Over-Expression of Calpastatin Inhibits Calpain Activation and Attenuates Post-Infarction Myocardial Remodeling

Background

Calpain is activated following myocardial infarction and ablation of calpastatin (CAST), an endogenous inhibitor of calpains, promotes left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). The present study aimed to investigate the effect of transgenic over-expression of CAST on the post-infarction myocardial remodeling process.

Method

We established transgenic mice (TG) ubiquitously over-expressing human CAST protein and produced MI in TG mice and C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) littermates.

Results

The CAST protein expression was profoundly upregulated in the myocardial tissue of TG mice compared with WT littermates (P < 0.01). Overexpression of CAST significantly reduced the infarct size (P < 0.01) and blunted MI-induced interventricular hypertrophy, global myocardial fibrosis and collagen I and collagen III deposition, hypotension and hemodynamic disturbances at 21 days after MI. Moreover, the MI-induced up-regulation and activation of calpains were obviously attenuated in CAST TG mice. MI-induced down-regulation of CAST was partially reversed in TG mice. Additionally, the MI-caused imbalance of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors was improved in TG mice.

Conclusions

Transgenic over-expression of CAST inhibits calpain activation and attenuates post-infarction myocardial remodeling.     

Delay ripening of ‘Qingnai’ plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) with 1-methylcyclopropene

‘Qingnai’ plum fruit were treated with 0, 250, 500 or 1000 nL L⁻¹ of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) for 6 h and stored at 20 °C. The fruit firmness, peel color, chlorophyll content, titratable acidity (TA), respiration rate and ethylene production, chlorophyllase, pectin methylesterase (PME) and polygalacturonase (PG) activities were monitored during postharvest ripening of ‘Qingnai’ plums. ‘Qingnai’ plums without 1-MCP treatment soften very rapidly at room temperature after harvest, showing a continuing decrease in hue angle, chlorophyll content, TA and increase in chlorophyllase, PME and PG activities during postharvest storage. In contrast, the 1-MCP-treated fruits showed reduced ethylene production and respiration rate and delayed softening, which was associated with the reduction in the activity of PME and PG. The 1-MCP treatment also significantly inhibited the chlorophyllase activity and peel color development in ‘Qingnai’ plums during postharvest ripening at 20 °C. These results suggest that 1-MCP treatment may be useful for maintaining the fruit quality and extending the postharvest shelf-life of ‘Qingnai’ plums.     

单花、有侧花牡丹品种花芽分化特点及内源激素变化

为比较单花牡丹品种‘梨花粉’、有侧花牡丹品种‘姊妹游春’和‘云鄂粉’的花芽分化进程、形态特征差异及花芽分化期内源激素的变化,该研究通过解剖和石蜡切片,观察‘梨花粉’‘姊妹游春’和‘云鄂粉’的花芽分化过程,采用酶联免疫吸附分析法测定不同分化阶段‘梨花粉’和‘姊妹游春’的生长素(IAA)、脱落酸(ABA)、赤霉素(GA₃)及玉米素核苷(ZR)的含量。结果表明：(1)‘梨花粉’花芽分化仅6个时期;有侧花品种‘姊妹游春’和‘云鄂粉’花芽分化为11个时期,顶花原基先分化,侧花原基后分化。(2)叶原基分化期至苞片原基分化期,‘姊妹游春’和‘梨花粉’花芽中ABA、GA₃及ZR的含量均升高,IAA含量降低;‘姊妹游春’侧花原基分化起始阶段,ABA、GA₃含量降低,ZR、IAA含量升高。(3)‘梨花粉’ABA/IAA比值在形态分化期时最低。综上认为,有侧花牡丹品种花芽分化比单花牡丹品种早,分化时间长,顶花和侧花部分花器官分化期重叠;较高水平的ZR、IAA以及较低的ABA、GA₃有利于启动侧花原基分化。该研究结果为牡丹...     

基于等温滴定微量热技术的玉米脱落酸受体检测体系

脱落酸(ABA)是响应逆境胁迫及调控植物生长发育的重要激素,其受体的发现以及在不同植物中的比较研究具有重要的理论与实际意义。等温滴定微量热技术(ITC)是鉴定和筛选ABA受体的重要技术之一,该方法对受体蛋白的纯度和生物活性要求较高。该文探讨了超声波破碎条件对受体蛋白得率以及ABA和受体蛋白浓度对二者亲和力的影响。结果表明,通过超声波破碎获得的原核表达玉米(Zea mays)ABA受体蛋白Zm PYL1含量高,蛋白质图谱条带清晰。超声波破碎适宜的条件为:菌悬液浓度100 mg·m L–1,破碎总时长15分钟,单次破碎时长为3秒,间歇时长10秒;ITC检测结果发现,(±)-ABA与玉米受体Zm PYL1的结合反应为吸热过程,推测该受体蛋白Zm PYL1为二聚体,4 mmol·L–1(±)-ABA与0.1 mmol·L–1受体蛋白Zm PYL1反应结合效果较好,反应的解离常数Kd值为72.46μmol·L–1。研究结果为筛选和鉴定植物ABA受体奠定了重要技术基础。     

Abortion occurs during double fertilization and ovule development in Paeonia ludlowii

Journal of Plant Research - Paeonia ludlowii (Stern &amp; Taylor) D.Y.Hong, an endangered species, is indigenous to Tibet, China and propagated only by seed under natural conditions. Its...     

大花黄牡丹的开花特性与繁育系统

2019-2020年观察河南省栾川县引种栽培的西藏特有植物大花黄牡丹(Paeonia ludlowii)开花过程和访花昆虫,计算花粉-胚珠比(P/O)和杂交指数(OCI),检测花粉活力与柱头可授性并结合人工控制授粉试验,探究其开花特性和繁育系统类型.结果表明:(1)大花黄牡丹花朵昼开夜合,花朵随花冠展开下垂,伴花冠闭合...