Genetic variation in dopamine‐related gene expression influences motor skill learning in mice

Several neurodevelopmental disorders with a strong genetic basis, including attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders and developmental coordination disorder, involve deficits in fine motor skills. This phenotype may depend on heritable variation in components of the dopamine (DA) system, which is known to play a critical role in motor skill learning. In this study, we took advantage of two inbred strains of mice (BALB/c and C57BL/6) that differ markedly in the number of midbrain DA neurons in order to investigate the influence of such naturally occurring genetic variation on the acquisition and performance of fine motor skills. Gene expression analysis of midbrain, frontal cortex and striatum showed significant differences in the expression of presynaptic and postsynaptic dopaminergic (DAergic) markers (e.g. tyrosine hydroxylase, DA transporter, DA D4 receptor, DA D5 receptor and DARPP‐32) between these two strains. BALB/c mice had lower learning rate and performance scores in a complex skilled reaching task when compared with C57BL/6 mice. A negative correlation was found between the motor learning rate and level of DARPP‐32 mRNA expression in the frontal cortex contralateral to the trained forelimb. The rate of motor learning was also negatively correlated with the levels of DARPP‐32 and DA D1 receptor mRNAs in the striatum. Our results suggest that genetically driven variation in frontostriatal DAergic neurotransmission is a major contributor to individual differences in motor skill learning. Moreover, these findings implicate the D1R/cAMP/DARPP‐32 signaling pathway in those neurodevelopmental disorders that are associated with fine motor skill deficits.     

Theoretical study of the triangular bonding complex formed by carbon tetrabromide, a halide, and a solvent molecule in the gas phase

MP2(full)/aug-cc-pVDZ(-PP) computations predict that new triangular bonding complexes (where X^? is a halide and H–C refers to a protic solvent molecule) consist of one halogen bond and two hydrogen bonds in the gas phase. Carbon tetrabromide acts as the donor in the halogen bond, while it acts as an acceptor in the hydrogen bond. The halide (which commonly acts as an acceptor) can interact with both carbon tetrabromide and solvent molecule (CH₃CN, CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃) to form a halogen bond and a hydrogen bond, respectively. The strength of the halogen bond obeys the order CBr₄???Cl^? > CBr₄???Br^? > CBr₄???I^?. For the hydrogen bonds formed between various halides and the same solvent molecule, the strength of the hydrogen bond obeys the order C-H???Cl^? > C-H???Br^? > C-H???I^?. For the hydrogen bonds formed between the same halide and various solvent molecules, the interaction strength is proportional to the acidity of the hydrogen in the solvent molecule. The diminutive effect is present between the hydrogen bonds and the halogen bond in chlorine and bromine triangular bonding complexes. Complexes containing iodide ion show weak cooperative effects.

Unconsciously Triggered Emotional Conflict by Emotional Facial Expressions

The present study investigated whether emotional conflict and emotional conflict adaptation could be triggered by unconscious emotional information as assessed in a backward-masked affective priming task. Participants were instructed to identify the valence of a face (e.g., happy or sad) preceded by a masked happy or sad face. The results of two experiments revealed the emotional conflict effect but no emotional conflict adaptation effect. This demonstrates that emotional conflict can be triggered by unconsciously presented emotional information, but participants may not adjust their subsequent performance trial-by trial to reduce this conflict.     

The ING4 Binding with p53 and Induced p53 Acetylation were Attenuated by Human Papillomavirus 16 E6

High risk subtype HPV16 early oncoprotein E6 contributes host cell immortalization and transformation through interacting with a number of cellular factors. ING4 is one member of the inhibitor of growth (ING) family of type II tumor suppressors and it has been shown to be involved in regulating p53 function. However, the effect and mechanism of HPV16 E6 on ING4 function remain elusive. In this study, we report HPV16 E6 combines with ING4 in vivo and in vitro. The ING4 induced p53 acetylation and its combining with p53 were attenuated by HPV16 E6 independent of p53 degradation. The enhancing function of ING4 on p53 mediated apoptosis was diminished when HPV16 E6 existed. These findings reveal that ING4 may be a common target of oncogenic viruses for driving host cell carcinogenesis.     

Insulin Promotes Glucose Consumption via Regulation of miR-99a/mTOR/PKM2 Pathway

Insulin is known to regulate multiple cellular functions and is used for the treatment of diabetes. MicroRNAs have been demonstrated to be involved in many human diseases, including Type 2 diabetes. In this study, we showed that insulin decreased miR-99a expression levels, but induced glucose consumption and lactate production, and increased the expression of mTOR, HIF-1α and PKM2 in HepG2 and HL7702 cells. Forced expression of miR-99a or rapamycin treatment blocked insulin-induced PKM2 and HIF-1α expression, and glucose consumption and lactate production. Meanwhile, knockdown of HIF-1α inhibited PKM2 expression and insulin-induced glucose consumption. Taken together, these findings will reveal the role and mechanism ofinsulin in regulating glycolytic activities via miR-99a/mTOR.     

Dietary adaptations and palaeoecology of Lophialetidae (Mammalia,Tapiroidea) from the Eocene of the Erlian Basin,China: combined evidence from mesowear and stable isotope analyses

Lophialetidae is an extinct group of endemic Asiatic tapiroids that are widely distributed in the Eocene sediments of Asia. Schlosseria magister and Lophialetes expeditus are the most abundant species in this family. However, their dietary and ecological characteristics are largely unknown. For the first time, we reconstruct the palaeodiet and habitat of these two lophialetids using a combination of mesowear and stable carbon isotope analysis of fossil teeth excavated from the Erlian Basin, China. Mesowear analysis (n = 141) suggests that the dietary structure of S. magister and L. expeditus shifted from less to more abrasive diets from ~52 to ~42 Ma. Stable carbon isotope analysis (n = 137) suggests that the habitats of S. magister and L. expeditus became drier and/or more open through time. The dietary shifts of the two lophialetids are consistent with evident changes in habitat. The changes in the diet and habitat were probably related to global climate change during that time period. The gradual drop in global temperatures during the early–middle Eocene led to a drier and more open terrestrial ecosystem in the Erlian Basin, probably resulting in changes in floral composition of the environment inhabited by S. magister and L. expeditus. Hence, herbivores highly susceptible to vegetation modification had to develop new resource exploitation strategies to adapt to these changes. Schlosseria magister, considered to be the sister-group of L. expeditus and with a low level of ecological flexibility, was unable to adapt to the habitat changes finally becoming extinct at ~45 Ma.     

Selenium-Alleviated Hepatocyte Necrosis and DNA Damage in Cyclophosphamide-Treated Geese by Mitigating Oxidative Stress

Biological Trace Element Research - Selenium (Se) has been well recognized as an immune-enhancing agent with antioxidant and anti-tumor properties. The commonly used chemotherapy drug,...     

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of the vitellogenin receptor in the rice stem borer,Chilo suppressalis

As a member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) superfamily, vitellogenin (Vg) receptor (VgR) is responsible for the uptake of Vg into developing oocytes and is a potential target for pest control. Here, a full-length VgR complementary DNA (named as CsVgR) was isolated and characterized in the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis. The composite CsVgR gene contained an open reading frame of 5,484 bp encoding a protein of 1,827 amino acid residues. Structural analysis revealed that CsVgR contained two ligand-binding domains (LBDs) with four Class A (LDLR_A) repeats in LBD1 and seven in LBD2, which was structurally different from most non-Lepidopteran insect VgRs having five repeats in LBD1 and eight in LBD2. The developmental expression analysis showed that CsVgR messenger RNA expression was first detectable in 3-day-old pupae, sharply increased in newly emerged female adults, and reached a peak in 2-day-old female adults. Consistent with most other insects VgRs, CsVgR was exclusively expressed in the ovary. Notably, injection of dsCsVgR into late pupae resulted in fewer follicles in the ovarioles as well as reduced fecundity, suggesting a critical role of CsVgR in female reproduction. These results may contribute to the development of RNA interference-mediated disruption of reproduction as a control strategy of C. suppressalis.     

Dexmedetomidine alleviates H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cell necroptosis through activating of α2-adrenoceptor in H9C2 cells

Molecular Biology Reports - Oxidative stress induced necroptosis is important in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Dexmedetomidine (Dex), an α2-adrenoceptor (α2-AR) agonist, has...