Lanthanide complexes of a cross-bridged cyclam ligand: Isolation and structural characterization of unusual trinuclear μ3-imido Yb(III) cluster cations and a mixed valence Yb(II/III) salt containing an Yb(II) anion

The reaction of the cross-bridged cyclam ligand H₂CBC with divalent ytterbium precursors, Yb[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂[L]₂ (L = THF or Et₂O) or Yb(C₅Me₅)₂(OEt₂) afforded polymeric [Yb(CBC)]_n (1), as the primary product. In addition, the Yb[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂[L]₂ reactions also afforded a small amount of an unusual mixed valence salt containing a trinuclear Yb(III) cluster cation featuring a triply bridging NH group and a mononuclear Yb(II) anion, {[Yb(CBC)]₃[μ³-NH]}⁺ {Yb[N(SiMe₃)₂]₃}⁻ (2). A related cluster containing an iodide counterion, {[Yb(CBC)]₃[μ³-NH]}⁺ I⁻ (3), was also isolated in one case. The structures of salts 2 and 3 were determined by X-ray crystallography. Reaction of [Yb(CBC)]_n with p-tolyldisulfide, (C₆H₄MeS)₂, produced burgundy crystals of [Yb(CBC)(S-p-C₆H₄Me)]_n (4). The ¹H NMR spectra of 2 suggests that the trinuclear cation remains intact in THF-d₈ solution.     

虎杖象甲培植真菌营养特性及对菌丝附属物形成的影响

虎杖象甲培植共生真菌形成的共生体系是植菌昆虫菌业中的典型代表。共生真菌Penicillium herquei如何向虎杖象甲Euops chinensis提供营养尚未明确。本研究发现共生真菌P. herquei的菌丝表面存在大量瘤状凸起物及由凸起物衍生的附属丝等特化结构,该结构可能为虎杖象甲提供营养;对共生真菌的营养研究表明,共生真菌能高效利用山梨醇、蔗糖、海藻糖、葡萄糖等单糖或双糖,以及酪氨酸、甘氨酸、谷氨酰胺等昆虫非必须氨基酸,同时在高碳和最适碳源条件下有利于菌丝特化附属物的产生。研究结果不仅提供了植菌卷叶象甲菌业中共生真菌在营养方面的适应性进化证据,而且为进一步揭示共生真菌适应卷叶象甲的营养机制奠定了基础。     

A non-structural protein encoded by Rice Dwarf Virus targets to the nucleus and chloroplast and inhibits local RNA silencing

RNA silencing is a potent antiviral mechanism in plants and animals. As a counter-defense, many viruses studied to date encode one or more viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSR). In the latter case, how different VSRs encoded by a virus function in silencing remains to be fully understood. We previously showed that the nonstructural protein Pns10 of a Phytoreovirus, Rice dwarf virus (RDV), functions as a VSR. Here we present evidence that another nonstructural protein, Pns11, also functions as a VSR. While Pns10 was localized in the cytoplasm, Pns11 was localized both in the nucleus and chloroplasts. Pns11 has two bipartite nuclear localization signals (NLSs), which were required for nuclear as well as chloroplastic localization. The NLSs were also required for the silencing activities of Pns11. This is the first report that multiple VSRs encoded by a virus are localized in different subcellular compartments, and that a viral protein can be targeted to both the nucleus and chloroplast. These findings may have broad significance in studying the subcellular targeting of VSRs and other viral proteins in viral-host interactions.

     

Molecular identification of selected bees from the Indian Himalaya: A preliminary effort

DNA barcoding has largely been tested for a wide range of taxa and evidenced as a reliable and rapid molecular tool for species-level identification. The present study lends to generate 156 DNA barcodes, of which 141 belonged to 30 morphologically identified bees from the Indian Himalayan Regions (IHRs). The generated barcode data along with 84 sequences of global database distinctly discriminated all the studied species with sufficient genetic distances and cohesive monophyletic clustering in Bayesian analysis (BA) phylogeny. The species delimitation methods, Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), Bayesian Poisson-Tree-Processes (bPTP), and General Mixed Yule-coalescent (GMYC) yielded 68, 70, and 71 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) respectively. The present DNA barcode-based examination detected the possible cryptic diversity in two Apis species (A. cerana and A. dorsata), Bombus hypnorum, Lepidotrigona arcifera, and Ceratina sutepensis. The present study also evidenced the species complexes within Bombus albopleuralis and Bombus trifasciatus in the IHRs. The species delimitation methods also detected an additional seven putative species from the IHRs, which were identified up to the genus level. In conclusion, this preliminary effort helps to develop a reliable barcode database of bees from the Indian IHRs to facilitate the future systematics study. These molecular data can be utilized to evaluate the population structures and assist to formulate the effective plans for bee conservation.     

Evaluation of oil dispersion formulation of nematophagus fungus,Pochonia chlamydosporia against root-knot nematode,Meloidogyne incognita in cucumber

Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita is considered as one of the major non-insect pests of crops. The management of these root feeders becomes highly challenging due to a strong host-parasitic relationship. Pochonia chlamydosporia is a nematophagus fungus that colonizes eggs of nematodes. This study aimed to test the efficacy of P. chlamydosporia (NAIMCC-SF0039) against M. incognita. An oil dispersion formulation of P. chlamydosporia was prepared using emulsifiers and vegetable oil. This formulation had a shelf-life of 90 days (3.3 × 10⁸ CFU/mL) at room temperature (28 ± 1 °C). The inhibitory effect of oil formulation was tested against M. incognita by inoculating it on the egg mass. We found that colonization of the gelatinous matrix occurred on the third day of inoculation followed by complete egg parasitization on the seventh day. A greenhouse trial was laid out to evaluate the biocontrol potential of P. chlamydosporia in cucumber (Cucumis sativus). The results showed that the application of talc formulation of P. chlamydosporia at the rate of 1 kg per acre during planting, followed by delivery of 1 L of oil dispersion formulation through drip lines at 30-day intervals caused the highest reduction of nematode infestation. This treatment recorded 67.9 and 57.5% reduction in egg masses and soil nematode population respectively than that of control.     

Do aminopyridinium-based ionic liquids promising to control Culex pipiens mosquitoes in the future?

In Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Culex pipiens is considered one of the most common mosquitoes. Owing to their exceptional chemical, physical, biological, and eco-friendly properties, ionic liquids (ILs) have been recently considered promising compounds in managing a variety of organisms. Six aminopyridinium-based IL derivatives were assessed to follow their efficacy against adults of C. pipiens. Mosquitoes were treated with aminopyridinium-based IL derivatives either orally or by spraying. It was observed in the first three days of treatment that the accumulated mortality rates were generally higher in sprayed mosquitoes with IL derivatives than their accumulated mortality rates in orally treated mosquitoes with the same ILs. It was also observed that the accumulated mortalities of sprayed mosquitoes at 0.125 and 0.25 g/L were higher than those in mosquitoes orally treated with the same concentrations. The highest mortality rates were 64 and 80% for sprayed and orally treated mosquitoes, respectively. The mode of action of aminopyridinium-based IL derivatives was tracked, and it is demonstrated to be through the digestive route for orally treated mosquitoes. This is the first study to show the adulticidal effects of aminopyridinium-based ILs in controlling C. pipiens.     

传粉和非传粉榕小蜂线粒体基因组进化差异(英文)

【目的】目前关于榕小蜂类群的线粒体基因组报道很少,本研究旨在探讨传粉和非传粉榕小蜂两个群体的线粒体基因组的进化差异。【方法】以15种榕小蜂的线粒体基因组(其中11种的线粒体基因组为新测定)数据为基础,采用比较线粒体基因组学方法,分析榕小蜂的线粒体基因组序列和进化特征。【结果】本研究新测定的11个榕小蜂物种的近全长线粒体基因组的长度范围为12 768~17 060 bp,AT含量均大于80%,除了非传粉榕小蜂Philotrypesis tridentata外,其余物种的AT偏斜为负,GC偏斜为正。榕小蜂线粒体基因重排事件很丰富,并且重排情况可能会对该类群的系统发育分析具有重要的价值。进一步的选择压力分析显示,榕小蜂线粒体基因组中的蛋白质编码基因的ω值均远远小于1,表明这些基因经历了纯化选择,传粉榕小蜂线粒体基因组中的大部分基因比非传粉榕小蜂积累了更多的非同义突变。此外与非传粉榕小蜂相比,传粉榕小蜂的线粒体基因组还具有更丰富的基因重排、更高的核苷酸多态性和更高的氨基酸替换率。【结论】传粉榕小蜂比非传粉榕小蜂的线粒体基因组进化更快,这可能与两个群体显著不同的生活方式或进化史有关。     

内质网靶向纳米药物的研究进展

内质网作为真核细胞内极为重要的细胞器,在生物大分子合成与加工、物质转运、离子稳态维持、信号转导、细胞器间物质与信号交流等诸多方面发挥关键作用,其功能异常与癌症、自身免疫疾病、病原微生物感染、神经退行性疾病、糖尿病等诸多重大疾病紧密相关。随着纳米技术的不断发展,内质网靶向纳米药物的开发与应用逐渐成为生物工程、纳米医学、材料化学等领域的研究热点。文中结合近年来国内外相关研究进展,对内质网功能紊乱与疾病发生的关系、内质网靶向纳米药物的设计原理、内质网靶向纳米药物的应用进行了综述。内质网靶向纳米药物基于纳米药物载体或生物活性分子自组装原理进行设计。它们以主动或被动方式靶向内质网,通过破坏或维持内质网功能而发挥作用,在癌症靶向治疗、免疫调节、神经系统功能修复等诸多方面具有广泛的应用前景。     

Genomes of 12 fig wasps provide insights into the adaptation of pollinators to fig syconia

Figs and fig pollinators are one of the few classic textbook examples of obligate pollination mutualism. The specific dependence of fig pollinators on the relatively safe living environment with sufficient food sources in the enclosed fig syconia implies that they are vulnerable to habitat changes. However, there is still no extensive genomic evidence to reveal the evolutionary footprint of this long-term mutually beneficial symbiosis in fig pollinators. In fig syconia, there are also non-pollinator species. The non-pollinator species differ in their evolutionary and life histories from pollinators. We conducted comparative analyses on 11 newly sequenced fig wasp genomes and one previously published genome. The pollinators colonized the figs approximately 66.9 million years ago, consistent with the origin of host figs. Compared with nonpollinators, many more genes in pollinators were subject to relaxed selection. Seven genes were absent in pollinators in response to environmental stress and immune activation. Pollinators had more streamlined gene repertoires in the innate immune system, chemosensory toolbox, and detoxification system. Our results provide genomic evidence for the differentiation between pollinators and nonpollinators. The data suggest that owing to the long-term adaptation to the fig, some genes related to functions no longer required are absent in pollinators.     

膝关节内干细胞/祖细胞在软骨再生中作用研究进展

关节软骨(AC)由于缺乏血管、神经和淋巴,一旦损伤无法自我修复。虽然以外源性细胞为基础的治疗策略在一定程度上能够再生关节软骨,但仍然存在手术间隔长、供体有限、细胞体外培养易去分化和病原体传播等风险。成人膝关节存在许多类型干细胞/祖细胞(SCPCs),当软骨损伤时,就会被动员,迁移到损伤部位,参与再生修复。因此,基于趋化内源性SCPCs到损伤部位的AC原位再生修复策略,充分利用机体自我修复潜力,同时避免了外源性细胞策略的缺点,已经成为研究的热点。本综述主要介绍膝关节内SCPCs类型、迁移路径以及其在软骨损伤修复中的作用。重点介绍内源性AC再生修复策略的研究现状,以期吸引更多的研究人员参与这一有前景的研究领域。