Variation for Resistance to <i>Alternaria tenuissima</i> and Potential Structural Mechanism among Different Cultivars of <i>Chrysanthemum morifolium</i>

Black spot disease, caused by the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria tenuissima (Fr.) Wiltsh (A. tenuissima), is considered a highly destructive disease of Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.). A set of 17 accessions of commercial chrysanthemum cultivars were evaluated for resistance to A. tenuissima by seedling artificial inoculation. It was found that the reaction of the accessions to artificial inoculation ranged from resistant to highly susceptible. Five varieties of chrysanthemum (‘Zhongshan Taogui’, ‘Jinba’, ‘Zhongshan Jinguan’, ‘Jinling Wanhuang’ and ‘Jinling Yangguang’) were resistant; two varieties of chrysanthemum (‘Zhongshan Xinggui’ and ‘Zhongshan Jinkui’) were moderately resistant; and others were susceptible to various degrees, four varieties of chrysanthemum (‘Zhongshan Zihe’, ‘Zhongshan Jiuhong’, ‘Zaoyihong’ and ‘Jinling Jiaohuang’) were highly susceptible, especially. Some leaf morphological features of two resistant and two highly susceptible cultivars were further researched. Trichome density, length, height, gland size and stomata density were found to be associated with plant passive resistance. Resistant varieties that were identified in present study will be promising germplasm for exploitation of breeding programmes aimed at developing A. tenuissima-resistant cultivars and increasing genetic diversity.     

Chemotaxis of Bacillus cereus YL6 and its colonization of Chinese cabbage seedlings

Plant and Soil - Mycorrhizal type has been proposed as an effective trait integrator capturing varying biogeochemical syndromes in terrestrial ecosystems. However, for boreal peatlands, it is still...     

GsSnRK1 interplays with transcription factor GsERF7 from wild soybean to regulate soybean stress resistance

Although the function and regulation of SnRK1 have been studied in various plants, its molecular mechanisms in response to abiotic stresses are still elusive. In this work, we identified an AP2/ERF domain-containing protein (designated GsERF7) interacting with GsSnRK1 from a wild soybean cDNA library. GsERF7 gene expressed dominantly in wild soybean roots and was responsive to ethylene, salt, and alkaline. GsERF7 bound GCC cis-acting element and could be phosphorylated on S36 by GsSnRK1. GsERF7 phosphorylation facilitated its translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus and enhanced its transactivation activity. When coexpressed in the hairy roots of soybean seedlings, GsSnRK1(wt) and GsERF7(wt) promoted plants to generate higher tolerance to salt and alkaline stresses than their mutated species, suggesting that GsSnRK1 may function as a biochemical and genetic upstream kinase of GsERF7 to regulate plant adaptation to environmental stresses. Furthermore, the altered expression patterns of representative abiotic stress-responsive and hormone-synthetic genes were determined in transgenic soybean hairy roots after stress treatments. These results will aid our understanding of molecular mechanism of how SnRK1 kinase plays a cardinal role in regulating plant stress resistances through activating the biological functions of downstream factors.     

The process of embryo abortion of stenospermocarpic grape and it develops into plantlet in vitro using embryo rescue

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - The fruit of ‘Dangshansuli’ pear is yellowish green in colour, while that of its mutant ‘Xiusu’ is russet in colour. A...     

Retracted: Upregulation of acetylcholinesterase caused by downregulation of microRNA-132 is responsible for the development of dementia after ischemic stroke

MicroRNA-132 (miR-132) has been shown to participate in many diseases. This study aimed to understand the correlation between the level of miR-132 and the severity of dementia post-ischemic stroke. An online tool ( www.mirdb.org ) was used to find the miR-132 binding site in acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) 3′-untranslated region (UTR), followed by a luciferase reporter assay to validate ACHE as a miR-132 target. A similar relationship between miR-132 and ACHE was also established in cerebrospinal fluid samples collected from human subjects. A negative correlation was established between ACHE and miR-132 by measuring the relative luciferase activity. Meanwhile, Western blot analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction were also conducted to compare the levels of ACHE messenger RNA and protein between two groups (dementia positive, n = 26 and dementia negative, n = 26) or among cells treated with miR-132 mimics, ACHE small interfering RNA, and miR-132 inhibitors. As shown in the results, miR-132 can reduce the expression of ACHE. Further experiments were also carried out to study the effect of miR-132 and ACHE on cell viability and apoptosis, and the results demonstrated that miR-132 enhanced cell viability while suppressing apoptosis. In addition, ACHE reduced cell viability while promoting apoptosis. miR-132 targeted ACHE and suppressed its expression. Additionally, miR-132 and ACHE have been shown to affect the cell viability and apoptosis in the central nervous system.     

ARPC4 promotes bladder cancer cell invasion and is associated with lymph node metastasis

The significance of actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 4 (ARPC4) expression in bladder cancer, and its potential role in the invasion and migration of bladder cancer cells, has yet to be determined. This study was to identify the correlation between ARPC4 and lymph node metastasis, and to determine the role of ARPC4 in the invasive migration of T24 bladder cancer cells. One hundred and ninety-eight bladder cancer tissues and 40 normal bladder and lymph node tissues were examined. Tissue microarrays were constructed and subjected to immunohistochemical stating for ARPC4. Multiple logistic analysis was used to determine risk factors associated with bladder cancer metastasis. ARPC4 expression in T24 bladder cancer cells was suppressed using small interfering RNA and changes in protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis. The proliferation of bladder cancer cells after knocking down of ARPC4 was determined by cell counting kit-8. The effects of ARPC4 knockdown on T24 cell invasion and migration was determined using transwell and wound healing assays. Immunofluorescence analysis was performed to examine changes in pseudopodia formation and actin cytoskeleton structure. The expression of ARPC4 was elevated in bladder cancer tissues than normal tissues (84.3% vs 27.5%, P < 0.001). The multivariate logistic analysis demonstrated that the level of ARPC4, as a risk factor, was correlated with lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.05). ARPC4 knockdown attenuated proliferation, migration, invasion, and pseudopodia formation in T24 cells. ARPC4 expression, as a risk factor, is associated with lymphatic metastasis and is upregulated in bladder cancer tissues in comparison with normal tissues. Inhibition of ARPC4 expression significantly attenuates the proliferation, migration, and invasion of bladder cancer cell, possibly due to defects in pseudopodia formation.     

MiR-3691-5p is upregulated in docosahexaenoic acid-treated vascular endothelial cell and targets serpin family E member 1

Endothelium, the inner cellular lining of blood vessels, has an important role in the regulation of physiological processes and its dysfunction may initiate cardiovascular complications. Previous investigations have revealed that dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is related to a lower possibility of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Until now, the molecular mechanisms in the biological activities of DHA remain largely unknown. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in regulating gene expression. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether DHA improves the dysfunction via regulating miRNAs. To understand the protective effects of DHA through modulating miR-3691-5p and its target genes for palmitic acid (PAL) induced apoptosis in endothelial cells. The present study demonstrated that DHA upregulated miR-3691-5p expression, and downregulated the expression of its target gene serpin family E member 1 (SERPINE1). MiR-mimics and inhibitors modulation results indicated that miR-3691-5p regulates endothelial apoptosis through activating antiapoptotic response which controlled by the STAT3 signaling pathway. In conclusion, we have shown that PAL-induced apoptosis could be decreased by DHA treatment through miR-3691-5/SERPINE1 pathways.     

Mitochondria could be a potential key mediator linking the intestinal microbiota to depression

The intestinal microbiota has been reported to affect depression, a common mental condition with severe health-related consequences. However, what mediates the effect of the intestinal microbiota on depression has not been well elucidated. We summarize the roles of the mitochondria in eliciting beneficial effects on the gut microbiota to ameliorate symptoms of depression. It is well known that mitochondria play a key role in depression. An important pathogenic factor, namely inflammatory response, may adversely impact mitochondrial functionality to maintain cellular homeostasis. Dysfunction of mitochondria not only affects neuronal function but also reduces neuron cell numbers. We posit that the intestinal microbiota could affect neuronal mitochondrial function through short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate. Brain inflammatory processes could also be affected through the modulation of gut permeability and blood lipopolysaccharide levels. Aberrant mitochondria functionality coupled to adverse cellular homeostasis could be a key mediator for the effect of the intestinal microbiota on the progression of depression.     

Discovery of selective farnesoid X receptor agonists for the treatment of hyperlipidemia from traditional Chinese medicine based on virtual screening and in vitro validation

Abstract

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a bile acid receptor, has important roles in maintaining bile acid and cholesterol homeostasis, which is an attractive target for hyperlipidemia. Present study aimed to discover potential selective FXR agonists over G-protein coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR1, TGR5) from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by using virtual screening, in vitro studies and molecular dynamics simulation (MD). Ligand-based pharmacophore model for FXR was firstly built to screen FXR agonists from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Database (TCMD). Then, 21 FXR crystal structures were clustered in two types and two representative structures (PDB ID: 3OMM and 3P89) were, respectively, used to carry out molecular docking to refine the screened result. Moreover, the pharmacophore model for GPBAR1 was built to screen selective FXR agonists with no activity on GPBAR1. A set of 24 candidate selective FXR agonists which fitvalue of FXR pharmacophore model and docking score of 3OMM and 3P89 were in the top 100 and cannot match the pharmacophore model for GPBAR1 were obtained. By the lipid-lowering activity test in HepG2 cell lines, Arctigenin was identified to be potential selective FXR agonist with the activity of 20?μmol·L^?1. After down-regulating FXR, Arctigenin could increase the mRNA of FXR while exerted no effect on the mRNA of GPBAR1. MD was further used to interpret the mechanism of Arctigenin with the representative structures. This research provided a new screening procedure for finding selective candidate compounds and appropriate docking models of a target by considering the structure diversity of PDB structures, which was applied to discovery novel selective FXR agonists to treat hyperlipidemia.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

Histopathology,Molecular Identification and Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides from a Captive Cuban Rock Iguana (Cyclura nubila)

Mycopathologia - Chrysosporium-related fungi, the cause of superficial and deep mycoses, are an emerging infectious disease affecting not only reptiles but also immunocompromized humans. However,...