Cloning and expression of a wild eggplant cytochrome P450 gene, StoCYP77A2, involved in plant resistance to Verticillium dahliae

Liu Yang,Ce Shi,Xiaoying Mu,Chao Liu,Ke Shi,Wen-jiao Zhu,Qing Yang 한국식물생명공학회 2015 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.9 No.4

Plant P450s play an important role in plant response to environmental stimuli, especially to pathogen challenge, besides leading to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. In this work, a Verticillium dahliae-induced cDNA sequence was cloned from wild eggplant Solanum torvum and designated StoCYP77A2. StoCYP77A2 encodes a 511-amino acid peptide that shows sequence homology to the plant CYP77 family. StoCYP77A2 is expressed in a tissue-specific manner with the highest expression level in stem. The expression level of StoCYP77A2 was increased in wild eggplants which were infected with Verticillium dahlia. We expressed StoCYP77A2 in V. dahliae-sensitive tobacco, and the transgenic tobacco plants were more resistant to V. dahliae infection than the wild type. Protein extraction of transgenic tobacco showed strong antifungal activity against V. dahliae, indicating that StoCYP77A2 may be involved in the synthesis of some antimicrobial compounds. These results suggest that StoCYP77A2 plays a role in plant defense to V. dahliae infection.

Differences in Rice stripe virus transmission abilities of Laodelphax striatellus (Homoptera: Delphacidae) from four geographical populations

Qing-Qing Gui,Xi-Min Shi,Fang Liu 한국응용곤충학회 2014 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.17 No.3

The small brown planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus (Fallén), can transfer Rice stripe virus (RSV) to host plants,which then develop rice stripe disease. Between vectors, there are two paths for RSV transmission. In currentstudy, we examined the horizontal, vertical and compound transmission rates (horizontal and vertical transmissionstogether) by L. striatellus from one non-epidemic area (Fuyang in Zhejiang province) and three epidemicareas (Yizheng and Peixian in Jiangsu province, and Donggang in Liaoning province). RSV acquisition rates fornaïve L. striatellus from the four populations were not significantly different. RSV transmission rate to healthyrice plants by viruliferous L. striatellus from Fuyang population was relatively lower than those of the otherthree populations. For example, RSV transmission rate in Fuyang population decreased by 1 fold compared tothat in Peixian population when the transmission times were 48 and 72 h. It indicated that horizontal transmissionability of Fuyang population was lower. Vertical transmission rate and the compound transmission abilitiesof infective L. striatellus in the first generation did not differ significantly among the four populations. However,the ratio of RSV-positive offspring of an infective mother in the fourth generation of Fuyang population (84.3 ±2.4%) was lowest, and decreased by 10% compared to that of Peixian population. It meant that compound transmissionability of Fuyang population was significantly lower than the other three populations. The reason for thedifference in transmission abilities of L. striatellus from different populations was discussed.

Combination of TEM and 3D Atom Probe Study of Microstructure and Alloy Carbide in a Nb-V Micro-Alloyed Steel Tempered at 650℃

Qing-dong Liu,Wen-qing Liu,Shi-jin Zhao 대한금속·재료학회 2013 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.19 No.4

3D atom probe (3DAP) combined with TEM is applied to characterize the nanostructure and composition of coarsening carbides that precipitate in a Nb-V micro-alloyed steel tempered at 650 °C for 4 h. The results indicate that high temperature tempering of the as-quenched lath-like martensitic structures leads to the coarsening of alloyed carbide in the recovered ferritic matrix. TEM characterization and EDS analysis show that the alloy carbides are typically spherical or ellipsoidal and are enriched with V, Nb and Mo. Crystallographic lattice overlap and distortion create a distinct optical Moiré pattern at the carbide/matrix boundary, as observed by HRTEM. 3DAP gives the compositional distribution at atomic scale in the coarsening carbide and the surrounding matrix. Non-carbide-forming elements such as Si and Al are depleted in the carbide and are enriched at the carbide/matrix heterophase interface. Carbide-forming elements such as Mn, V, Mo and Nb distribute heterogeneously in the whole carbide, leading to the formation of a Mn-, V- and Mo-enriched core and Mo-enriched external shell.

Virtual Non-Contrast Computer Tomography (CT) with Spectral CT as an Alternative to Conventional Unenhanced CT in the Assessment of Gastric Cancer

Tian, Shi-Feng,Liu, Ai-Lian,Wang, He-Qing,Liu, Jing-Hong,Sun, Mei-Yu,Liu, Yi-Jun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.6

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate computed tomography (CT) virtual non-contrast (VNC) spectral imaging for gastric carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two patients with histologically proven gastric carcinomas underwent gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) including non-contrast and contrast-enhanced hepatic arterial, portal venous, and equilibrium phase acquisitions prior to surgery. VNC arterial phase (VNCa), VNC venous phase (VNCv), and VNC equilibrium phase (VNCe) images were obtained by subtracting iodine from iodine/water images. Images were analyzed with respect to image quality, gastric carcinoma-intragastric water contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), gastric carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR, serosal invasion, and enlarged lymph nodes around the lesions. Results: Carcinoma-water CNR values were significantly higher in VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images than in normal CT images (2.72, 2.60, 2.61, respectively, vs 2.35, $p{\leq}0.008$). Carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR values were significantly lower in VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images than in normal CT images (7.63, 7.49, 7.32, respectively, vs 8.48, p< 0.001). There were no significant differences of carcinoma-water CNR and carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR among VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images. There was no difference in the determination of invasion or enlarged lymph nodes between normal CT and VNCa images. Conclusions: VNC arterial phase images may be a surrogate for conventional non-contrast CT images in gastric carcinoma evaluation.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of the GnRHR Gene Associated with Reproductive Traits of Japanese Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

He, Feng,Wen, Hai-Shen,Li, Ji-Fang,Yu, Da-Hui,Ma, Rui-Qin,Shi, Dan,Mu, Wei-Jie,Zhang, Yuan-Qing,Hu, Jian,Liu, Miao,Han, Wei-Guo,Zhang, Jia-Nan,Wang, Qing-Qing,Yuan, Yu-Ren,Liu, Qun Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2011 Animal Bioscience Vol.24 No.4

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) gene is expressed at the anterior pituitary gland and plays a key role in gonad development. This study aimed to investigate molecular genetic characteristics of the GnRHR gene and elucidate the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of GnRHR gene on sex steroid level in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). We used polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and sequencing of the GnRHR gene in 75 individuals. We identified three SNPs in the GnRHR gene: P1 locus (C759A and C830T) in the coding region of exon2 which were both linked together and P2 locus (G984T) in the coding region of exon3, which added a new transcript factor (ADR1) and a new methylation site (CG). Only C830T of P1 leads to amino acid changes Thr266Ile. Statistical analysis showed that P1 was significantly associated with $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$) level (p<0.01) and gonadosomatic index (GSI) (p<0.05). Individuals with genotype BB of P1 had significantly higher serum $E_2$ levels (p<0.01) and GSI (p<0.05) than those of genotype AA or AB. Another SNP, P2, synonymous mutation, was significantly associated with GSI (p<0.05). Individuals with genotype AB of P2 had significantly higher GSI (p<0.05) than that of genotype AA. In addition, there was a significant association between one diplotype based on three SNPs and reproductive traits. The genetic effects for both serum $E_2$ level and GSI of diplotype D4 were super diplotypes (p<0.05). These results suggest that the SNPs in Japanese Flounder GnRHR are associated with $E_2$ level and GSI.

Kinetics and computational docking studies on the inhibition of tyrosinase induced by oxymatrine.

Liu, Xiao-Xia,Sun, Shi-Qing,Wang, Yu-Jie,Xu, Wei,Wang, Yi-Fang,Park, Daeui,Zhou, Hai-Meng,Han, Hong-Yan Humana Press 2013 Applied biochemistry and biotechnology Vol.169 No.1

<P>A combination of enzymatic inhibition kinetics and computational prediction was employed to search for an effective inhibitor of tyrosinase. We found that oxymatrine significantly inhibited tyrosinase, and that this reaction was not accompanied by detectable conformational changes. Kinetic analysis showed that oxymatrine reversibly inhibited tyrosinase in a mixed-type manner. Measurements of intrinsic and ANS-binding fluorescences showed that oxymatrine did not induce any conspicuous changes in the tertiary structure. We also conducted a docking simulation between tyrosinase and oxymatrine using two docking programs, Dock6.3 and AutoDock4.2 (binding energy was -118.81 kcal/mol for Dock6 and -8.04 kcal/mol for AutoDock4). The results also suggested that oxymatrine interacts mostly with the residues of CYS83 and HIS263 in the active site of tyrosinase. This strategy of predicting tyrosinase inhibition by simulation of docking coupling with kinetics may prove useful in screening for potential tyrosinase inhibitors. Knowledge of tyrosinase inhibition can provide medical, cosmetic, and agricultural applications. Our study suggests that oxymatrine is an important agent for various applications related to pigment formation.</P>

Adversarial Attack on DL-based Massive MIMO CSI Feedback

Qing Liu,Jiajia Guo,Chao-Kai Wen,Shi Jin 한국통신학회 2020 Journal of communications and networks Vol.22 No.3

With the increasing application of deep learning (DL) algorithms in wireless communications, the physical layer faces newchallenges caused by adversarial attack. Such attack has significantly affected the neural network in computer vision. We chooseDL-based channel state information (CSI) to show the effect of adversarial attack on DL-based communication system. We presenta practical method to craft white-box adversarial attack on DLbased CSI feedback process. Our simulation results show the destructive effect adversarial attack causes on DL-based CSI feedback by analyzing the performance of normalized mean square error. We also launch a jamming attack for comparison and find thatthe jamming attack could be prevented with certain precautions. As DL algorithm becomes the trend in developing wireless communication, this work raises concerns regarding the security in the useof DL-based algorithms.

Wind loads and wind-resistant behaviour of large cylindrical tanks in square-arrangement group. Part 2: CFD simulation and finite element analysis

Qing Liu,Yang Zhao,Shuqi Cai,Shi-lin Dong 한국풍공학회 2020 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.31 No.6

To investigate the structural behaviour of grouped tanks under wind loads, 2 problems need to be figured out, wind pressures on tank shells and critical loads of the shell under these pressure distribution patterns. Following the wind tunnel tests described in the companion paper, this paper firstly seeks to obtain wind loads on the external wall in a squarely-arranged cylindrical tank group by numerical simulation, considering various layouts. The outcomes demonstrate that the numerical method can provide similar results on wind pressures and better insights on grouping effects through extracted streamlines. Then, geometrically nonlinear analyses are performed using several selected potentially unfavourable wind pressure distributions. It is found that the critical load is controlled by limit point buckling when the tank is empty while excessive deformations when the tank is full. In particular, significant reductions of wind resistance are found on grouped full tanks compared to the isolated tank, considering both serviceability and ultimate limit state, which should receive special attention if the tank is expected to resist severe wind loads with the increase of liquid level.

Identification of ANXA1 as a Lymphatic Metastasis and Poor Prognostic Factor in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Liu, Qing-Hua,Shi, Mei-Lin,Bai, Jin,Zheng, Jun-Nian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.7

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of annexin a1 (ANXA1) and provide molecular evidence to support that decreased ANXA1 expression could enhance cancer migration and invasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry of a tissue microarray with 162 surgically resected PDAC specimens was performed to examine the expression of ANXA1. We also investigated the relationship between ANXA1 expression and clinicopathological factors and prognosis of PDAC patients. We further studied the role of ANXA1 in PDAC cell proliferation, migration and invasion by cell proliferation assay, migration assay and matrigel invasion assay with reduced ANXA1 expression by RNAi. Western blotting was used to detect matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) expression. We also detected MMP-9 enzyme activity by gelatin zymography. Results: Decreased expression of ANXA1 was significantly associated with poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis and advanced TNM stage of PDAC patients (p<0.05). Moreover, decreased expression of ANXA1 was correlated with poor survival (p<0.05). Furthermore, we found that ANXA1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, induced G1 phase cell cycle arrest, increased PDAC cell migration and invasion capacity compared with controls. In addition, Western blotting showed that ANXA1 knockdown increased the MMP-9 protein level and decreased TIMP-1 expression. Gelatin zymography showed that MMP-9 enzyme activity was also elevated. Conclusions: Negative ANXA1 expression is a most unfavorable prognostic factor for PDAC patients. ANXA1 knockdown inhibits cell proliferation by inducing G1 phase cell cycle arrest and increases migration and invasion of PDAC cells through up-regulating MMP-9 expression and activity, implying that ANXA1 may serve as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for PDAC.

Antinociceptive Effects of Prim-O-Glucosylcimifugin in Inflammatory Nociception via Reducing Spinal COX-2

( Liu Qing Wu ),( Yu Li ),( Yuan Yan Li ),( Shi Hao Xu ),( Zong Yong Yang ),( Zheng Lin ),( Jun Li ) 한국응용약물학회 2016 Biomolecules & Therapeutics(구 응용약물학회지) Vol.24 No.4

We measured anti-nociceptive activity of prim-o-glucosylcimifugin (POG), a molecule from Saposhnikovia divaricate (Turcz) Schischk. Anti-nociceptive or anti-inflammatory effects of POG on a formalin-induced tonic nociceptive response and a complete Freund``s adjuvant (CFA) inoculation-induced rat arthritis pain model were studied. Single subcutaneous injections of POG produced potent anti-nociception in both models that was comparable to indomethacin analgesia. Anti-nociceptive activity of POG was dose-dependent, maximally reducing pain 56.6% with an ED50 of 1.6 mg. Rats given POG over time did not develop tolerance. POG also time-dependently reduced serum TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6 in arthritic rats and both POG and indomethacin reduced spinal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Like indomethacin which inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity, POG dose-dependently decreased spinal COX-2 content in arthritic rats. Additionally, POG, and its metabolite cimifugin, downregulated COX-2 expression in vitro. Thus, POG produced potent anti-nociception by downregulating spinal COX-2 expression.