Taurine transporter is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells

Summary. The regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) function by taurine has been a subject of increasing interest and investigation, and taurine is taken up into cells through a specific transporter system, the taurine transporter (TAUT). In the present study, we examined the expression of TAUT in VSMCs and the kinetic parameters of the uptake process of TAUT in VSMCs. RT-PCR and western blot demonstrated that the mRNA and protein of TAUT was expressed in VSMCs in vitro. Immunohistochemistry using antibody for TAUT revealed the expression of this protein in rat thoracic aorta. The maximal [³H]taurine uptake rate in VSMCs was 37.75 ± 3.13 pmol/min per mg of protein, with a K _m value of 5.42 ± 0.81 μM. Thus, VSMCs are able to express a functional taurine transporter. The regulation and detailed function of taurine and TAUT in VSMCs remain unclear, but our findings suggest a functional role for them in VSMCs metabolism.     

HIV/AIDS in Asia： The Shape of Epidemics and Their Molecular Epidemiology

The Asia-Pacific region is a home to 60% of the population in the world and to approximately one quarter of people with HIV/AIDS. Close to a million of people has been infected and a half million people died of AIDS annually in Asia,becoming the second largest epicenter of global AIDS epidemic. Molecular epidemiology has been useful tool to track a course of HIV spread. In-depth knowledge from the studies on molecular epidemiology elucidates the dynamics of HIV spread and the interrelationship of epidemics in the different regions in Asia.     

Indoor Thin‐Film Photovoltaics: Progress and Challenges

Energy generation and consumption have always been an important component of social development. Interests in this field are beginning to shift to indoor photovoltaics (IPV) which can serve as power sources under low light conditions to meet the energy needs of rapidly growing fields, such as intelligence gathering and information processing which usually operate via the Internet‐of‐things (IoT). Since the power requirements for this purpose continue to decrease, IPV systems under low light may facilitate the realization of self‐powered high‐tech electronic devices connected through the IoT. This review discusses and compares the characteristics of different types of IPV devices such as those based on silicon, dye, III‐V semiconductors, organic compounds, and halide perovskites. Among them, specific attention is paid to perovskite photovoltaics which may potentially become a high performing IPV system due to the fascinating photophysics of the halide perovskite active layer. The limitations of such indoor application as they relate to the toxicity, stability, and electronic structure of halide perovskites are also discussed. Finally, strategies which could produce highly functional, nontoxic, and stable perovskite photovoltaics devices for indoor applications are proposed.     

Microbial diversity in deep-sea sediment from the cobalt-rich crust deposit region in the Pacific Ocean

Cobalt-rich crusts are important metallic mineral resources with great economic potential, usually distributed on seamounts located in the Pacific Ocean. Microorganisms are believed to play a role in the formation of crusts as well as in metal cycling. To explore the microbial diversity related to cobalt-rich crusts, 16S ribosomal RNA gene clone libraries were constructed from three consecutive sediment layers. In total, 417 bacterial clones were obtained from three bacterial clone libraries, representing 17 distinct phylogenetic groups. Proteobacteria dominated in the bacterial communities, followed by Acidobacteria and Planctomycetes. Compared with high bacterial diversity, archaea showed a remarkably low diversity, with all 137 clones belonging to marine archaeal group I except one novel euryarchaeotal clone. The microbial communities were potentially involved in sulfur, nitrogen and metal cycling in the area of cobalt-rich crusts. Sulfur oxidation and metal oxidation were potentially major sources of energy for this ecosystem. This is the first reported investigation of microbial diversity in sediments associated with cobalt-rich crusts, and it casts fresh light on the microbial ecology of these important ecosystems.     

Studies on Karyotypes of 5 Species in Ranunculus from Jiangxi

The present paper reports the chromosome numbers and karyotypes of 5 species in Ranunculus from Jiangxi. The result is shown in Table 1-2. The chromosome numbers of R. ternatus Thunb. (2n=4x=32; 2n=2x=16=8m+2sm+6st) , R. polii Franch. (2n = 2x = 16 = 8m+2sm+6st) and R. sieboldii Miq. (2n = 8x-1 = 63 = 15m+18sm+22st+8t) are first reported. The essential points are as follows: (1) The karyotypes of R. ternatus Thunb. and R. polii Franch. are rather similar, which shows a close relationship between the two species. (2) Polyploid complexes are common in Ranunculus. (3) According to the taxonomical system of Wang Wen-cai, the karyotypes of the two species investigated in Sect. Auricomus belong to “2A” of Stebbins; that of the only species in Sect. Hecatonia belong to “2B'; the karyotypes of the two species investigated in Sect. Ranunculus belong to “3A” or “3B”. The relationships among the three sections from thekaryotype are basically consistent with those based on morphology.     

Functional roles of PC‐PLC and Cdc20 in the cell cycle,proliferation, and apoptosis

Phosphatidylcholine‐specific phospholipase C (PC‐PLC) is the major enzyme in the Phosphatidylcholine (PC) cycle and is involved in many long‐term cellular responses such as activation, proliferation, and differentiation events. Cell division cycle 20 homolog (Cdc20) is an essential cell‐cycle regulator required for the completion of mitosis. Our previous studies identified the interaction between PC‐PLC and Cdc20. Through the interaction, Cdc20 could mediate the degradation of PC‐PLC by Cdc20‐mediated ubiquitin proteasome pathway (UPP). In this study, we found that PC‐PLC might not be involved in cancer metastasis. Inhibition of PC‐PLC by D609 could cause cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis inhibition in CBRH‐7919 cells. Inhibition of PC‐PLC could also influence the cell cycle by arresting the cells in G1 phase, and Cdc20 might be involved in these processes. Taken together, in this report, we provided new evidence for the functional roles of PC‐PLC and Cdc20 in the cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis in CBRH‐7919 cells. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.