Comparison of cold hardiness and sugar content between diapausing and nondiapausing pupae of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract. To understand overwintering of the cotton boll worm Helicoverpa armigera, cold hardiness and sugar content are compared between diapausing and nondiapausing pupae. Diapausing and nondiapausing pupae reared at 20 °C under short and long photoperiods are acclimatized with a reduction of 5 °C per 5 days to 0 °C. When the acclimation temperature reaches 0 °C, the survival of diapausing pupae is assessed. The survival gradually decreases as the period of treatment progresses and approximately half survive for 112 days. However, nondiapausing pupae survive only 14 days after exposure to 0 °C. The surpercooling points of nondiapausing, diapausing and acclimatized pupae are approximately −17 °C. The major sugars contained in pupae are trehalose and glucose. Even though trehalose contents in diapausing pupae (initial level: 0.6 mg 100 mg⁻¹ fresh weight) increase significantly during cold acclimation and continue increasing until 58 days after exposure to 0 °C (maximum level: 1.8 mg 100 mg⁻¹), glucose is maintained at low levels (0.02 mg 100 mg⁻¹) for 56 days at 0 °C. However, glucose contents increase (maximum level: 0.8 mg 100 mg⁻¹) with decreasing contents of trehalose 84 days after exposure to 0 °C. Glycogen content gradually decreases during cold acclimation. When nondiapausing pupae are acclimatized with a reduction of 5 °C per 5 days to 5 °C from the beginning of pupation until the eyespots move, trehalose content increases (maximum level: 1.0 mg 100 mg⁻¹). Glucose contents in nondiapausing pupae increase before eclosion (0.09 mg 100 mg⁻¹). From these results, diapausing pupae of H. armigera can overwinter in regions where average winter temperatures are higher than 0 °C, but nondiapausing pupae cannot.     

C2-ceramide enhances sorafenib-induced caspase-dependent apoptosis via PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Erk signaling pathways in HCC cells

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - Sorafenib as an effective multikinase inhibitor has been approved for the clinical treatment against advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC treatment...     

The prevalence of alloantibody in the population of Xinjiang area of China

Alloantibodies are the major cause of hemolytic transfusion reaction and newborn hemolytic disease. It is highly recommended to screen alloantibodies before transfusion and pregnancy. This report applied the microcolum gel method to screen for available alloantibodies, enrolling 20,098 patients from January 2016 to December 2017 in the Xinjiang General Hospital. Seventy-two patients were found alloantibody-positive, at an overall positive rate of 0.35%. The distribution of alloantibody varied according to age, gender or treatment. The patients aged 70 plus and the patients admitted in the Department of Hematology and Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics had a higher incidence rate of alloantibodies. By using 10 screening cell panel systems, 9 types of alloantibodies including anti-D, anti-E, anti-e, anti-C, anti-c, anti-M, anti-s, anti-Fy^b and anti-Ce were identified. This study suggests that the transfusion of red blood cells(RBCs) and pregnancy are the main causes of alloantibodies.     

新疆维吾尔自治区20年问胃癌的临床特点分析

目的：分析新疆地区近20年来胃癌流行病学特征,探讨其变化规律及发展趋势。方法：回顾性分析和比较1991年、2001年、2011年经新疆维吾自治区人民医院胃镜及病理学诊断确诊为胃癌的病例的一般资料、病理学及内镜下特点,包括性别、年龄、病理类型、发病部位。结果：1991年组：胃癌检出率为2．48％,中位年龄为54岁,男女之比为3-3：1．0,发病部位以胃窦部癌为主,占39．1％;2001年组：检出率为2．39％,中位年龄为61岁,男女之比为3．0：1．0,发病部位以胃体部癌为主,占42．1％;2011年组：检出率为1．48％,中位年龄为63岁,男女之比为3．9：1．0,发病部位以贵门胃底部为主,占34．8％。三组病理学类型均以腺癌为主,检出率有逐年升高趋势,但差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：（1）近20年来胃癌发病部位有上移现象,且胃癌检发病率有下降趋势;（2）男性胃癌患者发病率明显高于女性,且近20年来胃癌患者男女比例无明显改变;（3）近20年来胃癌发病中位年龄逐渐增高,且随着年龄的增长发病率逐渐升高,以中老年发病率最高;（4）癌患者病理类型仍以腺癌为主,且近20年来腺癌所占比例无明显变化.     

小胸鳖甲胞外铜锌超氧化物歧化酶重组蛋白的原核表达及多克隆抗体制备

超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)是清除生物体内超氧阴离子自由基的主要抗氧化酶家族。基于原核表达系统,成功表达了拟步甲科Tenebrionidae小胸鳖甲Micordera punctipennis胞外铜锌SOD的重组蛋白(本文定义为Trx-His-MpecCu/Zn-SOD)。经Ni 2+亲和层析法纯化重组蛋白后,研究了重组蛋白的部分酶学性质。通过足垫加皮下注射法3次免疫小鼠后,分别用ELISA和Western blot的方法检测抗体效价和抗体特异性。结果表明,重组蛋白主要以包涵体形式存在,纯化后的重组蛋白浓度为1.33 mg·mL^-1,酶活力为27.52 U·mg^-1。Trx-His-MpecCu/Zn-SOD在25~45℃具有比较稳定的酶活性,在35℃最高,同时表现出比较广泛的酸碱耐受性(pH3~12),最适pH为9.0,表明重组蛋白的酶活性相对比较稳定。蛋白免疫法制备的鼠抗MpecCu/Zn-SOD多克隆抗体滴度高于1∶819 200。Western blot结果显示,该抗体能免疫结合重组蛋白Trx-His-MpecCu/Zn-SOD和小胸鳖甲体内天然MpecCu/Zn-SOD,但不能与黄粉虫Tenebrio molitor的总蛋白结合,说明制备的抗体效价较高且特异性较好。本研究结果为小胸鳖甲ecCu/Zn-SOD功能的深入研究奠定了基础。     

Ridaifen-G诱导细胞死亡不依赖于细胞凋亡蛋白酶(英文)

通过对Ridaifen-G(RID-G)诱导造血细胞U937、Raji、THP-1和IM-9死亡是否需要Z-VAD-fmk(一种细胞凋亡蛋白酶抑制剂)的研究,发现RID-G以细胞凋亡蛋白酶非依存性的方式诱导细胞死亡,并伴随有线粒体功能紊乱。Z-VAD-fmk对U937细胞的死亡没有影响,但抑制etoposide诱导的细胞凋亡;DNA片段化结果表明,RID-G可破坏Raji和THP-1细胞的DNA,经RID-G处理后的U937细胞的DNA条带没有经etoposide处理的清晰。此外,Z-VAD-fmk对U937、THP-1和Raji细胞DNA的片段化程度有不同的影响,抑制细胞死亡。这些结果表明,RID-G诱导的非典型细胞死亡不依赖于caspase,且伴随有线粒体功能紊乱。     

New Insights into the Coupling between Microtubule Depolymerization and ATP Hydrolysis by Kinesin-13 Protein Kif2C

Kinesin-13 proteins depolymerize microtubules in an ATP hydrolysis-dependent manner. The coupling between these two activities remains unclear. Here, we first studied the role of the kinesin-13 subfamily-specific loop 2 and of the KVD motif at the tip of this loop. Shortening the loop, the lysine/glutamate interchange and the additional Val to Ser substitution all led to Kif2C mutants with decreased microtubule-stimulated ATPase and impaired depolymerization capability. We rationalized these results based on a structural model of the Kif2C-ATP-tubulin complex derived from the recently determined structures of kinesin-1 bound to tubulin. In this model, upon microtubule binding Kif2C undergoes a conformational change governed in part by the interaction of the KVD motif with the tubulin interdimer interface. Second, we mutated to an alanine the conserved glutamate residue of the switch 2 nucleotide binding motif. This mutation blocks motile kinesins in a post-conformational change state and inhibits ATP hydrolysis. This Kif2C mutant still depolymerized microtubules and yielded complexes of one Kif2C with two tubulin heterodimers. These results demonstrate that the structural change of Kif2C-ATP upon binding to microtubule ends is sufficient for tubulin release, whereas ATP hydrolysis is not required. Overall, our data suggest that the conformation reached by kinesin-13s upon tubulin binding is similar to that of tubulin-bound, ATP-bound, motile kinesins but that this conformation is adapted to microtubule depolymerization.     

Genome-Wide Investigation of NAC Family Genes Potentially Related to SCW Biogenesis in Korla Pear Fruit

Plant Molecular Biology Reporter - Korla pear (Pyrus sinkiangensis Yü) is a native species of Xinjiang, China. Nowadays, the formation of rough-skinned fruits is becoming one of the main...