甜瓜质地差异及相关细胞壁酶活性变化

对两种不同质地类型甜瓜果实发育过程中果肉质地的变化及相关酶活性进行研究。结果表明,花后35~40 d为软、脆两种甜瓜质地形成的关键时期。在该时期,软肉型甜瓜‘NSL’细胞面积与间隙增大,果肉细胞排列疏松,细胞面积为脆肉型甜瓜的115.35%,软肉型甜瓜‘NSL’与脆肉型甜瓜‘XZM’质构参数差异显著,脆肉型甜瓜果实4种细胞壁酶活性总体低于软肉型甜瓜。花后35 d,软肉型甜瓜‘NSL’细胞壁扩展酶基因(CmEXP3、CmEXP5、CmEXP9)相对表达量为最大值,显著高于脆肉型甜瓜‘XZM’。     

FAM3C activates Akt to promote viability of oral squamous-cell carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the expression and roles of family with sequence similarity 3, member C (FAM3C) in oral squamous-cell carcinoma cells. METHODS: The mRNA and protein expression levels of FAM3C in dysplastic oral keratinocyte (DOK) and oral squamous-cell carcinoma WSU-HN6 cells were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The WSU-HN6 cells were treated with siFAM3C or FAM3C antibody. After 24, 48 and 72 h, the viability of WSU-HN6 cells was measured by CCK-8 assay, and the activation of protein kinase B (Akt) was detected by Western blot. Adenovirus was used to mediate over-expression of FAM3C in the DOK cells. The DOK cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay after adenovirus infection for 24, 48 and 72 h, and the activation of Akt was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the DOK cells, the mRNA and protein levels of FAM3C were significantly increased in the WSU-HN6 cells (P<0.05). The viability of WSU-HN6 cells transfected with siFAM3C was significantly inhibited at 48 h and 72 h (P<0.05). siFAM3C treatment inhibited the activation of Akt (P<0.05). FAM3C antibody treatment also suppressed the viability of the WSU-HN6 cells at 48 h and 72 h and the activation of Akt (P<0.05). Over-expression of FAM3C in the DOK cells promoted the cell viability at 48 h and 72 h and activated Akt (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: FAM3C might promote oral squamous-cell carcinoma cell growth by activating Akt.     

Effect of beclin-1 gene silencing on TuAKe-injured gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells

AIM: To observe the effect of beclin-1 silencing by the technique of RNA interference on the injury of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell by Sheliugu extract (the extract from tuber of Amorphophallus konjac, TuAKe). METHODS: To knock down the expression of beclin-1 gene, SGC-7901 cells were transfected with lentiviral vector carrying beclin-1-shRNA. The beclin-1 gene knock-down and non-knock-down SGC-7901 cells were treated with TuAKe. The cell viability was analyzed by CKK-8 assay. The percentages of apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry. The expression of beclin-1 and LC3 was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The beclin-1 gene silencing decreased the protein expression of beclin-1 and increased the protein expression of LC3 in the SGC-7901 cells, leading to the decrease in cell viability and the increase in apoptotic rate (P<0.05). TuAKe increased the protein expression of beclin-1 and LC3 in the SGC-7901 cells, and decreased the protein expression of LC3 in the SGC-7901 cells with beclin-1 gene silencing, thus inhibiting the cell viability and increasing the apoptotic rate (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Beclin-1 gene silencing inhibits the activation of beclin-1-related signaling pathway in gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells, and aggravates the injury of cell viability induced by TuAKe.     

PPARγ mediates effects of diosgenin on proliferation and apoptosis in human glioblastoma U87MG cells

AIM:To investigate the effect of diosgenin (Dio) on the proliferation, apoptosis and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in human glioblastoma U87MG cells and its possible mechanism. METHODS:Human astrocytes (HA) and U87MG cells were cultured in vitro and treated with Dio (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 μmol/L) and GW9662 (5 μmol/L) for 48 h, and then the cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. Cell colony formation assay was used to assess the proliferation potential. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. The mRNA expression level of PPARγ was measured by RT-PCR. Western blot was used to determine the protein levels of PPARγ, cyclin D1, cyclin E1, Bcl-2 and Bax. RESULTS:Dio had no significant influence on the viabi-lity of HA (P>0.05). However, Dio remarkably reduced the viability of U87MG cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05) with IC₅₀ of 24.31 μmol/L. Meanwhile, Dio remarkably diminished colony formation ability (P<0.05), induced G₀/G₁ phase arrest of the cell cycle and apoptosis (P<0.05), up-regulated the expression of PPARγ at mRNA and protein levels, increased the protein level of Bax (P<0.05), and down-regulated the protein levels of cyclin D1, cyclin E1 and Bcl-2 (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. However, these effects induced by Dio were inhibited by GW9662 (P<0.05), a specific inhibitor of PPARγ. CONCLUSION:Dio may inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in human glioblastoma U87MG cells most likely via up-regulating the expression of PPARγ, and then down-regulating the protein levels of cyclin D1, cyclin E1 and Bcl-2, and up-regulating the protein level of Bax.     

miR-204 inhibits proliferation of Hodgkin lymphoma cells by targeting Sirt1/p53 signaling pathway

AIM: To investigate the effect of microRNA-204 (miR-204) on the proliferation of Hodgkin lymphoma cells and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The expression of miR-204 and Sirt1 mRNA in Hodgkin lymphoma tissues was detected by RT-qPCR. After transfection with miR-204 mimic, Sirt1 siRNA and miR-204 mimic+pcDNA3.1-Sirt1 into the L428 cells, the cell viability and BrdU incorporation were measured by CCK-8 assay and BrdU assay, respectively. The protein levels of Sirt1 and acetylated p53 (ac-p53) were determined by Western blot.The targeting relationship between miR-204 and Sirt1 was verified by double luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: The low expression of miR-204 and the high mRNA expression of Sirt1 were found in the Hodgkin lymphoma tissues. Compared with control group, the cell viability, BrdU incorporation and the protein levels of Sirt1 and ac-p53 were significantly decreased after L428 cells were transfected with miR-204 mimic or Sirt1 siRNA (P<0.05). Compared with miR-204 mimic alone group, the cell viability, BrdU incorporation and the protein levels of Sirt1 and ac-p53 were increased after L428 cells were co-transfected with miR-204 mimic and pcDNA3.1-Sirt1 (P<0.05). The results of double luciferase reporter assay confiermed that Sirt1 was the target gene of miR-204. CONCLUSION: The inhibitory effect of miR-204 on the proliferation of L428 cells may be achieved by inhibiting the expression of Sirt1 and promoting the up-regulation of ac-p53.     

27-Hydroxycholesterol modulates lung cancer cell proliferation by activation of LXR signaling pathway

AIM:To investigate the effect of cholesterol metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) on the proliferation of lung cancer cells. METHODS:Human lung cancer A549 cells were treated with 27-OHC at different concentrations (0, 0.3125, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 μmol/L) for 24~48 h. The cell viability, cell cycle, cell prolife-ration, the intracellular cholesterol levels and cholesterol metabolism-related molecule expression were subsequently assessed by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, EdU staining, tissue total cholesterol detection kit, real-time PCR and Western blot. RESULTS:27-OHC decreased the viability of the A549 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner (P<0.01) and inhibited the cell proliferation (P<0.05). The expression of typical liver X receptor (LXR) downstream target proteins including ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CR) were modulated, which promoted the efflux of intracellular cholesterol, and reduced cholesterol influx and de novo synthesis, resulting in decreased intracellular cholesterol levels and cell viability. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of 27-OHC on A549 cell viability was significantly attenuated after the LXR pathway was partially blocked by 5 μmol/L GSK2033 treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:27-OHC inhibits A549 cell prolife-ration via activation of LXR signaling pathway.     

不同种源华山松花粉形态变异与生活力分析

【目的】研究不同种源和不同无性系华山松花粉形态的区别,以及不同贮藏条件下花粉生活力的差异。【方法】以6个种源18个无性系的华山松花粉为试材,对其花粉全长、体长、体高及气囊的长、宽、高等形态指标进行测量与分析,同时利用染色法对室温及4,-20℃下贮藏0,10,20,30和90 d的华山松花粉生活力进行测定。【结果】花粉形态大小在不同种源和无性系间均存在极显著差异(P0.01),对于不同种源,花粉全长、体高、体长均以楚雄紫溪山种源最高,昆明宜良种源最低;气囊长、宽、高均以大理巍山种源最高,保山腾冲种源最低。对于不同无性系,花粉全长以楚雄紫溪山93号无性系最大((63.09±10.95)μm);花粉体高以昆明宜良96号无性系最大((45.06±7.06)μm);花粉体长以楚雄紫溪山74号无性系最大((49.73±8.98)μm);花粉气囊的长度以大理巍山46号无性系最大((50.34±7.34)μm),气囊的宽度、高度均以大理巍山50号无性系最大((26.02±4.93)和(30.07±5.13)μm)。不同种源间,以楚雄紫溪山种源花粉形态各指标的平均变异系数最大(17.32%),昆明宜良的变异系数最小(14.65%);在花粉各形态指标中,以气囊高变异系数最大(19.15%),花粉全长变异系数最小(13.70%)。当贮藏时间为0 d时,不同种源和无性系华山松鲜花粉生活力均保持在90%以上,贮藏温度为-20℃时花粉能保持较高的生活力,贮藏90 d时花粉活力明显低于贮藏10 d时,但仍均保持在50%以上。【结论】种源及无性系的不同对华山松花粉的形态变异存在一定程度影响;-20℃为华山松花粉最适贮藏温度,花粉生活力随贮藏时间的增加而下降,但其耐贮藏性较好。     

花期前后高温对玉米花粉发育及结实率的影响

为明确花期不同梯度高温对玉米开花特性和花粉活力的影响,以热敏感基因型玉米品种‘驻玉309’为试验材料,于花期(吐丝前8d～吐丝后8d)进行不同程度高温(31、34和37℃)处理,测定受精结实率、雄穗性状、开花时间、花粉活力及花粉超显微结构,分析生育期前后的高温对受精结实、开花特性及花粉活力的影响。结果表明,花期高温胁迫显著降低玉米受精结实率,对抽雄吐丝间隔期无显著影响,但盛花期提前;极端高温则导致玉米抽雄期显著提前、开花期和盛花期延后,抽雄吐丝间隔期延长;花期高温使花粉粒形态皱缩、萌发孔内陷,显著降低花粉活力,且温度越高,花粉活力降低幅度越大。因此,花期前后高温通过影响玉米影响雄穗开花特性、延长抽雄吐丝间隔期、影响花粉粒形态、降低花粉活力,从而降低玉米的小花受精率和籽粒结实率。     

兜兰花粉活力及柱头可授性探究

本研究以‘绿肉饼’兜兰为试验材料,用扫描电子显微镜对其花粉块进行研究分析。结果显示,花粉块可分为两半,表面光滑呈现紧密网状结构。为获得‘绿肉饼’人工授粉最佳时间,采用TTC (氯化三苯基四氮唑)染色和联苯胺-过氧化氢法进行花粉活力及柱头可授性的研究。TTC染色法结果表明,‘绿肉饼’的花粉活力呈现从弱到强再到弱的趋势,其中开花15~20 d的花粉活力最大,授粉率较高;联苯胺-过氧化氢法结果表明,‘绿肉饼’的柱头可授性随开花时间先弱后强再变弱,其中开花10~20 d的柱头可授性最高。     

Seed longevity and seedling emergence rate of Urochloa decumbens as influenced by sowing depth in a Cerrado soil

Urochloa decumbens (Signal grass) is an African grass species that is widely used in Brazil for pasture formation, and it has a high potential for invading natural areas. This study evaluated the longevity of U. decumbens seeds in the soil seed bank and the emergence rates of seedlings from different depths. In the greenhouse (natural light; ~25°C), seeds were sown at depths of 0, 1, 2 or 3 cm, in trays filled with sterile soil, to assess seedling emergence. Seeds sowed on the soil surface began to germinate 3 days after sowing. Seeds sowed at depths of 2 and 3 cm germinated 5 days after sowing. No seedlings emerged after 15 days. The seedling emergence rate was 74 ± 7% with no significant difference between sowing depths. In the field, seed longevity was evaluated by burying 60 replicates of 100 seeds at a soil depth of 2–3 cm, in a Cerrado area in the IBGE Ecological Reserve, Brasília. From September 2016 to April 2017, five samples were retrieved monthly to assess seed viability. In September, the viability was 68%, declining to 3% in October; by February, viable seeds were no longer recorded. As U. decumbens flowers in several episodes throughout the year, a soil survey may result in a misleading interpretation of the formation of a permanent soil seed bank.