Effect of miRNA-33 on ABCA1/ABCG1 expression in RAW264.7 macrophage-derived foam cells after Hcy treatment

AIM:To study whether homocysteine (Hcy) inhibits the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) by microRNA-33 (miRNA-33) signaling, and reduces the efficiency of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT).METHODS:RAW264.7 macrophages were induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to establish foam cell model. Oil red O staining was used to determine whether the model was established successfully. miRNA-33 mimics and miRNA-33 inhibitor were transfected into the cells by Lipofectamine 2000, and the cells were exposed to Hcy at concentration of 5 mmol/L for 24 h. The intracellular lipid droplets were observed by Oil red O staining. The expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by real-time PCR and Western blot. The cellular cholesterol content was analyzed by HPLC, and effluent rate of cholesterol was detected by the method of liquid scintillation counting.RESULTS:Compared with blank control group, the lipid content in miRNA-33 mimics group was increased, and the expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 at mRNA and protein levels was decreased (P<0.05). The intracellular cholesterol content was increased gradually (P<0.05), and the cellular cholesterol efflux rate was gradually decreased (P<0.05) in miRNA-33 mimics group. Compared with blank control group, the testing results in miRNA-33 inhibitor group were the opposition of those in miRNA-33 mimics group (P<0.05). No diffe-rence of the above indexes among blank control group, miRNA-33 mimics-NC group and miRNA-33 inhibitor-NC group was observed.CONCLUSION:Hcy inhibits the mRNA and protein expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 through miRNA-33 signaling, and reduces the efficiency of RCT in RAW264.7 macrophage-derived foam cells.     

Transport of cadmium from soil to grain in cereal crops: A review

Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, many soils for crop production are contaminated by cadmium(Cd), a heavy metal highly toxic to many organisms. Cereal crops such as rice, wheat, maize, and barley are the primary dietary source of Cd for humans, and reducing Cd transfer from soil to their grains is therefore an important issue for food safety. During the last decade, great progress has been made in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of Cd transport, particularly in rice. Inter-and intraspecific variations in Cd accumulation have been observed in cereal crops. Transporters for Cd have been identified in rice and other cereal crops using genotypic differences in Cd accumulation and mutant approaches. These transporters belong to different transporter families and are involved in the uptake, vacuolar sequestration, root-to-shoot translocation, and distribution of Cd. Attempts have been made to reduce Cd accumulation in grains by manipulating these transporters through overexpression or knockout of the transporter genes, as well as through marker-assisted selection breeding based on genotypic differences in Cd accumulation in the grains. In this review, we describe recent progress on molecular mechanisms of Cd accumulation in cereal crops and compare different molecular strategies for minimizing Cd accumulation in grains.     

Modulation of plant root traits by nitrogen and phosphate: transporters,long-distance signaling proteins and peptides,and potential artificial traps

As sessile organisms, plants rely on their roots for anchorage and uptake of water and nutrients. Plant root is an organ showing extensive morphological and metabolic plasticity in response to diverse environmental stimuli including nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) nutrition/stresses. N and P are two essential macronutrients serving as not only cell structural components but also local and systemic signals triggering root acclimatory responses. Here, we mainly focused on the current advances on root responses to N and P nutrition/stresses regarding transporters as well as long-distance mobile proteins and peptides, which largely represent local and systemic regulators, respectively. Moreover, we exemplified some of the potential pitfalls in experimental design, which has been routinely adopted for decades. These commonly accepted methods may help researchers gain fundamental mechanistic insights into plant intrinsic responses, yet the output might lack strong relevance to the real situation in the context of natural and agricultural ecosystems. On this basis, we further discuss the established—and yet to be validated—improvements in experimental design, aiming at interpreting the data obtained under laboratory conditions in a more practical view.     

氢氧化镁对水质、底质改良的研究与应用

近年,沿海各地区水产养殖业发展迅速。由于内湾海区海水循环交换能力较弱,黑臭底泥的长期堆积,导致养殖水体水质和底质进一步恶化,然而这种问题普遍存在于封闭式或半封闭式水域环境中。对此,氢氧化镁作为水质、底质改良剂被应用于水环境的治理。本文概述了氢氧化镁的作用机理,包括氢氧化镁与悬浮颗粒物的静电、对氮磷的降解及对硫化氢的降解等作用;同时介绍了氢氧化镁在海水养殖场、淡水湖泊和水库、水华防控、赤潮防控及废水处理中的研究与应用;展望了氢氧化镁和纳米级氢氧化镁在水体环境领域的应用前景。     

橡胶园酸性、中性土壤交换性钙、镁测定方法研究

为了获得简单、易操作、准确度高的橡胶园酸性、中性土壤交换性钙、镁测定方法,本试验通过响应面优化试验,建立称样量、提取液体积、提取方式与交换性钙测定结果之间的数学模型。结果表明：在25℃条件下,以1 mol/L的乙酸铵为土壤浸提液,称样量为2 g、提取液体积175 mL、振荡36 min,为橡胶园酸性、中性土壤的最佳提取条件。将上述条件下得到的结果与标准方法条件下得到的结果相对比,两结果的相对误差在1.25~3.04之间,均属合理范围。利用标准样品对优化方法进行试验验证,结果与推荐值相符。改进后的方法分析成本低、操作简便、测定结果准确、稳定性好,可用于橡胶园酸性、中性土壤交换性钙、镁的测定。     

Sorghum extrusion process combined with biofortified sweet potato contributed for high iron bioavailability in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sorghum and sweet potato on the bioavailability of iron, gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism and the plasma antioxidant capacity in animals fed with whole sorghum grains processed by dry heat or extrusion, combined or not with sweet potato flour with high content of carotenoids. Five experimental groups were tested (n = 7): dry heat sorghum flour (DS); extruded sorghum flour (ES); whole sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (DS + SP); extruded sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (ES + SP) and positive control (FS). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citochroma B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The ES + SP group showed higher (p < 0.05) expression of DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin when compared to the control group. The DS group showed high (p < 0.05) expression of DMT-1 and the ES showed high mRNA expression of transferrin and ferritin. The changes in the sorghum physicochemical properties from extrusion process reduced the iron and phytate content, and increased the gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism, improving iron bioavailability. The combination of sweet potato and sorghum flour (dry or extruded) improved the iron capture and total antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds.     

杂草对除草剂非靶标抗性机理研究进展

随着除草剂的大面积持续使用,近年来抗性杂草种类增多,危害面积不断增加,危害程度逐渐加重。杂草对除草剂抗性问题业已成为威胁全球粮食安全的关键问题之一。杂草对除草剂的抗药机制主要分为靶标抗性和非靶标抗性,非靶标抗性主要包括对除草剂解毒能力增强、屏蔽作用或与作用位点的隔离作用等机理。本文主要对除草剂的非靶标抗性机制中的P450s、GSTs、ABC转运蛋白和谷胱甘肽转运体等进行综述,并对非靶标抗性机制研究前景进行展望。     

盐胁迫下宁夏枸杞Na+吸收及Na+/H+转运蛋白与H+-ATPase基因表达的研究

为从分子水平揭示宁夏枸杞钠的吸收积累机理,本试验采用原子吸收分光光度法和实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)方法,对盐胁迫下宁夏枸杞根中Na⁺、K⁺含量以及质膜和液泡膜Na⁺/H⁺转运蛋白与H⁺-ATPase基因表达水平进行测定分析。结果表明,相同胁迫时间下,随着NaCl处理浓度的增加,枸杞根系中Na⁺浓度总体呈缓慢增加趋势,K⁺含量呈先增加后减少趋势,Na⁺/K⁺比值呈先减少后增加趋势;编码质膜和液泡膜的Na⁺/H⁺转运蛋白基因LbSOS1、LbNHX1以及液泡膜H⁺-ATPase基因LbVHA-C1表达量均呈升高趋势,质膜H⁺-ATPase基因LbHA1表达量呈先升高后降低趋势。相同NaCl处理浓度下,随着胁迫时间的延长,Na⁺含量总体呈增加趋势,K⁺含量呈先增加后减少趋势,Na⁺/K⁺比值呈增加趋势。LbSOS1、LbNHX1表达量总体呈先升高后降低趋势,LbVHA-C1、LbHA1表达量总体呈降低的趋势。相关性分析显示,不同胁迫时间下,枸杞根中LbSOS1、LbNHX1、LbVHA-C1和LbHA1表达量与Na⁺含量存在一定的正相关或负相关。上述结果表明,在低浓度NaCl胁迫时,维持枸杞体内较高的K⁺/Na⁺比值是宁夏枸杞耐盐的主要方式之一,同时也说明在胁迫初期,质膜和液泡膜的Na⁺/H⁺转运蛋白与H⁺-ATPase参与了枸杞细胞中Na⁺及时排出胞外和区隔于液泡,从而保持了根细胞内Na⁺的稳定性。此外,随着胁迫时间的延长和NaCl处理浓度的增加,LbSOS1、LbNHX1、LbVHA-C1和LbHA1的表达水平均降低,而 Na⁺积累量大幅增加,致使枸杞抗盐性降低。本研究揭示了宁夏枸杞的耐盐机理,为利用宁夏枸杞改良宁夏大面积盐碱地提供了理论依据。