Lysine Succinylation of VBS Contributes to Sclerotia Development and Aflatoxin Biosynthesis in Aspergillus flavus

Aspergillus flavus is a common saprophytic and pathogenic fungus, and its secondary metabolic pathways are one of the most highly characterized owing to its aflatoxin (AF) metabolite affecting global economic crops and human health. Different natural environments can cause significant variations in AF synthesis. Succinylation was recently identified as one of the most critical regulatory post-translational modifications affecting metabolic pathways. It is primarily reported in human cells and bacteria with few studies on fungi. Proteomic quantification of lysine succinylation (Ksuc) exploring its potential involvement in secondary metabolism regulation (including AF production) has not been performed under natural conditions in A. flavus. In this study, a quantification method was performed based on tandem mass tag labeling and antibody-based affinity enrichment of succinylated peptides via high accuracy nano-liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to explore the succinylation mechanism affecting the pathogenicity of naturally isolated A. flavus strains with varying toxin production. Altogether, 1240 Ksuc sites in 768 proteins were identified with 1103 sites in 685 proteins quantified. Comparing succinylated protein levels between high and low AF-producing A. flavus strains, bioinformatics analysis indicated that most succinylated proteins located in the AF biosynthetic pathway were downregulated, which directly affected AF synthesis. Versicolorin B synthase is a key catalytic enzyme for heterochrome B synthesis during AF synthesis. Site-directed mutagenesis and biochemical studies revealed that versicolorin B synthase succinylation is an important regulatory mechanism affecting sclerotia development and AF biosynthesis in A. flavus. In summary, our quantitative study of the lysine succinylome in high/low AF-producing strains revealed the role of Ksuc in regulating AF biosynthesis. We revealed novel insights into the metabolism of AF biosynthesis using naturally isolated A. flavus strains and identified a rich source of metabolism-related enzymes regulated by succinylation.     

A neutron activation technique for manganese measurements in humans

Manganese (Mn) is an essential element for humans, animals, and plants and is required for growth, development, and maintenance of health. Studies show that Mn metabolism is similar to that of iron, therefore, increased Mn levels in humans could interfere with the absorption of dietary iron leading to anemia. Also, excess exposure to Mn dust, leads to nervous system disorders similar to Parkinson's disease. Higher exposure to Mn is essentially related to industrial pollution. Thus, there is a benefit in developing a clean non-invasive technique for monitoring such increased levels of Mn in order to understand the risk of disease and development of appropriate treatments.To this end, the feasibility of Mn measurements with their minimum detection limits (MDL) has been reported earlier from the McMaster group. This work presents improvement to Mn assessment using an upgraded system and optimized times of irradiation and counting for induced gamma activity of Mn. The technique utilizes the high proton current Tandetron accelerator producing neutrons via the ⁷Li(p,n)⁷Be reaction at McMaster University and an array of nine NaI (Tl) detectors in a 4π geometry for delayed counting of gamma rays. The neutron irradiation of a set of phantoms was performed with protocols having different proton energy, current and time of irradiation. The improved MDLs estimated using the upgraded set up and constrained timings are reported as 0.67 μgMn/gCa for 2.3 MeV protons and 0.71 μgMn/gCa for 2.0 MeV protons. These are a factor of about 2.3 times better than previous measurements done at McMaster University using the in vivo set-up. Also, because of lower dose-equivalent and a relatively close MDL, the combination of: 2.0 MeV; 300 μA; 3 min protocol is recommended as compared to 2.3 MeV; 400 μA; 45 s protocol for further measurements of Mn in vivo.     

Ensembles of endothelial and mural cells promote angiogenesis in prenatal human brain

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New antioxidant C-geranylated flavonoids from the fruit peels of Paulownia catalpifolia T. Gong ex D.Y. Hong

Three new geranylated flavonoids, including two geranylflavones (1, 2) and one geranylflavonol (3), named as paucatalinone C–E, were isolated from the fruit peel of P. catalpifolia T. Gong ex D.Y. Hong. Their structures were determined by means of UV, IR, MS, and NMR techniques. To our known, geranylflavone or geranylflavonol was the first isolation from the genus Paulownia. These isolated geranylated flavonoids displayed good antioxidant effects on DPPH and the senescent human embryonic lung diploid fibroblasts cells (2BS cells) induced by H₂O₂. The geranyl substituent may be an important factor for the cellular radical-scavenging effect because of its lipophilic character.     

Angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism studies: A case-control study

Mild gestational hyperglycemia (MGH) is a very common complication of pregnancy that is characterized by intolerance to glucose. The association of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism to MGH has been previously reported. In this study, we evaluated the association between ACE polymorphism and the risk of MGH in a Saudi population. We conducted a case-control study in a population of 100 MGH patients and 100 control subjects. ACE gene polymorphism was analyzed by the novel approach of tetraprimer amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The frequency of ACE polymorphism was not associated with either alleles or genotypes in MGH patients. Glucose concentration was found to be significantly associated with the MGH group. Our study suggests that ACE genotypes were not associated with ACE polymorphism in a Saudi population.     

濒危植物永瓣藤叶片功能性状对环境因子的响应

植物叶片功能性状能够响应环境条件的变化，反应了植物对环境的适应策略。当前，针对藤本植物叶片功能性状地理格局及其环境驱动力的研究较少。以国家重点保护植物永瓣藤（Monimopetalum chinense）为研究对象，对其分布区内11个种群的15个叶片功能性状进行测量，并结合气候、土壤因子来解释叶性状变异。比较叶片性状在局域和区域尺度上的种内变异程度，利用多元逐步回归分析环境因子对叶性状的影响。结果表明，在局域尺度上，永瓣藤叶功能性状变异系数介于3.0%-22.5%，其中，叶面积变异程度最大，叶片碳含量变异最小。永瓣藤叶片形状随纬度上升而变得宽且圆。叶片磷含量相对较低，永瓣藤的生长可能受到了磷限制。土壤与气候因子是叶片性状的重要驱动因素，解释了25%-97%的叶片性状变异。在温度和水分充足的情况下，永瓣藤叶片趋向于的慢速生长的保守策略。总体来说，永瓣藤叶片功能性状通过一定的种内变异和性状组合，并与气候、土壤因子相互作用，适应当前的环境条件。     

县域城镇空间形态与居住建筑能耗关联性的连续尺度研究——以浙江长兴、福建连江为例

居住建筑能耗受建筑周边空间形态的直接影响，确定空间形态低碳效应及其最佳尺度将有助于实现县域城镇低碳转型。以浙江省长兴县、福建省连江县为例，共计选取49个具有代表性的居住建筑样本，采用GIS分析与数理统计相结合的方式，在居住建筑1800m半径范围内，以200m为间隔建立缓冲区，开展全年、最冷月份能耗期及最热月份能耗期建筑能耗与周边空间形态关联性的连续尺度研究。结果表明：(1)道路密度、开发密度、容积率均与建筑能耗呈正相关，但各指标对应的能耗时期、尺度范围有较大差异。(2)水面率、土地利用混合度是与建筑能耗相关的共性指标，但在不同地区的正负效应及尺度范围不同；(3)影响浙闽地区县域城镇最热月份能耗期能耗的关键形态因子为1000m-道路密度、800m-水面率、1600m-开放空间率；影响连江最冷月份能耗期能耗的关键形态因子为800m-水面率。(4)就控碳单元设置而言，长兴县可重点关注1000—1200m半径范围，连江县可重点关注800—1000m、1400m半径范围。(5)浙闽地区县域城镇特性指标为开放空间率，与最热月份能耗期建筑能呈负相关；长兴县特性指标为容积率、水岸密度，分别与全年、最冷...     

陕西省新型城镇化与生态环境协调度研究

城镇化与生态环境之间相互影响、相互促进，两系统间耦合协调状态对于区域绿色可持续发展意义重大。以陕西省2005—2019年数据为例，在构建新型城镇化与生态环境系统评价指标体系的基础上结合耦合协调度模型、相对发展模型及面板向量自回归(PVAR)模型分析新型城镇化系统与生态环境系统间的耦合协调时空规律及互动关系。结果表明：(1)陕西省耦合协调度总体呈现“基本不协调—基本协调—中度协调”的演变规律。(2)各市耦合协调发展状态空间差异明显，2005年、2013年、2019年陕西省10个城市新型城镇化与生态环境耦合协调发展状态存在较大差异性，相对发展状态整体上由新型城镇化滞后状态发展为生态环境滞后状态。(3)脉冲响应图反映出新型城镇化与生态环境两系统间存在明显互动关系，前期生态环境受新型城镇化冲击的负向抑制作用，后期影响逐渐减小，受自身冲击较大，而新型城镇化发展前后期均主要受自身影响。本研究认为新型城镇化发展必须以生态为优先，在提高生态承载力的基础上，加速提升陕西省各区域空间人口等不同维度城镇化发展水平，从而实现高质量可持续的绿色发展目标。     

Evolutionarily stable seasonal timing for insects with competition for renewable resource

Summary I study the evolutionarily stable seasonal patterns of hatching and pupation for herbivorous insects that engage in exploitative competition for a renewable resource. A longer larval feeding period enhances female fecundity, but also causes a higher mortality by predation and parasitism. Previously, it was shown that the evolutionarily stable population exhibits asynchronous starting and ending of the larval feeding period in a model in which larval growth rate decreases with the total larval biomass in the population due presumably to interference competition. Here I study the case in which resource availability changes not only with environmental seasonality but with the depletion by the feeding of larvae. I find that if the impact of the herbivory is strong, both hatching and pupation should occur asynchronously in the evolutionarily stable population. And if the favourable season for the host plant is short the ESS population may include synchronous timing of pupation. If the timing of hatching and pupation occurs asynchronously, in the first day of each interval some fraction of the population hatch or pupate, respectively and the rest do so gradually over the interval. In addition, if the environmental variable changes as a symmetric function of time, the length of the period in which hatching occurs tends to be much shorter than the period in which pupation occurs.