Identification and characterization of the 14-3-3 gene family in switchgrass.

Members of the 14-3-3 family of proteins are conserved regulatory proteins that are widely found in eukaryotes and play crucial roles in diverse physiological processes, including responses to different stresses. Although genome-wide analysis of 14-3-3 proteins has been performed in a few plant species, it has not been performed in switchgrass. In this study, we identified 21 switchgrass 14-3-3 proteins (designated PvGF14a to PvGF14u) and examined genes for improved stress tolerance in this species. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to demonstrate that PvGF14 proteins can be divided into six groups, and that PvGF14 proteins belonging to each class exhibit similar gene structure. A phylogenetic analysis of PvGF14 proteins among switchgrass, Arabidopsis, and rice was conducted. Ten PvGF14 proteins were found to be orthologous to several abiotic stresses, and these were particularly responsive proteins in Arabidopsis and rice. Tissue-specific expression profiles showed that PvGF14a, PvGF14k, PvGF14l, and PvGF14m may play significant roles in the regulation of lignin metabolism, and that PvGF14r may participate in flower development. Taken together, these data suggest that PvGF14 proteins may be involved in various biosynthesis.

Increased miR-155-5p expression in dermal mesenchymal stem cells of psoriatic patients: comparing the microRNA expression profile by microarray.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have pleiotropic immuno-modulatory effects and pro-angiogenic ability, leading to the presumption that MSCs may be involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory or autoimmune disorders, including psoriasis. In a previous study, we reported the specific gene expression profile of dermal MSCs from psoriasis. Inflammation- and angiogenesis-related genes, such as lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha transcription factor (LITAF), dual-specificity protein phosphatase 1 (DUSP1), vascular endothelial growth factor α (VEGFα), and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5 (IGFBP5), are abnormally expressed in psoriatic dermal MSCs. As a key regulator of gene expression, miRNA are involved in a wide variety of biological processes; in fact, several miRNAs have been implicated in the development and progression of inflammatory or autoimmune disorders. In this study, we compared the miRNA expression profiles of dermal MSCs from patients with psoriasis to those in MSCs from normal individuals by microarray, and found that the pro-inflammatory miRNA miR-155 was significantly overexpressed in psoriatic MSCs (2.44 fold, P < 0.001). Additionally, the expression of miR-155 target gene TAB2 (8.47 ± 1.55 vs 6.38 ± 2.10, P < 0.01,) and the downstream gene iNOS (5.26 ± 2.58 vs 3.73 ± 1.89, P < 0.05) was found to be inhibited in psoriatic dermal MSCs by real-time PCR. Therefore, we speculated that the elevation in miR-155 levels may be an indicator of, or a key regulatory pathway in, the pathogenesis of psoriasis, resulting in functionally impaired dermal MSCs.

Glyphosate biodegradation and potential soil bioremediation by Bacillus subtilis strain Bs-15.

Glyphosate and glyphosate-containing herbicides have an adverse effect on mammals, humans, and soil microbial ecosystems. Therefore, it is important to develop methods for enhancing glyphosate degradation in soil through bioremediation. We investigated the potential of glyphosate degradation and bioremediation in soil by Bacillus subtilis Bs-15. Bs-15 grew well at high concentrations of glyphosate; the maximum concentration tolerated by Bs-15 reached 40,000 mg/L. The optimal conditions for bacterial growth and glyphosate degradation were less than 10,000 mg/L glyphosate, with a temperature of 35°C and a pH of 8.0. Optimal fermentation occurred at 180 rpm for 60 h with an inoculum ratio of 4%. Bs-15 degraded 17.65% (12 h) to 66.97% (96 h) of glyphosate in sterile soil and 19.01% (12 h) to 71.57% (96 h) in unsterilized soil. Using a BIOLOG ECO plate test, we observed no significant difference in average well color development values between the soil inoculated with Bs-15 and the control soil before 72 h, although there was a significant difference (P < 0.01) after 72 h. In the presence of Bs-15, the 5 functional diversity indices (Shannon index, Shannon uniformity, Simpson index, McIntosh index, and McIntosh uniformity) were greater (P < 0.01) compared with the control soil. These results indicate that Bs-15 could be used to alleviate contamination from glyphosate-containing herbicides, increasing the microbial functional diversity in glyphosate-contaminated soils and thus enhancing the bioremediation of glyphosate-contaminated soils.

LITAF, HHEX, and DUSP1 expression in mesenchymal stem cells from patients with psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a common chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease, in which mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been hypothesized to play an important role in abnormal localized inflammation and vascular proliferation observed in skin lesions. Previous studies have revealed abnormal gene expression patterns, DNA methylation status, and cytokine secretion of MSCs in psoriatic skin lesions, as well as some gene expression abnormalities related to inflammation and angiogenesis. We further verified the gene and protein expressions of inflammation-related lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha transcription factor (LITAF), dual-specificity protein phosphatase 1 (DUSP1), and angiogenesis-related hematopoietically expressed homeobox (HHEX) in MSCs derived from the skin lesions of psoriasis patients. The gene expression of LITAF, DUSP1, and HHEX in dermal MSCs was measured at the mRNA level using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and the corresponding protein expression levels were analyzed by western blotting analysis. The gene and protein expression levels of LITAF, HHEX, and DUSP1 in dermal MSCs were significantly lower in psoriasis patients compared to controls. Amplification and western blotting results were consistent with our previously reported gene chip data. Our results suggest that dermal MSCs in psoriatic skin lesions may be involved in the development, progression, and regulation of localized inflammatory abnormalities by reducing the expression of LITAF, HHEX, and DUSP1, which are related to inflammation and angiogenesis.

Study and application of a new adenosine electrode with thymus tissue.

A new adenosine-selective membrane electrode using rabbit thymus tissue as catalyst is described. A typical response slope of 51.2 mV per concentration decade is observed over a linear range which extends from 3.16 x 10(-5) M to 5.62 x 10(-3) M. Detection limits of 2.99 x 10(-5) M have been established. Measured response times are 7 min. The coefficient of variation ranged from 1 to 5.62% (n = 7, m = 5). Fourteen compounds were specifically tested as possible interferents, but no significant response was observed. The standard recoveries of adenosine were from 95.3 to 104.0% (m = 5, n = 5), and the recoveries of adenosine in rabbit blood ranged from 94.0 to 108.4% (n = 3, m = 5) over the linear range. This tissue-based biosensor has excellent sensitivity and selectivity, and has additional advantages of simplicity and low cost. The biosensor can be used to measure directly the concentration of adenosine in body fluid samples without sample processing.

Molecular mapping of leaf rust resistance gene LrZH84 in Chinese wheat line Zhou 8425B.

Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina, is one of the most widespread diseases in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. With the objective of identifying and mapping new genes for resistance to leaf rust, F(1), F(2) plants and F(3) lines from a cross between resistant line Zhou 8425B and susceptible line Chinese Spring were inoculated with Chinese P. triticina races THTT and MBHP in the greenhouse. A total of 793 pairs of SSR primers were used to test the parents and resistant and susceptible bulks. Seven polymorphic chromosome 1B markers were used for genotyping the F(2) and F(3) populations. Zhou 8425B carried a single dominant resistance gene, temporarily designated LrZH84, linked to SSR markers gwm582 and barc8 with genetic distances of 3.9 and 5.2 cM, respectively. The Xbarc8 allele co-segregated with Lr26 in the F(3) population. The Xgwm582 allele associated with LrZH84 was identified as a leaf rust resistance gene and shown to be present in the Predgornaia 2 parent of Zhou 8425B. The seedling reaction pattern of LrZH84 was different from those of lines with Lr26, Lr33, Lr44 and Lr46, all of which are located in chromosome 1B. It was concluded that LrZH84 is likely to be a new leaf rust resistance gene.

[Clinical observe of the middle ear malformation].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the diagnosis and therapeutic effect of the middle ear abnormalities. METHOD: 65 ears from 1967 to 1996 were reviewed. The degrees of the ossicular abnormalities were analyzed, operative effect were valued. RESULT: In the 65 ears, incus abnormalities was 57 ears (87.7%), stapes was 55 ears (84.6%), mixed malformation was dominant. 47 ears were operated with ossicular chain reconstruction. 44 ears (93.6%) had hearing improvement, 32 ears (68.1%) had obviously improvement (> 20 dB). They were followed up over one year, 44 ears had steadily hearing and had not any complications. CONCLUSION: If diagnosis and interference were all proper, operation would obtain good result.

[Study and application of atropine field-effect transistor].

Atropine-H2SO4 is widely used in clinic. The atropine sensitive electrode has been prepared, but Atropine field-effect transistor (Atropine-FET) has not been reported. In this communication, electro-active material is atropine tetraphenylboron. The sensor was fabricated by coating solution composed of electro-active material, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and 5% PVC in tetrahydrofuran (THF) on Pt wire of gate electrode of MOSFET. The sensor showed linear response to atropine within concentration range 2.0 x 10(-2)-6.3 x 10(-5) mol/L. The slope of the sensor was 55 mV/decade and the limit of detection was 1.6 x 10(-5) mol/L. The sensor response was not affected by pH in the range 3.2-8.2, and the sensor can be used for the determination of atropine sulphate in drug-substances by direct potentiometry. The results of determination were in agreement with the data obtained by the official method in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The method appears to be a rapid, simple and precise one.