Functions and mechanisms of plant histone deacetylases

Lysine acetylation, one of the major types of post-translational modifications, plays critical roles in regulating gene expression and protein function. Histone deacetylases(HDACs) are responsible for removing acetyl groups from lysines of both histone and non-histone proteins. While tremendous progress has been made in understanding the function and mechanism of HDACs in animals in the past two decades, nearly half of the HDAC studies in plants were reported within the past five years. In this review,we summarize the major findings on plant HDACs, with a focus on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, and highlight the components, regulatory mechanisms, and biological functions of HDAC complexes.     

激光诱变选育AC10菜用大青豆的研究报告

采用有性杂交和激光红宝石辐照交替进行,经１０多年的研究、试验、选育出一个蛋白质含量、脂肪含量特高的菜用大青豆－ＡＣ１０。ＡＣ１０菜用大青豆,系早熟、适应性广、抗逆性强、耐迟播、产量高、效益好的品种。全生育期１１０天、８０－８５天采摘青毛豆、单产鲜毛豆７００公斤以上,老豆单产１６０公斤左右。据农业部谷物测试中心分析,蛋白质含量４８．３２％,脂肪含量２１．３６％,合计６９．６８％。查新结果表明,为国内     

亚美万代兰与多花兰种子发芽过程的扫描电镜观察

兰种子发芽之后形成原球茎与根状茎,前者以亚美万代兰,后者以多花兰为材料进行扫描电镜观察。多花兰种子发芽初期,与亚美万代兰相似,但分化子叶的能力较差,在暗培养下,只形成鳞片状叶,紧贴在根状茎的分生组织上。根状茎只有转入光培养才有茎叶分化。兰种子发芽时的毛状物,在电子显微镜下观察,其形态与根毛较接近。     

Single‐cell dynamics of chromatin activity during cell lineage differentiation in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos

Elucidating the chromatin dynamics that orchestrate embryogenesis is a fundamental question in developmental biology. Here, we exploit position effects on expression as an indicator of chromatin activity and infer the chromatin activity landscape in every lineaged cell during Caenorhabditis elegans early embryogenesis. Systems‐level analyses reveal that chromatin activity distinguishes cellular states and correlates with fate patterning in the early embryos. As cell lineage unfolds, chromatin activity diversifies in a lineage‐dependent manner, with switch‐like changes accompanying anterior–posterior fate asymmetry and characteristic landscapes being established in different cell lineages. Upon tissue differentiation, cellular chromatin from distinct lineages converges according to tissue types but retains stable memories of lineage history, contributing to intra‐tissue cell heterogeneity. However, the chromatin landscapes of cells organized in a left–right symmetric pattern are predetermined to be analogous in early progenitors so as to pre‐set equivalent states. Finally, genome‐wide analysis identifies many regions exhibiting concordant chromatin activity changes that mediate the co‐regulation of functionally related genes during differentiation. Collectively, our study reveals the developmental and genomic dynamics of chromatin activity at the single‐cell level.     

Tuning Triangular Prism Dimer into Fano Resonance for Plasmonic Sensor

We theoretically investigate the plasmonic Fano resonance in a triangular nanoprism dimer. By adjusting the geometry parameters, we have observed a Fano line shape in the scattering spectra, which is induced by the competence of bonding and antibonding modes in the triangular nanoprism dimer. The Fano line shape can be well described by a theoretical model of two harmonic oscillators. A figure of merit value as high as 16.1 is achieved in the triangular nanoprism dimer, which is caused by the Fano resonance. The electric field at the corner of the triangular prisms is the highest among the circular cylinder dimer and square rod dimmers, which shows that the triangular prism dimer is more suitable for the detection of biomolecules. The triangular prism dimer may also used in plasmonic circuits.     

The Prevalence and Influence Factors of Inter-Ankle Systolic Blood Pressure Difference in Community Population

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of interankle systolic blood pressure difference (sIAND) and its influencing factors in community population.

Methods

This study included 2849 (65.1±9.4 y) subjects. Blood pressure (BPs) of four limbs was simultaneously measured with 4 electronic sphygmomanometers after 10 min rest in supine position. The difference of systolic BP (SBP) between two ankles was calculated as DETASBP. The criterion for abnormal sIAND was ≥10 mmHg of absolute DeltaSBP, in which the criterion for 1o sIAND was 10–19 mmHg and for 2o sIAND was ≥20 mmHg. Age, gender, smoking, hypertension, family histories of hypertension and diabetes were recorded. Fasting blood glucose and lipids, circumference of hip and waist, and body mass index (BMI) were measured.

Results

The SBP was higher in the right ankle than in the left ankle (158.9±21.8 vs 157.3±21.6 mmHg, P<0.05) and mean DeltaSBP was 6.08±6.26 mmHg. Similar difference was found in both genders. The prevalence of abnormal was 18.5%, in which, the prevalence 1o sIAND was 15.3% and that of 2o sIAND was 3.1%. Multivariate regression analysis showed that age, waist circumference and blood glucose level were the positive factors for DeltaSBP. The normal upper limit for DeltaSBP was 16.7 mmHg in this population, the prevalence of sIAND by≥16 mmHg was 5.8%.

Conclusion

Aging, hypertension, obesity and abnormal glucose metabolism are positive factors for inter-ankle SBP difference.     

Inhibitor selectivity between aldo–keto reductase superfamily members AKR1B10 and AKR1B1: Role of Trp112 (Trp111)

The antineoplastic target aldo–keto reductase family member 1B10 (AKR1B10) and the critical polyol pathway enzyme aldose reductase (AKR1B1) share high structural similarity. Crystal structures reported here reveal a surprising Trp112 native conformation stabilized by a specific Gln114-centered hydrogen bond network in the AKR1B10 holoenzyme, and suggest that AKR1B1 inhibitors could retain their binding affinities toward AKR1B10 by inducing Trp112 flip to result in an “AKR1B1-like” active site in AKR1B10, while selective AKR1B10 inhibitors can take advantage of the broader active site of AKR1B10 provided by the native Trp112 side-chain orientation.     

Constructing High‐Performance All‐Small‐Molecule Ternary Solar Cells with the Same Third Component but Different Mechanisms for Fullerene and Non‐fullerene Systems

Two types of all‐small‐molecule ternary solar cells consisting of two small‐molecule donors and one acceptor (fullerene/non‐fullerene) are developed. Interestingly, both these devices have a common component: a carefully designed medium bandgap small molecule, which possesses appropriate energy levels and displays good compatibility with the host donor. In the fullerene system, the charge‐relaying role of the additive donor is confirmed by the improved charge transportation and suppressed charge recombination. While in the non‐fullerene system, the mixed face‐on and edge‐on orientation of the ternary film induced by the additive donor dominates the promotion of charge transportation. Accordingly, both ternary devices deliver higher short‐circuit current density, fill factor, and power conversion efficiencies of over 10% compared to binary ones. This work offers a promising guideline on the construction of high‐performance all‐small‐molecule ternary solar cells by incorporating a miscible small‐molecule donor.