The role of SDF-1-CXCR4/CXCR7 axis in biological behaviors of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro

Numerous studies have reported that CXCR4 and CXCR7 play an essential, but differential role in stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)-inducing cell chemotaxis, viability and paracrine actions of BMSCs. Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) have been suggested to be potential seed cells for clinical application instead of bone marrow derived stroma cell (BMSCs). However, the function of SDF-1/CXCR4 and SDF-1/CXCR7 in ADSCs is not well understood. This study was designed to analyze the effect of SDF-1/CXCR4 and SDF-1/CXCR7 axis on ADSCs biological behaviors in vitro. Using Flow cytometry and Western blot methods, we found for the first time that CXCR4/CXCR7 expression was increased after treatment with SDF-1 in ADSCs. SDF-1 promoted ADSCs paracrine, proliferation and migration abilities. CXCR4 or CXCR7 antibody suppressed ADSCs paracrine action induced by SDF-1. The migration of ADSCs can be abolished by CXCR4 antibody, while the proliferation of ADSCs was only downregulated by CXCR7 antibody. Our study indicated that the angiogenesis of ADSCs is, at least partly, mediated by SDF-1/CXCR4 and SDF-1/CXCR7 axis. However, only binding of SDF-1/CXCR7 was required for proliferation of ADSCs, and CXCR7 was required for migration of ADSCs induced by SDF-1. Our studies provide evidence that the activation of either axis may be helpful to improve the effectiveness of ADSCs-based stem cell therapy.     

Glyphosate effects on the gene expression of the apical bud in soybean (Glycine max)

Glyphosate is a broad spectrum, non-selective herbicide which has been widely used for weed control. Much work has focused on elucidating the high accumulation of glyphosate in shoot apical bud (shoot apex). However, to date little is known about the molecular mechanisms of the sensitivity of shoot apical bud to glyphosate. Global gene expression profiling of the soybean apical bud response to glyphosate treatment was performed in this study. The results revealed that the glyphosate inhibited tryptophan biosynthesis of the shikimic acid pathway in the soybean apical bud, which was the target site of glyphosate. Glyphosate inhibited the expression of most of the target herbicide site genes. The promoter sequence analysis of key target genes revealed that light responsive elements were important regulators in glyphosate induction. These results will facilitate further studies of cloning genes and molecular mechanisms of glyphosate on soybean shoot apical bud.     

DNA methyltransferase inhibitor assay system based on the HBx-induced DNA methylation of E-cadherin

We here report a simple assay system for DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors based on the HBx-induced DNA methylation of E-cadherin. A stable cell line named G1 was generated by co-transfecting E-cadherin luciferase reporter and HBx-expression plasmid into HepG2 cells. Treatment of G1 cells with DNMT inhibitors, 5-azacytidine, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, and procainamaid, dose-dependently inhibited DNA methylation of E-cadherin promoter in the reporter, resulting in up-regulation of luciferase levels and its enzyme activity. Treatment with all-trans retinoic acid that is known to inhibit DNMT expression, also induced similar effects. Our system can be useful for development of epi-drugs targeting DNA methylation in malignancies.     

Comparative study of four rice cultivars with different levels of cadmium tolerance

Cadmium (Cd) has been identified as a significant pollutant due to its high solubility in water and soil and high toxicity to plants and animals. Rice, as one of the most important food crops, is grown in soils with variable levels of Cd and therefore, is important to discriminate the Cd tolerance of different rice cultivars to determine their suitability for cultivation in Cd-contaminated soils. This study investigates the primary mechanisms employed by four rice cultivars in attaining Cd tolerance. HA63 cultivar reduces Cd uptake by increasing Fe absorption through activation of phytosiderophores. T3028 cultivar accumulates the highest level of Cd in leaves while also activating its reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging system, including antioxidant enzymes and phytochelatins. In some rice cultivars (such as HA63), a cyanide-resistant respiration mechanism, important in Cd detoxification, was also promoted under the Cd stress. In conclusion, different rice cultivars may adopt different biochemical strategies and respond with different efficiency to Cd stress.     

Genomic Resources for Gene Discovery,Functional Genome Annotation,and Evolutionary Studies of Maize and Its Close Relatives

Maize is one of the most important food crops and a key model for genetics and developmental biology. A genetically anchored and high-quality draft genome sequence of maize inbred B73 has been obtained to serve as a reference sequence. To facilitate evolutionary studies in maize and its close relatives, much like the Oryza Map Alignment Project (OMAP) (www.OMAP.org) bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) resource did for the rice community, we constructed BAC libraries for maize inbred lines Zheng58, Chang7-2, and Mo17 and maize wild relatives Zea mays ssp. parviglumis and Tripsacum dactyloides. Furthermore, to extend functional genomic studies to maize and sorghum, we also constructed binary BAC (BIBAC) libraries for the maize inbred B73 and the sorghum landrace Nengsi-1. The BAC/BIBAC vectors facilitate transfer of large intact DNA inserts from BAC clones to the BIBAC vector and functional complementation of large DNA fragments. These seven Zea Map Alignment Project (ZMAP) BAC/BIBAC libraries have average insert sizes ranging from 92 to 148 kb, organellar DNA from 0.17 to 2.3%, empty vector rates between 0.35 and 5.56%, and genome equivalents of 4.7- to 8.4-fold. The usefulness of the Parviglumis and Tripsacum BAC libraries was demonstrated by mapping clones to the reference genome. Novel genes and alleles present in these ZMAP libraries can now be used for functional complementation studies and positional or homology-based cloning of genes for translational genomics.     

Population genetic characterisation of dominant Cryptosporidium parvum subtype IIaA15G2R1

The subtype IIaA15G2R1 at the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene locus is the most dominant Cryptosporidium parvum infecting dairy cattle and humans in industrialised nations. The reasons for its high transmissibility are not clear, and it remains to be determined whether this subtype represents a homogeneous parasite population. In this study, we sequence-characterised 26 IIaA15G2R subtype specimens and 26 non-IIaA15G2R subtype specimens from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Spain at seven other known polymorphic loci, including CP47, CP56, DZ-HRGP, MSC6-5, MSC6-7, RPGR and ZPT. Extensive heterogeneity within IIaA15G2R1 and discordance in typing results between gp60 and other genetic markers were observed. Results of inter-locus and intra-ZPT linkage disequilibrium and recombination analyses indicated that the heterogeneity within IIaA15G2R1 and discordance in typing results among genetic loci were largely due to the occurrence of genetic recombination, mostly within the gp60 subtype IIaA15G2R1. Although there was no clear population diversion between IIaA15G2R and non-IIaA15G2R subtypes, results of STRUCTURE and F_ST analyses suggested the presence of at least two subpopulations; subpopulation 1 had an epidemic population structure and was widely distributed, whereas subpopulation 2 had a clonal population structure and consisted of geographically segregated multilocus subtypes. Genetic recombination between epidemic and geographically segregated C. parvum populations appeared to be a driving force in the emergence of a hyper-transmissible IIaA15G2R1 subtype. Genetic recombination was observed even between the zoonotic IIa subtype family and anthroponotic subtype family IIc at CP56, MSC6-7 and ZPT. Thus, the IIaA15G2R1 subtype at gp60 is likely a fitness marker for C. parvum and the wide spread of IIaA15G2R1 subtype around the world is probably independent of the sequence characteristics at other genetic loci.     

Design,synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel 3-pyrrolo[b]cyclohexylene-2-dihydroindolinone derivatives as potent receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors

A novel series of 3-pyrrolo[b]cyclohexylene-2-dihydroindolinone derivatives targeting VEGFR-2, PDGFR-β and c-Kit kinases were designed and synthesized. The molecular design was based on the SAR features of indolin-2-ones as kinase inhibitors. SAR study of the series allowed us to identify compounds possessing more potent inhibitory activities against the three kinases than sunitinb with IC₅₀ values in the low nanomolar range in vitro. Additionally, some compounds also showed favorable antiproliferative activities against a panel of cancer cell lines (BXPC-3, T24, BGC, HEPG2 and HT29).