated. The local sweat onset time was delayed in the after-SA compared to that in the before-SA (p<0.001). The local sweat rate and whole body sweat loss volume decreased in the after-SA compared to those in the before-SA (p<0.001). In addition, evaporative loss volume decreased significantly in the after-SA compared to that in the before-SA [chest, upper-back, thigh and forearm (p<0.001)]. Changes in tympanic temperature and mean body temperature were significantly lower (p<0.05) and the basal metabolic rate decreased significantly in the after-SA compared to those in the before-SA (p<0.001). These results suggest that maintenance of a lower body temperature and basal metabolic rate can occur and blunt the central sudomotor mechanisms following seasonal acclimatization, which suppresses sweating sensitivity.