鲇（♀）× 南方鲇（♂）杂交F1胚胎发育观察

通过人工授精获得鲇(Silurus asotus)♀×南方鲇(Silurus meridionalis)♂杂交受精卵,对杂交F1胚胎发育进行了观察和记录,以期了解杂交鲇早期发育特征并进一步验证鲇与南方鲇杂交的可行性。用0.3%胰蛋白酶液对受精卵进行脱黏处理,在Leica MZ16 A体式显微镜下进行观察和拍照。早期每隔15 min观察一次,发育至原肠胚阶段后每隔30 min观察一次。受精卵及胚体大小长度等用Leica DC500照相系统自带软件进行测量。结果表明,鲇(♀)×南方鲇(♂)杂交受精卵呈圆球形,草绿色,吸水后膨胀,卵径(2.50±0.14)mm,卵膜外形成一层较厚胶膜且黏性较强。在水温(24.5±0.6)℃的情况下,受精卵在受精后48 min形成胚盘,1 h 35 min开始卵裂,4 h 23 min进入囊胚期,7 h 22 min时达到原肠胚期,11 h 23 min发育至神经胚期,随后进入器官分化和逐渐完善的阶段,28 h 49 min开始出膜,40 h 33 min全部出膜。杂交胚胎的平均受精率为89.7%,孵化率为55.3%,初孵仔鱼畸形率为5.9%,表明南方鲇与鲇的精卵不亲和性程度较小,二者杂交可行。总体上看,鲇(♀)×南方鲇(♂)杂交F1胚胎发育时序、器官分化进程与其母本鲇基本相同,呈现"偏母遗传"特征。     

Array CGH analysis of a cohort of Russian patients with intellectual disability

The use of array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) as a diagnostic tool in molecular genetics has facilitated the identification of many new microdeletion/microduplication syndromes (MMSs). Furthermore, this method has allowed for the identification of copy number variations (CNVs) whose pathogenic role has yet to be uncovered. Here, we report on our application of array CGH for the identification of pathogenic CNVs in 79 Russian children with intellectual disability (ID). Twenty-six pathogenic or likely pathogenic changes in copy number were detected in 22 patients (28%): 8 CNVs corresponded to known MMSs, and 17 were not associated with previously described syndromes. In this report, we describe our findings and comment on genes potentially associated with ID that are located within the CNV regions.     

Hypoglycosylation of dystroglycan due to T192M mutation: A molecular insight behind the fact

Abnormal glycosylation of dystroglycan (DG), a transmembrane glycoprotein, results in a group of diseases known as dystroglycanopathy. A severe dystroglycanopathy known as the limb girdle disease MDDGC9 [OMIM: 613818] occurs as a result of hypoglycosylation of alpha subunit of DG. Reasons behind this has been traced back to a point mutation (T192M) in DG that leads to weakening of interactions of DG protein with laminin and subsequent loss of signal flow through the DG protein. In this work we have tried to analyze the molecular details of the interactions between DG and laminin1 in order to propose a mechanism about the onset of the disease MDDGC9. We have observed noticeable changes between the modeled structures of wild type and mutant DG proteins. We also have employed molecular docking techniques to study and compare the binding interactions between laminin1 and both the wild type and mutant DG proteins. The docking simulations have revealed that the mutant DG has weaker interactions with laminin1 as compared to the wild type DG. Till date there are no previous reports that deal with the elucidation of the interactions of DG with laminin1 from the molecular level. Our study is therefore the first of its kind which analyzes the differences in binding patterns of laminin1 with both the wild type and mutant DG proteins. Our work would therefore facilitate analysis of the molecular mechanism of the disease MDDGC9. Future work based on our results may be useful for the development of suitable drugs against this disease.     

NextGen sequencing reveals short double crossovers contribute disproportionately to genetic diversity in Toxoplasma gondii

Background

Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread protozoan parasite of animals that causes zoonotic disease in humans. Three clonal variants predominate in North America and Europe, while South American strains are genetically diverse, and undergo more frequent recombination. All three northern clonal variants share a monomorphic version of chromosome Ia (ChrIa), which is also found in unrelated, but successful southern lineages. Although this pattern could reflect a selective advantage, it might also arise from non-Mendelian segregation during meiosis. To understand the inheritance of ChrIa, we performed a genetic cross between the northern clonal type 2 ME49 strain and a divergent southern type 10 strain called VAND, which harbors a divergent ChrIa.

Results

NextGen sequencing of haploid F1 progeny was used to generate a genetic map revealing a low level of conventional recombination, with an unexpectedly high frequency of short, double crossovers. Notably, both the monomorphic and divergent versions of ChrIa were isolated with equal frequency. As well, ChrIa showed no evidence of being a sex chromosome, of harboring an inversion, or distorting patterns of segregation. Although VAND was unable to self fertilize in the cat, it underwent successful out-crossing with ME49 and hybrid survival was strongly associated with inheritance of ChrIII from ME49 and ChrIb from VAND.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the successful spread of the monomorphic ChrIa in the wild has not been driven by meiotic drive or related processes, but rather is due to a fitness advantage. As well, the high frequency of short double crossovers is expected to greatly increase genetic diversity among progeny from genetic crosses, thereby providing an unexpected and likely important source of diversity.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-1168) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Revisiting telegony: offspring inherit an acquired characteristic of their mother's previous mate

Newly discovered non‐genetic mechanisms break the link between genes and inheritance, thereby also raising the possibility that previous mating partners could influence traits in offspring sired by subsequent males that mate with the same female (‘telegony’). In the fly Telostylinus angusticollis, males transmit their environmentally acquired condition via paternal effects on offspring body size. We manipulated male condition, and mated females to two males in high or low condition in a fully crossed design. Although the second male sired a large majority of offspring, offspring body size was influenced by the condition of the first male. This effect was not observed when females were exposed to the first male without mating, implicating semen‐mediated effects rather than female differential allocation based on pre‐mating assessment of male quality. Our results reveal a novel type of transgenerational effect with potential implications for the evolution of reproductive strategies.     

Characterization of microsatellite markers in Fagus sylvatica L. and Fagus orientalis Lipsky

Using an enrichment procedure, we cloned microsatellite repeats from European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and developed primers for the amplification of microsatellite markers. Six polymorphic loci were characterized which produced 3–21 alleles in 70 individuals from one Italian population, with an observed heterozygosity between 0.58 and 0.85. All six loci amplified fragments which were polymorphic in the closely related species, Fagus orientalis, also. Owing to their very high degree of variation, these markers should be very useful in gene flow studies of these species.     

光温敏雄性不育水稻不育临界温度性状的遗传分析

光温敏不育系不育临界温度性状的稳定非常困难,其根本原因在于对这一性状的遗传模式缺乏了解。从粳型光敏不育系N5088S中分离出仅存在临界温度差异的H5088S株系,以两者为亲本,构建了包括正反交、回交及F2分离群体在内的7世代群体。将每粒谷苗一分为四而形成基因型构成相同的4套材料,每套材料进行不同温度处理,以花粉育性为指标采用IECM算法进行遗传分析。结果表明：四种温度条件下,正、反交F1育性差异不明显,表现低临界温度特性;F2在不同温度下育性分离比例不同,23.5℃处理下低临界温度对高临界温度为显性;不育临界温度符合两对主效基因和微效基因共同作用的混合遗传模型,主效基因的遗传力为80％-97％。     

Physiological root responses of iron deficiency susceptible and tolerant tomato genotypes and their reciprocal F1 hybrids

By using two tomato genotypes line 227/1 (Fe chlorosis susceptible) and Roza (Fe chlorosis tolerant) and their reciprocal F₁hybrid, some root morphological changes, pH changes of nutrient solution, reduction capacity of Fe^III and uptake and root-to-shoot translocation of ⁵⁹Fe were studied under controlled environmental conditions in nutrient solution with 3 different Fe supplies as Fe EDDHA (i.e., 10^–7 M, severe Fe deficiency; 10^–6 M, intermediate Fe deficiency; 10^–4 M, adequate Fe supply). Tolerant parent `Roza' was less affected by low Fe supply than susceptible parent `line 227/1' as judged from the severity of leaf chlorosis. Under both Fe deficient conditions there were no differences between the reciprocal hybrids concerning the appearance of chlorosis. Under intermediate Fe deficiency, reciprocal F₁ hybrids (`line 227/1 × Roza' and `Roza × line' 227/1) showed an intermediate chlorosis between tolerant and susceptible parents. However, under severe Fe deficiency the reciprocal hybrids were more chlorotic than the tolerant parent irrespective of which parent was the cytoplasm contributor. A decreased Fe supply during preculture enhanced Fe^III reduction capacities of the parents and reciprocal hybrids. Differences in the tolerance to Fe deficiency always were better correlated with Fe^III reduction capacity of the genotypes than the Fe deficiency-induced release of H⁺ ions. Under both Fe deficient conditions the tolerant parent Roza had a much higher Fe^III reduction capacity than the susceptible parent line 227/1. The reduction capacity of the hybrids `Roza × line 227/1' was very similar to the capacity of the parent Roza, but higher than the capacity of the hybrids `line 227/1×Roza' at both Fe-deficient conditions. Under both Fe deficient conditions tolerant parent had higher number of lateral roots than the susceptible parent. Among the reciprocal hybrids `Roza × line 227/1' possessed more lateral roots than the `line 227/1 × Roza' under both Fe deficient conditions. Low Fe nutritional status resulted in marked increase in root uptake of ⁵⁹Fe. At adequate Fe supply, reciprocal hybrids and their parents did not differ in uptake and root-to-shoot translocation of Fe. However, under Fe-deficient conditions uptake and root-to-shoot translocation of ⁵⁹Fe were significantly higher in the Fe chlorosis tolerant than the susceptible parent. Based on the reduction capacity of Fe^III and uptake and root-to-shoot translocation of Fe, the F₁ hybrids obtained from the cross in which the maternal genotype was Roza appeared to be more tolerant than when the maternal genotype was the susceptible line 227/1. Uptake and translocation ratio of the F₁ hybrids obtained from `Roza × line 227/1' were similar to those of the parent Roza, but higher than the F<sub>1</sub> hybrids obtained from `line 227/1 × Roza', particularly under intermediate Fe deficiency. The results indicate that Fe^III reduction show a better relationship to Fe efficiency than Fe deficiency induced release of H⁺ ions. The inheritance of Fe deficiency tolerance of Roza seems not to be simple monogenic. It might be characterised by both, nuclear and extranuclear heredity. The intermediate responses of the reciprocal hybrids of the `line 227/1 × Roza' indicates that the Fe deficiency tolerance character of Roza is transferable by nuclear heredity. The better responses of the hybrids of `Roza × line 227/1' than the hybrids of `line 227/1 × Roza' may be due to maternal transmission from the parent Roza besides the nuclear transmission.     

孟德尔定律的发展与扩充

随着分子遗传学研究的不断深入,遗传学特别是医学遗传学的一些遗传现象,经典的盂德尔式遗传理论不能解释,本文试图介绍这方面的新的进展和成就。