A Study on Distribution Pattern of An Epiphytic Bryophyte,Dolichomitriopsis diversif ormis ( Lembophyllaceae) on Tree Trunks in Forest in Fanjing Mountain of Guizhou

The distribution pattern of Dolichomitriopsis diversif ormis (Mitt. ) Nog. in Fanjing Mountain of Guizhou was investigated by means of TWINSPAN and DCA. The results showed that the community-wide distribution of epiphytic D1 diversif ormis is well correlated with forest community types. The forest communities with this species can be divided into six groups, which are Cyclobalanop sis stewardiana-Sinarundinaria nitida community, Cyclobalanopsis stewardiana+ Quercus engleriana+ Carpinus viminea-Sinarundinaria nitida community, Cyclobalanopsis stewardiana-Euryia brevistyla commun-i ty, Rhododendron ririei + Cyclobalanop sis multinervis-Illicium simonsii community , Fagus lucida + Cyclobalanopsis multinervis+ Cyclobalanopsis stewardiana-Sinarundinaria nitida community and Cyclobalanop sis stewardiana-Camellia cuspidata- Illicium simonsii community respectively. The vertical distributive range of this species is 1 650- 2 080 m above sea level; the vertical distribution of this species on tree trunks is that on the lower parts are significantly more than on the middle parts and on the middle parts are significantly more than on the upper parts; the distribution of this species among different tree species is remarkably different. The ecological factors of influencing the distribution of epiphytic D1 diversif ormis in Fanjing Mountain were also analyzed and discussed.     

用改良的非同位素凝胶电泳迁移实验鉴定核酸适配体与靶蛋白的结合

目的:在核酸适配体与靶蛋白特异结合的凝胶电泳迁移实验(EMSA)测定方法中,探索使用非同位素标记取代同位素标记。方法:取一定量的生物素标记的核酸适配体与靶蛋白(或无关蛋白)于室温孵育,聚丙烯酰胺非变性凝胶电泳后将核酸适配体湿转至带正电荷的尼龙膜上,紫外交联,经蛋白酶K消化后,用化学发光法检测。结果:与未使用蛋白酶K消化组相比,经蛋白酶K消化后,可明显呈现核酸适配体与靶蛋白特异结合后产生的阻滞条带,其灵敏度不次于同位素标记的检测方法。结论:经蛋白酶K消化步骤优化的生物素标记的EMSA方法,可以替代放射性同位素标记的EMSA方法,用于核酸适配体与靶蛋白结合情况的鉴定。     

Exosome-mediated transfer of miR-1260b promotes cell invasion through Wnt/β–catenin signaling pathway in lung adenocarcinoma

Increasing evidence confirms that exosome-mediated transfer of microRNAs can influence cancer progression including tumor cell invasion, cell proliferation, and drug resistance via cell–cell communication. However, the potential role of exosomal-miR-1260b in lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) remains poorly understood. Thus, this study focused on investigating the function of exosomal-miR-1260b on cell invasion. Exosomal-miR-1260b was found to be higher in plasma of patients with LAC than that of healthy persons via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. The sensitivity and specificity of exosomal-miR-1260b (cutoff point: 2.027) were 72% and 86%, and area under the curve of 0.845 (95% CI = 0.772–0.922). Elevated expression of miR-1260b in LAC tissues was positively correlated with exosomal-miR-1260b in plasma (r = .642, p < .05). Furthermore, ceramide biosynthesis regulated exosomal-miR-1260b secretion. Exosome-mediated transfer of miR-1260b promoted A549 cell invasion and was still functional inside A549 cells. Moreover, exosomal-miR-1260b regulated Wnt/β–catenin signaling pathway by inhibiting sFRP1 and Smad4. This study identified a new regulation mechanism involving in cell invasion by exosome-mediated tumor-cell-to-tumor-cell communication. Targeting exosome-microRNAs may provide new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of LAC.     

Retracted: Upregulated microRNA-132 rescues cardiac fibrosis and restores cardiocyte proliferation in dilated cardiomyopathy through the phosphatase and tensin homolog–mediated PI3K/Akt signal transduction pathway

Cardiac fibrosis is known to be present in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and it predicts the occurrence of sudden death and congestive heart failure. The aim of our study is to investigate the expression of microRNA-132 (miR-132) and its effect on cardiocyte proliferation, apoptosis, and cardiac fibrosis by binding to phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) through the phosphateidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase (Akt) signal transduction pathway in DCM rats. DCM rat models induced by doxorubicin were established and confirmed by an ultrasonic cardiogram. Epithelial cells were treated with inhibitors, activators, and small interfering RNAs to identify the mechanisms by which miR-132 controls cardiocyte activity and cardiac fibrosis. Angiotensin II (Ang II) and aldosterone (ALD) expressions were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationship between PTEN and miR-132 was verified by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were tested by the MTT assay and flow cytometry. PTEN was determined to be the target gene of miR-132. Rat models of DCM exhibited a lower level of miR-132, PI3K, Akt, B-cell lymphoma 2, collagen I, and collagen III, but a higher level of PTEN, Bcl-2–associated X protein, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen as well as inflammatory response (Ang II and ALD), accompanied by declined cardiocyte proliferation and elevated apoptosis and cardiac fibrosis. Upregulated miR-132 or silenced PTEN activated the PI3K/Akt pathway, thus facilitating cardiocyte proliferation and repressing cardiocyte apoptosis and cardiac fibrosis, as well as inflammatory responses. Downregulated miR-132 reversed this tendency. These findings indicate that miR-132 activates the PI3K/Akt pathway by inhibiting PTEN expression, thus facilitating cardiocyte proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis and cardiac fibrosis in DCM rats.     

Drosophila CTP synthase can form distinct substrate- and product-bound filaments

Intracellular compartmentation is a key strategy for the functioning of a cell. In 2010, several studies revealed that the metabolic enzyme CTP synthase (CTPS) can form filamentous structures termed cytoophidia in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. However, recent structural studies showed that CTPS only forms inactive product-bound filaments in bacteria while forming active substrate-bound filaments in eukaryotic cells. In this study, using negative staining and cryo-electron microscopy, we demonstrate that Drosophila CTPS, whether in substrate-bound or product-bound form, can form filaments. Our results challenge the previous model and indicate that substrate-bound and product-bound filaments can coexist in the same species. We speculate that the ability to switch between active and inactive cytoophidia in the same cells provides an additional layer of metabolic regulation.     

Studies on a Gynoecious-specific ACC Synthase Gene in Different Sexual Phenotypes of Cucumber Genome

Using a pair of primers (Primer Ⅰ and Primer Ⅱ), the authors have amplified a fragment of ACC synthase gene about 1025 bp from four varieties of gynoecious species of cucumber （Cucumis sativus L.） viz.:“CORONA”,“DALEVE”,“Zhongnong No.5”,and “Ouzhou No.8”. Sequence analysis revealed that this fragment of ACC synthase gene was more than 99% homologous with the gene reported by Trebitsh et al (1997). The authors regard them as the same gene, but it exhibited less homology with this ACC synthase gene when expressed by other induction. Southern blot analysis showed that this fragment of ACC synthase gene is associated with the sexual phenotype of cucumber,and it is the specific gene of gynoecium. However, the number of its copies has no direct correlation with the degree of female expression; this seems to indicate that there might be other genes associated with the degree of feminization.     

Acupuncture Promotes Angiogenesis after Myocardial Ischemia through H3K9 Acetylation Regulation at VEGF Gene

Background

Acupuncture exerts cardioprotective effects on several types of cardiac injuries, especially myocardial ischemia (MI), but the mechanisms have not yet been well elucidated. Angiogenesis mediated by VEGF gene expression and its modification through histone acetylation has been considered a target in treating myocardial ischemia. This study aims to exam whether modulation of angiogenesis through H3K9 acetylation regulation at VEGF gene is one possible cardioprotective mechanism of acupuncture.

Results

We generated rat MI models by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery and applied electroacupuncture (EA) treatment at the Neiguan (PC6) acupoint. Our results showed that acupuncture reversed the S-T segment change, reduced Q-wave area, decreased CK, CK-MB, LDH levels, mitigated myocardial remodeling, and promoted microvessel formation in the MI heart. RNA-seq analysis showed that VEGF-induced angiogenesis signaling was involved in the modulation of EA. Western blot results verified that the protein expressions of VEGF, Ras, phospho-p44/42 MAPK, phospho-p38 MAPK, phospho-SAPK/JNK and Akt, were all elevated significantly by EA treatment in the MI heart. Furthermore, increased H3K9 acetylation was also observed according with the VEGF. ChIP assay confirmed that EA treatment could notably stimulate the recruitment of H3K9ace at the VEGF promoter.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates for the first time that acupuncture can effectively up-regulate VEGF expression through H3K9 acetylation modification directly at the VEGF promoter and hence activate VEGF-induced angiogenesis in rat MI models. We employed high throughput sequencing in this study and, for the first time, generated genome-wide gene expression profiles both in the rat MI model and in acupuncture treatment.     

LncRNA-GAS5抑制miR-21介导的非完全匹配靶mRNA降解

LncRNA-GAS5作为miR-21的"分子海绵",通过"吸收"miR-21从而调控miR-21对靶基因的抑制.此外,miR-21直接调控非完全匹配靶基因PTEN和TPM1的表达.我们首先在HEK293T和HeLa细胞中确认,miR-21通过碱基互补配对调控非完全匹配靶基因PTEN和TPM1的蛋白表达,但不影响PTEN和TPM1mRNA的水平.此外,过表达miR-21后,qRT-PCR检测PTEN和TPM1mRNA的半衰期,发现它们的半衰期显著缩短,miR-21加速PTEN和TPM1mRNA的降解.通过转染lncRNA-GAS5的过表达质粒,发现lncRNA-GAS5竞争性地与miR-21结合能够延长PTEN和TPM1mRNA的半衰期,而miR-21与lncRNA-GAS5碱基互补配对结合后,又对lncRNA-GAS5存在调节作用,减弱lncRNA-GAS5的稳定性并加速lncRNA-GAS5的降解.LncRNA-GAS5作为miR-21的"分子海绵"能够抑制miR-21对非完全匹配靶mRNAPTEN和TPM1的降解,同时,miR-21与lncRNA-GAS5结合后又存在对lncRNA-GAS5的反馈调节,这些相互作用机制的发现有助于了解lncRNA、miRNA、mRNA之间这个复杂又精细的调控环路.     

人泛素连接酶AREL1催化结构域的晶体结构

泛素化是一种重要的翻译后修饰,几乎调控着生命活动的所有方面.泛素连接酶是泛素化过程中唯一对底物蛋白质有特异性识别能力的一类酶,它们在泛素化过程中是不可或缺的,起到非常关键的作用.人抗凋亡E3泛素连接酶(AREL1)是HECT泛素连接酶家族成员之一,它能够泛素化促凋亡蛋白SMAC、HtrA2和ARTS,并通过蛋白酶体将它们降解,从而发挥抵抗细胞凋亡的作用.本文解析了3.2?分辨率的人AREL1蛋白催化结构域(AREL1^HECT)的晶体结构,并将其与HECT家族中其他成员的结构进行了比对.尺寸排阻色谱和X射线小角散射的结果表明,AREL1^HECT在溶液中是以多种聚集状态形式存在的,小角散射的3D模型进一步表明AREL1^HECT在溶液中会发生二聚化.这些结果将为AREL1^HECT与泛素复合物结构的解析及功能的分析提供坚实的结构基础,为揭示AREL1泛素化底物蛋白质的分子机制提供重要的依据.     

黄翅绢野螟生物学特性及田间种群动态

【目的】黄翅绢野螟Diaphania caesalis是热带木本粮食作物菠萝蜜Artocarpus heterophyllus的重要钻蛀性害虫,对热区快速发展的菠萝蜜产业威胁巨大。本研究旨在明确该虫的生物学特性及田间发生规律,为准确预测和高效治理该虫提供理论基础。【方法】在室内温度26±1℃、相对湿度70%±5%、光周期14L∶10D条件下,以菠萝蜜叶片为食料,观察黄翅绢野螟各龄期形态特征、发育历期及繁殖能力,并在田间网室中观察该虫年生活史;通过室内选择和非选择试验,研究该虫的寄主多样性;2018年1-12月通过田间系统调查,分析该虫在海南省琼中县的种群动态规律。【结果】黄翅绢野螟卵、幼虫、预蛹、蛹和成虫的发育历期分别为4.58±0.50, 21.00±1.36, 2.50±0.51, 10.20±0.53和12.31±3.16 d,平均世代历期为50.50±3.54 d。各龄期主要形态特征为:卵椭圆形,表面具网纹;幼虫体黄褐色,化蛹前变白色,蜕裂线呈倒"Y"形;蛹红褐色,足和翅芽长至第5腹节;成虫体麦黄色,前翅有瓜子状和塔状黄斑。雌蛾可多次产卵,单雌产卵量为147.25±84.24粒...