Cytidinediphosphate diacylglycerol synthase-Mediated phosphatidic acid metabolism is crucial for early embryonic development of Arabidopsis.

Embryonic development is a key developmental event in plant sexual reproduction; however, regulatory networks of plant early embryonic development, particularly the effects and functional mechanisms of phospholipid molecules are still unknown due to the limitation of sample collection and analysis. We innovatively applied the microspore-derived in vitro embryogenesis of Brassica napus and revealed the dynamics of phospholipid molecules, especially phosphatidic acid (PA, an important second messenger that plays an important role in plant growth, development, and stress responses), at different embryonic developmental stages by using a lipidomics approach. Further analysis of Arabidopsis mutants deficiency of CDS1 and CDS2 (cytidinediphosphate diacylglycerol synthase, key protein in PA metabolism) revealed the delayed embryonic development from the proembryo stage, indicating the crucial effect of CDS and PA metabolism in early embryonic development.

Construction of a high-quality genomic BAC library for Chinese peanut cultivar Zhonghua 8 with high oil content.

Background: Arachis hypogaea L. (2n = 4× = 40, AABB) is one of the most important oil and economic crop plants in the word. This species has the largest genome size of about 2,813 Mb among the oil crop species.

The effect of N-acetylcysteine in the nucleus accumbens on neurotransmission and relapse to cocaine.

Background: Relapse to cocaine seeking has been linked with low glutamate in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore) causing potentiation of synaptic glutamate transmission from prefrontal cortex (PFC) afferents. Systemic N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been shown to restore glutamate homeostasis, reduce relapse to cocaine seeking, and depotentiate PFC-NAcore synapses. Here, we examine the effects of NAC applied directly to the NAcore on relapse and neurotransmission in PFC-NAcore synapses, as well as the involvement of the metabotropic glutamate receptors 2/3 (mGluR2/3) and 5 (mGluR5).

The role of arabinogalactan proteins binding to Yariv reagents in the initiation, cell developmental fate, and maintenance of microspore embryogenesis in Brassica napus L. cv. Topas.

Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are extracellular proteoglycans involved in plant growth and development. The addition of beta-D-glucosyl Yariv reagent (betaGlcY), a synthetic phenylglycoside that specifically reacts with AGPs, to the culture medium notably disturbed microspore embryogenesis in a concentration-dependent manner. The initiation of microspore embryogenesis was clearly inhibited by 30 microM betaGlcY and completely inhibited by 50 microM betaGlcY.

Protective effects of iptakalim, a novel ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener, on global cerebral ischemia-evoked insult in gerbils.

Aim: To investigate the protective role of iptakalim, a novel ATP sensitive potassium channel opener, on global cerebral ischemia-evoked insult in gerbils and glutamate-induced PC12 cell injury.

Methods: Global cerebral ischemia was induced by occluding the bilateral common carotid arteries in gerbils for 5 min. The open field maze and T-maze were employed to investigate the experimental therapeutic value of iptakalim on ischemic brain insult (n=8).

Cocaine-induced reinstatement requires endogenous stimulation of mu-opioid receptors in the ventral pallidum.

The projection from the nucleus accumbens to the ventral pallidum regulates the reinstatement of cocaine seeking in rats extinguished from cocaine self-administration. This projection coexpresses GABA and enkephalin, posing a role for mu-opioid receptors in the ventral pallidum in mediating the reinstatement of cocaine seeking. Rats were extinguished from cocaine self-administration, and the reinstatement of active lever pressing by cocaine was blocked by intra-ventral pallidum administration of the mu receptor antagonist Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (CTAP) (0.

Simultaneous determination of histamine and polyamines by capillary zone electrophoresis with 4-fluor-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole derivatization and fluorescence detection.

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with fluorescence detection was applied to the simultaneous determination of histamine and polyamines including spermine, spermidine, diaminopropane, putrescine, cadaverine, diaminohexane with 4-fluor-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-F) as the fluorescent derivatization reagent. The seven NBD-F labeled amines was separated within 200 s using 85 mM phosphate running buffer at pH 3.0.

Targeting ischemic stroke with a novel opener of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in the brain.

During cerebral ischemia, the opening of neuronal ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP) channels) affords intrinsic protection by regulating membrane potential. To augment this endogenous mechanism, we have synthesized iptakalim, a K(ATP) opener. Through K(ATP) channel activation, iptakalim affected multiple pathways of the glutamatergic system, limiting glutamate release and receptor actions, which are involved in excitotoxicity during ischemic damage.

[Studies on callus growth and phillyrin accumulation of Forsythia suspensa].

Objective: To investigate the effects of physical and chemical factors on callus growth and phillyrin contents of F. suspensa.

Method: The cell growth index and phyllirin yield in different culture condition such as different plant hormones mixed, mediums, light and dark were compared.

Neuroadaptations in cystine-glutamate exchange underlie cocaine relapse.

Repeated cocaine treatment and withdrawal produces changes in brain function thought to be involved in relapse to drug use. Withdrawal from repeated cocaine reduced in vivo extracellular glutamate in the nucleus accumbens of rats by decreasing the exchange of extracellular cystine for intracellular glutamate. In vivo restoration of cystine/glutamate exchange by intracranial perfusion of cystine or systemically administered N-acetylcysteine normalized the levels of glutamate in cocaine-treated subjects.