Changes in microbial biomass,community composition and diversity,and functioning with soil depth in two alpine ecosystems on the Tibetan plateau

Plant and Soil - Plant P acquisition strategies are driven by multiple belowground morphological and physiological traits as well as interactions among these traits. This study aimed to...     

The relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor and spermatogenesis disturbance in an experimentally-induced unilateral cryptorchidism murine model

Molecular Biology Reports - This study is to explore the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pathological changes in cryptorchidism by using murine model of...     

One-dimensional coordination polymer and its hydrogen bonded 2D network generated from dimeric Ag(I) building units

A new dimeric silver(I) complex [Ag(PhPPy₂)(CH₃CN)]₂(ClO₄)₂ (1) (PhPPy₂ = bis(2-pyridyl)phenylphosphine) was synthesized by a direct reaction of [Ag(CH₃CN)₄]ClO₄ with ligand PhPPy₂. X-ray crystallographical studies revealed that in 1, two silver atoms are bridged by two PhPPy₂ ligands and bonded to each other. Each Ag(I) adopts a distorted trigonally bi-pyramidal geometry, and axially coordinated acetonitrile molecules are collinear with two silver atoms. By using 1 as a building block precursor, a 1D coordination polymer, [Ag₂(PhPPy₂)₂(1,3,5-C₆H₃(CO₂)₂(CO₂H))]_∞ (2) was prepared by replacing axially coordinated acetonitrile molecules in 1 with two carboxylate groups of a bridging ligand, 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate. In solid state, linear polymeric chains are oriented parallel to each other and interestingly interact by hydrogen bonding through their carboxylic/carboxylate groups to construct a novel wave-shaped 2D network. Both 1 and 2 exhibit similar photoluminescent properties in solid state at room temperature.     

Hormonal control of androgen receptor function through SIRT1

The NAD-dependent histone deacetylase Sir2 plays a key role in connecting cellular metabolism with gene silencing and aging. The androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-regulated modular nuclear receptor governing prostate cancer cellular proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in response to androgens, including dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Here, SIRT1 antagonists induce endogenous AR expression and enhance DHT-mediated AR expression. SIRT1 binds and deacetylates the AR at a conserved lysine motif. Human SIRT1 (hSIRT1) repression of DHT-induced AR signaling requires the NAD-dependent catalytic function of hSIRT1 and the AR lysine residues deacetylated by SIRT1. SIRT1 inhibited coactivator-induced interactions between the AR amino and carboxyl termini. DHT-induced prostate cancer cellular contact-independent growth is also blocked by SIRT1, providing a direct functional link between the AR, which is a critical determinant of progression of human prostate cancer, and the sirtuins.     

Enhanced learning and memory in GAT1 heterozygous mice

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. The termination of GABA transmission is through the action of a family of membrane proteins, called GABA transporters (GAT1-4). It is well established that GABA system is involved in the modulation of memory. Our previous study showed that homozygous GAT1(-/-) mice exhibited impaired hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. To evaluate the impact of endogenous reduced GABA reuptake on mice cognitive behaviors, the ability of learning and memory of heterozygous GAT1(+/-) mice was detected by the passive avoidance paradigm and Morris water maze. The hole board paradigm was also used to measure changes in anxiety-related behavior or exploratory behavior in such mice. As one form of synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation was recorded in the mouse hippocampal CA1 area. We found that GAT1(+/-) mice displayed increased learning and memory, decreased anxiety-like behaviors, and highest synaptic plasticity compared with wild-type and homozygous GAT1(-/-) mice. Our results suggest that a moderate reduction in GAT1 activity causes the enhancement of learning and memory in mice.     

LEF-1表达与肿瘤进程研究进展

淋巴增强因子-1(lymphoid enhancer factor-1,LEF-1)属于高迁移组分(HMG)家族,它与TCRα的增强子相互作用形成特定的构象,从而与其它因子结合共同调节基因的表达。LEF-1作为核内的转录因子介导Wnt信号通路,对细胞的增殖、分化和凋亡起重要作用。近年来,研究显示许多肿瘤的发生与Wnt信号通路的异常有关,而LEF-1在肿瘤的发生发展侵润过程中起重要作用。同时,LEF-1是一个多启动子基因,编码产生致瘤的全长形式的LEF-1和对Wnt信号通路起负向调控作用的截短形式的LEF-1。研究结果表明,肿瘤的发生发展与LEF/TCF各亚型的比例有关。因此,研究LEF-1的结构、功能以及其在细胞增殖、细胞存活、肿瘤的发生发展过程中的作用意义重大。该文就LEF-1的表达以及与肿瘤的关系作一综述。     

NMDA受体通道的结构与功能

近来用分子克隆方法对N-甲基-门冬氨酸受体(NMDA受体)通道的分子结构进行了广泛的研究.这些研究清楚地显示了NMDA受体通道的分子多样性,为NMDA受体通道的在体功能多样性提供了基础.已获得的克隆为研究这些受体通道分布和生理作用提供了有价值的工具.