α‐ketoglutarate delays age‐related fertility decline in mammals

The fecundity reduction with aging is referred as the reproductive aging which comes earlier than that of chronological aging. Since humans have postponed their childbearing age, to prolong the reproductive age becomes urgent agenda for reproductive biologists. In the current study, we examined the potential associations of α‐ketoglutarate (α‐KG) and reproductive aging in mammals including mice, swine, and humans. There is a clear tendency of reduced α‐KG level with aging in the follicle fluids of human. To explore the mechanisms, mice were selected as the convenient animal model. It is observed that a long term of α‐KG administration preserves the ovarian function, the quality and quantity of oocytes as well as the telomere maintaining system in mice. α‐KG suppresses ATP synthase and alterations of the energy metabolism trigger the nutritional sensors to down‐regulate mTOR pathway. These events not only benefit the general aging process but also maintain ovarian function and delay the reproductive decline. Considering the safety of the α‐KG as a naturally occurring molecule in energy metabolism, its utility in reproduction of large mammals including humans deserves further investigation.     

Genomic insights into selection for heterozygous alleles and woody traits in Populus tomentosa

Heterozygous alleles are widespread in outcrossing and clonally propagated woody plants. The variation in heterozygosity that underlies population adaptive evolution and phenotypic variation, however, remains largely unknown. Here, we describe a de novo chromosome-level genome assembly of Populus tomentosa, an economic and ecologically important native tree in northern China. By resequencing 302 natural accessions, we determined that the South subpopulation (Pop_S) encompasses the ancestral strains of P. tomentosa, while the Northwest subpopulation (Pop_NW) and Northeast subpopulation (Pop_NE) experienced different selection pressures during population evolution, resulting in significant population differentiation and a decrease in the extent of heterozygosity. Analysis of heterozygous selective sweep regions (HSSR) suggested that selection for lower heterozygosity contributed to the local adaptation of P. tomentosa by dwindling gene expression and genetic load in the Pop_NW and Pop_NE subpopulations. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealed that 88 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 63 genes are associated with nine wood composition traits. Among them, the selection for the homozygous AA allele in PtoARF8 is associated with reductions in cellulose and hemicellulose contents by attenuating PtoARF8 expression, and the increase in lignin content is attributable to the selection for decreases in exon heterozygosity in PtoLOX3 during adaptive evolution of natural populations. This study provides novel insights into allelic variations in heterozygosity associated with adaptive evolution of P. tomentosa in response to the local environment and identifies a series of key genes for wood component traits, thereby facilitating genomic-based breeding of important traits in perennial woody plants.     

植物乳杆菌谷氨酸脱羧酶催化pH范围的理性改造及高效转化生产g-氨基丁酸

γ-氨基丁酸可由谷氨酸脱羧酶(glutamate decarboxylase, GAD)催化谷氨酸一步合成,反应体系成分简单、环境友好。然而,绝大多数GAD酶催化pH偏酸性且反应范围狭小,需要加入无机盐维持最适催化环境,增加了生产附加成分。此外,随着产物γ-氨基丁酸的生成,溶液pH会逐渐上升,不利于GAD酶的持续转化。本研究首先从实验室保藏的一株高产γ-氨基丁酸的植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum)中克隆得到谷氨酸脱羧酶LpGAD,基于酶蛋白表面电荷修饰,选择9个位点进行定点突变及组合突变,酶学性质表征结果显示三突变体LpGAD^{S24R/D88R/Y309K}在催化pH区间内酶活力整体提高,尤其拓宽了在偏中性pH 6.0下的酶活,为野生酶的1.68倍。接下来,通过分子动力学模拟解析了酶活提高的机理。此外,将Lpgad与Lpgad^{S24R/D88R/Y309K}突变基因分别在谷氨酸棒杆菌(Corynebacterium glutamicum) E01中过表达,通过优化确定了摇瓶最适转化条件为反应温度40 ℃,菌体量OD₆₀₀=20,底物L-谷氨酸100.0 g/L,5-磷酸吡哆醛添加量为100 μmol/L。5 L发酵罐中,不调节pH,通过分批投料底物L-谷氨酸,γ-氨基丁酸产量高达402.8 g/L,较对照菌株提高了1.63倍。本研究成功拓宽了LpGAD的pH催化范围及酶活,提高了γ氨基丁酸的转化效率,为实现其规模化工业生产奠定了基础。     

MicroRNAs transcriptionally regulate promoter activity in Arabidopsis thaliana

Micro RNAs(mi RNAs) are vital regulators that repress gene expression in the cytoplasm in two main ways: m RNA degradation and translational inhibition. Several animal studies have shown that mi RNAs also target promoters, thereby activating expression.Whether this mi RNA action also occurs in plants is unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that several mi RNAs regulate target promoters in Arabidopsis thaliana. For example, mi R5658 was predominantly present in the nucleus and activated the expression of AT3 G25290 directly by binding to its promoter. Our observations suggest that this mode of action may be a general feature of plant mi RNAs, and thus provide insight into the vital roles of plant mi RNAs in the nucleus.     

The Brassicaceae‐specific secreted peptides,STMPs, function in plant growth and pathogen defense

Low molecular weight secreted peptides have recently been shown to affect multiple aspects of plant growth, development, and defense responses.Here, we performed stepwise BLAST filtering to identify unannotated peptides from the Arabidopsis thaliana protein database and uncovered a novel secreted peptide family, secreted transmembrane peptides(STMPs). These low molecular weight peptides, which consist of an N-terminal signal peptide and a transmembrane domain, were primarily localized to extracellular compartments but were also detected in the endomembrane system of the secretory pathway, including the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi. Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis identified 10 STMP family members that are specific to the Brassicaceae family. Brassicaceae plants showed dramatically inhibited root growth uponexposure to chemically synthesized STMP1 and STMP2.Arabidopsis overexpressing STMP1, 2, 4, 6, or 10 exhibited severely arrested growth, suggesting that STMPs are involved in regulating plant growth and development. In addition, in vitro bioassays demonstrated that STMP1,STMP2, and STMP10 have antibacterial effects against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, Ralstonia solanacearum, Bacillus subtilis, and Agrobacterium tumefaciens, demonstrating that STMPs are antimicrobial peptides. These findings suggest that STMP family members play important roles in various developmental events and pathogen defense responses in Brassicaceae plants.     

Cardiac telocytes exist in the adult Xenopus tropicalis heart

Recent research has revealed that cardiac telocytes (CTs) play an important role in cardiac physiopathology and the regeneration of injured myocardium. Recently, we reported that the adult Xenopus tropicalis heart can regenerate perfectly in a nearly scar‐free manner after injury via apical resection. However, whether telocytes exist in the X tropicalis heart and are affected in the regeneration of injured X tropicalis myocardium is still unknown. The present ultrastructural and immunofluorescent double staining results clearly showed that CTs exist in the X tropicalis myocardium. CTs in the X tropicalis myocardium were mainly twined around the surface of cardiomyocyte trabeculae and linked via nanocontacts between the ends of the telopodes, forming a three‐dimensional network. CTs might play a role in the regeneration of injured myocardium.     

Seasonal variation and correlation analysis of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone in Hangzhou,Southeast China

This study aimed to describe the 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) status of Southeast Chinese individuals influenced by season. The secondary aim was to determine the cutoff for sufficient 25(OH)D in a four‐season region. From January 2011 to June 2014, a total of 17 646 individuals were evaluated in our study. The serum levels of PTH were detected simultaneously in 5579 cases. A total of 25(OH)D and intact PTH were measured by the electrochemiluminescent immunoassay. The distribution of the concentration, prevalence and seasonal variability of 25(OH)D and PTH were studied. The mean 25(OH)D concentration in our study was 43.00(30.40) nmol/L. The prevalence of insufficiency (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L) was 62.87% and that of deficiency (<30 nmol/L) was 28.54%. Mean serum 25(OH)D levels revealed a limited sinusoidal profile throughout the year and were significantly higher in Autumn. On the other hand, PTH levels showed an opposite response to seasonal effects relative to 25(OH)D. Age, BMI and daylight were not significantly correlated with 25(OH)D and serum PTH reached a plateau at higher values of serum 25(OH)D of 42.86 nmol/L. This study demonstrated that Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent in Southeast China. The concentration of 25(OH)D in the male group was generally higher than that in the female group. Seasonal variation was an important aspect of 25(OH)D and PTH concentration. This study revealed that the optimal serum threshold of 25(OH)D for bone health should be between 40 and 50 nmol/L for Southeast Chinese individuals.