Structural Basis for Silicic Acid Uptake by Higher Plants

Many of the world's most important food crops such as rice, barley and maize accumulate silicon (Si) to high levels, resulting in better plant growth and crop yields. The first step in Si accumulation is the uptake of silicic acid by the roots, a process mediated by the structurally uncharacterised NIP subfamily of aquaporins, also named metalloid porins. Here, we present the X-ray crystal structure of the archetypal NIP family member from Oryza sativa (OsNIP2;1). The OsNIP2;1 channel is closed in the crystal structure by the cytoplasmic loop D, which is known to regulate channel opening in classical plant aquaporins. The structure further reveals a novel, five-residue extracellular selectivity filter with a large diameter. Unbiased molecular dynamics simulations show a rapid opening of the channel and visualise how silicic acid interacts with the selectivity filter prior to transmembrane diffusion. Our results will enable detailed structure–function studies of metalloid porins, including the basis of their substrate selectivity.     

Application of Dolichos biflorus in immunoassay detection of kidney collecting duct biomarkers

Currently there are no biomarkers for detecting collecting duct damage in man. Antibodies to several collecting duct-specific antigens exist but sandwich assays have been difficult to establish due to the need for two different antibodies to the same protein. We hypothesized that a collecting duct-specific lectin could be used in combination with a collecting duct-specific antibody to negate the need for two different antibodies. The collecting duct specificity of selected antibodies (NiCa II 13C2, Pap XI 3C7, HuPaP VII 2B11 and aquaporin 2), was verified by immunohistochemistry. Aquaporin 2 and Pap XI 3C7 were used successfully in setting up assays with the lectin Dolichos biflorus, using the Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) platform. Antigen expression was highest in the papillae of rat and human kidney (corresponding to the greatest density of collecting ducts) and was also present in normal urine. We propose that further qualification and validation would lead to an assay for detecting collecting duct damage in man.     

Regional registration of [6‐14C]glucose metabolism during brain activation of α‐syntrophin knockout mice

α‐Syntrophin is a component of the dystrophin scaffold‐protein complex that serves as an adaptor for recruitment of key proteins to the cytoplasmic side of plasma membranes. α‐Syntrophin knockout (KO) causes loss of the polarized localization of aquaporin4 (AQP4) at astrocytic endfeet and interferes with water and K⁺ homeostasis. During brain activation, release of ions and metabolites from endfeet is anticipated to increase perivascular fluid osmolarity, AQP4‐mediated osmotic water flow from endfeet, and metabolite washout from brain. This study tests the hypothesis that reduced levels of endfoot AQP4 increase retention of [¹⁴C]metabolites during sensory stimulation. Conscious KO and wild‐type mice were pulse‐labeled with [6‐¹⁴C] glucose during unilateral acoustic stimulation or bilateral acoustic plus whisker stimulation, and label retention was assayed by computer‐assisted brain imaging or analysis of [¹⁴C]metabolites in extracts, respectively. High‐resolution autoradiographic assays detected a 17% side‐to‐side difference (p < 0.05) in inferior colliculus of KO mice, not wild‐type mice. However, there were no labeling differences between KO and wild‐type mice for five major HPLC fractions from four dissected regions, presumably because of insufficient anatomical resolution. The results suggest a role for AQP4‐mediated water flow in support of washout of metabolites, and underscore the need for greater understanding of astrocytic water and metabolite fluxes.     

Aquaporins in developing rice grains

During rice grain filling, grain moisture content and weight show dynamic changes. We focused on the expression of all 33 rice aquaporins in developing grains. Only two aquaporin genes, OsPIP2;1 and OsTIP3;1, were highly expressed in the period 10–25 days after heading (DAH). High-temperature treatment from 7 to 21 DAH abolished the dynamic up-regulation of OsPIP2;1 in the period 15–20 DAH, whereas OsTIP3;1 expression was not affected. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that OsPIP2;1 was present in the starchy endosperm, nucellar projection, nucellar epidermis, and dorsal vascular bundles, but not in the aleurone layer. OsTIP3;1 was present in the aleurone layer and starchy endosperm. Water transport activity of recombinant OsTIP3;1 was low, in contrast to the high activity of recombinant OsPIP2;1 we reported previously. Our data suggest that OsPIP2;1 and OsTIP3;1 have distinct roles in developing grains.     

Discovering genes responsible for silk synthesis in Bombyx mori by piggyBac‐based random insertional mutagenesis

Silkworm mutants are valuable resources for both transgenic breeding and gene discovery. PiggyBac-based random insertional mutagenesis has been widely used in gene functional studies. In order to discover genes involved in silk synthesis, a piggyBac-based random insertional library was constructed using Bombyx mori, and the mutants with abnormal cocoon were particularly screened. By this means, a “thin cocoon” mutant was identified. This mutant revealed thinner cocoon shell and shorter posterior silk gland (PSG) compared with the wild type. The messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of all the three fibroin genes, including Fib-H, Fib-L and P25, were significantly down-regulated in the PSG of mutants. Four piggyBac insertion sites were identified in Aquaporin (AQP), Longitudinals lacking protein-like {Lola), Glutamyl aminopeptidase-like (GluAP) and Loc101744460. The mRNA levels of all the four genes were significantly altered in the silk gland of mutants. In particular, the mRNA amount of AQP, a gene responsible for the regulation of osmotic pressure, decreased dramatically immediately prior to the spinning stage in the anterior silk gland of mutants. The identification of the genes disrupted in the “thin cocoon” mutant in this study provided useful information for understanding silk production and transgenic breeding of silkworms in the future.     

过表达水稻OsAQP增强转基因拟南芥耐盐性

水稻OsAQP是实验室前期从cDNA文库中筛选的功能未知的水通道蛋白质编码基因。本文采用DNA重组技术构建其植物过表达载体,并对拟南芥进行了遗传转化,筛选获得转基因拟南芥。采用50、100、125和150 mmol/L梯度盐胁迫处理,结果显示,转基因拟南芥的发芽率、根长以及鲜重分别比对照至少高17%、40.8%和14.29%,且差异达到显著水平（P<0.05）。在正常条件下,转基因植株叶片中抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性显著高于WT;经300 mmol/L NaCl处理,转基因拟南芥叶片中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、APX酶活性均升高,与处理前相比分别提高7.37倍、30.87倍和1.77倍,且与WT的酶活性差异达到显著水平（P<0.05）;丙二醛(MDA)含量也在处理后上升,但在转基因植株中的含量低于WT,分别是WT的0.74倍、0.68倍和0.62倍,差异同样达到显著水平（P<0.05）。本研究提示,OsAQP过表达不仅能够促进拟南芥种子萌发和根系生长,而且在盐胁迫下通过提高拟南芥内源抗氧化酶活性、降低膜脂过氧化程度,增强了转基因植株对一定程度盐胁迫的耐受性。     

Interleukin-13 interferes with CFTR and AQP5 expression and localization during human airway epithelial cell differentiation

Interleukin-13 (IL-13) is a central regulator of Th2-dominated respiratory disorders such as asthma. Lesions of the airway epithelial barrier frequently observed in chronic respiratory inflammatory diseases are repaired through proliferation, migration and differentiation of epithelial cells. Our work is focused on the effects of IL-13 in human cellular models of airway epithelial cell regeneration. We have previously shown that IL-13 altered epithelial cell polarity during mucociliary differentiation of human nasal epithelial cells. In particular, the cytokine inhibited ezrin expression and interfered with its apical localization during epithelial cell differentiation in vitro. Here we show that CFTR expression is enhanced in the presence of the cytokine, that two additional CFTR protein isoforms are expressed in IL-13-treated cells and that part of the protein is retained within the endoplasmic reticulum. We further show that aquaporin 5 expression, a water channel localized within the apical membrane of epithelial cells, is completely abolished in the presence of the cytokine. These results show that IL-13 interferes with ion and water channel expression and localization during epithelial regeneration and may thereby influence mucus composition and hydration.