The p38 Pathway Regulates Oxidative Stress Tolerance by Phosphorylation of Mitochondrial Protein IscU

The p38 pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that responds to a variety of stresses. However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that p38b is a major p38 MAPK involved in the regulation of oxidative stress tolerance in addition to p38a and p38c in Drosophila. We further show the importance of MK2 as a p38-activated downstream kinase in resistance to oxidative stresses. Furthermore, we identified the iron-sulfur cluster scaffold protein IscU as a new substrate of MK2 both in Drosophila cells and in mammalian cells. These results imply a new mechanistic connection between the p38 pathway and mitochondria iron-sulfur clusters.     

Pesticide Exposure as a Risk Factor for Myelodysplastic Syndromes: A Meta-Analysis Based on 1,942 Cases and 5,359 Controls

Objective

Pesticide exposure has been linked to increased risk of cancer at several sites, but its association with risk of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is still unclear. A meta-analysis of studies published through April, 2014 was performed to investigate the association of pesticide exposure with the risk of MDS.

Methods

Studies were identified by searching the Web of Science, Cochrane Library and PubMed databases. Summary odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random- or fixed-effect models.

Results

This meta-analysis included 11 case-control studies, all of which demonstrated a correlation between pesticide exposure and a statistically significant increased risk of MDS (OR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.23–3.09). In subgroup analyses, patients with pesticide exposure had increased risk of developing MDS if they were living in the Europe or Asia and had refractory anemia (RA) or RA with ringed sideroblasts (RARS). Moreover, in the analysis by specific pesticides, increased risk was associated with exposure to insecticides (OR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.22–2.40) but not exposure to herbicides or fungicides.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis supports the hypothesis that exposure to pesticides increases the risk of developing MDS. Further prospective cohort studies are warranted to verify the association and guide clinical practice in MDS prevention.     

榛属 (桦木科) 花序及花的形态发生

在扫描电镜下观察了桦木科榛属榛、毛榛和滇榛的花序和花的形态发生过程。榛属雌花序由多个小聚伞花序螺旋状排列组成;每个小花序原基分化出1枚初级苞片和一团小花序原基分生组织,由小花序原基分生组织分化形成2个花原基;每个花原基分化出2个心皮原基,形成二心皮雌蕊;雌蕊基部有2层花被原基,内层花被原基环状,外层花被发生于花原基近轴面和远轴面,近轴面和远轴面的花被不均等分化,外层花被发生早于内层花被。雄花序为柔荑状,由多个小聚伞花序螺旋状排列组成。每个小花序原基分化出1枚初级苞片和一团小花序原基分生组织,由小花序原基分生组织分化出2枚次级苞片和4~6个雄蕊原基,形成4~6枚雄蕊,每个雄蕊具4个药囊,在雄蕊原基分化形成4药囊雄蕊过程中,出现雄蕊原基纵裂,并且花丝纵裂至基部。为进一步全面探讨桦木科属间系统演化关系提供了证据。     

Refolding and purification of recombinant human (Pro)renin receptor from Escherichia coli by ion exchange chromatography

Purification of the recombinant human renin receptor (rhRnR) is a major aspect of its biological or biophysical analysis, as well as structural research. A simple and efficient method for the refolding and purification of rhRnR expressed in Escherichia coli with weak anion‐exchange chromatography (WAX) was presented in this work. The solution containing denatured rhRnR in 8.0 mol/L urea extracted from the inclusion bodies was directly injected into the WAX column. The aggregation was prevented and the soluble form of renatured rhRnR in aqueous solution was obtained after desorption from the column. Effects of the extracting solutions, the pH values and urea concentrations in the mobile phase, as well as the sample size on the refolding and purification of rhRnR were investigated, indicating that the above mentioned factors had remarkable influences on the efficiency of refolding, purification and mass recovery of rhRnR. Under the optimal conditions, rhRnR was successfully refolded and purified simultaneously by WAX in one step within only 30 min. The result was satisfactory with mass recovery of 71.8% and purity of 94.8%, which was further tested by western blotting. The specific binding of the purified rhRnR to recombinant human renin was also determined using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The association constant of rhRnR to recombinant human renin was calculated to be 3.25 × 10⁸ L/mol, which demonstrated that rhRnR was already renatured and simultaneously purified in one step using WAX. All of the above demonstrate that protein folding liquid chromatography (PFLC) should be a powerful tool for the purification and renaturation of rhRnR. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:864–871, 2014     

升温情境中叶损对树木幼苗生长的影响

为探究升温能否在一定程度上抵消虫害叶损造成的负面影响,该研究采用控制变量法比较不同叶损程度下落叶松(Larix gmelinii)、红松(Pinus koraiensis)和冷杉(Abies fabri)幼苗当年的高生长以及来年不同温度下的萌芽情况。结果表明,当叶损程度达到50%时,落叶松幼苗当年的高生长会受到显著影响;而红松和冷杉在叶损程度达到75%时才会受到显著影响。室温下(13℃～18℃)落叶松来年的萌芽物候比20℃和25℃提前且高生长情况较好;红松和冷杉在室温下叶损75%会导致萌芽物候推迟且高生长受到影响,在20℃或25℃时,叶损造成的不利影响则会被削弱。因此,在未来变暖的情境中,推测红松和冷杉因虫害叶损造成的不利影响在一定程度上会被抵消,且对于虫害的抵抗和恢复亦明显高于落叶松。     

西藏藏族青少年体型

为了探讨藏族青少年体型发育特征及其规律, 本文应用Heath-Carter体型法对2530名藏族青少年体型进行评价。结果发现, 藏族青少年的平均体型男性为偏中胚层的外胚层型(2.40—3.29—3.72),女性为中间型(3.65—2.87—3.32); 男性的体型以外胚层系体型为主(58.52%), 女性体型以内胚层系(32.62%)和外胚层系为主(35.40%); 随着年龄的增长, 藏族青少年的体型发展有一定的规律, 男性由中胚层-外胚层均衡型经偏中胚层的外胚层型又发展回中胚层-外胚层均衡型, 女性由中胚层-外胚层均衡型经历均衡的外胚层型发展为均衡的内胚层型。因此, 本文认为,藏族男性青少年身体的线性程度高、外形上比较瘦削、肌肉较发达; 藏族女性青少年较男性身体的脂肪含量多、线性程度相对较高。     

克里斯蒂安娜·尼斯莱因-福尔哈德

克里斯蒂安娜·尼斯莱因-福尔哈德(Christiane Nusslein-Volhard, 1942―)于1942年10月20日生于德国法兰克福的马格德堡。1962年, 她报考了法兰克福大学生物学专业。学习一段时间后发觉这里开设的课程缺乏新意、极为乏味, 便转到图宾根大学学习生物化学。该校的生物化学堪称一流, 虽然她并不喜欢该课程的讲授风格, 但仍然使她对这一基础学科打下了坚实基础。最后一学年, 学校开设微生物学和遗传学两门新课, 克里斯蒂安娜被深深吸引。她积极地参加研讨班和学术研讨会, 内容涉及到蛋白质的合成和DNA的复制等。     

秧苗平面分布对水稻群体动态、冠层透光率及穗部性状的影响

以分蘖能力较强的水稻品种D优527为材料,研究秧苗平面分布对水稻群体动态、冠层透光率及穗部性状的影响.结果表明:平面分布无序不等距程度越大,群体茎蘖数越多,差异在栽后34 d达显著水平,但齐穗期差异不显著.移栽后水稻不同平面分布群体逐渐呈平面分布无序不等距程度越大茎蘖数变异系数越大的趋势,至拔节期以后达到显著或极显著水平.与均匀分布相比,水稻秧苗不等距平面分布有利于改善群体冠层透光性和成穗质量.     

不同克隆萼花臂尾轮虫的后代质量及其相关因素分析

在4个温度(15 ℃、20 ℃、25 ℃和30 ℃)下对4个不同生化遗传特征的萼花臂尾轮虫克隆(A、B、C和D)所产幼体的耐饥饿时间及其与温度、轮虫个体大小和卵大小等的关系进行研究.结果表明,15 ℃下克隆B幼体耐饥饿时间最短,为45.67 h;20 ℃和25 ℃下克隆C幼体耐饥饿时间均最长,分别为61.33 h和72.01 h;30 ℃下克隆A幼体耐饥饿时间最长,为40.11 h.4个温度间,克隆A轮虫幼体的耐饥饿时间在15 ℃下最长,克隆B和C轮虫幼体的耐饥饿时间在30 ℃下均最短,克隆D轮虫幼体的耐饥饿时间随培养温度的升高而逐步显著缩短.4个克隆轮虫的幼体耐饥饿时间均与温度呈显著负相关关系.克隆A轮虫的幼体耐饥饿时间还与卵体积呈显著负相关,克隆C相反;克隆B和克隆D轮虫幼体耐饥饿时间与个体体积呈显著正相关关系.