A review of the botany,traditional uses,phytochemistry and pharmacology of Nepeta tenuifolia Briq.

Phytochemistry Reviews - Nepeta tenuifolia (N. tenuifolia) is a common aromatic herb that is widespread in East Asia. The aerial parts and spikes can be used as the traditional phytomedicines for...     

Circadian misalignment promotes vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis via defective autophagy

Journal of Molecular Histology - Defective autophagy in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in response to oxidative stress can lead to cellular apoptosis and plaque instability. Previous studies...     

Design of Infrared Plasma Absorber with High Refractive Index Sensitivity

Three layers of periodic artificial metamaterial sensing structure (including the upper metal particles, intermediate dielectric layer, and the lower reflective layer) with ultra-narrow band absorption were designed. The resonance characteristics and sensing properties were analyzed by the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The effect of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) was obviously observed at the resonance wavelength of 911 nm, and it achieves nearly perfect absorption of exceeding 98% with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 3.5 nm. In addition, a wavelength sensitivity of 542 nm/RIU with a figure of merit (FOM) of 155 was obtained in the refractive index (RI) range from 1.00 to 1.35, which has a wide range of applications. The results show that the proposed structure has high absorption and RI sensitivity, which is suitable for bioengineering and medical detection.

     

Functional expression of TRPA1 channel,TRPV1 channel and TMEM100 in human odontoblasts

TRPA1 and TRPV1 channels respond to external stimulation as pain mediators and form a complex with a transmembrane protein TMEM100 in some tissues. However, their expression and interaction in dental pulp is unclear. To investigate the functional co-expression of TRPA1 channel, TRPV1 channel and TMEM100 in human odontoblasts (HODs), immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence staining and Western blot were used to study their co-localization and expression in both native HODs and cultured HOD-like cells. Calcium imaging was used to detect the functional interaction between TRPA1 and TRPV1 channels. Immunohistochemistry and multiple immunofluorescence staining of tooth slices showed positive expression of TRPA1 channel, TRPV1 channel and TMEM100 mainly in the cell bodies of HODs, and TRPA1 channel presented more obvious immunofluorescence in the cell processes than TRPV1 channel and TMEM100. HALO software analysis showed that TRPA1 and TRPV1 channels were positively expressed in most TMEM100⁺ HODs and these three proteins were strongly correlated in HODs (P < 0.01). The protein expression levels of TRPA1 channel, TRPV1 channel and TMEM100 in HODs showed no significant difference (P?>?0.05). Double immunofluorescence staining of cultured HOD-like cells visually demonstrated that TRPA1 and TRPV1 channel were both highly co-localized with TMEM100 with similar expressive intensity. Calcium imaging showed that there was a functional interaction between TRPA1 and TRPV1 channels in HOD-like cells, and TRPA1 channel might play a greater role in this interaction. Overall, we concluded that TRPA1 channel, TRPV1 channel and TMEM100 could be functionally co-expressed in HODs.

     

MiR-467a-5p aggravates myocardial infarction by modulating ZEB1 expression in mice

Journal of Molecular Histology - Myocardial infarction (MI) is a great threat to patients all over the word. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of non-coding RNAs and can regulate initiation and...     

Purification and cDNA Cloning of Antimicrobial Peptides from the Skin Secretion of the Chinese Frog Rana chensinensis

The skin secretions of amphibians are a rich source of bioactive peptides. We isolated chensirin-1 and chensirin-2 from the skin secretion of the Chinese frog Rana chensinensis. Sephadex-G-50 and RP-HPLC were employed to purify these peptides. The amino acid sequences of these peptides were VLPLVGNLLNDLLGE and IIPLPLGYFAKKT, respectively, as determined by Edman degradation. The molecular weights were 1578.7 and 1460.8 Da, respectively, as analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MS. The chensirin cDNA was cloned by 5′ and 3′ amplification of cDNA ends, synthesized and purified. The antibacterial activities of the chensirins were tested using minimum inhibitory concentration, the results indicated that chensirins inhibit the growth of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Among them, chensirin-1 is a novel peptide with a higher antibacterial activity compared to other similar antimicrobial peptides. These low molecular weight peptides with good antimicrobial efficacy are considered potential sources for developing new antimicrobial agents to improve traditional drug resistance.

     

基于流式细胞术和K-mer分析的银缕梅属(Parrotia C.A.Mey.)植物基因组大小测定

金缕梅科(Hamamelidaceae)银缕梅属(Parrotia C.A.Mey.)仅包含银缕梅(Parrotia subaequalis(H.T.Chang)R.M.Hao&H.T.Wei)和波斯铁木(Parrotia persica(DC.)C.A.Mey.)两种落叶阔叶乔木,其中银缕梅是我国华东地区特有的Ⅰ级濒危珍稀保护植物,属东亚第三纪孑遗成分;其姊妹种波斯铁木则间断分布于伊朗北部,属北极第三纪孑遗植物类群。本研究首次利用流式细胞术和K-mer分析方法对银缕梅属两姊妹种的基因组大小进行了测定,建立和优化了以萝卜(Raphanus sativus L.‘Saxa’)为内标、WPB(Woody plant buffer)为细胞核解离液的两种植物单倍体基因组的DNA含量(DNA C值)流式测定的适宜体系,旨在为金缕梅科银缕梅属植物的全基因组测序、基因组学研究、种质资源开发和利用以及物种保育等提供前期基础数据参考;同时也可为金缕梅科其他属、种的基因组大小测定提供借鉴。主要研究结果如下:(1)通过流式测定银缕梅基因组大小约为971.45±13.91 Mb,波斯铁木基因组大小约为890.52±24.69 Mb;(2)K-mer分析估测银缕梅基因组大小为951.70 Mb,杂合率为1.740%,重复序列比例为77.50%;波斯铁木基因组大小为858.50 Mb,杂合率为0.695%,重复序列占74.30%;(3)银缕梅属于高杂合和高重复基因组,波斯铁木则属于微杂合和高重复基因组。本研究的结果为银缕梅属植物后续基于DNA三代高通量测序技术的全基因组测序、组装及去冗余处理等工作提供了重要的数据参考。     

不同放牧强度对赛罕乌拉草原蜘蛛多样性的影响

蜘蛛作为草原生态系统中的主要消费者, 对维系草原生物多样性和生态系统功能具有重大意义。放牧是人类利用草原最普遍的方式, 了解放牧对蜘蛛多样性的影响具有重要生态学意义。本研究调查了内蒙古赛罕乌拉草原上5个不同放牧强度样地中的蜘蛛多样性, 通过单因素方差分析(one-way analysis of variance)比较各样地中的蜘蛛多样性, 非度量多维标度分析(non-metric multidimensional scale, NMDS)和相似性分析(analysis of similarities, ANOSIM)比较各样地间的蜘蛛物种组成相似性, 再结合相关性分析探讨了植被高度对蜘蛛多样性的影响。结果表明: 重度放牧强度样地的蜘蛛多样性显著低于其他未放牧及轻度放牧样地; 具体到常见科上, 放牧强度对织网型的园蛛物种数和个体数影响显著, 而对游猎型的狼蛛、跳蛛却不明显; 织网型蜘蛛主要受植被结构影响, 而游猎型蜘蛛更可能受潜在猎物可得性的影响。NMDS分析表明不同放牧强度下, 蜘蛛类群的物种组成呈现明显的梯度变化, 放牧强度越低, 物种组成和未放牧样地越相近。相关性分析表明草原植被高度与蜘蛛多样性总体上呈正相关关系, 即植被高度越高, 蜘蛛多样性越高。其中依靠植物构建蛛网的园蛛科和在植物上层伏击猎物的蟹蛛科、逍遥蛛科等与植被高度显著相关。这说明植物资源及其空间异质性可能对草原蜘蛛多样性起着主导作用。因此, 降低放牧强度有助于保护草原蜘蛛群落的多样性, 特别有利于织网型蜘蛛。     

贵州花溪大学城破碎化林地鸟类多样性与嵌套分布格局

为揭示城镇化进程中生境破碎化对鸟类多样性及分布格局的影响, 本研究于2017-2019年每年的4-8月使用样线法对贵州花溪大学城26块破碎化林地(面积介于0.3-290.4 ha)中的鸟类群落进行了10次调查。共记录到鸟类78种, 隶属于11目37科。其中, 东洋界物种数占56.4%, 古北界物种数占32.1%, 广布种占11.5%; 有中国特有种1种。剔除高空飞行、非森林鸟类及偶然出现物种后, 不同斑块中的鸟类物种数介于12-55之间, 平均每个斑块有23.2 ± 10.5种。线性回归分析显示, 鸟类物种丰富度与林地斑块的面积有显著相关性, 斑块面积越小, 鸟类物种丰富度越低; 斑块隔离度对物种丰富度没有显著影响。基于物种多度分布矩阵的WNODF (weighted nestedness metric based on overlap and decreasing fill)嵌套分析显示, 不同斑块中鸟类群落呈现出反嵌套结构。小斑块中鸟类物种丰富度较低可能与植物丰富度较低、食物资源稀缺和繁育条件不足有关, 但短距离的隔离对鸟类迁入或扩散影响有限。环境过滤效应、种间竞争或优先效应可能导致不同斑块间存在较大的物种组成差异, 从而导致反嵌套格局。因此, 本研究建议在城市规划建设中应注重维持栖息地的完整性, 对不同面积大小的破碎化斑块都应加以保护。     

动物对孢子植物的传播模式及进化意义

孢子植物物种多样性丰富, 是自然生态系统的重要组成部分。孢子植物的传播通常被认为主要依靠风、水、弹力等非生物媒介, 而动物的作用往往被忽略。本文主要概述了: (1)孢子植物对动物传播的适应: 一方面孢子植物可为动物提供食物、庇护所、繁殖场所等, 另一方面孢子植物也可产生视觉、嗅觉等方面的线索来吸引动物, 从而促进动物传播其繁殖体。(2)动物对孢子植物的传播模式: 包括体内传播(消化道和组织寄生)和体外传播两种, 这些模式都能对孢子植物繁殖体进行有效传播。由于动物间形态或生活习性的不同, 以致传播距离存在差异, 最短距离为0.1 cm, 最长距离可从北半球至南半球。(3)动物对孢子植物传播的生态与进化意义; 由于某些孢子植物繁殖体的结构特点或萌发的需求, 以致其繁殖体只能通过动物的传播才能得以定殖, 因此动物与孢子植物之间存在密不可分的关系。目前, 动物对孢子植物的传播研究主要是描述性的内容以及研究单方面的传播途径, 建议在今后的研究中考虑动物对孢子植物传播的有效性以及多途径同时传播对孢子植物定殖的影响, 同时应更加关注孢子植物和动物互惠关系的形成、维持机制及将来的进化趋势。