A first set of gene-derived polymorphic microsatellite markers in half-smooth tongue sole (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cynoglossus semilaevis</Emphasis>)

Half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) is a commercially important marine fish species in China. A set of type I microsatellite markers were identified through bioinformatic mining of the GenBank database. Thirteen of these markers showed polymorphisms through genotyping a sample of 30 individuals. A total of 47 alleles were detected, with an average of 3.6 alleles per locus. The number of alleles, observed and expected heterozygosity per locus ranged from two to five, from 0.14 to 0.93 and from 0.27 to 0.77, respectively. Three loci significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium after Bonferroni correction (P < 0.0038) and no significant linkage disequilibrum between pairs of loci was found. The markers identified in this study will contribute to construction of genetic linkage maps and mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) of C. semilaevis.     

Signaling pathways regulating dose-dependent dual effects of TNF-α on primary cultured Schwann cells

After peripheral nerve injury, Schwann cells are rapidly activated to participate in the regenerative process and modulate local immune reactions. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), one of the major initiators of the inflammatory cascade, has been known to exert pleiotropic functions during peripheral nerve injury and regeneration. In this study, we aimed to investigate the in vitro effects of TNF-α on peripheral neural cells. First, gene-microarray analysis was applied to the RNA samples extracted from injured peripheral nerves, providing the information of gene interactions post nerve injury. Then, after primary cultured Schwann cells were treated with increasing dosages (0–40 ng/ml) of TNF-α, cell proliferation and migration were examined by EdU incorporation and a transwell-based assay, and cell apoptosis was observed and quantified by electron microscopy and Annexin V-FITC assay, respectively. The results showed that lower dosages of TNF-α increased cell proliferation and migration, whereas higher dosages of TNF-α decreased cell proliferation and migration and enhanced cell apoptosis. The tests using a chemical inhibitor of TNF-α further confirmed the above effects of TNF-α. To understand how TNF-α produced the dose-dependent dual effects on primary cultured Schwann cells, we performed co-immunoprecipitation, Western blot analysis, and immunocytochemistry to decipher the complex network of biochemical pathways involving many signaling molecules, i.e., TNF receptor-associated death domain, Fas-associated death domain, receptor interacting protein, JNK, NF-κB p65, and caspases, thus assuming the mechanisms by which TNF-α activated the death and survival pathways and achieved a balance between the two opposite actions in primary cultured Schwann cells.     

Toxic effects of chrysoidine on human serum albumin: isothermal titration calorimetry and spectroscopic investigations

Chrysoidine is widely used in industry as a type of azo dye, and is sometimes used illegally as a food additive despite its potential toxicity. Human serum albumin (HSA) is one of the most important proteins in blood plasma and possesses major physiological functions. In the present study, the conformational and functional effects of chrysoidine on HSA were investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), multiple spectroscopic methods, a molecular docking study and an esterase activity assay. Based on the ITC results, the binding stoichiometry of chrysoidine to HSA was estimated to be 1.5:1, and was a spontaneous process via a single hydrogen bond. The binding of chrysoidine to HSA induced dynamic quenching in fluorescence, and changes in secondary structure and in the microenvironment of the Trp‐214 residue. In addition, the hydrogen bond (1.80 Å) formed between the chrysoidine molecule and the Gln‐211 residue. The esterase activity of HSA decreased following the addition chrysoidine due to the change in protein structure. This study details the direct interaction between chrysoidine and HSA at the molecular level and the mechanism for toxicity as a result of the functional changes induced by HSA structural variation upon binding to chrysoidine in vitro. This study provides useful information towards detailing the transportation mechanism and toxicity of chrysoidine in vivo. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biological invasion hotspots: a trait‐based perspective reveals new sub‐continental patterns

Invader traits (including plant growth form) may play an important, and perhaps overlooked, role in determining macroscale patterns of biological invasions and therefore warrant greater consideration in future investigations aimed at understanding these patterns. To assess this need, we used empirical data from a national‐level survey of forest in the contiguous 48 states of the USA to identify geographic hotspots of forest plant invasion for three distinct invasion characteristics: invasive species richness, trait richness (defined as the number of the five following plant growth forms represented by the invasive plants present at a given location: forbs, grasses, shrubs, trees, and vines), and species richness within each growth form. Three key findings emerged. 1) The hotspots identified encompassed from 9 to 23% of the total area of our study region, thereby revealing many forests to be not only invaded, but highly invaded. 2) Substantial spatial disagreement among hotspots of invasive species richness, invasive trait richness, and species richness of invasive plants within each growth form revealed many locations to be hotspots for invader traits, or for particular growth forms of invasive plants, rather than for invasive plants in general. 3) Despite eastern forests exhibiting higher levels of plant invasion than western forests, species richness for invasive forbs and grasses in the west were respectively greater than and equivalent to levels found in the east. Contrasting patterns between eastern and western forests in the number of invasive species detected for each growth form combined with the spatial disagreement found among hotspot types suggests trait‐based variability in invasion drivers. Our findings reveal invader traits to be an important contributor to macroscale invasion patterns.     

Water management,rice varieties and mycorrhizal inoculation influence arsenic concentration and speciation in rice grains

A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of water management and mycorrhizal inoculation on arsenic (As) uptake by two rice varieties, the As-resistant BRRI dhan 47 (B47) and As-sensitive BRRI dhan 29 (B29). Grain As concentration of B47 plants was significantly lower than that of B29, and grain As concentration of B47 was higher under flooding conditions than that under aerobic conditions. In general, mycorrhizal inoculation (Rhizophagus irregularis) had no significant effect on grain As concentrations, but decreased the proportion of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in grains of B47. The proportion of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in the total grain As was dramatically higher under flooding conditions. Results demonstrate that rice variety selection and appropriate water management along with mycorrhizal inoculation could be practical countermeasures to As accumulation and toxicity in rice grains, thus reducing health risks of As exposure in rice diets.