Degradation of toluene and m-xylene and transformation of o-xylene by denitrifying enrichment cultures.

Seven different sources of inocula that included sediments, contaminated soils, groundwater, process effluent, and sludge were used to establish enrichment cultures of denitrifying bacteria on benzene, toluene, and xylenes in the absence of molecular oxygen. All of the enrichment cultures demonstrated complete depletion of toluene and partial depletion of o-xylene within 3 months of incubation. The depletion of o-xylene was correlated to and dependent on the metabolism of toluene. No losses of benzene, p-xylene, or m-xylene were observed in these initial enrichment cultures. However, m-xylene was degraded by a subculture that was incubated on m-xylene alone. Complete carbon, nitrogen, and electron balances were determined for the degradation of toluene and m-xylene. These balances showed that these compounds were mineralized with greater than 50% conversion to CO2 and significant assimilation into biomass. Additionally, the oxidation of these compounds was shown to be dependent on nitrate reduction and denitrification. These microbial degradative capabilities appear to be widespread, since the widely varied inoculum sources all yielded similar results.     

Molecular localization of a redox-modulated process regulating plant mitochondrial electron transport

Using in organellar assays, we found that significant tobacco alternative oxidase (AOX) activity is dependent on both reduction of a putative regulatory disulfide bond and the presence of pyruvate, which may interact with a Cys sulfhydryl. This redox modulation and pyruvate activation thus may be important in determining the partitioning of electrons to AOX in vivo. To investigate these regulatory mechanisms, we generated tobacco plants expressing mutated AOX proteins. Mutation of the most N-terminal Cys residue (Cys-126) to an Ala residue produced an AOX that could not be converted to the disulfide-linked form, thus identifying this Cys residue as being responsible for redox modulation. Although this mutation might be expected to produce an AOX with constitutive high activity in the presence of pyruvate, we found it to have minimal in organellar activity in the presence of pyruvate. Nonetheless, the Cys-126 mutation did not appear to have compromised the catalytic function of AOX, given that cells expressing the protein displayed high rates of cyanide-resistant respiration in vivo. The striking difference between in vivo and in organellar results suggests that an additional mechanism(s), as yet unidentified by in organellar assays, may promote activity in vivo. Mutation of the Cys residue nearest the presumptive active site (Cys-176) to an Ala residue did not prevent disulfide bond formation or affect the ability of AOX to be stimulated by pyruvate, indicating that this Cys residue is involved in neither redox modulation nor pyruvate activation.     

中国蒙古马与国外纯血马mtDNA D-Loop高变区序列比较

比较分析了4匹中国蒙古马和4匹国外纯血马的线立体DNA（mtDNA）D-Loop高变区400bp核苷酸序列的变异情况。结果发现,4匹中国蒙古马mtDNA D-Loop高变区的平均核苷酸变异率为3.69%,而纯血马的为4.00%,其核苷酸变异类型均包括转换、颠换和缺失3种形式,其中以转换最为常见。核苷酸变异基因座多,并且存在长度变异,不同变异在个体之间差异也很大,因此说明中国蒙古马和国外纯血马的mtDNA D-Loop高变区都具有丰富的多态性。Abstract：Mitochondrial DNA D-Loop varied region 400bp sequence variations in 4 Chinese Mongolian horses and 4 External Thoroughbred horses were analyzed in this experiment. The results showed that the average nucleotide mutational rate of mtDNA D-Loop varied region in 4 Chinese Mongolian horses was 3.69%,while External Thoroughbred horses were 4.00%. Three types of mutations including transition,transversion and deletion were all found in the investigated mtDNA D-Loop regions,of which transition was the most frequent. Nucleotide mutational loci were abundant,length mutations were found and great differences were all observed among the 8 horses. It showed there existed much polymorphism in the mitochondrial DNA D-Loop varied region of Chinese Mongolian horses and External Thoroughbred horses.     

新型日光温室人工生态系统中生态因子的优化配置

针对日光温室中的午间高温、高湿、病虫害发生率高 ,频繁地使用农药等一系列问题 ,已研制了具有阴、阳棚结构的新型日光温室 ,它通过阴、阳棚之间的热交换 ,既可降低阳棚的午间高温 ,推迟并缩短了阳棚午间 30℃以上的高温 ,又可提高夜间低温 ,其日平均温度比对照 (二代日光温室 )气温提高了 3.8℃ ,地温提高了 4.2℃ ;光照总入射量比对照平均增加 1 3.5 % ;≥ 85 %湿度平均减少 4.7h/d;病虫害发生率及农药使用量比对照减少 85 %以上。将阳棚午间多余的热量补充给阴棚 ,可使其温度提高 3～ 5℃ ,把单屋面日光温室背面的遮荫区 (大多都闲置 )转化为生产区 ,使土地利用率从 43.8%提高到 68.8% ;该日光温室可提供两种不同光照、温度等条件的温室人工生态系统。在该系统中基本实现了光、温、水、土、CO2 等生态因子的优化配置 ,有效提高了系统的生产力。新型日光温室 -集水工程 -沼气池联体构筑为半干旱地区农业可持续发展提供了很好的技术平台。     

Oligonucleotide ligation assay-based DNA chip for multiplex detection of single nucleotide polymorphism

An oligonucleotide ligation assay-based DNA chip has been developed to detect single nucleotide polymorphism. Synthesized nonamers, complementary to the flanking sequences of the mutation sites in target DNA, were immobilized onto glass slides through disulfide bonds on their 5' terminus. Allele-specific pentamers annealed adjacent to the nonamers on the complementary target DNA, containing 5'-phosphate groups and biotin labeled 3'-ends, were mixed with the target DNA in tube. Ligation reactions between nonamers and pentamers were carried out on chips in the presence of T4 DNA ligase. Ligation products were directly visualized on chips through enzyme-linked assay. The effect of G:T mismatch at different positions of pentamers on the ligation were evaluated. The results showed that any mismatch between pentamer and the target DNA could lead to the decrease of ligation, which can be detected easily. The established approach was further used for multiplex detection of mutations in rpoB gene of rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates.     

Delta-Tocotrienol Suppresses Radiation-Induced MicroRNA-30 and Protects Mice and Human CD34+ Cells from Radiation Injury

We reported that microRNA-30c (miR-30c) plays a key role in radiation-induced human cell damage through an apoptotic pathway. Herein we further evaluated radiation-induced miR-30 expression and mechanisms of delta-tocotrienol (DT3), a radiation countermeasure candidate, for regulating miR-30 in a mouse model and human hematopoietic CD34+ cells. CD2F1 mice were exposed to 0 (control) or 7–12.5 Gy total-body gamma-radiation, and CD34+ cells were irradiated with 0, 2 or 4 Gy of radiation. Single doses of DT3 (75 mg/kg, subcutaneous injection for mice or 2 μM for CD34+ cell culture) were administrated 24 h before irradiation and animal survival was monitored for 30 days. Mouse bone marrow (BM), jejunum, kidney, liver and serum as well as CD34+ cells were collected at 1, 4, 8, 24, 48 or 72 h after irradiation to determine apoptotic markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, miR-30, and stress response protein expression. Our results showed that radiation-induced IL-1β release and cell damage are pathological states that lead to an early expression and secretion of miR-30b and miR-30c in mouse tissues and serum and in human CD34+ cells. DT3 suppressed IL-1β and miR-30 expression, protected against radiation-induced apoptosis in mouse and human cells, and increased survival of irradiated mice. Furthermore, an anti-IL-1β antibody downregulated radiation-induced NFκBp65 phosphorylation, inhibited miR-30 expression and protected CD34+ cells from radiation exposure. Knockdown of NFκBp65 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly suppressed radiation-induced miR-30 expression in CD34+ cells. Our data suggest that DT3 protects human and mouse cells from radiation damage may through suppression of IL-1β-induced NFκB/miR-30 signaling.     

Differential modulation of transendothelial electrical resistance by TRPV4 agonists is mediated by apoptosis and/or necrosis

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) has been implicated in many disease conditions also in the lung. Its activation leads to an increase endothelial permeability in an intracellular calcium-influx dependent manner. We investigated its function in vitro on primary human endothelial cells using two TRPV4 agonists, GSK1016790A and 4α-Phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (4α-PDD) and a selective TRPV4 blocker GSK2193874. Both TRPV4 agonists leaded to a reduction in transendothelial electrical resistance (TER) which was mediated however by differential cytotoxic effects. 4α-PDD induced apoptosis that could not be blocked by TRPV4 inhibition in HUVECs, whereas GSK1016790A selectively activated TRPV4 and reduced TER as a consequence of cellular necrosis. TRPV4 mediated cytotoxicity is poorly described and may provide significant context to the role of TRPV4 in barrier-function.     

Computer-Based Cognitive Programs for Improvement of Memory,Processing Speed and Executive Function during Age-Related Cognitive Decline: A Meta-Analysis

Background

Several studies have assessed the effects of computer-based cognitive programs (CCP) in the management of age-related cognitive decline, but the role of CCP remains controversial. Therefore, this systematic review evaluated the evidence on the efficacy of CCP for age-related cognitive decline in healthy older adults.

Methods

Six electronic databases (through October 2014) were searched. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of a random-effects model were calculated. The heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran Q statistic and quantified with the I² index.

Results

Twelve studies were included in the current review and were considered as moderate to high methodological quality. The aggregated results indicate that CCP improves memory performance (SMD, 0.31; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.45; p < 0.0001) and processing speed (SMD, 0.50; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.87; p = 0.007) but not executive function (SMD, -0.12; 95% CI -0.33 to 0.09; p = 0.27). Furthermore, there were long-term gains in memory performance (SMD, 0.59; 95% CI 0.13 to 1.05; p = 0.01).

Conclusion

CCP may be a valid complementary and alternative therapy for age-related cognitive decline, especially for memory performance and processing speed. However, more studies with longer follow-ups are warranted to confirm the current findings.     

苋菜凝集素基因的克隆及在转基因烟草中抗蚜性研究

通过ＰＣＲ从苋属植物千穗谷（Ａmaranthus hypochondriacus)的总ＤＮＡ中扩增出苋菜凝集素（ＡＨＡ）的核基因片段。序列分析结果表明该基因为２４５３bp,含有－１５３８bp的内含子和两个分别为２１２bp和７０３bp的外显子。采取反向ＰＣＲ的方法获得仅含该基因的编码区克隆。以此为基础与二元表达载体pBin438构建含内含子与不含内含子ＡＨＡ基因的植物表达载体pBAHAg和pBAHAc并通过土壤农杆菌介导转了化烟草,转化再生植株的ＰＣＲ和Southern blot分析表明,ＡＨＡ基因已整合到烟草的染色体中,有单贝和多拷贝的整合。用与ＡＨＡ蛋白高度同源的ＡＣＡ蛋白的抗血清进行了免疫斑点（Immunodot blot)检测,结果初步表明转基因烟草有ＡＨＡ蛋白的表达,虫试结果表明转pBAHAg和pBAHAc烟草对蚜虫的平均抑制率分别达５７．２％和４８．８％,有的高达９０％以上,含内含子和不含内含子的ＡＨＡ基因在转基因植株中的抗蚜性不同。     

Comparison of Bombyx mori and Helicoverpa armigera cytoplasmic actin genes provides clues to the evolution of actin genes in insects

The cytoplasmic actin genes BmA3 and BmA4 of Bombyx mori were found clustered in a single genomic clone in the same orientation. As a similar clustering of the two cytoplasmic actin genes Ha3a and Ha3b also occurs in another lepidopteran, Helicoverpa armigera, we analyzed the sequence of the pair of genes from each species. Due to the high conservation of cytoplasmic actins, the coding sequence of the four genes was easily aligned, allowing the detection of similarities in noncoding exon and intron sequences as well as in flanking sequences. All four genes exhibited a conserved intron inserted in codon 117, an original position not encountered in other species. It can thus be postulated that all of these genes derived from a common ancestral gene carrying this intron after a single event of insertion. The comparison of the four genes revealed that the genes of B. mori and H. armigera are related in two different ways: the coding sequence and the intron that interrupts it are more similar between paralogous genes within each species than between orthologous genes of the two species. In contrast, the other (noncoding) regions exhibited the greatest similarity between a gene of one species and a gene of the other species, defining two pairs of orthologous genes, BmA3 and HaA3a on one hand and BmA4 and HaA3b on the other. However, in each species, the very high similarities of the coding sequence and of the single intron that interrupts it strongly suggest that gene conversion events have homogenized this part of the sequence. As the divergence of the B. mori genes was higher than that of the H. armigera genes, we postulated that the gene conversion occurred earlier in the B. mori lineage. This leads us to hypothesize that gene conversion could also be responsible for the original transfer of the common intron to the second gene copy before the divergence of the B. mori and H. armigera lineages.