The C-Terminal Sequence of IFITM1 Regulates Its Anti-HIV-1 Activity

The interferon-inducible transmembrane (IFITM) proteins inhibit a wide range of viruses. We previously reported the inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strain BH10 by human IFITM1, 2 and 3. It is unknown whether other HIV-1 strains are similarly inhibited by IFITMs and whether there exists viral countermeasure to overcome IFITM inhibition. We report here that the HIV-1 NL4-3 strain (HIV-1_NL4-3) is not restricted by IFITM1 and its viral envelope glycoprotein is partly responsible for this insensitivity. However, HIV-1_NL4-3 is profoundly inhibited by an IFITM1 mutant, known as Δ(117–125), which is deleted of 9 amino acids at the C-terminus. In contrast to the wild type IFITM1, which does not affect HIV-1 entry, the Δ(117–125) mutant diminishes HIV-1_NL4-3 entry by 3-fold. This inhibition correlates with the predominant localization of Δ(117–125) to the plasma membrane where HIV-1 entry occurs. In spite of strong conservation of IFITM1 among most species, mouse IFITM1 is 19 amino acids shorter at its C-terminus as compared to human IFITM1 and, like the human IFITM1 mutant Δ(117–125), mouse IFITM1 also inhibits HIV-1 entry. This is the first report illustrating the role of viral envelope protein in overcoming IFITM1 restriction. The results also demonstrate the importance of the C-terminal region of IFITM1 in modulating the antiviral function through controlling protein subcellular localization.     

大田环境下转Bt基因玉米对土壤酶活性的影响

在大田自然条件下,比较研究了转Bt基因玉米和非转基因亲本玉米在种植和秸秆分解时对土壤酶活性影响的差异。结果表明,与亲本非转基因玉米相比,在各生育期内种植转Bt玉米对土壤蛋白酶和土壤脲酶活性均没有显著影响;在喇叭口期和抽雄期,土壤蔗糖酶和土壤酸性磷酸酶活性显著提高。在秸秆还田后,两种玉米秸秆对土壤酸性磷酸酶活性的影响没有显著差异,但使用转Bt玉米秸秆的土壤蔗糖酶、土壤脲酶和土壤蛋白酶的活性则有显著提高。与亲本玉米相比,在所有观测期内,种植Bt玉米及秸秆还田对土壤酶活性的影响,在影响的幅度及趋势上随玉米生育期和土壤酶种类的不同而产生差异,但没有观测到显著不利影响;商业化Bt玉米的环境释放仍有待长期定位观测和评价。     

An enantioselective synthesis of (+)-(S)-[n]-gingerols via the l-proline-catalyzed aldol reaction

An enantioselective approach to (+)-(S)-[n]-gingerols (1a–c) has been developed. The requisite stereogenic centers of target molecules are facilely constructed by the proline-catalyzed cross-aldol reaction from readily available achiral starting materials.     

正交设计优化玉米SSR-PCR反应体系的研究

为建立适宜玉米SSR-PCR的反应体系和扩增程序,利用正交设计L16(45)表,对反应体系的模板DNA、dNTPs、Primers、Taq DNA聚合酶的浓度进行4因素4水平优化筛选和扩增程序的优化,确立了最优反应体系和扩增程序.即在10 μL体系中,模板DNA 20 ng,1×PCR buffer,dNTPs 62.5 pmol/μL,Primers0.25 pmol/μL,Taq DNA polymerase 0.5 U.反应程序为:94℃预变性5 min:94℃变性45 s,60℃退火45 s,72℃延伸1 min,32个循环;72℃延伸5 min,4℃保存.使用300对SSR引物对重组近交系的两亲本扩增,筛选出条带清晰,有差异的引物94对,用于基因连锁图谱构建和QTL定位.     

干旱胁迫对杨树光合生理指标的影响

采用PEG模拟干旱胁迫的方法,利用气体交换法和叶绿素荧光技术,研究了干旱胁迫下小青杨（Populus pseudo-simonii）的光合生理变化.结果表明,干旱胁迫初期,小青杨的净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔导度(g_s)和胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)值均随干旱胁迫增强而下降,杨树P_n的下降主要是由于g_s下降引起的;干旱胁迫后期,C_i值逐渐升高,非气孔限制成为光合作用的主要限制因子.干旱胁迫后期,PSⅡ原初光能转化效率(F_v/F_m)和PSⅡ潜在活性(F_v/F_o)明显下降,光抑制增强,光合电子传递受阻.POD酶的活性在胁迫初期升高,后期降低,说明干旱胁迫初期对保护系统酶活性升高有诱导作用,随着胁迫时间的延长,F_v/F_m和F_v/F_o降低,活性氧清除酶活性下降,活性氧代谢的平衡被打破,导致光合器官的伤害.由此表明,干旱胁迫后期P_n的降低与PSⅡ荧光参数及POD酶活性下降有关.     

2,4-表油菜素内酯对盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片光合特性的影响北大核心CSCD

以黄瓜品种’新春4号’为试验材料,研究了在中度盐胁迫(50 mmol/L NaCl)条件下,外源喷施0.01 mg/L 2,4-表油菜素内酯(EBL)和24μmol/L油菜素内酯抑制剂(BZR)处理对盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线(OJIP)及相关荧光参数的影响,探讨EBL缓解黄瓜幼苗中度盐胁迫伤害的光合生理机制。结果表明:(1)盐胁迫导致黄瓜幼苗叶片净光合速率(P_(n))、气孔导度(G_(s))、蒸腾速率(T_(r))下降,胞间CO_(2)浓度(C_(i))增加,初始荧光(F_(o))、最大荧光(F_(m))下降,OJIP曲线中J点、I点显著增加,降低了黄瓜幼苗叶片光合性能,且对PSⅡ受体侧的伤害大于供体侧,表现为PSⅡ反应中心损伤,光合电子从Q_(A)向Q_(B)的传递效率降低,电子传递受阻。(2)在50 mmol/L NaCl处理下,外源喷施0.01 mg/L EBL可显著提升NaCl胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片P_(n)、G_(s)、T_(r)、光合性能(PI_(ABS)),降低C_(i),显著增加单位面积内吸收(ABS/CS_(m))、捕获(TR_(o)/CS_(m))、用于电子传递(ET_(o)/CS_(m))的光能以及有活性反应中心的数目(RC/CS_(m))。(3)与NaCl+EBL处理相比,NaCl+EBL+BZR处理后黄瓜幼苗叶片光合性能进一步降低,证明EBL对黄瓜幼苗盐胁迫引起的PSⅡ伤害有缓解作用。研究发现,外源喷施适量2,4-表油菜素内酯能有效缓解黄瓜幼苗叶片在盐胁迫条件下受到的光合电子传递链中(PSⅡ)受体侧的伤害,增加电子从Q_(A)向Q_(B)传递的效率,从而显著改善盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片的光合性能。     

Autophagy Benefits the Replication of Newcastle Disease Virus in Chicken Cells and Tissues

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an important avian pathogen. We previously reported that NDV triggers autophagy in U251 glioma cells, resulting in enhanced virus replication. In this study, we investigated whether NDV triggers autophagy in chicken cells and tissues to enhance virus replication. We demonstrated that NDV infection induced steady-state autophagy in chicken-derived DF-1 cells and in primary chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells, evident through increased double- or single-membrane vesicles, the accumulation of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-LC3 dots, and the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II. In addition, we measured autophagic flux by monitoring p62/SQSTM1 degradation, LC3-II turnover, and GFP-LC3 lysosomal delivery and proteolysis, to confirm that NDV infection induced the complete autophagic process. Inhibition of autophagy by pharmacological inhibitors and RNA interference reduced virus replication, indicating an important role for autophagy in NDV infection. Furthermore, we conducted in vivo experiments and observed the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II in heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney of NDV-infected chickens. Regulation of the induction of autophagy with wortmannin, chloroquine, or starvation treatment affects NDV production and pathogenesis in tissues of both lung and intestine; however, treatment with rapamycin, an autophagy inducer of mammalian cells, showed no detectable changes in chicken cells and tissues. Moreover, administration of the autophagy inhibitor wortmannin increased the survival rate of NDV-infected chickens. Our studies provide strong evidence that NDV infection induces autophagy which benefits NDV replication in chicken cells and tissues.