β-amyloid (Aβ) and copper play important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).However,the behavioral correlativity and molecular mechanisms of Aβ and copper toxicity have been investigated less of...β-amyloid (Aβ) and copper play important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).However,the behavioral correlativity and molecular mechanisms of Aβ and copper toxicity have been investigated less often.In the present study,we investigated the interaction and toxicity of Aβ1-42 and copper in the Aβ1-42 transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans worm model CL2006.Our data show that the paralysis behavior of CL2006 worms significantly deteriorated after exposure to 10-3 mol L-1 copper ions.However,the paralysis behavior was dramatically attenuated with exposure to 10-4 mol L-1 copper ions.The exogenous copper treatment also partially changed the homeostatic balance of zinc,manganese,and iron.Our data suggest that the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was responsible for the paralysis induced by Aβ and copper in CL2006.The ROS generation induced by Aβ and copper appear to be through sod-1,prdx-2,skn-1,hsp-60 and hsp-16.2 genes.展开更多
Locomotion behaviors are susceptible to disruption by a broad spectrum of chemicals and environmental stresses. However, no systematic testing of locomotion behavior defects induced by metal exposure has been conducte...Locomotion behaviors are susceptible to disruption by a broad spectrum of chemicals and environmental stresses. However, no systematic testing of locomotion behavior defects induced by metal exposure has been conducted in the model organism of nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In this study, the acute toxicity from heavy metal exposure on the locomotion behaviors was analyzed in nematodes. Endpoints of head thrash, body bend, forward turn, backward turn, and Omega/U turn were chosen to evaluate the locomotio...展开更多
Whether the multi-biological toxicity from lead exposure could be transferred to progeny has not been clarified. In the present study, we explored the Caenorhabditis elegans to analyze the multiple toxicities from lea...Whether the multi-biological toxicity from lead exposure could be transferred to progeny has not been clarified. In the present study, we explored the Caenorhabditis elegans to analyze the multiple toxicities from lead exposure and their possibly transferable properties. The lead exposure could cause series of severe multi-biological defects with a concentration-dependent manner by affecting the endpoints of life span, development, reproduction and locomotion behaviors in nematodes. Moreover, most of these toxicities could be transferred to progeny from lead exposed animals and some of the defects in progeny appeared even more severe than in their parents, such as the body sizes and mean life spans. We summarized the defects caused by lead exposure into three groups according to their transferable properties or rescue patterns. That is, the defects caused by lead exposure could be largely, or partially, or became even more severe in progeny animals. Therefore, our results suggest that lead exposure can cause severely multi-biological defects, and most of these multiple toxicities can be considered as transferable for exposed animals in C. elegans.展开更多
Six lactic acid bacterial （LAB） strains were isolated from traditionally fermented Xinjiang cheese and evaluated for functional and probiotic properties and potentials as starter cultures. The isolated six LAB strai...Six lactic acid bacterial （LAB） strains were isolated from traditionally fermented Xinjiang cheese and evaluated for functional and probiotic properties and potentials as starter cultures. The isolated six LAB strains com- prised Lactobacillus rhamnosus （one strain）, Lactobacillus helveticus （one strain）, and Enterococcus hirae （four strains）. All of the six strains were tolerant to acidic and bile salt conditions. Among which, the L. rhamnosus R4 strain showed more desirable antimicrobial, auto-aggregation, and hydrophobic activity. In addition, the strain L. rhamnosus R4 exhibited the highest level of free radical scavenging activity （53.78% of 1,1-dipheny1-2-picrylhydrazyl （DPPH） free radicals and 45.79% of hydroxyl radicals）. L. rhamnosus R4 also demonstrated cholesterol and triglyceride degrada- tion by 50.97% and 28.92%, respectively. To further examine the health-promoting effects of these LAB strains on host lifespan, Caenorhabditis elegans was used as an in vivo model. Worms fed LAB as a food source had significant differences in lifespan compared to those fed Escherichia coil OP50 （as a negative control）. Feeding of L. rhamnosus R4 extended the mean lifespan of C. elegans by up to 36.1% compared to that of the control. The results suggest that the strains isolated from Xinjiang fermented dairy products have high potential as starter cultures in the cheese industry.展开更多
We examined the possible multiple defects induced by acute and prolonged exposure to high levels of manganese（Mn） solution by monitoring the endpoints of lifespan,development,reproduction,and stress response.Our dat...We examined the possible multiple defects induced by acute and prolonged exposure to high levels of manganese（Mn） solution by monitoring the endpoints of lifespan,development,reproduction,and stress response.Our data suggest that acute exposure（6 h） to Mn did not cause severe defects of life span,development,and reproduction,similarly,no significant defect could be found in animals exposed to a low concentration of Mn（2.5 μmol/L） for 48 h.In contrast,prolonged exposure（48 h） to high Mn concentrations（75 and 200 μmol/L） resulted in significant defects of life span,development,and reproduction,as well as the increase of the percentage of population with hsp-16.2：：gfp expression indicating the obvious induction of stress responses in exposed animals.Moreover,prolonged exposure（48 h） to high concentrations（75 and 200 μmol/L） of Mn decreased the expression levels of antioxidant genes of sod-1,sod-2,sod-3,and sod-4 compared to control.Therefore,prolonged exposure to high concentrations of Mn will induce the severe defects of life span,development,and reproduction in nematodes possibly by affecting the stress response and expression of antioxidant genes in Caenorhabditis elegans.展开更多
Sulfamethoxazole （SMX） is one of the most common detected antibiotics in the environment. In order to study whether SMX can affect behavior and growth and whether these effects could be transferred to the progeny, C...Sulfamethoxazole （SMX） is one of the most common detected antibiotics in the environment. In order to study whether SMX can affect behavior and growth and whether these effects could be transferred to the progeny, Caenorhabditis elegans was exposed at environmentally relevant concentrations for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr, respectively. After exposure, the exposed parent generation （P0） was measured for behavior and growth indicators, which were presented as percentage of controls （POC）. Then their corresponding unexposed progeny （F1） was separated and measured for the same indicators. The lowest POC for P0 after 96 hr-exposure at 100 mg/L were 37.8%, 12.7%, 45.8% and 70.l% for body bending frequency （BBF）, reversal movement （RM）, Omega turns （OT） and body length （BL）, respectively. And F1 suffered defects with the lowest POC as 55.8%, 24.1%, 48.5% and 60.7% for BBF, RM, OT and BL, respectively. Defects in both P0 and F1 showed a time- and concentration-dependent fashion and behavior indicators showed better sensitivity than growth indicator. The observed effects on F1 demonstrated the transferable properties of SMX. Defects of SMX at environmental concentrations suggested that it is necessary to perform further systematical studies on its ecological risk in actual conditions.展开更多
Toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) can be used to determine the specific toxicant(s) in industrial effluents.In the current study,the authors have attempted to combine the advantages of the model organism,Caenor...Toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) can be used to determine the specific toxicant(s) in industrial effluents.In the current study,the authors have attempted to combine the advantages of the model organism,Caenorhabditis elegans,with the virtues of the TIE technique,to evaluate and identify the toxicity on aging from a paper recycling mill effluent.The results indicate that only the toxicities from mixed cellulose (MC) filtration and EDTA treatment are similar to the baseline aging toxicity,suggesting ...展开更多
Among more than 75 variants of microcystin （MC）, microcystin-LR （MC-LR） is one of the most common toxins. In this study, the feasibility of using Caenorhabditis elegans to evaluate MC-LR toxicity was studied. C. e...Among more than 75 variants of microcystin （MC）, microcystin-LR （MC-LR） is one of the most common toxins. In this study, the feasibility of using Caenorhabditis elegans to evaluate MC-LR toxicity was studied. C. elegans was treated with MC-LR at different concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 80 μg/L. The results showed that MC-LR could reduce lifespan, delay development, lengthen generation time, decrease brood size, suppress locomotion behavior, and decreases hsp-16-2-gfp expression. The endpoints of generation time, brood size, and percentage of the population expressing hsp-16-2-gfp were very sensitive to 1.0μg/L of MC-LR, and would be more useful for the evaluation of MC-LR toxicity. Furthermore, the tissue-specific hsp-16-2-gfp expressions were investigated in MC-LR-exposed animals, and the nervous system and intestine were primarily affected by MC-LR. Therefore, the generation time, brood size, and hsp-16-2-gfp expression in C. elegans can be explored to serve as valuable endpoints for evaluating the potential toxicity from MC-LR exposure.展开更多
Three new aspochalsins（R-T）（1-3） were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Spicaria elegans.Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectral analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques,an...Three new aspochalsins（R-T）（1-3） were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Spicaria elegans.Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectral analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques,and HR-ESI-MS.展开更多
应用5种特异性哺乳动物胃肠激素抗血清,采用卵白素-生物素-过氧化物酶复合物(Avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex,ABC)免疫组织化学法,对红耳龟(Trachemys scripta elegans)消化道内分泌细胞进行了鉴别和定位研究。结果显示:大多数内分...应用5种特异性哺乳动物胃肠激素抗血清,采用卵白素-生物素-过氧化物酶复合物(Avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex,ABC)免疫组织化学法,对红耳龟(Trachemys scripta elegans)消化道内分泌细胞进行了鉴别和定位研究。结果显示:大多数内分泌细胞呈楔形、梭形或烧瓶形,少数呈圆形或椭圆形。5-羟色胺和生长抑素细胞在消化道各段均有分布,分别以胃幽门部和十二指肠、胃体部为最高,在食道和空肠处最低。胰高血糖素和胃泌素细胞均在直肠处密度最高,但分布型不同。血管活性肠肽细胞在胃幽门部密度最高,回肠未见。展开更多
Although the alien Red-eared slider （Trachemys scripta elegans） is generally argued as an invasive species that competes with native turtles, the field evidence on its diet is controversial. Field studies conducted ...Although the alien Red-eared slider （Trachemys scripta elegans） is generally argued as an invasive species that competes with native turtles, the field evidence on its diet is controversial. Field studies conducted at the Gutian Nature Reserve of Guangdong and along the Wanquan River in Hainan, China show that T. s. elegans is an opportunitic omnivore, consuming a wide variety of food items. Consumption varies throughout its range; more plant material is consumed in Guangdong, compared to a more carnivorous diet in Hainan; and juveniles are also found to have a more carnivorous diet than adults. This implies a high adaptability to new environment. Sympatrie native Mauremys sinensis shows a more herbivorous diet and a narrower niche breadth （0.0260） in Hainan, plus a low niche overlap （0.3048） with T. s. elegans, providing a potential empty niche for the invasive T. s. elegans. Red-eared slider is also known to consume large quantities of native prey species to disrupt the ecological balance. It is imperative to understand the invasive nature of this species and the mechanisms by which it affects native ecology.展开更多
Sophora moorcroftiana(S. moorcroftiana) is an endemic leguminous dwarf shrub in Tibet, China. Decoctions of the seeds have been used in Chinese folk medicine for dephlogistication, detoxication, and infectious disease...Sophora moorcroftiana(S. moorcroftiana) is an endemic leguminous dwarf shrub in Tibet, China. Decoctions of the seeds have been used in Chinese folk medicine for dephlogistication, detoxication, and infectious diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the constituent and biological effects of polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds in Caenorhabditis elegans(C. elegans). Polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds(SMpol) were extracted with 60% ethanol and constituent was analyzed by GC-MS. SMpol was composed of glucose, galactose and inositol in the molar ratio of 35.7 : 1.3 : 17.0. Synchronized worms were treated with SMpol and then lifespan, motility, reproduction, stress resistance and antimicrobial activity were examined. Compared with the control group, the lifespan was increased to the average of 27.3 days and the number of laying eggs showed a 1.3-fold increase in nematodes treated with SMpol(4 mg×mL^(–1)). In SMpol(4 mg×mL^(–1)) treated worms, there was a 1.1-fold increase in 24-h survival of acute heat stress and a 1.6-fold increase in 2-h survival of oxidative stress The colonization of the bacteria in the SMpol treated nematode was significantly lower than that of the untreated group by 68.3%. In vivo studies showed SMpol significantly extended the life span, improved reproduction, increased stress resistance and antimicrobial capacity of C. elegans. In conclusion, those results indicated that the polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds were involved in a variety of biological activities leading to its modulatory effects on C. elegans which may be developed as a natural supplement agent.展开更多
Aging is the major risk factor for many human diseases and degeneration.Thus,clinically effective medicine could delay the process of aging and aging-related diseases are desperately wanted.In traditional Chinese medi...Aging is the major risk factor for many human diseases and degeneration.Thus,clinically effective medicine could delay the process of aging and aging-related diseases are desperately wanted.In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),some were claimed to slow down aging.Qingyangshen(Cynanchum otophyllum schneid)is such a TCM.Here,we assayed the longevity effect of compound Otophylloside B(Ot B),a C-21 steroidal glycoside isolated from Qingyangshen,in Caenorhabditis elegans,which is a popular model for aging research.Our results showed that Ot B could modestly extend the lifespan of C.elegans,delay the age-related decline of body movement and improve the stress resistance.Further investigating the molecular mechanism of lifespan extension effect revealed that Ot B could activate the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16.Ot B could not further extend the lifespan of long-lived mutant of insulin/IGF-1-like receptor(daf-2).In addition,Ot B also requires SIR-2.1 and CLK-1 which is an enzyme in ubiquinone synthesis,for lifespan extension.展开更多
Orphan genes that lack detectable homologues in other lineages could contribute to a variety of biological functions. However,their origination and function mechanisms remain largely unknown. Herein, through a compreh...Orphan genes that lack detectable homologues in other lineages could contribute to a variety of biological functions. However,their origination and function mechanisms remain largely unknown. Herein, through a comprehensive and systematic computational pipeline, we identified 893 orphan genes in the lineage of C. elegans, of which only a low fraction(0.9%) were derived from transposon elements. Six new protein-coding genes that de novo originated from non-coding DNA sequences in the genome of C. elegans were also identified. The authenticity and functionality of these orphan genes and de novo genes are supported by three lines of evidences, consisting of transcriptional data, and in silico proteomic data, and the fixation status data in wild populations. Orphan genes and de novo genes exhibited simple gene structures, such as, short in protein length, of fewer exons,and are frequently X-linked. RNA-seq data analysis showed these orphan genes are enriched with expression in embryo development and gonad, and their potential function in early development was further supported by gene ontology enrichment analysis results. Meanwhile, de novo genes were found to be with significant expression in gonad, and functional enrichment analysis of the co-expression genes of these de novo genes suggested they may be functionally involved in signaling transduction pathway and metabolism process. Our results presented the first systematic evidence on the evolution of orphan genes and de novo origin of genes in nematodes and their impacts on the functional and phenotypic evolution, and thus could shed new light on our appreciation of the importance of these new genes.展开更多
Objective To evaluate whether the thermotaxis tracking model is suitable for assessing long-term memory （LTM） in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Animals were trained at 20℃ overnight in presence of foo...Objective To evaluate whether the thermotaxis tracking model is suitable for assessing long-term memory （LTM） in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Animals were trained at 20℃ overnight in presence of food. The percentage of animals performing isothermal tracking （IT） behavior was measured at different time intervals after the training. Results The percentage of animals performing IT behavior, the numbers of body bends inside and outside the training temperature, and the expression patterns of AFD and AIY neurons were similar to those in control animals at 36 and 48 h after training; whereas when extending to 60, 72, and 84 h, locomotory behavior defects were observed in the assayed animals, suggesting that this thermal tracking model is feasible for analyzing LTM at 36 and 48 h after training. Moreover, the percent-age of animals performing IT behavior was reduced at 18, 36, and 48 h after training in neuronal calcium sensor-1 gene （nsc-1） mutant animals compared with that in wild-type N2 animals. In addition, exposure to plumbum （Pb） significantly repressed the LTM at 18, 36, and 48 h after training in both wild-type N2 and ncs-1 mutant animals. Conclusion The thermotaxis tracking model is suitable for evaluating the LTM regulated by NCS-1, and can be employed for elucidating regulatory functions of specific genes or effects of stimuli on memory in C. elegans.展开更多
Brain-Computer Interface （BCI） techniques have advanced to a level where it is now eliminating the need lor hand-based activation. This paper presents a novel attempt to remotely control an animal＇s behavior by hum...Brain-Computer Interface （BCI） techniques have advanced to a level where it is now eliminating the need lor hand-based activation. This paper presents a novel attempt to remotely control an animal＇s behavior by human BCI using a hybrid of Event Related Desynchronization （ERD） and Steady-State Visually Evoked Potential （SSVEP） BCI protocols. The turtle was chosen as the target animal, and we developed a head-mounted display, wireless communication, and a specially designed stimulation device for the turtle. These devices could evoke the turtle＇s instinctive escape behavior to guide its moving path, and turtles were remotely controlled in both indoor and outdoor environments. The system architecture and design were presented. To demon- strate the feasibility of the system, experimental tests were performed under various conditions. Our system could act as a framework for future human-animal interaction systems.展开更多
We used toxicity identification evaluation （TIE） method to confirm the combinational effects of identified toxic metals in a paper recycling mill effluent in inducing the decreased lifespan in nematode Caenorhabditi...We used toxicity identification evaluation （TIE） method to confirm the combinational effects of identified toxic metals in a paper recycling mill effluent in inducing the decreased lifespan in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.Exposure to Ca ＋ Al caused more severely decreased lifespan than that exposed to Ca,or Al;and exposure to Ca ＋ Fe induced more severely decreased lifespan than that exposed to Ca,or Fe.Exposure to Ca＋Al＋Fe caused more severely decreased lifespan than that exposed to Ca,or Ca＋Fe.Moreover,the baseline toxicity on lifespan was doubled by doubling the concentration of combined metals （Ca＋Al＋Fe） in spiking test in original effluent （oe）,and lifespan defects in oe＋Ca＋Al＋Fe exposed nematodes were more severe than that in Ca＋Al＋Fe exposed nematode.Therefore,Ca＋Al＋Fe exposure may largely explain the formation of decreased lifespan induced by the examined industrial effluent.Furthermore,the observed reduction of lifespan induced by the combination of high level of Ca with other metals may be at least partially independent of the insulin-like pathway.展开更多
Objective Previous work has showed that excess iron accumulation is harrnftd to reproduction and even promotes death; however, whether the multiple biological toxicity of iron （Fe） exposure could be transferred to p...Objective Previous work has showed that excess iron accumulation is harrnftd to reproduction and even promotes death; however, whether the multiple biological toxicity of iron （Fe） exposure could be transferred to progeny remains unknown. The present study used Caenorhabditis elegans to analyze the multiple toxicities of iron exposure and their possible transferable properties. Methods Three concentrations of iron sulfate solution （2.5μmol/L, 75μmol/L, and 200 μmol/L） were used. The endpoints of lifespan, body size, generation time, brood size, head thrash and body bend frequencies, and chemotaxis plasticity were selected to investigate Fe toxicity and its effect on progeny in Caenorhabditis elegans. Results The Fe toxicity could cause multiple biological defects in a dose-dependent manner by affecting different endpoints in nematodes. Most of the multiple biological defects and behavior toxicities could be transferred from Fe-exposed Caenorhabditis elegans to their progeny. Compared to the parents, no recovery phenotypes were observed for some of the defects in the progeny, such as body bend frequency and life span. We further summarized the defects caused by Fe exposure into 2 groups according to their transferable properties. Conclusion Our results suggest that Fe exposure could cause multiple biological defects, and most of these severe defects could be transferred from Fe exposed nematodes to their progeny.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30870578)the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB500700)funded by the US National Institutes of Health for providing nematode strains used in this work
文摘β-amyloid (Aβ) and copper play important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).However,the behavioral correlativity and molecular mechanisms of Aβ and copper toxicity have been investigated less often.In the present study,we investigated the interaction and toxicity of Aβ1-42 and copper in the Aβ1-42 transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans worm model CL2006.Our data show that the paralysis behavior of CL2006 worms significantly deteriorated after exposure to 10-3 mol L-1 copper ions.However,the paralysis behavior was dramatically attenuated with exposure to 10-4 mol L-1 copper ions.The exogenous copper treatment also partially changed the homeostatic balance of zinc,manganese,and iron.Our data suggest that the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was responsible for the paralysis induced by Aβ and copper in CL2006.The ROS generation induced by Aβ and copper appear to be through sod-1,prdx-2,skn-1,hsp-60 and hsp-16.2 genes.
基金the Southeast Uni-versity Foundation for Excellent Young Scholars (No.4023001013)the NIH,National Center for Foundation from Research Resource,USA
文摘Locomotion behaviors are susceptible to disruption by a broad spectrum of chemicals and environmental stresses. However, no systematic testing of locomotion behavior defects induced by metal exposure has been conducted in the model organism of nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In this study, the acute toxicity from heavy metal exposure on the locomotion behaviors was analyzed in nematodes. Endpoints of head thrash, body bend, forward turn, backward turn, and Omega/U turn were chosen to evaluate the locomotio...
基金Project supported by the Southeast University Foundation for Excellent Young Scholars(No.4023001013)
文摘Whether the multi-biological toxicity from lead exposure could be transferred to progeny has not been clarified. In the present study, we explored the Caenorhabditis elegans to analyze the multiple toxicities from lead exposure and their possibly transferable properties. The lead exposure could cause series of severe multi-biological defects with a concentration-dependent manner by affecting the endpoints of life span, development, reproduction and locomotion behaviors in nematodes. Moreover, most of these toxicities could be transferred to progeny from lead exposed animals and some of the defects in progeny appeared even more severe than in their parents, such as the body sizes and mean life spans. We summarized the defects caused by lead exposure into three groups according to their transferable properties or rescue patterns. That is, the defects caused by lead exposure could be largely, or partially, or became even more severe in progeny animals. Therefore, our results suggest that lead exposure can cause severely multi-biological defects, and most of these multiple toxicities can be considered as transferable for exposed animals in C. elegans.
基金supported by the National Key Technology R&D Program of China(No.2012BAD33B08)the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.LY12B06006)+1 种基金the Research Program of Education Department of Zhejiang Province(No.Y201122061)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.20906060)
文摘Six lactic acid bacterial （LAB） strains were isolated from traditionally fermented Xinjiang cheese and evaluated for functional and probiotic properties and potentials as starter cultures. The isolated six LAB strains com- prised Lactobacillus rhamnosus （one strain）, Lactobacillus helveticus （one strain）, and Enterococcus hirae （four strains）. All of the six strains were tolerant to acidic and bile salt conditions. Among which, the L. rhamnosus R4 strain showed more desirable antimicrobial, auto-aggregation, and hydrophobic activity. In addition, the strain L. rhamnosus R4 exhibited the highest level of free radical scavenging activity （53.78% of 1,1-dipheny1-2-picrylhydrazyl （DPPH） free radicals and 45.79% of hydroxyl radicals）. L. rhamnosus R4 also demonstrated cholesterol and triglyceride degrada- tion by 50.97% and 28.92%, respectively. To further examine the health-promoting effects of these LAB strains on host lifespan, Caenorhabditis elegans was used as an in vivo model. Worms fed LAB as a food source had significant differences in lifespan compared to those fed Escherichia coil OP50 （as a negative control）. Feeding of L. rhamnosus R4 extended the mean lifespan of C. elegans by up to 36.1% compared to that of the control. The results suggest that the strains isolated from Xinjiang fermented dairy products have high potential as starter cultures in the cheese industry.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30771113, 30870810)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University
文摘We examined the possible multiple defects induced by acute and prolonged exposure to high levels of manganese（Mn） solution by monitoring the endpoints of lifespan,development,reproduction,and stress response.Our data suggest that acute exposure（6 h） to Mn did not cause severe defects of life span,development,and reproduction,similarly,no significant defect could be found in animals exposed to a low concentration of Mn（2.5 μmol/L） for 48 h.In contrast,prolonged exposure（48 h） to high Mn concentrations（75 and 200 μmol/L） resulted in significant defects of life span,development,and reproduction,as well as the increase of the percentage of population with hsp-16.2：：gfp expression indicating the obvious induction of stress responses in exposed animals.Moreover,prolonged exposure（48 h） to high concentrations（75 and 200 μmol/L） of Mn decreased the expression levels of antioxidant genes of sod-1,sod-2,sod-3,and sod-4 compared to control.Therefore,prolonged exposure to high concentrations of Mn will induce the severe defects of life span,development,and reproduction in nematodes possibly by affecting the stress response and expression of antioxidant genes in Caenorhabditis elegans.
基金supported by the Key Project of Shanghai Natural Science Foundation(No. 08JC1418900)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.20777055)the National Major Science and Technology Project:Water Pollution Control and Management(No. 2008ZX07421-001)
文摘Sulfamethoxazole （SMX） is one of the most common detected antibiotics in the environment. In order to study whether SMX can affect behavior and growth and whether these effects could be transferred to the progeny, Caenorhabditis elegans was exposed at environmentally relevant concentrations for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr, respectively. After exposure, the exposed parent generation （P0） was measured for behavior and growth indicators, which were presented as percentage of controls （POC）. Then their corresponding unexposed progeny （F1） was separated and measured for the same indicators. The lowest POC for P0 after 96 hr-exposure at 100 mg/L were 37.8%, 12.7%, 45.8% and 70.l% for body bending frequency （BBF）, reversal movement （RM）, Omega turns （OT） and body length （BL）, respectively. And F1 suffered defects with the lowest POC as 55.8%, 24.1%, 48.5% and 60.7% for BBF, RM, OT and BL, respectively. Defects in both P0 and F1 showed a time- and concentration-dependent fashion and behavior indicators showed better sensitivity than growth indicator. The observed effects on F1 demonstrated the transferable properties of SMX. Defects of SMX at environmental concentrations suggested that it is necessary to perform further systematical studies on its ecological risk in actual conditions.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30771113)the Southeast University Foundation for Excellent Young Scholars (No.4023001013)
文摘Toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) can be used to determine the specific toxicant(s) in industrial effluents.In the current study,the authors have attempted to combine the advantages of the model organism,Caenorhabditis elegans,with the virtues of the TIE technique,to evaluate and identify the toxicity on aging from a paper recycling mill effluent.The results indicate that only the toxicities from mixed cellulose (MC) filtration and EDTA treatment are similar to the baseline aging toxicity,suggesting ...
基金supported by the National Natural Sci-ence Foundation of China (No. 30771113, 30870810)the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (No.20050286035)+1 种基金the Jiangsu 333 Project Foundation (No.07056)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (No. BK2006107, BK2008320)
文摘Among more than 75 variants of microcystin （MC）, microcystin-LR （MC-LR） is one of the most common toxins. In this study, the feasibility of using Caenorhabditis elegans to evaluate MC-LR toxicity was studied. C. elegans was treated with MC-LR at different concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 80 μg/L. The results showed that MC-LR could reduce lifespan, delay development, lengthen generation time, decrease brood size, suppress locomotion behavior, and decreases hsp-16-2-gfp expression. The endpoints of generation time, brood size, and percentage of the population expressing hsp-16-2-gfp were very sensitive to 1.0μg/L of MC-LR, and would be more useful for the evaluation of MC-LR toxicity. Furthermore, the tissue-specific hsp-16-2-gfp expressions were investigated in MC-LR-exposed animals, and the nervous system and intestine were primarily affected by MC-LR. Therefore, the generation time, brood size, and hsp-16-2-gfp expression in C. elegans can be explored to serve as valuable endpoints for evaluating the potential toxicity from MC-LR exposure.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30772640).
文摘Three new aspochalsins（R-T）（1-3） were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Spicaria elegans.Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectral analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques,and HR-ESI-MS.
文摘应用5种特异性哺乳动物胃肠激素抗血清,采用卵白素-生物素-过氧化物酶复合物(Avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex,ABC)免疫组织化学法,对红耳龟(Trachemys scripta elegans)消化道内分泌细胞进行了鉴别和定位研究。结果显示:大多数内分泌细胞呈楔形、梭形或烧瓶形,少数呈圆形或椭圆形。5-羟色胺和生长抑素细胞在消化道各段均有分布,分别以胃幽门部和十二指肠、胃体部为最高,在食道和空肠处最低。胰高血糖素和胃泌素细胞均在直肠处密度最高,但分布型不同。血管活性肠肽细胞在胃幽门部密度最高,回肠未见。
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30910103916)
文摘Although the alien Red-eared slider （Trachemys scripta elegans） is generally argued as an invasive species that competes with native turtles, the field evidence on its diet is controversial. Field studies conducted at the Gutian Nature Reserve of Guangdong and along the Wanquan River in Hainan, China show that T. s. elegans is an opportunitic omnivore, consuming a wide variety of food items. Consumption varies throughout its range; more plant material is consumed in Guangdong, compared to a more carnivorous diet in Hainan; and juveniles are also found to have a more carnivorous diet than adults. This implies a high adaptability to new environment. Sympatrie native Mauremys sinensis shows a more herbivorous diet and a narrower niche breadth （0.0260） in Hainan, plus a low niche overlap （0.3048） with T. s. elegans, providing a potential empty niche for the invasive T. s. elegans. Red-eared slider is also known to consume large quantities of native prey species to disrupt the ecological balance. It is imperative to understand the invasive nature of this species and the mechanisms by which it affects native ecology.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China(No.31360604)
文摘Sophora moorcroftiana(S. moorcroftiana) is an endemic leguminous dwarf shrub in Tibet, China. Decoctions of the seeds have been used in Chinese folk medicine for dephlogistication, detoxication, and infectious diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the constituent and biological effects of polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds in Caenorhabditis elegans(C. elegans). Polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds(SMpol) were extracted with 60% ethanol and constituent was analyzed by GC-MS. SMpol was composed of glucose, galactose and inositol in the molar ratio of 35.7 : 1.3 : 17.0. Synchronized worms were treated with SMpol and then lifespan, motility, reproduction, stress resistance and antimicrobial activity were examined. Compared with the control group, the lifespan was increased to the average of 27.3 days and the number of laying eggs showed a 1.3-fold increase in nematodes treated with SMpol(4 mg×mL^(–1)). In SMpol(4 mg×mL^(–1)) treated worms, there was a 1.1-fold increase in 24-h survival of acute heat stress and a 1.6-fold increase in 2-h survival of oxidative stress The colonization of the bacteria in the SMpol treated nematode was significantly lower than that of the untreated group by 68.3%. In vivo studies showed SMpol significantly extended the life span, improved reproduction, increased stress resistance and antimicrobial capacity of C. elegans. In conclusion, those results indicated that the polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds were involved in a variety of biological activities leading to its modulatory effects on C. elegans which may be developed as a natural supplement agent.
基金the Yunnan provincial government(20080A007)the 100 Talents Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,the State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China,Kunming Institute of Botany(P2008-ZZ21 and T2009-KF05)。
文摘Aging is the major risk factor for many human diseases and degeneration.Thus,clinically effective medicine could delay the process of aging and aging-related diseases are desperately wanted.In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),some were claimed to slow down aging.Qingyangshen(Cynanchum otophyllum schneid)is such a TCM.Here,we assayed the longevity effect of compound Otophylloside B(Ot B),a C-21 steroidal glycoside isolated from Qingyangshen,in Caenorhabditis elegans,which is a popular model for aging research.Our results showed that Ot B could modestly extend the lifespan of C.elegans,delay the age-related decline of body movement and improve the stress resistance.Further investigating the molecular mechanism of lifespan extension effect revealed that Ot B could activate the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16.Ot B could not further extend the lifespan of long-lived mutant of insulin/IGF-1-like receptor(daf-2).In addition,Ot B also requires SIR-2.1 and CLK-1 which is an enzyme in ubiquinone synthesis,for lifespan extension.
基金supported by EEgrid cluster of the University of Chicagosupported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(31600670 to W.Zhang,31670851 to B.Shen)
文摘Orphan genes that lack detectable homologues in other lineages could contribute to a variety of biological functions. However,their origination and function mechanisms remain largely unknown. Herein, through a comprehensive and systematic computational pipeline, we identified 893 orphan genes in the lineage of C. elegans, of which only a low fraction(0.9%) were derived from transposon elements. Six new protein-coding genes that de novo originated from non-coding DNA sequences in the genome of C. elegans were also identified. The authenticity and functionality of these orphan genes and de novo genes are supported by three lines of evidences, consisting of transcriptional data, and in silico proteomic data, and the fixation status data in wild populations. Orphan genes and de novo genes exhibited simple gene structures, such as, short in protein length, of fewer exons,and are frequently X-linked. RNA-seq data analysis showed these orphan genes are enriched with expression in embryo development and gonad, and their potential function in early development was further supported by gene ontology enrichment analysis results. Meanwhile, de novo genes were found to be with significant expression in gonad, and functional enrichment analysis of the co-expression genes of these de novo genes suggested they may be functionally involved in signaling transduction pathway and metabolism process. Our results presented the first systematic evidence on the evolution of orphan genes and de novo origin of genes in nematodes and their impacts on the functional and phenotypic evolution, and thus could shed new light on our appreciation of the importance of these new genes.
文摘Objective To evaluate whether the thermotaxis tracking model is suitable for assessing long-term memory （LTM） in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Animals were trained at 20℃ overnight in presence of food. The percentage of animals performing isothermal tracking （IT） behavior was measured at different time intervals after the training. Results The percentage of animals performing IT behavior, the numbers of body bends inside and outside the training temperature, and the expression patterns of AFD and AIY neurons were similar to those in control animals at 36 and 48 h after training; whereas when extending to 60, 72, and 84 h, locomotory behavior defects were observed in the assayed animals, suggesting that this thermal tracking model is feasible for analyzing LTM at 36 and 48 h after training. Moreover, the percent-age of animals performing IT behavior was reduced at 18, 36, and 48 h after training in neuronal calcium sensor-1 gene （nsc-1） mutant animals compared with that in wild-type N2 animals. In addition, exposure to plumbum （Pb） significantly repressed the LTM at 18, 36, and 48 h after training in both wild-type N2 and ncs-1 mutant animals. Conclusion The thermotaxis tracking model is suitable for evaluating the LTM regulated by NCS-1, and can be employed for elucidating regulatory functions of specific genes or effects of stimuli on memory in C. elegans.
文摘Brain-Computer Interface （BCI） techniques have advanced to a level where it is now eliminating the need lor hand-based activation. This paper presents a novel attempt to remotely control an animal＇s behavior by human BCI using a hybrid of Event Related Desynchronization （ERD） and Steady-State Visually Evoked Potential （SSVEP） BCI protocols. The turtle was chosen as the target animal, and we developed a head-mounted display, wireless communication, and a specially designed stimulation device for the turtle. These devices could evoke the turtle＇s instinctive escape behavior to guide its moving path, and turtles were remotely controlled in both indoor and outdoor environments. The system architecture and design were presented. To demon- strate the feasibility of the system, experimental tests were performed under various conditions. Our system could act as a framework for future human-animal interaction systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30771113,30870810)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in Universityprovided by the Caenorhabditis Genetics Center (Funded by the NIH,National Center for Foundation from Research Resource,USA)
文摘We used toxicity identification evaluation （TIE） method to confirm the combinational effects of identified toxic metals in a paper recycling mill effluent in inducing the decreased lifespan in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.Exposure to Ca ＋ Al caused more severely decreased lifespan than that exposed to Ca,or Al;and exposure to Ca ＋ Fe induced more severely decreased lifespan than that exposed to Ca,or Fe.Exposure to Ca＋Al＋Fe caused more severely decreased lifespan than that exposed to Ca,or Ca＋Fe.Moreover,the baseline toxicity on lifespan was doubled by doubling the concentration of combined metals （Ca＋Al＋Fe） in spiking test in original effluent （oe）,and lifespan defects in oe＋Ca＋Al＋Fe exposed nematodes were more severe than that in Ca＋Al＋Fe exposed nematode.Therefore,Ca＋Al＋Fe exposure may largely explain the formation of decreased lifespan induced by the examined industrial effluent.Furthermore,the observed reduction of lifespan induced by the combination of high level of Ca with other metals may be at least partially independent of the insulin-like pathway.
基金supported by the Southeast University Foundation for Excellent Young Scholars (No. 4023001013).
文摘Objective Previous work has showed that excess iron accumulation is harrnftd to reproduction and even promotes death; however, whether the multiple biological toxicity of iron （Fe） exposure could be transferred to progeny remains unknown. The present study used Caenorhabditis elegans to analyze the multiple toxicities of iron exposure and their possible transferable properties. Methods Three concentrations of iron sulfate solution （2.5μmol/L, 75μmol/L, and 200 μmol/L） were used. The endpoints of lifespan, body size, generation time, brood size, head thrash and body bend frequencies, and chemotaxis plasticity were selected to investigate Fe toxicity and its effect on progeny in Caenorhabditis elegans. Results The Fe toxicity could cause multiple biological defects in a dose-dependent manner by affecting different endpoints in nematodes. Most of the multiple biological defects and behavior toxicities could be transferred from Fe-exposed Caenorhabditis elegans to their progeny. Compared to the parents, no recovery phenotypes were observed for some of the defects in the progeny, such as body bend frequency and life span. We further summarized the defects caused by Fe exposure into 2 groups according to their transferable properties. Conclusion Our results suggest that Fe exposure could cause multiple biological defects, and most of these severe defects could be transferred from Fe exposed nematodes to their progeny.
