Molecular Characterization of a Thermophilic and Salt- and Alkaline-Tolerant Xylanase from Planococcus sp. SL4, a Strain Isolated from the Sediment of a Soda Lake

( Xiao Yun Huang ),( Juan Lin ),( Xiu Yun Ye ),( Guo Zeng Wang ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2015 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.25 No.5

To enrich the genetic resource of microbial xylanases with high activity and stability under alkaline conditions, a xylanase gene (xynSL4) was cloned from Planococcus sp. SL4, an alkaline xylanase-producing strain isolated from the sediment of soda lake Dabusu. Deduced XynSL4 consists of a putative signal peptide of 29 residues and a catalytic domain (30-380 residues) of glycosyl hydrolase family 10, and shares the highest identity of 77% with a hypothetical protein from Planomicrobium glaciei CHR43. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that deduced XynSL4 is closely related with thermophilic and alkaline xylanases from Geobacillus and Bacillus species. The gene xynSL4 was expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli and the recombinant enzyme showed some superior properties. Purified recombinant XynSL4 (rXynSL4) was highly active and stable over the neutral and alkaline pH range from 6 to 11, with maximum activity at pH 7 and more than 60% activity at pH 11. It had an apparent temperature optimum of 70oC and retained stable at this temperature in the presence of substrate. rXynSL4 was highly halotolerant, retaining more than 55% activity with 0.25.3.0 M NaCl and was stable at the concentration of NaCl up to 4M. The enzyme activity was significantly enhanced by β-mercaptoethanol and Ca2+ but strongly inhibited by heavy-metal ions and SDS. This thermophilic and alkaline- and salt-tolerant enzyme has great potential for basic research and industrial applications.

Fumigaclavine C attenuates adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and ameliorates lipid accumulation in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Wan-Guo Yu,Yun He,Yun-Fang Chen,Xiao-Yao Gao,Wan-E Ning,Chun-You Liu,Ting-Fan Tang,Quan Liu,Xiao-Cheng Huang 대한약리학회 2019 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.23 No.3

Fumigaclavine C (FC), an active indole alkaloid, is obtained from endophytic Aspergillus terreus (strain No. FC118) by the root of Rhizophora stylosa (Rhizophoraceae). This study is designed to evaluate whether FC has anti-adipogenic effects in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and whether it ameliorates lipid accumulation in highfat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. FC notably increased the levels of glycerol in the culture supernatants and markedly reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. FC differentially inhibited the expressions of adipogenesis-related genes, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor proteins, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins, and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins. FC markedly reduced the expressions of lipid synthesis-related genes, such as the fatty acid binding protein, lipoprotein lipase, and fatty acid synthase. Furthermore, FC significantly increased the expressions of lipolysis-related genes, such as the hormone-sensitive lipase, Aquaporin- 7, and adipose triglyceride lipase. In HFD-induced obese mice, intraperitoneal injections of FC decreased both the body weight and visceral adipose tissue weight. FC administration significantly reduced lipid accumulation. Moreover, FC could dosedependently and differentially regulate the expressions of lipid metabolism-related transcription factors. All these data indicated that FC exhibited anti-obesity effects through modulating adipogenesis and lipolysis.

Fumigaclavine C attenuates adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and ameliorates lipid accumulation in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Yu, Wan-Guo,He, Yun,Chen, Yun-Fang,Gao, Xiao-Yao,Ning, Wan-E,Liu, Chun-You,Tang, Ting-Fan,Liu, Quan,Huang, Xiao-Cheng The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2019 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.23 No.3

Fumigaclavine C (FC), an active indole alkaloid, is obtained from endophytic Aspergillus terreus (strain No. FC118) by the root of Rhizophora stylosa (Rhizophoraceae). This study is designed to evaluate whether FC has anti-adipogenic effects in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and whether it ameliorates lipid accumulation in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. FC notably increased the levels of glycerol in the culture supernatants and markedly reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. FC differentially inhibited the expressions of adipogenesis-related genes, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor proteins, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins, and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins. FC markedly reduced the expressions of lipid synthesis-related genes, such as the fatty acid binding protein, lipoprotein lipase, and fatty acid synthase. Furthermore, FC significantly increased the expressions of lipolysis-related genes, such as the hormone-sensitive lipase, Aquaporin-7, and adipose triglyceride lipase. In HFD-induced obese mice, intraperitoneal injections of FC decreased both the body weight and visceral adipose tissue weight. FC administration significantly reduced lipid accumulation. Moreover, FC could dose-dependently and differentially regulate the expressions of lipid metabolism-related transcription factors. All these data indicated that FC exhibited anti-obesity effects through modulating adipogenesis and lipolysis.

Molecular identification and the role of adipokinetic hormone receptor in Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)

Xiao Zhengkun,Jin Ruoheng,Yun Tan,Tang Jun,Huang Guo-Hua 한국응용곤충학회 2023 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.26 No.2

In insects, lipids and trehalose are the primary energy reserves and sources, and their metabolism is controlled by a variety of physiological processes. Adipokinetic hormone receptor (AKHR) has been reported to be involved in glycolipid metabolism and immune response, however, is an uncharted territory in Helicoverpa armigera. In the present study, the full-length cDNA encoding AKHR was isolated from H. armigera. The HaAKHR contains a seven-transmembrane domain, which was a characteristic of G-protein coupled receptors. The expression profile analysis revealed that HaAKHR was highly expressed in fat body of newly emerged female adults and highly expressed in the immature stage. The content of triglyceride (TAG) in fat body increased significantly after silencing of HaAKHR, however, the trehalase activity and the expression of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) were decreased in hemolymph. Furthermore, the expression level of HaAKHR was significantly upregulated when infected with different kinds of entomopathogenic microbes. The above results suggested that HaAKHR plays an important role in regulating glycolipid metabolism and immune response in H. armigera, and contribute to understanding the underlying mechanism of host-pathogen interactions in H. armigera.

Diffusion Weighted Imaging for Differentiating Benign from Malignant Orbital Tumors: Diagnostic Performance of the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Based on Region of Interest Selection Method

Xiao-Quan Xu,Hao Hu,Guo-Yi Su,Hu Liu,Hai-Bin Shi,Fei-Yun Wu 대한영상의학회 2016 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.17 No.5

Objective: To evaluate the differences in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements based on three different region of interest (ROI) selection methods, and compare their diagnostic performance in differentiating benign from malignant orbital tumors. Materials and Methods: Diffusion-weighted imaging data of sixty-four patients with orbital tumors (33 benign and 31 malignant) were retrospectively analyzed. Two readers independently measured the ADC values using three different ROIs selection methods including whole-tumor (WT), single-slice (SS), and reader-defined small sample (RDSS). The differences of ADC values (ADC-ROIWT, ADC-ROISS, and ADC-ROIRDSS) between benign and malignant group were compared using unpaired t test. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine and compare their diagnostic ability. The ADC measurement time was compared using ANOVA analysis and the measurement reproducibility was assessed using Bland-Altman method and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Malignant group showed significantly lower ADC-ROIWT, ADC-ROISS, and ADC-ROIRDSS than benign group (all p < 0.05). The areas under the curve showed no significant difference when using ADC-ROIWT, ADC-ROISS, and ADC-ROIRDSS as differentiating index, respectively (all p > 0.05). The ROISS and ROIRDSS required comparable measurement time (p > 0.05), while significantly shorter than ROIWT (p < 0.05). The ROISS showed the best reproducibility (mean difference ± limits of agreement between two readers were 0.022 [-0.080–0.123] x 10-3 mm2/s; ICC, 0.997) among three ROI methods. Conclusion: Apparent diffusion coefficient values based on the three different ROI selection methods can help to differentiate benign from malignant orbital tumors. The results of measurement time, reproducibility and diagnostic ability suggest that the ROISS method are potentially useful for clinical practice.

Prefrontal cortex miR-29b-3p plays a key role in the antidepressant-like effect of ketamine in rats

Yun-Qiang Wan,Jian-Guo Feng,Mao Li,Mao-Zhou Wang,Li Liu,Xueru Liu,Xiao-Xia Duan,Chun-Xiang Zhang,Xiao-Bin Wang 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

Ketamine has a rapid, obvious, and persistent antidepressant effect, but its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important modulators of ketamine’s antidepressant effect. We investigated the alteration in miR-29b-3p in the brain of rats subjected to ketamine administration and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and a sucrose preference test and forced swimming test were used to evaluate the rats’ depressive-like state. We used recombination adeno-associated virus (rAAV) or lentivirus-expressing miR-29b-3p to observe the change in metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (GRM4). Cell culture and electrophysiological recordings were used to evaluate the function of miR-29b-3p. Ketamine dramatically increased miR-29b-3p expression in the prefrontal cortex of the normal rats. The dual luciferase reporter test confirmed that GRM4 was the target of miR-29b- 3p. The miR-29b-3p levels were downregulated, while the GRM4 levels were upregulated in the prefrontal cortex of the depressive-like rats. The ketamine treatment increased miR-29b-3p expression and decreased GRM4 expression in the prefrontal cortex of the depressive-like rats and primary neurons. By overexpressing and silencing miR-29b-3p, we further validated that miR-29b-3p could negatively regulate GRM4. The silencing of miR-29b-3p suppressed the Ca2+ influx in the prefrontal cortex neurons. The miR-29b-3p overexpression contributed to cell survival, cytodendrite growth, increases in extracellular glutamate concentration, and cell apoptosis inhibition. The overexpression of miR- 29b-3p by rAAV resulted in a noticeable relief of the depressive behaviors of the CUMS rats and a lower expression of GRM4. The miR-29b-3p/GRM4 pathway acts as a critical mediator of ketamine’s antidepressant effect in depressive-like rats and could be considered a potential therapeutic target for treating major depression disorder.

An Aqueous Extract of Yunnan Baiyao Inhibits the Quorum-Sensing-Related Virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Zu-Guo Zhao,Shuang-Shuang Yan,Yun-Mei Yu,Na Mi,La-Xi Zhang,Jun Liu,Xiao-Ling Li,Fang Liu,Jun-Fa Xu,Wei-Qing Yang,Guo-Ming Li 한국미생물학회 2013 The journal of microbiology Vol.51 No.2

Yunnan Baiyao is a famous Chinese medicine that has long been directly applied to wounds to reduce bleeding, pain, and swelling without causing infection. However, little is known about its ability to prevent infection. The present study aimed to assess in vitro the anti-virulence activity of an aqueous extract of Yunnan Baiyao (YBX) using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a pathogenic model. We found that a sub-MIC (2.5 mg/ml) of YBX can efficiently interfere with the quorum-sensing (QS) signaling circuit. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that a sub-MIC of YBX downregulated the transcriptions of lasR, lasI, rhlR, and rhlI,which resulted in global attenuation of QS-regulated virulence activities, such as biofilm formation, and secretion of LasA protease, LasB elastase and pyocyanin. Further, YBX reduced the motility of P. aeruginosa related to QS, and impaired the formation of biofilms. These results suggest that YBX may possess global inhibitory activity against the virulence of P. aeruginosa and that YBX may also exhibit antimicrobial activity in vivo. The present study suggests that Yunnan Baiyao represents a potential source for isolating novel, safe, and efficacious antimicrobial agents.

Identification and sex expression profiles of olfactory-related genes in Mythimna loreyi based on antennal transcriptome analysis

Zhang Yun-Ying,Guo Jin-Meng,Wei Zhi-Qiang,Zhang Xiao-Tong,Liu Si-Ruo,Guo Hui-Fang,Dong Shuanglin 한국응용곤충학회 2022 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.25 No.3

To better understand the olfactory mechanism of Mythimna loreyi, a worldwide migratory pest, we for the first time conducted a large scale identification of olfactory-related genes and investigation of their sex expression profiles by transcriptomic analysis. A total of 42,832 unigenes were obtained by transcriptome sequencing, as sembly and annotation, with an average length of 1,229 bp and N50 of 2,086 bp. In particular, 138 olfactoryrelated genes were identified by homologous blasting, including 33 odorant binding proteins (OBPs), 16 che mosensory proteins (CSPs), 63 odorant receptors (ORs), 24 ionotropic receptors (IRs) and two sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs). Further, by using differential gene expression (DGE) and fragments per kilobase per million fragments (FPKM) values to compare the transcript levels between female and male antennae, we found that 22 olfactory-related genes (9 OBPs, one CSP and 12 ORs) were sex biased, with 10 genes being male biased and 12 genes female biased. In addition, sex and tissue expression profiles determined by qPCR of 15 selected genes confirmed the reliability of sex expression profiles obtained by the transcriptomic analysis, and demonstrated that most olfactory-related genes were specifically or primarily expressed in antennae, suggesting their roles in olfaction, while a few genes were highly expressed in other tissues, implying their non-olfaction functions. This study provides an important basis for further functional study of olfactory genes in M. loreyi.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and genetic variation in two newly invaded populations in China

Li Xiao-wei,Fu Kai-Yun,Guo Wen-Chao,Wang Tian-zhen,Lu Yao-bin 한국응용곤충학회 2022 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.25 No.4

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a devastating invasive pest worldwide, causing severe damage to tomatoes. Recently, it has been recorded in the northwestern and southwestern parts of China. Here, the mitogenomes and genetic variation of two newly invaded T. absoluta populations in Xinjiang and Yunnan, were determined. The results showed that the complete mitogenome size of T. absoluta is 15298 bp for the in dividual from Xinjiang and 15296 bp for the individual from Yunnan, which were both longer than the reported mitogenome from Spain (15290 bp). The mitogenome sequences of individuals collected from three locations showed high levels of sequence similarity, except for 8 polymorphic sites, which were in genes cox2 (1 site), cox3 (2 sites), cob (1 site), atp6 (1 site), nad1 (2 sites) and nad5 (1 site). Tuta absoluta mitogenomes share many features with other 6 Gelechiidae mitogenomes, except for several differences in the start and stop codons of protein-coding genes and the length of intergenic spacers. Seven partial mitochondrial genes (cox1, cox2, cox3, atp6, cob, nad1, and nad5) were used for genetic variation analysis, and significant population differentiation was found between the two populations based on cox2, atp6, nad1, and nad5. The complete mitogenomes and sen sitive mitochondrial gene markers reported here provide useful data for further population genetics study of this pest.

PKHD1 Gene Silencing May Cause Cell Abnormal Proliferation through Modulation of Intracellular Calcium in Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease

( Ji Yun Yang ),( Si Zhong Zhang ),( Qin Zhou ),( Hong Guo ),( Ke Zhang ),( Rong Zheng ),( Cui Ying Xiao ) 생화학분자생물학회 2007 BMB Reports Vol.40 No.4