The activity of plasma membrane hyperpolarization-activated Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> channels during pollen development of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrus pyrifolia</Emphasis>

Calcium (Ca²⁺) plays crucial roles in regulation of pollen tube growth. The influx of Ca²⁺ into the pollen tube is mediated by ion channels, and the density and activity of Ca²⁺ channels in pollen plasma membranes critically determines their electrical properties. In this report, using whole-cell and single-channel patch-clamping techniques, we investigated developmental changes of hyperpolarization-activated Ca²⁺ channel activity in pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) pollen and its relationship with pollen viability. For both pollen and pollen tubes, hyperpolarization-activated Ca²⁺ channels had the same conductance and cAMP sensitivity, indicating that they were the same channels. However, the Ca²⁺ current density in pollen tube protoplasts was greater than that in pollen protoplasts. Compared with day-3 flowers’ pollen, hyperpolarization-activated Ca²⁺ current density was significantly lower in day 0 and day 3 flowers’ pollen, which was consistent with the pollen germination and pollen tube growth, indicating that pollen protoplasts’ increased Ca²⁺ current density may have enhanced the pollen viability. During pollen tube elongation, pollen tube plasma membrane Ca²⁺ current density increased with increased length pollen tubes up to 300 μm. All of these results indicated that hyperpolarization-activated Ca²⁺ channel activity was associated with in pear pollen development and may have a causal link between Ca²⁺ channel activity and pollen viability.     

敲低PFKP联合肉碱棕榈酰基转移酶抑制剂etomoxir协同对肾透明细胞癌细胞Caki-1的抗肿瘤作用

目的:研究敲低P型磷酸果糖激酶(phosphofructokinase,PFKP)联合肉碱棕榈酰基转移酶抑制剂etomoxir对肾透明细胞癌Caki-1细胞的影响,并进一步探究其作用机制。方法:利用Western blot验证对照及PFKP shRNA敲低肾透明细胞癌细胞中PFKP的敲低效率,分别检测对照组(shCtrl)、PFKP敲低组、etomoxir组(shCtrl+etomoxir)、PFKP敲低联合etomoxir组的增殖曲线。使用Annexin-V/PI染色并用流式细胞检测对照组、PFKP敲低组、etomoxir组、PFKP敲低联合etomoxir组的细胞死亡,研究PFKP敲低联合etomoxir对细胞存活的影响。分别检测对照组、PFKP敲低组、etomoxir组、PFKP敲低联合etomoxir组的ATP水平与脂肪酸变化。结果:Western blot结果验证了PFKP的敲低效率。流式细胞检测显示,对照组、PFKP敲低组、etomoxir组、PFKP敲低联合etomoxir组的平均细胞死亡率分别为1.1、1.9、13.9、31.3%。PFKP敲低联合etomoxir组Caki-1细胞的死亡率显著高于单纯PFKP敲低与etomoxir组(P0.05)。PFKP敲低联合etomoxir组Caki-1细胞的ATP水平显著低于单纯PFKP敲低与etomoxir组(P0.05)。Etomoxir的加入抑制了PFKP敲低引起的游离脂肪酸下降(P0.05)。结论:PFKP敲低联合etomoxir对Caki-1细胞呈现协同的细胞毒抗肿瘤作用。     

pH值对FOXO1、GDF-8基因反义RNA寡核苷酸吸收的影响

研究不同pH值下,口服靶向FOXO1与GDF-8基因反义RNA寡核苷酸药物对药效的影响.化学合成靶向FOXO1与GDF-8基因的有效反义RNA寡核苷酸片段,调节药物PH值,通过灌胃方式给药,给药20 d后处死小鼠,进行体重,腿部肌肉增长情况分析.提取腿部肌肉组织总RNA,用real time PCR检测FOXO1与GDF-8基因的表达.结果表明,服用RNA oligos的试验组小鼠腿部肌肉重量均比对照组肌肉重量增长快.其中pH为7.0的RNA oligos的效果比pH为5.0的效果好, pH9.0的RNA oligos的作用效果最弱.与小鼠体重变化结果一致,real time PCR检测实验组FOXO1与GDF-8基因转录水平较对照组均有明显下降,其中服用pH为7.0的RNA oligos的下降最多.因此,口服靶向FOXO1与GDF-8基因的反义RNA寡核苷酸药物的最适pH值应为中性偏酸.     

Prostate Sphere-forming Stem Cells Are Derived from the P63-expressing Basal Compartment

Prostate stem cells (P-SCs) are capable of giving rise to all three lineages of prostate epithelial cells, including basal, luminal, and neuroendocrine cells. Multiple methods have been used to identify P-SCs in adult prostates. These include in vivo renal capsule implantation of a single epithelial cell with urogenital mesenchymal cells, in vitro prostasphere and organoid cultures, and lineage tracing with castration-resistant Nkx3.1 expression (CARN), in conjunction with expression of cell type-specific markers. Both organoid culture and CARN tracing show the existence of P-SCs in the luminal compartment. Although prostasphere cells predominantly express basal cell-specific cytokeratin and P63, the lineage of prostasphere-forming cells in the P-SC hierarchy remains to be determined. Using lineage tracing with P63^CreERT2, we show here that the sphere-forming P-SCs are P63-expressing cells and reside in the basal compartment. Therefore we designate them as basal P-SCs (P-bSCs). P-bSCs are capable of differentiating into AR⁺ and CK18⁺ organoid cells, but organoid cells cannot form spheres. We also report that prostaspheres contain quiescent stem cells. Therefore, the results show that P-bSCs represent stem cells that are early in the hierarchy of overall prostate tissue stem cells. Understanding the contribution of the two types of P-SCs to prostate development and prostate cancer stem cells and how to manipulate them may open new avenues for control of prostate cancer progression and relapse.     

Pyridones as glucokinase activators: Identification of a unique metabolic liability of the 4-sulfonyl-2-pyridone heterocycle

A promising area of novel anti-diabetic therapy involves identification of small molecule activators of the glucokinase enzyme to reduce blood glucose and normalize glucose stimulated insulin secretion. Herein, we report the identification and optimization of a series of 4-sulfonyl-2-pyridone activators. The activators were evaluated for in vitro biochemical activation and pharmacokinetic properties. As part of these efforts, a unique metabolic liability of the 4-sulfonyl-2-pyridone ring system was identified wherein this heterocycle readily undergoes conjugation with glutathione under non-enzymatic conditions.     

Arabidopsis ANGUSTIFOLIA3 (AN3) is associated with the promoter of CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 (COP1) to regulate light‐mediated stomatal development

Light signals are perceived by multiple photoreceptors that converge to suppress the RING E3 ubiquitin ligase CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 (COP1) for the regulation of stomatal development. Thus, COP1 is a point of integration between light signaling and stomatal patterning. However, how light signaling is collected into COP1 for the production and spacing of stomata is still unknown. Here, we report that the loss‐of‐function mutant of ANGUSTIFOLIA3 (AN3) delays asymmetric cell division, which leads to decreased stomatal index. Furthermore, overexpression of AN3 accelerates asymmetric cell division, which results in clusters of stomata. In addition, the stomatal development through AN3 regulation is mediated by light signaling. Finally, we find that an3 is a light‐signaling mutant, and that AN3 protein is light regulated. Self‐activation by AN3 contributes to the control of AN3 expression. Thus, AN3 is a point of collection between light signaling and stomatal patterning. Target‐gene analysis indicates that AN3 is associated with COP1 promoter for the regulation of light‐controlling stomatal development. Together, these components for regulating stomatal development form an AN3–COP1–E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, allowing the integration of light signaling into the production and spacing of stomata.     

Effects of Bile Acids and the Bile Acid Receptor FXR Agonist on the Respiratory Rhythm in the In Vitro Brainstem Medulla Slice of Neonatal Sprague-Dawley Rats

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is always accompanied by adverse fetal outcomes such as malfunctions of respiration. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) plays a critical role in the homeostasis of bile acids. Thus, we are determined to explore the effects of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and five bile acids on respiratory rhythm generation and modulation of neonatal rats. Spontaneous periodic respiratory-related rhythmical discharge activity (RRDA) was recorded from hypoglossal nerves during the perfusion of modified Krebs solution. Group 1–6 was each given GW4064 and five bile acids of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), deoxycholic acid (DCA), lithocholic acid (LCA), cholic acid (CA) as well as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) at different concentrations to identify their specific functions on respiratory rhythm modulations. Group 7 was applied to receive FXR blocker Z-guggulsterone and Z-guggulsterone with the above bile acids separately to explore the role of FXR in the respiratory rhythm modulation. Group 8 was given dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as controls. Apart from UDCA, CDCA, DCA LCA and CA all exerted effects on RRDA recorded from hypoglossal nerves in a concentration-dependent manner. Respiratory cycle (RC), Inspiratory time (TI), Expiratory Time (TE) and Integral Amplitude (IA) were influenced and such effects could be reversed by Z-guggulsterone. FXR may contribute to the effects on the modulation of respiratory rhythm exerted by bile acids.