In higher plants, jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins negatively regulate the biosynthesis of anthocyanins by interacting with bHLH transcription factors. However, it is largely unknown if and how other regulators are involved in this process. In this study, the apple MdJAZ2 protein was characterized in regards to its function in the negative regulation of anthocyanin accumulation and peel coloration. MdJAZ2 was used as a bait to screen a cDNA library using the yeast two-hybrid method. The hypersensitive induced reaction (HIR) proteins, MdHIR2 and MdHIR4, were obtained from this yeast two-hybrid. The ZIM domain of MdJAZ2 and the PHB domain of the MdHIR proteins are necessary for their interactions. The interactions were further verified using an in vitro pull-down assay. Subsequently, immunoblotting assays demonstrated that MdHIR4 enhanced the stability of the MdJAZ2-GUS protein. Finally, a viral vector-based transformation method showed that MdHIR4 inhibited anthocyanin accumulation and fruit coloration in apple by modulating the expression of genes associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis.

Salvia Miltiorrhizae Bge, a popular Chinese herb has been widely adopted for use in Chinese hospitals for both the prevention and the active management of cardiovascular disease. there is no study on its cardioprotective effects against HF and more importantly, the underlying mechanisms of its beneficial effects by SDF-1/CXCR4 axis remain poorly understood. This study was performed to investigate the protective effects and possible mechanism of aqueous extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza (AESM) on HF rats. In the study, cardioprotective effects of AESM on HF rats was evaluated by herat function, myocardial pathology, myocardial cell proliferation, SDF-1, CXCR4 and Bcl-2 family mRNA expressions. In the experiment, we found that AESM exerted beneficially protective effects on the HF rats, mainly recoverying normal heart function, myocardial pathology and myocardial cell proliferation. The underlying mechanism of these protective effects of AESM appeared to involve improving the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis and Bcl-2 family expressions.

A novel human gene whose product shares homology with bovine brain-specific protein p25 is expressed in fetal brain but not in adult brain

DEA technique is widely used for efficiency evaluation of Decision Making Unit (DMU) with multiple inputs and outputs. This paper applies DEA model to the study of the efficiency of environmental pollution treatment in 8 provinces including Hebei and neighboring or Maritime Provinces. The results show that the efficiency of Efficiency of Environmental Pollution Control in Hebei Province is not high. Environmental pollution improvement in Hebei Province still needs to be expanded.

Saponins from Rhizoma Panacis Majoris (SRPM), the bioactive component in Rhizoma Panacis Majoris, were reported to possess protective effects on brain injury, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study was performed to investigate the protective effects and possible mechanism of SRPM on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CI/R) injury. Neuroprotective effects of SPRM in CI/R mice was evaluated by infarct size, biochemical values, Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Bcl-2 family expressions. In the study, we found that SRPM exerted beneficially protective effects on CI/R injury, mainly scavenging oxidative stress-triggered overgeneration and accumulation of reactive oxygen species, improving the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response: role of Nrf2 and Bcl-2 family expressions, and alleviating CI/R injury and cerebral cell death.