Cross-scale drivers of plant trait distributions in a fragmented forest landscape

During community assembly, plant functional traits are under selective pressure from processes operating at multiple spatial scales. However, in fragmented landscapes, there is little understanding of the relative importance of local-, patch- and landscape-scale processes in shaping trait distributions. Here, we investigate cross-scale influences of landscape change on traits that dictate plant life history strategies in re-assembling plant communities in a fragmented landscape in eastern China. Using forest dynamics plots (FDPs) on 29 land-bridge islands in which all woody plants have been georeferenced and identified to species, we characterized and derived two composite measures of trait variation, representing variation across the leaf economics spectrum and plant size. We then tested for trait shifts in response to local-, patch- and landscape-scale factors, and their potential cross-scale interactions. We found substantial community-wide trait changes along local-scale gradients (i.e. forest edge to interior): more acquisitive leaf economic traits and larger sized species occurred at edges, with a significant increase in trait means and trait range. Moreover, there were significant cross-scale interaction effects of patch and landscape variables on local-scale edge effects. Altered spatial arrangement of habitat in the surrounding landscape (i.e. declining habitat amount and increasing patch density), as well as decreasing area at the patch level, exacerbated edge effects on traits distributions. We suggest that synergistic interactions of landscape- and patch-scale processes, such as dispersal limitation, on local-scale environmental filtering at edges, together shape the spatial distributions of plant life history strategies in fragmented plant communities.     

Rapid anti‐depressant‐like effects of ketamine and other candidates: Molecular and cellular mechanisms

Major depressive disorder takes at least 3 weeks for clinical anti‐depressants, such as serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors, to take effect, and only one‐third of patients remit. Ketamine, a kind of anaesthetic, can alleviate symptoms of major depressive disorder patients in a short time and is reported to be effective to treatment‐resistant depression patients. The rapid and strong anti‐depressant‐like effects of ketamine cause wide concern. In addition to ketamine, caloric restriction and sleep deprivation also elicit similar rapid anti‐depressant‐like effects. However, mechanisms about the rapid anti‐depressant‐like effects remain unclear. Elucidating the mechanisms of rapid anti‐depressant effects is the key to finding new therapeutic targets and developing therapeutic patterns. Therefore, in this review we summarize potential molecular and cellular mechanisms of rapid anti‐depressant‐like effects based on the pre‐clinical and clinical evidence, trying to provide new insight into future therapy.     

ATP binding cassette transporters ABCG1 and ABCG16 affect reproductive development via auxin signalling in Arabidopsis

Angiosperm reproductive development is a complex event that includes floral organ development, male and female gametophyte formation and interaction between the male and female reproductive organs for successful fertilization. Previous studies have revealed the redundant function of ATP binding cassette subfamily G (ABCG) transporters ABCG1 and ABCG16 in pollen development, but whether they are involved in other reproductive processes is unknown. Here we show that ABCG1 and ABCG16 were not only expressed in anthers and stamen filaments but also enriched in pistil tissues, including the stigma, style, transmitting tract and ovule. We further demonstrated that pistil‐expressed ABCG1 and ABCG16 promoted rapid pollen tube growth through their effects on auxin distribution and auxin flow in the pistil. Moreover, disrupted auxin homeostasis in stamen filaments was associated with defective filament elongation. Our work reveals the key functions of ABCG1 and ABCG16 in reproductive development and provides clues for identifying ABCG1 and ABCG16 substrates in Arabidopsis.     

Potential role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression

The regulation of insulin on depression and depression‐like behaviour has been widely reported. Insulin and activation of its receptor can promote learning and memory, affect the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis (HPA) balance, regulate the secretion of neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitters, interact with gastrointestinal microbiome, exert neuroprotective effects and have an impact on depression. However, the role of insulin on depression remains largely unclear. Therefore, in this review, we summarized the potential role of insulin on depression. It may provide new insight for clarifying role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression.     

微小型生物反应器及其在生物医药领域的应用展望

微小型生物反应器体积微小但在线分析检测和过程控制功能媲美台式装备。其核心支撑技术包括一次性材料及微加工技术、非接触式光学传感器、自动化以及实验设计 (DOE)、数据分析软件与过程控制的整合。由于体积微小、湍流程度和单位能耗较低,微小型反应器内的混合、传质、剪切特性与工业规模设备有一定的区别。现阶段微小型生物反应器主要用于菌株和细胞系筛选和工艺优化,在实现高通量工艺的同时确保了数据的丰度,对缩短研发周期和加速产品上市,尤其是在应对突发性传染性疾病方面有着重要的意义。未来,精准医疗概念的落实也依赖功能柔性化的微小型生物反应器系统。     

肝素C5异构酶的表达优化及分子改造

肝素和硫酸乙酰肝素是一类应用于临床抗凝血的糖胺聚糖。肝素葡萄糖醛酸C5异构酶(Heparosan-N-sulfate-glucuronate 5-epimerase,C5,EC 5.1.3.17) 是肝素和硫酸乙酰肝素合成过程中重要的修饰酶,催化N-硫酸化肝素前体 (N-sulfoheparosan) 的D-葡萄糖醛酸 (D-GlcA) 上5号位羧基翻转生成L-艾杜糖醛酸 (L-iduronic acid,L-IdoA)。文中以大肠杆菌Escherichia coli为宿主对斑马鱼来源的肝素葡萄糖醛酸C5异构酶基因Glce进行重组表达优化与分子改造。比较了3种不同的表达载体pET20b(+)、pET28a(+) 和pCold Ⅲ对C5表达的差异情况,其中以嗜冷启动型载体pCold Ⅲ表达酶活最高,达到(1 873.61±5.42) U/L。为了进一步提高C5的可溶表达量,在N端融合促溶标签SET2后,可溶蛋白表达量比对照提高了50%,酶活达到 (2 409.25±6.43) U/L。在此基础上,通过理性设计对底物结合口袋进行定点突变,获得最优突变体 (V153R) 的酶活和比酶活分别为 (5 804.32±5.63) U/L和(145.14±2.33) U/mg,是原始酶的2.41倍和2.28倍。肝素C5异构酶改造与表达优化为酶法催化合成肝素奠定了基础。     

肠激酶在毕赤酵母中的分泌表达优化

肠激酶 (Enterokinase,EK) 是一类特异性识别切割DDDDK序列的丝氨酸蛋白酶,作为一种工具酶广泛应用于生物医药领域。目前,EK在毕赤酵母Pichia pastoris中的表达水平较低,难以应用。本研究比较了6种不同的信号肽SP1、SP2、SP3、SP4、SP7和SP8对毕赤酵母分泌表达EK的影响。在摇瓶水平上,与α-factor信号肽相比,SP1信号肽显著提高了EK的分泌表达 (从6.8 mg/L提高至14.3 mg/L),酶活从 (2 390±212) U/mL提高至 (4 995±378) U/mL。在此基础上,通过共表达毕赤酵母内源蛋白Kex2,EK酶活提高至 (7 219±489) U/mL。另外,N端融合WLR三个氨基酸进一步提高酶活至 (15 145±920) U/mL,比酶活为 (1 174 600±53 100) U/mg。EK在毕赤酵母中的高效分泌表达为未来应用奠定了基础。