Batch-feeding whole-cell catalytic synthesis of α-arbutin by amylosucrase from Xanthomonas campestris

Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology - α-Arbutin is an effective skin-whitening cosmetic ingredient and can be synthesized through hydroquinone glycosylation. In this study,...     

Vocal divergence is concordant with genomic evidence for strong reproductive isolation in grasshopper mice (Onychomys)

Behavioral barriers to gene flow often evolve faster than intrinsic incompatibilities and can eliminate the opportunity for hybridization between interfertile species. While acoustic signal divergence is a common driver of premating isolation in birds and insects, its contribution to speciation in mammals is less studied. Here we characterize the incidence of, and potential barriers to, hybridization among three closely related species of grasshopper mice (genus Onychomys). All three species use long‐distance acoustic signals to attract and localize mates; Onychomys arenicola and Onychomys torridus are acoustically similar and morphologically cryptic whereas Onychomys leucogaster is larger and acoustically distinct. We used genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) to test for evidence of introgression in 227 mice from allopatric and sympatric localities in the western United States and northern Mexico. We conducted laboratory mating trials for all species pairs to assess reproductive compatibility, and recorded vocalizations from O. arenicola and O. torridus in sympatry and allopatry to test for evidence of acoustic character displacement. Hybridization was rare in nature and, contrary to prior evidence for O. torridus/O. arenicola hybrids, only involved O. leucogaster and O. arenicola. In contrast, laboratory crosses between O. torridus and O. arenicola produced litters whereas O. leucogaster and O. arenicola crosses did not. Call fundamental frequency in O. torridus and O. arenicola was indistinguishable in allopatry but significantly differentiated in sympatry, a pattern consistent with reproductive character displacement. These results suggest that assortative mating based on a long‐distance signal is an important isolating mechanism between O. torridus and O. arenicola and highlight the importance of behavioral barriers in determining the permeability of species boundaries.     

Comparative expression analysis of heavy metal ATPase subfamily genes between Cd-tolerant and Cd-sensitive turnip landraces

The heavy metal ATPase(HMA)subfamily is mainly involved in heavy metal(HM)tolerance and transport in plants,but an understanding of the definite roles and mechanisms of most HMA members are still limited.In the present study,we identified 14 candidate HMA genes named BrrHMAl—BrrHMA8 from the turnip genome and analyzed the phylogeny,gene structure,chromosome distribution,and conserved domains and motifs of HMAs in turnip(Brassica rapa var.rapa).According to our phylogenetic tree,the BrrHMAs are divided into a Zn/Cd/Co/Pb subclass and Cu/Ag subclass.The BrrHMA members show similar structural characteristics within subclasses.To explore the roles of BrrHMAs in turnip,we compared the gene sequences and expression patterns of the BrrHMA genes between a Cd-tolerant landrace and a Cd-sensitive landrace.Most BrrHMA genes showed similar spatial expression patterns in both Cd-tolerant and Cd-sensitive turnip landraces;some BrrHMA genes,however,were differentially expressed in specific tissue in Cd-tolerant and Cd-sensitive turnip.Specifically,BrrHMA genes in the Zn/Cd/Co/Pb subclass shared the same coding sequence but were differentially expressed in Cd-tolerant and Cd-sensitive turnip landraces under Cd stress.Our findings suggest that the stable expression and up-regulated expression of BrrHMA Zn/Cd/Co/Pb subclass genes under Cd stress may contribute to the higher Cd tolerance of turnip landraces.     

变豆菜属15种植物的果实微形态特征及其分类学意义

采用扫描电镜对来自北美和东亚的变豆菜属植物(美国7个种,中国8个种)的果实表面微形态进行观察,结合前人对伞形科其他类群果实微形态特征的研究及近年来分子系统学证据,对变豆菜属的种间分类进行研究。结果显示,变豆菜属植物果实的形态大小、皮刺弯曲程度和果柄蜡质纹饰丰富多样。研究表明变豆菜属是一个自然类群,果实表面钩刺结构有利于该属植物的传播及扩散,果实微形态特征具有分类学价值,可作为种间分类的依据。根据变豆菜属果实表面微形态特征,编制了该属植物分种检索表。     

Expanded Expression Landscape and Prioritization of Circular RNAs in Mammals

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Functional Access to Neuron Subclasses in Rodent and Primate Forebrain

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DHHC4 and DHHC5 Facilitate Fatty Acid Uptake by Palmitoylating and Targeting CD36 to the Plasma Membrane

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Binding of FANCI-FANCD2 Complex to RNA and R-Loops Stimulates Robust FANCD2 Monoubiquitination

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人中鼻甲来源嗅鞘细胞培养与鉴定的初步研究

目的探索一种从人中鼻甲分离培养嗅鞘细胞的方法并鉴定所获得的细胞。 方法通过手术获取人中鼻甲黏膜组织,随后进行两步消化并剥离黏膜上皮组织,得到体积较小的组织块,再进行组织块原代（传代）培养并加压筛选,最终得到双极或多极样细胞并对获得的细胞进行免疫荧光鉴定。上皮样细胞比例、S100β和p75阳性细胞比例用 ±s表示,组间比较采用独立样本t检验。 结果将不剥离上皮层与剥离上皮层培养的原代细胞中上皮样细胞的比例进行对比,发现上皮层组上皮样细胞比例为（92.23±3.93）%高于剥离上皮层组上皮样细胞的比例（77.63±2.97）%,差异具有统计学意义（t = 5.129,P = 0.007）。采用剥离上皮层法培养原代细胞,经过加压筛选的细胞呈现双极或多极样,符合嗅鞘细胞形态学特点。免疫荧光染色发现,S100β阳性细胞占总细胞量的（8.1±1.7）%,而p75阳性细胞占总细胞量的5%以下,达到国内外研究同等水平。 结论通过使用两步消化法和加压筛选联合的方法从人中鼻甲粘膜组织中成功获得了人中鼻甲嗅鞘细胞,相比较传统方法,细胞分离培养周期明显缩短。     

E0771 and 4T1 murine breast cancer cells and interleukin 6 alter gene expression patterns but do not induce browning in cultured white adipocytes

Breast cancer remains a substantial clinical problem worldwide, and cancer-associated cachexia is a condition associated with poor prognosis in this and other malignancies. Adipose tissue is involved in the development and progression of cancer-associated cachexia, but its various roles and mechanisms of action are not completely defined, especially as it relates to breast cancer. Interleukin 6 has been implicated in several mechanisms contributing to increased breast cancer tumorigenesis, as well as a net-negative energy balance and cancer-associated cachexia via adipose tissue remodeling in other models of cancer; however, its potential role in breast cancer-associated white adipose browning has not been explored. In this study, we demonstrate localized white adipose tissue browning in a spontaneous model of murine mammary cancer. We then used an in vitro murine adipocyte culture system with the E0771 and 4T1 cell lines as models of breast cancer. We demonstrate that while the E0771 and 4T1 secretomes and cross-talk with white adipocytes alter white adipocyte mRNA expression, they do not directly induce white adipocyte browning. Additionally, we show that neither exogenous administration of interleukin 6 alone or with its soluble receptor directly induce white adipocyte browning. Together, these results demonstrate that neither the E0771 or 4T1 murine breast cancer cell lines, nor interleukin 6, directly cause browning of cultured white adipocytes. This suggests that their roles in adipose tissue remodeling are more complex and indirect in nature.