The p53 isoforms are differentially modified by Mdm2

The discovery that the single p53 gene encodes several different p53 protein isoforms has initiated a flurry of research into the function and regulation of these novel p53 proteins. Full-length p53 protein level is primarily regulated by the E3-ligase Mdm2, which promotes p53 ubiquitination and degradation. Here, we report that all of the novel p53 isoforms are ubiquitinated and degraded to varying degrees in an Mdm2-dependent and -independent manner, and that high-risk human papillomavirus can degrade some but not all of the novel isoforms, demonstrating that full-length p53 and the p53 isoforms are differentially regulated. In addition, we provide the first evidence that Mdm2 promotes the NEDDylation of p53β. Altogether, our data indicates that Mdm2 can distinguish between the p53 isoforms and modify them differently.     

Functional analysis of a miRNA‐like small RNA derived from Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus

Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (BmCPV) is a major pathogen of the economic insect silkworm, Bombyx mori. Virus‐encoded microRNAs (miRNAs) have been proven to play important roles in host–pathogen interactions. In this study we identified a BmCPV‐derived miRNA‐like 21 nt small RNA, BmCPV‐miR‐1, from the small RNA deep sequencing of BmCPV‐infected silkworm larvae by stem‐loop quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR) and investigated its functions with qPCR and lentiviral expression systems. Bombyx mori inhibitor of apoptosis protein (BmIAP) gene was predicted by both target prediction software miRanda and Targetscan to be one of its target genes with a binding site for BmCPV‐miR‐1 at the 5′ untranslated region. It was found that the expression of BmCPV‐miR‐1 and its target gene BmIAP were both up‐regulated in BmCPV‐infected larvae. At the same time, it was confirmed that BmCPV‐miR‐1 could up‐regulate the expression of BmIAP gene in HEK293T cells with lentiviral expression systems and in BmN cells by transfecting mimics. Furthermore, BmCPV‐miR‐1 mimics could up‐regulate the expression level of BmIAP gene in midgut and fat body in the silkworm. In the midgut of BmCPV‐infected larvae, BmCPV‐miR‐1 mimics could be further up‐regulated and inhibitors could lower the virus‐mediated expression of BmIAP gene. With the viral genomic RNA segments S1 and S10 as indicators, BmCPV‐miR‐1 mimics could up‐regulate and inhibitors down‐regulate their replication in the infected silkworm. These results implied that BmCPV‐miR‐1 could inhibit cell apoptosis in the infected silkworm through up‐regulating BmIAP expression, providing the virus with a better cell circumstance for its replication.     

MALE PEACH APHID ATTRACTION IN THE FIELD BY SEX PHEROMONES1)

Abstract Field trials by sex pheromone of aphid to trap peach aphids Myzus persicae have been carried out in 1995 and in 1996. Suitable time and the effect of ratio of two components nepetalactone and nepetalactol to apply the lure have been observed.     

Methylation of KvDMR1 involved in regulating the imprinting of CDKN1C gene in cattle

The CDKN1C gene encodes a cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor and is one of the key genes involved in the development of Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome and cancer. In this study, using a direct sequencing approach based on a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at genomic DNA and cDNA levels, we show that CDKN1C exhibits monoallelic expression in all seven studied organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, muscle and subcutaneous fat) in cattle. To investigate how methylation regulates imprinting of CDKN1C in cattle, allele‐specific methylation patterns in two putative differential methylation regions (DMRs), the CDKN1C DMR and KvDMR1, were analyzed in three tissues (liver, spleen and lung) using bisulfite sequencing PCR. Our results show that in the CDKN1C DMR both parental alleles were unmethylated in all three analyzed tissues. In contrast, KvDMR1 was differentially methylated between the two parental alleles in the same tissues. Statistical analysis showed that there is a significant difference in the methylation level between the two parental alleles (P < 0.01), confirming that this region is the DMR of KvDMR1 and that it may be correlated with CDKN1C imprinting.     

休眠与萌发过程中苹果种子的呼吸代谢

“秦冠”苹果种子的总呼吸强度和EMP途径的呼吸强度在2℃条件下层积之后逐渐增加,解除休眠临界期大体在层积后第30天发生,此后增长速度较快。HMP途径和TCAC在临界期之前变化极慢,而后急剧增加。种子萌发后子叶和胚轴的总呼吸强度、EMP和TCAC初期呈急剧上升趋势,大约当胚轴长度达2cm时迅速下降,HMP在萌发过程中始终呈上升趋势。细胞透性层积之后逐渐降低,解除休眠至萌发阶段呈上升趋势。用不同浓度呼吸抑制剂处理解除休眠种子的试验结果表明,除1mM碘乙酸能明显刺激萌发和生长外,NaCN、SHAM和丙酮酸都表现为抑制作用。     

轮生钩藻的形态特征及其系统位置

十年前在云南省早泥盆世的地层中发现了轮生钩藻(Uncataella verticillata),限于当时的材料,其分类位置未定。本研究所用材料采自它的模式标本产地,化石植物保存良好,首次发现了着生在植物体上的雌性生殖器官——藏卵器。根据藏卵器和植物体其它部分显示的形态特征,本文修订了它的原始描述并对其系统位置进行了探讨,认为轮生钩藻是一种原始的轮藻植物,很可能属于直立轮藻目直立轮藻科中的一个成员。     

Modulation of SPARC Expression during Butyrate-Induced Terminal Differentiation of Cultured Human Keratinocytes: Regulation via a TGF-β-Dependent Pathway

Expression of SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine), a 43-kDa extracellular matrix-associated glycoprotein involved in tissue remodeling, was quantitated during normal human keratinocyte (NHK) growth in culture and as a function of sodium n-butyrate (NaB)-induced differentiation to mature enucleate cornified envelopes (CEs). Low levels of SPARC expression were observed in the basal-like cells of control NHKs, with isolated cells showing intense SPARC expression on the ventral surface. After addition of NaB, SPARC expression increased and the pattern of expression shifted to one involving predominantly suprabasal cells (i.e., spinous cells, pre-CEs, and mature CEs). Dense deposits of SPARC often surrounded the mature CEs. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that approximately 13% of NHKs expressed SPARC within 24 h of seeding into culture. This fraction of SPARC⁺ cells increased with time and peaked immediately postconfluence (31.3 ± 6.3% SPARC⁺). Cellular SPARC expression then decreased to baseline levels during entrance into plateau phase growth. SPARC was detectable in all phases of the cell cycle. SPARC levels were more intense and heterogeneous within the G₂/M and G₁ phases while S phase cells exhibited relatively homogeneous, low intensity, SPARC expression. During NaB-induced NHK differentiation, SPARC intracellular content increased prior to the onset of CE formation (i.e., 2 days after its addition) followed by a period of extracellular accumulation which coincided with the time of maximal CE generation (i.e., Days 4 and 5 after NaB addition). Correlation of cell size with anti-SPARC immunoreactivity revealed a predominance of SPARC expression in cells with a suprabasal phenotype. NHKs cultured on fibronectin (FN), an established modulator of epidermal cell maturation in vitro, showed a similar response to NaB. In general, however, the level of NaB-induced SPARC expression was considerably reduced in FN cultures correlating with a lower efficiency of CE formation. Induced SPARC expression was, in large part, dependent on autocrine transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) production since incubation in the presence of NaB + neutralizing antibodies to TGF-β inhibited both the expression of SPARC by 72% and development of mature CEs.     

北部湾茅尾海无瓣海桑红树林地上生物量反演——基于XGBoost机器学习算法

无瓣海桑是广西从自治区外引进的外来红树林树种,采用定量化算法精确估算无瓣海桑地上生物量对红树林生态修复以及海洋蓝碳监测提供经验和方法。论文以广西茅尾海自然保护区无瓣海桑红树林为研究对象,以野外实测无瓣海桑红树林地上生物量数据和Sentinel-1/2卫星提取的后向散射数据、波段数据、植被指数数据和纹理指数数据为数据源,通过分析各遥感因子与实测红树林地上生物量之间的重要性关系,采用极端梯度提升(XGBoost)机器学习算法对比了不同的变量组合对模型精度的影响,最后基于优选的变量组合反演了无瓣海桑红树林的地上生物量。结果表明：(1)研究区无瓣海桑红树林实测树高范围为1.55—13.58m,平均值为8.37m,胸径范围为0.7—41cm,平均值为15.62cm;(2)通过XGBoost算法优选的21个特征变量组合模型拟合效果较好,其模型在测试阶段R²=0.7237,RMSE=21.70Mg/hm²。XGBoost算法反演研究区无瓣海桑地上生物量介于19.14—138.46Mg/hm²之间,平均值为51.92Mg/hm^...     

大白菜NHX基因家族的鉴定与表达分析

Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白(Na+/H+antiporter,NHX)基因家族在植物响应盐胁迫中发挥重要作用。本研究鉴定了大白菜NHX基因家族成员,并分析了大白菜NHX基因(Brassica rapa ssp.Pekinensis NHX,BrNHXs)响应高温、低温、干旱和盐胁迫等非生物逆境的表达模式。结果表明,在大白菜中共鉴定到9个NHX基因家族成员,分布在大白菜的6条染色体上,其氨基酸数目在513–1154 aa之间,相对分子量集中在56804.22–127856.66 kDa,等电点位于5.35–7.68之间。该基因家族成员主要存在于液泡中,基因结构完整,外显子的数目介于11–22之间。大白菜NHX基因家族编码的蛋白质二级结构都具有α-螺旋、β-转角和不规则卷曲结构,其中α-螺旋发生频率较高。实时荧光定量PCR(quantitative real-time PCR,qRT-PCR)分析显示,该基因家族成员在高温、低温、干旱和盐胁迫下均有不同程度地响应,且在不同时间表达差异显著。以BrNHX02和BrNHX09对这4种胁迫的响应最为显著,表达量在处理72 h时均显著上调,可作为候选基因进一步验证其功能。