Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a P38-Like Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase from Echinococcus granulosus

Guodong Lu,Jing Li,Chuanshan Zhang,Liang Li,Xiaojuan Bi,Chaowang Li,Jinliang Fan,Xiaomei Lu,Dominique A. Vuitton,Hao Wen,Renyong Lin 대한기생충학열대의학회 2016 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.54 No.6

Effect of Replacing Corn and Wheat Bran With Soyhulls in Lactation Cow Diets on In Situ Digestion Characteristics of Dietary Dry Matter and Fiber and Lactation Performance

Meng, Qingxiang,Lu, Lin,Min, Xiaomei,McKinnon, P.J.,Xiong, Yiqiang Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2000 Animal Bioscience Vol.13 No.12

An in situ digestion trial (Experiment 1) and a lactation trial (Experiment 2) were conducted to determine the effects of replacing corn and wheat bran with soyhulls (SH) in lactating dairy cow diets on the extent and kinetics of digestion of DM and NDF, and lactation performance. In experiment 1, five mixed feeds consisting of mixed concentrate and roughages (50:50 on a DM basis) were formulated on isonitrogenous and isoenergetic bases to produce five levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) of SH replacement for corn and wheat bran. SH had high in situ digestion (92 and 89% for potentially digestible DM and NDF) and fairly fast digestion rate (7.2 and 6.3 %/h for DM and NDF). Increasing level of SH replacement resulted in increased NDF digestibility (linear, p=0.001-0.04) and similar DM digestibility (beyond 12 h incubation, p=0.10-0.41). As level of SH replacement increased, percentage of slowly digestible fraction (b) of DM increased (linear, p=0.03), percentage of rapidly digestible fraction (a) of DM tended to decrease (linear, p=0.14), and DM digestion lag time tended to be longer (linear, p=0.13). Percentage of potentially digestible fraction (a+b) and digestion rate (c) of slowly digestible fraction of dietary DM remained unaltered (p=0.36-0.90) with increasing SH in the diet. Increasing level of SH for replacing corn and wheat bran in the diet resulted in increases in percentages of b (quadratic, p<0.001), a (linear, p=0.08), a+b (quadratic, p=0.001) and a tendency to increase in c for NDF (linear, p<0.19). It was also observed that there was a satisfactory fit of a non-linear regression model to NDF digestion data ($R^2=0.986-0.998$), but a relatively poor fit of the model to DM digestion data ($R^2=0.915-0.968$). In experiment 2, 42 lactating Holstein cows were used in a randomized complete block design. SH replaced corn and wheat bran in mixed concentrates at 0, 25, and 50%, respectively. These mixed concentrates were mixed with roughages and fed ad libitum as complete diets. Replacing corn and wheat bran with SH at 0, 25 and 50% levels did not influence (p=0.56-0.95) DM intakes (18.4, 18.6, and 18.5 kg/d), milk yields (27.7, 28.4 and 27.6 kg/d), 4% fat-corrected-milk (FCM) yields (26.2, 27.6, and 27.3 kg/d) and percentages of milk protein (3.12, 3.17 and 3.18%), milk lactose (4.69, 4.76 and 4.68%) and SNF (8.50, 8.64, and 8.54%). On the other hand, milk fat percentges linearly increased (3.63, 3.85 and 3.90% for SH replacement rates of 0, 25 and 50% in the diet, p=0.08), while feed costs per kg FCM production were reduced.

Effects of Fengycin from Bacillus subtilis fmbJ on Apoptosis and Necrosis in Rhizopus stolonifer

Qunyong Tang,Xiaomei Bie,Zhaoxin Lu,Fengxia Lv,Yang Tao,Xiaoxu Qu 한국미생물학회 2014 The journal of microbiology Vol.52 No.8

The lipopeptide antibiotic fengycin, produced by Bacillussubtilis, strongly inhibits growth of filamentous fungi. Inthis study, we evaluated the effects of fengycin treatment onapoptosis and necrosis in Rhizopus stolonifer by means ofcell staining and epifluorescence microscopy. At fengycinconcentrations less than 50 μg/ml, treated fungal cells demonstrateda dose-dependent increase in apoptosis-associatedmarkers compared with the untreated control. These markersincluded chromatin condensation, reactive oxygen speciesaccumulation, mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization,phosphatidylserine externalization, and the occurrenceof DNA strand breaks. These results showed that fungalcells were impaired in a number of important functionsand entered apoptosis upon treatment with low concentrationsof fengycin. In contrast, high concentrations (>50 μg/ml)induced necrosis, indicating that the fungicidal action offengycin operates via two modes: apoptosis at low concentrationsand necrosis at high concentrations. Additionally,the apoptotic effect that we have shown suggests that lowerconcentrations of fengycin than previously thought may beeffective for food preservation.

Chemical Characterization and Antitumor Activity of an Exopolysaccharide from Pholiota Squarrosa Quel. AS 5.245

Hai-zhen Zhao,Juan Wang,Fengxia Lv,Xiaomei Bie,Zhaoxin Lu 한국식품과학회 2015 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.24 No.2

A water-soluble exopolysaccharide (PESP-1) was extracted and purified using DEAE Sephadex A-50 and Sephadex G-100 columns from a submerged culture broth of Pholiota squarrosa Quel. AS 5.245. PEPS-1 was investigated for antitumor activity against Heps tumors implanted in mice. An inhibition rate of 78.46% at a dosage of 100 mg/kg was observed. PEPS-1 significantly (p<0.05) increased the relative spleen/thymus indices of Heps tumor-bearing mice at a dosage of 100 mg/kg, compared with controls. Antitumor properties were probably related to stimulation of the immune response. Preliminary physicochemical analysis identified PEPS-1 as a heteropolysaccharide mainly containing D-mannose, D-glucose and D-galactose at molar ratios of 50:33:18. Small amounts of D-rhamnose and D-xylose were also detected. The average Mw of PEPS-1 was 3.26×104 Da. Structural features probably played an important role in the antitumor activity of PEPS-1.

Higher Serum C Reactive Protein Determined C Reactive Protein Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Are Involved in Inherited Depression

Shiliang Wang,Hua Zhong,Meijuan Lu,Guohua Song,Xiaomei Zhang,Min Lin,Shengliang Yang,Mincai Qian 대한신경정신의학회 2018 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.15 No.8

Objective_The pathogenesis of depression is not fully understood yet, but studies have suggested higher circulating C reactive protein (CRP) level might relate to depression occurrence. However, due to high variability of patients’ individual condition, the results to date are inconsistent. Considering CRP single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could also regulate plasma CRP levels, in the present study, we hypothesized that inherited CRP allelic variations may co-vary with depressive symptomatology. Methods_We recruited 60 depression patients with family depression history and 60 healthy control volunteers into this project. We detected circulation CRP level as well as genome CRP SNPs from participants of this project. Results_We have found a significantly higher circulating CRP level in patients with a positive family history. Furthermore, we also identified some certain inherited CRP SNPs (A allele in rs1417938 and C allele in rs1205) could up regulate serum CRP level and distributed more in depression patients with family history. Conclusion_Our finding may raise new evidence that genetically increased serum CRP level through SNPs variation is likely to induce family inherited depression.

Expression, Purification, and Characterization of a Recombined Fibrinolytic Enzyme from Endophytic Paenibacillus polymyxa EJS-3 in Escherichia coli

Fengxia Lv,Chong Zhang,Fangfang Guo,Yingjian Lu,Xiaomei Bie,Hui Qian,Zhaoxin Lu 한국식품과학회 2015 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.24 No.1

The gene encoding the fibrinolytic enzyme (PPFE-I) from Paenibacillus polymyxa EJS-3 was cloned and sequenced (Genbank No. KC176802). The 1773 bp gene encoded 590 amino acids and had low homology with other known fibrinolytic enzymes. PPFE-I was soluble and expressed in E. coli BL21 to enhance the activity. The recombinant enzyme (rPPFE-I) was purified to homogeneity, and enzymatic properties were characterized. The optimal temperature and pH for rPPFE-I were 37℃ and 7.5, respectively. Observed activities of rPPFE-I were highest in the presence of Zn2+, Mg2+, and Fe2+ and the lowest in the presence of Ca2+ and Cu2+. The rPPFE-I activity was strongly inhibited by PMSF. The α-chain was affected by the rPPFE-I cleavage speed of fibrinogen, followed by the b and γ chains. The inhibitory effects of rPPFE-I against ADP-induced human platelet aggregation were dosedependent with an IC50 value of 1.54 μM.

Impulsive Functional Observers for Linear Systems

Wu-Hua Chen,Dan-Xia Li,Xiaomei Lu 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2011 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.9 No.5

The impulsive functional observer design problem for linear systems is addressed. Piecewise differentiable Lyapunov functions are introduced to analyze the stability of the error dynamics. Sufficient conditions for the existence of the impulsive functional observers that are capable of expo-nentially estimating any given function of the state vector are derived. Numerical examples are pre-sented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed results.

Pectolinarigenin ameliorated airway inflammation and airway remodeling to exhibit antitussive effect

He Quan,Liu Weihua,Ma Xiaomei,Li Hongxiu,Feng Weiqi,Lu Xuzhi,Li Ying,Chen Zi 대한약리학회 2024 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.28 No.3

Cough is a common symptom of several respiratory diseases. However, frequent coughing from acute to chronic often causes great pain to patients. It may turn into cough variant asthma, which seriously affects people's quality of life. For cough treatment, it is dominated by over-the-counter antitussive drugs, such as asmeton, but most currently available antitussive drugs have serious side effects. Thus, there is a great need for the development of new drugs with potent cough suppressant. BALB/c mice were used to construct mice model with cough to investigate the pharmacological effects of pectolinarigenin (PEC). Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining were used to assess lung injury and airway remodeling, and ELISA was used to assess the level of inflammatory factor release. In addition, inflammatory cell counts were measured to assess airway inflammation. Airway hyperresponsiveness assay was used to assess respiratory resistance in mice. Finally, we used Western blotting to explore the potential mechanisms of PEC. We found that PEC could alleviate lung tissue injury and reduce the release of inflammatory factors, inhibit of cough frequency and airway wall collagen deposition in mice model with cough. Meanwhile, PEC inhibited the Ras/ERK/c-Fos pathway to exhibit antitussive effect. Therefore, PEC may be a potential drug for cough suppression.

Dysfunction of Shh signaling activates autophagy to inhibit trophoblast motility in recurrent miscarriage

Pan Yibin,Yan Lili,Chen Qiaoqiao,Wei Cheng,Dai Yongdong,Tong Xiaomei,Zhu Haiyan,Lu Meifei,Zhang Yanling,Jin Xiaoying,Zhang Tai,Lin Xiaona,Zhou Feng,Zhang Songying 생화학분자생물학회 2021 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.53 No.-

In early pregnancy, the placenta anchors the conceptus and supports embryonic development and survival. This study aimed to investigate the underlying functions of Shh signaling in recurrent miscarriage (RM), a serious disorder of pregnancy. In the present study, Shh and Gli2 were mainly observed in cytotrophoblasts (CTBs), Ptch was mainly observed in syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), and Smo and Gli3 were expressed in both CTBs and STBs. Shh signaling was significantly impaired in human placenta tissue from recurrent miscarriage patients compared to that of gestational age-matched normal controls. VEGF-A and CD31 protein levels were also significantly decreased in recurrent miscarriage patients. Furthermore, inhibition of Shh signaling impaired the motility of JAR cells by regulating the expression of Gli2 and Gli3. Intriguingly, inhibition of Shh signaling also triggered autophagy and autolysosome accumulation. Additionally, knockdown of BECN1 reversed Gant61-induced motility inhibition. In conclusion, our results showed that dysfunction of Shh signaling activated autophagy to inhibit trophoblast motility, which suggests the Shh pathway and autophagy as potential targets for RM therapy.

Study of the relationship between variants near CCNL1/LEKR1 and in ADCY5 with low birth weight in a Chinese population

Xuejin Fan,Qi Peng,Yanhua Chen,Zeke Ma,Xiaoguang He,Biying Deng,Hui Huang,Juan Zeng,Chuyun Cheng,Shaoji Liu,Xiaomei Lu 한국유전학회 2015 Genes & Genomics Vol.37 No.12

The aim of this study was to test the impact of variants rs900400 (located near LEKR1 and CCNL1) and rs9883204 (located in ADCY5) on birth weight in a Chinese population. We conducted a case–control study including 156 low-birth- weight infants as the case group and 100 normal-birth-weight infants as the control group. The rs900400 and rs9883204 variants were analyzed by gene sequencing in all the participants. Our results revealed a significant difference in the genotype distribution (v2 = 10.449, p = 0.005) and allele distribution (v2 = 9.277, p = 0.002) of rs900400 between the case group and the control group. The C allele of rs900400 was associated with lower birth weight (OR 1.771 [95 % CI 1.237–2.535]) in the Chinese population. However, the rs9883204 polymorphism was not informative in the Chinese population. Our study shows that the ‘‘birth weightlowering’’ variant rs900400 located near LEKR1 and CCNL1, which is strongly associated with birth weight in European cohorts, appears to have a similar association in Chinese cohorts. However, the rs9883204 variant located in ADCY5 does not appear to be correlated with low birth weight in the same population. Moreover, we found that the variant rs900400 may also be associated with premature birth, thereby supporting the need for further research in this area.