Timing of CNS Cell Generation A Programmed Sequence of Neuron and Glial Cell Production from Isolated Murine Cortical Stem Cells

AbstractMultipotent stem cells that generate both neurons and glia are widespread components of the early neuroepithelium. During CNS development, neurogenesis largely precedes gliogenesis: how is this timing achieved? Using clonal cell culture combined with long-term time-lapse video microscopy, we show that isolated stem cells from the embryonic mouse cerebral cortex exhibit a distinct order of cell-type production: neuroblasts first and glioblasts later. This is accompanied by changes in their capacity to make neurons versus glia and in their response to the mitogen EGF. Hence, multipotent stem cells alter their properties over time and undergo distinct phases of development that play a key role in scheduling production of diverse CNS cells

Real-space imaging with pattern recognition of a ligand-protected Ag374 nanocluster at sub-molecular resolution

厦门大学化学化工学院郑南峰教授团队长期致力于研究固体功能材料的表界面化学行为，在分子水平上实现对固体功能材料的化学性能的调控与优化。得益于固体表面物理化学国家重点实验室的多学科合作以及能源材料化学协同创新中心的多单位优势互补，郑南峰教授课题组通过与校内外多个课题组的密切合作，近期在功能材料的可控制备、复杂表界面结构的高分辨表征和表界面过程分子机制的深入理解等方面取得系列重要进展，相关成果近期均在Nature Communications发表。 针对纳米颗粒表面配体难被高分辨直接成像的特点，与厦门大学郑兰荪、谢兆雄等教授以及中科院大连化物所杨学明研究员、马志博副研究员和芬兰于韦斯屈莱大学HannuHäkkinen教授等多个团队紧密合作，在利用扫描隧道显微镜表征金属纳米团簇的表面配体层结构方面取得重要进展。以原子结构精确的 Ag374纳米团簇为研究对象，利用超高真空扫描隧道显微镜分别在液氦及液氮温度下获得了单个团簇亚分子高分辨率的拓扑图像。【Abstract】High-resolution real-space imaging of nanoparticle surfaces is desirable for better understanding of surface composition and morphology, molecular interactions at the surface, and nanoparticle chemical functionality in its environment. However, achieving molecular or sub-molecular resolution has proven to be very challenging, due to highly curved nanoparticle surfaces and often insufficient knowledge of the monolayer composition. Here, we demonstrate sub-molecular resolution in scanning tunneling microscopy imaging of thiol monolayer of a 5 nm nanoparticle Ag374 protected by tert-butyl benzene thiol. The experimental data is confirmed by comparisons through a pattern recognition algorithm to simulated topography images from density functional theory using the known total structure of the Ag374 nanocluster. Our work demonstrates a working methodology for investigations of structure and composition of organic monolayers on curved nanoparticle surfaces, which helps designing functionalities for nanoparticle-based applications.The experimental work done in Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, was supported both by Xiamen University (The National Key R&D Program of China grant 2017YFA0207302, National Natural Science Foundation of China, grant 21731005, 21420102001 and 21721001 the National Key R&D Program of China grant 2017YFA0207302) and DICP (National Natural Science Foundation of China grant 21688102, the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Science, grant XDB17000000, the National Key Research and Development Program of the MOST of China, grant 2016YFA0200603 and the open fund of the state key laboratory of molecular reaction dynamics in DICP, CAS, grant SKLMRD-K201707). Q.Z. thanks Dr. Huayan Yang for providing the samples for STM imaging. S.M. and H.H. thank T. Kärkkäinen and P. Nieminen for discussions on pattern recognition algorithms. The theoretical and computational work in the University of Jyväskylä was funded by the Academy of Finland (grants 294217, 315549, AIPSE program, and H.H.’s Academy Professorship). H.H. acknowledges the support from China’s National Innovation and Intelligence Introduction Base visitor program. S.K. thanks the Vilho, Yrjö, and Kalle Väisälä Foundation for the grant for doctoral studies. The DFT simulations were done at the Finnish national supercomputing center CSC and at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (PRACE project “NANOMETALS”). 研究工作得到了科技部、国家自然科学基金委和教育部，中科院先导项目，国家重点研发计划，分子反应动力学国家重点实验室开放课题基金等项目的资助

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and phosphate-solubilizing fungus (PSF) on tolerance of beach plum (Prunus maritima) under salt stress

Abstract The synergic effect of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) and a phosphate-solubilizing fungus (PSF) on the salt-tolerance of beach plum (Prunus maritima) grown in pots was explored. Pot experiments in greenhouse were carried out in one year beach plum inoculated with AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) or/and PSF (Mortierella sp. SM-1) under 1% NaCl stress. Salinity dramatically increased Na + concentrations, but decreased K + contents and K + / Na + in shoot and root significantly. And meanwhile, salinization reduced growth (root and shoot dry weight, total phosphate contents, chlorophyll contents) and biological soil quality (soil available phosphate contents and phosphatase enzyme activities). Plants inoculated with AMF or/and PSF counteracted both Na ) and plant growth indexes, available phosphate contents, phosphatase enzyme activities and the reduction of pH than those of single inoculated with AMF or PSF. Under NaCl stress, the percentages root colonization of plants co-inoculated with AMF and PSF were significantly higher than those of plants inoculated with AMF alone. It is concluded that AMF inoculation with PSF application could synergistically enhance salt-tolerance of plants

Bioindication of Water Quality of the Xinlicheng Reservoir by Algal Communities

The ecological analysis of 31 algae and cyanobacteria indicators assessed the water quality of the Changchun drinking water Xinlicheng Reservoir by using bio-indication methods. The water was fresh, low alkaline, low-saline, middle oxygenated, with reached nutrients and organic pollution and mesotrophic to eutrophic. Statistics reveal significant variables that impacted algal diversity were nutrients, water quality was low to the middle polluted Class II-III. The indices of saprobity and WESI show the high self-purification capacity and low-toxicity impact. We revealed potential threatening species of cyanobacteria. The improving water quality from 2007 up to now has been revealed

Effects of Compound Centella on Oxidative Stress and Keap1-Nrf2-ARE Pathway Expression in Diabetic Kidney Disease Rats

The formula of Compound Centella mainly contains 3 traditional Chinese herbs: Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. (JiXueCao), Astragalus Membranaceus Fish. (HuangQi), and Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. (LeiGongTeng). Though this formula is effective for treating diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in clinic, the exact mechanism is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the effect and antioxidant mechanism of Compound Centella on DKD rats. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to analyse 3 herbs in Compound Centella. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the normal group (NG), DKD group (DKDG), Compound Centella group (CCG), and losartan group (LG), with 8 rats in each group. On the first day of the experiment, rats in the NG were fed with ordinary –feed, while the other groups were fed with high-fat and high-sugar feed. On the 29th day, except the NG, the other 3 groups received a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (STZ, 35 mg/kg). Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was measured on the 1st day, 32nd day, 46th day, 56th day, 84th day, and 112th day. Total protein/creatinine ratio of urine was determined by the phenol red assay on the 1st day and 112th day. Serum creatinine (Scr) was determined by an automatic biochemical analyser on the 112th day. Kidneys were collected on the 112th day for analysis and evaluation. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe kidney pathological changes. The mRNA and protein expressions of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in renal tissues were detected by RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Oxidative stress was evaluated by detecting the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and heme oxidase-1 (HO-1). The results showed that the content of asiaticoside, astragaloside, and triptolide in the herb was 5960, 809, and 2.42 μg/g and in the Compound Centella was 340, 64, and 0.1403 μg/mL by HPLC. Compound Centella reduced the urine protein/creatinine ratio and improved renal pathology in the kidneys of DKD rats. In addition, the mRNA and protein expressions of Keap1 and Nrf2 in kidneys were upregulated by Compound Centella. The expressions of MDA were downregulated but HO-1 were upregulated by Compound Centella. Therefore, the protective effect of Compound Centella in the kidney of DKD rats may be related to regulating the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway under oxidative stress, suggesting Compound Centella as a promising treatment against DKD

Testicular Busulfan Injection in Mice to Prepare Recipients for Spermatogonial Stem Cell Transplantation Is Safe and Non-Toxic.

Current methods of administering busulfan to remove the endogenous germ cells cause hematopoietic toxicity, require special instruments and a narrow transplantation time. We use a direct testicular injection of busulfan method for preparing recipients for SSC transplantation. Male ICR mice (recipients) were divided into four groups, and two experimental groups were treated with a bilateral testicular injection of 4 or 6 mg/kg/side busulfan (n = 60 per concentration group). Mice received an intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of 40 mg/kg busulfan (n = 60, positive control) and bilateral testicular injections of 50% DMSO (n = 60, negative control). Donor SSCs from RFP-transgenic C57BL/6J mice were introduced into the seminiferous tubules of each recipient testis via efferent duct injection on day 16-17 after busulfan treatment. Recipient mice mated with mature female ICR mice and the number of progeny was recorded. The index detected at day 14, 21, 28, 35 and 70 after busulfan treatment. Blood analysis shows that the toxicity of busulfan treated groups was much lower than i.p. injection groups. Fertility was restored in mice treated with busulfan and donor-derived offspring were obtained after SSC transplantation. Our study indicated that intratesticular injection busulfan for the preparation of recipients in mice is safe and feasible