SUZ12 is a novel putative oncogene promoting tumorigenesis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The suppressor of zest 12 (SUZ12), one of the core polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) components, has increasingly appreciated as a key mediator during human tumorigenesis. However, its expression pattern and oncogenic roles in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain largely unexplored yet. Here, we sought to determine its expression pattern, clinicopathological significance and biological roles in HNSCC. Through data mining and interrogation from multiple publicly available databases, our bioinformatics analyses revealed that SUZ12 mRNA was significantly overexpressed in multiple HNSCC patient cohorts. Moreover, SUZ12 protein was markedly up‐regulated in primary HNSCC samples from our patient cohort as assessed by immunohistochemical staining and its overexpression significantly associated with cervical node metastasis and reduced overall and disease‐free survival. In the 4‐nitroquinoline 1‐oxide (4NQO)‐induced HNSCC mouse model, increased SUZ12 immunostaining was observed along with disease progression from epithelial hyperplasia to squamous cell carcinoma in tongue. Furthermore, shRNA‐mediated SUZ12 knock‐down significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in HNSCC cells, and resulted in compromised tumour growth in vivo. Collectively, our data reveal that SUZ12 might serve as a putative oncogene by promoting cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and also a novel biomarker with diagnostic and prognostic significance for HNSCC.     

Chromosomes in the Porcine First Polar Body Possess Competence of Second Meiotic Division within Enucleated MII Stage Oocytes

To determine whether chromosomes in the porcine first polar body (PB1) can complete the second meiotic division and subsequently undergo normal pre-implantation embryonic development, we examined the developmental competence of PB1 chromosomes injected into enucleated MII stage oocytes by nuclear transfer method (chromosome replacement group, CR group). After parthenogenetic activation (PA) or in vitro fertilization (IVF), the cleavage rate of reconstructed oocytes in the IVF group (CR-IVF group, 36.4 ± 3.2%) and PA group (CR-PA group, 50.8 ± 4.2%) were significantly lower than that of control groups in which normal MII oocytes were subjected to IVF (MII-IVF group, 75.8 ± 1.5%) and PA (MII-PA group, 86.9 ± 3.7%). Unfertilized rates was significantly higher in the CR-IVF group (48.6 ± 3.3%) than in the MII-IVF group (13.1 ± 3.4%). The blastocyst formation rate was 8.3 ± 1.9% in the CR-PA group, whereas no blastocyst formation was observed in the CR-IVF group. To produce tetraploid parthenogenetic embryos, intact MII stage oocytes injected with PB1chromosomes were electrically stimulated, treated with 7.5 μg/mL cytochalasin B for 3 h (MII oocyte + PB1 + CB group), and then cultured without cytochalasin B. The average cleavage rate of reconstructed oocytes was 72.5% (48 of 66), and the blastocyst formation rate was 18.7% (9 of 48). Chromosome analysis showed similar proportions of haploid and diploid cells in the control (normal MII oocytes) and CR groups after PA; overall, 23.6% of blastocysts were tetraploid in the MII oocyte + PB1 + CB group. These results demonstrate that chromosomes in PB1 can participate in normal pre-implantation embryonic development when injected into enucleated MII stage oocytes, and that tetraploid PA blastocysts are produced (although at a low proportion) when PB1 chromosomes are injected into intact MII stage oocytes.     

视觉信号在中枢的整合：同步振荡产生的机理和功能

神经系统内各信息通道的信号间如何整合？一个可能的途径就是通过同步振荡来协调。本文对同怕研究进展作了回顾,侧重介绍了视皮怪内同步振荡的提出、实验依据、产生的机理和功能意义,并对可能的进展作了展望。     

Microsatellite Variations of Elite Setaria Varieties Released during Last Six Decades in China

Crop improvement is a multifaceted micro-evolutionary process, involving changes in breeding approaches, planting configurations and consumption preferences of human beings. Recent research has started to identify the specific genes or genomic regions correlate to improved agronomic traits, however, an apparent blank between the genetic structure of crop elite varieties and their improving histories in diverse modern breeding programs is still in existence. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) was one of the earliest cereal crops to be domesticated and served as a staple crop for early civilizations in China, where it is still widely grown today. In the present trial, a panel of foxtail millet elite varieties, which were released in the last sixty years in different geographical regions of China, was characterized using microsatellite markers (SSRs). A clear separation of two subpopulations corresponding to the two eco-geographical regions of foxtail millet production in China was identified by the dataset, which also indicated that in more recently released elite varieties, large quantities of accessions have been transferred from spring-sowing to summer-sowing ecotypes, likely as a result of breeding response to planting configurations. An association mapping study was conducted to identify loci controlling traits of major agronomic interest. Furthermore, selective sweeps involved in improvement of foxtail millet were identified as multi-diverse minor effect loci controlling different agronomic traits during the long-term improvement of elite varieties. Our results highlight the effect of transition of planting configuration and breeding preference on genetic evolvement of crop species.     

秦岭辛家山林区锐齿栎外生菌根真菌多样性

以秦岭辛家山林区锐齿栎为研究对象,通过野外调查结合形态学和分子生物学方法,观察和鉴定与其共生的外生菌根真菌。结果确定了3种子囊菌和48种担子菌,分属于10科14属,其中毛革菌属Tomentella是优势类群,丝伞盖属1 Inocybe 1、Russula persicina、毛革菌属1 Tomentella 1、毛革菌属2 Tomentella 2、块菌属Tuber、绒盖牛肝菌属Xerocomus是常见种,其余都为稀有种。两样地锐齿栎外生菌根真菌除丰富度指数外,Simpson指数、Shannon指数以及Pielou均匀度指数差异不显著;Jaccard相似性指数和Sorenson相似性指数分别为0.1154和0.2069。     

猫后内侧上雪氏区视神经元对运动棒反应的取向和方向特征

猫后内侧上雪区（ｐｏｓｔｅｒｏｍｅｄｉａｌｌａｔｅｒａｌｓｕｐｒａｓｙｌｖｉａｎａｒｅａ,ＰＭＬＳ）的绝大多数神经元（１７１／２００）对运动棒的取向调谐,６２％（１２４／２００）细胞的取向调谐宽度（半高波宽）小于９０°：按方向选择性和取向选择性可分辨出几类特征明显的细胞类型：１、强取向和强方向选择性细胞;２、强取向调谐的双向选择细胞;３、弱取向调谐的强方向选择细胞;４、无取向无方向选择性细胞;以及５、特征不明显的或中间类型细胞。它们与最近光学记录揭示的鹰猴中颞叶视区（ｍｉｄｄｌｅｔｅｍｐｏｒａｌｖｉｓｕａｌａｒｅａ,ＭＴ）的组织有很好的吻合。     

菌根真菌的生理生态功能

菌根真菌是土壤中重要生物成员之一,不仅具有丰富的遗传多样性和物种多样性,其功能也是丰富多样,主要体现在：1）影响陆生植物起源、进化、演化与分布;2）促进植物的生长发育;3）提高植物的抗逆性;4）修复污染与退化土壤、改善土壤质量与健康状况;5）促进农林牧业的生产;6）保持生态平衡、稳定生态系统及其可持续生产力.随着技术发展和研究的深入,菌根真菌新功能将会不断被发现.     

Expression of a cytotoxic cationic antibacterial peptide in Escherichia coli using two fusion partners

It has been reported that it is difficult to express cationic antibacterial peptides in engineered bacteria because such peptides are highly toxic to the host bacteria cells and sensitive to intracellular proteases. Antibacterial peptide CM4 (ABP-CM4) is a small cationic peptide with broad-spectrum activities against bacteria, fungi and tumor cells, which may possibly be used as an antimicrobial agent. Here we tried to express ABP-CM4 in Escherichia coli cells using either the GST fusion system or the intein-mediated fusion expression system. In order to investigate the possible use of these two fusion partners in cationic small peptide expression and purification, a mutant ABP-CMt, which is a highly positively charged peptide with +9 charges at neutral pH, was designed. In the present study, we have shown that both ABP-CM4 and ABP-CMt peptides can be expressed and purified by the intein-mediated expression system but not by the GST fusion expression system. Thus the intein-mediated peptide expression and purification system potentially could be employed for the production of recombinant protease-sensitive and cytotoxic peptides.     

Pretreatments of Broussonetia papyrifera: in vitro assessment on gas and methane production,fermentation characteristic,and methanogenic archaea profile

ObjectiveThe present study was conducted to examine the gas production, fermentation characteristics, nutrient degradation, and methanogenic community composition of a rumen fluid culture with Broussonetia papyrifera (B. papyrifera) subjected to ensiling or steam explosion (SE) pretreatment.MethodsFresh B. papyrifera was collected and pretreated by ensiling or SE, which was then fermented with ruminal fluids as ensiled B. papyrifera group, steam-exploded B. papyrifera group, and untreated B. papyrifera group. The gas and methane production, fermentation characteristics, nutrient degradation, and methanogenic community were determined during the fermentation.ResultsCumulative methane production was significantly improved with SE pretreatment compared with ensiled or untreated biomass accompanied with more volatile fatty acids production. After 72 h incubation, SE and ensiling pretreatments decreased the acid detergent fiber contents by 39.4% and 22.9%, and neutral detergent fiber contents by 10.6% and 47.2%, respectively. Changes of methanogenic diversity and abundance of methanogenic archaea corresponded to the variations in fermentation pattern and methane production.ConclusionCompared with ensiling pretreatment, SE can be a promising technique for the efficient utilization of B. papyrifera, which would contribute to sustainable livestock production systems.