A subunit of decaprenyl diphosphate synthase stabilizes octaprenyl diphosphate synthase in Escherichia coli by forming a high-molecular weight complex

The length of the isoprenoid-side chain in ubiquinone, an essential component of the electron transport chain, is defined by poly-prenyl diphosphate synthase, which comprises either homomers (e.g., IspB in Escherichia coli) or heteromers (e.g., decaprenyl diphosphate synthase (Dps1) and D-less polyprenyl diphosphate synthase (Dlp1) in Schizosaccharomyces pombe and in humans). We found that expression of either dlp1 or dps1 recovered the thermo-sensitive growth of an E. coli ispB^R321A mutant and restored IspB activity and production of Coenzyme Q-8. IspB interacted with Dlp1 (or Dps1), forming a high-molecular weight complex that stabilized IspB, leading to full functionality.

Structured summary:

MINT-7385426:Dlp1 (uniprotkb:Q86YH6) and IspB (uniprotkb:P0AD57) physically interact (MI:0915) by blue native page (MI:0276)MINT-7385083, MINT-7385058:IspB (uniprotkb:P0AD57) and IspB (uniprotkb:P0AD57) bind (MI:0407) by blue native page (MI:0276)MINT-7385413:Dlp1 (uniprotkb:O13851) and IspB (uniprotkb:P0AD57) physically interact (MI:0915) by blue native page (MI:0276)MINT-7385024:IspB (uniprotkb:P0AD57) physically interacts (MI:0915) with Dps1 (uniprotkb:O43091) by pull down (MI:0096)MINT-7385041:IspB (uniprotkb:P0AD57) physically interacts (MI:0915) with Dlp1 (uniprotkb:O13851) by pull down (MI:0096)MINT-7385388:IspB (uniprotkb:P0AD57) and Dps1 (uniprotkb:O43091) physically interact (MI:0915) by blue native page (MI:0276)     

Virus-induced gene silencing in detached tomatoes and biochemical effects of phytoene desaturase gene silencing

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a technology that has rapidly emerged for gene function studies in plants. Many advances have been made in applying this technique in an increasing number of crops. Recently, VIGS has been successfully used to silence genes in tomato fruit through agroinfiltration of fruit attached to the plant. The phytoene desaturase (Pds) gene has been widely used as a reporter gene in VIGS experiments, although little is known about the changes that occur due to its silencing in plants. In this paper, we describe the efficient silencing of the Pds gene through the VIGS approach in detached tomato fruits, which makes the VIGS procedure even more versatile and applicable. After 16 days of agroinfiltration, approximately 75% of the tomatoes showed Pds silencing symptoms, although the distribution of silenced areas was variable among fruits. To study the potential effects caused by Pds silencing in detached tomatoes, carotenoids and other semi-polar secondary metabolites were analyzed using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. In addition, potential differences in primary metabolites were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. The results indicated that the yellow phenotype observed in Pds-silenced fruit was mainly due to the lack of the red-colored lycopene and therefore to a more pronounced contribution of the yellow-orange carotenoids (lutein, violaxanthin, and zeaxanthin) to the final color of the fruits. Furthermore, the biochemical changes observed in Pds-silenced detached tomatoes suggested that carotenoid and other pathways, e.g. leading to alkaloids and flavonoids, might be affected by the silencing of this reporter gene, and this should be taken into consideration for future experimental designs.     

复合凝乳酶对功能性消化不良儿童营养状态和摄食行为的影响

目的:观察复合凝乳酶胶囊对不同亚型功能性消化不良儿童临床表现、营养状态和摄食行为的影响及安全性。方法:以2017年8月至2018年9月在湖北省妇幼保健院儿童消化内科就诊的功能性消化不良(Functional dyspepsia,FD)儿童为研究对象进行问卷调查,观察治疗前和复合凝乳酶治疗2 w后患儿临床症状变化及药物相关不良反应的发生情况,监测患儿身高和体重,进行膳食情况的调查。结果:共163例儿童纳入研究,发生餐后不适综合征(Postprandial distress syndrome, PDS)66例,上腹痛综合征(Epigastric pain syndrome, EPS)97例。治疗前,PDS组儿童症状总分明显高于EPS儿童(6.9±2.7 vs 3.6±1.7,t=5.90,P=0.00)。PDS组儿童WAZ、WHZ、HAZ、身高别体质量Z值(weight for height Z score,WHZ)、年龄别身高Z值(height for age Z score,HAZ)、年龄别体质量Z值(weight for age Z score,WAZ)、体质量指数(body mass index,BMI)、膳食多样化分数(Dietary diversity score, DDS)均明显低于EPS组(P均0.05)。治疗2 w后,PDS儿童症状总分明显降低(P=0.00),改善程度依次为:厌食早饱腹痛嗳气恶心腹胀。EPS儿童症状总分无明显变化(P=0.11)。PDS儿童WAZ、WHZ、DDS均有明显升高(P均0.05)。EPS儿童DDS无明显变化(t=0.22,P=0.30)。研究期间未见明显药物相关不良反应。结论:复合凝乳酶胶囊可改善PDS患儿的临床症状、营养状态和膳食多样性,且安全性高。     

Human DDK rescues stalled forks and counteracts checkpoint inhibition at unfired origins to complete DNA replication

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Andrographolide and Its Derivative Potassium Dehydrographolide Succinate Suppress PRRSV Replication in Primary and Established Cells via Differential Mechanisms of Action

Virologica Sinica - Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) continues to cause significant economic loss worldwide and remains a serious threat to the pork industry. Currently,...     

The dual face of connexin-based astroglial Ca communication: A key player in brain physiology and a prime target in pathology

For decades, studies have been focusing on the neuronal abnormalities that accompany neurodegenerative disorders. Yet, glial cells are emerging as important players in numerous neurological diseases. Astrocytes, the main type of glia in the central nervous system , form extensive networks that physically and functionally connect neuronal synapses with cerebral blood vessels. Normal brain functioning strictly depends on highly specialized cellular cross-talk between these different partners to which Ca^2 +, as a signaling ion, largely contributes. Altered intracellular Ca^2 + levels are associated with neurodegenerative disorders and play a crucial role in the glial responses to injury. Intracellular Ca^2 + increases in single astrocytes can be propagated toward neighboring cells as intercellular Ca^2 + waves, thereby recruiting a larger group of cells. Intercellular Ca²⁺ wave propagation depends on two, parallel, connexin (Cx) channel-based mechanisms: i) the diffusion of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate through gap junction channels that directly connect the cytoplasm of neighboring cells, and ii) the release of paracrine messengers such as glutamate and ATP through hemichannels (‘half of a gap junction channel’). This review gives an overview of the current knowledge on Cx-mediated Ca^2 + communication among astrocytes as well as between astrocytes and other brain cell types in physiology and pathology, with a focus on the processes of neurodegeneration and reactive gliosis. Research on Cx-mediated astroglial Ca^2 + communication may ultimately shed light on the development of targeted therapies for neurodegenerative disorders in which astrocytes participate. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Calcium signaling in health and disease. Guest Editors: Geert Bultynck, Jacques Haiech, Claus W. Heizmann, Joachim Krebs, and Marc Moreau.     

体表胃肠起搏联合多潘立酮治疗餐后不适综合征的临床观察

目的：研究体表胃肠起搏联合多潘立酮治疗餐后不适综合征的疗效。方法：80例餐后不适综合征的患者,随机分为对照组及观察组。对照组40例予以多潘立酮10毫克,三餐前半小时口服;观察组予以多潘立酮10毫克,三餐前半小时口服,同时予以体表胃肠起搏,2次/日,每次45分钟,共2周,采用8导联胃肠电图仪记录患者空腹及进食后的胃电活动,及应用钡条行胃排空试验。分别于治疗前后对其症状、胃肠电图、胃排空情况进行评估。结果：治疗2周后,经胃肠起搏联合多潘立酮治疗的餐后不适综合征患者症状明显改善,较对照组改善更为明显（P〈0.05）,胃肠起搏治疗后正常胃电节律百分比较对照组显著改善,实验组胃排空率较对照组改善。结论：体表胃肠起搏联合多潘立酮可显著改善餐后不适综合征患者症状、胃电图参数、胃排空情况.