周期蛋白Cyc2的过量表达及突变抑制嗜热四膜虫有性生殖发育

周期蛋白在细胞增殖过程中呈现周期性表达变化,不同的周期蛋白通过结合周期蛋白激酶(cyclin-dependent kinase,CDKs)及靶向特定蛋白质参与细胞有丝分裂和减数分裂过程的精确调控。嗜热四膜虫有性生殖期特异表达的B3型周期蛋白Cyc2(cyclin 2,Cyc2)对减数分裂的启始是必需的,但Cyc2蛋白的分子调控机制并不清楚。本研究通过0.1μg/mL和0.3μg/mL镉离子诱导突变细胞株OE-CYC2-B2086和OE-CYC2-CU428中CYC2基因在金属硫蛋白1基因(metallothionein gene 1,MTT1)启动子调控下上调表达。实时荧光定量PCR检测突变株OE-CYC2-B2086和OE-CYC2-CU428中CYC2的转录水平分别上调7.8倍和9.8倍。细胞有性生殖发育进程的荧光显微观察发现CYC2的表达上调并不影响有性生殖前期减数分裂的启始,但是干扰四膜虫有性生殖后期中新大核和新小核的正确形成。同时突变株OE-CYC2-B2086和OE-CYC2-CU428交配后,在镉离子诱导下不能产生有性生殖后代,但是该突变株分别和两种不同野生型细胞或CYC2敲除的突变细胞株交配能够恢复产生3%,15%或32%的有性生殖后代,有性生殖发育异常程度与CYC2的表达水平成正相关。进一步突变Cyc2第312位磷酸化位点丝氨酸为丙氨酸,获得CYC2单位点突变细胞株CYC2-S312A-B和CYC2-S312A-C。丝氨酸单位点突变阻止了四膜虫有性生殖期小核减数第1次分裂起始。结果表明周期蛋白2的表达水平和磷酸化修饰影响了不同阶段细胞核的功能,周期蛋白2对四膜虫有性生殖发育的正常进行是必需的。     

恶疫霉致病力和对甲霜灵敏感性的遗传与变异

以分离自黑龙江腐烂苹果的恶疫霉Phytophthora cactorum Schroeter野生型菌株Ap14为亲本,采用菌丝块创伤接种法测定了恶疫霉对苹果的致病力在无性繁殖和有性生殖后代的遗传,结果是连续2代单游动孢子后代在苹果上所致病斑半径分别为22.4-24.1mm和21.8-23.4mm,与亲本所致病斑半径22.5mm无显著差异;而其20个自交后个体所致病斑半径为21.4-25.8mm,与亲本有显著差异。其中2株致病力显著强于亲本,其余与亲本相似,表明恶疫霉对苹果的致病力在无性后代可稳定遗传,而在自交有性后代发生分离,同时在含甲霜灵0.05μg/ml的LBA平板上测定了恶疫霉菌丝生长对甲霜灵的敏感性在无性和有性后代的遗传。结果是恶疫霉对甲霜灵的敏感性在无性单孢后代无显著变异,而在50个自交有性后代中,上述浓度对其菌丝生长的抑制率分布范围为67.3-97.1%,与亲本78.3%有极显著差异。其中3株高于亲本,3株低于亲本,44株与亲本相似,表明恶疫霉对甲霜灵的敏感性同样在无性后代稳定遗传而在有性后代发生变异,上述结果提示,供试恶恶疫霉菌株中上述性状可能由细胞核杂合基因控制。     

恶疫霉致病力和对甲霜灵敏感性的遗传与变异*

以分离自黑龙江腐烂苹果的恶疫霉Phytophthora cactorum Schroeter野生型菌株Ap14为亲本,采用菌丝块创伤接种法测定了恶疫霉对苹果的致病力在无性繁殖和有性生殖后代的遗传。结果是连续2代单游动孢子后代在苹果上所致病斑半径分别为22.4~24.1mm和21.8~23.4mm,与亲本所致病斑半径22.5mm无显著差异;而其20个自交后代个体所致病斑半径为21.4~25.8mm,与亲本有显著差异,其中2株致病力显著强于亲本,其余与亲本相似。表明恶疫霉对苹果的致病力在无性后代可稳定遗传,而在自交有性后代发生分离。同时在含甲霜灵0.05μg/ml的LBA平板上测定了恶疫霉菌丝生长对甲霜灵的敏感性在无性和有性后代的遗传。结果是恶疫霉对甲霜灵的敏感性在无性单孢后代无显著变异,而在50个自交有性后代中,上述浓度对其菌丝生长的抑制率分布范围为67.3~97.1%,与亲本78.3%有极显著差异,其中3株高于亲本,3株低于亲本,44株与亲本相似。表明恶疫霉对甲霜灵的敏感性同样在无性后代稳定遗传而在有性后代发生变异。上述结果提示,供试恶疫霉菌株中上述性状可能由细胞核杂合基因控制。     

七性生物暗藏世间

目前,研究人员发现了四膜虫中决定其后代性别的复杂DNA特性,并确认了性别形成是随机的。当覆盖在纤毛上的单细胞生物——四膜虫交配时,其后代的性别可能和其父母的性别都不一样——有7种可能的性别。研究人员将报告发表在3月26日的《科学公共图书馆一生物学》上。每一只四膜虫都有其自身性别或交配模式的基因——存在于其常规的细胞核中,同时也带有另一个仅用于繁殖的细胞核。这种“生殖核”不完全包含7种交配型基因,经过剪切、粘贴的过程,最终会留下1个完整的基因,其他6种会被淘汰。重新调整过的DNA成为四膜虫下一代常规细胞核的一部分,并会决定其交配模式。研究人员称．由于交配模式会帮助四膜虫识别其他不同的性别,这个发现会帮助他们了解包括人类细胞在内的其他物种细胞如何识别那些与其自身不同的细胞。     

掘氏疫霉遗传学研究II．交配型遗传与变异的研究

本研究以掘氏疫霉P“yl口外埔o,o dr~cksleri丁ucke r野生型菌株的单游动孢子无性系为亲本,测定了自交、杂交后代交配型的遗传,经Kmno·处理引起的交配型变异以及Ft代可自孕单卵孢株有性生殖后代交配型的遗传与变异。聚碳膜间隔配对诱导A,和^,菌株自交产生的卵孢子经H zot处理索0激萌发(萌发率1 z～16％)获得单卵孢株。交配型测定结果表明,^t和A,亲本自交st代单卵孢株均保持与亲本一致的交配型。用KMnO．处理上述卵孢子导致A-和^z亲本的部分s一代单卵孢株出现自孕现象,少数A,亲本自交后代改变为A：交配型;从A。交配型亲本的s-代可自孕菌株产生的卵孢子萌发所建立的单卵孢株中,同时获得扎和^。交配型菌株。上述结果不支持San somc关于疫霉菌AhA,交配型分别由纯合、杂合基因控制的假说,进一步证明了Ko关于交配型抑制因子控制交配型表达的假说的合理性。 掘氏疫霉种内菌株直接配对产生的卵孢子用HtO,刺激萌发获得Ft代单卵孢拣。测定结果表明,在F。代出现A。A,、A,A;、A口4种交配型的单卵孢株,其比例因不同亲本组合而有较大差异oF。代出现的^。A,菌株自孕产生的卵孢子经HtO,处理刺激萌发建立自交系,观察到^。^：交配型在有性生殖后代发生分离,各交配型比例因亲本不同而异o A·At菌株的自孕能力在单游动孢子无性系后代可稳定遗传,认为F-代出现的AJAt个体来自亲本的杂交。AtA-单卵孢株保藏4～6个月后大多仍具自孕能力,少数改变为Az交配型。     

掘氏疫霉遗传学研究——Ⅱ.交配型遗传与变异的研究

本研究以掘氏疫霉Phytophthora drechsleri Tucker野生型菌株的单游动孢子无性系为亲本,测定了自交、杂交后代交配型的遗传,经KMnO_4处理引起的交配型变异以及F_1代可自孕单卵孢株有性生殖后代交配型的遗传与变异。聚碳膜间隔配对诱导A_1和A_2菌株自交产生的卵孢子经H_2O_2处理刺激萌发(萌发率12～16％)获得单卵孢株。交配型测定结果表明,A_1和A_2亲本自交S_1代单卵孢株均保持与亲本一致的交配型。用KMnO_4处理上述卵孢子导致A_1和A_2亲本的部分S_1代单卵孢株出现自孕现象,少数A_1亲本自交后代改变为A_2交配型;从A_1交配型亲本的S_1代可自孕菌株产生的卵孢子萌发所建立的单卵孢株中,同时获得A_1和A_2交配型菌株。上述结果不支持Sansome关于疫霉菌A_1、A_2交配型分别由纯合、杂合基因控制的假说,进一步证明了Ko关于交配型抑制因子控制交配型表达的假说的合理性。掘氏疫霉种内菌株直接配对产生的卵孢子用H_O_2刺激萌发获得F_1代单卵孢株。测定结果表明,在F_1代出现A_1、A_2、A_1A_2、A~04种交配型的单卵孢株,其比例因不同亲本组合而有较大差异。 F_1代出现的A_1A_2菌株自孕产生的卵孢子经H_2O_2处理刺激萌发建立自交系,观察到A_1A_2交配型在有性生殖后代发生分离,各交配型比例因亲本不同而异。A_1A_2菌株的自孕能力在单游动孢子无性系后代可稳定遗传,认为F_1代出现的A_1A_2个体来自亲本的杂交。A_1A_2单卵孢株保藏4～6个月后大多仍具自孕能力,少数改变为A_2交配型。     

固体平板磁泳分离细菌新方法的研究

氧化亚铁硫杆菌（Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans）能够在胞内形成电子致密的磁性颗粒,它的这种特性使利用氧化亚铁硫杆菌合成生物纳米磁性材料成为了可能。本课题组为了筛选出合成磁性颗粒能力强的菌株,对原有的液体磁泳进行了改进,采用了新的固体平板磁泳方法来筛选纯化目的菌株。经过磁泳分离后,细菌中含磁性颗粒的细胞比例由原始菌群的30％上升到90％,胞内含有的磁颗粒数目也由1~2颗增加至2~5颗,筛选得到的细菌在人工磁场下会进行趋磁运动。实验结果表明,氧化亚铁硫杆菌具有较弱的趋磁性,在人工磁场下会进行趋磁运动,但仅在地磁场作用下不能定向运动,利用固体平板磁泳筛选纯化含有磁性颗粒的氧化亚铁硫杆菌的方法是切实可行的,磁泳分离技术的进一步完善和改进为传统的微生物菌种分离提供了新的途径,为研究纯氧化亚铁硫杆菌菌株胞内磁性颗粒的形成条件及机理提供了前提条件,也为今后从浸矿细菌中分离筛选更多的含有磁性颗粒的菌株打下基础。     

同工酶在昆虫分类和进化研究中的意义

<正> 根据传统的生物物种的概念,在有性生殖的生物中,区分物种的标准是物种间的生殖隔离。也就是说同种内的不同种群之间,可以互相交配,而不同物种之间则无法交配;即使偶然交配也不能产生有生殖力的后代。因此可以理     

自噬相关蛋白Atg4.1过表达促进嗜热四膜虫亲本大核程序化降解

细胞核自噬在真核生物进化过程中具有重要作用,然而不同生物中的自噬分子调控机制并不完全清楚。嗜热四膜虫有性生殖过程中亲本大核的程序化降解是一种独特的细胞核选择性自噬。该研究从嗜热四膜虫中鉴定出一种自噬相关基因Tt ATG4.1(TTHERM_00526270),编码677个氨基酸。Tt ATG4.1在营养生长期和饥饿期不表达,在有性生殖期2 h特异表达,亲本大核开始降解的anlagen时期表达量最高。通过同源重组构建获得MTT1启动子调控表达的ATG4.1突变株,免疫荧光定位显示, Atg4.1定位在细胞质和降解的亲本大核上。过量表达Atg4.1导致anlagen时期亲本大核未能正常凝缩,且细胞核膨大。通过自噬体和溶酶体荧光探针标记发现过量表达Atg4.1不影响亲本大核的酸化,但相比于野生型细胞,过表达Atg4.1细胞株中,亲本大核的降解更快。研究表明自噬相关蛋白Atg4.1参与调控嗜热四膜虫有性生殖中亲本大核程序化降解。     

嗜热四膜虫胱硫醚γ-裂解酶Cgl1的表达、定位及功能分析

含硫氨基酸在不同的生物体中具有重要调节功能,转硫途径相关酶促进半胱氨酸的生成和硫化氢产生。本研究从嗜热四膜虫中鉴定一种胱硫醚γ-裂解酶（cystathionine γ-lyase 1,CGL1,TTHERM_00052400）基因。CGL1在营养生长期高水平表达,而在饥饿阶段和有性生殖期,维持在较低的表达水平。通过密码子优化,人工合成CGL1基因,构建重组表达质粒pGEX-CGL1,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)。E.coli/pGEX-CGL1表达重组蛋白质GST-Cgl1,并通过亲和层析获得纯化。GST-Cgl1裂解胱硫醚产生半胱氨酸,也具有裂解半胱氨酸和同型半胱氨酸产生H2S的活性。进一步构建重组质粒pNEO4-3HA-CGL1和pSMC1hpNEO-CGL1,转化四膜虫细胞,获得带有HA标签和干扰CGL1的突变体细胞株。免疫荧光定位表明,HA-Cgl1生长期定位在亲本大核,饥饿期定位在细胞质,有性生殖前期定位在亲本大核,而在后期定位在胞质中。CGL1干扰的突变体细胞株在有性生殖过程中不能形成合子核,发育中的小核异常降解,产生仅有大核的异常单细胞。结果表明,嗜热四膜虫含有进化中保守的胱硫醚γ-裂解酶Cgl1。Cgl1具有产生和裂解半胱氨酸的活性。Cgl1定位在细胞质和细胞核中,参与了有性生殖过程细胞核的发育。     

Premating isolation is determined by larval rearing substrates in cactophilic Drosophila mojavensis. VIII. Mating success mediated by epicuticular hydrocarbons within and between isolated populations

We tested the hypothesis that intrademic sexual selection has caused sexual isolation between populations of geographically isolated populations of cactophilic Drosophila mojavensis, and was mediated by epicuticular hydrocarbons (EHCs), contact pheromones in this system. Sexual selection and sexual isolation were estimated using a Baja California and mainland population by comparing the number of mated and unmated males and females in each of four pairwise population mating trials. EHC profiles were significantly different in mated and unmated males in the interdemic (Bajafemale symbol x Mainlandmale symbol and Mainlandfemale symbol x Bajamale symbol), but not the intrademic mating trials. A small number of EHCs was identified that best discriminated among mated and unmated males, mostly alkadienes with 34 and 37 carbons. Females showed population-specific preferences for male EHC profiles. However, EHC profiles between mated and unmated males in the intrademic mating trials were not significantly different, consistent with undetectable sexual selection estimated directly from numbers of copulating pairs vs. unmated adults. Thus, sexual isolation among populations was much stronger than sexual selection within these populations of D. mojavensis.     

Sexually selected females in the monogamous Western Australian seahorse

Studies of sexual selection in monogamous species have hitherto focused on sexual selection among males. Here, we provide empirical documentation that sexual selection can also act strongly on females in a natural population with a monogamous mating system. In our field-based genetic study of the monogamous Western Australian seahorse, Hippocampus subelongatus, sexual selection differentials and gradients show that females are under stronger sexual selection than males: mated females are larger than unmated ones, whereas mated and unmated males do not differ in size. In addition, the opportunity for sexual selection (variance in mating success divided by its mean squared) for females is almost three times that for males. These results, which seem to be generated by a combination of a male preference for larger females and a female-biased adult sex ratio, indicate that substantial sexual selection on females is a potentially important but under-appreciated evolutionary phenomenon in monogamous species.     

Size Effects on the Uptake of Particles by Populations of Tetrahymena pyriformis Cells

Flow cytometry has been used to make direct measurements of rates of uptake of latex microspheres from dilute, monodisperse suspensions by Tetrahymena pyriformis. Measurements were made for five different sizes of microspheres, ranging from 1.09 to 6.17 μm diameter. Fractions of cells in the population that did not ingest the microspheres offered were also determined. In addition, the size distributions, as indicated by the forward angle light scattering intensity which is measured by the instrument, were determined for the whole population and for the subpopulations of cells that did and did not ingest the particles, for each particle size used. It was found that the fraction of cells that did not ingest the particles was small and independent of particle size when this was less than about 2.7 μm, but increased with particle size when particle size was increased above this value. The so-called maximum clearance rate, which can be calculated from the data, was found to increase monotonically with particle size if it were based only on those cells which actually ingested the particles offered. However, a plot of maximum clearance rate vs. particle size exhibited a maximum if the clearance rate were based on all cells present in the population.     

Unisexual and Heterosexual Meiotic Reproduction Generate Aneuploidy and Phenotypic Diversity De Novo in the Yeast Cryptococcus neoformans

Aneuploidy is known to be deleterious and underlies several common human diseases, including cancer and genetic disorders such as trisomy 21 in Down''s syndrome. In contrast, aneuploidy can also be advantageous and in fungi confers antifungal drug resistance and enables rapid adaptive evolution. We report here that sexual reproduction generates phenotypic and genotypic diversity in the human pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans, which is globally distributed and commonly infects individuals with compromised immunity, such as HIV/AIDS patients, causing life-threatening meningoencephalitis. C. neoformans has a defined a-α opposite sexual cycle; however, >99% of isolates are of the α mating type. Interestingly, α cells can undergo α-α unisexual reproduction, even involving genotypically identical cells. A central question is: Why would cells mate with themselves given that sex is costly and typically serves to admix preexisting genetic diversity from genetically divergent parents? In this study, we demonstrate that α-α unisexual reproduction frequently generates phenotypic diversity, and the majority of these variant progeny are aneuploid. Aneuploidy is responsible for the observed phenotypic changes, as chromosome loss restoring euploidy results in a wild-type phenotype. Other genetic changes, including diploidization, chromosome length polymorphisms, SNPs, and indels, were also generated. Phenotypic/genotypic changes were not observed following asexual mitotic reproduction. Aneuploidy was also detected in progeny from a-α opposite-sex congenic mating; thus, both homothallic and heterothallic sexual reproduction can generate phenotypic diversity de novo. Our study suggests that the ability to undergo unisexual reproduction may be an evolutionary strategy for eukaryotic microbial pathogens, enabling de novo genotypic and phenotypic plasticity and facilitating rapid adaptation to novel environments.     

Quantitative measures of sexual selection reveal no evidence for sex-role reversal in a sea spider with prolonged paternal care

Taxa in which males alone invest in postzygotic care of offspring are often considered good models for investigating the proffered relationships between sexual selection and mating systems. In the pycnogonid sea spider Pycnogonum stearnsi, males carry large egg masses on their bodies for several weeks, so this species is a plausible candidate for sex-role reversal (greater intensity of sexual selection on females than on males). Here, we couple a microsatellite-based assessment of the mating system in a natural population with formal quantitative measures of genetic fitness to investigate the direction of sexual selection in P. stearnsi. Both sexes proved to be highly polygamous and showed similar standardized variances in reproductive and mating successes. Moreover, the fertility (number of progeny) of males and females appeared to be equally and highly dependent on mate access, as shown by similar Bateman gradients for the two sexes. The absence of sex-role reversal in this population of P. stearnsi is probably attributable to the fact that males are not limited by brooding space but have evolved an ability to carry large numbers of progeny. Body length was not a good predictor of male mating or reproductive success, so the aim of future studies should be to determine what traits are the targets of sexual selection in this species.     

Unidirectional co-stimulation by a non-mating strain of Tetrahymena thermophila

We report that a fatty acid auxotroph of Tetrahymena thermophila (RH179E1) fails to mate, yet retains the ability to co-stimulate normal cells unidirectionally. Thus, co-stimulation can be analyzed experimentally in the absence of pair formation. We show that the co-stimulation of normal cells of one mating type is sufficient to shorten the waiting period for pair formation of those cells with initiated cells. This is the first evidence that co-stimulation causes a hyperinduction of mating reactivity in T. thermophila, generating in turn a positive feedback mechanism for (presumably) gamone production. Co-stimulation by the variant strain is at a maximum after 3-4 h of exposure when the variant and wild-type cells are at a ratio of 1:1. When mixed with wild-type cells, RH179E1 induces the formation of progeny (at low frequency) which inherit exclusively genetic material of the wild-type cells.     

Clonal growth is enhanced in the absence of a mating morph: a comparative study of fertile stylar polymorphic and sterile monomorphic populations of Nymphoides montana (Menyanthaceae)

Background and Aims

Many aquatic species with stylar polymorphisms have the capacity for clonal and sexual reproduction and are sensitive to the balance of the two reproductive modes when there are a limited number of mating morphs within a population. This study asked how the clonal and sexual reproductive modes perform in populations that contain only a single morph and where fitness gain through sexual reproduction is rare. In clonal aquatic Nymphoides montana, polymorphic populations normally contain two mating morphs in equal frequencies. Populations are sexually fertile and appear to be maintained by pollen transfer between the two partners. However, in a monomorphic population of N. montana where mating opportunities are unavailable, female and male function is impaired and clonality maintains the population. Here, the consequences of intraspecific variation in sexuality were explored between monomorphic and polymorphic N. montana populations in eastern Australia.

Methods

Comparative measurements of male and female fertility, total dry mass and genotypic diversity using ISSR markers were made between populations with variable sexuality.

Key Results and Conclusions

Very few seeds were produced in the monomorphic population under natural and glasshouse conditions due to dysfunctional pollen and ovules. Stigma–anther separation was minimal in the monomorphic population, which may be a consequence of the relaxed selective pressures that regulate the maintenance of sexual function. However, clonal reproduction was favoured at the expense of sexual reproduction in the monomorphic population; this may facilitate the establishment of sterility throughout the population via resource reallocation or pleiotropic effects. The ISSR results showed that the monomorphic population was one large, single genotype, unlike the multi-genotypic fertile polymorphic populations. Evolutionary loss of sex in a clonal population in which a mating morph is absent was evident; under these conditions clonal growth may assure reproduction and expand the population via spreading stolons.