AlCl3 exposure regulates neuronal development by modulating DNA modification

BACKGROUNDAs the third most abundant element, aluminum is widespread in the environment. Previous studies have shown that aluminum has a neurotoxic effect and its exposure can impair neuronal development and cognitive function.AIMTo study the effects of aluminum on epigenetic modification in neural stem cells and neurons. METHODSNeural stem cells were isolated from the forebrain of adult mice. Neurons were isolated from the hippocampi tissues of embryonic day 16-18 mice. AlCl₃ at 100 and 200 μmol/L was applied to stem cells and neurons. RESULTSAluminum altered the differentiation of adult neural stem cells and caused apoptosis of newborn neurons while having no significant effects on the proliferation of neural stem cells. Aluminum application also significantly inhibited the dendritic development of hippocampal neurons. Mechanistically, aluminum exposure significantly affected the levels of DNA 5-hydroxy-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, and N⁶-methyladenine in stem cells and neurons. CONCLUSIONOur findings indicate that aluminum may regulate neuronal development by modulating DNA modifications.     

Mycorrhizal type governs foliar and root multi-elemental stoichiometries of trees mainly via root traits

Plant and Soil - Multi-elemental stoichiometry can represent the biogeochemical niches of species, which can further guide community assemblage. Mycorrhizae play a key role in plant elemental...     

DNMT3b SUMOylation Mediated MMP-2 Upregulation Contribute to Paclitaxel Induced Neuropathic Pain

Neurochemical Research - Paclitaxel is a common chemotherapeutic agent in cancer treatment, while it often causes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which...     

High-content screening of diterpenoids from Isodon species as autophagy modulators and the functional study of their antiviral activities

Cell Biology and Toxicology - Autophagy is a conserved lysosomal degradation process, and abnormal autophagy has been associated with various pathological processes, e.g., neurodegeneration,...     

染色质调节元件与不同启动子的相互作用对基因表达调控的影响

为探究DNA序列元件对不同启动子调节转基因稳定表达的影响,利用遍在染色质开放元件 (Ubiquitous chromatin opening elements,UCOE) 和基质黏附序列 (Scaffold/matrix-attachment regions,MAR) 分别与含增强子的oct4基因启动子、含CpG岛的sox2基因启动子和不含调控元件的nanog基因启动子以及同时包含增强子和CpG岛的CMV启动子组合构建pOCT4-MAR、pOCT4-UCOE、pSOX2-MAR、pSOX2-UCOE、pNANOG-MAR、pNANOG-UCOE、pCMV-UCOE、pCMV-MAR等质粒,分析这些质粒稳定转染后的表达量和嵌合表达差异。结果发现,UCOE与含增强子元件的oct4启动子组合能较稳定高效表达,而MAR与含CpG岛的sox2启动子组合能较稳定高效表达。利用排除位置效应原因的嵌合表达对染色质高级结构调控基因表达的稳定性分析表明：(1) 通常情况下UCOE比MAR调节的表达载体的表达更高效和更稳定;UCOE连接含CpG岛的启动子形成开放染色质调节的高表达更稳定;(2) MAR与启动子上TATA盒或增强子可能通过染色质环产生高表达,但相对不稳定。结论：染色质调节元件UCOE和MAR与启动子调控元件之间能通过染色质开放状态或染色质环调控基因稳定表达。