Studies on the Population and Community Characteristics in Platycladus orientalis Forest

The population and community characteristics in the Platycladus orientalis forest on Qianfo Mountain in Jinan are studied. The specific composition, spatial pattern, biological spectrum and main species dispersions are reported. It is found that all the main species dispersions are aggregated. The diversity of Shannon-Wiener and Simpson indexes are markedly not correlated with the habitat factors. The patch indexes and niche breadths of the main species have been analysed on such axes as light, soil water and soil organic matter. The value of niche overlap between every two species is high on soil resource axis.     

An idiotype shared by monoclonal antibodies to different peptides of human myelin basic protein.

A mAb of the IgG1/kappa isotype was raised against human myelin basic protein (MBP) peptide acetyl 1-9. This mAb, termed F23, reacted with human MBP and human MBP peptides acetyl 1-9, 1-14, and 1-44, but not with MBP peptides 10-19, 80-89, or 45-89. According to the guidelines of the molecular recognition theory, a complementary peptide to human MBP peptide 1-9 was synthesized and used to raise murine mAb with anti-Id activity. Two mAb anti-Id, F25F7 and F25C8, both of the IgM/kappa isotype, were selected for further study. These anti-Id reacted with F23, the mAb for which they were selected, and also reacted with another mAb, which was of the IgG1/kappa isotype and was raised to human MBP peptide 80-89. There was no reaction with another control mAb of the IgG1/kappa isotype or murine myeloma IgG1. By immunoblotting techniques, it was demonstrated that the Id on each of the mAbs to MBP peptides was located on the kappa L chain but also could be recognized in nonreduced IgG. The cross-reactive anti-Id suppressed antibody secretion of Id-producing hybridoma cells in an Id-specific manner, and kinetic studies suggest an intracellular mechanism for the suppression. These cross-reactive Id among antibodies to different MBP peptides imply that the same V region genes of kappa L chains are involved in the selection of antibodies to an autoantigen, like MBP, and may play a role in the modulation of immune responses against MBP in certain inflammatory demyelinating diseases.     

Long noncoding RNA CPS1-IT1 suppresses melanoma cell metastasis through inhibiting Cyr61 via competitively binding to BRG1

Long noncoding RNA CPS1-IT1 is recently recognized as a tumor suppressor in several cancers. Here, we investigate the role of CPS1-IT1 in human melanoma. Presently, our study reveals the low expression of CPS1-IT1 in human melanoma tissues and cell lines, which is significantly associated with metastasis and tumor stage. Besides, the potential of CPS1-IT1 as a prognosis-predictor is strongly indicated. Functionally, CPS1-IT1 overexpression inhibits cell migration, invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and angiogenesis in melanoma cells. CYR61, an angiogenic factor that participates in tumor metastasis as well as a recognized oncogene in melanoma, is shown to be confined under CPS1-IT1 overexpression in melanoma cells. Furthermore, enforced expression of Cyr61 in CPS1-IT1-silenced melanoma cells dramatically normalized the protein level of Cyr61 and that of its downstream targets vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-9, as well as the repressive effect of CPS1-IT1 overexpression on melanoma cell metastasis. BRG1, a core component of SWI/SNF complex, is implied to interact with both CPS1-IT1 and Cyr61 in melanoma cells. Moreover, CPS1-IT1 negatively regulates Cyr61 expression by blocking the binding of BRG1 to Cyr61 promoter. Jointly, CPS1-IT1 controls melanoma metastasis through impairing Cyr61 expression via competitively binding with BRG1, uncovering a novel potential therapeutic and prognostic biomarker for patients with melanoma.     

Carbon Quantum Dots–Modified Interfacial Interactions and Ion Conductivity for Enhanced High Current Density Performance in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Significant progress has achieved for developing lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries with high specific capacities and excellent cyclic stability. However, some critical issues emerge when attempts are made to raise the areal sulfur loading and increase the operation current density to meet the standards for various industrial applications. In this work, polyethylenimine‐functionalized carbon dots (PEI‐CDots) are designed and prepared for enhancing performance of the Li–S batteries with high sulfur loadings and operation under high current density situations. Strong chemical binding effects towards polysulfides and fast ion transport property are achieved in the PEI‐CDots‐modified cathodes. At a high current density of 8 mA cm^?2, the PEI‐CDots‐modified Li–S battery delivers a reversible areal capacity of 3.3 mAh cm^?2 with only 0.07% capacity decay per cycle over 400 cycles at 6.6 mg sulfur loading. Detailed analysis, involving electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and density functional theory calculations, is done for the elucidation of the underlying enhancement mechanism by the PEI‐CDots. The strongly localized sulfur species and the promoted Li⁺ ion conductivity at the cathode–electrolyte interface are revealed to enable high‐performance Li–S batteries with high sulfur loading and large operational current.     

OsSHOC1 and OsPTD1 are essential for crossover formation during rice meiosis

Meiosis is essential for eukaryotic sexual reproduction and plant fertility, and crossovers (COs) are essential for meiosis and the formation of new allelic combinations in gametes. In this study, we report the isolation of a meiotic gene, OsSHOC1, and the identification of its partner, OsPTD1. Osshoc1 was sterile both in male and female gametophytes, and it showed a striking reduction in the number of meiotic COs, indicating that OsSHOC1 was required for normal CO formation. Further investigations showed that OsSHOC1 physically interacted with OsPTD1 and that the latter was also required for normal CO formation and plant fertility. Additionally, the expression profiles of both genes were consistent with their functions. Our results suggest that OsSHOC1 and OsPTD1 are essential for rice fertility and CO formation, possibly by stabilizing the recombinant intermediates during meiosis.     

Acquisition of resistance of pancreatic cancer cells to 2-methoxyestradiol is associated with the upregulation of manganese superoxide dismutase

Acquired resistance of cancer cells to anticancer drugs or ionizing radiation (IR) is one of the major obstacles in cancer treatment. Pancreatic cancer is an exceptional aggressive cancer, and acquired drug resistance in this cancer is common. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an essential role in cell apoptosis, which is a key mechanism by which radio- or chemotherapy induce cell killing. Mitochondria are the major source of ROS in cells. Thus, alterations in the expression of mitochondrial proteins, involved in ROS production or scavenging, may be closely linked to the resistance of cancer cells to radio- or chemotherapy. In the present study, we generated a stable cell line by exposing pancreatic cancer cells to increasing concentrations of ROS-inducing, anticancer compound 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME) over a 3-month period. The resulting cell line showed strong resistance to 2-ME and contained an elevated level of ROS. We then used a comparative proteomics method to profile the differential expression of mitochondrial proteins between the parental and the resistant cells. One protein identified to be upregulated in the resistant cells was manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2), a mitochondrial protein that converts superoxide radicals to hydrogen peroxides. Silencing of SOD2 resensitized the resistant cells to 2-ME, and overexpression of SOD2 led the parental cells to 2-ME resistance. In addition, the 2-ME-resistant cells also showed resistance to IR. Our results suggest that upregulation of SOD2 expression is an important mechanism by which pancreatic cancer cells acquire resistance to ROS-inducing, anticancer drugs, and potentially also to IR.     

Dominance complementation of Hd1 and Ghd8 contributes to extremely late flowering in two rice hybrids

Molecular Breeding - Lack of seed dormancy, a major cause of pre-harvest sprouting in rice and other cereal crops, causes significant reductions in grain yield and quality. Weedy rice is often...