Down-regulation of miR-153-3p attenuates H2O2-induced H9C2 cell injury by promoting Nrf2 expression

AIM To study the effect of microRNA-153-3p (miR-153-3p) knock-down on oxidative injury of H9C2 cells induced by H₂O₂ and its specific mechanism. METHODS The oxidative stress injury of H9C2 cell model was induced by H₂O₂, and then the cell viability and the expression of miR-153-3p were detected by MTT assay and RT-qPCR, respectively. The effects of miR-153-3p knock-down on the H9C2 cell injury under oxidative stress were studied by RNA interference technology. The targets of miR-153-3p were identified by Western blot and dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS MTT assay showed that the viability of H9C2 cells was decreased with the increase in H₂O₂ concentration (P<0.05). The results of RT-qPCR showed that the expression of miR-153-3p was increased with the increase in H₂O₂ concentration (P<0.05). Knock-down of miR-153-3p increased the viability of H9C2 cells under oxidative stress, decreased the cell apoptosis and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). The expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2（Nrf2） and antioxidant response element（ARE） activity were increased with the increase in H₂O₂ concentration (P<0.01). TargetScan analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that Nrf2 was one of the potential target genes of miR-153-3p. The results of Western blot further showed that over-expression of miR-153-3p inhibited the expression of Nrf2 (P<0.01), while down-regulation of miR-153-3p increased the expression of Nrf2 (P<0.01). Dual interference with Nrf2 and miR-153-3p significantly reduced H9C2 cell viability， promoted the apoptosis, increased MDA content, and decreased SOD activity in the presence of H₂O₂ (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Inhibition of miR-153-3p expression attenuates the injury of H9C2 cells induced by H₂O₂ through up-regulating Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.     

桓仁水库初级生产力和限制性营养盐研究

2018年4月10日、6月11日、8月14日在桓仁水库的上游(江南九队)、中游(砬砬岗子)和下游(泗河大地)3个站位用500 mL具塞磨口瓶盛装采水器采集的水库水样,进行限制性营养盐原位试验,同时测定水中溶解氧和初级生产力,并检测分析水体理化指标,以查明辽宁桓仁水库氮磷分布、营养盐限制和初级生产力状况,保护桓仁水库生态系统的结构和功能完整性。试验结果显示,营养盐加富试验中,0.5 mg/mL氮+0.3 mg/mL磷的添加组可显著提高水体中的溶解氧水平(P<0.05);上游和中游氮磷比为2∶1、下游氮磷比为4∶1可显著提高水体中的溶解氧水平(P<0.05);初级生产力随季节变化特征明显,原始P/R系数均小于试验组。根据试验结果分析得知,桓仁水库营养盐限制因素受季节变化的影响显著,具有氮、磷双限制等特征;根据初级生产力判断桓仁水库为自养代谢型水体。     

枣AP2/ERF转录因子鉴定及其响应枣疯病植原体表达分析

利用生物信息学方法，从植物转录因子数据库和NCBI数据库中分别得到175和164个候选的枣AP2/ERF转录因子序列，使用DNAMAN软件进行序列比对、去除重复序列，采用SMART软件预测蛋白结构域发现，枣基因组中包含有145个AP2/ERF基因，其中ERF、AP2、RAV亚家族分别含有116个、23个、5个，另有1个独立基因。预测枣AP2/ERF转录因子氨基酸数量在111 ~ 692之间，分子量在12 446.87 ~ 76 154.10之间，pI在4.31 ~ 10.11之间。鉴定出的145个AP2/ERF转录因子，105个分别定位到12条染色体上，40个未能定位。在此基础上，利用嫁接病芽方法将枣疯病植原体转至健康枣植株，通过转录组测序和qRT-PCR手段，分析了AP2/ERF转录因子对枣植原体侵染的响应，在植原体侵染枣的6个不同时期，枣AP2/ERF表达数量和表达量均不相同，共有48个差异表达基因，其中ZjAP2*9、ZjERF49和ZjERF91是响应枣疯病植原体最为重要的AP2/ERF转录因子。     

Observation of three‐dimensional flow structures and effluent transport around fish cages using a towed ADCP and free‐fall multi‐parameter profiler

A field campaign was conducted around salmon cages, using a combination of a towed ADCP and a free‐fall multi‐parameter profiler, in order to investigate flow structures and the possible distribution of effluent materials. Two transect observations showed that hydrographic conditions changed dramatically within 5 days, from highly stratified open water conditions to weak stratification. Three‐dimensional observation revealed that flow was blocked behind the cages and that the blockage was reduced as the distance from the cages increased. The flow speed was positively correlated with the intensity of the backscattering signal. The R² value was high immediately behind the cages and decreased with distance from the cages. The flow time series behind the cages exhibited a k^–2 power law spectrum that was consistent with a typical internal wave spectrum. This suggests that eddies shed from the cages were highly influenced by stratification. We estimated the rate of kinetic energy dissipation, , from YODA Profiler data based on the Thorpe scale approach. We also estimated the eddy diffusivity coefficient, . Both and followed a lognormal probability density function. The mean was consistent with a one‐dimensional diffusion model assessed from the R² values of flow speed and backscatter intensity.     

Possible involvement of PKC/MAPK pathway in the regulation of GnRH by dietary arachidonic acid in the brain of male tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis

Our previous studies have indicated that dietary arachidonic acid (ARA) significantly affects the gonadal steroidogenesis in the marine teleost tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis, and this effect was more positive in male fish than in female fish (Aquaculture, 468, 378–385). As a following up study, the present study was further aimed at investigating the possible mechanisms in the brain mediating the effects of dietary ARA on gonadal steroidogenesis. A 70‐day feed trial was repeated with two‐year‐old tongue sole, using three experimental diets with graded levels of ARA, 0.34%, 2.53%, and 9.63% of total fatty acids. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of 23 fish (15 males and 8 females). The results confirmed the positive effect of dietary ARA on testosterone production in male fish. The concentration of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) in serum responded to dietary ARA in a similar pattern with the testosterone concentration, but the concentration of gonadotrophin in serum was not affected by dietary ARA. The response of gene expression of PKCβ, ARRB1, ARRB2, ERK2 and ATF3 in the brain to dietary ARA was in good agreement with those of GnRH and testosterone, indicating the possible involvement of PKC‐ARRB‐ERK‐ATF3 pathway in signalling transduction of GnRH. However, the PI3K/Akt and TLR/NF‐κB pathways may not be directly involved in the regulation of GnRH metabolism by ARA. This is the first study reporting the possible involvement of PKC/MAPK pathways in regulation of reproductive endocrine processes by long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid in brain of marine fish.     

Using fish models to investigate the links between microbiome and social behaviour: The next step for translational microbiome research?

Recent research has revealed surprisingly important connections between animals’ microbiome and social behaviour. Social interactions can affect the composition and function of the microbiome; conversely, the microbiome affects social communication by influencing the hosts’ central nervous system and peripheral chemical communication. These discoveries set the stage for novel research focusing on the evolution and physiology of animal social behaviour in relation to microbial transmission strategies. Here, we discuss the emerging roles of teleost fish models and their potential for advancing research fields, linked to sociality and microbial regulation. We argue that fish models, such as the zebrafish (Danio rerio, Cyprinidae), sticklebacks (?Gasterosteidae), guppies (Poeciliidae) and cleaner–client dyads (e.g., obligate cleaner fish from the Labridae and Gobiidae families and their visiting clientele), will provide valuable insights into the roles of microbiome in shaping social behaviour and vice versa, while also being of direct relevance to the food and ornamental fish trades. The diversity of fish behaviour warrants more interdisciplinary research, including microbiome studies, which should have a strong ecological (field‐derived) approach, together with laboratory‐based cognitive and neurobiological experimentation. The implications of such integrated approaches may be of translational relevance, opening new avenues for future investigation using fish models.     

芒果中性/碱性转化酶MiNI基因的克隆与表达分析

采用RT-PCR技术克隆了1个编码NI基因的cDNA序列,命名为MiNI基因,并对不同来源的中性/碱性转化酶的分子特征及系统进化进行比较分析。结果表明：MiNI基因开放阅读框为2034 bp,编码677个氨基酸,相对分子量为76.6 kDa,理论等电点为6.24;生物信息学分析结果显示,NI二级结构α螺旋占38.85%,无规则卷曲占35.45%,伸展链占18.91%,β折叠占6.79%;MiNI具有glycoside hydrolase family 100结构保守域,与克里曼丁桔、龙眼、巴西橡胶树和番木瓜都具有一致的motif位点;MiNI基因编码的氨基酸序列与克里曼丁桔、龙眼氨基酸序列同源性最高;构建NI系统进化树分析表明,与芒果遗传距离最近的是克里曼丁桔,最远的是玉米和枸杞。qRT-PCR分析显示,果皮MiNI基因表达量远高于果肉;花后10~40 d,果皮MiNI基因表达量显著下降;花后40~100 d,果皮MiNI基因表达量维持在一个相对稳定水平;花后100~130 d,随着果实成熟,果皮MiNI基因表达量又显著上升;而花后10~40 d,果肉MiNI基因表达量显著下降,至果实发育后期果肉MiNI基因表达量始终处于极低水平。该研究为进一步了解MiNI基因在芒果果实蔗糖代谢过程中的作用以及从分子角度阐明芒果糖代谢机理奠定理论和技术基础。