A new QTL for resistance to Fusarium ear rot in maize.

Understanding the inheritance of resistance to Fusarium ear rot is a basic prerequisite for an efficient resistance breeding in maize. In this study, 250 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) along with their resistant (BT-1) and susceptible (N6) parents were planted in Zhengzhou with three replications in 2007 and 2008. Each line was artificially inoculated using the nail-punch method.

Rational design, synthesis and evaluation of first generation inhibitors of the Giardia lamblia fructose-1,6-biphosphate aldolase.

Inhibitors of the Giardia lamblia fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (GlFBPA), which transforms fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) to dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, were designed based on 3-hydroxy-2-pyridone and 1,2-dihydroxypyridine scaffolds that position two negatively charged tetrahedral groups for interaction with substrate phosphate binding residues, a hydrogen bond donor to the catalytic Asp83, and a Zn(2+) binding group. The inhibition activities for the GlFBPA catalyzed reaction of FBP of the prepared alkyl phosphonate/phosphate substituted 3-hydroxy-2-pyridinones and a dihydroxypyridine were determined. The 3-hydroxy-2-pyridone inhibitor 8 was found to bind to GlFBPA with an affinity (K(i)=14μM) that is comparable to that of FBP (K(m)=2μM) or its inert analog TBP (K(i)=1μM).

Effects of Pluronic F68 on Manganese peroxidase production by pelletized Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

In this study, a new process was developed for manganese peroxidase (MnP) production by Phanerochaete chrysosporium under an agitated and aerated cultivation condition. It was found that change of the inoculum from spore suspension to pellets resulted in enhanced MnP production of 200 U/L in rotated shake flasks. Several additives, including Pluronic F68, Tween 80, and PEG8000, significantly increased the enzyme production.

Expression and biological function of N-myc down-regulated gene 1 in human cervical cancer.

The expression of N-myc down-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) has previously been reported to be involved in the proliferation, differentiation, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, but its role in cervical cancer is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the expression of NDRG1gene in human cervical cancer and its effect on aggressive tumor behaviors. The NDRG1 expression in cervical tissues and cells was detected by RT-PCR.

NT69L blocks ethanol-induced increase of dopamine and glutamate levels in striatum of mouse.

Recent study shows that NT69L, an analog of neurotensin (NT) (8-13), reduces ethanol consumption and preference in mice through modulation of neurotensin receptor subtype one. The current study showed that NT69L significantly decreased ethanol-induced increase of dopamine and glutamate levels in striatum of mouse. These data suggest that NT69L prevents ethanol consumption through the modulation of both dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems implicated in ethanol addiction.

Continuous culture and proteomic analysis of Escherichia coli DH5α and its acetate-tolerant mutant DA19 under conditions of nitrogen source limitation.

Escherichia coli DH5α grows poorly in a chemically defined medium, but its acetate-tolerant mutant, DA19, grows fast and produces less acetate. To investigate the differences in metabolism between the two strains, the samples of continuous cultures at steady state were analyzed by two-dimensional SDS-PAGE (2-D SDS-PAGE) and peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF). The results indicated that in DA19, expression of gnd, yddS, and purH (except for adenine supplement) was up-regulated, and expression of atpA, glnK, and ompR, which encode membrane proteins, was significantly up-regulated.

Overexpression of EZH2 contributes to acquired cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Enhancer of Zeste Homologue 2 (EZH2), a specific histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27) methyltransferase, plays a critical role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression through epigenetic gene silencing and chromatin remodeling. However, the role of EZH2 in chemotherapy resistance is unknown. In this study, we found that EZH2 was overexpressed in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells compared with cisplatin-sensitive cells.

Similarities in the behavior and molecular deficits in the frontal cortex between the neurotensin receptor subtype 1 knockout mice and chronic phencyclidine-treated mice: relevance to schizophrenia.

Much evidence suggests that targeting the neurotensin (NT) system may provide a novel and promising treatment for schizophrenia. Our recent work shows that: NTS1 knockout (NTS1(-/-)) mice may provide a potential animal model for studying schizophrenia by investigating the effect of deletion NTS1 receptor on amphetamine-induced hyperactivity and neurochemical changes. The data indicate a hyper-dopaminergic state similar to the excessive striatal DA activity reported in schizophrenia.

[Expression of microRNA 27a and its correlation with drug resistance in human ovarian cancer A2780/Taxol cells].

Objective: To investigate the expression of microRNA 27a (miR-27a) and relationship with drug resistance in human ovarian cancer A2780/Taxol cells.

Methods: A stem-loop-mediated real-time PCR was used to detect miR-27a expression in A2780 and A2780/Taxol cells. The cells were transfected with the mimics or inhibitors of miR-27a or negative control RNA (NC) by lipofectamine 2000.

MiR-27a modulates MDR1/P-glycoprotein expression by targeting HIPK2 in human ovarian cancer cells.

Objective: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding, single-stranded small RNAs that regulate gene expression negatively, which is involved in fundamental cellular processes and the initiation, development and progression of human cancer. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-27a in the development of drug resistance in ovarian cancer cells.

Methods: Expression of miR-27a in ovarian cancer cell lines A2780 and A2780/Taxol were detected by stem-loop real-time PCR.

PtSVP, an SVP homolog from trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf.), shows seasonal periodicity of meristem determination and affects flower development in transgenic Arabidopsis and tobacco plants.

A MADS-box gene was isolated using the suppressive subtractive hybridization library between early-flowering mutant and wild-type trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf.).

Development of succinic acid production from corncob hydrolysate by Actinobacillus succinogenes.

Succinic acid is one of the most important platform chemicals since it has great potential in industrial applications. In this study, corncob hydrolysate was used for succinic acid production. After diluted acid treatment, xylose was released from hemicellulose as the predominant monosaccharide in the hydrolysate, whereas glucose was released very little and most was retained as cellulose in the raw material.

Enhanced 1,3-propanediol production by supply of organic acids and repeated fed-batch culture.

In fed-batch culture of Klebsiella pneumoniae, 1,3-propanediol production was growth associated, while the by-products, including lactic acid and ethanol, increased sharply as the cells grew slowly. When the fed-batch culture was supplied with a mixture of organic acids including citrate, fumarate and succinate, cell growth and 1,3-propanediol production increased significantly, whereas the by-products, especially lactic acid and ethanol, decreased sharply. High concentrations of PDO and acetate inhibited cell growth and PDO production.

Synthesis, structural investigation and thermal properties of a novel manganese complex Mn2(DAT)2Cl4(H2O)4 (DAT=1,5-diaminotetrazole).

A novel manganese complex Mn(2)(DAT)(2)Cl(4)(H(2)O)(4), where DAT is 1,5-diaminotetrazole, was synthesized by the reaction of manganese(II) chloride tetrahydrate and 1,5-diaminotetrazole (DAT) in ethanol, and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure was determined through X-ray single crystal diffraction. The molecular unit of Mn(2)(DAT)(2)Cl(4)(H(2)O)(4) has a distorted octahedral structure, containing two central manganese cations, which coordinated by a mono-dentate terminal chloride, a bulky DAT ligand and two water molecules, and linked by two bidentate bridging chloride ligands.

Hyperactivity of the dopaminergic system in NTS1 and NTS2 null mice.

Neurotensin (NT) is a tridecapeptide that acts as a neuromodulator in the central nervous system mainly through two NT receptors, NTS1 and NTS2. The functional-anatomical interactions between NT, the mesotelencephalic dopamine system, and structures targeted by dopaminergic projections have been studied. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of NT receptor subtypes on dopaminergic function with the use of mice lacking either NTS1 (NTS1(-/-)) or NTS2 (NTS2(-/-)).

Effect of amphetamine on extracellular concentrations of amino acids in striatum in neurotensin subtype 1 and 2 receptor null mice: a possible interaction between neurotensin receptors and amino acid systems for study of schizophrenia.

Neurotensin (NT) is a tridecapeptide that acts as a neuromodulator in the central nervous system mainly through two NT receptors: NTS1 and NTS2. The present study was done to determine the roles of NTS1 and NTS2 on amino acid release in striatum with the use of NTS1 or NTS2 knockout ((-/-)) mice given d-amphetamine. Both NTS1(-/-) and NTS2(-/-) mice had lower extracellular concentrations of D-serine in striatum than did wild type (WT) mice.

Effect of control strategies on prevalence, incidence and re-infection of clonorchiasis in endemic areas of China.

Background: A pilot clonorchiasis control project was implemented to evaluate the efficacies of various chemotherapy strategies on prevalence, incidence and re-infection in Heilongjiang Province, China.

Methods And Findings: Seven intervention groups (14,139 residents, about 2000 in each group) in heavily or moderately endemic areas were subjected to repeated praziquantel administration from 2001 to 2004. In the selective chemotherapy groups, residents were examined for fecal eggs, and those who tested positive were treated with three doses of 25 mg/kg praziquantel at 5-hour-intervals in one day.

[Effect of radiation on the activity and expression of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase in rat masseter muscle].

Objective: To investigate the activity and expression of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase in irradiated rat masseter muscle.

Methods: The rats were irradiated locally with a single dose of 20 Gy X-ray. The activities of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase were measured with colorimetric method.

The novel neurotensin analog NT69L blocks phencyclidine (PCP)-induced increases in locomotor activity and PCP-induced increases in monoamine and amino acids levels in the medial prefrontal cortex.

Schizophrenia is a life-long, severe, and disabling brain disorder that requires chronic pharmacotherapy. Because current antipsychotic drugs do not provide optimal therapy, we have been developing novel treatments that focus on receptors for the neuropeptide neurotensin (NT). NT69L, an analog of neurotensin(8-13), acts like an atypical antipsychotic drug in several dopamine-based animal models used to study schizophrenia.

Intermittent high-dose ethanol exposures increase motivation for operant ethanol self-administration: possible neurochemical mechanism.

We investigated the neurochemical mechanism of how high-dose ethanol exposure may increase motivation for ethanol consumption. First, we developed an animal model of increased motivation for ethanol using a progressive ratio (PR) schedule. Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to administer 10% ethanol-containing gelatin or plain gelatin (on alternate weeks) in daily 30-min sessions under different fixed ratio (FR) and PR schedules.

NT79: A novel neurotensin analog with selective behavioral effects.

Neurotensin, a tridecapeptide, is widely distributed in the brain and gastrointestinal tract. It possesses analgesic, hypothermic, and antipsychotic-like properties. Neurotensin's effects are mediated mainly through two receptor subtypes, NTS1 and NTS2.

Transcallosal connectivity and cortical rhythms: findings in children with spina bifida.

We studied the relation between cortical oscillatory rhythms and the structural integrity of the corpus callosum in 21 children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Participants underwent resting state neuromagnetic recordings and diffusion tensor imaging. Areas of three segments of the corpus callosum (genu, body, splenium) were derived through diffusion tensor imaging-based morphometrics.

Enzymatic synthesis of glutathione using yeast cells in two-stage reaction.

In the present study, permeated yeast cells were used as the catalyst to synthesize glutathione. When waste cells of brewer's yeast were incubated with the three precursor amino acids and glucose for 36 h, 899 mg/L of glutathione were produced. To release the feedback inhibition of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase caused by glutathione, two-stage reaction was adopted.

Mechanisms of catalysis and inhibition operative in the arginine deiminase from the human pathogen Giardia lamblia.

Giardia lamblia arginine deiminase (GlAD), the topic of this paper, belongs to the hydrolase branch of the guanidine-modifying enzyme superfamily, whose members employ Cys-mediated nucleophilic catalysis to promote deimination of l-arginine and its naturally occurring derivatives. G. lamblia is the causative agent in the human disease giardiasis.

Enhanced D-ribose biosynthesis in batch culture of a transketolase-deficient Bacillus subtilis strain by citrate.

In this study, the effects of citrate addition on D-ribose production were investigated in batch culture of a transketolase-deficient strain, Bacillus subtilis EC2, in shake flasks and bioreactors. Batch cultures in shake flasks and a 5-l reactor indicated that supplementation with 0.2-0.