Chromosome organization revealed upon the decondensation of telophase chromosomes inAllium

Chromosomes of root tip cells ofAllium cepa andAllium sativum were studied in early, middle and late telophase to examine the organization of mitotic chromosomes, taking advantage of the naturally occurring chromosome dispersion during the process of decondensation in telophase. Longitudinal and transverse sections of telophase chromosomes viewed under the transmission electron microscope showed that mitotic chromosomes inAllium were composed of helically coiled 400–550 nm chromatin fibres. In some regions of the longitudinal sections, these chromatin fibres were seen to be orientated parallel to one another but formed roughly a right angle to the long axis of the chromosome. In transverse sections, the telophase chromosome appeared to have a hollow centre encircled by the 400–550 nm chromatin fibre which in turn was a hollow tube structure formed by the coiling of a thinner fibre of 170–200 nm. In addition, cross views of chromatin fibres of 170–200 nm and 50–70 nm were also identified in telophase chromosome preparations. These two organizational levels of chromatin fibres also showed a hollow centre. The process of decondensation of telophase chromosomes is described, and some morphological characteristics associated with the activities of chromosome decondensation are analysed. Based on the observations made onAllium chromosomes in this study, various models of chromosome organization are discussed.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Triptolide inhibits angiogenesis in microvascular endothelial cells through regulation of miR-92a

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry - Atherosclerosis is one common chronic inflammatory disease in which angiogenesis is involved. Here we established an in vitro cell model of angiogenesis...     

YAP regulates periodontal ligament cell differentiation into myofibroblast interacted with RhoA/ROCK pathway

During orthodontic tooth movement (OTM), periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) receive the mechanical stimuli and transform it into myofibroblasts (Mfbs). Indeed, previous studies have demonstrated that mechanical stimuli can promote the expression of Mfb marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in PDLCs. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), as the target gene of yes-associated protein (YAP), has been proven to be involved in this process. Here, we sought to assess the role of YAP in Mfbs differentiation from PDLCs. The time-course expression of YAP and α-SMA was manifested in OTM model in vivo as well as under tensional stimuli in vitro. Inhibition of RhoA/Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) pathway using Y27632 significantly reduced tension-induced Mfb differentiation and YAP expression. Moreover, overexpression of YAP with lentiviral transfection in PDLCs rescued the repression effect of Mfb differentiation induced by Y27632. These data together suggest a crucial role of YAP in regulating tension-induced Mfb differentiation from PDLC interacted with RhoA/ROCK pathway.     

Slit2 Inactivates GSK3β to Signal Neurite Outgrowth Inhibition

Slit molecules comprise one of the four canonical families of axon guidance cues that steer the growth cone in the developing nervous system. Apart from their role in axon pathfinding, emerging lines of evidence suggest that a wide range of cellular processes are regulated by Slit, ranging from branch formation and fasciculation during neurite outgrowth to tumor progression and to angiogenesis. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms downstream of Slit remain largely unknown, in part, because of a lack of a readily manipulatable system that produces easily identifiable traits in response to Slit. The present study demonstrates the feasibility of using the cell line CAD as an assay system to dissect the signaling pathways triggered by Slit. Here, we show that CAD cells express receptors for Slit (Robo1 and Robo2) and that CAD cells respond to nanomolar concentrations of Slit2 by markedly decelerating the rate of process extension. Using this system, we reveal that Slit2 inactivates GSK3β and that inhibition of GSK3β is required for Slit2 to inhibit process outgrowth. Furthermore, we show that Slit2 induces GSK3β phosphorylation and inhibits neurite outgrowth in adult dorsal root ganglion neurons, validating Slit2 signaling in primary neurons. Given that CAD cells can be conveniently manipulated using standard molecular biological methods and that the process extension phenotype regulated by Slit2 can be readily traced and quantified, the use of a cell line CAD will facilitate the identification of downstream effectors and elucidation of signaling cascade triggered by Slit.     

α-Tocopherol is an effective Phase II enzyme inducer: protective effects on acrolein-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in human retinal pigment epithelial cells

Vitamin E has long been identified as a major lipid-soluble chain-breaking antioxidant in mammals. α-Tocopherol is a vitamin E component and the major form in the human body. We propose that, besides its direct chain-breaking antioxidant activity, α-tocopherol may exert an indirect antioxidant activity by enhancing the cell's antioxidant system as a Phase II enzyme inducer. We investigated α-tocopherol's inducing effect on Phase II enzymes and its protective effect on acrolein-induced toxicity in a human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell line, ARPE-19. Acrolein, a major component of cigarette smoke and also a product of lipid peroxidation, at 75 μmol/L over 24 h, caused significant loss of ARPE-19 cell viability, increased oxidative damage, decreased antioxidant defense, inactivation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway, and mitochondrial dysfunction. ARPE-19 cells have been used as a model of smoking- and age-related macular degeneration. Pretreatment with α-tocopherol activated the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway by increasing Nrf2 expression and inducing its translocation to the nucleus. Consequently, the expression and/or activity of the following Phase II enzymes increased: glutamate cysteine ligase, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1, heme-oxygenase 1, glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase; total antioxidant capacity and glutathione also increased. This antioxidant defense enhancement protected ARPE-19 cells from an acrolein-induced decrease in cell viability, lowered reactive oxygen species and protein oxidation levels, and improved mitochondrial function. These results suggest that α-tocopherol protects ARPE-19 cells from acrolein-induced cellular toxicity, not only as a chain-breaking antioxidant, but also as a Phase II enzyme inducer.     

微生物燃料电池发展态势分析

随着世界经济的高速发展和人口的不断增长,能源短缺和环境污染问题日益成为制约发展的瓶颈。微生物燃料电池(microbial fuel cell,MFC)能将污染物中蕴含的化学能直接转化为电能,实现同步污水处理和电能回收,是一种极具前景的可持续污水处理技术。同时,MFC在污泥处理、生物修复、环境监测、海水淡化等方面也展示了诱人的前景。基于科睿唯安Web of Science数据库和德温特专利检索分析平台(Derwent Innovation, DI),对MFC领域1990~2018年的论文和专利数据进行统计分析,得出全球MFC领域的发展趋势、国际分布、研发热点和技术格局。在此基础上,对未来MFC领域的发展做出了展望,对中国MFC产业化发展提出了思考和建议。     

上海农作物种质资源数据库的设计和构建

随着农作物种质资源数量的不断增加,种质资源交流的日益频繁以及种质资源利用的逐步深入,农作物种质资源数据库的建设对农作物的应用研究和基础性研究至关重要。上海市农业生物基因中心借助于本中心保存的近21万份种质资源的信息,开发了一套上海农作物种质资源数据库,本文主要阐述了该数据库设计和构建的目的、原则和数据库的架构、运行环境以及主要功能模块。上海农作物种质资源数据库采用了B/S结构,平台系统利用多层逻辑架构实现了对农作物种质资源数据信息的收集、存储、查询、统计分析等功能。外部用户通过浏览器即可访问平台系统,浏览查询种质资源信息。内部管理员可使用平台的受限功能,需要认证成功后才可使用后台管理功能,实现对整个平台数据的管理。注册用户还可通过基因资源数据库提交引种申请,管理员结合管理信息系统实现对外供种全流程的网络化,借此可提高工作效率,增加工作流程的透明度。