Inhibition of ER stress attenuates kidney injury and apoptosis induced by 3-MCPD via regulating mitochondrial fission/fusion and Ca2+ homeostasis

Cell Biology and Toxicology - 3-Chloro-1, 2-propanediol (3-MCPD) is a food-borne toxic substance well-known for more than 40 years that is mainly associated with nephrotoxicity. A better...     

Generation and Characterization of a Nanobody Against SARS-CoV

Virologica Sinica - The sudden emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) has caused global panic in 2003, and the risk of SARS-CoV outbreak still exists. However, no...     

Autophagy in plants: Physiological roles and post‐translational regulation

In eukaryotes, autophagy helps maintain cellular homeostasis by degrading and recycling cytoplasmic materials via a tightly regulated pathway.Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made towards understanding the physiological functions and molecular regulation of autophagy in plant cells. Increasing evidence indicates that autophagy is essential for plant responses to several developmental and environmental cues, functioning in diverse processes such as senescence, male fertility, root meristem maintenance, responses to nutrient starvation,and biotic and abiotic stress. Recent studies have demonstrated that, similar to nonplant systems,the modulation of core proteins in the plant autophagy machinery by posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination,lipidation, S-sulfhydration, S-nitrosylation, and acetylation is widely involved in the initiation and progression of autophagy. Here, we provide an overview of the physiological roles and posttranslational regulation of autophagy in plants.     

A chloride efflux transporter,BIG RICE GRAIN 1, is involved in mediating grain size and salt tolerance in rice

Grain size is determined by the size and number of cells in the grain. The regulation of grain size is crucial for improving crop yield; however, the genes and molecular mechanisms that control grain size remain elusive. Here, we report that a member of the detoxification efflux carrier /Multidrug and Toxic Compound Extrusion (DTX/MATE) family transporters, BIG RICE GRAIN 1 (BIRG1), negatively influences grain size in rice (Oryza sativa L.). BIRG1 is highly expressed in reproductive organs and roots. In birg1 grain, the outer parenchyma layer cells of spikelet hulls are larger than in wild-type (WT) grains, but the cell number is unaltered. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, BIRG1 exhibits chloride efflux activity. Consistent with this role of BIRG1, the birg1 mutant shows reduced tolerance to salt stress at a toxic chloride level. Moreover, grains from birg1 plants contain a higher level of chloride than those of WT plants when grown under normal paddy field conditions, and the roots of birg1 accumulate more chloride than those of WT under saline conditions. Collectively, the data suggest that BIRG1 in rice functions as a chloride efflux transporter that is involved in mediating grain size and salt tolerance by controlling chloride homeostasis.     

A whole-genome association approach for large-scale interspecies traits

Science China Life Sciences -     

Prostaglandin E3 attenuates macrophage-associated inflammation and prostate tumour growth by modulating polarization

Alternative polarization of macrophages regulates multiple biological processes. While M1-polarized macrophages generally mediate rapid immune responses, M2-polarized macrophages induce chronic and mild immune responses. In either case, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-derived lipid mediators act as both products and regulators of macrophages. Prostaglandin E₃ (PGE₃) is an eicosanoid derived from eicosapentaenoic acid, which is converted by cyclooxygenase, followed by prostaglandin E synthase successively. We found that PGE₃ played an anti-inflammatory role by inhibiting LPS and interferon-γ-induced M1 polarization and promoting interleukin-4-mediated M2 polarization (M2a). Further, we found that although PGE₃ had no direct effect on the growth of prostate cancer cells in vitro, PGE₃ could inhibit prostate cancer in vivo in a nude mouse model of neoplasia. Notably, we found that PGE₃ significantly inhibited prostate cancer cell growth in a cancer cell-macrophage co-culture system. Experimental results showed that PGE₃ inhibited the polarization of tumour-associated M2 macrophages (TAM), consequently producing indirect anti-tumour activity. Mechanistically, we identified that PGE₃ regulated the expression and activation of protein kinase A, which is critical for macrophage polarization. In summary, this study indicates that PGE₃ can selectively promote M2a polarization, while inhibiting M1 and TAM polarization, thus exerting an anti-inflammatory effect and anti-tumour effect in prostate cancer.     

Shell Biosynthesis and Pigmentation as Revealed by the Expression of Tyrosinase and Tyrosinase-like Protein Genes in Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) with Different Shell Colors

Marine Biotechnology - The widely recognized color polymorphisms of molluscan shell have been appreciated for hundreds of years by collectors and scientists, while molecular mechanisms underlying...     

内生Bacillus svelezensis HBB5菌株发酵盾叶薯蓣产薯蓣皂苷元的研究

目的探讨内生Bacillus svelezensis HBB5菌株发酵宿主植物盾叶薯蓣产薯蓣皂苷元的能力。方法接种内生B.svelezensis HBB5及B.subtilis ATCC 6633菌株(0.35×10~8 CFU/mL)至含盾叶薯蓣地下茎组织的液体培养基,32℃、165~185 r/min连续发酵108 h,检测发酵液细菌、pH、淀粉、麦芽糖、葡萄糖、淀粉酶(α-amylase)及薯蓣皂苷元溶出率等指标。结果内生B.svelezensis HBB5菌株有较强的酸、碱耐受力[pH(4.8±0.2)~(8.4±0.2)],相比B.subtilis ATCC 6633[pH(5.2±0.2)~(8.7±0.2)]差异不明显;前者达峰值生长量(60×10~(8±2) CFU/mL)明显高于后者(32×10~(8±2) CFU/mL)。发酵36~60 h时,B.svelezensis HBB5、B.subtilis ATCC 6633菌株发酵液的淀粉、麦芽糖、葡萄糖浓度达峰值,分别为(37.41±3.12)、(27.83±2.14)ng/mL,(21.06±1.25)、(16.54±1.08)ng/mL,(54.33±3.12)、(36.65±2.10)ng/mL,前者均高于后者。同时,B.svelezensis HBB5菌株维持高的α-amylase酶活性及薯蓣皂苷元溶出率。结论内生B.svelezensis HBB5菌株拥有较强的耐酸碱、降解淀粉、提高薯蓣皂苷元溶出的能力,为工业生产薯蓣皂苷元提供了一个新的方法。