UNDP与中国合作实施GEF生物多样性项目的成就与经验

全球环境基金(GEF)作为《生物多样性公约》财务机制的运行主体, 已在全球范围内实施了7个周期, 各国在执行GEF项目期间, 遇到了可持续性不强、项目设计方案复杂、期望过高等挑战。作为GEF的国际实施机构, 联合国开发计划署(UNDP)与中国政府合作, 针对各项挑战, 采取综合应对措施, 优化设计与实施的生物多样性项目取得了系列成就, 这些项目的实施是落实爱知生物多样性目标和《2011-2020年生物多样性战略计划》的有效实践并提供了成功范例。这些应对策略与成就包括: (1)撬动了中国政府5-10倍的配套资金用于生物多样性相关工作, 推动生物多样性在中国各级政府的主流化, 使得财务、制度和环境的可持续得以实现。项目贡献于国家宏观战略规划和五年计划的制订、完善法律法规、探索融资机制、推进政策导向等方面, 并将生物多样性纳入国家重要议程, 使生态文明的理念发挥政策引领作用。(2)项目从设计到执行, 充分征询利益相关者的意见, 目标的设定明智, 确保了项目的实施成效。(3)借鉴相关国家成功经验, 结合中国实际开展了诸多创新和示范。(4)提供培训、教育和广泛交流, 综合提升了生物多样性领域相关机构和人员的能力, 对于增强技术、管理、协调、协作等领域的软实力和巧实力发挥了桥梁和纽带作用。(5)利用各种窗口和平台, 广泛开展宣传推广、研讨交流等, 提高了公众对生物多样性的认知, 为长期践行可持续发展战略奠定群众基础。本文结合UNDP作为国际实施机构与相关部委和省级及地方政府共同实施的GEF生物多样性项目实践, 总结了项目的成就与经验, 期望为全球相关项目设计和实施以及2020年后全球生物多样性框架的制定提供借鉴, 以共同实现“到2050年与自然和谐相处”的愿景。     

基于CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术的本科教学实验体系的创建与实践

CRISPR/Cas9是新兴的基因编辑技术,在生命科学研究中发挥着重要的作用。将它引入本科生的实验教学,使本科生了解这项前沿科研技术很有意义。我们创建了一个基于CRISPR/ Cas9技术的本科教学实验体系。该实验体系侧重CRISPR/Cas9技术在哺乳动物细胞中的应用,选用一株基因组上被插入mCherry基因的小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞为实验材料,命名为STO-82。首先设计靶向mCherry的sgRNA,构建CRISPR-Cas9/sgRNA共表达质粒。经测序验证无误后,转染到STO-82细胞。采用流式细胞仪分析检测mCherry阴性和阳性两群细胞,分选出阴性单细胞并扩大培养。最后用测序检验单克隆细胞中靶标DNA序列的编辑情况。结果显示,靶位点有插入或缺失突变,说明体系创建成功。该实验体系将sgRNA设计、CRISPR-Cas9/sgRNA共表达质粒的构建、细胞转染、单细胞分选、单克隆细胞培养、测序序列分析等内容融合为一个综合实验,用于高年级本科生的实验教学。根据实际情况,将教学实践内容分解分块教学,也可以做完整性项目教学。本教学实践采用10人左右的小班分块教学,2人一组,经过3个班（共13组）的实践,绝大部分学生都能完成实验,得到预期结果。通过这个实验,学生加深了对CRISPR/Cas9技术的原理和实验流程的理解,锻炼了实验操作能力和严谨的科研思维,也使学生对该技术的医疗应用风险有了一些认识。     

辽宁省三级保护植物木根黄芩考证及其与京黄芩比较形态学研究

木根黄芩(Scutellaria planipes Nakai et Kitag.)是唇形科黄芩属(Scutellaria L.)多年生草本,目前仅发现在辽宁省凌源市境内有零星分布,被辽宁省列为三级保护植物。该种发表于1934年,但《中国植物志》、Flora of China、《中国生物物种名录》均将其定为京黄芩(Scutellaria pekinensis Maxim.)的异名。为了阐明二者的差异性,本文首先对木根黄芩的原始文献、模式标本、模式产地、历史分布区及现今发现地进行考证,其次对二者进行差异比较研究,认为木根黄芩与京黄芩无论在分布范围和生境上,还是在宏观外部形态和微观花粉粒形态上均存在明显差异,确定木根黄芩为独立种,同时还对木根黄芩的果实进行形态补充描述。本文确定木根黄芩独立种的地位,对保护野生木根黄芩具有重要意义,同时对其药用价值的进一步研究提供了更为清晰的样本。     

染色质重塑调控生物温度适应性的研究进展

温度是限制物种适应性分布的重要环境因子,对极端环境温度的耐受性决定生物分布和扩散范围,而表观遗传可以提供快速的响应机制,促使生物快速适应极端环境温度。染色质重塑作为表观遗传的重要组成部分之一,其可以通过调控胁迫相关基因的表达从而促进生物适应不良环境条件。本文主要阐述了染色质重塑复合物的分类、组成和染色质重塑的方式,梳理了染色质重塑在生物温度适应性中的研究进展,提出染色质重塑在生物适应不良环境温度过程中发挥重要作用,并对未来染色质重塑与温度适应性研究提出建议。     

lncRNA与miRNA相互调控作用及其与肿瘤的关系研究

长链非编码RNA (long non-coding RNA,lncRNA)是一类转录本长度大于200 bp的非编码RNA,可作为人类基因组中一类重要的调控分子通过多种方式发挥其生物学功能.近年来的研究表明,lncRNA也可以作为一种竞争性内源性RNA (competing endogenous RNA, ceRNA) 与miRNA相互作用,参与靶基因的表达调控,并在肿瘤的发生发展中发挥重要的作用.本综述在简要介绍lncRNA功能研究现状和主要研究方法的基础上,进一步分析了lncRNA与miRNA之间的互相调控关系及其在肿瘤发生发展中的作用,以便为后续的研究提供新的思路.     

Efficient rescue of threatened biodiversity data using reBiND workflows

Abstract

Biodiversity data generated in the context of research projects often lack a strategy for long-term preservation and availability, and are therefore at risk of becoming outdated and finally lost. The reBiND project aims to develop an efficient and well-documented workflow for rescuing such data sets. The workflow consists of phases for data transformation into contemporary standards, data validation, storage in a native XML database, and data publishing in international biodiversity networks. It has been developed and tested using the example of collection and observational data but is flexible enough to be transferred to other data types and domains.     

ABCG2/BCRP Dysfunction as a Major Cause of Gout

Recent genome-wide association studies showed that serum uric acid (SUA) levels relate to ABCG2/BCRP gene, which locates in a gout-susceptibility locus revealed by a genome-wide linkage study. Together with the ABCG2 characteristics, we hypothesized that ABCG2 transports urate and its dysfunction causes hyperuricemia and gout. Transport assays showed ATP-dependent transport of urate via ABCG2. Kinetic analysis revealed that ABCG2 mediates high-capacity transport of urate (Km: 8.24 ± 1.44 mM) even under high-urate conditions. Mutation analysis of ABCG2 in 90 Japanese hyperuricemia patients detected six nonsynonymous mutations, including five dysfunctional variants. Two relatively frequent dysfunctional variants, Q126X and Q141K, were then examined. Quantitative trait locus analysis of 739 Japanese individuals showed that Q141K increased SUA as the number of minor alleles of Q141K increased (p = 6.60 × 10^?5). Haplotype frequency analysis revealed that there is no simultaneous presence of Q126X and Q141K in one haplotype. Becuase Q126X and Q141K are assigned to nonfunctional and half-functional haplotypes, respectively, their genotype combinations are divided into four functional groups. The association study with 161 male gout patients and 865 male controls showed that all of those with dysfunctional ABCG2 increased the gout risk, especially those with ≤1/4 function (OR, 25.8; 95% CI, 10.3–64.6; p = 3.39 × 10^?21). These genotypes were found in 10.1% of gout patients, but in only 0.9% of control. Our function-based clinicogenetic (FBCG) analysis showed that combinations of the two dysfunctional variants are major causes of gout, thereby providing a new approach for prevention and treatment of the gout high-risk population.     

DNA methylation profiles provide a viable index for porcine pluripotent stem cells

Porcine induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide useful information for translational research. The quality of iPSCs can be assessed by their ability to differentiate into various cell types after chimera formation. However, analysis of chimera formation in pigs is a labor‐intensive and costly process, necessitating a simple evaluation method for porcine iPSCs. Our previous study identified mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC)‐specific hypomethylated loci (EShypo‐T‐DMRs), and, in this study, 36 genes selected from these were used to evaluate porcine iPSC lines. Based on the methylation profiles of the 36 genes, the iPSC line, Porco Rosso‐4, was found closest to mouse pluripotent stem cells among 5 porcine iPSCs. Moreover, Porco Rosso‐4 more efficiently contributed to the inner cell mass (ICM) of blastocysts than the iPSC line showing the lowest reprogramming of the 36 genes (Porco Rosso‐622‐14), indicating that the DNA methylation profile correlates with efficiency of ICM contribution. Furthermore, factors known to enhance iPSC quality (serum‐free medium with PD0325901 and CHIR99021) improved the methylation status at the 36 genes. Thus, the DNA methylation profile of these 36 genes is a viable index for evaluation of porcine iPSCs. genesis 51:763–776. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

THE LAKE ST. LUCIA SYSTEM—A RESEARCH ASSESSMENT

SUMMARY

This paper assesses the research undertaken at Lake St. Lucia over the past 25 years based on over 300 documents from that period. Trends related to both time and subject matter are evident, and these are considered in relation to the gaps in our current knowledge concerning the system.

A feature evident throughout the period under consideration is that the major portion of documented material available relates to reports and contributions to workshops (77%) with only 23% from scientific publications. Contributions by these two sources to the subject group being considered for St. Lucia are markedly different with research publications dominating the biological field and reports dominating in physical aspects, catchment characteristics, man's activities, management, dredging and hydrological modelling. However, some 55% of all unpublished data related to reviews or assessments of the state of research on St. Lucia.

The importance of the scientific publications group as an indicator of the state of research into the system is considered in the light of an apparent decline in the number of completed projects being published. It is also considered in the light of the recent establishment of a co-ordinated Lake St. Lucia Research Programme, which may provide the impetus for a more concentrated and directed research effort on the Lake System.     

Clinical and public health research using methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation (MeDIP): A comparison of commercially available kits to examine differential DNA methylation across the genome

The methylated DNA immunoprecipitation method (MeDIP) is a genome-wide, high-resolution approach that detects DNA methylation with oligonucleotide tiling arrays or high throughput sequencing platforms. A simplified high-throughput MeDIP assay will enable translational research studies in clinics and populations, which will greatly enhance our understanding of the human methylome. We compared three commercial kits, MagMeDIP Kit TM (Diagenode), Methylated-DNA IP Kit (Zymo Research) and Methylamp? Methylated DNA Capture Kit (Epigentek), in order to identify which one has better reliability and sensitivity for genomic DNA enrichment. Each kit was used to enrich two samples, one from fresh tissue and one from a cell line, with two different DNA amounts. The enrichment efficiency of each kit was evaluated by agarose gel band intensity after Nco I digestion and by reaction yield of methylated DNA. A successful enrichment is expected to have a 1:4 to 10:1 conversion ratio and a yield of 80% or higher. We also evaluated the hybridization efficiency to genome-wide methylation arrays in a separate cohort of tissue samples. We observed that the MagMeDIP kit had the highest yield for the two DNA amounts and for both the tissue and cell line samples, as well as for the positive control. In addition, the DNA was successfully enriched from a 1:4 to 10:1 ratio. Therefore, the MagMeDIP kit is a useful research tool that will enable clinical and public health genome-wide DNA methylation studies.