Microstructure of Single Chain Quaternary Ammonium Cations Intercalated into Montmorillonite: A Molecular Dynamics Study

This study uses molecular dynamics (MD) modeling to examine the interlayer microstructures of montmorillonite intercalated with single chain QACs. Three types of QACstetramethylammonium (TMA), decyltrimethylammonium (DTMA), and hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA)were selected to synthesize the organoclay complex, and the surfactant arrangement was analyzed quantitatively in systems in the absence of water. A series of arrangement patterns of interlayer QAC surfactant were observed, including lateral monolayers, lateral bilayers, pseudotrilayers, and paraffin monolayers, in agreement with previous experimental results. The effects of increasing one carbon chain length and amount of loading of QAC on the resultant QAC arrangement are summarized, yielding a model that provides insight into the prediction of synthesized QAC–clay microstructure and engineering behavior in practice

LMHFV activated p38 MAPK.

<p>P-p38/p38 rose up by LMHFV on day 1, 4 and day 8:representative gel of p-p38 and p38 (a), and quantification of p-p38 protein level (b);<i>P</i><0.01(**).</p

Characterization and Functional Analysis of the Potato Pollen-Specific Microtubule-Associated Protein SBgLR in Tobacco

<div><p>Microtubule-associated proteins play a crucial role in the regulation of microtubule dynamics, and are very important for plant cell and organ development. SBgLR is a potato pollen-specific protein, with five imperfect V-V-E-K-K-N/E-E repetitive motifs that are responsible for microtubule binding activity. In present study, SBgLR showed typical microtubule-associated protein characteristics; it bound tubulin and microtubules, and colocalized with microtubules <i>in vitro</i>. We also found that SBgLR could form oligomers, and that both the SBgLR monomers and oligomers bundle microtubules <i>in vitro</i>. Constitutive expression of SBgLR in tobacco caused curving and right-handed twisting root growth, abnormal directional cell expansion and cell layer arrangement, and pollen abortion. Immunofluorescence staining assays revealed that microtubule organization is altered in root epidermal cells in SBgLR-overexpressing lines. These suggest that SBgLR functions as a microtubule-associated protein in pollen development. Our results indicate that normal organization of MTs may be crucial for pollen development.</p> </div

Additional file 5: Table S5. of Segmental duplications: evolution and impact among the current Lepidoptera genomes

Gene families that were found to be different among the SDs regions from the five studied genomes. (XLSX 10 kb

Low magnitude high frequency vibration promotes adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow stem cells via P38 MAPK signal

<div><p>Low magnitude high frequency vibration (LMHFV) has been mainly reported for its influence on the musculoskeletal system, particularly the bone tissue. In the bone structure, osteogenic activity is the main focus of study with regards to LMHFV. However, adipogenesis, another important mode of differentiation in the bone marrow cavity that might be affected by LMHFV, is much less researched. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism of how LMHFV influences adipogenesis still needs to be understood. Here, we tested the effect of LMHFV (0.3g, 40 Hz, amplitude: 50μm), 15min/d, on multipotent stem cells (MSCs), which are the common progenitors of osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic and myogenic cells. It is previously shown that LMHFV promotes osteogenesis of MSCs. In this study, we further revealed its effect on adipo-differentiation of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) and studied the underlying signaling pathway. We found that when treated with LMHFV, the cells showed a higher expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα, adiponectin and showed more oil droplets. After vibration, the protein expression of PPARγ increased, and the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was enhanced. After treating cells with SB203580, a specific p38 inhibitor, both the protein level of PPARγ illustrated by immunofluorescent staining and the oil droplets number, were decreased. Altogether, this indicates that p38 MAPK is activated during adipogenesis of BMSCs, and this is promoted by LMHFV. Our results demonstrating that specific parameters of LMHFV promotes adipogenesis of MSCs and enhances osteogenesis, highlights an unbeneficial side effect of vibration therapy used for preventing obesity and osteoporosis.</p></div

Analysis of <i>SBgLR</i> expression in different transgenic lines.

<p>A, Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis. The cDNAs reverse transcribed using RNA extracted from 7-day-old seedlings of different transgenic lines were used. The tobacco actin gene was used as a reference gene. B, Immunoblotting analysis of SBgLR accumulation in the stem (S), root (R), cotyledon (C), hypocotyl (H), anther (A) and pollen (P) of transgenic tobacco. The actin protein was detected as a loading control.</p

LMHFV increased the formation of lipid droplets during the adipogenic process of BMSCs.

<p>BMSCs after induction for 8 days. Staining is done by oil red o staining: control group cells (<b>a</b>)scale bar = 50 μm, (<b>b</b>)scale bar = 50 μm; vibration group cells(<b>c</b>) scale bar = 50 μm, (<b>d</b>)scale bar = 50 μm; (<b>e</b>) quantification of cells with oil droplets increased by vibration, <i>P</i><0.01(**).</p

Phenotype and cell morphology observation of SBgLR-overexpressing tobacco.

<p>A and B, Phenotype of the seedlings. A, OE25; B, WT. C and D, SEM images of hypocotyl epidermal cells. C, OE25; D, WT. Bar = 100 µm. E and F, Hypocotyl cross sections. E, OE25; F, WT. Bar = 100 µm. G and H, SEM images of cotyledon pavement cells. G, OE25; H, WT. Bar = 100 µm. I and J, Cotyledon sections. I, OE25; J, WT. Bar = 100 µm.</p

Additional file 3: Table S3. of Segmental duplications: evolution and impact among the current Lepidoptera genomes

Gene duplicates located in the SD intervals. (XLSX 68 kb

mRNA expression of adipogenic genes were strengthened by LMHFV.

<p>Effects of LMHFV on adipogenic marker genes: when cells exposed to LMHFV, mRNA expression of (<b>a</b>)PPARγ, (<b>b</b>)C/EBPα and (<b>c</b>)adiponectin, were higher; <i>P</i><0.01(**).</p