作者机构：
[Li, Weifang; Zhang, Jin; Liu, Ke; Min, Jinrong; Xiao, Yuqing; Gan, Linyao] Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Hubei Key Lab Genet Regulat & Integrat Biol, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Liu, K; Min, JR ] C;Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Hubei Key Lab Genet Regulat & Integrat Biol, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.
摘要：
The TFAP2 family regulates gene expression during differentiation, development, and organogenesis, and includes five homologs in humans. They all possess a highly conserved DNA binding domain (DBD) followed by a helix-span-helix (HSH) domain. The DBD-HSH tandem domain specifically binds to a GCC(N3)GGC consensus sequence, but the precise recognition mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we found that TFAP2 preferred binding to the GCC(N3)GGC sequence, and the pseudo-palindromic GCC and GGC motifs and the length of the central spacer between the two motifs determined their binding specificity. Structural studies revealed that the two flat amphipathic α-helical HSH domains of TFAP2A stacked with each other to form a dimer via hydrophobic interactions, while the stabilized loops from both DBD domains inserted into two neighboring major grooves of the DNA duplex to form base-specific interactions. This specific DNA binding mechanism controlled the length of the central spacer and determined the DNA sequence specificity of TFAP2. Mutations of the TFAP2 proteins are implicated in various diseases. We illustrated that reduction or disruption of the DNA binding ability of the TFAP2 proteins is the primary cause of TFAP2 mutation-associated diseases. Thus, our findings also offer valuable insights into the pathogenesis of disease-associated mutations in TFAP2 proteins.
作者：
Ke Liu;Jin Zhang;Yuqing Xiao;Ally Yang;Xiaosheng Song;...
期刊：
Journal of Biological Chemistry,2023年299(6):104734 ISSN：0021-9258
通讯作者：
Ke Liu<&wdkj&>Jinrong Min
作者机构：
[Ke Liu; Jin Zhang; Yuqing Xiao; Yunxia Chen] Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, PR China;[Ally Yang; Timothy R. Hughes] Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;[Xiaosheng Song; Yanjun Li] Structural Genomics Consortium and Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;[Jinrong Min] Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, PR China<&wdkj&>Structural Genomics Consortium and Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
通讯机构：
[Ke Liu; Jinrong Min] H;Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, PR China<&wdkj&>Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, PR China<&wdkj&>Structural Genomics Consortium and Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
关键词：
BEN domain;BANP;BEND6;DNA methylation;X-ray crystallography
摘要：
The BEN domain-containing transcription factors regulate transcription by recruiting chromatin-modifying factors to specific chromatin regions via their DNA-binding BEN domains. The BEN domain of BANP has been shown to bind to a CGCG DNA sequence or an AAA-containing matrix attachment regions DNA sequence. Consistent with these in vivo observations, we identified an optimal DNA-binding sequence of AAATCTCG by protein binding microarray, which was also confirmed by our isothermal titration calorimetry and mutagenesis results. We then determined crystal structures of the BANP BEN domain in apo form and in complex with a CGCG-containing DNA, respectively, which revealed that the BANP BEN domain mainly used the electrostatic interactions to bind DNA with some base-specific interactions with the TC motifs. Our isothermal titration calorimetry results also showed that BANP bound to unmethylated and methylated DNAs with comparable binding affinities. Our complex structure of BANP-mCGCG revealed that the BANP BEN domain bound to the unmethylated and methylated DNAs in a similar mode and cytosine methylation did not get involved in binding, which is also consistent with our observations from the complex structures of the BEND6 BEN domain with the CGCG or CGmCG DNAs. Taken together, our results further elucidate the elements important for DNA recognition and transcriptional regulation by the BANP BEN domain-containing transcription factor.
期刊：
Journal of Phycology,2023年59(2):370-382 ISSN：0022-3646
通讯作者：
Renhui Li<&wdkj&>Bao-Sheng Qiu
作者机构：
[Zhang, Lu-Dan; Shen, Li-Qin; Huang, Li; Qiu, Bao-Sheng; Zhang, Zhong-Chun] Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China.;[Zhang, Lu-Dan; Shen, Li-Qin; Huang, Li; Qiu, Bao-Sheng; Zhang, Zhong-Chun] Cent China Normal Univ, Hubei Key Lab Genet Regulat & Integrat Biol, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China.;[Yu, Gongliang] Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Hydrobiol, Key Lab Algal Biol, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China.;[Chen, Min] Univ Sydney, Sch Life & Environm Sci, Sydney, NSW, Australia.;[Li, Renhui] Wenzhou Univ, Coll Life & Environm Sci, Zhejiang, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Renhui Li] C;[Bao-Sheng Qiu] S;School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China<&wdkj&>College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Zhejiang, China
摘要：
Chlorophyll (Chl) f was recently identified in a few cyanobacteria as the fifth chlorophyll of oxygenic organisms. In this study, two Leptolyngbya-like strains of CCNU0012 and CCNU0013 were isolated from a dry ditch in Chongqing city and a brick wall in Mount Emei Scenic Area in China, respectively. These two strains were described as new species: Elainella chongqingensis sp. nov. (Oculatellaceae, Synechococcales) and Pegethrix sichuanica sp. nov. (Oculatellaceae, Synechococcales) by the polyphasic approach based on morphological features, phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene and secondary structure comparison of 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer domains. Both strains produced Chl a under white light (WL) but additionally induced Chl f synthesis under far-red light (FRL). Unexpectedly, the content of Chl f in P. sichuanica was nearly half that in most Chl f-producing cyanobacteria. Red-shifted phycobiliproteins were also induced in both strains under FRL conditions. Subsequently, additional absorption peak beyond 700 nm in the FRL spectral region appeared in these two strains. This is the first report of Chl f production induced by FRL in the family Oculatellaceae. This study not only extended the diversity of Chl f-producing cyanobacteria, but also provided precious samples to elucidate the essential binding sites of Chl f within cyanobacterial photosystems.
通讯机构：
[Rong Peng] I;Institute of Entomology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China<&wdkj&>Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
关键词：
fluorescent nanoparticle;RNA interference;sterol carrier protein-2;Helicoverpa armigera;growth and development;pest control
摘要：
Helicoverpa armigera is a polyphagous destructive lepidopteran pest with strong Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) resistance. Cholesterol, a vital component for insect growth, can only be obtained from food, and its transfer and metabolism are regulated by sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP-2). This study examined whether H. armigera SCP-2 (HaSCP-2) gene expression, involved in cholesterol absorption, can be silenced by nanocarrier fluorescent nanoparticle-RNA interference (FNP-RNAi) by larval feeding and whether the silencing affected H. armigera development. Fluorescence microscopy showed that nanoparticle-siRNA was distributed in Ha cells and the larval midgut. FNP-HaSCP-2 siRNA suppressed HaSCP-2 expression by 52.5% in H.armigera Ha cells. FNP can effectively help deliver siRNA into cells, protect siRNA, and is not affected by serum. FNP-siRNA in vivo biological assays showed that HaSCP-2 transcript levels were inhibited by 70.19%, 68.16%, and 67.66% in 3rd, 4th, and 5th instar larvae, leading to a decrease in the cholesterol level in the larval and prepupal fatbodies. The pupation rate and adult emergence were reduced to 26.0% and 56.52%, respectively. This study demonstrated that FNP could deliver siRNA to cells and improve siRNA knockdown efficiency. HaSCP-2 knockdown by FNP-siRNA in vivo hindered H. armigera growth and development. FNP could enhance RNAi efficiency to achieve pest control by SCP-2-targeted FNP-RNAi.
摘要：
This study investigated whether using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a carrier for dibutyl phthalate (DBP) could delay the degradation rate of DBP in mice and increase its estrogen-like interference effect. Pregnant Balb/C mice were divided into four groups and exposed to different treatments via tail-vein injection every 3 days until gestational day 20. The female and male mice were then sacrificed for toxicological study. The results showed that the combination of MWCNTs and DBP resulted in a higher fetal mortality rate than if the mice were exposed to MWCNTs or DBP alone. H & E staining showed that the estrous period of the exposed mice was delayed, the development of oocytes was blocked in the combination group, the number of spermatogenic cells decreased, and the quality of sperm decreased. Our experiment showed that the expression levels of the genes involved in sex hormone synthesis in the testis and ovaries were significantly increased after combined treatment compared with the MWCNT group (p < 0.01). The study suggests that DBP degradation is delayed when absorbed on MWCNTs, which increases its estrogen-like interference and interferes with fetal development, ultimately leading to increased fetal mortality.
期刊：
Food and Chemical Toxicology,2023年182:114188 ISSN：0278-6915
通讯作者：
Ding, Shumao
作者机构：
[Wu, Min; Wan, Jian; He, Suli; Peng, Haiyan; Zhang, Hongmao; Yan, Chao] Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, Hubei, China;[Ye, Xin] Liquor Marking Biological Technology and Application of Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Bioengineering, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Yibin, 644000, China;[Ding, Shumao] Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, Hubei, China. Electronic address: dingsm@ccnu.edu.cn
通讯机构：
[Ding, Shumao] H;Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, Hubei, China. Electronic address:
摘要：
Previous work has shown that mice exposed to dibutyl phthalate (DBP) adsorbed onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), via tail vein injection, displayed black lesions in their lungs. To investigate the mechanism causing this toxicity in the lung tissue, we performed an experiment with rats, exposing them to DBP adsorbed onto MWCNTs via a tail vein injection for 14 days. The results revealed pulmonary edema and greyish-black lung tissue in the MWCNTs and the MWCNTs+DBP combined exposure groups. In the combined exposure group there was evident alveolar fragmentation and adhesion, and lung tissue sections showed significant levels of black particles. Sections of the non-cartilaginous region of the trachea had significant folding of the pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium and marked thickening of the submucosa. In broncho alveolar lavage fluid, the number of leukocytes (WBC), lymphocytes (Lym), neutrophils (Neu), and eosinophils (Eos), as well as levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) were all significantly higher. TNF-α, IL-6, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) mRNA expression were all elevated in the lung tissue. The combined exposure group, which had considerable airway remodeling, had a greater degree of tracheal constriction and luminal narrowing, according to the results of the α-SMA immunofluorescence assay. According to these experimental findings, the exposure to both MWCNTs and DBP seemed to have a synergistic effect and exacerbated rats' impaired respiratory function that resulted from exposure to MWCNTs alone.
作者机构：
[Han, Fei; Dai, Xiongfeng; Wang, Yanling; Dai, XF; Zhu, Manlu; Wang, Qian; Mu, Haoyan] Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Hubei Key Lab Genet Regulat & Integrat Biol, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Dai, XF ] C;Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Hubei Key Lab Genet Regulat & Integrat Biol, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China.
摘要：
Growth and survival are key determinants of bacterial fitness. However, how resource allocation of bacteria could reconcile these two traits to maximize fitness remains poorly understood. Here, we find that the resource allocation strategy of Bacillus subtilis does not lead to growth maximization on various carbon sources. Survival-related pathways impose strong proteome constraints on B. subtilis. Knockout of a master regulator gene, spo0A, triggers a global resource reallocation from survival-related pathways to biosynthesis pathways, further strongly stimulating the growth of B. subtilis. However, the fitness of spo0A-null strain is severely compromised because of various disadvantageous phenotypes (e.g., abolished sporulation and enhanced cell lysis). In particular, it also exhibits a strong defect in peptide utilization, being unable to efficiently recycle nutrients from the lysed cell debris to maintain long-term viability. Our work uncovers a fitness trade-off between growth and survival that governed by Spo0A-mediated proteome allocation constraints in B. subtilis, further shedding light on the fundamental design principle of bacteria.
作者机构：
[Sun, Qian; Wang, Dong; Wang, D; Xu, Xiaodong] Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, Peoples R China.;[Wang, Dong; Wang, D] Shaanxi Univ Technol, Bioresources key Lab Shaanxi Prov, Hanzhong 723001, Shaanxi, Peoples R China.;[Li, Niya] Wuhan Sinoeco Ecol Sci & Technol Co Ltd, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, Peoples R China.;[Wang, Liang] Lanzhou Univ, Sch Ecol, Lanzhou, Gansu, Peoples R China.;[Wang, Liang] Adm Gansu Anxi Extraarid Desert Natl Nat Reserve, Guazhou, Gansu, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Wang, D ] C;Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, Peoples R China.;Shaanxi Univ Technol, Bioresources key Lab Shaanxi Prov, Hanzhong 723001, Shaanxi, Peoples R China.
摘要：
Corydalis mianxianensis, a new species of C. sect. Cheilanthifoliae Liden (Papaveracae), is described from Qinling-Daba mountains and adjacent Minshan mountains, central China. It is similar to C. moupinensis Franch., but it differs from the latter in racemes with 30-50(-70) flowers, spur being much shorter than limb of upper petal, and arcuate to strongly contorted fruits. These two species are also much different in stigma and ecology as well. In addition, we confirmed that the record of C. saxicola G.S.Bunting in Shaanxi Province as documented in the Chinese floras was a misidentification of this new species.
作者机构：
[Huang, Shuang-Quan; Feng, Hui-Hui] Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Inst Evolut & Ecol, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.;[Wang, Xiao-Yue] Guizhou Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Key Lab State Forestry Adm Biodivers Conservat Ka, Guiyang 550025, Peoples R China.;[Luo, Yi-Bo] Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Bot, State Key Lab Systemat & Evolutionary Bot, Beijing 100093, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Shuang-Quan Huang; Shuang-Quan Huang Shuang-Quan Huang Shuang-Quan Huang] I;Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079 China
关键词：
floral color change;floral scent change;Linalool;Lonicera japonica;nectar dynamics;scent emission rhythm.
摘要：
Flowers in the gold‐and‐silver honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) are white on opening at night (N1) and become light yellow the following day (D1), yellow on the second night (N2), and golden on the second day of flowering (D2). Our measurements in the four stages of anthesis indicated that nectar production decreased significantly from N1 and D1 to N2 and D2, tracking the floral color change. However, both total scent emission of floral scent and scent emission of three major compounds were significantly higher in N2 than in the other three stages, suggesting that floral scent does not always co‐vary with floral color. Abstract Floral color change in diverse plants has been thought to be a visual signal reflecting changes in floral rewards, promoting pollinator foraging efficiency as well as plant reproductive success. It remains unclear whether olfactory signals co‐vary with floral color change. We investigated the production rhythms of floral scent and nectar associated with floral color change in Lonicera japonica. The flowers generally last 2–3 days. They are white on opening at night (N1) and become light yellow the following day (D1), yellow on the second night (N2), and golden on the second day of flowering (D2). Our measurements in the four stages indicated that nectar production decreased significantly from N1 and D1 to N2 and D2, tracking the floral color change. A total of 34 compounds were detected in floral scent and total scent emission was significantly higher in N2 than in the other three stages. The scent emission of three major compounds, Linalool, cis‐3‐Hexenyl tiglate, and Germacrene D was also significantly higher in N2, but the relative content of Linalool decreased gradually, cis‐3‐Hexenyl tiglate increased gradually, and the relative content of Germacrene D did not differ among the four measured stages. Greater scent emission by night than by day suggested a strong olfactory signal to attract nocturnal hawkmoths, the effective pollinators. However, floral scent rhythms in the four stages did not match the color change and nectar secretion, suggesting that floral color (visual) and scent (olfactory) in this species may play different roles in attracting or filtering various visitors.
作者机构：
[Zhou, Cheng; Liu, Ying; Yang, Shuaikang; Zang, Jianfeng; Liu, Xurui; Tian, Ye; Tang, Hanchuan] Huazhong Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Integrated Circuits, Wuhan 430074, Peoples R China.;[Zhou, Cheng; Liu, Ying; Kang, Tianyu; Yang, Shuaikang; Zang, Jianfeng; Liu, Xurui; Tian, Ye; Tang, Hanchuan] Huazhong Univ Sci & Technol, Wuhan Natl Lab Optoelect, Wuhan 430074, Peoples R China.;[Chen, Wei; Zhang, Shujie] Huazhong Univ Sci & Technol, Coll Life Sci & Technol, Wuhan 430074, Peoples R China.;[Chen, Qicai] Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Wuhan 430074, Peoples R China.;[Xiao, Hongjun] Huazhong Univ Sci & Technol, Union Hosp, Tongji Med Coll, Dept Otorhinolaryngol, Wuhan 430022, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Hongjun Xiao; Hongjun Xiao Hongjun Xiao Hongjun Xiao] D;[Wei Chen; Wei Chen Wei Chen Wei Chen] C;[Jianfeng Zang; Jianfeng Zang Jianfeng Zang Jianfeng Zang] S;College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 China<&wdkj&>School of Integrated Circuits and Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 China<&wdkj&>The State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 China<&wdkj&>Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022 China
摘要：
A bioinspired soft elastic metamaterial with a size equivalent to the current cochlear implant that can be seen as a prototype of passive artificial cochlea with a frequency resolution of 30 Hz is proposed. This work will inspire future work in the fabrication of totally implantable passive artificial cochlea that enables the users to hear naturally. Abstract Natural hearing which means hearing naturally like normal people is critical for patients with hearing loss to participate in life. Cochlear implants have enabled numerous severe hearing loss patients to hear voice functionally, while cochlear implant users can hardly distinguish different tones or appreciate music subject to the absence of rate coding and insufficient frequency channels. Here a bioinspired soft elastic metamaterial that reproduces the shape and key functions of the human cochlea is reported. Inspired by human cochlea, the metamaterials are designed to possess graded microstructures with high effective refractive index distributed on a spiral shape to implement position‐related frequency demultiplexing, passive sound enhancements of 10 times, and high‐speed parallel processing of 168‐channel sound/piezoelectric signals. Besides, it is demonstrated that natural hearing artificial cochlea has fine frequency resolution up to 30 Hz, a wide audible range from 150–12 000 Hz, and a considerable output voltage that can activate the auditory pathway in mice. This work blazes a promising trail for reconstruction of natural hearing in patients with severe hearing loss.
期刊：
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY,2023年74(6):1836-1852 ISSN：0022-0957
通讯作者：
Yang Li<&wdkj&>Xue-Bao Li
作者机构：
[Wang, Yao; Li, Yu; Zheng, Yong; Li, Xue-Bao; Zhang, Shi-Peng; Li, Yang; Cheng, Fan] Cent China Normal Univ, Sch Life Sci, Hubei Key Lab Genet Regulat & Integrat Biol, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Yang Li; Xue-Bao Li] H;Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University , Wuhan 430079 , China
摘要：
Cotton fiber elongation is a critical growth phase that affects final fiber length. Morphological analysis indicated an asynchronous fiber elongation pattern between two cotton varieties, J7-1 and J14-1. Through phosphoproteomic analysis, a total of 89 differentially-phosphorylated proteins (DPPs) were identified in elongating fibers between J7-1 and J14-1. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that these DPPs were mainly enriched in sucrose synthase activity, transferase activity, and UDP-glycosyltransferase activity. In J14-1, the phosphorylation level of GhSUS2, a key sucrose synthase in the sucrose metabolism pathway, was significantly higher than that in J7-1. We further revealed that GhSUS2 positively regulates fiber elongation, and GhSUS2-silenced transgenic cotton displayed the phenotype of 'short fibers' compared with the controls. During fiber development, the residue Ser11 in the GhSUS2 protein is phosphorylated by the Ca2+-dependent protein kinases GhCPK84 and GhCPK93. Phosphorylated GhSUS2 is localized in the cytoplasm, whereas unphosphorylated GhSUS2 is localized in the plasma membrane. Moreover, abscisic acid (ABA) could promote the transcription and translation of GhCPK84 and GhCPK93, thereby enhancing the phosphorylation of GhSUS2 to impede fiber elongation. Thus, our data demonstrates that GhSUS2 plays a positive role in fiber development, but its phosphorylation by GhCPK84 and GhCPK93 hinders fiber elongation of cotton.
