Construction of ploidy series of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by the plasmid YCplac33-GHK

An effective approach, using the plasmid YCplac33-GHK, is developed to construct a ploidy series of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. YCplac33-GHK harbors the HO gene under the control of galactose-inducible promoter and KanMX4 as the selective marker. The simple method can solve the problem of industrial applications of strains with resistance genes.     

Hsa-miR-34b/c rs4938723 T>C and hsa-miR-423 rs6505162 C>A Polymorphisms Are Associated with the Risk of Esophageal Cancer in a Chinese Population

Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer and sixth leading cause of cancer associated death worldwide. Besides environmental risk factors, genetic factors might play an important role in the esophageal cancer carcinogenesis. We conducted a hospital based case–control study to evaluate the genetic susceptibility of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the microRNAs on the development of esophageal cancer. A total of 629 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cases and 686 controls were recruited for this study. The hsa-miR-34b/c rs4938723 T>C, pri-miR-124-1 rs531564 C>G, pre-miR-125a rs12975333 G>T and hsa-miR-423 rs6505162 C>A genotypes were determined using Ligation Detection Reaction (LDR) method. Our results demonstrated that hsa-miR-34b/c rs4938723 CC genotype had a decreased risk of ESCC. The association was evident among patients who never drinking. Hsa-miR-423 rs6505162 C>A might associated with a significantly increased risk of ESCC in patients who smoking. These findings indicated that functional polymorphisms hsa-miR-34b/c rs4938723 T>C and hsa-miR-423 rs6505162 C>A might alter individual susceptibility to ESCC. However, our results were obtained with a limited sample size. Future larger studies with other ethnic populations are required to confirm current findings.     

RNA-Seq analysis of compatible and incompatible styles of Pyrus species at the beginning of pollination

Plant Molecular Biology - At the early stage of pollination, the difference in gene expression between compatibility and incompatibility is highly significant about the pollen-specific expression...     

Deletion of Smad3 protects against C-reactive protein-induced renal fibrosis and inflammation in obstructive nephropathy

Introduction and Aims: Elevated plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are closely associated with progressive renal injury in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Here, we tested a hypothesis that CRP may promote renal fibrosis and inflammation via a TGF-β/Smad3-dependent mechanism.Methods: Role and mechanisms of TGF-β/Smad3 in CRP-induced renal fibrosis and inflammation were examined in a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) induced in CRP Tg/Smad3 KO mice and in a rat tubular epithelial cell line in which Smad3 gene is stably knocked down (S3KD-NRK52E).Results: We found that mice overexpressing the human CRP gene were largely promoted renal inflammation and fibrosis as evidenced by increasing IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1 expression, F4/80⁺ macrophages infiltration, and marked accumulation of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I and fibronectin in the UUO kidney, which were blunted when Smad3 gene was deleted in CRPtg-Smad3KO. Mechanistically, we found that the protection of renal inflammation and fibrosis in the UUO kidney of CRPtg-Smad3KO mice was associated with the inactivation of CD32-NF-κB and TGF-β/Smad3 signaling.Conclusion: In conclusion, Smad3 deficiency protects against CRP-mediated renal inflammation and fibrosis in the UUO kidney by inactivating CD32-NF-κB and TGF-β/Smad3 signaling.     

The activity of plasma membrane hyperpolarization-activated Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> channels during pollen development of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrus pyrifolia</Emphasis>

Calcium (Ca²⁺) plays crucial roles in regulation of pollen tube growth. The influx of Ca²⁺ into the pollen tube is mediated by ion channels, and the density and activity of Ca²⁺ channels in pollen plasma membranes critically determines their electrical properties. In this report, using whole-cell and single-channel patch-clamping techniques, we investigated developmental changes of hyperpolarization-activated Ca²⁺ channel activity in pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) pollen and its relationship with pollen viability. For both pollen and pollen tubes, hyperpolarization-activated Ca²⁺ channels had the same conductance and cAMP sensitivity, indicating that they were the same channels. However, the Ca²⁺ current density in pollen tube protoplasts was greater than that in pollen protoplasts. Compared with day-3 flowers’ pollen, hyperpolarization-activated Ca²⁺ current density was significantly lower in day 0 and day 3 flowers’ pollen, which was consistent with the pollen germination and pollen tube growth, indicating that pollen protoplasts’ increased Ca²⁺ current density may have enhanced the pollen viability. During pollen tube elongation, pollen tube plasma membrane Ca²⁺ current density increased with increased length pollen tubes up to 300 μm. All of these results indicated that hyperpolarization-activated Ca²⁺ channel activity was associated with in pear pollen development and may have a causal link between Ca²⁺ channel activity and pollen viability.     

Ultrafine Metal Nanoparticles/N‐Doped Porous Carbon Hybrids Coated on Carbon Fibers as Flexible and Binder‐Free Water Splitting Catalysts

By employing in situ reduction of metal precursor and metal‐assisted carbon etching process, this study achieves a series of ultrafine transition metal‐based nanoparticles (Ni–Fe, Ni–Mo) embedded in N‐doped carbon, which are found efficient catalysts for electrolytic water splitting. The as‐prepared hybrid materials demonstrate outstanding catalytic activities as non‐noble metal electrodes rendered by the synergistic effect of bimetal elements and N‐dopants, the improved electrical conductivity, and hydrophilism. Ni/Mo₂C@N‐doped porous carbon (NiMo‐polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)) and NiFe@N‐doped carbon (NiFe‐PVP) produce low overpotentials of 130 and 297 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 as catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction, respectively. In addition, these binder‐free electrodes show long‐term stability. Overall water splitting is also demonstrated based on the couple of NiMo‐PVP||NiFe‐PVP catalyzer. This represents a simple and effective synthesis method toward a new type of nanometal–carbon hybrid electrodes.     

Survival and escape of Agrobacterium tumefaciens in triploid hybrid lines of Chinese white poplar transformed with two insect-resistant genes

Two partly modified insect-resistant genes (BtCryI Ac gene [Bt gene toxin against Lepidopterean insects] and API gene [arrowhead proteinase inhibitor]) were transferred to the triploid hybrid of Chinese white poplar ((Populus tomentosa Carr. × Populus bolleana Louche) × Populus tomentosa Carr.) mediated by A. tumefaciens. The survival of Agrobacterium in transgenic plants was examined during the processes of transplanting and subculturing on the nutrient medium. The results suggested that 80% of the plants, which were obtained by repeated selection on media added with 50 mg/L kanamycin and 300 mg/l carbenicillin, showed positive reactions after examination using molecular methods. The ELISA test indicated that the Bt toxoprotein was expressed in seven of the transgenic sub-clones. Leaves, stems, and roots of all the 28 transgenic plants were cultured on the YEB medium added with 50 mg/L kanamycin, and it was found that Agrobacterium survived in three sub-clones (33, 37, 5) and could have existed for 24 months in the bottle. These three transgenic sub-clones were transplanted and cultivated for one month in the room, and then the target Agrobacterium was found in rhizosphere of the sub-clone 33.     

RANK rs1805034 T>C Polymorphism Is Associated with Susceptibility of Esophageal Cancer in a Chinese Population

Esophageal cancer remains the sixth leading cause of cancer associated death and eighth most common cancer worldwide. Genetic factors, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), may contribute to the carcinogenesis of esophageal cancer. Here, we conducted a hospital based case-control study to evaluate the genetic susceptibility of functional SNPs on the development of esophageal cancer. A total of 629 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cases and 686 controls were enrolled for this study. The OPG rs3102735 T>C, rs2073618 G>C, RANK rs1805034 T>C, RANKL rs9533156 T>C and rs2277438 A>G were determined by ligation detection reaction method. Our findings suggested that RANK rs1805034 T>C is associated with the susceptibility of ESCC, which is more evident in male and elder (≥63) patients. Our study provides the first evidence that functional polymorphisms RANK rs1805034 T>C may be an indicator for individual susceptibility to ESCC. However, further larger studies among different ethnic populations are warranted to verify our conclusion.