Bmal1 inhibits phenotypic transformation of hepatic stellate cells in liver fibrosis via IDH1/α-KG-mediated glycolysis.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play an important role in the initiation and development of liver fibrogenesis, and abnormal glucose metabolism is increasingly being considered a crucial factor controlling phenotypic transformation in HSCs. However, the role of the factors affecting glycolysis in HSCs in the experimental models of liver fibrosis has not been completely elucidated. In this study, we showed that glycolysis was significantly enhanced, while the expression of brain and muscle arnt-like protein-1 (Bmal1) was downregulated in fibrotic liver tissues of mice, primary HSCs, and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1)-induced LX2 cells. Overexpression of Bmal1 in TGF-ß1-induced LX2 cells blocked glycolysis and inhibited the proliferation and phenotypic transformation of activated HSCs. We further confirmed the protective effect of Bmal1 in liver fibrosis by overexpressing Bmal1 from hepatic adeno-associated virus 8 in mice. In addition, we also showed that the regulation of glycolysis by Bmal1 is mediated by the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/α-ketoglutarate (IDH1/α-KG) pathway. Collectively, our results indicated that a novel Bmal1-IDH1/α-KG axis may be involved in regulating glycolysis of activated HSCs and might hence be used as a therapeutic target for alleviating liver fibrosis.

Interferon-stimulated gene 15 enters posttranslational modifications of p53.

The tumor suppressor protein p53 is a central governor of various cellular signals. It is well accepted that ubiquitination as well as ubiquitin-like (UBL) modifications of p53 protein is critical in the control of its activity. Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) is a well-known UBL protein with pleiotropic functions, serving both as a free intracellular molecule and as a modifier by conjugating to target proteins. Initially, attentions have historically focused on the antiviral effects of ISG15 pathway. Remarkably, a significant role in the processes of autophagy, DNA repair, and protein translation provided considerable insight into the new functions of ISG15 pathway. Despite the deterministic revelation of the relation between ISG15 and p53, the functional consequence of p53 ISGylation appears somewhat confused. More important, more recent studies have hinted p53 ubiquitination or other UBL modifications that might interconnect with its ISGylation. Here, we aim to summarize the current knowledge of p53 ISGylation and the differences in other significant modifications, which would be beneficial for the development of p53-based cancer therapy.

Maskless laser tailoring of conical pillar arrays for antireflective biomimetic surfaces.

Herein, we report a facile approach for rapid and maskless production of subwavelength structured antireflective surfaces with high and broadband transmittance-direct laser interference ablation. The interfered laser beams were introduced into the surface of a bare optical substrate, where structured surfaces consisting of a micropillar array were produced by two-step laser irradiation in the time frame of seconds. A multiple exposure of the two-beam interference approach was proposed instead of multiple-beam interference to simply realize planar patterns of a high aspect ratio. Tall sinusoidal pillars were created and shaped by pulse shot number control. As an example of the application, zinc sulfide substrates were processed with the technology, from which high transmission at an infrared wavelength, over 92%, at normal incidence was experimentally achieved.

[Characteristics of organic phosphorus fractions in different trophic sediments of lakes, China].

In this study, the characteristics of organic phosphorus fractions in sediments of seven lakes with different drainage basin feature, ecological structure, and polluted levels from different regions were investigated, and the relationships between organic phosphorus (Po), inorganic phosphorus (Pi) and bioavailable characters were also discussed. The difference of the related content of Po in different sediments indicated the discrepancy of phosphorus sources and biogeochemical cycles in different lakes. Organic matter (OM) was significantly correlated with Po (R2 = 0.80, p < 0.01), and except for Lake Qilu, OM was significantly correlated with labile Po, moderately labile Po and nonlabile Po in all studied sediments (R2 were 0.85, 0.52, 0.80 respectively, p < 0.01). The moderately labile Po and nonlabile Po were the main fraction of Po in all studied lakes, and the relative contributions to total Po were 15.12%-66.73% and 27.99%-77.72%, respectively. The mean proportion of labile Po was 6.1% in studied sediments. The rank order of Po fractions was residual Po > HCl-Po > fulvic acid-Po > humic acid-Po > NaHCO3-Po with mean relative proportion 8.3:3.1:2.2:1.8:1.0. Labile Po was significantly correlated with total phosphorus (TP), Pi , Po, NaHCO3-Pi and NaOH-Pi . Furthermore, Labile Po was also significantly correlated with T), Po and NaOH-Pi in all studied sediments, which suggested that labile Po was transformed into bioavailable phosphorus and the nonlabile Po may become a potential source of available phosphorus, although it was considered as highly resistant fraction.

[Separation and preconcentration by extraction and anti-extraction-determination of trace Te in complex geological samples by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry].

A method for the determination of trace Te in the complex geological samples by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry using MIBK as extraction reagent was developed. The extraction ability of Te (IV) in the HCl-NaBr-MIBK system and the anti-extraction behavior of Te (IV) in the HCl-KMnO4-MIBK system were studied. Under the optimum extraction condition of 3.6 mol x L(-1) HCl-100 g x L(-1) NaBr, Te (IV) was extracted completely by MIBK, Te (IV) in the MIBK phase was oxidized to Te (VI) with HCl-KMnO4, Te (VI) in the MIBK phase was anti-extracted using water, then the interference elements such as Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Cu, Pb, Co, Ni, Cd, As, Sb, Bi, Hg, Tl and Se for the determination of Te by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry were eliminated successfully. The detection limit of Te was 1.14 x 10(-4) microg(-1), and the relative standard deviations of Te was 6.84%. The method was applied to complicated geological samples.