Draft genome sequence of Streptomyces coelicoflavus ZG0656 reveals the putative biosynthetic gene cluster of acarviostatin family α-amylase inhibitors

Aims: The aims of this study are to obtain the draft genome sequence of Streptomyces coelicoflavus ZG0656, which produces novel acarviostatin family α‐amylase inhibitors, and then to reveal the putative acarviostatin‐related gene cluster and the biosynthetic pathway. Methods and Results: The draft genome sequence of S. coelicoflavus ZG0656 was generated using a shotgun approach employing a combination of 454 and Solexa sequencing technologies. Genome analysis revealed a putative gene cluster for acarviostatin biosynthesis, termed sct‐cluster. The cluster contains 13 acarviostatin synthetic genes, six transporter genes, four starch degrading or transglycosylation enzyme genes and two regulator genes. On the basis of bioinformatic analysis, we proposed a putative biosynthetic pathway of acarviostatins. The intracellular steps produce a structural core, acarviostatin I00‐7‐P, and the extracellular assemblies lead to diverse acarviostatin end products. Conclusions: The draft genome sequence of S. coelicoflavus ZG0656 revealed the putative biosynthetic gene cluster of acarviostatins and a putative pathway of acarviostatin production. Significance and Impact of the Study: To our knowledge, S. coelicoflavus ZG0656 is the first strain in this species for which a genome sequence has been reported. The analysis of sct‐cluster provided important insights into the biosynthesis of acarviostatins. This work will be a platform for producing novel variants and yield improvement.     

Hydrological regulation drives regime shifts: evidence from paleolimnology and ecosystem modeling of a large shallow Chinese lake

Quantitative evidence of sudden shifts in ecological structure and function in large shallow lakes is rare, even though they provide essential benefits to society. Such ‘regime shifts’ can be driven by human activities which degrade ecological stability including water level control (WLC) and nutrient loading. Interactions between WLC and nutrient loading on the long‐term dynamics of shallow lake ecosystems are, however, often overlooked and largely underestimated, which has hampered the effectiveness of lake management. Here, we focus on a large shallow lake (Lake Chaohu) located in one of the most densely populated areas in China, the lower Yangtze River floodplain, which has undergone both WLC and increasing nutrient loading over the last several decades. We applied a novel methodology that combines consistent evidence from both paleolimnological records and ecosystem modeling to overcome the hurdle of data insufficiency and to unravel the drivers and underlying mechanisms in ecosystem dynamics. We identified the occurrence of two regime shifts: one in 1963, characterized by the abrupt disappearance of submerged vegetation, and another around 1980, with strong algal blooms being observed thereafter. Using model scenarios, we further disentangled the roles of WLC and nutrient loading, showing that the 1963 shift was predominantly triggered by WLC, whereas the shift ca. 1980 was attributed to aggravated nutrient loading. Our analysis also shows interactions between these two stressors. Compared to the dynamics driven by nutrient loading alone, WLC reduced the critical P loading and resulted in earlier disappearance of submerged vegetation and emergence of algal blooms by approximately 26 and 10 years, respectively. Overall, our study reveals the significant role of hydrological regulation in driving shallow lake ecosystem dynamics, and it highlights the urgency of using multi‐objective management criteria that includes ecological sustainability perspectives when implementing hydrological regulation for aquatic ecosystems around the globe.     

人骨髓间充质干细胞在成年大鼠脑内的迁移及分化

骨髓间充质干细胞 (mesenchymalstemcells,MSCs)是目前备受关注的一类具有多向分化潜能的组织干细胞 ,体外可以分化为骨、软骨、脂肪等多种细胞。因此 ,MSCs是细胞治疗和基因治疗的种子细胞之一。为了探索MSCs的迁移和分化趋势 ,为帕金森病 (Parkinsondisease,PD)的干细胞治疗提供理论和实验依据 ,本实验将体外扩增并转染增强型绿色荧光蛋白 (enhancedgreenfluorescentprotein ,EGFP)的人骨髓MSCs注入PD大鼠脑内纹状体 ,观察了人骨髓MSCs在大鼠脑内的存活、迁移、分化以及注射MSCs前后大鼠的行为变化。结果表明 ,人骨髓MSCs在大鼠脑内可存活较长时间 ( 10周以上 ) ;随着时间的延长 ,MSCs迁移范围扩大 ,分布于纹状体、胼胝体、皮质以及脑内血管壁 ;免疫组化法检测证实MSCs在大鼠脑内表达人神经丝蛋白 (neurofilament,NF)、神经元特异性烯醇化酶 (neuron specificeno lase,NSE)以及胶质原纤维酸性蛋白 ( glialfibrillaryacidprotein ,GFAP) ;PD大鼠的异常行为有所缓解 ,转圈数由 8 86±2 0 9r/min下降到 4 87± 2 0 6r/min ,统计学分析P <0 0 5为差异显著。以上观察结果表明 ,骨髓MSCs有望成为治疗PD的种子细胞     

Improved genome assembly of Chinese shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis) suggests adaptation to the environment during evolution and domestication

A high-quality reference genome is necessary to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying important biological phenomena; therefore, in the present study, a chromosome-level genome assembly of the Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis was performed. Muscle of a male shrimp was sequenced using PacBio platform, and assembled by Hi-C technology. The assembled F. chinensis genome was 1.47 Gb with contig N50 of 472.84 Kb, including 57.73% repetitive sequences, and was anchored to 43 pseudochromosomes, with scaffold N50 of 36.87 Mb. In total, 25,026 protein-coding genes were predicted. The genome size of F. chinensis showed significant contraction in comparison with that of other penaeid species, which is likely related to migration observed in this species. However, the F. chinensis genome included several expanded gene families related to cellular processes and metabolic processes, and the contracted gene families were associated with virus infection process. The findings signify the adaptation of F. chinensis to the selection pressure of migration and cold environment. Furthermore, the selection signature analysis identified genes associated with metabolism, phototransduction, and nervous system in cultured shrimps when compared with wild population, indicating targeted, artificial selection of growth, vision, and behavior during domestication. The construction of the genome of F. chinensis provided valuable information for the further genetic mechanism analysis of important biological processes, and will facilitate the research of genetic changes during evolution.     

Structural conservation and food habit-related liver expression of uncoupling protein 2 gene in five major Chinese carps

The full-length cDNA of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) was obtained from liver. The grass carp UCP2 cDNA was determined to be 1152 bp in length with an open reading frame that encodes 310 amino acids. Five introns (Intron 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) in the translated region, and partial sequence of Intron 2 in the untranslated region of grass carp UCP2 gene were also obtained. Gene structure comparison between grass carp and mammalian (human and mouse) UCP2 gene shows that, the UCP2 gene structure of grass carp is much similar to that of human and mouse. Partial UCP2 cDNA sequences of bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) and mud carp (Cirrhinus molitorella), were further determined. Together with the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) UCP2 sequence from GenBank (AJ243486), multiple alignment result shows that the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the UCP2 gene, were highly conserved among the five major Chinese carps that belong to four subfamilies. Using beta-actin as control, the ratio UCP2/beta-actin mRNA (%) was determined to be 149.4 +/- 15.6 (common carp), 127.4 +/- 22.1(mud carp), 96.7 +/- 12.7 (silver carp), 94.1 +/- 26.8 (bighead carp) and 63.7 +/- 16.2 (grass carp). The relative liver UCP2 expression of the five major Chinese carps, shows a close relationship with their food habit: benthos and detritus-eating fish (common carp and mud carp) > planktivorious fish (silver carp and bighead carp) > herbivorous fish (grass carp). We suggest that liver UCP2 might be important for Chinese carps to detoxify cyanotoxins and bacteria in debris and plankton food.     

Spectroscopic characterization and molecular weight distribution of dissolved organic matter in sediment porewaters from Lake Erhai, Southwest China

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in sediment porewaters from Lake Erhai, Southwest China was investigated using dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, UV absorbance, fluorescence and molecular weight distribution. DOC exhibited a high concentration at the sediment–water interface with a rapid decrease to the oxic–anoxic interface at approximately 7 cm, and then increased with depth. Similar trends were also found for the UV absorption coefficients at 254 and 280 nm in the porewaters. DNA in the sediment was also measured, which confirmed the high abundance of aerobic bacteria in the upper layer of the sediment. Both humic-like (peaks A and C) and protein-like (peaks B and D) fluorescence were observed in the porewater DOM, and their fluorescence intensities exhibited a similar porewater profile as DOC concentration. A strong correlation was found between the peak fluorescence intensity ratio r(A, C) and r(D, B). Both the fluorescence index and UV absorption coefficient at 254 nm suggested a dramatic increase in aromaticity of porewater DOM across the oxic–anoxic interface. Porewater DOM exhibited a multimodal distribution of molecular weight with a relatively low polydispersity. The results of this study offer significant insight into the nature and properties of DOM in freshwater ecosystems.     

TGF-β1对话Hedgehog-Gli1信号调控肾小管上皮细胞表型转化和胶原累积

该研究旨在探讨Hedgehog-Gli1(HH)信号在肾小管上皮细胞表型转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)和胶原累积中的作用及与TGF-β1信号的对话机制。该实验通过体外培养大鼠肾小管上皮细胞NRK-52E,以溶剂作为对照组,以1~50 ng/m L重组蛋白sonic hedgehog(Shh)或5 ng/m L TGF-β1作为诱导组,以加入或不加入HH信号特异性阻断剂环靶明(cyclopamine,Cyp)5μmol/L为干预组。细胞培养24 h,采用ELISA、q RT-PCR、免疫细胞荧光染色和Western blot等方法检测HH信号相关分子(Ptch1、Smo和Gli1)、TGF-β1、EMT相关分子(Rac1蛋白、肌成纤维细胞标志物α-SMA和上皮细胞标志物E-cadherin)、III型胶原m RNA或蛋白的表达。结果发现,外源性Shh上调Smo和Gli1表达,抑制Ptch1表达,继而激活HH信号;HH信号活化抑制肾小管上皮细胞E-cadherin的表达,上调α-SMA、III型胶原和TGF-β1的表达。环靶明干预后,Smo表达下调,进而抑制HH信号、EMT和胶原累积,并下调TGF-β1的表达。应用TGF-β1诱导小管上皮细胞EMT,同时也上调HH信号分子Smo和Gli1的表达,下调Ptch1的表达,提示TGF-β1可诱导HH信号活化。综上所述,HH信号和TGF-β1均参与了肾小管上皮细胞EMT和胶原累积过程。HH信号活化可促进TGF-β1的表达,同时TGF-β1能激活HH信号,推测TGF-β1与HH信号可能存在交叉对话以调控EMT和胶原累积。     

表面展示新城疫病毒部分F蛋白的重组干酪乳杆菌的构建及其免疫原性

本研究旨在构建重组干酪乳杆菌pLA-Newcastlediseasevirus (NDV)-F/Lactobacillus casei,获得表达产物,并探讨其免疫效果。利用PCR扩增携带部分主要抗原表位的NDV F基因,与穿梭质粒pLA连接转化至大肠杆菌BL21 (DE3)中,筛选阳性重组质粒,将其电转化至干酪乳杆菌中,构建重组干酪乳杆菌pLA-NDV-F/L. casei,应用PCR鉴定阳性菌株,Western blotting鉴定重组菌反应原性,间接免疫荧光、流式细胞术和激光共聚焦检测蛋白表达情况。试验选用14日龄雏鸡,各组免疫方式为口服+滴鼻。设立pLA-NDV-F/L. casei两次免疫组和三次免疫组、弱毒疫苗组、 pLA/L.casei、未攻毒PBS组和攻毒PBS组。间接ELISA方法检测雏鸡血清IgG、肠道、鼻腔、肺脏中sIgA抗体效价,评价试验组雏鸡攻毒保护率。结果表明,有94.10%的重组菌表达了F蛋白,且高效表达在干酪乳杆菌细胞表面,蛋白大小为62kDa,并能与抗NDV阳性血清特异性结合。各免疫组anti-F IgG和s Ig A抗体水平显著高于对照组,p LA-NDV-F/L. casei三次免疫组抗体持续时间比两次免疫组延长28 d,抗体峰值没有显著差异。免疫pLA-NDV-F/L. casei三次、两次、弱毒疫苗、pLA/L. casei和PBS的攻击保护率分别为80%、80%、90%、0%和0%。因此,利用干酪乳杆菌表达体系成功表达了携带部分抗原表位的NDVF基因,具备良好的反应原性和免疫原性,可诱导机体产生保护性免疫应答。     

一株新的α-淀粉酶抑制剂生产菌株ZG0656及其产物的发酵、分离、性质与应用

从土壤中分离并筛选得到了一株α-淀粉酶抑制剂生产菌,编号ZG0656.根据形态特征,培养特征、生理生化特征、细胞壁化学组成特征和16S rDNA全序列相似性比较分析等多相分类方法,确认菌株ZG0656为天蓝黄链霉菌的新变种,命名为天蓝黄链霉菌南开变种(Streptomyces coelicoflavus var.nankaiensis).该菌经10 L发酵罐水平发酵,发酵液中可积累一定量的α-淀粉酶抑制荆.采用浓缩,树脂吸附,凝胶过滤,减压干燥等方法得到α-淀粉酶抑制剂混合物.该α-淀粉酶抑制剂为含氮的拟低聚糖类物质.能强烈抑制哺乳动物来源的α-淀粉酶,对餐后高血糖的形成有明显改善作用.可用于制备治疗糖尿病,肥胖症的药物或功能性食品.     

Synaptic neurotransmission depression in ventral tegmental dopamine neurons and cannabinoid-associated addictive learning

Drug addiction is an association of compulsive drug use with long-term associative learning/memory. Multiple forms of learning/memory are primarily subserved by activity- or experience-dependent synaptic long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). Recent studies suggest LTP expression in locally activated glutamate synapses onto dopamine neurons (local Glu-DA synapses) of the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) following a single or chronic exposure to many drugs of abuse, whereas a single exposure to cannabinoid did not significantly affect synaptic plasticity at these synapses. It is unknown whether chronic exposure of cannabis (marijuana or cannabinoids), the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide, induce LTP or LTD at these synapses. More importantly, whether such alterations in VTA synaptic plasticity causatively contribute to drug addictive behavior has not previously been addressed. Here we show in rats that chronic cannabinoid exposure activates VTA cannabinoid CB1 receptors to induce transient neurotransmission depression at VTA local Glu-DA synapses through activation of NMDA receptors and subsequent endocytosis of AMPA receptor GluR2 subunits. A GluR2-derived peptide blocks cannabinoid-induced VTA synaptic depression and conditioned place preference, i.e., learning to associate drug exposure with environmental cues. These data not only provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic depression at VTA dopamine circuitry requires GluR2 endocytosis, but also suggest an essential contribution of such synaptic depression to cannabinoid-associated addictive learning, in addition to pointing to novel pharmacological strategies for the treatment of cannabis addiction.