A novel fluorescent probe with large Stokes shift for the detection of viscosity changes and its imaging in living cells

As an important cellular microenvironmental parameter, viscosity could reflect the status of living cells. Small molecular fluorescent probes are a vital tool to measure the change of viscosity in living cells. A novel fluorescence probe ZL-1 with a large Stokes shift (in methanol it reached to 153 nm and in glycerol it reached to 125 nm) and excellent sensitivity toward viscosity was developed. The sharp enhancement of the emission intensity for the probe ZL-1 from low viscous methanol to high viscous glycerol indicated that the probe ZL-1 could respond to the viscosity variations. Moreover, the probe ZL-1 has been successfully utilized to detect of the viscosity variations in living cells.     

Dkk1 Stabilizes Wnt Co-Receptor LRP6: Implication for Wnt Ligand-Induced LRP6 Down-Regulation

Background

The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-6 (LRP6) is an essential co-receptor for canonical Wnt signaling. Dickkopf 1 (Dkk1), a major secreted Wnt signaling antagonist, binds to LRP6 with high affinity and prevents the Frizzled-Wnt-LRP6 complex formation in response to Wnts. Previous studies have demonstrated that Dkk1 promotes LRP6 internalization and degradation when it forms a ternary complex with the cell surface receptor Kremen.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In the present study, we found that transfected Dkk1 induces LRP6 accumulation while inhibiting Wnt/LRP6 signaling. Treatment with Dkk1-conditioned medium or recombinant Dkk1 protein stabilized LRP6 with a prolonged half-life and induces LRP6 accumulation both at the cell surface and in endosomes. We also demonstrated that Kremen2 co-expression abrogated the effect of Dkk1 on LRP6 accumulation, indicating that the effect of Kremen2 is dominant over Dkk1 regulation of LRP6. Furthermore, we found that Wnt3A treatment induces LRP6 down-regulation, an effect paralleled with a Wnt/LRP6 signaling decay, and that Dkk1 treatment blocked Wnt3A-induced LRP6 down-regulation. Finally, we found that LRP6 turnover was blocked by an inhibitor of caveolae-mediated endocytosis.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results reveal a novel role for Dkk1 in preventing Wnt ligand-induced LRP6 down-regulation and contribute significantly to our understanding of Dkk1 function in Wnt/LRP6 signaling.     

耐盐好氧反硝化菌A-13菌株的分离鉴定及其反硝化特性

[目的]筛选高效好氧脱氮的反硝化细菌,对菌株进行多项鉴定及条件优化,为后续富营养化人工湖水体治理提供理论依据.[方法]利用反硝化培养基分离筛选好氧反硝化细菌,通过形态、生理生化、16S rRNA基因序列分析、周质硝酸还原酶亚基基因( napA)同源性分析进行菌株鉴定;通过反硝化培养基,对菌株生长及反硝化的最适pH、温度、碳源、溶解氧、接种量等进行了考察.[结果]从福州市闽侯县上街镇高岐村某排污口分离出1株耐盐高效好氧反硝化细菌A-13,多项鉴定表明该菌株为Pseudomonas stutzeri,与Pseudomonas stutzeri DSM 50283亲缘关系最近.菌株生长及反硝化的最适pH为6.5,最适温度为33℃,最适碳源为丁二酸钠,最适摇床转速为150 r/min,最适接种量为5％.在此条件下,最大可去除NO3-浓度约为1900 mg/L.该菌能够在高盐培养基( 10％ NaCl)中良好生长.对人工废水的净化效果表明,该菌具有一定的工程应用价值.[结论]分离所得好氧反硝化细菌为Pseudomonas stutzeri,将其命名为P.stutzeri YHA-13.具备高耐盐性的好氧反硝化功能的P.stutzeri未见报道.这对含盐废水/富营养化水体的工程应用有一定的潜在价值.     

Nonmuscle Myosin Heavy Chain IIA Is a Critical Factor Contributing to the Efficiency of Early Infection of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a novel phlebovirus in the Bunyaviridae family. Most patients infected by SFTSV present with fever and thrombocytopenia, and up to 30% die due to multiple-organ dysfunction. The mechanisms by which SFTSV enters multiple cell types are unknown. SFTSV contains two species of envelope glycoproteins, Gn (44.2 kDa) and Gc (56 kDa), both of which are encoded by the M segment and are cleaved from a precursor polypeptide (about 116 kDa) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Gn fused with an immunoglobulin Fc tag at its C terminus (Gn-Fc) bound to multiple cells susceptible to the infection of SFTSV and blocked viral infection of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Immunoprecipitation assays following mass spectrometry analysis showed that Gn binds to nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NMMHC-IIA), a cellular protein with surface expression in multiple cell types. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of NMMHC-IIA, but not the closely related NMMHC-IIB or NMMHC-IIC, reduced SFTSV infection, and NMMHC-IIA specific antibody blocked infection by SFTSV but not other control viruses. Overexpression of NMMHC-IIA in HeLa cells, which show limited susceptivity to SFTSV, markedly enhanced SFTSV infection of the cells. These results show that NMMHC-IIA is critical for the cellular entry of SFTSV. As NMMHC-IIA is essential for the normal functions of platelets and human vascular endothelial cells, it is conceivable that NMMHC-IIA directly contributes to the pathogenesis of SFTSV and may be a useful target for antiviral interventions against the viral infection.     

西藏3种野生牧草苗期对干旱胁迫的响应

通过气候培养箱盆栽试验,探究了干旱胁迫对西藏3种野生牧草(赖草(Leymus secalinus)、垂穗披碱草(Elymus nutans)和老芒麦(Elymus sibircus))苗期生长特性和生理指标的影响,并对其抗旱能力进行综合评价,旨在为选育抗旱性强的优良牧草种质资源和人工草地建植提供科学理论依据。研究发现,随着干旱胁迫时间的增加,土壤相对含水量呈现先快速下降后缓慢下降的变化趋势,种植不同牧草的土壤含水量变化值也不相同。3种野生牧草幼苗的株高变化量、植株含水量和叶绿素(Chl)含量均随干旱胁迫时间的增加而呈现下降趋势;植物体内游离脯氨酸(Pro)含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性均表现为随着干旱胁迫时间增加而增大;可溶性糖含量均表现为随干旱胁迫时间的增加呈现先减小后增大的变化趋势:干旱胁迫第5天的可溶性糖含量最低,但老芒麦干旱胁迫第20天时的可溶性糖含量仍低于对照;垂穗披碱草可溶性蛋白含量随着干旱胁迫时间的延长而增加,老芒麦和赖草体内可溶性蛋白含量呈现先减小后增大的变化趋势,老芒麦在干旱胁迫第10天时可溶性蛋白含量最低,而干旱胁迫第5天时赖草体内可溶性蛋白含量最低。用隶属函数法对干旱胁迫下3种野生牧草苗期8个指标进行综合评价,其抗旱性强弱顺序依次为:赖草垂穗披碱草老芒麦。结果表明3种牧草中赖草的抗旱能力最强,适合在西藏干旱地区种植;但由于赖草有性繁殖能力较低,而垂穗披碱草有性繁殖能力较强,可以作为西藏干旱、半干旱地区生态恢复的首选草种。     

Branched‐chain ketoacids secreted by glioblastoma cells via MCT1 modulate macrophage phenotype

Elevated amino acid catabolism is common to many cancers. Here, we show that glioblastoma are excreting large amounts of branched‐chain ketoacids (BCKAs), metabolites of branched‐chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism. We show that efflux of BCKAs, as well as pyruvate, is mediated by the monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) in glioblastoma. MCT1 locates in close proximity to BCKA‐generating branched‐chain amino acid transaminase 1, suggesting possible functional interaction of the proteins. Using in vitro models, we demonstrate that tumor‐excreted BCKAs can be taken up and re‐aminated to BCAAs by tumor‐associated macrophages. Furthermore, exposure to BCKAs reduced the phagocytic activity of macrophages. This study provides further evidence for the eminent role of BCAA catabolism in glioblastoma by demonstrating that tumor‐excreted BCKAs might have a direct role in tumor immune suppression. Our data further suggest that the anti‐proliferative effects of MCT1 knockdown observed by others might be related to the blocked excretion of BCKAs.     

Striking differences of LDL receptor-related protein 1B expression in mouse and human

The low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 1B (LRP1B) is a member of the expanding LDL receptor family, and is closely related to LRP. It was discovered as a putative tumor suppressor, and is frequently inactivated in human malignant tissues. However, the expression pattern of LRP1B in normal human tissues was unclear. In the present study, we analyzed LRP1B expression in normal mouse and human tissues. By using RT-PCR, we found that, while mouse LRP1B expression is mostly restricted to the brain, human LRP1B expression is more widespread with highest expression levels detected in the brain, adrenal gland, salivary gland, and testis. Although mouse LRP1B expresses in the forms of both full-length receptor tail and an alternatively spliced form lacking a 33-amino acid insert, human LRP1B is expressed exclusively in the form of full-length receptor tail. Finally, we found that, unlike mouse LRP1B, human LRP1B is cleaved by furin. Taken together, these data demonstrate that there are striking differences between LRP1B expression in mouse and human tissues. The broader expression pattern of LRP1B in human tissues suggests that this putative tumor suppressor may play roles in several types of human cancer.     

Construction of Agropyron Gaertn. genetic linkage maps using a wheat 660K SNP array reveals a homoeologous relationship with the wheat genome

Agropyron Gaertn. (P genome) is a wild relative of wheat that harbours many genetic variations that could be used to increase the genetic diversity of wheat. To agronomically transfer important genes from the P genome to a wheat chromosome by induced homoeologous pairing and recombination, it is necessary to determine the chromosomal relationships between Agropyron and wheat. Here, we report using the wheat 660K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array to genotype a segregating Agropyron F₁ population derived from an interspecific cross between two cross‐pollinated diploid collections ‘Z1842’ [A. cristatum (L.) Beauv.] (male parent) and ‘Z2098’ [A. mongolicum Keng] (female parent) and 35 wheat–A. cristatum addition/substitution lines. Genetic linkage maps were constructed using 913 SNP markers distributed among seven linkage groups spanning 839.7 cM. The average distance between adjacent markers was 1.8 cM. The maps identified the homoeologous relationship between the P genome and wheat and revealed that the P and wheat genomes are collinear and relatively conserved. In addition, obvious rearrangements and introgression spread were observed throughout the P genome compared with the wheat genome. Combined with genotyping data, the complete set of wheat–A. cristatum addition/substitution lines was characterized according to their homoeologous relationships. In this study, the homoeologous relationship between the P genome and wheat was identified using genetic linkage maps, and the detection mean for wheat–A. cristatum introgressions might significantly accelerate the introgression of genetic variation from Agropyron into wheat for exploitation in wheat improvement programmes.     

云南23个少数民族人群腺苷酸激酶(AK1)多态分布调查

采用淀粉凝胶电泳法,对云南彝、白、哈尼、壮、傣、苗、傈僳、回、拉祜、佤、纳西、瑶、藏、景颇、布朗、普米、怒、阿昌、德昂、基诺、布依、独龙和苦聪人等23个少数民族人群的红细胞腺苷酸激酶(AK1)的多态分布进行了调查。结果,在23个人群中均未检出AK21纯合子。但在彝、回、景颇、布朗、怒和德昂6个民族中检出了AK21杂合子,AK21基因频率在这6个民族中的分布在0.0045-0.0446之间,其中,仅回族的AK21基因达多态水平。 Abstract:The investigation on the distribution of adenylate kinase(AK1)polyorphism in 23 ethnic groups in Yunnan province of China,including the minorities of Yi,Bai,Hani,Zhuang,Dai,Miao,Lisu,Hui,Lahu,Wa,Naxi,Yao,Tibetan,Jingro,Bulang,Pumi,Nu,Achang,Deang,Jino,Buyi,Dulong and Kucong people,was carried out,using starch gel electrophoresis.The results showed that no AK21,homozygote and other variations were found.But AK21 heterozygotes were found in the minorities of Yi,Hui,Jingpo,Bulang,Nu and Deang.The ranges of AK21 gene frequencies were 0.0045-0.0446.