The mushroom ribosome-inactivating protein lyophyllin exerts deleterious effects on mouse embryonic development in vitro

Earlier investigations disclose that some plant ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) adversely affect mouse embryonic development. In the present study, a mushroom RIP, namely lyophyllin from Lyophyllum shimeji, was isolated, partially sequenced, and its translation inhibitory activity determined. Its teratogenicity was studied by using a technique entailing microinjection and postimplantation whole-embryo culture. It was found that embryonic abnormalities during the period of organogenesis from E8.5 to E9.5 were induced by lyophyllin at a concentration as low as 50 μg/ml, and when the lyophyllin concentration was raised, the number of abnormal embryos increased, the final somite number decreased, and the abnormalities increased in severity. The affected embryonic structures included the cranial neural tube, forelimb buds, branchial arches, and body axis, while optic and otic placodes were more resistant. Lyophyllin at a concentration higher than 500 μg/ml also induced forebrain blisters within the cranial mesenchyme. When the abnormal embryos were examined histologically, an increase of cell death was found to be associated with abnormal structures, indicating that cell death may be one of the underlying causes of teratogenicity of the mushroom RIP. This constitutes the first report on the teratogenicity of a mushroom RIP.     

The functions of Deoxyribonuclease II in immunity and development

Apoptosis, which is usually accompanied by DNA degradation, is important not only for the homeostasis of metazoans but also for mammalian development. If DNA is not properly degraded in these processes, it can cause diverse diseases, such as anemia, cataracts, and some autoimmune diseases. A large effort has been made to identify these nucleases that are responsible for these effects. In contrast to Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I), Deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II) has been less well characterized in these processes. Additionally, enzymes of DNase II family in Trichinella spiralis, which is an intracellular parasitic nematode, are also considered involved in the development of the nematode. We have compiled information from studies on DNase II from various organisms and found some nonclassic features in these enzymes of T. spiralis. Here we have reviewed the characterization and functions of DNase II in these processes and predicted the functions of these enzymes in T. spiralis during host invasion and development.     

细胞核CaMK和Calcineurin 对大鼠心肌肥厚发生的作用

目的:研究大鼠心肌肥厚时,钙依赖的蛋白激酶和蛋白磷酸酶在心肌细胞膜、细胞浆和细胞核的分布规律,以探讨核钙信号与核反应在心肌肥厚发生过程中的病理生理意义.方法:制备腹主动脉缩窄大鼠心肌肥厚模型,同位素32P掺入法分别测定心肌细胞核、细胞浆和细胞膜的蛋白激酶活性及用无机磷生成显色法测定其蛋白磷酸酶活性.结果:腹主动脉缩窄术后4周大鼠心肌显著肥厚,伴有明显的血液动力学异常.与正常对照组相比较,腹主动脉缩窄心肌肥厚组心肌细胞核钙调素蛋白激酶(CaMK)活性增加101.1%(P＜0.01),其膜的酶活性升高40.2%(P＜0.01),而胞浆的酶活性不变(P＞0.05);心肌细胞核钙调神经磷酸酶(Calcineurin)活性增加43.6%(P＜0.05),膜和胞浆中其活性增加无显著性(P＞0.05).正常组和腹主动脉缩窄心肌肥厚组心肌细胞CaMK和Calcineurin活性分布为核＞膜＞胞浆(P＜0.01).结论:腹主动脉缩窄心肌肥厚时核内钙依赖的CaMK和Calcineurin活性增加,提示压力超负荷时细胞核内钙调节的蛋白磷酸化和去磷酸化水平增高,可能在介导心肌肥厚的发生中起重要作用.     

紫茎泽兰的化学成分初报

紫茎泽兰(Eupalorium adenophorum Spreng)原产中美墨西哥,现在滇南一带广泛分布,对林、牧业生产造成严重危害。其化学成分研究未见报道。 从紫茎泽兰的叶和花序中,分到九个单体,经详细的光谱解析和与标准品对照,其中五个成分的化学结构分别为:正三十二烷n-dotriacontane(1),β-谷甾醇β-sitosterol(2),豆甾醇stigmasterol(3),蒲公英醇棕榈酸酯taraxasteryl palmitate(4),蒲公英醇乙酸酯taraxastcryl acetate(5)。     

Fatty-acid-binding protein in locust flight muscle. Developmental changes of expression, concentration and intracellular distribution.

Fatty-acid-binding protein (FABP) from the flight muscle of the locust, Schistocerca gregaria, is similar to mammalian heart FABP in its primary structure and biochemical characteristics. We have studied developmental changes using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, RNA hybridization and electron microscopy of immunogold-labeled sections. Locust muscle FABP is the most abundant soluble muscle protein in fully developed adult locusts, comprising 18% of the total cytosolic protein. At the beginning of the adult stage, however, no FABP is detectable. Its concentration rises during the following 10 days, after which it reaches its maximal value. FABP mRNA is present shortly after adult ecdysis; its concentration increases for 10 days, before it diminishes and reaches a constant, low level, probably needed to maintain the established FABP level. The protein is abundant in cytosol and nuclei, but virtually absent in mitochondria.     

EMS和^60Co对海甘蓝种子萌发及其M1代农艺性状的影响

用ＥＭＳ及＾６０Ｃｏ处理海甘蓝种子,对其萌发种子细胞内呼吸代谢有明显的影响。低浓度的ＥＭＳ或低剂量的＾６０Ｃｏ刺激呼吸,可提高抗坏血酸氧化酶和过氧化物酶的活性,促进种子的萌发和幼苗的生长。较高剂量的ＥＭＳ和＾６０Ｃｏ抑制呼吸,与之有关的抗坏血酸氧化酶和过氧化物酶的活性,种子发芽势和发芽率、幼苗生长高度和根系活力等随之下降,用不同剂量的ＥＭＳ和＾６０Ｃｏ处理海甘蓝种子,对Ｍ１代的产量和抗病性等有一定     

蚜虫性信息素对桃园蚜虫的引诱作用

将从荆芥Nepeta cataria L.中提取的纯度为96%的荆芥内酯和通过二异丁基铝还原提取的荆芥内酯得到的纯度为67%荆芥醇,配成浓度为5%的不同比例的己烷溶液,于1995年10月19～28日在北京大兴县南郊农场的桃园进行了引诱蚜虫的试验。各种比例的性信息素诱捕器均能引诱到桃蚜Myzus persicae (Sulzer)雄蚜、桃粉大尾蚜Hyaloptera amygdali Blanchard雄蚜以及少量的桃蚜产雌性母;荆芥醇和荆芥内酯的比例为1∶1时引诱桃蚜雄蚜的效果最好;单一组分的荆芥醇引诱桃粉大尾蚜雄蚜的效果最好。     

Cryptic phenology in plants: Case studies,implications, and recommendations

Plant phenology—the timing of cyclic or recurrent biological events in plants—offers insight into the ecology, evolution, and seasonality of plant‐mediated ecosystem processes. Traditionally studied phenologies are readily apparent, such as flowering events, germination timing, and season‐initiating budbreak. However, a broad range of phenologies that are fundamental to the ecology and evolution of plants, and to global biogeochemical cycles and climate change predictions, have been neglected because they are “cryptic”—that is, hidden from view (e.g., root production) or difficult to distinguish and interpret based on common measurements at typical scales of examination (e.g., leaf turnover in evergreen forests). We illustrate how capturing cryptic phenology can advance scientific understanding with two case studies: wood phenology in a deciduous forest of the northeastern USA and leaf phenology in tropical evergreen forests of Amazonia. Drawing on these case studies and other literature, we argue that conceptualizing and characterizing cryptic plant phenology is needed for understanding and accurate prediction at many scales from organisms to ecosystems. We recommend avenues of empirical and modeling research to accelerate discovery of cryptic phenological patterns, to understand their causes and consequences, and to represent these processes in terrestrial biosphere models.     

MiR‐616‐3p modulates cell proliferation and migration through targeting tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 in preeclampsia

Objectives

Despite improvements in diagnosis and treatment, preeclampsia (PE) continues to pose a significant risk of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality if not addressed promptly. An increasing number of studies have suggested that tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI2) acts as a suppressor gene, possibly inhibiting multiple serine proteases affecting cell proliferation and migration. It plays an essential role in the occurrence and development of PE, but the pathogenesis remains unclear.

Materials and methods

In our research, we performed western blotting, immunohistochemistry and qPCR assays to investigate TFPI2 and miR‐616‐3p expression in preeclamptic placental tissues. Cell assays were performed in HTR‐8/SVneo and JEG3 cell lines. Cell proliferation and migration events were investigated by MTT, EdU and transwell assays. In conjunction with bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter assays were performed to elucidate the mechanism by which miR‐616‐3p binds to TFPI2 mRNA.

Results

We established that TFPI2 protein levels were significantly upregulated in PE placental tissues. In addition, we found that miR‐616‐3p binds specifically to the 3′‐UTR region of TFPI2 mRNA. Furthermore, miR‐616‐3p knockdown or TFPI2 overexpression substantially impaired cell growth and migration, whereas miR‐616‐3p upregulation or TFPI2 knockdown stimulated cell proliferation and migration. This miR‐616‐3p / TFPI2 axis was also found to affect the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition process in PE.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that TFPI2 plays a vital role in the progression of PE and might provide a prospective therapeutic strategy to mitigate the severity of the disorder.

     

Equilibrium analysis and phase synchronization of two coupled HR neurons with gap junction

The properties of equilibria and phase synchronization involving burst synchronization and spike synchronization of two electrically coupled HR neurons are studied in this paper. The findings reveal that in the non-delayed system the existence of equilibria can be turned into intersection of two odd functions, and two types of equilibria with symmetry and non-symmetry can be found. With the stability and bifurcation analysis, the bifurcations of equilibria are investigated. For the delayed system, the equilibria remain unchanged. However, the Hopf bifurcation point is drastically affected by time delay. For the phase synchronization, we focus on the synchronization transition from burst synchronization to spike synchronization in the non-delayed system and the effect of coupling strength and time delay on spike synchronization in delayed system. In addition, corresponding firing rhythms and spike synchronized regions are obtained in the two parameters plane. The results allow us to better understand the properties of equilibria, multi-time-scale properties of synchronization and temporal encoding scheme in neuronal systems.