Phosphorylation of Pkp1 by RIPK4 regulates epidermal differentiation and skin tumorigenesis

Tissue homeostasis of skin is sustained by epidermal progenitor cells localized within the basal layer of the skin epithelium. Post‐translational modification of the proteome, such as protein phosphorylation, plays a fundamental role in the regulation of stemness and differentiation of somatic stem cells. However, it remains unclear how phosphoproteomic changes occur and contribute to epidermal differentiation. In this study, we survey the epidermal cell differentiation in a systematic manner by combining quantitative phosphoproteomics with mammalian kinome cDNA library screen. This approach identified a key signaling event, phosphorylation of a desmosome component, PKP1 (plakophilin‐1) by RIPK4 (receptor‐interacting serine–threonine kinase 4) during epidermal differentiation. With genome‐editing and mouse genetics approach, we show that loss of function of either Pkp1 or Ripk4 impairs skin differentiation and enhances epidermal carcinogenesis in vivo. Phosphorylation of PKP1's N‐terminal domain by RIPK4 is essential for their role in epidermal differentiation. Taken together, our study presents a global view of phosphoproteomic changes that occur during epidermal differentiation, and identifies RIPK‐PKP1 signaling as novel axis involved in skin stratification and tumorigenesis.     

Variation in NEE and its response to environmental factors in an extremely arid desert wetland ecosystem

In order to study the net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) variation and its response to environmental factors, CO₂ flux and related environmental factors were monitored from May until September. The diurnal NEE variations in this region showed a U-shaped distribution. The average daily CO₂ absorption in July was the largest. The study area is a carbon sink during the growing season. At the soil depth of 40 and 80 cm, due to the influence of underground water, the soil water content had a significantly negative correlation with NEE. The increase in relative air humidity can facilitate stomata opening, which also improves CO₂ absorption. Additionally, the increase in air temperature, soil temperature and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) all promote plant photosynthesis, which leads to a negative correlation with NEE.     

基于AFLP分析的伯乐树(Bretschneidera sinensis)谱系地理学研究

伯乐树（Bretschneidera sinensis Hemsl.）是主要分布于中国的濒危物种。采用AFLP分子标记对分布于中国11个省的24个伯乐树居群192个个体进行谱系地理学研究。结果显示,伯乐树有相对较高的遗传多样性水平,基因多样性指数（He）和Shannon指数（Ⅰ）分别为0.2728和0.4070。伯乐树居群间的遗传分化远大于居群内遗传分化,遗传分化系数G_ST=0.7138,基因流N_m=0.2005。通过聚类分析、STRUCTURE分析和BAPS分析发现,24个伯乐树居群可形成4大地理居群组和进化谱系;云贵高原东部地区居群遗传多样性较高,可能是伯乐树在中国的扩散中心和冰期避难所,伯乐树在冰期后由此向外进行居群扩散;南岭地区各居群遗传多样性水平普遍高于其他地区,与邻近地区各居群的亲缘关系较近,可能为伯乐树演化历史上的另一个冰期避难所。     

枸杞多糖对四氧嘧啶损伤的大鼠胰岛细胞的保护作用

报道了枸杞多糖(Lb-PS)对4mmol／L四氧嘧啶(AXN)损伤的离体培养的大鼠胰岛细胞的保护作用。实验分为正常对照素、AXN损伤组和Lb-PS保护组。采用放射免疫分析法测定胰岛细胞内胰岛素水平以及葡萄糖刺激的胰岛素释放水平。分光光度比色法测定细胞内SOD和葡萄糖激酶的活性,以及培养基中NO和MDA的含量。结果表明,AXN显著抑制细胞内的胰岛素合成和葡萄糖刺激的胰岛素释放,以及SOD和葡萄糖激酶的活性。AXN促使培养基中N0和MDA浓度的显著增加。在同时加入AxN和105～102mg／ml Lb—PS的实验组中,均发现能不同程度地保护胰岛细胞免受AXN的损伤。Lb-PS能恢复AXN损伤的胰岛细胞的胰岛素合成和释放水平,以及SOD和葡萄糖激酶的活性,使其基本达到正常对照组的水平。Lb-PS还能降低培养基中NO和MDA的浓度。因此,Lb-PS可能通过减少胰岛β细胞的NO产量和维持SOD和葡萄糖激酶的活性,最终起到保护胰岛素合成和释放功能的作用。     

Bak Foong protects dopaminergic neurons against MPTP-induced neurotoxicity by its anti-apoptotic activity

Bak Foong pill (BFP) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine used for treatment of various gynaecological disorders. In addition, it exerts beneficial effects on other functional systems including the central nervous system. In the present study, we have investigated the possible neuroprotective action of BFP upon the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system by examining its effect on the expression patterns of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter (DAT) in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahyrdropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model. MPTP significantly decreased TH and DAT mRNA levels in the striatum and midbrain of both female and male C57BL/6 mice. However, with BFP pre-treatment mice showed a reduced neurotoxicity, with TH and DAT mRNA levels either not affected by MPTP or affected to a lesser extent in the midbrain and striatum when compared to vehicle treated animals. Possible anti-apoptotic activity of BFP was further studied in a dopamine-secreting neuroendocrine cell line, PC12. In this assay, MPTP elevated the expression of a pro-apoptotic gene, Bax, while this expression was reduced by BFP pre-treatment. Flow cytometry results also revealed that the effect of MPTP-induced apoptosis in PC12 cell lines was significantly reduced by BFP. The present results suggest that BFP is able to protect dopaminergic neurons from neurotoxin-induced neuronal injury with anti-apoptotic activity being one of the possible mechanisms.     

Angiopoietins assemble distinct Tie2 signalling complexes in endothelial cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts

The receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2, and its activating ligand Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1), are required for vascular remodelling and vessel integrity, whereas Ang2 may counteract these functions. However, it is not known how Tie2 transduces these different signals. Here, we show that Ang1 induces unique Tie2 complexes in mobile and confluent endothelial cells. Matrix-bound Ang1 induced cell adhesion, motility and Tie2 activation in cell-matrix contacts that became translocated to the trailing edge in migrating endothelial cells. In contrast, in contacting cells Ang1 induced Tie2 translocation to cell-cell contacts and the formation of homotypic Tie2-Tie2 trans-associated complexes that included the vascular endothelial phosphotyrosine phosphatase, leading to inhibition of paracellular permeability. Distinct signalling proteins were preferentially activated by Tie2 in the cell-matrix and cell-cell contacts, where Ang2 inhibited Ang1-induced Tie2 activation. This novel type of cellular microenvironment-dependent receptor tyrosine kinase activation may explain some of the effects of angiopoietins in angiogenesis and vessel stabilization.     

siRNA沉默socs3对红系发育的影响

为了研究细胞因子信号转导分子3(suppressor of cytokine signals-3,SOCS-3)对造血发育的影响,构建了SOCS-3慢病毒siRNA干涉载体,并转染人红白血病细胞株K562.根据绿色荧光蛋白的表达进行流式分选后,获得了高表达慢病毒干涉载体的细胞.实时荧光定量PCR和Western-blot检测了转染细胞中SOCS-3基因的干涉效率,结果显示,与对照组相比,siRNA干涉后K562细胞SOCS-3基因的表达量仅为其相对表达量的22.1%,干涉效率77.9%;Western-blot结果显示,SOCS-3在蛋白质水平表达也明显受抑制.进一步对SOCS-3基因沉默后的K562细胞进行了诱导分化,并采用联苯胺染色法检测K562细胞向红系分化比例变化,免疫荧光染色检测细胞表面抗原的变化,RT-PCR检测造血相关基因的变化.结果发现,SOCS-3沉默后K562细胞向红系的发育能力显著提高.研究结果证明,SOCS-3在造血发育中有重要调控作用,而对其表达进行干涉或沉默将在规模化的红细胞诱导研究中发挥重要作用.