1.Effect of heterologous expression of Scenedesmus quadricauda malic enzyme gene SqME on photosynthetic carbon fixation and lipid accumulation in tobacco leaves.
Yizhen LIU ; Mengyuan LI ; Zhanqian LI ; Yushuang GUO ; Jingfang JI ; Wenchao DENG ; Ze YANG ; Yan SUN ; Chunhui ZHANG ; Jin'ai XUE ; Runzhi LI ; Chunli JI
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(7):2829-2842
Microalgae possess high photosynthetic efficiency, robust adaptability, and substantial biomass, serving as excellent biological resources for large-scale cultivation. Malic enzyme (ME), a ubiquitous metabolic enzyme in living organisms, catalyzes the decarboxylation of malate to produce pyruvate, CO2, and NAD(P)H, playing a role in multiple metabolic pathways including energy metabolism, photosynthesis, respiration, and biosynthesis. In this study, we identified the Scenedesmus quadricauda malic enzyme gene (SqME) and its biological functions, aiming to provide excellent target genes for the genetic improvement of higher plants. Based on the RNA-seq data from S. quadricauda under the biofilm cultivation mode with high CO2 and light energy transfer efficiency and small water use, a highly expressed gene (SqME) functionally annotated as ME was cloned. The physicochemical properties of the SqME-encoded protein were systematically analyzed by bioinformatics tools. The subcellular localization of SqME was determined via transient transformation in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The biological functions of SqME were identified via genetic transformation in Nicotiana tabacum, and the potential of SqME in the genetic improvement of higher plants was evaluated. The ORF of SqME was 1 770 bp, encoding 590 amino acid residues, and the encoded protein was located in chloroplasts. SqME was a NADP-ME, with the typical structural characteristics of ME. The ME activity in the transgenic N. tabacum plant was 1.8 folds of that in the wild-type control. Heterologous expression of SqME increased the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll by 20.9%, 26.9%, and 25.2%, respectively, compared with the control. The transgenic tobacco leaves showed an increase of 54.0% in the fluorescence parameter NPQ and a decrease of 30.1% in Fo compared with the control. Moreover, the biomass, total lipids, and soluble sugars in the transgenic tobacco leaves enhanced by 20.5%, 25.7%, and 9.5%, respectively. On the contrary, the starch and protein content in the transgenic tobacco leaves decreased by 22.4% and 12.2%, respectively. Collectively, the SqME-encoded protein exhibited a strong enzymatic activity. Heterologous expressing of SqME could significantly enhance photosynthetic protection, photosynthesis, and biomass accumulation in the host. Additionally, SqME can facilitate carbon metabolism remodeling in the host, driving more carbon flux towards lipid synthesis. Therefore, SqME can be applied in the genetic improvement of higher plants for enhancing photosynthetic carbon fixation and lipid accumulation. These findings provide scientific references for mining of functional genes from S. quadricauda and application of these genes in the genetic engineering of higher plants.
Nicotiana/genetics*
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Photosynthesis/physiology*
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Malate Dehydrogenase/biosynthesis*
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Plant Leaves/genetics*
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Scenedesmus/enzymology*
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Carbon Cycle/genetics*
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Lipid Metabolism/genetics*
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Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism*
2.Effects of psychological intervention based on resourcefulness theory on management of aggression and violence attitude and resilience of emergency nurses
Meiling SHI ; Jun WU ; Xiaoyan DENG ; Mengyuan HU ; Lu YU ; Haiting XU
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2023;29(6):815-821
Objective:To explore the effects of psychological intervention based on resourcefulness theory on the management of aggression and violence attitude and resilience of emergency nurses.Methods:Totally 60 nurses who worked in the Emergency Department of the 904 Hospital, the People's Liberation Army Joint Logistic Support Force from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected by convenience sampling. According to the enrollment time, the nurses enrolled from January to December 2020 were included as the control group, and the nurses enrolled from January to December 2021 were included as the intervention group, with 30 nurses in each group. Nurses in the control group received routine psychological training, while nurses in the intervention group was trained with a psychological intervention program based on resourcefulness theory based on the training provided to the control group. The nurses were surveyed and the intervention effect was evaluated by Resourcefulness Scale, Management of Aggression and Violence Attitude Scale (MAVAS), Medical Professionals Resilience Scale (MeRS), and Nurses' Work Alienation Questionnaire (NWAQ) .Results:After intervention, the scores of Resourcefulness Scale, MAVAS and MeRS of nurses in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group, and the scores of NWAQ were lower than those in the control group, with statistical significance between the two groups ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:Psychological intervention based on resourcefulness theory can enhance the resourcefulness of emergency nurses, improve their management of aggression and violence attitudes, strengthen their deep understanding of work violence and their level of resilience, reduce their sense of alienation at work, and alleviate negative psychological emotions. Therefore, it is worth promoting in clinical practice.
3.Potential therapeutic effects and applications of Eucommiae Folium in secondary hypertension
Mengyuan LI ; Yanchao ZHENG ; Sha DENG ; Tian YU ; Yucong MA ; Jiaming GE ; Jiarong LI ; Xiankuan LI ; Lin MA
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2022;12(5):711-718
Eucommiae Folium(EF),a traditional Chinese medicine,has been used to treat secondary hypertension,including renal hypertension and salt-sensitive hypertension,as well as hypertension caused by thoracic aortic endothelial dysfunction,a high-fat diet,and oxidized low-density lipoprotein.The antihyperten-sive components of EF are divided into four categories:flavonoids,iridoids,lignans,and phenyl-propanoids,such as chlorogenic acid,geniposide acid and pinoresinol diglucoside.EF regulates the occurrence and development of hypertension by regulating biological processes,such as inhibiting inflammation,regulating the nitric oxide synthase pathway,reducing oxidative stress levels,regulating endothelial vasoactive factors,and lowering blood pressure.However,its molecular antihypertensive mechanisms are still unclear and require further investigation.In this review,by consulting the relevant literature on the antihypertensive effects of EF and using network pharmacology,we summarized the active ingredients and pharmacological mechanisms of EF in the treatment of hypertension to clarify how EF is associated with secondary hypertension,the related components,and underlying mechanisms.The results of the network pharmacology analysis indicated that EF treats hypertension through a multi-component,multi-target and multi-pathway mechanism.In particular,we discussed the role of EF tar-gets in the treatment of hypertension,including epithelial sodium channel,heat shock protein70,rho-associated protein kinase 1,catalase,and superoxide dismutase.The relevant signal transduction path-ways,the ras homolog family member A(RhoA)/Rho-associated protein kinase(ROCK)and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADPH)oxidase/eNOS/NO/Ca2+pathways,are also discussed.
4.Mitochondrial mechanism of diabetic mellitus-caused abolition of cardioprotection induced by ischemia postconditioning in rats: succinate dehydrogenase
Hongli ZHU ; Mengyuan DENG ; Wenjing ZHOU ; Wei CHEN ; Haiying WANG
Chinese Journal of Anesthesiology 2021;41(7):809-813
Objective:To evaluate the relationship between the mitochondrial mechanism of diabetic mellitus-caused abolition of cardioprotection induced by ischemia postconditioning (IPO) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in rats.Methods:Thirty-six SPF male non-diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 16-20 weeks, weighing about 300 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (ND+ Sham group), ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group (ND+ I/R group) and IPO group (ND+ IPO group). Seventy-two rats with diabetes mellitus were divided into 6 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (DM+ Sham group), I/R group (DM+ I/R group), DM+ IPO group, sham operation+ dimethyl malonate group (group DM+ Sham+ Dme), I/R+ dimethyl malonate group (group DM+ I/R + Dme) and IPO+ dimethyl malonate group (group DM+ IPO+ Dme). The model of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was established, and the model of total I/R injury was induced by ligating the ascending aorta for 30 min followed by 60 min of reperfusion.The animals underwent 3 cycles of 30-s reperfusion followed by 30-s ischemia starting from the onset of reperfusion in each IPO group.In each Dme group, dimethyl malonate was infused through the tail vein at a rate of 4 mg· kg -1·min -1 for 40 min starting from the beginning of CPB.At the end of reperfusion, the myocardial tissues were taken for measurement of mitochondrial respiratory control ratio (RCR) (by the Lufthansa electrode method), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) (by the JC-1 method) and the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) (by absorptiometry) and for determination of the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (with the fluorescent probe), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) (using spectrophotometric method) and the contents of succinic acid and fumarate. Results:Compared with ND+ Sham group, the activities of SDH and ROS, opening of mPTP and content of fumarate were significantly increased, and MMP, RCR and succinic acid content were decreased in ND+ I/R ( P<0.05). Compared with group ND+ I/R, the activities of SDH and ROS, opening of mPTP and content of fumarate were significantly decreased, and MMP, RCR and succinic acid content were increased in ND+ IPO ( P<0.05). Compared with group DM+ Sham, the activities of SDH and ROS, opening of mPTP and content of fumarate were significantly increased, and MMP, RCR and succinic acid content were decreased in group DM+ I/R ( P<0.05). Compared with group DM+ I/R, no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group DM+ IPO ( P>0.05). Compared with group DM+ IPO, the activities of SDH and ROS, opening of mPTP and content of fumarate were significantly decreased, and MMP, RCR and succinic acid content were increased in group DM+ IPO+ Dme ( P<0.05). Compared with group DM+ I/R+ Dme, the activities of SDH and ROS, opening of mPTP and content of fumarate were significantly decreased, and MMP, RCR and succinic acid content were increased in group DM+ IPO+ Dme ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The mitochondrial mechanism of diabetic mellitus-caused abolition of cardioprotection induced by IPO may be related to the enhancement of SDH activity in rats.
5.The brain mechanism underlying the understanding of action intention and mentalizing
Mengyuan DING ; Huihua DENG ; Suhao PENG ; Dan TAO ; Yue LENG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2018;27(4):381-384
Mentalizing is the vital cognitive basis of understanding of action intention.However,there are few studies on the complex relationship of them.The present study,firstly,discusses the concepts and the brain mechanisms of empathy and understanding of action intention,indicating the temporal dynamic features of mentalizing as well as understanding of action intention.Secondly,based on Intention Processing Network,the process of mentalizing in understanding of action intention is in hierarchy and division.During which,ventral medial prefrontal lobe plays a vital role on integrating and transforming the cognitive and affective information.Empathy and mentalizing transform into each other through ventral medial prefrontal lobe.So empathy probably mediates the relationship of mentalizing and understanding of action intention.Empathy,mentalizing and understanding of action intention can be integrated under the framework of hybrid models.Future studies should examine the relationship between empathy and understanding of action intention by empirical researches.

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