miR-129-5p improves cardiac function in rats with chronic heart failure through targeting HMGB1

Mammalian Genome - Increasing evidence shows that miRNAs play pivotal roles in cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-129-5p...     

Structural and functional characterization of a novel acidophilic 7α‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

7α‐Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (7α‐HSDH) is an NAD(P)H‐dependent oxidoreductase belonging to the short‐chain dehydrogenases/reductases. In vitro, 7α‐HSDH is involved in the efficient biotransformation of taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA) to tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA). In this study, a gene encoding novel 7α‐HSDH (named as St‐2‐1) from fecal samples of black bear was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. The protein has subunits of 28.3 kDa and a native size of 56.6 kDa, which suggested a homodimer. We studied the relevant properties of the enzyme, including the optimum pH, optimum temperature, thermal stability, activators, and inhibitors. Interestingly, the data showed that St‐2‐1 differs from the 7α‐HSDHs reported in the literature, as it functions under acidic conditions. The enzyme displayed its optimal activity at pH 5.5 (TCDCA). The acidophilic nature of 7α‐HSDH expands its application environment and the natural enzyme bank of HSDHs, providing a promising candidate enzyme for the biosynthesis of TUDCA or other related chemical entities.     

Biological conversion of propane to 2-propanol using group I and II methanotrophs as biocatalysts

Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology - Propane is the main component of liquefied petroleum gas and is derived from crude oil processing. Methanotrophic bacteria can convert...     

Reactive oxygen species‐mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress response induces apoptosis of Mycobacterium avium‐infected macrophages by activating regulated IRE1‐dependent decay pathway

Mycobacterium avium, a slow‐growing nontuberculous mycobacterium, causes fever, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, and weight loss in immunocompromised people. We have proposed that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress‐mediated apoptosis plays a critical role in removing intracellular mycobacteria. In the present study, we investigated the role of the regulated IRE1‐dependent decay (RIDD) pathway in macrophages during M. avium infection based on its role in the regulation of gene expression. The inositol‐requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1)/apoptosis signal‐regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)/c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) signalling pathway was activated in macrophages after infection with M. avium. The expression of RIDD‐associated genes, such as Bloc1s1 and St3gal5, was decreased in M. avium‐infected macrophages. Interestingly, M. avium‐induced apoptosis was significantly suppressed by pretreatment with irestatin (inhibitor of IRE1α) and 4μ8c (RIDD blocker). Macrophages pretreated with N‐acetyl cysteine (NAC) showed decreased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), IRE1α, and apoptosis after M. avium infection. The expression of Bloc1s1 and St3gal5 was increased in NAC‐pretreated macrophages following infection with M. avium. Growth of M. avium was significantly increased in irestatin‐, 4μ8c‐, and NAC‐treated macrophages compared with the control. The data indicate that the ROS‐mediated ER stress response induces apoptosis of M. avium‐infected macrophages by activating IRE1α‐RIDD. Thus, activation of IRE1α suppresses the intracellular survival of M. avium in macrophages.     

一株高产Monacolin K紫红曲霉菌株筛选、鉴定及发酵条件优化

为从天然发酵红曲米中分离的30株红曲霉菌株中筛选高产MonacolinK的菌株,并对其产MonacolinK的发酵条件进行优化。实验采用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)筛选到9株具有产MonacolinK能力的红曲霉菌株,其中以编号ZX26的菌株产MonacolinK能力最高,发酵液中Monacolin K产量达到107.6mg/L,并且产MonacolinK能力具有良好的稳定性。微生物形态学结合ITS基因同源性分析结果表明,编号ZX26菌株为紫红曲霉。进一步采用单因素试验和正交试验法优化紫红曲霉ZX26产MonacolinK的发酵条件,结果表明在培养基组分为葡萄糖70g/L,牛肉膏15g/L,NaNO32g/L,MgSO4·7H2O0.5g/L,KH2PO41.5g/L时,其最优发酵条件为:发酵初始pH4.0,接种量为7%,培养温度30℃,发酵10天,在此条件下,紫红曲霉ZX26发酵液中MonacolinK产量达到271.36mg/L,相对于培养条件优化前MonacolinK产量提高152.19%,经验证此培养条件下MonacolinK产量最佳。     

福建省主要入侵植物空间分异及其影响因素

在实地调查数据的基础上,本研究结合GIS空间分析技术和地理探测器模型,分析福建省入侵植物空间分布情况,以及地理与社会环境因子及其交互作用对入侵植物分布的影响.结果表明:福建省共记录入侵植物82种,其中,优势科为菊科,小蓬草、藿香蓟和空心莲子草出现频次最高.沿海区域的入侵植物物种数量多于内陆区域,福州和厦门为福建省外来入侵植物的两大热点地区.入侵植物在不同海拔均有分布,但入侵植物的种类随着海拔的升高总体呈下降趋势.地理探测器分析显示,自然环境因子中降水和社会经济因子中路网密度、人口密度是入侵植物空间分布的主要影响因子.各因子的空间交互作用会正向影响入侵植物的空间分布,这反映出入侵植物空间分布影响要素的复杂性.综上,将地理探测器应用到入侵植物研究领域是可行的,筛选出的环境指示因子可用于监测福建省入侵植物的适生区,从而为采取有效的防控措施提供科学依据.     

肿瘤治疗中细胞因子递送策略的研究进展

细胞因子多数是由机体免疫细胞和某些非免疫细胞产生的,对细胞的生长、增殖、分化均有调节作用的一类具有生物活性的蛋白质。在肿瘤治疗中,细胞因子作为一种蛋白质药物,具有体内半衰期短、全身毒副作用大等特点,因而选择细胞因子递送策略时需考虑以上因素。文章简要介绍了几种常见的细胞因子,并综述了近年来在肿瘤治疗中细胞因子递送策略的研究进展。     

药用白及资源再生策略初探

白及为兰科白及属植物。作为著名中药,白及功效多样、用途广泛,具有较高的药用价值和经济价值。随资源利用强度的增加,野生白及资源日渐萎缩,人工规模化种植是实现白及药用资源可持续利用的必由之路。优良种质及繁育技术是种植业的关键问题。为了更好地推动白及资源研究和可持续利用,本文就白及种质及快繁技术研究进展作一综述,并就白及资源再生策略进行初步探讨,为相关研究和生产提供参考。     

基于表面等离子体共振和电化学联用的DNA传感器研究进展

表面等离子共振(surface plasmon resonance,SPR)技术旨在检测物体表面附近折射率的变化,其特点是无标记、实时、灵敏和快速,该技术多用于研究分子的相互作用,包括动力学、效率常数和大分子构象变化等。电化学(electrochemical,EC)技术是一项用于定性定量研究电子转移、物质氧化还原、界面吸附等过程的成熟技术,具有简单、低成本和设备小型化的优点。现有的DNA杂交技术,例如光学、电化学或压电转导技术,主要关注于提高DNA杂交检测系统的选择性和灵敏度。传统的SPR在DNA分析方面,由于无法测量折射率的极小变化而在超灵敏检测中的应用受到限制。因此,随着纳米材料的研发和联用技术的飞速发展,SPR与EC联用的生物传感器研究越来越成为人们关注的热点。近年来,关于SPR和EC联用在DNA检测方面的综述鲜有报道。对SPR和EC检测DNA的技术原理、联用方法、应用进展等方面作出了简要的介绍,以期为表面等离子共振和电化学联用的DNA传感器相关研究提供参考。