Microplastics' vector effect on Co-bioaccumulation of it and polychlorinated biphenyls in Crassostrea hongkongensis.

Microplastics (MPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are known with high persistence and toxicity, posing urgent threats to food safety and human health. However, little is known about the synergistic effect of MPs on PCBs bioaccumulation on Crassostrea hongkongensis. In the present study, diverse types of MPs were analyzed on sea water and C. hongkongensis sampled from three distinct estuary sites, and film-shaped MPs were discovered to be preferentially ingested by the oysters. Interestingly, the content of MPs and PCBs showed negative correlation (R2 = 0.452, p< 0.001) in the oysters sampled from site 2. Upon MPs and PCBs co-treatment, the in vivo accumulation of PCBs in C. hongkongensis was inhibited by 25.90 % when compared to the group treated with PCBs solely. PCBs stresses significantly induced the expression of genes of CYP2C31, GST, SOD and HSP70 in C. hongkongensis, while, the elevated state was compromised when co-treated with PCBs. The present research alleviates concerns about the potential effects of MPs on promoting PCBs bioaccumulation and provide a better understanding of the combined impact of MPs and PCBs on C. hongkongensis.

Nano-crystalline cellulose-coated magnetic nanoparticles for affinity adsorption of glycoproteins.

A new core-shell structured nanomaterial based on Fe3O4 nanoparticles and 2,3-dialdehyde nanocrystalline cellulose (DAC) coating and its high efficiency in the preconcentration of glycoproteins were described in this work. DAC was obtained after the periodate oxidation of nanocrystalline cellulose to form aldehyde groups; then, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were coated with DAC, which were further attached to 4-aminophenylboronic acid (PBA) to form PBA-functionalized magnetic core-shell structured materials (Fe3O4@DAC-PBA). The oxidation of cellulose and the production of sufficient amounts of aldehyde group sites were essential for the preparation of Fe3O4@DAC-PBA used for the affinity adsorption of glycoproteins because the aldehyde groups on DAC allowed DAC to attach to the Fe3O4 nanoparticles and bind with PBA, which was active in forming a complex with the glyco sites in glycoproteins. Moreover, the preconcentration properties of Fe3O4@DAC-PBA through PBA adsorption can be pH-triggered without the disassembly of the structures; thus, the developed Fe3O4@DAC-PBA can be efficiently prepared to provide a promising affinity material for the affinity adsorption and purification of glycoproteins.

[Mutation analysis for a family affected with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4C].

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential mutation in a Chinese family affected with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease(CMT). METHODS: Clinical data of the family was collected, and genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the family members. Seventy-two candidate genes of the proband were captured and sequenced by targeted next-generation sequencing, and the results were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The protein structure was predicted with PyMOL-1 software. RESULTS: A homozygous missense mutation c.1894G>A(p.E632K) was identified in the exon 11 of the SH3TC2 gene in the proband. Heterozygous c.1894G>A mutation was also detected in the proband's father, mother and daughter, but not in the healthy family members and 300 normal controls. Retrieval of the NCBI, HGMD and 1000 genome databases has verified the c.1894G>A to be as a novel mutation. Computer simulation has suggested that the mutation has altered the 3D structure of the SH3TC2 protein. CONCLUSION: The proband was diagnosed as CMT4C, for which the underlying gene was SH3TC2. This finding has expanded the spectrum of SH3TC2 mutation in association with CMT4C.

[Advances in genetic studies of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4 (CMT4)].

The Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is one of the most common human inherited peripheral neuropathies. The most common pattern of inheritance is autosomal dominant, with less often occurrence autosomal recessive and X-linked dominant/recessive inheritance. CMT is generally divided into three forms: demyelinating forms (CMT1), axonal forms (CMT2) and intermediate forms (DI-CMT). The autosomal recessive form (AR-CMT1 or CMT4) is accompanied by progressive distal muscle weakness and atrophy of the limbs, pes cavus and claw-like hands. In addition, CMT4 is also characterized by early onset, rapid progression, and varying degrees of sensory loss and spinal deformities (e.g. scoliosis). Recently, 11 subtypes of CMT4 have been identified. Some of these subtypes were clear in pathogenic mechanisms, some had founder mutation, but some still had limited clinical description and mutation analysis. In this review, we summarize the latest research progresses of CMT4, including genotypes and phenotypes, pathogenic mechanisms and mouse models.

A systems genetics approach reveals PbrNSC as a regulator of lignin and cellulose biosynthesis in stone cells of pear fruit.

BACKGROUND: Stone cells in fruits of pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) negatively influence fruit quality because their lignified cell walls impart a coarse and granular texture to the fruit flesh. RESULTS: We generate RNA-seq data from the developing fruits of 206 pear cultivars with a wide range of stone cell contents and use a systems genetics approach to integrate co-expression networks and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) to characterize the regulatory mechanisms controlling lignocellulose formation in the stone cells of pear fruits. Our data with a total of 35,897 expressed genes and 974,404 SNPs support the identification of seven stone cell formation modules and the detection of 139,515 eQTLs for 3229 genes in these modules. Focusing on regulatory factors and using a co-expression network comprising 39 structural genes, we identify PbrNSC as a candidate regulator of stone cell formation. We then verify the function of PbrNSC in regulating lignocellulose formation using both pear fruit and Arabidopsis plants and further show that PbrNSC can transcriptionally activate multiple target genes involved in secondary cell wall formation. CONCLUSIONS: This study generates a large resource for studying stone cell formation and provides insights into gene regulatory networks controlling the formation of stone cell and lignocellulose.