Sublytic C5b-9 induces protective autophagy in cultured podocytes

AIM: In podocytes, autophagy occurs at a high basal level and dysregulated autophagy is associa-ted with a variety of podocytopathies. This paper is to investigate the role of autophagy in sublytic C5b-9-induced podocyte injury. METHODS: Sublytic complement C5b-9 stimulation was used as an in vitro model. Autophagosomes were confirmed using monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining. Immunoblotting was used to measure the change of autophagy-related markers. Cellular morphological changes were observed by Wright-Giemsa staining. Immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy were used to detect the expression and distribution of nephrin. The cell viability was assessed by methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The cell apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/PI staining. RESULTS: For ensuring sublytic complement injury, the maximal amounts of anti-podocyte antiserum and 160×-diluted normal human serum were used without inducing cell lysis (defined as >5% LDH release). Sublytic C5b-9 promoted autophagy of podocytes in vitro. The proautophagic effect of sublytic C5b-9 manifested in the form of accumulated MDC-labeled vesicles and enhanced the expression of LC3-Ⅱ. Autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenosine (3-MA) promoted sublytic C5b-9-induced podocyte morphological abnormalities. Compared with the sublytic C5b-9-injured podocytes, 3-MA exposure further decreased the expression of nephrin. 3-MA enhanced sublytic C5b-9-induced podocyte apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Sublytic C5b-9 attack induces autophagy, which may play a protective role against complement-mediated podocyte injury.     

Herbicide options for effective weed management in dry direct-seeded rice under scented rice-wheat rotation of western Indo-Gangetic Plains

Farmers' participatory field trials were conducted at Madhuban, and Taraori, the two participatory experimental sites/locations of the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA), a collaborative project of IRRI and CIMMYT in Karnal district of Haryana, India, during Kharif (wet season) 2010 and 2011. This research aimed to evaluate preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) herbicides for providing feasible and economically viable weed management options to farmers for predominant scented rice varieties. Treatments with pendimethalin PRE fb bispyribac-sodium + azimsulfuron POST had lower weed biomass at 45 days after sowing (DAS). At Madhuban, highest grain yield of scented basmati rice (3.43 t ha⁻¹) was recorded with the sequential application of pendimethalin PRE fb bispyribac-sodium + azimsulfuron POST. However, at Taraori, yields were similar with pendimethalin or oxadiargyl PRE fb bispyribac-sodium and/or azimsulfuron POST. Applying oxadiargyl by mixing with sand onto flooded field was less effective than spray applications in non-flooded field. The benefit-cost ratio of rice crop was higher with herbicide treatments at both sites as compared with the non-treated weed-free check except single PRE and POST applications and sequential application of oxadiargyl PRE fb oxadiargyl PRE. In a separate experiment conducted at Nagla and Taraori sites, scented rice cultivars' ('CSR 30′ and 'Pusa 1121′) tolerance to three rates of azimsulfuron (15, 25, and 35 g ai ha⁻¹) was evaluated over two years (2010 and 2011). CSR 30 (superfine, scented) was more sensitive to higher rates (35 g ai ha⁻¹) of azimsulfuron as compared to Pusa 1121 (fine, scented). Crop injuries were 8 and 28% in case of CSR 30; 5 and 15% in Pusa 1121 when applied with azimsulfuron 25 and 35 g ai ha⁻¹, respectively. Azimsulfuron applied at 35 g ai ha⁻¹ reduced yield in both cultivars but in CSR 30 yield reduction was twofold (11.5%) as that of Pusa 1121 (5.2%).     

Inlfuence of FSH Treatment on Expression of CDC25A,TSSK3 and P53in Vitro Cultured Sertoli Cells of Calf

CDC25A, TSSK3 and P53 expressionsin vitro in cultured sertoli cells after FSH treatment were studied in order to provide some data for further researches of spermatogenesis. Different concentrations of...     

HMGCR基因多态性与肉牛屠宰性状相关性分析

MHGCR是胆固醇生物合成过程中的限速酶,在内源胆固醇生物合成过程中起着重要的作用。研究以牛HMGCR基因为候选基因,采用PCR-SSCP和测序技术在利杂牛、利西杂牛、秦川牛、西杂牛和夏西杂牛五个群体共123个个体中检测遗传变异情况。结果表明,检测到AA和AB共2种基因型,没有发现BB基因型,测序分析发现一处SNP多态位点(GenBank:BC153262.1 11137TC)。不同基因型与屠宰性状的相关性分析显示,在利西杂群体中AA基因型个体与AB基因型个体相比,AA基因型个体的屠宰率和牛柳指标达到了极显著水平(P0.01),而AA基因型的上脑重显著高于AB基因型(P0.05),其余各项指标基因型间差异不显著(P0.05)。因此,HMGCR基因单核苷酸多态性对利西杂牛脂肪沉积有一定的影响,可作为影响屠宰性状的候选基因,指导肉牛的育种工作。     

水分胁迫下转DREB3基因抗旱大豆的生理反应

采用田间试验方法,在苗期和初花期自然状态、水分胁迫以及充足灌水条件下,研究了转DREB3基因抗旱大豆叶片、茎、根中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,丙二醛(MDA)、脯氨酸和蔗糖含量的变化。结果表明,在自然状态下,苗期水分胁迫第5天时,转DREB3基因抗旱大豆叶片SOD活性显著高于受体大豆东农50,初花期无明显变化;苗期和初花期转DREB3基因抗旱大豆叶片、茎和根中丙二醛、脯氨酸含量与受体大豆东农50相比无明显差异;苗期转DREB3基因抗旱大豆叶片和根中蔗糖含量显著低于受体大豆东农50,初花期差异不显著。在水分胁迫条件下,转DREB3基因抗旱大豆SOD活性显著高于受体大豆东农50,丙二醛含量显著低于受体大豆东农50,初花期水分胁迫第10天时叶片和茎中脯氨酸含量显著高于受体大豆东农50,蔗糖含量显著低于受体大豆东农50。充足灌水管理下,转DREB3基因抗旱大豆与受体大豆东农50相比,苗期和初花期叶片、茎和根中SOD活性、丙二醛和脯氨酸含量无明显差异;苗期转DREB3基因抗旱大豆叶片中蔗糖含量显著低于受体大豆东农50,但在初花期水分胁迫10天时转DREB3基因抗旱大豆叶片中蔗糖含量显著高于受体大豆东农50,苗期和初花期茎和根中蔗糖含量无显著差异。     

An improved method for extraction of sorghum polymeric protein complexes

A method for fractionating sorghum proteins using extraction solvents and techniques designed to obtain polymeric protein structures (especially disulfide linked) was developed. Extraction and separation conditions were optimized in terms of completeness of protein extraction, sample stability, and analytical resolution. After pre-extraction of albumins and globulins, a 3-step sequential procedure involving no reducing agents was applied to ground whole sorghum flour. The three fractions obtained represented proportionally different protein polymer contents and molecular weight distribution as evidenced by comparative size exclusion chromatography. Protein composition also varied among the extracts with differences in kafirin composition and non-kafirin proteins detected in the fractions by RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE analysis. The ability to quantify and further characterize sorghum polymeric protein complexes will be useful for additional studies linking protein structures with functionality and digestibility and variations for these properties within diverse sorghum germplasm.     

绵羊卵泡发育过程中关键信号通路研究进展

卵泡从原始卵泡发育为成熟卵泡，直至排卵、黄体发育等过程都受到精密的调控，产生大量的优势卵泡是绵羊产多羔及实现快速扩繁的关键因素。研究发现，相关信号通路和转录因子通过影响绵羊卵泡中卵母细胞、颗粒细胞的生长，进而调控卵泡的发育成熟，对这些信号通路进行深入了解，有助于探索卵泡发育的调控机制，早日实现绵羊高效繁育。Notch是卵泡发育过程中发挥重要作用的高度保守信号通路，PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路各成员都是广泛存在于细胞内的信号转导分子，在卵泡发育早期发挥了主要作用，还有间隙连接（gap junction，GJ）和跨带突触（transzonal projections，TZPs）等物理连接方式，在细胞间的交流通讯起到重要作用。作者详细介绍了Notch信号通路、PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路、间隙连接及跨带突触的结构功能在绵羊卵泡发育中的调控作用，为进一步探明绵羊卵泡发育的调控机制提供参考。