Simvastatin inhibits the additive activation of ERK1/2 and proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells induced by combined mechanical stress and oxLDL through LOX-1 pathway

Vein grafts interposed into arteries are susceptible to the development of atherosclerosis due to rapid increases in blood pressure. This process is accelerated in patients with hyperlipidemia. The molecular mechanism underlying this process is unknown. In this study, quiescent rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were treated in vitro with mechanical stretch stress (10% elongation) with and without oxLDL (25 μg/ml) in the presence and absence of simvastatin (2.5 μmol/L). The results demonstrate that stretch stress and oxLDL can each induce activation of ERK1/2 and Ki-67 expression in VSMCs, but the peak levels of ERK activation and Ki-67 expression were observed in groups subjected to both stretch stress and oxLDL. Simvastatin was found to inhibit increased ERK activation and Ki-67 expression in VSMCs subjected to stretch stress with or without oxLDL. Mechanically, simvastatin was also found to inhibit increased expression of LOX-1 (a receptor of oxLDL) in VSMCs subjected to stretch stress with or without oxLDL. Knockdown of LOX-1 via small interfering RNAs (siRNA-LOX-1) resulted in obvious inhibition of ERK activation in VSMCs subjected to stretch stress with and without oxLDL. These results suggest that combined stretch stress and oxLDL can additively promote the activation of ERK1/2 leading to accelerated proliferation of VSMCs (e.g. increased Ki-67 expression) via LOX-1 signal pathway. This was found to be partially inhibited by simvastatin. These results may provide important data for the treatment and prevention of hypertension with or without hyperlipidemia.     

准噶尔荒漠土壤多功能性的空间变异特征及其驱动因素

荒漠是重要的陆地生态系统之一, 其生态系统极其脆弱, 极易发生荒漠化。荒漠土壤的稳定和功能对于荒漠生态系统结构和功能的维持至关重要。但在荒漠地区, 大多数土壤功能的研究还主要集中在单一的土壤功能性。本研究基于准噶尔荒漠79个样点的土壤有机碳(SOC)、氮(N)、磷(P)、有效氮(AN)和有效磷(AP)等指标, 通过平均值法和因子分析法计算土壤多功能(soil multifunctionality, SMF)指数, 研究SMF空间变异特征及驱动因素。空间分析所示从整体来看, 荒漠SMF在空间分布上具有较大的异质性, 自西向东, SMF总体呈现逐渐增加的趋势, 而从南向北, SMF呈现先增加后降低的趋势。最优拟合显示, SMF与年均降雨量(MAP)和年均温(MAT)呈显著二次函数关系, 随着MAP和MAT的增加表现出先降低后升高的趋势; SMF与pH和植被增强指数(EVI)呈显著线性关系, SMF随着pH的增加表现出显著降低趋势, 而随着EVI的增加表现为显著上升的趋势; SMF与Aridity (干旱度)之间既符合二次函数关系也呈现线性关系(二者R²相同), 随Aridity增加而减少。结构方程模型结果表明, 土壤含水率(SWC)是SMF变化的最重要的驱动因素, 其次为EVI。土壤pH、SWC、MAT、Aridity和EVI对荒漠SMF具有显著的直接效应, 其中SWC和EVI为显著正效应, 其他为负效应。MAP、经度(Lon)、纬度(Lat)和海拔(Alt)可通过影响MAT等指标对SMF产生间接效应。研究结果对深入理解准噶尔荒漠SMF的空间变异特征及驱动因素具有重要意义, 将有助于预测环境变化对荒漠生态系统多功能性的影响, 为生态系统科学管理服务。     

Nuclear magnetic resonance structural studies of a potassium channel-charybdotoxin complex

Ion channels play critical roles in signaling processes and are attractive targets for treating various diseases. Here we describe an NMR-based strategy for structural analyses of potassium channel-ligand complexes using KcsA (residues 1-132, with six mutations to impart toxin binding and to mimic the eukaryotic hERG channel). Using this approach, we determined the solution structure of KcsA in complex with the high-affinity peptide antagonist charybdotoxin. The structural data reveal how charybdotoxin binds to the closed form of KcsA and makes specific contacts with the extracellular surface of the ion channel, resulting in pore blockage. This represents the first direct structural information about an ion channel complexed to a peptide antagonist and provides an experimental framework for understanding and interpreting earlier mutational analyses. The strategy presented here overcomes many of the limitations of conventional NMR approaches to helical membrane protein structure determination and can be applied in the study of the binding of druglike molecules to this important class of proteins.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated genetic transformation of grapevine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis vinifera</Emphasis> L.) with a novel stilbene synthase gene from Chinese wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis pseudoreticulata</Emphasis>

A novel stilbene synthase gene (STS), cloned from Chinese wild Vitis pseudoreticulata (W. T. Wang) and responsible for synthesis of the phytoalexin resveratrol in grapevine, was successfully transferred into V. vinifera L. cv. Thompson Seedless via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Using transformation procedures developed in the present study, 72% GFP-positive germinated embryos were produced with about 38% of transformed embryos regenerated into normal plantlets. Integration of the STS gene into the transgenic plants was verified by PCR and Southern blot analysis. Expression of the STS gene was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which showed that the resveratrol concentration in the transgenic plants was 5.5 times higher than that in non-transformed control plants. Chaohong Fan and Ni Pu contributed equally to this work.     

Overcoming Microstructural Limitations in Water Processed Organic Solar Cells by Engineering Customized Nanoparticulate Inks

The application of conjugated polymer and fullerene water‐based nanoparticles (NP) as ecofriendly inks for organic photovoltaics (OPVs) is reported. A low bandgap polymer diketopyrrolopyrrole–quinquethiophene (PDPP5T‐2) and the methanofullerene PC₇₁BM are processed into three types of nanoparticles: pristine fullerene NPs, pristine polymer NPs, and mixed polymer:fullerene NPs, allowing the formation of bulk heterojunction (BHJ) composites with different domain sizes. Mild thermal annealing is required to melt the nanospheres and enable the formation of interconnected pathways within mixed phases. This BHJ is accompanied by a shrinkage of film, whereas the more compact layers show enhanced mobility. Consistently reduced recombination and better performance are found for mixed NP, containing both, the polymer and the fullerene within a single NP. The optimized solar cell processed by ultrasmall NPs delivers a power conversion efficiency of about 3.4%. This is among the highest values reported for aqueous processed OPVs but still lacks performance compared to those being processed from halogenated solvents. Incomplete crystallization is identified as the main root for reduced efficiency. It is nevertheless believed that postprocessing does not cut attraction from printing aqueous organic NP inks as a trendsetting strategy for the reliable and ecofriendly production of organic solar cells.     

Unveiling the Microscopic Origin of Irreversible Capacity Loss of Hard Carbon for Sodium-Ion Batteries

The primary bottleneck hindering the application of hard carbon in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) anodes lies in its inadequate initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE). Unclear causes of capacity loss at the microscopic level restrict the improvement of hard carbon anodes. Here, two pivotal stages that influence the structure and composition of hard carbon, namely synthesis, and storage are evaluated; subsequently identifying crucial determinants contributing to irreversible capacity loss. The results suggest that undergrown carbon layers allowing the intrusion of solvent molecules into the interior of the hard carbon is a key factor during the synthesis stage, while the gradual formation of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of the hard carbon is another factor leading to irreversible loss of capacity during storage stage. This research microscopically clarifies the irreversible capacity loss mechanism on hard carbon and provides guidelines for designing and applying high ICE hard carbon for SIBs.     

推进组织学与胚胎学双语教学培养高素质医学人材——双语教学改革阶段性成果简介

经过两年多的组织学与胚胎学双语教学改革,我们在双语教学大纲编写、课程设置、教材建设、教学工作安排和学生考试等方面,已取得了阶段性的成果,达到了学校批准立项的教学改革专项（双语课程建设）研究课题预期目标,为我们进一步完善组织学与胚胎学双语教学改革打下了坚实的基础。     

Genetic transformation of a fruit-specific,highly expressed stilbene synthase gene from Chinese wild Vitis quinquangularis

Planta - The stilbene synthase gene VqSTS6, from Chinese wild type Vitis quinquangularis accession Danfeng-2, increases the resveratrol content and pathogen resistance of transgenic plants of V....     

Novel and potential application of cryopreservation to plant genetic transformation

The world population now is 6.7 billion and is predicted to reach 9 billion by 2050. Such a rapid growing population has tremendously increased the challenge for food security. Obviously, it is impossible for traditional agriculture to ensure the food security, while plant biotechnology offers considerable potential to realize this goal. Over the last 15 years, great benefits have been brought to sustainable agriculture by commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops. Further development of new GM crops will with no doubt contribute to meeting the requirements for food by the increasing population. The present article provides updated comprehensive information on novel and potential application of cryopreservation to genetic transformation. The major progresses that have been achieved in this subject include (1), long-term storage of a large number of valuable plant genes, which offers a good potential for further development of novel cultivars by genetic transformation; (2), retention of regenerative capacity of embryogenic tissues and protoplasts, which ensures efficient plant regeneration system for genetic transformation; (3), improvement of transformation efficiency and plant regeneration of transformed cells; (4), long-term preservation of transgenic materials with stable expression of transgenes and productive ability of recombinant proteins, which allows transgenic materials to be stored in a safe manner before being analyzed and evaluated, and allows establishment of stable seed stocks for commercial production of homologous proteins. Data provided in this article clearly demonstrate that cryo-technique has an important role to play in the whole chain of genetic transformation. Further studies coupling cryotechnique and genetic transformation are expected to significantly improve development of new GM crops.