A Model Selection Approach for the Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci in Experimental Crosses, Allowing Epistasis

The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and their interactions is a crucial step toward the discovery of genes responsible for variation in experimental crosses. The problem is best viewed as one of model selection, and the most important aspect of the problem is the comparison of models of different sizes. We present a penalized likelihood approach, with penalties on QTL and pairwise interactions chosen to control false positive rates. This extends the work of Broman and Speed to allow for pairwise interactions among QTL. A conservative version of our penalized LOD score provides strict control over the rate of extraneous QTL and interactions; a more liberal criterion is more lenient on interactions but seeks to maintain control over the rate of inclusion of false loci. The key advance is that one needs only to specify a target false positive rate rather than a prior on the number of QTL and interactions. We illustrate the use of our model selection criteria as exploratory tools; simulation studies demonstrate reasonable power to detect QTL. Our liberal criterion is comparable in power to two Bayesian approaches.     

Spectroscopic studies on the comparative interaction of cationic single-chain and gemini surfactants with human serum albumin

To gain insights into the comparative effect of single-chain/gemini surfactants on proteins and the possible implications, the interaction of human serum albumin (HSA) with cationic single-chain surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and its gemini counterpart bis(cetyldimethylammonium)butane dibromide with spacer -(CH(2))(4)- (designated as G4) using turbidity measurements, far-UV and near-UV circular dichroism (CD), intrinsic fluorescence and extrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy at pH 7.0 are reported in this contribution. A decrease of 33.5% alpha-helical content at 22.5 microM G4 was monitored compared to a 15% decrease at 2,250 microM CTAB. Against a 3.5% increase at 11,250 microM CTAB, a rise of 21.1% in the alpha-helical content was observed 375 microM G4. The result is related to the stronger electrostatic and hydrophobic forces in G4, owing to the presence of two charged headgroups and two hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails that make it to bind strongly to the protein compared to its single chain counterpart, CTAB, resulting in larger unfolding. The stabilization at higher concentrations is attributed to the highly hydrophobic microdomain of the G4 aggregates formed at such concentrations. The results of the multi-technique approach are consistent with the fact that the gemini surfactants are more efficient than their conventional single-chain counterparts and hence may be used more effectively in the renaturation of proteins produced in the genetically engineered cells via the artificial chaperone protocol, as solubilizing agents to recover proteins from insoluble inclusion bodies and in drug delivery.     

杏树吐伦球坚蚧空间分布型及抽样技术研究

应用聚集度指标和回归分析,对杏园吐伦球坚蚧Rhodococcus turanicus Arch.空间分布型进行研究,结果表明:在中度受害杏园,吐伦球坚蚧越冬若虫和初孵若虫呈聚集分布,聚集度随虫口密度增大而减小;聚集原因与吐伦球坚蚧本身的生活习性有关;确定了不同种群密度下、不同允许误差下的最适抽样数.通过对不同方位虫口密度进行数据分析,结果表明,吐伦球坚蚧若虫在杏树各方位的聚集是随机的,各方位对整体抽样均无代表性.     

Heat Shock Protein-Derived T-Cell Epitopes Contribute to Autoimmune Inflammation in Pediatric Crohn's Disease

Pediatric Crohn''s disease is a chronic auto inflammatory bowel disorder affecting children under the age of 17 years. A putative etiopathogenesis of Crohn''s disease (CD) is associated with disregulation of immune response to antigens commonly present in the gut microenvironment. Heat shock proteins (HSP) have been identified as ubiquitous antigens with the ability to modulate inflammatory responses associated with several autoimmune diseases. The present study tested the contribution of immune responses to HSP in the amplification of autoimmune inflammation in chronically inflamed mucosa of pediatric CD patients. Colonic biopsies obtained from normal and CD mucosa were stimulated with pairs of Pan HLA-DR binder HSP60-derived peptides (human/bacterial homologues). The modulation of RNA and protein levels of induced proinflammatory cytokines were measured. We identified two epitopes capable of sustaining proinflammatory responses, specifically TNF〈 and IFN© induction, in the inflamed intestinal mucosa in CD patients. The responses correlated positively with clinical and histological measurements of disease activity, thus suggesting a contribution of immune responses to HSP in pediatric CD site-specific mucosal inflammation.     

抗人Elp3 的N末端抗体制备及在染色质免疫沉淀中的应用

人 Elp3（human elongator protein 3, hElp3）具有组蛋白乙酰转移酶活性,是与延伸中的 RNA 聚合酶Ⅱ结合的 elongator 复合物的催化亚基,可参与组蛋白的乙酰化修饰与基因的转录延伸. Elp3 及其复合物功能异常与人类多种疾病相关. 为运用染色质免疫沉淀等手段深入研究 Elp3 功能,PCR 法克隆 pYES2-hElp3 质粒中编码 hElp3的N端亲水区段（1～69 氨基酸残基）,构建原核表达载体 pMXB10-hElp3-210,经 IPTG 诱导和几丁质柱纯化后,免疫兔制备多克隆抗体. ELISA 检测显示,该抗体有较高的效价(不低于1∶2　500).免疫印迹实验结果表明,该抗体可与纯化的及 HeLa 细胞中的 hElp3 蛋白特异性结合.运用该抗体对转入 elp3Δ菌株的人 Elp3 的染色质免疫沉淀实验结果表明,人 Elp3 可参与酵母 SSA3 基因的转录调控,这可能是人Elp3 能够部分补偿酵母 SSA3 基因延迟表达缺陷的原因.     

广西北海竹林三种海草种群生物量和生产力研究

采用收获法和改进的Zieman标记法,测定了2007年11月广西北海竹林海草床二药藻(Halodule uninervis)、矮人叶藻(Zostera japonica)和喜盐草(Halophila ovalis)三个种群的生物量和叶片生产力.结果表明:(1)总生物量是二药藻(198.99±22.19 g DW m-2)>矮大叶藻(184.89±21.24gDW m-2)>喜盐草(110.71 ±12.23 g DW m-2);(2)二药藻、矮大叶藻、喜盐草地下部分生物量占各自总生物量的比例分别为69.68%,47.59%,56.33%;(3)幼叶、成熟叶、衰老叶的生物量分别是矮大叶藻9.99 ±0.33 g DW m-2,26.24 ±2.34g DW m-2,38.02±1.94g DW m-2;喜盐草7.31±1.50g DW m-2,21.19±6.25 g DW m-2,19.85±3.05 g DW m-2:(4)矮大叶藻的叶片生产力(2.05±0.15 g DW m-2·d-1)大于二药藻(0.34±0.37 g DW m2·d-1).提出了根据幼叶和衰老叶生物量比值预测种群消长的建议.     

东莞市东部工业园水生态环境质量评价

对东莞市东部工业园水系的浮游藻类、浮游动物、底栖生物和水质物理化学指标进行调查和评价.3个断面共监测到浮游藻类6门56属71种;浮游动物3个门共14种;底栖动物5种.利用叶绿素a、藻类数量单项指标、生物多样性指数和水质的理化指标对水系各断面水质进行综合评价,结果显示:东引运河横沥断面和企石排污口断面水体属于中度污染,而常平排污口断面污染严重且存在较强的非营养型污染:河流沉积物污染较水体污染严重;对水体的理化污染监测分析结果与生态评价相吻合,生态评价具有较好的准确性和灵敏性.因此,工业园区的建设与运营应严格做好废水的处理工作,有效保护工业园区水系的生态环境.