Amylin increases cyclic AMP formation in L6 myocytes through calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors.

The cellular function of amylin is investigated in L6 myocytes, a rat skeletal muscle cell line. Both rat amylin and human amylin-amide acutely cause a dose-dependent increase in cyclic AMP formation in L6 myocytes. 100 nM amylin stimulates intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations 12-fold, whereas human amylin-amide at this concentration causes only a 2-fold increase. Up to 10 mM human amylin has no effect on cyclic AMP levels. Rat calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is more potent than amylin, causing a 60-fold increase over basal at 1 nM, with an EC50 value of 0.2 nM. The CGRP receptor antagonist, human CGRP8-37 (hCGRP8-37), completely blocks the stimulatory effect of both rat amylin and human amylin-amide on cyclic AMP production. [125I]CGRP binds specifically to a membrane fraction prepared from L6 [125I]CGRP with a Ki of 0.9 nM, while rat amylin also displaces [125I]CGRP with a Ki of 91 nM. Specific binding of [125I]CGRP to plasma membranes of rat liver and brain is also displaced by rat amylin with Ki values of 35 nM and 37 nM, respectively. In contrast, specific binding of [125I]amylin to numerous cells and tissues, under similar conditions, can not be demonstrated. These results suggest that the cellular effects and physiological actions of amylin may be mediated through receptors for CGRP.     

Chromosome-level genome assembly and characterization of Sophora Japonica

Sophora japonica is a medium-size deciduous tree belonging to Leguminosae family and famous for its high ecological, economic and medicinal value. Here, we reveal a draft genome of S. japonica, which was ∼511.49 Mb long (contig N50 size of 17.34 Mb) based on Illumina, Nanopore and Hi-C data. We reliably assembled 110 contigs into 14 chromosomes, representing 91.62% of the total genome, with an improved N50 size of 31.32 Mb based on Hi-C data. Further investigation identified 271.76 Mb (53.13%) of repetitive sequences and 31,000 protein-coding genes, of which 30,721 (99.1%) were functionally annotated. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that S. japonica separated from Arabidopsis thaliana and Glycine max ∼107.53 and 61.24 million years ago, respectively. We detected evidence of species-specific and common-legume whole-genome duplication events in S. japonica. We further found that multiple TF families (e.g. BBX and PAL) have expanded in S. japonica, which might have led to its enhanced tolerance to abiotic stress. In addition, S. japonica harbours more genes involved in the lignin and cellulose biosynthesis pathways than the other two species. Finally, population genomic analyses revealed no obvious differentiation among geographical groups and the effective population size continuously declined since 2 Ma. Our genomic data provide a powerful comparative framework to study the adaptation, evolution and active ingredients biosynthesis in S. japonica. More importantly, our high-quality S. japonica genome is important for elucidating the biosynthesis of its main bioactive components, and improving its production and/or processing.     

三种线性模型在杉木与马尾松地位指数相关关系研究中的比较

地位指数法是当前立地质量评价中广泛采用的一种评定方法。在同一立地上,实现不同树种地位指数之间的转换,建立地位指数互导模型有助于立地质量的评定.譬如,在某一立地上现时生长着马尾松,欲知在马尾松被采伐后营造杉木林的生长潜力,这时就可利用上层木树种间地位指数的关系进行立地质量评定。以雪峰山杉木与马尾松地位指数配对样地数据为基础,建立了杉木与马尾松地位指数的常规线性模型、对偶回归模型和度量误差线性模型,从建模精度和模型适用性检验两方面,对3种模型进行了比较分析。结果表明3种模型的精度均比较高,模型效果差异不明显,其中,常规线性模型、度量误差模型和对偶回归模型的相对误差分别为5.39%、5.39%和5.54%。由于杉木地位指数和马尾松地位指数均存在度量误差,因此,线性度量误差模型和对偶回归模型比常规线性模型更适宜,这是因为,前两种模型的自变量和因变量是可以存在度量误差的,而后者的因变量是没有度量误差的。此外,线性度量误差模型的相对误差比对偶回归模型的要小,所以,3种线性模型中,线性度量误差模型最优。研究结果实现了相同立地条件下杉木地位指数和马尾松地位指数的互导,为不同树种间的立地质量评价提供了可行的方法。     

Hemin with Peroxidase Activity Can Inhibit the Oxidative Damage Induced by Ultraviolet A

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), a highly reactive substance that contains oxygen, induced by ultraviolet A (UVA) cause oxidative damage to skin. We confirmed that hemin can catalyze the reaction of tyrosine (Tyr) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Catalysis was found to effectively reduce or eliminate oxidative damage to cells induced by H₂O₂ or UVA. The scavenging effects of hemin for other free-radical ROS were also evaluated through pyrogallol autoxidation, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH·)-scavenging assays, and phenanthroline–Fe²⁺ assays. The results show that a mixture of hemin and tyrosine exhibits strong scavenging activities for H₂O₂, superoxide anion (O₂⁻·), DPPH·, and the hydroxyl radical (·OH). Furthermore, the inhibition of oxidative damage to human skin keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells induced by H₂O₂ or UVA was evaluated. The results show that catalysis can significantly reduce the ratio of cell apoptosis and death and inhibit the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, the resistance to apoptosis was found to be enhanced. These results show that the mixture of hemin and tyrosine has a significantly protective effect against oxidative damage to HaCaT cells caused by UVA, suggesting it as a protective agent for combating UVA damage.