What limits meiotic crossovers?

Comment on: Crismani W, et al. Science 2012; 336:1588-90.     

Apparent gene conversion in an Escherichia coli rec+ strain is explained by multiple rounds of reciprocal crossing-over

Summary Gene conversion, the non-reciprocal transfer of sequence information between homologous DNA sequences, has been reported in lower eukaryotes, mammals and in Escherichia coli. In an E. coli rec ⁺ strain, we established a plasmid carrying two different deleted neo genes (neoDL and neoDR) in an inverted orientation and then selected for homologous recombination events that had reconstructed an intact neo ⁺ gene. We found some plasmids that had apparently experienced intramolecular gene conversion. Further evidence, however, suggests that they are products of multiple rounds of reciprocal crossing-over,apparently involving two plasmid molecules. First, most of the Neo⁺ clones contained multiple types of Neo⁺ plasmids, although the frequency of producing the neo ⁺ clones was low. Second, all the neo ⁺ clones also contained, as a minority, one particular form of dimer, which can be formed by reciprocal crossing-over between neoDL of one plasmid molecule and neoDR of another plasmid molecule. Third, in reconstruction experiments, we cloned and purified this dimer and transferred it back into the rec ⁺ cells. The dimer gave rise to clones containing multiple types of neo ⁺ recombinant monomers, including those apparent gene conversion types, and containing only few molecules of this dimer plasmid.     

Recombination of repeat elements generates somatic complexity in human genomes

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乳酸菌基因改造技术研究进展

乳酸菌是一类革兰氏阳性、不产芽孢、兼性厌氧、发酵多种碳源产乳酸的重要工业微生物之一,广泛应用于食品、医药及化学品的生产当中。随着乳酸菌工业化应用范畴的不断拓展,乳酸菌生理生化特性、酸耐受特性,代谢途径及产酸调控机理的研究受到广泛关注。因此,建立稳定、高效的乳酸菌基因编辑方法,借助基因编辑技术来解析代谢关键基因及基因网络的功能,调控代谢途径,十分必要。对乳酸菌基因编辑技术的研究进展做一综述,并对乳酸菌基因编辑技术的未来研究方向进行展望。     

Unifying Charge Generation,Recombination, and Extraction in Low‐Offset Non‐Fullerene Acceptor Organic Solar Cells

Even though significant breakthroughs with over 18% power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in polymer:non‐fullerene acceptor (NFA) bulk heterojunction organic solar cells (OSCs) have been achieved, not many studies have focused on acquiring a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms governing these systems. This is because it can be challenging to delineate device photophysics in polymer:NFA blends comprehensively, and even more complicated to trace the origins of the differences in device photophysics to the subtle differences in energetics and morphology. Here, a systematic study of a series of polymer:NFA blends is conducted to unify and correlate the cumulative effects of i) voltage losses, ii) charge generation efficiencies, iii) non‐geminate recombination and extraction dynamics, and iv) nuanced morphological differences with device performances. Most importantly, a deconvolution of the major loss processes in polymer:NFA blends and their connections to the complex BHJ morphology and energetics are established. An extension to advanced morphological techniques, such as solid‐state NMR (for atomic level insights on the local ordering and donor:acceptor π? π interactions) and resonant soft X‐ray scattering (for donor and acceptor interfacial area and domain spacings), provide detailed insights on how efficient charge generation, transport, and extraction processes can outweigh increased voltage losses to yield high PCEs.     

How to Report Record Open‐Circuit Voltages in Lead‐Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

Open‐circuit voltages of lead‐halide perovskite solar cells are improving rapidly and are approaching the thermodynamic limit. Since many different perovskite compositions with different bandgap energies are actively being investigated, it is not straightforward to compare the open‐circuit voltages between these devices as long as a consistent method of referencing is missing. For the purpose of comparing open‐circuit voltages and identifying outstanding values, it is imperative to use a unique, generally accepted way of calculating the thermodynamic limit, which is currently not the case. Here a meta‐analysis of methods to determine the bandgap and a radiative limit for open‐circuit voltage is presented. The differences between the methods are analyzed and an easily applicable approach based on the solar cell quantum efficiency as a general reference is proposed.     

超声技术在抑郁症诊疗中的作用研究及应用进展

超声波作为一种机械振动波,兼具波动效应、力学效应和热效应.这3种效应在临床中均有较大应用价值,可用于疾病的成像诊断、辅助给药、调控以及热消融治疗等.超声技术所具有的非侵入性、穿透力强、空间分辨率高等特性,使其在神经系统疾病的诊断和治疗中具有广泛的应用前景.而抑郁症作为一种常见的精神疾病,其诊断和治疗都面临很大的困难.因此,大量学者将超声技术应用于抑郁症诊疗.本文主要从超声成像、超声定点给药、超声调控、超声诱导抑郁几个方面总结近十年来超声技术在抑郁症中的应用,以期为研究抑郁症发病机制及诊疗提供一定的参考和帮助.     

基于pDS132的基因敲除中创伤弧菌氯霉素的耐药性变化及影响

【背景】基于自杀载体的基因敲除在单基因敲除上的应用较为常见,但在多基因敲除过程中细菌耐药性的变化及对后续敲除的影响尚未明确。【目的】探究基于自杀载体pDS132的创伤弧菌vvhA与rtxA1双基因敲除株构建过程中,创伤弧菌对氯霉素耐药性的变化及对后续基因敲除的影响。【方法】基于自杀载体pDS132的同源重组法构建创伤弧菌YJ016的单基因敲除株YJ016-ΔvvhA、YJ016-ΔrtxA1和双基因敲除株YJ016-ΔvvhAΔrtxA1,记录单交换筛选时的氯霉素浓度与筛选平板上成功重组的菌株所占比例。琼脂稀释法测定野生型与敲除株的氯霉素最低抑菌浓度(Minimum InhibitoryConcentration,MIC)和抗性突变频率,纸片扩散法测定菌株对其他药物的敏感性,分析其对单交换筛选的影响。【结果】单基因敲除株的氯霉素MIC及氯霉素抗性突变频率高于野生型;双基因敲除株的庆大霉素抑菌圈直径小于野生型。单基因敲除时,单交换重组菌株的占比为100%(20/20);在YJ016-ΔvvhA上敲除rtxA1基因,氯霉素筛选浓度为2、4μg/mL时,单交换重组菌株的占比分别为40%(8/20)、5%(1/20);在YJ016-ΔrtxA1上敲除vvhA基因,氯霉素筛选浓度为2、4μg/mL时,单交换重组菌株的占比均为0%(0/20)。【结论】基于自杀载体pDS132的基因敲除中创伤弧菌氯霉素的耐药性升高,可能影响后续单交换重组的筛选,该结果为基于自杀载体的同源重组技术应用于多基因敲除提供了参考。     

Offspring performance and female preference of Pagiophloeus tsushimanus (coleoptera: curculionidae) on three Lauraceae tree species: A potential risk of host shift caused by larval experience

The weevil Pagiophloeus tsushimanus Morimoto (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), native to Eastern Asia, is a wood-boring pest that causes severe damage to camphor trees (Cinnamomum sp.) in Shanghai, China. Other Lauraceae tree species that grew sympatrically with this pest in close proximity could face a potential threat. To assess the potential risks of host shift, we explored the phenotypic associations between preference and performance in P. tsushimanus reared on three Lauraceae tree species. In a no-choice experiment offering branches of each plant as diet material and oviposition sites, we found that individuals reared on Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl (Laurales: Lauraceae) exhibited the strongest performance with shorter development time, higher survival and growth rate in the immature stage, longer longevity and greater fecundity in adults. In contrast, those on novel Lauraceae tree species (Cinnamomum chekiangensis Nakai and Phoebe chekiangensis Shang) had difficulty completing their whole life cycle due to significantly lower survival and reproduction. In a multiple-choice experiment, C. camphora was established as the preferred host. However, we found that the larval experiences on the non-preferred host plants contributed to an increased preference for that plant species. These results indicated that both the preference-performance hypothesis and the Hopkins’ host selection principle are applicable in this weevil under experimental conditions. It is possible that although the weevil performed poorly on two novel Lauraceae tree species, under favourable conditions their surviving offspring could evolve into a new host-specific population. Consequently, this weevil pest needs to be monitored on these novel Lauraceae tree species.