AMPK activation protects cells from oxidative stress‐induced senescence via autophagic flux restoration and intracellular NAD+ elevation

AMPK activation is beneficial for cellular homeostasis and senescence prevention. However, the molecular events involved in AMPK activation are not well defined. In this study, we addressed the mechanism underlying the protective effect of AMPK on oxidative stress‐induced senescence. The results showed that AMPK was inactivated in senescent cells. However, pharmacological activation of AMPK by metformin and berberine significantly prevented the development of senescence and, accordingly, inhibition of AMPK by Compound C was accelerated. Importantly, AMPK activation prevented hydrogen peroxide‐induced impairment of the autophagic flux in senescent cells, evidenced by the decreased p62 degradation, GFP‐RFP‐LC3 cancellation, and activity of lysosomal hydrolases. We also found that AMPK activation restored the NAD⁺ levels in the senescent cells via a mechanism involving mostly the salvage pathway for NAD⁺ synthesis. In addition, the mechanistic relationship of autophagic flux and NAD⁺ synthesis and the involvement of mTOR and Sirt1 activities were assessed. In summary, our results suggest that AMPK prevents oxidative stress‐induced senescence by improving autophagic flux and NAD⁺ homeostasis. This study provides a new insight for exploring the mechanisms of aging, autophagy and NAD⁺ homeostasis, and it is also valuable in the development of innovative strategies to combat aging.     

Green synthesis of fluorescence carbon nanoparticles from yum and application in sensitive and selective detection of ATP

Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CPs), a fascinating class of recently discovered nanocarbons, have been widely known as some of the most promising sensing probes in biological or chemical analysis. In this study, we demonstrate a green synthetic methodology for generating water‐soluble CPs with a quantum yield of approximately 24% via a simple heating process using yum mucilage as a carbon source. The prepared carbon nanoparticles with an ~10 nm size possessed excellent fluorescence properties, and the fluorescence of the CPs was strongly quenched by Fe³⁺, and recovered by adenosine triphosphate (ATP), thus, an ‘off’ and ‘on’ system can be easily established. This ‘CPs‐Fe³⁺‐ATP’ strategy was sensitive and selective at detecting ATP with the linear range of 0.5 µmol L^?1 to 50 µmol L^?1 and with a detection limit of 0.48 µmol L^?1. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dextranase from Arthrobacter oxydans KQ11-1 inhibits biofilm formation by polysaccharide hydrolysis

Dental plaque is a biofilm of water-soluble and water-insoluble polysaccharides, produced primarily by Streptococcus mutans. Dextranase can inhibit biofilm formation. Here, a dextranase gene from the marine microorganism Arthrobacter oxydans KQ11-1 is described, and cloned and expressed using E. coli DH5α competent cells. The recombinant enzyme was then purified and its properties were characterized. The optimal temperature and pH were determined to be 60°C and 6.5, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography data show that the final hydrolysis products were glucose, maltose, maltotriose, and maltotetraose. Thus, dextranase can inhibit the adhesive ability of S. mutans. The minimum biofilm inhibition and reduction concentrations (MBIC₅₀ and MBRC₅₀) of dextranase were 2 U ml^?1 and 5 U ml^?1, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) observations confirmed that dextranase inhibited biofilm formation and removed previously formed biofilms.     

A 3D Homochiral MOF [Cd2(d‐cam)3]•2Hdma•4dma for HPLC Chromatographic Enantioseparation

Up to now, some chiral metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have been reported for enantioseparation in liquid chromatography. Here we report a homochiral MOF, [Cd2(d‐cam)3]·2Hdma·4dma, used as a new chiral stationary phase for high‐performance liquid chromatographic enantioseparation. Nine racemates of alcohol, naphthol, ketone, and base compounds were used as analytes for evaluating the separation properties of the chiral MOF packed column. Moreover, some effects such as mobile phase composition, column temperature, and analytes mass for separations on this chiral column also were investigated. The relative standard deviations for the resolution values of run‐to‐run and column‐to‐column were less than 2.1% and 3.2%, respectively. The experimental results indicate that the homochiral MOF offered good recognition ability, which promotes the application of chiral MOFs use as stationary phase for enantioseparation. Chirality 28:340–346, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Production of proinsulin in marker-free transgenic tobacco plants using <Emphasis Type="Italic">CRE</Emphasis>/loxP system

The demand for INSULIN is increasing rapidly along with the increased number of diabetic patients. Using the CRE/loxP system, we developed a selective marker-free system without crossing to produce PROINSULIN in transgenic plant. In frame of this approach, the induced promoter pRD29A was isolated from Arabidopsis. The CRE recombinase gene was placed under the control of pRD29A between two loxP recombination sites together with the selective NPTII gene. Furthermore, the binary vector with CRE recombinase and PROINSULIN was constructed and introduced into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Gene excision was used to remove the sequence between the two loxP sites at the presence of 200 mM NaCl. PCR analysis showed that self-excision occurred in several T₀ transgenic plants. Transgenic plants without any marker gene successfully expressed PROINSULIN. This auto-excision strategy provides efficient means of removing the selectable marker gene from transgenic plants. It is an efficient method for producing bio-safe recombinant protein and other valuable substances in plants.     

Reconstitution of CO2 Regulation of SLAC1 Anion Channel and Function of CO2-Permeable PIP2;1 Aquaporin as CARBONIC ANHYDRASE4 Interactor

Dark respiration causes an increase in leaf CO₂ concentration (Ci), and the continuing increases in atmospheric [CO₂] further increases Ci. Elevated leaf CO₂ concentration causes stomatal pores to close. Here, we demonstrate that high intracellular CO₂/HCO₃⁻ enhances currents mediated by the Arabidopsis thaliana guard cell S-type anion channel SLAC1 upon coexpression of any one of the Arabidopsis protein kinases OST1, CPK6, or CPK23 in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Split-ubiquitin screening identified the PIP2;1 aquaporin as an interactor of the βCA4 carbonic anhydrase, which was confirmed in split luciferase, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and coimmunoprecipitation experiments. PIP2;1 exhibited CO₂ permeability. Mutation of PIP2;1 in planta alone was insufficient to impair CO₂- and abscisic acid-induced stomatal closing, likely due to redundancy. Interestingly, coexpression of βCA4 and PIP2;1 with OST1-SLAC1 or CPK6/23-SLAC1 in oocytes enabled extracellular CO₂ enhancement of SLAC1 anion channel activity. An inactive PIP2;1 point mutation was identified that abrogated water and CO₂ permeability and extracellular CO₂ regulation of SLAC1 activity. These findings identify the CO₂-permeable PIP2;1 as key interactor of βCA4 and demonstrate functional reconstitution of extracellular CO₂ signaling to ion channel regulation upon coexpression of PIP2;1, βCA4, SLAC1, and protein kinases. These data further implicate SLAC1 as a bicarbonate-responsive protein contributing to CO₂ regulation of S-type anion channels.     

高血压患者颈动脉粥样硬化与血脂、血压和血尿酸水平的相关性分析

目的:探讨高血压患者颈动脉粥样硬化(CAS)与血脂、血压以及血尿酸水平的相关性。方法:选择2017年2月至2018年8月在我院就诊的高血压患者117例作为研究组,另选择同期在我院进行体检的健康志愿者50例作为对照组。采用彩色多普勒超声诊断仪测定所有受试者的颈动脉内中膜厚度(IMT),并根据研究组患者的颈动脉IMT将其分为斑块组(IMT≥1.3 mm,33例)、IMT增厚组(1.0 mm≤IMT1.3 mm,49例)和IMT正常组(IMT1.0 mm,35例)。比较研究组与对照组受试者IMT,同时分别比较研究组与对照组受试者以及不同IMT高血压患者平均收缩压(SBP)、平均舒张压(DBP)、血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)以及尿酸水平,并采用Pearson相关性分析法分析高血压患者IMT与各指标的相关性。结果:与对照组比较,研究组IMT、SBP、DBP、TC、TG、LDL-C、血尿酸水平升高,HDL-C水平降低,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。斑块组患者SBP、DBP、TC、TG、LDL-C、血尿酸水平高于IMT增厚组和IMT正常组,HDL-C水平低于IMT增厚组和IMT正常组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);IMT增厚组患者SBP、DBP、TC、TG、LDL-C、血尿酸水平高于IMT正常组,HDL-C水平低于IMT正常组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。Pearson相关性分析显示,高血压患者的IMT与SBP、DBP、TC、TG、LDL-C、血尿酸均呈正相关,与HDL-C呈负相关(P0.05)。结论:高血压患者IMT与血脂、血压和血尿酸水平均有明显相关性,血压、血脂、血尿酸参与了高血压患者CAS的发生与发展。     

马氏珠母贝(Pinctada fucata martensii)细胞粘附分子3(Pm-CAM3)基因的克隆与表达分析

细胞粘附分子3 (cell adhesion molecule 3, CAM3)是免疫球蛋白家族(immunoglobulin family, IgSF)的一员,在细胞黏连、外源病原体的识别等方面具有重要作用。本实验利用末端快速克隆(RACE)技术,克隆获得马氏珠母贝(Pinctada facata martensii)细胞粘附分子3的全长序列(Pm-CAM3),并使用荧光定量PCR(Real-time PCR, q RT-PCR)技术检测了Pm-CAM3在马氏珠母贝不同组织中的表达模式。结果显示,Pm-CAM3基因全长2 245 bp。其中5'UTR 335 bp,3'UTR 166 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)长度为1 744 bp,共编码581个氨基酸;预测其相对分子量为63.21 kD,等电点为5.07,脂溶指数(aliphatic index)为67.21;总平均亲水性(grand averageofhydropathy, GRAVY)为-0.549,属于亲水性蛋白;Pm-CAM3具有跨膜结构域,其胞外区域具有一个Ig SF家族典型的Ig结构域以及一个Ig-like结构域。多序列比对结果显示,Pm-CAM3在物种间的保守性较低,其中Pm-CAM3与太平洋牡蛎的CAM3 (Crassostrea gigas, Cg-CAM3)的氨基酸序列相似性最高,但仅为37%。qRT-PCR分析表明Pm-CAM3在马氏珠母贝的9个组织中均有表达,其中在鳃中的表达量最高(p<0.05)。     

马氏珠母贝(Pinctada fucata martensii)PmHEXL基因的分子特征与表达分析

几丁质作为有机框架主要成分参与贝壳的形成。β-N-乙酰-己糖胺酶(Beta-hexosaminidase/Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase, HEX)属于糖苷水解酶家族20,在几丁质水解过程发挥重要作用。为了探究Pm HEXL在马氏珠母贝贝壳形成中的作用,本研究利用RACE技术克隆获得Pm HEXL基因c DNA全长序列并检测其在不同组织的表达模式。研究显示,Pm HEXL基因序列全长2 760 bp,其中5'UTR为167 bp,3'UTR为268 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)为2 325 bp,编码774个氨基酸;预测其相对分子量为89.59 kD,理论等电点为5.93;SMART软件分析PmHEXL蛋白质序列,发现它具有典型的GH20、GH20b结构域和CHB-HEX结构域;多序列比对结果显示Pm HEXL与其它物种的HEX具有较高的保守性;qPCR表达分析显示Pm HEXL在外套膜套膜区表达量最高,边缘区次之。综上所述,Pm HEXL可能参与马氏珠母贝贝壳的形成过程。