A novel melatonin agonist Neu-P11 facilitates memory performance and improves cognitive impairment in a rat model of Alzheimer' disease

Previous studies have shown that melatonin is implicated in modulating learning and memory processing. Melatonin also exerts neuroprotective activities against Aβ-induced injury in vitro and in vivo. Neu-P11 (piromelatine, N-(2-(5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl)-4-oxo-4H-pyran-2-carboxamide) is a novel melatonin (MT1/MT2) receptor agonist and a serotonin 5-HT1A/1D receptor agonist recently developed for the treatment of insomnia. In the present study we firstly investigated whether Neu-P11 and melatonin enhance memory performance in the novel object recognition (NOR) task in rats, and then assessed whether Neu-P11 and melatonin improve neuronal and cognitive impairment in a rat model of Alzheimer' disease (AD) induced by intrahippocampal Aβ_(1–42) injection. The results showed that a single morning or afternoon administration of Neu-P11 enhanced object recognition memory measured at 4 or 24 h after training. Melatonin was effective in the memory facilitating effects only when administered in the afternoon. Further results showed that intrahippocampal Aβ_(1–42) injection resulted in hippocampal cellular loss, as well as decreased learning ability and memory in the Y maze and NOR tasks in rats. Neu-P11 but not melatonin attenuated cellular loss and cognitive impairment in the rat AD model. The current data suggest that Neu-P11 may serve as a novel agent for the treatment of AD.     

Identification of novel caspase/autophagy‐related gene switch to cell fate decisions in breast cancers

Objectives

Caspases, a family of cysteine proteases with unique substrate specificities, contribute to apoptosis, whereas autophagy‐related genes (ATGs) regulate cytoprotective autophagy or autophagic cell death in cancer. Accumulating evidence has recently revealed underlying mechanisms of apoptosis and autophagy; however, their intricate relationships still remain to be clarified. Identification of caspase/ATG switches between apoptosis and autophagy may address this problem.

Materials and methods

Identification of caspase/ATG switches was carried out using a series of elegant systems biology & bioinformatics approaches, such as network construction, hub protein identification, microarray analyses, targeted microRNA prediction and molecular docking.

Results

We computationally constructed the global human network from several online databases and further modified it into the basic caspase/ATG network. On the basis of apoptotic or autophagic gene differential expressions, we identified three molecular switches [including androgen receptor, serine/threonine‐protein kinase PAK‐1 (PAK‐1) and mitogen‐activated protein kinase‐3 (MAPK‐3)] between certain caspases and ATGs in human breast carcinoma MCF‐7 cells. Subsequently, we identified microRNAs (miRNAs) able to target androgen receptor, PAK‐1 and MAPK‐3, respectively. Ultimately, we screened a range of small molecule compounds from DrugBank, able to target the three above‐mentioned molecular switches in breast cancer cells.

Conclusions

We have systematically identified novel caspase/ATG switches involved in miRNA regulation, and predicted targeted anti‐cancer drugs. These findings may uncover intricate relationships between apoptosis and autophagy and thus provide further new clues towards possible cancer drug discovery.

     

高温强光对小麦叶绿体Deg1蛋白酶和D1蛋白的影响及水杨酸的调节作用

以小麦品种矮抗58为材料,采用0.3 mmol/L水杨酸(SA)溶液预处理灌浆期小麦叶片,以水预处理为对照,进行3种不同的光温处理:适宜温度中等光强(25℃,600 μmol m-2 s-1)2h、高温强光(38℃,1600μmol m-2 s-1)2h、高温强光2h后置于适宜温度中等光强下恢复3h.测定不同光温条件下,小麦叶绿体的Deg1蛋白酶、D1蛋白和PSⅡ功能的变化及SA的调节效应.结果表明,高温强光胁迫导致Deg1蛋白酶和D1蛋白降解,PSⅡ功能发生可逆损伤.与对照相比,水杨酸预处理不仅能够抑制高温强光下小麦叶绿体Deg1蛋白酶和D1蛋白的降解,维持较高的PSⅡ原初光化学效率(Fv/ Fm)、实际光化学效率(φPSⅡ)、电子传递速率和净光合速率(Pn),而且加快回到非逆境下PSⅡ功能的恢复.     

Three‐dimensional neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells with ACM induction in microfibrous matrices in bioreactors

The clinical use of pluripotent stem cell (PSC)‐derived neural cells requires an efficient differentiation process for mass production in a bioreactor. Toward this goal, neural differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in three‐dimensional (3D) polyethylene terephthalate microfibrous matrices was investigated in this study. To streamline the process and provide a platform for process integration, the neural differentiation of ESCs was induced with astrocyte‐conditioned medium without the formation of embryoid bodies, starting from undifferentiated ESC aggregates expanded in a suspension bioreactor. The 3D neural differentiation was able to generate a complex neural network in the matrices. When compared to 2D differentiation, 3D differentiation in microfibrous matrices resulted in a higher percentage of nestin‐positive cells (68% vs. 54%) and upregulated gene expressions of nestin, Nurr1, and tyrosine hydroxylase. High purity of neural differentiation in 3D microfibrous matrix was also demonstrated in a spinner bioreactor with 74% nestin + cells. This study demonstrated the feasibility of a scalable process based on 3D differentiation in microfibrous matrices for the production of ESC‐derived neural cells. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29:1013–1022, 2013     

Contribution of cytoskeletal elements to the axonal mechanical properties

Background

Microtubules, microfilaments, and neurofilaments are cytoskeletal elements that affect cell morphology, cellular processes, and mechanical structures in neural cells. The objective of the current study was to investigate the contribution of each type of cytoskeletal element to the mechanical properties of axons of dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia cells in chick embryos.

Results

Microtubules, microfilaments, and neurofilaments in axons were disrupted by nocodazole, cytochalasin D, and acrylamide, respectively, or a combination of the three. An atomic force microscope (AFM) was then used to compress the treated axons, and the resulting corresponding force-deformation information was analyzed to estimate the mechanical properties of axons that were partially or fully disrupted.

Conclusion

We have found that the mechanical stiffness was most reduced in microtubules-disrupted-axons, followed by neurofilaments-disrupted- and microfilaments-disrupted-axons. This suggests that microtubules contribute the most of the mechanical stiffness to axons.

     

Reducing AsA Leads to Leaf Lesion and Defence Response in Knock-Down of the AsA Biosynthetic Enzyme GDP-D-Mannose Pyrophosphorylase Gene in Tomato Plant

As a vital antioxidant, L-ascorbic acid (AsA) affects diverse biological processes in higher plants. Lack of AsA in cell impairs plant development. In the present study, we manipulated a gene of GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase which catalyzes the conversion of D-mannose-1-P to GDP-D-mannose in AsA biosynthetic pathway and found out the phenotype alteration of tomato. In the tomato genome, there are four members of GMP gene family and they constitutively expressed in various tissues in distinct expression patterns. As expected, over-expression of SlGMP3 increased total AsA contents and enhanced the tolerance to oxidative stress in tomato. On the contrary, knock-down of SlGMP3 significantly decreased AsA contents below the threshold level and altered the phenotype of tomato plants with lesions and further senescence. Further analysis indicated the causes for this symptom could result from failing to instantly deplete the reactive oxygen species (ROS) as decline of free radical scavenging activity. More ROS accumulated in the leaves and then triggered expressions of defence-related genes and mimic symptom occurred on the leaves similar to hypersensitive responses against pathogens. Consequently, the photosynthesis of leaves was dramatically fallen. These results suggested the vital roles of AsA as an antioxidant in leaf function and defence response of tomato.     

土壤中聚乙烯降解菌的筛选、鉴定及降解特性

[目的] 农用地膜主要成分为聚乙烯（polyethylene,PE）,因其难以被降解,其废弃物常造成“白色污染”,本研究从常年覆盖农用地膜的土壤中筛选PE降解菌,并探究其对PE制品的降解效能。[方法] 采集的土壤样品用PE为唯一碳源的无机盐培养基进行富集,筛选、纯化PE降解菌,分离菌通过形态染色、生理生化特征、16S rRNA基因序列分析进行鉴定,检测其在不同PE浓度（0%、0.05%、0.10%、0.25%、0.50%、1.00%、2.00%、3.00%）的无机盐培养基中的生长曲线,最后通过扫描电镜、光镜观察,检测分离菌对农用地膜的降解效能。[结果] 从土壤中筛选获得一株能够降解PE的分离菌株（命名为SW1）,初步鉴定其为放线菌的诺卡氏菌属Nocardia sp.。SW1的生长对PE具有明显浓度依赖,在含2% PE的无机盐培养基中生长最快,在培养的第48 h菌液浓度开始明显增加,第60 h达到最大,而在不含PE的无机盐培养基中未见生长。形态生理学观察表明,35℃培养15 d后,扫描电镜观察可见有大量菌嵌入膜内或附于膜表面生长,膜表面粗糙,并开始出现破损;培养60 d后,光镜观察可见膜大面积破损,并出现空洞。[结论] 从土壤中筛选获得了一株能够有效降解PE制品的放线菌菌株Nocardia sp. SW1。该研究丰富了PE制品降解微生物的菌种资源,为PE塑料废弃物的生物降解提供了科学数据与参考。     

Difference analysis of the enzymatic hydrolysis performance of acid-catalyzed steam-exploded corn stover before and after washing with water

The difference in the enzymatic hydrolysis yield of acid-catalyzed steam-exploded corn stover (ASC) before and after washing with water reached approximately 15 % under the same conditions. The reasons for the difference in the yield between ASC and washed ASC (wASC) were determined through the analysis of the composition of ASC prehydrolyzate and sugar concentration of enzymatic hydrolyzate. Salts produced by neutralization (CaSO₄, Na₂SO₄, K₂SO₄, and (NH₄)₂SO₄), sugars (polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, and monosaccharides), sugar-degradation products (weak acids and furans), and lignin-degradation products (ethyl acetate extracts and nine main lignin-degradation products) were back-added to wASC. Results showed that these products, except furans, exerted negative effect on enzymatic hydrolysis. According to the characteristics of acid-catalyzed steam explosion pretreatment, the five sugar-degradation products’ mixture and salts [Na₂SO₄, (NH₄)₂SO₄] showed minimal negative inhibition effect on enzymatic hydrolysis. By contrast, furans demonstrated a promotion effect. Moreover, soluble sugars, such as 13 g/L xylose (decreased by 6.38 %), 5 g/L cellobiose (5.36 %), 10 g/L glucose (3.67 %), as well as lignin-degradation products, and ethyl acetate extracts (4.87 %), exhibited evident inhibition effect on enzymatic hydrolysis. Therefore, removal of soluble sugars and lignin-degradation products could effectively promote the enzymatic hydrolysis performance.