Metformin and tenovin‐6 synergistically induces apoptosis through LKB1‐independent SIRT1 down‐regulation in non‐small cell lung cancer cells

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is known to play a role in a variety of tumorigenesis processes by deacetylating histone and non‐histone proteins; however, antitumour effects by suppressing SIRT1 activity in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. This study was designed to scrutinize clinicopathological significance of SIRT1 in NSCLC and investigate effects of metformin on SIRT1 inhibition. This study also evaluated new possibilities of drug combination using a SIRT1 inhibitor, tenovin‐6, in NSCLC cell lines. It was found that SIRT1 was overexpressed in 300 (62%) of 485 formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded NSCLC tissues. Its overexpression was significantly associated with reduced overall survival and poor recurrence‐free survival after adjusted for histology and pathologic stage. Thus, suppression of SIRT1 expression may be a reasonable therapeutic strategy for NSCLC. Metformin in combination with tenovin‐6 was found to be more effective in inhibiting cell growth than either agent alone in NSCLC cell lines with different liver kinase B1 (LKB1) status. In addition, metformin and tenovin‐6 synergistically suppressed SIRT1 expression in NSCLC cells regardless of LKB1 status. The marked reduction in SIRT1 expression by combination of metformin and tenovin‐6 increased acetylation of p53 at lysine 382 and enhanced p53 stability in LKB1‐deficient A549 cells. The combination suppressed SIRT1 promoter activity more effectively than either agent alone by up‐regulating hypermethylation in cancer 1 (HIC1) binding at SIRT1 promoter. Also, suppressed SIRT1 expression by the combination synergistically induced caspase‐3‐dependent apoptosis. The study concluded that metformin with tenovin‐6 may enhance antitumour effects through LKB1‐independent SIRT1 down‐regulation in NSCLC cells.     

秸秆和地膜覆盖对渭北旱作玉米农田土壤氮组分与产量的影响

基于田间定位试验,研究了秸秆和地膜覆盖措施对旱作春玉米田土壤氮组分和作物产量的影响。试验包括无覆盖对照,秸秆覆盖和地膜覆盖3个处理,观测指标包括土壤全氮(STN)、颗粒有机氮(PON)、潜在可矿化氮(PNM)、微生物量氮(MBN)、硝态氮(NO_3~--N)、铵态氮(NH_4~+-N)含量及作物产量。结果表明:试验进行5到7年后,与对照相比,秸秆覆盖处理0—10 cm土层STN、PON、PNM、MBN和NO_3~--N含量3年平均分别提高了13.11%、64.29%、17.51%、16.94%和55.37%,10—20 cm土层STN、PON、MBN和NO_3~--N含量3年平均分别提高了5.93%、33.33%、15.78%和27.57%(P0.05)。而地膜覆盖处理0—10 cm和10—20 cm土层NO_3~--N的含量较对照分别提高了189.14%和135.75%(P0.05),其他氮组分与对照处理差异不显著。秸秆和地膜覆盖处理玉米产量较对照处理3年平均分别提高了6.90%和36.74%(P0.05)。玉米产量与0—20 cm土层NO_3~--N含量和NO_3~--N/STN值呈显著正相关关系。总的来看,秸秆覆盖能显著增加旱地土壤全氮和活性有机氮含量,促进氮素固定,但需注意作物生长后期补充氮肥以满足作物生长需要。而地膜覆盖能显著提高土壤氮素有效性和作物产量,但不利于土壤有机氮的固定,且表层土壤存在潜在氮淋失风险。     

复合诱变筛选变细胞壁水解酶木霉素株及产酶条件的优化

利用复合诱变技术,筛选到一株产几丁质酶和钱聚糖酶能力较强的绿色木霉菌株（Trichodermaviride)LD-18。并对其产酶条件进行了优化,发现在麸皮：诱导物：麦秸粉＝2：2：7的固体培养基上,以4g/L(NH4)2SO4为氮源,起始pH8.0经25摄氏度培养72h,产生的真菌细胞壁水解酶,用以溶解食用菌,黑曲霉等丝状菌丝体的细胞壁,制备原生质体,效果较优。     

A Double‐Edged Sword: Complement Component 3 in Toxoplasma gondii Infection

Sprague Dawley rats and Kunming (KM) mice are artificially infected with type II Toxoplasma gondii strain Prugniaud (Pru) to generate toxoplasmosis, which is a fatal disease mediated by T. gondii invasion of the central nervous system (CNS) by unknown mechanisms. The aim is to explore the mechanism of differential susceptibility of mice and rats to T. gondii infection. Therefore, a strategy of isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) is established to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the rats’ and the mice's brains compared to the healthy groups. In KM mice, which is susceptible to T. gondii infection, complement component 3 (C3) is upregulated and the tight junction (TJ) pathway shows a disorder. It is presumed that T. gondii‐stimulated C3 disrupts the TJ of the blood–brain barrier in the CNS. This effect allows more T. gondii passing to the brain through the intercellular space.     

成果导向教育理念(OBE)下的环境工程微生物学课程教学改革与实践

环境工程微生物学是环境类专业的学科基础课,该课程对学生的知识架构以及应用技能的培养起到了重要支撑作用。为了实现该课程定位目标,达到课程的学习预期,我们将成果导向教育理念(Outcomes-based education,OBE)引入到环境工程微生物学课程教学改革实践中,提出在环境工程微生物学课程教学中实施逆向设计、正向实施的原则,即根据课程定位制定环境工程微生物学的预期学习产出,在预期学习产出的基础上优化教学过程,如对教学内容进行取舍,增强环境工程微生物学与其他课程的协调性,在教学实施中强化学生的主体地位,通过教学方法的改革促成预期学习产出,构建合理的学习评价体系。尽管将OBE理念引入到教学实施中取得了一些成效,但该体系的建设还有待于进一步完善。     

Condensin-Dependent Chromatin Compaction Represses Transcription Globally during Quiescence

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内蒙古农牧交错区不同土地利用方式下土壤呼吸速率及其温度敏感性变化

2009年8-10月, 采用动态气室法观测了内蒙古农牧交错区多伦县农田、弃耕和围封3种土地利用方式下, 土壤呼吸速率从6:00到18:00的变化规律, 分析了不同深度的土壤温度与土壤含水量对土壤呼吸速率的控制作用。结果表明, 空间尺度上, 不同土地利用方式的土壤呼吸速率由高到低依次为: 农田>弃耕>围封; 时间尺度上, 土壤呼吸速率在6:00-18:00的变化趋势为单峰曲线, 在12:00-15:00达到峰值, 随后降低, 在18:00基本恢复到6:00左右的呼吸水平, 同时, 土壤呼吸速率在9、10月显著降低。利用Van’t Hoff指数模型研究不同深度土壤温度对土壤呼吸速率的影响发现, 10-15 cm深度的土壤温度对土壤呼吸速率的影响最为显著, 其中, 土壤呼吸温度敏感性由高到低分别为: 农田>围封>弃耕。相反, 由于8-10月土壤含水量变化较小, 故土壤含水量与土壤呼吸速率间的相关性不显著, 土壤含水量不能解释该时段土壤呼吸速率的变化。     

HDAC6 inhibitor WT161 performs anti-tumor effect on osteosarcoma and synergistically interacts with 5-FU

Background: WT161, as a selective HDAC6 inhibitor, has been shown to play anti-tumor effects on several kinds of cancers. The aim of the present study is to explore the roles of WT161 in osteosarcoma and its underlying mechanisms.Methods: The anti-proliferative effect of WT161 on osteosarcoma cells was examined using MTT assay and colony formation assay. Cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometer. The synergistic effect was evaluated by isobologram analysis using CompuSyn software. The osteosarcoma xenograft models were established to evaluate the anti-proliferative effect of WT161 in vivo.Results: WT161 suppressed the cell growth and induced apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Mechanistically, we found that WT161 treatment obviously increased the protein level of PTEN and decreased the phosphorylation level of protein kinase-B (AKT). More importantly, WT161 showed synergistic inhibition with 5-FU on osteosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo.Conclusions: These results indicate that WT161 inhibits the growth of osteosarcoma through PTEN and has a synergistic efficiency with 5-FU.     

生态退耕与植被演替的时空格局

综述了多重尺度上生态退耕的时空格局及其对植被演替时空变异影响的研究进展,提出了生态退耕与植被演替的时空格局研究方向.在自然和人文等因子的驱动下,全球兴起了生态退耕的热潮,生态退耕类型正在由人工恢复为主向自然弃耕为主发展.尽管国内外很多学者开始关注不同尺度上生态退耕的时空格局及其影响因子,但是生态退耕的时空变异性研究仍然比较薄弱,尤其缺乏多重尺度上生态退耕时空格局及其驱动因子的综合研究,在很大程度上限制了研究结果外推.研究表明,受到多因子的综合影响,生态退耕后植被演替呈现出复杂多样的时空变化特征;退耕植被演替研究从植物群落结构特征分析为主向群落功能分析发展,从传统的演替过程规律分析转向退耕植被演替的时空变异性分析;相对来说,生态退耕后植被演替的时空分异、影响因子和机制方面的研究比较薄弱.加强多重尺度上生态退耕时空格局与植被演替时空变异的综合研究是将来的研究重点.