MSI4/FVE is required for accumulation of 24-nt siRNAs and DNA methylation at a subset of target regions of RNA-directed DNA methylation

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mark. In plants, de novo DNA methylation occurs mainly through the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway. Researchers have previously inferred that a flowering regulator, MULTICOPY SUPPRESSOR OF IRA1 4 (MSI4)/FVE, is involved in non-CG methylation at several RdDM targets, suggesting a role of FVE in RdDM. However, whether and how FVE affects RdDM genome-wide is not known. Here, we report that FVE is required for DNA methylation at thousands of RdDM target regions. In addition, dysfunction of FVE significantly reduces 24-nucleotide siRNA accumulation that is dependent on factors downstream in the RdDM pathway. By using chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing (ChIP-seq), we show that FVE directly binds to FVE-dependent 24-nucleotide siRNA cluster regions. Our results also indicate that FVE may function in RdDM by physically interacting with RDM15, a downstream factor in the RdDM pathway. Our study has therefore revealed that FVE, by associating with RDM15, directly regulates DNA methylation and siRNA accumulation at a subset of RdDM targets.     

Ptk2b deletion improves mice folliculogenesis and fecundity via inhibiting follicle loss mediated by Erk pathway

Ptk2b has been found playing critical roles in oocyte maturation and subsequent fertilization in vitro. But what is the exact in vivo function in reproduction still elusive. Here, by constructing Ptk2b mutant mice, we found Ptk2b was not essential for mice fertility, unexpectedly, contrary to previously reported in vitro findings, we found Ptk2b ablation significantly improved female fecundity. Follicle counting indicated that the number of primordial follicles and growing follicles in matured mice was significantly increased in the absence of Ptk2b, whereas the primordial follicle formation showed no defects. We also found this regulation was in an autophosphorylation independent pathway, as autophosphorylation site mutant mice (PTK2B^Y402F) show no phenotype in female fertility. Further biochemistry studies revealed that Ptk2b ablation promotes folliculogenesis via Erk pathway mediate follicle survival. Together, we found a novel biological function of Ptk2b in folliculogenesis, which could be potentially used as a therapeutic target for corresponding infertility.     

Evolution of BMP signaling in Drosophila oogenesis: a receptor-based mechanism

The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway is a conserved regulator of cellular and developmental processes in animals. The mechanisms underlying BMP signaling activation differ among tissues and mostly reflect changes in the expression of pathway components. BMP signaling is one of the major pathways responsible for the patterning of the Drosophila eggshell, a complex structure derived from a layer of follicle cells (FCs) surrounding the developing oocyte. Activation of BMP signaling in the FCs is dynamic. Initially, signaling is along the anterior-posterior (A/P) axis; later, signaling acquires dorsal-ventral (D/V) polarity. These dynamics are regulated by changes in the expression pattern of the type I BMP receptor thickveins (tkv). We recently found that signaling dynamics and TKV patterning are highly correlated in the FCs of multiple Drosophila species. In addition, we showed that signaling patterns are spatially different among species. Here, we use a mathematical model to simulate the dynamics and differences of BMP signaling in numerous species. This model predicts that qualitative and quantitative changes in receptor expression can lead to differences in the spatial pattern of BMP signaling. We tested these predications experimentally in three different Drosophila species and through genetic perturbations of BMP signaling in D. melanogaster. On the basis of our results, we concluded that changes in tkv patterning can account for the experimentally observed differences in the patterns of BMP signaling in multiple Drosophila species.     

重症肌无力小鼠模型的建立

目的建立重症肌无力小鼠模型。方法电鳗乙酰胆碱受体(TnAChR)和完全弗氏佐剂(CFA)混合物免疫C57BL/6J小鼠,经二次加强免疫后,检测肌力、腓肠肌肌电图、膈肌终板电镜、血清抗体水平等指标。结果与对照小鼠相比,发病小鼠表现出肌力减弱的症状,肌电图显示小鼠腓肠肌复合动作电位振幅幅度显著下降,电镜证实神经肌接头处突触后膜变平、皱褶减少、空泡样变性,发病小鼠血清抗体水平明显升高。结论成功建立了重症肌无力小鼠模型,有助于探讨其发病机理及探索治疗自身免疫病新的途径和方法。     

基于微波热声层析成像定量重建生物组织电导率的改进方法

目的 生物电磁学参数中的电导率与组织的功能性信息直接相关,精准重建生物组织电导率在医学成像技术和医学诊断领域中有着重要意义。本文改进定量微波热声层析成像（microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography,MTAT）算法,使组织电导率的重建精度提高。方法 本文在利用有限元离散法求解热声波动方程和亥姆霍兹方程的基础之上,提出了一种基于正则化牛顿迭代法（regularized Newton iteration method,RNIM）定量重建组织电导率的改进方法。结果 通过数值模拟实验和含不同浓度NaCl溶液的仿体实验,验证了算法改进的有效性。组织仿体实验结果表明,目标在不同位置、不同大小、不同对比度情况下,相比于定量微波热声层析成像采用拟合（fitting）的方法,采用正则化牛顿法定量重建的仿体电导率相对误差明显降低,重建目标精度提高。在仿体实验中采用RNIM方法重建相同浓度的单目标在不同位置的电导率变化幅度更小,以及重建多目标电导率的相对比值与实际更接近,实验结果验证了改进方法的稳定性。结论 研究结果表明优化算法能更加准确地定量重建组织仿体的电导率,...     

Binding characteristics of 125I-labelled human FSH to granulosa cells from Booroola ewes which were homozygous, heterozygous or non-carriers of a major gene(s) influencing their ovulation rate

At 37 degrees C 125I-labelled human (h) FSH (NIAMDD-hFSH-I-3) bound rapidly to granulosa cells from Booroola and Romney ewes with 50% maximum binding achieved after 3 min and equilibrium being reached within 45 min, irrespective of whether the cells were obtained from the FF, F+ or ++ Booroola genotypes or from Romney ewes. Binding of 125I-labelled FSH followed second order kinetics and there was no effect of follicle diameter (1-2.5 mm vs greater than or equal to 3 mm). Irrespective of breed, genotype or follicle size, the mean (+/- s.e.m.) calculated association rate constant, (ka) was 7.3 (+/- 0.8) x 10(5) litres mol-1 sec-1 (n = 12). Dissociation of receptor bound 125I-labelled hFSH was less than 5% after 30 min and low but variable (i.e. between 0 and 30%) after 2-6 h irrespective of breed, genotype or follicle size. No gene-specific differences were noted in binding specificity between F+ and ++ genotypes: studies were not performed with cells from FF ewes because of insufficient cells. The binding of 125I-labelled hFSH could be displaced with sheep FSH (NIH-FSH-S16; 10% cross-reaction) and FSH-P (2.5% cross-reaction) but other sheep pituitary hormones and hCG showed little or no cross-reaction (less than or equal to 0.1%). The calculated binding capacities (Bmax) and equilibrium dissociation constants (Kd) for 125I-labelled hFSH binding to granulosa cells did not differ between the Booroola genotypes or between Booroola or Romney follicles of different diameter (i.e. 1-2.5 mm; or greater than or equal to 3 mm). The overall mean +/- s.e.m. (n = 24) Bmax and Kd values were 16.7 +/- 0.8 fm/mg protein (i.e. approximately 800 available receptor binding sites/cell) and 1.1 +/- 0.1 nM respectively. Collectively, these findings suggest that the earlier maturation of follicles in FF or F+ ewes compared to ++ ewes is unlikely to be due to gene-specific differences in the FSH binding characteristics of the granulosa cells.     

A high efficient method of constructing recombinant Bombyx mori (silkworm) multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus based on zero‐background Tn7‐mediated transposition in Escherichia coli

A high efficient way for generation of recombinant Bombyx mori (silkworm) multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus by Tn7‐mediated transposition in Escherichia coli was performed. The new system consists of a conditional replication donor vector pRCDM and an attTn7 site blocked E. coli containing BmNPV‐Bacmid. The donor vector contains a replication origin derived from R6Kγ, which propagated only in host cells with pir gene expression decreased in the transposition background greatly. Compared with original vector derived from pUC, the transposition efficiency increased from 5.7 to 66% (≈10 fold) when using conditional replication vector pRCDM transposition into original BmDH10Bac. A further effort to decrease the transposition background was made by blocking the attTn7 site in host E. coli genome. The resulting attTn7 occupied BmDH10BacΔTn7 resulted in a significant increase from 5.7 to 23% (≈4 fold) in the efficacy of generate recombinant BmNPV Bacmid by transposition. Furthermore, the transposition of BmDH10BacΔTn7 with pRCDM resulted typically in 100% white colonies, and it indicated that a zero transposition background was accomplished. This high efficient and zero background transposition system provides a new simple and rapid method for construction of recombinant BmNPV used to express target genes or produce gene‐delivery virus particles in silkworm. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009     

PIXE determination of essential trace elements in some traditional Chinese medicines

Biological Trace Element Research - The essential trace elements in 30 traditional Chinese medicines, (24 tonics and 6 nontonics) were determined by proton-induced X-ray emission. The...     

腰大池引流联合法舒地尔治疗动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血的疗效及对血清sICAM-1、FABP、MCP-1水平和脑积水形成的影响

目的:分析腰大池引流联合法舒地尔治疗动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血的疗效及对血清可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1(sICAM-1)、脂肪酸结合蛋白质(FABP)、核细胞趋化蛋白(MCP-1)水平和脑积水形成的影响。方法:选择我院2016年3月~2018年3月收治的112例动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血患者,按随机数字表法分为对照组(n=48)和研究组(n=64)。对照组采用腰大池引流治疗,研究组基于对照组联合法舒地尔治疗。比较两组临床疗效,治疗前后血清sICAM-1、FABP、MCP-1水平、血压、大脑中动脉血流参数水平和神经功能的变化,脑积水发生率及不良反应发生情况。结果:治疗后,研究组总有效率显著高于对照组(89.02%vs.72.91%,P<0.05)。两组治疗后血清sICAM-1、FABP、MCP-1、血压、大脑中动脉血流参数水平和神经功能缺损评分量表(NIHSS)均较治疗前下降,格拉斯哥昏迷评分(GCS)均较治疗前上升,研究组以上指标较对照组改变更明显(均P<0.05)。两组不良反应发生情况比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:腰大池引流联合法舒地尔治疗动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血的疗效明显优于单用腰大池引流治疗,其可显著降低血清sICAM-1、FABP、MCP-1水平,降低脑积水发生率,改善患者预后。