Thioredoxin 1 overexpression attenuated diabetes-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in Müller cells via apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1

As one of the common and serious chronic complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), the related mechanism of diabetic retinopathy (DR) has not been fully understood. Müller cell reactive gliosis is one of the early pathophysiological features of DR. Therefore, exploring the manner to reduce diabetes-induced Müller cell damage is essential to delay DR. Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1), one of the ubiquitous redox enzymes, plays a vital role in redox homeostasis via protein–protein interactions, including apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1). Previous studies have shown that upregulation of Trx by some drugs can attenuate endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in DR, but the related mechanism was unclear. In this study, we used DM mouse and high glucose (HG)-cultured human Müller cells as models to clarify the effect of Trx1 on ERS and the underlying mechanism. The data showed that the diabetes-induced Müller cell damage was increased significantly. Moreover, the expression of ERS and reactive gliosis was also upregulated in diabetes in vivo and in vitro. However, it was reversed after Trx1 overexpression. Besides, ERS-related protein expression, reactive gliosis, and apoptosis were decreased after transfection with ASK1 small-interfering RNA in stable Trx1 overexpression Müller cells after HG treatment. Taken together, Trx1 could protect Müller cells from diabetes-induced damage, and the underlying mechanism was related to inhibited ERS via ASK1.     

Reassessment of suitable markers for taxonomy of Chaetophorales (Chlorophyceae,Chlorophyta) based on chloroplast genomes

Filamentous green algae Chaetophorales present numerous taxonomic problems as many other green algae. Phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear genes have limited solutions. Studies with appropriate chloroplast molecular markers may solve this problems; however, suitable molecular markers for the order Chaetophorales are still unknown. In this study, 50 chloroplast genomes of Chlorophyceae, including 15 of Chaetophorales, were subjected to single protein-coding gene phylogenetic analyses, and substitution rate and evolutionary rate assays, and PCR amplification verification was conducted to screen the suitable molecular markers. Phylogenetic analyses of three chloroplast representative genes (psaB, tufA, and rbcL) amplified from 124 strains of Chaetophorales showed that phylogenetic relationships were not improved by increasing the number of samples, implying that the genes themselves, rather than limited samples, were the reason for the unsupported Topology I. Seven genes (atpF, atpI, ccsA, cemA, chlB, psbB, and rpl2) with robust support were selected to be the most suitable molecular markers for phylogenetic analyses of Chaetophorales, and the concatenated seven genes could replace the time-consuming and labor-intensive phylogenetic analyses based on chloroplast genome to some extent. To further solve the taxonomic problems of Chaetophorales, suitable chloroplast markers combined with more taxon-rich approach could be helpful and efficient.     

内蒙古不同类型草地土壤氮矿化及其温度敏感性

土壤氮矿化(Nitrogen mineralization)是土壤氮循环的重要环节,对土壤氮素供应以及植物生产力的维持具有十分重要的意义。沿中国东北草地样带(Northeastern China Transect, NECT)分别在典型草地、过渡草地及荒漠草地设置了3个实验样地,利用不同温度(5、10、15、20 ℃和25 ℃)和不同水分(30%、60%和90%土壤饱和含水量,Saturated soil moisture, SSM)的室内培养途径,探讨了不同类型草地的土壤氮矿化速率、土壤氮矿化的温度敏感性(Q₁₀)及其主要影响因素。实验结果表明:从典型草地至荒漠草地,土壤全碳、全氮、全磷、微生物生物量碳氮含量均表现为逐渐下降的趋势;类似地,土壤净氮矿化速率、硝化速率也逐渐降低。在20 ℃和60% SSM时,土壤净氮矿化速率表现为典型草地 (0.715 mg N kg^-1 d^-1) > 过渡草地 (0.507 mg N kg^-1 d^-1) > 荒漠草地 (0.134 mg N kg^-1 d^-1);相反,温度敏感性却逐渐升高,温度敏感性与基质质量指数呈负相关。草地类型和水分对于土壤净氮矿化速率、硝化速率具有显著影响,且二者间具有显著的交互效应。包含温度和水分的双因素模型可很好地拟合土壤氮矿化速率的变化趋势(P < 0.0001),二者可共同解释土壤硝化速率92%-96%的变异。土壤氮矿化沿着草地演替呈现出很好的空间格局、并与温度和水分具有密切关系,为解释内蒙古草地空间分布格局提供了理论基础。     

Modeling the effects of nitrogen deposition on carbon budget in two temperate forests

The NO_x input terrestrial ecosystems are increasing significantly induced by human activities, yet the understanding of the responses of carbon cycle to nitrogen deposition is still poor. The northern temperate forest ecosystems have seen the greatest changes in nitrogen inputs from atmosphere. It is necessary for us to understand how the carbon cycle would change under the nitrogen addition in temperate forests, as an important carbon sink. In this study, we present a biogeochemical process model, CEVSA2, and use this model to elucidate the key processes that may strongly influence the carbon budget response to anthropogenic nitrogen addition. The CEVSA2 model has included the effect of nitrogen on photosynthesis, carbon allocation, soil organic matter decomposition, etc. Our simulations show nitrogen addition stimulates the photosynthesis, net carbon sequestration, carbon accumulation in vegetation and soil, by contrary, the low level of nitrogen addition decreases the heterotrophical and total respiration. The long-term chronic nitrogen addition experiments show that the low and high level nitrogen addition would reduce the carbon sequestration and accumulation. The model failed to simulate the effect of nitrogen addition on plant mortality, the de-coupling of nitrogen and photosynthesis when nitrogen saturates. In addition, the responses of soil respiration to nitrogen deposition involve so many complex biochemical processes; however, we have little knowledge about them. Sequentially, there is large uncertainty of model simulation on the effect of nitrogen deposition on soil respiration. With increasing rates of anthropogenic nitrogen deposition, there is a strong need to understand links between nitrogen inputs and carbon cycle.     

猪流感病毒抗原表位基因表达载体构建与免疫原性分析

根据猪流感病毒血凝素蛋白基因(Heamuglutinine, HA)的核苷酸序列, 设计、筛选HA蛋白氨基酸序列的主要表位多肽4个, 将4个片段以柔性连接串联成模拟蛋白, 核苷酸约为300 bp, 体外扩增该模拟蛋白基因, 插入到原核表达载体pET30a(+)中, 转染宿主菌诱导表达, 结果获得分子量为20 kD的表达蛋白, 该蛋白可与抗His-tag抗体、抗猪流感病毒H1N1、H3N2亚型高免血清发生免疫学反应。纯化后免疫小鼠, ELISA及血凝抑制(Heamuglutinine inhibitor, HI)试验检测, 小鼠产生针对多肽抗原的血清抗体, 同时还可检测到H1N1、H3N2亚型SIV血凝抗体。流氏细胞仪检测免疫组外周血淋巴细胞高于对照组, 说明该模拟蛋白具有与H1N1、H3N2亚型猪流感病毒相似的免疫原性及反应原性, 为H1N1、H3N2血清亚型猪流感病毒疫苗研制提供了新手段。     

气孔特征与叶片功能性状之间关联性沿海拔梯度的变化规律——以长白山为例

气孔是陆生植物与外界环境进行水分和气体交换的主要通道,控制着植物的光合作用和蒸腾过程。植物往往通过多种性状的组合来适应变化的环境,叶片功能性状之间的紧密关系已经在不同尺度得到证实。然而,植物气孔特征与叶片其它功能性状是否存在关联性以及这种关联性是否会受到环境变化梯度的影响仍鲜少报道。沿长白山北坡6个海拔梯度,测定了150种植物的气孔特征和叶片功能性状。结果发现,气孔密度(SD)与比叶面积(SLA)负相关,与单位面积的叶氮含量(N_(area))正相关;除了SLA和N_(area)外,气孔长度(SL)与SLA、叶片厚度(LT)和单位质量的叶氮含量(N_(mass))均存在显著的相关性(P0.05)。然而,气孔特征与叶片功能性状的相关性只在部分海拔梯度存在。此外,发现SD与SL之间存在稳定一致的负相关关系。这些结果表明,植物气孔特征与叶片形态和化学特征对环境变化的适应存在一定的协同变异性,但这种关系不具有普适性,主要与气孔特征和叶片功能性状的选择压力存在差异以及物种分布范围相关。未来仍需要在更多物种和不同区域内来验证气孔特征与植物功能性状之间的关联关系。     

中条山东段森林乔木树种分布的环境梯度分析与种组划分

利用CCA排序和TWINSPAN分类,探讨了中条山东段森林植被中乔木树种分布与环境梯度的关系,并根据树种在排序图上的相对位置,同时参考相关文献资料,进行了种组划分。结果表明,海拔梯度是影响乔木树种分布的最重要的环境因子,土壤肥力和土壤湿度指数也具有较大的作用。72个树种（含变种）归纳划分为6个种组,即低海拔暖湿型、中低海拔暖燥型、中低海拔温润型、中海拔湿沃型、中高海拔燥瘠型和高海拔冷湿型。每个种组内的树种在生态习性特别是在分布特征上显示出较大的相似性,介绍了各种组分布的生境特征。TWINSPAN分类结果与种组划分吻合较好。     

Surgical Decompression of Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: The Role of Pain Distribution

Objective

To investigate the effect of surgical decompression on painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) patients and discuss the role which pain distribution and characterization play in the management of painful DPN as well as the underlying mechanism involved.

Methods

A total of 306 patients with painful diabetic lower-extremity neuropathy were treated with Dellon surgical nerve decompression in our department. Clinical evaluation including Visual analogue scale (VAS), Brief Pain Inventory Short Form for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (BPI-DPN) questionnaire, two-point discrimination (2-PD), nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and high-resolution ultrasonography (cross-sectional area, CSA) were performed in all cases preoperatively, and at 6 month intervals for 2 years post-decompression. The patients who underwent surgery were retrospectively assigned into two subgroups (focal and diffuse pain) according to the distribution of the diabetic neuropathic pain. The control group included 92 painful DPN patients without surgery.

Results

The levels of VAS, scores in BPI-DPN, 2-PD, NCV results and CSA were all improved in surgical group when compared to the control group (P<0.05). More improvement of VAS, scores in BPI-DPN and CSA was observed in focal pain group than that in diffuse group (P<0.05).

Conclusions

Efficacy of decompression of multiple lower-extremity peripheral nerves in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy was confirmed in this study. While both focal and diffuse group could benefit from surgical decompression, pain relief and morphological restoration could be better achieved in focal group.     

Changes in trait and phylogenetic diversity of leaves and absorptive roots from tropical to boreal forests

Plant and Soil - Low-molecular-weight organic anions (carboxylates) influence rhizosphere processes and may enhance plant phosphorus acquisition. We examined the root exudate profile of a range of...