Conformational analysis of β-methyl-para-nitrophenylalanine stereoisomers of cyclo[D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin by NMR spectroscopy and conformational energy calculations

Solution conformations of β-methyl-para-nitrophenylalanine⁴ analogues of the potent δ-opioid peptide cyclo[D-Pen², D-Pen⁵]enkephalin (DPDPE) were studied by combined use of nmr and conformational energy calculations. Nuclear Overhauser effect connectivities and ³J_HNC^α_H coupling constants measured for the (2S, 3S)-, (2S, 3R)-, and (2R, 3R)-stereoisomers of[β-Me-p-NO₂Phe⁴]DPDPE in DMSO were compared with low energy conformers obtained by energy minimization in the Empirical Conformational Energy Program for Peptides #2 force field. The conformers that satisfied all available nmr data were selected as probable solution conformations of these peptides. Side-chain rotamer populations, established using homonuclear (³J_H^α_H^β) and heteronuclear (³J_H^αC^γ) coupling constants and ¹³C chemical shifts, show that the β-methyl substituent eliminates one of the three staggered rotamers of the torsion angle x¹ for each stereoisomer of the β-Me-p-NO₂Phe⁴. Similar solution conformations were suggested for the L-Phe⁴-containing (2S, 3S)- and (2S, 3R)-stereoisomers. Despite some local differences, solution conformations of L- and D-Phe⁴-containing analogues have a common shape of the peptide backbone and allow similar orientations of the main δ-opioid pharmacophores. This type of structure differs from several models of the solution conformations of DPDPE, and from the model of biologically active conformations of DPDPE suggested earlier. The latter model is allowed for the potent (2S, 3S)- and (2S, 3R)-stereoisomers of [β-Me-p-NO₂Phe⁴] DPDPE, but it is forbidden for the less active (2R, 3R)- and (2R, 3S)-stereoisomers. It was concluded that the biologically active stereoisomers of [β-Me-p-No₂Phe⁴] DPDPE in the δ-receptor-bound state may assume a conformation different from their favorable conformations in DMSO. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

美国白蛾在我国发生的世代变化分析

美国白蛾是原产于北美地区的世界性植物检疫性害虫,自1979年发现入侵我国以来,严重威胁我国的生态安全。近年来,随着全球气候变暖,美国白蛾疫情不断南扩,其化性在一些地区出现新的变化。本文根据1979—2021年该虫发生扩散情况和各地区监测普查结果,结合部分地区温度变化数据,全面分析了美国白蛾入侵我国以来的发生扩散过程,对比分析了各地区发生世代数及变化情况,阐明部分地区世代数增加的原因。针对美国白蛾世代数演变规律和反复暴发成灾的情况,提出了当前应关注的几个重点问题:世代数增加引发的扩张速率显著上升;扩张潜力与沿长江地区扩散趋势减缓关系;暴发成灾时有发生与本土化趋势不明显。鉴于当前外来入侵物种管理要求提高及多年来美国白蛾防控工作中暴露的一些问题,提出要在守护国家生物安全底线前提下制定防治策略、在统筹生物多样性保护下实现控制目标、在做好应急准备下摸清暴发成灾规律、在强化疫情检疫管理中提高疫情认定效率等对策。     

Comparative Genomics and Evolution of Avian Specialized Traits

Genomic data are important for understanding the origin and evolution of traits. Under the context of rapidly developing of sequencing technologies and more widely available genome sequences, researchers are able to study evolutionary mechanisms of traits via comparative genomic methods. Compared with other vertebrates, bird genomes are relatively small and exhibit conserved synteny with few repetitive elements, which makes them suitable for evolutionary studies. Increasing genomic progress has been reported on the evolution of powered flight, body size variation, beak morphology, plumage colouration, high-elevation colonization, migration, and vocalization. By summarizing previous studies, we demonstrate the genetic bases of trait evolution, highlighting the roles of small-scale sequence variation, genomic structural variation, and changes in gene interaction networks. We suggest that future studies should focus on improving the quality of reference genomes, exploring the evolution of regulatory elements and networks, and combining genomic data with morphological, ecological, behavioural, and developmental biology data.     

Strigo-D2—a bio-sensor for monitoring spatio-temporal strigolactone signaling patterns in intact plants

Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of plant hormones that mediate biotic interactions and modulate developmental programs in response to endogenous and exogenous stimuli. However, a comprehensive view on the spatio-temporal pattern of SL signaling has not been established, and tools for a systematic in planta analysis do not exist. Here, we present Strigo-D2, a genetically encoded ratiometric SL signaling sensor that enables the examination of SL signaling distribution at cellular resolution and is capable of rapid response to altered SL levels in intact Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants. By monitoring the abundance of a truncated and fluorescently labeled SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1-LIKE 6 (SMXL6) protein, a proteolytic target of the SL signaling machinery, we show that all cell types investigated have the capacity to respond to changes in SL levels but with very different dynamics. In particular, SL signaling is pronounced in vascular cells but low in guard cells and the meristematic region of the root. We also show that other hormones leave Strigo-D2 activity unchanged, indicating that initial SL signaling steps work in isolation from other hormonal signaling pathways. The specificity and spatio-temporal resolution of Strigo-D2 underline the value of the sensor for monitoring SL signaling in a broad range of biological contexts with highly instructive analytical depth.

Strigo-D2 is a genetically encoded sensor visualizing spatio-temporal patterns of strigolactone signaling levels in intact plants based on the activity ratio of two fluorescent marker proteins.     

Deubiquitylase OTUD3 prevents Parkinson’s disease through stabilizing iron regulatory protein 2

Iron deposits are neuropathological hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2) is a key factor in regulating brain iron homeostasis. Although two ubiquitin ligases that promote IRP2 degradation have been identified, the deubiquitylase for stabilization of IRP2 in PD remains undefined. Here, we report OTUD3 (OTU domain-containing protein 3) functions as a deubiquitylase for IRP2, interacts with IRP2 in the cytoplasm, de-polyubiquitylates, and stabilizes IRP2 protein in an iron-independent manner. Depletion of OTUD3 results in a disorder of iron metabolism. OTUD3 knockout mice display nigral iron accumulation, motor deficits, and nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration, which resembles the pathology of PD. Consistently, decreased levels of OTUD3 are detected in transgenic PD mice expressing A53T mutant of human α-synuclein. Five single nucleotide polymorphism mutations of OTUD3 are present in cases of sporadic PD or controls, although no significant associations of OTUD3 SNPs with sporadic PD are detected. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that OTUD3 is a bona fide deubiquitylase for IRP2 and plays a critical role in the nigral iron deposits in PD.Subject terms: Ubiquitylation, Parkinson''s disease     

基于肿瘤免疫微环境鉴定IDH突变型弥漫性胶质瘤的预后标志物

异柠檬酸脱氢酶(IDH)突变存在于大多数低级别胶质细胞瘤中,免疫逃逸是肿瘤标志性特征之一,免疫治疗在胶质瘤的治疗中的作用越来越重要。利用生信手段分析TCGA、CGGA、GEO数据集中IDH突变胶质瘤的770个免疫相关基因及其临床相关数据,从而获得每个患者的免疫风险评分(IMRS);结合IMRS和临床信息,筛选出6个差异表达基因(TRAF3、ATG10、BID、TAB1、MAP3K1、RPS6)组成IMRS模型并生成诺莫图对患者预后进行评估,发现低风险组患者的总生存期(OS)较高风险组均明显延长。此外,签名相关免疫细胞浸润分析发现肿瘤相关巨噬细胞浸润评分(TAM)与肿瘤相关T细胞浸润评分(TIS)呈明显的负相关,表明高IMRS富集了促肿瘤免疫浸润,而低IMRS则富集了相对较多的抗肿瘤免疫浸润。