Contents of Volume 53

Plant Molecular Biology -     

Solution structure of the N‐terminal domain of DC‐UbP/UBTD2 and its interaction with ubiquitin

DC‐UbP/UBTD2 is a ubiquitin (Ub) domain‐containing protein first identified from dendritic cells, and is implicated in ubiquitination pathway. The solution structure and backbone dynamics of the C‐terminal Ub‐like (UbL) domain were elucidated in our previous work. To further understand the biological function of DC‐UbP, we then solved the solution structure of the N‐terminal domain of DC‐UbP (DC‐UbP_N) and studied its Ub binding properties by NMR techniques. The results show that DC‐UbP_N holds a novel structural fold and acts as a Ub‐binding domain (UBD) but with low affinity. This implies that the DC‐UbP protein, composing of a combination of both UbL and UBD domains, might play an important role in regulating protein ubiquitination and delivery of ubiquitinated substrates in eukaryotic cells.     

Primate stem cells: bridge the translation from basic research to clinic application

A growing body of literature has shown that stem cells are very effective for the treatment of degenerative diseases in rodents but these exciting results have not translated to clinical practice. The difference results from the divergence in genetic, metabolic, and physiological phenotypes between rodents and humans. The high degree of similarity between non-human primates(NHPs) and humans provides the most accurate models for preclinical studies of stem cell therapy. Using a NHP model to understand the following key issues, which cannot be addressed in humans or rodents, will be helpful for extending stem cell applications in the basic science and the clinic. These issues include pluripotency of primate stem cells, the safety and efficiency of stem cell therapy, and transplantation procedures of stem cells suitable for clinical translation. Here we review studies of the above issues in NHPs and current challenges of stem cell applications in both basic science and clinical therapies. We propose that the use of NHP models, in particular combining the serial production and transplantation procedures of stem cells is the most useful for preclinical studies designed to overcome these challenges.     

Modulatory effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus KLDS 1.0738 on intestinal short‐chain fatty acids metabolism and GPR41/43 expression in β‐lactoglobulin–sensitized mice

We investigated the correlation between the beneficial effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus on gut microbiota composition, metabolic activities, and reducing cow's milk protein allergy. Mice sensitized with β‐lactoglobulin (β‐Lg) were treated with different doses of L. acidophilus KLDS 1.0738 for 4 weeks, starting 1 week before allergen induction. The results showed that intake of L. acidophilus significantly suppressed the hypersensitivity responses, together with increased fecal microbiota diversity and short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentration (including propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, and isovalerate) when compared with the allergic group. Moreover, treatment with L. acidophilus induced the expression of SCFAs receptors, G‐protein–coupled receptors 41 (GPR41) and 43 (GPR43), in the spleen and colon of the allergic mice. Further analysis revealed that the GPR41 and GPR43 messenger RNA expression both positively correlated with the serum concentrations of transforming growth factor‐β and IFN‐γ (p < .05), but negatively with the serum concentrations of IL‐17, IL‐4, and IL‐6 in the L. acidophilus–treated group compared with the allergic group (p < .05). These results suggested that L. acidophilus protected against the development of allergic inflammation by improving the intestinal flora, as well as upregulating SCFAs and their receptors GPR41/43.     

Statistical Mechanics of Zooplankton

Statistical mechanics provides the link between microscopic properties of many-particle systems and macroscopic properties such as pressure and temperature. Observations of similar “microscopic” quantities exist for the motion of zooplankton, as well as many species of other social animals. Herein, we propose to take average squared velocities as the definition of the “ecological temperature” of a population under different conditions on nutrients, light, oxygen and others. We test the usefulness of this definition on observations of the crustacean zooplankton Daphnia pulicaria. In one set of experiments, D. pulicaria is infested with the pathogen Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera. We find that infested D. pulicaria under light exposure have a significantly greater ecological temperature, which puts them at a greater risk of detection by visual predators. In a second set of experiments, we observe D. pulicaria in cold and warm water, and in darkness and under light exposure. Overall, our ecological temperature is a good discriminator of the crustacean’s swimming behavior.     

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。     

Characterization of Ribonuclease Activity of Three S-Allele-Associated Proteins of Petunia inflata

Three S-allele-associated proteins (S-proteins) of Petunia inflata, a species with gametophytic self-incompatibility, were previously found to share sequence similarity with two fungal ribonucleases, RNase T₂ and RNase Rh. In this study, the S-proteins from P. inflata plants of S₁S₂ and S₂S₃ genotypes were purified to homogeneity by gel filtration and cation-exchange chromatography, and their enzymatic properties were characterized. The three S-proteins (S₁, S₂, and S₃), with pairwise sequence identity ranging from 73.1 to 80.5%, were similar in most of the enzymatic properties characterized. The ribonuclease activity had a pH optimum of 7.0 and a temperature optimum of 50°C. Diethylpyrocarbonate at 1 millimolar almost completely abolished the ribonuclease activity; cupric sulfate and zinc sulfate at 1 millimolar reduced the ribonuclease activity of the three S-proteins by 50 to 75%. EDTA and RNasin had no inhibitory effect. All three S-proteins hydrolyzed polycytidylic acid preferentially, but varied in their nucleolytic activity toward polyadenylic acid and polyuridylic acid.