Two amino acids near the N‐terminus of Cucumber mosaic virus 2b play critical roles in the suppression of RNA silencing and viral infectivity

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) 2b suppresses RNA silencing primarily through the binding of double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) of varying sizes. However, the biologically active form of 2b remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the single and double alanine substitution mutants in the N‐terminal 15th leucine and 18th methionine of CMV 2b exhibit drastically attenuated virulence in wild‐type plants, but are efficiently rescued in mutant plants defective in RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase 6 (RDR6) and Dicer‐like 4 (DCL4). Moreover, the transgenic plants of 2b, but not 2blm (L15A/M18A), rescue the high infectivity of CMV‐Δ2b through the suppression of antiviral silencing. L15A, M18A or both weaken 2b suppressor activity on local and systemic transgene silencing. In contrast with the high affinity of 2b to short and long dsRNAs, 2blm is significantly compromised in 21‐bp duplex small interfering RNA (siRNA) binding ability, but maintains a strong affinity for long dsRNAs. In cross‐linking assays, 2b can form dimers, tetramers and oligomers after treatment with glutaraldehyde, whereas 2blm only forms dimers, rather than tetramers and oligomers, in vitro. Together, these findings suggest that L15 and M18 of CMV 2b are required for high affinity to ds‐siRNAs and oligomerization activity, which are essential for the suppression activity of 2b on antiviral silencing.     

Circadian patterns of plasma leptin,insulin and glucose concentration in the toad-headed lizard Phrynocephalus versicolor

To understand the circadian rhythms of the glucose metabolism and related hormones in desert reptiles, we studied the daily changes in plasma leptin, insulin, and glucose in the toad-headed lizard, Phrynocephalus versicolor, in the semi-desert of the Alashan Plateau. Blood samples were obtained from groups of 20 lizards (about equal sex ratio for each group) at 4-h intervals throughout a 24-h period. Leptin, insulin, and glucose levels were determined using ELISA, RIA, and the glucose oxidase method, respectively. Ambient temperature and humidity were also measured when the blood samples were taken. We found that: (1) there was a significant difference in plasma leptin concentrations at different times of day; (2) no significant circadian rhythm could be measured for plasma insulin and glucose; (3) ambient temperature, humidity, and body condition had no significant effect on plasma leptin, insulin, and glucose levels; and (4) there were significant correlations between plasma glucose concentrations and leptin concentrations 8 h later, and between insulin concentrations and leptin concentration 8–12 h later. These results suggested that the secretions of leptin and insulin played an important role in glucose metabolism in reptiles in an arid environment.     

杜仲叶片不同发育时期数字基因表达谱分析

为在转录水平解析杜仲叶片发育过程中的基因表达模式,该研究通过数字基因表达谱技术对‘华仲6号’杜仲叶片从展叶(4月)到落叶(10月)不同发育时期的基因表达水平进行比较分析,共获得差异基因3 002个,其中1 764个表达量上调,1 238个下调,这些差异表达基因主要行使催化、氧化还原等功能,参与代谢过程和生物过程等;进一步Pathway富集分析发现,苯丙素类生物合成途径相关基因被富集,其中调控绿原酸合成的6个基因差异表达显著;对这些基因表达模式进行分析显示,4月中旬和9月中旬基因的表达量较高,暗示这两个时期对于绿原酸的合成具有重要作用。荧光定量RT-PCR检测6个绿原酸合成相关基因和12个随机选择的差异表达基因,验证结果显示表达谱测序结果可靠。该研究结果为揭示杜仲叶片在不同发育时期的分子调控机制奠定了基础,并为深入解析杜仲绿原酸合成机理,进而通过分子育种手段提高杜仲绿原酸含量提供新的路径。     

TK1与LDH联合检测对非霍奇金淋巴瘤鉴别诊断及疗效评估的作用

目的:探讨联合检测血清胸苷激酶1(TK1)与乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)水平在非霍奇金淋巴瘤(NHL)患者鉴别诊断及疗效监测中的临床意义。方法:收集2016年1月至2018年6月我院诊治的111例非霍奇金淋巴瘤的初诊患者血清标本,并选择50例正常人血清标本作为对照,采用免疫印迹增强发光法检测TK1浓度,比色法检测LDH浓度。所有患者随访至少1年,分析和比较惰性NHL与侵袭性NHL及各自四类分期之间血清TK1和LDH水平的差异,化疗后完全缓解、部分缓解与未缓解组LDH水平以及NHL患者中血清TK1和LDH的阳性率。结果:高度侵袭性NHL患者和侵袭性NHL患者血清TKI和LDH水平与惰性NHL患者相比显著增高(P0.05),但惰性NHL患者血清TK1和LDH水平与正常组之间差异无统计学意义(P0.05);Ⅲ、Ⅳ期侵袭性NHL患者血清TK1和LDH水平与Ⅰ、Ⅱ期患者相比显著增高(P0.05)。与化疗前相比,四次化疗后,完全缓解组NHL患者血清LDH水平下降21.05%,部分缓解组为16.66%,病情稳定组血清LDH水平升高至11.54%,三组NHL患者血清LDH水平比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.008),两组之间的差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:联合检测血清TK1和LDH水平对于NHL患者的鉴别诊断、疗效评估均具有重要参考价值。