Long‐term repopulation of aged bone marrow stem cells using young Sca‐1 cells promotes aged heart rejuvenation

Reduced quantity and quality of stem cells in aged individuals hinders cardiac repair and regeneration after injury. We used young bone marrow (BM) stem cell antigen 1 (Sca‐1) cells to reconstitute aged BM and rejuvenate the aged heart, and examined the underlying molecular mechanisms. BM Sca‐1⁺ or Sca‐1^? cells from young (2–3 months) or aged (18–19 months) GFP transgenic mice were transplanted into lethally irradiated aged mice to generate 4 groups of chimeras: young Sca‐1⁺, young Sca‐1^?, old Sca‐1⁺, and old Sca‐1^?. Four months later, expression of rejuvenation‐related genes (Bmi1, Cbx8, PNUTS, Sirt1, Sirt2, Sirt6) and proteins (CDK2, CDK4) was increased along with telomerase activity and telomerase‐related protein (DNA‐PKcs, TRF‐2) expression, whereas expression of senescence‐related genes (p16^INK4a, P19^ARF, p27^Kip1) and proteins (p16^INK4a, p27^Kip1) was decreased in Sca‐1⁺ chimeric hearts, especially in the young group. Host cardiac endothelial cells (GFP^?CD31⁺) but not cardiomyocytes were the primary cell type rejuvenated by young Sca‐1⁺ cells as shown by improved proliferation, migration, and tubular formation abilities. C‐X‐C chemokine CXCL12 was the factor most highly expressed in homed donor BM (GFP⁺) cells isolated from young Sca‐1⁺ chimeric hearts. Protein expression of Cxcr4, phospho‐Akt, and phospho‐FoxO3a in endothelial cells derived from the aged chimeric heart was increased, especially in the young Sca‐1⁺ group. Reconstitution of aged BM with young Sca‐1⁺ cells resulted in effective homing of functional stem cells in the aged heart. These young, regenerative stem cells promoted aged heart rejuvenation through activation of the Cxcl12/Cxcr4 pathway of cardiac endothelial cells.     

Effect of Xanthan Gum on the Freeze-Thaw Stability of Wheat Gluten

Food Biophysics - The effect of xanthan gum on the freeze-thaw stability of wheat gluten was evaluated during a 60-day storage period at −18 °C with thawing every...     

An Efficient Separator with Low Li‐Ion Diffusion Energy Barrier Resolving Feeble Conductivity for Practical Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Due to unprecedented features including high‐energy density, low cost, and light weight, lithium–sulfur batteries have been proposed as a promising successor of lithium‐ion batteries. However, unresolved detrimental low Li‐ion transport rates in traditional carbon materials lead to large energy barrier in high sulfur loading batteries, which prevents the lithium–sulfur batteries from commercialization. In this report, to overcome the challenge of increasing both the cycling stability and areal capacity, a metallic oxide composite (NiCo₂O₄@rGO) is designed to enable a robust separator with low energy barrier for Li‐ion diffusion and simultaneously provide abundant active sites for the catalytic conversion of the polar polysulfides. With a high sulfur‐loading of 6 mg cm^?2 and low sulfur/electrolyte ratio of 10, the assembled batteries deliver an initial capacity of 5.04 mAh cm^?2 as well as capacity retention of 92% after 400 cycles. The metallic oxide composite NiCo₂O₄@rGO/PP separator with low Li‐ion diffusion energy barrier opens up the opportunity for lithium–sulfur batteries to achieve long‐cycle, cost‐effective operation toward wide applications in electric vehicles and electronic devices.     

Carbon Quantum Dots–Modified Interfacial Interactions and Ion Conductivity for Enhanced High Current Density Performance in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Significant progress has achieved for developing lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries with high specific capacities and excellent cyclic stability. However, some critical issues emerge when attempts are made to raise the areal sulfur loading and increase the operation current density to meet the standards for various industrial applications. In this work, polyethylenimine‐functionalized carbon dots (PEI‐CDots) are designed and prepared for enhancing performance of the Li–S batteries with high sulfur loadings and operation under high current density situations. Strong chemical binding effects towards polysulfides and fast ion transport property are achieved in the PEI‐CDots‐modified cathodes. At a high current density of 8 mA cm^?2, the PEI‐CDots‐modified Li–S battery delivers a reversible areal capacity of 3.3 mAh cm^?2 with only 0.07% capacity decay per cycle over 400 cycles at 6.6 mg sulfur loading. Detailed analysis, involving electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and density functional theory calculations, is done for the elucidation of the underlying enhancement mechanism by the PEI‐CDots. The strongly localized sulfur species and the promoted Li⁺ ion conductivity at the cathode–electrolyte interface are revealed to enable high‐performance Li–S batteries with high sulfur loading and large operational current.     

Resorptions of 10 mineral elements in leaves of desert shrubs and their contrasting responses to aridity

Aims We aim to investigate variations in the resorption efficiencies of 10 mineral nutrients [i.e. nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu)] in leaves of desert shrubs and to explore effects of aridity on resorption efficiency of these nutrients.     

Genetic divergence of Platycerus hongwonpyoi (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) in South Korea

We examined the genetic divergence of Platycerus hongwonpyoi Imura & Choe, 1989 in South Korea using the nuclear wingless (Wg) gene, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. We found no variation in Wg or ITS. Based on COI, P. hongwonpyoi was split into four well defined and one weakly supported clades, which were inferred to have diverged 2.11–1.33 Ma. The Platycerus hongwonpyoi population size seems to have decreased during the past several tens of thousands of years. The divergence times of major clades of P. hongwonpyoi were comparable with those involved in the speciation of certain Japanese species. Frequent overlapping of different clades at the same sites suggests the occurrence of secondary gene flow following differentiation in South Korea. In conclusion, the genus Platycerus underwent strikingly different divergence patterns in South Korea compared with Japan according to the disparate topographies of these two geographical areas.     

Molecular characteristics of microbially mediated transformations of Synechococcus-derived dissolved organic matter as revealed by incubation experiments

In this study, we investigated the microbially mediated transformation of labile Synechococcus-derived DOM to RDOM using a 60-day experimental incubation system. Three phases of TOC degradation activity (I, II and III) were observed following the addition of Synechococcus-derived DOM. The phases were characterized by organic carbon consumption rates of 8.77, 1.26 and 0.16 μmol L⁻¹ day⁻¹, respectively. Excitation emission matrix analysis revealed the presence of three FDOM components including tyrosine-like, fulvic acid-like, and humic-like molecules. The three components also exhibited differing biological availabilities that could be considered as labile DOM (LDOM), semi-labile DOM (SLDOM) and RDOM, respectively. DOM molecular composition was also evaluated using FT-ICR MS. Based on differing biological turnover rates and normalized intensity values, a total of 1704 formulas were identified as candidate LDOM, SLDOM and RDOM molecules. Microbial transformation of LDOM to RDOM tended to proceed from high to low molecular weight, as well as from molecules with high to low double bond equivalent (DBE) values. Relatively higher aromaticity was observed in the formulas of RDOM molecules relative to those of LDOM molecules. FDOM components provide valuable proxy information to investigate variation in the bioavailability of DOM. These results suggest that coordinating fluorescence spectroscopy and FT-ICR MS of DOM, as conducted here, is an effective strategy to identify and characterize LDOM, SLDOM and RDOM molecules in incubation experiments emulating natural systems. The results described here provide greater insight into the metabolism of phytoplankton photosynthate by heterotrophic bacteria in marine environments.     

6A型肺炎球菌结合物分子大小对小鼠免疫原性的影响

目的 比较不同分子大小的6A型肺炎球菌(serotype 6A Streptococcus Pneumoniae )结合物和佐剂吸附在小鼠体内免疫原性的影响。方法 通过乙酸水解降低6A型荚膜多糖的相对分子质量制备成水解物,水解物经1-氰基-4-二甲胺基吡啶四氟硼酸盐(CDAP)活化并与破伤风类毒素己二酸酰肼衍生物TT AH 结合,制备成结合物。用Sepharose 4 Fast Flow 纯化结合物,并根据化学检测结果将结合物分为 K D 0.0~0.2、 K D 0.2~0.4、 K D 0.4~0.6等3个组分,每个组分分别以磷酸铝佐剂吸附,将吸附前后的各个组分按照每针次每只小鼠0.2 μg分别免疫小鼠,并采用ELISA检测结合物在小鼠体内的抗体水平。结果 3种不同相对分子质量吸附前后的结合物在小鼠体内均能产生较高水平的抗体,各组2、3针之间具有明显的加强效应。在吸附组和未吸附组中,3种不同分子大小的结合物在小鼠体内产生抗体水平无明显差异。各组分佐剂吸附后的结合物血清抗体滴度高于未吸附组,但这种差异无统计学意义( P > 0.05)。结论 结合物的分子大小对小鼠体内抗体水平的产生没有明显影响;磷酸铝佐剂吸附对于不同分子大小的结合物在小鼠体内的免疫原性有一定的增强效应,但这种增强效应差异无统计学意义。     

眼镜蛇毒中一个新的抗补体蛋白的分离纯化和性质研究

免疫性疾病、急性肺损伤、缺血再灌注损伤等病征的发生与补体异常激活密切相关。抗补体药物研究是新药开发的热点之一。本研究旨在从中华眼镜蛇毒中发现并分离纯化获得新的抗补体活性蛋白质,并对其理化性质和生物学活性加以研究。在抗补体活性追踪的指导下,采用蛋白质层析技术对眼镜蛇毒进行分离纯化;利用MALDI-TOF-MS、SDS-PAGE和葡聚糖凝胶过滤法测定目标蛋白质的纯度及分子量;等电聚焦凝胶电泳法测定其等电点;采用Edman降解法测定目标蛋白质的N-端氨基酸序列;测定目标蛋白质对补体经典途径和旁路途径的抑制活性以及可能的机制;采用MTT法和SRB法检测目标蛋白质对肿瘤细胞的杀伤作用;测定目标蛋白质对多种来源红细胞的溶血活性;采用KB平板扩散法检测抗菌活性。结果表明,通过SP Sephadex C-25阳离子交换层析和RP-HPLC C18反相层析,从中华眼镜蛇毒中分离纯化获得一个均一的抗补体蛋白质,将其命名为CTX-CI。还原性SDS-PAGE测得CTX-CI的表观分子量为12.7 kD,凝胶过滤法测得分子量为9.7 kD,MALDI-TOF-MS测得精确分子质量为7.0 kD;变性条件下测得CTX-CI的等电点为9-81;N-端氨基酸序列为LKCH。相关活性测定结果表明,CTX-CI能有效抑制人血清补体经典途径,其IC50为0.046 g/L,但对补体旁路途径无明显抑制作用;机制研究表明,CTX-CI能抑制补体经典途径C3转化酶的形成。同时,CTX-CI对肿瘤细胞株A549、K562和MCF-7细胞表现出抑制作用,其IC50分别为0.32 g/L、0.58 g/L、0.63 g/L;对豚鼠红细胞有轻微的溶血作用;能抑制枯草芽孢杆菌和藤黄微球菌的生长。综上所述,本研究从中华眼镜蛇毒中分离纯化出一个新的抗补体蛋白质CTX-CI,其理化性质和生物学活性表明其属于细胞毒素,CTX-CI能明显抑制补体经典途径,其机制与抑制经典途径C3转化酶的形成有关。     

Efficient and green aqueous−solid system for transphosphatidylation to produce phosphatidylhydroxybutyrate: Potential drugs for central nervous system's diseases

The synthesis of nonnatural phospholipid, phosphatidylhydroxybutyrate (PB), was firstly introduced by phospholipase D (PLD)-mediated transphosphatidylation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) with sodium γ-hydroxybutyrate (NaGHB) in the aqueous–solid system. Nanoscale silicon dioxide (NSD) was employed as a carrier to provide an “artificial interphase” between PC and PLD. Special attention has been paid to the effect of the PC coverage on the surface area of hybrids of NSD-PC, the PC loading and the yield of PB. Results indicated that the highest PC loading of 98.3% and the highest PB yield of 97.3% were achieved. In addition, the free PLD in the aqueous–solid system showed the greater stability and pH tolerance than that in the traditional liquid–liquid system. The operational stability of free PLD solution was investigated. The yield of PB remained 70.7% after being used for five batches. The authors provide a new idea for drug design and the potential source of PB for medical experiments. PB is a potential drug and may have the excellent performance in the treatment of central nervous system's diseases. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 35: e2726, 2019