NKG2D discriminates diverse ligands through selectively mechano‐regulated ligand conformational changes

Stimulatory immune receptor NKG2D binds diverse ligands to elicit differential anti‐tumor and anti‐virus immune responses. Two conflicting degeneracy recognition models based on static crystal structures and in‐solution binding affinities have been considered for almost two decades. Whether and how NKG2D recognizes and discriminates diverse ligands still remain unclear. Using live‐cell‐based single‐molecule biomechanical assay, we characterized the in situ binding kinetics of NKG2D interacting with different ligands in the absence or presence of mechanical force. We found that mechanical force application selectively prolonged NKG2D interaction lifetimes with the ligands MICA and MICB, but not with ULBPs, and that force‐strengthened binding is much more pronounced for MICA than for other ligands. We also integrated steered molecular dynamics simulations and mutagenesis to reveal force‐induced rotational conformational changes of MICA, involving formation of additional hydrogen bonds on its binding interface with NKG2D, impeding MICA dissociation under force. We further provided a kinetic triggering model to reveal that force‐dependent affinity determines NKG2D ligand discrimination and its downstream NK cell activation. Together, our results demonstrate that NKG2D has a discrimination power to recognize different ligands, which depends on selective mechanical force‐induced ligand conformational changes.     

乐山市土地利用与生态系统服务价值时空动态变化分析

乐山市地处四川山地丘陵区,是典型的绿心城市,具有重要的生态保护价值.以岷江流域乐山段为研究区域,基于乐山市2010、2017遥感影像,探析乐山市土地利用变化对生态系统服务价值(ESV)空间分布差异的影响.结果表明:(1)2010—2017年乐山市ESV显著提升,耕地、草地转林地面积较大,建设用地增值相对明显;(2)ES...     

长江宜昌段桥边河大型底栖动物功能摄食类群时空分布特征

研究河流生境时空变化对大型底栖动物功能摄食类群的影响,分析底栖动物功能摄食类群对环境因子的响应关系,对评估河流生态系统健康具有重要意义。以长江支流桥边河为研究对象,基于2020年8月、2021年1月和2021年4月对桥边河大型底栖动物和水体理化因子的调查数据,分析了大型底栖动物功能摄食类群的构成以及时空分布特征。结果表明：共采集到大型底栖动物3门38种,包括节肢动物门23种、软体动物门13种、环节动物门2种。桥边河大型底栖动物功能摄食类群中滤食者占绝对优势,其次为刮食者、捕食者、撕食者和收集者。滤食者的优势种为闪蚬和河蚬,刮食者的优势种为方格短沟蜷、铜锈环棱螺和卵萝卜螺,捕食者的优势种为河蟌,撕食者的优势种为秀丽白虾,收集者的优势种为黄色羽摇蚊。冗余分析（RDA）表明,影响桥边河大型底栖动物功能摄食类群的主要环境因子为溶解氧（DO）、氨态氮（NH₄⁺-N）、水深（Dep）、pH、温度（T）和硝态氮（NO₃^--N）。研究大型底栖动物功能摄食类群组成和时空分布特征,可为河流生态系统修复提供参考依据。     

Genomic insights into the adaptation and evolution of the nautilus,an ancient but evolving “living fossil”

The nautilus, commonly known as a “living fossil,” is endangered and may be at risk of extinction. The lack of genomic information hinders a thorough understanding of its biology and evolution, which can shed light on the conservation of this endangered species. Here, we report the first high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of Nautilus pompilius. The assembled genome size comprised 785.15 Mb. Comparative genomic analyses indicated that transposable elements (TEs) and large-scale genome reorganizations may have driven lineage-specific evolution in the cephalopods. Remarkably, evolving conserved genes and recent TE insertion activities were identified in N. pompilius, and we speculate that these findings reflect the strong adaptability and long-term survival of the nautilus. We also identified gene families that are potentially responsible for specific adaptation and evolution events. Our study provides unprecedented insights into the specialized biology and evolution of N. pompilius, and the results serve as an important resource for future conservation genomics of the nautilus and closely related species.     

Comparative Transcriptome Analyses Reveal Genes Related to Spine Development in Cucumber (<i>Cucumis sativus</i>)

Fruit spine is an important quality trait of cucumber. To better understand the molecular basis of cucumber spine development and function, RNA-Seq was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in fruit spines of different development stages, namely, 8 days before anthesis (SpBA8), anthesis (SpA) and 8 days after anthesis (SpAA8). Stage-wise comparisons obtained 2,259 (SpBA8 vs. SpA), 4,551 (SpA vs. SpAA8), and 5,290 (SpBA8 vs. SpAA8) DEGs. All the DEGs were classified into eight expression clusters by trend analysis. Among these DEGs, in addition to the Mict, Tril, CsTTG1, CsMYB6, NS, and Tu genes that have been reported to regulate fruit spine formation, we found that the CsHDG11, CsSCL8, CsSPL8, CsZFP6 and CsZFP8 may also be involved in spine development in cucumber. Our study provides a theoretical basis for further research on molecular mechanisms of spine development in cucumber.     

昆明地区15种常见木本植物活枝的燃烧性

为分析比较不同植物活枝的燃烧性,在森林防火戒严期内,对昆明地区15种常见木本植物中小径级的活枝进行了热辐射引燃试验,对小径级的活枝进行了氧指数试验。在测定样品直径、含水率、引燃时间、有焰燃烧时间、试验过程中烟气温度和质量损失变化过程等基础上,提出并计算了表征活枝燃烧性能的综合燃烧特性参数S,根据该参数对15种植物中小径级活枝的燃烧性能进行了排序。结果表明,15种植物小径级的活枝均具有较强的阻燃性,燃烧性能顺序为:云南松<野八角<华山松<滇青冈<地盘松<云南樟<厚皮香<大白花杜鹃<炮状花杜鹃<云南含笑<小白花杜鹃<南烛<光叶石栎<元江栲<云南野山茶。根据氧指数及试验现象将15种植物的小径级活枝分为3类,其中难燃类4种(大白花杜鹃、野八角、厚皮香、南烛)、可燃类7种(云南含笑、云南松、地盘松、华山松、滇青冈、云南樟、云南野山茶)、较易燃类4种(小白花杜鹃、炮状花杜鹃、光叶石栎、元江栲)。分析了造成2种试验结果差异的主要原因。