Nanoparticles (NPs) have been exploited in a diverse range of products in the past decade or so. However, the biosafety/environmental impact or legislation pertaining to this newly created, highly functional composites containing NPs (otherwise called nanomaterials) is generally lagging behind their technological innovation. To advance the agenda in this area, our current primary interest is focused on using crops as model systems as they have very close relationship with us. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the biological effects of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles towards watermelon seedlings. We have systematically studied the physiological effects of Fe2O3 nanoparticles (nano-Fe2O3) on watermelon, and present the first evidence that a significant amount of Fe2O3 nanoparticles suspended in a liquid medium can be taken up by watermelon plants and translocated throughout the plant tissues. Changes in important physiological indicators, such as root activity, activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), chlorophyll and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, ferric reductase activity, root apoplastic iron content were clearly presented. Different concentrations of nano-Fe2O3 all increased seed germination, seedling growth, and enhanced physiological function to some degree; and the positive effects increased quickly and then slowed with an increase in the treatment concentrations. Changes in CAT, SOD and POD activities due to nano-Fe2O3 were significantly larger than that of the control. The 20 mg/L treatment had the most obvious effect on the increase of root activity. Ferric reductase activity, root apoplastic iron content, and watermelon biomass were significantly affected by exposure to nano-Fe2O3. Results of statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences in all the above indexes between the treatment at optimal concentration and the control. This proved that the proper concentration of nano-Fe2O3 could not only increase seed germination and seedling growth, but also ultimately improve physiological function and resistance to environmental stresses of watermelon.
Antioxidant polypeptides of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim seeds kernel (ZBMSK) were investigated based on molecular weight distribution, amino acid composition, and functional properties. The polypeptide had a molecular weight distribution of 1026~2249 Da and 4926~6398 Da, and was rich in glutamic acid, arginine, aspartic acid, and leucine, but poor in cysteine and tryptophan. Total amino acids were 56.42 g/100 g, and lysine was the first limiting amino acid. The polypeptide showed excellent solubility, viscosity, emulsifying properties, and foam expansion compared with its original protein. In addition, the polypeptide exhibited favorable reduction power and scavenging capacities for DPPH radicals with an IC 50 value of 8.86 mg/mL. These results suggest that the polypeptide derived from ZBMSK has potential future application among functional foods, and may be a promising source of natural antioxidants.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common disease caused by many factors, including atherosclerosis, congenital heart disease, heart failure, and ischemic cardiomyopathy. CVD has been regarded as one of the most common diseases and has a severe impact on the life quality of patients. The main features of CVD include high morbidity and mortality, which seriously threaten human health. SUMO proteins covalently conjugate lysine residues with a large number of substrate proteins, and SUMOylation regulates the function of target proteins and participates in cellular activities. Under certain pathological conditions, SUMOylation of proteins related to cardiovascular development and function are greatly changed. Numerous studies have suggested that SUMOylation of substrates plays critical roles in normal cardiovascular development and function. We reviewed the research progress of SUMOylation in cardiovascular development and function, and the regulation of protein SUMOylation may be applied as a potential therapeutic strategy for CVD treatment.
Leukemia is a malignant disease of hematopoietic tissue characterized by the differentiation arrest and malignant proliferation of immature hematopoietic precursor cells in bone marrow. ERG (ETS-related gene) is an important member of the E26 transformation-specific (ETS) transcription factor family that plays a crucial role in physiological and pathological processes. However, the role of ERG and its modification in leukemia remains underexplored. In the present study, we stably knocked down or overexpressed ERG in leukemia cells and observed that ERG significantly promotes the proliferation and inhibits the differentiation of AML (acute myeloid leukemia) cells. Further experiments showed that ERG was primarily modified by SUMO2, which was deconjugated by SENP2. PML promotes the SUMOylation of ERG, enhancing its stability. Arsenic trioxide decreased the expression level of ERG, further promoting cell differentiation. Furthermore, the mutation of SUMO sites in ERG inhibited its ability to promote the proliferation and inhibit the differentiation of leukemia cells. Our results demonstrated the crucial role of ERG SUMOylation in the development of AML, providing powerful targeted therapeutic strategies for the clinical treatment of AML.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the phytotoxicity and oxidant stress of the gold nanorods toward watermelon, and hence give a quantitative risk assessment of both seeds and plants phase. The seed germination, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and the contents of soluble protein and malondialdehyde (MDA) have been measured while the plant roots were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the gold nanorods significantly promoted the root elongation. Furthermore, the results on the enzymes activities of plant indicated that oxidative stress happened in the plant treated with gold nanorods. However, the gold nanorods resulted in the phytotoxicity toward plant especially at high concentration. The TEM images of the plant roots with and without the treatment of gold nanorods showed the significant different size of starch granules. In conclusion, significant physiological changes of plant occurred after treatment with the gold nanorods.
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