ROCK promotes high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhi-biting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

AIMTo investigate whether Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) is involved in high glucose-induced apoptosis of primary cardiomyocytes by regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. METHODSPrimary Wistar rat cardiomyocytes were cultured and identified by α-sarcomeric actin (α-SCA) immunohistochemistry. Cardiomyocytes were treated with 5.5, 33 and 40 mmol/L glucose for 48 h. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and the mRNA expression of ROCK1 and ROCK2 in the cardiomyocytes was detected by RT-qPCR. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the apoptosis of the cardiomyocytes. The protein levels of ROCK1, ROCK2, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2, PI3K, Akt and p-Akt were determined by Western blot. In order to confirm the regulatory effect of ROCKs on PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, the cells were divided into control group (5.5 mmol/L glucose), high glucose group (33 mmol/L glucose) and high glucose+Y27632 (ROCK inhibitor) group. Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of ROCK1, ROCK2, PI3K, Akt and p-Akt. RESULTSAfter 48 h of high glucose exposure, the values of relative cell viability in 33 and 40 mmol/L glucose groups were (79.71±2.43)% and (68.41±7.49)%, respectively, both of which were significantly decreased compared with normal control group (P<0.05). After 48 h of high glucose exposure, the relative mRNA levels of ROCK1 and ROCK2 in 33 and 40 mmol/L glucose groups were significantly increased compared with normal control group (P<0.05). Compared with normal control group, the apoptotic rate in 33 and 40 mmol/L glucose groups was increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with normal control group, the protein expression of ROCK1, ROCK2 and cleaved caspase-3 in 33 and 40 mmol/L glucose groups was increased (P<0.05), while the protein expression of Bcl-2 was decreased (P<0.05). No significant difference in the protein levels of PI3K and Akt among the 3 groups was observed, while the protein level of p-Akt in 33 and 40 mmol/L glucose groups was decreased compared with normal control group (P<0.05). Compared with high glucose group, the expression of ROCK1 and ROCK2 was decreased in high glucose+Y27632 group. No significant difference in the protein levels of PI3K and Akt among the 3 groups was observed. Compared with normal control group, the protein level of p-Akt in high glucose group was decreased, and the protein level of p-Akt in high glucose+Y27632 group was increased significantly compared with high glucose group. CONCLUSION Under high glucose environment, ROCK may reduce the level of p-Akt by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway， thus promoting the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes.     

利用CRISPR/Cas9系统敲除葡萄中VviEDR2提高对白粉病的抗性

利用CRISPR/Cas9系统定点编辑葡萄白粉病感病基因VviEDR2（Enhanced disease resistance 2），在VviEDR2的DUF1336结构域设计靶位点VviEDR2-T1，构建CRISPR/Cas9敲除载体，通过农杆菌介导法转化‘无核白’葡萄胚性愈伤组织。对PCR阳性植株进行靶位点扩增测序，结果表明，共有8个转基因植株在靶位点处发生不同类型的双等位基因突变，编辑效率为32%；突变体植株生长势较弱，叶片较小，茎秆丛生、细弱。进一步对突变体植株进行抗病检测，结果表明，接种葡萄白粉菌（Erysiphe necator Schw.）5 d后，突变体植株叶片上白粉菌孢子仅能萌发出少量较短初级菌丝，表皮细胞产生大量明显的H2O2，而野生型叶片中白粉菌萌发出大量初级菌丝、次级菌丝和吸器，无明显H2O2产生。这些结果表明，可以利用CRISPR/Cas9技术编辑葡萄感病基因VviEDR2，提高葡萄白粉菌抗性。     

新型缓控释增效肥研究进展和发展前景

传统肥料面临着利用率低、产能过剩等问题,新型缓控释肥通过新型包膜材料或者纳米技术,实现养分释放速度的可控性;通过添加信号物质,实现植物和化肥的互动,将植物养分需求规律作为主导因素,实现肥料的按需供给,达到减少化肥用量,提高肥料利用效率的目的。从定义、研发背景、分类及发展趋势等方面介绍了新型缓控释肥的研究进展,并对其未来发展进行了展望。     

Hormonal changes play important roles in the key period of superior and inferior earshoot differentiation in maize

The upper earshoots with higher superiority usually have higher yield potential and higher efficiency. To determine the key period for the asynchronous differentiation of superior and inferior earshoots and how hormones are involved in this process, a two-year experiment was designed using two maize hybrids: Suyu 41 (S41, single-ear hybrid) and AN 101 (A101, double-ear hybrid). The results showed that the lag of lower earshoot differentiation was not only caused by the delay of the differentiation starting time but also related to extension of the duration in spikelet differentiation (stage II) and sexual organ formation stage (stage IV). From 12 days before silking (DBS), the contents of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR)+zeatin (ZT), and gibberellic acid (GA₃) in both upper and lower earshoots of the two hybrids increased dramatically and then decreased quickly. ABA slightly increased in the two hybrids and then decreased slowly in S41, while it was maintained at a high level in A101. At 8 DBS, i.e., the transition period from floret differentiation to sexual organ formation stage, not only the growth of upper-to-lower earshoot difference (ULED), but also the values for ULED of IAA, ZR+ZT and GA₃ were all significantly higher in S41 than in A101. Furthermore, the upper-to-lower hormone ratios IAA_U//AA_L and (ZR+ZT)_U/(ZR+ZT)_L were also much higher in the single-ear hybrid than in the double-ear hybrid, while the GA_3U/GA_3L and ABA_U/ABA_L had no significant differences. In addition, the time course of ULED_hormone/ULED_{earshoot growth rate} also suggested that the hormones work in different ways in earshoot superiority/inferiority formation. The delayed differentiation of lower ear shoots was conclusively related to the later initiation of differentiation and the longer durations of specific differentiation stages. Compared with the regulating roles of IAA and ZR+ZT in the key period (8 DBS) of superiority/inferiority differentiation, GA₃ seems to be affected earlier, while ABA contributes little to this process.     

‘72杨’韧皮部的构造与理化性能

将‘72杨’、杉木和毛竹的木质部进行对比试验,观察并测试‘72杨’韧皮部的解剖构造以及理化特性,为其高值化利用提供基础数据。使用场发射环境扫描电镜、X射线衍射仪、傅里叶变换红外光谱仪等设备和NREL标准对‘72杨’韧皮部的微观结构、结晶度、化学成分等物化性质进行测定与分析。研究结果表明,‘72杨’韧皮部中韧皮薄壁细胞和筛管分子占细胞总面积的(81.9±1.8)%,结构相对简单。‘72杨’韧皮部气干密度为0.358 g/cm3,绝干密度为0.321 g/cm3;而木质部的相应密度较高,分别为0.497和0.482 g/cm3;‘72杨’韧皮部结晶度仅为19.4%,比木质部低8.7%。‘72杨’韧皮部纤维素、半纤维素、木质素的含量分别为28.7%,11.1%,24.1%,均低于木质部中相应成分的含量,且木质化程度低,半纤维素以木糖为主。此外,由红外谱图发现‘72杨’韧皮部含有单宁、酚类、胼胝质等物质。‘72杨’韧皮部具有低密多孔、结构疏松、结晶度低、木质素含量低、抽提物含量高等特点。因此,‘72杨’韧皮部特别有利于机械(能耗低)或化学(抗降解屏障低)降解以及物化改性(多孔、可及性强),可提取酚类、单宁、胼胝质等物质用于工业应用,研究结果可为‘72杨’韧皮部的高值化利用提供重要的理论依据。     

利用CRISPR/Cas9技术编辑BADH2-1/BADH2-2创制香米味道玉米新种质

【目的】香味是作物的重要食味品质之一。2-乙酰-1-吡咯啉（2-acetyl-1-pyrroline,2-AP）是主要香味物。BADH2是控制水稻等作物香味性状的关键基因,敲除该基因可以产生香味稻米。利用CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术在北京市农林科学院自育的玉米骨干亲本京724上敲除BADH2同源基因,以期获得有香米味道的玉米新种质材料。【方法】利用Ensembl数据库在线BLAST工具,将水稻OsBADH2蛋白序列在拟南芥、水稻和玉米蛋白序列数据库中进行序列比对,获得上述3个物种的BADH基因家族成员,并利用UniProt蛋白数据库中的结构域信息进行验证。进一步使用MEGA软件进行系统进化分析,获得玉米BADH2同源基因作为候选编辑靶标。基于CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术的原理,在候选基因的外显子处设计特异性靶点,并构建入CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑载体。再以玉米自交系京724为受体,利用农杆菌介导的遗传转化方法,通过磷酸甘露糖异构酶基因（phosphomannose isomerase,PMI）抗性筛选获得阳性转基因植株。转基因株系经测序明确其在靶基因中产生的突变类型。利用气相色谱质谱联用仪（gas chromatography-mass spectrometry,GC-MS）检测基因编辑株系T₁籽粒中香米主要香味物质2-AP的含量,以确认京724在基因编辑前后2-AP含量的变化。【结果】系统进化分析发现,玉米中存在2个BADH2同源基因,分别命名为ZmBADH2-1和ZmBADH2-2。ZmBADH2-1位于第4染色体,ZmBADH2-2位于第1染色体。2个基因均包含15个外显子和14个内含子,第4外显子间的核苷酸序列高度同源。在2个基因的第4外显子区域设计靶点并构建入CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑载体,通过遗传转化获得28株转基因株系。PCR扩增及测序分析结果显示,其中10株材料的2个ZmBADH2s在靶点区域均发生突变,突变基因型包括双等位突变和多等位突变,突变类型为不同数量的碱基缺失和插入。质谱检测结果显示玉米ZmBADH2双基因突变体籽粒中存在与香稻同样成分的2-AP。随机选取的4个T₁代基因编辑株系籽粒中,2-AP平均含量分别为438.29、404.63、348.65和161.82 μg·kg^-1,而未经过编辑的京724中未检测到2-AP。【结论】利用CRISPR/Cas9技术对玉米ZmBADH2-1和ZmBADH2-2同时进行定点敲除,创制出籽粒中具有香米味道的玉米骨干亲本新种质材料。     

Nutritional Qualities of the Low-Value Bivalve Mollusks Paphia malabarica and Villorita cyprinoides at the Estuarine Waters of the Southwestern Coast of India

The bivalve mollusks Paphia malabarica and Villorita cyprinoides collected from the estuarine system located in the southwest coastal waters of India were evaluated for their nutritional composition. A balanced essential to nonessential amino acid ratio (> 1.0) with a greater quantity of sulfur-containing amino acids in these species demonstrated that they could provide well-balanced protein depositions. The n-3/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in P. malabarica was found to be greater than 2, and, therefore, can be considered as a healthy diet. The C₂₀–C₂₂ long-chain polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids (for example, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid) accounted for more than 23% of the total fatty acid content in P. malabarica as compared to about 7% in V. cyprinoides. P. malabarica showed greater hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (1.7) and lesser atherogenicity (0.7), thrombogenicity (0.3) indices when contrasted with those in V. cyprinoides, thereby indicating the nutritional superiority of the former. A greater content of vitamin D₃ (> 150 IU), along with significant quantities of calcium and phosphorus (> 500 mg/100 g) in the clams, signified their importance in preventing osteoporosis. This study demonstrated the importance of bivalves, in particular, P. malabarica as a valued species for human consumption.     

江西一季籼粳杂交稻稻曲病防治药剂及次数研究

选择合适的防治药剂和防治次数是减轻稻曲病危害的关键。本研究以籼粳杂交稻甬优12为材料,比较了6种药剂和3种喷施次数对稻曲病的防控效果和产量性状差异。结果表明,在6种药剂中,阿米妙收处理的病穗率防效和病指防效最好,分别达到91.53%和96.63%,但与其他药剂无显著性差异。在防治次数上,爱苗和拿敌稳均为防治3次的处理病指防效最好,分别为81.73%和80.15%,显著高于防治次数3次以下的处理。阿米妙收处理的产量最高,达11 719.52 kg/hm~2,显著高于其他处理。     

利用CRISPR/CAS9技术编辑水稻香味基因Badh2

【目的】香稻作为一类特殊的水稻群体,以其清香可口的品质特性备受消费者的欢迎。到目前为止,水稻中的香味主要受第8染色体上编码甜菜碱醛脱氢酶基因Badh2控制。【方法】通过CRISPR/CAS9技术对中花11的香味基因Badh2进行编辑。【结果】获得转基因T_0代植株并对其所衍生的T_1代20个单株进行了鉴定分析,获得了一个剔除了载体骨架且第1外显子上插入一个碱基T的突变体材料。该材料中Badh2 RNA水平显著下调;利用GC-MS技术测定野生型及突变体材料籽粒2-乙酰-1-吡咯啉含量,结果表明突变体材料中的香味物质显著增加;此外,我们还对野生型及T_2代香型植株水稻产量及稻米蒸煮食味品质进行了考查及测定分析,发现除分蘖数及结实率呈现出显著差异外(P0.05),其余各项指标在两组材料间都无显著差异。【结论】通过CRISPR/CAS9技术成功地对水稻香味基因进行了编辑,可为香稻育种提供丰富的理论指导,加快香稻的育种进程。     

基于转录组测序的半滑舌鳎长链非编码RNA的初步鉴定与分析

以抗病家系与易感家系半滑舌鳎为材料,进行哈维弧菌感染实验,并对易感家系感染前(CsSU)、易感家系感染后(CsSC)、抗病家系感染前(CsRU)、抗病家系感染后(CsRC)4组进行转录组测序,根据RNA-seq数据挖掘半滑舌鳎长链非编码RNA信息;通过生物信息学分析,筛选出与抗哈维弧菌病相关的差异长链非编码RNA(long non-coding RNA, lncRNA)。结果显示,共识别出4 584个lncRNA座位,包含5 714个转录本;其基本特征与编码基因的比较分析,lncRNA的GC含量低于编码基因,单外显子基因数多于编码基因,转录本的平均长度长于编码基因,基因表达量低于编码基因。对4组样品进行两两比较(CsRU vs CsSU、CsRC vs CsSC、CsRC vs CsRU、CsSC vs CsSU)分别筛选出818、813、261、140个差异表达lncRNA,其中CsRU与CsSU之间、CsRC与CsSC之间lncRNA数目差异最多,通过聚类分析确定了各实验组的表达模式之间的联系,CsRU与CsSU之间的表达模式最为相近。通过共表达分析,预测出lncRNA和274个编码基因可能存在14 539种相互关系,并进行了功能注释,进而筛选出7个关键lncRNA。qRT-PCR结果显示,差异表达lncRNAs的表达模式和转录组数据得到的基本一致。研究结果为揭示lncRNA在半滑舌鳎抗哈维弧菌免疫调控反应中的作用提供重要的参考数据。