Investigations of interaction mechanism and conformational variation of serum albumin affected by artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin

In this work, binding interactions of artemisinin (ART) and dihydroartemisinin (DHA) with human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated thoroughly to illustrate the conformational variation of serum albumin. Experimental results indicated that ART and DHA bound strongly with the site I of serum albumins via hydrogen bond (H-bond) and van der Waals force and subsequently statically quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of serum albumins through concentration-dependent manner. The quenching abilities of two drugs on the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA were much higher than the quenching abilities of two drugs on the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA. Both ART and DHA, especially DHA, caused the conformational variation of serum albumins and reduced the α-helix structure content of serum albumins. DHA with hydrophilic hydroxyl group bound with HSA more strongly, suggesting the important roles of the chemical polarity and the hydrophilicity during the binding interactions of two drugs with serum albumins. These results reveal the molecular understanding of binding interactions between ART derivatives and serum albumins, providing vital information for the future application of ART derivatives in biological and clinical areas.     

Rhizosphere effect of nanoscale zero-valent iron on mycorrhiza-dependent maize assimilation

Rhizosphere effect of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) is crucial but little reported. Maize seeds were dressed with four nZVI concentrations (0, 1.0, 1.5, 2 g kg⁻¹) and inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) (Funneliformis mosseae). The SEM images illuminated that excessive nZVI particles (2 g kg⁻¹) were agglomerated on the surface of hyphae and spore, causing severe deformation and inactivation of AMF symbionts and thereafter inhibiting water uptake in maize seedlings. This restrained the scavenging effects of enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase) and non-enzymatic compounds (proline & malondialdehyde) on ROS, and leaf photoreduction activity and gas exchange ability (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the inoculation with AMF effectively alleviated above negative effects. In contrast, appropriate dose of nZVI, that is, ≤1.5 g kg⁻¹, can be evenly distributed on the hyphae surface and form the ordered symbionts with AMF. This help massively to enhance hyphae growth and water and nutrient uptake. The enhanced mycorrhizal infection turned to promote rhizosphere symbiont activity and leaf Rubisco and Rubisco activase activity. Light compensation point was massively lowered, which increased photosynthetic carbon supply for AMF symbionts. Particularly, such priming effects were evidently enhanced by drought stress. Our findings provided a novel insight into functional role of nZVI in agriculture and AMF-led green production.     

A Meaningful Attempt: Applying Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma to Induce Polarization of Macrophages

Macrophage polarization plays an important role in many macrophage-related diseases. This study was designed to preliminarily explore the effects of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma on the polarization direction and cell activity of macrophages with different phenotypes (ie, M0, M1, and M2). The M1 macrophage marker inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and M2 macrophage marker cluster of differentiation 206 (CD206) were detected by western blot (WB). The effects of DBD plasma on macrophage viability were analyzed by using a cell counting kit-8 detection kit. M0, M1, and M2 macrophages exhibited a decrease in iNOS expression and an increase in CD206 expression after the DBD plasma intervention. Additionally, the decrease in macrophage viability remained non-significant after initiating the intervention. DBD plasma can promote the transformation of M0 and M1 macrophages to M2 macrophages, and can further enhance the expression of the M2 macrophage phenotype marker CD206. Our study not only demonstrates the potential therapeutic value of DBD plasma for macrophage-related diseases, but it also provides a new direction for research to improve the treatment of macrophage-related diseases. © 2023 Bioelectromagnetics Society.     

Comprehensive Evaluation and Screening for 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene Tolerance in Rice Cultivars at Different Growth Stages

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB) pollution in fields has become a potential threat to rice growth, yet little is known about the different response of many...     

Thioredoxin 1 overexpression attenuated diabetes-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in Müller cells via apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1

As one of the common and serious chronic complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), the related mechanism of diabetic retinopathy (DR) has not been fully understood. Müller cell reactive gliosis is one of the early pathophysiological features of DR. Therefore, exploring the manner to reduce diabetes-induced Müller cell damage is essential to delay DR. Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1), one of the ubiquitous redox enzymes, plays a vital role in redox homeostasis via protein–protein interactions, including apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1). Previous studies have shown that upregulation of Trx by some drugs can attenuate endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in DR, but the related mechanism was unclear. In this study, we used DM mouse and high glucose (HG)-cultured human Müller cells as models to clarify the effect of Trx1 on ERS and the underlying mechanism. The data showed that the diabetes-induced Müller cell damage was increased significantly. Moreover, the expression of ERS and reactive gliosis was also upregulated in diabetes in vivo and in vitro. However, it was reversed after Trx1 overexpression. Besides, ERS-related protein expression, reactive gliosis, and apoptosis were decreased after transfection with ASK1 small-interfering RNA in stable Trx1 overexpression Müller cells after HG treatment. Taken together, Trx1 could protect Müller cells from diabetes-induced damage, and the underlying mechanism was related to inhibited ERS via ASK1.     

卡特拉鱼形态,食性和生长的研究

观测卡特拉鱼的形态特征和1—3龄鱼主要可量性状及其比例的变动。1—3龄鱼除主食商品饲料外,同时也食较大比例的浮游生物。着重对浮游生物的种类和比例进行了分析。肠长与体长呈直线相关。Y=6.38X-89.95。1—4龄鱼体长和体重相对生长率和生长指标都随年龄增加而逐渐下降。体长与体重呈曲线相关。W=0.00002261L~(3.0569)。采用 Von.Bertalanffy 生长方程分析其生长特性。方程参数 L_∞=821.2mm,W_∞=19616.6g,t_0=0.6年,K=0.3。体长生长不具拐点,生长速度随年龄增加而递减;体重生长具拐点,其值4.3年。此时体重生长速度达最大值。4、3龄前是生长旺盛期,此后进入生长缓慢期。     

《代谢性骨病生物考古学》评介

<正>The Bioarchaeology of Metabolic Bone Disease(Second Edition)《代谢性骨病生物考古学》（第2版）由Megan B. Brickley, Simon Mays和Rachel Ives编著。代谢性骨病(Metabolic bone disease)是指导致正常骨形成、吸收或矿化发生系统性改变的疾病或疾病组合。代谢性骨病多与营养不良和激素失调有关,如缺乏维生素C(坏血病)、缺乏维生素D(佝偻病或软骨病)、缺乏铁微量元素（贫血症）、骨质疏松症等。此外,在欧洲,佩吉特氏骨病已成为仅次于骨质疏松症的第二大代谢性骨病。作为一种影响骨骼的疾病,现代人类和古代人类的骨骼上均有发现代谢性骨病的存在。     

褪黑素调节烟草丁香假单胞菌抗性的功能研究

为分析褪黑素(N-乙酰-5-甲氧基色胺)在植物先天免疫中的功能及调控机理,研究以病原菌丁香假单胞杆菌(Pseudomonas syringae pv.tomato DC3000,Pst DC3000)—烟草互作系统为模型,检测了病原菌侵染对烟草褪黑素相关基因表达的影响,并探讨了褪黑素对植物叶片病原菌生长以及气孔开度和活性氧自由基(reactive oxygen species,ROS)含量的影响以及调控机理。结果表明:(1)Pst DC3000处理提高了烟草褪黑素合成(NtSNAT1)和受体(NtPMTR1)基因表达,且外源褪黑素处理降低了叶片中的病原菌含量。(2)与野生型植物相比,过表达大豆GmSNAT1基因显著提高了转基因烟草中内源褪黑素含量和NtPMTR1的表达,且转基因烟草叶片中的Pst DC3000菌落数显著下降。(3)外源褪黑素和细菌鞭毛蛋白多肽flg22处理诱导了野生型和转基因烟草保卫细胞中ROS产生和气孔关闭,且转基因植物对褪黑素和flg22诱导的气孔关闭和ROS产生比野生型烟草更加敏感。综上所述,研究表明褪黑素可能通过受体NtPMTR1介导的信号途径促进保卫细胞ROS产生,诱导气孔关闭,从而降低病原菌Pst DC3000的入侵。     

细胞膜脂质流动性的不均一性与细胞分裂动力学的关系

细胞腊脂流动性在不同类属细胞存在着差异,其差异的程度取决于细胞的生理和生化特性。正常淋巴细胞、肺腺癌、肺鳞癌细胞以及结核细胞膜脂流动发生 分别为２．５１７±０．２６７、２２．５５７±３．７７１,３２．８７５±９．７０９和４．０２６±０．７２２。细胞分裂动力学与膜脂质流动性有关系。细胞分裂及其程度是膜脂质流动性差异的物质基础,同时并受细胞膜脂质的组成,脂蛋白生化以及外界因素的ｐＨ、Ｃａ＾２＋等影响,