Three hundred cDNAs containing putatively entire open reading frames (ORFs) for previously undefined genes were obtained from CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), based on EST cataloging, clone sequencing, in silico cloning, and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The cDNA sizes ranged from 360 to 3496 bp and their ORFs coded for peptides of 58-752 amino acids. Public database search indicated that 225 cDNAs exhibited sequence similarities to genes identified across a variety of species. Homology analysis led to the recognition of 50 basic structural motifs/domains among these cDNAs. Genomic exon-intron organization could be established in 243 genes by integration of cDNA data with genome sequence information. Interestingly, a new gene named as HSPC070 on 3p was found to share a sequence of 105bp in 3Ј UTR with RAF gene in reversed transcription orientation. Chromosomal localizations were obtained using electronic mapping for 192 genes and with radiation hybrid (RH) for 38 genes. Macroarray technique was applied to screen the gene expression patterns in five hematopoietic cell lines (NB4, HL60, U937, K562, and Jurkat) and a number of genes with differential expression were found. The resource work has provided a wide range of information useful not only for expression genomics and annotation of genomic DNA sequence, but also for further research on the function of genes involved in hematopoietic development and differentiation.

Depression, a psychiatric and dysthymic disorder, severely affects the learning, work and life quality. The main pathogenesis of depression is associated with central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction. Taurine has been demonstrated to exert protective effects on the brain development and can improve learning ability and memory. Our study investigated the antidepressant-like effects of taurine pre-treatment by examining the changes in depression-like behavior, hormones, neurotransmitters, inflammatory factors and neurotrophic factors in the hippocampus of a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depressive rat model. Taurine was found to inhibit the decrease of sucrose consumption and prevent the deficiency of spatial memory and anxiety in rats exposed to CUMS, suggesting a preventive effect of taurine on depression-like behavior. Furthermore, the decreased levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, noradrenaline; the increased levels of glutamate, corticosterone; and the decreased expressions of fibroblast growth factor-2, vascular endothelial growth factor and brain derived neurotrophic factor in depressive rats were hindered by taurine pre-administration. However, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β levels were not significantly changed by taurine. The results demonstrated that the anti-depressive effect of taurine may be involved in the regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the promotion of neurogenesis, neuronal survival and growth in the hippocampus.

No abstract

Hydrothermal conversion (HTC), including hydrothermal liquefaction and hydrothermal carbonization, is a promising thermochemical technology for biomass utilization.

Acceleration of the anaerobic digestion (AD) process is crucial to achieving energy-efficient recycling of organic wastes. Hydrochar is produced by hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass, yet its application in the AD process is rarely reported. The present study showed that sewage sludge-derived hydrochar (SH) enhanced the methane production rate of glucose by 37%. SH increased the methane production rate from acetate but did not affect acidification and the methane production rate from H 2 /CO 2 . SH enhanced hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, which could be due to direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) by converting H + , e − , and CO 2 to methane. Trichococcus and Methanosaeta were dominant in the AD process with SH. Label-free proteomic analysis showed Methanosaeta was involved in DIET as reflected by the up-regulation of proteins involved in hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Hydrochars derived from corn straw (CH), Enteromorpha algae (EH), and poplar wood (PH), as well as activated carbon (AC), were also tested in the AD process. SH, CH, and EH obviously increased the methane production rates, which were 39%, 15%, and 20% higher than the control experiment, respectively. It was neither electrical conductivity nor the total redox property of hydrochars and AC but the abundances of surface oxygen-containing functional groups that correlated to the methane production rates.

PAX9 is a transcription factor of the PAX family characterized by a DNA-binding paired domain. Previous studies have suggested a potential role of PAX9 in squamous cell differentiation and carcinogenesis of the oro-oesophageal epithelium. However, its functional roles in differentiation and carcinogenesis remain unclear. In this study, Pax9 deficiency in mouse oesophagus promoted cell proliferation, delayed cell differentiation, and altered the global gene expression profile. Ethanol exposure downregulated PAX9 expression in human oesophageal epithelial cells in vitro and mouse forestomach and tongue in vivo. We further showed that PAX9 was downregulated in human oro-oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OESCC), and its downregulation was associated with alcohol drinking and promoter hypermethylation. Moreover, ad libitum feeding with a liquid diet containing ethanol for 40 weeks or Pax9 deficiency promoted N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine-induced squamous cell carcinogenesis in mouse tongue, oesophagus, and forestomach. In conclusion, PAX9 regulates squamous cell differentiation in the oro-oesophageal epithelium. Alcohol drinking and promoter hypermethylation are associated with PAX9 silencing in human OESCC. PAX9 downregulation may contribute to alcohol-associated oro-oesophageal squamous cell carcinogenesis. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

No abstract

Most relatives of the self-fertilizing hermaphroditic nematode model organism Caenorhabditis elegans reproduce via obligate outbreeding between males and females, which also represents the ancestral mode of reproduction within the genus. However, little is known about the scope of genetic diversity and differentiation within such gonochoristic species, especially those found outside of temperate Europe and North America. It is critical to understand the evolutionary processes operating in these species to provide a framework for deciphering the evolution of hermaphroditism and a baseline for the application of outcrossing Caenorhabditis to problems in evolutionary genetics. Here, we investigate for the first time molecular sequence variation for Caenorhabditis sp. 5, a species found commonly in eastern Asia. We identify enormous levels of standing genetic variation that approach the levels observed in the marine broadcast-spawning sea squirt, Ciona savignyi. Although we document significant isolation by distance, we demonstrate that the high polymorphism within C. sp. 5 is not because of strong differentiation among populations or to the presence of cryptic species. These findings illustrate that molecular population genetic approaches to studying obligately outbreeding species of Caenorhabditis will prove powerful in identifying and characterizing functionally and evolutionarily important features of the genome.