Intercellular mitochondria transfer:a new perspective for the treatment of metabolic diseases

In the past few decades,obesity is in an increasingly prevalent metabolic disease worldwide,posing the greatest threat to human health.Understanding the pathway...     

Intercellular transmission of chronic ER stress:a new mechanism of metabolic diseases

Cell-cell communication plays a critical role in cell proliferation,dif-ferentiation,morphogenesis,functiogenesis,and tissue homoeostasis in multicellular organ...     

Genome‐wide distribution and functions of the AAE complex in epigenetic regulation in Arabidopsis

Heterochromatin is widespread in eukaryotic genomes and has diverse impacts depending on its genomic context. Previous studies have shown that a protein complex, the ASI1‐AIPP1‐EDM2 (AAE) complex, participates in polyadenylation regulation of several intronic heterochromatin‐containing genes. However, the genome‐wide functions of AAE are still unknown. Here, we show that the ASI1 and EDM2 mostly target the common genomic regions on a genome‐wide level and preferentially interacts with genetic heterochromatin. Polyadenylation (poly(A) sequencing reveals that AAE complex has a substantial influence on poly(A) site usage of heterochromatin‐containing genes, including not only intronic heterochromatin‐containing genes but also the genes showing overlap with heterochromatin. Intriguingly, AAE is also involved in the alternative splicing regulation of a number of heterochromatin‐overlapping genes, such as the disease resistance gene RPP4. We provided evidence that genic heterochromatin is indispensable for the recruitment of AAE in polyadenylation and splicing regulation. In addition to conferring RNA processing regulation at genic heterochromatin‐containing genes, AAE also targets some transposable elements (TEs) outside of genes (including TEs sandwiched by genes and island TEs) for epigenetic silencing. Our results reveal new functions of AAE in RNA processing and epigenetic silencing, and thus represent important advances in epigenetic regulation.     

Regulation of progesterone during follicular development by FSH and LH in sheep

Progesterone (P4) can participate in the development of female mammalian antral follicles through nuclear receptor (PGR). In this experiment, the differences of P4 synthesis and PGR expression in different developmental stages of sheep antral follicles (large > 5mm, medium 2-5mm, small < 2mm) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Secondly, sheep follicular granulosa cells were cultured in vitro. The effects of different concentrations of FSH and LH on P4 synthesis and PGR expression were studied. The results showed that acute steroid regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side chain lyase (P450scc) and 3β Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and PGR were expressed in antral follicles, and with the development of antral follicles in sheep, StAR, P450scc and the expression of 3β-HSD and PGR increased significantly. In vitro experiments showed that FSH and LH alone or together treatment could regulate P4 secretion and PGR expression in sheep follicular granulosa cells to varying degrees, hint P4 and PGR by FSH and LH, and LH was the main factor. Our results supplement the effects of FSH and LH on the regulation of P4 synthesis during follicular development, which provides new data for further study of steroid synthesis and function in follicular development.     

内蒙古根瘤菌的数值分类

对63株新分离的内蒙古根瘤菌与6株来自Rhizobiumleguminosarum及Sinorhizobiummililoti的参比菌株一起进行了数值分类。结果表明：所有测试菌株在67％的相似性水平上分为三个表观群,群Ⅰ包括3株Sinorhizobiummeliloti的参比菌和9株新分离的内蒙古根瘤菌;群Ⅱ包括3株RhizobiumLoguminosarum参比菌和37株新分离的内蒙古根瘤菌;群Ⅲ全部由20株新分离的内蒙古根瘤菌组成。在78％的相似     

SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like pathological damages and constitutes an antiviral target

Cytokine storm and multi-organ failure are the main causes of SARS-CoV-2-related death. However, the origin of excessive damages caused by SARS-CoV-2 remains largely unknown. Here we show that the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (2-E) protein alone is able to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like damages in vitro and in vivo. 2-E proteins were found to form a type of pH-sensitive cation channels in bilayer lipid membranes. As observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells, heterologous expression of 2-E channels induced rapid cell death in various susceptible cell types and robust secretion of cytokines and chemokines in macrophages. Intravenous administration of purified 2-E protein into mice caused ARDS-like pathological damages in lung and spleen. A dominant negative mutation lowering 2-E channel activity attenuated cell death and SARS-CoV-2 production. Newly identified channel inhibitors exhibited potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and excellent cell protective activity in vitro and these activities were positively correlated with inhibition of 2-E channel. Importantly, prophylactic and therapeutic administration of the channel inhibitor effectively reduced both the viral load and secretion of inflammation cytokines in lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE-2). Our study supports that 2-E is a promising drug target against SARS-CoV-2.Subject terms: Cell death, Molecular biology     

Nor1, a novel cytokine-responsive regulator of pancreatic β-cell mass and function mediated by disruption of mitochondrial networks

Type 2 diabetes(T2D)is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia,which is ultimately linked to the loss of pancreaticβ-cells and their function[1].Understanding the pathological mechanisms ofβ-cell dysfunction in T2D may lead to development of new therapeutic approaches.Recently,compelling evidence suggests that members of the nuclear receptor 4A(NR4A)subgroup play a pivotal role inβ-cell loss[2].Nor1,also known as NR4A3,belongs to the NR4A subfamily,which also includes Nur77(NR4A1)and Nurr1(NR4A2),and is defined as a true orphan nuclear receptor with an unknown endogenous ligand or ligand independent[3].As a regulator of gene expression located in the nucleus,Nor1 exhibits tissue-specific expression,which selectively controls diverse biological processes,including cell proliferation,apoptosis,differentiation,immune homeostasis,and fuel utilization[4].Thus far,it was reported that Nor1 is involved in numerous pathologies such as cancer,inflammatory diseases,and Parkinson’s disease[4].     

Frequent Unanticipated Alleles of lethal giant larvae in Drosophila Second Chromosome Stocks

Forty years ago, a high frequency of lethal giant larvae (lgl) alleles in wild populations of Drosophila melanogaster was reported. This locus has been intensively studied for its roles in epithelial polarity, asymmetric neural divisions, and restriction of tissue proliferation. Here, we identify a high frequency of lgl alleles in the Bloomington second chromosome deficiency kit and the University of California at Los Angeles Bruinfly FRT40A-lethal P collection. These unrecognized aberrations confound the use of these workhorse collections for phenotypic screening or genetic mapping. In addition, we determined that independent alleles of insensitive, reported to affect asymmetric cell divisions during sensory organ development, carry lgl deletions that are responsible for the observed phenotypes. Taken together, these results encourage the routine testing of second chromosome stocks for second-site alleles of lgl.