中国传统大菊叶片形态的数量化定义与分类

中国传统大菊品种叶片形态变异丰富,然而至今仍未对其进行科学的定义和分类,无法有效利用这些形态性状进行品种鉴定和叶形遗传解析。利用数量化分析方法对植物形态进行定义和分类,是植物性状遗传解析的前提。对436个中国传统大菊品种的24个叶形性状进行重新定义及观测,通过相关性分析确定了8个相对独立的性状,用变异系数及主成分分析等...     

麦芽糖诱导梯度强度启动子的定向进化改造

不同灵敏度与响应强度的启动子在基因表达调控与代谢工程改造中应用广泛。为筛选不同诱导表达强度的启动子元件,本研究以麦芽糖诱导启动子Pglvc为对象,通过易错PCR方法对麦芽糖诱导型启动子进行突变获得启动子突变体库,然后基于四环素筛选的细胞生长偶联方法对突变体进行高效筛选,获得了不同响应范围和强度的启动子突变体,最终得到的诱导型启动子突变体(MT2、MT3、MT4、MT6)对麦芽糖诱导剂的响应范围从0–3 g/L扩展至0–15 g/L,其中最高诱导表达强度菌株(MT8)较原始启动子菌株的绿色荧光蛋白表达水平提高约3.15倍,有利于进一步拓展梯度强度启动子在枯草芽孢杆菌代谢工程和合成生物学中的应用。     

Apoptin induces pyroptosis of colorectal cancer cells via the GSDME-dependent pathway

Apoptin is a small molecular weight protein encoded by the VP3 gene of chicken anemia virus (CAV). It can induce apoptosis of tumor cells and play anti-tumorigenic functions. In this study, we identified a time-dependent inhibitory role of apoptin on the viability of HCT116 cells. We also demonstrated that apoptin induces pyroptosis through cleaved caspase 3, and with a concomitant cleavage of gasdermin E (GSDME) rather than GSDMD. GSDME knockdown switched the apoptin-induced cell death from pyroptosis to apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the effect of apoptin on GSDME-dependent pyroptosis could be mitigated by caspase-3 and caspase-9 siRNA knockdown. Additionally, apoptin enhanced the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing aggregation of the mitochondrial membrane protein Tom20. Moreover, bax and cytochrome c were released to the activating caspase-9, eventually triggering pyroptosis. Therefore, GSDME mediates the apoptin-induced pyroptosis through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Finally, using nude mice xenografted with HCT116 cells, we found that apoptin induces pyroptosis and significantly inhibits tumor growth. Based on this mechanism, apoptin may provide a new strategy for colorectal cancer therapy.     

Epac‐2 ameliorates spontaneous colitis in Il‐10 −/− mice by protecting the intestinal barrier and suppressing NF‐κB/MAPK signalling

Intestinal barrier dysfunction and intestinal inflammation interact in the progression of Crohn''s disease (CD). A recent study indicated that Epac‐2 protected the intestinal barrier and had anti‐inflammatory effects. The present study examined the function of Epac‐2 in CD‐like colitis. Interleukin‐10 gene knockout (Il‐10 ^−/−) mice exhibit significant spontaneous enteritis and were used as the CD model. These mice were treated with Epac‐2 agonists (Me‐cAMP) or Epac‐2 antagonists (HJC‐0350) or were fed normally (control), and colitis and intestinal barrier structure and function were compared. A Caco‐2 and RAW 264.7 cell co‐culture system were used to analyse the effects of Epac‐2 on the cross‐talk between intestinal epithelial cells and inflammatory cells. Epac‐2 activation significantly ameliorated colitis in mice, which was indicated by reductions in the colitis inflammation score, the expression of inflammatory factors and intestinal permeability. Epac‐2 activation also decreased Caco‐2 cell permeability in an LPS‐induced cell co‐culture system. Epac‐2 activation significantly suppressed nuclear factor (NF)‐κB/mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling in vivo and in vitro. Epac‐2 may be a therapeutic target for CD based on its anti‐inflammatory functions and protective effects on the intestinal barrier.     

RAB31 marks and controls an ESCRT-independent exosome pathway

Exosomes are generated within the multivesicular endosomes (MVEs) as intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) and secreted during the fusion of MVEs with the cell membrane. The mechanisms of exosome biogenesis remain poorly explored. Here we identify that RAB31 marks and controls an ESCRT-independent exosome pathway. Active RAB31, phosphorylated by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), engages flotillin proteins in lipid raft microdomains to drive EGFR entry into MVEs to form ILVs, which is independent of the ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) machinery. Active RAB31 interacts with the SPFH domain and drives ILV formation via the Flotillin domain of flotillin proteins. Meanwhile, RAB31 recruits GTPase-activating protein TBC1D2B to inactivate RAB7, thereby preventing the fusion of MVEs with lysosomes and enabling the secretion of ILVs as exosomes. These findings establish that RAB31 has dual functions in the biogenesis of exosomes: driving ILVs formation and suppressing MVEs degradation, providing an exquisite framework to better understand exosome biogenesis.Subject terms: Small GTPases, Endosomes, Multivesicular bodies, Lysosomes, ESCRT     

Comparative Genomics and Evolution of Avian Specialized Traits

Genomic data are important for understanding the origin and evolution of traits. Under the context of rapidly developing of sequencing technologies and more widely available genome sequences, researchers are able to study evolutionary mechanisms of traits via comparative genomic methods. Compared with other vertebrates, bird genomes are relatively small and exhibit conserved synteny with few repetitive elements, which makes them suitable for evolutionary studies. Increasing genomic progress has been reported on the evolution of powered flight, body size variation, beak morphology, plumage colouration, high-elevation colonization, migration, and vocalization. By summarizing previous studies, we demonstrate the genetic bases of trait evolution, highlighting the roles of small-scale sequence variation, genomic structural variation, and changes in gene interaction networks. We suggest that future studies should focus on improving the quality of reference genomes, exploring the evolution of regulatory elements and networks, and combining genomic data with morphological, ecological, behavioural, and developmental biology data.     

CPEB3 deficiency in mice affect ovarian follicle development and causes premature ovarian insufficiency

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a heterogeneous and multifactorial disorder. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in research on the pathogenesis and treatment of POI, owing to the implementation of the second-child policy in China. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 3 (CPEB3) is an RNA-binding protein that can bind to specific RNA sequences. CPEB3 can bind to and affect the expression, cellular location, and stability of target RNAs. Cpeb3 is highly expressed in the ovary; however, its functions remain unknown. In this study, Cpeb3-mutant mice were used to characterize the physiological functions of CPEB3. Cpeb3-mutant female mice manifested signs of gradual loss of ovarian follicles, ovarian follicle development arrest, increased follicle atresia, and subfertility with a phenotype analogous to POI in women. Further analysis showed that granulosa cell proliferation was inhibited and apoptosis was markedly increased in Cpeb3-mutant ovaries. In addition, the expression of Gdf9, a potential target of CPEB3, was decreased in Cpeb3-mutant ovaries and oocytes. Altogether, these results reveal that CPEB3 is essential for ovarian follicle development and female fertility as it regulates the expression of Gdf9 in oocytes, disruption of which leads to impaired ovarian follicle development and POI.Subject terms: RNA-binding proteins, Infertility     

LUBAC regulates ciliogenesis by promoting CP110 removal from the mother centriole

Primary cilia transduce diverse signals in embryonic development and adult tissues. Defective ciliogenesis results in a series of human disorders collectively known as ciliopathies. The CP110–CEP97 complex removal from the mother centriole is an early critical step for ciliogenesis, but the underlying mechanism for this step remains largely obscure. Here, we reveal that the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) plays an essential role in ciliogenesis by targeting the CP110–CEP97 complex. LUBAC specifically generates linear ubiquitin chains on CP110, which is required for CP110 removal from the mother centriole in ciliogenesis. We further identify that a pre-mRNA splicing factor, PRPF8, at the distal end of the mother centriole acts as the receptor of the linear ubiquitin chains to facilitate CP110 removal at the initial stage of ciliogenesis. Thus, our study reveals a direct mechanism of regulating CP110 removal in ciliogenesis and implicates the E3 ligase LUBAC as a potential therapy target of cilia-associated diseases, including ciliopathies and cancers.     

Design,synthesis, and evaluation of chalcone-Vitamin E-donepezil hybrids as multi-target-directed ligands for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

A novel series of chalcone-Vitamin E-donepezil hybrids was designed and developed based on multitarget-directed ligands (MTDLs) strategy for treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The biological results revealed that compound 17f showed good AChE inhibitory potency (ratAChE IC₅₀ = 0.41 µM; eeAChE IC₅₀ = 1.88 µM). Both the kinetic analysis and docking study revealed that 17f was a mixed type AChE inhibitor. 17f was also a good antioxidant (ORAC = 3.3 eq), selective metal chelator and huMAO-B inhibitor (IC₅₀ = 8.8 µM). Moreover, it showed remarkable inhibition of self- and Cu²⁺-induced Aβ_1–42 aggregation with a 78.0 and 93.5% percentage rate at 25 µM, respectively, and disassembled self-induced and Cu²⁺-induced aggregation of the accumulated Aβ_1–42 fibrils with 72.3 and 84.5% disaggregation rate, respectively. More importantly, 17f exhibited a good neuroprotective effect on H₂O₂-induced PC12 cell injury and presented good blood-brain barrier permeability in vitro. Thus, 17f was a promising multi-target-directed ligand for treating AD.