Plant tissue imaging with bipyramidal upconversion nanocrystals by introducing Tm ions as energy trapping centers.

Plant cell imaging is critical for agricultural production and plant pathology study. Advanced upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are being developed as fluorescent probes for imaging cells and tissues in vivo and in vitro. Unfortunately, the thick cellulosic walls as barriers together with hemicelluloses and pectin hinder the entrance of macromolecules into the epidermal plant cell.

Construction of NF-κB-targeting RNAi adenovirus vector and the effect of NF-κB pathway on proliferation and apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells.

To construct a recombinant adenovirus vector expressing a RNAi for the Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB)/p65 gene and use it to explore the role of the NF-κB pathway on the regulation of proliferation and apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells. A recombinant adenovirus containing a RNAi cassette targeting the p65 gene was constructed, and its silencing effect on p65 was detected by Western blot analysis in ECV304 cells. Expression of the p65 protein in ECV304 cells was efficiently down-regulated by the RNAi adenovirus for more than 6 days.

High FFA-induced proliferation and apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cell partly through Wnt/beta-catenin signal pathway.

Free fatty acids (FFA)-induced proliferation and apoptosis was studied in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). A recombinant adenovirus containing a RNAi cassette targeting the GSK-3beta gene was produced and its silencing effect on GSK-3beta gene was detected by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry assay in HUVECs. The effect of the RNAi on the protein level of beta-catenin was explored by transfecting the RNAi adenovirus to inhibit the expression of GSK-3beta protein.