bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Iron promotes α‐synuclein aggregation and transmission by inhibiting TFEB‐mediated autophagosome‐lysosome fusion
Authors: Xiao Yousheng , Chen Xiang , Huang Shuxuan , Li Guihua , Mo Mingshu , Zhang Li , Chen Chaojun , Guo Wenyuan , Zhou Miaomiao , Wu Zhuohua , Cen Luan , Long Simei , Li Shaomin , Yang Xinling , Qu Shaogang , Pei Zhong , Xu Pingyi 
Published: January 2018

AbstractRecent studies have strongly shown that cell‐to‐cell transmission of neuropathogenic proteins is a common mechanism for the development of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the underlying cause is complex and little is known. Although distinct processes are involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases, they all share the common feature of iron accumulation, an attribute that is particularly prominent in synucleinopathies. However, whether iron is a cofactor in facilitating the spread of α‐synuclein remains unclear. Here, we constructed a cell‐to‐cell transmission model of α‐synuclein using SN4741 cell line based on adenovirus vectors. Cells were treated with FeCl2, and α‐synuclein aggregation and transmission were then evaluated. In addition, the possible mechanisms were investigated through gene knockdown or over‐expression. Our results demonstrated that iron promoted α‐synuclein aggregation and transmission by inhibiting autophagosome‐lysosome fusion. Furthermore, iron decreased the expression of nuclear transcription factor EB (TFEB), a master transcriptional regulator of autophagosome‐lysosome fusion, and inhibited its nuclear translocation through activating AKT/mTORC1 signaling. After silencing TFEB, ratios of α‐synuclein aggregation and transmission were not significantly altered by the presence of iron; on the other hand, when TFEB was over‐expressed, the transmission of α‐synuclein induced by iron was obviously reversed; suggesting the mechanism by which iron promotes α‐synuclein transmission may be mediated by TFEB. Taken together, our data reveal a previously unknown relationship between iron and α‐synuclein, and identify TFEB as not only a potential target for preventing α‐synuclein transmission, but also a critical factor for iron‐induced α‐synuclein aggregation and transmission. Indeed, this newly discovered role of iron and TFEB in synucleinopathies may provide novel targets for developing therapeutic strategies to prevent α‐synuclein transmission in Parkinson's disease.
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Heavy livestock grazing negatively impacts a marsupial ecosystem engineer
Authors: Neilly H. , Schwarzkopf L. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractEcosystem engineers play an important role in resource availability and can be negatively impacted by anthropogenic disturbances, such as livestock grazing. The decline of digging and burrowing mammals in Australia is partly attributed to agriculture, however little is known about their use of microhabitats, and thus, how they respond to different cattle grazing regimes. Here, we examine the response of a marsupial ecosystem engineer, the rufous bettong (Aepyprymnus rufescens) to cattle grazing strategies and vegetation types, and examine whether microhabitat selection is driving this response. We hypothesized that rufous bettongs would be negatively impacted by heavy cattle grazing due to their use of ground‐level microhabitat features. We conducted a mark‐recapture trapping survey among four grazing treatments and in two vegetation types (box and ironbark woodlands), at a 20‐year grazing trial in northern Australia. We modelled rufous bettong abundance in response to grazing treatment and vegetation type and determined microhabitat preference using Manly selection ratios. We found that rufous bettongs preferred ironbark and avoided heavy grazing. Thus, they avoided the areas of highest cattle utilization. On average, individuals preferred high grass and other terrestrial microhabitat variables of moderate complexity. Our results indicate that habitat selection is contributing to the response of a marsupial ecosystem engineer to different grazing strategies. Mammalian digging and burrowing ecosystem engineers should be a conservation focus on rangelands due to their positive influence on a suite of species, and their ability to potentially mitigate some of the negative impacts of cattle grazing on soil health.
A putative LysR‐type transcriptional regulator PrhO positively regulates the type III secretion system and contributes to the virulence of Ralstonia solanacearum
Authors: Zhang Yong , Li Jiaman , Zhang Weiqi , Shi Hualei , Luo Feng , Hikichi Yasufumi , Shi Xiaojun , Ohnishi Kouhei 
Published: January 2018

SummaryLysR‐type transcriptional regulators (LTTRs) are ubiquitous and abundant amongst bacteria and control a variety of cellular processes. Here, we investigated the effect of Rsc1880 (a putative LTTR, hereafter designated as PrhO) on the pathogenicity of Ralstonia solanacearum. Deletion of prhO substantially reduced the expression of the type III secretion system (T3SS) both in vitro and in planta, and resulted in significantly impaired virulence in tomato and tobacco plants. Complementary prhO completely restored the reduced virulence and T3SS expression to that of the wild‐type. Moreover, PrhO‐dependent T3SS and virulence were conserved amongst R. solanacearum species. However, deletion of prhO did not alter biofilm formation, swimming mobility and in planta growth. The expression of some type III effectors was significantly reduced in prhO mutants, but the hypersensitive response was not affected in tobacco leaves. Consistent with the key regulatory role of HrpB on T3SS, PrhO positively regulated the T3SS through HrpB. Furthermore, PrhO regulated hrpB expression via two close paralogues, HrpG and PrhG, which are two‐component response regulators and positively regulate hrpB expression in a parallel manner. However, deletion of prhO did not alter the expression of phcA, prhJ and prhN, which are also involved in hrpB regulation. In addition, PrhO was expressed in a cell density‐dependent manner, but negatively repressed by itself. No regulation was observed for HrpB, PhcA and PrhN on prhO expression. Taken together, we genetically demonstrated that PrhO is a novel virulence regulator of R. solanacearum, which positively regulates T3SS expression through HrpG, PrhG and HrpB and contributes to virulence.
Plant ‘muscles’: fibers with a tertiary cell wall
Authors: Gorshkova Tatyana , Chernova Tatyana , Mokshina Natalia , Ageeva Marina , Mikshina Polina 
Published: January 2018

SummaryPlants, although sessile organisms, are nonetheless able to move their body parts; for example, during root contraction of geophytes or in the gravitropic reaction by woody stems. One of the major mechanisms enabling these movements is the development of specialized structures that possess contractile properties. Quite unlike animal muscles, for which the action is driven by protein–protein interactions in the protoplasma, the action of plant ‘muscles’ is polysaccharide‐based and located in the uniquely designed, highly cellulosic cell wall that is deposited specifically in fibers. This review describes the development of such cell walls as a widespread phenomenon in the plant kingdom, gives reasons why it should be considered as a tertiary cell wall, and discusses the mechanism of action of the ‘muscles’. The origin of the contractile properties lies in the tension of the axially oriented cellulose microfibrils due to entrapment of rhamnogalacturonan‐I aggregates that limits the lateral interaction of microfibrils. Long side chains of the nascent rhamnogalacturonan‐I are trimmed off during cell wall maturation leading to tension development. Similarities in the tertiary cell wall design in fibers of different plant origin indicate that the basic principles of tension creation may be universal in various ecophysiological situations.
Quantitative genetic methods depending on the nature of the phenotypic trait
Authors: de Villemereuil Pierre 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA consequence of the assumptions of the infinitesimal model, one of the most important theoretical foundations of quantitative genetics, is that phenotypic traits are predicted to be most often normally distributed (so‐called Gaussian traits). But phenotypic traits, especially those interesting for evolutionary biology, might be shaped according to very diverse distributions. Here, I show how quantitative genetics tools have been extended to account for a wider diversity of phenotypic traits using first the threshold model and then more recently using generalized linear mixed models. I explore the assumptions behind these models and how they can be used to study the genetics of non‐Gaussian complex traits. I also comment on three recent methodological advances in quantitative genetics that widen our ability to study new kinds of traits: the use of “modular” hierarchical modeling (e.g., to study survival in the context of capture–recapture approaches for wild populations); the use of aster models to study a set of traits with conditional relationships (e.g., life‐history traits); and, finally, the study of high‐dimensional traits, such as gene expression.
Heat shock‐induced metabolic conversion of membrane lipids, fatty acids and volatile organic compounds of Pyropia haitanensis under different heat shock time
Authors: Song Yue , Zhao Jiali , Chen Juanjuan , Luo Qijun , Yang Rui , Xu Jilin , Chen Haimin , Yan Xiaojun 
Published: January 2018

SUMMARYLipid metabolites play an important role in understanding the stress physiology of Pyropia haitanensis, and can be used to facilitate development of stress‐resistant Pyropia cultivars. Therefore, in this study ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) based metabolomics approaches were developed to screen the responses of lipid metabolites such as phospholipids, glycolipids, fatty acids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to different heat shock times. A total of 26 potential lipid biomarkers including Lyso‐monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (Lyso‐MGDG), Lyso‐digalactosyldiacylglycerol (Lyso‐DGDG), sulfoquinovosylmonoacylglycerols (SQMG), sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG), diacylglyceryltrimethylhomoserine (DGTS), triacylglycerol (TAG), Lyso‐phosphatidicacid (Lyso‐PA), Lyso‐phosphatidylcholine (Lyso‐PC), Lyso‐phosphatidylethanolamine (Lyso‐PE), Lyso‐phosphatidylglycerol (Lyso‐PG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP) were identified, most of which responded to high temperature by reducing or increasing levels after stimulation for 1 h or 6 h. After times longer than 6 h, the levels of most lipids gradually recovered to the control group levels. Moreover, the balance of lipids and fatty acids transformation was disrupted. Overall, 11 total fatty acids (TFAs), 13 free fatty acids (FFAs) and 29 VOCs were identified during 0–72 h of high temperature stress. The FFAs, especially polyunsaturated C 20 fatty acids and VOCs, showed opposing change trends, indicating the transformation between C 20 fatty acids and VOCs. Overall, this study provides important insights into the metabolic variations of P. haitanensis under different heat shock time and the relationship between the conversion of lipids, fatty acids, and VOCs. The information provided herein will facilitate efficient development and improvement of Pyropia quality by producing cultivars resistant to high temperature.
Inorganic nitrogen source for autotrophic growth of Euglena mutabilis Schmitz
Authors: Zheng Jiaojiao , Haraguchi Akira 
Published: January 2018

SUMMARYThe effect of inorganic nitrogen source on population growth of Euglena mutabilis, an acidophillic benthic protozoa colonizing on the sediment of acid mine drainage, was investigated. Sodium nitrate, ammonium chloride, and ammonium sulfate were tested as nitrogen sources. The population density of E. mutabilis at equilibrium density cultivated in ammonium chloride‐ and ammonium sulfate‐containing media was 9–11 times higher than that in sodium nitrate‐containing medium at the optimal salt medium concentration. The population growth of E. mutabilis in ammonium sulfate‐containing medium was rapid and reached half of the equilibrium density after ca. 228 h, which was ca. 77 h earlier than that in ammonium chloride‐containing medium. Culture medium with ammonium sulfate as the nitrogen source achieved the highest maximum population density and the fastest growth rate among the three nitrogen salts used as nitrogen sources.
Bacterial Catabolism of β-Hydroxypropiovanillone and β-Hydroxypropiosyringone Produced in the Reductive Cleavage of Arylglycerol-β-Aryl Ether in Lignin
Authors: Higuchi Yudai , Aoki Shogo , Takenami Hiroki , Kamimura Naofumi , Takahashi Kenji , Hishiyama Shojiro , Lancefield Christopher S. , Ojo O. Stephen , Katayama Yoshihiro , Westwood Nicholas J. , Masai Eiji 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Sphingobium
sp. strain SYK-6 converts four stereoisomers of arylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether into achiral β-hydroxypropiovanillone (HPV) via three stereospecific reaction steps. Here, we determined the HPV catabolic pathway and characterized the HPV catabolic genes involved in the first two steps of the pathway. In SYK-6 cells, HPV was oxidized to vanilloyl acetic acid (VAA) via vanilloyl acetaldehyde (VAL). The resulting VAA was further converted into vanillate through the activation of VAA by coenzyme A. A syringyl-type HPV analog, β-hydroxypropiosyringone (HPS), was also catabolized via the same pathway. SLG_12830 (
hpvZ
), which belongs to the glucose-methanol-choline oxidoreductase family, was isolated as the HPV-converting enzyme gene. An
hpvZ
mutant completely lost the ability to convert HPV and HPS, indicating that
hpvZ
is essential for the conversion of both the substrates. HpvZ produced in
Escherichia coli
oxidized both HPV and HPS and other 3-phenyl-1-propanol derivatives. HpvZ localized to both the cytoplasm and membrane of SYK-6 and used ubiquinone derivatives as electron acceptors. Thirteen gene products of the 23 aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) genes in SYK-6 were able to oxidize VAL into VAA. Mutant analyses suggested that multiple ALDH genes, including SLG_20400, contribute to the conversion of VAL. We examined whether the genes encoding feruloyl-CoA synthetase (
ferA
) and feruloyl-CoA hydratase/lyase (
ferB
and
ferB2
) are involved in the conversion of VAA. Only FerA exhibited activity toward VAA; however, disruption of
ferA
did not affect VAA conversion. These results indicate that another enzyme system is involved in VAA conversion.

IMPORTANCE
Cleavage of the β-aryl ether linkage is the most essential process in lignin biodegradation. Although the bacterial β-aryl ether cleavage pathway and catabolic genes have been well documented, there have been no reports regarding the catabolism of HPV or HPS, the products of cleavage of β-aryl ether compounds. HPV and HPS have also been found to be obtained from lignin by chemoselective catalytic oxidation by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone/
tert
-butyl nitrite/O
2
, followed by cleavage of the β-aryl ether with zinc. Therefore, value-added chemicals are expected to be produced from these compounds. In this study, we determined the SYK-6 catabolic pathways for HPV and HPS and identified the catabolic genes involved in the first two steps of the pathways. Since SYK-6 catabolizes HPV through 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylate, which is a building block for functional polymers, characterization of HPV catabolism is important not only for understanding the bacterial lignin catabolic system but also for lignin utilization.
Complete Genome Sequence of ZG49, a T7-Like Bacteriophage Lytic to
Escherichia coli
Isolates
Authors: Shi Hongyan , Guo Zhonghe , Liu Yangyang , Hao Yuchong , Li Jinghua , Sun Yanbo 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Here, we describe the complete genome sequence of the
Escherichia coli
bacteriophage ZG49, isolated from a sewage sample. ZG49 is a linear double-stranded DNA T7-like podophage, with a genome of 40,291 bp, containing 44 predicted open reading frames.
Full-Genome Sequence of an Enterovirus 71 Strain Isolated from a Throat Swab from a Child with Severe Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Changzhou, China, in 2017
Authors: Li Qiong , Wang Feng-Ming , Mao Xu-Jian , Yao Ping , Jiang Xia , Jiang Jing-Yi , Chen Cong , Hu Fei-Fei , Li Jun-Hong 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT
The full-length genome sequence of a human enterovirus 71 (EV71) strain (EV71/CZTN01/CHN/2017) was isolated from a throat swab from a child in Changzhou, China, in 2017. According to the phylogenetic analyses, the full-genome sequence in this study belongs to sub-subgenotype C4a.
Genome Sequence of “
Candidatus
Carsonella ruddii” Strain BT from the Psyllid
Bactericera trigonica
Authors: Katsir Leron , Zhepu Ruan , Piasezky Alon , Jiang Jiandong , Sela Noa , Freilich Shiri , Bahar Ofir 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

The genome of “
Candidatus
Carsonella ruddii” strain BT from
Bactericera trigonica
in Israel was sequenced. The full-length genome is 173,904 bp long and has a G+C content of 14.6%, with 224 predicted open reading frames (ORFs) and 30 RNAs.
Early deaths from ischaemic heart disease in childhood-onset type 1 diabetes
Authors: Evans-Cheung Trina C , Bodansky H Jonathan , Parslow Roger C , Feltbower Richard G 
Published: January 2018

AimsThe risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) death in early type 1 diabetes onset was assessed using death certification data.MethodsThe Yorkshire Register of type 1 Diabetes in Children and Young People was linked to clinically validated death certification data for those diagnosed under 15 years. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated using the England and Wales population and IHD death rates between 1978 and 2014 by 5-year age group and sex.ResultsThe cohort included 4382 individuals (83â€‰097 person years). Of 156 deaths, nine were classed as IHD deaths before clinical validation. After clinical validation, 14 IHD deaths were classified, with an SMR of 13.8 (95% CI 8.2 to 23.3) and median age at death of 35.1 years (range 21.9â€“47.9 years).ConclusionsThere is an early emergence of death from IHD in early onset type 1 diabetes. Underascertainment of IHD deaths was present without clinical validation of death certification.
Prevalence and incidence of presbyopia in urban Southern China
Authors: Han Xiaotong , Lee Pei Ying , Keel Stuart , He Mingguang 
Published: January 2018

AimsTo investigate the prevalence and incidence of presbyopia in an urban Chinese population.Methods1817 subjects aged ≥35 years were identified by random cluster sampling in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China, at baseline in 2008, and all were invited for the follow-up examination in 2014. Distance and near visual acuity (VA) tests, as well as non-cycloplegic automated refraction were performed at each examination as per standardised protocol. Participants with presenting near VA ≤20/40 were further tested with add power at a standard distance of 40 cm to obtain their best-corrected near VA. Functional presbyopia was defined as near VA under presenting distance refraction correction of <20/50 and could be improved by at least one line with add power.ResultsA total of 1191 (83.5% of the 2014 follow-up) participants were included in the current analysis with a mean (SD) age of 50.4 (9.7) years, and 52.9% were female. Prevalence of functional presbyopia at baseline was 25.2% (95% CI 21.5 to 28.9) and the 6-year incidence was 42.8% (95% CI 39.4 to 50.1). Older and more hyperopic subjects had both higher prevalence and incidence of presbyopia (P<0.001). Average presbyopic correction coverage (PCC) was 87.7% at baseline and was significantly lower in myopic participants (P=0.006).ConclusionsPrevalence of functional presbyopia in urban China is relatively lower along with a higher PCC compared with previous population-based rural cohorts. We identified a high presbyopia incidence, and further studies are needed to understand longitudinal presbyopia progression as well as the urban–rural gap in presbyopia to throw light on future strategic planning.
Clinical features of demyelinating optic neuritis with seropositive myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody in Chinese patients
Authors: Zhao Ying , Tan Shaoying , Chan Tommy Chung Yan , Xu Quangang , Zhao Jie , Teng Da , Fu Heyun , Wei Shihui 
Published: January 2018

Background/aimsTo investigate the clinical features of Chinese patients with seropositive myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-Ab) optic neuritis (ON) and patients with seropositive aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab) ON.MethodsIn this retrospective observational study, sera from patients with demyelinating ON were tested for MOG-Ab and AQP4-Ab with a cell-based assay. Clinical characteristics were compared between MOG-Ab-related ON (MOG-ON) and AQP4-Ab-related ON (AQP4-ON), including visual performances, serum autoantibodies and features on MRI.ResultsA total of 109 affected eyes from 65 patients with demyelinating ON (20 MOG-ON and 45 AQP4-ON) were included. The onset age of MOG-ON was younger than AQP4-ON (MOG-ON: 20.2±17.4 years old, AQP4-ON: 35.6±15.7 years old, P=0.001). Onset severity was not different between these two groups (P=0.112), but patients with MOG-ON showed better visual outcomes (P=0.004). Half of the MOG-ON had a relapsing disease course. Nineteen per cent of patients with AQP4-ON presented coexisting autoimmune disorders, but there were no coexisting autoimmune disorders among patients with MOG-ON. Optic nerve head swelling was more prevalent in patients with MOG-ON (P<0.01). Retrobulbar segment involvement of the optic nerve were more common in patients with MOG-ON according to our MRI findings (P<0.01). Patients with MOG-ON showed longitudinally extensive lesion in 30% and chiasm and optic tract involvement in 5%.ConclusionsMOG-ON is not rare in Chinese demyelinating patients. It underwent a severe vision loss at onset but had relatively better visual recovery than patients with AQP4-ON. MOG-ON might have an unique pathogenesis different from AQP4-ON.