The sensitivity of the dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium cohnii to transient hydrodynamic forces and cell-bubble interactions

The increased interest in the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for human health has resulted in the commercial development of the dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium cohnii for production of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The growing market demand for DHA requires highly efficient, very large scale cultures of DHA. While the effects of hydrodynamic forces on dinoflagellates have been investigated for several decades, the majority of the work focused on the negative effects of oceanic turbulence on the population growth of environmentally important dinoflagellates. In contrast, significantly less is known on the effect of hydrodynamic forces encountered by algae in bioprocesses. Unlike other studies conducted on algae, this study employed a microfluidic, flow contraction device to evaluate the effect of transient hydrodynamic forces on C. cohnii cells. It was found that C. cohnii cells can sustain the energy dissipation rate of 5.8 x 10(7) W/m3 without lysis. However, an obvious sublethal effect, the loss of flagella, was observed at a lower level of 1.6 x 10(7) W/m3. Finally the cell-bubble interaction and the effect of bubble rupture were also explored to simulate the conditions of sparged bioreactors.     

JAK-STAT signaling mediates the senescence of cartilage-derived stem/progenitor cells

Journal of Molecular Histology - Aging is a major risk factor for degenerative joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA). Previous studies have confirmed the link between senescent mesenchymal...     

荒漠短命植物不同生长期化学计量特征与生境土壤因子关系分析

深入了解荒漠短命植物的化学计量特征,有助于更好地理解生境土壤因子与植物生存策略的关系。以古尔班通古特沙漠广泛分布的尖喙牻牛儿苗（Erodium oxyrrhynchum）、假狼紫草（Nonea caspica）、琉苞菊（Hyalea pulchella）、飘带果（Lactuca undulata）为植物材料,测定不同深度（0~5、5~10、10~15 cm）的土壤理化性质,野外原位多时段采样比较分析4种植物化学计量特征与土壤因子的动态变化及其耦合关系。结果表明：①4种短命植物碳（C）、氮（N）、磷（P）含量普遍较低,化学计量特征存在物种间差异,但在不同生长期内变化规律大致相似。N、P含量从幼苗期到结实期逐渐减少,而C含量则长期趋于稳定。整个生长期内,P、C∶P的变异幅度较大,相反,C、N∶P的变异幅度较小。4种植物在不同生长期的化学计量特征差异与生长期、植物种类存在显著相关性。②0~5 cm土层有机碳（SOC）、总氮（TN）、总磷（TP）含量最高,且随土层的加深逐渐减少。随着植物的生长,0~5 cm土层中SOC和TN含量呈明显增加的趋势,而TP含量却呈现抛物线状变化趋势。在植物不同生长期内,土壤TP含量稳定性最强,SOC、TN的变异性较强,较低的N含量及TN∶TP比显示出该区域土壤属于N素缺乏类型。3个土层土壤在不同生长期的化学计量特征差异受土层、生长期的影响显著。③4种植物与各层次土壤化学计量特征的相关性无一致规律。植物化学计量指标仅与0~10 cm土层SOC、SOC∶TP相关性较强,而大部分化学计量特征间未显示出相关性。上述结果说明植物化学计量特征并非全部由土壤养分特征直接决定,其明显的种间差异显示了植物自身遗传特性在土壤—植物计量特征耦合关系的重要性。     

两种荒漠豆科植物化学计量特征与生境土壤因子的关系

豆科植物是荒漠等干旱生态系统的重要先锋物种,也是生态系统中有效氮的主要来源。为了明确荒漠豆科植物与生境土壤因子之间的关系,该研究以古尔班通古特沙漠广泛分布的荒漠豆科植物弯花黄芪(Astragalus flexus)、镰荚黄芪(Astragalus arpilobus)为对象,测定不同土壤深度(0~5、5~10、10~15 cm)的理化性质,比较分析2种荒漠豆科植物化学计量特征与土壤因子的关系。结果表明:(1)弯花黄芪碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量分别为373.35、25.66、1.03 mg·g^-1,高于镰荚黄芪的331.53、19.59、0.66 mg·g^-1,且二者的N、P含量均差异显著(P<0.05);弯花黄芪的C∶P、N∶P分别为374.38、25.75,均极显著高于镰荚黄芪的166.09、10.12(P<0.01),而弯花黄芪的C∶N(14.62)低于镰荚黄芪(16.99),两种植物的C和C∶N均无显著差异。(2)豆科植物生境土壤在0~5 cm土层的有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)含量最高,且随土层的加深逐渐减少;土壤化学计量比SOC∶TN、SOC∶TP均随土层加深逐渐增大,而TN∶TP值随土层加深逐渐减少;较低的N含量及TN∶TP 显示该区域土壤属于N素缺乏类型。(3)2种荒漠豆科植物与各层次土壤化学计量特征的相关性无一致规律。其中,弯花黄芪立地0~10 cm土层的TN与N∶P间呈负相关关系,TP与P间呈极显著负相关关系,而TP与C∶N间呈正相关关系,SOC∶TN与N∶P间呈极显著正相关关系;在10~15 cm土层中,SOC∶TN与N∶P间呈正相关关系。镰荚黄芪中仅P含量与其立地0~5 cm土层的SOC∶TP具有极显著正相关关系,而大部分化学计量特征间未显示出相关性。(4)弯花黄芪的植物化学计量指标P含量与5~10 cm土层的电导率(EC)间呈极显著正相关关系,N含量与10~15 cm土层的速效钾(AK)间呈正相关关系;而镰荚黄芪N、AP与N∶P与0~5 cm土层的速效磷(AP)间均呈极显著负相关关系,与其他土层未出现相关关系。研究认为,古尔班通古特沙漠土壤N含量以及TN∶TP较低,土壤N元素贫瘠,且该区豆科植物立地土壤养分含量总体偏低;该区弯花黄芪生长的主要限制元素为P,而镰荚黄芪生长的主要限制元素为N和P;植物化学计量特征并非全部由土壤养分特征直接决定,其明显的种间差异显示植物自身遗传特性在土壤 植物计量特征耦合关系的重要性。     

Development of 28 EST‐SSR markers based on transcriptome sequences of Gobiobotia filifer and cross‐species amplification

Gobiobotia filifer is a small benthic fish distributed in Yangtze River Basin. The abundance of G. filifer increased after impoundment of Xiluodu Dam and Xiangjiaba Dam. The state of population structure and changes of genetic diversity before and after impoundment of Xiluodu Dam and Xiangjiaba Dam were interesting issues. However, efficient molecular markers were rare, which will limit us to solve above problems. Twenty‐eight expressed sequence tag SSRs (EST‐SSRs) were successfully identified and verified as stable amplification and polymorphic loci by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and capillary electrophoresis. The number of alleles at these EST‐SSR loci ranged from 3 to 14, the polymorphism information content values were 0.125–0.897, and the observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.0–0.857 and 0.132–0.928, respectively. Cross‐species amplification of the 28 loci developed in this study was examined in seven individuals of each of the 7 taxa. The amplification efficiency of 28 EST‐SSRs primer pairs is related to the distance of genetic relationship between cross‐species with G. filifer, and same subfamily species (Xenophysogobio boulengeri and Xenophysogobio nudicorpa) showed the highest (50%) amplification efficiency. These EST‐SSR markers could be used to analyse genetic diversity and population structure of G. filifer and related species.     

Universal stress protein in Malus sieversii confers enhanced drought tolerance

Journal of Plant Research - Drought is an important environmental factor that can severely affect plant growth and reproduction. Although many genes related to drought tolerance have been studied...     

Exploring the structural determinants of novel xanthine derivatives as A2B adenosine receptor antagonists: a computational study

Adenosine is a ubiquitous endogenous nucleoside that controls numerous physiological functions via interacting with its specific G-coupled receptors. Activation of adenosine receptors (AdoRs), particularly A_2B AdoRs promotes the release of inflammatory cytokines; reduces vascular permeabilization and induces angiogenesis, thereby making A_2B AdoR becomes a potentially pharmacological target for drug development. Presently, for investigating the structural determinants of 164 xanthine derivatives as A_2B AdoR antagonists, we performed an in silico study integrating with 3D-QSAR, docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The obtained optimal model shows strong predictability (Q²?=?0.647, R²_ncv?=?0.955, and R²_pred?=?0.848). Additionally, to explore the binding mode of the ligand with A_2B AdoR and to understand their binding mechanism, docking analysis, MD simulations (20?ns), and the calculation of binding free energy were also carried out. Finally, the structural determinants of these xanthine derivatives were identified and a total of 20 novel A_2B AdoR antagonists with improved potency were computationally designed, and their synthetic feasibility and selectivity were also evaluated. The information derived from the present study offers a better appreciation for exploring the interaction mechanism of the ligand with A_2B AdoR, which could be helpful for designing novel potent A_2B AdoR antagonists.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma