Protein kinases in plant responses to drought,salt, and cold stress

Protein kinases are major players in various signal transduction pathways. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses has become critical for developing and breeding climate-resilient crops. In this review,we summarize recent progress on understanding plant drought, salt, and cold stress responses, with a focus on signal perception and transduction by different protein kinases, especially sucrose nonfermenting1(SNF1)-related protein kinases(Sn RKs),mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) cascades,calcium-dependent protein kinases(CDPKs/CPKs),and receptor-like kinases(RLKs). We also discuss future challenges in these research fields.     

β-1,6葡聚糖酶前体编码基因Ss4p对甘蔗黑穗病菌分泌蛋白组的影响

甘蔗(Saccharum spp.)是世界也是中国主要的糖料作物.由甘蔗黑穗病菌(Sporisorium scitamineum)引起的甘蔗黑穗病是中国甘蔗生产上最主要的病害,每年造成重大损失.分泌蛋白在真菌侵染寄主植物与获取营养及病理过程起重要作用.本实验室在分析甘蔗黑穗病菌基因组与转录组数据时,发现1个与真菌细胞壁降解有关的β-1,6葡聚糖酶前体的基因Ssa4p.为了揭示Ssa4p对甘蔗黑穗病菌致病性和分泌蛋白组的影响,本研究利用CRISPR/Cas9和T-DNA双元载体所构建的甘蔗黑穗菌基因敲除系统,成功获得了Ssa4p基因的失活突变株.ΔSsa4p突变株(Δ35-Ssa4p)与野生型菌株JG36的配合能力降低且致病性减弱.用iTRAQ方法对Δ35-Ssa4p和野生型菌株的分泌蛋白组进行比较分析,共鉴定到蛋白质1430个,其中上调差异表达蛋白质685个,下调差异表达蛋白质745个.GO功能富集分析及KEGG分析表明,差异蛋白主要定位于无膜细胞器和核糖体,其功能包括参与核糖体、氨基糖和核苷酸糖代谢等生物学过程.本研究发现β-1,6葡聚糖前体影响植物病原真菌的分泌蛋白,加深了对真菌致病性调控机制的认识.     

长链非编码RNA KCNQ1OT1影响脂多糖诱导的血管内皮细胞凋亡及其炎性因子表达的机制

该研究探讨了长链非编码RNA KCNQ1OT1对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的血管内皮细胞(VEC)凋亡和炎性因子表达的影响以及其可能机制。通过体外培养VEC,分别转染KCNQ1OT1过表达载体、miR-223抑制剂或共转染KCNQ1OT1过表达载体与miR-223模拟物后,用1.0 mg/mL LPS干预24 h,然后采用RT-qPCR法检测细胞中KCNQ1OT1和miR-223的表达水平,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡,Western blot检测细胞中Bcl-2和Bax蛋白表达,ELISA试剂盒检测细胞培养上清中TNF-α、IL-1和IL-6水平。双荧光素酶报告基因实验验证KCNQ1OT1与miR-223的调控关系。结果显示,LPS可抑制VEC中KCNQ1OT1的表达,而促进miR-223表达;上调KCNQ1OT1或下调miR-223后均可降低LPS诱导的VEC凋亡率、Bax蛋白及TNF-α、IL-1和IL-6表达(P<0.05),而促进Bcl-2蛋白表达(P<0.05)。KCNQ1OT1靶向负调控miR-223表达,上调miR-223则逆转上调KCNQ1OT1对LPS诱导的VEC凋亡及炎性因子表达的抑制作用。这表明,上调KCNQ1OT1抑制LPS诱导的VEC凋亡及炎性因子表达,其作用机制可能与靶向负调控miR-223有关,KCNQ1OT1/miR-223轴可能为血管内皮细胞损伤的治疗提供了新靶点。     

Photobiomodulation suppresses JNK3 by activation of ERK/MKP7 to attenuate AMPA receptor endocytosis in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a severe age‐related neurodegenerative disorder, lacks effective therapeutic methods at present. Physical approaches such as gamma frequency light flicker that can effectively reduce amyloid load have been reported recently. Our previous research showed that a physical method named photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy rescues Aβ‐induced dendritic atrophy in vitro. However, it remains to be further investigated the mechanism by which PBM affects AD‐related multiple pathological features to improve learning and memory deficits. Here, we found that PBM attenuated Aβ‐induced synaptic dysfunction and neuronal death through MKP7‐dependent suppression of JNK3, a brain‐specific JNK isoform related to neurodegeneration. The results showed PBM‐attenuated amyloid load, AMPA receptor endocytosis, dendrite injury, and inflammatory responses, thereby rescuing memory deficits in APP/PS1 mice. We noted JNK3 phosphorylation was dramatically decreased after PBM treatment in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, PBM activated ERK, which subsequently phosphorylated and stabilized MKP7, resulting in JNK3 inactivation. Furthermore, activation of ERK/MKP7 signaling by PBM increased the level of AMPA receptor subunit GluR 1 phosphorylation and attenuated AMPA receptor endocytosis in an AD pathological model. Collectively, these data demonstrated that PBM has potential therapeutic value in reducing multiple pathological features associated with AD, which is achieved by regulating JNK3, thus providing a noninvasive, and drug‐free therapeutic strategy to impede AD progression.     

The herpesvirus accessory protein γ134.5 facilitates viral replication by disabling mitochondrial translocation of RIG-I

RIG-I and MDA5 are cytoplasmic RNA sensors that mediate cell intrinsic immunity against viral pathogens. While it has been well-established that RIG-I and MDA5 recognize RNA viruses, their interactive network with DNA viruses, including herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), remains less clear. Using a combination of RNA-deep sequencing and genetic studies, we show that the γ₁34.5 gene product, a virus-encoded virulence factor, enables HSV growth by neutralization of RIG-I dependent restriction. When expressed in mammalian cells, HSV-1 γ₁34.5 targets RIG-I, which cripples cytosolic RNA sensing and subsequently suppresses antiviral gene expression. Rather than inhibition of RIG-I K63-linked ubiquitination, the γ₁34.5 protein precludes the assembly of RIG-I and cellular chaperone 14-3-3ε into an active complex for mitochondrial translocation. The γ₁34.5-mediated inhibition of RIG-I-14-3-3ε binding abrogates the access of RIG-I to mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) and activation of interferon regulatory factor 3. As such, unlike wild type virus HSV-1, a recombinant HSV-1 in which γ₁34.5 is deleted elicits efficient cytokine induction and replicates poorly, while genetic ablation of RIG-I expression, but not of MDA5 expression, rescues viral growth. Collectively, these findings suggest that viral suppression of cytosolic RNA sensing is a key determinant in the evolutionary arms race of a large DNA virus and its host.     

Baicalein alleviates osteoarthritis by protecting subchondral bone,inhibiting angiogenesis and synovial proliferation

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most frequent chronic joint diseases with the increasing life expectancy. The main characteristics of the disease are loss of articular cartilage, subchondral bone sclerosis and synovium inflammation. Physical measures, drug therapy and surgery are the mainstay of treatments for OA, whereas drug therapies are mainly limited to analgesics, glucocorticoids, hyaluronic acids and some alternative therapies because of single therapeutic target of OA joints. Baicalein, a traditional Chinese medicine extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been widely used in anti-inflammatory therapies. Previous studies revealed that baicalein could alleviate cartilage degeneration effectively by acting on articular chondrocytes. However, the mechanisms involved in baicalein-mediated protection of the OA are not completely understood in consideration of integrality of arthrosis. In this study, we found that intra-articular injection of baicalein ameliorated subchondral bone remodelling. Further studies showed that baicalein could decrease the number of differentiated osteoblasts by inhibiting pre-osteoblasts proliferation and promoting pre-osteoblasts apoptosis. In addition, baicalein impaired angiogenesis of endothelial cells and inhibited proliferation of synovial cells. Taken together, these results implicated that baicalein might be an effective medicine for treating OA by regulating multiple targets.     

Targeting P2 receptors in purinergic signaling: a new strategy of active ingredients in traditional Chinese herbals for diseases treatment

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and its metabolites adenosine diphosphate, adenosine monophosphate, and adenosine in purinergic signaling pathway play important roles in many diseases. Activation of P2 receptors (P2R) channels and subsequent membrane depolarization can induce accumulation of extracellular ATP, and furtherly cause kinds of diseases, such as pain- and immune-related diseases, cardiac dysfunction, and tumorigenesis. Active ingredients of traditional Chinese herbals which exhibit superior pharmacological activities on diversified P2R channels have been considered as an alternative strategy of disease treatment. Experimental evidence of potential ingredients in Chinese herbs targeting P2R and their pharmacological activities were outlined in the study.

     

β-Carboline-Based pH Fluorescent Probe and Its Application for Monitoring Enzymatic Ester Hydrolysis

A novel pH-activatable fluorescent probe, 1-(propan-2-yl)-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole-3-carboxylic acid ( L-1 ), based on β-carboline derivatives, has been developed, which displays significant fluorescent response toward pH variation with high selectivity, good photo-stability and favorable pKa value. Moreover, L-1 can dynamically monitor the release of protons during ester hydrolysis reaction in consistent with enzymatic kinetics manner.     

3D biomechanical properties of the layered esophagus: Fung-type SEF and new constitutive model

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - Background and Purpose: Most current studies on the passive biomechanical properties of esophageal tissues directly use the exponential strain energy...     

格氏栲天然林林窗植物物种多样性与系统发育多样性

林窗环境异质性导致群落物种多样性与系统发育多样性(phylogenetic diversity, PD)存在差异, 研究不同大小的林窗中群落的物种多样性与系统发育多样性有助于揭示林下生物多样性的形成及维持机制。本文以格氏栲(Castanopsis kawakamii)天然林为研究对象, 通过Pearson相关性分析与广义线性模型探讨了林窗内物种多样性与系统发育多样性间的相互关系及其环境影响因素。结果表明: (1)大林窗(面积 > 200 m²)植物种类及多度均高于中林窗(50 m² ≤ 面积 < 100 m²)、小林窗(30 m² ≤ 面积 < 50 m²)和非林窗(面积 = 100 m²)。大林窗群落系统发育结构趋于发散, 中、小林窗和非林窗群落系统发育结构受到生境过滤和竞争排斥综合作用。(2)群落系统发育多样性指数与物种丰富度(species richness, SR)、Margalef丰富度指数和Shannon-Wiener指数均呈显著正相关, 这与林窗内稀有种种类组成多于优势种有关。(3)林窗面积对物种多样性存在显著正效应; 土壤全氮含量对系统发育多样性和系统发育结构存在显著正效应。林窗形成提高了格氏栲天然林群落物种多样性和系统发育多样性, 林窗面积与土壤全氮共同驱动了格氏栲天然林林窗物种多样性和系统发育多样性的变化。