The nuclear bodies formed by histone demethylase KDM7A

Dear Editor, In the nucleus of higher eukaryotes, chromatin occupies only a small proportion of the nuclear space, while many proteins and RNAs segregate into membrane-less nuclear bodies (NBs).These NBs follow a stochastic or ordered assembly model and constantly exchange components with the surrounding nucleoplasm (Jain et al., 2016).Typical NBs include nucleoli, nuclear speckles, paraspeckles, PML bodies, Cajal bodies, polycomb bodies and Sam68 bodies,which play critical roles in various biological processes such as ribosome assembly, RNA processing, and protein modification.The dysfunction of nuclear bodies may cause diseases, such as cancer (Li et al., 2019).     

Wangella harbinensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Micromonosporaceae

A novel endophytic actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-J3^T, was isolated from soybean root (Glycine max (L.) Merr) and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that strain NEAU-J3^T fell within the family Micromonosporaceae. The strain was observed to form an extensively branched substrate mycelium, which carried non-motile oval spores with a smooth surface. The cell walls of strain NEAU-J3^T were determined to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid and galactose, ribose and glucose were detected as whole-cell sugars. The major menaquinones were determined to be MK-9(H₄) and MK-9(H₆). The phospholipids detected were phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major cellular fatty acids were determined to be C_16:0, C_18:1 ω9c, C_18:0, C_17:0, C_17:1 ω7c, anteiso-C_17:0, C_16:1 ω7c and C_15:0. The DNA G + C content was 62.5 mol%. On the basis of the morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and characteristic patterns of 16S rRNA gene signature nucleotides, strain NEAU-J3^T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus within the family Micromonosporaceae, for which the name Wangella harbinensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Wangella harbinensis is strain NEAU-J3^T (=CGMCC 4.7039^T = DSM 45747^T).     

CASCIRE surveillance network and work on avian influenza viruses

正Studies on influenza virus by Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)could be traced back as early as 2005 by the CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology(CASPMI),who discovered that Qinghai-like Clade 2.2H5N1 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza virus(HPAIV)first caused severe outbreak in wild birds in Qinghai Lake(Liu et al.,2005).     

Study of the reaction of proteins with 3-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxy-4-sulfo-1-naphthalenyl)azo (Cal-Red) by Rayleigh light scattering technique

This is the first report on the determination of proteins with 3-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxy-4-sulfo-1-naphthalenyl)azo (Cal-Red) by Rayleigh light scattering (RLS). At pH 4.07, the weak RLS of Cal-Red can be enhanced greatly by the addition of proteins. On this basis, the reaction of Cal-Red and proteins was studied. A new quantitative determination method for proteins has been developed. This method is very sensitive (0.45-36.9 microgml(-1) for bovine serum albumen (BSA)), rapid (<2min), simple (one step), and tolerant of most interfering substances. The maximum binding number of Cal-Red to BSA was 143 and the binding constant was 4.1x10(6)mol(-1)L. Four samples of total protein in human serum were determined and the maximum relative error is no more than 3%.     

Generation of mice with a conditional allele for the p75(NTR) neurotrophin receptor gene

The p75(NTR) neurotrophin receptor has been implicated in multiple biological and pathological processes. While significant advances have recently been made in understanding the physiologic role of p75(NTR) , many details and aspects remain to be determined. This is in part because the two existing knockout mouse models (Exons 3 or 4 deleted, respectively), both display features that defy definitive conclusions. Here we describe the generation of mice that carry a conditional p75(NTR) (p75(NTR-FX) ) allele made by flanking Exons 4-6, which encode the transmembrane and all cytoplasmic domains, by loxP sites. To validate this novel conditional allele, both neural crest-specific p75(NTR) /Wnt1-Cre mutants and conventional p75(NTR) null mutants were generated. Both mutants displayed abnormal hind limb reflexes, implying that loss of p75(NTR) in neural crest-derived cells causes a peripheral neuropathy similar to that seen in conventional p75(NTR) mutants. This novel conditional p75(NTR) allele will offer new opportunities to investigate the role of p75(NTR) in specific tissues and cells.     

LIN9 confers paclitaxel resistance in triple negative breast cancer cells by upregulating CCSAP

LIN9 functions to regulate cell mitotic process.Dysregulation of LIN9 expression is associated with development of human cancers.In this study we assessed the association of LIN9 expression with paclitaxel resistance and clarified the underlying mechanisms for the first time.LIN9 expression in breast cancer tissues was retrieved from publicly available online databases and statistically analyzed.Human TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 and their corresponding paclitaxelresistant sublines 231PTX and 468PTX were used to assess the expression of LIN9 by qRT-PCR and Western blot,cell growth by cell counting,cell viability by MTS assay,and cell apoptosis by flow cytometry.The data showed that high LIN9 expression in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy was related to poor overall survival (OS).LIN9 expression was upregulated in paclitaxel-resistant TNBC cells compared to their parental cells.Knockdown of LIN9 or treatment of paclitaxel-resistant TNBC cells with a bromo-and extra-terminal domain inhibitor (BETi) JQ1 which also decreased LIN9 expression enhanced the sensitivity of paclitaxel-resistant TNBC cells to paclitaxel.Mechanistically,decreased LIN9 in resistant cell lines reduced tumor cell viability,promoted multinucleated cells formation and induced tumor cell apoptosis,potentially by directly regulating microtubule-binding protein CCSAP.In conclusion,high LIN9 expression contributed to poor clinical outcomes and paclitaxel resistance in TNBC and BETi,targeting LIN9 expression,could be a reversible drug for PTX-resistant TNBC patients.     

A rare Waxy allele coordinately improves rice eating and cooking quality and grain transparency

In rice (Oryza sativa), amylose content (AC) is the major factor that determines eating and cooking quality (ECQ). The diversity in AC is largely attributed to natural allelic variation at the Waxy (Wx) locus. Here we identified a rare Wx allele, Wx^mw, which combines a favorable AC, improved ECQ and grain transparency. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of Wx genomic sequences from 370 rice accessions, we speculated that Wx^mw may have derived from recombination between two important natural Wx alleles, Wxⁱⁿ and Wx^b. We validated the effects of Wx^mw on rice grain quality using both transgenic lines and near‐isogenic lines (NILs). When introgressed into the japonica Nipponbare (NIP) background, Wx^mw resulted in a moderate AC that was intermediate between that of NILs carrying the Wx^b allele and NILs with the Wx^mp allele. Notably, mature grains of NILs fixed for Wx^mw had an improved transparent endosperm relative to soft rice. Further, we introduced Wx^mw into a high‐yielding japonica cultivar via molecular marker‐assisted selection: the introgressed lines exhibited clear improvements in ECQ and endosperm transparency. Our results suggest that Wx^mw is a promising allele to improve grain quality, especially ECQ and grain transparency of high‐yielding japonica cultivars, in rice breeding programs.     

miR172-AP2模块调控植物生长发育及逆境响应的研究进展

MicroRNA (miRNA)是一类具有调控能力的非编码小分子RNA, 通过与靶基因mRNA特异或非特异性结合, 诱导靶基因mRNA降解或抑制其翻译, 从而调控植物的生长发育。其中, miR172的靶基因AP2所编码的转录因子为植物所特有, miR172在转录后或翻译水平对AP2进行表达调控, 进而调控植物的花发育、时序转换、小穗形态、块茎和果实发育、结瘤(豆科)以及逆境响应等过程。该文综述了近年来miR172-AP2模块在植物生长发育调控方面的最新研究进展。