βII spectrin (SPTBN1): biological function and clinical potential in cancer and other diseases

βII spectrin, the most common isoform of non-erythrocyte spectrin, is a cytoskeleton protein present in all nucleated cells. Interestingly, βII spectrin is essential for the development of various organs such as nerve, epithelium, inner ear, liver and heart. The functions of βII spectrin include not only establishing and maintaining the cell structure but also regulating a variety of cellular functions, such as cell apoptosis, cell adhesion, cell spreading and cell cycle regulation. Notably, βII spectrin dysfunction is associated with embryonic lethality and the DNA damage response. More recently, the detection of altered βII spectrin expression in tumors indicated that βII spectrin might be involved in the development and progression of cancer. Its mutations and disorders could result in developmental disabilities and various diseases. The versatile roles of βII spectrin in disease have been examined in an increasing number of studies; nonetheless, the exact mechanisms of βII spectrin are still poorly understood. Thus, we summarize the structural features and biological roles of βII spectrin and discuss its molecular mechanisms and functions in development, homeostasis, regeneration and differentiation. This review highlight the potential effects of βII spectrin dysfunction in cancer and other diseases, outstanding questions for the future investigation of therapeutic targets. The investigation of the regulatory mechanism of βII spectrin signal inactivation and recovery may bring hope for future therapy of related diseases.     

Intense photon emission induced by fracture of γ–irradiated Dy‐, Tm‐, Sm‐ and Mn‐doped CaSO4 single crystals

When an γ‐irradiated Dy‐, Tm‐, Sm‐ or Mn‐doped CaSO₄ crystal is impulsively deformed, two peaks appear in the ML intensity versus time curve, whereby the first ML peak is found in the deformation region and the second in the post‐deformation region of the crystals. In this study, intensities I_m1 and I_m2 corresponding to first and second ML peaks, respectively, increased linearly with an impact velocity v₀ of the piston used to deform the crystals, and times t_m1 and t_m2 corresponding to the first and second ML peaks, respectively, decreased with impact velocity. Total ML intensity initially increased with impact velocity and then reached a saturation value for higher values of impact velocity. ML intensity increased with increasing γ‐doses and size of crystals. Results showed that the electric field produced as a result of charging of newly‐created surfaces caused tunneling of electrons to the valence band of the hole‐trapping centres. The free holes generated moved in the valence band and their subsequent recombination with electron trapping centres released energy, thereby resulting in excitation of luminescent centres. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Drug discovery prospect from untapped species: indications from approved natural product drugs

Due to extensive bioprospecting efforts of the past and technology factors, there have been questions about drug discovery prospect from untapped species. We analyzed recent trends of approved drugs derived from previously untapped species, which show no sign of untapped drug-productive species being near extinction and suggest high probability of deriving new drugs from new species in existing drug-productive species families and clusters. Case histories of recently approved drugs reveal useful strategies for deriving new drugs from the scaffolds and pharmacophores of the natural product leads of these untapped species. New technologies such as cryptic gene-cluster exploration may generate novel natural products with highly anticipated potential impact on drug discovery.     

Morphological and ultrastructural characterization of the alimentary canal in larvae of Streltzoviella insularis (Staudinger) (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)

Streltzoviella insularis (Staudinger) is an important tree‐boring pest, that primarily damages Sophora japonica (Linnaeus) and Ginkgo biloba (Linnaeus), as well as other common species, at great economic cost to the urban landscape construction industry in China. In the present study, the alimentary canal morphology of S. insularis was observed using light microscopy, and its ultrastructure was investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The foregut of S. insularis can be divided into the pharynx, esophagus, crop, proventriculus, and cardiac valve. The well‐developed crop forms the longest section of the foregut. It is able to store large amounts of food and is lined with a monolayer of epithelial cells. Many sclerotized microspines occur on the surface of the anterior intima and there are dense spines on the posterior intima of the proventriculus. Epithelial cells of the midgut include columnar cells, goblet cells, and regenerative cells, but endocrine cells are absent. The hindgut consists of the pyloric valve, ileum, and rectum. There is no clear distinction between the ileum and colon. The intima surface of the pyloric valve carries many microspines, whereas the intestinal wall of the rectum is thin with well‐developed rectal pads. The rectal epithelial cells form a squamous monolayer. A cryptonephric excretory system is located in the hindgut. There are six spiral Malpighian tubules, in which a cellular layer on a basement membrane encloses a lumen. These results will provide the basis for further studies of the structure and function in S. insularis larvae.     

The Expression Alteration of BC1 RNA and its Interaction with Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor eIF4A Post-Status Epilepticus

Abnormal dendritic sprouting and synaptic remodelling are important pathological features of temporal lobe epilepsy. BC1 RNA is a translation repressor involved in the regulation of the dendritic protein synthesis and mRNA transport, which is essential for dendritic development and plasticity. The expression alteration of BC1 RNA in the pilocarpine induced epilepsy model remains unknown. It is unclear if the interactions between BC1 RNA and eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) exists in this model. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression changes of BC1 RNA and its interactions with eIF4A post-status epilepticus (SE). Chloride lithium and pilocarpine were used to induce the SE rat model. Either a whole brain or hippocampus tissues were collected at different time points after SE. The expression patterns of BC1 was detected by qPCR and in situ hybridization. The levels of eIF4AI/II protein expression were analyzed via western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The BC1 RNA-eIF4AI/II interaction was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). We found that the BC1 RNA levels decreased in hippocampus 3d, 1w and 2w post-SE before the levels recovered. The eIF4AI/II began to rise 3d post-SE and reached the maximum level 1w post-SE. After 1w post-SE the levels decreased in the hippocampal CA1, CA3 and DG subregions. EMSA analysis showed that BC1 RNA specifically interacted with the eIF4AI/II. The BC1 RNA-eIF4AI/II complex reduced to the lowest level 1w post-SE. Our results suggested that BC1 has a negative regulatory correlation with eIF4AI/II, where BC1 RNA could be involved in epileptogenesis by regulating dendritic protein synthesis.     

生物复苏——大绝灭后生物演化历史的第一幕

生命史是一部生物界短期,快速剧变与长期,慢速稳定相互交替的历史。大绝灭（即集群绝灭）事件反映了全球环境的大突变,点断了地质历史中的生命记录及其发展历程,预示着生物界的演化出现了最有意义的飞跃,近年来尝试研究大绝灭后全球生物界的残存－复苏及其基本型式,并探索复苏的控制因素,标志着地质科学中一个重心的转移（即从大绝灭转向其后的生物残存与复苏的研究）。生物复苏揭示了大绝灭后生物演化历史的第一幕,其研究的     

The topological differences between visitation and pollen transport networks: a comparison in species rich communities of the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains

Pollination networks are usually constructed and assessed by direct field observations which commonly assume that all flower visitors are true pollinators. However, this assumption is often invalid and the use of data based on mere visitors to flowers may lead to a misunderstanding of intrinsic pollination networks. Here, using a large dataset by both sampling floral visitors and analyzing their pollen loads, we constructed 32 networks pairs (visitation versus pollen transport) across one flowering season at four elevation sites in the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains region. Pollen analysis was conducted to determine which flower visitors acted as potential pollinators (pollen vectors) or as cheaters (those not carrying pollen of the visited plants). We tested whether there were topological differences between visitation and pollen transport networks and whether different taxonomic groups of insect visitors differed in their ability to carry pollen of the visited plants. Our results indicated that there was a significantly higher degree of specialization at both the network and species levels in the pollen transport networks in contrast to the visitation networks. Modularity was lower but nestedness was higher in the visitation networks compared to the pollen transport networks. All the cheaters were identified as peripheral species and most of them contributed positively to the nested structure. This may explain in part the differences in modularity and nestedness between the two network types. Bees carried the highest proportion of pollen of the visited plants. This was followed by Coleoptera, other Hymenoptera and Diptera. Lepidoptera carried the lowest proportion of pollen of the visited plants. Our study shows that the construction of pollen transport networks could provide a more in‐depth understanding of plant–pollinator interactions. Moreover, it suggests that detecting and removing cheater interactions when studying the topology of other mutualistic networks might be also important.     

Direct electrochemistry of myoglobin based on ionic liquid-clay composite films

The direct electron transfer of myoglobin (Mb) was realized by immobilizing Mb onto ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoraborate, [bmim][BF(4)])-clay composite film modified glassy carbon electrode. A pair of well-defined redox peaks of Mb with a formal potential (E(o)') of -0.297 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) was observed in 0.1M phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.0). The ionic liquid-clay composite film showed good biocompatibility and an obvious promotion capability for the direct electron transfer between Mb and electrode. The electron transfer rate constant (k(s)) of Mb was calculated to be (3.58+/-0.12)s(-1). UV-vis spectrum suggested that Mb retained its native conformation in the ionic liquid-clay system. Basal plane spacing of clay obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that there was an intercalation-exfoliation-restacking process, in ionic liquid and clay during the drying process of the modification, and the ionic liquid played the key role for promotion of the direct electron transfer between Mb and the ionic liquid-clay composite film modified electrode. The biocatalytic activity of Mb in the composite film was exemplified by the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. Under the optimal conditions, the reduction peak currents of Mb increased linearly with the concentration of H(2)O(2) in the range of 3.90 x 10(-6) to 2.59 x 10(-4)M, with a detection limit of 7.33 x 10(-7)M. The kinetic parameter I(max) and the apparent Michaelis constant (K(m)) for the electrocatalytic reactions were 3.87 x 10(-8)A and 17.6 microM, respectively. The proposed method would be valuable for the construction of a new third-generation H(2)O(2) sensor.