Subtype Identification in Acutely Dissociated Rat Nodose Ganglion Neurons Based on Morphologic Parameters

Nodose ganglia are composed of A-, Ah- and C-type neurons. Despite their important roles in regulating visceral afferent function, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal homeostasis, information about subtype-specific expression, molecular identity, and function of individual ion transporting proteins is scarce. Although experiments utilizing the sliced ganglion preparation have provided valuable insights into the electrophysiological properties of nodose ganglion neuron subtypes, detailed characterization of their electrical phenotypes will require measurements in isolated cells. One major unresolved problem, however, is the difficulty to unambiguously identify the subtype of isolated nodose ganglion neurons without current-clamp recording, because the magnitude of conduction velocity in the corresponding afferent fiber, a reliable marker to discriminate subtypes in situ, can no longer be determined. Here, we present data supporting the notion that application of an algorithm regarding to microscopic structural characteristics, such as neuron shape evaluated by the ratio between shortest and longest axis, neuron surface characteristics, like membrane roughness, and axon attachment, enables specific and sensitive subtype identification of acutely dissociated rat nodose ganglion neurons, by which the accuracy of identification is further validated by electrophysiological markers and overall positive predictive rates is 89.26% (90.04%, 76.47%, and 98.21% for A-, Ah, and C-type, respectively). This approach should aid in gaining insight into the molecular correlates underlying phenotypic heterogeneity of nodose ganglia. Additionally, several critical points that help for neuron identification and afferent conduction calibration are also discussed.     

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulation on the formation process of He@C60 synthesized by explosion

The applications of endohedral non-metallic fullerenes are limited by their low production rate. Recently, an explosive method developed in our group shows promise to prepare He@C₆₀ at fairly high yield, but the mechanism of He inserting into C₆₀ cage at explosive conditions was not clear. Here, ab initio molecular dynamics analysis has been used to simulate the collision between C₆₀ molecules at high-temperature and high-pressure induced by explosion. The results show that defects formed on the fullerene cage by collidsion can effectively decrease the reaction barrier for the insertion of He into C₆₀, and the self-healing capability of the defects was also observed.

Noise does not equal bias in assessing the evolutionary history of the angiosperm flora of China: A response to Qian (2019)

In response to our paper on the evolutionary history of the Chinese flora, Qian suggests that certain features of the divergence time estimation employed might have led to biased conclusions in Lu et al (2018). Here, we consider Qian's specific criticisms, explore the extent of uncertainty in the data and demonstrate that (i) no systematic bias toward dates that are too young or too old is detected in Lu et al.; (ii) constraint of the crown age of angiosperms does not bias the generic ages estimated by Lu et al.; and (iii) ages derived from the Chinese regional phylogeny do not bias the conclusions reported by Lu et al. All these analyses confirm that the conclusions reported previously are robust. We argue that, like many large-scale biodiversity analyses, sources of noise in divergence time estimation are to be expected, but these should not be confused with bias.     

Autocrine CCL3 and CCL4 Induced by the Oncoprotein LMP1 Promote Epstein-Barr Virus-Triggered B Cell Proliferation

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) alters the regulation and expression of a variety of cytokines in its host cells to modulate host immune surveillance and facilitate viral persistence. Using cytokine antibody arrays, we found that, in addition to the cytokines reported previously, two chemotactic cytokines, CCL3 and CCL4, were induced in EBV-infected B cells and were expressed at high levels in all EBV-immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Furthermore, EBV latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1)-mediated Jun N-terminal protein kinase activation was responsible for upregulation of CCL3 and CCL4. Inhibition of CCL3 and CCL4 in LCLs using a short hairpin RNA approach or by neutralizing antibodies suppressed cell proliferation and caused apoptosis, indicating that autocrine CCL3 and CCL4 are required for LCL survival and growth. Importantly, significant amounts of CCL3 were detected in EBV-positive plasma from immunocompromised patients, suggesting that EBV modulates this chemokine in vivo. This study reveals the regulatory mechanism and a novel function of CCL3 and CCL4 in EBV-infected B cells. CCL3 might be useful as a therapeutic target in EBV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases and malignancies.     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel bisindolylalkanes analogues

In an effort to develop potent anti-cancer chemopreventive agents that act on topoisomerase II, a novel series of bisindolylalkanes analogues such as 3,3′-(thiochroman-4,4-diyl)bis(1H-indole) are synthesized. Structures of all compounds are elucidated by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and HRMS. Anti-proliferative activities for all of these compounds are investigated by the method of MTT assay on 7 human cancer lines. Most of them showed antitumor activities in vitro, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value is 7.798 μg/mL of 3a against MCF7. Compound 3a showed comparable topoisomerase II inhibitory activity to etoposide (VP-16) at 100 μM concentration. The rest of the compounds also showed varying degree topoisomerase II inhibitory activity.     

菘蓝铁型超氧化物歧化酶基因IiFeSOD的克隆与胁迫表达分析

超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)是生物体内超氧阴离子自由基的清除剂,可有效地防止它们对生物体的损害。从菘蓝中经RT-PCR方法扩增得到SOD基因,命名为IiFeSOD,其全长882 bp,包含一个834 bp的ORF,编码277个氨基酸,分析其编码的蛋白质序列显示其属于铁型超氧化物歧化酶,具有线粒体导肽,定位于线粒体中。实时荧光定量PCR技术分析结果表明,IiFeSOD在菘蓝各个组织中均有表达,但表达量高低不同,在叶中表达最高、茎次之、根中最低; 该基因受盐胁迫的诱导,随着盐胁迫强度的加强基因表达量迅速升高而后下降。同时SOD酶活性在盐胁迫处理下表现出类似的变化规律。说明SOD的大量积累与植物的耐逆性密切相关。     

秦岭滑蜥消化系统组织结构及消化管嗜银细胞观察

为揭示秦岭滑蜥(Scincella tsinlingensis)消化系统的基本特征,运用大体解剖与组织切片技术、Grimelius浸银法对其消化系统组织结构以及消化管嗜银细胞的分布、形态和密度进行了观察。除舌外,消化管的管壁分为黏膜层、黏膜下层、肌层和外膜。消化管各部分的差异主要在管壁厚度和黏膜皱襞数量。各段管壁厚度以胃幽门部最厚,达(221.03±5.94)μm,而十二指肠最薄,仅(63.59±1.17)μm。各段黏膜皱襞的形态和数量明显不同,空肠多达17~20个,其次为回肠和十二指肠,分别为15~17个和11~13个。此外,消化管各部分肌层的相对厚度及腺体的分布也存在差异。肝组织无典型的肝小叶分化,胰腺中胰岛不发达。在秦岭滑蜥的消化管中,锥形、椭圆形、圆形或不规则形的嗜银细胞广泛分布于固有膜和黏膜上皮细胞之间,胃体部的密度最高。上述结果表明,秦岭滑蜥消化系统结构与大多数爬行类相比,无明显差异。消化管中嗜银细胞分布、形态和密度可能与其在该物种中的功能有关。     

鄂尔多斯高原库布齐沙地三趾跳鼠静止代谢率的季节变化

三趾跳鼠的代谢率存在季节性变化 ,春季的静止代谢率最低 (0 75mlO2 /h .g) ,仅为期望值的 6 4% ,热中性区最窄 (2 9～ 31℃ ) ;夏季的代谢率 (1 17mlO2 /h .g)与期望值一致 ,热中性区最宽 (2 8～ 37℃ ) ;秋季的代谢率 (1 31mlO2 /h .g)高于期望值 10 % ,热中性区向低温偏移 (2 6～ 30℃ )。三趾跳鼠各季节的体温从春季到秋季逐渐降低 ,并且在环境温度为 30℃以下时基本维持恒定 ,高温时动物以耐受一定程度的高体温和分泌唾液防止致死性过热。三趾跳鼠的能量代谢特征不仅与季节性食物和环境温度变化有关 ,而且与该鼠种的冬眠特性也有一定联系     

Particulate methane monooxygenase from Methylosinus trichosporium is a copper-containing enzyme

Particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) has been exfoliated and isolated from membranes of the Methylosinus trichosporium IMV 3011. It appears that the stability of pMMO in the exfoliation process is increased with increasing copper concentration in the growth medium, but extensive intracytoplasmic membrane formed under higher copper concentration may inhibit the exfoliation of active pMMO from membrane. The highest total activity of purified pMMO is obtained with an initial concentration of 6 microM Cu in the growth medium. The purified MMO contains only copper and does not utilize NADH as electron donor. Treatment of purified pMMO with EDTA resulted in little change in copper level, suggesting that the copper in the pMMO is tightly bound with pMMO.