Down-regulation of NRIP1 alleviates pyroptosis in human lens epithelial cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide by inhibiting NF-κB activation

Purpose: To investigate the role of nuclear receptor-interacting protein 1 (NRIP1) in oxidative stressinduced apoptosis and pyroptosis in cataract disease.Methods: Human lens epithelial cells (HLE-B3 cells) were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). NRIP1 expression in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-treated HLE-B3 cells was determined by western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). CCK8 and EdU staining were used to assess cell viability. Flow cytometry and western blotting were used to assess pyroptosis.Results: NRIP1 was significantly up-regulated in HLE-B3 cells post-H2O2 incubation (p < 0.01). Hydrogen peroxide incubation reduced cell viability and proliferation of HLE-B3 cells, while NRIP1 knockdown enhanced cell viability and proliferation. NRIP1 silencing attenuated the H2O2-induced increase in NLRP3, N-terminal domain of gasdermin D, caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18 in HLEB3 cells, but suppressed the pyroptosis of H2O2-treated HLE-B3 cells. Hydrogen peroxide incubation down-regulated protein expression of cytoplasmic NF-κB and up-regulated nuclear NF-κB, while the expression of cytoplasmic NF-κB was increased and nuclear NF-κB was decreased in HLE-B3 cells by HLE-B3 interference.Conclusion: NRIP1 down-regulation represses apoptosis and pyroptosis of H2O2-treated human lens epithelial cells by inhibiting NF-κB activation, thus, providing a potential strategy to treat cataract disease

Efficacy of relacin combined with sodium hypochlorite against Enterococcus faecalis biofilms

Objective: Relacin is a synthetic molecule that targets RelA, an essential protein in a conserved bacterial stress response system. It was shown to inhibit bacterial growth. The aims of this study were to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of relacin combined with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on Enterococcus faecalis biofilms and to evaluate the cytotoxicity of relacin. Material and Methods: 48-h E. faecalis OG1RF biofilms were treated by various concentrations of relacin in order to determine its inhibitory concentration. Then, the 48-h biofilms were treated either with 1-min NaOCl (0.01%, 0.05%) alone, or in combination of relacin. As a means of comparison, the biofilms of ΔrelA were also treated by 1-min NaOCl (0.01%, 0.05%, 0.25%). The treatment efficacy was determined by agar plate count assays. The cytotoxicity of relacin was examined on human gingival epithelial cells Ca9-22 and murine fibroblasts NIH-3T3 by a methyl thiazolyltetrazolium (MTT) assay and a lactate dehydrogenase assay. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way or two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni’s post-hoc test and an independent Student’s t-test. A significance level of p<0.05 was used. Results: Relacin inhibited the growth of OG1RF biofilms partially at 8 mM and fully at 14 mM. The relacin (14 mM) and NaOCl combined treatment resulted in significantly higher treatment efficacy than NaOCl treatment alone. At 0.05% NaOCl, the combined treatment resulted in 5.65 (±0.19) log reduction in biofilm viability. The ΔrelA biofilms were more susceptible to NaOCl treatment than the wild type biofilms at 0.25% NaOCl. Relacin at 14 mM was not toxic to host epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Conclusions: The combination of relacin with a low concentration of NaOCl was effective and not cytotoxic

Predicting adsorbed gas capacity of deep shales under high temperature and pressure: Experiments and modeling

Temperature and pressure conditions of deep shale are beyond experiment range, and the amount of adsorbed gas is difficult to determine. To predict the adsorbed gas content of deep shales under formation conditions, isothermal adsorption experiments and model building were conducted on shale samples from Longmaxi Formation in China. A temperature-dependent adsorption model based on the Langmuir equation is proposed, which can be well-fitted by observed isotherms with a high correlation coefficient. Based on the fitted parameters at 303.15 K, the isothermal adsorption curves at 333.15 K, 363.15 K, and 393.15 K are predicted, showing a good agreement with experimental curves available. Compared with previous prediction methods, the biggest advantage of the proposed method is that it can be carried out only based on one-time isothermal adsorption experiment. Based on the predictions, the downward trend of the excess adsorption curves will slow down under high temperature and pressure conditions, and when the pressure reaches a certain level (> 80 MPa), the temperature has little effect on the excess adsorption capacity. While for absolute adsorption, the gas adsorption reaches saturation much slowly at high temperature, it can also reach saturation under formation pressure. Under the burial depth of marine shale, temperature plays a major role in controlling the adsorbed gas, resulting in the decrease of adsorbed gas content in deep shale, and its ratio will further decrease as the depth increases.Cited as: Zhou, S., Wang, H., Li, B., Li, S., Sepehrnoori, K., Cai, J. Predicting adsorbed gas capacity of deep shales under high temperature and pressure: Experiments and modeling. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2022, 6(6): 482-491. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2022.06.0

Structural characterization of inclusion complex of arbutin and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

Purpose: To improve the solubility and stability of arbutin and to expand its application by preparing its inclusion complex with hydroxypropyl-β- cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD).Methods: An inclusion complex made of arbutin and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) was prepared by freeze-drying method. Various analytical techniques, including ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffractometry (XRD) and thermo-gravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC), were used to characterize the inclusion complex.Results: UV spectra indicated that no new unsaturated bond was formed in the inclusion complex. Infrared analysis showed that the smaller peaks in the proximity of 1450 - 1600 cm-1 were characteristic of the aromatic nucleus, indicating that the phenyl ring of arbutin was involved in the formation of the inclusion complex. Scanning electron micrographs of the inclusion complex showed that the original morphology of both components disappeared, and some tiny aggregates of amorphous areas of irregular size were present, revealing that the arbutin was dispersed in HP-β-CD. The powder XRD pattern of the inclusion complex was more similar to that of amorphous HP-β-CD and did not exhibit the characteristic peaks of arbutin which suggest that arbutin in HP-β-CD matrix was molecularly dispersed, and existed in an amorphous state. The TG curve of the inclusion complex was a one-step process, partly proving the formation of the complex. Complex formation with HP-β-CD remarkably improved the physical and chemical stabilities of arbutin.Conclusion: Inclusion complex of arbutin with HP-β-CD improves the heat stability of arbutin remarkably. This has a potential for expanding the application of arbutin to pharmaceuticals and food.Keywords: Arbutin, Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, Inclusion complex, Physicochemical properties, Stability, Solubilit

蛋白质多肽氨基端乙酰化酶NatB介导底物特异性乙酰化反应的分子基础

文章简介蛋白质多肽氨基端乙酰化(N-terminal acetylation)发生在蛋白质或多肽的氨基端第一个氨基酸的(N端)α氨基上,是真核生物中一种最常见的蛋白质翻译后修饰方式。该修饰是由6类N端乙酰转移酶(NAT)来完成的(Nat A至Nat F),而每一种都只作用于其特异的蛋白国家自然科学基金委;;科技部的经费支

TRA2A Binds With LncRNA MALAT1 To Promote Esophageal Cancer Progression By Regulating EZH2/beta-catenin Pathway

The RNA binding protein TRA2A, a member of the transformer 2 homolog family, plays a crucial role in the alternative splicing of pre-mRNA. However, it remains unclear whether TRA2A is involved in non-coding RNA regulation and, if so, what are the functional consequences. By analyzing expression profiling data, we found that TRA2A is highly expressed in esophageal cancer and is associated with disease-free survival and overall survival time. Subsequent gain- and loss-of-function studies demonstrated that TRA2A promotes proliferation and migration of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma cells. RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down assay indicated that TRA2A can directly bind specific sites on MALAT1 in cells. In addition, ectopic expression or depletion of TRA2A leads to MALAT expression changes accordingly, thus modulates EZH2/β-catenin pathway. Together, these findings elucidated that TRA2A triggers carcinogenesis via MALAT1 mediated EZH2/β-catenin axis in esophageal cancer cells

A single amino acid substitution in the R3 domain of GLABRA1 leads to inhibition of trichome formation in Arabidopsis without affecting its interaction with GLABRA3

GLABRA1 (GL1) is an R2R3 MYB transcription factor that regulates trichome formation in Arabidopsis by interacting with the bHLH transcription factor GLABRA3 (GL3) or ENHANCER OF GL3 (EGL3). The conserved [D/E]L×2 [R/K]×3L×6L×3R amino acid signature in the R3 domain of MYB proteins has been shown to be required for the interaction of MYBs with R/B‐like bHLH transcription factors. By using genetic and molecular analyses, we show that the glabrous phenotype in the nph4‐1 mutant is caused by a single nucleotide mutation in the GL1 gene, generating a Ser to Phe substitution (S92F) in the conserved [D/E]L×2[R/K]×3L×6L×3R amino acid signature of GL1. Activation of the integrated GL2p:GUS reporter gene in protoplasts by cotransfection of GL1 and GL3 or EGL3 was abolished by this GL1‐S92F substitution. However, GL1‐S92F interacted successfully with GL3 or EGL3 in protoplast transfection assays. Unlike VPGL1GL3, the fusion protein VPGL1‐S92FGL3 failed to activate the integrated GL2p:GUS reporter gene in transfected protoplasts. These results suggested that the S92 in the conserved [D/E]L×2 [R/K]×3L×6L×3R amino acid signature of GL1 is not essential for the interaction of GL1 and GL3, but may play a role in the binding of GL1 to the promoters of its target genes.The R2R3 MYB transcription factor GL1 is a key regulator of trichome formation in Arabidopsis. The conserved [D/E]L×2[R/K]×3L×6L×3R amino acid signature in the R3 domain is required for the interaction of MYBs with R/B‐like bHLH transcription factors. S92F amino acid substantiation in the conserved [D/E]L×2[R/K]×3L×6L×3R signature in GL1 lead to loss‐of‐function mutation of GL1. However, our results indicate that Ser92 residue is not required for the interaction of GL1 with bHLH transcription factor GL3 or EGL3, but may required for binding of GL1 to its target genes.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145310/1/pce12695_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145310/2/pce12695.pd

Determination of cordycepin content of Cordyceps militaris recombinant rice by high performance liquid chromatography

Purpose: To assess the suitability of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the determination of cordycepin content of Cordyceps militaris recombinant riceMethods: Cordyceps militaris recombinant rice was made by mixing brown rice with artificial Chinese caterpillar fungus culture medium powder using twin-screw extrusion technology. Cordycepin content was determined by reversed-phase HPLC with water:acetonitrile (95:5, v/v) as mobile phase, detection wavelength of 260 nm, and flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.Results: Cordycepin contents showed good linearity in the range of 1 - 50.0 μg/mL (r2 = 0.9996), and while recovery ranged from 103.2 to 109.9 %. Relative standard deviation (RSD), precision and repeatability RSD was 2.38, 0.76 and 1.46 %, respectively.Conclusion: The HPLC method is simple, fast, accurate and reproducible. It is suitable for determination of cordycepin content of artificial Chinese caterpillar fungus culture medium and brown rice recombinant rice.Keywords: Recombinant rice, Cordycepin, Chinese caterpillar fungus, Aweto, Cordyceps militari

Fiber Sensor Systems Based on Fiber Laser and Microwave Photonic Technologies

Fiber-optic sensors, especially fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors are very attractive due to their numerous advantages over traditional sensors, such as light weight, high sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, immunity to electromagnetic interference, ease of multiplexing and so on. Therefore, fiber-optic sensors have been intensively studied during the last several decades. Nowadays, with the development of novel fiber technology, more and more newly invented fiber technologies bring better and superior performance to fiber-optic sensing networks. In this paper, the applications of some advanced photonic technologies including fiber lasers and microwave photonic technologies for fiber sensing applications are reviewed. FBG interrogations based on several kinds of fiber lasers, especially the novel Fourier domain mode locking fiber laser, have been introduced; for the application of microwave photonic technology, examples of microwave photonic filtering utilized as a FBG sensing interrogator and microwave signal generation acting as a transversal loading sensor have been given. Both theoretical analysis and experimental demonstrations have been carried out. The comparison of these advanced photonic technologies for the applications of fiber sensing is carried out and important issues related to the applications have been addressed and the suitable and potential application examples have also been discussed in this paper.Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [2010121059]; Natural Science Foundation of China [61007029]; Projects of Zhejiang Province [2011C21038, 2010R50007]; Program for Science and Technology Innovative Research Team in Zhejiang Normal Universit