Formaldehyde induces toxic effects and regulates the expression of damage response genes in BM-MSCs

In this study, we assessed the toxic effects of formaldehyde （FA） on mouse bone marrow mesenchymai stem cells （BM- MSCs）. Cytotoxicity was measured by using MTT assay. DNA strand breakage was detected by standard alkaline comet assay and comet assay modified with proteinase K （PK）. DNA-protein crosslinks （DPCs） were detected by KCI-SDS precipitation assay. We found that FA at a con- centration from 75 to 200 μM inhibited cell survival and induced DPCs over 125 μM. The PK-modified comet assay showed that FA-induced DNA strand breakage was increased in a dose-dependent manner from 75 to 200 μM. On the other hand, standard alkaline comet assay showed that DNA strand breakage was decreased with FA concen- tration over 125 μM. We confirmed by using Pearson cor- relation that there was a negative linear correlation between DPCs and survival rate （r = -0.987, P 〈 0.01） and positive linear relationships between DPCs and （i） sister chromatid exchange and （ii） micronucleus （r = 0.995, P〈 0.01; r = 0.968, P〈 0.01）. DNA damage RTz profiler polymerase chain reaction array was used to investigate the changes in the expression of damage response genes. Xpa and Xpc of the nucleotide excision repair pathway and Brca2, Rad51, and Xrcc2 of the homologous recombination pathway were all up-regulated in both 75 and 125 μM FA. However, the same genes were down-regulated with 175 μM FA. The expressions of Chekl and Husl, which are involved in cell cycle regulation, were altered in the same manner with 75, 125, and 175 μM FA. These results indicated that Xpa, Xpc, Brca2, Rad51, Xrcc2, Chekl, and Husl were essential for the BM-MSCs to counteract the effects of FA.     

Exercise‐induced α‐ketoglutaric acid stimulates muscle hypertrophy and fat loss through OXGR1‐dependent adrenal activation

The authors approached the journal to correct a mistake in the data presented in Appendix␣Fig S3D. The authors state that the mouse images in Appendix␣Fig S3D mistakenly displayed images from Fig 2F and Appendix␣Fig S1F. The images in Appendix␣Fig S3D are herewith corrected. The authors state that this change does not affect the conclusions or the statistics. The source data for these panels have been added to the original publication.The authors note that the following sentence needs to be corrected from: Appendix Figure S3D. Original. Appendix Figure S3D. Corrected. “Interestingly, several well‐established accumulation signatures of succinate, malate, hypoxanthine, and xanthine induced by endurance exercise (Lewis et␣al, 2010) were found to be decreased by endurance exercise (Figs 1D and EV1A–D)”.to“Interestingly, several well‐established accumulation signatures of succinate, malate, hypoxanthine, and xanthine induced by endurance exercise (Lewis et␣al, 2010) were found to be decreased by resistance exercise (Figs 1D and EV1A–D)”.Further, the authors requested to amend the legend of Appendix␣Fig S3R to indicate that the same sample for the iWAT group, “WT+2%AKG” treatment, is shown in Fig 3P. The corrected legend reads: “(R‐S). Representative images (R) and quantification (S) of p‐HSL DAB staining from male OXGR1OE^AG mice treated with AKG for 12 weeks (n = 6 per group). The same sample is shown as in Fig 3P ”.The authors regret these errors and any confusion they may have caused. All authors approve of this correction.     

Changes in electrophysical characteristics of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 cells during their interaction with polyclonal antibodies

Electrooptical characteristics of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 cells during their specific interaction with polyclonal rabbit antibodies were studied. Dependence of optical density of cell suspension during electroorientation of cells from frequency of orienting field in interval 10, 100, 250, and 500 kHz was evaluated. Itwas shown that electrooptical (EO) characteristics of bacterial suspensions change during interaction of A. brasilense cells with antibodies, and maximal changes occur when frequency of oriented field amounts 100-250 kHz. During interaction of A. brasilense Sp7 with strain-specific polyclonal antibodies in the presence of Escherichia coli K-12 and Pseudomonas putida C-11 decrease of amplitude of analytic signal was observed but detection of A. brasilense Sp7 cells was possible. Possibility of detection of microorganisms by EO analysis during their interaction with antibodies was shown.     

鳞翅目昆虫中肠Bt杀虫蛋白受体研究进展

杀虫晶体蛋白(insecticidal crystal proteins,ICPs;含有Cry和Cyt 2大家族)和营养期杀虫蛋白(vegetative insecticidal proteins,Vips)等Bt杀虫蛋白可有效防治鳞翅目害虫,其中Cry应用最广泛。然而,一些地区的鳞翅目害虫已对Bt杀虫蛋白产生了抗性。目前,普遍认为鳞翅目昆虫中肠受体与Bt杀虫蛋白结合能力的改变是导致其对Bt杀虫蛋白产生抗性的最主要因素。在鳞翅目昆虫中,Cry受体是研究得最为透彻的Bt受体,已经被证实的有氨肽酶N、钙黏蛋白、碱性磷酸酶和ABC转运蛋白等。Vips杀虫蛋白类与鳞翅目昆虫中肠受体的结合方式与Cry杀虫蛋白相似,但结合位点与Cry杀虫蛋白不同。本文从结构特点、作用机制及不同鳞翅目昆虫间的表达差异等角度对以上4种鳞翅目昆虫中肠Bt受体进行了综述,并提出如下展望:(1)以棉铃虫或小菜蛾等鳞翅目昆虫为农业害虫模式生物进行深入研究,阐明其对Bt杀虫蛋白产生抗性的机制,为研究其他鳞翅目农业害虫对Bt杀虫蛋白产生抗性的机制提供理论借鉴;(2)鉴于在不同鳞翅目昆虫间,中肠Bt受体与Bt杀虫蛋白结合存在差异,且同一Bt杀虫蛋白与鳞翅目昆虫Bt受体并不专一性结合,Bt杀虫蛋白多基因组合策略是较为有效的田间鳞翅目昆虫防治策略,是今后一段时间内Bt杀虫蛋白应用的发展方向。     

中国陆地生态系统净初级生产力时空变化特征及影响因素

为揭示气候变化背景下我国各陆地生态系统净初级生产力(NPP)的时空分布特征与驱动机制,引入重心模型分析2000—2017年我国NPP的空间分布格局变化,并利用相关分析方法结合Thornthwaite Memorial模型定量区分气候变化与人类活动影响NPP的相对作用。结果表明：(1)2000—2017年全国NPP均值为325.86 g C/m²,整体呈现出南方高北方低,东南向西北逐渐递减的特点。(2)近18年全国与各陆地生态系统NPP均呈现增长趋势,全国NPP增长速率为4.4597 g C m^-2 a^-1,总净增加约0.391 Pg C。空间上全国与森林、草地、荒漠生态系统的NPP重心向东北方向移动,农田与城市生态系统的NPP重心向西北方向移动,表明NPP在该方向上的增速和增量最大。(3)全国NPP在华北、西北地区与四川盆地主要受降水的影响,在青藏高原与云贵高原的东部主要受气温的影响,各陆地生态系统之间城市生态系统NPP对降水响应的敏感度相对最高,荒漠生态系统NPP对温度响应的敏感度相对最高。(4)气候变化和人类活动对全...     

Effects of p-nitrophenol and organophosphorous nitroaromatic insecticides on the respiratory activity of free and immobilized cells of strains S-11 and BA-11 of Pseudomonas putida

The possibility of using the respiratory activity (RA) of microbial cells (of strains S-11 and BA-11 of Pseudomonas putida) as an instrument for quantitative determination of organophosphorous nitroaromatic insecticides, metaphors and sumithion, and their hydrolysis product, p-nitrophenol (PNP), has been explored. The dependences of RA on the concentrations of the three compounds were linear within the range 0.5-2.5 microM. The cells of the strain BA-11 exhibited maximum selectivity in the determination of the compounds. The RA of microbial cells differing in the modes of immobilization (adsorption to carrier surfaces vs. incorporation into gels) have been compared. Prospects of development of the microbial cell-based sensor system for determining metaphors, sumithion, and PNP in aqueous media are discussed.     

Low expression of GSTP1 in the aqueous humour of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is characterized by irreversible neurodegeneration accompanied by visual field defects and high intraocular pressure. Currently, an effective treatment is not available to prevent the progression of POAG, other than treatments to decrease the high intraocular pressure. We performed proteomic analysis of aqueous humour (AH) samples from patients with POAG combined with cataract and patients with cataract to obtain a better understanding of the pathogenesis of POAG and explore potential treatment targets for this condition. Samples were collected from 10 patients with POAG combined with cataract and 10 patients with cataract. Samples from each group were pooled. A high-resolution, label-free, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomic analysis was performed. In total, 610 proteins were identified in human AH samples from the two groups. A total of 48 up-regulated proteins and 49 down-regulated proteins were identified in the POAG combined with cataract group compared with the control group. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed key roles for these proteins in inflammation, immune responses, growth and development, cellular movement and vesicle-mediated transport in the biological process category. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated the down-regulated expression of glutathione S-transferase P (GSTP1) in the glutathione metabolism signalling pathway in the POAG combined with cataract group. Additionally, certain significantly differentially expressed proteins in the proteomic profile were verified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). GSTP1 levels were reduced in the human AH samples from the POAG combined with cataract group, based on the results of ELISA and proteomic profiling. Therefore, GSTP1, a redox-related marker, may be involved in the pathological process of POAG and may become a treatment target in the future.     

崖柏群落优势乔木树种种间关系

采用样方调查法,对组成崖柏群落的乔木树种进行调查。通过计算重要值确定崖柏群落优势乔木树种,研究优势树种的总体联结性、2物种间的联结性和种间协变。结果表明:崖柏群落内的15个优势树种总体间存在负关联;2物种间具有显著正联结的种对有:高山栎-川陕鹅耳枥、高山栎-华中八角、大叶青冈-乌岗栎、铁杉-华西花楸、华千金榆-青榨槭、华千金榆-大叶青冈、大叶青冈-川鄂山茱萸、川陕鹅耳枥-华中八角;呈显著负联结的种对是高山栎-青榨槭;崖柏与其他优势树种的联结性均未达到显著程度;有26个种对表现出明显的正协变,12个种对表现出明显的负协变;种对正协变的存在是由于这些物种对环境资源的利用具有相似性所致。     

Obtaining the phage mini-antibodies and their use for detection of microbial cells by using an electro-acoustic sensor

The phage mini-antibodies to bacterial cells of strain Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 were obtained and the possibility of using them for detection of microbial cells by means of a lateral field excited piezoelectric resonator was studied. It has been found that the frequency dependencies of the real and imaginary parts of the electrical impedance of the resonator loaded by the cell suspension A. brasilense Sp245 with the mini-antibodies, significantly differ from those of the resonator with the control cell suspension without mini-antibodies. The concentration limit of possible determination of the microbial cells in their interaction with the mini-antibodies is equal to 10(3) cells/ml. It has been ascertained that detection of A. brasilense Sp245 cells using the mini-antibodies is possible even in the presence of other cultures, for example, E. coli BL-Ril and A. brasilense Sp7 cells. Therefore, it has been shown for the first time that detection of microbial cells by an electro-acoustic sensor is feasible.     

UV-induced DNA repair is not detectable in pre-dictyate oocytes of the mouse

Oocytes from fetal and neonatal mice were UV-irradiated, cultured in medium containing tritiated thymidine and analysed following autoradiography. As previously reported irradiated dictyate cells clearly displayed an increased grain count. However we detected no UV-induced response in oocytes at the leptotene, zygotene or pachytene stages of meiosis. This contrasts with the situation in spermatogenesis where high levels of repair can be induced in equivalent early prophase stages.