Generation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio anguillarum</Emphasis> Ghost by Coexpression of PhiX 174 Lysis <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis> gene and Staphylococcal Nuclease <Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis> Gene

Vibrio anguillarum ghosts (VAG) were generated, for the first time, using a conjugation vector containing a ghost bacteria inducing cassette, pRK-λP_R-cI-Elysis, in which the expression of PhiX174 lysis gene E was controlled by the P _R /cI regulatory system of lambda phage. By scanning electron microscopy, holes ranging 80–200 nm in diameter were observed in the VAG. To avoid the presence of bacterial genomic DNA and an antibiotic resistance gene in the final VAG product, we constructed a new dual vector, pRK-λP_R-cI-E-SNA, containing the E-mediated lysis cassette and the staphylococcal nuclease A (SNA)-mediated DNA degradation cassette, and generated safety-enhanced VAG for use as a fish vaccine.     

Mitochondrial membrane potential regulates PINK1 import and proteolytic destabilization by PARL

PINK1 is a mitochondrial kinase mutated in some familial cases of Parkinson's disease. It has been found to work in the same pathway as the E3 ligase Parkin in the maintenance of flight muscles and dopaminergic neurons in Drosophila melanogaster and to recruit cytosolic Parkin to mitochondria to mediate mitophagy in mammalian cells. Although PINK1 has a predicted mitochondrial import sequence, its cellular and submitochondrial localization remains unclear in part because it is rapidly degraded. In this study, we report that the mitochondrial inner membrane rhomboid protease presenilin-associated rhomboid-like protein (PARL) mediates cleavage of PINK1 dependent on mitochondrial membrane potential. In the absence of PARL, the constitutive degradation of PINK1 is inhibited, stabilizing a 60-kD form inside mitochondria. When mitochondrial membrane potential is dissipated, PINK1 accumulates as a 63-kD full-length form on the outer mitochondrial membrane, where it can recruit Parkin to impaired mitochondria. Thus, differential localization to the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes appears to regulate PINK1 stability and function.     

渗透胁迫调节的转基因表达对植物抗旱耐盐性的影响

干旱和盐渍是影响植物生长和农作物产量的最重要的环境因子,本文综述了近年来通过超量表达低分子量化合物和渗透肋迫保护蛋白等获得抗旱耐盐转基因植物的报道,旨在系统阐述转基因表达对植物抗旱耐盐性的影响。     

Therapeutic potential of α,β‐thujone through metabolic reprogramming and caspase‐dependent apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells

The therapeutic potential of α,β‐thujone, a functional compound found in many medicinal plants of the Cupressaceae, Asteraceae, and Lamiaceae families, has been demonstrated, including in inflammation and cancers. However, its pharmacological functions and mechanisms of action in ovarian cancer remain unclear. We investigated the anticancer properties of α,β‐thujone in ES2 and OV90 human ovarian cancer cells and its effect on sensitization to cisplatin. α,β‐thujone inhibited cancer cell proliferation and induced cell death through caspase‐dependent intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Moreover, α,β‐thujone‐mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress was associated with the loss of mitochondrial functions and altered metabolic landscape of ovarian cancer cells. α,β‐Thujone attenuated blood vessel formation in transgenic zebrafish, implying it has significant antiangiogenic potential. In addition, α,β‐thujone sensitized ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin, causing synergistic pharmacological effects. Collectively, our results suggest that α,β‐thujone has therapeutic potential in human ovarian cancer and functions via regulating multiple intracellular stress‐associated metabolic reprogramming and caspase‐dependent apoptotic pathways.     

丹桂和籽银桂花芽分化的研究

采用石蜡切片技术, 对不育的丹桂(Osmanthus fragrans ‘Dangui’ )和可育的籽银桂(Osmanthus fragrans ‘Ziyingui’)花芽分化的过程进行了研究。结果表明, 桂花(Osmanthus fragrans Lour.)花芽形态分化可分为花芽分化初始期、总苞分化期、花原基分化期、顶花花被分化期、雄蕊分化期和雌蕊分化期6个阶段。雄蕊的发育在丹桂和籽银桂之间基本没有区别, 都能形成完整的花粉囊和成熟的花粉粒。但是, 雌蕊的发育在可育的籽银桂与不育的丹桂之间存在明显差异。根据花芽分化的过程证明, 丹桂的不育是由于雌蕊发育不正常导致的。     

IKBKE protein activates Akt independent of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/PDK1/mTORC2 and the pleckstrin homology domain to sustain malignant transformation

Serine/threonine kinase Akt regulates key cellular processes such as cell growth, proliferation, and survival. Activation of Akt by mitogenic factor depends on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Here, we report that IKBKE (also known as IKKε and IKKi) activates Akt through a PI3K-independent pathway. IKBKE directly phosphorylates Akt-Thr308 and Ser473 independent of the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. IKBKE activation of Akt was not affected by inhibition of PI3K, knockdown of PDK1 or mTORC2 complex. Further, this activation could be inhibited by Akt inhibitors MK-2206 and GSK690693 but not the compounds (perifosine and triciribine) targeting the PH domain of Akt. Expression of IKBKE largely correlates with activation of Akt in breast cancer. Moreover, inhibition of Akt suppresses IKBKE oncogenic transformation. These findings indicate that IKBKE is an Akt-Thr308 and -Ser473 kinase and directly activates Akt independent of PI3K, PDK1, and mTORC2 as well as PH domain. Our data also suggest that Akt inhibitors targeting the PH domain have no effect on the tumors in which hyperactive Akt resulted from elevated IKBKE.     

Transformation of Saussurea involucrata by Agrobacterium rhizogenes: Hairy root induction and syringin production

Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated genetic transformation of Saussurea involucrata was investigated. Four bacterial strains, A4, LBA 9402, R1000 and R1601 and three explant types, leaf blade, petiole and root, were examined. Over 100 hairy root lines were successfully established with strains R1601, R1000 and LBA9402, but none with A4. The highest transformation efficiency of 67% was achieved by using strain R1601 with root explants. One hairy root line isolated from this combination, HR1601-1, produced up to 43.5 ± 1.13 mg syringin g⁻¹ dw, which is about 50-fold higher than that in the wild type plants.Two other lines, HR1000-1 and HRLBA9402-1, isolated from R1000- and LBA9402-transformed roots, respectively, also displayed high capacity of syringin production, being 32.5 ± 3.08 and 39.7 ± 1.37 mg syringin g⁻¹ dw. These three lines were characterized in detail. Polymerase chain reaction analyses confirmed these root lines were of A. rhizogenes origin.