Cyclo-hexa-peptides at the water/cyclohexane interface: a molecular dynamics simulation

Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations have been performed to study the behaviors of ten kinds of cyclo-hexa-peptides (CHPs) composed of amino acids with the diverse hydrophilic/hydrophobic side chains at the water/cyclohexane interface. All the CHPs take the “horse-saddle” conformations at the interface and the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the side chains influences the backbones’ structural deformations. The orientations and distributions of the CHPs at the interface and the differences of interaction energies (ΔΔE) between the CHPs and the two liquid phases have been determined. RDF analysis shows that the H-bonds were formed between the O_C atoms of the CHPs’ backbones and H_w atoms of water molecules. N atoms of the CHPs’ backbones formed the H-bonds or van der Waals interactions with the water solvent. It was found that there is a parallel relationship between ΔΔE and the lateral diffusion coefficients (D _xy ) of the CHPs at the interface. The movements of water molecules close to the interface are confined to some extent, indicating that the dynamics of the CHPs and interfacial water molecules are strongly coupled.

AP-1在腋臭患者发病过程中的作用

目的：腋臭是美容整形外科的常见病,目前发病机制尚不明确,已证实人体大汗腺中的载脂蛋白D（ApoD）在腋臭患者大汗腺中高表达,并且与腋臭的发生密切相关。探明ApoD在大汗腺细胞中的信号转导通路,可以进一步明确其在腋臭发病过程中的作用机制。JNK信号转导通路与多种疾病的发生有关。课题组前期已经做了JNKl对ApoD调控作用的相关研究,证明了在腋臭发病过程中JNK1是通过调控ApoD的转录来上调ApoD的表达。本实验在课题组前期研究基础上,探讨JNKl下游转录因子AP-1是否在JNKl上调ApoD通路中发挥作用。方法：取腋臭志愿者腋区皮肤组织,进行汗腺细胞培养。把汗腺细胞分为5．二氢睾酮处理组、5-二氢睾酮联合姜黄素处理组和空白对照3个组,用姜黄素抑制AP-1的活性,通过Real．timePCR实验方法检测ApoD在姜黄素抑制下的表达变化。结果：在姜黄素的抑制下,ApoD表达明显降低。在体外培养汗腺细胞加入5．二氢睾酮联合姜黄素处理后,ApoD的表达量在mRNA水平低于单独的5-二氢睾酮处理组和正常对照组（P〈0．05）。结论：姜黄素抑制了AP．1的活化导致ApoD的表达降低。在腋臭的发病过程中,JNKl的下游转录因子AP-1对ApoD有明显的上调作用。AP-1可能在JNKl上调ApoD这条通路中扮演了很重要的角色,它可能是JNK1和ApoD的中间转录因子。     

Mitochondrial haplotypes may modulate the phenotypic manifestation of the LHON-associated m.14484T>C (MT-ND6) mutation in Chinese families

Mitochondrial m.14484T>C (MT-ND6) mutation has been associated with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. Previous investigations revealed that the m.14484T>C mutation is a primary factor underlying the development of optic neuropathy but is not sufficient to produce a clinical phenotype. However, mitochondrial haplogroups have been proposed to modulate the phenotypic manifestation of the m.14484T>C mutation. Here, we performed the clinical, genetic evaluation and complete mitochondrial genome sequence analysis of 41 Han Chinese pedigrees carrying the m.14484T>C mutation. These families exhibited a wide range of penetrances and expressivities of optic neuropathy. The average ratio between affected male/female matrilineal relatives from 41 families was 2:1. The penetrance of optic neuropathy in these Chinese pedigrees ranged from 5.6% to 100%, with the average of 23.8%. Furthermore, the age-of-onset for optic neuropathy varied from 4 to 44 years, with the average of 19.3 years. Sequence analysis of their mitochondrial genomes identified distinct sets of polymorphisms belonging to ten Eastern Asian haplogroups, indicating that the m.14484T>C mutation occurred through recurrent origins and founder events. We showed that mitochondrial haplogroups M9, M10 and N9 increased the penetrance of optic neuropathy in these Chinese families. In particular, these mitochondrial haplogroup specific variants: m.3394T>C (MT-ND1), m.14502T>C (MT-ND4) and m.14693A>G (MT-TE) enhanced the penetrance of visual loss in these Chinese families. These data provided the direct evidence that mitochondrial modifiers modulate the variable penetrance and expressivity of optic neuropathy among Chinese pedigrees carrying the m.14484T>C mutation.     

额底纵裂入路手术对鞍上第三脑室底垂体瘤的疗效分析

目的：分析经额底纵裂入路治疗鞍上第三脑室底垂体瘤的疗效,探讨其临床适用性。方法：选择从2011年1月~2013年1月与我院行额底纵裂入路手术治疗的30例鞍上第三脑室底垂体瘤的患者,术中行单侧额或双侧额弧形切口,根据术中所见肿瘤位置,由终板、视神经一颈内动脉等存在的生理间隙处切除肿瘤,观察所有患者的手术疗效。结果：所有患者术中可见肿瘤位于鞍内鞍上,部分或全部突入第三脑室底,其中有6例患者伴有脑积水。术中肿瘤全切23例,次全切5例,大部切除2例,无手术死亡病例。术前25例患者视力减退,术后23例患者视力均获得不同程度改善,仅1例暂无明显变化。术后19例出现电解质紊乱,患者经治疗后均已纠正;12例出现不同程度的尿崩症,给予患者药物治疗后,病情得到缓解。术后随访6个月,23例肿瘤全切患者病灶无复发,另外4例次全切者病灶也无明显变化,仅1例次全切和2例大部切除患者于术后行伽马刀再次治疗。结论：经额底纵裂入路治疗鞍上第三脑室底垂体瘤可以达到视野清晰,直观下进行肿瘤切除,手术效果好,并发症较少,适合临床长期推广应用。     

Mycorrhizal impacts on root trait plasticity of six maize varieties along a phosphorus supply gradient

Plant and Soil - Acidic soils with a pHwater below 5.5 occupy up to 40% of world’s arable land. Aluminum (Al) toxicity and magnesium (Mg) deficiency often coexist in acidic soils, limiting...     

不同地区田间草地贪夜蛾卵巢的结构和发育

【目的】探明田间草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda卵巢的发育状态及其变化,为草地贪夜蛾种群的发生和迁飞动态提供精准监测依据。【方法】采用雌性生殖系统解剖法,比较不同日龄和地区的田间草地贪夜蛾雌蛾卵巢的形态差异,分析卵巢成熟状态与雌蛾交配的关系。【结果】草地贪夜蛾雌蛾生殖系统包含卵巢、输卵管、交配囊、导精管、受精囊、附腺和产卵器。根据形态特征可以将田间草地贪夜蛾卵细胞分为卵黄发生前期、卵黄期和成熟期3个时期。田间雌蛾1日龄卵巢中发育最快的卵仅处于卵黄期中期,卵巢管柄为空;3日龄卵巢出现分化,一部分卵巢仍然和1日龄相似,另一部分卵巢中存在成熟卵;这种卵巢发育分化到羽化后11 d时仍然存在。云南江城、弥勒,广西田阳以及浙江瑞安和镇海等地的田间雌蛾,到死亡时分别有61.5%, 51.7%, 41.7%, 42.1%和35.5%卵巢发育不成熟。室内饲养第1代雌蛾中,有39.6%的个体到死亡时卵巢未发育成熟,和田间雌蛾比例相似。交配雌蛾卵巢可以是发育成熟和未成熟的,但是未成熟卵巢的比例仅为18.0%±5.0%。【结论】结果提示同一代次的田间草地贪夜蛾可能同时存在迁飞和非迁飞个体,其比例随地理位置和季节发生变化。本研究的结果在一定程度上解释了单纯依据化学农药难以防治草地贪夜蛾的原因,也为田间草地贪夜蛾的迁飞监测和绿色防控提供了一定依据。     

Reverse electron flow-mediated ROS generation in ischemia-damaged mitochondria: Role of complex I inhibition vs. depolarization of inner mitochondrial membrane

Background

The reverse electron flow-induced ROS generation (RFIR) is decreased in ischemia-damaged mitochondria. Cardiac ischemia leads to decreased complex I activity and depolarized inner mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ) that are two key factors to affect the RFIR in isolated mitochondria. We asked if a partial inhibition of complex I activity without alteration of the ΔΨ is able to decrease the RFIR.

Methods

Cardiac mitochondria were isolated from mouse heart (C57BL/6) with and without ischemia. The rate of H₂O₂ production from mitochondria was determined using amplex red coupled with horseradish peroxidase. Mitochondria were isolated from the mitochondrial-targeted STAT3 overexpressing mouse (MLS-STAT3E) to clarify the role of partial complex I inhibition in RFIR production.

Results

The RFIR was decreased in ischemia-damaged mouse heart mitochondria with decreased complex I activity and depolarized ΔΨ. However, the RFIR was not altered in the MLS-STAT3E heart mitochondria with complex I defect but without depolarization of the ΔΨ. A slight depolarization of the ΔΨ in wild type mitochondria completely eliminated the RFIR.

Conclusions

The mild uncoupling but not the partially decreased complex I activity contributes to the observed decrease in RFIR in ischemia-damaged mitochondria.

General significance

The RFIR is less likely to be a key source of cardiac injury during reperfusion.     

Structural basis of calcineurin activation by calmodulin

Calcineurin is the only known calmodulin (CaM) activated protein phosphatase, which is involved in the regulation of numerous cellular and developmental processes and in calcium-dependent signal transduction. Although commonly assumed that CaM displaces the autoinhibitory domain (AID) blocking substrate access to its active site, the structural basis underlying activation remains elusive. We have created a fused ternary complex (CBA) by covalently linking three polypeptides: CaM, calcineurin regulatory B subunit (CnB) and calcineurin catalytic A subunit (CnA). CBA catalytic activity is comparable to that of fully activated native calcineurin in the presence of CaM. The crystal structure showed virtually no structural change in the active site and no evidence of CaM despite being covalently linked. The asymmetric unit contains four molecules; two parallel CBA pairs are packed in an antiparallel mode and the large cavities in crystal packing near the calcineurin active site would easily accommodate multiple positions of AID-bound CaM. Intriguingly, the conformation of the ordered segment of AID is not altered by CaM; thus, it is the disordered part of AID, which resumes a regular α-helical conformation upon binding to CaM, which is displaced by CaM for activation. We propose that the structural basis of calcineurin activation by CaM is through displacement of the disordered fragment of AID which otherwise impedes active site access.     

Overexpression of Arabidopsis acyl‐CoA‐binding protein ACBP2 enhances drought tolerance

Arabidopsis thaliana acyl‐CoA‐binding protein 2 (ACBP2) is a stress‐responsive protein that is also important in embryogenesis. Here, we assign a role for ACBP2 in abscisic acid (ABA) signalling during seed germination, seedling development and the drought response. ACBP2 was induced by ABA and drought, and transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing ACBP2 (ACBP2‐OXs) showed increased sensitivity to ABA treatment during germination and seedling development. ACBP2‐OXs also displayed improved drought tolerance and ABA‐mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in guard cells, thereby promoting stomatal closure, reducing water loss and enhancing drought tolerance. In contrast, acbp2 mutant plants showed decreased sensitivity to ABA in root development and were more sensitive to drought stress. RNA analyses revealed that ACBP2 overexpression up‐regulated the expression of Respiratory Burst Oxidase Homolog D (AtrbohD) and AtrbohF, two NAD(P)H oxidases essential for ABA‐mediated ROS production, whereas the expression of Hypersensitive to ABA1 (HAB1), an important negative regulator in ABA signalling, was down‐regulated. In addition, transgenic plants expressing ACBP2pro:GUS showed beta‐glucuronidase (GUS) staining in guard cells, confirming a role for ACBP2 at the stomata. These observations support a positive role for ACBP2 in promoting ABA signalling in germination, seedling development and the drought response.