α‐ketoglutarate delays age‐related fertility decline in mammals

The fecundity reduction with aging is referred as the reproductive aging which comes earlier than that of chronological aging. Since humans have postponed their childbearing age, to prolong the reproductive age becomes urgent agenda for reproductive biologists. In the current study, we examined the potential associations of α‐ketoglutarate (α‐KG) and reproductive aging in mammals including mice, swine, and humans. There is a clear tendency of reduced α‐KG level with aging in the follicle fluids of human. To explore the mechanisms, mice were selected as the convenient animal model. It is observed that a long term of α‐KG administration preserves the ovarian function, the quality and quantity of oocytes as well as the telomere maintaining system in mice. α‐KG suppresses ATP synthase and alterations of the energy metabolism trigger the nutritional sensors to down‐regulate mTOR pathway. These events not only benefit the general aging process but also maintain ovarian function and delay the reproductive decline. Considering the safety of the α‐KG as a naturally occurring molecule in energy metabolism, its utility in reproduction of large mammals including humans deserves further investigation.     

Construction and Characterization of a CTLA-4-Targeted scFv–Melittin Fusion Protein as a Potential Immunosuppressive Agent for Organ Transplant

Immunotoxins with selective cytotoxicity are frequently used as therapeutic immunosuppressive agents in solid-organ transplantation because of their efficiency and high specificity. In this study, we present a new recombinant immunotoxin termed anti-CTLA-4-scFv–melittin prepared from Escherichia coli aimed at clearing activated T cells at the same time avoiding all-round decline in systematic immunity. This fusion protein is composed of anti-CTLA-4-scFv unit and melittin analog unit with properties of low immunogenicity and selective cytotoxicity to CTLA-4-positive T cells. In preliminary biological activity assays, our results confirmed the feasibility of activated T cell clearance strategy and there were significant differences in cell survival rates between CTLA-4-positive group and control group at all experimental concentrations of the immunotoxin. The selective cytotoxicity, low immunogenicity, and low production cost make it an attractive alternate to traditional immunosuppressants.     

Self-assembly of Large-scale Two-dimensional Plasmonic Superlattices Based on Single-Crystal Au Nanospheres and the FDTD Simulation of Its Optical Properties

Plasmonics - Large-scale ordered two-dimensional (2D) superlattices at oil/water interface were fabricated using single-crystal Au nanospheres (NSs) with different diameters as building blocks. A...     

Genomic insights into selection for heterozygous alleles and woody traits in Populus tomentosa

Heterozygous alleles are widespread in outcrossing and clonally propagated woody plants. The variation in heterozygosity that underlies population adaptive evolution and phenotypic variation, however, remains largely unknown. Here, we describe a de novo chromosome-level genome assembly of Populus tomentosa, an economic and ecologically important native tree in northern China. By resequencing 302 natural accessions, we determined that the South subpopulation (Pop_S) encompasses the ancestral strains of P. tomentosa, while the Northwest subpopulation (Pop_NW) and Northeast subpopulation (Pop_NE) experienced different selection pressures during population evolution, resulting in significant population differentiation and a decrease in the extent of heterozygosity. Analysis of heterozygous selective sweep regions (HSSR) suggested that selection for lower heterozygosity contributed to the local adaptation of P. tomentosa by dwindling gene expression and genetic load in the Pop_NW and Pop_NE subpopulations. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealed that 88 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 63 genes are associated with nine wood composition traits. Among them, the selection for the homozygous AA allele in PtoARF8 is associated with reductions in cellulose and hemicellulose contents by attenuating PtoARF8 expression, and the increase in lignin content is attributable to the selection for decreases in exon heterozygosity in PtoLOX3 during adaptive evolution of natural populations. This study provides novel insights into allelic variations in heterozygosity associated with adaptive evolution of P. tomentosa in response to the local environment and identifies a series of key genes for wood component traits, thereby facilitating genomic-based breeding of important traits in perennial woody plants.     

NO2胁迫下三角梅叶片形态解剖结构和最优光响应模型研究

植物的形态结构和光合作用能够反映植物对城市空气污染的响应特性。探究城市道路机动车尾气中的典型污染物NO₂气体,对植物叶片的生理光合响应特性。以二年生三角梅（Bougainvillea spectabilis）幼苗为对象,利用智能化人工熏气室模拟熏气（NO₂体积分数分别为0 μL/L （自然空气）、4 μL/L,8 μL/L,记作CK、T1、T2）,观察NO₂胁迫后三角梅的叶片形态、微观结构和光合特征。结果表明：（1）通过叶片形态观察发现,与CK相比,低浓度T1组叶片变化不明显,随着NO₂气体胁迫浓度的增加,高浓度T2组叶片逐渐出现失水、叶表面有明显的水渍状或烧灼状黄色斑点。（2）通过叶片微观结构解剖发现,高浓度NO₂胁迫后气孔皱缩程度增加,气孔开度减小;叶绿体结构变形,尤其是类囊体结构疏松,膨胀等变化。（3）叶片光合特性分析发现,T1和T2组的NO₂胁迫导致光饱和点（LSP）和最大净光合速率（P_nmax）下降、光补偿点（LCP）增加,表观量子效率（AQE）和暗呼吸速率（Rd）在4种光响应模型中变化规律存在一定的差异性。（4）4种光响应模型中,CK组决定系数（R²）越高,均方根误差（RMSE）越低,精度最高,尤以叶子飘等机理模型为最优,拟合效果最好,其次是直角双曲线模型。研究结果表明三角梅可通过自身的形态变化、调整光合特征参数,较好地适应不同浓度的NO₂,尤其是高浓度急性胁迫下,该研究结果有助于促进不同道路绿地三角梅的推广应用,对探究三角梅的景观效益和生态效益,揭示其对环境异质性的适应机制具有重要意义。     

耳蜗核神经元的简化现实性模型

采用我们以前提出的简化现实性神经网络模型［１］的一种修正形式,通过选定适当的参数,仿真了耳蜗核的类初级细胞（Ｐｒｉｍａｒｙ－ｌｉｋｅｃｅｌｌ）,梳状反应细胞（Ｃｈｏｐｐｅｒｒｅｓｐｏｎｓｅｃｅｌｌ）以及给刺激反应细胞（Ｏｎｓｅｔｒｅｓｐｏｎｓｅｃｅｌｌ）对短纯青刺激的刺激后时间直方图。并通过分析参数配置和仿真行为的对应关系,指出模型在生理学上的合理性。