An oncolytic adenovirus delivering TSLC1 inhibits Wnt signaling pathway and tumor growth in SMMC-7721 xenograft mice model

Tumor suppressor in lung cancer-1(TSLC1)was first identified as a tumor suppressor for lung cancer,and frequently downregulated in various types of cancers incl...     

The novel type II toxin–antitoxin PacTA modulates Pseudomonas aeruginosa iron homeostasis by obstructing the DNA-binding activity of Fur

Type II toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems are widely distributed in bacterial and archaeal genomes and are involved in diverse critical cellular functions such as defense against phages, biofilm formation, persistence, and virulence. GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) toxin, with an acetyltransferase activity-dependent mechanism of translation inhibition, represents a relatively new and expanding family of type II TA toxins. We here describe a group of GNAT-Xre TA modules widely distributed among Pseudomonas species. We investigated PacTA (one of its members encoded by PA3270/PA3269) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and demonstrated that the PacT toxin positively regulates iron acquisition in P. aeruginosa. Notably, other than arresting translation through acetylating aminoacyl-tRNAs, PacT can directly bind to Fur, a key ferric uptake regulator, to attenuate its DNA-binding affinity and thus permit the expression of downstream iron-acquisition-related genes. We further showed that the expression of the pacTA locus is upregulated in response to iron starvation and the absence of PacT causes biofilm formation defect, thereby attenuating pathogenesis. Overall, these findings reveal a novel regulatory mechanism of GNAT toxin that controls iron-uptake-related genes and contributes to bacterial virulence.     

Suppression of lysosomal-associated protein transmembrane 5 ameliorates cardiac function and inflammatory response by inhibiting the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway after myocardial infarction in mice

Myocardial infarction (MI) as the remarkable presentation of coronary artery disease is still a reason for morbidity and mortality in worldwide. Lysosomal-associated protein transmembrane 5 (LAPTM5) is a lysosomal-related protein found in hematopoietic tissues and has been confirmed as a positive regulator of pro-inflammatory pathways in macrophages. However, the role of LAPTM5 in MI remains unknown. In this study, we found that both mRNA and protein expression levels of LAPTM5 were significantly elevated in MI mice. Suppression of LAPTM5 in myocardial tissues decreased cardiac fibrosis and improved cardiac function after MI. At the molecular level, downregulated LAPTM5 dramatically suppressed the macrophage activation and inflammatory response via inhibiting the activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. Collectively, suppression of LAPTM5 in myocardial tissues inhibits the pro-inflammatory response and the cardiac dysfunction caused by MI. This study indicated that LAPTM5 as a pro-inflammatory factor plays a crucial role in MI disease.     

Identification of core genes in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease based on mRNA‐miRNA network

Alzheimer''s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with cognitive impairment and abnormal mental behaviour. There is currently no effective cure. The development of early diagnostic markers and the mining of potential therapeutic targets are one of the important strategies. This study aimed to explore potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets related to AD in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, two brain regions highly related to AD. Differentially expressed genes and miRNAs between AD patients and healthy controls were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The mRNA‐miRNA network was constructed and key genes involved in AD were screened out by protein–protein interaction analysis, and were subsequently verified by independent datasets and qPCR in an AD mouse model. Our findings showed that six hub genes including CALN1, TRPM7, ATR, SOCS3, MOB3A and OGDH were believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Western blot analysis further determined that CALN1, ATR and OGDH were the possible biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AD. In addition, 6 possible miRNAs biomarkers have also been verified by qPCR on AD animal models. Our findings may benefit clinical diagnosis and early prevention of AD.     

槟榔林冠穿透雨空间格局的时间稳定性

槟榔林是热带地区广泛种植典型经济林,独特的树冠结构改变了穿透雨的空间格局,但针对穿透雨空间格局的时间稳定性研究很少,影响对穿透雨生态效应的认识与调控。以海南岛槟榔林为研究对象,基于33场降雨数据,研究了穿透雨的空间格局及时间特性,结果显示:(1)槟榔树冠内不同位置穿透雨差异极显著(P<0.01),穿透雨率分别为:树干附近(85.6%)、冠幅中央(48.3%)、冠幅边缘(59.8%),穿透雨空间格局表现为向树干附近汇集的特点;不同方位的穿透雨率仅东面显著高于南面(P<0.1),表明风向对穿透雨空间格局具有一定影响。(2)槟榔树冠下各位点穿透雨时间变异程度大(65.7%),但槟榔树冠幅中央穿透雨时间稳定性较好(55.6%),而树干旁边和冠幅边缘穿透雨时间稳定性较差(25%、19.4%),各方位穿透雨的时间稳定性相差不大(约1/3)。(3)距树干距离和降雨量影响穿透雨的时间稳定性,距树干不同距离平均叶片倾斜角度的差异是造成穿透雨在时间上不稳定的关键因素,平均叶片倾斜角度与穿透雨时间不稳定程度呈现显著正相关关系(P<0.05);穿透雨时间稳定性在中等降雨条件下最差,随着降雨量...     

中国县域碳汇时空格局及影响因素

以全国1300个县级行政单位作为研究对象,利用全国县域尺度土地利用数据和社会经济数据,核算了1990—2015年间中国县域碳汇总量,并结合标准差椭圆、空间自相关、冷热点分析和地理加权回归分析方法,探析中国县域碳汇的时空分异特征及影响因素,旨在为优化国土空间开发格局,实施差异化减排路径及推动生态文明建设提供参考。研究表明:(1)时空变化上,1990—2015年中国碳汇总量呈波动下降趋势,由13307.79×10⁴t下降至13198.27×10⁴t;林地为主要碳汇类型,其余碳汇类型比例结构基本不变;在空间分布上,中国县域碳汇呈现"西部>东北>南部>中部"的"西高东低"格局。(2)在空间分异和聚集上,碳汇空间分布中心向西南移动,分布范围呈收缩态势,西南地区对整体碳汇空间格局影响作用加强;1990—2015年中国县域碳汇总量的冷热点集聚程度呈现波动稳定特征,空间集聚程度呈现高值与低值聚集,高-低区域零星分布的特征。(3)从影响因素分析来看,2015年经济发展、产业结构、土地利用程度对碳汇产生影响并存在空间异质性。建议通过合理规划县域...     

新型冠状病毒感染与复制的进展

冠状病毒是一类具有囊膜包裹的线性单股正链RNA病毒,在自然界广泛存在,可引起不同程度的呼吸性传染病。新型冠状病毒是一种新发突发病毒,对各类人群均易感。截止目前,该病已经在世界范围内广泛流行,对公共卫生安全构成极大的威胁。文中从冠状病毒及新型冠状病毒的基因组特征、关键蛋白、对宿主的感染和复制的角度加以综述,旨在为获得病毒侵染宿主细胞致病机制的探究提供理论依据,也为特异的抗病毒药物的研发提供基础支持。