Arabidopsis gene co-expression network and its functional modules

Background  

Biological networks characterize the interactions of biomolecules at a systems-level. One important property of biological networks is the modular structure, in which nodes are densely connected with each other, but between which there are only sparse connections. In this report, we attempted to find the relationship between the network topology and formation of modular structure by comparing gene co-expression networks with random networks. The organization of gene functional modules was also investigated.     

不同培养条件对黄连木花粉萌发和花粉管生长的影响

以黄连木花粉为试材,采用离体培养法研究了培养基组分和植物生长调节物质对黄连木花粉萌发和花粉管生长的影响.结果表明:花粉萌发和花粉管生长的适宜蔗糖浓度为15%,适宜培养温度为25℃;该培养条件下,花粉萌发率和花粉管长度分别达最大值63.3%和412.1 μm.硼酸、赤霉素(GA3)和吲哚乙酸(IAA)在一定浓度范围内,可以促进黄连木花粉萌发和花粉管生长,浓度过高时起抑制作用;最适宜黄连木花粉萌发和花粉管生长的硼酸浓度、赤霉素(GA3)和吲哚乙酸(IAA)浓度分别为100、50和15 mg/L.     

Cathepsin L与MMP-3在兔椎间盘退变中相关性研究

目的:探讨组织蛋白醇L(Cathepsin L)与基质金属蛋白酶-3(MMP-3)在兔椎间盘退变中的相关性.方法:健康大白兔60只随机分为实验组、阴性对照组、空白对照组,实验组分为三个亚组,椎间盘内注射3种不同浓度的Cathepsin L,阴性对照组中在椎间盘内注射生理盐水,空白对照组不做任何处理.采用HE粢色组织学观察椎间盘的退变特征,免疫组织化学S-P法检测椎间盘组织中MMP-3的表达.结果:HE染色组织学观察6周时在实验组椎间盘中,组织学观察到不同程度的椎间盘退变特征:□核脊索细胞逐渐减少,并逐渐被纤维软骨组织替代,纤维环与髓核之间失去明显的界限.免疫组织化学染色结果,3周、6周时实验组MMP-3的阳性率均高于空白对照组及阴性对照组(P＜0.05).结论:Cathepsin L与MMP-3共同参与了兔椎间盘的退变,Cathepsin L可能促进MMP-3在椎间盘内的生成,从而导致椎间盘的退变.     

Efficient production of lactic acid from sucrose and corncob hydrolysate by a newly isolated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizopus oryzae</Emphasis> GY18

The aim of this study is to investigate production of l-lactic acid from sucrose and corncob hydrolysate by the newly isolated R. oryzae GY18. R. oryzae GY18 was capable of utilizing sucrose as a sole source, producing 97.5 g l⁻¹ l-lactic acid from 120 g l⁻¹ sucrose. In addition, the strain was also efficiently able to utilize glucose and/or xylose to produce high yields of l-lactic acid. It was capable of producing up to 115 and 54.2 g l⁻¹ lactic acid with yields of up to 0.81 g g⁻¹ glucose and 0.90 g g⁻¹ xylose, respectively. Corncob hydrolysates obtained by dilute acid hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulose-enriched residue were used for lactic acid production by R. oryzae GY18. A yield of 355 g lactic acid per kg corncobs was obtained after 72 h incubation. Therefore, sucrose and corncobs could serve as potential sources of raw materials for efficient production of lactic acid by R. oryzae GY18.     

A stochastic model for integrating changes in species richness and community similarity across spatial scales

Human activities have elevated the extinction of natural populations as well as the invasion of new areas by non-native species. These dual processes of invasion and extinction may change the richness and similarity of communities, but the form these changes take is likely to depend on the manner in which invasions and extinctions occur and the spatial scale at which the changes are measured. Here, we explore the influence of differing patterns of extinction and invasion on the similarity and richness of a meta-community. In particular, we model simple stochastic processes analogous to realistic modes of human-mediated introduction of non-native species and range expansion by native species. We show that different modes of invasion and extinction can produce very different changes in diversity, and that the relative magnitude of these changes depends both on where in the meta-community diversity is measured and the degree of initial species aggregation. At any spatial scale of measurement, changes in the richness and similarity of communities following invasion and extinction are not necessarily strongly coupled: relatively large increases in richness may or may not also be associated with relatively large increases in similarity among communities. Thus, in real systems, the influence of human-induced invasions and extinctions on diversity will depend on both the precise mode of these processes (especially invasion), and how species populations are distributed across space.     

Hyperexcitable neurons and altered non-neuronal cells in the compressed spinal ganglion

The cell body or soma in the dosal root ganglion (DRG) is normally excitable and this excitability can increase and persist after an injury of peripheral sensory neurons. In a rat model of radicular pain, an intraforaminal implantation of a rod that chronically compressed the lumbar DRG ("CCD" model) resulted in neuronal somal hyperexcitability and spontaneous activity that was accom-panied by hyperalgesia in the ipsilateral hind paw. By the 5th day after onset of CCD, there was a novel upregulation in neuronal expression of the chemokine, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP- 1 or CCL2) and also its receptor, CCR2. The neurons developed, in response to topically applied MCP-1, an excitatory response that they normally do not have. CCD also activated non-neuronal cells including, for example, the endothelial cells as evidenced by angiogenesis in the form of an increased number of capillaries in the DRG after 7 days. A working hypothesis is that the CCD induced changes in neurons and non-neuronal cells that may act together to promote the survival of the injured tissue. The release of ligands such as CCL2, in addition to possibly activating nociceptive neurons (maintaining the pain), may also act to preserve injured cells in the face of ischemia and hypoxia, for example, by promoting angiogenesis. Thus, somal hyperexcitability, as often said of inflammation, may represent a double edged sword.     

Myosin Vb mobilizes recycling endosomes and AMPA receptors for postsynaptic plasticity

Learning-related plasticity at excitatory synapses in the mammalian brain requires the trafficking of AMPA receptors and the growth of dendritic spines. However, the mechanisms that couple plasticity stimuli to the trafficking of postsynaptic cargo are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that myosin Vb (MyoVb), a Ca2+-sensitive motor, conducts spine trafficking during long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic strength. Upon activation of NMDA receptors and corresponding Ca2+ influx, MyoVb associates with recycling endosomes (REs), triggering rapid spine recruitment of endosomes and local exocytosis in spines. Disruption of MyoVb or its interaction with the RE adaptor Rab11-FIP2 abolishes LTP-induced exocytosis from REs and prevents both AMPA receptor insertion and spine growth. Furthermore, induction of tight binding of MyoVb to actin using an acute chemical genetic strategy eradicates LTP in hippocampal slices. Thus, Ca2+-activated MyoVb captures and mobilizes REs for AMPA receptor insertion and spine growth, providing a mechanistic link between the induction and expression of postsynaptic plasticity.