Understanding the characteristics of microbes during long-term space missions is essential for safeguarding the health of astronauts and maintaining the functionality of spacecraft. In this study, a Gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming, rod-shaped strain JL1B1071 was isolated from the surface of hardware on the China Space Station. This strain belongs to the genus , with its closest relative being ATCC 4513.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Committee on Space Research's (COSPAR) Planetary Protection Policy states that all types of missions to Venus are classified as Category II, as the planet has significant research interest relative to the processes of chemical evolution and the origin of life, but there is only a remote chance that terrestrial contamination can proliferate and compromise future investigations. "Remote chance" essentially implies the absence of environments where terrestrial organisms could survive and replicate. Hence, Category II missions only require simplified planetary protection documentation, including a planetary protection plan that outlines the intended or potential impact targets, brief Pre- and Post-launch analyses detailing impact strategies, and a Post-encounter and End-of-Mission Report.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpace travelers are reported to experience circadian rhythm disruption during spaceflight. However, how the space environment affects circadian rhythm is yet to be determined. The major focus of this study was to investigate the effect of spaceflight on the Drosophila circadian clock at both the behavioral and molecular level.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCircadian rhythms are regulated by a synchronized system of central and peripheral clocks. Here, we show that a clock in the Drosophila fat body drives rhythmic expression of genes involved in metabolism, detoxification, the immune response, and steroid hormone regulation. Some of these genes cycle even when the fat body clock is disrupted, indicating that they are regulated by exogenous factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudies in mammals have indicated a connection between circadian clocks and feeding behavior, but the nature of the interaction and its relationship to nutrient metabolism are not understood. In Drosophila, clock proteins are expressed in many metabolically important tissues but have not been linked to metabolic processes. Here we demonstrate that Drosophila feeding behavior displays a 24 hr circadian rhythm that is regulated by clocks in digestive/metabolic tissues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Fragile X syndrome is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. How FMR1 affects the function of the central and peripheral nervous systems is still unclear. FMR1 is an RNA binding protein that associates with a small percentage of total mRNAs in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFragile X syndrome is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the fragile X mental retardation 1 gene. How these mutations affect neuronal development and function remains largely elusive. We generated specific point mutations or small deletions in the Drosophila fragile X-related (Fmr1) gene and examined the roles of Fmr1 in dendritic development of dendritic arborization (DA) neurons in Drosophila larvae.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSheng Wu Hua Xue Yu Sheng Wu Wu Li Xue Bao (Shanghai)
July 2002
In order to study the effect of argipressin(4-8)(AVP(4-8)) on the mRNA level and activity of cytidine triphosphate: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase(CCT) in rat hippocampal neurons, and elucidate it's possible mechanism. Rat hippocampal neurons treated with AVP(4-8) or actinomycin D were incubated with different time periods. The mRNA level of CCT was detected using RT-PCR plus Southern blot, CCT activity was determined by measuring the rate of incorporation of (14)C - phosphocholine into cytidine diphosphate-choline(CDP-choline).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSheng Wu Hua Xue Yu Sheng Wu Wu Li Xue Bao (Shanghai)
January 2000
To understand the mechanism of neurotrophic action of neuropeptide ZNC(C)PR, which could affect growth of C6 cells, fluorescent dye Fluo-3 and confocal laser scanning microscope were used to assay the intracellular calcium in C6 glioma cells. It was found that ZNC(C)PR and it's analogue NLPR could mobilize intracellular calcium in a dose-dependent manner. The ZNC(C)PR antagnist, ZDC(C)PR, could inhibit the process, and the extracellular calcium did not influence it.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSheng Wu Hua Xue Yu Sheng Wu Wu Li Xue Bao (Shanghai)
January 2000
ZNC(C)PR can facilitate the learning and memory in rat. Transgenic experiments have revealed that long-term memory depended on cyclic AMP-response element binding protein, CREB. CREB phosphorylation at serine-133 is essential for it's transcriptional activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Pharmacol Sin
April 2002
Aim: To study the localization of CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase beta isoform (CCTbeta) in rat brain, its expression in insect cells and enzymatic properties.
Methods: Using digoxigenin-labeled CCTbeta probes, in situ hybridization was carried out in rat brain wax sections. CCTbeta was overexpressed in Trichoplusia Ni (Tn) cells using baculovirus expression system.