Quantitative estimation of chimerism in mice using microsatellite markers

An embryonic stem cell line was established from SV129 mouse blastocysts and used to generate chimeric mice by injection into OF1 blastocysts; 18 out of the 30 resulting offspring appeared chimeric as judged from their coat color patterns, and 3 of the 13 males proved to be germ-line chimeras as they transmitted the SV129 agouti phenotype to all or part of their offspring. The degree of chimerism of these males was evaluated for different tissues using polymorphic microsatellite markers amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. It was shown that these new markers can be effectively used to quantitatively estimate levels of chimerism. The CKMM (creatine kinase, muscle) microsatellite system was used to distinguish the SV129 from the OF1 genotype. In all performed tests, the correlation between DNA ratio and signal ratio, expressed as a base 10 logarithm, was shown to exceed or equal 0.98 for known DNA ratios (SV129/OF1) ranging from 1/99 to 99/1. Linear calibration methods were used to predict the % SV129 DNA of a test sample based on the obtained signal ratio. The accuracy of the prediction was evaluated by performing repeated measurements. Differences among three repeated estimates ranged from 2 to 17% for a given sample. Microsatellite systems should be very useful to monitor chimerism involving strains that can not be discerned with coat color or biochemical markers. This will be particularly important when ES methodology becomes available in species other than mice. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Extinction risk of Chinese angiosperms varies between woody and herbaceous species

Aim

Understanding how species' traits and environmental contexts relate to extinction risk is a critical priority for ecology and conservation biology. This study aims to identify and explore factors related to extinction risk between herbaceous and woody angiosperms to facilitate more effective conservation and management strategies and understand the interactions between environmental threats and species' traits.

Location

China.

Taxon

Angiosperms.

Methods

We obtained a large dataset including five traits, six extrinsic variables, and 796,118 occurrence records for 14,888 Chinese angiosperms. We assessed the phylogenetic signal and used phylogenetic generalized least squares regressions to explore relationships between extinction risk, plant traits, and extrinsic variables in woody and herbaceous angiosperms. We also used phylogenetic path analysis to evaluate causal relationships among traits, climate variables, and extinction risk of different growth forms.

Results

The phylogenetic signal of extinction risk differed among woody and herbaceous species. Angiosperm extinction risk was mainly affected by growth form, altitude, mean annual temperature, normalized difference vegetation index, and precipitation change from 1901 to 2020. Woody species' extinction risk was strongly affected by height and precipitation, whereas extinction risk for herbaceous species was mainly affected by mean annual temperature rather than plant traits.

Main conclusions

Woody species were more likely to have higher extinction risks than herbaceous species under climate change and extinction threat levels varied with both plant traits and extrinsic variables. The relationships we uncovered may help identify and protect threatened plant species and the ecosystems that rely on them.     

核仁组成区蛋白在软组织肿瘤及瘤样病变中的表达与意义

应用胶银技术,对软组织肿瘤特别是纤维源性肿瘤核仁组成区蛋白进行了定量研究。在软组织一些恶性肿瘤中,以血管肉瘤、横纹肌肉瘤核仁组成区蛋白均值最高,并以此排列了它们的恶性度顺序。在纤维源性肿瘤中,纤维瘤、瘤样纤维组织增生、纤维肉瘤及其亚类核仁组成区蛋白均值有显著与高度显著性差异(P<0.05、P<0.001),其中随访的34例纤维肉瘤患者,具有高核仁组成区蛋白均值(≥5)与低核仁组成区蛋白均值(<5)的5年生存率分别是20％和53％(P<0.05)。因此,作者认为核仁组成区蛋白定量在判定软组织肿瘤的恶性度、鉴别其良恶性及预测患者预后中均有一定实用价值。     

禾谷缢蚜对小麦黄矮病传播能力变异的研究

测试结果禾谷缢蚜对小麦黄矮病(BYDV)传播能力显著提高。由此可使该病由北方干旱,半干旱的中、低产麦区往水地高产麦区,甚至南方麦区扩展曼延。已于1988、1989年秋季导致陕西关中西部水地,1989年春季导致南方麦区四川荣县小麦黄矮病发生流行。     

DAB致大鼠肝癌过程中免疫组化及免疫电镜研究

本文采用二甲氨基偶氮苯(DAB)诱发的大鼠肝癌模型,运用组织病理学、血清学、免疫组化及免疫电镜技术相结合的方法,对诱癌过程中各个不同时期肝脏的组织病理学变化及肝癌阳性标志物AFP的表达进行了动态观察。结果显示:早在血清AFP浓度上升和由卵圆细胞转变而来的小肝细胞表达AFP之前,肝小叶中就出现了散在的AFP阳性肝细胞,我们认为这种AFP阳性肝细胞可作为肝细胞癌前病变的早期征象之一。在AFP阳性的肝细胞内,AFP主要定位于核周间隙、粗面内质网和高尔基复合体。     

Hectogram-scale synthesis of [Aib8, Arg34]-GLP-1 (7–37) by liquid-phase fragment condensation

Based on small-scale synthesis (0.3 g), a 100-g scale-up synthesis of crude [Aib⁸, Arg³⁴]-glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) (7–37) was completed. The crude [Aib⁸, Arg³⁴]-GLP-1 (7–37) was purified using a dynamic axial compression column 200 (DAC-200). Approximately 61 g of [Aib⁸, Arg³⁴]-GLP-1 (7–37) with a purity of >99% was obtained through one-step reverse-phase chromatography. The purification yield was approximately 92%. The yield from the total reaction was approximately 60%. In summary, we developed an economical and environmentally friendly route to the synthesis and purification of crude [Aib⁸, Arg³⁴]-GLP-1 (7–37), laying a foundation for subsequent industrial production.     

25000年以来渤海湾西岸古环境探讨

 本文依据孢粉、微体古生物、放射性碳测年、因子分析等资料,表明25000a,BP 以来渤海湾西岸的古植被,古地理环境演变既受气候冷暖变化的影响,又受海平面变化的制约。25000—23000a,BP 为高海平面时期,古植被为森林草甸植被,23000—12000a,BP,气候冷干,为低海平面时期,以草原植被为主,前期和后期为沼泽草甸植被。12000—5000a,BP 气候温凉或温暖湿润为海平面上升时期,为阔叶林草甸或沼泽草甸植被,5000a,BP 以来,气候变凉变干,为海退时期,古植被由沼泽草甸演变为盐生草甸。     

Blockage of MDM2-mediated p53 ubiquitination by yuanhuacine restrains the carcinogenesis of prostate carcinoma cells by suppressing LncRNA LINC00665

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a challenging issue for men's health worldwide due to its uncontrolled proliferation and high metastatic potential. Increasing evidence has supported plant extracts and natural plant derivatives as promising antitumor therapy with less toxic side effects. Yuanhuacine is an active component isolated from Daphne genkwa and can effectively suppress the tumorigenesis of several cancers. However, its role in PCa remains unclear. In this study, yuanhuacine dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of PCa cells. Moreover, yuanhuacine also restrained the invasion and migration of PCa cells. Mechanically, yuanhuacine decreased the ubiquitination and degradation of p53 protein, and ultimately increased p53 levels, which was regulated by inhibiting the phosphorylation and total protein levels of mouse double minute 2 (MDM2). Moreover, elevation of MDM2 reversed the suppressive efficacy of yuanhuacine in PCa cell viability, invasion, and migration. The network pharmacologic and bioinformatics analysis confirmed that MDM2 might be a common target of D. genkwa and LINC00665. Furthermore, yuanhuacine inhibited LINC00665 expression. Upregulation of LINC00665 reversed yuanhuacine-mediated inhibition in MDM2 protein expression and suppressed p53 levels by enhancing its ubiquitination in yuanhuacine-treated cells. Importantly, the inhibitory effects of yuanhuacine on cell viability and metastatic potential were offset after LINC00665 elevation. Together, the current findings highlight that yuanhuacine may possess tumor-suppressive efficacy by inhibiting LINC00665-mediated MDM2/p53 ubiquitination signaling. Therefore, this study indicates that yuanhuacine may be a promising candidate for the treatment of PCa.     

Bisphenol S induces oxidative stress-mediated impairment of testosterone synthesis by inhibiting the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway

Bisphenol S (BPS) is an environmental endocrine disruptor widely used in industrial production. BPS induces oxidative stress and exhibits male reproductive toxicity in mice, but the mechanisms by which BPS impairs steroid hormone synthesis are not fully understood. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/HO-1 signaling is a key pathway in improving cellular antioxidant defense capacities. Therefore, this study explored the effects of exposure to BPS on testosterone synthesis in adult male mice and its mechanisms with regard to the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were orally exposed to BPS (2, 20, and 200 mg/kg BW) with sesame oil as a vehicle (0.1 ml/10 g BW) per day for 28 consecutive days. The results showed that compared with the control group, serum testosterone levels were substantially reduced in the 20 and 200 mg/kg BPS treatment groups, and testicular testosterone levels were reduced in all BPS treatment groups. These changes were accompanied by a prominent decrease in the expression levels of testosterone synthesis-related enzymes (STAR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1, HSD3B1, and HSD17B3) in the mouse testis. In addition, BPS induced oxidative stress in the testis by upregulating the messenger RNA and protein levels of Keap1 and downregulating the levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and downstream antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD1, and Gpx4). In summary, our results indicate that exposure of adult male mice to BPS can inhibit Nrf2/HO-1 signaling and antioxidant enzyme activity, which induces oxidative stress and thereby may impair testosterone synthesis in testicular tissues, leading to reproductive damage.