The composition of a protein aggregate modulates the specificity and efficiency of its autophagic degradation

<p>The mechanism underlying autophagic degradation of a protein aggregate remains largely unknown. A family of receptor proteins that simultaneously bind to the cargo and the Atg8 family of autophagy proteins (such as the MAP1LC3/LC3 subfamily) has been shown to confer cargo selectivity. The selectivity and efficiency of protein aggregate removal is also modulated by scaffold proteins that interact with receptor proteins and ATG proteins. During <i>C. elegans</i> embryogenesis, autophagic clearance of the cargoes PGL-1 and PGL-3 requires the receptor protein SEPA-1 and the scaffold protein EPG-2. SEPA-1 and EPG-2 also form aggregates that are degraded by autophagy. Here we investigated the effect of composition and organization of PGL granules on their autophagic degradation. We found that depletion of PGL-1 or PGL-3 facilitates the degradation of SEPA-1 and EPG-2. Removal of EPG-2 is also promoted when SEPA-1 is absent. Depletion of PGL-1 or PGL-3 renders the degradation of SEPA-1 independent of EPG-2. We further showed that overexpression of SEPA-1 or EPG-2 as well as SQST-1 or EPG-7 (scaffold protein), which belong to different classes of aggregate, has no evident effect on the degradation of the other type. Our results indicate that the composition and organization of protein aggregates provide another layer of regulation to modulate degradation efficiency.</p

Data_Sheet_1_An empirical analysis of the impact of higher education on economic growth: The case of China.docx

China's domestic labor market has limited demand for tertiary graduates due to an unbalanced industrial structure, with a weak contribution to economic performance over the past decade. This study estimates the asymmetric effects of higher education progress (highly educated employed workforce), higher education utilization (highly educated unemployed workforce), and the separate effects of higher education utilization interactions with high-tech industries on economic growth in China from 1980 to 2020. Using a Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model, this study finds that the expansion of higher education progress (the employed workforce with higher education) promotes economic growth, while contraction of higher education progress (employed workforce with higher education) reduces economic growth. Likewise, an increase in higher education utilization (the unemployed labor force with higher education) suppresses economic growth, while a decline in the higher education utilization (the unemployed labor force with higher education) promotes economic growth. The study also found that the expansion of high-tech industries and government spending on education significantly stimulate economic growth. The moderating role of higher education utilization (unemployed labor force with higher education) in the impact of high-tech industries on economic growth is significantly positive. This study strategically proposes that China's higher-educated unemployed labor force can be adjusted to high-tech industries, which need to be developed equally in all regions. Moreover, the country is required to invest more in higher education and the development of high technological industries across all regions, thus may lead to higher economic growth.</p

DataSheet_1_Mariculture may intensify eutrophication but lower N/P ratios: a case study based on nutrients and dual nitrate isotope measurements in Sansha Bay, southeastern China.docx

The mariculture industry has grown rapidly worldwide over the past few decades. The industry helps meet growing food demands and may provide an effective means of carbon sequestration; however, it may harm the marine ecological environment, and the extent of its impact depends on the type of mariculture. Here we focus on the impact of mariculture on the nutrient status and eutrophication in Sansha Bay, which is a typical aquaculture harbor in southeastern China that employs a combination of shellfish and seaweed farming. Nutrient concentrations and dual nitrate isotopes were measured in Sansha Bay during the winter of 2021. The average concentrations of nitrate and phosphate were 31.3 ± 10.5 and 2.26 ± 0.84 µM, respectively, indicating that the water was in a eutrophic state. However, the N/P ratios were relatively low (14.3 ± 2.2). Nitrate isotope measurements were 8.8‰–11.9‰ for δ15N-NO3− and 2.2‰–6.0‰ for δ18O-NO3−. Source analysis based on the nitrate isotope measurements indicates that nitrate in Sansha Bay is derived mainly from the excretion of organisms and sewage discharge from mariculture. The isotopic fractionation model of nitrate assimilation by organisms indicates that surface waters in Sansha Bay experience strong biological uptake of nitrate, which is likely related to seaweed farming in winter. The low N/P ratios may be attributed to excessive nitrogen uptake (relative to phosphorus) during shellfish and seaweed farming, as well as nitrogen removal through sediment denitrification, which is fueled by the sinking of particulate organic matter from mariculture. Overall, our study shows that mariculture activities dominated by shellfish and seaweed cultivation in Sansha Bay may exacerbate eutrophication but reduce N/P ratios in the water column in aquaculture areas.</p

Effects of evodiamine (EVO) on the protein expression of Cyt C, caspase-12, -8, -9 and -3, Fas and Trail in the H446 and H1688 SCLC cells.

<p>Cell lysates were analyzed by Western blot. Each experiment was repeated 3 times. Data presented as mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). Untreated H446 or H1688 cells were used as a negative control group. *<i>P</i><0.05 as compared to corresponding control group. Fas: factor associated suicide; Trail: tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand; Cyt C: cytochrome C.</p

Evodiamine (EVO) induces apoptosis through two intrinsic caspase-dependent pathways, but not through an extrinsic caspase-dependent pathway.

<p>Evodiamine (EVO) induces apoptosis through two intrinsic caspase-dependent pathways, but not through an extrinsic caspase-dependent pathway.</p

Effects of evodiamine (EVO) on the activities of caspase-8 (A), -9 (B) and -3 (C) in H446 cells.

<p>Cell lysates were analyzed by a colorimetric assay of Ac-DEVD-pNA. Each experiment was repeated 3 times. Data presented as mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). Caspase activities were given as arbitrary units (AU) per milligram of protein. Untreated H446 cells were used as a negative control group. *<i>P</i><0.05 as compared to the corresponding control group. ^#<i>P</i><0.05 as compared to corresponding EVO treated group at 24 h. <i>P</i><0.05 as compared to corresponding EVO treated group at 48 h.</p

Effects of evodiamine (EVO) on the levels of ROS, Ca²⁺ and ψ_m in H446 and H1688 SCLC cells.

<p>ROS, Ca²⁺ and ψ_m were separately detected by DCF-DA, Fluo-3/AM and JC-1 assays. Each experiment was repeated 3 times. Data presented as mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). Untreated H446 or H1688 cells were used as a negative control group. *<i>P</i><0.05 as compared to corresponding control group.</p

Additional file 1: of Effect of sivelestat sodium in patients with acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Prisma 2009 Checklist. (DOC 72 kb

Effects of evodiamine (EVO) on the mRNA expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in H446 and H1688 cells.

<p>Cell lysates were analyzed by RT-PCR. Each experiment was repeated 3 times. Data presented as mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). Untreated H446 or H1688 cells were used as a negative control group. *<i>P</i><0.05 as compared to the control group. ^#<i>P</i><0.05 as compared to corresponding EVO treated group at 24 h. <i>P</i><0.05 as compared to corresponding EVO treated group at 48 h.</p

Flame-driven Aerosol Synthesis of Copper–Nickel Nanopowders and Conductive Nanoparticle Films

We report the continuous one-step synthesis of bimetallic copper–nickel nanostructured coatings by deposition and sintering of metal nanoparticles produced as an aerosol using a flame driven high temperature reducing jet (HTRJ) process. The HTRJ process allows gas-phase (aerosol) formation of metal nanoparticles from low-cost metal salt precursors. These can be collected as discrete powders for subsequent use in formulating conductive inks or for other applications. However, direct deposition of nanoparticles to form coatings allows measurements of electrical conductivity of films of deposited nanoparticles as a function of composition and sintering temperature, without actually formulating and printing inks. This is the approach taken here for the purpose of screening nanoparticle compositions quickly. We characterized the microstructure and composition of both nanopowders and films and found that their composition consistently matched the ratio of metals in the precursor solution. The electrical conductivity was highest (∼10⁴ S/m) for films with 60:40 and 40:60 copper-to-nickel mass ratios. These films maintained their conductivity during extended storage (1 month) under ambient conditions. The oxidation resistance and high conductivity observed here suggest that 60:40 and 40:60 Cu:Ni nanoparticles have promise as lower cost replacements for silver nanoparticles in conductive ink formulations