ABSTRACT
Ganoderma lucidum is a white-rot fungus that produces a range of lignocellulolytic enzymes to decompose lignin and cellulose. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway has been implicated in xylanases and cellulases production. As the downstream transcription factor of Slt2-MAPK, the function of Swi6 in G. lucidum has not been fully studied. In this study, the transcription factor GlSwi6 in G. lucidum was characterized and shown to significantly positively regulate cellulases and xylanases production. Knockdown of the GlSwi6 gene decreased the activities of cellulases and xylanases by approximately 31%~38% and 54%~60% compared with those of the wild-type (WT) strain, respectively. Besides, GlSwi6 can be alternatively spliced into two isoforms, GlSwi6A and GlSwi6B, and overexpression of GlSwi6B increased the activities of cellulase and xylanase by approximately 50% and 60%, respectively. Further study indicates that the existence of GlSwi6B significantly increased the concentration of cytosolic Ca2+. Our study indicated that GlSwi6 promotes the activities of cellulase and xylanase by regulating the Ca2+ signaling. These results connected the GlSwi6 and Ca2+ signaling in the regulation of cellulose degradation, and provide an insight for further improvement of cellulase or xylanase activities in G. lucidum as well as other fungi.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of long term nasal continuous positive airway pressure on the blood pressure of patients with OSAHS. METHODS: From April 1997 to October 2008, 2898 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University who complained snore during sleeping were studied. Nine hundred eighty cases were diagnosed as OSAHS with hypertension, and these patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: one group was treated with antihypertensive drugs and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP), while the other group only received antihypertensive drugs. The polysomnography (PSG) was recorded during sleeping and the blood pressure was remeasured after 6 months or more. All patients were followed up for 5 years to observe the long-term effects of nCPAP or drugs. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the nCPAP group significantly decreased after 6 months [(125 ± 16) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) vs (136 ± 19) mm Hg, (83 ± 10) mm Hg vs (95 ± 15) mm Hg, P < 0.05], and the decreasing extent of blood pressure in nCPAP group was more notable than antihypertensive drug group [decreasing extent of systolic blood pressure:(10 ± 11) mm Hg vs (4 ± 11) mm Hg; decreasing extent of diastolic blood pressure: (11 ± 7) mm Hg vs (6 ± 7) mm Hg; P < 0.05]. The total effective rate in nCPAP group was significantly higher than that in antihypertensive drug group (90% vs 38%, P < 0.01). One hundred and eighty three cases in nCPAP group and 157 cases in antihypertensive drug group completed the 5-year follow-up and the blood pressure was controlled within the normal range. Some patients could gradually reduce or stop the use of antihypertensive drugs and the blood pressure didn't appear to rebound. The number of antihypertensive drugs in the nCPAP group was significantly fewer as compared to the antihypertensive drugs group after 2, 3, 4 and 5 years' follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: nCPAP is a safe and effective treatment for high blood pressure in patients with OSAHS.
