Lack of plakoglobin in epidermis leads to keratoderma

Loss-of-function mutation of Jup has been associated with Naxos disease, which is characterized by arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and the cutaneous disorder palmoplantar keratoderma. Previously, we have shown that genetic ablation of Jup in cardiomyocytes in mice leads to arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy similar to Naxos disease in humans. Currently, to determine the pathogenesis of Naxos disease-associated keratoderma, we generated Jup mutant mice by inactivating Jup restrictively in keratinocytes. Jup mutant mice largely recapitulated the clinical features of human palmoplantar keratoderma: overcornification and thickening of the epidermis. Jup mutant mice also suffered skin ulceration and inflammation. Cell apoptosis and proliferation were significantly elevated in Jup mutant epidermis. Ultrastructural analyses revealed the disruption of the assembly of desmosomes and adherens junctions in Jup mutant epidermis. We also demonstrated the compensational increase in β-catenin at Jup mutant cell-cell junctions without altering its signaling activities. Our findings provide important insights for understanding the pathogenesis of human palmoplantar keratoderma.     

Microsatellite variation in two subspecies of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

To estimate the genetic variability of two subspecies of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis fascicularis and M. f. aurea) using microsatellite markers, 26 microsatellite markers were selected from previous reports. Seventeen markers showed high polymorphism in a subset of monkeys and were used for the assessment of genetic diversity in the larger sample. The effective number of alleles, the polymorphism information content (PIC) and the expected heterozygosity of M. f. aurea monkeys were all statistically significantly higher than those of M. f. fascicularis monkeys (P < 0.05), suggesting the M. f. aurea monkeys had a higher degree of genetic variation than the M. f. fascicularis monkeys. Substantial differences in allele distribution were also detected between the two subspecies of cynomolgus monkeys. Private alleles restricted to the M. f. fascicularis or the M. f. aurea monkeys were found throughout the selected 17 loci. These private alleles may allow the discrimination of the two subspecies of cynomolgus monkeys. The selected markers could also be used to estimate the genetic variation for other subspecies of cynomolgus monkeys. Further work using additional animals obtained from native or independent sources will be important for a more complete understanding of the genetic differences between these two subgroups.     

CNTF Induces Regeneration of Cone Outer Segments in a Rat Model of Retinal Degeneration

Background

Cone photoreceptors are responsible for color and central vision. In the late stage of retinitis pigmentosa and in geographic atrophy associated with age-related macular degeneration, cone degeneration eventually causes loss of central vision. In the present work, we investigated cone degeneration secondary to rod loss in the S334ter-3 transgenic rats carrying the rhodopsin mutation S334ter.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Recombinant human ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) was delivered by intravitreal injection to the left eye of an animal, and vehicle to the right eye. Eyes were harvested 10 days after injection. Cone outer segments (COS), and cell bodies were identified by staining with peanut agglutinin and cone arrestin antibodies in whole-mount retinas. For long-term treatment with CNTF, CNTF secreting microdevices were implanted into the left eyes at postnatal day (PD) 20 and control devices into the right eyes. Cone ERG was recorded at PD 160 from implanted animals. Our results demonstrate that an early sign of cone degeneration is the loss of COS, which concentrated in many small areas throughout the retina and is progressive with age. Treatment with CNTF induces regeneration of COS and thus reverses the degeneration process in early stages of cone degeneration. Sustained delivery of CNTF prevents cones from degeneration and helps them to maintain COS and light-sensing function.

Conclusions/Significance

Loss of COS is an early sign of secondary cone degeneration whereas cell death occurs much later. At early stages, degenerating cones are capable of regenerating outer segments, indicating the reversal of the degenerative process. Sustained delivery of CNTF preserves cone cells and their function. Long-term treatment with CNTF starting at early stages of degeneration could be a viable strategy for preservation of central vision for patients with retinal degenerations.     

Leaf physiology variations are modulated by natural variations that underlie stomatal morphology in Populus

Stomata are essential for photosynthesis and abiotic stress tolerance. Here, we used multiomics approaches to dissect the genetic architecture and adaptive mechanisms that underlie stomatal morphology in Populus tomentosa juvenile natural population (303 accessions). We detected 46 candidate genes and 15 epistatic gene-pairs, associated with 5 stomatal morphologies and 18 leaf development and photosynthesis traits, through genome-wide association studies. Expression quantitative trait locus mapping revealed that stomata-associated gene loci were significantly associated with the expression of leaf-related genes; selective sweep analysis uncovered significant differentiation in the allele frequencies of genes that underlie stomatal variations. An allelic regulatory network operating under drought stress and adequate precipitation conditions, with three key regulators (DUF538, TRA2 and AbFH2) and eight interacting genes, was identified that might regulate leaf physiology via modulation of stomatal shape and density. Validation of candidate gene variations in drought-tolerant and F₁ hybrid populations of P. tomentosa showed that the DUF538, TRA2 and AbFH2 loci cause functional stabilisation of spatiotemporal regulatory, whose favourable alleles can be faithfully transmitted to offspring. This study provides insights concerning leaf physiology and stress tolerance via the regulation of stomatal determination in perennial plants.     

Effects of ELF magnetic fields on protein expression profile of human breast cancer cell MCF7

A case-control study in 1979 on electrical wiring configurations and childhood leukemia had stimulated interest in the issue that extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MF) may have harmful biologi-cal effects especially on the incidence of human can-cer[1]. Since then, a large number of studies have been conducted to follow up this important result[2]. The majority of these studies indicate a weak association between exposure to 50―60 Hz ELF MF and the in-cidence of cancer; however…     

鼎湖山酸沉降背景下主要森林类型水化学特征初步研究

雨水的水质在通过森林后会发生变化．如果雨水是酸性的,这种变化会更加明显．通过一年多时间在鼎湖山主要森林类型采样分析发现,鼎湖山大气降水pH值低,酸雨频率高;阔叶林穿透雨pH值比大气降水高,树干径流和地表水pH值比大气降水低,土壤自然酸化非常严重;混交林穿透雨和地表水酸度比大气降水低,树干径流酸度则大于大气降水;针叶林穿透雨和树干径流都有进一步酸化趋势,但地表水pH值比大气降水高．3种林型比较,阔叶林林冠缓冲能力最强,针叶林土壤缓冲能力最大．3种林型,林内降水和地表水养分N、P、K、Ca、Mg和Na含量除N外都明显高于大气降水．各林型树干径流对养分富集能力强于穿透水,养分在大气降水中的浓度低于在地表水中的浓度．针叶林林内降水比混交林和阔叶林养分含量高,但地表水中养分浓度比后两者低．从地表水的养分浓度看,阔叶林和混交林养分亏损更为严重．     

Traditional ancient Egyptian medicine: A review

The ancient Egyptians practiced medicine with highly professional methods. They had advanced knowledge of anatomy and surgery. Also, they treated a lot of diseases including dental, gynecological, gastrointestinal, and urinary disorders. They could diagnose diabetes and cancer. The used therapeutics extended from different plants to include several animal products and minerals. Some of these plants are still used in the present day. Fortunately, they documented their life details by carving on stone, clay, or papyri. Although a lot of these records have been lost or destroyed, the surviving documents represent a huge source of knowledge in different scientific aspects including medicine. This review article is an attempt to understand some information about traditional medicine in ancient Egypt, we will look closely at some basics, sources of information of Egyptian medicine in addition to common treated diseases and therapeutics in this great civilization.     

Nitrogen to phosphorus ratios of tree species in response to elevated carbon dioxide and nitrogen addition in subtropical forests

Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations and nitrogen (N) deposition induced by human activities have greatly influenced the stoichiometry of N and phosphorus (P). We used model forest ecosystems in open‐top chambers to study the effects of elevated CO₂ (ca. 700 μmol mol^?1) alone and together with N addition (100 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) on N to P (N : P) ratios in leaves, stems and roots of five tree species, including four non‐N₂ fixers and one N₂ fixer, in subtropical China from 2006 to 2009. Elevated CO₂ decreased or had no effects on N : P ratios in plant tissues of tree species. N addition, especially under elevated CO₂, lowered N : P ratios in the N₂ fixer, and this effect was significant in the stems and the roots. However, only one species of the non‐N₂ fixers showed significantly lower N : P ratios under N addition in 2009, and the others were not affected by N addition. The reductions of N : P ratios in response to elevated CO₂ and N addition were mainly associated with the increases in P concentrations. Our results imply that elevated CO₂ and N addition could facilitate tree species to mitigate P limitation by more strongly influencing P dynamics than N in the subtropical forests.     

南亚热带常绿阔叶林树木多样性与生物量和生产力的关联及其影响因素

生物多样性和生态系统功能的关系直接或间接地影响着生产力, 是生态学研究的关键问题。本研究旨在定量探讨亚热带自然林演替后期森林生态系统树木多样性与生物量或生产力的关系。本研究基于中国南亚热带长期永久性样地的群落调查数据以及地形和土壤养分数据, 分析了南亚热带常绿阔叶林树木多样性与生物量和生产力的关联及其影响因素。相关性分析结果表明, 物种多样性与生物量呈显著负相关, 与生产力呈显著正相关; 结构多样性与生物量呈显著正相关, 与生产力呈显著负相关。此外, 不同环境因子对多样性、生物量和生产力的影响具有显著差异, 其中土壤含水量对生产力有显著影响, 物种多样性指标与部分地形和土壤因子均有相关性, 而群落结构多样性指标与土壤因子的相关性更强。方差分解结果表明, 结构多样性对生物量和生产力的单独效应的解释率最大, 分别为35.39%和5.21%; 其次是结构多样性和物种多样性的共同效应, 对生物量和生产力的解释率分别为13.66%和3.53%; 地形和土壤因子的解释率较小。同时, 结构方程结果也表明, 结构多样性对生物量有较强的直接正影响; 生物量对生产力有强烈的直接负影响, 结构多样性通过增加生物量明显地减少了生产力; 土壤和地形因子主要是通过物种和结构多样性间接影响生物量和生产力。综上, 本研究认为在南亚热带森林演替顶极群落中, 群落结构复杂性和物种多样性的提高对促进群落生产力和生物量具有重要作用。