祁连山不同海拔火绒草叶片生态化学计量特征及其与土壤养分的关系

叶片生态化学计量反映植物生存环境的变化信息,研究不同海拔植物叶片化学计量特征有助于了解植物对环境变化的适应策略.通过对祁连山不同海拔(2400、2600、2800、3000和3200 m)火绒草叶片生态化学计量的研究,探讨了火绒草对环境变化(温度、降水和土壤养分)的响应,并分析其生长的限制性元素.结果表明: 在海拔梯度上,火绒草叶片碳(LC)、氮(LN)、磷(LP)含量分别为401.27、23.99和1.22 g·kg^-1,LC∶LN、LC∶LP、LN∶LP均值分别为16.8、352.5和20.7.LC含量、LC∶LN、LC∶LP和LN∶LP均随海拔升高呈先升后降再升的趋势,并在2600和3000 m处达到最大值和最小值,LP含量则呈相反趋势,而LN含量呈先降后升的趋势,并在2800 m处达到最小值.火绒草LC含量与LN含量不相关,与LP含量呈显著负相关;LN含量除与LP含量呈显著正相关外,与其他化学计量比均无相关关系;LP含量与各化学计量比均呈显著负相关;LC∶LN、LC∶LP和LN∶LP两两呈正相关.土壤总磷和土壤总氮是影响LC及LN的重要因素,而LP仅与土壤总磷呈显著负相关.该区火绒草生长主要受P限制.     

美洲大蠊胸腺素THY3的表达模式分析

美洲大蠊Periplaneta americana胸腺素基因具有THY1、THY2和THY3三个不同剪接体,其中THY3结构域最多。本研究使用实时荧光定量PCR技术比较分析了THY3在美洲大蠊不同性别、不同发育阶段及不同组织中的表达差异,以及大肠杆菌Escherichia coli诱导对美洲大蠊血淋巴和脂肪体中THY3表达的影响。结果表明:THY3在成虫期的表达量显著高于其他虫期,雌虫表达量显著高于雄虫,脂肪体表达量显著高于血淋巴、头部、肌肉、体壁组织。雌性成虫体腔注射大肠杆菌3 h后血淋巴中THY3表达量显著增高,而在脂肪体中12 h后才检测到THY3表达明显上调,研究结果为进一步研究美洲大蠊胸腺素的功能打下了基础。     

Effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid on the inflammatory responses and antioxidative capacity in broiler chickens challenged with lipopolysaccharide

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is an intermediate in haem biosynthesis and has anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological effects. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with 5-ALA on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory response of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged broiler chickens. The experiment was designed as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with dietary 5-ALA (0 or 60 mg/kg) and LPS (injection of saline or 0.5 mg/kg BW) levels as treatments. A total of 240 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were distributed into four treatments consisting of six replicates of 10 birds. All the experimental broilers were intraperitoneally injected with LPS or sterile saline at 16, 18, and 20 days of age. Our results showed that dietary 5-ALA supplementation reduced (P < 0.05) the feed to gain before broilers were stimulated with LPS (days 1–15). LPS challenge decreased (P < 0.05) the catalase (CAT), total superoxide dismutase activities and increased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum of broiler chickens. However, 5-ALA supplementation had a tendency to increase (P = 0.08) the activity of CAT and decreased (P < 0.05) the content of MDA. LPS challenge showed higher (P < 0.05) interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 concentrations in the serum, whereas dietary 5-ALA supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) the levels of IL-1β and IL-6. Additionally, dietary 5-ALA supplementation significantly attenuated (P < 0.05) the upregulation of mRNA expression levels of hepatic toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), IL-1β, and IL-2 induced by LPS challenge. Moreover, dietary 5-ALA supplementation also enhanced the mRNA expression of 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase, ferrochelatase, and haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) as compared to the unsupplemented groups. In conclusion, our results suggested that supplementation of 60 mg/kg 5-ALA exhibited LPS-induced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties by enhancing the HO-1 expression and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway.     

CRISPR/Cas技术在抗除草剂作物育种中的研究与应用进展

CRISPR/Cas系统是一种简单、低成本、高效、精准的基因编辑技术,该技术能够进行基因的定向改造,加速新品种培育进程,在种质资源创制中的应用潜力较高。概述了CRISPR/Cas系统的技术原理及其在作物抗除草剂育种中的应用,简要指出了目前CRISPR/Cas技术在抗除草剂种质创制及应用过程中存在的问题及发展方向,以期为今后利用CRISPR/Cas技术创制抗除草剂新种质提供理论依据。     

IVF-ET周期取卵后血清E2的变化模式及对预测妊娠的意义

目的:通过检测IVF-ET患者取卵后血清雌激素水平的变化模式,探讨其在预测妊娠中的意义。方法:纳入因榆卵管因素或男性因素行IVF-ET的患者62例(75个周期)。对行IVF-ET的患者,在取卵后隔日监测血清雌二醇(E_2)水平,并比较其在妊娠组与未孕组的差异。结果:取卵后,血E_2水平在妊娠组与未孕组均迅速降低,在取卵后2,4,6,8 d,两组间无统计学差异。在妊娠周期,血E_2平均水平在取卵后10d降至最低,之后逐渐上升。妊娠组与未孕组之间E_2水平的差异从取卵后10d开始可以检测出(分别为816.4±537.6pg/ml和189.5±69.3pg/ml)(P<0.05)。在未孕周期,10d的E_2水平(189.5±69.3pg/ml)显著低于8d(989.2±581.5pg/ml)(P<0.05)。结论:在取卵后8d和10d连续测2次血E_2水平,有助于早期发现妊娠:妊娠患者的E_2水平在10d出现上升预示妊娠,而10d出现剧陡降时,往往预示妊娠失败。     

冬小麦粒叶比杂种优势及遗传效应分析

用9个冬小麦品种按5×4不完全双列杂交设计组配20个杂交组合,对小麦粒叶比的杂种优势和遗传效应进行分析。结果表明,小麦粒叶比表现出一定的杂种优势;一般配合力和特殊配合力方差均达极显著水平,说明亲本的粒叶比差异及杂交互作均对F1代产生遗传差异,该试验中石6021、农大99260080等的一般配合力较大,石6021×农大99260080、鲁麦14×济南17等组合的特殊配合力较大,产生了较强的杂种优势;粒叶比遗传符合加性-显性遗传模型,但以加性效应为主,其遗传决定度达87.65%,狭义遗传力为64.71%;在高粒叶比品种选育上应重视高粒叶比亲本筛选利用和杂交后代的早代选择。     

RIP3 blockade prevents immune-mediated hepatitis through a myeloid-derived suppressor cell dependent mechanism

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory liver disease, and its pathogenesis is not fully understood. Our previous study discovered that receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIP3) is correlated with serum transaminase levels in AIH patients. However, its role and underlying mechanism in AIH are poorly understood. Here, we detected the increased expression and activation of RIP3 in livers of patients and animal models with AIH. The inhibition of RIP3 kinase by GSK872 prevented concanavalin A (ConA)-induced immune-mediated hepatitis (IMH) by reduced hepatic proinflammatory cytokines and immune cells including Th17 cells and macrophages. Further experiments revealed that RIP3 inhibition resulted in an increase in CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) with immunoregulatory properties in the liver, spleen, and peripheral blood. Moreover, the depletion of Gr-1⁺ MDSCs abrogated the protective effect and immune suppression function of GSK872 in ConA-induced IMH. Altogether, our data demonstrate that RIP3 blockade prevents ConA-induced IMH through promoting MDSCs infiltration. Inhibition of RIP3 kinase may be a novel therapeutic avenue for AIH treatment.     

灵武长枣果实维管束韧皮部及周围细胞的超微结构特征

为了探讨灵武长枣果实光合同化物韧皮部卸载和运输的途径,该研究采用透射电镜技术,对不同发育时期灵武长枣果实维管束韧皮部及其周围薄壁细胞的超微结构特征进行了分析.结果表明:筛管/伴胞复合体及其周围韧皮薄壁细胞间在果实膨大前期富含胞间连丝,而韧皮薄壁细胞与周围库细胞以及相邻库细胞间几乎不存在胞间连丝,形成共质体隔离;筛管/伴...     

Targeting ASCT2-mediated glutamine metabolism inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells

Some tumor cells have a high rate of glutamine uptake and exhibit glutamine addiction. Alanine-serine cysteine-preferring transporter 2 (ASCT2) is a major mediator of glutamine supply in many tumor cells, but the underlying effects and mechanisms of ASCT2 in pancreatic cancer (PC) are largely unknown. Our results show that ASCT2 expression is significantly higher in PC than in normal pancreatic duct cells and pancreas. Utilizing the Kaplan–Meier Plotter database, a high expression of SLC1A5 mRNA was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) in patients with PC. shRNA-mediated inhibition of ASCT2 function in vitro can significantly decrease glutamine consumption, α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) production and ATP generation and increase the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Moreover, the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine partially attenuated the increase in the ROS levels and reduced ATP generation. These data suggest that ASCT2 mediates glutamine metabolism and maintains redox homeostasis in PC. To further investigate whether ASCT2 is involved in PC cell growth, we blocked ASCT2 activity with the ASCT2 inhibitor l-γ-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide (GPNA) and silenced the expression of ASCT2 with specific shRNAs. We found that the growth of PC cells was significantly inhibited. Additionally, knockdown of ASCT2 induced apoptosis through the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Furthermore, the loss of ASCT2 in BxPC-3 cell xenografts significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo, and this effect was associated with an increase in cleaved caspase-3 expression and a decrease in Ki67 staining. Taken together, our results show that ASCT2 may be utilized as a putative therapeutic target for PC.