Spironolactone inhibits apoptosis in rat mesangial cells under hyperglycaemic conditions via the Wnt signalling pathway

Mesangial cells (MCs) play a crucial role in maintaining structure and function of glomerular tufts, providing structural support for capillary loops and modulating glomerular filtration by their contractility. MCs apoptosis occurs in experimental diabetic nephropathy, and this correlates with worsening albuminuria. Accumulating evidence suggests that mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blockade effectively reduces proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy; however, it is rarely known whether spironolactone (SPI), a nonspecific MR antagonist, inhibits apoptosis in MCs under hyperglycaemic conditions. The objectives of this study are to determine the relationship between SPI and apoptosis, and investigate the cell signalling pathway by which SPI inhibits apoptosis. Rat MCs were treated with 30 mM d-glucose and 10^?8, 10^?7 or 10^?6 M aldosterone (ALD) for 24 h. In some experiments, MCs were pretreated with 10^?7 M SPI or 10 mM LiCl for 1 h. Apoptosis was evaluated by cell nucleus staining and flow cytometric analyses, and caspase-3 activity was assayed. Gene and protein expression were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. SPI directly inhibited high glucose and ALD-induced MCs apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner. Importantly, SPI inhibited MCs apoptosis via the Wnt signalling pathway. SPI promoted activation of the Wnt signalling pathway in MCs, leading to upregulation of Wnt4 and Wnt5a mRNA expression, decreased GSK-3β protein expression and increased β-catenin protein expression. As a conclusion, this study suggests that SPI may inhibit apoptosis in MCs during hyperglycaemic conditions via the Wnt signalling pathway. Blockade of the ALD system may represent a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent MCs injury under hyperglycaemic conditions.     

基于RAD测序技术的黄绿卷毛菇(Floccularia luteovirens)微卫星引物的开发

黄绿卷毛菇(Floccularia luteovirens)是广泛分布于青藏高原高寒草甸的一种重要的可食用的菌根真菌。先前的研究利用EST-SSR引物已经对该物种的遗传多样性及群落结构进行了研究,但研究表明EST-SSR位点多态性较低,因此想要进一步探讨形成现有遗传分布格局的机制(该物种小尺度空间范围内基株的密度及大小)需要重新开发具有更高多态性的基于核基因的微卫星位点。本研究利用RAD测序技术使用直接测序分析的方法重新开发了12对具有多态性的引物。测序结果去接头拼装后共获得46 036条重叠群。在这些序列当中共扫描到342条含有重复单元的序列,在这当中70.47%为三碱基重复(241),8.19%为二碱基重复(28)。随机选取48对检测,12对具有多态性且测序结果良好,基于3个居群63个个体的遗传多样性研究显示,所有样品中共获得60个单倍型,每个位点的单倍型数量介于2 (GSSR26L)至9 (GSSR7L,GSSR11L)之间。Gst值介于-0.03(GSSR46L)至0.28(GSSR6L)之间、Fst值介于-0.03(GSSR33L)至0.42(GSSR6L)之间。在引物GSSR47L扩增测序中发现,其扩增出的片段不仅具有重复单元数量的变化,重复单元本身也存在突变的现象,这是之前使用聚丙烯凝胶电泳所检测不到的。本研究获得的微卫星引物将为接下来小尺度空间下研究黄绿卷毛菇基株的密度、大小及动态变化提供有力的支持。     

Quantitative phosphoproteomic analyses provide evidence for extensive phosphorylation of regulatory proteins in the rhizobia–legume symbiosis

Plant Molecular Biology - PsLecRLK overexpression in rice provides tolerance against salinity stress and cause upregulation of SOS1 pathway genes, which are responsible for extrusion of excess Na+...     

辽东丁香完整叶绿体基因组的结构与特征

为获得辽东丁香（Syringa villosa subsp. wolfii）叶绿体全基因组的基本特征,采用高通量测序技术分析了其叶绿体基因组序列信息,并讨论其系统演化位置。结果表明：（1）辽东丁香叶绿体基因组全长156 517 bp,具有典型的四分体结构;具有131个功能基因,包括36个tRNA基因、8个rRNA基因和87个蛋白质编码基因。（2）该叶绿体基因组蛋白编码区的总密码子偏好性（RSCU）分析显示,RSCU值>1的密码子有31个,其中以A/U碱基结尾的有21个;RSCU值<1的密码子有34个,其中以G/C碱基结尾的密码子有22个。（3）在辽东丁香的叶绿体基因组中,检测出334个散在重复序列,包括170个正向重复序列和164个回文重复序列;检测到227个SSR位点,其中226个位点成功设计出PCR引物。（4）最大似然法构建系统进化树分析显示,辽东丁香与云南丁香（S. yunnanensis）亲缘关系最近。本研究通过对辽东丁香叶绿体基因组重复序列、IR边界、系统发育等进行分析,为辽东丁香后续的分子标记开发、系统发育分析、物种资源鉴定评价、DNA条形码开发等提供参考。     

A Meta Analysis of Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery Using Bone Morphogenetic Proteins and Autologous Iliac Crest Bone Graft

BackgroundBone morphogenetic protein (BMPs) as a substitute for iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) has been increasingly widely used in lumbar fusion. The purpose of this study is to systematically compare the effectiveness and safety of fusion with BMPs for the treatment of lumbar disease.MethodsCochrane review methods were used to analyze all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to nov 2013.Results19 RCTs (1,852 patients) met the inclusion criteria. BMPs group significantly increased fusion rate (RR: 1.13; 95% CI 1.05–1.23, P = 0.001), while there was no statistical difference in overall success of clinical outcomes (RR: 1.04; 95% CI 0.95–1.13, P = 0.38) and complications (RR: 0.96; 95% CI 0.85–1.09, p = 0.54). A significant reduction of the reoperation rate was found in BMPs group (RR: 0.57; 95% CI 0.42–0.77, p = 0.0002). Significant difference was found in the operating time (MD−0.32; 95% CI−0.55, −0.08; P = 0.009), but no significant difference was found in the blood loss, the hospital stay, patient satisfaction, and work status.ConclusionCompared with ICBG, BMPs in lumbar fusion can increase the fusion rate, while reduce the reoperation rate and operating time. However, it doesn’t increase the complication rate, the amount of blood loss and hospital stay. No significant difference was found in the overall success of clinical outcome of the two groups.     

Proper recruitment of gamma-tubulin and D-TACC/Msps to embryonic Drosophila centrosomes requires Centrosomin Motif 1

Centrosomes are microtubule-organizing centers and play a dominant role in assembly of the microtubule spindle apparatus at mitosis. Although the individual binding steps in centrosome maturation are largely unknown, Centrosomin (Cnn) is an essential mitotic centrosome component required for assembly of all other known pericentriolar matrix (PCM) proteins to achieve microtubule-organizing activity at mitosis in Drosophila. We have identified a conserved motif (Motif 1) near the amino terminus of Cnn that is essential for its function in vivo. Cnn Motif 1 is necessary for proper recruitment of gamma-tubulin, D-TACC (the homolog of vertebrate transforming acidic coiled-coil proteins [TACC]), and Minispindles (Msps) to embryonic centrosomes but is not required for assembly of other centrosome components including Aurora A kinase and CP60. Centrosome separation and centrosomal satellite formation are severely disrupted in Cnn Motif 1 mutant embryos. However, actin organization into pseudocleavage furrows, though aberrant, remains partially intact. These data show that Motif 1 is necessary for some but not all of the activities conferred on centrosome function by intact Cnn.     

灰葡萄孢菌AUR1基因内含子对肌醇磷脂酰神经酰胺合成酶表达的影响及致病性

【目的】AUR1编码的肌醇磷脂酰神经酰胺(IPC)合成酶是真菌鞘脂代谢的关键酶,在转录水平和翻译水平研究AUR1内含子对其基因表达的影响,以及AUR1内含子对相关致病因子的影响,为内含子调控基因表达的分子机制提供理论依据。【方法】实时定量PCR测定野生型灰葡萄孢菌(BcAUR1)和AUR1缺失115 bp内含子突变体(BcAUR1a)的mRNA表达量,高效液相层析测定IPC合成酶活性,分别采用辣根过氧化物酶法、邻苯三酚自氧化法、愈创木酚法和紫外分光光度法测定单位菌体的H2O2含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)的酶活力。【结果】突变体BcAUR1a的IPC合成酶基因cDNA测序结果表明,IPC合成酶无氨基酸突变。实时定量PCR和高效液相层析的结果表明BcAUR1a的AUR1基因mRNA表达量和IPC合成酶活力比野生型BcAUR1分别增加了50.2%和14.16%。短梗霉素A(AbA)显著刺激BcAUR1 H2O2、SOD、POD和CAT的分泌,但对BcAUR1a的这几种物质的分泌无显著影响。【结论】突变体BcAUR1a的AUR1基因在转录和翻译水平上表达上调,AbA显著增强野生型灰葡萄孢菌致病力,但对突变体影响较小。突变体产生了对AbA的抗性,推测AUR1基因内含子在AUR1基因表达调控中起转录抑制子的作用。     

青藏高原及其毗邻山区蒙古绣线菊谱系地理学研究

以青藏高原及其毗邻山区的蒙古绣线菊23个居群324个个体为研究对象,选取叶绿体DNA非编码区trnL-trnF和rps15-ycf1片段对蒙古绣线菊进行谱系地理学研究。结果表明:(1)该研究区域中蒙古绣线菊亲缘关系相近的单倍型多发生于同一居群中,存在着明显的谱系地理学关系。(2)所检测得到的35个单倍型中,大约71.4%是居群内特有的单倍型,而出现频率最高的H1是最古老的单倍型,贝叶斯分析和单倍型简约网状图显示35个单倍型聚为地理分布范围各不相同的3个分支。(3)歧点分布分析得到分布图呈多峰曲线,说明蒙古绣线菊居群在较长的时间内发展稳定,没有经历突然的近期扩张。(4)BEAST分析结果显示,在45Mya左右开始出现蒙古绣线菊的谱系分支的分化。研究认为,蒙古绣线菊在青藏高原及其毗邻山区可能至少存在3个冰期避难所,其在青藏高原及其毗邻山区的分布格局主要是第四纪冰期-间冰期气候动荡、青藏高原隆升的共同作用的结果。     

Selenium Deficiency Induced Injury in Chicken Muscular Stomach by Downregulating Selenoproteins

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of selenium (Se) deficiency on the expression of selenoproteins in chicken muscular stomach and to detect the correlation of selenoproteins with muscular stomach injuries. One-day-old broiler chickens were maintained for 55 days on a normal diet (0.2 mg/kg) or a Se-deficient diet (0.033 mg Se/kg). The expression levels of 25 selenoproteins, heat shock proteins (HSPs), and inflammatory factors were then examined by real-time PCR. Following this, the correlation between selenoproteins, HSPs, and inflammatory factors was analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that Se deficiency decreased the expression of 25 selenoproteins (P < 0.05), but increased the expression of HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90, and NF-κB, iNOS, TNF-α, COX-2, and HO-1 (P < 0.05). Selenoproteins showed a high negative correlation with HSPs and inflammatory factors. Thus, the results suggested that Se deficiency induced muscular stomach injuries by decreasing the expression of selenoproteins. In addition, selenoproteins play an important role in regulating HSPs and inflammatory response. The muscular stomach is a key target of Se deficiency and may play a special role in response to Se deficiency.