During recent years, China has become a hotspot for the domestication of mandarin fish, and this is of great commercial value. Although the food preference of domesticated mandarin fish has been ...studied, little is known about genes regulating their growth. We raised hybrid mandarin fish on artificial feed for 3 months, the results showed that the survival rate of hybrid mandarin fish was 60.00%. Their total length and body weight were 18.34 ±0.43 cm and 100.44 ±4.87 g. The absolute length and weight gain rates were 0.14 cm/d and 1.08 g/d, respectively. Finally, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed to identify potential genes and pathways activated in response to growth performance. The transcriptome analysis generated 68, 197 transcripts and 45,871 unigenes. Among them, 1025 genes were up-regulated and 593 genes were down-regulated between the fast- and slow-growth fish. Finally, we obtained 32 differentially expressed genes, which were mainly related to fatty acid biosynthesis (e.g. FASN and ACACB), collecting duct acid secretion (e.g. ATP6E and KCC4), cell cycle (e.g. CDC20 and CCNB), and the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system (IGFBP1). These pathways might be related to the growth of hybrid mandarin fish. In addition, more potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in the fast-growth fish than in the slow-growth fish. The results suggest that the interaction of metabolism and abundant alleles might determine the growth of hybrid mandarin fish after food conversion.
Nitrogen doped activated carbons have been fabricated by simultaneous carbonization and KOH activation of chitosan biomass regenerated from prawn shell at high temperature. Sufficient porosity with ...high content of nitrogen heteroatom makes them very appealing for charge storage in supercapacitors. Specifically, the activated carbon obtained at 700°C shows excellent capacitive performance in both acidic and alkaline electrolyte in virtue of the optimized combination of electronic double-layer capacitance and pseudo-capacitance. It exhibits high specific capacitance of 695Fg−1 in 1M H2SO4 and 357Fg−1 in 6M KOH at a current density of 50mAg−1. Even cycled at high current density of 5Ag−1, high capacitance of over 280Fg−1 can be still retained in both electrolytes. Stable capacitance retention over 95% for as long as 5000 cycles is also achieved at 1Ag−1 in both cases.
We report a new strategy for synthesizing two-dimensional (2D) hierarchically porous carbon (HPC) based on soft pitch as the carbon source and oyster shell as both the template and activation agent ...precursor. The confined space of the sheet-like CaCO3 in oyster shell allows the soft pitch to diffuse and coat the in-built template, and the resultant 2D carbon derived from pyrolysis of the pitch inherited the sheet-like morphology of the template. Furthermore, CaCO3 can be easily converted into CaO, which acts as the self-activation agent to produce interconnected micro-, meso-, and macroporous carbon networks. The specific surface area of the resultant HPC was tuned from 612 to 1258 m2 g−1 by varying the pyrolysis time at 900 °C, and the resulting micro/meso-pore sizes were in the range of 0.7–9.5 nm. When used as the electrode of a lithium ion battery (LIB), the HPC exhibited a high reversible capacity of 1251 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 with excellent cycle stability. These results indicate that the 2D layered structure might effectively shorten the solid-state diffusion distance for Li ions in a LIB during the charging and discharging process. The interconnected hierarchical porous structure also improved the capacitance.
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A by-product free strategy based on modified Hummers method was proposed to synthesize graphene/Mn3O4 composites without any additional manganese source. Coal-derived graphite (CDG) was used as ...carbon source instead of conventional natural graphite flakes and MnSO4 produced from the modified Hummers was in situ transformed into Mn3O4 by precipitation in air. After reduction with hydrazine, the reduced coal-derived graphene oxide/Mn3O4 (RCDGO/Mn3O4) was obtained and employed as the electrode material for the supercapacitors. In addition, K2SO4 produced from the modified Hummers was used as electrolyte, as a result, residual-free was achieved during the whole process, and the atom utilization was calculated as high as about 97%. A maximum specific capacitance of 260Fg−1 was achieved for RCDGO/Mn3O4 composite with 86% Mn3O4 in saturated K2SO4 electrolyte solution based on the synergetic effects between coal-derived graphene and attached Mn3O4 nanoparticles. Its specific energy density reached 8.7Whkg−1 at a current density of 50mAg−1 when used as a symmetrical supercapacitor. The good capacitance retention (92–94%) was also observed after 1000 continuous cycles of galvanostatic charge–discharge.
Currently, exosome-enclosed microRNAs (miRs) in exhaled breath have potential for biomarker discovery in patients with pulmonary diseases. This study was performed to investigate the roles of M2 ...macrophage-derived exosomes expressing miR-328 in pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Microarray-based analysis was used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and regulatory miRs in PF. The miR-target relationship between FAM13A and miR-328 was confirmed. The expression of FAM13A and miR-328 was measured in PF rats, and gain- and loss-of-function assays were conducted to determine the regulatory effects of FAM13A and miR-328 on PF. In addition, exosomes derived from M2 macrophages were isolated and then cocultured with pulmonary interstitial fibroblasts to identify the role of these exosomes in PF. Furthermore, the effects of M2 macrophage-derived exosomes overexpressing miR-328 on pulmonary fibroblast proliferation and the progression of PF were assessed in vivo. miR-328 might perform a vital function in PF by regulating FAM13A. FAM13A expression was downregulated while miR-328 expression was upregulated in rats with PF, and a miR-target relationship between miR-328 and FAM13A was observed. Additionally, miR-328 overexpression and FAM13A silencing each were suggested to promote pulmonary interstitial fibroblast proliferation and the expression of Collagen 1A, Collagen 3A and α-SMA. Then, in vitro experiments demonstrated that M2 macrophage-derived exosomes overexpressing miR-328 contributed to enhanced pulmonary interstitial fibroblast proliferation and promoted PF. Furthermore, in vivo experiments confirmed the promotive effects of M2 macrophage-derived exosomes overexpressing miR-328 on the progression of PF. Collectively, the results showed that M2 macrophage-derived exosomes overexpressing miR-328 aggravate PF through the regulation of FAM13A.
•The Vg gene family we found in Macrobrachium rosenbergii is by far the largest number of Vgs found in crustaceans.•The expression of Vg gene was first detected in male Macrobrachium ...rosenbergii.•Eyestalk ablation stimulated the ovarian development mostly by inducing the expression of MrVgs in the hepatopancreas.
Vitellogenin (Vg) is the precursor of vitellin, which is an important female-specific protein stored in oocytes as the major nutrient and energy sources for embryogenesis in oviparous animals. In this study, we performed comprehensive genome-wide analysis of Vg gene family in the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, and eight Vg genes designated as MrVg1a, MrVg1b and MrVg2-7 were identified. MrVg1a clusters with the previously described MrVg1b near the end of chromosome 46 and MrVg2 is on the chromosome 42 while MrVg3-7 cluster on the chromosome 23. All the putative MrVg proteins are characterized by the presence of three conserved functional domains: LPD-N, DUF1943 and vWD. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that MrVg1a shares 93% identity with MrVg1b and groups together into a branch while MrVg2-7 group into another branch, suggesting that MrVg1a, 1b and MrVg2-7 might diversify from a common ancestral gene. All the corresponding MrVg transcripts especially for MrVg1 exhibit high expression in the female hepatopancreas at late vitellogensis stage but extremely low in the ovaries except MrVg5, indicating that hepatopancreas is the major site of MrVgs synthesis. In the male, interestingly, MrVg5 and MrVg6 are also highly expressed in the testis, suggesting their potential involvement in testicular development. Bilateral ablation of eyestalk significantly upregulate all the MrVgs mRNA in the female hepatopancreas and the MrVg1 in ovary, but have no effect on the expression of MrVg2-7 in the ovary, demonstrating that eyestalk hormones could promote the ovarian development mostly by inducing the synthesis of MrVgs in the hepatopancreas but rarely in the ovary. Our results provide new insights into the prawn MrVgs family and improve our understanding of the potential role for each member of the family in the gonadal development of M. rosenbergii.
•Cyclin B protein is present in the immature oocytes, and undergoes increased expression at GVBD in both crab and prawn.•Cyclin B protein relocate from the cytoplasm to the nucleus during oocytes ...meiotic maturation.•Similar expression pattern of the cyclin B protein was found in the oocyte maturation of the prawn and the crab.
Cyclin B functions as a regulatory protein through association with its catalytic partner Cdc2 kinase forming M−phase promoting factor (MPF), which plays a central role in the meiotic maturation of oocyte. To gain insight into the molecular events, we here cloned a cyclin B cDNA from the ovary of the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii and compared its spatial–temporal expression patterns during oocyte maturation with those of crab Eriocheir sinensis. The prawn cyclin B cDNA encodes a 398 amino acid protein with predicted molecular weight of 45.16 kDa. Immunodetection of cyclin B protein by Western blot showed that a target band of approximately 53 kDa protein in the prawn ovaries at both late vitellogenesis (lVt) and germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) stages, whereas a 41 kDa band was present in the crab ovaries. Cyclin B protein expression changes indicating that the newly synthesis of cyclin B proteins could be required for GVBD in both prawn and crab. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that both the prawn and crab cyclin B proteins, were localized in the ooplasm of previtellogenic oocytes, then relocated into germinal vesicle at vitellogenesis stage and localized on meiotic spindle at M phase. These similar behaviors suggested that the prawn and the crab cyclin B proteins associated with Cdc2 kinase have conserved roles in inducing GVBD and regulating the formation of meiotic spindle. The similar expression patterns of the cyclin B proteins during oocyte maturation implicated that the molecular mechanisms for MPF activation could be identical between the prawn and the crab.
•RBD linked TT peptide was prepared to high homogeneity at a considerable capacity.•The molecule could stimulate strong humoral and cellular immune response in mice.•It would be the most economical ...to prevent and eliminate COVID-19 on a global scale.
Without approved vaccines and specific treatments, COVID-19 is spreading around the world with above 26 million cases and approximately 864 thousand deaths until now. An efficacious and affordable vaccine is urgently needed. The Val308 – Gly548 of spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 linked with Gln830 – Glu843 of Tetanus toxoid (TT peptide) (designated as S1-4) and without TT peptide (designated as S1-5) were expressed and renatured. The antigenicity and immunogenicity of S1-4 were evaluated by Western Blotting (WB) in vitro and immune responses in mice, respectively. The protective efficiency was measured preliminarily by microneutralization assay (MN50). The soluble S1-4 and S1-5 protein was prepared to high homogeneity and purity. Adjuvanted with Alum, S1-4 protein stimulated a strong antibody response in immunized mice and caused a major Th2-type cellular immunity supplemented with Th1-type immunity. Furthermore, the immunized sera could protect the Vero E6 cells from SARS-CoV-2 infection with neutralizing antibody titer 256. Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 RBD with a built in T helper epitope could stimulate both strong humoral immunity supplemented with cellular immunity in mice, demonstrating that it could be a promising subunit vaccine candidate.
Germ plasm is a special cytoplasmic component containing special RNAs and proteins, and is located in specific regions of oocytes and embryos. Only the blastomeres inheriting the germ plasm can ...develop into primordial germ cells (PGCs). By using Vasa mRNA as a germline marker, we previously demonstrated that germline specification followed the preformation mode in the prawn
Macrobrachium nipponense
. In this study, we raised the Vasa antibody to identify germ plasm in the oocyte and trace the origin and migration of PGCs. In previtellogenic oocytes, Vasa protein was detected in the perinuclear region, in which electron-dense granules associated with numerous mitochondria were mostly visualized under a transmission electron microscope. In mature oocytes, immunosignal was localized to a large granule under the plasma membrane. During early embryogenesis, the granule was inherited by a single blastomere from 1-cell to 16-cell stages, and thereafter was segregated into two daughter blastomeres at the 32-cell stage. In gastrula, the Vasa-positive cells were large with typical PGC characteristics, containing a big round nucleus and a prominent nucleolus. The immunosignal was localized to the perinuclear region again. In the zoea stage, the Vasa-positive cells migrated toward the genital ridge and clustered in the dorsomedial region close to the yolk portion. Accordingly, we concluded that the prawn PGCs could be specified from the 16-cell stage by inheriting the germplasm. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the identification of the prawn germ plasm and PGCs. The continuous expression of Vasa protein throughout oogenesis and embryogenesis suggests that Vasa protein could be an important factor in germ plasm that functions in early germ cell specification.
Residential mobility is believed to influence the occurrence and development of cancer; however, the results are inconclusive. Furthermore, limited studies have been conducted on Asian populations. ...This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between residential mobility and liver cancer risk among Chinese women.
We enrolled 72,818 women from urban Shanghai between 1996 and 2000, and then followed them until the end of 2016. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the association between residential mobility and liver cancer risk. A linear trend test was conducted by ranking variables. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted, excluding participants with follow-up times of less than 2 years, to prevent potential bias.
During the 1,269,765 person-years of follow-up, liver cancer was newly diagnosed in 259 patients. Domestic migration (HR = 1.47, 95% CI, 1.44-1.50), especially immigration to Shanghai (HR = 1.47, 95% CI, 1.44-1.50) was associated with an increased risk of liver cancer. In addition, migration frequency, age at initial migration and first immigration to Shanghai had linear trends with an increased liver cancer risk (P
<0.001). The results were similar when excluding participants with less than two years of follow-up.
The possible association between residential mobility and a higher risk of liver cancer in women could suggest the need for effective interventions to reduce adverse environmental exposures and enhance people's health.
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