Advances on microRNA in regulating mammalian skeletal muscle development.

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a class of short non-coding RNA, which is about 22 bp in length. In mammals, miRNA exerts its funtion through binding with the 3°-UTR region of target genes and inhibiting their translation. Skeletal muscle development is a complex event, including: proliferation, migration and differentiation of skeletal muscle stem cells; proliferation, differentiation and fusion of myocytes; as well as hypertrophy, energy metabolism and conversion of muscle fiber types.

[Microecological mechanisms of red-leaf disease occurrence in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge].

A comparative study was made on the nutrient content in rhizosphere soil and the microflora in rhizosphere soil and on rhizoplane of healthy and red-leaf diseased Salvia miltiorrhiza plants, aimed to approach the microecological mechanisms of red-leaf disease occurrence in S. miltiorrhiza. The N, P, K, and Mn contents in the diseased plant leaves were significantly lower than those in the healthy plant leaves (P < 0.

Detoxification of Jatropha curcas kernel cake by a novel Streptomyces fimicarius strain.

A huge amount of kernel cake, which contains a variety of toxins including phorbol esters (tumor promoters), is projected to be generated yearly in the near future by the Jatropha biodiesel industry. We showed that the kernel cake strongly inhibited plant seed germination and root growth and was highly toxic to carp fingerlings, even though phorbol esters were undetectable by HPLC. Therefore it must be detoxified before disposal to the environment.