The role of astrocytes in oxidative stress of central nervous system: A mixed blessing

Central nervous system (CNS) maintains a high level of metabolism, which leads to the generation of large amounts of free radicals, and it is also one of the most vulnerable organs to oxidative stress. Emerging evidences have shown that, as the key homeostatic cells in CNS, astrocytes are deeply involved in multiple aspects of CNS function including oxidative stress regulation. Besides, the redox level in CNS can in turn affect astrocytes in morphology and function. The complex and multiple roles of astrocytes indicate that their correct performance is crucial for the normal functioning of the CNS, and its dysfunction may result in the occurrence and progression of various neurological disorders. To date, the influence of astrocytes in CNS oxidative stress is rarely reviewed. Therefore, in this review we sum up the roles of astrocytes in redox regulation and the corresponding mechanisms under both normal and different pathological conditions.     

施硼和赤霉素对‘李广杏’坐果率及果实品质的影响

该研究以8年生盛果期的‘李广杏’植株为试材,于花蕾膨大期喷施0.1%(P1)、0.3%(P2)和0.5%(P3)硼砂和盛花初期喷施50(C1)、100(C2)和150 mg/L(C3)赤霉素,测定不同处理下李广杏的坐果率、果实品质及营养生长指标的变化,并用主成分分析不同处理的效果进行综合评价,为敦煌寒旱区‘李广杏’的栽培提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)‘李广杏’叶面积增长量在C1浓度处理下显著高于CK,不同浓度的硼处理对其均具有抑制作用,但C1、P2浓度下新稍生长量高于其他处理。(2)适宜浓度的硼和赤霉素处理可一定程度减少‘李广杏’花的败育率,从而有效提高果树的坐果率,其中硼处理以P3浓度下最优,但P3与P2处理下坐果率无显著差异,赤霉素处理以C2浓度下最优。(3)适宜浓度硼和赤霉素能够明显提高‘李广杏’果实品质,C1浓度处理下的果实糖酸比、可溶性固形物含量显著高于CK,P2处理下的果实维生素C、可滴定酸含量显著高于其他处理;适宜浓度赤霉素和硼对果实的单果重、果形指数、侧径有明显的促进作用。(4)主成分分析结果显示,各处理效果的综合得分由高到低依次为P2(1.20)>C2(0.91)>P1(0.13)>C1(-1.01)>CK(-1.68)>P3(-2.13)>C3(-7.76);果实可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、糖酸比等主成分占比较高,可作为评价‘李广杏’果实品质的重要依据。研究发现,花期喷施适宜浓度的硼和赤霉素可有效提高‘李广杏’果树的生长状况、坐果率及果实品质,且甘肃敦煌地区以花蕾膨大期喷施0.3%硼和盛花初期喷施100 mg/L赤霉素效果最佳。     

Fate of the soil seed bank of giant ragweed and its significance in preventing and controlling its invasion in grasslands

Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida, L. henceforth referred to as GR), an annual non‐native invasive weed, may cause health problems and can reduce agricultural productivity. Chemical control of GR in grasslands may have irreversible side effects on herbs and livestock. In an attempt to propose a solution to the harmful effects of GR on grasslands, this study explores the fate of its soil seed bank (SSB) and considers the physical control of its SSB reduction. By studying GR distributed in grasslands of the Yili Valley, Xinjiang, China, we measured the spatial and temporal changes in seed density, seed germination, dormancy, and death. We analyzed seed germination, dormancy, and death following different storage periods. The study analyzed population characteristics over time, including seed fate, and examined physical control methods for reducing the SSB density. The SSB of GR occurs in the upper 0–15 cm of soil in grasslands. Seed density in the SSB decreased by 68.1% to 82.01% from the reproductive growth period to the senescence period. More than 98.7% of the seeds were rotten, eaten, germinated, dispersed, or died within one year after being produced. The seed germination rate of the SSB decreased with the number of years after invasion. When stored for 0.5 or 3.5 years, seed germination rates fell by 40%, during which time seed death rate increased by almost 40%. When GR was completely eradicated for two consecutive years, the SSB and population densities decreased by >99%. The vast majority of GR seeds germinated or died within one year; the germination rate decreased significantly if the seeds were stored dry at room temperature for a long time. Newly produced seeds are the main source of seeds in the SSB. Therefore, thoroughly eradicating GR plants for several years before the seeds can mature provides an effective control method in grasslands.     

Flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase of Camellia nitidissima Chi. promotes the synthesis of polyphenols better than flavonoids

Molecular Biology Reports - Camellia nitidissima Chi. is an ornamental plant of the genus Camellia L. Its flowers contain a lot of flavonoids and polyphenols. Flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase...     

The role of exosomal microRNAs in central nervous system diseases

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - MicroRNAs (miRNA), endogenous non-coding RNAs approximately 22 nucleotides long, regulate gene expression by mediating translational inhibition or mRNA...     

Involvement of Protein Kinase A in Oxytocin Neuronal Activity in Rat Dams with Pup Deprivation

Neurochemical Research - Oxytocin (OT) neuronal activity is the key factor for breastfeeding and it can be disrupted by mother-baby separation. To explore cellular mechanisms underlying OT neuronal...     

Environmental and techno-economic analyses of bio-jet fuel produced from jatropha and castor oilseeds in China

Purpose

Bio-jet fuel derived from energy crops has been promoted by governments around the world through policies such as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. The environmental impact and techno-economic analysis of bio-jet fuel are particularly pertinent to China because China is under huge pressure to reduce emissions, endeavouring to meet bio-economic goals.

Methods

An LCA study was conducted on the production of bio-jet fuel from jatropha and castor by estimating the well-to-wake emissions and its economic impact. The functional unit was 1 MJ of bio-jet fuel, and field survey data was used in inventory analysis. A scenario analysis was performed to measure diverse conditions, including the planting conditions, planting regions, allocation methods, and hydrogen sources. A techno-economic analysis that combined the production costs and co-product credits was performed to calculate the minimum bio-jet fuel selling price (MJSP) based on a plant capacity of 2400 metric tonnes of feedstock per day.

Results and discussion

Compared to the environmental impacts to the fossil jet fuel, the use of biofuel would reduce the majority environmental impacts by 36–85%, when a 1:1 displacement of fossil jet fuel is considered, though the human toxicity potential impact was 100% higher. The scenario analysis indicated that (i) planting castor in harsh and unevenly distributed conditions and jatropha in stable or fertile conditions can leverage their respective advantage; (ii) the global warming potential (GWP) from castor planting in the region of north-east China ranges from 34 to 48 g CO₂ eq/MJ; (iii) the GWP produced through the steam methane reforming process can be reduced by 16–17%, using advances in technological processes. The MJSP for fuel produced from jatropha and castor under the basic scenario is estimated to be 5.68 and 4.66 CNY/kg, respectively, which falls within the current market price range of 4.5–7.5 CNY/kg.

Conclusions

Bio-jet fuel from jatropha and castor oilseeds offers potential environmental benefits if they can reduce fossil jet fuel on an energy-equivalent basis. However, these benefits are likely to be reduced by the rebound effect of the fuel market. Future research is needed to better understand the magnitude of the rebound effect in China and what policy interventions can be implemented to alleviate it. Scenario analysis demonstrated the feasibility and potential of bio-jet fuel development from multiple perspectives and technological progress are conducive to the realization of environmental protection policies.

     

Divergent DNA methylation contributes to duplicated gene evolution and chilling response in tea plants

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is a thermophilic cash crop and contains a highly duplicated and repeat-rich genome. It is still unclear how DNA methylation regulates the evolution of duplicated genes and chilling stress in tea plants. We therefore generated a single-base-resolution DNA methylation map of tea plants under chilling stress. We found that, compared with other plants, the tea plant genome is highly methylated in all three sequence contexts, including CG, CHG and CHH (where H = A, T, or C), which is further proven to be correlated with its repeat content and genome size. We show that DNA methylation in the gene body negatively regulates the gene expression of tea plants, whereas non-CG methylation in the flanking region enables a positive regulation of gene expression. We demonstrate that transposable element-mediated methylation dynamics significantly drives the expression divergence of duplicated genes in tea plants. The DNA methylation and expression divergence of duplicated genes in the tea plant increases with evolutionary age and selective pressure. Moreover, we detect thousands of differentially methylated genes, some of which are functionally associated with chilling stress. We also experimentally reveal that DNA methyltransferase genes of tea plants are significantly downregulated, whereas demethylase genes are upregulated at the initial stage of chilling stress, which is in line with the significant loss of DNA methylation of three well-known cold-responsive genes at their promoter and gene body regions. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of DNA methylation regulation and offer new insights into duplicated gene evolution and chilling tolerance in tea plants.