The Effects of Spaceflight on Soluble Protein, Isoperoxidase, and Genomic DNA in Ural Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.)

Gao, Wen-Yuan,Fu, Rong-Zhao,Fan, Lei,Zhao, Shu-Ping,Paek, Kee-Yoeup 한국식물학회 2000 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.43 No.2

We investigated the effects of weightlessness, and ionizing radiation plus weightlessness, on changes in the levels of soluble protein, isoperoxidase, and genomic DNA, respectively, in a medicinal plant-ural licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralen-sis)-after a 15-d spaceflight in a recoverable satellite. Both the weightlessness samples (Ws) and the ionizing radiation plus weightlessness samples (IR/Ws) showed increases in soluble protein content or peroxidase activity, compared with the ground control (Gc). Moreover, the increased isoperoxidase activity for the IR/Ws group was significantly greater than for the Ws, compared with the controls. Likewise, distinctive RAPD profiles were generated among the Ws, the IR/Ws, and the Gc. The Ws and IR/Ws yielded 66 and 78 polymorphic RAPD fragments, respectively, based on bulk template DNA, along with 19 selected primers. Therefore, weightlessness alone can trigger genomic alterations, to some extent, and may even result in modulation of gene expression, whereas ionizing radiation would probably enhance the effect of weightlessness.

Paris polyphylla Smith Extract Induces Apoptosis and Activates Cancer Suppressor Gene Connexin26 Expression

Li, Fu-Rong,Jiao, Peng,Yao, Shu-Tong,Sang, Hui,Qin, Shu-Cun,Zhang, Wei,Zhang, Ya-Bin,Gao, Lin-Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.1

Background: The inhibition of tumor cell growth without toxicity to normal cells is an important target in cancer therapy. One possible way to increase the efficacy of anticancer drugs and to decrease toxicity or side effects is to develop traditional natural products, especially from medicinal plants. Paris polyphylla Smith has shown anti-tumour effects by inhibition of tumor promotion and inducement of tumor cell apoptosis, but mechanisms are still not well understood. The present study was to explore the effect of Paris polyphylla Smith extract (PPSE) on connexin26 and growth control in human esophageal cancer ECA109 cells. Methods: The effects of PPSE on Connexin26 were examined by RT-PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence; cell growth and proliferation were examined by the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results: PPSE inhibited the growth and proliferation on esophageal cancer ECA109 cells, while increasing the expression of connexin26 mRNA and protein; conversely, PPSE decreased Bcl-2 and increased Bad. Conclusion: This study firstly shows that PPSE can increase connexin26 expression at mRNA and protein level, exerting anti-tumour effects on esophageal cacner ECA109 cells via inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis.

Hyperin Extracted from Manchurian Rhododendron Leaf Induces Apoptosis in Human Endometrial Cancer Cells Through a Mitochondrial Pathway

Li, Fu-Rong,Yu, Feng-Xiu,Yao, Shu-Tong,Si, Yan-Hong,Zhang, Wei,Gao, Lin-Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.8

Background: A number of effective prevention measures have been introduced in attempts to substantially reduce both the incidence and mortality due to many kinds of cancer. The search for new anti-cancer compounds in foods or in plant medicines is one realistic and promising approach to prevention. Chinese medicines provide a rich pool of novel and efficacious agents for cancer prevention and treatment. Previously it was demonstratrated that hyperin extracted from the Manchurian rhododendron leaf reduces the proliferation of many cancer cells. The present study was carried out to evaluate its effects on human endometrial cancer cell viability and apoptosis and to investigate its mechanisms of action in RL952 cells. Methods: Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. Intracellular calcium ions were detected using laser-scanning confocal microscopy. The effects of hyperin on apoptosis related proteins in RL952 cells were examined using Western blot analysis. Results: The growth of RL952 cells was inhibited by treatment with hyperin. OD values of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased and expression of bcl-2 was increased and bax was decreased in protein levels in RL952 cells after 24 h of hyperin treatment, Moreover, intracellular calcium accumulation occurred in hyperin-treated cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that hyperin may play an important role in tumor growth suppression by inducing apoptosis in human endometrial cells via a $Ca^{2+}$-related mitochondrion apoptotic pathway in RL952 cells.

Non-Doped Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with Saturated Red Emission

Fei Xiao,Bing-xian Shao,Huan-rong Wu,Hui-ying Fu,Xiao-yuan Hou,Xin-dong Gao,Yi-qiang Zhan 한국물리학회 2007 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.50 No.2

Non-doped organic light-emitting diodes with saturated red emission were fabricated using 4-(2-(3,3-dicyanomethylene-5,5-dimethyl-1-cyclohexylidene)vinyl)phenyldi(1-naphthyl)amine (DNP-2CN) or 4-(2-(3,3-dicyanomethylene-5,5-dimethyl-1-cyclohexylidene)vinyl)phenyl(1-naphthyl)phe- nylamine (DPN-2CN) as the emitting layer. Different electron-transporting materials, tris(8-hydroxylquinoline) aluminum (Alq$_3$), 2,2',2''-(1,3,5-phenylene)tris[1-phenyl-1$H$-benzimidazole] (TPBI) and 2-(4-biphenyl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD), were introduced into the devices for examining their energy level compatibility of DNP-2CN or DPN-2CN. The device with a structure of ITO/ NPB/ DNP-2CN/ BCP/ Alq$_3$/ LiF/ Al showed red emission with $\lambda_{max}$ at 670 nm (CIE coordinates: $x$ = 0.66, $y$ = 0.33) and a high luminance of 438 cd m$^{-2}$ at a driving voltage of 12 V. The device with a structure of ITO/ NPB/ DPN-2CN/ BCP/ Alq$_3$/ LiF/ Al showed a high brightness of 225 cd m$^{-2}$ at a driving voltage of 12 V with $\lambda_{max}$ at 674 nm (CIE coordinates: $x$ = 0.65, $y$ = 0.33).

Association of CAST Gene Polymorphisms with Carcass and Meat Quality Traits in Chinese Commercial Cattle Herds

Li, Jiao,Zhang, Lu-Pei,Gan, Qian-Fu,Li, Jun-Ya,Gao, Hui-Jiang,Yuan, Zheng-Rong,Gao, Xue,Chen, Jin-Bao,Xu, Shang-Zhong Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2010 Animal Bioscience Vol.23 No.11

Calpastatin (CAST), an endogenous inhibitor of the calpains, plays an important role in post-mortem tenderization of meat. The objectives of this study were to investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the bovine CAST gene and association with carcass and meat quality traits. A total of 212 cattle from commercial herds were tested in this study including 2 pure introduced breeds, 4 cross populations, and 3 pure Chinese native breeds. Five SNPs were identified at position 2959 (A/G), 2870 (G/A), 3088 (C/T), 3029 (G/A) and 2857 (C/T) in the CAST gene (GenBank Accession No. AF159246). Allele frequencies of SNP2959 and SNP2870 were 0.701 (A) and 0.462 (A), respectively. A general linear model was used to evaluate the associations between the two markers and 7 traits. The results showed that both SNP2959 and SNP2870 were significantly (p<0.01) associated with the Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), while they had no significant association with the other 6 traits in the whole population. However, in Chinese native pure breeds, only SNP2870 had significant association with WBSF (p<0.05). The simultaneous analysis of two-marker genotype effects indicated animals containing the A/G haplotype (A for SNP2959 and G for SNP2870) tended to have lower shear force than those containing the G/A haplotype, and, especially, animals homozygous for the A/G haplotype had approximately 2 kg lower shear force than those homozygous for the G/A haplotype (p<0.01). These results suggested that both markers may be effective for the marker-assisted selection of meat quality traits in Chinese commercial herds, especially SNP2870 which can be used for Chinese native cattle.

Molecular features and functional studies of transcription factor, Cap ‘n’ collar C, in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stål (Hemiptera Delphacidae)

Zeng Bin,Feng Ze-Rui,Liu Ya-Ting,Chen Fu-Rong,Wang Shuai,Wu Shun-Fan,Yu Zhi-Tao,Gao Cong-Fen 한국응용곤충학회 2022 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.25 No.4

Cap ‘n’ collar C (CncC), a transcription factor, plays a vital role in the development of insect resistance by regulating the expression of multiple detoxifying genes. Clarifying the molecular characteristics of CncC and its pathway regulating insecticide resistance will aid the development of integrated pest control strategies. Here we cloned and identified the molecular feature of CncC genes from the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), (Hemiptera Delphacidae). The full-length open reading frame of NlCncC was 3015 nucleotides with 1005 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence has a high similarity with other insect homologs and contains the characteristic Cnc/bZip domain architecture. Functional studies showed that silencing NlCncC by RNA interference (RNAi) could downregulate the transcript expression of NlCYP6ER1, NlCYP6CW1, and NlCYP6AY1, which increase the susceptibility to imidacloprid in N. lugens. The identification of molecular characteristics of NlCncC and func tional studies in this paper will contribute to designing effective control strategies for N. lugens.

Aldehyde Volatiles Emitted in Succession from Mechanically Damaged Leaves of Poplar Cuttings

( Zeng Hui Hu ),( Ying Bai Shen ),( You Qing Luo ),( Fan Yi Shen ),( Hai Bo Gao ),( Rong Fu Gao ) 한국식물학회 2008 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.51 No.4

Plant aldehydes are volatiles necessary to defenses against environmental stress. To explore their emissions in response to wounding, we performed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) on cuttings from poplar (Populus simonii×P. pyramidalis ``Opera 8277``) that were mechanically damaged to mimic herbivore attack. We detected 16 aldehydes, including 11 linear saturated aldehydes, 3 linear unsaturated aldehydes, and 2 non-linear aldehydes. Emissions of these aldehydes were clearly enhanced by such treatment, and exhibited a similar pattern of change, i.e., increasing in the first 2 h, then sharply decreasing before rising again at about 12 h. Two release peaks for these aldehydes were observed. Therefore, we propose two pathways for the mediation of aldehyde emissions following damage. The first peak may represent emissions from plant storage pools, whereas the second release peak might result from greater formation de novo through an activated synthesis pathway.