Improved green and red GRAB sensors for monitoring spatiotemporal serotonin release in vivo.

The serotonergic system plays important roles in both physiological and pathological processes, and is a therapeutic target for many psychiatric disorders. Although several genetically encoded GFP-based serotonin (5-HT) sensors were recently developed, their sensitivities and spectral profiles are relatively limited. To overcome these limitations, we optimized green fluorescent G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-activation-based 5-HT (GRAB5-HT) sensors and developed a red fluorescent GRAB5-HT sensor. These sensors exhibit excellent cell surface trafficking and high specificity, sensitivity and spatiotemporal resolution, making them suitable for monitoring 5-HT dynamics in vivo. Besides recording subcortical 5-HT release in freely moving mice, we observed both uniform and gradient 5-HT release in the mouse dorsal cortex with mesoscopic imaging. Finally, we performed dual-color imaging and observed seizure-induced waves of 5-HT release throughout the cortex following calcium and endocannabinoid waves. In summary, these 5-HT sensors can offer valuable insights regarding the serotonergic system in both health and disease.

Improved green and red GRAB sensors for monitoring dopaminergic activity in vivo.

Dopamine (DA) plays multiple roles in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes via a large network of dopaminergic projections. To dissect the spatiotemporal dynamics of DA release in both dense and sparsely innervated brain regions, we developed a series of green and red fluorescent G-protein-coupled receptor activation-based DA (GRABDA) sensors using a variety of DA receptor subtypes. These sensors have high sensitivity, selectivity and signal-to-noise ratio with subsecond response kinetics and the ability to detect a wide range of DA concentrations. We then used these sensors in mice to measure both optogenetically evoked and behaviorally relevant DA release while measuring neurochemical signaling in the nucleus accumbens, amygdala and cortex. Using these sensors, we also detected spatially resolved heterogeneous cortical DA release in mice performing various behaviors. These next-generation GRABDA sensors provide a robust set of tools for imaging dopaminergic activity under a variety of physiological and pathological conditions.

Genetically encoded sensors for in vivo detection of neurochemicals relevant to depression.

Depressive disorders are a common and debilitating form of mental illness with significant impacts on individuals and society. Despite the high prevalence, the underlying causes and mechanisms of depressive disorders are still poorly understood. Neurochemical systems, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, have been implicated in the development and perpetuation of depressive symptoms. Current treatments for depression target these neuromodulator systems, but there is a need for a better understanding of their role in order to develop more effective treatments. Monitoring neurochemical dynamics during depressive symptoms is crucial for gaining a better a understanding of their involvement in depressive disorders. Genetically encoded sensors have emerged recently that offer high spatial-temporal resolution and the ability to monitor neurochemical dynamics in real time. This review explores the neurochemical systems involved in depression and discusses the applications and limitations of current monitoring tools for neurochemical dynamics. It also highlights the potential of genetically encoded sensors for better characterizing neurochemical dynamics in depression-related behaviors. Furthermore, potential improvements to current sensors are discussed in order to meet the requirements of depression research.

Uniting Synergistic Effect of Single-Ni Site and Electric Field of B- Bridged-N for Boosted Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia.

Electrochemical conversion of nitrate, a prevalent water pollutant, to ammonia (NH3) is a delocalized and green path for NH3 production. Despite the existence of different nitrate reduction pathways, selectively directing the reaction pathway on the road to NH3 is now hindered by the absence of efficient catalysts. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are extensively investigated in a wide range of catalytic processes. However, their application in electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3 -RR) to NH3 is infrequent, mostly due to their pronounced inclination toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, Ni single atoms on the electrochemically active carrier boron, nitrogen doped-graphene (BNG) matrix to modulate the atomic coordination structure through a boron-spanning strategy to enhance the performance of NO3 -RR is designed. Density functional theory (DFT) study proposes that BNG supports with ionic characteristics, offer a surplus electric field effect as compared to N-doped graphene, which can ease the nitrate adsorption. Consistent with the theoretical studies, the as-obtained NiSA@BNG shows higher catalytic activity with a maximal NH3 yield rate of 168 µg h-1 cm-2 along with Faradaic efficiency of 95% and promising electrochemical stability. This study reveals novel ways to rationally fabricate SACs' atomic coordination structure with tunable electronic properties to enhance electrocatalytic performance.

Isolation and characterization of a novel S-gene mutation porcine deltacoronavirus with high pathogenicity from diarrhea piglet in Zhejiang Province, China, 2022.

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is a coronavirus that causes diarrhea in suckling piglets and has the potential for cross-species transmission. Monitoring PDCoV evolution and identifying potential vaccine candidates are crucial due to its high mutation rates in pig populations. In this study, a Chinese PDCoV strain named ZD2022 was successfully isolated from diarrhea piglets in Zhejiang province, followed by genetic evolutionary analysis, assessment of S proteins' biological functions, in vitro cellular adaptation analysis and pathogenicity evaluation. Phylogenetic analyses placed the PDCoV ZD2022 strain within the Southeast Asia Lineage. Sequence analysis revealed 23 mutations in the S protein of ZD2022 compared to most of other Chinese PDCoV strains, including 8 unique mutations (T529I, L579F, Q614H, V709G, S959L, P1010S, V1016F, A1068V). In addition, bioinformatic predictions indicated these mutations impact the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, antigenic epitopes and N-glycosylation sites of the ZD2022 S protein. The virus growth curve of ZD2022 showed good cellular adaptation, with peak viral titers of 8.92±0.31 Log10 TCID50/mL in ST cells. Furthermore, ZD2022 exhibited high virulence in suckling piglets, causing severe diarrhea in piglets at 60 hours post-inoculation (hpi) and a mortality rate of 40% (2/5) within 96 hpi. In summary, our findings indicate that the Chinese PDCoV strains continue to mutate, and the novel S gene mutation in strain ZD2022 offers strong cellular adaptation and high pathogenicity, making it a potential candidate strain for vaccine development.

Design of an optically transparent and broadband absorber based on a multi-objective optimization algorithm.

In this Letter, an optically transparent and broadband absorber designed using a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) is proposed. The absorption of the multilayer lossy frequency selective surface-based absorber is calculated by multilayer absorption equations and equivalent circuit models. To solve the problem of the unbalanced structure absorption bandwidth and thickness, an algorithm is used for optimizing the geometric and sheet resistance parameters of the structure. A multilayer and optically transparent absorber with 90% absorption bandwidth covering a frequency range of 2-18 GHz (S-band to Ku-band) is developed based on the MOGA design method with optical transmittance of 60%. Its total thickness consists of a wavelength of only 0.095, and it has high oblique incidence stability, which makes it useful in the stealth technology and transparent electromagnetic shielding applications.

Topological traveling-wave radiation based on chiral edge states in photonic Chern insulators.

Topological chiral edge states in photonic Chern insulators, which exhibit the one-way propagation property with reflection-free behavior and excellent robustness against perturbations, have become an important frontier in topological photonics. Currently, there have been many studies on its robust propagation behavior, but few studies have focused on its radiation properties. In developing functional photonic devices (e.g., topological antennas) for real-world applications, studying traveling-wave radiation characteristics based on chiral edge states deserves more attention. In this Letter, we propose a topological traveling-wave radiation system based on chiral edge states in photonic Chern insulators that show a steerable beam and reflection-free property. By introducing the perturbation controlled by magnetic fields, we demonstrate that exploiting a certain strength of perturbation can flexibly manipulate the radiation beam. In particular, the proposed dual-channel topological traveling-wave radiation system can not only improve the gain but also overcome the issue of impedance matching. The proposed configurations provide a novel way to manipulate topological-wave radiation and have potential applications for designing topological traveling-wave antennas with a reflection-free property.

[Identification and expression pattern analysis of Trihelix transcription factor family genes of ginseng].

The function of the Trihelix transcription factor is that it plays an important role in many abiotic stresses, especially in the signaling pathway of low temperature, drought, flood, saline, abscisic acid, methyl jasmonate, and other abiotic stresses. However, there are few studies on the Trihelix gene family of ginseng. In this study, 41 Trihelix gene family members were identified and screened from the ginseng genome database, and their physicochemical properties, cis-acting elements, subcellular localization, chromosomal assignment, and abiotic stress-induced expression patterns were analyzed by bioinformatics methods. The results showed that 85% of Trihelix family members of ginseng were located in the nucleus, and the main secondary structure of Trihelix protein was random coil and α helix. In the promoter region of Trihelix, cis-acting regulatory elements related to various abiotic stresses such as low temperature, hormone response, and growth and development were identified. Through the collinearity analysis of interspecific Trihelix transcription factors of model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and ginseng, 19 collinear gene pairs were found between A. thaliana and ginseng, and no collinear gene pairs existed on chromosomes 3, 6, and 12 only. qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of GWHGBEIJ010320.1 was significantly up-regulated under low temperature stress, a significant response to low temperature stress. This study lays a foundation for further research on the role of the Trihelix transcription factor of ginseng in abiotic stress, as well as the growth and development of ginseng.

Mechanistic Study of Icaritin-Induced Inactivation of Cytochrome P450 2C9.

Icaritin (ICT) is a prenylflavonoid derivative that has been approved by National Medical Products Administration for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aims to evaluate the potential inhibitory effect of ICT against cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and to elucidate the inactivation mechanisms. Results showed that ICT inactivated CYP2C9 in a time-, concentration-, and NADPH-dependent manner with Ki = 1.896 µM, Kinact = 0.02298 minutes-1, and Kinact/Ki = 12 minutes-1 mM-1, whereas the activities of other CYP isozymes was minimally affected. Additionally, the presence of CYP2C9 competitive inhibitor, sulfaphenazole, superoxide dismutase/catalase system, and GSH all protected CYP2C9 from ICT-induced activity loss. Moreover, the activity loss was neither recovered by washing the ICT-CYP2C9 preincubation mixture nor the addition of potassium ferricyanide. These results, collectively, implied the underlying inactivation mechanism involved the covalent binding of ICT to the apoprotein and/or the prosthetic heme of CYP2C9. Furthermore, an ICT-quinone methide (QM)-derived GSH adduct was identified, and human glutathione S-transferases (GST) isozymes GSTA1-1, GSTM1-1, and GSTP1-1 were shown to be substantially involved in the detoxification of ICT-QM. Interestingly, our systematic molecular modeling work predicted that ICT-QM was covalently bound to C216, a cysteine residue located in the F-G loop downstream of substrate recognition site (SRS) 2 in CYP2C9. The sequential molecular dynamics simulation confirmed the binding to C216 induced a conformational change in the active catalytic center of CYP2C9. Lastly, the potential risks of clinical drug-drug interactions triggered by ICT as a perpetrator were extrapolated. In summary, this work confirmed that ICT was an inactivator of CYP2C9. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study is the first to report the time-dependent inhibition of CYP2C9 by icaritin (ICT) and the intrinsic molecular mechanism behind it. Experimental data indicated that the inactivation was via irreversible covalent binding of ICT-quinone methide to CYP2C9, while molecular modeling analysis provided additional evidence by predicting C216 as the key binding site which influenced the structural confirmation of CYP2C9's catalytic center. These findings suggest the potential of drug-drug interactions when ICT is co-administered with CYP2C9 substrates clinically.

Unraveling a Combined Inactivation Mechanism of Cytochrome P450s by Genipin, the Major Reactive Aglycone Derived from Gardeniae Fructus.

Genipin (GP) is the reactive aglycone of geniposide, the main component of traditional Chinese medicine Gardeniae Fructus (GF). The covalent binding of GP to cellular proteins is suspected to be responsible for GF-induced hepatotoxicity and inhibits drug-metabolizing enzyme activity, although the mechanisms remain to be clarified. In this study, the mechanisms of GP-induced human hepatic P450 inactivation were systemically investigated. Results showed that GP inhibited all tested P450 isoforms via distinct mechanisms. CYP2C19 was directly and irreversibly inactivated without time dependency. CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 T (testosterone as substrate) showed time-dependent and mixed-type inactivation, while CYP2B6, CYP2C8, and CYP3A4 M (midazolam as substrate) showed time-dependent and irreversible inactivation. For CYP3A4 inactivation, the kinact/KI values in the presence or absence of NADPH were 0.26 or 0.16 min-1 mM-1 for the M site and 0.62 or 0.27 min-1 mM-1 for the T site. Ketoconazole and glutathione (GSH) both attenuated CYP3A4 inactivation, suggesting an active site occupation- and reactive metabolite-mediated inactivation mechanism. Moreover, the in vitro and in vivo formation of a P450-dependent GP-S-GSH conjugate indicated the involvement of metabolic activation and thiol residues binding in GP-induced enzyme inactivation. Lastly, molecular docking analysis simulated potential binding sites and modes of GP association with CYP2C19 and CYP3A4. We propose that direct covalent binding and metabolic activation mediate GP-induced P450 inactivation and alert readers to potential risk factors for GP-related clinical drug-drug interactions.

Correlation between Pneumatization Variants of Paranasal Sinuses and Skull Base and Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea: A Case-Control Study.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea (SCSFR) is the most common type of cerebrospinal fluid leakage and may cause serious cerebral complications. The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between the degree of pneumatization variants of the paranasal sinus and skull base and the incidence of SCSFR. METHODS: In total, 131 patients with SCSFR were analyzed, and 50 patients suffering from the nasal septal deviation were selected as controls. The pneumatization of the paranasal sinus and skull base was observed by CT scan. RESULTS: Among the 137 fistulas, 55 (40.15%) were found in the ethmoid sinus. The incidences of Onodi cells (27.27 vs. 8%) and type 3 lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus (LRSS, 70.37 vs. 22%) in the SCSFR subgroups were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the occurrence of SCSFR was linearly correlated with the classification of Onodi cells and LRSS (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of frontal cells, anterior clinoid process pneumatization, and posterior clinoid process pneumatization between the SCSFR patients and the controls. CONCLUSION: The most common site of SCSFR is the ethmoid sinus. The excessive pneumatization of the Onodi cell and LRSS increases the risk for the occurrence of SCSFR in the ethmoid sinus and sphenoid sinus, respectively. The possible association between the paranasal sinus ontogeny and SCSFR pathophysiology needs further studies.

Low-Profile Broadband Dual-Polarized Dipole Antenna for Base Station Applications.

A low-profile broadband dual-polarized antenna is investigated for base station applications. It consists of two orthogonal dipoles, fork-shaped feeding lines, an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC), and parasitic strips. By utilizing the Brillouin dispersion diagram, the AMC is designed as the antenna reflector. It has a wide in-phase reflection bandwidth of 54.7% (1.54-2.70 GHz) and a surface-wave bound range of 0-2.65 GHz. This design effectively reduces the antenna profile by over 50% compared to traditional antennas without an AMC. For demonstration, a prototype is fabricated for 2G/3G/LTE base station applications. Good agreement between the simulations and measurements is observed. The measured -10-dB impedance bandwidth of our antenna is 55.4% (1.58-2.79 GHz), with a stable gain of 9.5 dBi and a high isolation of more than 30 dB across the impedance passband. As a result, this antenna is an excellent candidate for miniaturized base station antenna applications.

Tunable topological edge and corner states in an all-dielectric photonic crystal.

Topological photonics has become a new and fascinating area in recent years, which enables electromagnetic waves to propagate with negligible backscattering and excellent robustness even when encountering sharp corners or defects. But the flexible tunability of edge and corner states is challenging once the topological photonic crystals (PhCs) have been fabricated. In this paper, we propose a new all-dielectric PhC with C3 symmetry constructed by hexagonal array of petal-like aperture embedded in silicon background. The proposed configuration has much wider energy gap than its triangular counterpart, and hence is suitable for wideband and high-capacity applications. When the apertures are filled with liquid crystals (LCs), the topologically-protected edge and corner states can be regulated through changing the refractive index of the LCs under different bias voltages. Moreover, the robustness of topological protection of edge and corner states is further demonstrated. This is the first demonstration of LC based tunable valley higher-order photonic topological insulator. The tunability of the proposed topological PhCs may be beneficial for development of tunable optical waveguides, reconfigurable topological microcavities, and other intelligent topological optical/terahertz devices.

Molecular characterization and functional study of the NLRP3 inflammasome genes in Tetraodon nigroviridis.

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is an important inflammasome in mammals, which is of great significance to eliminate pathogens. However, the research of the NLRP3 inflammasome in teleost is limited. Tetraodon nigroviridis has the characteristics of small genome and easy feeding, which can be used as a model for the study of fish immune function. In present study, three NLRP3 inflammasome component genes (NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1) in T. nigroviridis has been cloned. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR showed that TnNLRP3 (T. nigroviridis NLRP3), TnASC (T. nigroviridis ASC) and Tncaspase-1 (T. nigroviridis caspase-1) mRNA in various tissues from health T. nigroviridis were highly expressed in immune-related tissues, such as spleen, gill, head kidney and intestine. After Vibrio parahemolyticus infection, the expression of TnNLRP3, TnASC and Tncaspase-1 mRNA in spleen, gill, head kidney reached a peak at 24 h, and the expression levels of these genes in intestine were the highest at 48 h. After the transfection of TnASC-pAcGFP-N1 monomer GFP plasmid into cos-7 cells, ASC specks, the activation marker of NLRP3 inflammasome, were observed. Bimolecular fluorescence complementarity and fluorescence colocation experiment showed that TnASC and Tncaspase-1 of TnNLRP3 inflammasome were co-located near the cell nucleus, and potentially interacted with each other. NLRP3 inflammasome inducer nigericin and agonist ATP could significantly induce the expression of TnNLRP3, TnASC and Tncaspase-1 mRNA, and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome could promote the generation of mature TnIL-1ß (T. nigroviridis IL-1ß). These results uncover that T. nigroviridis NLRP3 inflammasome could participate in the antibacterial immune response and the generation of mature TnIL-1ß after activation.

The flagellin of Vibrio parahaemolyticus induces the inflammatory response of Tetraodon nigroviridis through TLR5M.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an important marine pathogen that cause inflammation even death in teleost. It has brought huge economic losses to aquaculture and serious threats to the sustainable development of marine fisheries. Here, we isolated the DNA, RNA, and total flagellin from V. parahaemolyticus, and obtained the primary spleen and head kidney cells (including leukocytes) from Tetraodon nigroviridis. V. parahaemolyticus DNA, RNA, and total flagellin were used to treat the T. nigroviridis primary cells described above. The results show that the nitric oxide (NO) production and respiratory burst response were significantly induced after stimulation with V. parahaemolyticus total flagellin in T. nigroviridis head kidney and spleen cells. And total flagellin could promote the gene expression and protein production of IL-1ß in T. nigroviridis leukocytes. T. nigroviridis TLR5M (TnTLR5M) and TLR5S (TnTLR5S) ORF sequences were obtained as the main recognition receptor for flagellin. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression of pattern recognition receptor TnTLR5M and TnTLR5S, the important signal molecule of inflammatory system TnMyD88 and TnTRAF6, and inflammatory cytokines TnIL-1ß and TnIFN-γ2. The results show that there were a significant upregulation after challenge with V. parahaemolyticus total flagellin. We further demonstrated that the total flagellin of V. parahaemolyticus could activate the luciferase activity of the NF-κB reporter gene mediated by TnTLR5M. Overall, our results suggest that V. parahaemolyticus total flagellin activated the NO production, respiratory burst response, and inflammatory cytokines expressions, such as TnIL-1ß and TnIFN-γ2, through the TnTLR5M-NF-κB signaling pathway in T. nigroviridis.

Structural basis for auxiliary subunit KCTD16 regulation of the GABAB receptor.

Metabotropic GABAB receptors mediate a significant fraction of inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain. Native GABAB receptor complexes contain the principal subunits GABAB1 and GABAB2, which form an obligate heterodimer, and auxiliary subunits, known as potassium channel tetramerization domain-containing proteins (KCTDs). KCTDs interact with GABAB receptors and modify the kinetics of GABAB receptor signaling. Little is known about the molecular mechanism governing the direct association and functional coupling of GABAB receptors with these auxiliary proteins. Here, we describe the high-resolution structure of the KCTD16 oligomerization domain in complex with part of the GABAB2 receptor. A single GABAB2 C-terminal peptide is bound to the interior of an open pentamer formed by the oligomerization domain of five KCTD16 subunits. Mutation of specific amino acids identified in the structure of the GABAB2-KCTD16 interface disrupted both the biochemical association and functional modulation of GABAB receptors and G protein-activated inwardly rectifying K+ channel (GIRK) channels. These interfacial residues are conserved among KCTDs, suggesting a common mode of KCTD interaction with GABAB receptors. Defining the binding interface of GABAB receptor and KCTD reveals a potential regulatory site for modulating GABAB-receptor function in the brain.

Development of a Visual Perception System on a Dual-Arm Mobile Robot for Human-Robot Interaction.

This paper presents the development of a visual-perception system on a dual-arm mobile robot for human-robot interaction. This visual system integrates three subsystems. Hand gesture recognition is utilized to trigger human-robot interaction. Engagement and intention of the participants are detected and quantified through a cognitive system. Visual servoing uses YOLO to identify the object to be tracked and hybrid, model-based tracking to follow the object's geometry. The proposed visual-perception system is implemented in the developed dual-arm mobile robot, and experiments are conducted to validate the proposed method's effects on human-robot interaction applications.

Associations of alcohol consumption with the risk and surgical outcomes of chronic rhinosinusitis in China: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between weekly alcohol consumption and the risk and surgical outcome of Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS). DESIGN: A case-control study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The study population consisted of 1095 CRS patients and 909 healthy collected from the first affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou University between May 2018 and December 2019. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Unconditional multivariate logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were performed to estimate the association of alcohol consumption with the risk and surgical outcomes of CRS. Odds ratios (OR) or hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated separately. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to explore the possible molecular mechanisms. RESULTS: As compared with nondrinkers, the multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI) values of current drinkers consuming 7.5-22 drinks and >22 drinks per week were 2.158 (1.249-3.729) and 5.373 (2.912-9.911), respectively. The rate of mucosal epithelialization after CRS surgery for patients who drank 7.5-22 drinks and >22 drinks per week was lower than that of nondrinkers [HR (95% CI) = 0.487 (0.351-0.675) and 0.252 (0.184-0.346), respectively]. The association of alcohol consumption with the risk and surgical outcome of CRS was dose dependent (p < .01). Alcohol consumption increased the risk of CRS and extended the time of mucosal epithelialization after CRS surgery by possibly increasing serum IgE levels (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Higher alcohol consumption of >7.5 drinks per week was an independent risk factor for CRS and extended the time of mucosal epithelialization after surgery. As a potential underlying mechanism, alcohol consumption increases serum IgE levels.

Mechanisms of hearing loss and cell death in the cochlea of connexin mutant mice.

Mutations in connexin 30 (Cx30) are known to cause severe congenital hearing impairment; however, the mechanism by which Cx30 mediates homeostasis of endocochlear gap junctions is unclear. We used a gene deletion mouse model to explore the mechanisms of Cx30 in preventing hearing loss. Our results suggest that despite severe loss of the auditory brain-stem response and endocochlear potential at postnatal day 18, Cx30-/- mice only show sporadic loss of the outer hair cells. This inconsistency in the time course and severity of hearing and hair cell losses in Cx30-/- mice might be explained, in part, by an increase in reactive oxygen species generation beginning at postnatal day 10. The expression of oxidative stress genes was increased in Cx30-/- mice in the stria vascularis, spiral ligament, and organ of Corti. Furthermore, Cx30 deficiency caused mitochondrial dysfunction at postnatal day 18, as assessed by decreased ATP levels and decreased expression of mitochondrial complex I proteins, especially in the stria vascularis. Proteomic analysis further identified 444 proteins that were dysregulated in Cx30-/- mice, including several that are involved in mitochondria electron transport, ATP synthesis, or ion transport. Additionally, proapoptotic proteins, including Bax, Bad, and caspase-3, were upregulated at postnatal day 18, providing a molecular basis to explain the loss of hearing that occurs before hair cell loss. Therefore, our results are consistent with an environment of oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage in the cochlea of Cx30-/- mice that is coincident with hearing loss but precedes hair cell loss.

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of IKKα in orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides).

Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit alpha (IKKα) plays crucial roles in regulating activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) in response to pathogens infections. Here, we cloned and identified IKKα gene of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides), named as EcIKKα. The gene transcript contained a 2262 bp open reading frame, which encoded 753 amino acids. The typically conserved IKKα structure, including serine kinase domain (KD), leucine chain (LZ) structure, helix-loop-helix (HLH) motif and IKKß-NEMO-binding domain, was identified in EcIKKα. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that EcIKKα had the closest relationship with large yellow croaker (Larimichthy crocea) IKKα. Ecikkα was ubiquitously expressed in all tissues tested and the highest expression level was in ovary. After lipopolysaccharide (LPS), flagellin, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid (poly A:U), and Vibrio parahaemolyticus stimulation, the expression of Ecikkα increased in grouper spleen (GS) cells. In the luciferase assay, NF-κB-luc activity was significantly up-regulated when human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK 293T) cells were transfected with EcIKKα plasmid. Moreover, overexpression of EcIKKα significantly increased LPS- and flagellin-induced proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 (il-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (tnf-α)) expression, but did not significantly affect poly I:C- and poly A:U-induced cytokines (il-6 and tnf-α) expression. Overall, these results suggested that EcIKKα functions like that of mammals to activate NF-κB, and it could be involved in host defense against invading pathogens.