Functions of reticulons in plants: What we can learn from animals and yeasts

Reticulons (RTNs) are membrane-spanning proteins sharing a typical domain named reticulon homology domain (RHD). RTN genes have been identified in all eukaryotic organisms examined so far, and the corresponding proteins have been found predominantly associated to the endoplasmic reticulum membranes. In animal and yeast, in which knowledge of the protein family is more advanced, RTNs are involved in numerous cellular processes such as apoptosis, cell division and intracellular trafficking. Up to now, a little attention has been paid to their plant counterparts, i.e., RTNLBs. In this review, we summarize the data available for RTNLB proteins and, using the data obtained with animal and yeast models, several functions for RTNLBs in plant cells are proposed and discussed. Received 01 July 2008; received after revision 08 September 2008; accepted 30 September 2008     

Common Molecular Mechanisms of Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer

During its lifetime, the mammary gland undergoes many phases of development and differentiation. Much of this occurs during puberty, when the ductal epithelium expands by branching morphogenesis, invading the surrounding fat pad to form an organised mammary tree. Throughout its existence, the epithelium will go through several cycles of proliferation and cell death during pregnancy, lactation and involution. Many of the signalling mechanisms which control the initial invasion of the fat pad by the epithelium, and regulate its continuing plasticity, can be harnessed or corrupted by tumour cells in order to support their aberrant growth and progression towards invasion. This is true not just for the epithelial cells themselves but also for cells in the surrounding microenvironment, including fibroblasts, macrophages and adipocytes. This review examines the complex web of signalling and adhesion interactions controlling branching morphogenesis, and how their alteration can promote malignancy. Current in vivo and in vitro mammary gland models are also discussed. (Part of a Multi-author Review)     

Huntington’s disease: from huntingtin function and dysfunction to therapeutic strategies

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that usually starts in middle age and is characterized by involuntary movements (chorea), personality changes and dementia, leading to death within 10–20 years. The defective gene in HD contains a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion within its coding region that expresses a polyglutamine repeat in the protein huntingtin. Together with the characteristic formation of aggregates in HD, aberrant protein interactions and several post-translational modifications affect huntingtin during disease progression and lead to the dysfunction and death of selective neurons in the brains of patients. The exact molecular mechanisms by which mutant huntingtin induces cell death are not completely understood but may involve the gain of new toxic functions and the loss of the beneficial properties of huntingtin. This review focuses on the cellular functions in which huntingtin is involved and how a better understanding of pathogenic pathways can lead to new therapeutic approaches. Received 24 May 2006; received after revision 5 July 2006; accepted 23 August 2006     

不良气象微环境下桥塔横梁覆冰灾害过程模拟

冬季桥塔横梁坠冰是威胁桥梁交通安全的重大隐患之一,系统分析不良气象微环境下横梁覆冰灾害过程机制,是保证桥梁交通安全的迫切需求。本文依托FLUENT与FENSAP-ICE软件建立了桥塔横梁覆冰数值仿真模型,探讨了风速、液态水含量和环境温度等微气象参数对桥塔横梁覆冰灾害演化过程的影响规律。结果表明：本文提出的数值仿真方法在明冰及霜冰条件下均具有较高的可行性与准确性;对武汉长江二桥桥塔横梁结冰数值模拟发现,覆冰区域集中分布于横梁迎风侧前缘及上下边缘,整体呈现出“U”型分布特征,是横梁防冰、除冰的重点区域;不良气象微环境是影响横梁结冰形态、分布及覆冰量的重要因素,覆冰形状受风速、液态含水量影响较大,受温度影响较小。     

Intracelular Water Volume Measurement Using NMR

ＩｎｔｒａｃｅｌｕｌａｒＷａｔｅｒＶｏｌｕｍｅＭｅａｓｕｒｅｍｅｎｔＵｓｉｎｇＮＭＲＺｈａｎｇＲｉｑｉｎｇ（张日清），ＺｈａｏＮａｎｍｉｎｇ（赵南明）ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＢｉｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌＳｃｉｅｎｃｅａｎｄＢｉｏｔｅｃｈｎｏｌｏｇｙ，Ｓｔａｔ...     

用时间分辨荧光光谱研究微环境对Eu(TTA)_3和Eu(DB)_3发光的影响

应用时间分辨荧光光谱方法研究了微环境对Eu~(3+)络合物发光的影响,测定了NCS~-对Eu(TTA)_3和Eu(DB)_3的荧光猝灭。实验表明,Eu~(3+)的~5D_0能级弛豫速率K_0随NCS~-的引入而增大,NCS~-离子导致的微环境变化,影响了Eu~(3+)的Laporte选择规则,改变了Eu~(3+)与配位体间相互作用的程度。     

A novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> angiogenesis model based on a microfluidic device

Angiogenesis is very important for many physiological and pathological processes. However, the molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis are unclear. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis and to develop treatments for "angiogenesis-dependent" diseases, it is essential to establish a suitable in vitro angiogenesis model. In this study, we created a novel in vitro angiogenesis model based on a microfluidic device. Our model provides an in vivo-like microenvironment for endothelial cells (ECs) cultures and monitors the response of ECs to changes in their microenvironment in real time. To evaluate the potential of this microfluidic device for researching angiogenesis, the effects of pro-angiogenic factors on ECs proliferation, migration and tube-like structure formation were investigated. Our results showed the proliferation rate of ECs in 3D matrix was significantly promoted by the pro-angiogenic factors (with an increase of 59.12%). With the stimulation of pro-angiogenic factors gradients, ECs directionally migrated into the Matrigel from low concentrations to high concentrations and consequently formed multi-cell chords and tube-like structures. These results suggest that the device can provide a suitable platform for elucidating the mechanisms of angiogenesis and for screening pro-angiogenic or anti-angiogenic drugs for "angiogenesis-dependent" diseases.     

水稻品种以及施肥措施对稻田甲烷排放的影响

１９９４年４月至１０月，在北京稻田试验田研究了不同水稻品种对甲烷排放的影响以及施肥措施对降低甲烷排放和提高水稻产量的匹配关系。实验表明稻田甲烷排放在品种之间存在着明显差异，实验中品种间甲烷排放通量最大差异可达到五倍。以有机肥混合硫酸铵作底肥并配合不同时间和不同用量的硫酸铵作追肥与仅施混合底肥不施施硫酸铵作追肥的相比较可减少甲烷排放约５８％，水稻产量提高３１．７％。可明显地抑制水稻生长期的甲烷排放高     

Pyrite framboids associated with the Mesozoic Jehol Biota in northeastern China: Implications for microenvironment during early fossilization

Despite of the recent influx of reports describing important fossil specimens from the Mesozoic Jehol Biota, detailed information on the mechanism of fossilization and paleoenvironment in which these fossils were deposited is scanty. We present an analysis of microenvironment based upon scanning electron microscope observations of in situ pyrite framboids and microcrystallines of plant and vertebrate feather fossils in the Jehol Biota. Pyrite microcrystallines and framboids occur extensively inside and on surface of plant fossils.Framboids found on feathers and in sedimentary matrix were in a lower abundance. These framboids have diameters ranging from 6 μm to 31 μm with an average of 20 μm, indicating a dysoxic aqueous condition with free oxygen level less than 30 μmol/L for the microenvironment where these framboids were formed. The outgrowth of framboids inside plant tissues suggests the presence of water molecules and free oxygen at the cellular level during pyritization; the relative timing between tissue decay and framboid formation implies a rapid tissue degradation occurred during the very early stage of fossilization. This line of reasoning is consistent with the observation that cell level structure of plant fossils from these deposits is rarely preserved. We propose a "fossil envelop" model to accommodate the different geochemical conditions between the microenvironment surrounding the fossil material and the macroenvironment of background lake bottom water.