Zerumbone attenuates MPP+-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by inhibition of oxidative stress

AIM: To investigate the role of zerumbone (ZER) in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced cytotoxicity of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. METHODS: Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and the protective effect of ZER against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxicity was measured by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression of Parkinson disease protein 7 (PARK7) was knocked-down by using PARK7-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The protein levels of PARK7, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: MMP⁺ remarkably reduced the cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The SH-SY5Y cell injury model was established by treatment with MPP⁺ at 600 μmol/L for 24 h. ZER up-regulated the protein levels of PARK7 and Nrf2 (P<0.05), alleviated apoptosis (P<0.05), and reduced ROS production (P<0.05) in the SH-SY5Y cell injury model. Meanwhile, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) had the similar functions. Moreover, significant reductions in the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P<0.05), and obvious increases in apoptosis (P<0.05) and ROS level (P<0.05) were demonstrated in PARK7-knockdown cells. CONCLUSION: ZER protects SH-SY5Y cells against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxi-city, which may be related to activation of PARK7/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and subsequent attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis.     

大花君子兰叶绿体基因组及其特征

采用Illumina MiSeq测序平台对大花君子兰（Clivia miniata）叶片总DNA进行测序，通过组装获得了其叶绿体基因组（cpDNA）全长序列（158 114 bp）。对其cpDNA注释得到135个基因，包含87个蛋白编码基因、40个tRNA基因和8个rRNA基因。采用生物信息学方法对获得的cpDNA进行简单序列重复（SSR）分析和密码子偏好性分析。结果显示：①大花君子兰cpDNA中共有61个SSR位点，其中单核苷酸、二核苷酸、三核苷酸、四核苷酸、五核苷酸和六核苷酸重复数分别为38、9、2、8、3和1个，多数SSR分布在基因间隔区；②大花君子兰cpDNA密码子偏爱以A或U（T）结尾，亮氨酸使用频率最高，半胱氨酸使用频率最低。基于24种植物的cpDNA全长和23种植物的叶绿体ycf2基因序列进行系统发育分析，结果显示大花君子兰与石蒜科植物在同一分支，显示最近的亲缘关系，支持大花君子兰属于石蒜科。基于叶绿体ycf2的系统发育分析结果与基于cpDNA全长的系统发育分析研究结果大部分相同，支持ycf2基因可以代替cpDNA全长用于植物系统发育分析。     

Three SNPs within exons of INHA and ACVR2B genes are significantly associated with litter size in Dazu black goats

The aim of this study was to analyse the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms within INHA and ACVR2B and litter size in Dazu black goats. In total, twenty-two SNPs were genotyped in 190 individuals by SNaPshot and resequencing. The results showed that three SNPs (SNP_1, SNP_12 and SNP_13 in this study) were detected to have significant additive genetic effect on the recorded goat litter size (p < .05). The SNP_1 (NC_030809.1), a non-synonymous substitution of G for T at chr2-g. 28314990 in the exon 2 of INHA gene (NM_001285606.1), resulted in homozygote 2 (HOM2) contributed 0.25 and heterozygote (HET) contributed 0.12 larger litter than homozygote 1 (HOM1). Meanwhile, SNP_12 (Chr22-g. 11721225 A > T) and SNP_13 (Chr22-g. 11721227 A > C) (NC_030829.1) simultaneously mutated at the first and third position of a triplet AAA (lysine, K) in the exon 4 of ACVR2B gene (XM_018066623.1) had estimated genetic effects of HOM1 (0.00) and HOM2 (0.03) larger than HET (−0.12). In conclusion, one SNPs (chr2-g. 28314990 T > G) within the exon 2 of INHA and two SNPs (Chr22-g. 11721225 A > T and Chr22-g. 11721227 A > C) i n the exon 4 of ACVR2B gene were highly recommended as candidate markers of litter size in Dazu black goats. A large-scale association study to assess the impact of these variants on litter size is still necessary.     

花生硬脂酰-ACP酸脱饱和基因FAB2表达的分子机制

FAB2位于油酸合成通路的上游,编码硬脂酰-ACP脱饱和酶,调控硬脂酸(C18:0)向油酸(C18:1)转化。本研究发现高油酸品种开农176种子发育前期FAB2的表达量升高,而成熟期油酸过量积累会抑制FAB2的表达。利用开农176与开农70构建F2杂交群体,发现当植株油酸含量超过60%时会从整体水平上抑制FAB2的表达。种子发育前期,油酸不断积累会导致过氧化物酶活性升高,并且活性氧含量随之增加;但是在种子发育后期均降低,该结果与FAB2的表达量变化趋势相同。亚细胞定位结果表明, FAB2与FAD2分别定位于叶绿体与内质网。FAB2编码区序列多态性分析显示,该蛋白序列氮端的氨基酸结构缺失可能会导致硬脂酸含量升高。FAB2启动子序列存在大量AT碱基的富集区域,并且含有光响应、激素调控、转录因子结合的保守顺式元件。本研究发现过量积累的油酸会激活过氧化物酶介导的活性氧信号途径,进而通过细胞核内的未知转录因子调节上游基因FAB2的表达量,该结果不仅拓展了对FAB2的功能认知,也为培育高油酸花生品种提供了相关的理论指导。     

不同类型水稻品种产量和氮素吸收利用对大气CO2浓度升高响应的差异

目的 探明不同类型水稻品种产量和氮素吸收利用对FACE(大气CO₂浓度增高)响应的差异。方法 以常规粳稻、杂交籼稻、常规籼稻共6个品种为供试材料,研究FACE对不同类型水稻产量、氮素吸收利用的影响。结果 1）FACE处理极显著提高了水稻产量,平均增加24.17%, 常规籼稻增幅最大,FACE和对照均以杂交籼稻最高;2）FACE处理显著增加了单位面积穗数,常规粳稻增幅最大,并显著增加了杂交籼稻和常规籼稻每穗粒数;3）FACE处理显著提高了成熟期吸氮量和氮素籽粒生产效率,成熟期吸氮量平均增加21.23%,杂交籼稻增幅最大, FACE和对照均以常规籼稻最高;氮素籽粒生产效率平均增加7.33%,杂交籼稻增幅最大,FACE和对照均以杂交籼稻最高。成熟期吸氮量对产量促进作用略大于成熟期氮素籽粒生产效率;4）FACE处理降低了植株含氮率,成熟期平均下降0.105个百分点,常规粳稻降幅最大。FACE处理极显著提高植株干物质量,成熟期平均增加23.95%,常规籼稻增幅最大;FACE处理显著提高常规籼稻和杂交籼稻成熟期单穗吸氮量,分别增加10.79%、13.93%,但常规粳稻下降了9.60%;FACE处理显著提高了成熟期群体吸氮强度,平均增加22.29%,杂交籼稻增幅最大。FACE处理对水稻全生育期天数无显著影响;FACE处理显著提高茎鞘、叶片、穗各器官吸氮量,叶片增幅最大,平均增加51.86%,杂交籼稻增幅最大;FACE处理显著提高了不同生育阶段吸氮量,抽穗-成熟阶段增幅最大,平均增加108.90%,杂交籼稻增幅最大;5）植株干物质量、单穗吸氮量、吸氮强度、穗吸氮量、抽穗-成熟阶段吸氮量对成熟期总吸氮量的促进作用分别大于植株含氮率、单位面积穗数、生育天数、茎鞘叶吸氮量、移栽-分蘖和分蘖-抽穗阶段吸氮量;6）FACE处理显著提高了氮肥偏生产力,降低了每百千克籽粒需氮量,前者平均增加24.16%,常规籼稻增加最多;后者平均降低4.7%,常规籼稻降幅最大。结论 FACE处理可显著提高水稻产量和氮素吸收利用效率,但品种间差异较大。     

一个潜在催化莱鲍迪D苷合成的新型糖基转移酶

尿苷二磷酸糖基转移酶(uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases,UGTs)催化糖基转移反应,与植物次生代谢密切相关。本研究根据甜叶菊(Stevia rebaudiana)转录组数据库,克隆到一个催化莱鲍迪D苷(rebaudioside D,RD)合成的新型糖基转移酶候选基因,对其开展生物信息学分析。结果表明,该基因开放阅读框长1380 bp,编码459个氨基酸,等电点(pI)预测为5.54,理论分子量约49.66 kD,系统发育分析表明该基因与向日葵中的UGT89A2同源,故将其命名为SrUGT89A2。构建pET28a-SrUGT89A2原核表达载体,并在大肠杆菌(BL21(DE3))中诱导表达得到重组蛋白,HPLC检测表明粗酶液能催化甜叶菊提取液形成一个新的色谱峰,该峰保留时间与莱鲍迪D苷一致。经进一步纯化UGT89A2蛋白,添加不同甜菊糖苷标准品为催化底物,但未鉴定出该蛋白催化的具体糖苷。该潜在催化甜菊糖RD苷合成的新型糖基转移酶基因SrUGT89A2的发现,为RD苷的生物合成和甜菊糖苷的生物途径研究提供新的理论依据。     

Effect of Kechuanning on airway remodeling and protein level of p-ERK1/2 in lung tissues of asthmatic rats induced by virus

AIM:To investigate the effect of Kechuanning on airway remodeling and the protein level of p-ERK1/2 in lung tissues of asthmatic rats induced by virus. METHODS:The asthmatic rat model induced by respiratory syncytial virus was established. The experimental rats were divided into normal group, asthma model group, low dose (0.33 mL/kg), middle dose (3.0 mL/kg) and high dose (10 mL/kg) of Kechuanning groups, and PD98059 (3 mg/kg) group. The airway responsiveness of the rats was measured by animal ventilator. The pathological changes of the lung tissues were observed by HE staining. PAS staining and Masson staining were used to observe goblet epithelial cells metaplasia and airway collagen deposition. The expression of matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in the lung tissues of the rats was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The protein levels of ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 were determined by Western blot. RESULTS:Compared with model group, the airway responsiveness of the rats in middle dose and high dose of Kechuanning groups was significantly decreased (P<0.01), the injury of lung tissues was significantly decreased, the goblet epithelial cells metaplasia and airway collagen deposition were significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the lung tissues was also significantly decreased (P<0.01). In addition, the protein level of p-ERK1/2 in high dose of Kechuanning group was significantly decreased compared with model group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION:Kechuanning may treat asthma by regulating the expression of p-ERK1/2 in the lung tissues and improving the airway remodeling symptoms of asthmatic rats induced by virus.     

鸡传染性贫血病毒VP1、VP2基因在杆状病毒表达系统中的表达

将鸡传染性贫血病毒M9905株VP1、VP2基因分别或同时克隆到杆状病毒转移载体pFastBacDUAL中，然后转化到DHIOBAC感受态细胞中与Bacmid杆状病毒穿梭载体进行转座重组，最后将重组子转染Sf9昆虫细胞，得到分别或同时含VP1、VP2基因的重组杆状病毒rBacVP1、rBacVP2及rBacVP1—2。PCR扩增结果证实VP1、VP2基因重组到杆状病毒基因组中；SDS-PAGE电泳分析和间接免疫荧光试验结果表明VP1、VP2基因在重组病毒中得到了表达。     

Impact of postovulatory food deprivation on the ova transport, hormonal profiles and metabolic changes in sows.

The effect of food deprivation on ova transport, hormonal profiles and metabolic changes was studied in 20 crossbred multiparous sows during their second oestrus after weaning. To determine the time of ovulation, transrectal ultrasonographic examination was performed. The sows were divided into 2 groups, one control group (C-group), which was fed according to Swedish standards, and one experimental group (E-group). The E-group sows were deprived of food from the first morning meal after ovulation until slaughter. Blood samples were collected every second hour from about 12 h before expected ovulation in the second oestrus after weaning until slaughter and were analysed for progesterone, prostaglandin F2 alpha-metabolite, insulin, glucose, free fatty acids and triglycerides. All sows were slaughtered approximately 48 h after ovulation and the genital tract was recovered. The isthmic part of the oviduct was divided into 3 equally long segments and flushed separately with phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Uterine horns were also flushed with PBS. A significantly greater number of ova were found in the first and second part of the isthmus in the E-group (p = 0.05) while in the C-group most of the ova were found in the third part of the isthmus or the uterus (p = 0.01). The level of prostaglandin F2 alpha-metabolite was significantly higher in the E-group compared with the C-group. The concentration of progesterone increased in both groups after ovulation but there were no significant differences between the groups. The other blood parameters showed that the food-deprived sows were in a catabolic state. The 48 h period of fasting results, directly or indirectly in an delayed ova transport, which may be due to a delayed relaxation in the smooth circular muscle layer of the isthmus.