Secretory/releasing proteome-based identification of plasma biomarkers in HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

For successful therapy, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) must be detected at an early stage. Herein, we used a proteomic approach to analyze the secretory/releasing proteome of HCC tissues to identify plasma biomarkers. Serum-free conditioned media (CM) were collected from primary cultures of cancerous tissues and surrounding noncancerous tissues. Proteomic analysis of the CM proteins permitted the identification of 1365 proteins. The enriched molecular functions and biological processes of the CM proteins, such as hydrolase activity and catabolic processes, were consistent with the liver being the most important metabolic organ. Moreover, 19% of the proteins were characterized as extracellular or membrane-bound. For validation, secretory proteins involved in transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways were validated in plasma samples. Alphafetoprotein (AFP), metalloproteinase (MMP)1, osteopontin (OPN), and pregnancy-specific beta-1-glycoprotein (PSG)9 were significantly increased in HCC patients. The overall performance of MMP1 and OPN in the diagnosis of HCC remained greater than that of AFP. In addition, this study represents the first report of MMP1 as a biomarker with a higher sensitivity and specificity than AFP. Thus, this study provides a valuable resource of the HCC secretome with the potential to investigate serological biomarkers. MMP1 and OPN could be used as novel biomarkers for the early detection of HCC and to improve the sensitivity of biomarkers compared with AFP.     

Evaluation of the yield and nitrogen use efficiency of the dominant maize hybrids grown in North and Northeast China

Breeding high-yielding and nutrient-efficient cultivars is one strategy to simultaneously resolve the problems of food security,resource shortage,and environmental pollution.However,the potential increased yield and reduction in fertilizer input achievable by using high-yielding and nutrient-efficient cultivars is unclear.In the present study,we evaluated the yield and nitrogen use efficiency(NUE) of 40 commercial maize hybrids at five locations in North and Northeast China in 2008 and 2009.The effect of interaction between genotype and nitrogen(N) input on maize yield was significant when the yield reduction under low-N treatment was 25%-60%.Based on the average yields achieved with high or low N application,the tested cultivars were classified into four types based on their NUE:efficient-efficient(EE) were efficient under both low and high N inputs,high-N efficient(HNE) under only high N input,low-N efficient(LNE) under only low N input,and nonefficient-nonefficient under neither low nor high N inputs.Under high N application,EE and HNE cultivars could potentially increase maize yield by 8%-10% and reduce N input by 16%-21%.Under low N application,LNE cultivars could potentially increase maize yield by 12%.We concluded that breeding for N-efficient cultivars is a feasible strategy to increase maize yield and/or reduce N input.     

A novel strategy to inhibit the reproduction and translation of hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a positive single-stranded RNA virus, is a major cause of liver disease in humans. Herein we report a novel strategy to inhibit the reproduction and translation of HCV using a short RNA, named an Additional RNA, to activate the endonuclease activity of Argonaute 2 (Ago2). In the presence of the Additional RNA, the HCV genome RNA has the requisite 12 nucleotides of base-pairing with microRNA-122. This activates the endonuclease activity of Ago2, resulting in cleavage and release of the HCV genome RNA from Ago2 and microRNA-122. The free HCV genome RNA would be susceptible to intracellular degradation, effectively inhibiting its reproduction and translation. This study presents a new method to inhibit HCV that may hold great potential for HCV treatment in the future.     

Expression of two types of acetylcholinesterase gene from the silkworm, Bombyx mori, in insect cells

Complementary DNAs encoding two types of acetylcholinesterase （ACHE） were isolated from the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The type 1 （Bmacel） and type 2 （Bmace2） ORFs are 2052 and 1917 bp in length, respectively. Both the complete ORFs of the Bmaces and C- terminal truncated forms were recombined into the Bacmid baculovirus vector under the control of the polyhedrin promoter and expressed in Trichoplusia ni （Tn-5B 1-4） cells. The resulting products exhibited ACHE activity and glycosylation of the expressed proteins. An inhibition assay indicated that the ace2-type enzyme was more sensitive than the acel-type enzyme to inhibition by eserine and paraoxon.     

The group size effect and synchronization of vigilance in the Tibetan wild ass

Vigilance behavior is considered as an effective strategy for prey species to detect predators.An individual benefits from living in a group by reducing the time spent being vigilant without affecting the probability of detecting a predator.However,the mechanism producing a decrease in vigilance with increasing group size is unclear.Many models of vigilance assume that group members scan independently of one another.Yet in recent studies,the other 2 patterns of vigilance,coordination and synchronization,were reported in some species.In 2 summers(2018 and 2019),we studied the group-size effect on vigilance and foraging of Tibetan wild ass in Chang Tang Nature Reserve of Tibet.We also tested whether individuals scan the environment independently,tend to coordinate their scans,or tend to synchronize their vigilance.The results showed that individuals decreased the time spent on vigilance with increasing group size,while increased the time spent foraging.Group members scanned the environment at the same time more frequently and there was a positive correlation between group members'behaviors,indicating that Tibetan wild asses tend to synchronize their vigilance.     

Call Characteristic Network Reveal Geographical Patterns of Call Similarity:Applying Network Analysis to Frog’s Call Research

Individual’s phenotypic traits are the results of adaptation to ecological conditions.Therefore,different selection pressures caused by heterogeneous environments may result in phenotypic difference,especially for individuals in different geographical populations.Here,we illustrated for the first time to use social network analysis(SNA)for examining whether geographical proximity predicts the similarity patterns in call characteristics among populations of an anuran species.We recorded calls from 150 male dorsal-striped opposite-fingered treefrogs(Chiromantis doriae)at 11 populations in Hainan Province and one population in Guangdong Province in China's Mainland,and we measured eight acoustic variables for each male.Mantel test didn’t show a correlation between geographical proximity and the similarity in call characteristics among populations.In addition,we failed to find correlations between a population’s eigenvector centrality and the distance to its nearest neighbor,nor between the coefficient of variation of similarity in call characteristics of a population and the average distance to all other populations.Nevertheless,three acoustic clusters were identified by the Girvan-Newman algorithm,and clustering was partially associated with geography.Furthermore,the most central populations were included in the same cluster,but the top betweenness populations were located within different clusters,suggesting that centrality populations are not necessary bridging between clusters.These results demonstrate the potential usefulness of the SNA toolbox and indicate that SNA helps to uncover the patterns that often overlooked in other analytical methods.By using SNA in frog’s call studies,researchers could further uncover the potential relationship in call characteristics between geographical populations,further reveal the effects of ecological factors on call characteristics,and probably enhance our understanding of the adaptive evolution of acoustic signals.     

广布中剑水蚤对裸腹和秀体的摄食(英文)

１９９５年６月至９月,在武汉东湖,通过摄食实验和野外调查,作者研究了广布中剑水蚤对裸腹和秀体的摄食。研究结果证实,广布中剑水蚤能够抓取和摄食裸腹和秀体。广布中剑水蚤对小型裸腹的平均摄食率高于大型裸腹。多重统计分析结果表明,广布中剑水蚤对小型和大型裸腹的摄食率有显著差异（Ｐ＝００３３５）,捕食者喜食小型猎物。由于广布中剑水蚤的摄食习性,它对裸腹和秀体的种群动态有重要影响,但随着鱼产量增加,广布中剑水蚤对猎物摄食的影响效果被减弱了。