Contents of Volume 53

Plant Molecular Biology -     

A cross-talk between epithelium and endothelium mediates human alveolar–capillary injury during SARS-CoV-2 infection

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is an acute and rapidly developing pandemic, which leads to a global health crisis. SARS-CoV-2 primarily attacks human alveoli and causes severe lung infection and damage. To better understand the molecular basis of this disease, we sought to characterize the responses of alveolar epithelium and its adjacent microvascular endothelium to viral infection under a co-culture system. SARS-CoV-2 infection caused massive virus replication and dramatic organelles remodeling in alveolar epithelial cells, alone. While, viral infection affected endothelial cells in an indirect manner, which was mediated by infected alveolar epithelium. Proteomics analysis and TEM examinations showed viral infection caused global proteomic modulations and marked ultrastructural changes in both epithelial cells and endothelial cells under the co-culture system. In particular, viral infection elicited global protein changes and structural reorganizations across many sub-cellular compartments in epithelial cells. Among the affected organelles, mitochondrion seems to be a primary target organelle. Besides, according to EM and proteomic results, we identified Daurisoline, a potent autophagy inhibitor, could inhibit virus replication effectively in host cells. Collectively, our study revealed an unrecognized cross-talk between epithelium and endothelium, which contributed to alveolar–capillary injury during SARS-CoV-2 infection. These new findings will expand our understanding of COVID-19 and may also be helpful for targeted drug development.Subject terms: Mechanisms of disease, Viral infection     

The Stress Hormone Corticosterone Increases Synaptic ��-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid (AMPA) Receptors via Serum- and Glucocorticoid-inducible Kinase (SGK) Regulation of the GDI-Rab4 Complex

Corticosterone, the major stress hormone, plays an important role in regulating neuronal functions of the limbic system, although the cellular targets and molecular mechanisms of corticosteroid signaling are largely unknown. Here we show that a short treatment of corticosterone significantly increases α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR)-mediated synaptic transmission and AMPAR membrane trafficking in pyramidal neurons of prefrontal cortex, a key region involved in cognition and emotion. This enhancing effect of corticosterone is through a mechanism dependent on Rab4, the small GTPase-controlling receptor recycling between early endosome and plasma membrane. Guanosine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (GDI), which regulates the cycle of Rab proteins between membrane and cytosol, forms an increased complex with Rab4 after corticosterone treatment. Corticosterone also triggers an increased GDI phosphorylation at Ser-213 by the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase (SGK). Moreover, AMPAR synaptic currents and surface expression and their regulation by corticosterone are altered by mutating Ser-213 on GDI. These results suggest that corticosterone, via SGK phosphorylation of GDI at Ser-213, increases the formation of GDI-Rab4 complex, facilitating the functional cycle of Rab4 and Rab4-mediated recycling of AMPARs to the synaptic membrane. It provides a potential mechanism underlying the role of corticosteroid stress hormone in up-regulating excitatory synaptic efficacy in cortical neurons.     

斑纹小贻贝(Mytella strigata)基础生物学与生物入侵

生物入侵是继栖息地破坏之后，全球生物多样性丧失的第二大驱动因素。近年来，原产于南美洲地区的斑纹小贻贝（Mytella strigata）在印度-西太平洋海区被陆续报道，而我国台湾、广东、海南、福建、广西等省份同样发现斑纹小贻贝，且其已经建立可自我维持的种群。但是，作为一种新型入侵生物，斑纹小贻贝尚未引起国内海洋管理部门和科研人员足够重视，亟待查明其在我国沿海的分布现状、扩散趋势和生态影响等，为斑纹小贻贝的检测、监测、防控和管理提供科学依据。综述了斑纹小贻贝的基础生物学特征和全球生物入侵现状，发现国内的斑纹小贻贝源于南美洲加勒比海地区，于2014年左右通过船舶压舱水或船体生物污损的形式侵入我国南方沿海并迅速扩散。此外，斑纹小贻贝在我国的生物入侵处于"引进-传播"阶段，即将大规模扩繁，因此亟需开展应急清除行动。     

长滩果引种驯化研究

长滩果系罗汉果最佳品种。原产区分布于永福和临桂县交界400—600米山区,但不适应于低丘陵和平原地区,因而不能在低丘陵和平原地区推广。为了解决这个问题。采用了(1)选择湿润和半阴的生长环境;(2)采用适应性强的砧木;(3)促成栽培;(4)加强秋旱期的科学管理等措施并取得成功,试验结果表明长滩果产量和品质达到或略超过原产区水平。     

植物单盐毒害和离子拮抗机理研究Ⅰ.单盐和混合盐对植物原生质体膜某些特性、超氧物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性的影响

单盐(KCl, CaCl_2或MgCl_2)和混合盐(KC_1+CaCl_2或KCl+MgCl_2)对植物原生质体完整率、存活率和膜透性等均有明显影响。K~+、Ca~(2+)或Mg~(2+)等单种阳离子明显降低原生质体膜完整率和存活率而增加其物质渗漏量,其中以单价阳离子K~+的影响为甚。上述单种阳离子还明显降低小麦幼叶超氧物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶活性。只有由单价和二价阳离子组成的平衡混合盐才能使原生质体维持较高的完整率、存活率和较正常的膜透性.并能使细胞维持较高的SOD和过氧化氢酶活性。 认为单盐毒害机理可能是首先引起细胞膜发生不正常的膜相变或细胞累积较多的有害氧自由基,引起膜脂发生过氧化或脱酯化而破坏膜结构。在离子平衡混合盐作用下,膜系才能维持正常液晶相,具有较高活性的SOD和过氧化氢酶等生物保护性酶系是离子拮抗作用之原因。