The vascularization,innervation and myogenesis of early regenerated tail in Gekko japonicus

Journal of Molecular Histology - Many species of lizards are capable of tail regeneration. There has been increased interest in the study of lizard tail regeneration in recent years as it is an...     

Histone acetyltransferase 1 is a succinyltransferase for histones and non‐histones and promotes tumorigenesis

Lysine succinylation (Ksucc) is an evolutionarily conserved and widespread post‐translational modification. Histone acetyltransferase 1 (HAT1) is a type B histone acetyltransferase, regulating the acetylation of both histone and non‐histone proteins. However, the role of HAT1 in succinylation modulation remains unclear. Here, we employ a quantitative proteomics approach to study succinylation in HepG2 cancer cells and find that HAT1 modulates lysine succinylation on various proteins including histones and non‐histones. HAT1 succinylates histone H3 on K122, contributing to epigenetic regulation and gene expression in cancer cells. Moreover, HAT1 catalyzes the succinylation of PGAM1 on K99, resulting in its increased enzymatic activity and the stimulation of glycolytic flux in cancer cells. Clinically, HAT1 is significantly elevated in liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma tissues. Functionally, HAT1 succinyltransferase activity and the succinylation of PGAM1 by HAT1 play critical roles in promoting tumor progression in vitro and in vivo. Thus, we conclude that HAT1 is a succinyltransferase for histones and non‐histones in tumorigenesis.     

武夷山49种木本植物叶片与细根经济谱

植物经济谱能够阐述维管植物在资源获取和储存之间的权衡策略, 为理解生态位分化和物种共存机制等提供科学依据。该研究通过对武夷山49种木本植物的单叶面积(ILA)、比叶面积(SLA)、叶碳含量(LCC)、叶氮含量(LNC)和叶磷含量(LPC)等5个叶片性状以及根组织密度(RTD)、比根长(SRL)、比根面积(SRA)、根碳含量(RCC)、根氮含量(RNC)和根磷含量(RPC)等6个细根性状进行测定, 探讨木本植物叶片与细根经济谱是否存在以及常绿和落叶物种间的植物经济谱差异。结果表明: 沿着性状贡献率相对较大的PC1轴, 能够定义出叶经济谱(LES)、根经济谱(RES)和整株植物经济谱(WPES)。大部分常绿物种分布在经济谱保守的一侧, 而大部分落叶物种聚集在获取的一侧。此外, 叶片PC1、细根PC1和整株植物PC1的两两得分之间均存在显著正相关关系, 常绿和落叶物种具有共同的异速指数, 但不存在共同的异速常数。这些结果揭示了亚热带物种叶片与细根的策略遵循着WPES的协调整合, 表明叶片、细根以及整株植物之间是采取协同变化的资源策略, 而分布于经济谱两端的常绿和落叶物种则是通过不同的方式来构建WPES。     

Autographa Californica Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus orf13 Is Required for Efficient Nuclear Egress of Nucleocapsids

Virologica Sinica - Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) orf13 (ac13) is a conserved gene in all sequenced alphabaculoviruses. However, its function in the viral life cycle...     

Plant multiscale networks: charting plant connectivity by multi-level analysis and imaging techniques

In multicellular and even single-celled organisms, individual components are interconnected at multiscale levels to produce enormously complex biological networks that help these systems maintain homeostasis for development and environmental adaptation. Systems biology studies initially adopted network analysis to explore how relationships between individual components give rise to complex biological processes. Network analysis has been applied to dissect the complex connectivity of mammalian brains across different scales in time and space in The Human Brain Project. In plant science, network analysis has similarly been applied to study the connectivity of plant components at the molecular, subcellular, cellular, organic, and organism levels. Analysis of these multiscale networks contributes to our understanding of how genotype determines phenotype. In this review, we summarized the theoretical framework of plant multiscale networks and introduced studies investigating plant networks by various experimental and computational modalities. We next discussed the currently available analytic methodologies and multi-level imaging techniques used to map multiscale networks in plants. Finally, we highlighted some of the technical challenges and key questions remaining to be addressed in this emerging field.     

Use of protein stability to develop dual luciferase toxicity bioreporter strains

This study presents a simple protocol to measure 2 promoter activities within a single culture when using both Lux and firefly luciferase (FF-Luc) reporters. To demonstrate this, 2 E. coli strains were constructed using 2 compatible plasmids, one harboring a katG::luc fusion gene and the other either a fabA::lux or grpE::lux fusion gene. To differentiate between the FF-Luc and Lux activities within E. coli, we used the instability of the V. fischeri Lux proteins. Basically, it involved a two step assay where (1) without addition of luciferin, only the Lux activity was assayed and (2) with added luciferin and a heat treatment at 42°C, the FF-Luc activity was assayed. This was possible because a shift from 28 to 42°C for 10 min was sufficient to denature/inactivate the Lux proteins to background levels. After treatment, the substrate for FF-Luc was added and the FF-Luc activity could be reliably measured. Using this protocol, it was possible to assay the activities of both bioluminescent reporter proteins and, thus, the relative activity of the different promoters. Subsequent experiments were performed using known inducers of the katG, fabA and grpE promoters where tests were successfully performed with single compound samples as well as samples causing a variety of stresses. These results clearly demonstrated that two promoter activities can be monitored in a single host with this dual-luciferase system.     

Molecular Identification and Physiological Characterization of a Putative Novel Plasma Membrane Protein from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis> Involved in Glucose Response

We carried out functional analysis of a putative novel Arabidopsis plasma membrane glucose-responsive regulator, designated AtPGR, which contains seven predicted transmembrane domains. Several evidences showed that AtPGR is a glucose-related protein, but its biological functions have yet to be reported in any plant. Analyses of the AtPGR promoter-β-glucuronidase (GUS) construct and RNA in situ hybridization revealed substantial gene expression in the vasculature of various tissues, especially in the phloem region. Glucose treatment induced the highest levels of GUS activity, reaching a peak at 3 h and declining thereafter, consistent with glucose-mediated regulation of the AtPGR promoter. We generated an atpgr RNAi knockdown mutant and found that this plant grew and developed normally. Ectopic expression of AtPGR gene modulated the induction of glucose and 2-deoxyglucose insensitivity under stress conditions. By way of contrast, cotyledon greening of atpgr RNAi knockdown mutant seeds enhanced sensitivity to glucose and 2-deoxyglucose. Taken together, these results suggest that AtPGR functions as a potential glucose-responsive regulator in carbohydrate metabolism.     

含蛋白转导域的SARA/SBD融合蛋白的原核表达、纯化及生物学活性鉴定

目的:SARA/SBD是纤维化形成过程中的负性调节因子。原核表达、纯化含反式激活蛋白(TAT)蛋白转导域(PTD)的TAT PTD-SARA/SBD融合蛋白,并鉴定其生物学活性。方法:将TAT PTD-SARA/SBD基因克隆入带His标签的原核表达载体pET-44a(+)中,转化大肠杆菌BL21,IPTG诱导表达,表达产物经Ni2+-NTA亲和层析柱纯化后,SDS-PAGE和Western印迹鉴定目的蛋白;用人腹膜间皮细胞系(HPMC),通过免疫细胞化学方法检测其穿膜能力,及与TGF-β1信号通路中Smad2因子的共定位情况。结果:用基因工程方法表达和纯化了TAT PTD-SARA/SBD融合蛋白,目的蛋白约占菌体总蛋白的20%左右,且以可溶形式表达,经Ni2+-NTA纯化后,所获蛋白纯度高于95%(HPLC归一法);功能学实验结果显示该蛋白能穿过胞膜,主要定位于胞核,且与Smad2因子具有核内共定位。结论:表达了TAT PTD-SARA/SBD融合蛋白,该蛋白具有生物学活性。     

Purification and characterization of a cytosolic Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-independent phospholipase A<Subscript>2</Subscript> from bovine brain

The Ca²⁺-independent phospholipase A₂ (iPLA₂) subfamily of enzymes is associated with arachidonic acid (AA) release and the subsequent increase in fatty acid turnover. This phenomenon occurs not only during apoptosis but also during inflammation and lymphocyte proliferation. In this study, we purified and characterized a novel type of iPLA₂ from bovine brain. iPLA₂ was purified 4,174-fold from the bovine brain by a sequential process involving DEAE-cellulose anion exchange, phenyl-5PW hydrophobic interaction, heparin-Sepharose affinity, Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration, Mono S cation exchange, Mono Q anion exchange, and Superose 12 gel filtration. A single peak of iPLA₂ activity was eluted at an apparent molecular mass of 155 kDa during the final Superose 12 gel-filtration step. The purified enzyme had an isoelectric point of 5.3 on twodimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and was inhibited by arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF₃), Triton X-100, iron, and Ca²⁺. However, it was not inhibited by bromoenol lactone (BEL), an inhibitor of iPLA₂, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The spot with the iPLA₂ activity did not match with any known protein sequence, as determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis. Altogether, these data suggest that the purified enzyme is a novel form of cytosolic iPLA₂.     

Inhibition of apoptosis by 60% oxygen: a novel pathway contributing to lung injury in neonatal rats

During early postnatal alveolar formation, the lung tissue of rat pups undergoes a physiological remodeling involving apoptosis of distal lung cells. Exposure of neonatal rats to severe hyperoxia (≥95% O(2)) both arrests lung growth and results in increased lung cell apoptosis. In contrast, exposure to moderate hyperoxia (60% O(2)) for 14 days does not completely arrest lung cell proliferation and is associated with parenchymal thickening. On the basis of similarities in lung architecture observed following either exposure to 60% O(2), or pharmacological inhibition of physiological apoptosis, we hypothesized that exposure to 60% O(2) would result in an inhibition of physiological lung cell apoptosis. Consistent with this hypothesis, we observed that the parenchymal thickening induced by exposure to 60% O(2) was associated with decreased numbers of apoptotic cells, increased expressions of the antiapoptotic regulator Bcl-xL, and the putative antiapoptotic protein survivin, and decreased expressions of the proapoptotic cleaved caspases-3 and -7. In summary, exposure of the neonatal rat lung to moderate hyperoxia results in an inhibition of physiological apoptosis, which contributes to the parenchymal thickening observed in the resultant lung injury.