Phylogenetics,character evolution,and distribution patterns of the greenbriers,Smilacaceae (Liliales), a near‐cosmopolitan family of monocots

Smilacaceae, composed of Smilax and Heterosmilax, are a cosmopolitan family of > 200 species of mostly climbing monocots with alternate leaves characterized by reticulate venation, a pair of petiolar tendrils and usually prickly stems. Although there has been a long history of studying Smilax since Linnaeus named the genus in 1753, the phylogenetic history of this dioecious family remains unclear. Here we present results based on nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and plastid matK and rpl16 intron DNA sequence data from 125 taxa of Smilacaceae. Our taxon sampling covers all sections of Smilax and Heterosmilax and major distribution zones of the family; species from Ripogonaceae and Philesiaceae are used as outgroups. Our molecular analysis indicates that phylogenetic relationships largely contradict the traditional morphological classification of the family, instead showing a conspicuous geographical pattern among the species clades. The previously recognized genus Heterosmilax was found to be embedded in Smilax. Species in the family are separated into primarily New World and Old World clades, except for a single species lineage, Smilax aspera, that is sister to the remaining species of the family, but with poor statistical support. Ancestral character state reconstructions and examination of distribution patterns among the clades provide important information for future taxonomic revisions and historical biogeography of the group. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 173 , 535–548.     

Cetuximab enhances TRAIL-induced gastric cancer cell apoptosis by promoting DISC formation in lipid rafts

TRAIL is a member of the tumor necrosis factor family that selectively induces cancer cell apoptosis. However, gastric cancer cells are insensitive to TRAIL. Our and others studies showed that the inhibition of EGFR pathway activation could increase the sensitivity of TRAIL in cancer cells. But the detailed mechanism is not fully understood. In the present study, compared with TRAIL or cetuximab (an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody) alone, treatment with the TRAIL/cetuximab combination significantly promoted death receptor 4 (DR4) clustering as well as the translocation of both DR4 and Fas-associated death domain-containing protein (FADD) into lipid rafts. This in turn resulted in caspase-8 cleavage and the formation of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) in these lipid rafts. Cholesterol-depletion with methyl-β-cyclodextrin partially prevented DR4 clustering and DISC formation, and thus partially reversed apoptosis induced by the TRAIL/cetuximab dual treatment. These results indicate that cetuximab increases TRAIL-induced gastric cancer cell apoptosis at least partially through the promotion of DISC formation in lipid rafts.     

Lipid raft-regulated IGF-1R activation antagonizes TRAIL-induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cells

Gastric cancer cells are resistant to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and the resistance mechanism is not fully understood. In human gastric cancer MGC803 and BGC823 cells, TRAIL induces insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) pathway activation. Treatment with IGF-1R inhibitor OSI-906 or small interfering RNAs against IGF-1R, prevents IGF-1R pathway activation and increases TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The TRAIL-induced IGF-1R pathway activation is promoted by IGF-1R translocation into lipid rafts. Moreover, the translocation of IGF-1R into lipid rafts is regulated by Casitas B-lineage lymphoma b (Cbl-b). Taken together, TRAIL-induced IGF-1R activation antagonizes TRAIL-induced apoptosis by Cbl-b-regulated distribution of IGF-1R in lipid rafts.     

Development of a high-efficient transformation system of Bacillus pumilus strain DX01 to facilitate gene isolation via gfp-tagged insertional mutagenesis and visualize bacterial colonization of rice roots

A Tn5 transposition vector, pMOD-tet-egfp, was constructed and used for the random insertional mutagenesis of Bacillus pumilus. Various parameters were investigated to increase the transformation efficiency B. pumilus DX01 via Tn5 transposition complexes (transposome): bacterial growth phase, type of electroporation buffer, electric field strength, and recovery medium. Transformation efficiency was up to 3?×?10⁴?transformants/μg of DNA under the optimized electroporation conditions, and a total of 1,467 gfp-tagged transformants were obtained. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis showed that all gfp-tagged bacterial cells expressed GFP, indicating that foreign DNA has been successfully integrated into the genome of B. pumilus and expressed. Finally, flanking DNA sequences were isolated from several transformants and colonization of rice roots by B. pumilus DX01 was also studied. The method developed here will be useful for creating an insertion mutant library of gram-positive bacteria, thus facilitating their molecular genetic and cytological studies.     

灌浆结实期温度对水稻产量和品质形成的影响

灌浆结实期是水稻产量和品质形成的关键时期,该时期温度对水稻籽粒灌浆具有显著的影响.随着全球气候趋暖以及极端天气频发,温度胁迫下籽粒灌浆和稻米品质的响应特征及其生理生化机制是目前稻作研究的热点之一.本文以灌浆结实期温度为切入点,对水稻产量和品质形成的适宜温度与温度影响时段以及温度胁迫下水稻生理生化特征等方面进行了梳理.灌浆初期(齐穗后20 d)是温度影响水稻产量和品质形成的关键时期,适温(21 ～ 26℃)有利于水稻灌浆和淀粉的充实与沉积,过高或过低温度均不利于提高水稻产量和品质.温度胁迫下,水稻生理生化活性下降,光合功能降低,抗逆性减弱,干物质积累和运转受抑,从而造成产量下降及品质变劣.这些可能为水稻优质高产栽培和灌浆结实期温度研究提供一定的参考.     

体外培养小鼠下颌下腺细胞生长特性的实验研究

目的：研究小鼠下颌下腺细胞的培养方法,探讨下颌下腺细胞培养条件及细胞生长特性,为研究干细胞转分化涎腺腺泡细胞以及涎腺再生研究奠定理论基础和技术支持。方法：取2周龄的小鼠,组织块法和消化法分别进行培养,用活细胞观察法和HE染色法记录细胞形态学特征;免疫荧光染色法鉴定;通过生长曲线和细胞倍增时间来比较两种方法对细胞增殖能力的影响。结果：组织块法和消化法均可以成功的培养下颌下腺细胞,（1）组织块法培养的细胞呈卵圆形或多边形,10天左右成铺路石样;消化法培养细胞亦为上皮样细胞,呈多边形,胞质丰富;（2）HE染色下颌下腺细胞呈多边形,胞核明显;（3）Cytokeratin13和AQP5表达阳性,Wimentin表达阴性;（4）组织块法培养细胞增殖相对较平缓,消化法培养细胞增长较迅速;（5）消化法培养倍增时间（1．3471±0．6071）天比组织块法倍增时间（2．1887±1．1503）明显缩短（P〈0．05）;结论：体外可以成功的培养下颌下腺细胞,但是同时证明下颌下腺细胞长期传代较困难,这为研究干细胞转分化涎腺细胞和涎腺再生体内实验提供了理论和实验基础。     

Differential Phosphorylation of GluN1-MAPKs in Rat Brain Reward Circuits following Long-Term Alcohol Exposure

The effects of long-term alcohol consumption on the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway and N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptor 1 (GluN1) subunits in the mesocorticolimbic system remain unclear. In the present study, rats were allowed to consume 6% (v/v) alcohol solution for 28 consecutive days. Locomotor activity and behavioral signs of withdrawal were observed. Phosphorylation and expression of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 protein kinase and GluN1 in the nucleus accumbens, caudate putamen, amygdala, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of these rats were also measured. Phosphorylation of ERK, but not JNK or p38, was decreased in all five brain regions studied in alcohol-drinking rats. The ratio of phospho/total-GluN1 subunit was reduced in all five brain regions studied. Those results suggest that the long-term alcohol consumption can inhibits GluN1 and ERK phosphorylation, but not JNK or p38 in the mesocorticolimbic system, and these changes may be relevant to alcohol dependence. To differentiate alcohol-induced changes in ERK and GluN1 between acute and chronic alcohol exposure, we have determined levels of phospho-ERK, phospho-GluN1 and total levels of GluN1 after acute alcohol exposure. Our data show that 30 min following a 2.5 g/kg dose of alcohol (administered intragastrically), levels of phospho-ERK are decreased while those of phospho-GluN1 are elevated with no change in total GluN1 levels. At 24 h following the single alcohol dose, levels of phospho-ERK are elevated in several brain regions while there are no differences between controls and alcohol treated animals in phospho-GluN1 or total GluN1. Those results suggest that alcohol may differentially regulate GluN1 function and ERK activation depending on alcohol dose and exposure time in the central nervous system.