Functional conservation and divergence of Miscanthus lutarioriparius GT43 gene family in xylan biosynthesis

Background: Xylan is the most abundant un-cellulosic polysaccharides of plant cell walls. Much progress in xylan biosynthesis has been gained in the model plant species Arabidopsis. Two homologous pairs Irregular Xylem 9 (IRX9)/9L and IRX14/14L from glycosyltransferase (GT) family 43 have been proved to play crucial roles in xylan backbone biosynthesis. However, xylan biosynthesis in grass such as Miscanthus remains poorly understood

Microbial diversity of intestinal contents and mucus in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)

In this study, traditional culture-based techniques and the 16S rDNA sequencing method were used to investigate the microbial community of the intestinal contents and mucosal layer in the intestine of yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco). Eleven phylotypes were detected from culturable microbiota, and their closest relatives were Plesiomonas, Yersinia, Enterobacter, Shewanella, Aeromonas, Vibrio, and Myroides. Forty-four phylotypes were retrieved from 100 positive clones from intestinal contents (library C), and 21 phylotypes were detected in the 57 positive clones from intestinal mucus (library M), most of which were affiliated with Proteobacteria (>50% of the total). However, the bacterial groups OP10 and Actinobacteria detected in library C were not found in library M, suggesting that the abundance and diversity of bacterial populations in mucus might be different from the microbiota in gut contents, and that some microbial species poorly colonized the gut mucosal layer. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V

CDPKs CPK6 and CPK3 Function in ABA Regulation of Guard Cell S-Type Anion- and Ca(2+)- Permeable Channels and Stomatal Closure

Abscisic acid (ABA) signal transduction has been proposed to utilize cytosolic Ca(2+) in guard cell ion channel regulation. However, genetic mutants in Ca(2+) sensors that impair guard cell or plant ion channel signaling responses have not been identified, and whether Ca(2+)-independent ABA signaling mechanisms suffice for a full response remains unclear. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) have been proposed to contribute to central signal transduction responses in plants. However, no Arabidopsis CDPK gene disruption mutant phenotype has been reported to date, likely due to overlapping redundancies in CDPKs. Two Arabidopsis guard cell–expressed CDPK genes, CPK3 and CPK6, showed gene disruption phenotypes. ABA and Ca(2+) activation of slow-type anion channels and, interestingly, ABA activation of plasma membrane Ca(2+)-permeable channels were impaired in independent alleles of single and double cpk3cpk6 mutant guard cells. Furthermore, ABA- and Ca(2+)-induced stomatal closing were partially impaired in these cpk3cpk6 mutant alleles. However, rapid-type anion channel current activity was not affected, consistent with the partial stomatal closing response in double mutants via a proposed branched signaling network. Imposed Ca(2+) oscillation experiments revealed that Ca(2+)-reactive stomatal closure was reduced in CDPK double mutant plants. However, long-lasting Ca(2+)-programmed stomatal closure was not impaired, providing genetic evidence for a functional separation of these two modes of Ca(2+)-induced stomatal closing. Our findings show important functions of the CPK6 and CPK3 CDPKs in guard cell ion channel regulation and provide genetic evidence for calcium sensors that transduce stomatal ABA signaling

Study on Compliance and Practice of International Law and Remedies

How can powerful countries be made to comply with international law? This question has been widely discussed by scholars. This paper expounds from three aspects: theory, famous case analysis and proposed solutions. First, how this problem came into being, secondly, its impact, and finally, how the country should deal with this problem

Chlorpyrifos And Chlorpyrifos-methyl Can Promote Conjugative Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Antibiotic misuse induces the production of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), leading to the global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which poses a major threat to human health. Conjugative transfer, as the main process of ARGs propagation, is sensitively influenced by coexisting contaminants. Chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl, as organophosphorus insecticides widely used in agriculture, have been shown to induce cytotoxicity such as elevated levels of reactive oxygen radicals (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. This is similar to the mechanism by which antibiotics promote the conjugative transfer of ARGs, based on which we hypothesized that chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl could promote conjugative transfer. However, the effect of chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl on conjugative transfer is unclear. Therefore, we constructed RP4 plasmid-mediated conjugation system and confirmed that chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl can promote conjugative transfer by inducing oxidative stress in donor and recipient bacteria. Our research reveals the risk of ARM spread in organophosphorus insecticides and ARGs co-contaminated environments

Chlorpyrifos And Chlorpyrifos-methyl Can Promote Conjugative Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Antibiotic misuse induces the production of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), leading to the global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which poses a major threat to human health. Conjugative transfer, as the main process of ARGs propagation, is sensitively influenced by coexisting contaminants. Chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl, as organophosphorus insecticides widely used in agriculture, have been shown to induce cytotoxicity such as elevated levels of reactive oxygen radicals (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. This is similar to the mechanism by which antibiotics promote the conjugative transfer of ARGs, based on which we hypothesized that chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl could promote conjugative transfer. However, the effect of chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl on conjugative transfer is unclear. Therefore, we constructed RP4 plasmid-mediated conjugation system and confirmed that chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl can promote conjugative transfer by inducing oxidative stress in donor and recipient bacteria. Our research reveals the risk of ARM spread in organophosphorus insecticides and ARGs co-contaminated environments

Endoplasmic reticulum stress: a novel targeted approach to repair bone defects by regulating osteogenesis and angiogenesis

Abstract Bone regeneration therapy is clinically important, and targeted regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is important in regenerative medicine. The processing of proteins in the ER controls cell fate. The accumulation of misfolded and unfolded proteins occurs in pathological states, triggering ER stress. ER stress restores homeostasis through three main mechanisms, including protein kinase-R-like ER kinase (PERK), inositol-requiring enzyme 1ɑ (IRE1ɑ) and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), collectively known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). However, the UPR has both adaptive and apoptotic effects. Modulation of ER stress has therapeutic potential for numerous diseases. Repair of bone defects involves both angiogenesis and bone regeneration. Here, we review the effects of ER stress on osteogenesis and angiogenesis, with emphasis on ER stress under high glucose (HG) and inflammatory conditions, and the use of ER stress inducers or inhibitors to regulate osteogenesis and angiogenesis. In addition, we highlight the ability for exosomes to regulate ER stress. Recent advances in the regulation of ER stress mediated osteogenesis and angiogenesis suggest novel therapeutic options for bone defects

Relationship of Klotho with cognition and dementia: Results from the NHANES 2011–2014 and Mendelian randomization study

Abstract The relationships of Klotho levels with cognition and dementia are poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between Klotho levels and cognitive function and to determine causality between Klotho and dementia using Mendelian randomization (MR). Based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014, this study consisted of 1875 older adults aged 60–79 years. Cognitive function was assessed by the digit symbol substitution test (DSST). We performed weighted multivariable-adjusted linear regression to assess the association between Klotho concentrations and cognitive function. Then, 2-sample MR was conducted to assess the causal relationship between Klotho and dementia. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary analysis. We observed a positive association between serum Klotho concentrations and the results of the Digit Symbol Substitution test (DSST) (T2: β 2.16, 95% CI: 0.30–4.01, P = 0.03, T3: β 2.48, 95% CI: 0.38–4.57, P = 0.02) after adjusting for the covariates. Moreover, there was also a potential nonlinear relationship between Klotho and DSST. The IVW method showed that genetically predicted high Klotho levels were not significantly associate with any type of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.96–1.10, P = 0.46), vascular dementia (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.87–1.25, P = 0.66), frontotemporal dementia (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.47–1.14, P = 0.16), or dementia with Lewy bodies (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.87–1.23, P = 0.73). In the cross-sectional observational study, Klotho and cognitive function were significantly correlated; however, findings from MR studies did not indicate a causal relationship between Klotho and dementia

Increased Mesenchymal Stem Cell Response and Decreased Staphylococcus aureus Adhesion on Titania Nanotubes without Pharmaceuticals

Titanium (Ti) implants with enhanced biocompatibility and antibacterial property are highly desirable and characterized by improved success rates. In this study, titania nanotubes (TNTs) with various tube diameters were fabricated on Ti surfaces through electrochemical anodization at 10, 30, and 60 V (denoted as NT10, NT30, and NT60, resp.). Ti was also investigated and used as a control. NT10 with a diameter of 30 nm could promote the adhesion and proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) without noticeable differentiation. NT30 with a diameter of 100 nm could support the adhesion and proliferation of BMSCs and induce osteogenesis. NT60 with a diameter of 200 nm demonstrated the best ability to promote cell spreading and osteogenic differentiation; however, it clearly impaired cell adhesion and proliferation. As the tube diameter increased, bacterial adhesion on the TNTs decreased and reached the lowest value on NT60. Therefore, NT30 without pharmaceuticals could be used to increase mesenchymal stem cell response and decrease Staphylococcus aureus adhesion and thus should be further studied for improving the efficacy of Ti-based orthopedic implants