A diterpenoid derivate compound targets selenocysteine of thioredoxin reductases and induces Bax/Bak-independent apoptosis

We have previously shown that the natural diterpenoid derivative S3 induced Bim upregulation and apoptosis in a Bax/Bak-independent manner. However, the exact molecular target(s) of S3 and the mechanism controlling Bim upregulation are still not clear. Here, we identify that S3 targets the selenoproteins TrxR1 and TrxR2 at the selenocysteine residue of the reactive center of the enzymes and inhibits their antioxidant activities. Consequently, cellular ROS is elevated, leading to the activation of FOXO3a, which contributes to Bim upregulation in Bax/Bak-deficient cells. Moreover, S3 retards tumor growth in subcutaneous xenograft tumors by inhibiting TrxR activity in vivo. Our studies delineate the signaling pathway controlling Bim upregulation, which results in Bax/Bak-independent apoptosis and provide evidence that the compounds can act as anticancer agents based on mammalian TrxRs inhibition.     

Light is a crucial signal for zoosporogenesis and gametogenesis in some green microalgae

Patterns of reproduction were investigated in some microalgal species of Chlorophyceae (Botryosphaerella sudetica, Neochloris aquatica, Neochloris vigensis, Bracteacoccus minor). Under continuous light, the microalgae reproduced asexually producing autospores. However, appropriate manipulation of external conditions led to a change in the reproduction pattern towards production of zoospores or gametes. Production of zoospores and gametes was inhibited by light; motile cells emerged when microalgae were cultivated in darkness. The period of dark treatment necessary for zoosporogenesis or gametogenesis differed substantially among species that were tested. Sexual reproduction was observed in Neochloris vigensis and Bracteacoccus minor, whose generative life cycle had not been previously reported. The morphology of motile cells, the mode of sexual reproduction, and the efficiency of both the production of motile stages and mating events, were investigated. In order to gain detailed insights into patterns of reproduction, Botryosphaerella sudetica was selected for investigation under different light treatments. Non-actinic red light applied in the early phase of dark cultivation (up to 2 h) suppressed both zoosporogenesis and gametogenesis. However, after a 3-h dark pre-treatment, red light treatment had no effect on zoosporogenesis or gametogenesis. In contrast, non-actinic blue light did not block zoosporogenesis or gametogenesis, regardless of the time of treatment. The possible role of a red-light photoreceptor in zoosporogenesis and gametogenesis is discussed.     

不同倍性香石竹杂交受精过程及胚胎发育研究

采用石蜡切片法对以四倍体香石竹品种‘紫蝴蝶’(2n=4x=60)为母本,单瓣中间材料‘NH6’(2n=2x=30)为父本杂交后受精过程及胚胎发育进行研究。结果表明:(1)授粉后17h,花粉管进入助细胞并释放内容物,精核进入极核细胞内,与二极核细胞融合形成初生胚乳核;授粉后1d,精核向卵核方向移动,贴伏于卵核核膜上;授粉后2d,形成合子及游离的胚乳核;随后,胚发育经过原胚、球形胚、心形胚、鱼雷形胚阶段。(2)杂交障碍发生在受精过程及胚胎发育的各个时期,表现为:精子与卵细胞不相融合或精子与二极核不相融合、合子未分裂或初生胚乳核未分裂及胚胎的败育。(3)胚败育虽能发生在原胚、球形胚、棒状形胚、三角形胚、心形胚、鱼雷形胚及子叶形胚阶段,但主要发生在球形胚阶段。     

Esterification Rates of Main Organic Acids in Wines

The esterification rates (ratio of the concentration of an acid in the neutral ethyl ester form to total concentration of the acid) of main organic acids in wines were determined to study the extent of ethyl ester formation of organic acids. The esterification rates ranged from zero to 24.6%. The averaged values of table wines were from 6 to 16% for acetic and lactic acid, from 0.3 to 3.6% for succinic and malic acid, and from zero to 0.1% for tartaric acid. Sherries had higher esterification rates, about 1.6 to 6 times larger, than table wines. It was found that storage time and temperature influence the formation of ethyl esters, and it was suggested that the aging period required for the ester equilibrium is about one year for acetic and lactic acid, and more than two years for succinic, malic and tartaric acid. The possibility and the procedure to control wine quality during the aging process were discussed.     

Effect of 1-n-Decylimidazole on Gibberellin Biosynthesis in Tan-ginbozu,a Dwarf Variety of Rice

Previous structural studies of less-polar dimers in autoxidized methyl linoleate (ML) have been extended to polar dimers. After isolation by successive silicic acid and gel permeation chromatography, the dimeric fraction of linoleate was separated into two major fractions, A₁ and A₂, according to their polarities. The polar dimers (A₁) were further fractionated by HPLC either directly or after reduction with triphenyl phosphine on a micro silica column. Isolated subfractions were characterized by UV, IR, GC-MS and FD-MS after suitable derivatizations. FD-MS of all these dimers showed a molecular ion peak which corresponds to 2 × ML + 6 × O and the reduction of each subfraction with stannous chloride gave equimolar amounts of 9 and 13-hydroxy octadecadienoate, and 9, 10, 13 and/or 9, 12, 13-trihydroxy octadecenoate. These results combined with others show that the A₁ dimers are composed of isomeric mixtures containing a peroxide bridge linking a methyl octadecadienoate and a 9, 12 and/or 10, 13-dihydroperoxy octadecenoate across C-9 and/or 13 on each of them.     

Twofold effect of blue light on a circadian rhythm in Acetabularia

Abstract

The circadian chloroplast migration in Acetabularia mediterranea was monitored by continuously measuring the transmission of the cells near the apex. Under continuous red light the amplitude of the rhythm decreased rapidly within a few days. However, circadian changes of chloroplast density were still detectable even after 28 days of red light, indicating the persistence of the rhythm. When blue light was added after red light preirradiation of several days phase shifts were observed which were expressed as advances as well as delays. The period of the rhythm proved to be strongly dependent on the intensity of the continuous blue light which was given in addition to red light. Different red light intensities did not change the period. The occurrence of both effects indicates that the sensory transduction of blue light photoreception in Acetabularia works in two different ways: quanta counting processes and processes of light intensity measurement.     

Design and characterization of electrochemical dopamine–aptamer as convenient and integrated sensing platform

Here, an ultrasensitive label-free electrochemical aptasensor was developed for dopamine (DA) detection. Construction of the aptasensor was carried out by electrodeposition of gold–platinum nanoparticles (Au–PtNPs) on glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with acid-oxidized carbon nanotubes (CNTs–COOH). A designed complementary amine-capped capture probe (ssDNA1) was immobilized at the surface of PtNPs/CNTs–COOH/GC electrode through the covalent amide bonds formed by the carboxyl groups on the nanotubes and the amino groups on the oligonucleotides. DA-specific aptamer was attached onto the electrode surface through hybridization with the ssDNA1. Methylene blue (MB) was used as an electrochemical indicator that was intercalated into the aptamer through the specific interaction with its guanine bases. In the presence of DA, the interaction between aptamer and DA displaced the MB from the electrode surface, rendering a lowered electrochemical signal attributed to a decreased amount of adsorbed MB. This phenomenon can be applied for DA detection. The peak current of probe (MB) linearly decreased over a DA concentration range of 1–30 nM with a detection limit of 0.22 nM.