Cthrc1 is a positive regulator of osteoblastic bone formation

Background

Bone mass is maintained by continuous remodeling through repeated cycles of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. This remodeling process is regulated by many systemic and local factors.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We identified collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 (Cthrc1) as a downstream target of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) in osteochondroprogenitor-like cells by PCR-based suppression subtractive hybridization followed by differential hybridization, and found that Cthrc1 was expressed in bone tissues in vivo. To investigate the role of Cthrc1 in bone, we generated Cthrc1-null mice and transgenic mice which overexpress Cthrc1 in osteoblasts (Cthrc1 transgenic mice). Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) and bone histomorphometry analyses showed that Cthrc1-null mice displayed low bone mass as a result of decreased osteoblastic bone formation, whereas Cthrc1 transgenic mice displayed high bone mass by increase in osteoblastic bone formation. Osteoblast number was decreased in Cthrc1-null mice, and increased in Cthrc1 transgenic mice, respectively, while osteoclast number had no change in both mutant mice. In vitro, colony-forming unit (CFU) assays in bone marrow cells harvested from Cthrc1-null mice or Cthrc1 transgenic mice revealed that Cthrc1 stimulated differentiation and mineralization of osteoprogenitor cells. Expression levels of osteoblast specific genes, ALP, Col1a1, and Osteocalcin, in primary osteoblasts were decreased in Cthrc1-null mice and increased in Cthrc1 transgenic mice, respectively. Furthermore, BrdU incorporation assays showed that Cthrc1 accelerated osteoblast proliferation in vitro and in vivo. In addition, overexpression of Cthrc1 in the transgenic mice attenuated ovariectomy-induced bone loss.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results indicate that Cthrc1 increases bone mass as a positive regulator of osteoblastic bone formation and offers an anabolic approach for the treatment of osteoporosis.     

阿拉伯糖苷酶的研究进展

半纤维素是一类取之不尽而又亟待开发利用的碳水化合物。阿拉伯糖苷酶是降解从而利用半纤维素的一个重要酶 ,有关阿拉伯糖苷酶及其基因的研究在国际上得到了广泛而深入的开展。主要就阿拉伯糖苷酶的分类、特性、基因克隆表达及其应用作一综述。     

不同林地清理方式对杉木林土壤肥力的影响

研究了杉木林采伐迹地及采伐后的炼山迹地的土壤物理性质、养分含量、微生物数量和酶活性.结果表明,采伐迹地的非毛管孔隙比杉木林地增加23%,自然含水量和毛管持水量则下降2%;炼山迹地土壤容重比杉木林地增加10%,非毛管孔隙、自然含水量和毛管持水量分别下降61%、48%和26%.采伐迹地有机质、全N、全P和全K含量分别比杉木林地下降14%、14%、3%和22%,炼山迹地分别下降37%、37%、47%和7%.采伐迹地碱解N和有效K含量分别比杉木林地增加24%和31%,有效P含量比杉木林地下降1%;炼山迹地的碱解N、有效P和有效K含量分别比杉木林地下降2%、43%和40%.采伐迹地的细菌、真菌和放线菌数量比杉木林地增加1.4、11.3和0.8倍;炼山迹地细菌数量比杉木林地减少24%,真菌和放线菌数量增加了.0和0.倍.采伐迹地脲酶、过氧化氢酶和纤维素分解酶活性分别为杉木林地1.9、1.6和2.1倍,而炼山迹地分别为后者的3.4%、90%和106%.湿润土壤有机质、全N和全P含量高,疏松多孔的土壤有利于碱解N、速效P、速效K积累和脲酶活性的增加.真菌数量随毛管孔隙的增加而减少.通气良好有利于提高土壤过氧化氢酶活性.     

Lineage-specific evolution and gene flow in Listeria monocytogenes are independent of bacteriophages

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen causing systemic infection with high mortality. To allow efficient tracking of outbreaks a clear definition of the genomic signature of a cluster of related isolates is required, but lineage-specific characteristics call for a more detailed understanding of evolution. In our work, we used core genome MLST (cgMLST) to identify new outbreaks combined to core genome SNP analysis to characterize the population structure and gene flow between lineages. Whilst analysing differences between the four lineages of L. monocytogenes we have detected differences in the recombination rate, and interestingly also divergence in the SNP differences between sub-lineages. In addition, the exchange of core genome variation between the lineages exhibited a distinct pattern, with lineage III being the best donor for horizontal gene transfer. Whilst attempting to link bacteriophage-mediated transduction to observed gene transfer, we found an inverse correlation between phage presence in a lineage and the extent of recombination. Irrespective of the profound differences in recombination rates observed between sub-lineages and lineages, we found that the previously proposed cut-off of 10 allelic differences in cgMLST can be still considered valid for the definition of a foodborne outbreak cluster of L. monocytogenes.     

长足大竹象消化道不同分段菌群异质性及竹木质纤维素降解能力

[目的]长足大竹象Cyrtotrachelus buqueti消化道共生菌群参与了竹纤维素的降解.本研究旨在揭示长足大竹象幼虫消化道不同分段共生菌群异质性及木质纤维素的降解能力.[方法]通过对16S rRNA测序对长足大竹象幼虫消化道分段口器(YB)、前肠(YFG)、中肠(YMG)和后肠(YHG)进行菌群组成分析及功能...     

茶园间作柑桔杨梅或吊瓜对叶蝉及蜘蛛类群数量和空间格局的影响

为评价茶园间作几种常见经济作物对重要害虫假眼小绿叶蝉及其主要天敌蜘蛛类群数量和空间格局的影响,遂选乌牛早品种纯茶园、乌牛早分别与柑桔、杨梅和吊瓜的间作茶园、以及安吉白茶与吊瓜间作茶园,2007年9月上旬—2008年12月下旬,每旬1次调查茶丛上、中、下层叶蝉和各种蜘蛛的数量。结果表明:(1)与纯茶园相比,间作茶园叶蝉种群数量和蜘蛛类群个体数量显著地增加,间作茶园蜘蛛种数显著地增加;(2)间作茶园茶丛上、中、下层叶蝉、蜘蛛个体数量分布明显区别于纯茶园茶丛上、中、下层叶蝉、蜘蛛个体数量分布;(3)茶丛上层的嫩梢是制作高档茶的原料,而纯茶园茶丛上层叶蝉虫口百分率为54.16%,间作茶园茶丛上层叶蝉虫口百分率皆减小,并且叶蝉高峰期间蜘蛛的跟随效应增强;(4)间作增加了经济收入并减少了防治次数。认为:(1)间作可在一定程度上调控叶蝉种群、蜘蛛类群的数量和空间格局;(2)间作可减轻叶蝉为害造成的产值损失,增强了茶园群落对于叶蝉的自然控制潜能。     

丛枝菌根真菌与高羊茅协同修复镉污染土壤

本研究采用温室盆栽试验,利用丛枝菌根（AM）真菌摩西管柄囊霉Funneliformis mosseae进行接种试验,研究了在Cd胁迫下（0、5、15和30mg/kg）接种AM真菌对高羊茅Festuca elata ‘Crossfire II’的生物量、防御酶活性、磷和镉（Cd）含量的影响。结果表明,随着Cd浓度的增加,高羊茅的菌根侵染率和菌根相对依赖性有所增加。接种AM真菌改善了磷从植株根系向地上部的转运,有助于植株在地上部积累更多的磷。此外,AM真菌和Cd胁迫对高羊茅植株抗氧化酶活性都有显著影响,在镉胁迫下,与未接种植株相比,接种AM真菌显著提高了植株的过氧化氢酶活性,而显著降低了植株的丙二醛含量。与未接种植株相比,接种摩西管柄囊霉显著提高了寄主植物对Cd的富集能力,有利于重金属在根部的积累,同时降低了地上部的Cd含量。本研究表明,高羊茅-丛枝菌根共生体在Cd污染土壤的修复中具有潜在应用价值。     

胱氨酸/半胱氨酸调控活性氧代谢影响大肠杆菌耐药性

【背景】随着越来越多超级细菌出现和抗生素资源的渐渐枯竭,细菌耐药机制研究愈加重要。【目的】探讨大肠杆菌内源半胱氨酸推动Fenton反应,调控胞内的活性氧水平,从而影响细菌耐药性这一代谢途径。【方法】在贫硫的培养条件下,通过控制外源胱氨酸和抗生素浓度,研究了胱氨酸/半胱氨酸对大肠杆菌耐药性的影响。【结果】较低水平的半胱氨酸使大肠杆菌对抗生素的耐药性增强,RNA-Seq的结果证明了胱氨酸内流对Fur、CysB和SOS的调控作用。LC-MS对外流硫醇的分析显示,细胞会快速将过量内流的半胱氨酸泵出胞外。在抗生素一定浓度范围内,半胱氨酸外排泵AlaE表现出良好的细胞保护作用。【结论】大肠杆菌对不同作用机理抗生素硫酸庆大霉素、氨苄青霉素和诺氟沙星的耐药性均受内源半胱氨酸水平的影响。本文通过研究半胱氨酸调控活性氧代谢对大肠杆菌耐药性的影响,为探讨细菌耐药性机制提供新的理论依据。     

2 型糖尿病神经病变患者血清IL-6、8-iso-PGF2α 检测及意义

目的:探讨2型糖尿病神经病变(DPN)患者血清IL-6、8-iso-PGF2α水平的变化及意义。方法:选择2型糖尿病患者伴神经病变的患者55例,单纯2型糖尿病不伴有神经病变的患者25例,另选25例体检健康者作为对照组。采用ELISA法分别测定各组血清IL-6、8-iso-PGF2α水平。结果:血清IL-6、8-iso-PGF2α水平在糖尿病组和糖尿病神经病变组均较对照组显著升高,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01)。DN组8-iso-PGF2α较DM组显著升高,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);但IL-6在两组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:IL-6在糖尿病神经病变发病中的作用不能肯定。8-iso-PGF2α可能通过氧化应激作用参与糖尿病神经病变的发生发展。     

非稳态酶活化动力学的布尔函数图论分析

以非稳态酶动力学的布尔函数图形方法研究非稳态酶活化动力学问题,推导出此类反应的非稳态酶动力学方程,并对此动力学方程进行了讨论,分析了酶活化反应体系的非稳态酶动力学过程．