Synonymous Codon Usage Bias in Plant Mitochondrial Genes Is Associated with Intron Number and Mirrors Species Evolution

Synonymous codon usage bias (SCUB) is a common event that a non-uniform usage of codons often occurs in nearly all organisms. We previously found that SCUB is correlated with both intron number and exon position in the plant nuclear genome but not in the plastid genome; SCUB in both nuclear and plastid genome can mirror the evolutionary specialization. However, how about the rules in the mitochondrial genome has not been addressed. Here, we present an analysis of SCUB in the mitochondrial genome, based on 24 plant species ranging from algae to land plants. The frequencies of NNA and NNT (A- and T-ending codons) are higher than those of NNG and NNC, with the strongest preference in bryophytes and the weakest in land plants, suggesting an association between SCUB and plant evolution. The preference for NNA and NNT is more evident in genes harboring a greater number of introns in land plants, but the bias to NNA and NNT exhibits even among exons. The pattern of SCUB in the mitochondrial genome differs in some respects to that present in both the nuclear and plastid genomes.     

Heterologous expression of oxytetracycline biosynthetic gene cluster in Streptomyces venezuelae WVR2006 to improve production level and to alter fermentation process

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - Heterologous expression is an important strategy to activate biosynthetic gene clusters of secondary metabolites. Here, it is employed to activate and...     

microRNA-454-mediated NEDD4-2/TrkA/cAMP axis in heart failure: Mechanisms and cardioprotective implications

The current study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which miR-454 influences the progression of heart failure (HF) in relation to the neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally downregulated 4-2 (NEDD4-2)/tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA)/cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) axis. Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish a HF animal model via ligation of the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery. The cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells were treated with H₂O₂ to stimulate oxidative stress injury in vitro. RT-qPCR and Western blot assay were subsequently performed to determine the expression patterns of miR-454, NEDD4-2, TrkA, apoptosis-related proteins and cAMP pathway markers. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay coupled with co-immunoprecipitation was performed to elucidate the relationship between miR-454, NEDD4-2 and TrkA. Gain- or loss-of-function experiments as well as rescue experiments were conducted via transient transfection (in vitro) and adenovirus infection (in vivo) to examine their respective functions on H9c2 cell apoptosis and myocardial damage. Our results suggested that miR-454 was aberrantly downregulated in the context of HF, while evidence was obtained suggesting that it targeted NEDD4-2 to downregulate NEDD4-2 in cardiomyocytes. miR-454 exerted anti-apoptotic and protective effects on cardiomyocytes through inhibition of NEDD4-2, while NEDD4-2 stimulated ubiquitination and degradation of TrkA protein. Furthermore, miR-454 activated the cAMP pathway via the NEDD4-2/TrkA axis, which ultimately suppressed cardiomyocyte apoptosis and attenuated myocardial damage. Taken together, the key findings of the current study highlight the cardioprotective role of miR-454, which is achieved through activation of the cAMP pathway by impairing NEDD4-2-induced TrkA ubiquitination.     

Curvature-Dependent Cavity-Nanoparticle Scaffold-Based Clusters with LSPR Enhancement as SERS Substrates

Plasmonics - Tunable local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) enhancement properties of cavity-nanoparticle scaffold-based clusters were investigated via finite-difference time-domain (FDTD)...     

新经济植物黑莓的引种

黑莓（Ｒｕｂｕｓｓｐｐ．）是第三代新兴的小果类果树之一。江苏省植物研究所于１９８６～１９８８年从美国引进了７个黑莓品种,从中选出适合江苏地区栽培的Ｈｕｌｌ,Ｃｈｅｓｔｅｒ,Ｂｌａｃｋｓａｔｉｎ３个品种,并已初步推广。田间试验对３个品种的发枝习性、开花结果习性和产量构成等进行比较。Ｈｕｌｌ单株产量最高,果实最大,ＢｌａｃｋＳａｔｉｎ单株产量最低,果实最小。但若种植密度适宜,３品种均能达到高产。     

人抗E．Coli J5噬菌体抗体制备的初步研究

以E．Coli J5株对合人Ig基因的噬菌体抗体库进行淘筛富集,免疫印迹筛选,以及ELISA检测,结果获得4株能与E．Coli J5株结合的阳性克隆,且阳性克隆结合抗原的活性可分别被E．Coli J5株、E．Coli Rc-LPS和抗E．Coli J5株核心糖脂域MAb抑制．PCR检测表明,4株阳性克隆均分别带有约660bp大小的重链和轻链基因片段．SDS－PAGE与蛋白质印迹的结果显示,经IPTG诱导的阳性克隆能表达分子量约为50000大小的蛋白,提示该4株阳性克隆能够表达具有一定抗原结合活性的人源Fab片段．     

中国桔园蜘蛛名录

报道我国柑桔园内蜘蛛资源调查结果,目前已发现的蜘蛛计有25科90属197种,是柑桔害虫的一类重要捕食性天敌。