| 1. |
- Yuan-Biao, Qiao, et al.
(author)
-
Antifungal resistance-modifying multiplexing action of Momordica charantia protein and phosphorylated derivatives on the basis of growth-dependent gene coregulation in Candida albicans
- 2021
-
In: Medical Mycology. - : Oxford University Press. - 1369-3786 .- 1460-2709. ; 59:6, s. 515-527
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fungal growth-dependent gene coregulation is strongly implicated in alteration of gene-encoding target proteases ruling with an antifungal resistance niche and biology of resistant mutants. On the basis of multialterative processes in this platform, the resistance-modifying strategy is designed in ketoconazole resistant Candida albicans and evaluated with less selective Momordica charantia protein and allosterically phosphorylated derivatives at the Thr102, Thr24 and Thr255 sites, respectively. We demonstrate absolutely chemosensitizing efficacy regarding stepwise-modifying resistance in sensitivity, by a load of only 26.23-40.00 mu g/l agents in Sabouraud's dextrose broth. Five successive modifying-steps realize the decreasing of ketoconazole E-test MIC50 from 11.10 to a lower level than 0.10 mg/l. With the ketoconazole resistance-modifying, colony undergoes a high-frequency morphological switch between high ploidy (opaque) and small budding haploid (white). A cellular event in the first modifying-step associates with relatively slow exponential growth (ie, a 4-h delay)-dependent action, mediated by agents adsorption. Moreover, multiple molecular roles are coupled with intracellularly and extracellularly binding to ATP-dependent RNA helicase dbp6; the 0.08-2.45 fold upregulation of TATA-box-binding protein, rRNA-processing protein and translation initiation factor 5A; and the 7.52-55.33% decrease of cytochrome P450 lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase, glucan 1, 3-beta glucosidase, candidapepsin-1 and 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase. Spatial and temporal gene coregulation, in the transcription and translation initiation stages with rRNA-processing, is a new coprocessing platform enabling target protease attenuations for resistance-impairing. An updated resistance-modifying measure of these agents in the low-dose antifungal strategic design may provide opportunities to a virtually safe therapy that is in high dose-dependency.
|
|
| 2. |
- Chen, Mei-Qin, et al.
(author)
-
Arabidopsis NMD3 is required for nuclear export of 60S ribosomal subunits and affects secondary cell wall thickening
- 2012
-
In: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 7:4, s. 35904-35904
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- NMD3 is required for nuclear export of the 60S ribosomal subunit in yeast and vertebrate cells, but no corresponding function of NMD3 has been reported in plants. Here we report that Arabidopsis thaliana NMD3 (AtNMD3) showed a similar function in the nuclear export of the 60S ribosomal subunit. Interference with AtNMD3 function by overexpressing a truncated dominant negative form of the protein lacking the nuclear export signal sequence caused retainment of the 60S ribosomal subunits in the nuclei. More interestingly, the transgenic Arabidopsis with dominant negative interference of AtNMD3 function showed a striking failure of secondary cell wall thickening, consistent with the altered expression of related genes and composition of cell wall components. Observation of a significant decrease of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) in the differentiating interfascicular fiber cells of the transgenic plant stems suggested a link between the defective nuclear export of 60S ribosomal subunits and the abnormal formation of the secondary cell wall. These findings not only clarified the evolutionary conservation of NMD3 functions in the nuclear export of 60S ribosomal subunits in yeast, animals and plants, but also revealed a new facet of the regulatory mechanism underlying secondary cell wall thickening in Arabidopsis. This new facet is that the nuclear export of 60S ribosomal subunits and the formation of RER may play regulatory roles in coordinating protein synthesis in cytoplasm and transcription in nuclei.
|
|
| 3. |
- Ge, Yue, et al.
(author)
-
Environmental OMICS: Current Status and Future Directions
- 2013
-
In: JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED OMICS. - : Proteomass Scientific Society. - 2182-0287. ; 3:2, s. 75-87
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Applications of OMICS to high throughput studies of changes of genes, RNAs, proteins, metabolites, and their associated functionsin cells or organisms exposed to environmental chemicals has led to the emergence of a very active research field: environmental OMICS.This developing field holds an important key for improving the scientific basis for understanding the potential impacts of environmentalchemicals on both health and the environment. Here we describe the state of environmental OMICS with an emphasis on its recent accomplishmentsand its problems and potential solutions to facilitate the incorporation of OMICS into mainstream environmental and healthresearch.Data sources: We reviewed relevant and recently published studies on the applicability and usefulness of OMICS technologies to the identificationof toxicity pathways, mechanisms, and biomarkers of environmental chemicals for environmental and health risk monitoring andassessment, including recent presentations and discussions on these issues at The First International Conference on Environmental OMICS(ICEO), held in Guangzhou, China during November 8-12, 2011. This paper summarizes our review.Synthesis: Environmental OMICS aims to take advantage of powerful genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics tools toidentify novel toxicity pathways/signatures/biomarkers so as to better understand toxicity mechanisms/modes of action, to identify/categorize/prioritize/screen environmental chemicals, and to monitor and predict the risks associated with exposure to environmental chemicalson human health and the environment. To improve the field, some lessons learned from previous studies need to be summarized, aresearch agenda and guidelines for future studies need to be established, and a focus for the field needs to be developed.Conclusions: OMICS technologies for identification of RNA, protein, and metabolic profiles and endpoints have already significantly improvedour understanding of how environmental chemicals affect our ecosystem and human health. OMICS breakthroughs are empoweringthe fields of environmental toxicology, chemical toxicity characterization, and health risk assessment. However, environmental OMICS is stillin the data generation and collection stage. Important data gaps in linking and/or integrating toxicity data with OMICS endpoints/profilesneed to be filled to enable understanding of the potential impacts of chemicals on human health and the environment. It is expected thatfuture environmental OMICS will focus more on real environmental issues and challenges such as the characterization of chemical mixturetoxicity, the identification of environmental and health biomarkers, and the development of innovative environmental OMICS approachesand assays. These innovative approaches and assays will inform chemical toxicity testing and prediction, ecological and health risk monitoringand assessment, and natural resource utilization in ways that maintain human health and protects the environment in a sustainable manner.
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Jiang, Qing-Hui, et al.
(author)
-
Ferroic properties of highly dense multiferroic Bi1-xLa0.05TbxFeO3 ceramics via sheltered spark plasma sintering
- 2008
-
In: Journal of The American Ceramic Society. - : Wiley. - 0002-7820 .- 1551-2916. ; 91:7, s. 2189-2194
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Multiferroic Bi0.95-xLa0.05TbxFeO3 (BLTFO) ceramics were prepared by spark plasma sintering. The protection of CeO2 powders in the spark plasma sintering process can effectively restrain the valence fluctuation of iron ions and high-dense BLTFO ceramics with good dielectric and ferroelectric properties are fabricated. The BLTFO ceramics have low loss (tan delta similar to 5%) between 10(2) and 10(6) Hz. The doping of Tb can increase the dielectric and ferromagnetic properties, but decrease the ferroelectricity of BLTFO ceramics.
|
|
| 6. |
- Wang, Nan, et al.
(author)
-
Lasing properties of a cholesteric liquid crystal containing aggregation-induced-emission material
- 2015
-
In: Optics Express. - : Optical Society of America. - 1094-4087. ; 23:26, s. 33938-33946
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We demonstrate band edge lasing action from a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) containing an aggregation-induced-emission (AIE) dye as gain material. AIE materials do not suffer aggregation-caused quenching, have strong resistance to photobleaching, and can show large Stokes shift. The amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and lasing emission of the dye-doped CLC cell have been characterized, the lasing threshold has been estimated, and its resistance to photobleaching has been measured. AIE materials with their unique properties are especially suitable for acting as gain materials in liquid crystal lasers where defect structures lower the threshold for nanoscale aggregation effects. Our studies have shown that such AIE-dye-doped CLC is capable of lasing action with unusually large Stokes shift at moderate threshold with strong resistance to photobleaching.
|
|
| 7. |
- Yang, Mei Jie, et al.
(author)
-
Expression and activity of critical digestive enzymes during early larval development of the veined rapa whelk, Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846)
- 2020
-
In: Aquaculture. - : Elsevier BV. - 0044-8486. ; 519
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Metamorphosis is a vital developmental event in the life cycle of molluscs and involves extensive morphological and physiological changes. Remodeling of the digestive system is suggested to occur anticipatorily to enable the larva to shift its diet (from filter feeding on microalgae to feeding on small bivalves) after metamorphosis. Changes in the profiles and activities of digestive enzymes, the main executors of digestion, can reflect substantial remodeling of the digestive system. Artificial aquaculture of Rapana venosa, an important commercial shellfish in China, has been hampered because the transition of its food habit during metamorphosis makes determining the timing and dose for bait regulation difficult. In the present study, full-length cDNA sequences encoding cellulase and trypsin were characterized, and cellulase and trypsin mRNA expression levels were analyzed. Additionally, patterns in the activities of six digestive enzymes, including trypsin and cellulase, were investigated throughout the early developmental stage of R. venosa. In the present study, the full-length cDNA of the cellulase gene, comprising 2,086 bp, was found to contain a 1,719-bp open reading frame encoding 572 amino acids, and the full-length cDNA of the trypsin gene was found to be 1,587 bp in length and contained an 855-bp open reading frame encoding 284 amino acids. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that the cellulase levels in R. venosa increased beginning at the early intramembrane veliger stage, whereas cellulase activity was significantly increased in the one-spiral whorl stage. The mRNA expression and activity of trypsin were greatly increased in the juvenile stage (postlarva), whereas those of cellulase were decreased during this stage, which indicated functional changes in the digestive system during larval food habit transition. Our results showed that remodeling of the digestive system occurs prior to metamorphosis and suggest that animal bait should be provided as early as possible to R. venosa in the four-spiral whorl stage to meet its nutritional requirements for the development of its digestive system and to ensure successful metamorphosis of competent larvae.
|
|
| 8. |
- Yu, Zheng Lin, et al.
(author)
-
Environmental water flow can boost foraging success of the juvenile rapa whelk Rapana venosa (Muricidae) in aquaculture tanks with still or flowing water : Indication of chemosensory foraging
- 2019
-
In: Aquaculture. - : Elsevier BV. - 0044-8486. ; 513
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Artificial breeding of Rapana venosa has been attempted in China, but the high mortality rate of rapa whelk juveniles (10–40 mm) seriously restricts the breeding success of this species in artificial cultivation and the overall aquaculture industry, and thus the scale of industrialization is far from being realized. One main factor was found to contribute to this high mortality rate: the low predation efficiency of juveniles. We studied the foraging behavior of various sized R. venosa juveniles in still, flowing, and circulating water, with the juveniles being positioned either upstream or downstream from the prey in the flowing water experiments. Our findings demonstrated that the distance between juveniles and prey in still water significantly restricted the ability of juveniles to locate food, but water flow significantly enhanced this ability. In addition, the small-sized juveniles were found to be more active predators than the larger sized juveniles. Our findings demonstrated that circulating water flow is important to improve the survival and growth rate of juveniles in R. venosa cultures. Our results broaden the understanding of chemical orientation in gastropods and can be used to develop or improve commercial breeding strategies for R. venosa.
|
|
| 9. |
- Zhang, Linyu, et al.
(author)
-
miR-125b promotes tau phosphorylation by targeting the neural cell adhesion molecule in neuropathological progression
- 2019
-
In: Neurobiology of Aging. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. - 0197-4580 .- 1558-1497. ; 73, s. 41-49
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- MicroRNAs, small noncoding RNAs, not only regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level in a variety of physiological processes but also accompany the initiation and progression of a vast number of diseases, including dementia. While miR-125b has been shown to be aberrantly expressed in some dementia patients, its role in the pathological process remains ambiguous. Presenilin-1/2 conditional double knockout mice exhibit a range of symptoms, including impaired cognition and memory, increased tau phosphorylation, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis, and are therefore regarded as a useful dementia model. In the prefrontal cortices of double knockout mice, miR-125b was found to be abnormally increased in an age-dependent manner. We further verified the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) as an miR-125b target using the dual luciferase reporter assay. The NCAM protein level was decreased when miR-125b was overexpressed (OE) in neuronal growth factor-induced differentiated PC12 cells, which further inhibited the neuronal growth factor-induced phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK beta) at the Ser9 site and ultimately increased the GSK3 beta activity and tau phosphorylation. Moreover, on serum deprivation, high GSK3 beta activity in differentiated miR-125b-OE PC12 cells induced increased caspase-3 activation. Finally, adeno-associated virus-mediated miR-125b overexpression in the prefrontal cortexes of wild-type C57B/L6 mice resulted in decreased dendritic spine density. In addition, similar to the in vitro data, elevated GSK3 beta activity and hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein were confirmed. Taken together, our findings reveal a direct regulation of miR-125b on NCAM, which leads to further effects on downstream GSK3 beta activity and tau phosphorylation and may contribute to the generation of neurofibrillary tangles in neuropathological progression.
|
|
| 10. |
- Zhang, Mei, et al.
(author)
-
Discovery and Structural Modification of 1-Phenyl-3-(1-phenylethyl)urea Derivatives as Inhibitors of Complement
- 2012
-
In: ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1948-5875. ; 3:4, s. 317-321
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A series of 1-phenyl-3-(1-phenylethyl)urea derivatives were identified as novel and potent complement inhibitors through structural modification of the original compound from high-throughput screening. Various analogues (7 and 13-15) were synthesized and identified as complement inhibitors, with the introduction of a five- or six-carbon chain (7c, 7d, 7k, 7I, and 7o) greatly improving their activity. Optimized compound 7I has an excellent inhibition activity with IC50 values as low as 13 nM. We demonstrated that the compound 7I inhibited C9 deposition through the classical, the lectin, and the alternative pathways but had no influence on C3 and C4 depositions.
|
|
