Molecular and Functional Characterization of Odorant Binding Protein 7 From the Oriental Fruit Moth Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are widely and abundantly distributed in the insect sensillar lymph and are essential for insect olfactory processes. The OBPs can capture and transfer odor molecules across the sensillum lymph to odorant receptors and trigger the signal transduction pathway. In this study, a putative OBP gene, GmolOBP7, was cloned using specific-primers, based on the annotated unigene which forms the antennal transcriptome of Grapholita molesta. Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that GmolOBP7 was highly expressed in the wings of males and the antennae of both male and female adult moths, while low levels were expressed in other tissues. The recombinant GmolOBP7 (rGmolOBP7) was successfully expressed and purified via Ni-ion affinity chromatography. The results of binding assays revealed that rGmolOBP7 exhibited a high binding affinity to the minor sex pheromone 1-dodecanol containing Ki of 7.48 μM and had high binding capacities to the host-plant volatiles, such as pear ester, lauraldehyde and α-ocimene. RNA-interference experiments were performed to further assess the function of GmolOBP7. qRT-PCR showed that the levels of mRNA transcripts significantly declined in 1 and 2 day old male and female moths, treated with GmolOBP7 dsRNA, compared with non-injection controls. The EAG responses of dsRNA-injected males and females to pear ester, as well as the EAG responses of dsRNA-injected males to 1-dodecanol, were significantly reduced compared to the GFP-dsRNA-injected and non-injected controls. We therefore infer that GmolOBP7 has a dual function in the perception and recognition of the host-plant volatiles and sex pheromones

(S)-(+)-4-(Oxiran-2-ylmeth­oxy)-9H-carbazole

In the title compound, C15H13NO2, all atoms of the carbazole group are coplanar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.005 Å), and the dihedral angle between this plane and C—O—C plane of oxane group is 57.1 (4)°. The crystal packing is stabilized by an N—H⋯O hydrogen bond, resulting in infinite supra­molecular chains along [001]

Effect of Bushen yixue decoction on follicular development in experimental androgen-sterilized anovulatory rats and its possible mechanism of action

Purpose: To explore the activities of Bushen yixue decoction (BSY) against follicular development in anovulatory rats.Methods: Rats were divided into normal, normal control, clomifene citrate (positive control, orally, 5 mg/kg), and BSY (orally, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg) groups. Anovulatory rats were prepared by testosterone propionate injection (1.5 mg/rat). After 70 days, daily vaginal smears were performed for 10 days until no obvious sexual cycle was observed, indicating that androgen-sterilized anovulatory rats were successfully established. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyse BSY chemical composition. Levels of follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), oestradiol (E2), progesterone (P), prolactin (PRL), inhibin (INH), activin (ACT) and follistatin (FS) were determined by radioimmunoassay or enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blotting was used to determine Bcl-2, cleaved-caspase-3, Bax, MMP-9 and VEGF in ovarian tissues.Results: BSY increased (p < 0.05) the levels of FSH, LH, E2 (p < 0.05) and ACT, but decreased (p < 0.05) the levels of PRL, INH and FS, relative to control rats. Expressions of VEGF (p < 0.01), MMP-9 (p < 0.05) and Bcl-2 (p < 0.01) were up-regulated by BSY, whereas Bax (p < 0.01) and C-caspase-3 (p < 0.01) were down-regulated.Conclusion: BSY promotes follicular development of anovulatory rats via regulating INH-ACT-FS hormones, VEGF, MMP-9, Caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2. Thus, BSY may have the potential to be developed for clinical management of infertility.Keywords: Bushen yixue decoction, Follicular development, Inhibin-Activin-Follistatin (INH-ACT-FS) system, Androgen-sterilized anovulatory rat

Bis(2-amino-6-methyl-1,3-benzothia­zole-κN 3)bis­(4-nitro­benzoato-κO 1)zinc

In the title mononuclear complex, [Zn(C7H4NO4)2(C8H8N2S)2], the ZnII atom is coordinated by two N atoms from two 2-amino-6-methyl-1,3-benzothia­zole and by two carboxylate O atoms from two 4-nitro­benzoate ligands, adopting a slightly distorted tetra­hedral coordination geometry. In the crystal, inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the amino group of 2-amino-6-methyl-1,3-benzothia­zole and the carboxyl­ate group of 4-nitro­benzoate link these discrete mononuclear units into a one-dimensional supra­molecular chain extending parallel to [100]

A new odorous frog species of Odorrana (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae) from Guizhou Province, China

The frog genus Odorrana is distributed across east and southeastern Asia. Based on morphological differences and molecular phylogenetics, a new species of the genus occurring from Leigong Mountain in Guizhou Province, China is described. Phylogenetic analyses based on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and ND2 genes supported the new species as an independent lineage. The uncorrected genetic distances between the 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and ND2 genes between the new species and its closest congener were 5.0%, 4.9%, and 16.3%, respectively. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: body size moderate (SVL 39.1–49.4 mm in males, 49.7 mm in female); head width larger than head length; tympanum distinctly visible; small rounded granules scattered all over dorsal body and limbs; dorsolateral folds absent; heels overlapping when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body; tibiotarsal articulation reaching the level between eye to nostril when leg stretched forward; vocal sacs absent in male and nuptial pads present on the base of finger I

Differential activation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase in spinal cord in a model of bee venom-induced inflammation and hyperalgesia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Honeybee's sting on human skin can induce ongoing pain, hyperalgesia and inflammation. Injection of bee venom (BV) into the intraplantar surface of the rat hindpaw induces an early onset of spontaneous pain followed by a lasting thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity in the affected paw. The underlying mechanisms of BV-induced thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity are, however, poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the generation of BV-induced pain hypersensitivity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that BV injection resulted in a quick activation of p38, predominantly in the L4/L5 spinal dorsal horn ipsilateral to the inflammation from 1 hr to 7 d post-injection. Phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) was expressed in both neurons and microglia, but not in astrocytes. Intrathecal administration of the p38 inhibitor, SB203580, prevented BV-induced thermal hypersensitivity from 1 hr to 3 d, but had no effect on mechanical hypersensitivity. Activated ERK1/2 was observed exclusively in neurons in the L4/L5 dorsal horn from 2 min to 1 d, peaking at 2 min after BV injection. Intrathecal administration of the MEK inhibitor, U0126, prevented both mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity from 1 hr to 2 d. p-ERK1/2 and p-p38 were expressed in neurons in distinct regions of the L4/L5 dorsal horn; p-ERK1/2 was mainly in lamina I, while p-p38 was mainly in lamina II of the dorsal horn.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results indicate that differential activation of p38 and ERK1/2 in the dorsal horn may contribute to the generation and development of BV-induced pain hypersensitivity by different mechanisms.</p

circ-NOL10 regulated by MTDH/CASC3 inhibits breast cancer progression and metastasis via multiple miRNAs and PDCD4

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in carcinogenesis. Here, we investigated the mechanisms and clinical significance of circ-NOL10, a highly repressed circRNA in breast cancer. Subsequently, we also identified RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that regulate circ-NOL10. Bioinformatics analysis was utilized to predict regulatory RBPs as well as circ-NOL10 downstream microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNA targets. RNA immunoprecipitation, luciferase assay, fluorescence in situ hybridization, cell proliferation, wound healing, Matrigel invasion, cell apoptosis assays, and a xenograft model were used to investigate the function and mechanisms of circ-NOL10 in vitro and in vivo. The clinical value of circ-NOL10 was evaluated in a large cohort of breast cancer by quantitative real-time PCR. Circ-NOL10 is downregulated in breast cancer and associated with aggressive characteristics and shorter survival time. Upregulation of circ-NOL10 promotes apoptosis, decreases proliferation, and inhibits invasion and migration. Furthermore, circ-NOL10 binds multiple miRNAs to alleviate carcinogenesis by regulating PDCD4. CASC3 and metadherin (MTDH) can bind directly to circ-NOL10 with characterized motifs. Accordingly, ectopic expression or depletion of CASC3 or MTDH leads to circ-NOL10 expression changes, suggesting that these two RBPs modulate circ-NOL10 in cancer cells. circ-NOL10 is a novel biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis in breast cancer. These results highlight the importance of therapeutic targeting of the RBP-noncoding RNA (ncRNA) regulation network

Functional Network-Based Statistics Reveal Abnormal Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy

Purpose: Whole-brain functional network analysis is an emerging methodology for exploring the mechanisms underlying hepatic encephalopathy (HE). This study aimed to identify the brain subnetwork that is significantly altered within the functional connectome in minimal HE (MHE), the earliest stage of HE.Materials and Methods: The study enrolled 19 cirrhotic patients with MHE and 19 controls who underwent the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive assessment based on the Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy Score (PHES). A whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) matrix was calculated for each subject. Then, network-based statistical analyses of the functional connectome were used to perform group comparisons, and correlation analyses were conducted to identify the relationships between FC alterations and cognitive performance.Results: MHE patients showed significant reduction of positive FC within a subnetwork that predominantly involved the regions of the default-mode network, such as the bilateral posterior cingulate gyrus, bilateral medial prefrontal cortex, bilateral hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus, bilateral angular gyrus, and left lateral temporal cortex. Meanwhile, MHE patients showed significant reduction of negative FC between default-mode network regions (such as the bilateral posterior cingulate gyrus, medial prefrontal cortex, and angular gyrus) and the regions involved in the somatosensory network (i.e., bilateral precentral and postcentral gyri) and the language network (i.e., the bilateral Rolandic operculum). The correlations of FC within the default-mode subnetwork and PHES results were noted.Conclusion: Default-mode network dysfunction may be one of the core issues in the pathophysiology of MHE. Our findings support the notion that HE is a neurological disease related to intrinsic brain network disruption