Long non-coding RNA H19 is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome in Chinese women: a preliminary study.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) represents a serious reproductive and endocrine condition and is associated with high incidence rates. H19 is a compelling long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) which carries out a range of biological functions. However, prior to this study, little was known as to whether there was an association between lncRNA H19 and PCOS. In the current study, we used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to determine lncRNA H19 expression levels in peripheral blood leukocytes from patients with PCOS and compared this data with that derived from normal controls. We also screened data for potential relationships between lncRNA H19 and a range of endocrine variables in PCOS. The expression of lncRNA H19 was significantly higher in cases of PCOS than in controls. Individuals exhibiting higher expression levels of lncRNA H19 were associated with a significantly higher risk of PCOS than those with lower expression levels. Moreover, lncRNA H19 expression was positively correlated with fasting plasma glucose levels; this was the case with both raw data, and after adjustment for age and BMI in the PCOS group. However, lncRNA H19 expression showed no significant correlation with total testosterone or insulin resistance in either PCOS cases or the controls. In conclusion, we demonstrate the first evidence to indicate that lncRNA H19 is associated with PCOS, suggesting that elevated lncRNA H19 levels are a risk factor for PCOS. For susceptible individuals, lncRNA H19 may represent a useful biomarker of the early stages of endocrine and metabolic disorders in PCOS.

[Effects of DA-6 and EDDS on Growth and Cd Uptake by Solanum nigrum L. and on the Soil Bacterial Community Structure].

The effects of the plant growth regulator DA-6 and chelator EDDS on the growth, Cd absorption, and soil bacterial community structure of Solanum nigrum L. on Cd-polluted soil were examined through a pot experiment, so as to evaluate the practical application effects of different remediation treatments. The results showed that the addition of DA-6 alone and the combined application of DA-6 and EDDS could promote the growth of S. nigrum L., and the shoot fresh weight increased by 24.58% and 19.57%, respectively, compared with that in the control. At the same time, the chlorophyll content and antioxidant enzyme activity of S. nigrum L. leaves also increased, whereas the content of malondialdehyde decreased. The application of DA-6 and EDDS also significantly increased the content of soil available Cd and promoted the absorption of Cd by S. nigrum L. Compared with that in the control, the extraction amount of Cd from S. nigrum L. shoots was significantly increased by 39.42% (DA-6), 30.17% (EDDS), and 51.04% (DA-6+EDDS), respectively. It was also found that the application of EDDS alone significantly reduced the ACE index of the soil bacterial community and significantly increased the Simpson index, and the abundance of the Lysobacter genus in the soil was significantly reduced. After the combination of DA-6 and EDDS, the diversity and taxonomic composition of the soil bacterial community were improved.

AMPK regulates anaphase central spindle length by phosphorylation of KIF4A.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an energy sensor that couples the cellular energy state with basic biological processes. AMPK is thought to be linked with cell division although the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we show that AMPK functionally participates throughout cell division and that AMPK catalytic subunits, especially α2, are sequentially associated with separate mitotic apparatus. Using quantitative phosphoproteomics analysis, we found that the strong direct substrate KIF4A is phosphorylated by AMPK at Ser801. Further analysis revealed that AMPK and Aurora B competitively phosphoregulates KIF4A during mitotic phase due to overlapping recognition motifs, resulting in the elaborate phosphoregulation for KIF4A-dependent central spindle length control. Given the intrinsic energy-sensing function of AMPK, our study links the KIF4A-dependent control of central spindle length with cellular glucose stress.

[Nitrogen input altered testate amoebae community in peatland of Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China].

In the present study, an in situ control experiment was carried out to explore the response of testate amoebae to exogenous nitrogen addition in peatland of Sanjiang Plain. The results showed that nitrogen addition increased the biomass of testate amoebae at lower levels (6 g N · m(-2)), while decreased it at higher levels (> 12 g N · m(-2)). At genus level, nitrogen addition significantly increased the biomass of Arcella and Phryganella, decreased the biomass of Euglypha. Only lower nitrogen addition significantly increased the biomass of Centropyxis. At species level, nitrogen addition significantly decreased the biomass of Euglypha rotunda, while the biomass of either Centropyxis cassis or Phryganella acropodia was increased by a lower nitrogen addition treatment. This study suggested that the response of peatland testate amoebae to nitrogen addition was species specific, which could potentially be used as an indicator for the environment of peatlands.