Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on the formation of radicals in maize starches with different amylose content

Native and high pressure-treated (water suspensions, 650 MPa) waxy maize starch, containing mainly amylopectin, and Hylon VII, rich in amylose, were studied for their ability to generate free radicals upon thermal treatment at 180–230 °C. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to characterize the nature, number and stability of radicals. Various stable and short living (stabilized by N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN) spin trap) radical species were formed. It was found, that at given conditions the waxy maize starch reveals higher ability to generate radicals, than Hylon VII. The presence of water and high pressure pretreatment of starches, both resulted in the reduction of the amount of thermally generated radicals. The decrease in crystallinity of waxy maize starch and of Hylon VII, occurring upon high pressure treatment, leads to the increase of the relative amount of fast rotating component in the EPR spectrum of both types of starches.     

Transgenerational inheritance of centromere identity requires the CENP-A N-terminal tail in the C. elegans maternal germ line

Centromere protein A (CENP-A) is a histone H3 variant that defines centromeric chromatin and is essential for centromere function. In most eukaryotes, CENP-A-containing chromatin is epigenetically maintained, and centromere identity is inherited from one cell cycle to the next. In the germ line of the holocentric nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, this inheritance cycle is disrupted. CENP-A is removed at the mitosis-to-meiosis transition and is reestablished on chromatin during diplotene of meiosis I. Here, we show that the N-terminal tail of CENP-A is required for the de novo establishment of centromeres, but then its presence becomes dispensable for centromere maintenance during development. Worms homozygous for a CENP-A tail deletion maintain functional centromeres during development but give rise to inviable offspring because they fail to reestablish centromeres in the maternal germ line. We identify the N-terminal tail of CENP-A as a critical domain for the interaction with the conserved kinetochore protein KNL-2 and argue that this interaction plays an important role in setting centromere identity in the germ line. We conclude that centromere establishment and maintenance are functionally distinct in C. elegans.

This study of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans shows that centromere identity is set in the maternal germ line and passed on to the progeny via an epigenetic mechanism that requires the N-terminal tail of the centromeric histone H3 variant CENP-A.     

Volatile induction of infected and neighbouring uninfected plants potentially influence attraction/repellence of a cereal herbivore

Pathogen infection can induce plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We infected ‘McNeal’ wheat and ‘Harrington’ barley with a Fusarium spp. blend (F. graminearum,F. avenaceum and F. culmorum). Both cereals had the greatest VOC induction 14 days after pathogen innoculation, only slightly lower induction occurred at 7 days, but displayed no induction at 1 days. The induced VOC bouquet for both cereals included six green leaf volatiles (GLVs; e.g. (Z)‐3‐hexenol and (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate), four terpenes (linalool, linalool oxide, (Z)‐β‐ocimene and (E)‐β‐caryophyllene) and benzyl acetate. Neighbouring, uninfected individuals of both cereals had significant VOC induction when exposed to an infected, conspecific plant. The temporal pattern and VOC blend were qualitatively similar to infected plants but with quantitative reductions for all induced VOCs. The degree of neighbouring, uninfected plant induction was negatively related to distance from an infected plant. Plant VOC induction in response to pathogen infection potentially influences herbivore attraction or repellency. Y‐tube tests showed that herbivorous female and male Oulema cyanella Voet. (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) were significantly attracted to (Z)‐3‐hexenal and (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate at 300 and 1500 ng/h but were repelled by both GLVs as well as (Z)‐β‐ocimene and linalool at 7500 ng/h. These O. cyanella behavioural responses were significantly at higher concentrations than those emitted by single plants with pathogen‐induced VOCs, so adults might only be able to respond to a dense group of infected plants. Also, O. cyanella dose responses differ from the previously tested congeneric O. melanopus (cereal leaf beetle), which was attracted to three VOCs induced by Fusarium infection of maize, barley and wheat. Future behavioural tests may indicate whether different herbivore dose responses measured with each VOC singly can help to predict attraction or repellency to injured and uninjured VOC bouquets from different host plant species.     

The interspecific competition presents greater nutrient facilitation compared with intraspecific competition through AM fungi interacting with litter for two host plants in karst soil

AM 真菌和枯落物互作下两种喀斯特植物种间竞争较种内竞争更能促进植物养分利用枯落物是植物养分获取和土壤养分转化的关键载体。丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhizae, AM)对植物养分摄取的影响已被广泛认知。然而,在养分亏缺的喀斯特生境中,不同竞争方式的植物如何通过AM真菌和枯落物利用养分尚不清楚。本研究对两种喀斯特适生植物构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)和云贵鹅耳枥(Carpinus pubescens)进行种内竞争和种  间竞争种植处理,并通过幼套球 囊霉(Glomus etunicatum)接种或不接种处理,以及土壤中添加或不添加两物种叶片混合枯落物处理,测定了植物生物量以及氮、磷、钾浓度等指标,研究植物的生长和养分利用。研究结果表明,AM真菌对两种植物养分摄取影响不同,AM真菌显著提高了种内和种间竞争下构树的养分摄取量,但降低了云贵鹅耳枥的养分摄取量。种间竞争下接种AM真菌,枯落物添加促进了云贵鹅耳枥对氮的摄取,抑制了构树对氮的摄取。接种AM真菌和添加枯落物条件下,种间竞争的构树对氮、磷和钾的摄取量及云贵鹅耳枥对氮的摄取量均高于种内竞争;种间竞争下两物种养分竞争力呈现明显差异,即构树对磷和钾养分竞争力显著提高,对氮则不显著;云贵鹅耳枥仅对钾的养分竞争力显著降低,对氮和磷则无显著影响。这些结果说明,在AM真菌与枯落物相互作用下,两种喀斯特植物种间竞争较种内竞争更能促进植物养分利用。     

The SHH/Gli axis regulates CD90‐mediated liver cancer stem cell function by activating the IL6/JAK2 pathway

The cell surface antigen CD90 has recently been established as a promising marker for liver cancer stem cells. This study aimed to investigate potential implications of SHH/Gli signalling in CD90+ liver cancer stem cells. Correlation of the expression of SHH signalling components and CD90 in liver cancer cells and clinical tissues, as well as in enriched CD90+ liver cancer stem cells and the TCGA database, were analysed by quantitative RT‐PCR, Western blotting and flow cytometry. Functional analysis was conducted by siRNA‐mediated CD90, Gli1 and Gli3 gene knockdown, SHH treatment and application of the JAK2 inhibitor AZD1480 and IL6 neutralizing antibody in CD90+ liver cancer stem cells, followed by cell proliferation, migration, sphere formation and tumorigenicity assays. CD90 expression exhibited a high positive correlation with Gli1 and Gli3 in multiple liver cancer cell lines and human cancerous liver tissues, both of which showed a significant increase in liver cancer. Analysis of TCGA data revealed an association of CD90, Gli1 and Gli3 with a short overall survival and positive correlation between CD90 expression and Gli3 expression level. The stem cell potentials of CD90+ 97L liver cancer cells were greatly impaired by Gli1/3 knockdown with siRNA but enhanced by SHH treatment. Application of the JAK2 inhibitor AZD1480 and IL6 neutralizing antibody showed the CD90 and SHH/Gli‐regulated liver cancer stem cell functions were mediated by the IL6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway. The stem cell properties of CD90+ liver cancer cells are regulated by the downstream SHH/Gli and IL6/JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathways.     

A TGF-β type I receptor-like molecule with a key functional role in Haemonchus contortus development

Here we investigated the gene of a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β type I receptor-like molecule in Haemonchus contortus, a highly pathogenic and economically important parasitic nematode of small ruminants. Designated Hc-tgfbr1, this gene is transcribed in all developmental stages of H. contortus, and the encoded protein has glycine-serine rich and kinase domains characteristic of a TGF-β family type I receptor. Expression of a GFP reporter driven by the putative Hc-tgfbr1 promoter localised to two intestinal rings, the anterior-most intestinal ring (int ring I) and the posterior-most intestinal ring (int ring IX) in Caenorhabditis elegans in vivo. Heterologous genetic complementation using a plasmid construct containing Hc-tgfbr1 genomic DNA failed to rescue the function of Ce-daf-1 (a known TGF-β type I receptor gene) in a daf-1-deficient mutant strain of C. elegans. In addition, a TGF-β type I receptor inhibitor, galunisertib, and double-stranded RNA interference (RNAi) were employed to assess the function of Hc-tgfbr1 in the transition from exsheathed L3 (xL3) to the L4 of H. contortus in vitro, revealing that both galunisertib and Hc-tgfbr1-specific double-stranded RNA could retard L4 development. Taken together, these results provide evidence that Hc-tgfbr1 is involved in developmental processes in H. contortus in the transition from the free-living to the parasitic stage.     

Bipedalism and human birth: The obstetrical dilemma revisited

…adaptation to bipedal locomotion decreased the size of the bony birth-canal at the same time that the exigencies of tool use selected for larger brains. This obstetrical dilemma was solved by delivery of the fetus at a much earlier stage of development. (Washburn¹) …there can be no doubt that many of the obstetrical problems of Mrs. H. Sapiens are due to the combination of a narrower pelvis and a bigger head in the species. (Krogman²)     

Identification of genes associated with the biosynthesis of protostane triterpenes based on the transcriptome analysis of Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juz.

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Protostane triterpenes in Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juz., because of their unique structural feature, exhibit distinctive pharmacological activities....     

CD4+ regulatory T cells are spared from deletion by antilymphocyte serum, a polyclonal anti-T cell antibody

Broad T cell depletion has been used as an integral part of treatment in transplantation and autoimmune diseases. Following depletion, residual T cells undergo homeostatic proliferation and convert to memory-like T cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of T cell depletion by antilymphocyte serum (ALS), a polyclonal anti-T cell Ab, on CD4(+) regulatory T cells. After ALS treatment, CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells underwent proliferation and expressed a memory T cell marker, CD44. One week after ALS treatment, both CD25(+) and CD25(-) T cells exhibited increased suppression of alloresponses in vitro, which waned thereafter to the levels mediated by naive CD25(+) and CD25(-) T cells. By real-time PCR analyses, ALS treatment of CD4-deficient mice adoptively transferred with Thy1.2(+)CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) and Thy1.1(+)CD4(+)CD25(-)Foxp3(-) T cells resulted in the appearance of Thy1.2(+)CD4(+)CD25(-)Foxp3(+) and Thy1.1(+)CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells, suggesting the conversion between CD25(+) and CD25(-) T cells. Naive CD25(+) T cells expressed a higher level of intracellular Bcl-x(L) than CD25(-) T cells. Up-regulation of the Bcl-x(L) molecule during ALS-induced homeostatic expansion further promoted survival of CD25(+) and, to a lessor degree, CD25(-) cells. These results indicate that CD25(+) T cells are spared from ALS-mediated deletion, with some CD25(+) T cells converting to CD25(-) T cells, and continue to exhibit regulatory activity. The concomitant presence of T cell deletion and continuous regulatory T cell activity may underlie the therapeutic effect of ALS, particularly in treatment of autoimmune diseases.     

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: refinement of the localization on Xp and identification of another closely linked marker locus,OATL1

Summary We searched for DNA polymorphisms in seven amplified fragments of the dystrophin gene. Three fragments exhibited variable mobilities during nondenaturing strand-separating gel electrophoresis (SSGE). These variants were due to single base changes (three transversions and one transition). Three were intronic (upstream from exons 17, 15, and 48) and one was in exon 48. The frequencies of these sequence variants were determined in a sample of 54 normal X chromosomes of Caucasian origin. One of these DNA polymorphisms was observed in every 650 bp tested and the average heterozygosity was 0.05% per base pair (0.08% if exons were excluded). Such a detection density and the fact that single-strand conformational polymorphisms do not depend on the presence of any specific sequence makes them especially valuable as genetic markers. In the dystrophin locus this approach could allow simultaneous detection of frequent deletions.On leave from The Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszyska 32, 60-479 Pozna, Poland