Binding of FAD and tryptophan to the tryptophan 6‐halogenase Thal is negatively coupled

Flavin‐dependent halogenases require reduced flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH₂), O₂, and halide salts to halogenate their substrates. We describe the crystal structures of the tryptophan 6‐halogenase Thal in complex with FAD or with both tryptophan and FAD. If tryptophan and FAD were soaked simultaneously, both ligands showed impaired binding and in some cases only the adenosine monophosphate or the adenosine moiety of FAD was resolved, suggesting that tryptophan binding increases the mobility mainly of the flavin mononucleotide moiety. This confirms a negative cooperativity between the binding of substrate and cofactor that was previously described for other tryptophan halogenases. Binding of substrate to tryptophan halogenases reduces the affinity for the oxidized cofactor FAD presumably to facilitate the regeneration of FADH₂ by flavin reductases.     

西藏虎头兰高效植株再生体系的研究

为建立西藏虎头兰(Cymbidium tracyanum)的高效快速繁殖体系,该研究以野生西藏虎头兰种子为外植体,通过分析不同基本培养基和植物激素配比对原球茎诱导、增殖和分化的影响,以及光照时间和培养温度对试管苗生长的影响,筛选出适宜西藏虎头兰植株高效再生的条件。结果表明:适宜西藏虎头兰生长的基本培养基为1/2 MS;种子萌发和原球茎诱导的最适培养基为1/2 MS+1.0 mg·L~(-1)6-BA+0. 5 mg·L~(-1)NAA,培养50 d后,有95.00%的种子发育成原球茎;原球茎增殖的最适培养基为1/2 MS+2.0 mg·L~(-1)NAA,培养30 d,增殖倍数为4.25;原球茎的最适分化培养基为1/2 MS+2.0 mg·L~(-1)NAA+60 g·L~(-1)土豆泥+0.5g·L~(-1)活性炭,培养10 d,不定芽发生率为98.33%,培养40 d,幼苗生根率为94.67%;试管苗在温度20℃、光照时间12 h·d~(-1)、光照强度2 000 lx的条件下培养,苗长势好,叶片生理性焦尖发生率仅为3.33%;以腐殖土作为栽培基质,试管苗的移栽成活率为97.78%。该研究结果为保护西藏虎头兰野生资源和工厂化育苗提供了科学依据和技术支持。     

药用白及资源再生策略初探

白及为兰科白及属植物。作为著名中药,白及功效多样、用途广泛,具有较高的药用价值和经济价值。随资源利用强度的增加,野生白及资源日渐萎缩,人工规模化种植是实现白及药用资源可持续利用的必由之路。优良种质及繁育技术是种植业的关键问题。为了更好地推动白及资源研究和可持续利用,本文就白及种质及快繁技术研究进展作一综述,并就白及资源再生策略进行初步探讨,为相关研究和生产提供参考。     

In vitro shoot regeneration from leaf explants of Echinops kebericho: an endangered endemic medicinal plant

Echinops kebericho is a critically endangered endemic medicinal plant of Ethiopia. It is threatened due to over harvesting of its roots for medicinal purposes and from poor seed viability. This study aimed to develop a protocol for in vitro shoot regeneration from leaf explants of E. kebericho. The seeds were sterilized using ethanol followed by Clorox or calcium hypochlorite. Shoots from the germinated seeds were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different concentrations of α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP). Young leaves were cultured on MS medium containing different concentrations of BAP and NAA for shoot regeneration. For shoot multiplication, shoots were excised and cultured on MS medium containing different concentrations of BAP or kinetin (KIN) and NAA. The highest mean number of initiated shoots (4.00 ± 0.57) with 100% shoot induction was obtained on medium containing 1.0 mg/L BAP and 0.2 mg/L NAA. The highest shoot regeneration (33%) and shoot number (2.13 ± 0.06) were obtained on MS medium containing 2.0 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L NAA. Medium containing 1.0 mg/L KIN and 0.2 mg/L NAA produced the highest number of shoots (4.67 ± 0.33) per explant. This protocol can be used for genetic improvement and conservation of this endangered species.     

Keratinocytes derived from embryonic stem cells induce wound healing in mice

The skin plays an important role in defending the body against the environment. Treatments for burns and skin injuries that use autologous or allogenic skin grafts derived from adult or embryonic stem cells are promising. Embryonic stem cells are candidates for regenerative and reparative medicine. We investigated the utility of keratinocyte-like cells, which are differentiated from mouse embryonic stem cells, for wound healing using a mouse surgical wound model. Mice were allocated to the following groups: experimental, in which dressing and differentiated cells were applied after the surgical wound was created; control, in which only the surgical wound was created; sham, in which only the dressing was applied after the surgical wound was created; and untreated animal controls with healthy skin. Biopsies were taken from each group on days 3, 5 and 7 after cell transfer. Samples were fixed in formalin, then stained with Masson’s trichrome and primary antibodies to interleukin-8 (IL-8), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), collagen-1 and epidermal growth factor (EGF) using the indirect immunoperoxidase technique for light microscopy. Wound healing was faster in the experimental group compared to the sham and control groups. The experimental group exhibited increased expression of IL-8, FGF-2 and MCP-1 during early stages of wound healing (inflammation) and collagen-1 and EGF expression during late stages of wound healing (proliferation and remodeling). Keratinocytes derived from embryonic stem cells improved wound healing and influenced the wound healing stages.     

The Hippo–YAP pathway regulates the proliferation of alveolar epithelial progenitors after acute lung injury

Regeneration of pulmonary epithelial cells plays an important role in the recovery of acute lung injury (ALI), which is defined by pulmonary epithelial cell death. However, the mechanism of the regenerative capacity of alveolar epithelial cells is unknown. Using a lung injury mouse model induced by hemorrhagic shock and lipopolysaccharide, a protein mass spectrometry‐based high‐throughput screening and linage tracing technology to mark alveolar epithelial type 2 cells (AEC2s), we analyzed the mechanism of alveolar epithelial cells proliferation. We demonstrated that the expression of Hippo‐yes‐associated protein 1 (YAP1) key proteins were highly consistent with the regularity of the proliferation of alveolar epithelial type 2 cells after ALI. Furthermore, the results showed that YAP1+ cells in lung tissue after ALI were mainly Sftpc lineage‐labeled AEC2s. An in vitro proliferation assay of AEC2s demonstrated that AEC2 proliferation was significantly inhibited by both YAP1 small interfering RNA and Hippo inhibitor. These findings revealed that YAP functioned as a key regulator to promote AEC2s proliferation, with the Hippo signaling pathway playing a pivotal role in this process.     

Early emergence increases survival of tree seedlings in Central European temperate forests despite severe late frost

Global warming is expected to result in earlier emergence of tree seedlings that may experience higher damages and mortality due to late frost in spring. We monitored emergence, characteristics, and survival of seedlings across ten tree species in temperate mixed deciduous forests of Central Europe over one and a half year. We tested whether the timing of emergence represents a trade‐off for seedling survival between minimizing frost risk and maximizing the length of the growing period. Almost two‐thirds of the seedlings died during the first growing period. The timing of emergence was decisive for seedling survival. Although seedlings that emerged early faced a severe late frost event, they benefited from a longer growing period resulting in increased overall survival. Larger seedling height and higher number of leaves positively influenced survival. Seedlings growing on moss had higher survival compared to mineral soil, litter, or herbaceous vegetation. Synthesis. Our findings demonstrate the importance of emergence time for survival of tree seedlings, with early‐emerging seedlings more likely surviving the first growing period.     

Genotype Screening of Recipient Resources with High Regeneration and Transformation Efficiency in Chrysanthemum

Genetic transformation is one of the key steps in the molecular breeding of chrysanthemum, which relies on an optimal regeneration and transformation system. However, the regeneration system of different chrysanthemum cultivars varies, and the regeneration time of most cultivars is long. To screen cultivars with highly efficient regeneration, leaves and shoot tip thin cell layers (tTCL) from eight chrysanthemum cultivars with different flower colors and flower types were cultured on Murashige and Skoog media (MS) supplemented with 1.0–5.0 mg L⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and 0.1–1.0 mg L⁻¹ α-naphthaleneacetic (NAA). The results showed that the most efficient regeneration media were MS + 6-BA 1.0 mg L⁻¹ + NAA 0.5 mg L⁻¹ for leaf explants and MS + 6-BA 5.0 mg L⁻¹ + NAA 0.1 mg L⁻¹ for tTCL explants. Subsequently, another 13 chrysanthemum cultivars were screened by using the media, and finally, three cultivars with high regeneration efficiency were obtained from 21 cultivars. Among these, C1 had the highest regeneration efficiency: the regeneration rate of leaf explants reached 80.0% after 42 days of culture, and the regeneration rate of tTCL explants reached 100% after 31 days of culture. Furthermore, we also established the transformation system for C1 as follows: preculturing for one day, infecting with Agrobacterium suspension (OD₆₀₀ = 0.6) for 10 min, and cultivating in the regeneration medium with 350 mg L⁻¹ carbenicillin and 10 mg L⁻¹ kanamycin, thus ultimately achieving a transformation rate of 4.0%. In this study, a new chrysanthemum cultivar with an efficient regeneration and transformation system was screened, which is beneficial to enrich the flower color of chrysanthemum transgenic plant recipients and to the functional research of flower color or type-related genes.