Receptor‐like kinase OsSIK1 improves drought and salt stress tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa) plants

Receptor‐like kinases (RLKs) play essential roles in plant growth, development and responses to environmental stresses. A putative RLK gene, OsSIK1, with extracellular leucine‐rich repeats was cloned and characterized in rice (Oryza sativa). OsSIK1 exhibits kinase activity in the presence of Mn²⁺, and the OsSIK1 kinase domain has the ability to autophosphorylate and phosphorylate myelin basic protein (MBP). OsSIK1 promoter‐GUS analysis revealed that OsSIK1 is expressed mainly in the stem and spikelet in rice. The expression of OsSIK1 is mainly induced by salt, drought and H₂O₂ treatments. Transgenic rice plants with overexpression of OsSIK1 show higher tolerance to salt and drought stresses than control plants. On the contrary, the knock‐out mutants sik1‐1 and sik1‐2, as well as RNA interference (RNAi) plants, are sensitive to drought and salt stresses. The activities of peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase are enhanced significantly in OsSIK1‐overexpressing plants. Also, the accumulation of H₂O₂ in leaves of OsSIK1‐overexpressing plants is much less than that of the mutants, RNAi plants and control plants, as measured by 3,3′‐diamino benzidine (DAB) staining. We also show that OsSIK1 affects stomatal density in the abaxial and adaxial leaf epidermis of rice. These results indicate that OsSIK1 plays important roles in salt and drought stress tolerance in rice, through the activation of the antioxidative system.     

Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of hydroxyl-substituted Schiff bases

Eight hydroxyl-substituted Schiff bases with the different number and position of hydroxyl group on the two asymmetric aromatic rings (A and B rings) were prepared by the reaction between the corresponding aromatic aldehyde and aniline. Their antioxidant effects against the stable galvinoxyl radical (GO) in ethyl acetate and methanol, and 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane hydrochloride) (AAPH)-induced DNA strand breakage, and their antiproliferative effects on human hepatoma HepG2 cells, were investigated. Structure–activity relationship analysis demonstrates that o-dihydroxyl groups on the aromatic A ring and 4-hydroxyl group attached to the aromatic B ring contribute critically to the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities.     

Highly selective and potent μ opioid ligands by unexpected substituent on morphine skeleton

Unexpected substituent on the well-known morphine skeleton is described to be account for highly selective and potent μ opioid ligands, which is strongly connected to substituted aromatic groups on this omitted 8α-position.     

Design and synthesis of piperazine-indole p38α MAP kinase inhibitors with improved pharmacokinetic profiles

Derivatives of the 4-fluorobenzyl dimethylpiperazine-indole class of p38α MAP kinase inhibitors are described. Biological evaluation of these compounds focused on maintaining activity while improving pharmacokinetic (PK) properties. Improved properties were observed for structures bearing substitutions on the benzylic methylene.     

Co-ordinated role of TLR3, RIG-I and MDA5 in the innate response to rhinovirus in bronchial epithelium

The relative roles of the endosomal TLR3/7/8 versus the intracellular RNA helicases RIG-I and MDA5 in viral infection is much debated. We investigated the roles of each pattern recognition receptor in rhinovirus infection using primary bronchial epithelial cells. TLR3 was constitutively expressed; however, RIG-I and MDA5 were inducible by 8-12 h following rhinovirus infection. Bronchial epithelial tissue from normal volunteers challenged with rhinovirus in vivo exhibited low levels of RIG-I and MDA5 that were increased at day 4 post infection. Inhibition of TLR3, RIG-I and MDA5 by siRNA reduced innate cytokine mRNA, and increased rhinovirus replication. Inhibition of TLR3 and TRIF using siRNA reduced rhinovirus induced RNA helicases. Furthermore, IFNAR1 deficient mice exhibited RIG-I and MDA5 induction early during RV1B infection in an interferon independent manner. Hence anti-viral defense within bronchial epithelium requires co-ordinated recognition of rhinovirus infection, initially via TLR3/TRIF and later via inducible RNA helicases.     

Phylogeographic patterns and conservation units of a vulnerable species,Cabot’s tragopan (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tragopan caboti</Emphasis>), endemic to southeast China

Cabot’s tragopan (Tragopan caboti) is a pheasant endemic to southeast China and is protected under both national and global legislation due to ongoing decline in population size and increased habitat fragmentation. We investigated the phylogeographic patterns and examined the consistency between evolutionary units and assumed subspecies taxonomy in this species. Six populations across the whole species presenting a wide distribution range were sampled and two mitochondrial DNA segments (control region, CR and cytochrome b, cyt b) were used in this study. The results demonstrated a high level of genetic diversity (h = 0.97 in CR and 0.78 in cyt b) and significant differentiation among populations. Phylogenetic analyses strongly indicated two reciprocally monophyletic clades named the “West group” and “East group” that were not consistent with the present subspecies regional distribution. The divergence time between the two groups was estimated to be around 5.54 × 10⁵–8.7 × 10⁵ years ago, and the expansion times of the two groups were close (about 3 × 10⁵ years ago), indicating the effect of glaciation in intraspecific differentiation. Based on the results of genetic analyses combined with geographic isolation and distinct population history, our findings suggest that two management units (MUs) should be defined in T. caboti for conservation.     

URG11 promotes gastric cancer growth and invasion by activation of β‐catenin signalling pathway

Upregulated gene 11 (URG11), a new gene upregulated by Heptatitis B Virus X protein (HBx), was previously shown to activate β‐catenin and promote hepatocellular growth and tumourigenesis. Although the oncogenic role of URG11 in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma has been well documented, its relevance to other human malignancies and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here we reported a novel function of URG11 to promote gastric cancer growth and metastasis. URG11 was found to be highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues compared with adjacent nontumourous ones by immunohistochemical staining and western blot. Knockdown of URG11 expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) effectively attenuated the proliferation, anchorage‐independent growth, invasiveness and metastatic potential of gastric cancer cells. URG11 inhibition led to decreased expression of β‐catenin and its nuclear accumulation in gastric cancer cells and extensive costaining between URG11 and β‐catenin was observed in gastric cancer tissues. Transient transfection assays with the β‐catenin promoter showed that it was inhibited by URG11‐specific small inhibitory RNA. Moreover, suppression of endogenous URG11 expression results in decreased activation of β‐catenin/TCF and its downstream effector genes, cyclinD1 and membrane type 1 matrix metallopeptidase (MT1‐MMP), which are known to be involved in cell proliferation and invasion, respectively. Taken together, our data suggest that URG11 contributes to gastric cancer growth and metastasis at least partially through activation of β‐catenin signalling pathway. These findings also propose a promising target for gene therapy in gastric cancer.     

老年人脉压指数及相关危险因素研究

目的:探讨老年人脉压指数(PPI)变化特点及其相关危险因素。方法:对唐山市3850名老年人集中体检,按照PPI水平分为四组,分别为≤0.400,0.401～0.500,0.501～0.600和0.600,分析各组血压指标特点及与心脑血管病事件的关系。结果:随着SBP的增加,PPI相应增加(P﹤0.001)。随着PPI水平增加,DBP呈下降趋势(P﹤0.01)。脑卒中和冠心病患病率的增加与PPI水平的提高有关(P﹤0.05)。结论:PPI反映了老年人的血压变化特点,并与心脑血管事件有关。     

海水浸泡开放性犬颅脑爆震伤影像学模型的建立

目的:建立海水浸泡开放性犬颅脑爆震伤影像学模型。方法:本实验采用新型球形爆炸源。狗颅中线向左(右)1cm,眶上缘向上1cm交界处为爆炸中心位置。爆炸距离(爆炸源最低点距爆炸点的距离)分别为3mm,3.5mm,4mm。比较各个距离的爆炸效果,选出最适的爆炸距离。在动物最适爆炸距离致伤后用吊瓶装满海水(秋季福建沿海距岸边200米深部海水),用皮管固定于伤口空洞中,使受伤脑组织始终浸泡于海水环境中。分别于3h,5h,8h行颅脑CT检查。观察海水浸泡开放性颅脑爆震伤的CT动态变化。结果:爆炸距离3.5mm为最适爆炸距离,此距离爆炸致伤后犬存活率高,能够炸开颅骨,使脑组织暴露,海水浸泡爆震伤口8小时,脑水肿逐渐出现。结论:本实验所建立的动物模型可模拟真实海战下冲击波致伤,且重复性和稳定性好,易操作,适用于海战情况下颅脑爆震伤的实验研究。     

Embryo production and possible species preservation by nuclear transfer of somatic cells isolated from bovine semen

Somatic cells in semen are a potential source of nuclei for nuclear transfer to produce genetically identical animals; this is especially important when an animal has died and the only viable genetic material available is frozen semen. Usefulness of somatic cells obtained from fresh (cultured) and frozen (isolated, not cultured) bovine semen for nuclear transfer was evaluated. Twelve ejaculates were collected from nine bulls representing three breeds: Charolais, Brahman, and crossbred Rodeo bull. All samples were processed immediately and cell growth was obtained from seven of the twelve ejaculates (58.3%). Cells from three bulls (with the best growth rates) were evaluated by optical microscopy and used in cloning experiments. In culture, these cells exhibited classic epithelial morphology and expressed cytokeratin and vimentin, indicating they were of epithelial origin. When cells from the three bulls were used as donor cells, 15.9% (18/113), 34.5% (29/84), and 14.4% (13/90) of the fused embryos developed into blastocysts, respectively. Of the blastocyst stage embryos, 38.9% (7/18), 72.4% (21/29), and 61.5% (8/13) hatched, respectively. Somatic cells isolated (not cultured) from frozen bovine semen were also used in the cloning experiments. Although cleavage occurred, no compact morulae or blastocysts were obtained. In conclusion, epithelial cell growth was obtained from fresh bovine ejaculates with relatively high efficiency. Somatic cells from semen can be used as nucleus donors to produce cloned blastocyst-stage embryos.