WDR62 regulates spindle dynamics as an adaptor protein between TPX2/Aurora A and katanin

WDR62 is a microcephaly-related, microtubule (MT)-associated protein (MAP) that localizes to the spindle pole and regulates spindle organization, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that WDR62 regulates spindle dynamics by recruiting katanin to the spindle pole and further reveal a TPX2–Aurora A–WDR62–katanin axis in cells. By combining cellular and in vitro experiments, we demonstrate that WDR62 shows preference for curved segments of dynamic GDP-MTs, as well as GMPCPP- and paclitaxel-stabilized MTs, suggesting that it recognizes extended MT lattice. Consistent with this property, WDR62 alone is inefficient in recruiting katanin to GDP-MTs, while WDR62 complexed with TPX2/Aurora A can potently promote katanin-mediated severing of GDP-MTs in vitro. In addition, the MT-binding affinity of WDR62 is autoinhibited through JNK phosphorylation-induced intramolecular interaction. We propose that WDR62 is an atypical MAP and functions as an adaptor protein between its recruiting factor TPX2/Aurora A and the effector katanin to orchestrate the regulation of spindle dynamics.     

Circ_0002984 induces proliferation,migration and inflammation response of VSMCs induced by ox-LDL through miR‑326-3p/VAMP3 axis in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis can result in multiple cardiovascular diseases. Circular RNAs (CircRNAs) have been reported as significant non-coding RNAs in atherosclerosis progression. Dysfunction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is involved in atherosclerosis. However, up to now, the effect of circ_0002984 in atherosclerosis is still unknown. Currently, we aimed to investigate the function of circ_0002984 in VSMCs incubated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Firstly, our findings indicated that the expression levels of circ_0002984 were significantly up-regulated in the serum of atherosclerosis patients and ox-LDL-incubated VSMCs. Loss of circ_0002984 suppressed VSMC viability, cell cycle distribution and migration capacity. Then, we carried out ELISA assay to determine TNF-α and IL-6 levels. The data implied that lack of circ_0002984 obviously repressed ox-LDL–stimulated VSMC inflammation. Meanwhile, miR-326-3p, which was predicted as a target of circ_0002984, was obviously down-regulated in VSMCs treated by ox-LDL. Additionally, after overexpression circ_0002984 in VSMCs, a decrease in miR-326-3p was observed. Subsequently, miR-326-3p was demonstrated to target vesicle-associated membrane protein 3 (VAMP3). Therefore, we hypothesized that circ_0002984 could modulate expression of VAMP3 through sponging miR-326-3p. Furthermore, we confirmed that up-regulation of miR-326-3p rescued the circ_0002984 overexpressing-mediated effects on VMSC viability, migration and inflammation. Additionally, miR-326-3p inhibitor-mediated functions on VSMCs were reversed by knockdown of VAMP3. In conclusion, circ_0002984 mediated cell proliferation, migration and inflammation through modulating miR-326-3p and VAMP3 in VSMCs, which suggested that circ_0002984 might hold great promise as a therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis.     

Single-Cell Deconvolution of Fibroblast Heterogeneity in Mouse Pulmonary Fibrosis

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Up‐regulation of ZFAS1 indicates dismal prognosis for cholangiocarcinoma and promotes proliferation and metastasis by modulating USF1 via miR‐296‐5p

LncRNAs has been demonstrated to modulate neoplastic development by modulating downstream miRNAs and functional genes. In this study, we aimed to detect the interaction among lncRNA ZFAS1 miR‐296‐5p and USF1. We explored the proliferation, migration and invasion of cholangiocarcinoma. The differentially expressed ZFAS1 was discovered in both tissues and cell lines by qRT‐PCR. The targeting relationship between miR‐296‐5p and ZFAS1 or USF1 was validated by dual‐luciferase assay. The impact of ZFAS1 on CCA cell proliferation was observed by CCK‐8 assay. The protein expression of USF1 was determined by Western blot. The effects of ZFAS1, miR‐296‐5p and USF1 on tumour growth were further confirmed using xenograft model. LncRNA ZFAS1 expression was relatively up‐regulated in tumour tissues and cells while miR‐296‐5p was significantly down‐regulated. Knockdown of ZFAS1 significantly suppressed tumour proliferation, migration, invasion and USF1 expression. Overexpressed miR‐296‐5p suppressed cell proliferation and metastasis. Knockdown of USF1 inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis and xenograft tumour growth. In conclusion, ZFAS1 might promote cholangiocarcinoma proliferation and metastasis by modulating USF1 via miR‐296‐5p.     

航空航天遥感在物种多样性研究与保护中的应用

人类活动导致全球范围内生物多样性丧失日趋严重。物种多样性是研究最为深入以及最贴近生物多样性管理的层次。物种多样性的研究往往受到多时空尺度生态过程的影响, 传统物种多样性调查方法受到人力物力影响, 局限性大, 物种多样性的研究与管理亟需整合不同来源的数据。遥感技术从传统的光学遥感阶段发展到不同平台、不同维度相结合的多源遥感阶段, 并逐渐进入以高空间分辨率和高光谱为特征、以激光雷达为前沿发展方向的综合遥感阶段。遥感技术因为其监测范围广、能监测人迹罕至地区以及长期可重复等特性, 为研究不同时空尺度的生态学科学问题提供了更新更优的研究手段。本文围绕种群动态、种间关系与群落多样性、功能属性及功能多样性以及生物多样性保护管理等生物多样性研究热点问题, 系统地论述了航空航天遥感技术在物种多样性研究与保护领域的应用, 总结了航空航天遥感技术在研究与物种多样性有关的主要生态学问题中的机遇与挑战。我们认为航空航天遥感技术利用多光谱甚至高光谱与激光技术从空中监测物种多样性, 从不同视角、基于不同光源提供了物种多样性不同侧面的信息, 能够减小地面调查强度, 在大范围和边远地区的物种多样性调查研究中有着至关重要的作用。依据光谱特性的物种判别以及依据激光雷达的三维结构量测将促进生物多样性的研究与管理, 加强遥感学家和生物多样性研究者的沟通交流将有助于促进不同时空尺度的生物多样性与遥感技术的结合。     

一株减毒百日咳鲍特菌的构建及生物学特性分析

百日咳是传染性强、感染率高的急性呼吸道传染病,主要感染婴幼儿,是婴儿死亡的主要原因之一。百日咳鲍特菌（Bordetella pertussis）是引起百日咳的最主要病原菌。近年来世界各地多次出现百日咳暴发,迫切需研制更加有效的新型百日咳疫苗。本研究构建了一株减毒百日咳活疫苗BPTM1,利用同源重组方法敲除编码百日咳鲍特菌主要毒力因子百日咳毒素（pertussis toxin,PTX）和皮肤坏死毒素（dermonecrotic toxin,DNT）的基因,并用大肠埃希菌的同源基因置换了负责气管细胞毒素（tracheal cytotoxin,TCT）转运的基因ampG。通过聚合酶链反应验证了毒素及相关基因的敲除和置换,蛋白免疫印迹法检测表明PTX的S1亚基未表达。体外生长曲线和体内定植曲线均表明,相比于野生型百日咳鲍特菌BPMM,减毒BPTM1的生长和定植能力未受影响,其所致肺部病理效应减轻,而所诱导的百日咳鲍特菌特异性IgG、IgG1、IgG2a抗体保持高水平。本研究表明,减毒百日咳鲍特菌BPTM1有可能成为百日咳疫苗的候选疫苗。     

南极交替单胞菌R11-5产卡拉胶酶的发酵条件优化

【背景】极地寒冷环境中发现了大量具有潜在应用前景的冷适应酶,同时也存在种类繁多的海藻多糖降解菌,因此极端环境微生物是筛选获得新颖、高效多糖降解酶的重要新源泉。由于筛选培养基通常并非野生菌发酵产酶的最优条件,为了使野生菌的产酶效率达到最高,需要对其培养条件进行优化,从而为其深入研究及开发利用提供依据。【目的】对一株产卡拉胶酶的南极菌株进行种属鉴定,并采用响应面法对该菌的发酵产酶条件进行优化。【方法】通过16SrRNA基因对产卡拉胶酶的南极菌株进行种属鉴定,采用响应面法优化南极菌株产酶发酵条件。【结果】该南极菌属于交替单胞菌属(Alteromonas),命名为交替单胞菌R11-5。发酵条件优化结果显示,7个环境因子影响交替单胞菌R11-5的产酶量。利用Design-Expert软件中的Plackett-Burman设计实验,筛选出影响交替单胞菌R11-5产酶量的4个主要因素分别为培养温度、牛肉膏浓度、卡拉胶浓度和Ca~(2+)浓度。通过Box-Behnken设计和响应面分析得到交替单胞菌R11-5最佳产酶发酵条件为:温度15.0°C,牛肉膏浓度11.0 g/L,卡拉胶浓度3.0 g/L,Ca~(2+)浓度5.0 mmol/L。优化后发酵上清液酶产量达到87.193 U/mL,与优化前相比提高了1.8倍。【结论】响应面法提高了南极交替单胞菌R11-5卡拉胶酶的产量,为其开发应用提供了科学依据。     

Loci and candidate gene identification for soybean resistance to Phytophthora root rot race 1 in combination with association and linkage mapping

Molecular Breeding - Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) is one of the main diseases of maize, which greatly reduces production and causes millions of dollars in losses worldwide annually....     

N—acetylserotonin对肝缺血再灌注小鼠氧化应激损伤的保护作用

目的探讨NAS对肝缺血再灌注所诱导的脂质过氧化损伤产生的保护作用。方法采用夹闭肝蒂法30min、再灌注6h制作肝缺血再灌注模型,冰冻切片,HE染色,光学显微镜下观察肝细胞形态结构的变化;比色法检测损伤后血清中谷丙转氨酶（ALT）水平及肝组织中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、丙二醛（MDA）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH—Px）的含量。结果夹闭肝蒂30min、再灌注6h后,肝小叶结构紊乱、肝血窦淤血,其间有白细胞浸润、肝细胞出现变性、坏死;血清中ALT水平升高,肝组织中s0D和GSH—Px的含量降低,MDA升高;NAS可减少缺血再灌注后血清ALT的释放,使肝组织中SOD和GSHPx的含量升高,MDA的含量降低;NAS＋Luz可逆转NAS的这一作用。结论NAS对肝缺血再灌注小鼠的氧化应激损伤具有保护作用。