Role of the HSP70 Co-Chaperone SIL1 in Health and Disease

Cell surface and secreted proteins provide essential functions for multicellular life. They enter the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen co-translationally, where they mature and fold into their complex three-dimensional structures. The ER is populated with a host of molecular chaperones, associated co-factors, and enzymes that assist and stabilize folded states. Together, they ensure that nascent proteins mature properly or, if this process fails, target them for degradation. BiP, the ER HSP70 chaperone, interacts with unfolded client proteins in a nucleotide-dependent manner, which is tightly regulated by eight DnaJ-type proteins and two nucleotide exchange factors (NEFs), SIL1 and GRP170. Loss of SIL1′s function is the leading cause of Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome (MSS), an autosomal recessive, multisystem disorder. The development of animal models has provided insights into SIL1′s functions and MSS-associated pathologies. This review provides an in-depth update on the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying SIL1′s NEF activity and its role in maintaining ER homeostasis and normal physiology. A precise understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with the loss of SIL1 may allow for the development of new pharmacological approaches to treat MSS.     

宰前倒挂应激对鸭血凝胶特性的影响

宰前倒挂因能有效提高屠宰效率成为肉鸭宰杀前必经的一个工艺过程，但倒挂往往会加剧肉鸭的应激程度，影响其血液品质，已成为工厂生产中亟待解决的问题。因此，本实验旨在借助血液学与凝血相关指标探究宰前倒挂应激对鸭血凝胶特性的影响。在屠宰前，将40 只樱桃谷鸭随机分为2 个处理组：对照组和宰前倒挂组（宰前倒挂2.5 min），屠宰后采集血样并制备血凝块，随后分析血液指标（应激指标、血液学指标、凝血指标）以及鸭血凝胶特性。结果表明，宰前倒挂组鸭血中皮质酮激素及促肾上腺皮质激素的水平均高于对照组，说明实验所建立宰前倒挂模型成立。倒挂应激后，红细胞计数、血小板计数、血红蛋白质量浓度增加，红细胞比容、平均红细胞体积及平均血小板体积增大；凝血酶原的水平极显著上升（P＜0.01），组织因子的水平显著上升（P＜0.05）。宰前倒挂最终导致鸭血凝胶化加快，鸭血凝胶体系中水分迁移速率增大，结合水与自由水比例减少，不易流动水比例增大，质构特性和保水性变差。研究揭示了宰前倒挂应激通过影响鸭血的血液学指标和凝血系统从而改变其凝胶行为及凝胶特性，可为工厂改善应激对鸭血凝胶品质的影响提供理论依据。     

木质纤维与水泥共同改良软土的力学性能与微观机制分析

通过压实试验、无侧限抗压强度试验和劈裂试验,分析不同木质纤维含量、水泥含量和固化时间对软土力学性能的影响规律,探讨木质纤维、水泥改良软土的微观机制。结果表明,木质纤维的加入对水泥改良软土的击实特性有显著的影响;木质纤维与水泥可有效改善土体的抗压和劈裂抗拉强度,随着木质纤维含量的增加,改良土的抗压和劈裂抗拉强度呈现出明显的“驼峰”现象,并在木质纤维含量为0.25%时最大;木质纤维与水化产物、软土颗粒形成互锁效应,增大了改良土的摩擦力,同时木质纤维还承担一定的拉伸强度,使改良土的劈裂强度增加。     

Combination of vegetable soup and glucan demonstrates synergistic effects on macrophage-mediated immune responses

Vegetable soup (VS), a plant-based functional food, has been used as a traditional folk medicine and is attracting attention for its ability to enhance the immune response. β-Glucan, a well-established and effective immunomodulator, has synergistic effects when used in combination with some bioactive compounds. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the synergistic immunomodulatory effects of the combination of VS and β-glucan on macrophage-mediated immune responses. β-Glucan was demonstrated to synergistically enhance the VS-stimulated immune response, including the production of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nitric oxide, mainly through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in macrophages. In addition, this combination has the potential for further development in functional foods with immune-enhancing activity.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-021-00888-x.