Genome sequence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida versatilis</Emphasis> and comparative analysis with other yeast

The genome of Candida versatilis was sequenced to understand its characteristics in soy sauce fermentation. The genome size of C. versatilis was 9.7 Mb, the content of G + C was 39.74 %, scaffolds of N50 were 1,229,640 bp in length, containing 4711 gene. There were predicted 269 tRNA genes and 2201 proteins with clear function. Moreover, the genome information of C. versatilis was compared with another salt-tolerant yeast Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. C. versatilis and Z. rouxii genome size was close and both smaller than 12.1 for the Mb of S. cerevisiae. Using the OrthoMCL protein, three genomes were divided into 4663 groups. There were about 3326 homologous proteins in C. versatilis, Z. rouxii and S. cerevisiae.     

The PDZ-GEF Gef26 regulates synapse development and function via FasII and Rap1 at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction

Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) are essential for small G proteins to activate their downstream signaling pathways, which are involved in morphogenesis, cell adhesion, and migration. Mutants of Gef26, a PDZ-GEF (PDZ domain-containing guanine nucleotide exchange factor) in Drosophila, exhibit strong defects in wings, eyes, and the reproductive and nervous systems. However, the precise roles of Gef26 in development remain unclear. In the present study, we analyzed the role of Gef26 in synaptic development and function. We identified significant decreases in bouton number and branch length at larval neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in Gef26 mutants, and these defects were fully rescued by restoring Gef26 expression, indicating that Gef26 plays an important role in NMJ morphogenesis. In addition to the observed defects in NMJ morphology, electrophysiological analyses revealed functional defects at NMJs, and locomotor deficiency appeared in Gef26 mutant larvae. Furthermore, Gef26 regulated NMJ morphogenesis by regulating the level of synaptic Fasciclin II (FasII), a well-studied cell adhesion molecule that functions in NMJ development and remodeling. Finally, our data demonstrate that Gef26-specific small G protein Rap1 worked downstream of Gef26 to regulate the level of FasII at NMJs, possibly through a βPS integrin-mediated signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings define a novel role of Gef26 in regulating NMJ development and function.     

紫胶虫最佳生长地的植被条件分析

本文在对紫胶产区进行调查的基础上,分析了云南紫胶虫最佳生长地的植被条件、对其中的四种群落类型从植物种类成分、群落结构和群落生态等方面进行分析。根据丰富的寄主资源和有利于紫胶虫越冬的气候条件指出“暖热性稀树灌草丛”及“河谷季雨林次生林和灌丛”是云南紫胶虫及其主要寄主植物的适生类型。本文在总结紫胶产区的经验基础上,提出了开发利用的意见和改造的措施。     

Enzymatic synthesis of tea theaflavin derivatives and their anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities

Derivatives based on a benzotropolone skeleton (9-26) have been prepared by the enzymatic coupling (horseradish peroxidase/H2O2) of selected pairs of compounds (1-8), one with a vic-trihydroxyphenyl moiety, and the other with an ortho-dihydroxyphenyl structure. Some of these compounds have been found to inhibit TPA-induced mice ear edema, nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, and arachidonic acid release by LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Their cytotoxic activities against KYSE 150 and 510 human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and HT 29 human colon cancer cells were also evaluated.     

Third-order NLO properties of the DMF solutions of 3-D network and 2-D layered organic-metal polymers with (4, 4) grid units

Reactions of 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis-1H-benzimidazole (bbbm) with Cd(II), Ni(II), or Co(II) afford three organic-metal polymers: {[Cd(bbbm)(SO₄)(H₂O)₂]CH₃OH}_n (1), {[Ni(bbbm)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ · 2CH₃OH · 6H₂O}_n (2) and {[Co(bbbm)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ · 2CH₃OH · 6H₂O}_n (3). In 1, bbbm and coordinate to Cd(II) simultaneously leading to a 3-D structure. In 2 and 3, each bridging bbbm ligand links two Ni(II) or Co(II) ions forming the 2-D layered structure with (4, 4) grid units. Each (4, 4) grid unit is a 44-membered ring and constructed by four bbbm ligands acting as four sides and four Ni(II) or Co(II) ions representing four corners. Their third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties in DMF solution have been studied by Z-scan technique. The results show that the DMF solution of 2 possesses both the large third-order NLO absorptive and strong refractive behaviors; and 3’s shows large NLO absorptive effect and weak NLO refractive behavior. A reasonably good fit between the experimental data and the theoretical curve suggests that the experimentally obtained NLO effects are effective third-order in nature.     

Succession of aquatic macrophytes in the Modern Yellow River Delta after 150 years of alluviation

This study evaluated the succession process of aquatic macrophytes after 150 years of alluviation in the Modern Yellow River Delta, China, and identified the roles of various environmental parameters that regulate vegetation succession. From 2007 to 2008, 214 quadrats were surveyed and 19 environmental parameters were measured, including elevation, plot distance from the seashore, 10 water parameters, and 7 soil parameters. Forty-six aquatic macrophytes belonging to 20 families and 34 genera were identified across the entire delta. Emergent and submerged plants were the most frequent species, accounting for 58.7 and 34.8 % of all species, respectively. Detrended canonical correspondence analysis showed that the presence of aquatic macrophytes in this delta was primarily regulated by water salinity, soil salinity, and distance from the seashore, followed by nutrient concentrations (e.g., NH₄ ⁺, total soil N and PO₄ ^? of water). Salinity-tolerant species (e.g., Ruppia maritima, Phragmites australis, and Typha angustifolia) tended to be widely distributed across the entire delta. In contrast, salinity-sensitive species (e.g., Ceratophyllum demersum, Hydrilla verticillata, and Potamogeton malaianus) tended to be distributed in areas at the early stages of succession, which were relatively distant from the shore. Moreover, this study also confirmed that species richness and diversity were negatively correlated with water and soil salinity, which in turn were negatively correlated with plot distance from the shore. These data indicate that the primary drivers of aquatic macrophyte succession in this delta are water and soil salinity. The information assimilated here is used to propose management practices for the protection of aquatic macrophytes in the Yellow River Delta.     

Pol β associated complex and base excision repair factors in mouse fibroblasts

During mammalian base excision repair (BER) of lesion-containing DNA, it is proposed that toxic strand-break intermediates generated throughout the pathway are sequestered and passed from one step to the next until repair is complete. This stepwise process is termed substrate channeling. A working model evaluated here is that a complex of BER factors may facilitate the BER process. FLAG-tagged DNA polymerase (pol) β was expressed in mouse fibroblasts carrying a deletion in the endogenous pol β gene, and the cell extract was subjected to an ‘affinity-capture’ procedure using anti-FLAG antibody. The pol β affinity-capture fraction (ACF) was found to contain several BER factors including polymerase-1, X-ray cross-complementing factor1-DNA ligase III and enzymes involved in processing 3′-blocked ends of BER intermediates, e.g. polynucleotide kinase and tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1. In contrast, DNA glycosylases, apurinic/aprymidinic endonuclease 1 and flap endonuclease 1 and several other factors involved in BER were not present. Some of the BER factors in the pol β ACF were in a multi-protein complex as observed by sucrose gradient centrifugation. The pol β ACF was capable of substrate channeling for steps in vitro BER and was proficient in in vitro repair of substrates mimicking a 3′-blocked topoisomerase I covalent intermediate or an oxidative stress-induced 3′-blocked intermediate.     

Targeting P2 receptors in purinergic signaling: a new strategy of active ingredients in traditional Chinese herbals for diseases treatment

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and its metabolites adenosine diphosphate, adenosine monophosphate, and adenosine in purinergic signaling pathway play important roles in many diseases. Activation of P2 receptors (P2R) channels and subsequent membrane depolarization can induce accumulation of extracellular ATP, and furtherly cause kinds of diseases, such as pain- and immune-related diseases, cardiac dysfunction, and tumorigenesis. Active ingredients of traditional Chinese herbals which exhibit superior pharmacological activities on diversified P2R channels have been considered as an alternative strategy of disease treatment. Experimental evidence of potential ingredients in Chinese herbs targeting P2R and their pharmacological activities were outlined in the study.