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Cadmium (Cd) is a transition metal that is toxic to living organisms in the environment and endangers living organisms. To explore whether Cd induces apoptosis in pig thymus and its possible mechanism, the role Cd induction of the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway in apoptosis of thymus cells was studied in pigs. We found that Cd exposure (the feed is treated with Cd) significantly increased Cd accumulation in the thymus of pigs. The TUNEL assay confirmed the typical apoptotic characteristics of thymus in Cd group. Moreover, in the Cd group, the activities of antioxidant indices decreased significantly, while the levels of oxidative stress indexes increased significantly, and the mRNA levels of GSH, CAT, Gpx1, GST, SOD1, and SOD2 decreased obviously. Moreover, the mRNA and protein levels of PTEN/PI3K/AKT and apoptosis-related genes were detected by qPCR and western blotting. The results show that the expressions of PI3K and AKT decreased, while the expression of PTEN increased, indicating that pathway activated. With the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway regulating, Bcl-2 expression decreased. Conversely, the mRNA and protein expression of apoptosis-related genes were up-regulated. In conclusion, accumulation of Cd in the pigs caused oxidative damage to immune tissues. In addition, Cd-induced oxidative stress activates the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway, inducing apoptosis in the thymus of pigs.

The first-principle method is adopted to study doping of different atoms X (X = Cr, Mo, or W) in ZnTe compound. The spin-down bandgaps of the X-doped Zn0.96875X0.03125Te alloys are 1.368, 1.415, and 1.399 eV for X = Cr, Mo, and W, respectively. All the doped Zn0.96875X0.03125Te (X = Cr, Mo, or W) alloys presents half-metallic (HM) feature, which is different from the ZnTe semiconductor, thus the doped HM alloys are the potential materials for spintronic applications. The Cr-3d(t2g) and Te-5p spin-up states of the Zn0.96875Cr0.03125Te alloy intersect the Fermi level, but only the Mo-4d(t2g) and W-5d(t2g) spin-up states of the Zn0.96875Mo0.03125Te and Zn0.96875W0.03125Te alloys, respectively, intersect the Fermi level. For the Zn0.96875Cr0.03125Te alloy, the double-degenerate $$d_{yz}$$ and $$d_{xz}$$ spin-up states of Cr atom are occupied, but the undegenerated $$d_{xy}$$ states of Cr atom are unoccupied. But for Zn0.96875X0.03125Te (X = Mo or W) alloys, the threefold degenerate $$d_{xy}$$ , $$d_{yz}$$ , and $$d_{xz}$$ states of X atoms are half-occupied. All the X-doped Zn0.96875X0.03125Te (X = Cr, Mo, or W) alloys are magnetic with the total magnetic moments of 4.000 $$\mu_{{\text{B}}}$$ mainly contributed by the X atom and neighboring Te atoms. The doped Zn0.96875X0.03125Te (X = Cr, Mo, or W) alloys have promising applications in infrared devices.

During the opening and closing of stomata, guard cells undergo rapid and reversible changes in their volume and shape, which affects the adhesion of the plasma membrane (PM) to the cell wall (CW). The dynamics of actin filaments in guard cells are involved in stomatal movement by regulating structural changes and intracellular signaling. However, it is unclear whether actin dynamics regulate the adhesion of the PM to the CW. In this study, we investigated the relationship between actin dynamics and PM-CW adhesion by the hyperosmotic-induced plasmolysis of tobacco guard cells. We found that actin filaments in guard cells were depolymerized during mannitol-induced plasmolysis. The inhibition of actin dynamics by treatment with latrunculin B or jasplakinolide and the disruption of the adhesion between the PM and the CW by treatment with RGDS peptide (Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser) enhanced guard cell plasmolysis. However, treatment with latrunculin B alleviated the RGDS peptide-induced plasmolysis and endocytosis. Our results reveal that the actin depolymerization is involved in the regulation of the PW-CW adhesion during hyperosmotic-induced plasmolysis in tobacco guard cells.

Background Real-time RT-PCR has become a common and robust technique to detect and quantify low-abundance mRNA expression and is a prefered tool when examining fungal gene expression in infected host tissues. However, correct evaluation of gene expression data requires accurate and reliable normalization against a reference transcript. Thus, the identification of reference genes with stable expression during different conditions is of paramount importance. Here, we present a study where in vitro and in planta experiments were used to validate the expression stability of reference gene candidates of Puccinia helianthi Schw., an obligate pathogen that causes rust in sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Results Eleven reference genes of P. helianthi were validated at different growth stages. Excel-based software geNorm, BestKeeper and NormFinder were used to evaluate the reference gene transcript stabilities. Of eleven reference gene candidates tested, three were stably expressed in urediniospores, germinating growth stage and in planta. Two of these genes (UBC, EF2), encoding ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme and elongation factor 2, proved to be the most stable set of reference genes under the experimental conditions used. Conclusion We found that UBC and EF2 are suitable candidates for for the standardization of gene expression studies in the plant pathogen P. helianthi and potentially other related pathogens.

Puccinia helianthi Schw. causes sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) rust in many sunflower production regions in China. To study the virulence pattern of P. helianthi physiological races and evaluate the resistance of major sunflower hybrids and varieties to this pathogen, field surveys were undertaken in 33 counties across major sunflower production regions in China in 2013–2014. Eighty rust single-pustule isolates were obtained from 80 geographically different locations. Using a set of nine internationally adopted differentials, 15 races were identified among these isolates. Race 304 was the most prevalent one with a 28 % frequency, followed by races 300 and 310 each with a frequency of 18 %, and the other 12 races (314, 324, 330, 332, 334, 350, 354, 374, 500, 526, 736 and 737) with a frequency varying from 1 to 6 %. The less virulent race group 300 accounted for the largest proportion (87 %) of the collected isolates while the most virulent race group 700 accounted only 4 %. Spores of race 304 and 737 were used to test 69 hybrids and five open-pollinated varieties of sunflower plants collected from breeding programs and local markets. Among the 31 confectionary hybrids, six were immune, two were highly resistant, and 11 were resistant to race 304. Among the 38 oilseed hybrids, eight showed immune reactions, three were highly resistant, and 17 were resistant to race 304. All five open-pollinated varieties were susceptible to race 304. For race 737, only four of the entries showed resistant reactions, and none were confectionary sunflowers.

The Naozhi Au–Cu deposit is located on the continental margin of Northeast China, forming part of the West Pacific porphyry–epithermal gold–copper metallogenic belt. In this paper, we systematically analyzed the compositions, homogenization temperatures, and salinity of fluid inclusions as well as their noble gas isotopic and Pb isotopic compositions from the deposit. These new data show that (1) five types of fluid inclusions were identified as pure gas inclusions (V-type), pure liquid inclusions (L-type), gas–liquid two-phase inclusions (W-type, as the main fluid inclusions (FIs)), CO2-bearing inclusions (C-type), and daughter-mineral-bearing polyphase inclusions (S-type); (2) W-type FIs in quartz crystals of early, main, and late stage are homogenized at temperatures of 324.7–406.7, 230–338.8, and 154.6–308 °C, with salinities of 2.40–7.01 wt% NaCleq, 1.73–9.47 wt% NaCleq, and 6.29 wt% NaCleq, respectively. S-type FIs in quartz crystals of early stage are homogenized at temperatures of 328.6–400 °C, with salinities of 39.96–46.00 wt% NaCleq; (3) Raman analysis results reveal that the vapor compositions of early ore-forming fluids consisted of CO2 and H2O, with H2O gradually increasing and CO2 being absent at the late mineralization stage; (4) fluid inclusions in pyrite and chalcopyrite have 3He/4He ratios of 0.03–0.104 Ra, 20Ne/22Ne ratios of 9.817–9.960, and 40Ar/36Ar ratios of 324–349. These results indicate that the percentage of radiogenic 40Ar* in fluid inclusions varies from 8.8 to 15.5 %, containing 84.5–91.2 % atmospheric 40Ar; (5) the 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 206Pb/204Pb ratios of sulfides are 18.1822–18.3979, 15.5215–15.5998, and 38.1313–38.3786, respectively. These data combined with stable isotope data and the chronology of diagenesis and metallogenesis enable us suppose that the ore-forming fluids originated from the melting of the lower crust, caused by the subduction of an oceanic slab, whereas the mineralized fluids were exsolved from the late crystallization stage and subsequently contaminated by crustal materials/fluids during ascent, including meteoric water, and the mineral precipitation occurred at a shallow crustal level.

Spermatogenesis associated 19 (SPATA19) is an important reproduction related gene. In this study, we cloned the full-length cDNA sequence of porcine SPATA19 gene through the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The porcine SPATA19 gene encodes a protein of 154 amino acids which shares high homology with the SPATA19 of ten species: giant panda (87 %), dog (86 %), cattle (84 %), rabbit (78 %), sumatran orangutan (72 %), human (71 %), rhesus monkey (71 %), chimpanzee (70 %), mouse (71 %) and rat (69 %). The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the porcine SPATA19 gene has a closer genetic relationship with the SPATA19 gene of dog. This gene is structured in six exons and five introns as revealed by computer-assisted analysis. PCR–RFLP was established to detect the GU475012:c.515T>C substitution of porcine SPATA19 gene mRNA and association of this mutation with litter size traits was assessed in Large White (n = 100) and Landrace (n = 100) pig populations. Results demonstrated that this polymorphic locus was significantly associated with the litter size of all parities in Large White sows and Landrace sows. Therefore, SPATA19 gene could be an useful candidate gene in selection for increasing litter size in pigs. These data serve as a foundation for further insight into this novel porcine gene.

The 4'-epidaunorubicin is the semisynthesis precursor of epirubicin which is a clinically useful antitumor drug thought to have slightly less cardiotoxicity than doxorubin. The 4'-epidaunorubicin was formed by overexpression of heterologous Streptomyces avermitilis aveBIV in Streptomyces coeruleorubidus SIPI-A0707 dnmV mutant blocked in the biosynthesis of daunosamine, the deoxysugar component of daunorubicin. But there was a low-yield production of 4'-epidaunorubicin. In our study, product yields were enhanced considerably by increasing aveBIV gene copy number or changing means of aveBIV integration. The 4'-epidaunorubicin titer was improved by around threefold in the recombinant strain DYG1006 with the aveBIV increased threefold copy numbers. The transcript levels of aveBIV gene meet the expectation of fermentation levels of 4'-epidaunorubicin. The method described here provides the means to produce 4'-epidaunorubicin efficiently on an industrial scale.

Background Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is the major ASIC subunit determining acid-activated currents in brain neurons. Recent studies show that ASIC1a play critical roles in acid-induced cell toxicity. While these studies raise the importance of ASIC1a in diseases, mechanisms for ASIC1a trafficking are not well understood. Interestingly, ASIC1a interacts with PICK1 (protein interacting with C-kinase 1), an intracellular protein that regulates trafficking of several membrane proteins. However, whether PICK1 regulates ASIC1a surface expression remains unknown. Results Here, we show that PICK1 overexpression increases ASIC1a surface level. A BAR domain mutant of PICK1, which impairs its lipid binding capability, blocks this increase. Lipid binding of PICK1 is also required for PICK1-induced clustering of ASIC1a. Consistent with the effect on ASIC1a surface levels, PICK1 increases ASIC1a-mediated acidotoxicity and this effect requires both the PDZ and BAR domains of PICK1. Conclusions Taken together, our results indicate that PICK1 regulates trafficking and function of ASIC1a in a lipid binding-dependent manner.