Slr4, a newly identified S-layer protein from marine Gammaproteobacteria,is a major biofilm matrix component

S-layers are paracrystalline proteinaceous lattices that surround prokaryotic cells, forming a critical interface between the cells and their extracellular environment. Here, we report the discovery of a novel S-layer protein present in the Gram-negative marine organism, Pseudoalteromonas tunicata D2. An uncharacterized protein (EAR28894) was identified as the most abundant protein in planktonic cultures and biofilms. Bioinformatic methods predicted a beta-helical structure for EAR28894 similar to the Caulobacter S-layer protein, RsaA, despite sharing less than 20% sequence identity. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that purified EAR28894 protein assembled into paracrystalline sheets with a unique square lattice symmetry and a unit cell spacing of ~9.1 nm. An S-layer was found surrounding the outer membrane in wild-type cells and completely removed from cells in an EAR28894 deletion mutant. S-layer material also appeared to be “shed” from wild-type cells and was highly abundant in the extracellular matrix where it is associated with outer membrane vesicles and other matrix components. EAR28894 and its homologs form a new family of S-layer proteins that are widely distributed in Gammaproteobacteria including species of Pseudoalteromonas and Vibrio, and found exclusively in marine metagenomes. We propose the name Slr4 for this novel protein family.     

The Chimonanthus salicifolius genome provides insight into magnoliid evolution and flavonoid biosynthesis

Chimonanthus salicifolius, a member of the Calycanthaceae of magnoliids, is one of the most famous medicinal plants in Eastern China. Here, we report a chromosome‐level genome assembly of C. salicifolius, comprising 820.1 Mb of genomic sequence with a contig N50 of 2.3 Mb and containing 36 651 annotated protein‐coding genes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that magnoliids were sister to the eudicots. Two rounds of ancient whole‐genome duplication were inferred in the C. salicifolious genome. One is shared by Calycanthaceae after its divergence with Lauraceae, and the other is in the ancestry of Magnoliales and Laurales. Notably, long genes with > 20 kb in length were much more prevalent in the magnoliid genomes compared with other angiosperms, which could be caused by the length expansion of introns inserted by transposon elements. Homologous genes within the flavonoid pathway for C. salicifolius were identified, and correlation of the gene expression and the contents of flavonoid metabolites revealed potential critical genes involved in flavonoids biosynthesis. This study not only provides an additional whole‐genome sequence from the magnoliids, but also opens the door to functional genomic research and molecular breeding of C. salicifolius.     

The role of astrocytes in oxidative stress of central nervous system: A mixed blessing

Central nervous system (CNS) maintains a high level of metabolism, which leads to the generation of large amounts of free radicals, and it is also one of the most vulnerable organs to oxidative stress. Emerging evidences have shown that, as the key homeostatic cells in CNS, astrocytes are deeply involved in multiple aspects of CNS function including oxidative stress regulation. Besides, the redox level in CNS can in turn affect astrocytes in morphology and function. The complex and multiple roles of astrocytes indicate that their correct performance is crucial for the normal functioning of the CNS, and its dysfunction may result in the occurrence and progression of various neurological disorders. To date, the influence of astrocytes in CNS oxidative stress is rarely reviewed. Therefore, in this review we sum up the roles of astrocytes in redox regulation and the corresponding mechanisms under both normal and different pathological conditions.     

中国苦苣苔科植物新资料——小花线柱苣苔

该文报道了产自中国西藏自治区墨脱县境内的线柱苣苔属(Rhynchotechum Blume)中国分布新记录——小花线柱苣苔(R. parviflorum Blume)。该新记录种常生长在林中溪流附近的崖壁以及次生林下阴湿生境中,主要辨别特征为叶基本对生,花萼裂片被绢毛,花梗被黄褐色绒毛,花冠筒较小,子房具短柔毛,果无毛至微柔毛。印度学者于2020年记载为印度新分布,而原始文献中记录的凭证标本采集点位于中国西藏自治区墨脱县境内,故对原文记述的产地信息提出质疑。同时,在前人的研究中部分馆藏的线柱苣苔属植物标本被认定为该新记录种,在此一并提出该新记录种在中国的分布地理信息和详细描述。     

桦木酸对人胃癌SGC-7901细胞增殖的影响*

目的:利用不同浓度的桦木酸对人胃癌SGC-7901细胞增殖的影响。方法:桦木酸设4个不同浓度(0、10、20、30 μg/ml),并采用常规化疗药物5-Fu处理作为阳性对照,以探究其对细胞增殖的影响。采用台盼蓝拒染法和吉姆萨染色法分别检测桦木酸对人胃癌SGC-7901细胞生长抑制率及克隆形成率;EdU法检测SGC-7901的细胞增殖;利用流式细胞术检测细胞周期, 应用qRT-PCR和Western blot分别检测细胞周期蛋白cyclin D1,cyclin B1的mRNA和蛋白表达水平。结果:不同浓度的桦木酸处理人胃癌SGC-7901细胞48 h后,其细胞生长抑制率显著升高(P＜0.05),克隆形成率和细胞增殖率均明显降低(P＜0.01),且呈剂量和时间依赖性;人胃癌SGC-7901细胞被阻滞在G1/G0期,细胞周期蛋白cyclin D1和cyclin B1的mRNA和蛋白表达量也随桦木酸浓度升高而显著降低(P＜0.01)。且与5-Fu对照组相比,桦木酸浓度为20 μg/ml和30 μg/ml时,细胞增殖能力明显降低,细胞周期被抑制,细胞周期蛋白表达量均明显降低(P ＜0.05)。结论:桦木酸通过下调cyclin B1和cyclin D1基因表达,将人胃癌SGC-7901细胞阻滞在G1/G0期,从而抑制细胞增殖。     

坡向和坡位对四川夹金山灌丛群落结构与物种多样性特征的影响

研究不同坡向、坡位夹金山灌丛群落结构和物种多样性特征。结果表明: 在 24 个样地中,共有维管植物 186 种,隶属于 50 科 127 属。其中,灌木层有 32 种,隶属于 14 科 22 属,阴坡下坡位物种数最多;草本层有 154 种,隶属于 43 科 109 属,阴坡物种数最少。灌木层的平均高度表现为阳坡>半阳坡>阴坡,平均密度则相反;草本层平均高度表现为阴坡>半阳坡>阳坡,平均密度无显著变化。坡位仅对阳坡草本层平均高度有显著影响,灌木层物种多样性在阴坡较高,草本层物种多样性在阳坡下坡位和阴坡中坡位较高。坡向对灌木层和草本层 Shannon多样性指数、Simpson优势度指数、物种丰富度指数、Pielou均匀度指数影响显著(除草本层 Simpson 指数),坡位对灌木层和草本层物种多样性指数均无显著影响,坡向和坡位的交互作用对草本层物种多样性的影响大于灌木层。冗余分析(RDA)表明,物种多样性不仅与坡向正弦值、坡向余弦值相关,也与群落结构特征相关性较大。