The marine-derived furanone reduces intracellular lipid accumulation in vitro by targeting LXRα and PPARα

Recent studies have demonstrated that commercially available lipid-lowering drugs cause various side effects; therefore, searching for anti-hyperlipidaemic compounds with lower toxicity is a research hotspot. This study was designed to investigate whether the marine-derived compound, 5-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methyl-4-butylfuran-2(5H)-one, has an anti-hyperlipidaemic activity, and the potential underlying mechanism in vitro. Results showed that the furanone had weaker cytotoxicity compared to positive control drugs. In RAW 264.7 cells, the furanone significantly lowered ox-LDL-induced lipid accumulation (~50%), and its triglyceride (TG)-lowering effect was greater than that of liver X receptor (LXR) agonist T0901317. In addition, it significantly elevated the protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα) and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, which could be partially inhibited by LXR antagonists, GSK2033 and SR9243. In HepG2 cells, it significantly decreased oleic acid-induced lipid accumulation, enhanced the protein levels of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), ABCG5, ABCG8 and PPARα, and reduced the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (~32%). PPARα antagonists, GW6471 and MK886, could significantly inhibit the furanone-induced lipid-lowering effect. Furthermore, the furanone showed a significantly lower activity on the activation of the expression of lipogenic genes compared to T0901317. Taken together, the furanone exhibited a weak cytotoxicity but had powerful TC- and TG-lowering effects most likely through targeting LXRα and PPARα, respectively. These findings indicate that the furanone has a potential application for the treatment of dyslipidaemia.     

Physiological and proteomic analyses of salt stress response in the halophyte Halogeton glomeratus

Very little is known about the adaptation mechanism of Chenopodiaceae Halogeton glomeratus, a succulent annual halophyte, under saline conditions. In this study, we investigated the morphological and physiological adaptation mechanisms of seedlings exposed to different concentrations of NaCl treatment for 21 d. Our results revealed that H. glomeratus has a robust ability to tolerate salt; its optimal growth occurs under approximately 100 mm NaCl conditions. Salt crystals were deposited in water‐storage tissue under saline conditions. We speculate that osmotic adjustment may be the primary mechanism of salt tolerance in H. glomeratus, which transports toxic ions such as sodium into specific salt‐storage cells and compartmentalizes them in large vacuoles to maintain the water content of tissues and the succulence of the leaves. To investigate the molecular response mechanisms to salt stress in H. glomeratus, we conducted a comparative proteomic analysis of seedling leaves that had been exposed to 200 mm NaCl for 24 h, 72 h and 7 d. Forty‐nine protein spots, exhibiting significant changes in abundance after stress, were identified using matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization tandem time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF/TOF MS/MS) and similarity searches across EST database of H. glomeratus. These stress‐responsive proteins were categorized into nine functional groups, such as photosynthesis, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, and stress and defence response.     

Phylogenetic relationships among Hystrix species and related species based on expressed sequence tag-polymerase chain reaction

Twelve species, including three Hystrix species, five Leymus species, Hordeum bogdanii, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Psathyrostachys huashanica, and Roegneria ciliaris, were used for expressed sequence tag-polymerase chain reaction (EST-PCR) assay. A total of 125 products were amplified by 72 sets of EST-PCR markers developed in barley, among which 106 (84.8%) products were found to be polymorphic. Each EST-PCR marker produced 0–6 polymorphic bands, with an average of 1.47. The relationship between H. duthiei s...     

向日葵螟对不同向日葵品种的寄主选择性

通过田间选择性试验结合室内黑色素鉴定,研究向日葵螟Homoeosoma nebulellum Denis et Schiffermüller对35个不同向日葵品种的寄主选择性。向日葵螟对不同供试向日葵品种的选择性存在显著差异,选择性最强的是大黑片,其次是S47,再则是5135和RH316,选择性较弱的有T25和天葵503等18个品种,对TO12244和GT110等13个品种无选择性。寄主选择性可以用开花盛期的花盘被害率、每盘可见幼虫数、每盘虫粪指数与籽粒成熟期的籽粒被害率、籽粒被害虫情指数5个指标中的任何一个来评价。相关性分析表明,向日葵螟的寄主选择性与向日葵花盘直径呈显著正相关关系。     

Involvement of alternative oxidase in the regulation of growth, development, and resistance to oxidative stress of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a cosmopolitan, filamentous, fungal pathogen that can cause serious disease in many kinds of crops. Alternative oxidase is the terminal oxidase of the alternative mitochondrial respiratory pathway in fungi and higher plants. We report the presence of this alternative pathway respiration and demonstrate its expression in two isolates of S. sclerotiorum under unstressed, normal culture conditions. Application of salicylhydroxamic acid, a specific inhibitor of alternative oxidase, severely inhibited the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum both on potato dextrose agar plates and in liquid culture media. Inhibition of alternative oxidase could influence the growth pattern of S. sclerotiorum, as salicylhydroxamic acid treatment induced obvious aerial mycelia growing on potato dextrose agar plates. Under the treatment with salicylhydroxamic acid, S. sclerotiorum formed sclerotia much more slowly than the control. Treatment with hydrogen peroxide in millimolar concentrations greatly decreased the growth rate of mycelia and delayed the formation of sclerotia in both tested S. sclerotiorum isolates. As well, this treatment obviously increased their alternative pathway respiration and the levels of both mRNA and protein of the alternative oxidase. These results indicate that alternative oxidase is involved in the regulation of growth, development, and resistance to oxidative stress of S. sclerotiorum.     

小麦x长穗偃麦草的受精和早期胚胎发育

用石蜡切片法,对小麦(Triticum aestivum)和长穗偃麦草(Elytrigia elongata)杂交的受精和早期胚胎发育进行了观察。结果表明,长穗偃麦草花粉在小麦柱头上萌发良好,花粉管可顺利长人花柱和胚囊。 观察的170个小麦子房中,17.65％发生了双受精,产生了胚和胚乳;9.41％发生了单卵受精,只产生胚而无胚乳;4.71％。发生了单极核受精,只产生胚乳而无胚;总受精率为31.77％;成胚率为27.06％。由于胚乳的缺乏或发育异常及败育,最终难以获得有生活力的种子。为小麦与长穗偃麦草远缘杂交提供了细胞胚胎学证据。     

不同细菌来源的3-酮脂酰ACP合成酶Ⅲ生物学特性分析

3-酮脂酰ACP合成酶Ⅲ(FabH)是催化细菌脂肪酸合成的起始反应.研究表明,革兰氏阳性细菌FabH对支链脂酰-CoA前体的选择性是其合成支链脂肪酸的关键.但部分革兰氏阴性细菌也产生一定量的支链脂肪酸,其合成机制还不清楚.为此,本研究选取了革兰氏阳性细菌枯草芽孢杆菌BsfabH1和BsfabH2、金黄色葡萄球菌SafabH、天蓝色链霉菌ScofabH、革兰氏阴性细菌茄科雷尔氏菌RsfabH、大肠杆菌EcfabH,以及产支链脂肪酸的水稻黄单胞菌XoofabH,共7种fabH同源基因进行生物学特性分析.异体遗传互补茄科雷尔氏菌fabH突变株RsmH,表明这7个基因编码蛋白都具有3-酮脂酰ACP合成酶Ⅲ活性.脂肪酸组成分析显示,4个革兰氏阳性菌fabH和XoofabH互补株类似,均能产生支链脂肪酸,而EcfabH和RsfabH互补株不产生支链脂肪酸,说明XooFabH不同于EcFabH,参与支链脂肪酸合成.体外酶学分析表明,XooFabH与4种革兰氏阳性菌FabH类似,对支链脂酰-CoA有较高的选择,但EcFabH和RsFabH对支链前体活性低.与革兰氏阳性细菌FabH不同,XooFabH对中短链长(C4~C10)脂酰-CoA也具有较高的活性.综合以上结果,不同细菌来源FabH的生物学特性差异明显,FabH能利用支链前体是细菌合成支链脂肪酸的关键因素.     

猕猴桃实生苗再生体系的建立

以成熟饱满的美味猕猴桃种子发芽获得实生苗,分别以实生苗的茎段、叶柄和叶片为材料建立了再生体系。结果表明:种子以2.5mg/L的赤霉素(GA3)处理8h较适合;以培养基发芽较为适合;茎段、叶柄和叶片的愈伤组织的诱导率均为100%,且茎段、叶柄比叶片容易脱分化,但叶片的平均出苗率最高。再生苗在移栽5d后,开始长出新叶,10d后就能完全适应外界环境。