The Role of HSPA12B in Regulating Neuronal Apoptosis

Heat shock protein A12B (HSPA12B) is the newest member of a recently defined subfamily of proteins distantly related to the 70-kDa family of heat shock proteins (HSP70) family. HSP70s play a crucial role in protecting cells, tissues, organs and animals from various noxious conditions. Here we studied the dynamic expression changes and localization of HSPA12B after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with reperfusion induced ischemic insult processes in adult rats. Apoptosis, as indicated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, was also increased in the peri-ischemic cortex compared to non-ischemic hemisphere. The expression of HSPA12B was strongly induced in the ischemic hemisphere of MCAO reperfusion rats in vivo. In vitro studies indicated that the up-regulation of HSPA12B may be involved in oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced PC12 cell death. And knockdown of HSPA12B in cultured differentiated PC12 cells by siRNA showed that HSPA12B inhibited the expression of active caspase-3. Collectively, these results suggested that HSPA12B may be required for protecting neurons from ischemic insults.     

Brassinosteroids promote development of rice pollen grains and seeds by triggering expression of Carbon Starved Anther,a MYB domain protein

Transport of photoassimilates from leaf tissues (source regions) to the sink organs is essential for plant development. Here, we show that a phytohormone, the brassinosteroids (BRs) promotes pollen and seed development in rice by directly promoting expression of Carbon Starved Anther (CSA) which encodes a MYB domain protein. Over‐expression of the BR‐synthesis gene D11 or a BR‐signaling factor OsBZR1 results in higher sugar accumulation in developing anthers and seeds, as well as higher grain yield compared with control non‐transgenic plants. Conversely, knockdown of D11 or OsBZR1 expression causes defective pollen maturation and reduced seed size and weight, with less accumulation of starch in comparison with the control. Mechanically, OsBZR1 directly promotes CSA expression and CSA directly triggers expression of sugar partitioning and metabolic genes during pollen and seed development. These findings provide insight into how BRs enhance plant reproduction and grain yield in an important agricultural crop.     

豆科根瘤内气体交换和气体扩散模型研究

近年来的研究表明根瘤皮层内存在着可调节的气体扩散屏障,它是由根瘤皮层内的一层细胞及填充在胞间隙的水层构成的,而根瘤是通过改变填充该层胞间隙的水层厚度来调节对气体扩散的阻力。本文概述了关于模拟豆科根瘤内气体交换和气体扩散的数学模型研究,阐明调节根瘤内含类菌体细胞维持低氧分压的有关问题。模型研究使我们获得了对共生固氮根瘤内极为复杂的微生态环境的初步认识,有待于通过改进试验和借助其他理论进一步探索根瘤气体交换和气体扩散的本质。     

Identification of a Novel Universal Potential Epitope on the Cytoplasmic Tail of H7N9 Virus Hemagglutinin

<正>Dear Editor,H7 N9 is a recently identified subtype of influenza A virus that caused a major outbreak in humans in China in 2013.According to the latest data provided by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention(http://www.moh.gov.cn/zwgk/yqbb3/ejlist.shtml, updated on October 31, 2018),the mortality rate of H7 N9 infections in China amounts to     

The effect of light fluence rate in photodynamic therapy of normal rat brain.

This paper reports the effect of incident light fluence rate on the depth to which necrotic lesions are produced by photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the brains of normal Fisher rats. The rats were injected intraperitoneally with Photofrin (12.5 mg kg-1) 48 h prior to PDT with a fixed incident fluence of 35 J cm-2. The treatment was performed at 10, 50, 100, and 200 mW cm-2 and also in a periodic manner (30 s "on" at 100 mW cm-2, 30 s "off"). The depth to which necrosis occurred was determined 24 h after treatment by microscopic examination of tissue sections. No differences were found in the depth to which necrosis was produced by any of the five irradiation schedules. This finding is discussed in the context of other published dose-rate experiments.     

The role of Ca2+/Calcineurin/NFAT signalling pathway in osteoblastogenesis

The bone remodelling process is closely related to bone health. Osteoblasts and osteoclasts participate in the bone remodelling process under the regulation of various factors inside and outside. Excessive activation of osteoclasts or lack of function of osteoblasts will cause occurrence and development of multiple bone‐related diseases. Ca²⁺/Calcineurin/NFAT signalling pathway regulates the growth and development of many types of cells, such as cardiomyocyte differentiation, angiogenesis, chondrogenesis, myogenesis, bone development and regeneration, etc. Some evidences indicate that this signalling pathway plays an extremely important role in bone formation and bone pathophysiologic changes. This review discusses the role of Ca²⁺/Calcineurin/NFAT signalling pathway in the process of osteogenic differentiation, as well as the influence of regulating each component in this signalling pathway on the differentiation and function of osteoblasts, whereby the relationship between Ca²⁺/Calcineurin/NFAT signalling pathway and osteoblastogenesis could be deeper understood.     

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis of β-thalassemia using real-time polymerase chain reaction with fluorescence resonance energy transfer hybridization probes

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is employed increasingly to allow transfer of embryos to the uterus in assisted reproduction procedures. There are three stages of biopsy: polar bodies, one or two blastomeres from the cleavage-stage embryos, and trophectoderm cells (∼5 cells) from the blastocyst-stage embryos. Validation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays are challenging because only limited genetic material can be obtained for PGD. In the current study, we modified a valid single-cell PCR protocol for PGD using real-time PCR assay with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) hybridization probes followed by melting curve analysis. We optimized and clinically applied the protocol, permitting molecular genetic analysis to amplify a specific region on the beta-globin (HBB) gene for a couple, carriers of two mutations: c.-78A>G and c.52A>T. Among a total of eight embryos obtained after ovarian stimulation, a single blastomere per embryo at the six- to eight-cell stage was biopsied. This PGD method showed that four embryos were unaffected, two embryos were selected for transfer, and one pregnancy was achieved. Finally, a healthy male baby was delivered at 38 weeks’ gestation. The results obtained using the new method, FRET hybridization probes, were compared with findings using an existing method, primer extension minisequencing.     

Expression Profiling and Validation of Potential Reference Genes During <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys olivaceus</Emphasis> Embryogenesis

Differential expression of genes is crucial to embryogenesis. The analysis of gene expression requires appropriate references that should be minimally regulated during the embryonic development. To select the most stable genes for gene normalization, the expression profiles of eight commonly used reference genes (ACTB, GAPDH, rpL17, α-Tub, EF1-α, UbcE, B2M, and 18S rRNA) were examined during Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) embryonic development using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. It was found that all seven mRNA genes appeared to be developmentally regulated and exhibited significant variation of expression. However, further analyses revealed the stage-specific expression stability. Hence when normalization using these mRNA genes, the differential and stage-related expression should be considered. 18S rRNA gene, on the other hand, showed the most stable expression and could be recommended as a suitable reference gene during all embryonic developmental stages in P. olivaceus. In summary, our results provided not only the appropriate reference gene for embryonic development research in P. olivaceus, but also possible guidance to reference gene selection for embryonic gene expression analyses in other fish species.