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.     

SCFAs对奶牛瘤胃上皮细胞Ca2+信号通路相关基因表达的影响

为探究短链脂肪酸(SCFAs)对奶牛瘤胃上皮细胞(BRECs)Ca~(2+)信号通路相关基因表达的影响,试验分为3个处理组,分别为野生型BRECs组,含20mmol/L SCFAs BRECs组,含20mmol/L SCFAs且通过CRISPR/Cas 9系统敲除GPR41基因的BRECs组,每个处理组3个重复,每组细胞均培养24h后,收集细胞提取总RNA,通过qRT-PCR对Ca~(2+)信号通路相关基因的mRNA表达量和细胞内Ca~(2+)浓度进行测定。结果表明,与野生型BRECs相比,添加20mmol/L SCFAs可极显著增加PLCB2的mRNA表达量(P0.01),显著增加IP3R1的mRNA表达量(P0.05),对PLCE1、PLCL1、PKCB和PKCG的mRNA表达量无显著差异(P0.05),可增加细胞内Ca~(2+)浓度但无显著差异(P0.05);敲除SCFAs的受体GPR41后,添加20 mmol/L SCFAs可显著降低IP3R1的mRNA表达量(P0.05),极显著上调PLCE1和PLCB2的mRNA表达量(P0.01),但对PLCL1、PKCB和PKCG的mRNA表达量无显著影响(P0.05),细胞内Ca~(2+)浓度有降低趋势但无显著差异(P0.05)。综上,SCFAs可以通过激活其受体GPR41来调控BRECs内Ca~(2+)信号通路中相关基因的表达和细胞内Ca~(2+)的释放。     

加州鲈弹状病毒三水株全基因组序列测定及分析

【目的】对加州鲈弹状病毒弱毒三水株(MSRV-SS-7)及其母源株(MSRV-SS)进行全基因组克隆和测序分析。【方法】采用分段扩增方法对MSRV-SS-7及MSRV-SS基因组核心序列进行PCR扩增,第1轮根据鳜鱼弹状病毒(SCRV)基因序列(NC_008514.1)设计10对引物进行扩增并测序;在第1轮扩增产物测序、拼接基础上,设计8对引物进行第2轮扩增,拼接后获得基因组核心序列。同时用cDNA末端快速扩增法(RACE)获得3′和5′末端序列。采用Vector NTI 8.0对基因组核心序列和末端序列进行拼接,获得基因组全序列,使用Clone Manager 8.0对MSRV-SS-7和MSRV-SS进行序列比对分析;同时使用DNAMAN将基因组G基因序列转换为氨基酸序列,并通过MEGA 5.0与其他鱼类弹状病毒的G蛋白氨基酸序列进行进化树分析。【结果】MSRV-SS-7及其母源株MSRV-SS基因组全长均为11 548 bp,包含N、P、M、G、L等5个结构基因,基因组结构为3′Leader-N-P-M-G-L-Trailer 5′;MSRV-SS-7与MSRV-SS全基因组中共有10处核苷酸不同。G蛋白进化分析表明,MSRV-SS-7及母源株MSRV-SS与SCRV亲缘关系最近,且与鲈鱼弹状病毒属(Perhabdovirus)聚为一支。【结论】克隆分析了MSRV-SS-7的全基因组序列,可以用于后续活疫苗的开发。     

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.     

生防菌+恶霉灵最优组合的筛选及对苦瓜枯萎病的防治效果研究

苦瓜枯萎病是由尖孢镰孢菌苦瓜专化型（Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. momordicae）侵染引起的一种土传病害，目前市场上缺乏防治效果较好的农药或生防菌剂。为了更好地防治苦瓜枯萎病，通过盆栽试验筛选出绿针假单胞菌（Pseudomonas chlororaphis）G5 与恶霉灵复配施用的最优组合，并在苦瓜枯萎病发病样地对盆栽试验筛选出的最优组合进行防效验证。试验结果表明：菌药组合B+0.75Hym（1×10⁹ cfu · mL^-1 G5 菌悬液+187.5 mg · L-¹ 恶霉灵）处理对盆栽苦瓜枯萎病的防病效果为81.60%，明显高于其他处理；同时该组合对苦瓜幼苗的促生作用最为明显。接种苦瓜枯萎病菌后，菌药组合B+0.75Hym的苦瓜叶片中PAL、PPO、POD 防御酶活性较高。田间防效验证试验中苦瓜苗移栽30、60 d 后菌药组合B+0.75Hym 对苦瓜枯萎病的防治效果较高，分别达到了52.59%、32.13%，且苦瓜产量也高于其他处理。表明盆栽试验筛选出的菌药最优组合B+0.75Hym 不仅能够降低农药的使用量，而且能够有效防治苦瓜枯萎病，提高苦瓜产量，有一定的生产实用价值。     

Identification of sorghum genotypes suitable for specific end uses: Semolina recovery and popping

There has always been an interest in devising breeding programs for designer foods that would benefit both the producer and consumer. The challenge today is transformation of agriculture from “subsistence farming” to “market and income generation oriented” production system for which sorghum with its diverse end uses can assume significant role. Breeding for end-use identity-specific genotypes is needed for increased profitability to the farmers. In the present study, 60 sorghum genotypes were evaluated over two years to identify genotypes suitable for semolina recovery and popping properties, i.e. popping efficiency and pop volume expansion. Semolina recovery ranged from 20.7% to 48.3%, while popping efficiency ranged from 0 to 77.5%. Semolina recovery had positive and significant association with endosperm texture (r = 0.62), grain density (r = 0.49) and grain hardness (r = 0.55) indicating that genotypes with corneous endosperm yield high semolina. Also, semolina recovery had significant positive correlation with popping efficiency (r = 0.49) indicating that genotypes suitable for semolina can also be used for popping. Genetic divergence studies indicated that out of three clusters formed, cluster II having guinea race germplasm lines are suitable for semolina and popping. The information generated and the genotypes identified will help in enhancing the demand for sorghum as an industrial crop.     

Identification of resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection in cotton germplasm

Natural resistance in cottonseed to Aspergillus flavus infection has not been explored to date. A green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing A. flavus strain was used to assess the resistance of seed from 35 cotton varieties from Gossypium arboreum, G. barbadense, and G. hirsutum. Mature cotyledons devoid of seed coat were wounded, inoculated, and assessed for innate resistance to A. flavus infection. Of the initial 35 varieties tested, we observed a range of resistance to infection in representatives of all three species. A subset of 15 representatives was further analyzed. Within this group, G. arboreum cultivar A2 186 and G. hirsutum cultivar SA 1582 were most resistant to fungal infection. The most susceptible cultivar in this group was G. hirsutum SA 1595. The remaining 12 representatives tested in the secondary screen (3 G. arboreum, 3 G. barbadense, and 6 G. hirsutum lines) exhibited intermediate resistance. We did not observe any relationship between species and resistance. Within each species, there was a range of responses to fungal infection. Future studies using this methodology to screen additional diploid and tetraploid cotton lines may enable us to identify naturally resistant germplasm that can be used to develop cotton with enhanced resistance to fungal infection.     

大豆RING/U-box蛋白Glyma.13G115900的克隆及其对非生物胁迫的应答

课题组前期对干旱胁迫下大豆转录组的数据分析发现大豆Glyma.13G115900基因编码一个RING/U-box蛋白,其表达水平受干旱胁迫影响显著。本研究以垦丰16大豆为试验材料,克隆Glyma.13G115900基因。氨基酸多重序列比对表明其编码的蛋白与其它物种都具有高度保守的RING/U-box结构域。构建原核表达载体pET-29b-Glyma.13G115900转化到大肠杆菌中,Glyma.13G115900蛋白在大肠杆菌中能够表达。荧光定量PCR分析表明Glyma.13G115900基因的表达量受PEG、NaCl和ABA的影响显著,但基本不受冷胁迫的诱导。经PEG和NaCl处理后,该基因表达量与CK相比呈现出显著下降的趋势,PEG处理的表达量变化比NaCl下调的更明显;在ABA诱导下与CK相比该基因的mRNA丰度呈现出先上升后下降的趋势,在4 h表达量出现峰值,推测该基因可能通过依赖于ABA途径参与非生物胁迫应答。以上结果为进一步深入研究该基因的调控途径奠定基础。