Platelet‐rich plasma inhibits osteoblast apoptosis and actin cytoskeleton disruption induced by gingipains through upregulating integrin β1

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of platelet‐rich plasma on gingipain‐caused changes in cell morphology and apoptosis of osteoblasts. Mouse osteoblasts MC3T3‐E1 cells were treated with gingipain extracts from Porphyromonas gingivalis in the presence or absence of platelet‐rich plasma. Apoptosis was detected with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling staining. F‐actin was determined by phalloidin‐fluorescent staining and observed under confocal microscopy. Western blot analysis was used to detect integrin β1, F‐actin, and G‐actin protein expressions. A knocking down approach was used to determine the role of integrin β1. The platelet‐rich plasma protected osteoblasts from gingipain‐induced apoptosis in a dose‐dependent manner, accompanied by upregulation of integrin β1. Platelet‐rich plasma reversed the loss of F‐actin integrity and decrease of F‐actin/G‐actin ratio in osteoblasts in the presence of gingipains. By contrast, the effects of platelet‐rich plasma were abrogated by knockdown of integrin β1. The platelet‐rich plasma failed to reduce cell apoptosis and reorganize the cytoskeleton after knockdown of integrin β1. In conclusion, platelet‐rich plasma inhibits gingipain‐induced osteoblast apoptosis and actin cytoskeleton disruption by upregulating integrin β1 expression.     

Substrate binding to Src: A new perspective on tyrosine kinase substrate recognition from NMR and molecular dynamics

Most signal transduction pathways in humans are regulated by protein kinases through phosphorylation of their protein substrates. Typical eukaryotic protein kinases are of two major types: those that phosphorylate‐specific sequences containing tyrosine (~90 kinases) and those that phosphorylate either serine or threonine (~395 kinases). The highly conserved catalytic domain of protein kinases comprises a smaller N lobe and a larger C lobe separated by a cleft region lined by the activation loop. Prior studies find that protein tyrosine kinases recognize peptide substrates by binding the polypeptide chain along the C‐lobe on one side of the activation loop, while serine/threonine kinases bind their substrates in the cleft and on the side of the activation loop opposite to that of the tyrosine kinases. Substrate binding structural studies have been limited to four families of the tyrosine kinase group, and did not include Src tyrosine kinases. We examined peptide‐substrate binding to Src using paramagnetic‐relaxation‐enhancement NMR combined with molecular dynamics simulations. The results suggest Src tyrosine kinase can bind substrate positioning residues C‐terminal to the phosphoacceptor residue in an orientation similar to serine/threonine kinases, and unlike other tyrosine kinases. Mutagenesis corroborates this new perspective on tyrosine kinase substrate recognition. Rather than an evolutionary split between tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases, a change in substrate recognition may have occurred within the TK group of the human kinome. Protein tyrosine kinases have long been therapeutic targets, but many marketed drugs have deleterious off‐target effects. More accurate knowledge of substrate interactions of tyrosine kinases has the potential for improving drug selectivity.     

西安市城市化对景观格局及生态系统服务价值的影响

我国处于城市化高度发展阶段,截止2018年全国城市化率达到59.58%。城市的快速扩张,显著改变了区域景观格局,深刻影响城市生态系统的供给、调节、文化、支持等服务功能。近30年来,西安市城市用地扩张554.23 km²,基于西安市景观格局变化分析,利用同心缓冲区探讨城乡梯度内景观指数与生态系统服务价值的特征及其相互关系,揭示城市发展对城市生态系统的影响。结果表明,1980-2015年西安市各景观类型面积发生明显变化,耕地、草地面积逐渐减少,建设用地面积波动增加,主要来源于优势景观耕地的转化。景观破碎度最高的区域主要分布在距市中心10 km左右的城乡结合部,斑块密度、边缘密度、景观分割度最高,且随城市扩张,拐点距离逐渐增加。林地和耕地是提供生态系统服务的主要土地类型,西安地区总生态服务价值减少了9.56亿元,耕地减少最多（6.83亿元）,沿城乡梯度,总生态系统服务价值均值呈现从市中心到农村递增的趋势,土壤保持的生态服务价值增长最快;沿时间梯度上,生态服务价值均值呈现逐年减少现象;从景观格局对生态服务价值影响分析得知,多样性指数与各类型生态系统服务价值之间存在显著的相关关系,最大斑块指数与不同类型的服务价值呈高度负相关。城市建设使得区域的生态系统服务价值降低,在城市发展中需要科学规划用地、合理布设景观格局,提高生态环境质量,达到城市生态宜居的目的。     

Physiological and molecular advances in magnesium nutrition of plants

Plant and Soil - Phytoremediation of soil contaminated by trace elements is a technology using plants and microorganisms to sequester, inactivate, or extract contaminants from the soil. The...     

Growth densities regulate the response to elevated CO2 in a farmed seaweed Pyropia haitanensis (Bangiales,Rhodophyta)

Journal of Applied Phycology - Atmospheric CO2 concentration is predicted to nearly double by the end of this century. There are a large number of reports on the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2...