PLCγ1 inhibition-driven autophagy of IL-1β-treated chondrocyte confers cartilage protection against osteoarthritis,involving AMPK,Erk and Akt

Previous studies identified the involvement of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) γ1 in some events of chondrocytes. This study aims to investigate whether and how PLCγ1 modulates autophagy to execute its role in osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Rat normal or human OA chondrocytes were pretreated with IL-1β for mimicking or sustaining OA pathological condition. Using Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, qPCR, immunofluorescence and Dimethylmethylene blue assays, and ELISA and transmission electron microscope techniques, we found that PLCγ1 inhibitor U73122 enhanced Collagen II, Aggrecan and GAG levels, accompanied with increased LC3B-II/I ratio and decreased P62 expression level, whereas autophagy inhibitor Chloroquine partially diminished its effect. Meanwhile, U73122 dissociated Beclin1 from Beclin1-IP3R-Bcl-2 complex and blocked mTOR/ULK1 axis, in which the crosstalk between PLCγ1, AMPK, Erk and Akt were involved. Additionally, by haematoxylin and eosin, Safranin O/Fast green, and immunohistochemistry staining, we observed that intra-articular injection of Ad-shPLCγ1-1/2 significantly enhanced Collagen and Aggrecan levels, accompanied with increased LC3B and decreased P62 levels in a rat OA model induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection and medial meniscus resection. Consequently, PLCγ1 inhibition-driven autophagy conferred cartilage protection against OA through promoting ECM synthesis in OA chondrocytes in vivo and in vitro, involving the crosstalk between PLCγ1, AMPK, Erk and Akt.     

Digestion-Promoting Effects and Mechanisms of Dashanzha Pill Based on Raw and Charred Crataegi Fructus

Emerging evidence suggests that a high-fat diet (HFD) can influence endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and gut microbiota. Crataegi Fructus is a traditional Chinese herb widely used in formulas for dyspepsia, with Dashanzha Pill composed of raw Crataegi Fructus (DR) being a representative drug. Processing products of Crataegi Fructus, however, have a stronger pro-digestive effect, and we hypothesized that Dashanzha Pill composed of charred Crataegi Fructus (DC) is more effective. We found that the contents of glucose 1-phosphate and luteolin in DR and DC were substantially different via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. DC outperformed DR in improving histopathological changes, increasing gastrin and motilin, and decreasing vasoactive intestinal peptides in rats with HFD induced dyspepsia. Fecal microbiota analysis revealed that DC could restore the disturbed intestinal microbiota composition, including that of Bacteroides, Akkermansia, and Intestinimonas to normal levels. Furthermore, DC significantly reduced the mRNA and protein levels of glucose-regulated protein 78, protein kinase R-like ER kinase, and eukaryotic initiation factor 2α. Taken together, DC outperformed DR in relieving dyspepsia by regulating gut microbiota and alleviating ER stress.     

2020年发表的全球维管植物新种

为了解世界维管植物新物种的基本信息, 明确生物多样性面临的威胁, 总结未来研究方向, 本文对2020年世界维管植物新物种的数据进行了统计分析。根据国际植物名称索引(IPNI)的记录, 截至2021年2月1日, 2020年全球发现1,747种维管植物新种, 由1,544名植物学家(264位中国植物学家, 1,280位国外植物学家)发表在103种期刊和5本书中。1,747种维管植物新种包括被子植物1,689种、蕨类植物52种、裸子植物6种。其中大部分来源于维管植物最大的几个科, 例如菊科、兰科和胡椒科。植物学家描述的美洲南部和热带亚洲维管植物新种超过828种, 是2020年维管植物新种发现最重要的两个地区。中国、巴西和马达加斯加是2020年贡献维管植物新种最多的前三位, 分别有247、223、99个新种。值得关注的是, Phytotaxa和PhytoKeys是2020年发表维管植物新种的主要期刊, 分别发表644种和168种。在各物种新名称中, 有5个无效名称和2个不合法名称。尽管近年来对生物多样性的关注日益增加, 但世界上仍有许多物种尚未被发现, 需要对各个地区植物进一步调查和研究, 尤其是生物多样性热点地区和岛屿地区。     

青藏高原不同高寒草地类型土壤酶活性及其影响因子

土壤酶活性作为生态系统养分循环的关键因素, 是反映土壤质量和生态系统功能的重要指标, 但是关于高寒草地生态系统中不同草地类型间酶活性的差异研究还很少。因此, 该研究在藏北高寒草地选择高寒草甸、高寒草原、高寒草甸草原、高寒荒漠草原和高寒荒漠5种草地类型进行野外原位调查和采样, 测定了涉及碳(C)、氮(N)和磷(P)循环的14种酶的活性, 并建立了高寒草地酶活性与土壤微生物和土壤理化性质等环境因子的关系。结果表明: C循环酶(蔗糖酶、纤维素酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶、多酚氧化酶和过氧化物酶)和P循环酶(碱性磷酸酶)在不同高寒草地类型间活性差异明显, N循环酶中仅芳香氨基酶和亚硝酸盐还原酶两种酶在不同高寒草地类型间活性差异明显。同时, C、N和P循环酶之间存在一定的相关关系, 其中, 蔗糖酶和碱性磷酸酶、纤维素酶和α-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶活性显著正相关, 多酚氧化酶与亚硝酸还原酶和β-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶活性显著负相关。在测定的19个环境指标中, 土壤有机质(SOM)含量、革兰氏阴性菌数量、土壤N和P含量计量比、革兰氏阳性菌数量、细菌数量、放线菌数量、全氮含量、真菌数量是影响土壤酶活性的关键因子, 且SOM含量的影响最大(解释量为11.9%)。综上所述, 不同高寒草地类型间C循环酶、P循环酶和两种N循环酶(芳香氨基酶和亚硝酸还原酶)活性差异显著, SOM含量、微生物数量和N含量等是影响高寒草地生态系统土壤酶活性的关键因子。     

中国外来归化植物的编目现状及有关问题

在简要讨论外来植物相关定义的基础上, 对中国外来归化植物的调查和编目现状进行了概述; 并对近年发表的两篇文章中外来归化植物数据进行了订正。     

腾冲嗜热厌氧杆菌Cas2原核表达及生物信息学分析

为研究CRISPR/Cas系统及其相关蛋白Cas2(TTE2657)在腾冲嗜热厌氧杆菌热适应中的作用,应用PCR技术构建了原核重组质粒pET-28a::cas2,并在大肠埃希菌BL21表达Cas2蛋白;结合生物信息学软件对cas2编码蛋白的基本理化性质、氨基酸同源性、空间结构及蛋白质相互作用网络进行预测和分析。结果显示,成功构建了原核表达载体pET-28a::cas2并在大肠埃希菌BL21中得到表达,Cas2分子质量大小为9.9 ku,主要以可溶性形式存在;qRT-PCR显示cas2 mRNA在60℃和75℃高表达;生物信息学分析显示cas2基因其完整的ORF全长264 bp,编码88个氨基酸,其中Ile(14)、Ser(14)、Phe (12)含量较高,等电点为9.31,不存在跨膜结构。其蛋白质二级空间结构以α-螺旋、无规则卷曲、β-折叠为主,蛋白互作预测网络显示Cas2与Cas3、Cas5、Cas7等其家族大部分蛋白存在相互作用。进化树分析显示腾冲嗜热厌氧杆菌cas2基因与厌氧菌芽胞杆菌B7M1同源性最高(39.5%)。腾冲嗜热厌氧杆菌cas2编码蛋白是一种亲水性蛋白,在原核系统能高效表达。本研究为嗜热蛋白质的热稳定性机制的研究提供参考。     

The impacts of Harmonia axyridis cues on foraging behavior of Aphidius gifuensis to Myzus persicae

This study investigated the effect of adult associated cues of the multicolored Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on the foraging behavior of the aphid parasitoid, Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Aphididae) with three assays: 1) whole aphid leaf-disc with H. axyridis tracks; 2) aphid leaf-disc with only half contaminated with H. axyridis tracks; 3) aphid leaf-discs without H. axyridis tracks. Foraging behavior of A. gifuensis was recorded using the Observer® XT 11 and EthoVsion® XT 12. In addition, functional responses of A. gifuensis in patches with or without H. axyridis cues were also tested. Aphidius gifuensis females preferred oviposition in arenas where no adult tracks of H. axyridis were present. However, no significant difference between functional responses of A. gifuensis foraging in plants with and without H. axyridis cues was detected. Our study suggests that H. axyridis associated cues could influence the foraging behavior and activity of A. gifuensis under laboratory conditions. On the other hand, the foraging efficiency of A. gifuensis was not significantly affected by H. axyridis walking tracks in a single plant system. Aphidius gifuensis might exhibit flexible behavioral responses to predator associated cues. The risk of intraguild interactions and the possibility of mitigating such risks for parasitoids are important components for ultimately determining the compatibility of biological control agents.     

Metabolic dynamics across prolonged diapause development in larvae of the sawfly,Cephalcia chuxiongica (Hymenoptera: Pamphiliidae)

Nutrient metabolism is crucial for the survival of insects through the diapause. However, little is known about the metabolic mechanism of prolonged diapause. The sawfly, Cephalcia chuxiongica (Hymenoptera: Pamphiliidae), is a notorious defoliator of pine trees in southwest China. One of the distinguishing biological characteristics of this pest is the prolonged diapause of about 1.5 years. In this study, the body lipid, carbohydrate (total body sugar, glycogen, trehalose, and glucose), protein, and glycerol contents were measured in diapausing larvae of C. chuxiongica. The results showed that the changes of biochemical composition in C. chuxiongica are associated with the diapause initiation, maintenance, and termination phases. During the initiation phase, trehalose, glucose, and glycerol increased significantly, but glycogen decreased sharply. In general, the lipid, carbohydrate, and glycerol levels decreased gradually across the maintenance phase. At termination phase, the contents of glycogen and lipid persistently decreased, while an increase of trehalose, glucose, and glycerol contents were detected. The protein level was significantly higher at maintenance phase than at initiation and termination phases. It was also found that elevation of trehalose, glucose, and glycerol contents occurred in winter. These implies that the metabolites with altered levels in diapausing larvae of C. chuxiongica are responsible for maintaining a prolonged development and overwintering.     

畜禽钙磷和微量元素营养研究进展

矿物元素在畜禽生长发育、新陈代谢、神经活动、免疫功能、内分泌等几乎所有的生命活动过程中都发挥着重要的生理作用,分为钙、磷、钠、镁等常量元素和铁、锰、钴、铜等微量元素。某种矿物元素摄入不足或在体内过量蓄积、矿物元素间比例失调,都将引起严重后果。随着畜禽养殖业的集约化规模化发展,饲用矿物元素用量迅速增加,但存在不合理使用的情况,造成了资源浪费和环境污染。因此,在满足畜禽营养需要量的前提下,合理地使用矿物元素剂型及剂量,实现降低矿物元素经畜禽粪污向环境中的排放量,不仅利于集约化畜禽养殖业的发展,同时也能有效降低畜禽粪污中的重金属含量,为种植业提供优良的有机肥来源,维护生态系统的平衡,促进种植业和养殖业的可持续健康发展。基于此,以畜禽体内含量最高的常量元素钙磷和微量元素为切入点,介绍了饲用矿物元素的应用现状、畜禽矿物元素基础需要量及合适的添加范围,着重综述了新型饲用微量元素的开发与应用进展,并探讨了矿物元素动态饲喂模式的可行性及有效性,以期为合理利用矿物元素资源及进一步解决全球生态农业研究的畜禽矿物元素导致的环境污染提供参考。