Divergent scaling of respiration rates to nitrogen and phosphorus across four woody seedlings between different growing seasons

Empirical studies indicate that the exponents governing the scaling of plant respiration rates (R) with respect to biomass (M) numerically vary between three‐fourth for adult plants and 1.0 for seedlings and saplings and are affected by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content. However, whether the scaling of R with respect to M (or N and P) varies among different phylogenetic groups (e.g., gymnosperms vs. angiosperms) or during the growing and dormant seasons remains unclear. We measured the whole‐plant R and M, and N and P content of the seedlings of four woody species during the growing season (early October) and the dormant season (January). The data show that (i) the scaling exponents of R versus M, R versus N, and R versus P differed significantly among the four species, but (ii), not between the growing and dormant seasons for each of the four species, although (iii) the normalization constants governing the scaling relationships were numerically greater for the growing season compared to the dormant season. In addition, (iv) the scaling exponents of R versus M, R versus N, and R versus P were numerically larger for the two angiosperm species compared to those of the two gymnosperm species, (v) the interspecific scaling exponents for the four species were greater during the growing season than in the dormant season, and (vi), interspecifically, P scaled nearly isometric with N content. Those findings indicate that the metabolic scaling relationships among R, M, N, and P manifest seasonal variation and differ between angiosperm and gymnosperm species, that is, there is no single, canonical scaling exponent for the seedlings of woody species.     

LincRNA‐p21 suppresses development of human prostate cancer through inhibition of PKM2

Objectives

Previously, we found that long intergenic non‐coding RNA‐p21 (lincRNA‐p21) inhibited the development of human prostate cancer. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we attempted to investigate the downstream targets of lincRNA‐p21 in prostate cancer.

Materials and methods

Expression of lincRNA‐p21 and PKM2 was determined by qRT‐PCR and Western blot. Lentivirus expressing shPKM2 or shCtrl was used to explore the role of PKM2 on the enhanced cell proliferation and glycolysis of lincRNA‐p21‐silenced prostate cancer cells. A xenograft mouse model was performed to investigate the effect of PKM2 suppression, glycolytic or mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor on the tumorigenic capacity of lincRNA‐p21‐silenced prostate cancer cells.

Results

We revealed that lincRNA‐p21 silencing in DU145 and LNCaP cells induced up‐regulation of PKM2 and activation of glycolysis, which could be reversed by PKM2 knockdown or rapamycin treatment. We also found that the proliferation and tumorigenesis of lincRNA‐p21‐silenced prostate cancer cells were significantly inhibited after knocking down PKM2. 3‐bromopyruvate (3‐Brpa) or rapamycin treatment largely decreased the tumour burden. Importantly, PKM2 expression was inversely correlated with the lincRNA‐p21 level and the survival of prostate cancer patients.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that lincRNA‐p21 blunted the prostate cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenic capacity through down‐regulation of PKM2. Therefore, targeting PKM2 or glycolysis might be a therapeutic strategy in prostate cancer patients with lowly expressed lincRNA‐p21.

     

The SH2B gene is associated with serum leptin and body fat in normal female twins

Src-homology-2 (SH2)-B, a Janus tyrosine kinase 2-interacting protein, has been identified recently as a key regulator of leptin and insulin sensitivity, glucose homeostasis, and body weight in mice. The aim of this study was to determine whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human SH2B gene are associated with these variables. A tagging SNP (tSNP), Ala484Thr (rs7498665), was selected to represent five common SNPs (minor allele frequency > 0.05) in perfect linkage disequilibrium in a 16-kb region encompassing the SH2B gene. The tSNP was genotyped in 2455 white female twins (mean age, 47.4 +/- 12.6 years) from the St. Thomas' United Kingdom Adult Twin Registry (Twins United Kingdom). Ala484Thr (minor allele frequency, 0.38) was associated with serum leptin, total fat, waist circumference, and body weight (P = 0.02 to 0.04). The coding SNP has no predicted effect on protein structure or function and is likely to be in linkage disequilibrium with an as-yet unidentified functional variant in the SH2B gene. Our results support a role for SH2-B in modulating the regulation of body weight and fat by leptin in this female population. If SH2-B signaling is attenuated in diet-induced obesity, it could become a target for drug-induced leptin sensitization.     

10个红掌品种的抗寒性与耐热性评价

采用低温半致死温度( LT50)评价低温条件下10个红掌( Anthurium andraeanum Lind.)品种的抗寒性;并在测定高温(39℃)处理48 h后各品种叶片生理指标的基础上,对这些指标的耐热系数和相关系数进行分析,采用主成分分析和隶属函数法综合评价了10个红掌品种的耐热性。结果表明：经过-1℃、-3℃、-5℃、-7℃和-9℃的低温处理,10个品种的叶片相对电导率( REC)均逐渐增大,其中,品种‘阿拉巴马’(‘Alabama’)的REC值呈“缓慢升高—迅速升高”的趋势,其他品种的REC值均呈“缓慢升高—迅速升高—平稳升高”的趋势;依据Logistic方程获得的各品种的LT50值,10个红掌品种的抗寒性由强至弱依次排序为‘阿拉巴马’,‘皇冠’(‘Royal champion’),‘马都拉’(‘Madural ’),‘甜冠军’(‘Sweet champion ’),‘特伦萨’(‘Turenza ’),‘阿瓦托’(‘Avento ’)、‘阿瑞博’(‘Arebo’)和‘粉冠军’(‘Pink champion’),‘白冠军’(‘White champion’),‘骄阳’(‘Sierra’)。高温处理48 h对各品种叶片的生理指标均有一定影响,其中,REC值和CAT活性明显高于对照(室温)、MDA含量高于或等于对照,它们的耐热系数均大于100%;相对含水量、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素及脯氨酸含量均低于对照,它们的耐热系数均小于100%;多数品种叶片的SOD和POD活性及可溶性蛋白质含量( SPC)低于对照,耐热系数也小于100%;仅品种‘阿拉巴马’叶片的SOD和POD活性及SPC值略高于对照,耐热系数大于100%;各指标的耐热系数间均存在一定的相关性。主成分分析结果显示：前3个主成分的累计贡献率达到91.50%,其中,第1主成分定义为酶活性和渗透调节物质含量,第2主成分定义为光合色素含量,第3主成分定义为膜透性。根据耐热性综合评价值,10个红掌品种耐热性由强至弱依次排序为‘阿拉巴马’、‘皇冠’、‘阿瓦托’、‘阿瑞博’、‘马都拉’、‘骄阳’、‘特伦萨’、‘粉冠军’、‘甜冠军’、‘白冠军’。研究结果表明：品种‘阿拉巴马’的抗寒性和耐热性均较强,可以在不同气候区推广种植。     

Study of bone remodeling in corticotomy-assisted orthodontic tooth movement in rats

The goal of this study was to determine the structure change of the alveolar bone and the expression of a group of bone remodeling-related factors. Sixty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Selective alveolar decortication (SAD), tooth movement (TM), and “combined therapy” (SAD+TM) was performed in group I, II, and III, respectively. On days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 42, a Micro-CT scan was performed on the maxillary alveolar bone and tooth. In addition, on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 42, some of the rats were killed by cervical dislocation and tissues were harvested. Analysis of scan data revealed a significant decrease in bone density of the alveolar bone at 14 days post-surgery, and increased at 42 days post-surgery to a level higher than that before the surgery. Microarray and bioinformatics analysis were performed to explore gene expression profile in three groups (SAD, TM, and SAD+TM), and a large number of differentially expressed genes were identified. In addition, real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine the expression of bone remodeling-related factors. The expression of osteoblast-related cytokines, including osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, and osteocalcin, and osteoclast regulators macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and RANKL (activator of nuclear factor KB receptor ligand) were increased in group III, suggesting that there was increased bone synthesis and activation of bone absorption. Moreover, group III had a unique alveolar bone remodeling pattern: RANKL and osteoprotegerin-promoted alveolar remodeling. In conclusion, during the early stage of orthodontic tooth movement, corticotomy can accelerate the movement of teeth, modulate the state of bone metabolism, and activate osteogenesis and osteoclast, which support the theory of regional acceleratory phenomenon.     

Netrin‐1 alleviates subarachnoid haemorrhage‐induced brain injury via the PPARγ/NF‐KB signalling pathway

Netrin‐1 (NTN‐1) is a novel drug to alleviate early brain injury following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). However the molecular mechanism of NTN‐1‐mediated protection against early brain injury following SAH remains largely elusive. This study aims to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of NTN‐1 in protecting SAH‐induced early brain injury. The endovascular perforation SAH model was constructed using male C57BL/6J mice, and recombinant NTN‐1 was administrated intravenously. Mortality rates, SAH grade, brain water content, neurological score and neuronal apoptosis were evaluated. The expression of PPARγ, Bcl‐2, Bax and nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) were detected by Western blot. Small interfering RNA specific to NTN‐1 receptor, UNC5B, and a selective PPARγ antagonist, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), were applied in combination with NTN‐1. The results suggested that NTN‐1 improved the neurological deficits, reduced the brain water content and alleviated neuronal apoptosis. In addition, NTN‐1 enhanced PPARγ and Bcl‐2 expression and decreased the levels of Bax and NF‐κB. However, the neuroprotection of NTN‐1 was abolished by UNC5B and BADGE. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that NTN‐1 attenuates early brain injury following SAH via the UNC5B PPARγ/NF‐κB signalling pathway.     

A Genomics Based Discovery of Secondary Metabolite Biosynthetic Gene Clusters in Aspergillus ustus

Secondary metabolites (SMs) produced by Aspergillus have been extensively studied for their crucial roles in human health, medicine and industrial production. However, the resulting information is almost exclusively derived from a few model organisms, including A. nidulans and A. fumigatus, but little is known about rare pathogens. In this study, we performed a genomics based discovery of SM biosynthetic gene clusters in Aspergillus ustus, a rare human pathogen. A total of 52 gene clusters were identified in the draft genome of A. ustus 3.3904, such as the sterigmatocystin biosynthesis pathway that was commonly found in Aspergillus species. In addition, several SM biosynthetic gene clusters were firstly identified in Aspergillus that were possibly acquired by horizontal gene transfer, including the vrt cluster that is responsible for viridicatumtoxin production. Comparative genomics revealed that A. ustus shared the largest number of SM biosynthetic gene clusters with A. nidulans, but much fewer with other Aspergilli like A. niger and A. oryzae. These findings would help to understand the diversity and evolution of SM biosynthesis pathways in genus Aspergillus, and we hope they will also promote the development of fungal identification methodology in clinic.     

Gprc5a-deficiency confers susceptibility to endotoxin-induced acute lung injury via NF-κB pathway

Susceptibility to acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) varies greatly among patients in sepsis/septic shock. The genetic and biochemical reasons for the difference are not fully understood. G protein coupled receptor family C group 5 member A (GPRC5A), a retinoic acid target gene, is predominately expressed in the bronchioalveolar epithelium of lung. We hypothesized that Gprc5a is important in controlling the susceptibility to ALI or ARDS. In this study, we examined the susceptibility of wild-type and Gprc5a-knockout (ko) mice to induced ALI. Administration of endotoxin LPS induced an increased pulmonary edema and injury in Gprc5a-ko mice, compared to wild-type counterparts. Consistently, LPS administration induced higher levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNFα) and chemokine (KC) in Gprc5a-ko mouse lungs than in wild-type. The enhanced pulmonary inflammatory responses were associated with dysregulated NF-κB signaling in the bronchioalveolar epithelium of Gprc5a-ko mouse lungs. Importantly, selective inhibition of NF-κB through expression of the super-repressor IκBα in the bronchioalveolar epithelium of Gprc5a-ko mouse lungs alleviated the LPS-induced pulmonary injury, and inflammatory response. Thus, Gprc5a is critical for lung homeostasis, and Gprc5a deficiency confers the susceptibility to endotoxin-induced pulmonary edema and injury, mainly through NF-κB signaling in bronchioalveolar epithelium of lung.     

Novel Metal@Carbon Spheres Core–Shell Arrays by Controlled Self‐Assembly of Carbon Nanospheres: A Stable and Flexible Supercapacitor Electrode

The high performance of electrochemical energy‐storage devices relies largely on scrupulous design of nanoarchitectures and smart hybridization of bespoke active materials. Carbon nanopsheres (CNSs) are widely used for energy storage and conversion devices. Here, the directional assembly of CNSs on a vertical‐standing metal scaffold into a core/shell array structure is reported. The method uses a three‐step all‐solution synthesis strategy (chemical bath deposition, electrodeposition, and hydrothermal) and begins from ZnO microrod arrays as a sacrificial template. The self‐assembly of CNSs can be correlated to a simultaneous etching effect to the ZnO accompanying the polymerization of glucose precursor. The Ni microtube/CNSs arrays are selected as an example for structural and electrochemical characterizations. The novel type of metal/CNSs arrays is demonstrated to be a highly stable electrode for supercapacitors. The electrodes of metal/CNSs arrays are assembled into symmetric supercapacitors and exhibit high capacitances of 227 F g^?1 (at 2.5 A g^?1) and an outstanding cycling stability with capacitance retention of 97% after 40 000 cycles.     

亚热带六种常见榕属植物日间呼吸特征

植物呼吸作用是生态系统碳循环的一个关键过程。陆地植被每年通过光合作用固定的碳有一半被呼吸作用释放,而释放的这部分又有大约一半来自叶片呼吸。植物不仅在夜晚进行呼吸作用(R_d, Dark respiration),白天也在呼吸,即日间呼吸(R_L, Light respiration)。有研究表明光照条件下植物叶片呼吸低于黑暗环境下叶片呼吸速率,通常受到的光照抑制程度为30%—40%左右。但在实际研究中,经常忽视植物叶片日间呼吸的光抑制,进而大幅高估生态系统呼吸,从而使得生态系统总初级生产力(Gross primary productivity, GPP)被高估,因此有必要对植物的日间呼吸特性进行研究。以中国南方亚热带六种常见榕属植物(垂叶榕、高山榕、黄金榕、菩提树、细叶榕、小叶榕)为研究对象,测量其叶片的日间呼吸速率(R_L, Kok方法)、暗呼吸速率(R_d)、比叶重(LMA)、叶片氮含量(N)、磷含量(P)、最大光合速率(A)、1800及80μmol m^-2 s^-1