Effect of 1-MCP on storage quality and the mechanism involved in ethylene signal transduction in a new early-maturing apple variety ‘Taihangzaohong’ fruits during cold storage

1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) can reduce the rate of fruit softening and prolong storage time. In this study, the fruit of a new early-maturing apple variety, ‘Taihangzaohong’, was treated with air (control), 2 μL/L 1-MCP, 100 μL/L ethylene (C 2H4) or 2 μL/L 1-MCP +100 μL/L C2H4 for 24 hours and then stored at 4 °C for 70 days. The postharvest physiological indices and the expression of 13 genes related to ethylene biosynthesis and signal transduction were monitored every 10 days. The results showed that 1-MCP can delay the softening rate and maintain the fruit quality of this early-maturing apple variety by reducing ethylene production by reducing the expression of MdACO1, MdACO2, and MdACS1, as well as by preventing ethylene signal transduction by decreasing the expression of MdETR2 and MdERS1 and increasing the expression of MdCTR1. Understanding the significant changes in these genes and their functions may help us explore the mechanisms controlling apple fruit softening and its response to exogenous 1-MCP and ethylene stimuli, as well as inhibition at the receptor level during ripening and senescence

Method of Reservoir Optimal Operation Based on Improved Simulated Annealing Genetic Algorithm

According to the specific circumstances of Wanjiazhai Reservoir, establish a reservoir optimal scheduling nonlinear mathematical model with a maximum generation capacity target, this paper uses an improved simulated annealing genetic algorithm to solve the model. The algorithm is in view of the defects of the traditional simulated annealing genetic algorithm to improve the algorithm from three aspects: introducing the niche technology, using adaptive crossover and mutation strategy, using the elitist strategy during the selection. Through examples are calculated and compared with the traditional simulated annealing genetic algorithm, the improved algorithm effectively overcomes the stagnation phenomenon, to enhance the global search ability. Its optimization performance is better than that of the traditional simulated annealing genetic algorithm

Tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing apple MdAGO4.1 gene to drought and salt stress

The regulatory role of apple MdAGO4.1 gene in plant drought and salt resistance is unclear. In this study, transgenic A. thaliana in which the apple MdAGO4.1 gene was over-expressed was used to analyze the regulatory effects of the MdAGO4.1 gene on plant drought and salt resistance, to verify the function of the apple MdAGO4.1 gene. The seed germination rate, seedling fresh weight and root length of transgenic Arabidopsis strains in MS medium containing different concentrations of NaCl and mannitol were better than those of the wild type. The transgenic A. thaliana seedlings were more resistant to drought than wild type under drought stress. The transgenic strains were less affected by salt stress than thewild type. Exposure to drought and salt stress reduced the relative elektrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide anion (O2-), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels of the transgenic strain significantly compared with the levels in the wild type. The levels of proline, protective enzyme activities, and the expression of genes related to drought and salt stress resistance were significantly higher than those of the wild type. These results indicate that MdAGO4.1 overexpression improved drought and salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. This study can provide a theoretical basis for future research on stress tolerance mechanisms and breeding new varieties of fruit trees resistant to drought and salt

Correlation-induced symmetry-broken states in large-angle twisted bilayer graphene on MoS2

Strongly correlated states are commonly emerged in twisted bilayer graphene (TBG) with magic-angle, where the electron-electron (e-e) interaction U becomes prominent relative to the small bandwidth W of the nearly flat band. However, the stringent requirement of this magic angle makes the sample preparation and the further application facing great challenges. Here, using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS), we demonstrate that the correlation-induced symmetry-broken states can also be achieved in a 3.45{\deg} TBG, via engineering this non-magic-angle TBG into regimes of U/W > 1. We enhance the e-e interaction through controlling the microscopic dielectric environment by using a MoS2 substrate. Simultaneously, the bandwidth of the low-energy van Hove singularity (VHS) peak is reduced by enhancing the interlayer coupling via STM tip modulation. When partially filled, the VHS peak exhibits a giant splitting into two states flanked the Fermi level and shows a symmetry-broken LDOS distribution with a stripy charge order, which confirms the existence of strong correlation effect in our 3.45{\deg} TBG. Our result paves the way for the study and application of the correlation physics in TBGs with a wider range of twist angle

Assessment of absorption of four lignan constituents of JingNing particles in rat gut using in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion

Purpose: To study small intestinal absorption of schisadrol A, schisandrol B, schizandrin A and schisandrin B in JingNing particles using in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP).Methods: Absorption rate constant (Ka) and apparent permeability (Papp) of the drugs at different concentrations in various parts of rat small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) were determined using SPIP. JingNing particles were also perfused in situ at different pH in the entire rat intestine. Ethanol extract of Schisandra chinensis (standard) at low concentration was perfused in the duodenum for comparison with extract of JingNing particles.Results: The order of apparent permeability of the four lignans was schisandrol A < schisandrol B < schizandrin A < schisandrin B. Ka and Papp values of the four lignans in JingNing particles were concentration-dependent. Absorption increased in the rank order: ileum > duodenum > jejunum. Optimum absorption pH was 6.50. Polygala tenuifolia extract and volatile oil of Rhizoma acori tatarinowii significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the absorption of the four lignans.Conclusion: The four lignans were well absorbed in the intestinal tract, particularly the ileum, probably through carrier-mediated transport. The alcohol extract of Polygala tenuifolia and volatile oil of Rhizoma acori graminei enhanced the absorption of the four lignans.Keywords: JingNing, Intestinal absorption, Polygala tenuifolia, Rhizoma acori graminei, Lignans, Schisandrol, Schisandrin, Single-pass intestinal perfusio

Degradable gene delivery systems based on Pluronics-modified low-molecular-weight polyethylenimine: preparation, characterization, intracellular trafficking, and cellular distribution

Wei Fan1,2,*, Xin Wu1,*, Baoyue Ding3,*, Jing Gao4, Zhen Cai1, Wei Zhang1, Dongfeng Yin1, Xiang Wang1, Quangang Zhu1, Jiyong Liu1, Xueying Ding4, Shen Gao1 1Department of Pharmaceutics, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 2Department of Pharmaceutics, The 425th Hospital of PLA, Sanya, 3Department of Pharmaceutics, Medical College of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 4Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workBackground: Cationic copolymers consisting of polycations linked to nonionic amphiphilic block polymers have been evaluated as nonviral gene delivery systems, and a large number of different polymers and copolymers of linear, branched, and dendrimeric architectures have been tested in terms of their suitability and efficacy for in vitro and in vivo transfection. However, the discovery of new potent materials still largely relies on empiric approaches rather than a rational design. The authors investigated the relationship between the polymers' structures and their biological performance, including DNA compaction, toxicity, transfection efficiency, and the effect of cellular uptake.Methods: This article reports the synthesis and characterization of a series of cationic copolymers obtained by grafting polyethyleneimine with nonionic amphiphilic surfactant polyether-Pluronic® consisting of hydrophilic ethylene oxide and hydrophobic propylene oxide blocks. Transgene expression, cytotoxicity, localization of plasmids, and cellular uptake of these copolymers were evaluated following in vitro transfection of HeLa cell lines with various individual components of the copolymers.Results: Pluronics can exhibit biological activity including effects on enhancing DNA cellular uptake, nuclear translocation, and gene expression. The Pluronics with a higher hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value lead to homogeneous distribution in the cytoplasm; those with a lower hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value prefer to localize in the nucleus.Conclusion: This Pluronic-polyethyleneimine system may be worth exploring as components in the cationic copolymers as the DNA or small interfering RNA/microRNA delivery system in the near future.Keywords: Pluronics, gene transfer, nonviral vectors, transfection efficiency, cellular uptak

Comparative analysis of liver transcriptome reveals adaptive responses to hypoxia environmental condition in Tibetan chicken

Objective Tibetan chickens, which have unique adaptations to extreme high-altitude environments, exhibit phenotypic and physiological characteristics that are distinct from those of lowland chickens. However, the mechanisms underlying hypoxic adaptation in the liver of chickens remain unknown. Methods RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology was used to assess the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in hypoxia adaptation in highland chickens (native Tibetan chicken [HT]) and lowland chickens (Langshan chicken [LS], Beijing You chicken [BJ], Qingyuan Partridge chicken [QY], and Chahua chicken [CH]). Results A total of 352 co-DEGs were specifically screened between HT and four native lowland chicken breeds. Gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analyses indicated that these co-DEGs were widely involved in lipid metabolism processes, such as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) signaling pathway, fatty acid degradation, fatty acid metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis. To further determine the relationship from the 352 co-DEGs, protein-protein interaction network was carried out and identified eight genes (ACSL1, CPT1A, ACOX1, PPARC1A, SCD, ACSBG2, ACACA, and FASN) as the potential regulating genes that are responsible for the altitude difference between the HT and other four lowland chicken breeds. Conclusion This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating hypoxia adaptation via lipid metabolism in Tibetan chickens and other highland animals

A genetic study and meta-analysis of the genetic predisposition of prostate cancer in a Chinese population.

Prostate cancer predisposition has been extensively investigated in European populations, but there have been few studies of other ethnic groups. To investigate prostate cancer susceptibility in the under-investigated Chinese population, we performed single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array analysis on a cohort of Chinese cases and controls and then meta-analysis with data from the existing Chinese prostate cancer genome-wide association study (GWAS). Genotyping 211,155 SNPs in 495 cases and 640 controls of Chinese ancestry identified several new suggestive Chinese prostate cancer predisposition loci. However, none of them reached genome-wide significance level either by meta-analysis or replication study. The meta-analysis with the Chinese GWAS data revealed that four 8q24 loci are the main contributors to Chinese prostate cancer risk and the risk alleles from three of them exist at much higher frequencies in Chinese than European populations. We also found that several predisposition loci reported in Western populations have different effect on Chinese men. Therefore, this first extensive single-nucleotide polymorphism study of Chinese prostate cancer in comparison with European population indicates that four loci on 8q24 contribute to a great risk of prostate cancer in a considerable large proportion of Chinese men. Based on those four loci, the top 10% of the population have six- or two-fold prostate cancer risk compared with men of the bottom 10% or median risk respectively, which may facilitate the design of prostate cancer genetic risk screening and prevention in Chinese men. These findings also provide additional insights into the etiology and pathogenesis of prostate cancer.This work was conducted on behalf of the CHIPGECS and The PRACTICAL consortia (see Supplementary Consortia). We acknowledge the contribution of doctors, nurses and postgraduate research students at the CHIPGENCS sample collecting centers. We thank Orchid and Rosetrees for funding support. This work was also supported by National Natural Science foundation of China for funding support to H Zhang (Grant No: 30671793 and 81072377), N Feng (Grant No: 81272831), X Zhang (Grant No: 30572139, 30872924 and 81072095), S Zhao (Grant No: 81072092 and 81328017), Y Yu (Grant No: 81172448) and Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University from Department of Education of China (NCET-08-0223) and the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program 2012AA021101) to X Zhang.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Impact Journals via http://dx.doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.725

Effect of Polymorphisms in XPD on Clinical Outcomes of Platinum-Based Chemotherapy for Chinese Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: Xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) codes for a DNA helicase involved in nucleotide excision repair that removes platinum-induced DNA damage. Genetic polymorphisms of XPD may affect DNA repair capacity and lead to individual differences in the outcome of patients after chemotherapy. This study aims to identify whether XPD polymorphisms affect clinical efficacy among advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: 353 stage III-IV NSCLC patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy as the first-line treatment were enrolled in this study. Four potentially functional XPD polymorphisms (Arg(156)Arg, Asp(312)Asn, Asp(711)Asp and Lys(751)Gln) were genotyped by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry or PCR-based sequencing. RESULTS: Variant genotypes of XPD Asp(312)Asn, Asp(711)Asp and Lys(751)Gln were significantly associated with poorer NSCLC survival (P = 0.006, 0.006, 0.014, respectively, by log-rank test). The most common haplotype GCA (in order of Asp(312)Asn, Asp(711)Asp and Lys(751)Gln) also exhibited significant risk effect on NSCLC survival (log-rank P = 0.001). This effect was more predominant for patients with stage IIIB disease (P = 2.21×10(-4), log-rank test). Increased risks for variant haplotypes of XPD were also observed among patients with performance status of 0-1 and patients with adenocarcinoma. However, no significant associations were found between these polymorphisms, chemotherapy response and PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence for the predictive role of XPD Asp(312)Asn, Asp(711)Asp and Lys(751)Gln polymorphisms/haplotype on NSCLC prognosis in inoperable advanced NSCLC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy