Expression of human soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand in transplastomic tobacco

The soluble extracellular domain of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (sTRAIL) can, as the whole length TRAIL protein, bind with its receptors and specifically induce the apoptosis of cancer cells; therefore, it has been developed as a potential therapeutic agent for various cancer treatments. As it has become an attractive technology for foreign protein production, especially for production of biopharmaceuticals, chloroplast engineering was applied in this study to express human sTRAIL protein in tobacco. Two transplastomic lines were obtained. Southern blot showed that sTRAIL gene was inserted into the right site of the tobacco chloroplast genome. RT-PCR results also confirmed that the foreign gene is transcribed in both lines. However, western blot showed that only one line accumulated sTRAIL protein stably, while the other line lost the ability to accumulate this protein after several rounds of subcultures. The possible reason for this unexpected phenomenon is discussed.Key words: Chloroplast transformation, sTRAIL, pharmaceutical protein, expression, tobacco chloroplast

Impurity scattering and Friedel oscillations in mono-layer black phosphorus

We study the effect of impurity scattering effect in black phosphorurene (BP) in this work. For single impurity, we calculate impurity induced local density of states (LDOS) in momentum space numerically based on tight-binding Hamiltonian. In real space, we calculate LDOS and Friedel oscillation analytically. LDOS shows strong anisotropy in BP. Many impurities in BP are investigated using $T$-matrix approximation when the density is low. Midgap states appear in band gap with peaks in DOS. The peaks of midgap states are dependent on impurity potential. For finite positive potential, the impurity tends to bind negative charge carriers and vise versa. The infinite impurity potential problem is related to chiral symmetry in BP

Heterodimerization of apelin receptor and neurotensin receptor 1 induces phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and cell proliferation via Gαq-mediated mechanism

Dimerization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is crucial for receptor function including agonist affinity, efficacy, trafficking and specificity of signal transduction, including G protein coupling. Emerging data suggest that the cardiovascular system is the main target of apelin, which exerts an overall neuroprotective role, and is a positive regulator of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in heart failure. Moreover, ACE2 cleaves off C-terminal residues of vasoactive peptides including apelin-13, and neurotensin that activate the apelin receptor (APJ) and neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) respectively, that belong to the A class of GPCRs. Therefore, based on the similar mode of modification by ACE2 at peptide level, the homology at amino acid level and the capability of forming dimers with other GPCRs, we have been suggested that APJ and NTSR1 can form a functional heterodimer. Using co-immunoprecipitation, BRET and FRET, we provided conclusive evidence of heterodimerization between APJ and NTSR1 in a constitutive and induced form. Upon agonist stimulation, hetrodimerization enhanced ERK1/2 activation and increased proliferation via activation of Gq α-subunits. These novel data provide evidence for a physiological role of APJ/NTSR1 heterodimers in terms of ERK1/2 activation and increased intracellular calcium and induced cell proliferation and provide potential new pharmaceutical targets for cardiovascular disease. © 2014 The Authors

An elitism-based multi-objective evolutionary algorithm for min-cost network disintegration

Network disintegration or strengthening is a significant problem, which is widely used in infrastructure construction, social networks, infectious disease prevention and so on. But most studies assume that the cost of attacking anyone node is equal. In this paper, we investigate the robustness of complex networks under a more realistic assumption that costs are functions of degrees of nodes. A multi-objective, elitism-based, evolutionary algorithm (MOEEA) is proposed for the network disintegration problem with heterogeneous costs. By defining a new unit cost influence measure of the target attack node and combining with an elitism strategy, some combination nodes’ information can be retained. Through an ingenious update mechanism, this information is passed on to the next generation to guide the population to move to more promising regions, which can improve the rate of convergence of the proposed algorithm. A series of experiments have been carried out on four benchmark networks and some model networks, the results show that our method performs better than five other state-of-the-art attack strategies. MOEEA can usually find min-cost network disintegration solutions. Simultaneously, through testing different cost functions, we find that the stronger the cost heterogeneity, the better performance of our algorithm

Fiber Based Multiple-Access Optical Frequency Dissemination

We demonstrate a fiber based multiple-access optical frequency dissemination scheme. Without using any additional laser sources, we reproduce the stable disseminated frequency at an arbitrary point of fiber link. Relative frequency stability of 3E10^{-16}/s and 4E10^{-18}/10^4s is obtained. A branching fiber network for highly-precision synchronization of optical frequency is made possible by this method and its applications are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Characterization of the mesostructural organization of cement particles in fresh cement paste

Comparative study on the mesostructures of fresh cement paste (FCP) in different dispersion mediums was carried out aiming at characterizing the structural organization of cement particles in FCP at a mesoscopic scale and establishing the correlation of mesostructure with rheological properties. For the first time, Morphologi G3 was adopted to in-situ characterize the mesostructure of FCP. Several dispersion mediums including air, deionized water, ethanol and an aqueous solution of ethanol were chosen to study the dispersion of cement particles in the selected mediums. Superplasticizers, as dispersing aids for cement particles, were added to change the dispersion of cement particles. Results show that Morphologi G3 with the high sensitivity and the high resolution is a powerful tool for in-situ characterization of the mesostructure of FCP by providing high-quality images associated with structural parameters. The structural parameters including particle size, circularity and fractal dimension of particle spatial distribution (Dpd) allow to quantitatively characterize the organization of cement particles in FCP at a mesoscopic scale, through which the relationship between the mesostructure and the rheological behavior of FCP was established. Higher fluidity signifies larger Dpd and circularity but a lower mean particle size. Moreover, the mean particle size and Dpd are more sensitive to indicate the fluidity change

Celecoxib inhibits tumor growth and angiogenesis in an orthotopic implantation tumor model of human colon cancer

Aim: To examine the effect of celecoxib on tumor growth and angiogenesis in an orthotopic implantation tumor model of colon cancer. Methods: Human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells were implanted subcutaneously in nude mice. Four groups of animals received different doses of celecoxib after tumor implantation. After 42 days, all animals were evaluated for changes in body weight, the volume and weight of colorectal tumors, and tumor growth inhibition. The content of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the tumor tissue homogenate was estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and CD34 expression in tumor tissue was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and the microvessel density (MVD) of tumor tissue was determined. Apoptosis of the tumor cells was detected by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) mRNA extracted from the tumor tissue was analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: There was no statistically significant change in the animals’ body weight between the treatment groups. However, with increasing doses of celecoxib, the volume and weight of the tumor decreased. The rates of tumor growth inhibition for the L (low), M (medium) and H (high) groups were 25.30%, 38.80%, and 76.92%, respectively, which were significant compared to the C (control) group. There were significant differences in COX-2 expression in the tumor tissue between all groups, except between the L and M groups. Celecoxib exposure also reduced PGE2 levels in the tumor tissue homogenates. The level of PGE2 correlated to the weight of tumor (r = 0.8814, P < 0.05) and to COX-2 expression (r = 0.8249, P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, the tumor cells from celecoxib-treated mice had a significantly higher apoptotic index. Celecoxib also decreased CD34+ expression in tumors from treated mice. There were significant differences in the MVD between all groups except between groups H and M. Celecoxib significantly reduced the expression of VEGF and MMP-2 mRNA in the group H but not in L and M groups. The MVD in tumor tissue was closely related to the PGE2 levels, as well as the expression of VEGF and MMP-2 mRNA (r = 0.9006, r = 0.8573 and r = 0.6427, respectively; P < 0.05). Conclusions: By inhibiting COX-2, PGE2 synthesis, and VEGF and MMP-2 mRNA expression in tumor tissue, celecoxib enhances tumor cell apoptosis, thereby inhibiting the growth and angiogenesis of orthotopically implanted tumors in a mouse model of human colorectal cancer.Цель: изучить влияние целекоксиба на рост опухоли и ангиогенез в модели ортопической имплантации опухоли толстой кишки человека. Методы: клетки колоректальной аденокарциномы человека НT-29 подкожно имплантировали бестимусным мышам. После имплантации опухоли четыре группы животных получали разные дозы целекоксиба. Через 42 дня изучали изменения веса животных, объем опухолей, эффект ингибирования роста опухоли. С помощью радиоиммунного анализа (RIA) в гомо- RIA) в гомо ) в гомогенате опухолей определяли содержание простогландина E2 (PGE2 ). В опухолевой ткани иммуногистохимическим методом выявляли экспрессию циклооксигеназы-2 (COX-2) и CD34 и оценивали плотность микрососудов (MVD). Апоптотические клетки выявляли методом TUNEL. Экспрессия мРНК фактора роста эндотелия сосудов (VEGF) и металлопротеиназы-2 (MMP-2) в опухолях проанализирована методом обратной транскриптазной реакции (RT-PCR). Результаты: статистически достоверных различий в весе животных между разными группами обнаружено не было. Вто же время, с увеличением дозы целекоксиба объем и вес опухоли уменьшался. По сравнению с контрольной группой (C), рост опухоли статистически достоверно ингибировался в L (низкая доза), M (средняя доза) и H (высокая доза) группах животных на 25,30%, 38,80% и 76,92% соответственно. Были обнаружены значительные отличия в экспрессии COX-2 в опухолевых тканях между всеми группами животных, кроме групп L и M. Было показано целекоксиб-зависимое уменьшение уровня PGE2 в гомогенатах опухолей. Уровень PGE2 коррелировал с весом опухоли (r = 0,8814, P < 0,05) и экспрессией COX-2 (r = 0,8249, P < 0,05). По сравнению с контрольной группой опухолевые клетки мышей, получавших целекоксиб, имели значительно более высокий апоптотический индекс. Целекоксиб также снижал экспрессию CD34+ на поверхности опухолевых клеток. Были обнаружены статистически достоверные различия в MVD между всеми исследованными группами, кроме H и M. Целекоксиб способствовал уменьшению экспрессии мРНК VEGF и MMP-2 в группе Н, но не в группах L и M. MVD в опухолевой ткани кореллировал с уровнем PGE2 , а также с экспрессией мРНК VEGF и MMP-2 (r = 0,9006, r = 0,8573 и r = 0,6427 соответственно; P < 0,05). Выводы: целекоксиб способствует апоптозу опухолевых клеток, ингибирует рост опухоли и ангиогенез при ортотопической имплантации мышам колоректальной аденокарциномы человека. Такой эффект целекоксиба связан с угнетением синтеза COX-2, PGE2 и экспрессии мРНК VEGF и MMP-2 в опухолевой ткани

Light cone structure near null infinity of the Kerr metric

Motivated by our attempt to understand the question of angular momentum of a relativistic rotating source carried away by gravitational waves, in the asymptotic regime near future null infinity of the Kerr metric, a family of null hypersurfaces intersecting null infinity in shearfree (good) cuts are constructed by means of asymptotic expansion of the eikonal equation. The geometry of the null hypersurfaces as well asthe asymptotic structure of the Kerr metric near null infinity are studied. To the lowest order in angular momentum, the Bondi-Sachs form of the Kerr metric is worked out. The Newman-Unti formalism is then further developed, with which the Newman-Penrose constants of the Kerr metric are computed and shown to be zero. Possible physical implications of the vanishing of the Newman-Penrose constants of the Kerr metric are also briefly discussed

Evaluation of genetic diversity in the golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck), from different geographical populations in China by inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR)

The genetic diversity of Pomacea canaliculata, collected from Los Banos (LB) in Philippines and Yuyao (YY), Taizhou (TZ), Fuzhou (FZ), Guangzhou (GZ), Nanning (NN), Kunming (KM) in China, was studied by using the inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) technique. A total of 498 loci from 140 individuals were amplified with four selected ISSR primers and the percentage of polymorphic loci was 87.35%. At the species level, the Nei's gene diversity (H) was 0.3805 and the Shannon information diversity index (I) was 0.5607. A relatively high level of genetic differentiation among populations was detected based on Nei’s gene diversity analysis (Gst = 0.2001) and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) analysis (Φst = 0.0824), indicating the vast majority of genetic variation that occur within the populations. The limited genetic distance (0.0793) and correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance matrices (r = 0.5638, P &gt; 0.5) indicated that, there was no significant geographic heterogeneity among these populations.Key words: Pomacea canaliculata, inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR), genetic diversity, geographical populations