Influence of Sewage Sludge Biochar on the Microbial Environment, Chinese Cabbage Growth, and Heavy Metals Availability of Soil

The effects of sewage sludge biochar (SSB) on the microbial environment, Chinese cabbage yield, and heavy metals (HMs) availability of soil were comprehensively investigated in this study. Results showed that the concentrations of the dehydrogenase (DHA) and urease in the soil added with 10% SSB were 3.60 and 1.67 times as high as that of the control soil, respectively, after planting; the concentrations of the bacteria, fungi, ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in the soil added with 10% SSB after planting reached 2.84, 2.62, 1.76, and 2.23 times, respectively, compared with those of the control group; the weights of the aboveground and underground parts of Chinese cabbage were 5.82 and 8.67 times as high as those of the control group, respectively. Moreover, the addition of SSB enhanced the immobilization of Cr, Ni, and Cd. All in all, SSB can improve the microbial environment of soil and inhibit the availability of HMs, which is very important for their utilization in barren soil

Cytotoxic secondary metabolites isolated from Penicillium sp. YT2019-3321, an endophytic fungus derived from Lonicera Japonica

IntroductionEndophytic fungi associated with medicinal plants have proven to possess a high potential to produce structurally diverse metabolites, some of which are valuable for medicinal applications. In this study, Penicillium sp. YT2019-3321, an endophytic fungus derived from traditional Chinese medicine Lonicera japonica, was chemically studied.MethodsThe chemical structures of the isolated compounds were established by a correlative interpretation of HRESIMS and NMR spectroscopic data. The optical resolution of (±)-1 by chiral HPLC yielded individual enantiomers (+)-1 and (–)-1, and their stereochemistry were solved by X-ray diffraction crystallography, respectively.Results and discussionEight structurally diversified secondary metabolites, including two previously unreported polyketides, named (±)-chrysoalide B (1) and penicidone E (2), were isolated and identified from Penicillium sp. YT2019-3321. Compound 2 possessed the γ-pyridone nucleus, which is rarely found in natural products. Cytotoxic assay revealed that the new compound 2 demonstrated a dose-dependent cytotoxicity against the human pancreatic tumor cells PATU8988T with the IC50 value of 11.4 μM. Further studies indicated that 2 significantly induced apoptosis of PATU8988T cell lines, characterized by the morphologies abnormity, the reduction of cell number, the upregulation of proportion of apoptotic cells, and the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax. Our study demonstrates that fungal secondary metabolites may have important significance in the discovery of drug leads

Influence of Sewage Sludge Biochar on the Microbial Environment, Chinese Cabbage Growth, and Heavy Metals Availability of Soil

The effects of sewage sludge biochar (SSB) on the microbial environment, Chinese cabbage yield, and heavy metals (HMs) availability of soil were comprehensively investigated in this study. Results showed that the concentrations of the dehydrogenase (DHA) and urease in the soil added with 10% SSB were 3.60 and 1.67 times as high as that of the control soil, respectively, after planting; the concentrations of the bacteria, fungi, ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in the soil added with 10% SSB after planting reached 2.84, 2.62, 1.76, and 2.23 times, respectively, compared with those of the control group; the weights of the aboveground and underground parts of Chinese cabbage were 5.82 and 8.67 times as high as those of the control group, respectively. Moreover, the addition of SSB enhanced the immobilization of Cr, Ni, and Cd. All in all, SSB can improve the microbial environment of soil and inhibit the availability of HMs, which is very important for their utilization in barren soil

Age-related decline in hippocampal tyrosine phosphatase PTPRO is a mechanistic factor in chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) or “chemo brain” is a devastating neurotoxic sequela of cancer-related treatments, especially for the elderly individuals. Here we show that PTPRO, a tyrosine phosphatase, is highly enriched in the hippocampus, and its level is tightly associated with neurocognitive function but declined significantly during aging. To understand the protective role of PTPRO in CRCI, a mouse model was generated by treating Ptpro–/– female mice with doxorubicin (DOX) because Ptpro–/– female mice are more vulnerable to DOX, showing cognitive impairments and neurodegeneration. By analyzing PTPRO substrates that are neurocognition-associated tyrosine kinases, we found that SRC and EPHA4 are highly phosphorylated/activated in the hippocampi of Ptpro–/– female mice, with increased sensitivity to DOX-induced CRCI. On the other hand, restoration of PTPRO in the hippocampal CA3 region significantly ameliorate CRCI in Ptpro–/– female mice. In addition, we found that the plant alkaloid berberine (BBR) is capable of ameliorating CRCI in aged female mice by upregulating hippocampal PTPRO. Mechanistically, BBR upregulates PTPRO by downregulating miR-25-3p, which directly targeted PTPRO. These findings collectively demonstrate the protective role of hippocampal PTPRO against CRCI.</p

Age-related decline in hippocampal tyrosine phosphatase PTPRO is a mechanistic factor in chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment.

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) or chemo brain is a devastating neurotoxic sequela of cancer-related treatments, especially for the elderly individuals. Here we show that PTPRO, a tyrosine phosphatase, is highly enriched in the hippocampus, and its level is tightly associated with neurocognitive function but declined significantly during aging. To understand the protective role of PTPRO in CRCI, a mouse model was generated by treating Ptpro-/- female mice with doxorubicin (DOX) because Ptpro-/- female mice are more vulnerable to DOX, showing cognitive impairments and neurodegeneration. By analyzing PTPRO substrates that are neurocognition-associated tyrosine kinases, we found that SRC and EPHA4 are highly phosphorylated/activated in the hippocampi of Ptpro-/- female mice, with increased sensitivity to DOX-induced CRCI. On the other hand, restoration of PTPRO in the hippocampal CA3 region significantly ameliorate CRCI in Ptpro-/- female mice. In addition, we found that the plant alkaloid berberine (BBR) is capable of ameliorating CRCI in aged female mice by upregulating hippocampal PTPRO. Mechanistically, BBR upregulates PTPRO by downregulating miR-25-3p, which directly targeted PTPRO. These findings collectively demonstrate the protective role of hippocampal PTPRO against CRCI

Age-related decline in hippocampal tyrosine phosphatase PTPRO is a mechanistic factor in chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) or “chemo brain” is a devastating neurotoxic sequela of cancer-related treatments, especially for the elderly individuals. Here we show that PTPRO, a tyrosine phosphatase, is highly enriched in the hippocampus, and its level is tightly associated with neurocognitive function but declined significantly during aging. To understand the protective role of PTPRO in CRCI, a mouse model was generated by treating Ptpro–/– female mice with doxorubicin (DOX) because Ptpro–/– female mice are more vulnerable to DOX, showing cognitive impairments and neurodegeneration. By analyzing PTPRO substrates that are neurocognition-associated tyrosine kinases, we found that SRC and EPHA4 are highly phosphorylated/activated in the hippocampi of Ptpro–/– female mice, with increased sensitivity to DOX-induced CRCI. On the other hand, restoration of PTPRO in the hippocampal CA3 region significantly ameliorate CRCI in Ptpro–/– female mice. In addition, we found that the plant alkaloid berberine (BBR) is capable of ameliorating CRCI in aged female mice by upregulating hippocampal PTPRO. Mechanistically, BBR upregulates PTPRO by downregulating miR-25-3p, which directly targeted PTPRO. These findings collectively demonstrate the protective role of hippocampal PTPRO against CRCI.</p

The <i>Sinocyclocheilus</i> cavefish genome provides insights into cave adaptation

BACKGROUND: An emerging cavefish model, the cyprinid genus Sinocyclocheilus, is endemic to the massive southwestern karst area adjacent to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China. In order to understand whether orogeny influenced the evolution of these species, and how genomes change under isolation, especially in subterranean habitats, we performed whole-genome sequencing and comparative analyses of three species in this genus, S. grahami, S. rhinocerous and S. anshuiensis. These species are surface-dwelling, semi-cave-dwelling and cave-restricted, respectively. RESULTS: The assembled genome sizes of S. grahami, S. rhinocerous and S. anshuiensis are 1.75 Gb, 1.73 Gb and 1.68 Gb, respectively. Divergence time and population history analyses of these species reveal that their speciation and population dynamics are correlated with the different stages of uplifting of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We carried out comparative analyses of these genomes and found that many genetic changes, such as gene loss (e.g. opsin genes), pseudogenes (e.g. crystallin genes), mutations (e.g. melanogenesis-related genes), deletions (e.g. scale-related genes) and down-regulation (e.g. circadian rhythm pathway genes), are possibly associated with the regressive features (such as eye degeneration, albinism, rudimentary scales and lack of circadian rhythms), and that some gene expansion (e.g. taste-related transcription factor gene) may point to the constructive features (such as enhanced taste buds) which evolved in these cave fishes. CONCLUSION: As the first report on cavefish genomes among distinct species in Sinocyclocheilus, our work provides not only insights into genetic mechanisms of cave adaptation, but also represents a fundamental resource for a better understanding of cavefish biology. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12915-015-0223-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Genome Assembly for a Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau “3E” Fish, Anabarilius grahami (Regan), and Its Evolutionary and Genetic Applications

A Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau fish, the Kanglang white minnow (Anabarilius grahami), is a typical “3E” (Endangered, Endemic, and Economic) species in China. Its distribution is limited to Fuxian Lake, the nation’s second deepest lake, with a significant local economic value but a drastically declining wild population. This species has been evaluated as VU (Vulnerable) in the China Species Red List. As one of the “Four Famous Fish” in Yunnan province, the artificial breeding has been achieved since 2003. It has not only re-established its wild natural populations by reintroduction of the artificial breeding stocks, but also brought a wide and popular utilization of this species to the local fish farms. A. grahami has become one of the main native aquaculture species in Yunnan province, and the artificial production has been emerging in steady growth each year. To promote the conservation and sustainable utilization of this fish, we initiated its whole genome sequencing project using an Illumina Hiseq2500 platform. The assembled genome size of A. grahami is 1.006 Gb, accounting for 98.63% of the estimated genome size (1.020 Gb), with contig N50 and scaffold N50 values of 26.4 kb and 4.41 Mb, respectively. Approximately about 50.38% of the genome was repetitive. A total of 25,520 protein-coding genes were subsequently predicted. A phylogenetic tree based on 4,580 single-copy genes from A. grahami and 18 other cyprinids revealed three well-supported subclades within the Cyprinidae. This is the first inter-subfamily relationship of cyprinids at genome level, providing a simple yet useful framework for understanding the traditional but popular subfamily classification systems. Interestingly, a further population demography of A. grahami uncovered a historical relationship between this fish and Fuxian Lake, suggesting that range expansion or shrinkage of the habitat has had a remarkable impact on the population size of endemic plateau fishes. Additionally, a total of 33,836 simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers were identified, and 11 loci were evaluated for a preliminary genetic diversity analysis in this study, thus providing another useful genetic resource for studying this “3E” species

Establishment and characterization of a fibroblast-like cell line from Anabarilius grahami (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)

Though Yunnan province contains some 562 known species of fish, no cell lines from any of these have been made available to date. To protect germplasm resources and provide an effective tool in solving problems at cellular level of Anabarilius grahami , a fish endemic to Fuxian Lake, Yunnan, China, we established and characterized the major features of a continuous cell line (AGF II) from the caudal fin tissue of A. grahami. This AGF II cell line consists of fibroblast-like cells and has been subcultured more than 60 times over the course of a year. The cell line was maintained in DMEM/F12 supplemented with 10% FBS, with a cellular doubling time of 51.1 h. We continued with more experiments to optimize the culture and storage conditions, and found a variety of interesting results: cells could grow at temperature between 24 °C and 28 °C, with the optimal temperature of 28 °C. Likewise, the growth rate of A. grahami fin cells increased when the FBS proportion increased from 5% to 20%, with the optimal growth at the concentrations of 20% FBS; cells were able to grow in L-15 and DMEM/F12 with optimal growth at L-15; DMSO is a better cryoprotectant than Glycerol, EG and MeOH for AGFII cells with optimal concentration of 5% DMSO. Chromosome analysis also showed that the distribution of chromosome number varies from 38 to 52, with a modal peak at 48 chromosomes, accounting for 39.8% of all cells. Using the same primer pairs specific to mtDNA, the AGF II cell sequences obtained by PCR were identical to those from muscle tissues of A. grahami. Both chromosome analysis and PCR amplification confirmed the AGF II cells were from A. grahami, also indicating that that current long-term artificial propagation of A. grahami has been successful. Finally, we noted that when cells were transfected with pEYFP-N1 and pECFP-N1 plasmid, bright fluorescent signals were observed, suggesting that this cell line may be suitable for use in transfection and future gene expression studies