Mechanistic insights into the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis with bioactive components from traditional chinese medicine via matrix stiffness-mediated EMT.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease with limited therapeutic options. Our previous research has shown that the Jinshui Huanxian formula (JHF) is effective in treating IPF. However, the biomechanical mechanisms of its refined components, known as the effective-component compatibility of JHF II (ECC-JHF II), are not well understood.

[Biomechanical properties of epithelial mesenchymal transition in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive scar-forming disease with a high mortality rate that has received widespread attention. Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important part of the pulmonary fibrosis process, and changes in the biomechanical properties of lung tissue have an important impact on it. In this paper, we summarize the changes in the biomechanical microenvironment of lung tissue in IPF-EMT in recent years, and provide a systematic review on the effects of alterations in the mechanical microenvironment in pulmonary fibrosis on the process of EMT, the effects of mechanical factors on the behavior of alveolar epithelial cells in EMT and the biomechanical signaling in EMT, in order to provide new references for the research on the prevention and treatment of IPF.

A Localized CRISPR Assay that Detects Short Nucleic Acid Fragments in Unamplified Genetically Modified Samples.

Detecting short genetically modified (GM) nucleic acid fragments in GM crops and associated products is critically important for the global agriculture industry. Although nucleic acid amplification-based technologies have been widely used for genetically modified organism (GMO) detection, they still struggle to amplify and detect these ultra-short nucleic acid fragments in highly processed products. Here, we used a multiple-CRISPR-derived RNA (crRNA) strategy to detect ultra-short nucleic acid fragments.

An Accurate, Rapid and Cost-Effective Method for T-nos Detection Based on CRISPR/Cas12a.

CRISPR/Cas12a technology is used for nucleic acid detection due to its specific recognition function and non-specific single-stranded DNA cleavage activity. Here, we developed a fluorescence visualisation detection method based on PCR and CRISPR/Cas12a approaches. The method was used to detect the nopaline synthase terminator (T-nos) of genetically modified (GM) crops, circumventing the need for expensive instruments and technicians.

Wheat yellow mosaic virus NIb targets TaVTC2 to elicit broad-spectrum pathogen resistance in wheat.

GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase (VTC2) catalyses the conversion of GDP-L-galactose to L-galactose-1-P, a vital step of ascorbic acid (AsA) biosynthesis in plants. AsA is well known for its function in the amelioration of oxidative stress caused by most pathogen infection, but its function against viral infection remains unclear. Here, we have identified a VTC2 gene in wheat named as TaVTC2 and investigated its function in association with the wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV) infection.

[Fostering the chemistry and biology dual-disciplinary core literacy].

Improving students' comprehensive quality and developing their core literacy are the training objectives of high school subject curriculums, which puts forward new requirements for teachers' professionalism and core literacy. In order to adapt to the high school curriculum reform and the new college entrance examination reform, the Ministry of Education approved the development of high-quality, integrated and master-level high school teachers training pilot program. The aim of this program was to foster a group of dual-disciplinary integrated high school teachers who are suitable for teaching, enjoying teaching and skillful in teaching.

Development and Application of a Visual Duck Meat Detection Strategy for Molecular Diagnosis of Duck-Derived Components.

To make meat adulteration detection systems faster, simpler and more efficient, we established a duck-derived meat rapid detection Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (dRPA) method by using interleukin 2 (IL-2) from nuclear genomic DNA as the target gene to design specific primers. We tested the dRPA detection system by comparing its sensitivity and specificity using real-time fluorescent PCR technology. By adjusting the ratio of reagents, this method shortens the time of DNA extraction and visualizes results in combination with colloidal gold immunoassay strips.

Promising Approach in the Treatment of Glaucoma Using Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine-Based Systems.

Glaucoma is considered a leading cause of blindness with the human eye being one of the body's most delicate organs. Ocular diseases encompass diverse diseases affecting the anterior and posterior ocular sections, respectively. The human eye's peculiar and exclusive anatomy and physiology continue to pose a significant obstacle to researchers and pharmacologists in the provision of efficient drug delivery.

A Rice CPYC-Type Glutaredoxin in Protection against Bacterial Blight, Methyl Viologen and Salt Stresses.

Glutaredoxins (GRXs) belong to the antioxidants involved in the cellular stress responses. In spite of the identification 48 genes in rice genomes, the biological functions of most of them remain unknown. Especially, the biological roles of members of family in disease resistance are still lacking.

A Class II small heat shock protein OsHsp18.0 plays positive roles in both biotic and abiotic defense responses in rice.

Bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is one of the most devastating diseases of rice. However, the molecular mechanism underpinning the Xoo resistance of rice is still not fully understood.

An affinity-based aqueous two-phase mixed micellar system and its purification of Yeast 3',5'-bisphosphate nucleotidase.

Aqueous two-phase micellar system (ATPMS), as an alternative liquid-liquid extraction technique, has been extensively exploited for the precise separation or large-scale concentration of biomolecules. In this article, a novel affinity-based ATPMS composed of mixed micelles was constructed by introducing a Copper-chelated Triton X-114 (TX-Cu(II)) into an aqueous solution of hydrophobically modified ethylene oxide polymer (HM-EO). Phase diagram of the HM-EO/TX-Cu(II) system was measured, and the partitioning behavior of model proteins (YND, BSA, lysozyme) were studied by using this new system.

Universal stress protein Rv2624c alters abundance of arginine and enhances intracellular survival by ATP binding in mycobacteria.

The universal stress protein family is a family of stress-induced proteins. Universal stress proteins affect latency and antibiotic resistance in mycobacteria. Here, we showed that Mycobacterium smegmatis overexpressing M.

A laboratory exercise for visible gel filtration chromatography using fluorescent proteins.

Gel filtration chromatography (GFC) separates molecules according to size and is one of the most widely used methods for protein purification. Here, red fluorescent protein (RFP), green fluorescent protein (GFP), yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), and/or their fusion proteins were prokaryotically expressed, purified, and used in a laboratory exercise to intuitively demonstrate GFC. Different bands, corresponding to RFP, RFP-CFP (RC), YFP-RFP-YFP (YRY), and pyruvate kinase II-GFP (PKG) were well separated on a Superdex 200 column from a 0.

Yeast 3',5'-bisphosphate nucleotidase: an affinity tag for protein purification.

Affinity chromatography is one of the most popular methods for protein purification. Each tag method has its advantages and disadvantages, and combination of different tags and developing of new tags had been proposed and performed. Yeast 3',5'-bisphosphate nucleotidase, also known as HAL2, hydrolyzes 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphate (PAP) with submicromolar Km, which indicated the tight interactions between HAL2 and PAP.

The human estrogen sulfotransferase: a half-site reactive enzyme.

The affinity of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) for the estrogen receptor is weakened beyond the point of physiological relevance by the transfer of the sulfuryl moiety (-SO(3)) from PAPS (3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate) to the 3'-hydroxyl of E(2). The mechanism of this transfer reaction, catalyzed by estrogen sulfotransferase (EST), is investigated here in detail. The enzyme (a dimer of identical protomers) presents a clear example of half-sites reactivity--only one of the subunits of the dimer produces product during the catalytic cycle.

Mevalonate analogues as substrates of enzymes in the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Survival of the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae requires a functional mevalonate pathway, which produces isopentenyl diphosphate, the essential building block of isoprenoids. Flux through this pathway appears to be regulated at the mevalonate kinase (MK) step, which is strongly feedback-inhibited by diphosphomevalonate (DPM), the penultimate compound in the pathway. The human mevalonate pathway is not regulated by DPM, making the bacterial pathway an attractive antibiotic target.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis universal stress protein Rv2623 regulates bacillary growth by ATP-Binding: requirement for establishing chronic persistent infection.

Tuberculous latency and reactivation play a significant role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis, yet the mechanisms that regulate these processes remain unclear. The Mycobacterium tuberculosisuniversal stress protein (USP) homolog, rv2623, is among the most highly induced genes when the tubercle bacillus is subjected to hypoxia and nitrosative stress, conditions thought to promote latency. Induction of rv2623 also occurs when M.

Diffusional channeling in the sulfate-activating complex: combined continuum modeling and coarse-grained brownian dynamics studies.

Enzymes required for sulfur metabolism have been suggested to gain efficiency by restricted diffusion (i.e., channeling) of an intermediate APS(2-) between active sites.

The role of water channel proteins and nitric oxide signaling in rice seed germination.

Previous studies have demonstrated the possible role of several aquaporins in seed germination. But systematic investigation of the role of aquaporin family members in this process is lacking. Here, the developmental regulation of plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) expression throughout germination and post-germination processes in rice embryos was analyzed.

Channeling in sulfate activating complexes.

The synthesis of activated sulfate (adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate, APS) and inorganic pyrophosphate from ATP and SO4 is remarkably unfavorable: K(eq) approximately 10(-8) under presumed, near-physiological conditions. Consequently, ATP sulfurylases, which catalyze APS synthesis, suffer approximately 10(8)-fold losses in catalytic efficiency in the forward (APS-synthesis) versus reverse reaction. Losses of this magnitude place this catalyst at risk of being unable to supply its nutrients to the cell in a timely fashion.

Transition state of the sulfuryl transfer reaction of estrogen sulfotransferase.

Kinetic isotope effects have been measured for the estrogen sulfotransferase-catalyzed sulfuryl (SO3) transfer from p-nitrophenyl sulfate to the 5'-phosphoryl group of 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphate. 18(V/K)nonbridge = 1.0016 +/- 0.

Anatomy of an energy-coupling mechanism--the interlocking catalytic cycles of the ATP sulfurylase-GTPase system.

ATP sulfurylase, from Escherichia coli K-12, conformationally couples the rates and chemical potentials of the two reactions that it catalyzes, GTP hydrolysis and activated sulfate synthesis. The enzyme is rare among such coupling systems in that it links the potentials of small-molecule chemistries to one another, rather than to vectorial motion. The pre-steady-state stages of the catalytic cycle of ATP sulfurylase were studied using tools capable of distinguishing between enzyme-bound and solution-phase product for each of the four products of the enzyme.

The trifunctional sulfate-activating complex (SAC) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The sulfate activation pathway is essential for the assimilation of sulfate and, in many bacteria, is comprised of three reactions: the synthesis of adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (APS), the hydrolysis of GTP, and the 3'-phosphorylation of APS to produce 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS), whose sulfuryl group is reduced or transferred to other metabolites. The entire sulfate activation pathway is organized into a single complex in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although present in many bacteria, these tripartite complexes have not been studied in detail.