Multi-scale structure, pasting and digestibility of adlay (Coixlachryma-jobi L.) seed starch

peer-reviewedThe hierarchical structure, pasting and digestibility of adlay seed starch (ASS) were investigated compared with maize starch (MS) and potato starch (PS). ASS exhibited round or polyglonal morphology with apparent pores/channels on the surface. It had a lower amylose content, a looser and more heterogeneous C-type crystalline structure, a higher crystallinity, and a thinner crystalline lamellae. Accordingly, ASS showed a higher slowly digestible starch content combined with less resistant starch fractions, and a decreased pasting temperature, a weakened tendency to retrogradation and an increased pasting stability compared with those of MS and PS. The ASS structure-functionality relationship indicated that the amylose content, double helical orders, crystalline lamellar structure, and surface pinholes should be responsible for ASS specific functionalities including pasting behaviors and in vitro digestibility. ASS showed potential applications in health-promoting foods which required low rearrangement during storage and sustainable energy-providing starch fractions

Simopone fisheri sp. n., a new species of Dorylinae ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from China, with an illustrated key to the S. grandidieri-group species

Simopone fisheri sp. n., a new species of the subfamily Dorylinae, is described based on the worker caste. The new species is separated easily from the other named congeners by the longitudinally striate sculpture on the posterolateral portion of pronotum. An illustrated key is presented to species of the S. grandidieri group based on the worker caste

Radiation Enhances the Epithelial– Mesenchymal Transition of A549 Cells via miR3591-5p/USP33/PPM1A

Background/Aims: Radiotherapy plays a critical role in lung cancer treatment. Radiation can activate transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling and induce the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which may lead to distant metastases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested to affect radiotherapy in lung cancer. Methods: miRNA Next-Generation Sequencing was performed to investigate the effects of irradiation on the miRNA profile of lung cancer A549 cells. The functions of identified miRNA on the radiation induced EMT and TGF-β activation in A549 cells were then explored. Protein expression was evaluated by western blotting. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the localization of Snail. Luciferase Assay was used to determine the target gene regulated by the identified miRNA. Results: Radiation time-dependently induced EMT in A549 lung cancer cells as indicated by the changes of morphology, the expression of EMT marker proteins (E-cadherin, α-SMA and Vimentin) and the nuclear localization of Snail. Moreover, miR-3591-5p was identified as the most significant increased miRNA in response to radiation, and further experiments indicated that miR-3591-5p was required for radiation induced EMT and TGF-β/ Smad2/3 activation. Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 33 (USP33) was a downstream target of miR-3591-5p as predicted by TargetScan and validated by 3’ untranslated regions (UTRs) Luciferase Assay. USP33 could deubiquitinate PPM1A (protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2 + dependent 1A), a phosphatase for Smad2/3. Ectopic expression of USP33 or PPM1A partially abolished the effects of miR-3591-5p on EMT and TGF-β/ Smad2/3 activation. Conclusion: The present study revealed the critical role of miR-3591-5p/USP33/PPM1A in radiation-induced EMT via TGF-β signaling and may suggest novel radiation sensitise strategies for lung cancer

Identification and characterization of class 1 integrons among Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from patients in Zhenjiang, China

SummaryObjectivesThe role of integrons in the spread of antibiotic resistance has been well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the resistance profiles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients in Zhenjiang to 13 antibiotics, and to identify the structure and dissemination of class 1 integrons.MethodsThe Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion assay was used to determine the rate of P. aeruginosa resistance. Class 1 integrons from multidrug-resistant isolates were amplified by PCR, and their PCR products were sequenced. We also analyzed the integron structures containing the same gene cassettes by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Isolates were genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).ResultsThe resistance rates were between 29.6% and 90.1%. The prevalence of class 1 integrons was 38.0%. These integrons included five gene cassettes (aadB, aac6-II, blaPSE-1, dfrA17, and aadA5). The dfrA17 and aadA5 gene cassettes were found most often.ConclusionsClass 1 integrons were found to be widespread in P. aeruginosa isolated from clinical samples in the Zhenjiang area of China. The antibiotic resistance rates in class 1 integron-positive strains of P. aeruginosa were noticeably higher than those in class 1 integron-negative strains. PFGE showed that particular clones were circulating among patients