JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
·
2024
·Vol. 94
·期 1
·112-124
·
IF 3.5
Gaoying Gu,Ziqi Wang,Tao Lin,Sainan Wang,Jianjun Li,Shihao Dong,James C. Nieh,Ken Tan
en This link goes to a English section zh This link goes to a Chinese section Predatory threats, even when they do not involve direct consumption (non-consumptive effects, NCEs), can profoundly influence the physiology and behaviour of prey. For example, honeybees that encounter hornet predators show responses similar to fear. However, the physiological mechanisms that are connected with this fear-like response and their effects on bee cognition and olfaction remain largely unknown. We show that bees decreased time spent near the hornet, demonstrated fearful behaviour and moved with greater velocity to escape. After a prolonged 24-h exposure, bees adopted defensive clustering, displayed greater predator avoidance, and experienced a decline in brain dopamine levels. Prolonged predator exposure also diminished bee olfactory sensitivity to odours and their mechanical sensitivity to air currents, contributing to impaired olfactory learning. However, boosting brain dopamine reversed one fear-like behaviour (average bee velocity in the presence of a hornet) and rescued olfactory sensitivity and learning. We therefore provide evidence linking dopamine to sensory and cognitive declines associated with fear in an insect. 摘要 en This link goes to a English section zh This link goes to a Chinese section 即便对猎物不构成直接捕杀(非消耗性捕食效应)，捕食者也可以对猎物的生理和行为造成严重的影响。例如，遭遇胡蜂捕食者时，蜜蜂会产生类似恐惧的反应。 然而，该类似恐惧反应相关的生理机制还没有详细研究，该类似恐惧反应对蜜蜂的认知嗅觉的影响也没有报道。 我们的实验结果表明，蜜蜂在遭遇胡蜂时表现出惧怕行为，表现为减少了在胡蜂附近的停留时间，并以更快的速度逃离。但在24小时的胡蜂胁迫后，蜜蜂表现出防御性集群行为，大脑多巴胺水平下降。长时间的捕食者暴露还降低了蜜蜂对气味的嗅觉敏感度以及气流的机械敏感性，导致嗅觉联想学习能力受损。 然而，人为提高蜜蜂大脑多巴胺水平缓解了它们对胡蜂的恐惧，并在一定程度上恢复了蜜蜂的嗅觉敏感度和学习能力。 因此，我们的研究表明多巴胺参与昆虫恐惧行为的调控，与嗅觉和认知下降密切相关。
研究领域:
昆虫学
·
神经生物学
·
行为生态学
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
·
2022
·Vol. 95
·期 1
·e28299
·
IF 20.693
Lu Lv,Leiliang Zhang
Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is a member of Orthopoxvirus in the Poxviridae family, causing a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The number of cases and geographic range has increased significantly in 2022. Identification of MPXV-specific therapeutic targets is urgent. G-quadruplex (GQ) secondary structures attract great attention as potential targets for antiviral strategy. Whether GQs are present in the MPXV genome remains inconclusive. In this study, we aim to characterize the GQs encoded by MPXV. Through a series of biophysical experiments, we characterized the formation potential of MPXV-encoded GQs and evaluated the binding and stabilization abilities of GQ ligands including BRACO-19, pyridostatin, and TMPyP4 to GQs encoded by MPXV. Moreover, GQ ligands suppressed the gene transcription of MPXV sequences containing GQ. BRACO-19 and TMPyP4 were able to inhibit vaccinia virus replication. We demonstrated the existence of MPXV GQ and reinforced the idea that GQs could be novel antiviral targets. Targeting these GQ sequences with GQ-binding molecules may represent a new approach for MPXV therapy.
研究领域:
病毒学
·
分子生物学
·
药物开发
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
CHEMOSPHERE
·
2020
·
IF 5.778
Yilong Zou,Yongming Wu,Qiyu Wang,Jinbao Wan,Mi Deng,Wenqing Tu
Sodium p -perfluorous nonenoxybenzene sulfonate (OBS), a novel alternative to perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), is widely used in industry as a surfactant, firefighting foam and photographic material. The occurrence of OBS in the aquatic environment has been recently reported, but little information is available on its accumulation and toxic effects in aquatic organisms. In this study, zebrafish larvae (3 d post-fertilization) were subjected to OBS (10, 100 μg/L) and PFOS (10 μg/L) for a period of 48 h, followed by a 24 h of depuration period. The bioconcentration and depuration kinetics, oxidative stress and possible molecular mechanisms of OBS and PFOS were investigated in zebrafish larvae. Our results showed that the uptake and depuration of both OBS and PFOS fitted well with a first-order kinetic model. The uptake rate constant of OBS was similar to that of PFOS, but the depuration rate constant was much higher than PFOS with a half-life of 69.7–85 h for OBS and 222.2 h for PFOS. The calculated BCFs of OBS and PFOS were 238.0–242.5 and 644.2, respectively. In our acute toxicity assay, the enhanced expression of Nrf2 protein accompanied by the upregulation of CAT and SOD protein expressions indicated OBS and PFOS induced oxidative stress in zebrafish larvae, and the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway was involved in this process. Collectively, OBS has a lower bioconcentration potential than PFOS, but its toxic effect on oxidative stress was comparable to PFOS in zebrafish larvae.
研究领域:
环境科学
·
毒理学
·
水生生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
·
2019
·
IF 3.775
Maiquan Li,Weisu Huang,Fan Jie,Mengmeng Wang,Yongheng Zhong,Qi Chen,Baiyi Lu
Various phytochemicals have been reported to protect against oxidative stress. However, the mechanism underlying has not been systematically evaluated, which limited their application in disease treatment. Nuclear factor erythroid 2−related factor 2 (Nrf2), a central transcription factor in oxidative stress response related to numerous diseases, is activated after dissociating from the cytoskeleton−anchored Kelch−like ECH−associated protein 1 (Keap1). The Keap1–Nrf2 protein–protein interaction has become an important drug target. This study was designed to clarify whether antioxidantive phytochemicals inhibit the Keap1–Nrf2 protein–protein interaction and activate the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway efficiently. Molecular docking and 3D−QSAR were applied to evaluate the interaction effects between 178 antioxidant phytochemicals and the Nrf2 binding site in Keap1. The Nrf2 activation effect was tested on a H 2 O 2 −induced oxidative−injured cell model. Results showed that the 178 phytochemicals could be divided into high−, medium−, and low−total−score groups depending on their binding affinity with Keap1, and the high−total−score group consisted of 24 compounds with abundant oxygen or glycosides. Meanwhile, these compounds could bind with key amino acids in the structure of the Keap1−Nrf2 interface. Compounds from high−total−score group show effective activation effects on Nrf2. In conclusion, phytochemicals showed high binding affinity with Keap1 are promising new Nrf2 activators.
研究领域:
药理学
·
分子生物学
·
生物化学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Toxics
·
2022
·Vol. 10
·期 6
·336
·
IF 4.472
Ying-Ting Lin,Rong-Xuan Liu,Gilbert Audira,Michael Edbert Suryanto,Marri Jmelou M. Roldan,Jiann-Shing Lee,Tzong-Rong Ger,Chung-Der Hsiao
Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical metallic materials with a broad application in industry and biomedicine. The exponential increase in REEs utilization might elevate the toxicity to aquatic animals if they are released into the water due to uncareful handling. The specific objective of our study is to explore comprehensively the critical factor of a model Lanthanide complex electronic structures for the acute toxicity of REEs based on utilizing zebrafish as a model animal. Based on the 96 h LC50test, we found that the majority of light REEs display lower LC50values (4.19–25.17 ppm) than heavy REEs (10.30–41.83 ppm); indicating that they are atomic number dependent. Later, linear regression analyses further show that the average carbon charge on the aromatic ring (aromatic Cavgcharge) can be the most significant electronic structural factor responsible for the Lanthanides’ toxicity in zebrafish embryos. Our results confirm a very strong correlation of LC50to Lanthanide’s atomic numbers (r = 0.72), Milliken charge (r = 0.70), and aromatic Cavgcharge (r = −0.85). This most significant correlation suggests a possible toxicity mechanism that the Lanthanide cation’s capability to stably bind to the aromatic ring on the residue of targeted proteins via a covalent chelating bond. Instead, the increasing ionic bond character can reduce REEs’ toxicity. In addition, Lanthanide toxicity was also evaluated by observing the disruption of photo motor response (PMR) activity in zebrafish embryos. Our study provides the first in vivo evidence to demonstrate the correlation between an atomic number of Lanthanide ions and the Lanthanide toxicity to zebrafish embryos.
研究领域:
毒理学
·
环境科学
·
生物化学
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
NEUROPHARMACOLOGY
·
2023
·
IF 4.7
Yu-Xiang Wen,Lin-Yao Fan,An-Yong Yang,Yan-Chufei Zhang,Chang Xu,Zi-Hui Wang,Wen-Jiong Xie,Yang Lu,Xiao-Yang Zhang,Jing-Ning Zhu,Anyang Sun,Liang Li,Qi-Peng Zhang
The cumulative evidence suggests that oxytocin is involved in the male sexual behaviors. However, no significant sexual impairments were observed in oxytocin gene knock-out (KO) mice, suggesting that oxytocin is not necessary for sexual behavior in male mice. To better understand the role of oxytocin in male erection, two types of oxytocin gene KO mice were created. In the first type, the oxytocin gene was deleted in the zygote, while in the second type, the oxytocin gene was mutated in adulthood by injecting the CRISPR/Cas9 AAVs. The results showed that disrupting the oxytocin gene at either the embryonic or adult stage did not affect erection, indicating that oxytocin is not necessary for penile erection. Pharmacologically, injecting oxytocin receptor agonist Carbetocin into the VTA of the oxytocin gene KO mice still evoked penile erection. By employing the Oxt-Ires-Cre mice, we found that specifically activating oxytocinergic neurons through chemogenetics strongly induced penile erection, while inhibiting these neurons blocked the erection responses. Furthermore, ablating PVN oxytocinergic neurons abolished the male erection response. In conclusion, although the neuropeptide oxytocin is not essential for male erection, the activity of oxytocinergic neurons is required. Our results might reflect the redundancy in the central nerve system in the sense that many signals contribute to the activation of oxytocinergic neurons to evoke penile erection during sexual behaviors.
研究领域:
神经科学
·
性行为
·
分子生物学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
AICHE JOURNAL
·
2026
·
IF 4.4
Suyu Zhang,Yongjian Zeng,Chen Zeng,Shuya Jia,Zhiwei Jiang,Peirong Chen,Hector F. Garces,Xiaolei Zhang,Ulrich Simon,Kai Yan
2-Methoxy-4-methylphenol (MMP), a biofuel and flavor, can be produced from lignin-derived vanillin via hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). Herein, CuPd nanoalloys were confined within SBA-15 for vanillin HDO. By tuning Cu/Pd mass ratio, a volcano-like trend in MMP yield and apparent turnover frequency (TOF) was observed. The optimized CuPd nanoalloy catalyst (Cu/Pd = 1) occupied the top position, achieving 96.3% MMP yield within 3 h, with the TOF of 323.5 h −1 , 3 times than that of monometallic Cu catalyst, while other CuPd nanoalloy catalysts, positioned either side, exhibited lower activities. Moreover, it maintained HDO activity over 20 runs, far beyond typical Cu catalysts (~5 runs). Fabricated via microwave-assisted strategy, the catalysts were confirmed by X-ray absorption fine structure and density functional theory calculations to form CuPd nanoalloys with Pd δ- and Cu δ+ pairs, enabling H 2 dissociation and C=O bond activation. This work demonstrates an efficient approach to robust and stable nanoalloy catalysts for biomass upgrading.
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
·
2022
·
IF 16.744
Rui Ding,Zhuozhi Ouyang,Linjie Bai,Xin Zuo,Chuanqi Xiao,Xuetao Guo
Tetracycline (TC) and polystyrene microplastics (PS MPs), co-occurring in environments inevitably, have been frequently detected in a variety of environmental media. The two major types of emerging pollutants are attracting the global concern due to their potential threat to biota. PS can serve as carriers of TC in aquatic environments, thus dramatically altering environmental behavior of individual PS or TC. However, the photolysis of TC induced by PS remains unknown. In this study, kinetic experiments, quenching experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance analysis (EPR), Two-dimensional correlation Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (2D-FTIR-COS) and products identification, were conducted to investigate effect and underlying mechanism of PS on photolysis of TC under sunlight irradiation. The corresponding results demonstrated that PS could induce photolysis of TC. The hydroxyl radicals (·OH), singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) and superoxide anion (O 2 ·- ) enhanced degradation of TC. Quantitative quenching analysis revealed that both 1 O 2 and O 2 ·- were main contributors, with contributions of 15.25 ± 2.21% and 11.69 ± 1.84%, respectively. Simultaneously, PS was aged during photolysis of TC, and the intension of O/C was enhanced from 2.07% to 17.92% with increasing aging time. Interestingly, we verified that highly aged PS significantly accelerated the photolysis due to generation of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs), and the degradation pathway of TC induced by PS was firstly proposed. Subsequently, the transformation mainly included five reactions: hydrolysis, hydroxylation, deamination, demethylation and decarbonylation. This work provided a promising strategy for better understanding environmental fate of antibiotics and MPs.
研究领域:
环境科学
·
污染生态学
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
·
2013
·
IF 3.01
Lihua Jiao,Xin Zhang,Lianqi Huang,Hao Gong,Biao Cheng,Yue Sun,Yixuan Li,Qi Liu,Ling Zheng,Kun Huang
Cinnamon consumption has been found to associate with the attenuation of diabetes mellitus. The misfolding of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) is regarded as a causative factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Here, we investigated whether cinnamon has any beneficial effect on the toxic aggregation of hIAPP. We found that cinnamon water extract (CWE) inhibited the amyloid formation of hIAPP in a dose-dependent manner, and identified proanthocyanidins as the major anti-amyloidogenic compounds of CWE. Proanthocyanidins affected the secondary structures of hIAPP and delayed the structural transition from unstructured coils to β-sheet-rich structures. Further studies showed that proanthocyanidins not only inhibited the formation of hIAPP oligomers, but also significantly attenuated the membrane damaging and cytotoxic effects caused by the hIAPP aggregation. Together, these results suggest a possible way by which cinnamon shows beneficial effects on T2DM, and indicate a potential pharmacological usage of proanthocyanidins as an anti-diabetic drug candidate.
研究领域:
药理学
·
糖尿病研究
·
生物化学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Aging and Disease
·
2024
·Vol. 16
·期 5
·3069
·
IF 7
Yiran Huang,Nan Gao,Boren Liu,Weili Luo,Jianfei Chen,Yan Chen,Yong Bi,Zikai Zhou
Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) is crucial to various brain functions. Neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation and stress can impair AHN, contributing to the development of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Stress is known to extensively affect both the brain and peripheral immune system. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying stress-induced impairments in AHN remain unclear. In this study, we found that, unlike neuroinflammatory conditions, stress significantly inhibited AHN independently of microglial activation, suggesting a novel mechanism mediating stress-impaired AHN. Since stress modulates peripheral immune cells, we examined the distribution of immune cells infiltrating the brain. We found a significant decrease of infiltrated Ly6C hi monocytes in the brain parenchyma. In the blood, adoptively transferred ZsGreen + Ly6C hi monocytes drastically reduced due to stress-induced homing to the bone marrow. Adrenalectomy (ADX) experiments revealed that monocyte homing is regulated by glucocorticoid and may cause impairments in AHN. Depleting peripheral circulating monocytes reduced brain-resident Ly6C hi monocytes and replicated the stress-induced inhibition of AHN, independent of microglia activation. RNA sequencing analysis of Ly6C hi monocytes revealed a stress-induced transcriptional profile, suggesting their supportive role in neuronal functions. Together, these findings demonstrate a novel and essential role of brain resident Ly6C hi monocytes in maintaining AHN at basal level, which is important for brain functions.
研究领域:
神经科学
·
免疫学
·
分子生物学
·
神经免疫学
·
应激生物学
·
干细胞生物学
·
转化医学
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Frontiers in Microbiology
·
2020
·
IF 4.236
Cui Haoran,Zhang Leiliang
The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is one of seven human coronaviruses. G-quadruplexes are intrinsic obstacles to genome replication. Whether G-quadruplexes are present in human coronaviruses is unknown. In the current study, we have predicted that all seven human coronaviruses harbor G-quadruplex sequences. Conserved G-quadruplex sequences in SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed and verified by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and Thioflavin T fluorescence assay. Similar to SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 encodes an nsP3 protein, which is predicted to associate with G-quadruplexes. Targeting G-quadruplex sequences in the SARS-CoV-2 genome by G-quadruplex ligands could be a new way to conquer COVID-19.
研究领域:
分子生物学
·
病毒学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
·
2021
·
IF 6.953
Chunjun Yan,Zheng Zhou
Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by the conformational transition of the cellular prion protein (PrP C ) to the abnormal pathological prion protein (PrP Sc ). In this work, the effects of ellagic acid (EA) and pentagalloylglucose (PGG) on prion protein (PrP) fibrillization were investigated. Fluorescence quenching experiments indicated that both EA and PGG could specifically interact with native human PrP with binding affinities of 1.92 × 10 5 and 2.36 × 10 5 L·mol −1 , respectively. Thioflavin-T (ThT) fluorescence assays showed that the binding of EA or PPG could effectively inhibit the nucleation and elongation of PrP fibrilization and reduce the amount of PrP fibrils generated. EA and PGG could also lead to a significant disaggregation of PrP fibrils. Circular dichroism (CD) measurements suggested that EA- or PPG-bound PrP could preserve a higher content of α-helical structures than β-sheet-rich PrP fibrils. The PrP aggregates formed in the presence of EA or PGG showed lower resistance to proteinase K (PK) digestion. Overall, the present work reported the inhibitory effect of EA and PGG on PrP fibrillization. These two natural polyphenols could be potential prodrug molecules for the prevention and treatment of prion diseases.
研究领域:
神经科学
·
生物化学
·
药理学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）