Interpretation of genotype-environment-sowing date/plant density interaction in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in early mature regions of China.

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important crop for food security in semiarid and arid regions due to its high tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses and its good performance in marginal lands with relatively low fertility. To deeply understand the interrelationship among sorghum genotype, environment, sowing dates, and densities in the spring sowing early maturing (SSEM) areas of China, and to provide a basis for specifying scientific and reasonable cultural practices, a two-year field experiment was conducted with six popular varieties at six locations. Combined ANOVA showed that the yield difference between years was significant (P<0.05); the yield differences among locations, varieties, sowing dates, and densities were all highly significant (P<0.01). The variety effect was mainly influenced by location, year, sowing dates and their interactions. The sowing effect was mainly influenced by the location, year, variety and their interactions The plant density effect was significantly influenced by location and location-year interaction. Of the contributions of various test factors to yield variance, the location was the largest one (38.18%), followed by variety (12.31%), sowing date (1.53%), density (0.54%), and year (0.09%), with all these single factors accounting for 52.65%. The total contribution of all two-factor interactions accounted for 14.24%, among which the greatest contributor was location-hybrid interaction (8.07%). The total contribution of all three-factor interactions accounted for 14.58%, of which year-location-hybrid interaction was the largest contributor (9.02%). Sowing dates significantly affected model of sorghum growth and development, especially during the late period. The key climatic factors affecting yield were different among the six locations. Weather factors during the grain filling stages contributed much more than those during the early stage to grain yield. Mid-maturing varieties are recommended other than early maturing varieties for the SSEM areas even when late sowing occurs. Sowing as early as possible is recommended for areas with very short frost-free period (Harbin, Tongliao, and Datong). Proper delayed sowing is recommended for areas with a relative long frost-free period (Gongzhuling, Baicheng and Zhangjiakou). This research will provide a conducive reference for sorghum production in similar areas.

Estimates of (co)variance components and phenotypic and genetic parameters of growth traits and wool traits in Alpine Merino sheep.

The (co)variance components and corresponding phenotypic and genetic parameters for growth traits and wool traits of economic importance were estimated in the Alpine Merino sheep population maintained at Gansu Provincial Sheep Breeding Technology Extension Station in northwestern China. Data from a maximum of 49,474 animals sired by 526 rams and born from 22,531 ewes over 20 years from 2000 to 2019 were used in this study. Birth type, age of dam, birth year, sex and/or management group, and age at measurement were initially fitted as fixed effects in an animal model with various random effects. Genetic groups were defined for all animals by the sire breed and breed genotype interacted with dam-strain flocks and were fitted as one of the random effects. Analyses were conducted using a residual maximum likelihood procedure (ASReml). Seven different animal models were fitted for all traits, and the most appropriate model with relevant random effects was selected through log-likelihood ratio testing. After identifying the appropriate model through single-trait analysis, bivariate analyses were used to obtain the phenotypic and genetic correlations among the traits. The estimates of additive direct heritability for birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT), preweaning growth rate (prwADG), postweaning growth rate (powADG), yearling body weight (YWT), average fibre diameter (AFD), greasy fleece weight (GFW), clean fleece weight (CFW), yield (YLD), yearling wool staple length (YSL), coefficient of variation of average fibre diameter (FDcv) and wool visual fineness counts (VFC) were 0.30, 0.18, 0.18, 0.20, 0.29, 0.20, 0.19, 0.20, 0.35, 0.19, 0.16 and 0.13, respectively, with standard errors ranging from 0.02 to 0.05. The corresponding ratios of genetic group variance to additive genetic variance were significant and, respectively, 0.35, 0.80, 0.62, 0.26, 0.13, 1.06, 0.38, 0.64, 0.09, 0.12, 0.06 and 0.58. These results suggest for these traits that there is potential to exploit both the additive genetic variation and between genetic group variation although for most traits the between group variation was smaller than the variation within groups. Favourable genetic correlations were found among the growth traits, and between growth traits and fleece production traits, and among wool traits GFW, CFW, YSL and YLD. This study provides the required estimates of genetic parameters of both growth and wool traits of the new breed for the design of more effective breeding programmes.

Interaction of genotype-ecological type-plant spacing configuration in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in China.

Grain sorghum has been a significant contributor to global food security since the prehistoric period and may contribute even more to the security of both food and energy in the future. Globally, precise management techniques are crucial for increasing grain sorghum productivity. In China, with diverse ecological types, variety introduction occasionally occurs across ecological zones. However, few information is available on the effect of ecological type on genotype performance and how plant spacing configuration influences grain yield in various ecological zones. Hence, a series of two-year field experiments were conducted in 2020 and 2021 in four ecological zones of China, from the northeast to the southwest. The experiments included six widely adapted sorghum varieties under six plant spacing configurations (two row spacing modes: equidistant row spacing (60 cm) mode and wide (80 cm)-narrow (40 cm) row spacing mode; three in-row plant spacings: 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm). Our results indicated that ecological type, variety, and plant spacing configuration had a significant effect on sorghum yield. Ecological type contributed the highest proportion to the yield variance (49.8%), followed by variety (8.3%), while plant spacing configuration contributed 1.8%. Sorghum growth duration was highly influenced by the ecological type, accounting for 87.2% of its total variance, whereas plant height was mainly affected by genotype, which contributed 81.6% of the total variance. All test varieties, developed in the south or north, can reach maturity within 94-108 d, just before fall sowing in central China. Generally, sorghum growth duration becomes longer when a variety is introduced from south to north. A late-maturing variety, developed in the spring sowing and late-maturing regions, possibly could not reach maturity in the early-maturing region. The row spacing modes had no significant affect on sorghum yield, but the equal-row spacing mode consistently caused higher yields with only one exception; this might imply that equal-row spacing mode was more advantageous for boosting sorghum yield potential. In contrast, decreasing in-row plant spacing showed significant positive linear associations with sorghum grain yield in most cases. In addition, these results demonstrated that sorghum is a widely adapted crop and enables success in variety introduction across ecological zones.

Cloning and functional analysis of soluble acid invertase 2 gene (SbSAI-2) in sorghum.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The sorghum soluble acid invertase gene SbSAI-2 was cloned and the function verified in Pichia pastoris and rice, showing the SbSAI-2 affects composition and content of sugar in stem juice. Sugar metabolism is one of the most important metabolic processes in plants, in which soluble acid invertase plays a key role. However, the structure and function of the soluble acid transferase gene in sorghum are still fully unclear. In this study, SbSAI-2 was cloned from the sorghum variety BTx623, and two transcripts were found through sequence analysis, with only one transcript translated into an active protein. There is 72% homology between SbSAI-2 and OsVIN2. The construction of Osvin2 mutant lines and SbSAI-2-1 overexpression lines in Oryza sativa L. japonica. cv. Nipponbare were produced to clarify the invertase functionality. While the invertase activity in the stem of the Osvin2 mutant line was reduced, with no significant difference (P > 0.05), and the contents of fructose and glucose in stem tissue did not change significantly (P > 0.05), and the content of sucrose increased by 38.89% (P < 0.01). In SbSAI-2-1 overexpression lines, the invertase activity in stem was increased by more than 20 times (P < 0.01). The contents of glucose and fructose in stem tissues were increased by two and three times, respectively (P < 0.01), while the content of sucrose was significantly decreased, which was below the detection limit (P < 0.01). This study indicated that SbSAI-2 is a key enzyme related to sucrose metabolism and affects the composition and content of sugar in stems. The result provided further the gene function verification and laid a foundation for the development of molecular markers.

Change of soluble acid invertase gene (SAI-1) haplotype in hybrid sorghum breeding program in China.

Sugar metabolism is the most important and core one which drives plant growth and development. Invertases are key enzymes that regulate sugar metabolism. A still-growing number of studies have revealed that invertases play a crucial role in various aspects of plant growth and development. Crop yield is the product of sugar metabolism; it could be deduced that invertase also regulated the yield formation. So we have done a series of research on soluble acid invertase in sweet sorghum from enzyme activity to gene cloning and functional marker development. In this paper, we sequenced full length of SAI-1 gene in 69 grain sorghum parent lines, trying to see how it differs in their gene sequences and their distribution in related hybrid varieties released in the past. To our surprise, the result showed that B-lines and restore lines (R-line) have almost different SAI-1 haplotype distribution. The change of haplotype of SAI-1 gene is associated with yield gain as with grain sorghum breeding progress, which proved that SAI-1 may take a very important role in yield formation. And we also found the SAI-1 gene tends to become shorter as with the breeding advance, which means short sequence in introns, while exon remains unchanged leading to higher gene efficiency. The best SAI-1 haplotype combination of sorghum hybrid was also found for different planting regions. These findings are of great significance for improving breeding efficiency, understanding heterosis, and germplasm enhancement. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-021-01231-2.

[A Study on the Role and Mechanism of Fenofibrate in Mice Renal Fibrosis Induced by Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role and mechanism of fenofibrate in renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction in mice, and to provide a potential therapeutic target for renal fibrosis. METHODS: 31 adult male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into Sham operation group (Sham, n=9), unilateral ureteral obstruction group (UUO, n=10) and unilateral ureteral obstruction+ fenofibrate group (UUO+Feno, n=12). Mice in both the UUO group and UUO+Feno groups were ligated with left ureter, and the the mice in Sham group freed the left ureter without ligation. From the second day after the operation, the UUO+Feno group was daily intragastrically administrated with 10 mg/kg of fenofibrate normal saline solution (final concentration was 0.08 mg/mL) for 15 d, and the other two groups were intragastrically administrated with the same amount of normal saline solution. At 15 th day postoperation after intragastric administration, mice were sacrificed, and the concentration of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were detected, the kidney tissues were performed HE staining, Masson dyeing and Sirius Red staining, and the content of renal tissue hydroxyproline were determined. Besides, immunohistochemical staining was used to explore the expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Collegan-Ⅰ (COL Ⅰ) protein in renal tissue, Western blot was carried out to observe the changes of the expression levels of kidney α-SMA and COL Ⅰ proteins, and real-time fluorescent quantitative (RT)-PCR method was performed to detect the changes of mRNA expression levels of renal tissue fibrosis related genes matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2, MMP9, COLⅠA1, COLⅠA2, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1, α-SMA. RESULTS: Compared with the Sham group, the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels of UUO group increased (P<0.05); compared with UUO group, the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels of UUO+Feno group were significantly lower (P<0.05). The results of HE staining, Masson staining, Sirius Red staining and renal hydroxyproline content indicated that the collagen deposition in UUO+Feno group was significantly reduced compared with that in UUO group. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that, compared with UUO group, the expression levels of α-SMA, COL Ⅰin kidney tissues of UUO+Feno group were significantly reduced; Western blot and RT-PCR results showed that compared with the UUO group, the mRNA and protein expression levels of fibrotic factors were significantly reduced in the UUO+Feno group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Fenofibrate reduced mice renal fibrosis caused by unilateral ureteral obstruction and its mechanism may be relate to its regulation effect on the expressions of renal tissue fibrosis related genes.

[Distribution characteristics of heavy metals in soil and its influence on greening plants in a main road of Lanzhou City, Northwest China]. / å °å·žå¸‚æŸäº¤é€šå¹²é“åœŸå£¤é‡é‡‘å±žåˆ†å¸ƒç‰¹å¾åŠå ¶å¯¹ç»¿åŒ–æ¤ç‰©çš„å½±å“.

To investigate the characteristics of heavy metal pollution caused by traffic and its potential ecological risks, we measured the amount of metal elements in samples collected from a traffic trunk road in Lanzhou City with atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The single factor index method and potential ecological risk index method were used to evaluate the degree of pollution and potential ecological risks, and then the effects of heavy metal pollution on chlorophyll and calcium (Ca) contents in greening plants were analyzed. The results showed that the amount of heavy metals including chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) in the soils increased significantly, with Cr, Cu and Pb reaching moderate pollution level. The degree of potential ecological risk was Cu>Pb>Cr>Ni>Zn>Mn. Sophora japonica, Rosa chinesis, Prunus ceraifera, and Euonymus japonicas showed different accumulation effects on Pb, Mn, Zn, and Ni. The content of chlorophyll in the leaves of deciduous species S. japonica, R. chinesis and P. ceraifera was higher in the roadside sampling point than that in the control point, while the pattern was just the opposite in evergreen species E. japonicas and P. orientalis. Foliar Ca content of greening plants in the roadside sampling point was higher than that in the control point, suggesting that high chlorophyll and Ca contents might be beneficial to plant survival in the heavy metal contaminated area. Taken together, traffic operation led to the accumulation of heavy metals (Cr, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Ni) in the soil of the study area. S. japonica, R. chinesis, P. ceraifera and E. japonicas could accumulate Pb, Mn, Zn and Ni, which could be used as greening plants in soils polluted by those heavy metals.

Subunits of human condensins are potential therapeutic targets for cancers.

The main role of condensins is to regulate chromosome condensation and segregation during cell cycles. Recently, it has been suggested in the literatures that subunits of condensin I and condensin II are involved in some human cancers. This paper will first briefly discuss discoveries of human condensins, their components and structures, and their multiple cellular functions. This will be followed by reviews of most recent studies on subunits of human condensins and their dysregulations or mutations in human cancers. It can be concluded that many of these subunits have potentials to be novel targets for cancer therapies. However, hCAP-D2, a subunit of human condensin I, has not been directly documented to be associated with any human cancers to date. This review hypothesizes that hCAP-D2 can also be a potential therapeutic target for human cancers, and therefore that all subunits of human condensins are potential therapeutic targets for human cancers.

LncRNA UCA1 promotes renal cell carcinoma proliferation through epigenetically repressing p21 expression and negatively regulating miR-495.

Long non-coding RNAs have recently emerged as important regulators in the pathogenesis and progression of cancers. The long non-coding RNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 is reportedly upregulated and functions as an oncogene in some tumors. However, the role of urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 in renal cell carcinoma is not well elucidated so far. In this study, we found that urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 was overexpressed in renal cell carcinoma tissues compared with the adjacent normal tissues, and higher urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 expression levels were positively associated with advanced tumor stage and poor survival time in renal cell carcinoma patients. Further studies showed that knockdown of urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 suppressed renal cell carcinoma cell proliferation and S-phase cell number in vitro. Moreover, urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 was found to be associated with enhancer of zeste homolog 2, which suppressed p21 expression through histone methylation (H3K27me3) on p21 promoter. We also showed that knockdown of urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 increased the p21 protein expression through regulating enhancer of zeste homolog 2. In addition, bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-495 was a target of urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 in renal cell carcinoma, and urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 promoted cell proliferation by negatively regulating miR-495. These findings illuminated that urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 promoted renal cell carcinoma progression through enhancer of zeste homolog 2 and interacted with miR-495. Overall, overexpression of urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 functions as an oncogene in renal cell carcinoma that may offer a novel therapeutic target for renal cell carcinoma patients.

[Treatment of middle-aged and aged patients with knee osteoarthritis of yang-deficiency induced cold-damp syndrome by ozone combined Chinese materia medica: a clinical research].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of treating middle-aged and aged patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) of yang-deficiency induced cold-damp syndrome (YDICDS) by ozone combined Fugui Gutong Granule (FGG). METHODS: Using a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial, 200 KOA patients of YDICDS were randomly assigned to four groups. i.e., the control group (Group A), the Chinese medicine treatment group (Group B), the ozone group (Group C), and the Chinese-r medicine treatment plus ozone group (Group D).Patients in Group A took Voltaren Tablet. Those in Group B took FGG. Those in Group C received ozone injection (10 -18 mL) from knee joint cavity at 25 mg/L, once weekly for 4 weeks in total. Those in Group D received injection from knee joint cavity and took FGG. The therapeutic course for all was one month. The efficacy was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario MacMaster University Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC). RESULTS: The VAS score was obviously lower in Group D than in Group B and Group A at 24 h and 1 week (P <0. 05). After one month of treatment, the VAS score was obviously lower in Group D than in Group A, B, and C (P < 0.05). After treatment the total integral of WOMAC was 25.34 +/- 2.12 in Group D, obviously lower than that in Group A (44.72 +/- 6.57), Group B (40.58 +/- 5.98), and Group C (38.53 +/- 5. 13), showing statistical difference (P <0.05). The pain score, the joint stiffness score, the score for daily activities were lower in Group D than in Group A (P <0.05). The cured and markedly effective rate was 76.0% in Group D, higher than that of Group A (25. 0%), Group B (25. 0%), and Group C (43.8%), respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ozone combined FGG had advantages in alleviating joint pain, and improving joint stiffness and daily activities of middle-aged and aged patients with KOA of YDICDS.

IFN-γ induces lipogenesis in mouse mesangial cells via the JAK2/STAT1 pathway.

The objective is to investigate the effect of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) on lipid deposition in γ-interferon (IFN-γ)-stimulated mouse mesangial cell line (MMC) and to determine whether the Janus kinase 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (JAK2/STAT1) signaling pathway plays an important role in this process. We employed a control group, an IFN-γ stimulation group, and an IFN-γ + AG490 (JAK2 inhibitor) group. RNA interference aimed at sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) or HMGB1 was used to investigate the effect of these proteins on IFN-γ-induced lipid deposition. Western blotting was used to detect phospho (p)-JAK2, JAK2, p-STAT1, STAT1, SREBP-1, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and HMGB1 protein expression. RT-PCR was used to detect SREBP-1, FAS, and HMGB1 mRNA. Oil Red O staining and the triglyceride assay were used to detect lipid deposition and triglyceride content. Results were as follows: 1) IFN-γ increased MMC cell lipid deposition, triglyceride content, and p-JAK2, p-STAT1, SREBP-1, and FAS expression; 2) SREBP-1 inhibition prevented FAS upregulation and attenuated IFN-γ-induced MMC cell lipid deposition and triglyceride content; 3) HMGB1 upregulated SREBP-1 and FAS mRNA and protein levels, which increased lipid deposition in MMC cells. Small interfering RNA-mediated inhibition of HMGB1 decreased SREBP-1 and FAS expression and lipid accumulation; 4) AG490 decreased upregulation of HMGB1 and p-JAK2/p-STAT1, as well as IFN-γ-induced lipogenesis. In conclusion, the JAK2/STAT1 pathway mediates IFN-γ-induced lipogenesis in MMC cells through regulation of HMGB1/SREBP-1/FAS.

[Effects of langchuangping granule on the expression of B lymphocyte activating factor in the peripheral blood B cells of BXSB lupus nephritis mice].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expressions of B lymphocyte activating factor (BAFF) in the serum and peripheral blood B cells (PBBCs) of BXSB lupus nephritis mice, and to investigate the efficacy of Langchuangping Granule (LG). METHODS: Eighteen 11-week-old male BXSB lupus mice were randomly divided into three groups, i.e., the lupus control group, the hormone treatment group, and the LG treatment group, 6 in each group. Besides, another 6 C57BL/6 male mice were recruited as the normal control group. The mice were given with normal sodium (10 mL/d), methylprednisolone (at the daily dose of 5 mg/kg), LG (at the daily dose of 4 g/kg), and the normal saline (10 mL/d) respectively by gastrogavage for 4 weeks. The urine protein, ds-DNA, and body weight were determined. The serum soluble BAFF (sBAFF), the expressions and changes of BAFF-mRNA in the PBBCs were detected using ELISA and RT-PCR respectively. The activity index (AI) and 24 h urine albumin excretion quantitation of renal pathological activities were observed. The correlation between ds-DNA and sBAFF were analyzed. RESULTS: The level of sBAFF in serum, the BAFF mRNA level in PBBCs, 24 h urinary albumin excretion, and serum ds-DNA content increased more obviously in lupus mice than in the normal mice. After being treated by methylprednisolone or LG, the sBAFF and BAFF mRNA expressions decreased more obviously than before treatment, showing statistical difference (P<0.05). But there was no statistical difference in the sBAFF level or the BAFF mRNA expression (P>0.05). There was positive correlation between sBAFF and AI (r=0.8098, P<0.01), 24 h urinary albumin excretion (r=0.8220, P<0.01), and ds-DNA (r=0.8535, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: BAFF plays an important role in the occurrence and development of lupus nephritis. It can be used in monitoring the disease progress and predicting its recurrence. It is one of ideal targets for treating lupus nephritis. LG could attenuate the renal injury via suppressing BAFF level. It is worth further clinical application.

[Langohuangping granule down-regulated monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 via suppressing nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway in BXSB lupus nephritis mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study whether Langchuangping granule (LG) could exert its renal protection by down-regulating monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) via suppressing nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway in BXSB lupus nephritis (LN) mice. Methods Eighteen male 11-week-old BXSB LN mice were randomly divided into three groups, i.e., the model group, the hormone group, and the Chinese medicine group, 6 in each. They were administered by gastrogavage with normal saline, methylprednisolone, and LG, respectively. Another six C57BL/6 male mice of the same age was taken as the normal control group, which was administered with normal saline by gastrogavage. All mice were treated once daily, for 4 successive weeks. The 24-h urine protein was determined. The mRNA and protein expressions of MCP-1 in the renal tissue were detected using RT-PCR and Western blot. The expression of NF-kappaB p65 in the renal tissue was detected using immunohistochemical assay. Activity index (AI) of the renal tissue was counted using PAS stain. The content of ds-DNA antibody was detected using ELISA. The correlations of the aforesaid indices were analyzed. RESULTS: The 24-h urine protein level, serum ds-DNA antibody content, protein and mRNA expressions of MCP-1, NF-kappaB p65 expression level, and AI count were obviously higher in the model group than in the normal control group (P < 0.01). The aforesaid indices all obviously decreased after medication in the Chinese medicine group and the hormone group (P < 0.05). MCP-1 protein expression level was positively correlated with MCP-1 mRNA, NF-kappaB p65, AI, 24-h urine protein, and ds-DNA antibody of all LN mice (r= 0.984, 0.936, 0.887, 0.698, 0.679, all P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: LG possibly played renal protection by down-regulating NF-kappaB-mediated MCP-1 expression levels. MCP-1 played important roles in the occurrence and development of LN, being one of ideal targets for LN treatment.

[Loss of the balance between Th17 and Th1 populations in HIV/AIDS patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Th17/Th1 response in HIV infected patients and the mutual relationship between the response of Th17 and Th1. METHODS: 38 chronic HIV infected patients as well as 24 healthy volunteers were performed in this study. The patients were divided into two groups, one group before treatment, the other after therapy. The whole blood intracellular cytokine staining was used, samples detected by BD FACSCanto, after that, the expression of CD4+ IL-17+ T cell and CD4 IFN-gamma+ T cell were analyzed by FACSDiva software and lastly compared the differences among different groups. RESULTS: The expression of CD4+ IL-17+ T cell in naive-therapy patients were significantly lower than that of the healthy controls (1.14 +/- 0.7)9% vs (3.98 +/- 1.14)%, P = 0.000, but increased remarkably after HARRT(highly antiretroviral treatment) (2.22 +/- 1.00)%, P = 0.001; however there were no significant differences in the expression of CD4+ IFN-gamma+ T cell before and after therapy (34.35 +/- 24.38)% vs (42.10 +/- 15.57%), also with the healthy control (P = 0.383). The frequency of CD4 IL-17+ T cell was positively correlated with CD4+ T counts (R = 0.345, P = 0.034), but no significant correlations was observed between the expression of CD4+ IFN-gamma T cell and CD4+ T counts (R = -0.247, P = 0.136). CONCLUSION: The infection of HIV virus down-regulated Th17 immune response and disturbed the balances between Th17 and Th1 evidently in human. Th17 response may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HIV infection.

Thermodynamics and kinetics of Zn(II) adsorption on crosslinked starch phosphates.

Crosslinked starch phosphates (CSP) with different contents of phosphate groups were used to adsorb Zn(II) from aqueous solution. Effects of adsorption time, initial concentration of Zn(II) ion, and temperature on the adsorption of Zn(II) by CSP were studied, and the equilibrium, thermodynamics and kinetics of the adsorption process were further investigated. It showed that crosslinked starch phosphates can effectively remove Zn(II) from the solution. The adsorption equilibrium data correlate well with the Langmuir isotherm model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 2.00mmolg(-1). The adsorption of Zn(II) on CSP is endothermic in nature. The pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were applied to test the experimental data. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model provided a better correlation of the experimental data in comparison with the pseudo-first-order model.

Reconstitution of glyphosate resistance from a split 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3-phosphate synthase gene in Escherichia coli and transgenic tobacco.

A highly N-phosphonomethylglycine (glyphosate)-resistant Pseudomonas fluorescens G2 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) was mapped to identify potential split sites using a transposon-based linker-scanning procedure. Intein-mediated protein complementation was used to reconstitute glyphosate resistance from the genetically divided G2 EPSPS gene in Escherichia coli strain ER2799 and transgenic tobacco.

[Development of new soybean germplasm with null lipoxygenase and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor genes].

Soybean is one of the most important sources of plant protein for human. Soybean protein is a kind of high-quality protein composed of balanced amino acids, which contains all kinds of amino acids, especially 8 amino acids necessary for human. But it also contains some components that are not good for human and affect food quality, such as lipoxygenase (Lox) and trypsin inhibitor (Ti). Those are important anti-nutritious factors. Nutritional value and processing quality of soybean can be improved by means of development of new variety with null Lox and Ti. In this paper, new soybean germplasms that pyramided multiple genes of high quality, null lipoxygenase and trypsin inhibitor genes (Ix1, Ix2, Ix3 and ti) were developed by means of cross and biochemical marker-assisted selection of progenies for null lipoxygenase and trypsin inhibitor genes using known Lox and Ti markers (protein markers). Female parents were soybean varieties Ludou 4, Zhongpin 661, Yudou 8,91D15, wei8640 popularized in Huanghuaihai Plain. Male parents were varieties introduced from US, trypsin-inhibitor (Ti)-deficient varieties P. I. L83-4387 and near isogenic lines of varieties Century for lipoxygenase (Lox)-deficient genes, Century-2 (Ix2), Century-2.3 (Ix2Ix3) and Century-1.3 (Ix1 Ix3). These new germplasms will promote soybean breeding for improved quality production,and utilization.

[Development of a new type soybean germplasm with null lipoxygenase isozymes].

Soybean protein is a kind of high-quality protein composed of balanced amino acids. It contains all kinds of amino acids, especially eight amino acids necessary for human, but also contains some components that are not good for human and affect food quality, such as Lipoxygenase (Lox) and Trypsin inhibitor (Ti). Nutritional value and processing quality of soybean can be improved by means of development of new variety with null Lox and Ti. In this paper, a new type soybean germplasm with null lipoxygenase isozymes was developed by Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences through years of biochemical marker assistant selection for null lipoxygenase by means of isoelectric focusing-polyacrylamid gel electrophoresis (IEF-PAGE) in the hybrid progenies of "96P17" (Female parent, a null lipoxygenase 2.3 line) and "93704" (Male parent, a null lipoxygenase 1.3 line). It is the first new soybean germplasm with null Lox1.2.3 genes in our country, which will contribute to soybean breeding for high quality, soybean production and utilization. In this paper, the development process of new type soybean germplasm is described.

A PSTAIRE CDK-like protein localizes in nuclei and cytoplasm of Physarum polycephalum and functions in the mitosis.

CDKs play key roles in controlling cell cycle progression in all eukaryotes. In plants, multiple CDKs are present, among which the best characterized CDKs are PSTAIRE CDKs. In this study, we carried out Western blot, immunoelectron microscopy and antibody treatment with an anti-PSTAIRE monoclonal antibody to explore the subcellular localization and functions of PSTAIRE CDKs in Physarum polycephalum. The results of western blot and immunoelectron microscopy showed that in P. polycephalum, a PSTAIRE CDK-like protein was 34 kD in molecular weight and located in both nuclei and cytoplasm. In nuclei, the protein was mainly associated with chromosomes and nucleoli. The expression of the PSTAIRE CDK-like protein in both the plasmodia and nuclei showed little fluctuation through the whole cell cycle. When treated with an anti-PSTAIRE monoclonal antibody at early S phase, the cells were arrested in S phase, and the mitotic onset of P. polycephalum was blocked for about 1 h when treated at early G2 phase. Our data indicated that the PSTAIRE CDK- like protein has a direct bearing on the mitosis.