Characterization of NPR1 and NPR4 genes from mulberry (Morus multicaulis) and their roles in development and stress resistance

The quality and quantity of mulberry leaves are often affected by various environmental factors. The plant NPR1 and its homologous genes are important for plant systemic acquired resistance. Here, the full‐length cDNAs encoding the NPR1 and NPR4 genes (designated MuNPR1 and MuNPR4, respectively) were isolated from Morus multicaulis. Sequence analysis of the amino acids and protein modeling of the MuNPR1 and MuNPR4 proteins showed that MuNPR1 shares some conserved characteristics with its homolog MuNPR4. MuNPR1 was shown to have different expression patterns than MuNPR4 in mulberry plants. Interestingly, MuNPR1 or MuNPR4 transgenic Arabidopsis produced an early flowering phenotype, and the expression of the pathogenesis‐related 1a gene was promoted in MuNPR1 transgenic Arabidopsis. The MuNPR1 transgenic plants showed more resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst. DC3000) than did the wild‐type Arabidopsis. Moreover, the ectopic expression of MuNPR1 might lead to enhanced scavenging ability and suppress collase accumulation. In contrast, the MuNPR4 transgenic Arabidopsis were hypersensitive to Pst. DC3000 infection. In addition, transgenic Arabidopsis with the ectopic expression of either MuNPR1 or MuNPR4 showed sensitivity to salt and drought stresses. Our data suggest that both the MuNPR1 and MuNPR4 genes play a role in the coordination between signaling pathways, and the information provided here enables the in‐depth functional analysis of the MuNPR1 and MuNPR4 genes and may promote mulberry resistance breeding in the future.     

Effects of Various Light-Emitting Diode (LEd) Wavelengths on the Growth of Scenedesmus Obliquus Fachb-12 and Accumulation of Astaxanthin

Given the central role of light in the algal photosynthesis, respiration, cell division, growth and the accumulation of value products, the effects of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) light wavelengths (blue, white, red and green) were studied in Scenedesmus obliquus. Biomass, residual nutrient amount, soluble protein, astaxanthin and reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activity were analyzed to determine the effects of different monochromatic light wavelengths via biochemical methods. The results showed that blue light wavelength is the optimal light wavelength for phosphorus removal efficiency and the accumulation of biomass and astaxanthin in S. obliquus. Meanwhile, high reactive oxygen species content under the blue light might induce the accumulation of astaxanthin. The high activity of SOD, CAT and POD might participate in clearing the reactive oxygen species to facilitate the growth of microalgae. Furthermore, we found mixed blue/green lights treatment is the most appropriate mixture for the nitrogen removal. Under the blue light treatment, high light intensity and 18L:6D light cycle is the best condition for biomass and astaxanthin accumulation. Optimal nitrogen/phosphorus removal efficiency was observed under a 24L:0D light cycle. These results might provide a foundational data for the optimizing the productivity of high-value metabolites and treatment of wastewater.     

Rice sulfoquinovosyltransferase SQD2.1 mediates flavonoid glycosylation and enhances tolerance to osmotic stress

Sulfoquinovosyltransferase 2 (SQD2) catalyses the final step in the sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG) biosynthetic pathway. It is involved in the phosphate starvation response. Here, we show that rice SQD2.1 has dual activities catalysing SQDG synthesis and flavonoid glycosylation. SQD2.1 null mutants (sqd2.1) in rice had decreased levels of glycosidic flavonoids, particularly apigenin 7‐O‐glucoside (A7G), whereas these metabolites were increased in rice plants overexpressing SQD2.1. The sqd2.1 mutants and SQD2.1 overexpressing lines showed reduced and enhanced, respectively, tolerance to salinity and drought. Treating the sqd2.1 mutants with A7G decreased oxidative damage and restored stress tolerance to the wild‐type levels. These findings demonstrate that SQD2.1 has a novel function in the glycosylation of flavonoids that is required for osmotic stress tolerance in rice. The novel activity of SQD2.1 in the production of glycosidic flavonoids improves scavenging of reactive oxygen species and protects against excessive oxidation.     

Systematic Modeling Approach to Selective Plugging Using In Situ Bacterial Biopolymer Production and Its Potential for Microbial-enhanced Oil Recovery

This study presents a systematic modeling approach for examining the efficiency of the MEOR process based on in situ selective plugging by bacterial biopolymer production and optimization of the nutrient injection strategy to yield the maximum oil recovery. This study focuses on modeling in situ selective plugging by the bacterial biopolymer dextran that is generated by Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Bacterial growth and dextran generation were described by a stoichiometric equation and kinetic reactions using batch model simulation. Based on the parameters for permeability reduction obtained from the sandpack model, the MEOR process was implemented in a pilot-scale system that included a highly permeable thief zone in a low-permeability reservoir. The base MEOR design yielded a 61.5% improvement of the recovery factor compared to that obtained with waterflooding. The parametric simulations revealed that the recovery efficiency was influenced by the amount of dextran, as well as the distribution of dextran, and thus, the injection strategy is critical for controlling the dextran distribution. By incorporating the results from the sensitivity analysis and optimization to determine the optimal design parameters, a 36.7% improvement of the oil recovery was achieved with the optimized MEOR process in comparison with the base case.     

Serum Concentrations of Trace Elements Zinc,Copper, Selenium,and Manganese in Critically Ill Patients

Biological Trace Element Research - We measured serum concentrations of trace elements and evaluated their clinical significance in relation to treatment outcomes of critically ill patients. A...     

Biofunctionalized self-assembly of peptide amphiphile induces the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into neural cells

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are multipotential differentiation cells which can differentiate into different cell types such as osteoblasts,...     

Co-treatment with interferon-γ and 1-methyl tryptophan ameliorates cardiac fibrosis through cardiac myofibroblasts apoptosis

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Electron transfer occurs through heme-Fe across the cytochrome c protein. The current models of long range electron transfer pathways in proteins include...     

The efflux pump inhibitor tetrandrine exhibits synergism with fluconazole or voriconazole against Candida parapsilosis

Molecular Biology Reports - In the last two decades, with the wide use of azoles, antifungal resistance among Candida parapsilosis has considered a matter of concern worldwide. The aim of this...     

Inhibition of MicroRNA-195 Alleviates Neuropathic Pain by Targeting Patched1 and Inhibiting SHH Signaling Pathway Activation

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a type of chronic neuropathic pain that is caused by peripheral nerve lesions that result from various conditions, including the compression of vessels, tumors and viral infections. MicroRNAs (miRs) are increasingly recognized as potential regulators of neuropathic pain. Previous evidence has demonstrated that miR-195 is involved in neuropathic pain, but the mechanism remains unclear. To investigate the pathophysiological role of miR-195 and Shh signaling in TN, persistent facial pain was induced by infraorbital nerve chronic constriction injury (CCI-IoN), and facial pain responses were evaluated by Von Frey hairs. qPCR and Western blotting were used to determine the relative expression of miR-195 and Patched1, the major receptor of the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway, in the caudal brain stem at distinct time points after CCI-IoN. Here, we found that the expression of miR-195 was increased in a rat model of CCI-IoN. In contrast, the expression of Patched1 decreased significantly. Luciferase assays confirmed the binding of miR-195 to Patched1. In addition, the overexpression of miR-195 by an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) administration of LV-miR-195 aggravated facial pain development, and this was reversed by upregulating the expression of Patched1. These results suggest that miR-195 is involved in the development of TN by targeting Patched1 in the Shh signaling pathway, thus regulating extracellular glutamate.