小菇属三新种

本文报道了产自吉林省的小菇属(Myceno)三个新种:具核小菇(M.nucleata X.He et X.D.Fang),黄囊小菇(M.xanthocystidium X.He et.X.D.Fang)和棘囊小菇(M.brevispina X.He et X.D.Fang)。     

Mussaenda lancipetala X. F. Deng & D. X. Zhang,a new species of Rubiaceae from China

Mussaenda lancipetala X. F. Deng & D. X. Zhang, a new species of Rubiaceae from Yunnan Province, Southwestern China, is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by its reverse herkogamous sexual system, its ovate-lanceolate corolla lobes with caudate apex, and corolla tube covered with sparse farinose pubescence, by which it is clearly distinguished from other species of Mussaenda.     

中国玉叶金花属(茜草科)植物一新种

报道了在云南发现的玉叶金花属Mussaenda一新种——狭瓣玉叶金花M. lancipetala X. F. Deng ＆ D. X. Zhang。狭瓣玉叶金花的性系统为柱头缩入式雌雄异位; 花冠裂片卵状披针形且具有细长的长尖头, 花冠管外被有粉末状的毛被, 可以很容易与玉叶金花属其他种类相区别。     

中国姜黄属-新种-南昆山莪术

报道姜科姜黄属-新种-南昆山莪术(Curcuma nankunshanensis N.Liu,X.B.Ye&J.Chen).该种与近缘种广西莪术(C kwangsiensis X.X.Chen)的区别在于侧根茎分枝多,叶片阔椭圆状披针形,表面光滑无毛,不育苞片下部白色顶端深紫红色,能育苞片绿色.它与郁金(C aromatica Sahib)的区别在于根茎内面白色,不育苞片下部白色顶端深紫红色,具有种子.     

中国姜黄属一新种—南昆山莪术

报道姜科姜黄属一新种一南昆山莪术（Curcumana nkunshanensis N．Liu,X．B．Ye＆J．Chen）。该种与近缘种广西莪术（C.kwangsiensis X．X．Chen）的区别在于侧根茎分枝多,叶片阔椭圆状披针形,表面光滑无毛,不育苞片下部白色顶端深紫红色,能育苞片绿色。它与郁金（caromatica Safib）的区别在于根茎内面白色,不育苞片下部白色顶端深紫红色,具有种子。     

珍珠菜属(报春花科)一新种

描述了珍珠菜属(报春花科)一新种, 即祁门过路黄(Lysimachia qimenensis X.H.Guo, X.P.Zhang et J.W.Shao);并对祁门过路黄与其近缘种巴东过路黄(Lysimachia patungensis Hand.-Mazz.)的核型进行了报道。     

Co-localization of Pirt protein and P2X2 receptors in the mouse enteric nervous system

P2X2 receptors, with other P2X receptor subtypes, have an important role mediating synaptic transmission in regulating the functions of the gastrointestinal tract. Our recent work has found a new regulator of P2X receptor function, called phosphoinositide-interacting regulator of transient receptor potential channels (Pirt). In the present work, we have shown that Pirt immunoreactivity was localized in nerve cell bodies and nerve fibers in the myenteric plexus of the stomach, ileum, proximal, and distal colon and in the submucosal plexus of the jejunum, ileum, proximal, and distal colon. Almost all the Pirt-immunoreactive (ir) neurons were also P2X2-ir, and co-immunoprecipitation experiments have shown that Pirt co-precipitated with the anti-P2X2 antibody. This work provides detailed information about the expression of Pirt in the gut and its co-localization with P2X2, indicating its potential role in influencing P2X2 receptor function.     

New and Xisting regulatory mechanisms of X chromosome inactivation

Equalization of X linked gene expression is necessary in mammalian cells due to the presence of two X chromosomes in females and one in males. To achieve this, all female cells inactivate one of the two X chromosomes during development. This process, termed X chromosome inactivation (XCI), is a quintessential epigenetic phenomenon and involves a complex interplay between noncoding RNAs and protein factors. Progress in this area of study has consequently resulted in new approaches to study epigenetics and regulatory RNA function. Here we will discuss recent developments in the field that have advanced our understanding of XCI and its regulatory mechanisms.     

Two distinct functions of ComW in stabilization and activation of the alternative sigma factor ComX in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Natural genetic transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae is controlled by a quorum-sensing system, which acts through the competence-stimulating peptide (CSP) for transient activation of genes required for competence. More than 100 genes have been identified as CSP regulated by use of DNA microarray analysis. One of the CSP-induced genes required for genetic competence is comW. As the expression of this gene depended on the regulator ComE, but not on the competence sigma factor ComX (sigma(X)), and as expression of several genes required for DNA processing was affected in a comW mutant, comW appears to be a new regulatory gene. Immunoblotting analysis showed that the amount of the sigma(X) protein is dependent on ComW, suggesting that ComW may be directly or indirectly involved in the accumulation of sigma(X). As sigma(X) is stabilized in clpP mutants, a comW mutation was introduced into the clpP background to ask whether the synthesis of sigma(X) depends on ComW. The clpP comW double mutant accumulated an amount of sigma(X) higher (threefold) than that seen in the wild type but was not transformable, suggesting that while comW is not needed for sigma(X) synthesis, it acts both in stabilization of sigma(X) and in its activation. Modification of ComW with a histidine tag at its C or N terminus revealed that both amino and carboxyl termini are important for increasing the stability of sigma(X), but only the N terminus is important for stimulating its activity.