Phylogeography of the temperate grassland plant Tephroseris kirilowii (Asteraceae) inferred from multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq) data

Journal of Plant Research - A group of temperate grassland plant species termed the “Mansen elements” occurs in Japan and is widely distributed in the grasslands of continental East...     

Spindlin1, a novel nuclear protein with a role in the transformation of NIH3T3 cells

spindlin1, a novel human gene recently isolated by our laboratory, is highly homologous to mouse spindlin gene. In this study, we cloned cDNA full-length of this novel gene and send it to GenBank database as spindlin1 (Homo sapiens spindlin1) with Accession No. AF317228. In order to investigate the function of spindlin1, we studied further the subcellular localization of Spindlin1 protein and the effects of spindlin1 overexpression in NIH3T3 cells. The results showed that the fusion protein pEGFP-N1-spindlin1 was located in the nucleus and the C-terminal is correlated with nuclear localization of Spindlin1 protein. NIH3T3 cells which could stably express spindlin1 as a result of RT-PCR analysis compared with the control cells displayed a complete morphological change; made cell growth faster; and increased the percentage of cells in G2/M and S phase. Furthermore, overexpressed spindlin1 cells formed colonies in soft agar in vitro and formed tumors in nude mice. Our findings provide direct evidence that spindlin1 gene may contribute to tumorigenesis.     

Ataxin-3 Regulates Aggresome Formation of Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutase (SOD1) by Editing K63-linked Polyubiquitin Chains

Polyubiquitination of misfolded proteins, especially K63-linked polyubiquitination, is thought to be associated with the formation of inclusion bodies. However, it is not well explored whether appropriate editing of the different types of ubiquitin linkages by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) affects the dynamics of inclusion bodies. In this study, we report that a specific DUB, ataxin-3, is required for the efficient recruitment of the neurodegenerative disease-associated protein copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) to aggresomes. The overexpression of ataxin-3 promotes mutant SOD1 aggresome formation by trimming K63-linked polyubiquitin chains. Moreover, knockdown of ataxin-3 decreases mutant SOD1 aggresome formation and increases cell death induced by mutant SOD1. Thus, our data suggest that the sequestration of misfolded SOD1 into aggresomes, which is driven by ataxin-3, plays an important role in attenuating protein misfolding-induced cell toxicity.     

Investigation of the Effects of Squalene and Squalene Epoxides on the Homeostasis of Coenzyme Q10 in Rats by UPLC‐Orbitrap MS

Squalene has been used as a dietary supplement for a long history due to its potential cancer‐preventive function. However, the mechanism has not been investigated in detail yet. Therefore, the aim of this study is to see if the plasma coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) level will be altered by gavage of squalene and oxidosqualenes to rats. In the present work, a sensitive and simple high‐performance analytical method based on ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with an Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC‐Orbitrap‐MS) was developed for the quantification of CoQ10 in rat plasma. Coenzyme Q9 (CoQ9) was employed as the internal standard. CoQ10 was determined after acetonitrile‐mediated plasma protein precipitation using UPLC‐Orbitrap‐MS in negative ion mode. Intragastric administration of squalene and the two squalene epoxides into rats once daily for several days elevated the level of CoQ10 in their plasma, but there was no significant difference between high‐dose (286 mg/kg) and low‐dose (143 mg/kg) groups. Intragastric administration of squalene once a day for 5 consecutive days and oxidosqualenes once a day for 3 consecutive days is necessary for reaching the steady‐state level of CoQ10. Our present findings indicate that squalene and oxidosqualenes may be useful for stimulating the synthesis of CoQ10 in rats.     

Effects of pulse precipitation on soil organic matter mineralization in forests: spatial variation and controlling factors

脉冲降水对森林中土壤有机物矿化的影响：空间变化和控制因素 降水脉冲效应使土壤有机物在短时间内迅速分解并释放大量CO₂到大气中。降水脉冲效应对生态系统的碳循环和土壤碳平衡的研究具有十分重要的意义,但它在森林土壤中的空间变化和基本机制仍不清楚。我们采集中国东部22个典型森林生态系统的土壤样品(0–10cm),研究模拟脉冲降水对土壤微生物呼吸速率的影响。模拟降水脉冲使土壤样品达到65%饱和含水量,以分钟为单位测量R_s,持续48 小时。研究结果显示,降水脉冲可以使微生物呼吸速率迅速增加1.70–38.12倍。微生物最大呼吸速率 (R_s-soil-max)、碳释放总量R_s (A_Rs-soil)和达到呼吸峰值的时间(T_Rs-soil-max)在不同的土壤中存在显著差异。此外,不同 气候区的脉冲效应也有明显不同。中温带的R_s-soil-max (11.701 µg C g⁻¹ soil h⁻¹)和A_Rs-soil (300.712 µg C g⁻¹ soil)最高。土壤化学特性(总碳和总氮、pH值和氧化还原电位)和土壤粒径与森林土壤的脉冲效应密切相关,但土壤微生物的贡献较小。我们的研究结果表明,在大尺度范围内,脉冲变化短期内增加森林土壤中CO₂的排放,并揭示了对这种变化影响最大的因素。这些发现为未来对森林生态系统的碳循环和调节全球生态系统碳循环的研究提供科学数据支持。     

Dielectric Properties of Normal and Metastatic Lymph Nodes Ex Vivo From Lung Cancer Surgeries

The dielectric properties of normal and tumor human tissues have been widely reported in recent years. However, the dielectric properties of intrathoracic lymph nodes (LNs) have not been reported. In this communication, we measured the dielectric properties (i.e., permittivity and conductivity) of ex vivo intrathoracic LNs obtained from lung cancer surgeries. Results show that the permittivity and conductivity of metastatic LNs are higher than those of normal LNs over the frequency range of 1 MHz–4 GHz. Statistically significant differences are observed at single specific frequencies (64, 128, 298, 433, and 915 MHz and 2.45 GHz). Our study provides the basic data to support future-related research and fills the research gap on the dielectric properties of LNs in the lungs. Bioelectromagnetics. 2020;41:148–155. © 2020 Bioelectromagnetics Society.     

金荞麦果实中有效成分的分析

采用HPLC法对金荞麦果实中的有效成分进行了分析,结果表明:金荞麦果实中含有芦丁、槲皮素和表儿茶素等有效成分,其中主要以芦丁为主,槲皮素、表儿茶素等含量甚微.金荞麦果实中的有效成分主要集中在种子部分,果皮中则不合或含量甚微.     

Assembly of lysine 63-linked ubiquitin conjugates by phosphorylated alpha-synuclein implies Lewy body biogenesis

alpha-Synuclein (alpha-syn) and ubiquitin (Ub) are major protein components deposited in Lewy bodies (LBs) and Lewy neurites, which are pathologic hallmarks of idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD). Almost 90% of alpha-syn in LBs is phosphorylated at serine 129 (Ser(129)). However, the role of Ser(129)-phosphorylated alpha-syn in the biogenesis of LBs remains unclear. Here, we show that compared with coexpression of wild type (WT)alpha-syn and Ub, coexpression of phospho-mimic mutant alpha-syn (S129D) and Ub in neuro2a cells results in an increase of Ub-conjugates and the formation of ubiquitinated inclusions. Furthermore, S129D alpha-syn fails to increase the Ub-conjugates and form ubiquitinated inclusions in the presence of a K63R mutant Ub. In addition, as compared with WT alpha-syn, S129D alpha-syn increased cytoplasmic and neuritic aggregates of itself in neuro2a cells treated with H(2)O(2) and serum deprivation. These results suggest that the contribution of Ser(129)-phosphorylated alpha-syn to the Lys(63)-linked Ub-conjugates and aggregation of itself may be involved in the biogenesis of LBs in Parkinson disease and other related synucleinopathies.