生长光强对亚热带自然林两种木本植物稳定碳同位素比、细胞间CO2浓度和水分利用效率的影响

生长于１００％、４０％和１６％自然光下的荷木和黧蒴幼苗叶片稳定碳同位素比（δ１３Ｃ,－‰）,细胞间ＣＯ２浓度（Ｃｉ）和水分利用效率（ＷＵＥ）有一定的差别。１６％和４０％弱光下,δ１３Ｃ的负值增加－０．５４Ｊ‰到－０．８９‰。Ｃｉ增大８．１－１３．２μｉＬ－１,ＷＵＥ则下降６－２４％。结果表明,叶片的水分和气体交换特性受生长光强的调节,叶片的δ１３Ｃ值可反映其生长过程中受光的强弱状况。     

Ribosomal protein L22-like1 promotes prostate cancer progression by activating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancies in men. Ribosomal protein L22-like1 (RPL22L1), a component of the ribosomal 60 S subunit, is associated with cancer progression, but the role and potential mechanism of RPL22L1 in PCa remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of RPL22L1 in PCa progression and the mechanisms involved. Bioinformatics and immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the expression of RPL22L1 was significantly higher in PCa tissues than in normal prostate tissues. The cell function analysis revealed that RPL22L1 significantly promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of PCa cells. The data of xenograft tumour assay suggested that the low expression of RPL22L1 inhibited the growth and invasion of PCa cells in vivo. Mechanistically, the results of Western blot proved that RPL22L1 activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in PCa cells. Additionally, LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K/Akt pathway, was used to block this pathway. The results showed that LY294002 remarkably abrogated the oncogenic effect of RPL22L1 on PCa cell proliferation and invasion. Taken together, our study demonstrated that RPL22L1 is a key gene in PCa progression and promotes PCa cell proliferation and invasion via PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, thus potentially providing a new target for PCa therapy.     

光敏反应对过氧化氢酶的影响

光氧化反应中,纯过氧化氢酶活性受光敏化剂血卟啉Ⅳ和核黄素的抑制。随光敏化剂浓度增高及照光时间延长,抑制程度加大。酶与光敏化剂反应后吸收光谱位移,峰形改变。紫外差示吸收光谱出现229nm负峰(血卟啉)和236—240nm峰(核黄素)。结果表明酶活的抑制与其蛋白构象的变化相关。     

Iron modulates the activity of monoamine oxidase B in SH-SY5Y cells

Both monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) and iron accumulation are associated with neurologic diseases including Parkinson’s disease. However, the association of iron with MAO-B activity was poorly understood. Here we took advantage of highly sensitive and specific fluorescence probes to examine the change in MAO-B activity in human dopaminergic neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells upon iron exposure. Both ferric and ferrous ions could significantly enhance the activity of MAO-B, instead of MAO-A, in SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, iron-induced increase in MAO-B probe fluorescence could be prevented by pargyline and other newly developed MAO-B inhibitors, suggesting that it was MAO-B activity-dependent. These findings may suggest MAO-B is an important sensor in iron-stressed neuronal cells.     

Boosting Polysulfide Redox Kinetics by Graphene‐Supported Ni Nanoparticles with Carbon Coating

Lithium–sulfur batteries have attracted extensive attention because of their high energy density. However, their application is still impeded by the inherent sluggish kinetics and solubility of intermediate products (i.e., polysulfides) of the sulfur cathode. Herein, graphene‐supported Ni nanoparticles with a carbon coating are fabricated by directly carbonizing a metal–organic framework/graphene oxide composite, which is then dispersed on a commercial glass fiber membrane to form a separator with electrocatalytic activity. In situ analysis and electrochemical investigation demonstrate that this modified separator can effectively suppress the shuttle effect and regulate the catalytic conversion of intercepted polysulfides, which is also confirmed by density functional theory calculations. It is found that Ni–C sites can chemically interact with polysulfides and stabilize the radical S₃^?? through Ni? S bonds to enable fast dynamic equilibrium with S₆^2?, while Ni nanoparticles reduce the oxidation barrier of Li₂S and accelerate ion/electron transport. As a result, the corresponding lithium–sulfur battery shows a high cycle stability (88% capacity retention over 100 cycles) even with a high sulfur mass loading of 8 mg cm^?2 and lean electrolyte (6.25 µ L mg^?1). Surprisingly, benefitting from the improved kinetics, the battery can work well at ?50 °C, which is rarely achieved by conventional Li–S batteries.     

miRNA‐532‐5p functions as an oncogenic microRNA in human gastric cancer by directly targeting RUNX3

Accumulating data reveal that microRNAs are involved in gastric carcinogenesis. To date, no information was reported about the function and regulatory mechanism of miR‐532‐5p in human gastric cancer (GC). Thus, our study aims to determine the role and regulation of miR‐532‐5p in GC. Here, we found that transient and stable overexpression of miR‐532‐5p dramatically increased the potential of colony formation and migration of GC cells, decreased the percentage of cells in G1 phase and cell apoptosis in vitro, and increased the weight of mice lungs and number of lung xenografts in vivo. Gain‐of‐function, loss‐of‐function and luciferase activity assays demonstrated that miR‐532‐5p negatively regulated the expression of RUNX3 and its targets directly. We also found that miR‐532‐5p level was negatively correlated with RUNX3 gene expression in various GC cell lines. Our results indicate that miR‐532‐5p functions as an oncogenic miRNA by promoting cell growth, migration and invasion in human GC cells.     

DNA条形码在热带龙脑香科树种鉴定中的应用

龙脑香科植物是东南亚地区重要的热带木材来源树种, 对其开展DNA条形码评估在林业监管及森林资源保护等方面具有非常重要的实际应用价值。通过对龙脑香科植物样品进行rbcL、matK、trnL-trnF和ITS2四个片段的扩增和测序, 结合GenBank下载的数据, 共获得龙脑香科树种14属244种共计899条序列。通过比较4个片段的通用性、序列特征、种内和种间的遗传变异, 基于Best Match (BM)、Best Close Match (BCM)、相似性搜索算法(BLAST)和邻接树(NJ) 4种方法评估DNA条形码对于龙脑香科树种的鉴定能力。结果表明, ITS2在龙脑香科树种中鉴定效率最高, 通过优化的扩增体系能够从该科植物叶片中获得较高质量的ITS2片段; 叶绿体matK片段扩增和测序效率为100%, 且种内及种间遗传变异明显, 鉴定成功率高于其它叶绿体片段, 并据此提出ITS2和matK适合作为龙脑香科树种的DNA条形码。     

GenoBaits Soy40K: a highly flexible and low-cost SNP array for soybean studies

Science China Life Sciences -     

CRISPR/Cas系统的分类及研究现状

CRISPR技术作为一种新型的基因编辑技术,被广泛应用于微生物、动物和植物领域。对CRISPR/Cas系统的起源、分类特点等进行了阐述,重点梳理了CRISPR/Cas系统分类的发展历程,并根据最新分类方法,介绍了不同类型的CRISPR/Cas系统的作用机制、内部不同蛋白的作用特点及应用与发展,以期探寻更多的CRISPR/Cas系统,扩大该系统的应用领域。