Reactive oxygen species accumulation patterns of alfalfa root nodules identified using an optimized method

ROS include superoxide anion radical (O2^-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), singlet oxygen (0-0), hydroxyl radical (OH ), and hydroxyl anion (OH-). O2^-, the radical with the highest oxidation compacity to produce H2O2, OH and OH^-, is a byproduct of aerobic respiration in organisms. Rhizobia and their legume hosts are aerobic organisms, and nitrogen-fixing nodules formed on legume roots are developed from their symbiotic in teractions. Therefore, ROS are generated in legume nodules through aerobic respiration by both symbiotic partners.     

Construction of an efficient genomic editing system with CRISPR/Cas9 in the vector mosquito Aedes albopictus

Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito, is a mosquito which originated in Asia. In recent years, it has become increasingly rampant throughout the world. This mosquito can transmit several arboviruses, including dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses, and is considered a public health threat. Despite the urgent need of genome engineering to analyze specific gene functions, progress in genetical manipulation of Ae. albopictus has been slow due to a lack of efficient methods and genetic markers. In the present study, we established targeted disruptions in two genes, kynurenine hydroxylase (kh) and dopachrome conversion enzyme (yellow), to analyze the feasibility of generating visible phenotypes with genome editing by the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/ CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system in Ae. albopictus. Following Cas9 single guide RNA ribonucleoprotein injection into the posterior end of pre-blastoderm embryos, 30%-50% of fertile survivors produced alleles that failed to complement existing kh and yellow mutations. Complete eye and body pigmentation defects were readily observed in GI pupae and adults, indicating successful generation of highly heritable mutations. We conclude that the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing system can be used mAe. albopictus and that it can be adopted as an efficient tool for genome-scale analysis and biological study.     

Neonatal lethality and recycling defect of transferrin receptor in mice with Syntaxin12/13 disruption

Dear Editor,Iron deficiency,documented by World Health Organization(WHO),is the most common nutritional deficiency,and accounts for-50%of anemia globally.Iron-deficiency anemia is notably and frequently associated with chronic heart failure,chronic kidney disease,cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.According to WHO Global Health Estimates 2014 Summary,iron-deficiency anemia is a major and prevalent public health problem worldwide,which contributes to 0.2% mortality,especially maternal and child mortality.     

TMEM43-S358L mutation enhances NF-κBTGFp signal cascade in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy(ARVD/C)is a genetic cardiac muscle disease that accounts for approximately 30%sudden cardiac death in young adults.The Ser358Leu mutation of transmembrane protein 43(TMEM43)was commonly identified in the patients of highly lethal and fully penetrant ARVD subtype,ARVD5.Here,we generated TMEM43 S358L mouse to explore the underlying mechanism.This mouse strain showed the classic patholo.gies of ARVD patients,including structural abnormalities and cardiac fibrofatty.TMEM43 S358L mutation led to hyper-activated nuclear factor kB(NFkB)activation in heart tissues and primary cardiomy.ocyte cells.Importantly,this hyper activation of NF-κB directly drove the expression of pro-fibrotic gene,transforming growth factor beta(TGFβ),and enhanced downstream signal,indicating that TMEM43 S358L mutation up-regulates NF-κB-TGFβ signal cascade during ARVD cardiac fibrosis.Our study partially reveals the regulatory mechanism of ARVD development.     

全球抗体药物研发态势分析

<正>1引言抗体(antibody,Ab)是指浆细胞(效应B细胞)在抗原刺激下产生并释放的可与其发生特异性结合的免疫球蛋白(immunoglobulin,Ig),是机体免疫系统的一个重要组成部分。根据抗体结合抗原决定簇的数量,抗体一般可以分为单克隆抗体(monoclonal antibody)和多克隆抗体(polyclonal antibody)。其中,单克隆抗体及其与药物的偶联物因其高特异性、高有效性和高安全性等特点,形象地被称为"生物导弹",现有的抗体药物大多属于此类抗体。     

全球融合蛋白药物研发态势分析

<正>1引言融合蛋白(fusion protein)是指将不同来源的基因或基因片段链接而表达的新型蛋白,其不仅能够提高功能蛋白的稳定性、延长在体内的代谢时间,同时又能融合一个或多个功能片段,形成高效靶向药物。目前融合蛋白已成为国际药学界研究的热点之一。本文的研究对象为利用重组DNA技术构建、以治疗为目的重组融合蛋白,也包括一些用于疫苗开发的病毒融合蛋白。     

Time delay and cross-correlated Gaussian noises-induced stochastic stability and regime shift between steady states for an insect outbreak system

In this paper, we focus on investigating the stochastic stability and the regime transition between the endangered state and the boom state for a time-delayed insect growth system driven by correlated external and internal noises. By use of the Fokker Planck equation, the method of small time delay approximation and the fast descent method, we explore in detail the joint action of noise terms and time delay on the mean reproduction and depression time for the insect population. Our investigations indicate that the pseudo-resonance phenomenon of the mean first-passage time (MFPT) occurs because of the impact of different noises and time delay. Through the numerical calculation, it is discovered that multiplicative noise can speed up the shift of the insect population from the boom state to the endangered one, while the noise correlation and time delay can propel the insect system to evolve from the endangered state to the boom state and improve the biological stability. In addition, the impact of the additive noise on the stability of the biological system depends on the positive and negative situation of the noise correlation. On the other hand, during the process of suppressing the insect explosion, it is beneficial to the pest control to amplify the association noise strength and weaken the intensities of the multiplicative, additive noises and time delay. However, during the process of eliminating the pests, it can produce nice effect on the disinsection to increase time delay, the intensities of multiplicative and additive noises and weaken the strength of noise correlation.     

An analysis of intraoperative blood transfusion of cardiac surgery in one hospital from 2014 to 2016

To investigate the usage of blood componentsfor cardiac surgery inthe First Hospital of Lanzhou University, data from January 2014 to December 2016 were collected for analysis, including the number of cardiac surgeries and blood transfusions. There were 1 589 males and 1 076 females, aged from 1 to 73 years, with an average age of (53.97 ± 11.33) years, in this study. The results showed that the rate of blood-free surgery in the hospital increased year by year,while the proportion of blood-used operation to total operations decreased every year. The ratio of plasma and platelets used in cardiac surgery decreased, while the cryoprecipitate ratio used in cardiac surgery increased. This study indicates that the transfusion medical level in cardiac surgery is improved continuously, and that the infusion of blood components has become more secure, efficient and rational.     

Metal ions stabilize a dimeric molten globule state between the open and closed forms of malic enzyme

Malic enzyme is a tetrameric protein with double dimer quaternary structure. In 3-5 M urea, the pigeon cytosolic NADP⁺-dependent malic enzyme unfolded and aggregated into various forms with dimers as the basic unit. Under the same denaturing conditions but in the presence of 4 mM Mn²⁺, the enzyme existed exclusively as a molten globule dimer in solution. Similar to pigeon enzyme (Chang, G. G., T. M. Huang, and T. C. Chang. 1988. Biochem. J. 254:123-130), the human mitochondrial NAD⁺-dependent malic enzyme also underwent a reversible tetramer-dimer-monomer quaternary structural change in an acidic pH environment, which resulted in a molten globule state that is also prone to aggregate. The aggregation of pigeon enzyme was attributable to Trp-572 side chain. Mutation of Trp-572 to Phe, His, Ile, Ser, or Ala abolished the protective effect of the metal ions. The cytosolic malic enzyme was completely digested within 2 h by trypsin. In the presence of Mn²⁺, a specific cutting site in the Lys-352-Gly-Arg-354 region was able to generate a unique polypeptide with M_r of 37 kDa, and this polypeptide was resistant to further digestion. These results indicate that, during the catalytic process of malic enzyme, binding metal ion induces a conformational change within the enzyme from the open form to an intermediate form, which upon binding of L-malate, transforms further into a catalytically competent closed form.