Mechanism of Fuzilizhong decoction alleviating inflammatory damage of rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

AIM To observe the effect of Fuzilizhong decoction on the inflammatory damage of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） rats and to explore its mechanism. METHODS SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups： control group, model group, high dose （20 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）, middle dose （10 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）, low dose （5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） Fuzilizhong decoction group and Yishanfu （30 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）group, 8 rats in each group. A NAFLD rat modelwas established by intragastric administration of fat emulsion for 4 weeks. Then the drug was given for 4 weeks in each treatment group. HE staining was performed to observe the histopathological changes of the rat liver.The serum levels of interleukin-2（IL-2）, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α） were measured by ELISA. The expression of toll like receptor 4（TLR4） and NF-κB p65 in liver tissues at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-qPCR and Western bolt,respectively. RESULTS Compared with control group, the inflammatory damage of liver tissue was more serious, the serum levels of IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α, the mRNA expression TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in liver tissues were significantly increased in model group（P<0.05）. However, compared with model group, the liver pathological changes in each treatment group were significantly relieved, the serum levels of IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α, the mRNA expression of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in liver tissues were significantly reduced（P<0.05）.In addition, the changes of TLR4 and p-NF-κB p65 protein levels in liver tissue were consistent with the changes of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 mRNA. CONCLUSION Fuzilizhong decoction attenuates the inflammatory damages of NAFLD in rats by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway.     

Synthesis and Anthelmintic Activity of 7-Hydroxy- 5-oxo-5H-thieno[3,2-b]pyran-6-carboxanilides and -6-thiocarboxanilides

7-Hydroxy-5-oxo-5H-thieno[3,2-b]pyran-6-carboxanilides and -6-thio-carboxanilides represent a novel series of anthelmintic compounds, with broad-spectrum activity against important parasitic nematodes in sheep and dogs. In particular, an improved efficacy against Trichostrongylus colubriformis in sheep over the related 3-carbamoyl-4-hydroxycoumarins has been noted. New synthetic routes to the key intermediate, 7-hydroxythieno[3,2-b]pyran-5-one, have been developed.     

Embryo-mediated genome editing for accelerated genetic improvement of livestock

Selecting beneficial DNA variants is the main goal of animal breeding. However, this process is inherently inefficient because each animal only carries a fraction of all desirable variants. Genome editing technology with its ability to directly introduce beneficial sequence variants offers new opportunities to modernize animal breeding by overcoming this biological limitation and accelerating genetic gains. To realize rapid genetic gain, precise edits need to be introduced into genomically-selected embryos, which minimizes the genetic lag. However, embryo-mediated precision editing by homology-directed repair (HDR) mechanisms is currently an inefficient process that often produces mosaic embryos and greatly limits the numbers of available edited embryos. This review provides a summary of genome editing in bovine embryos and proposes an embryo-mediated accelerated breeding scheme that overcomes the present efficiency limitations of HDR editing in bovine embryos. It integrates embryo-based genomic selection with precise multi-editing and uses embryonic cloning with elite edited blastomeres or embryonic pluripotent stem cells to resolve mosaicism, enable multiplex editing and multiply rare elite genotypes. Such a breeding strategy would enable a more targeted, accelerated approach for livestock improvement that allows stacking of beneficial variants, even including novel traits from outside the breeding population, in the most recent elite genetic background, essentially within a single generation.     

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。     

Basal internode elongation of rice as affected by light intensity and leaf area

Short basal internodes are important for lodging resistance of rice(Oryza sativa L.).Several canopy indices affect the elongation of basal internodes,but uncertainty as to the key factors determining elongation of basal internodes persists.The objectives of this study were(1)to identify key factors affecting the elongation of basal internodes and(2)to establish a quantitative relationship between basal internode length and canopy indices.An inbred rice cultivar,Yinjingruanzhan,was grown in two split-plot field experiments with three N rates(0,75,and 150 kg N ha−1 in early season and 0,90,and 180 kg N ha−1 in late season)as main plots,three seedling densities(16.7,75.0,and 187.5 seedlings m−2)as subplots,and three replications in the 2015 early and late seasons in Guangzhou,China.Light intensity at base of canopy(Lb),light quality as determined from red/far-red light ratio(R/FR),light transmission ratio(LTR),leaf area index(LAI),leaf N concentration(NLV)and final length of second internode(counted from soil surface upward)(FIL)were recorded.Higher N rate and seedling density resulted in significantly longer FIL.FIL was negatively correlated with Lb,LTR,and R/FR(P<0.01)and positively correlated with LAI(P<0.01),but not correlated with NLV(P>0.05).Stepwise linear regression analysis showed that FIL was strongly associated with Lb and LAI(R2=0.82).Heavy N application to pot-grown rice at the beginning of first internode elongation did not change FIL.We conclude that FIL is determined mainly by Lb and LAI at jointing stage.NLV has no direct effect on the elongation of basal internodes.N application indirectly affects FIL by changing LAI and light conditions in the rice canopy.Reducing LAI and improving canopy light transmission at jointing stage can shorten the basal internodes and increase the lodging resistance of rice.     

Change features of time-series climate variables from 1962 to 2016 in Inner Mongolia,China

Detecting change features of climate variables in arid/semi-arid areas is essential for understanding related climate change patterns and the driving and evolution mechanism between climate and arid/semi-arid ecosystems.This paper takes Inner Mongolia of China,a unique arid/semi-arid ecosystem,as the study area.We first detected trend features of climate variables using the linear trend analysis method and then detected their trend-shift features using the breaks for additive seasonal and trend method based on the time-series of monthly precipitation and monthly mean temperature datasets from 1962 to 2016.We analyzed the different change features of precipitation and temperature on a regional scale and in different ecological zones to discover the spatial heterogeneity of change features.The results showed that Inner Mongolia has become warmer-wetter during the past 54 years.The regional annual mean temperature increased 0.4°C per decade with a change rate of 56.2%.The regional annual precipitation increased 0.07 mm per decade with a slightly change rate of about 1.7%,but the trend was not statistically significant.The warmer trend was contributed by the same positive trend in each season,while the wetter trend was contributed by the negative trend of the summer precipitation and the positive trend of the other three seasons.The regional monthly precipitation series had a trend-shift pattern with a structural breakpoint in the year 1999,while the regional monthly mean temperature series showed an increasing trend without a periodical trend-shift.After the year 2000,the warmer-wetter trend of the climate in Inner Mongolia was accelerated.The late 20th century was a key period,because the acceleration of the wetter trend in some local zones(I and II)and the alleviation of the warmer trend in some local zones(Ⅶ,Ⅷand IX)occurred simultaneously.Moreover,the change features had a strong spatial heterogeneity,the southeastern and southwestern of Inner Mongolia went through a warmer-drier trend compared with the other areas.The spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the climate change features is a necessary background for various types of research,such as regional climate change,the evolution of arid/semi-arid ecosystems,and the interaction mechanisms between climate and arid/semi-arid ecosystems based on earth-system models in Inner Mongolia.     

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy activates CREB/BDNF signaling pathway to reduce synaptic damage in hippocampal neurons of Alzheimer disease mice

AIM To investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on synaptic damage of hippocampal neurons in APP/PS1 transgenic (TG) mice and its possible mechanism. METHODS The 6-month-old male APP/PS1 TG mice were randomly divided into TG group, HBO group and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) inhibitor H89 group, with 10 mice in each group. Ten male wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice of the same age were used as negative control group (WT group). The mice in HBO and H89 groups were treated with HBO for 6 cycles, while the mice in WT group and TG group were not treated. The learning and memory abilities were observed by Morris water maze. The nesting ability of the mice was detected by nesting test. The Nissl bodies in hippocampal neurons were observed by Nissl staining. The mRNA expression of CREB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampus was detected by real-time PCR. The protein levels of synapsin (SYN), postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), CREB, phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) and BDNF in the hippocampus were determined by Western blot. RESULTS Compared with WT group, the learning and memory abilities of the mice in TG group were signilficantly reduced (P<0.05). In addition, the nesting score, the number of Nissl bodies in the hippocampal neurons, the mRNA expression of CREB and BDNF, and the protein levels of SYN, PSD95, GAP43, p-CREB and BDNF were also decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with TG group, the learning and memory abilities of the mice in HBO group were improved (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the nesting scores of the mice were significantly increased (P<0.05), the neurons in the hippocampus were arranged neatly, and the number of Nissl bodies, the relative mRNA expression of CREB and BDNF,and the protein levels of SYN, PSD95, GAP43, p-CREB and BDNF were also increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with HBO group, the mice in H89 group had poor learning and memory abilities, lowered nesting scores and decreased number of Nissl bodies. Futhermore, the relative mRNA expression of CREB and BDNF, and the protein levels of SYN, PSD95, GAP43, p-CREB and BDNF were also decreased significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION HBO improves the learning and memory abilities of APP/PS1 TG mice, and its mechanism may be related to activating the CREB/BDNF signaling pathway to reduce synaptic damage of hippocampal neurons in mice.     

黑果枸杞LrDREB1基因克隆及其在非生物胁迫下的表达分析

DREB(Dehydrate responsive element binding factor)转录因子是植物非生物逆境适应中的关键调节因子,该类转录因子具有保守的AP2/EREBP结构域,在低温、高盐等非生物逆境胁迫下,可调控下游逆境应答基因的表达,对增强植物的抗逆能力有重要作用。黑果枸杞具有极强的耐干旱、盐碱能力,为研究黑果枸杞DREB类基因在低温、盐碱响应中的功能,本研究以强抗盐灌木黑果枸杞总RNA为模板,基于前期转录组测序拼接序列,利用RT-PCR方法克隆得到一条DREB基因。该基因含有一个1116 bp的开放阅读框,编码372个氨基酸。系统进化树分析显示,Lr DREB1基因属于DREB亚家族A2组成员,与拟南芥AtDREB2B、AtDREB2E具有较高的相似性。荧光定量PCR结果显示,Lr DREB1受盐胁迫、ABA胁迫和低温胁迫诱导表达,可能参与依赖ABA的信号转导途径,调节黑果枸杞抗盐响应。本研究通过对黑果枸杞LrDREB1基因的克隆、序列分析和表达分析,为研究Lr DREB1的功能及黑果枸杞抗盐机理提供了帮助。     

枸杞根腐病病原菌鉴定及其拮抗菌的筛选

为了针对根腐病实施有效的生物防治,分离鉴定枸杞根腐病病原菌及其拮抗菌,采用组织分离法获得腐根上的病原菌,结合形态学与分子生物学特征鉴定病原菌;利用稀释涂布、滤纸片法和共培养法从健康根际土壤筛选拮抗细菌,通过形态学观察、生理生化鉴定和16S rDNA序列分析对拮抗效果较好的菌株进行鉴定。结果表明：从枸杞根腐病分离得到腐皮镰刀菌（Fusarium solani）和尖孢镰刀菌（Fusarium oxysporum）两种主要致病菌,从健康枸杞根际土壤中分离获得12株对两种镰刀菌具有拮抗作用的细菌,其中J7-3、J7-8、J7-9和J10-8对腐皮镰刀菌的抑菌率均在80%以上,J7-3和J10-8对尖孢镰刀菌的抑菌率均在70%以上。菌株J7-3和J10-8对根腐病病原菌的抑菌作用较好,分别鉴定为解淀粉芽孢杆菌（Bacillus amyloliquefaciens）和枯草芽孢杆菌（Bacillus subtilis）,其中J10-8的拮抗作用和溶菌效果最好,可作为研发微生物菌剂的菌种资源。