Realized niche shift associated with Galinsoga quadriradiata (Asteraceae) invasion in China

粗毛牛膝菊在中国的入侵与生态位漂移有关 在外来物种入侵和扩散过程中,生态位的漂移可能起到了重要作用。粗毛牛膝菊(Galinsoga quadriradiata) 在中国已造成了较为严重的入侵,占据了许多与其原产地不同的气候区。为此,本研究力图揭示粗毛牛膝菊入侵过程中的气候生态位漂移,分析其在该物种入 侵中国过程中可能发挥的作用。本研究结合粗毛牛膝菊原 产地和入侵地的分布点与气候数据, 采用Maxent模型预测了其在中国潜在的分布,并采用主成分分析的方法评估 了在入侵中国过程中粗毛牛膝菊气候生态位的漂移。模型结果显示,该物种原产地种群和入侵地种群之间只 有32.7%的生态位重叠,两个种群的生态位相似性较低(Schoener's D = 0.093, P < 0.005),这暗示了在其入侵过程中发生了生态位漂移。相比于其原产地种群,其在中国的入侵种群气候生态位的整体范围和中心都明 显地漂移向了温度更低、降水更少的区域;中国南方大部分区域属于粗毛牛膝菊的稳定适生区,而位于入侵 前沿的北方地区则存在局域适应和潜在拓殖区域。这些研究结果说明,粗毛牛膝菊在中国的入侵种群仍处于准平衡阶段,未来有可能继续向新的适生区扩散入侵,其生态位的变化有力地解释了为什么该物种在中国的入侵性强、危害范围大。     

RBMX is a novel hepatic transcriptional regulator of SREBP-1c gene response to high-fructose diet

In rodents a high-fructose diet induces metabolic derangements similar to those in metabolic syndrome. Previously we suggested that in mouse liver an unidentified nuclear protein binding to the sterol regulatory element (SRE)-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) promoter region plays a key role for the response to high-fructose diet. Here, using MALDI-TOF MASS technique, we identified an X-chromosome-linked RNA binding motif protein (RBMX) as a new candidate molecule. In electrophoretic mobility shift assay, anti-RBMX antibody displaced the bands induced by fructose-feeding. Overexpression or suppression of RBMX on rat hepatoma cells regulated the SREBP-1c promoter activity. RBMX may control SREBP-1c expression in mouse liver in response to high-fructose diet.     

Osmotic stress blocks NF-kappaB-dependent inflammatory responses by inhibiting ubiquitination of IkappaB

The inhibitory effects of hypertonic conditions on immune responses have been described in clinical studies; however, the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon has yet to be defined. Here we investigate osmotic stress-mediated modification of the NF-kappaB pathway, a central signaling pathway in inflammation. We unexpectedly found that osmotic stress could activate IkappaBalpha kinase but did not activate NF-kappaB. Osmotic stress-induced phosphorylated IkappaBalpha was not ubiquitinated, and osmotic stress inhibited interleukin 1-induced ubiquitination of IkappaBalpha and ultimately blocked expression of cytokine/chemokines. Thus, blockage of IkappaBalpha ubiquitination is likely to be a major mechanism for inhibition of inflammation by hypertonic conditions.     

Backbone and sidechain 1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignments of the RGS domain from human RGS14

We have assigned ¹H, ¹⁵N and ¹³C resonances of the RGS domain from the human RGS14 protein, a multi-domain member of the RGS (Regulators of G-protein signalling) family of proteins, important in the down-regulation of specific G-protein signalling pathways.     

球孢白僵菌转录因子BbMSN2与其结合基序变体的结合特性分析

球孢白僵菌是一种广谱性杀虫真菌,为了探索其转录因子BbMSN2识别启动子核心序列的能力,本研究外源表达并纯化了BbMSN2蛋白,合成了3个含有不同数量核心序列(AGGGG/ CCCCT)的核酸探针和6个核心序列点突变的核酸探针,将BbMSN2蛋白和核酸探针体外结合,通过凝胶迁移实验检测核酸探针及结合蛋白的迁移情况。研究发现,目的蛋白与含有核心序列的核酸探针结合时,核酸探针发生了凝胶迁移现象,其中核心序列数量对凝胶迁移的协同效益不显著。但目的蛋白与核心序列点突变核酸探针结合时,凝胶迁移现象明显减弱。上述结果表明,转录因子BbMSN2可以和含有核心序列核酸探针结合并发生相互作用,且对识别序列具有很强的特异性。本研究为深入探索BbMSN2转录调控机制奠定了试验基础。     

Matching habitat choice promotes species persistence under climate change

Species may survive under contemporary climate change by either shifting their range or adapting locally to the warmer conditions. Theoretical and empirical studies recently underlined that dispersal, the central mechanism behind these responses, may depend on the match between an individuals’ phenotype and local environment. Such matching habitat choice is expected to induce an adaptive gene flow, but it now remains to be studied whether this local process could promote species’ responses to climate change. Here, we investigate this by developing an individual‐based model including either random dispersal or temperature‐dependent matching habitat choice. We monitored population composition and distribution through space and time under climate change. Relative to random dispersal, matching habitat choice induced an adaptive gene flow that lessened spatial range loss during climate warming by improving populations’ viability within the range (i.e. limiting range fragmentation) and by facilitating colonization of new habitats at the cold margin. The model even predicted range contraction under random dispersal but range expansion under optimal matching habitat choice. These benefits of matching habitat choice for population persistence mostly resulted from adaptive immigration decision and were greater for populations with larger dispersal distance and higher emigration probability. We also found that environmental stochasticity resulted in suboptimal matching habitat choice, decreasing the benefits of this dispersal mode under climate change. However population persistence was still better under suboptimal matching habitat choice than under random dispersal. Our results highlight the urgent need to implement more realistic mechanisms of dispersal such as matching habitat choice into models predicting the impacts of ongoing climate change on biodiversity.