Project description:We sequenced the complete mitogenome of a Baltic Sea specimen of the invasive bivalve Rangia cuneata. The mitogenome is 18,993 bp long and encodes 13 proteins, 2 rRNAs, and 22 tRNAs. A large intergenic region between ND6 and ND2 contains an open reading frame that may originate from duplication of ND2. The R. cuneata mitogenome is rearranged in gene order relative to previously sequenced mitogenomes of Mactroidea.
Project description:ContextLespedeza cuneata G. Don (Fabaceae), has been used as a traditional treatment of various diseases. There is a report L. cuneata effects on hormone replacement therapy for endocrine-related disease. However, studies related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have not been investigated.ObjectiveThe effects of L. cuneata aqueous extract (LCW) on testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia (TPH) were examined.Materials and methodsMale Wistar rats (10 weeks, 330-350 g) were randomly divided to 6 groups (n = 6): Control group; TPH group (3 mg/kg, s.c, daily); TPH + LCW (25, 50, 100 mg/kg); TPH + Finasteride 10 mg/kg for 6 weeks. At the end of treatment, histological change of prostate, serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) level, mRNA expression of 5α-reductase, inflammatory factors, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in prostate were examined. Then, LCW was treated with BPH-1, a human BPH cell line, at 25, 50, 100 μg/mL for 24 h and examine mRNA level of androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). In addition, the content of vicenin-2 was analyzed.ResultsLCW treatment of TPH inhibited serum DHT levels by 54.5, 51.2 and 54.1% and mRNA expression of 5α-reductase were inhibited 54.3, 61.3 and 73.6%, respectively. In addition, mRNA expression of inflammatory factors, PCNA and FGF-2 were decreased in the prostate of rats. Also, LCW attenuated mRNA level of AR and PSA in BPH-1 cell. The content of vicenin-2 in the LCW was analyzed to 0.89 mg/g.Discussion and conclusionsBased on the results, LCW is a potential pharmacological candidate for the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia.
Project description:Two new phenylpropanoid glycosides named cuneataside E (1) and cuneataside F (2), were isolated from the aerial parts of Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don, whose structures were E and Z isomer, respectively. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR). In in vitro bioassays at 10 μmol/L, compound 1 showed moderate hepatoprotective activity against N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP)-induced toxicity in HeG2 cells.
Project description:Microsatellite loci were developed for a woody deciduous liana, Sargentodoxa cuneata (Lardizabalaceae), to help infer the evolutionary histories of ancient monotypic genera in subtropical China. Using next-generation sequencing (Illumina MiSeq) technology, 21 polymorphic primer sets were identified in three wild populations. The number of alleles per locus ranged from one to seven. The expected and observed heterozygosities varied from 0 to 0.788 and 0 to 0.917, respectively. Transferability analyses were performed in Stauntonia chinensis, Akebia trifoliata, and A. quinata. Eighteen (85.7%), 18 (85.7%), and 17 (81.0%) markers were successfully amplified, respectively. The newly developed markers will facilitate further studies on genetic diversity and phylogeographic patterns throughout the distributional range of S. cuneata. This set of microsatellite primers represents the second report on molecular markers in Lardizabalaceae.
Project description:The natural world is filled with substrates of varying properties that challenge locomotor abilities. Birds appear to transition smoothly from aerial to terrestrial environments during take-offs and landings using substrates that are incredibly variable. It may be challenging to control movement on and off compliant (flexible) substrates such as twigs, yet birds routinely accomplish such tasks. Previous research suggests that birds do not use their legs to harness elastic recoil from perches. Given avian mastery of take-off and landing, we hypothesized that birds instead modulate wing, body and tail movements to effectively use compliant perches. We measured take-off and landing performance of diamond doves (Geopelia cuneata (N = 5) in the laboratory and perch selection in this species in the field (N = 25). Contrary to our hypothesis, doves do not control take-off and landing on compliant perches as effectively as they do on stiff perches. They do not recover elastic energy from the perch, and take-off velocities are thus negatively impacted. Landing velocities remain unchanged, which suggests they may not anticipate the need to compensate for compliance. Legs and wings function as independent units: legs produce lower initial velocities when taking off from a compliant substrate, which negatively impacts later flight velocities. During landing, significant stability problems arise with compliance that are ameliorated by the wings and tail. Collectively, we suggest that the diamond dove maintains a generalized take-off and landing behavior regardless of perch compliance, leading us to conclude that perch compliance represents a challenge for flying birds. Free-living diamond doves avoid the negative impacts of compliance by preferentially selecting perches of larger diameter, which tend to be stiffer.