Piwi-Interacting RNAs (piRNAs) Are Dysregulated in Renal Cell Carcinoma and Associated with Tumor Metastasis and Cancer-Specific Survival

Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a distinct group of small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) that silence transposable genetic elements to protect genome integrity. Because of their limited expression in gonads and sequence diversity, piRNAs remain the most mysterious class of small RNAs. Studies have shown piRNAs are present in somatic cells and dysregulated in gastric, breast and liver cancers. By deep sequencing 24 frozen benign kidney and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) specimens and using the publically available piRNA database, we found 26,991 piRNAs present in human kidney tissue. Among 920 piRNAs that had at least two copies in one specimen, 19 were differentially expressed in benign kidney and ccRCC tissues, and 46 were associated with metastasis. Among the metastasis-related piRNAs, we found three piRNAs (piR-32051, piR-39894 and piR-43607) to be derived from the same piRNA cluster at chromosome 17. We confirmed the three selected piRNAs not to be miRNAs or miRNA-like sncRNAs. We further validated the aberrant expression of the three piRNAs in a 68-case formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) ccRCC tissue cohort and showed the up-regulation of the three piRNAs to be highly associated with ccRCC metastasis, late clinical stage and poor cancer-specific survival.     

青海省大果圆柏群落物种多样性与土壤因子的关系

大果圆柏(Juniperus tibetica)群落是三江源地区主要森林群落之一,在保障中国水生态安全、保育生物多样性和延缓气候变化等方面发挥着重要作用。该研究以青海省果洛州班玛县大果圆柏天然群落为对象,通过野外调查和室内分析,以明确群落的物种组成,以及物种多样性与土壤因子的关系,为大果圆柏群落物种多样性保护和资源植物开发利用提供参考。结果表明：(1)大果圆柏群落内共有植物169种,隶属36科101属,其中菊科(Compositae)、蔷薇科(Rosaceae)和毛茛科(Ranunculaceae)植物物种最多,分别占总物种的14.20%、13.61%和9.47%。(2)大果圆柏群落的灌、草层物种多样性特征差异显著,草本层的丰富度(2.90)、多样性(2.35)和优势度指数(0.80)均高于灌木层丰富度(1.03)、多样性(1.45)和优势度指数(0.70),而均匀度指数(0.79)低于灌木层(0.89)。(3)0~60 cm土层林地土壤有机质、全氮、全磷含量及pH均值分别为(87.54±20.32) g·kg^-1、(4.68±1.36) g·kg^-1、(0.83±0.18) g·kg^-1和6.73±0.51。(4)灌木层Margalef指数、Shannon Wiener指数与土壤有机质含量呈极显著正相关关系(P<0.01);草本层Margalef指数、Shannon Wiener指数与土壤全钾含量呈显著负相关关系(P<0.05),与土壤pH呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05)。研究认为,青海省大果圆柏林地土壤有机质、全钾含量和pH是影响群落物种多样性的主导因子。     

可降解新烟碱类杀虫剂微生物及其代谢途径的研究进展

新烟碱类化合物基于烟碱结构改造修饰制备,相较菊酯、含磷类等杀虫剂,因其选择性毒力被认为是一类对人类和生态无害的农药。然而,近年来由于新烟碱类杀虫剂(neonicotinoid insecticides)过度施用,其残余或转化的物质通过在土壤与水体中累积,影响昆虫甚至哺乳动物及其生理与行为,导致了一系列生态环境问题和继发危害。本文聚焦新烟碱类杀虫剂的产业现状,面向生物降解新烟碱类杀虫剂这一迫切需求,围绕新烟碱类杀虫剂的微生物菌株资源,重点阐述微生物降解新烟碱类杀虫剂的代谢机制及其多样性。通过梳理新烟碱类杀虫剂生物降解及其应用转化的关键问题和前沿进展,旨在为借助合成生物学和宏基因组学手段建立或筛选安全可控的新烟碱类杀虫剂的高效转化体系提供参考。     

Comparison of the effects of symmetric and asymmetric temperature elevation and CO2 enrichment on yield and evapotranspiration of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Under the changing climate, asymmetric warming pattern would be more likely during day and night time, instead of symmetric one. Concurrently, the growth responses and water use of plants may be different compared with those estimated based on symmetric warming. In this work, it was compared with the effects of symmetric (ETs) and asymmetric (ETa) elevation of temperature alone, and in interaction with elevated carbon dioxide concentration (EC), on the grain yield (GY) and evapotranspiration in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) based on pot experiment in the North China Plain (NCP). The experiment was carried out in six enclosed‐top chambers with following climate treatments: (1) ambient temperature and ambient CO₂ (CON), (2) ambient temperature and elevated CO₂ (EC), (3) elevated temperature and ambient CO₂ (ETs; ETa), and (4) elevated temperature and elevated CO₂ (ECETs, ECETa). In symmetric warming, temperature was increased by 3°C and in asymmetric one by 3.5°C during night and 2.5°C during daytime, respectively. As a result, GY was in ETa and ETs 15.6 (P < 0.05) and 10.3% (P < 0.05) lower than that in CON. In ECETs and ECETa treatments, GY was 14.9 (P < 0.05) and 9.1% (P < 0.05) higher than that in CON. Opposite to GY, evapotranspiration was 7.8 (P < 0.05) and 17.9% (P < 0.05) higher in ETa and ETs treatments and 7.2 (P < 0.05) and 2.1% (P > 0.05) lower in ECETs and ECETa treatments compared with CON. Thus, GY of wheat could be expected to increase under the changing climate with concurrent elevation of CO₂ and temperature as a result of increased WUE under the elevated CO₂. However, the gain would be lower under ETa than that estimated based on ETs due to higher evapotranspiration.     

通气对乳酸发酵过程的影响

对拟干酪乳杆菌发酵产乳酸的过程进行研究,通过改变不同的通气量(不通气、0.1vvm、0.2 vvm、0.5 vvm)确定0.1vvm的通气量最有利于产生乳酸;再通过优化通气策略,在发酵0～15 h不通空气,15～50 h通0.1 vvm空气使得乳酸的产量比全程通0.1 vvm空气又提高了11.7%,同时乳酸产率也提高了16.2%。最后通过对胞内NAD~+、NADH、乳酸脱氢酶和NADH氧化酶活性、以及发酵过程氧化还原电位(Oxidation-reduction potential,ORP)变化进行分析,阐述了通气影响乳酸发酵过程的机理。     

A Microfluidic Platform for Precision Small-volume Sample Processing and Its Use to Size Separate Biological Particles with an Acoustic Microdevice

A major advantage of microfluidic devices is the ability to manipulate small sample volumes, thus reducing reagent waste and preserving precious sample. However, to achieve robust sample manipulation it is necessary to address device integration with the macroscale environment. To realize repeatable, sensitive particle separation with microfluidic devices, this protocol presents a complete automated and integrated microfluidic platform that enables precise processing of 0.15–1.5 ml samples using microfluidic devices. Important aspects of this system include modular device layout and robust fixtures resulting in reliable and flexible world to chip connections, and fully-automated fluid handling which accomplishes closed-loop sample collection, system cleaning and priming steps to ensure repeatable operation. Different microfluidic devices can be used interchangeably with this architecture. Here we incorporate an acoustofluidic device, detail its characterization, performance optimization, and demonstrate its use for size-separation of biological samples. By using real-time feedback during separation experiments, sample collection is optimized to conserve and concentrate sample. Although requiring the integration of multiple pieces of equipment, advantages of this architecture include the ability to process unknown samples with no additional system optimization, ease of device replacement, and precise, robust sample processing.     

豆科植物中鱼藤酮含量测定及光学异构体研究

采用HPLC法测定了豆科鱼藤属的毛鱼藤、白花鱼藤、边荚鱼藤、马来鱼藤,灰豆属的非洲山毛豆、灰毛豆,豆薯属的豆薯、鸡血藤属厚果鸡血藤和紫穗槐属紫穗槐9种植物中鱼藤酮含量,发现毛鱼藤含量最高,每100g植物干粉中含1．82g鱼藤酮,紫穗槐含量最低,仅含0．005g。通过比较毛鱼藤、白花鱼藤、边荚鱼藤、非洲山毛豆、豆薯分离得到鱼藤酮的比旋光度,结合马来鱼藤、灰毛豆、厚果鸡血藤、紫穗槐提取物对3龄家蚕的点滴触杀活性差异,说明这些植物中含有的鱼藤酮均为同-光学异构体。     

几个棉花核不育抗虫杂交种(F1)的抗虫性及经济性状分析

用两个不抗虫和一个抗虫的核不育系为母本,用抗虫品系为父本,配制3个杂交组合(GA×HB、GA5×R27、GA18×HB),研究分析杂交种的抗虫性、产量性状和纤维品质.结果表明3个杂交组合均高抗棉红铃虫,GA5×R27和GA18×HB以及GA×HB分别抗、中抗棉铃虫;3个组合的产量和纤维品质均优于对照.用核不育系作母本,特别是用抗虫核不育系作母本生产抗虫杂种,比用人工去雄生产杂种种子成本低,且有较好的抗虫性和丰产性,因而在棉花生产上具有更加广阔的应用前景.     

假单胞菌N-13中丝氨酸羟甲基转移酶的酶学性质研究

从产L-丝氨酸菌株假单胞菌N-13中纯化了丝氨酸羟甲基转移酶,并对其性质进行了研究.结果表明,丝氨酸羟甲基转移酶酶活力在pH=7.0～9.0间稳定,最适宜pH=8.0;酶的最适温度为35℃,在30～40℃水浴30 min酶活力未见明显下降.磷酸吡哆醛的最适添加浓度为25 μmol·L-1.研究了不同金属离子对酶活力的影...     

利用农杆菌介导的瞬时表达系统研究CYC类TCP蛋白的亚细胞定位

CYCLOIDEA（CYC）类TCP基因在豆科与玄参科植物中都参与了两侧对称花型的发育,但它们的具体功能有明显的差异。通过在豌豆花瓣中建立农杆菌EHA105介导的瞬时表达系统,观察到豆科植物百脉根和玄参科植物金鱼草的CYC类TCP蛋白亚细胞定位有明显区别。