Histone acetylation and reactive oxygen species are involved in the preprophase arrest induced by sodium butyrate in maize roots

Histone acetylation plays a critical role in controlling chromatin structure, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in cell cycle progression. To study the relationship between histone acetylation and cell cycle progression in plants, sodium butyrate (NaB), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that can cause a significant increase in histone acetylation in both mammal and plant genomes, was applied to treat maize seedlings. The results showed that NaB had significant inhibition effects on different root zones at the tissue level and caused cell cycle arrest at preprophase in the root meristem zones. This effect was accompanied by a dramatic increase in the total level of acetylated lysine 9 on histone H3 (H3K9ac) and acetylated lysine 5 on histone H4 (H4K5ac). The exposure of maize roots in NaB led to a continuous rise of intracellular ROS concentration, accompanied by a higher electrolyte leakage ratio and malondialdehyde (MDA) relative value. The NaB-treated group displayed negative results in both TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) and γ-H2AX immunostaining assays. The expression of topoisomerase genes was reduced after treatment with NaB. These results suggested that NaB increased the levels of H3K9ac and H4K5ac and could cause preprophase arrest accompanied with ROS formation leading to the inhibition of DNA topoisomerase.     

氨氮和亚硝酸盐对红螯螯虾幼虾和亚成虾的急性毒力

【目的】近年来,红螯螯虾养殖面积越来越广泛,明确不同规格的红螯螯虾对氨氮和亚硝酸盐的耐受力,有利于提高其养成率,促进其养殖业的健康发展。【方法】在水温24~25℃、p H 7.9~8.0的条件下,研究了氨氮和亚硝酸盐对红螯螯虾幼虾和亚成虾的急性毒性,分析半致死浓度(LC50)和安全浓度(SC)。【结果】总氨氮对红螯螯虾幼虾的24、48、72和96 h LC50分别为188.0、136.15、104.67和88.00 mg·L~(-1),SC为8.80 mg·L~(-1);总氨氮对亚成虾的24、48、72和96 h LC50分别为344.01、270.46、205.15和167.68 mg·L~(-1),SC为16.77 mg·L~(-1);非离子氨对幼虾的24、48、72和96 h LC50分别为10.16、7.35、5.65和4.75 mg·L~(-1),SC为0.48 mg·L~(-1);非离子氨对亚成虾的24、48、72和96 h LC50分别为18.58、14.60、11.08和9.05 mg·L~(-1),SC为0.91 mg·L~(-1);亚硝酸盐对幼虾的24、48、72和96 h LC50分别为46.76、33.88、27.97和22.81 mg·L~(-1),SC为2.28 mg·L~(-1);亚硝酸盐对亚成虾的24、48、72和96 h LC50分别为77.56、59.33、45.41和37.48 mg·L~(-1),SC为3.75 mg·L~(-1)。【结论】红螯螯虾对氨氮的耐受力高于亚硝酸盐,亚成虾对氨氮和亚硝酸盐的耐受力高于幼虾。     

Exogenous EDDS modifies copper-induced various toxic responses in rice

Copper is a micronutrient required for living organisms, but is potentially toxic in excess. EDDS enhances the phytoextraction of many metals, but the underlying mechanism is fully unclear. Exposure of 200 μM Cu²⁺ for 3 days resulted in rice seedling growth inhibition, accompanied by a decrease in plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase activity, and an increase in relative electrolyte leakage ratios, indicating that maintaining of membrane structure integrity is crucial in acclimation of plants to heavy metal stress. In addition, the chlorophyll and carotenoid content was markedly decreased and the level of the mRNA of Cytochrome P450 gene, OsHMA9, the sulfate transporter gene, and the metallothionein-like protein gene was observed to increase in response to Cu stress. Cu treatment also induced a global epigenetic response which is associated with cell nucleus condensation. These physiological, genetic, and epigenetic responses of rice seedlings to excess copper were modified by the addition of EDDS, suggesting that the supply of EDDS in medium containing a high concentration of Cu ions could enhance plant tolerance potential to excess Cu toxicity through alleviating Cu-induced poisonous effects at various levels.     

Identification of a Small Peptide That Inhibits PCSK9 Protein Binding to the Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor

PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) is a negative regulator of the hepatic LDL receptor, and clinical studies with PCSK9-inhibiting antibodies have demonstrated strong LDL-c-lowering effects. Here we screened phage-displayed peptide libraries and identified the 13-amino acid linear peptide Pep2-8 as the smallest PCSK9 inhibitor with a clearly defined mechanism of inhibition that has been described. Pep2-8 bound to PCSK9 with a K_D of 0.7 μm but did not bind to other proprotein convertases. It fully restored LDL receptor surface levels and LDL particle uptake in PCSK9-treated HepG2 cells. The crystal structure of Pep2-8 bound to C-terminally truncated PCSK9 at 1.85 Å resolution showed that the peptide adopted a strand-turn-helix conformation, which is remarkably similar to its solution structure determined by NMR. Consistent with the functional binding site identified by an Ala scan of PCSK9, the structural Pep2-8 contact region of about 400 Ų largely overlapped with that contacted by the EGF(A) domain of the LDL receptor, suggesting a competitive inhibition mechanism. Consistent with this, Pep2-8 inhibited LDL receptor and EGF(A) domain binding to PCSK9 with IC₅₀ values of 0.8 and 0.4 μm, respectively. Remarkably, Pep2-8 mimicked secondary structural elements of the EGF(A) domain that interact with PCSK9, notably the β-strand and a discontinuous short α-helix, and it engaged in the same β-sheet hydrogen bonds as EGF(A) does. Although Pep2-8 itself may not be amenable to therapeutic applications, this study demonstrates the feasibility of developing peptidic inhibitors to functionally relevant sites on PCSK9.     

凋亡和周期基因芯片研究As2O3对NB4细胞凋亡相关基因表达谱的影响

目的:利用细胞凋亡和周期基因芯片研究As₂O₃作用前后NB4细胞基因表达谱的差异性,寻找As₂O₃诱导NB4细胞凋亡的相关基因并分析其可能机制。方法:流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率,抽提对照及诱导组细胞的mRNA,通过逆转录将As₂O₃处理前后的NB4细胞cDNA进行生物素标记,用含269个目的基因的细胞凋亡和周期基因芯片进行杂交,GEArray软件分析,筛选出As₂O₃诱导前后表达有差异的基因。芯片结果用荧光定量聚合酶链反应(realtimepolymerasechainreaction)进行验证。结果:筛选出As₂O₃作用前后表达有差异的基因共100条(占芯片基因总数的37.2%),其中97条(97/100,97%)基因表达上调,3条(3/100,3%)基因表达下调。表达上调的基因主要包括肿瘤坏死因子配体和受体家族、bcl2家族、半胱氨酸家族、DNA损伤检测和P53途径以及细胞分裂周期蛋白和激酶等基因。结论:As₂O₃主要通过上调促凋亡基因表达来诱导NB4细胞凋亡,其中TNFSF15、Apaf1、Caspase3和p16等基因可能参与As₂O₃诱导的NB4细胞凋亡,As₂O₃诱导NB4细胞凋亡的可能机制主要涉及TNF途径、线粒体途径、Caspase途径、细胞周期抑制途径和P53途径等。     

非嗜食植物次生化合物与生态措施对美洲斑潜蝇种群控制作用的评价

应用种群动态控制的状态空间分析法,通过生命表参数模拟美洲斑潜蝇种群数量动态,通过输入不同的控制措施(施用非嗜食植物次生化合物即马缨丹乙醇提取物、施用机油乳剂和释放美洲斑潜蝇寄生性天敌)对美洲斑潜蝇种群动态控制的作用,研究这些控制措施的组合对美洲斑潜蝇种群动态的控制,模拟结果表明,在美洲斑潜蝇成虫产卵高峰期施用马缨丹乙醇提取物(1g·100ml^-1和机油乳剂(300X),在幼虫高峰期释放寄生蜂(2000头·100m^-2),可以达到控制美洲斑潜蝇种群增长的效果,起到保护菜豆免害的作用。     

叉角厉蝽对草地贪夜蛾的捕食功能反应

叉角厉蝽Eocanthecona furcellate(Wolff)是一种极具应用潜力的重要捕食性天敌。为了探明叉角厉蝽3龄若虫对草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E.Smith) 3龄幼虫的控害效果,在室内条件下,观察了叉角厉蝽对草地贪夜蛾幼虫的捕食行为,研究了叉角厉蝽对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的捕食功能反应。结果表明,叉角厉蝽以口针从草地贪夜蛾腹部或者体躯末端插入取食,被取食后的草地贪夜蛾呈干瘪状死亡。叉角厉蝽3龄若虫对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的捕食功能反应模型符合Holling II型方程,为:Na=0.6702 N/(1+0.0133 N),叉角厉蝽若虫对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的日最大捕食量、瞬时攻击率和处理时间分别为50.25头、0.6702 d和0.0199 d。叉角厉蝽的捕食量与猎物密度正相关,寻找效应与猎物密度负相关,叉角厉蝽的捕食作用存在较强的种内干扰作用。试验证实叉角厉蝽对草地贪夜蛾具有较好的控害效果,为其田间应用释放技术提供了理论依据。     

川西亚高山采伐迹地草坡群落对模拟增温的短期响应

采用开顶式生长室(open-top chamber, OTC),研究了川西亚高山采伐迹地草坡群落物候、群落结构和地上生物量对模拟增温的初期响应.生长季中OTC内日平均气温较对照(CK)增加2.2 ℃,5 cm土壤温度增加0.8 ℃.和CK相比,建群种牛尾蒿和糙野青茅萌动期、花蕾期和花期均显著提前,而枯黄期显著推迟.群落各种群高度、密度和重要值增加、减少或无影响,生物多样性指数有所下降,群落结构发生一定变化.OTC内糙野青茅和牛尾蒿地上生物量较CK分别增加46.3%和42.0%.中华羊茅和其它草类植物地上生物量有所下降,但差异不显著.地上总生物量增加34.0%.     

碳酸酐酶在红细胞分化发育过程中的功能研究

目前红系分化调控相关的研究主要集中在细胞因子、转录因子、lncRNA及表观遗传方面,为了对红系分化调控机制进行更加深入的解析,研究了碳酸酐酶在红系分化中的功能。碳酸酐酶可以高效催化二氧化碳的水合,但它在红细胞发育过程中的功能尚不清楚。利用脐带血来源的CD34⁺细胞在体外进行红细胞诱导分化,在分化过程中通过慢病毒介导的基因敲降的方法能够降低碳酸酐酶1和碳酸酐酶2的表达,并使用流式细胞仪检测红细胞的生成和分化效率。研究结果表明,与对照组相比,碳酸酐酶1的表达缺陷使红细胞的晚期分化明显受阻,而碳酸酐酶2的表达缺陷则将红细胞的分化阻滞在早期阶段。研究结果表明,虽然作用窗口不同,但碳酸酐酶1和碳酸酐酶2在红系分化的过程中均发挥着重要的调控作用,这一发现对将来在体外红细胞生成具有指导意义。     

黑木耳胶质铁配合物的制备及其性质研究

利用黑木耳提取多糖后的料渣(主要为胶质物质),与铁(Ⅲ)合成黑木耳胶质铁配合物(AGIC),并测定AGIC的理化性质.结果表明AGIC为无定形棕色粉末,易溶于水,其水溶液中不存在游离的铁(Ⅲ),表明铁(Ⅲ)与黑木耳胶质形成了稳定的配合物.采用抗坏血酸还原,AGIC中的铁(Ⅲ)易被抗坏血酸还原成铁(Ⅱ),说明黑木耳胶质铁配合物有望开发成理想的口服补铁剂.