A Novel PRPF31 Mutation in a Large Chinese Family with Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa and Macular Degeneration

Purpose

This study was intended to identify the disease causing genes in a large Chinese family with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration.

Methods

A genome scan analysis was conducted in this family for disease gene preliminary mapping. Snapshot analysis of selected SNPs for two-point LOD score analysis for candidate gene filter. Candidate gene PRPF31 whole exons'' sequencing was executed to identify mutations.

Results

A novel nonsense mutation caused by an insertion was found in PRPF31 gene. All the 19 RP patients in 1085 family are carrying this heterozygous nonsense mutation. The nonsense mutation is in PRPF31 gene exon9 at chr19:54629961-54629961, inserting nucleotide “A” that generates the coding protein frame shift from p.307 and early termination at p.322 in the snoRNA binding domain (NOP domain).

Conclusion

This report is the first to associate PRPF31 gene''s nonsense mutation and adRP and JMD. Our findings revealed that PRPF31 can lead to different clinical phenotypes in the same family, resulting either in adRP or syndrome of adRP and JMD. We believe our identification of the novel “A” insertion mutation in exon9 at chr19:54629961-54629961 in PRPF31 can provide further genetic evidence for clinical test for adRP and JMD.     

不同倍性香石竹杂交受精过程及胚胎发育研究

采用石蜡切片法对以四倍体香石竹品种‘紫蝴蝶’(2n=4x=60)为母本,单瓣中间材料‘NH6’(2n=2x=30)为父本杂交后受精过程及胚胎发育进行研究。结果表明:(1)授粉后17h,花粉管进入助细胞并释放内容物,精核进入极核细胞内,与二极核细胞融合形成初生胚乳核;授粉后1d,精核向卵核方向移动,贴伏于卵核核膜上;授粉后2d,形成合子及游离的胚乳核;随后,胚发育经过原胚、球形胚、心形胚、鱼雷形胚阶段。(2)杂交障碍发生在受精过程及胚胎发育的各个时期,表现为:精子与卵细胞不相融合或精子与二极核不相融合、合子未分裂或初生胚乳核未分裂及胚胎的败育。(3)胚败育虽能发生在原胚、球形胚、棒状形胚、三角形胚、心形胚、鱼雷形胚及子叶形胚阶段,但主要发生在球形胚阶段。     

高效删除标记基因的Bhlea2植物表达载体的构建

为培育去除选择标记基因的耐旱转基因植物,同时利用Cre/Lox和FLP/frt系统,构建一个能够高效删除标记基因的Bhlea2基因植物表达载体.拟南芥rd29A启动子是在低温、干旱、高盐胁迫下的快速应答启动子,玉米ubiquitin启动子可有效驱动外源基因的转录,拟南芥pAB5启动子是花粉及胚胎等发育早期特异表达的启动子,利用上述启动子构建了表达Bhlea2基因并能够删除标记基因的植物表达载体.该表达载体包括重组酶表达元件pAB5-FLP、Bhlea2抗旱基因表达元件rd29A-Bhlea2和bar标记基因表达元件ubiquitin-bar.     

Thermal stability and detonation character of nitro-substituted derivatives of imidazole

Journal of Molecular Modeling - The role of resultant gradient-information concept, reflecting the kinetic energy of electrons, in shaping the molecular electronic structure and reactivity...     

Adiponectin alleviated Alzheimer‐like pathologies via autophagy‐lysosomal activation

Adiponectin (APN) deficiency has also been associated with Alzheimer‐like pathologies. Recent studies have illuminated the importance of APN signaling in reducing Aβ accumulation, and the Aβ elimination mechanism remains rudimentary. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the APN role in reducing Aβ accumulation and its associated abnormalities by targeting autophagy and lysosomal protein changes. To assess, we performed a combined pharmacological and genetic approach while using preclinical models and human samples. Our results demonstrated that the APN level significantly diminished in the plasma of patients with dementia and 5xFAD mice (6 months old), which positively correlated with Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), and negatively correlated with Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), respectively. APN deficiency accelerated cognitive impairment, Aβ deposition, and neuroinflammation in 5xFAD mice (5xFAD*APN KO), which was significantly rescued by AdipoRon (AR) treatment. Furthermore, AR treatment also markedly reduced Aβ deposition and attenuated neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 mice without altering APP expression and processing. Interestingly, AR treatment triggered autophagy by mediating AMPK‐mTOR pathway signaling. Most importantly, APN deficiency dysregulated lysosomal enzymes level, which was recovered by AR administration. We further validated these changes by proteomic analysis. These findings reveal that APN is the negative regulator of Aβ deposition and its associated pathophysiologies. To eliminate Aβ both extra‐ and intracellular deposition, APN contributes via the autophagic/lysosomal pathway. It presents a therapeutic avenue for AD therapy by targeting autophagic and lysosomal signaling.     

甘肃小陇山油松与柴胡栽培土壤细菌群落特征

土壤细菌能够有效促进土壤中物质循环和能量流动,其群落组成、数量及多样性能够反映土壤质量状况。研究不同植被对土壤细菌群落结构和多样性的影响,有助于深入了解土壤健康状况,对实现植被管理和土地可持续利用具有重要意义。以甘肃小陇山移栽至耕地(耕地前期种植柴胡)后生长4年的人工油松苗(Pinus tabulaeformis Carr)土地和长期种植柴胡(Bupleurum chinense)土地的表层土壤(0—30 cm)为对象,采用Illumina Miseq高通量测序技术对2种人工植被下土壤细菌群落进行测定,分析了土壤细菌的Alpha多样性、群落组成和丰富度,并研究土壤化学性质对细菌群落结构的影响。结果表明:1)两种不同植被的土壤细菌群落丰度和多样性无明显差异,但油松地土壤细菌群落均匀度明显小于柴胡地土壤。2)所测土壤样品中共检测到细菌的37个门,84个纲,168个目;其中,主要的优势菌门为变形菌门(Proteobacteria),酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria),绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi),浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes),放线菌门(Actinobacteria),且油松地土壤中的变形菌门(Proteobacteria)的丰富度显著低于柴胡地土壤(P 0. 05),绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)丰富度却显著高于柴胡地(P 0. 05);主要的优势菌纲为酸杆菌纲(Acidobacteria),β-变形菌纲(Betaproteobacteria),放线菌纲(Actinobacteria),变形菌纲(Alphaproteobacteria)和芽单胞菌纲(Gemmatimonadetes),但各优势菌纲的丰度在两个植被土壤之间差异不显著(P0.05)。3)变形菌门(Proteobacteria)丰富度与土壤的碱解氮含量呈显著负相关(P0.05),酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)丰富度与全氮含量显著负相关(P0.01);通过RDA分析发现,碱解氮和全氮是影响细菌群落结构的最主要因子。可见,油松和柴胡植被土壤细菌群落结构及多样性差异不大,但油松地土壤细菌群落的物种分配较柴胡地集中,且优势细菌门中的变形菌门和绿弯菌门在两者之间的差异显著,同时,碱解氮和全氮含量是影响2种植被土壤细菌群落的主要因子。这些结论为了解小陇山不同植被土壤微生物群落组成及多样性提供理论,也为当地进行人工油松苗的种植、经营及土壤管理提供参考。     

Inhibition of autophagy potentiates the cytotoxicity of the irreversible FGFR1-4 inhibitor FIIN-2 on lung adenocarcinoma

For patients with platinum-resistant lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the exploration of new effective drug candidates is urgently needed. Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) have been identified as promising targets for LUAD therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine the exact role of the irreversible FGFR1-4 inhibitor FIIN-2 in LUAD and to clarify its underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that FIIN-2 significantly inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, and migration of A549 and A549/DDP cells but induced the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis of these cells. Meanwhile, FIIN-2 increased the autophagy flux of A549 and A549/DDP cells by inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and further activating the class III PI3K complex pathway. More importantly, in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that autophagy inhibitors could enhance the cytotoxicity of FIIN-2 on A549 and A549/DDP cells, confirming that FIIN-2 induced protective autophagy. These findings indicated that FIIN-2 is a potential drug candidate for LUAD treatment, and its use in combination with autophagy inhibitors might be an efficient treatment strategy, especially for patients with cisplatin resistance.Subject terms: Pharmacology, Targeted therapies, Preclinical research     

古林箐秋海棠叶斑结构对叶色的影响

该研究以古林箐秋海棠(Begonia gulinqingensis)为材料,通过分析叶片形态特征、上表皮光学特性、组织结构、叶绿素含量及叶绿素荧光参数(F_v/F_m),探讨了叶片色斑的形成原因。结果表明:(1)古林箐秋海棠叶斑发生频率和数量无明显规律,但发生部位相对稳定,叶斑主要发生在正对叶柄的两条主脉之间。(2)斑区有两种光反射模式,点状反射和多角形反射,栅栏组织细胞呈近等轴的圆形,排列疏松,与上表皮细胞间存在空隙;非斑区只有点状反射模式,栅栏组织细胞为漏斗型,排列紧密,与上表皮细胞间不存在空隙。(3)斑区和非斑区叶绿体均有密集的堆积基粒和丰富的类囊体膜,斑区叶绿素a、b及总叶绿素含量仅比非斑区分别低24.9%、25.2%、25.1%。(4)叶绿素荧光参数(F_v/F_m)值斑区为0.793,非斑区为0.790。虽然斑区叶绿素含量比非斑区略低,但叶绿体结构完整,且叶绿素荧光参数与非斑区无显著差异。斑区上表皮与栅栏组织细胞间的空隙可使光线到达绿色组织时发生二次反射,在叶片表皮细胞边缘形成白色多边形光反射使该区域相对周围正常叶片区域偏白,基于上述结果可推测古林箐秋海棠的淡绿色块斑形成与特殊的叶片结构有关。     

百合育性与花药发育过程中激素和内源物质含量及能量代谢酶活性的关系

为揭示百合雄性不育发生与其花药内源激素含量、几种内源物质含量和能量代谢酶活性变化的关系,该研究利用高效液相色谱法、串联质谱法和比色法,测定了可育系和不育系花药发育关键时期的激素、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、丙二醛、脯氨酸含量和COD及ATP能量代谢酶活性,分析激素含量、各激素间比值、内源物质含量和能量代谢酶活性对百合雄性不育的影响。结果表明:(1)在百合花药造孢细胞期到四分体期,花药内源激素含量、内源物质含量及能量代谢酶活性变化在不育系与可育系间均存在差异。其中,不育系花药的生长素(IAA)含量在发育的各阶段均高于可育系;ZR和GA4含量在花粉母细胞期不育系与可育系相差不大,但到四分体期不育系中的含量低于可育系;ABA含量在不育系四分体期出现盈积;JA含量在不育系的花粉母细胞期低于可育系,而在四分体期高于可育系。(2)花药内源物质中可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白和脯氨酸含量表现为可育系均高于不育系,但不育系的丙二醛含量在四分体期显著高于可育系。(3)COD和ATP能量代谢酶活性在花药发育的各阶段均是可育系高于不育系。研究认为,在百合不育系花药发育关键时期(花粉母细胞期到四分体期),其IAA含量增加,ABA水平提高,GA4和ZR含量降低,影响了花药内源物质和能量的正常代谢,这可能是导致百合花药中花粉发育受阻、形成败育的原因。     

Association Study of Polymorphisms in Selenoprotein Genes and Kashin–Beck Disease and Serum Selenium/Iodine Concentration in a Tibetan Population

Background

Kashin-Beck disease is a kind of degenerative osteoarthropathy. Genetic factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of KBD.

Objective

To investigate the association of the selenoprotein genes GPX1 (rs1050450, rs1800668, and rs3811699), TrxR2 (rs5748469), and DIO2 (rs225014) with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) in a Tibetan population and to investigate the association of these SNPs with the serum iodine/selenium concentration in the Tibetan population.

Design

Five SNPs including rs1050450, rs1800668, and rs3811699 in the GPX1 gene, rs5748469 in the TrxR2 gene, and rs225014 in the DIO2 gene were analyzed in Tibetan KBD patients and controls using the SNaPshot method. P trend values of the SNPs were calculated using an additive model.

Results

None of the five SNPs in the three genes showed a significant association with KBD. Haplotypes TCC, TTC and TTT of rs1050450, rs1800668 and rs3811699 in GPX1 showed a significant association with KBD and controls with P value of 0.0421, 5.0E-4 and 0.0066, respectively. The GPX1 gene (rs1050450) showed a potential significant association with the iodine concentration in the Tibetan study population (P = 0.02726). However, no such association was detected with the selenium concentration (P = 0.2849).

Conclusion(s)

In this study, we showed that single SNPs in the genes GPX1 (rs1050450, rs1800668 and rs3811699), TrxR2 (rs5748469), and DIO2 (rs225014) may not be significantly associated with KBD in a Tibetan population. However, haplotype analysis of SNPs rs1050450, rs1800668 and rs3811699 in GPX1 gene showed a significant association with KBD. The results suggested that GPX1 gene play a protective role in the susceptivity of KBD in Tibetans. Furthermore, the GPX1 gene (rs1050450) may be significantly associated with the serum iodine concentration in Tibetans.