Direct in vivo conversion of astrocytes into functional new neurons induced by neural transcription factors has been recognized as a potential new therapeutic intervention for neural injury and degenerative disorders....Direct in vivo conversion of astrocytes into functional new neurons induced by neural transcription factors has been recognized as a potential new therapeutic intervention for neural injury and degenerative disorders. However, a few recent studies have claimed that neural transcription factors cannot convert astrocytes into neurons, attributing the converted neurons to pre-existing neurons mis-expressing transgenes. In this study, we overexpressed three distinct neural transcription factors––NeuroD1, Ascl1, and Dlx2––in reactive astrocytes in mouse cortices subjected to stab injury, resulting in a series of significant changes in astrocyte properties. Initially, the three neural transcription factors were exclusively expressed in the nuclei of astrocytes. Over time, however, these astrocytes gradually adopted neuronal morphology, and the neural transcription factors was gradually observed in the nuclei of neuron-like cells instead of astrocytes. Furthermore,we noted that transcription factor-infected astrocytes showed a progressive decrease in the expression of astrocytic markers AQP4(astrocyte endfeet signal), CX43(gap junction signal), and S100β. Importantly, none of these changes could be attributed to transgene leakage into preexisting neurons. Therefore, our findings suggest that neural transcription factors such as NeuroD1, Ascl1, and Dlx2 can effectively convert reactive astrocytes into neurons in the adult mammalian brain.展开更多
Brassicaceae vegetables are an important traditional daily food in China and around the world, which provide nutrients and phytochemicals that are beneficial for human health. Among them, Brassica and Raphanus are wid...Brassicaceae vegetables are an important traditional daily food in China and around the world, which provide nutrients and phytochemicals that are beneficial for human health. Among them, Brassica and Raphanus are widely cultivated and eaten, have been evolved and/or bred for special characteristics during the long history of cultivation. Epidemiological studies suggest that the health benefits of Brassicaceae vegetables are mainly associated with glucosinolates(GSLs) and their hydrolytic products. In this review, we discuss the diversity of common consumed Brassicaceae vegetables and their GSL composition in edible parts. We also discuss the diversity factors affecting GSL content, and the diversity roles and functions of GSL. The information in this review provides guidance for consumers to select vegetables with a high GSL content,optimum edible stages, suitable edible methods, and provides a theoretical basis for crop molecular breeding and market development of GSL products.展开更多
Glucosinolates(GSLs) are a group of nitrogen-and sulfur-containing secondary metabolites, synthesized primarily in members of the Brassicaceae family, that play an important role in food flavor, plant antimicrobial ac...Glucosinolates(GSLs) are a group of nitrogen-and sulfur-containing secondary metabolites, synthesized primarily in members of the Brassicaceae family, that play an important role in food flavor, plant antimicrobial activity, resistance to insect attack, stress tolerance, and human anti-cancer effects. As a sulfur-containing compound, glutathione has a strong connection with GSLs biosynthesis as a sulfur donor or redox system, and exists in reduced(glutathione;GSH) and oxidized(glutathione disulfide;GSSG) forms. However, the mechanism of GSH regulating GSLs biosynthesis remainds unclear. Hence, the exogenous therapy to pakchoi under normal growth condition and sulfur deficiency condition were conducted in this work to explore the relevant mechanism. The results showed that exogenous application of buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, decreased the transcript levels of GSLs synthesis-related genes and transcription factors, as well as sulfur assimilation-related genes under the normal growth condition. Application of exogenous GSH inhibited the expression of GSLs synthesis-and sulfur assimilation-related genes under the normal condition, while the GSLs biosynthesis and the sulfur assimilation pathway were activated by exogenous application of GSH when the content of GSH in vivo of plants decreased owing to sulfur deficiency. Moreover,exogenous application of GSSG increased the transcript levels of GSLs synthesis-and sulfur assimilation-related genes under the normal growth condition and under sulfur deficiency. The present work provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of GSLs biosynthesis underlying glutathione regulation.展开更多
基金supported by the Key Project of Guangzhou City,No.202206060002Science and Technology Project of Guangdong Province,No.2018B030332001Guangdong Provincial Pearl River Project,No.2021ZT09Y552 (all to GC)。
文摘Direct in vivo conversion of astrocytes into functional new neurons induced by neural transcription factors has been recognized as a potential new therapeutic intervention for neural injury and degenerative disorders. However, a few recent studies have claimed that neural transcription factors cannot convert astrocytes into neurons, attributing the converted neurons to pre-existing neurons mis-expressing transgenes. In this study, we overexpressed three distinct neural transcription factors––NeuroD1, Ascl1, and Dlx2––in reactive astrocytes in mouse cortices subjected to stab injury, resulting in a series of significant changes in astrocyte properties. Initially, the three neural transcription factors were exclusively expressed in the nuclei of astrocytes. Over time, however, these astrocytes gradually adopted neuronal morphology, and the neural transcription factors was gradually observed in the nuclei of neuron-like cells instead of astrocytes. Furthermore,we noted that transcription factor-infected astrocytes showed a progressive decrease in the expression of astrocytic markers AQP4(astrocyte endfeet signal), CX43(gap junction signal), and S100β. Importantly, none of these changes could be attributed to transgene leakage into preexisting neurons. Therefore, our findings suggest that neural transcription factors such as NeuroD1, Ascl1, and Dlx2 can effectively convert reactive astrocytes into neurons in the adult mammalian brain.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 31972394, 31501748)。
文摘Brassicaceae vegetables are an important traditional daily food in China and around the world, which provide nutrients and phytochemicals that are beneficial for human health. Among them, Brassica and Raphanus are widely cultivated and eaten, have been evolved and/or bred for special characteristics during the long history of cultivation. Epidemiological studies suggest that the health benefits of Brassicaceae vegetables are mainly associated with glucosinolates(GSLs) and their hydrolytic products. In this review, we discuss the diversity of common consumed Brassicaceae vegetables and their GSL composition in edible parts. We also discuss the diversity factors affecting GSL content, and the diversity roles and functions of GSL. The information in this review provides guidance for consumers to select vegetables with a high GSL content,optimum edible stages, suitable edible methods, and provides a theoretical basis for crop molecular breeding and market development of GSL products.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.31972394 and 31501748)。
文摘Glucosinolates(GSLs) are a group of nitrogen-and sulfur-containing secondary metabolites, synthesized primarily in members of the Brassicaceae family, that play an important role in food flavor, plant antimicrobial activity, resistance to insect attack, stress tolerance, and human anti-cancer effects. As a sulfur-containing compound, glutathione has a strong connection with GSLs biosynthesis as a sulfur donor or redox system, and exists in reduced(glutathione;GSH) and oxidized(glutathione disulfide;GSSG) forms. However, the mechanism of GSH regulating GSLs biosynthesis remainds unclear. Hence, the exogenous therapy to pakchoi under normal growth condition and sulfur deficiency condition were conducted in this work to explore the relevant mechanism. The results showed that exogenous application of buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, decreased the transcript levels of GSLs synthesis-related genes and transcription factors, as well as sulfur assimilation-related genes under the normal growth condition. Application of exogenous GSH inhibited the expression of GSLs synthesis-and sulfur assimilation-related genes under the normal condition, while the GSLs biosynthesis and the sulfur assimilation pathway were activated by exogenous application of GSH when the content of GSH in vivo of plants decreased owing to sulfur deficiency. Moreover,exogenous application of GSSG increased the transcript levels of GSLs synthesis-and sulfur assimilation-related genes under the normal growth condition and under sulfur deficiency. The present work provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of GSLs biosynthesis underlying glutathione regulation.
