Exogenous Application of Amino Acids Alleviates Toxicity in Two Chinese Cabbage Cultivars by Modulating Cadmium Distribution and Reducing Its Translocation.

Plants communicate underground by secreting multiple amino acids (AAs) through their roots, triggering defense mechanisms against cadmium (Cd) stress. However, the specific roles of the individual AAs in Cd translocation and detoxification remain unclear. This study investigated how exogenous AAs influence Cd movement from the roots to the shoots in Cd-resistant and Cd-sensitive Chinese cabbage cultivars (Jingcui 60 and 16-7 cultivars).

Upregulation of LHPP by saRNA inhibited hepatocellular cancer cell proliferation and xenograft tumor growth.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer worldwide and no pharmacological treatment is available that can achieve complete remission of HCC. Phospholysine phosphohistidine inorganic pyrophosphate phosphatase (LHPP) is a recently identified HCC tumor suppressor gene which plays an important role in the development of HCC and its inactivation and reactivation has been shown to result in respectively HCC tumorigenesis and suppression. Small activating RNAs (saRNAs) have been used to achieve targeted activation of therapeutic genes for the restoration of their encoded protein through the RNAa mechanism.

Experimental analysis and model prediction of elbow pipe's erosion in water-cooled radiator.

The radiator with heat transfer capability is able to guarantee the stable operation of hydro generator set, while the long-term and continuous scouring on radiator pipes by cooling medium will lead to thinning or even perforation of pipe wall, which triggers wall failure. This paper analyzes and predicts the failure mechanism of radiator's pipe wall, and investigates the effects of water flow velocity, sand content and sand particle size on erosion damage of radiator pipe by establishing a test bench for pipe erosion. The results show that the increase of above parameters will lead to the increasing erosion rate, especially when the sand content is 1%, the velocity is 8 m/s and the sand particle size is 0.

Uncovering the mechanisms of how corn steep liquor and microbial communities minimize cadmium translocation in Chinese cabbage.

Corn steep liquor-assisted microbial remediation has been proposed as a promising strategy to remediate cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soil. In this study, we determined Bacillus subtilis (K2) with a high cadmium (Cd) accumulation ability and Cd resistance. However, studies on this strategy used in the Cd uptake of Chinese cabbage are lacking, and the effect of the combined incorporation of corn steep liquor and K2 on the functions and microbial interactions of soil microbiomes is unclear.

Amino acid application inhibits root-to-shoot cadmium translocation in Chinese cabbage by modulating pectin methyl-esterification.

The exogenous application of amino acids (AAs) generally alleviates cadmium (Cd) toxicity in plants by altering their subcellular distribution. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying AA-mediated cell wall (CW) sequestration of Cd in Chinese cabbage remain unclear. Using two genotypes of Chinses cabbage, Jingcui 60 (Cd-tolerant) and 16-7 (Cd-sensitive), we characterized the root structure, subcellular distribution of Cd, CW component, and related gene expression under the Cd stress.

Mechanistic insights into mitigating Cd stress in plants using typical organic waste fermentation solutions.

Finding practical solutions for utilizing agricultural organic wastes has always been a challenge. To address this, our study investigated the effects and mechanisms of different exogenous organic waste fermentation solutions on alleviating Cd stress in plants using hydroponic experiments. Out of the seven fermentation solutions examined, pea fermentation liquid (T3), chicken manure (T5), molasses (T6), and chitosan oligosaccharide broth (T9) exhibited positive effects.

p21CIP/WAF1 saRNA inhibits proliferative vitreoretinopathy in a rabbit model.

Purpose: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a disease process resulting from proliferation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in the vitreous and periretinal area, leading to periretinal membrane formation and traction and eventually to postoperative failure after vitreo-retinal surgery for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). The present study was designed to test the therapeutic potential of a p21CIP/WAF1 (p21) inducing saRNA for PVR.

Methods: A chemically modified p21 saRNA (RAG1-40-53) was tested in cultured human RPE cells for p21 induction and for the inhibition of cell proliferation, migration and cell cycle progression.

Effects of Amendments and Indigenous Microorganisms on the Growth and Cd and Pb Uptake of Coriander ( L.) in Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils.

Heavy metal (HM) contamination of soils is a worldwide problem with adverse consequences to the environment and human health. For the safe production of vegetables in contaminated soil, efficient soil amendments need to be applied such as nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAP) and poly γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), which can mitigate heavy metal uptake and enhance crop yield. However, the combined effects of soil amendments and indigenous microorganisms (IMOs) on HMs immobilisation and accumulation by crops have received little attention.

Effects of antibiotics on anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge: Performance of anaerobic digestion and structure of the microbial community.

As a common biological engineering technology, anaerobic digestion can stabilize sewage sludge and convert the carbon compounds into renewable energy (i.e., methane).

Small activating RNA activation of ATOH1 promotes regeneration of human inner ear hair cells.

The loss of inner ear hair cells leads to irreversible acoustic injury in mammals, and regeneration of inner ear hair cells to restore hearing loss is challenging. is a key gene in the development and regeneration of hair cells. Small activating RNAs (saRNAs) can target a gene to specifically upregulate its expression.

Lipoxin A methyl ester protects PC12 cells from ketamine-induced neurotoxicity via the miR-22/BAG5 pathway.

Objective: Ketamine is an anesthetic that induces neurotoxicity when administered at high doses. In this work, we explored the protective effects of lipoxin A methyl ester (LXA ME) against ketamine-induced neurotoxicity and the underlying protective mechanism in pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells.

Methods: PC12 cells were treated with 50 μM of ketamine and different LXA ME concentrations of LXA4 ME (5-50 nM) for 24 h, and their viability, apoptosis, and oxidative status were assessed.

Speciation and environmental risk of heavy metals in biochars produced by pyrolysis of chicken manure and water-washed swine manure.

This study was conducted to investigate the speciation, bioavailability and environmental risk of heavy metals (HMs) in chicken manure (CM) and water-washed swine manure (WSM) and their biochars produced at different pyrolysis temperatures (200 to 800 °C). As the pyrolysis temperature increased, the remaining proportion, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), HCl and diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) of HMs gradually declined. This result proved that the speciation of HMs in chicken manure biochars (CMB) and water-washed swine manure biochars (WSMB) was influenced by pyrolysis temperature.

Visualization of subdiffusive sites in a live single cell.

We measured anomalous diffusion in human prostate cancer cells which were transfected with the Alexa633 fluorescent RNA probe and co-transfected with enhanced green fluorescent protein-labeled argonaute2 protein by laser scanning microscopy. The image analysis arose from diffusion based on a "two-level system". A trap was an interaction site where the diffusive motion was slowed down.

Enhancing cadmium extraction potential of Brassica napus: Effect of rhizosphere interactions.

Brassica napus L. (oilseed rape) was grown with daikon and white lupin in a polyvinyl chloride split pot experiment (with no barrier between the compartments or by a nylon mesh barrier (37 μm) to license partial root interaction, or a solid barrier to stop any root interactions) to examine the effect of rhizosphere interaction on the cadmium uptake. The results showed that shoot and root biomasses of oilseed rape were 40.

Effect of the direct use of biomass in agricultural soil on heavy metals activation or immobilization?

In recent years, the biomass was directly used extensively in agriculture due to its low cost and convenience. Increasingly serious soil pollution of heavy metals may pose threats and risks to human health. Directly addition of biomass to soil may affect the bioavailability and content of heavy metals.

Cadmium accumulation in oilseed rape is promoted by intercropping with faba bean and ryegrass.

The mechanisms of intercropping increasing plant biomass, cadmium accumulation, and organic acids secreted in rhizosphere soil are still unclear. Oilseed rape and intercrops were grown in boxes separated either with no barrier between the compartments or by a nylon mesh barrier (37 μm) to license partial root interaction, or a solid barrier to stop any root interactions. Two intercropping systems (oilseed rape-faba bean and oilseed rape-ryegrass) were carried out in soil with Cd content of 5 mg/kg.

Evolution of heavy metals during thermal treatment of manure: A critical review and outlooks.

Manure treatment has become a focal issue in relation to current national policies on environmental and renewable energy matters. Heavy metals can be excreted with the animal manure, contributing to pollution of soil and water. Therefore, animal manure needs proper treatment before application to agricultural soils.

Environmental risk assessment in livestock manure derived biochars.

Livestock-manure-derived biochar is one of major products obtained from the pyrolysis of livestock manure. This study quantitatively assesses the pollution level and ecological risks associated with heavy metals in livestock manure and the biochar produced by its pyrolysis. The geo-accumulation index (GAI) values of heavy metals in livestock manure were significantly decreased ( < 0.

Small activating RNA induced expression of VHL gene in renal cell carcinoma.

Recent studies have reported that chemically synthesized double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs), also known as small activating RNA (saRNAs), can specifically induce gene expression by targeting promoter sequences by a mechanism termed RNA activation (RNAa). In the present study, we designed 4 candidate saRNAs targeting the Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene promoter. Among these saRNAs, dsVHL-821 significantly inhibited cell growth by up-regulating VHL at both the mRNA and protein levels in renal cell carcinoma 769-P cells.

Development of Therapeutic dsP21-322 for Cancer Treatment.

Small activating RNAs (saRNAs) are a class of artificially designed short duplex RNAs targeted at the promoter of a particular gene to upregulate its expression via a mechanism known as RNA activation (RNAa) and hold great promise for treating a wide variety of diseases including those undruggable by conventional therapies. The therapeutic benefits of saRNAs have been demonstrated in a number of preclinical studies carried out in different disease models including cancer. With many tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) downregulated due to either epigenetic mechanisms or haploinsufficiency resulting from deletion/mutation, cancer is an ideal disease space for saRNA therapeutics which can restore the expression of TSGs via epigenetic reprogramming.

Small RNA-Guided Transcriptional Gene Activation (RNAa) in Mammalian Cells.

Small RNA partnering with Argonaute (Ago) proteins plays important roles in diverse biological processes mainly by suppressing the expression of cognate target sequences. Mounting evidence reveals that the small RNA-Ago pathway can also positively regulate gene expression, a phenomenon termed as RNA activation (RNAa), which is evolutionarily conserved from Caenorhabditis elegans to human. In this chapter, I provide a general overview of mammalian RNAa phenomena and their basic characteristics and discuss recent advances toward understanding the nature of the molecular machinery responsible for RNAa and the development of RNAa-based research tools and therapeutics.

Pre-instillation of tumor microparticles enhances intravesical chemotherapy of nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer through a lysosomal pathway.

Nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is treated with transurethral resection followed by intravesical chemotherapy. However, drug-resistant tumorigenic cells cannot be eliminated, leading to half of the treated cancers recur with increased stage and grade. Innovative approaches to enhance drug sensitivity and eradicate tumorigenic cells in NMIBC treatment are urgently needed.

Enhancing DPYSL3 gene expression via a promoter-targeted small activating RNA approach suppresses cancer cell motility and metastasis.

To explore a novel strategy in suppressing tumor metastasis, we took the advantage of a recent RNA activation (RNAa) theory and used small double-strand RNA molecules, termed as small activating RNAs (saRNA) that are complimentary to target gene promoter, to enhance transcription of metastasis suppressor gene. The target gene in this study is Dihydro-pyrimidinase-like 3 (DPYSL3, protein name CRMP4), which was identified as a metastatic suppressor in prostate cancers. There are two transcriptional variants of DPYSL3 gene in human genome, of which the variant 2 is the dominant transcript (DPYSL3v2, CRMP4a) but is also significantly down-regulated in primary prostate cancers.

saRNA-guided Ago2 targets the RITA complex to promoters to stimulate transcription.

Small activating RNAs (saRNAs) targeting specific promoter regions are able to stimulate gene expression at the transcriptional level, a phenomenon known as RNA activation (RNAa). It is known that RNAa depends on Ago2 and is associated with epigenetic changes at the target promoters. However, the precise molecular mechanism of RNAa remains elusive.