非生物胁迫下植物表观遗传变异的研究进展

植物在整个生命过程中固着生长,不能主动躲避外界不良环境的危害,需要通过自身的防御机制来抵御和适应外界胁迫,而表观遗传修饰在调控植物应对不良环境胁迫中起重要作用。该文从DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰、染色质重塑和非编码RNA等方面进行了综述,主要阐述了近年来国内外有关非生物胁迫下植物的表观遗传变化,以期为利用表观遗传变异提高植物的抗胁迫能力提供参考。     

昆虫神经生物学研究技术:触角电位图记录

触角电位图记录是昆虫神经生物学中用于昆虫嗅觉、信息素生物测定研究的重要技术之一。该技术具有敏感性、选择性高及操作简单易行等优点。该文以荷兰Syntech公司的产品为例详细介绍了此技术原理、装置、操作及应用     

盐胁迫对三角叶滨藜根选择透性和反射系数的影响

以Hoagland溶液培养的三角叶滨藜幼苗为材料,分别采用电导率法、原子吸收分光光度计法和压力室法测定了不同浓度盐胁迫下三角叶滨藜根的质膜透性、离子吸收和根系反射系数,分析其抗盐特点和机制.结果表明:随着盐胁迫强度的增加,三角叶滨藜根细胞质膜透性增大、根系反射系数减小;盐胁迫导致三角叶滨藜根系对K+的总吸收量减少、对Na+的总吸收量增多,但对Na+的相对吸收量减少、对K+的相对吸收量增加.盐胁迫条件下,三角叶滨藜根系对离子吸收有较强的调节能力;而根系反射系数的减小有利于根系用较小的负压力吸收水分,减小木质部空化的危险.说明三角叶滨藜具有较高的抗盐能力.     

Toll-like Receptors as a Target of Food-derived Anti-inflammatory Compounds

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a key role in linking pathogen recognition with the induction of innate immunity. They have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases, representing potential targets for prevention/treatment. Vegetable-rich diets are associated with the reduced risk of several inflammatory disorders. In the present study, based on an extensive screening of vegetable extracts for TLR-inhibiting activity in HEK293 cells co-expressing TLR with the NF-κB reporter gene, we found cabbage and onion extracts to be the richest sources of a TLR signaling inhibitor. To identify the active substances, we performed activity-guiding separation of the principal inhibitors and identified 3-methylsulfinylpropyl isothiocyanate (iberin) from the cabbage and quercetin and quercetin 4′-O-β-glucoside from the onion, among which iberin showed the most potent inhibitory effect. It was revealed that iberin specifically acted on the dimerization step of TLRs in the TLR signaling pathway. To gain insight into the inhibitory mechanism of TLR dimerization, we developed a novel probe combining an isothiocyanate-reactive group and an alkyne functionality for click chemistry and detected the probe bound to the TLRs in living cells, suggesting that iberin disrupts dimerization of the TLRs via covalent binding. Furthermore, we designed a variety of iberin analogues and found that the inhibition potency was influenced by the oxidation state of the sulfur. Modeling studies of the iberin analogues showed that the oxidation state of sulfur might influence the global shape of the isothiocyanates. These findings establish the TLR dimerization step as a target of food-derived anti-inflammatory compounds.     

Involvement of Putrescine,Nitric Oxide,and Hydrogen Peroxide in Methyl Jasmonate-Induced Ginsenoside Synthesis in Adventitious Root Cultures of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - The adventitious root (AR) culture of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer is an alternative route for mass production of ginsenosides. During the AR culture of P. ginseng,...     

Integrative genomic phylogeography reveals signs of mitonuclear incompatibility in a natural hybrid goby population

Hybridization between divergent lineages generates new allelic combinations. One mechanism that can hinder the formation of hybrid populations is mitonuclear incompatibility, that is, dysfunctional interactions between proteins encoded in the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of diverged lineages. Theoretically, selective pressure due to mitonuclear incompatibility can affect genotypes in a hybrid population in which nuclear genomes and mitogenomes from divergent lineages admix. To directly and thoroughly observe this key process, we de novo sequenced the 747‐Mb genome of the coastal goby, Chaenogobius annularis, and investigated its integrative genomic phylogeographics using RNA‐sequencing, RAD‐sequencing, genome resequencing, whole mitogenome sequencing, amplicon sequencing, and small RNA‐sequencing. Chaenogobius annularis populations have been geographically separated into Pacific Ocean (PO) and Sea of Japan (SJ) lineages by past isolation events around the Japanese archipelago. Despite the divergence history and potential mitonuclear incompatibility between these lineages, the mitogenomes of the PO and SJ lineages have coexisted for generations in a hybrid population on the Sanriku Coast. Our analyses revealed accumulation of nonsynonymous substitutions in the PO‐lineage mitogenomes, including two convergent substitutions, as well as signals of mitochondrial lineage‐specific selection on mitochondria‐related nuclear genes. Finally, our data implied that a microRNA gene was involved in resolving mitonuclear incompatibility. Our integrative genomic phylogeographic approach revealed that mitonuclear incompatibility can affect genome evolution in a natural hybrid population.     

New inhibitors of fungal 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase based on the [1,5]-benzodiazepine scaffold

The synthesis and activity of a new series of non-steroidal inhibitors of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase that are based on a 1,5-benzodiazepine scaffold are presented. Their inhibitory potential was screened against 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from the fungus Cochliobolus lunatus (17β-HSDcl), a model enzyme of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily. Some of these compounds are potent inhibitors of 17β-HSDcl activity, with IC₅₀ values in the low micromolar range and represent promising lead compounds that should be further developed and investigated as inhibitors of human 17β-HSD isoforms, which are the enzymes associated with the development of many hormone-dependent and neuronal diseases.     

P1-Purinergic Receptor-Mediated Modulation of TSH Actions on FRTL-5 Thyroid Cells: Possible Switching From cAMP Pathway to Inositol Phosphate-Ca System

Abstract

In thyroid cells, a PI-agonist, via G₁ like protein, enhanced a TSH-induced I^?-efflux by intensifying a TSH-dependent inositol polyphosphate production followed by a Ca2⁺ mobilization, but diminished a TSH-dependent DNA synthesis by attenuating a TSH-dependent cAMP accumulation.