bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Induction of autophagy by spermidine is neuroprotective via inhibition of caspase 3-mediated Beclin 1 cleavage
Authors: Yang Yi , Chen Sicong , Zhang Yuqing , Lin Xiaoxia , Song Yiyin , Xue Zhaoliang , Qian Haoran , Wang Shanshan , Wan Guihua , Zheng Xiaoxiang , Zhang Lihui 
Published: April 2017

AbstractSpermidine, a natural polyamine presented widely in mammalian cells, has been implicated to extend the lifespan of several model organisms by inducing autophagy. However, the effect of spermidine against neuronal damage has not yet been fully determined. In this study, neuronal cell injury was induced by treating PC12 cells and cortical neurons with 1 μM staurosporine (STS). We found that STS-induced cell injury could be efficiently attenuated by pretreatment with 1 mM spermidine. Spermidine inhibited the caspase 3 activation induced by STS. Moreover, STS incubation resulted in autophagic degradation failure, which could be attenuated by the pretreatment of spermidine. Knocking down the expression of Beclin 1 efficiently suppressed autophagosome and autolysosome accumulation, and abolished the protective effects of spermidine against STS-induced neurotoxicity. Increased Beclin 1 cleavage and partial nuclear translocation of Beclin 1 fragment was detected in STS-treated cells, which could be blocked by spermidine, pan-caspase inhibitor or caspase 3-specific inhibitor. The nuclear translocation of Beclin 1 fragment universally occurs in damaged neurons. Beclin 1 mutation at the sites of 146 and 149 prevented the intracellular re-distribution of Beclin 1 induced by STS. In addition, intraperitoneal injection of spermidine ameliorated ischemia/reperfusion-induced neuronal injury in the hippocampus and cortex of rats, possibly via blocking caspase 3 activation and consequent Beclin 1 cleavage. Our findings suggest that caspase 3-mediated Beclin 1 cleavage occurs in acute neuronal cell injury both in vitro and in vivo. The neuroprotective effect of spermidine may be related to inhibition of the caspase 3-mediated Beclin 1 cleavage and restoration of the Beclin 1-dependent autophagy.
miR-10a suppresses colorectal cancer metastasis by modulating the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and anoikis
Authors: Liu Yankun , Zhang Yingnan , Wu Haidong , Li Yufeng , Zhang Yi , Liu Min , Li Xin , Tang Hua 
Published: April 2017

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) have a critical role in tumorigenesis and metastasis, which are major obstacles of cancer therapy. However, the role of miRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis remains poorly understood. Here, we found that miRNA-10a (miR-10a) was upregulated in primary CRC tissues and cell line (SW480) derived from primary CRC compared with metastatic cancer tissues in lymph node and cell line (SW620). The differential expression of miR-10a was inversely correlated with distant metastasis and invasion depth. miR-10a promoted migration and invasion in vitro but inhibited metastasis in vivo by regulating the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and anoikis. Furthermore, matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14) and actin gamma 1 (ACTG1) were validated as target genes of miR-10a in CRC cells. Ectopic expression of MMP14 and ACTG1 counteracted the decreased cell adhesion and anoikis resistance activities induced by miR-10a. These findings not only describe the mechanism by which miR-10a suppresses CRC metastasis but also suggest the potential prognostic and therapeutic value of miR-10a in CRC patients.
Pd-catalysed ligand-enabled carboxylate-directed highly regioselective arylation of aliphatic acids
Authors: Zhu Yan , Chen Xiaolan , Yuan Chunchen , Li Guobao , Zhang Jingyu , Zhao Yingsheng 
Published: April 2017

Abstractα-amino acids bearing aromatic side chains are important synthetic units in the synthesis of peptides and natural products. Although various β-C-H arylation methodologies for amino acid derivatives involving the assistance of directing groups have been extensively developed, syntheses that directly employ N-protected amino acids as starting materials remain rare. Herein, we report an N-acetylglycine-enabled Pd-catalysed carboxylate-directed β-C(sp3)-H arylation of aliphatic acids. In this way, various non-natural amino acids can be directly prepared from phthaloylalanine in one step in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, a series of aliphatic acids have been shown to be amenable to this transformation, affording β-arylated propionic acid derivatives in moderate to good yields. More importantly, this ligand-enabled direct β-C(sp3)-H arylation could be easily scaled-up to 10 g under reflux conditions, highlighting the potential utility of this synthetic method.
The Pu.1 target gene Zbtb11 regulates neutrophil development through its integrase-like HHCC zinc finger
Authors: Keightley Maria-Cristina , Carradice Duncan P. , Layton Judith E. , Pase Luke , Bertrand Julien Y. , Wittig Johannes G. , Dakic Aleksandar , Badrock Andrew P. , Cole Nicholas J. , Traver David , Nutt Stephen L. , McCoey Julia , Buckle Ashley M. , Heath Joan K. , Lieschke Graham J. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractIn response to infection and injury, the neutrophil population rapidly expands and then quickly re-establishes the basal state when inflammation resolves. The exact pathways governing neutrophil/macrophage lineage outputs from a common granulocyte-macrophage progenitor are still not completely understood. From a forward genetic screen in zebrafish, we identify the transcriptional repressor, ZBTB11, as critical for basal and emergency granulopoiesis. ZBTB11 sits in a pathway directly downstream of master myeloid regulators including PU.1, and TP53 is one direct ZBTB11 transcriptional target. TP53 repression is dependent on ZBTB11 cys116, which is a functionally critical, metal ion-coordinating residue within a novel viral integrase-like zinc finger domain. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a function for this domain in a cellular protein. We demonstrate that the PU.1–ZBTB11–TP53 pathway is conserved from fish to mammals. Finally, Zbtb11 mutant rescue experiments point to a ZBTB11-regulated TP53 requirement in development of other organs.
Bio-inspired Murray materials for mass transfer and activity
Authors: Zheng Xianfeng , Shen Guofang , Wang Chao , Li Yu , Dunphy Darren , Hasan Tawfique , Brinker C. Jeffrey , Su Bao-Lian 
Published: April 2017

AbstractBoth plants and animals possess analogous tissues containing hierarchical networks of pores, with pore size ratios that have evolved to maximize mass transport and rates of reactions. The underlying physical principles of this optimized hierarchical design are embodied in Murray’s law. However, we are yet to realize the benefit of mimicking nature’s Murray networks in synthetic materials due to the challenges in fabricating vascularized structures. Here we emulate optimum natural systems following Murray’s law using a bottom-up approach. Such bio-inspired materials, whose pore sizes decrease across multiple scales and finally terminate in size-invariant units like plant stems, leaf veins and vascular and respiratory systems provide hierarchical branching and precise diameter ratios for connecting multi-scale pores from macro to micro levels. Our Murray material mimics enable highly enhanced mass exchange and transfer in liquid–solid, gas–solid and electrochemical reactions and exhibit enhanced performance in photocatalysis, gas sensing and as Li-ion battery electrodes.
Climate variations on Earth-like circumbinary planets
Authors: Popp Max , Eggl Siegfried 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe discovery of planets orbiting double stars at close distances has sparked increasing scientific interest in determining whether Earth-analogues can remain habitable in such environments and how their atmospheric dynamics is influenced by the rapidly changing insolation. In this work we present results of the first three-dimensional numerical experiments of a water-rich planet orbiting a double star. We find that the periodic forcing of the atmosphere has a noticeable impact on the planet’s climate. Signatures of the forcing frequencies related to the planet’s as well as to the binary’s orbital periods are present in a variety of climate indicators such as temperature and precipitation, making the interpretation of potential observables challenging. However, for Earth-like greenhouse gas concentrations, the variable forcing does not change the range of insolation values allowing for habitable climates substantially.
Strongly bound excitons in anatase TiO2 single crystals and nanoparticles
Authors: Baldini E. , Chiodo L. , Dominguez A. , Palummo M. , Moser S. , Yazdi-Rizi M. , Auböck G. , Mallett B.P.P. , Berger H. , Magrez A. , Bernhard C. , Grioni M. , Rubio A. , Chergui M. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractAnatase TiO2 is among the most studied materials for light-energy conversion applications, but the nature of its fundamental charge excitations is still unknown. Yet it is crucial to establish whether light absorption creates uncorrelated electron–hole pairs or bound excitons and, in the latter case, to determine their character. Here, by combining steady-state angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry with state-of-the-art ab initio calculations, we demonstrate that the direct optical gap of single crystals is dominated by a strongly bound exciton rising over the continuum of indirect interband transitions. This exciton possesses an intermediate character between the Wannier–Mott and Frenkel regimes and displays a peculiar two-dimensional wavefunction in the three-dimensional lattice. The nature of the higher-energy excitations is also identified. The universal validity of our results is confirmed up to room temperature by observing the same elementary excitations in defect-rich samples (doped single crystals and nanoparticles) via ultrafast two-dimensional deep-ultraviolet spectroscopy.
A single biochemical activity underlies the pleiotropy of the aging-related protein CLK-1
Authors: Liu Ju-Ling , Yee Callista , Wang Ying , Hekimi Siegfried 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe Caenorhabditis elegans clk-1 gene and the orthologous mouse gene Mclk1 encode a mitochondrial hydroxylase that is necessary for the biosynthesis of ubiquinone (UQ). Mutations in these genes produce broadly pleiotropic phenotypes in both species, including a lengthening of animal lifespan. A number of features of the C. elegans clk-1 mutants, including a maternal effect, particularly extensive pleiotropy, as well as unexplained differences between alleles have suggested that CLK-1/MCLK1 might have additional functions besides that in UQ biosynthesis. In addition, a recent study suggested that a cryptic nuclear localization signal could lead to nuclear localization in cultured mammalian cell lines. Here, by using immunohistochemical techniques in worms and purification techniques in mammalian cells, we failed to detect any nuclear enrichment of the MCLK1 or CLK-1 proteins and any biological activity of a C. elegans CLK-1 protein devoid of a mitochondrial localization sequence. In addition, and most importantly, by pharmacologically restoring UQ biosynthesis in clk-1 null mutants we show that loss of UQ biosynthesis is responsible for all phenotypes resulting from loss of CLK-1, including behavioral phenotypes, altered expression of mitochondrial quality control genes, and lifespan.
Targeted Enrichment and Sequencing of Recent Endosymbiont-Host Lateral Gene Transfers
Authors: Dunning Hotopp Julie C. , Slatko Barton E. , Foster Jeremy M. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractLateral gene transfer (LGT) from microbial symbionts to invertebrate animals is described at an increasing rate, particularly between Wolbachia endosymbionts and their diverse invertebrate hosts. We sought to assess the use of a capture system to cost-effectively sequence such LGT from the host genome. The sequencing depth of Illumina paired end data obtained with a Wolbachia capture system correlated well with that for an Illumina paired end data set used to detect LGT in Wolbachia-depleted B. malayi (p-value: <2e-16). Using a sequencing depth threshold of two or three standard deviations above the mean, 96.9% or 96.7% of positions, respectively, are predicted in the same manner between the two datasets, with 24.7% or 42.5% of the known 49.0 kbp of LGT sequence predicted correctly, respectively. Prior qPCR results for nuwts showed similar correlations for both datasets supporting our conclusion that oligonucleotide-based capture methods can be used to obtain sequences from Wolbachia-host LGT. However, at least 121 positions had a minority of the reads supporting the endosymbiont reference base call using the capture data, illustrating that sequence reads from endosymbiont-host LGTs can confound endosymbiont genome projects, erroneously altering the called consensus genome, a problem that is irrespective to the sequencing technology or platform.
Interleukin-33 regulates intestinal inflammation by modulating macrophages in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Seo Dong Hyuk , Che Xiumei , Kwak Min Seob , Kim Soochan , Kim Jae Hyeon , Ma Hyun Woo , Kim Da Hye , Kim Tae Il , Kim Won Ho , Kim Seung Won , Cheon Jae Hee 
Published: April 2017

AbstractInterleukin 33 (IL-33) that signals through the ST2 receptor has emerged as a critical modulator in several inflammatory disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the precise mechanisms by which IL-33 modulates IBD are controversial. The aim of this study was thus to clarify the role of IL-33 in IBD. The plasma levels of IL-33 were significantly decreased, but soluble ST2 levels were increased in patients with IBD compared to healthy individuals. Moreover, IL-33 restored goblet cell numbers and induced macrophage switching from the M1 to the M2 phenotype. These effects were sufficient to ameliorate colitis in dextran sodium sulfate, trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, and peritoneal cavity cell transfer models. IL-33 facilitated goblet cell restoration via modulating macrophages toward the M2 phenotype. In addition, wound healing was significantly faster in IL-33-treated human monocyte-derived macrophages than in control cells, which could be attributed to increased polarisation into M2 macrophages. We found that patients with IBD show decreased serum levels of IL-33 compared with healthy individuals and that IL-33 can attenuate colitis and aid tissue repair in mice. The mechanism by which IL-33 exerts these effects appears to involve the stimulation of differentiation of goblet cells and M2 macrophages.
Glucose uptake in Azotobacter vinelandii occurs through a GluP transporter that is under the control of the CbrA/CbrB and Hfq-Crc systems
Authors: Quiroz-Rocha Elva , Moreno Renata , Hernández-Ortíz Armando , Fragoso-Jiménez Juan Carlos , Muriel-Millán Luis Felipe , Guzmán Josefina , Espín Guadalupe , Rojo Fernando , Núñez Cinthia 
Published: April 2017

AbstractAzotobacter vinelandii, a strict aerobic, nitrogen fixing bacterium in the Pseudomonadaceae family, exhibits a preferential use of acetate over glucose as a carbon source. In this study, we show that GluP (Avin04150), annotated as an H+-coupled glucose-galactose symporter, is the glucose transporter in A. vinelandii. This protein, which is widely distributed in bacteria and archaea, is uncommon in Pseudomonas species. We found that expression of gluP was under catabolite repression control thorugh the CbrA/CbrB and Crc/Hfq regulatory systems, which were functionally conserved between A. vinelandii and Pseudomonas species. While the histidine kinase CbrA was essential for glucose utilization, over-expression of the Crc protein arrested cell growth when glucose was the sole carbon source. Crc and Hfq proteins from either A. vinelandii or P. putida could form a stable complex with an RNA A-rich Hfq-binding motif present in the leader region of gluP mRNA. Moreover, in P. putida, the gluP A-rich Hfq-binding motif was functional and promoted translational inhibition of a lacZ reporter gene. The fact that gluP is not widely distributed in the Pseudomonas genus but is under control of the CbrA/CbrB and Crc/Hfq systems demonstrates the relevance of these systems in regulating metabolism in the Pseudomonadaceae family.
Entomopathogenic nematodes in agricultural areas in Brazil
Authors: de Brida Andressa Lima , Rosa Juliana Magrinelli Osório , Oliveira Cláudio Marcelo Gonçalves de , Castro Bárbara Monteiro de Castro e , Serrão José Eduardo , Zanuncio José Cola , Leite Luis Garrigós , Wilcken Silvia Renata Siciliano 
Published: April 2017

AbstractEntomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) can control pests due to the mutualistic association with bacteria that kill the host by septicemia and make the environment favorable for EPNs development and reproduction. The diversity of EPNs in Brazilian soils requires further study. The identification of EPNs, adapted to environmental and climatic conditions of cultivated areas is important for sustainable pest suppression in integrated management programs in agricultural areas of Brazil. The objective was to identify EPNs isolated from agricultural soils with annual, fruit and forest crops in Brazil. Soil samples were collected and stored in 250 ml glass vials. The nematodes were isolated from these samples with live bait traps ([Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae]. Infective juveniles were collected with White traps and identified by DNA barcoding procedures by sequencing the D2/D3 expansion of the 28S rDNA region by PCR. EPNs identified in agricultural areas in Brazil were Heterorhabditis amazonensis, Metarhabditis rainai, Oscheios tipulae and Steinernema rarum. These species should be considered pest biocontrol agents in Brazilian agricultural areas.
Novel benthic foraminifera are abundant and diverse in an area of the abyssal equatorial Pacific licensed for polymetallic nodule exploration
Authors: Goineau Aurélie , Gooday Andrew J. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe benthic biota of the Clarion–Clipperton Zone (CCZ, abyssal eastern equatorial Pacific) is the focus of a major research effort linked to possible future mining of polymetallic nodules. Within the framework of ABYSSLINE, a biological baseline study conducted on behalf of Seabed Resources Development Ltd. in the UK-1 exploration contract area (eastern CCZ, ~4,080 m water depth), we analysed foraminifera (testate protists), including ‘live’ (Rose Bengal stained) and dead tests, in 5 cores (0–1 cm layer, >150-μm fraction) recovered during separate megacorer deployments inside a 30 by 30 km seafloor area. In both categories (live and dead) we distinguished between complete and fragmented specimens. The outstanding feature of these assemblages is the overwhelming predominance of monothalamids, a group often ignored in foraminiferal studies. These single-chambered foraminifera, which include agglutinated tubes, spheres and komokiaceans, represented 79% of 3,607 complete tests, 98% of 1,798 fragments and 76% of the 416 morphospecies (live and dead combined) in our samples. Only 3.1% of monothalamid species and 9.8% of all species in the UK-1 assemblages are scientifically described and many are rare (29% singletons). Our results emphasise how little is known about foraminifera in abyssal areas that may experience major impacts from future mining activities.
The effect of the serum corona on interactions between a single nano-object and a living cell
Authors: Dror Yael , Sorkin Raya , Brand Guy , Boubriak Olga , Urban Jill , Klein Jacob 
Published: April 2017

AbstractNanoparticles (NPs) which enter physiological fluids are rapidly coated by proteins, forming a so-called corona which may strongly modify their interaction with tissues and cells relative to the bare NPs. In this work the interactions between a living cell and a nano-object, and in particular the effect on this of the adsorption of serum proteins, are directly examined by measuring the forces arising as an Atomic Force Microscope tip (diameter 20 nm) - simulating a nano-object - approaches and contacts a cell. We find that the presence of a serum protein corona on the tip strongly modifies the interaction as indicated by pronounced increase in the indentation, hysteresis and work of adhesion compared to a bare tip. Classically one expects an AFM tip interacting with a cell surface to be repelled due to cell elastic distortion, offset by tip-cell adhesion, and indeed such a model fits the bare-tip/cell interaction, in agreement with earlier work. However, the force plots obtained with serum-modified tips are very different, indicating that the cell is much more compliant to the approaching tip. The insights obtained in this work may promote better design of NPs for drug delivery and other nano-medical applications.
Chemical constituents and anti-inflammatory activities of Maqian (Zanthoxylum myriacanthum var. pubescens) bark extracts
Authors: Zhang Huan-li , Gan Xiao-qing , Fan Qing-fei , Yang Jing-jing , Zhang Ping , Hu Hua-bin , Song Qi-shi 
Published: April 2017

AbstractIn this study, 44 compounds in the petroleum ether extract of Maqian (Zanthoxylum myriacanthum var. pubescens) bark, a traditional Dai herbal medicine, were identified by GC-MS. Major components included 3(2H)-benzofuranone, asarinin and (dimethoxymethyl)-3-methoxy-benzene. A total of 18 compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extracts of Maqian bark by column chromatography and identified by chemical and spectral analyses. Rhoifoline B, zanthoxyline dimethoxy derivative, N-nortidine, nitidine, decarine are the major alkaloids. Both the petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts showed significant inhibition on NO production, which imply anti-inflammatory activity, in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells without cell toxicity. Decarine is the major anti-inflammatory constituent with NO IC50 values of 48.43 μM on RAW264.7 cells. The petroleum ether extract, the ethyl acetate extract and decarine showed anti-inflammatory activities through inhibiting TNF-α and IL-1β production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated THP-1 cells without cell toxicity too. Decarine showed anti-inflammatory activity on human colon cells by reducing IL-6 and IL-8 production in TNF-α+IL-1β-induced Caco-2 cells. These results support the use of Maqian bark as a remedy for enteritis and colitis recorded by Dai medicine in China, and elucidate the major pharmacological compounds in Maqian bark.