5.9
CiteScore
5.9
Impact Factor

2019 Vol. 46, No. 3

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Original research
CPI-17-mediated contraction of vascular smooth muscle is essential for the development of hypertension in obese mice
Jie Sun, Tao Tao, Wei Zhao, Lisha Wei, Fan She, Pei Wang, Yeqiong Li, Yanyan Zheng, Xin Chen, Wei Wang, Yanning Qiao, Xue-Na Zhang, Min-Sheng Zhu
2019, 46(3): 109-118. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2019.02.005
Abstract (80) HTML PDF (2)
Abstract:
Several factors have been implicated in obesity-related hypertension, but the genesis of the hypertension is largely unknown. In this study, we found a significantly upregulated expression of CPI-17 (C-kinase-potentiated protein phosphatase 1 inhibitor of 17 kDa) and protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in the vascular smooth muscles of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice. The obese wild-type mice showed a significant elevation of blood pressure and enhanced calcium-sensitized contraction of vascular smooth muscles. However, the obese CPI-17-deficient mice showed a normotensive blood pressure, and the calcium-sensitized contraction was consistently reduced. In addition, the mutant muscle displayed an abolished responsive force to a PKC activator and a 30%–50% reduction in both the initial peak force and sustained force in response to various G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists. Our observations showed that CPI-17-mediated calcium sensitization is mediated through a GPCR/PKC/CPI-17/MLCP/RLC signaling pathway. We therefore propose that the upregulation of CPI-17-mediated calcium-sensitized vasocontraction by obesity contributes to the development of obesity-related hypertension.
Zfhx3 is essential for progesterone/progesterone receptor signaling to drive ductal side-branching and alveologenesis in mouse mammary glands
Gui Ma, Ang Gao, Yinan Yang, Yuan He, Xi Zhang, Baotong Zhang, Zhiqian Zhang, Mei Li, Xing Fu, Dan Zhao, Rui Wu, Leilei Qi, Qingxia Hu, Juan Li, Liya Fu, Zhengmao Zhu, Jin-Tang Dong
2019, 46(3): 119-131. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2019.03.003
Abstract (65) HTML PDF (4)
Abstract:
Progesterone (Pg)/progesterone receptor (PR) signaling drives mammary gland side-branching and alveologenesis, but the mechanisms through which Pg/PR signaling functions remain to be clarified. Using in vitro and in vivo models and histological and molecular analyses, we determined the role of Zfhx3 transcription factor in mammary gland development driven by Pg/PR signaling. Postnatal deletion of Zfhx3 in mouse mammary epithelial cells attenuated side-branching morphogenesis and alveologenesis. These effects were undetectable in the absence of Pg/PR signaling. During the estrus cycle, Zfhx3 expression corresponded to that of Pg, being at the highest level at the diestrus stage; Zfhx3 deletion inhibited mammary gland branching more potently at diestrus than estrus stage. Loss of Zfhx3 not only attenuated the expansion of stem/progenitor cells driven by Pg/PR signaling, but also impaired the function of Pg/PR signaling in the transcriptional activation of multiple genes. In addition, Pg/PR signaling significantly expanded PR- and Zfhx3-positive epithelial cells, and induced the physical association of ZFHX3 with PR. These findings establish Zfhx3 as an integral transcription factor of Pg/PR signaling in driving side-branching and alveologenesis during mammary gland development.
Control of de novo root regeneration efficiency by developmental status of Arabidopsis leaf explants
Jing Pan, Fei Zhao, Guifang Zhang, Yu Pan, Lijun Sun, Ning Bao, Peng Qin, Lyuqin Chen, Jie Yu, Yijing Zhang, Lin Xu
2019, 46(3): 133-140. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2019.03.001
Abstract (108) HTML PDF (3)
Abstract:
De novo root regeneration (DNRR) has wide applications in agriculture such as those related to cutting technology. Detached Arabidopsis thaliana leaf explants can regenerate adventitious roots without added hormones. The regenerative ability is highly dependent on the developmental status of the leaf. An immature leaf has a higher regenerative ability, while a mature leaf is difficult to regenerate. Using RNA-Seq analysis, we showed that the expression levels of many genes, including those in the auxin network, changed during leaf maturation. Particularly, the expression levels of many YUCCA (YUC) genes in the auxin biosynthesis pathway are responsive to leaf maturation. Overexpression of YUC1 in the yuc-1D dominant mutant rescued the rooting defects caused by leaf maturation. In addition, YUC4 expression levels were also affected by circadian rhythms. The regenerative ability was reduced in both immature and mature mutant leaf explants from the new wuschel-related homeobox 11-3 (wox11-3) and wox12-3 mutant alleles created by the CRISPR/Cas9 method. Overall, the transcriptome and genetic data, together with the auxin concentration analysis, indicate that the ability to upregulate auxin levels upon detachment may be reduced during leaf maturation. Thus, multiple developmental and environmental signals may converge to control auxin accumulation, which affects the efficiency of the WOX11/12-mediated DNRR from leaf explants.
Letter to the editor
PIK-75 promotes homology-directed DNA repair
Guoling Li, Xianwei Zhang, Hao Ou, Haoqiang Wang, Dewu Liu, Huaqiang Yang, Zhenfang Wu
2019, 46(3): 141-144. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2019.03.002
Abstract (57) HTML PDF (1)
Abstract:
SAA-Cas9: A tunable genome editing system with increased bio-safety and reduced off-target effects
Sanyuan Ma, Jianduo Zhang, Wei Lu, Yue Liu, Qingyou Xia
2019, 46(3): 145-148. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2019.02.004
Abstract (54) HTML PDF (2)
Abstract:
IBM1-dependent H3K9 demethylation enables self-silencing of an exogenous silencer for the non-cell autonomous silencing of an endogenous target gene
Xiaolan Liu, Jianhua Zhao, Hui-Shan Guo
2019, 46(3): 149-153. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2019.02.006
Abstract (93) HTML PDF (2)
Abstract: