Trx-1 over-expression attenuates oxidative stress injury in MPP+ -induced PC12 cells by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway

AIM:To investigate the inhibitory effect of thioredoxin 1 (Trx-1) over-expression on oxidative stress injury in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway.METHODS:The PC12 cells were damaged by treatment with MPP⁺ at 1, 3 and 5 mmol/L, and the optimal concentration of 3 mmol/L was selected. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The oxidative stress indexes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the cell culture supernatant were detected, and the protein expression of Trx-1 was determined by Western blot. Lentiviral infection with Ad-Trx-1-GFP sequence was used to establish a model of MPP⁺-treated PC12 cells with Trx-1 over-expression. The effects of Trx-1 over-expression on the cell viability, oxidative stress responses and NF-κB signaling pathway were determined by MTT assay, commercial kits and Western blot. The effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), an activator of NF-κB signaling pathway, on the viability and oxidative stress of PC12 cells were observed. The NF-κB signaling pathway inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) was used in MPP⁺-treated PC12 cells with Trx-1 over-expression, and the cell viability and oxidative stress responses were measured. RESULTS:The viability of PC12 cells, SOD activity in the supernatant and protein expression of Trx-1 were decreased, while LDH activity and MDA content in the supernatant were increased significantly by treatment with MPP⁺ at 1, 3 and 5 mmol/L. The effect of MPP⁺ at 3 mmol/L and 5 mmol/L was significantly greater than that at 1 mmol/L (P<0.05), and no significant difference between 3 mmol/L and 5 mmol/L was observed (P>0.05). The inhibitory effect of MPP⁺ on the viability of PC12 cells, and the oxidative stress injury and activation of NF-κB signaling pathway induced by MPP⁺ were significantly attenuated by over-expression of Trx-1. The inhibitory effect of MPP⁺ on the viability of PC12 cells and the oxidative stress injury induced by MPP⁺ were promoted by the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway, while the protective effects of Trx-1 over-expression on the MPP⁺-treated PC12 cells were enhanced by the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway. CONCLUSION:Over-expression of Trx-1 protects MPP⁺-treated PC12 cells from oxidative stress injury by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway.     

Effects of antimicrobial peptides on growth,morphology of foregut villi and related genes mRNA expression in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

A 60‐day feeding trial was conducted to examine the effects of different levels (0, 100, 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) of antimicrobial peptides on growth, protease activity of foregut, the morphology of foregut villi and related genes mRNA expression level in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The results showed that the feed of antimicrobial peptides promote common carp growth, and the optimal dosage of antimicrobial peptides is 200–333 mg/kg in the common carp feed. The protease activity of 200 and 400 mg/kg groups were significantly higher than the control and other groups (p < 0.05). The foregut villus height with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg antimicrobial peptide groups were significantly higher than control group (p < 0.05). The crypt depth of 200 and 400 mg/kg antimicrobial peptide groups were significantly lower than control group (p < 0.05). The ratio of villus height and crypt depth of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg antimicrobial peptide groups were significantly higher than control group (p < 0.05). The ratio with 600 mg/kg group was significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05). The IGF‐I gene expression level of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg groups were significantly higher than the control group and 600 mg/kg group (p < 0.05). The IL‐1β gene expression level of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg groups were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). These results indicated up‐regulation of growth and immune related genes in antimicrobial peptides fed common carp. Correlation analysis showed that IGF‐I mRNA and IL‐1β mRNA were positively correlated with SGR. IL‐1β mRNA and FCR were significantly negative correlated. It indicated that growth and immune gene common regulated the growth of the carp under antimicrobial peptides intervention. In conclusion, antimicrobial peptides can improve growth and related genes mRNA expression in the common carp. Further studies using molecular biological technique or immunologic methods are required to conclude that antimicrobial peptides are beneficial in common carp.     

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.     

绵羊心脏脂肪酸结合蛋白基因单核苷酸多态性分析

试验旨在探讨心脏脂肪酸结合蛋白（heart fatty acid-binding protein，H-FABP）基因在绵羊中的遗传多态性，并寻找可用于辅助选择的分子标记。本研究以滩羊（250只）及滩羊×湖羊杂交F1代（174只）为试验动物，利用SNaPshot分型技术对H-FABP基因（GenBank登录号：AY157617）的多态位点进行单核苷酸多态性（SNP）分析，统计基因频率和基因型频率，进行Hardy-Weinberg平衡性检测，计算期望杂合度（He）、多态信息含量（PIC）和有效等位基因数（Ne）等遗传多态指标，分析候选基因不同基因型与体重、体长、体高、胸围、胸深、胸宽和管围等生长性状的关联性。结果显示：①检测到9个多态位点：939[A/G]、980[G/A]、1018[T/C]、2878[C/T]、2956[C/T]、3017[G/A]、3341[G/C]、3394[T/A]、1056[-/G]，其中有6处转换、2处颠换、1处单碱基插入。②939[A/G]、980[G/A]、2956[C/T]、3341[G/C]、3394[T/A]和1018[T/C]的He为0.3200~0.4666，PIC为0.2688~0.3577；2878[C/T]、3017[G/A]位点的He为0.0283~0.1272，PIC为0.0279~0.1191，为低度多态；1056[-/G]位点的He在滩羊、滩羊×湖羊杂交F1代群体中分别为0.0120和0，PIC在滩羊、滩羊×湖羊杂交F1代群体中分别为0.0119和0；9个多态位点在滩羊、滩羊×湖羊杂交F1代群体中均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡定律。③5个多态位点：939[A/G]、980[G/A]、2956[C/T]、3341[G/C]、3394[T/A]处于紧密连锁（D'>0.99），将H-FABP基因分为3个单倍型：AA、AB和BB。④在41只滩羊×湖羊杂交F1代羊中，BB单倍型在各生产性状上具有最大值，但各单倍型间差异不显著（P>0.05）。结果表明，绵羊H-FABP基因具有丰富的遗传多态性，939[A/G]、980[G/A]、2956[C/T]、3341[G/C]、3394[T/A]5个位点紧密连锁，BB单倍型可能是与绵羊生产性状相关的优势单倍型。     

水牛SND1基因克隆及生物信息学分析

试验旨在利用电子克隆法对水牛SND1（staphylococcal nuclease and tudor domain containing 1）基因进行克隆和序列分析，为探究该基因对水牛泌乳性能的作用机制奠定基础。以奶牛SND1基因（GenBank登录号：NM_205784.1）作为种子序列，利用Primer Premier 5.0设计3对引物，以水牛基因组DNA为模板，PCR扩增水牛SND1基因mRNA序列，扩增获得序列连接pMD18-T载体，通过测序拼接获得水牛SND1基因mRNA全序列，并对其进行生物信息学分析。结果显示，水牛SND1基因完整编码序列长为3 503 bp，包含长为2 733 bp CDS序列，编码910个氨基酸，蛋白分子式为C₄₅₂₃H₇₁₈₃N₁₂₈₁O₁₃₅₄S₂₆，分子质量为102.01 ku，理论等电点（pI）为6.74，不稳定系数为42.07，平均亲水性为-0.419，属可溶酸性蛋白。二级结构以α-螺旋和无规则卷曲为主，其中α-螺旋占37.80%，无规则卷曲占34.18%。结合Protfun 2.2在线软件对SND1的功能进行预测分析表明，该蛋白在嘌呤和嘧啶、中央中间代谢、能量代谢、氨基酸生物合成发挥功能的可能性分别为0.449、0.401、0.303和0.262。SND1基因编码区序列与黄牛、绵羊、山羊、猪、马、人的同源性分别为98.7%、97.8%、97.8%、93.8%、93.1%和91.7%，物种之间同源性较高，系统进化情况与其亲缘关系远近一致。利用SMART在线软件预测蛋白结构域，结果显示，水牛SND1蛋白包含有4个SN区域，说明SND1基因编码区在进化过程中较为保守。     

Water Extraction Process of Chinese Herbal Compound Man Gan Ning

[Objectives]To optimize the water extraction process of Chinese Herbal Compound Man Gan Ning and establish a method for its extraction and content determination...     

中国地方绵羊群体TYRP1基因遗传变异研究

本研究旨在了解酪氨酸酶相关蛋白1（tyrosinase related protein 1，TYRP1）基因在中国地方绵羊群体内的遗传变异，以及TYRP1基因突变与不同毛色表型绵羊群体的相关性。通过直接测序法和PCR-RFLP技术对10个中国地方绵羊群体进行单核苷酸多态性（SNP）检测，利用Beagle、PLINK和POPGENE等软件对突变位点数据进行单倍型构建、连锁不平衡分析和遗传变异研究。突变位点检测结果表明，在绵羊TYRP1基因内识别了13个SNPs，其中位于TYRP1基因外显子上的10个SNPs位点，除个别位点在大尾寒羊、中国美利奴羊和岷县黑裘皮羊中没有发生突变外，其他突变位点在所有绵羊品种中均出现不同程度变异，说明中国地方绵羊群体具有较高的遗传多样性。单倍型分析结果表明，所有样本中共有42个单倍型，优势单倍型0000000000（245/918）、0100000001（91/918）在所有绵羊群体中均存在，除单倍型0101100000（93/918）在中国美利奴羊中没有出现，单倍型0001000001（69/918）在岷县黑裘皮羊、哈萨克羊群体中没有出现外，在其他群体中均存在。连锁分析结果表明，10个SNPs在所有样本中均存在2个连锁模块。群体遗传变异分析表明，中国地方绵羊群体具有较高水平的群体内遗传变异，各绵羊品种间存在明显的遗传分化模式，且各品种遗传关系与其品种传统分类结果基本一致。本研究为进一步研究TYRP1基因对绵羊毛色遗传性状的影响提供了参考依据。     

不同因素影响下层状土壤水分入渗特征及水力学参数估计

层状土壤是自然界常见的土体结构,其水分运移规律不同于均质土;大气降水、灌溉水等水分的入渗是土壤水文过程的一个重要环节,同时它也与地下水补给、污染物运移等过程紧密相关。土壤初始含水量、土体构型及供水强度等因素均会影响水分的入渗过程。为探究积水深度、土体构型、初始含水量三种因素对层状土壤水分运移的影响,通过室内积水入渗试验对湿润锋、累积入渗量、土壤剖面压力水头进行观测,并利用Hydrus-1D模型反演水力参数并对相应条件下的水分运移规律进行模拟和分析。结果表明,层状土壤中湿润锋随时间的推进方式由非线性过渡至线性,入渗率逐渐减小。三种因素作用下,层状土壤水分运移特征有明显差异:积水深度、土壤初始含水量增加时,湿润锋运移速率和入渗率均增大,且各观测点压力水头升高加快,土壤不饱和程度降低;上砂壤下粉砂壤构型较上粉砂壤下砂壤构型而言,整体湿润锋推进速率和入渗率较大,出流快,且入渗后期界面处的压力水头高于其他观测点。且结果表明,反演的水力学参数较拟合实测的参数更适用于层状土壤入渗的模拟和预测。该研究旨在揭示和掌握层状土壤水分运移规律和影响因素的作用机制,并进一步为农田灌溉措施的合理制定提供科学依据。     

Functional polymorphism among members of abscisic acid receptor family(ZmPYL) in maize

Pyrabactin resistance 1-like proteins(PYLs) are direct receptors of abscisic acid(ABA). For the redundant and polymorphic functions, some members of the PYL family interact with components of other signaling pathways. Here, 253 positive colonies from a maize cDNA library were screened as interacting proteins with the members of ZmPYL family. After sequencing and function annotation, 17 of 28 interaction combinations were verified by yeast two-hybrid(Y2 H). The germination potential, taproot length and proline content of a quartet mutant of Arabidopsis PYL genes were significantly deceased comparing to the wild type(WT) under alkaline stress(pH 8.5) and 100 μmol L–1 methyl jasmonate(MeJA) induction. The malondialdehyde(MDA) content was significantly increased. After germinating in darkness, the characteristics of dark morphogenesis of the quartet mutant seedlings were more obvious than those of the WT. The differential expression of the related genes of photomorphogenesis in the mutant was much more than that in the WT. Three light and two JA responsive cis-affecting elements were identified during the promoter sequences of the AtPYL1 and AtPYL2 genes. These results suggested that functional polymorphism has evolved among the members of ZmPYL family. In response to developmental and environmental stimuli, they not only function as direct ABA receptors but also interact with components of other signaling pathways mediated JA, brassinosteroid(BR), auxin, etc., and even directly regulate downstream stress-related proteins. These signaling pathways can interact at various crosstalk points and different levels of gene expression within a sophisticated network.     

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。