Emerging role of NF-κB signaling in the induction of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)

The major hallmark of cellular senescence is an irreversible cell cycle arrest and thus it is a potent tumor suppressor mechanism. Genotoxic insults, e.g. oxidative stress, are important inducers of the senescent phenotype which is characterized by an accumulation of senescence-associated heterochromatic foci (SAHF) and DNA segments with chromatin alterations reinforcing senescence (DNA-SCARS). Interestingly, senescent cells secrete pro-inflammatory factors and thus the condition has been called the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Emerging data has revealed that NF-κB signaling is the major signaling pathway which stimulates the appearance of SASP. It is known that DNA damage provokes NF-κB signaling via a variety of signaling complexes containing NEMO protein, an NF-κB essential modifier, as well as via the activation of signaling pathways of p38MAPK and RIG-1, retinoic acid inducible gene-1. Genomic instability evoked by cellular stress triggers epigenetic changes, e.g. release of HMGB1 proteins which are also potent enhancers of inflammatory responses. Moreover, environmental stress and chronic inflammation can stimulate p38MAPK and ceramide signaling and induce cellular senescence with pro-inflammatory responses. On the other hand, two cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p16INK4a and p14ARF, are effective inhibitors of NF-κB signaling. We will review in detail the signaling pathways which activate NF-κB signaling and trigger SASP in senescent cells.     

Acetylation of αA-crystallin in the human lens: Effects on structure and chaperone function

α-Crystallin is a major protein in the human lens that is perceived to help to maintain the transparency of the lens through its chaperone function. In this study, we demonstrate that many lens proteins including αA-crystallin are acetylated in vivo. We found that K70 and K99 in αA-crystallin and, K92 and K166 in αB-crystallin are acetylated in the human lens. To determine the effect of acetylation on the chaperone function and structural changes, αA-crystallin was acetylated using acetic anhydride. The resulting protein showed strong immunoreactivity against a N^ε-acetyllysine antibody, which was directly related to the degree of acetylation. When compared to the unmodified protein, the chaperone function of the in vitro acetylated αA-crystallin was higher against three of the four different client proteins tested. Because a lysine (residue 70; K70) in αA-crystallin is acetylated in vivo, we generated a protein with an acetylation mimic, replacing Lys70 with glutamine (K70Q). The K70Q mutant protein showed increased chaperone function against three client proteins compared to the Wt protein but decreased chaperone function against γ-crystallin. The acetylated protein displayed higher surface hydrophobicity and tryptophan fluorescence, had altered secondary and tertiary structures and displayed decreased thermodynamic stability. Together, our data suggest that acetylation of αA-crystallin occurs in the human lens and that it affects the chaperone function of the protein.     

Can mechanism help explain insect host choice?

Evolutionary theory predicts that herbivorous insects should lay eggs on plants in a way that reflects the suitability of each plant species for larval development. Empirical studies, however, often fail to find any relationship between an adult insect's choice of host-plant and offspring fitness, and in such cases, it is generally assumed that other 'missing' factors (e.g. predation, host-plant abundance, learning and adult feeding sites) must be contributing to overall host suitability. Here, I consider an alternative theory - that a fitness cost inherent in the olfactory mechanism could constrain the evolution of insect host selection. I begin by reviewing current knowledge of odour processing in the insect antennal lobe with the aid of a simple schematic: the aim being to explain the workings of this mechanism to scientists who do not have prior knowledge in this field. I then use the schematic to explore how an insect's perception of host and non-host odours is governed by a set of processing rules, or algorithm. Under the assumptions of this mechanistic view, the perception of every plant odour is interrelated, and seemingly bad host choices can still arise as part of an overall adaptive behavioural strategy. I discuss how an understanding of mechanism can improve the interpretation of theoretical and empirical studies in insect behaviour and evolution.     

新一代植物志：iFlora

进入21世纪,随着分子生物学及计算机信息等技术的快速发展,人们认知自然的手段和方式发生了根本性的变化。在现有电子植物志（eFlora）的基础上,融入新一代测序技术、DNA条形码数据、地理信息数据和计算机信息技术等新元素的新一代植物志（iFlora）应运而生。iFlora是通过系列关键技术的集成和攻关,构建便捷、准确识别植物和掌握相关数字化信息的新一代植物志（或智能装备）,它将极大地促进植物分类学和系统发育、演化生物学、生态学、生物地理学和保护生物学等相关学科的发展,有效地服务于生物多样性保护和生物资源可持续利用、国家生态安全和社会公共教育等,并进一步提升公众对生物多样性的认识。iFlora的实施,将为培育和拓展物种识别圈（taxasphere）和生物文化圈（bioliterate world）做出应有的贡献,并可能成为引领国际植物学发展新的生长点。     

细菌生物被膜（bacterial biofilm）的研究进展

细菌生物被膜由物体表面集聚生长的细菌群落和细胞外基质构成 ,植入性医用器械表面较多见 ,其结构包括主体生物被膜层、连接层、条件层和基质层。细菌之间的信号传导影响着生物被膜的异化形成。生物被膜相关感染治疗较难 ,易慢性化及反复发作。抗生素或其他化学杀菌剂及金银包裹导管等医用材料表面是常用的预防方法。已形成的生物被膜可用物理方法或某些抗生素清除 ,而生物学控制是另一可能途径。     

Who is in the neighborhood? Conspecific and heterospecific responses to perceived density for breeding habitat selection

Theoretical models of habitat selection often incorporate negative density dependence. Despite strong negative density‐dependent effects on habitat selection, more recent studies indicate that animals settle near members of their own (conspecific) and other species (heterospecific) when selecting habitat with social cues. Social cue use for habitat selection is particularly common among songbirds, but few studies have investigated if songbirds use social cues to assess conspecific or heterospecific density (as opposed to just presence/absence) when making settlement decisions. We conducted a playback experiment to evaluate if yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia) and willow flycatchers (Empidonax traillii), two potential competitors for breeding habitat, use social cues to assess density (conspecific for warblers and heterospecific for flycatchers) when selecting breeding locations at two spatial scales. We simulated yellow warbler density to be high or low at multiple treatment plots (3.14 ha) with song playback and then evaluated settlement decisions by comparing yellow warbler and willow flycatcher abundances across plots (broad‐scale habitat selection) and individual space use within plots (fine‐scale territory establishment). Yellow warbler density treatments did not affect habitat selection by yellow warblers at the broad scale, but caused individuals to cluster territories at high‐density treatments. Willow flycatchers were most abundant at high‐density treatment plots, but yellow warbler density treatments did not affect territory locations. The results indicate that perceived density affects the habitat selection process for both conspecifics and heterospecifics.     

The Approximate Variance of a Function of Random Variables

In this communication we approximate the variance of a function of random variables by using a second degree Taylor series expansion, and demonstrate the increased accuracy this second degree approximation gives over the usual Delta method by using some examples from genetics.     

基于景观安全格局的嘉绒藏族传统村落形态研究——以马尔康市直波村为例

以优化土地利用、实现村落形态可持续发展为导向,以景观安全格局的理论为基础对高原传统村落形态进行定量化研究。运用最小累积阻力模型和信息量评价模型相结合的方法,选取坡度、坡向、高程差、距水体距离、距道路距离、土地资源和文化景观7个阻力评价因子,构建研究区景观格局体系并分析其村落形态与土地利用的适宜关系。以直波村为例,将之分为4种等级的景观安全水平,共104个"源"地,其由低到高的景观格局及"源"地分为乡土建筑遗产保护源、民俗风情影响源、自然景观影响源、开放空间影响源,占研究区面积的比例分别为29.44%、25.35%、32.41%、12.8%;通过各阻力评价因子的最小累计阻力值和信息量值的大小影响村落形态"源"地的分布概率,计算出研究区村落形态"源"地未来适宜用地范围在高程为2501-2522 m、坡度为9°-15°、坡向为南坡、西坡、西北坡;结合景观安全水平提出土地利用可考虑两种情景：一是根据村落形态重新赋予新的功能,二是采用渐进式更新。研究结果表明通过探究土地利用与村落形态的关系,既能够较好解决人地空间关系,推进川西北高原乡村振兴建设,同时实现嘉绒藏族传统村落形态的存续。     

Bayesian modeling for genetic anticipation in presence of mutational heterogeneity: a case study in Lynch syndrome

Genetic anticipation, described by earlier age of onset (AOO) and more aggressive symptoms in successive generations, is a phenomenon noted in certain hereditary diseases. Its extent may vary between families and/or between mutation subtypes known to be associated with the disease phenotype. In this article, we posit a Bayesian approach to infer genetic anticipation under flexible random effects models for censored data that capture the effect of successive generations on AOO. Primary interest lies in the random effects. Misspecifying the distribution of random effects may result in incorrect inferential conclusions. We compare the fit of four-candidate random effects distributions via Bayesian model fit diagnostics. A related statistical issue here is isolating the confounding effect of changes in secular trends, screening, and medical practices that may affect time to disease detection across birth cohorts. Using historic cancer registry data, we borrow from relative survival analysis methods to adjust for changes in age-specific incidence across birth cohorts. Our motivating case study comes from a Danish cancer register of 124 families with mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes known to cause hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, also called Lynch syndrome (LS). We find evidence for a decrease in AOO between generations in this article. Our model predicts family-level anticipation effects that are potentially useful in genetic counseling clinics for high-risk families.     

浙江省加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis)的空间分布格局及其与人类活动的关系

原产于北美的加拿大一枝黄花目前正在我国境内尤其是东部地区迅速扩散,对当地的社会经济、自然生态系统和生物多样性构成了严重威胁.应用GIS技术揭示了2005年浙江省加拿大一枝黄花发生面积和发生面积比例的空间分布格局,并结合回归统计方法,分析了该空间分布格局与人类活动的关系.结果表明:加拿大一枝黄花在浙江省的分布存在明显的空间异质性;进口货物总额与农业活动强度是解释加拿大一枝黄花发生面积变异的主要因子;境内公路里程是解释加拿大一枝黄花发生面积比例变异的主要因子.在大力发展经济的同时,不能忽视经济发展对生态环境产生的负面影响,如物种入侵.对于加拿大一枝黄花的防控,应加大对抛荒地和闲置地的复垦力度,从源头上控制其发生面积.