Fucoxanthin Pretreatment Ameliorates Visible Light-Induced Phagocytosis Disruption of RPE Cells under a Lipid-Rich Environment via the Nrf2 Pathway

Fucoxanthin, a special xanthophyll derived from marine algae, has increasingly attracted attention due to its diverse biological functions. However, reports on its ocular benefits are still limited. In this work, the ameliorative effect of fucoxanthin on visible light and lipid peroxidation-induced phagocytosis disruption in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells was investigated in vitro. Marked oxidative stress, inflammation, and phagocytosis disruption were evident in differentiated RPE cells following their exposure to visible light under a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich environment. Following pretreatment with fucoxanthin, however, the activated nuclear factor erythroid-derived-2-like 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway was observed and, furthermore, when the fucoxanthin -pretreated RPE cells were irradiated with visible light, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and inflammation were obviously suppressed, while phagocytosis was significantly improved. However, following the addition of Nrf2 inhibitor ML385, the fucoxanthin exhibited no ameliorative effects on the oxidative stress, inflammation, and phagocytosis disruption in the RPE cells, thus indicating that the ameliorative effect of fucoxanthin on the phagocytosis of RPE cells is closely related to the Nrf2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, these results suggest that fucoxanthin supplementation might be beneficial to the prevention of visible light-induced retinal injury.     

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Upregulate SIRT1/3, Activate PGC-1α via Deacetylation,and Induce Nrf1 Production in 5/6 Nephrectomy Rat Model

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of kidney injury related with cardiovascular disease. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) protects renal tubular cells by upregulating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK)-mediated phosphorylation and sirtuin 1/3 (SIRT1/3)-mediated deacetylation are required for PGC-1α activation. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) regulate the expression of mediators of mitochondrial biogenesis in 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx) rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to the following groups: sham control, Nx, and Nx treated with omega-3 FA. The expression of PGC-1α, phosphorylated PGC-1α (pPGC-1α), acetylated PGC-1α, and factors related to mitochondrial biogenesis was examined through Western blot analysis. Compared to the control group, the expression of PGC-1α, pAMPK, SIRT1/3, Nrf1, mTOR, and Nrf2 was significantly downregulated, and that of Keap 1, acetylated PGC-1α, and FoxO1/3, was significantly upregulated in the Nx group. These changes in protein expression were rescued in the omega-3 FA group. However, the expression of pPGC-1α was similar among the three groups. Omega-3 FAs may involve mitochondrial biogenesis by upregulating Nrf1 and Nrf2. This protective mechanism might be attributed to the increased expression and deacetylation of PGC-1α, which was triggered by SIRT1/3.     

Long-Term Feeding of Chitosan Ameliorates Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in a High-Fructose-Diet-Impaired Rat Model of Glucose Tolerance

This study was designed to investigate the effects of long-term feeding of chitosan on plasma glucose and lipids in rats fed a high-fructose (HF) diet (63.1%). Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged seven weeks were used as experimental animals. Rats were divided into three groups: (1) normal group (normal); (2) HF group; (3) chitosan + HF group (HF + C). The rats were fed the experimental diets and drinking water ad libitum for 21 weeks. The results showed that chitosan (average molecular weight was about 3.8 × 10⁵ Dalton and degree of deacetylation was about 89.8%) significantly decreased body weight, paraepididymal fat mass, and retroperitoneal fat mass weight, but elevated the lipolysis rate in retroperitoneal fats of HF diet-fed rats. Supplementation of chitosan causes a decrease in plasma insulin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Interleukin (IL)-6, and leptin, and an increase in plasma adiponectin. The HF diet increased hepatic lipids. However, intake of chitosan reduced the accumulation of hepatic lipids, including total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) contents. In addition, chitosan elevated the excretion of fecal lipids in HF diet-fed rats. Furthermore, chitosan significantly decreased plasma TC, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), the TC/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, and increased the HDL-C/(LDL-C + VLDL-C) ratio, but elevated the plasma TG and free fatty acids concentrations in HF diet-fed rats. Plasma angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) protein expression was not affected by the HF diet, but it was significantly increased in chitosan-supplemented, HF-diet-fed rats. The high-fructose diet induced an increase in plasma glucose and impaired glucose tolerance, but chitosan supplementation decreased plasma glucose and improved impairment of glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance. Taken together, these results indicate that supplementation with chitosan can improve the impairment of glucose and lipid metabolism in a HF-diet-fed rat model.     

橡胶树HAD家族蛋白酸性磷酸化酶基因VSP2的表达分析

植物营养储藏蛋白VSP2是HAD家族蛋白(haloalcanoic acid dehalogenase super family,HAD)的主要成员之一。该蛋白具有酸性磷酸化酶的功能,在橡胶树氮素储存和植物凝集素防御胁迫中发挥着重要的作用。在前期研究中,利用c DNA-AFLP获得了1条与橡胶树棒孢霉落叶病抗病性相关的差异表达片段EST-IAN-24,通过Blast比对分析,发现该基因片段与其他物种的VSP2基因具有较高同源性。采用PCR和RT-PCR技术,克隆获得了一个橡胶树VSP2基因的c DNA和基因组序列,并将该基因命名为Hb VSP2。基因序列分析显示,该基因编码区全长(CDS)975 bp,含有4个内含子和5个外显子,编码324个氨基酸,推测该蛋白的分子质量为30.01 ku,等电点为4.80。该基因蛋白是HAD家族蛋白中的酸性磷酸酶,具有DXDXT基序特征。q RT-PCR定量分析发现,受多主棒孢病菌侵染后,Hb VSP2基因在橡胶树抗、感品种中的表达量存在着明显的差异,抗病品种(IAN873)的表达量显著高于感病品种(PR107),且在接种12 h达到了峰值;此外,该基因在水杨酸、茉莉酸甲酯、乙烯的处理下均能诱导其表达,对茉莉酸甲酯的敏感性明显高于其他2个激素。本研究初步表明,Hb VSP2基因可能参与橡胶树与多主棒孢病菌的互作并且与抗病性相关。     

赤霉素（GA3）和脱落酸（ABA）对不同水稻品种生长和生理特性及GA20ox2、GA3ox2基因表达的影响

 以5个水稻品种4叶1心期的幼苗为材料,比较研究了1 μmol/L GA₃和10 mg/L ABA处理对不同水稻品种生长发育、生理特性及基因表达的影响。结果表明,GA3处理能够促进水稻地上部分伸长生长,抑制根伸长生长;同时,5个品种叶片的叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白质含量和细胞膜透性呈上升趋势。10 mg/L ABA处理则严重抑制种子萌发和地上部伸长生长;5个品种叶片的叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白质含量和细胞膜透性则呈现下降趋势。 用RT PCR方法对GA20ox2和GA3ox2基因表达水平的变化进行检测,结果表明GA₃处理后,日本晴GA20ox2基因表达略微下调,其余4个品种的GA20ox2基因表达上调。ABA处理抑制GA20ox2基因表达。GA3ox2基因表达也受GA3和ABA调控。在南粳44、关东194和日本晴中,GA3诱导GA3ox2表达,ABA显著抑制GA3ox2表达。性     

大豆对羟苯丙酮酸双加氧酶基因的克隆与表达分析

采用电子克隆与实验克隆结合的方法获得了大豆对羟苯丙酮酸双加氧酶基因的cDNA序列,GenBank登录号为EF608178.利用多种生物信息学工具分析了该cDNA序列及其编码的蛋白质序列,分析了其启动子特征和电子表达谱.结果表明:该cDNA序列含有1个编码443个氨基酸的完整的开放读码框,3'端具有2个加尾信号和polyA尾巴.启动子区除含有通用核心元件外,还含有许多与光反应有关的作用元件;不同物种之间对羟苯丙酮酸双加氧酶的氨基酸序列同源性较高;该基因在光合作用和贮藏器官中的表达量高.     

油棕脂肪酸外运蛋白基因FAX1的克隆及表达分析

油棕(Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)原产非洲,是重要的热带木本油料作物,产油效率极高.目前油棕广泛种植在东南亚、非洲、中南美洲和我国的海南、云南、广东、广西等省(区),油棕果实压榨的棕榈油是重要的食用油和工业原料.脂肪酸在植物质体中合成,然后转运到内质网上进行加工和修饰.为了研究油棕脂肪酸的转运机制,...     

金鱼草花青素糖基转移酶基因的克隆与表达特性分析

以白苏子(Perilla frutescens)花青素糖基转移酶基因为探针,通过电子克隆和RT-PCR的方法从金鱼草(Antirrhinum majus L.)叶片中克隆到花青素糖基转移酶基因(Am GT1)的全长c DNA,并对其表达特性进行分析。结果表明:Am GT1全长892 bp,编码277个氨基酸;进化分析表明Am GT1的氨基酸序列与白苏子的同源性最高为79%,与其他花青素糖基转移酶蛋白的同源性在42%~62%之间,表明Am GT1是从金鱼草中克隆的新的花青素糖基转移酶基因。实时定量RT-PCR分析表明:该基因在金鱼草叶片中的表达量最高,根中的表达量最低;该基因虽然在红色、粉色、黄色、白色花朵中均有表达,但在红色花朵中的表达量最高,且存在一个从紧蕾期到松蕾期的跃变。     

普洱茶对非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠肠道脂肪吸收及粘膜屏障的干预研究

研究了普洱茶调控非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠肠道对长链脂肪酸的吸收,并探讨了其可能机制。将36只SD大鼠随机分成正常对照组、脂肪肝模型组和普洱茶干预组,每组12只。实验第8周末处死所有大鼠,测定大鼠体质量、肝指数及血清血脂水平;采用定量PCR测定大鼠肠道黏膜脂质吸收相关蛋白细胞分化抗原36(Cluster of differentiation 36,CD36)、紧密连接相关蛋白如闭锁蛋白(Occludin)、紧密连接蛋白(Zonula occludens 1,ZO-1)和肿瘤坏死因子α(Tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)基因表达水平。研究结果表明,与模型组相比,普洱茶组大鼠体质量和血清LDL-C水平分别下降了16.12%和42.59%;此外,普洱茶组大鼠小肠组织CD36、TNF-α表达水平明显降低,而Occludin、ZO-1表达水平明显升高。研究发现,普洱茶对NAFLD大鼠肠道长链脂肪酸吸收及肠道紧密连接蛋白有一定程度的调控作用,尤其是对NAFLD早期发生发展中游离脂肪酸过度沉积的"第一次打击"有防治价值。     

菠萝酸性转化酶基因家族初步生物信息学及表达分析

酸性转化酶（acid invertase, AIN）在菠萝采后蔗糖降解过程中起着重要作用,基于菠萝全基因组数据库,预测菠萝AIN家族基因并进行生物信息学分析,解析其在采后菠萝不同贮藏温度下的表达变化情况,为阐明AIN基因在采后菠萝果实贮藏特性中的作用奠定基础。以水稻AIN家族基因为探针,在菠萝全基因组中鉴定到2个菠萝细胞壁酸性转化酶基因（cell wall acid invertase, CWIN）和2个液泡酸性转化酶基因（vacuolar acid invertase, VIN）,分别命名为AcCWIN1、AcCWIN2、AcVIN1、AcVIN2,设计编码区引物进行测序验证,并进行生物信息学分析。进化分析结果表明,AcCWIN1、AcCWIN2和AcVIN1、AcVIN2蛋白分别归于细胞壁酸性转化酶和液泡酸性转化酶2个进化支上,且均属于糖基水解酶家族GH32,基因结构、保守域和保守基序均一致。荧光定量分析结果表明,菠萝果肉中AcVIN1和AcVIN2在果实采后贮藏过程中表达量升高,且AcVIN1在发生黑心病的部位大量表达,而AcCWIN1和AcCWIN2在采后贮藏过程中表达量逐渐降低,且随着贮藏温度的升高其表达量降低,预示AcVIN1、AcVIN2较AcCWIN1、AcCWIN2在菠萝采后蔗糖降解和黑心病的发生方面发挥着更为重要的作用。     

Regulatory Function of Histone Modifications in Controlling Rice Gene Expression and Plant Growth

Histone modifications play pivotal roles in chromatin remodeling and gene regulation. Rice genome possesses multiple genes encoding different classes of histone modification enzymes. Specific histone modification patterns in rice are associated with either heterochromatic or euchromatic regions or related to gene expression. Functional studies of several rice genes encoding histone deacetylases and histone methyltransferases and demethylases reveal specific regulators involved in transposon repression, development regulation, and responses to environmental conditions. Functional interplay between rice histone modification regulators in gene regulation and transposon silencing and their implication in rice epigenetic variation are discussed.     

Sargachromenol Purified from Sargassum horneri Inhibits Inflammatory Responses via Activation of Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling in LPS-Stimulated Macrophages

In this study, we isolated sargachromenol (SC) from Sargassum horneri and evaluated its anti-inflammatory effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. SC did not show cytotoxicity at all concentrations and effectively increased the cell viability by reducing the nitric oxide (NO) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. In addition, SC decreased the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and inflammatory mediators (iNOS and COX-2). Moreover, SC suppressed the activation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, whereas activated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) signaling in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Interestingly, the anti-inflammatory effect of SC was abolished by the inhibition of HO-1 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. According to the results, this study suggests that the antioxidant capacity of SC leads to its anti-inflammatory effect and it potentially may be utilized in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors.     

小麦SGT1基因的克隆与表达特性分析

为了研究SGT1基因在不同小麦抗病反应中的表达特性,采用RT-PCR和RACE方法,从小麦cDNA中分离出包含SGT1基因全长cDNA序列.该基因编码具有377个氨基酸的蛋白,具有已知SGT1蛋白典型的5个功能域,即TPR区、VR1区、CS区、VR2区和SGS区.小麦SGT1蛋白与大麦SGT1蛋白的氨基酸序列具有97%的相似性.Southern杂交结果显示,SGT1基因在小麦基因组中有3个拷贝.分析结果表明,大麦黄矮病毒、白粉病菌、纹枯病菌和赤霉病菌侵染小麦均可诱导小麦SGT1基因转录水平上调,说明SGT1可能参与了小麦不同抗病反应.     

稻曲病菌UvHog1基因的克隆及表达分析

稻曲病由稻曲病菌引起,是水稻穗部的重要病害。利用同源克隆和RACE技术,根据丝状真菌相对保守的氨基酸序列设计简并引物,从稻曲病菌中分离了丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)编码基因的全长cDNA序列,命名为UvHog1。UvHog1含有MAPK保守的蛋白激酶激活域(TGY),序列与稻瘟病菌MgOsm1(AAF09475.1)、球孢白僵菌BbHog1(AAS77871.1)、烟曲霉AfOsm1(XP752664.1)和隐球酵母CrHog1(AAM26267.1)等MAPK高度同源,相似性分别为95%、93%、88%和81%。系统聚类结果表明,UvHog1与酵母Hog1MAPK同源。在盐胁迫条件下,UvHog1的相对表达量明显降低,表明UvHog1参与了对盐胁迫的信号响应。     

橡胶树羟基腈水解酶基因的克隆、表达和基因家族分析

植物体内羟基腈水解酶(HNL)催化羟基腈类化合物水解,释放氢氰酸,抵御害虫和病原菌的侵害。橡胶树是产氰植物,生物信息学研究表明,橡胶树有6个HNL基因,在分子进化分析中与大戟科其他植物的HNL基因聚为一类,与十字花科等植物的HNL亲缘关系较远,说明大戟科HNL基因的重复发生在与十字花科等植物分化之后,大戟科植物通过HNL基因的重复强化对病虫害的防御作用。通过RT-PCR从橡胶树热研7-33-97品系中克隆了其中最重要的1个HNL蛋白编码基因Hb HNL-1。该基因c DNA序列全长1 003 bp,阅读框771 bp,编码257个氨基酸,其编码蛋白分子量为29.2 ku,理论等电点为5.7。定量PCR分析表明,Hb HNL-1在初生胶乳中的表达量是次生胶乳中的100多倍,在幼嫩叶片中的表达量为成熟叶片的8倍。说明橡胶树的幼嫩组织器官是Hb HNL-1的重点防御部位。     

小麦脱水素基因WDHN1-2的克隆及其表达分析

为进一步明确小麦脱水素基因WDHN1-2在逆境条件下的功能,以伞穗山羊草DHN1基因为探针,通过电子克隆及RT-PCR技术获得WDHN1-2基因后对其序列特征进行分析,同时利用基因表达综合数据库及半定量RT-PCR技术对该基因的表达模式进行解析。结果表明,WDHN1-2基因编码区(CDS)长为548bp,编码的氨基酸具有脱水素保守序列K、Y和S片段,与山羊草脱水素EMT25371亲缘关系最近。WDHN1-2蛋白属于稳定且高度亲水蛋白,二级结构以α-螺旋和无规则卷曲为主;该蛋白在亚细胞中定位的可能性:过氧化物酶体细胞核线粒体基质,可能行使转录调控的功能。表达模式分析发现,WDHN1-2基因在小麦开花后22d的胚乳中表达量最高,在ABA、PEG、NaCl及4℃低温胁迫下表达量均先上升后下降。     

番茄1-氨基环丙烷羧酸ACC合成酶基因的克隆及其反义基因表达载体的构建

从成熟番茄果实中分离mRNA,以Oligo（dT）为引物在AMV逆转录酶作用下合成ACC2cDNA第一链,以cDNA为模板通过PCR扩增ACC2基因,获得1.45kb的扩增片段,将此片段克隆到BS质粒的EcoRV位点上,对插入片段两端进行部分序列分析,随后,将此片段以反方向插入双元载体pBI151的35S启动子和NOS终止子之间,通过三条交配法将携带反义ACC2基因的中间表达载体pBA7转入根癌农杆菌LBA4404,得到了完整的Ti质粒表达载体系统。