Cloning, expression and functional analysis of a delta 6-desaturase gene from the silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

Hai-Yan Yu,Zhi-Feng Zhou,Jun-Qiang Jia,Zhong-Zheng Gui 한국응용곤충학회 2016 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.19 No.3

Delta 6-fatty acid desaturase is a membrane-bound enzyme, which is the rate-limiting factor in the biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In this study, a novel delta 6-desaturase gene was cloned from Bombyx mori (BmD6DES). Sequencing analysis revealed that BmD6DES has an open reading frame of 1357 bp that encodes 448 amino acids. Heterologous expression in yeast demonstrated that BmD6DES could synthesize γ-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3, Δ6,9,12) by utilizing the endogenous substrate linoleic acid (LA, 18:2, Δ9,12). We found that BmD6DES transcripts were distributed in almost all B. mori tissues, with high expression levels observed at the 5th instar larval, pupal, and adult moth stages. A functional analysis of BmD6DES was performed by measuring mRNA levels after temperature stress, fungal infection, and RNA interference (RNAi). The results indicated that the highest expression of BmD6DES was observed at low temperatures (0 °C) and 6 h to 36 h after fungal infection. qPCR analysis demonstrated that BmD6DES mRNA levels in pupa after BmD6DES RNAi treatment were significantly reduced from 12 h to 72 h compared to those in the control group. Our findings suggest that BmD6DES not only induces the formation of the third carbon–carbon double bond in the LA carbon chain, but also leads to sensitivity to low-temperature stress and fungal infection. These results imply that BmD6DES is a key gene in the γ-linolenic acid pathway during B. mori development.

Preparation and characterizations of charged PVDF membranes via composite thermally induced phase separation (C-TIPS) method

Hai-Peng Xu,Wan-Zhong Lang,Xuan Zhang,Ya-Jun Guo 한국공업화학회 2015 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.21 No.1

The charged poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes were prepared by composite thermallyinduced phase separation (C-TIPS) method with perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) as additive. The resultsverify that the porosity, surface hydrophilicity and pure water permeation flux (JW) increase with theaddition of PFSA for the membranes. The highest JW of 507.2 1.2 L/(M2 H bar) is obtained for themembrane cast at 90 8C. Much higher casting temperature isn’t advantageous to improve JW value for thePVDF membranes. All membranes exhibit negative apparent zeta potential (zapp). The crystallinity in b phaseincreases as casting temperature increases for all PVDF membranes.

Molecular Characterization of an Isolate of Bean Common Mosaic Virus First Identified in Gardenia Using Metatranscriptome and Small RNA Sequencing

Zhong-Tian Xu,Hai-Tao Weng,Jian-Ping Chen,Chuan-Xi Zhang,Jun-Min Li,Yi-Yuan Li 한국식물병리학회 2024 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.40 No.1

Gardenia (<i>Gardenia jasminoides</i>) is a popular and economically vital plant known for its ornamental and medicinal properties. Despite its widespread cultivation, there has been no documentation of plant viruses on gardenia yet. In the present study, gardenia leaves exhibiting symptoms of plant viral diseases were sampled and sequenced by both metatranscriptome and small RNA sequencing. As a consequence, bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) was identified in gardenia for the first time and named BCMV-gardenia. The full genome sequence of BCMV-gardenia is 10,054 nucleotides (nt) in length (excluding the poly (A) at the 3′ termini), encoding a large polyprotein of 3,222 amino acids. Sequence analysis showed that the N-termini of the polyprotein encoded by BCMV-gardenia is less conserved when compared to other BCMV isolates, whereas the C-termini is the most conserved. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis showed that BCMV-gardenia was clustered closely with other BCMV isolates identified outside the leguminous plants. Our results indicated that the majority of BCMV-gardenia virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) were 21 nt and 22 nt, with 21 nt being more abundant. The first nucleotide at the 5′ termini of vsiRNAs derived from BCMV-gardenia preferred U and A. The ratio of vsiRNAs derived from sense (51.1%) and antisense (48.9%) strands is approaching, and the distribution of vsiRNAs along the viral genome is generally even, with some hot spots forming in local regions. Our findings could provide new insights into the diversity, evolution, and host expansion of BCMV and contribute to the prevention and treatment of this virus.

Potential roles of two Cathepsin genes, DcCath-L and DcCath-O in the innate immune response of Diaphorina citri

Hai-Zhong Yu a,Yu-Ling Huang,Ning-Yan Li,Yan-Xin Xie,Cheng-Hua Zhou,Zhan-Jun Lu 한국응용곤충학회 2019 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.22 No.4

Cathepsins belong to a group of mammalian papain-like cysteine proteases that play an important role in the insect immune response. In the present study, we identified two cathepsin genes from the Diaphorina citri genome database, cathepsin-L (DcCath-L) and cathepsin-O (DcCath-O). DcCath-L encodes a DcCath-L protein consisting of 348 amino acid residues, and DcCath-O encodes a DcCath-O protein consisting of 329 amino acid residues. DcCaths contain two conserved domains, the Inhibitor_I29 and Pept_C1 domains. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that DcCath-L and DcCath-O were divided into two different groups: Cathepsin-L and Cathepsin-O. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that both DcCath-O and DCCath-L were highly expressed in the midgut, while lower expression was observed in other tissues. Developmental stage expression analysis suggested that DcCath-O was mainly expressed in third instar nymph and adult, and DcCath-L was highly expressed in first and fourth instar nymph. Following exposure to two different heat-killed bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, the expression of DcCath-O and DcCath-L was significantly increased and showed differential expression patterns at different time points. In addition, silencing of DcCath-L obvious affected the gene expression of members of the Toll pathway, while knock down of DcCath-L has no significantly influence. Overall, these data provide valuable information for further functional studies of D. citri cathepsins.

Investigation into performance enhancements of Li–S batteries via oxygen-containing functional groups on activated multi-walled carbon nanotubes using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Yu Hai Wang,Zhe Dai,Chao Yue Zhang,Guo Wen Sun,Zhong Wei Lu,Xiu Ping Gao,Geng Zhi Sun,Wei Lan,Zhen Xing Zhang,Xiao Jun Pan,Jin Yuan Zhou 한국물리학회 2020 Current Applied Physics Vol.20 No.9

It was demonstrated that the electrochemical performance enhancements in KOH-activated carbon materials should be mainly due to the created polar oxygen-containing functional groups (OFGs, such as such as C–O, C–– O, –OH, and O–C–– O), while the role of each OFGs on the electrochemical enhancements is still unclear. In this work, KOH activation treatments were systematically conducted on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to explore the role of each OFG on the performance enhancements of Li–S batteries (LSBs). Results showed that the capacity of activated-CNT-sulfur (a-CNT-S) cathodes is 33% higher than that of the pristine CNT-S cathodes, and their rate capability and cycling stability are also enhanced. And the electrochemical analysis combining with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that the formed C–O bonds are the real factor for the enhanced electrochemical performances of a-CNT-S cathodes. Furthermore, the optimal activation conditions on CNTbased cathodes for LSBs were optimized to be 10 min at 700 ℃.

Expression of IER3 in Primary Hepatocarcinoma: Correlation with Clinicopathological Parameters

Liu, Zhong,Wang, Xin-Mei,Jia, Tong-Fu,Zhai, Yi,Sun, Ling-Yan,Cheng, Yu-Ping,Zhang, Yue-Min,Liu, Shi-Hai,Liang, Jun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.2

Background: Studies indicate the immediate early response gene 3 (IER3) is involved in many biological processes. Recently, it was discovered that IER3 plays an important role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Thus it may be a valuable biomarker in tumor. This study was designed to investigate the expression status of IER3 in primary hepatocarcinoma (PHC) and correlation with clinicopathological parameters. Materials and Methods: Real-time PCR was performed to evaluate the expression levels of IER3 in 62 pathologically diagnosed human PHC specimens. Results: A statistically significant association was disclosed between the expression of IER3 and P53 mutant protein (short for P53), Ki-67, EGFR and the biggest diameter, differentiation grade of tumor. Conclusions: This work is the first to shed light on the potential clinical usefulness of IER3, as an efficient tumor biomarker in PHC.

Safety Assessment of Ovarian Cryopreservation and Transplantation in Nude Mice Bearing Human Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Zhu, Gen-Hai,Wang, Sheng-Tan,Yang, Zhao-Xin,Cai, Jun-Hong,Chen, Chun-Ying,Yao, Mao-Zhong,Hong, Lan,He, Guo-Li,Yang, Shu-Ying Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.9

Objective: Nude mice with orthotopic transplantation of human ovarian epithelial cancer were used to investigate screening criteria for paraneoplastic normal ovarian tissue and the security of the freezing and thawing for ovarian tissue transplantation. Methods: Expression of CK-7, CA125, P53, survivin, MMP-2/TIMP-2 in paraneoplastic normal ovarian tissues were detected by RT-PCR as well as immunohistochemistry. The tissues of the groups with all negative indicators of RT-PCR, all negative indicators of immunohistochemistry, negative expression of CK-7, CA125 and survivin, positive expression of CK-7, CA125 and survivin, cancer tissues and normal ovarian tissues of nude mice were used for freezing and thawing transplantation, to analyze overt and occult carcinogenesis rates after transplantation. Results: When all indicators or the main indicators, CK-7, CA125 and survivin, were negative, tumorigenesis did not occur after transplantation. In addition the occult carcinogenesis rate was lower than in the group with positive expression of CK-7, CA125 and survivin (P<0.01). After subcutaneous and orthotopic transplantation of ovarian tissues, rates did not change (P>0.05). There was no statistical significance among rates after transplantation of ovarian tissues which were obtained under different severity conditions (P>0.05). Conclusion: Negative expression of CK-7, CA125 and survivin can be treated as screening criteria for security of ovarian tissues for transplantation. Immunohistochemical methods can be used as the primary detection approach. Both subcutaneous and orthotopic transplantation are safe. The initial severity does not affect the carcinogenesis rate after tissue transplantation. Freezing and thawing ovarian tissue transplantation in nude mice with human epithelial ovarian carcinoma is feasible and safe.

A Prognostic Model To Predict Survival In Stage III Colon Cancer Patients Based on Histological Grade, Preoperative Carcinoembryonic Antigen Level and the Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio

Wuxiao, Zhi-Jun,Zhou, Hai-Yan,Wang, Ke-Feng,Chen, Xiao-Qin,Hao, Xin-Bao,Lu, Yan-Da,Xia, Zhong-Jun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.2

Background: Stage III colon cancer patients demonstrate diverse clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop a prognostic model in order to better predict their survival. Materials and Methods: From 2004 to 2010, 548 patients were retrospectively analyzed, among whom 328 were defined as the study group and the remaining 220 served as a validation group. Clinico-pathologic features, including age, gender, histological grade, T stage, number of positive lymph nodes, number of harvest lymph nodes, pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and pretreatment neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), were collected. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to detect prognostic factors and multivariate analysis was applied to identify independent examples on which to develop a prognostic model. Finally, the model was further validated with the validation group. Results: Histological grade (p=0.002), T stage (p=0.011), number of positive lymph nodes (p=0.003), number of harvested lymph nodes (p=0.020), CEA (p=0.005), and NLR (p<0.001) were found as prognostic factors while histological grade [RR(relative risk):0.632, 95%CI (Confidence interval) 0.405~0.985, p=0.043], CEA (RR:0.644, 95%CI:0.431~0.964, p=0.033) and NLR (RR:0.384, 95%CI:0.255~0.580, p<0.001) levels were independent. The prognostic model based on these three factors was able to classify patients into high risk, intermediate and low risk groups (p<0.001), both in study and validation groups. Conclusions: Histological grade, pretreatment CEA and NLR levels are independent prognostic factors in stage III colon cancer patients. A prognostic model based on these factors merits attention in future clinical practice.

Lifetime prediction for turbine discs based on a modified Walker strain model

Zhiqiang Lv,Hong-Zhong Huang,Huiying Gao,Fang-Jun Zuo,Hai-Kun Wang 대한기계학회 2015 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.29 No.10

We created three-dimensional models of turbine disc and blades of a type of aero-engine according to their geometries. Extant studies show that low cycle fatigue is the main failure mechanism of turbine disc. By using a non-linear elastic-plasticfinite element method, the static stress and strain state of the critically high stress regions, which can lead to operational failures,are determined. On the basis of stress-strain relation, a modified Walker strain life prediction model is proposed with norequired knowledge on the mean stress correction. Then the predicted life data from the modified Walker strain model arecompared with the testing results. After the verification, the modified Walker strain life prediction model and Miner’s rule wereapplied to predict the lifetime of the turbine disc under various operating conditions.

Time-dependent Nonlinear Theory and Numerical Simulation of Folded Waveguide Traveling Wave Tubes

Wei Feng Peng,Zhong Hai Yang,Yu Lu Hu,Zan Cao,Yin-Fu Hu,Jin-Jun Feng,Xian-Ping Wu 한국물리학회 2013 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.62 No.6

In this paper, a time-dependent nonlinear theory including the generalized time-dependent radiofrequency (RF) field equations is presented to simulate the beam and wave interaction (BWI) of folded waveguide (FWG) traveling wave tubes (TWTs). The analytical RF fields in FWG TWTs are replaced by digitized RF field profiles obtained from electromagnetic simulations. A W-band FWG TWT is studied by using a self-consistent one-dimensional code based on the theory. The numerical results show good predictions when compared with the experimental tests.