A T/C polymorphism in the GPX4 3′UTR affects the selenoprotein expression pattern and cell viability in transfected Caco-2 cells

Background

Synthesis of selenoproteins such as glutathione peroxidases (GPx) requires a specific tRNA and a stem-loop structure in the 3′untranslated region (3′UTR) of the mRNA. A common single nucleotide polymorphism occurs in the GPX4 gene in a region corresponding to the 3′UTR.

Methods

The two variant 3′UTR sequences were linked to sequences from a selenoprotein reporter gene (iodothyronine deiodinase) and expressed in Caco-2 cells. Clones expressing comparable levels of deiodinase (assessed by real-time PCR) were selected and their response to tert-butyl hydroperoxide assessed by cell viability and measurement of reactive oxygen species. Selenoprotein expression was assessed by real-time PCR, enzyme activity and immunoassay.

Results

When selenium supply was low, cells overexpressing the C variant 3′UTR showed lower viability after oxidative challenge, increased levels of reactive oxygen species and lower GPx activity and SelH mRNA expression compared to cells overexpressing the T variant. After selenium supplementation, cell viability and GPx4 expression were higher in the cells overexpressing the C variant. Expression of transgenes incorporating the T/C variant GPX4 (rs713041) sequences in Caco-2 cells leads to alterations in both cell viability after an oxidative challenge and selenoprotein expression. This suggests that the two variants compete differently in the selenoprotein hierarchy.

General Significance

The data provide evidence that the T/C variant GPX4 (rs713041) alters the pattern of selenoprotein synthesis if selenium intake is low. Further work is required to assess the impact on disease susceptibility.     

When is it socially acceptable to feel sick?

Disease is a ubiquitous and powerful evolutionary force. Hosts have evolved behavioural and physiological responses to disease that are associated with increased survival. Behavioural modifications, known as ‘sickness behaviours’, frequently involve symptoms such as lethargy, somnolence and anorexia. Current research has demonstrated that the social environment is a potent modulator of these behaviours: when conflicting social opportunities arise, animals can decrease or entirely forgo experiencing sickness symptoms. Here, I review how different social contexts, such as the presence of mates, caring for offspring, competing for territories or maintaining social status, affect the expression of sickness behaviours. Exploiting the circumstances that promote this behavioural plasticity will provide new insights into the evolutionary ecology of social behaviours. A deeper understanding of when and how this modulation takes place may lead to better tools to treat symptoms of infection and be relevant for the development of more efficient disease control programmes.     

Perspective: network-guided pattern formation of neural dynamics

The understanding of neural activity patterns is fundamentally linked to an understanding of how the brain''s network architecture shapes dynamical processes. Established approaches rely mostly on deviations of a given network from certain classes of random graphs. Hypotheses about the supposed role of prominent topological features (for instance, the roles of modularity, network motifs or hierarchical network organization) are derived from these deviations. An alternative strategy could be to study deviations of network architectures from regular graphs (rings and lattices) and consider the implications of such deviations for self-organized dynamic patterns on the network. Following this strategy, we draw on the theory of spatio-temporal pattern formation and propose a novel perspective for analysing dynamics on networks, by evaluating how the self-organized dynamics are confined by network architecture to a small set of permissible collective states. In particular, we discuss the role of prominent topological features of brain connectivity, such as hubs, modules and hierarchy, in shaping activity patterns. We illustrate the notion of network-guided pattern formation with numerical simulations and outline how it can facilitate the understanding of neural dynamics.     

基于FMT-AHP的海南农垦花岗岩类多雨区橡胶园地力评价

海南农垦是中国最大的天然橡胶生产基地,自第二次全国土壤普查以来橡胶园养分状况已发生了很大变化,但具体情况如何尚不清楚。运用耕地地力评价方法对海南农垦主要橡胶园的地力进行了系统评价,以期为橡胶园地力提升和天然橡胶的可持续发展提供理论支持。以土壤母质类型和降雨量为依据,首次将海南农垦橡胶园划分为8个类型区,并选取占海南农垦橡胶园总面积56.97%的花岗岩类多雨区作为评价区域,采集7204个0—20 cm层的土壤样品,运用特尔菲法、模糊数学理论和层次分析法确定11个评价指标及其权重,将评价区橡胶园地力划分为5等。研究结果发现:评价区以中间地力水平的二等、三等、四等橡胶园为主,占评价区橡胶园总面积的85.85%,它们广泛分布于琼中、屯昌、澄迈、儋州、万宁、保亭、乐东、三亚、陵水、定安、琼海、五指山、昌江、文昌和东方15个县市;一等地面积很小且分散,五等地相对集中面积也很小。相关分析表明土壤pH、有机质、有效磷和速效钾含量是影响评价区橡胶园地力水平的重要因素。评价区橡胶园土壤pH适宜橡胶树正常生长,但该区域土壤有机质和有效磷含量不能满足橡胶树正常生长的需要,而该区域一、二等地土壤速效钾含量能满足橡胶树正常生长,其三、四等地土壤速效钾含量仅达到橡胶树正常生长所需水平,随着地力下降到五等其土壤速效钾含量已不适宜橡胶树正常生长。根据上述研究结果,笔者建议橡胶园应大力间作绿肥,在增施有机质的基础上补氮、补钾、施用钙镁磷肥,同时加强养分管理,提高肥料利用率。     

Surface feeding and aggressive behaviour of diploid and triploid brown trout Salmo trutta during allopatric pair‐wise matchings

Diploid and triploid brown trout Salmo trutta were acclimated for 6 weeks on two feeding regimes (floating and sinking). Thereafter, aggression and surface feeding response were compared between pairs of all diploid, all triploid and diploid and triploid S. trutta in an experimental stream. In each pair‐wise matching, fish of similar size were placed in allopatry and rank was determined by the total number of aggressive interactions recorded. Dominant individuals initiated more aggression than subordinates, spent more time defending a territory and positioned themselves closer to the surface food source (Gammarus pulex), whereas subordinates occupied the peripheries. In cross ploidy trials, diploid S. trutta were more aggressive than triploid, and dominated their sibling when placed in pair‐wise matchings. Surface feeding, however, did not differ statistically between ploidy irrespective of feeding regime. Triploids adopted a sneak feeding strategy while diploids expended more time defending a territory. In addition, we also tested whether triploids exhibit a similar social dominance to diploids when placed in allopatry. Although aggression was lower in triploid pairs than in the diploid and triploid pairs, a dominance hierarchy was also observed between individuals of the same ploidy. Dominant triploid fish were more aggressive and consumed more feed items than subordinate individuals. Subordinate fish displayed a darker colour index than dominant fish suggesting increased stress levels. Dominant triploid fish, however, appeared to be more tolerant of subordinate individuals and did not display the same degree of invasive aggression as seen in the diploid and diploid or diploid and triploid matchings. These novel findings suggest that sterile triploid S. trutta feed similarly but are less aggressive than diploid trout. Future studies should determine the habitat choice of triploid S. trutta after release and the interaction between wild fish and triploids during the breeding season prior to utilization of triploids as an alternative management strategy within freshwater fisheries.     

层次分析法在大花蕙兰品种选择上的应用

运用层次分析法对大花蕙兰8个品种的株高、叶色、花色、花香、花径、花枝数、每枝花朵数、花枝长度、抗性、是否春节开花等10个性状进行综合评价。结果表明:所选品种综合性状表现优良,与生产实际基本相符,尤其是‘开心果’、‘韩国小姐’和‘欲望’3个品种,可在育种和生产上多加重视。