Characteristics of Cd accumulation and distribution in two sweet potato cultivars

In this study, we compared the chemical forms and subcellular distribution of Cd in high-Cd (X16) and low-Cd (N88) sweet potato cultivars through hydroponic experiments and examined the Cd distribution in their roots by histochemical staining. The results showed that inorganic and pectate/protein-integrated Cd predominated in the leaves, and Cd concentrations were significantly higher in X16 than in N88. However, in the roots, Cd was mostly integrated with pectate and protein, and Cd concentration was higher in N88 than in X16. It was mainly stored through vacuolar sequestration and cell wall binding. In the leaves and stems, Cd concentrations in all subcellular fractions were higher in X16 than in N88; the opposite was observed in the roots. In X16, Cd was mostly accumulated in the root stele, and its Cd translocation factor was higher than that of N88. Overall, the subcellular fractions of X16 roots retained less Cd than N88 roots, and more Cd entered the root stele of X16 and subsequently moved to the shoots. The higher amounts of inorganic, water-soluble, and pectate/protein-integrated Cd with high mobility in the shoots of X16 than in N88 might facilitate Cd remobilization to other tissues, but this needs to be further studied.     

CUL4B regulates autophagy via JNK signaling in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Aberrant expression of CUL4B was identified in various types of solid cancers. Cumulative evidences support the oncogenic role of CUL4B in cancers, including regulation of cell proliferation and signal transduction. However, its clinical value and potential pathogenic mechanism in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have not been described previously. Therefore, we hypothesize that overexpressed CUL4B may contribute to the pathogenesis of DLBCL. The aim of this study is to assess the expression and the biological function of CUL4B in DLBCL progression. In our study, CUL4B overexpression was observed in DLBCL tissues, and its upregulation was closely associated with poor prognosis in patients. Furthermore, the functional roles of CUL4B was detected both in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that silencing CUL4B could not only induce cell proliferation inhibition, cell cycle arrest, and motility attenuation of DLBCL cells in vitro, but also decrease tumor growth in DLBCL xenografts mice. In addition, we identi?ed that CUL4B may act as a potent inductor of JNK phosphorylation in regulation of autophagy. Our findings demonstrated a significant role of CUL4B in the development and progression of DLBCL. CUL4B may act as a useful biomarker and a novel therapeutic target in DLBCL.     

MiR‐140 modulates the inflammatory responses of Mycobacterium tuberculosis‐infected macrophages by targeting TRAF6

This study aimed to examine miR‐140 expression in clinical samples from tuberculosis (TB) patients and to explore the molecular mechanisms of miR‐140 in host‐bacterial interactions during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M tb) infections. The miR‐140 expression and relevant mRNA expression were detected by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR); the protein expression levels were analysed by ELISA and western blot; M tb survival was measured by colony formation unit assay; potential interactions between miR‐140 and the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of tumour necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor 6 (TRAF6) was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. MiR‐140 was up‐regulated in the human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from TB patients and in THP‐1 and U937 cells with M tb infection. Overexpression of miR‐140 promoted M tb survival; on the other hand, miR‐140 knockdown attenuated M tb survival. The pro‐inflammatory cytokines including interleukin 6, tumour necrosis‐α, interleukin‐1β and interferon‐γ were enhanced by M tb infection in THP‐1 and U937 cells. MiR‐140 overexpression reduced these pro‐inflammatory cytokines levels in THP‐1 and U937 cells with M tb infection; while knockdown of miR‐140 exerted the opposite actions. TRAF6 was identified to be a downstream target of miR‐140 and was negatively modulated by miR‐140. TRAF6 overexpression increased the pro‐inflammatory cytokines levels and partially restored the suppressive effects of miR‐140 overexpression on pro‐inflammatory cytokines levels in THP‐1 and U937 cells with M tb infection. In conclusion, our results implied that miR‐140 promoted M tb survival and reduced the pro‐inflammatory cytokines levels in macrophages with M tb infection partially via modulating TRAF6 expression.     

BAG3‐positive pancreatic stellate cells promote migration and invasion of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BAG3 is constitutively expressed in multiple types of cancer cells and its high expression is associated with tumour progression and poor prognosis of PDAC . However, little is known about the role of BAG3 in the regulation of stromal microenvironment of PDAC. The current study demonstrated that beside PDAC tumour cells, BAG3 was also expressed in some activated stroma cells in PDAC tissue, as well as in activated PSCs. In addition, the current study demonstrated that BAG3 expression in PSCs was involved in maintenance of PSCs activation and promotion of PDACs invasion via releasing multiple cytokines. The current study demonstrated that BAG3‐positive PSCs promoted invasion of PDACs via IL‐8, MCP1, TGF‐β2 and IGFBP2 in a paracrine manner. Furthermore, BAG3 sustained PSCs activation through IL‐6, TGF‐β2 and IGFBP2 in an autocrine manner. Thereby, the current study provides a new insight into the involvement of BAG3 in remodelling of stromal microenvironment favourable for malignant progression of PDAC, indicating that BAG3 might serve as a potential target for anti‐fibrosis of PDAC.     

Quantifying the Volumetric Performance Metrics of Supercapacitors

Nanostructured materials have greatly improved the performance of electrochemical energy storage devices because of the increased activity and surface area. However, nanomaterials (e.g., nanocarbons) normally possess low packing density, and thus occupy more space which restricts their suitability for making electrochemical devices as compact as possible. This has resulted in their low volumetric performance (capacitance, energy density, and power density), which is a practical obstacle for the application of nanomaterials in mobile and on‐board energy storage devices. While rating electrode materials for supercapacitors, their volumetric performance is equally important as the gravimetric metrics and more reliable in particular for systems with limited space. However, the adopted criteria for measuring the volumetric performance of supercapacitors vary in the literature. Identifying the appropriate performance criteria for the volumetric values will set a universal ground for valid comparison. Here, the authors discuss the rationale for quantifying the volumetric performance metrics of supercapacitors from the three progressive levels of materials, electrodes, and devices. It is hoped that these thoughts will be of value for the general community in energy storage research.     

Proteomic Analysis of Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) Subjected to Caprylic Acid Stress

Caprylic acid (CAP) is anticipated to be a potential biocontrol herbicide in the control of weeds, however the molecular mechanism of how CAP affects weeds is poorly understood. Here, the physiological and biochemical (protein‐level) changes in horseweed (Conyza canadensis L.) are studied under CAP treatment, with infrared gas analyzer and label‐free quantitative proteomics methods. In total, 112 differentially‐accumulated proteins (DAPs) (>1.5 fold change, p < 0.05) are present between treated horseweed and control samples, with 46 up‐regulated and 66 down‐regulated proteins. These DAPs are involved in 28 biochemical pathways, including photosynthesis pathways. In particular, six photosynthesis proteins show significant abundance changes in the CAP‐treated horseweed. The qRT‐PCR results confirm three of the six genes involved in photosynthesis. Moreover, by measuring photosynthesis characteristics, CAP was shown to decrease photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO₂ concentration, and the transpiration rate of horseweed. These results suggest that photosystem I is one of the main biological processes involved in the response of horseweed to CAP.