High expression of tumor endothelial marker 7 is associated with metastasis and poor survival of patients with osteogenic sarcoma

Our objective is to identify genes regulating metastasis of osteogenic sarcoma (OGS) since metastasis is the primary cause of mortality among patients with OGS. To identify such genes, we first created a database of differentially expressed genes between six low-grade and six high-grade OGS tumors, and between a normal immortalized osteoblast cell line (FOB) and four commercially available OGS-derived cell lines. We specifically searched for surface proteins over-expressed in high-grade OGS, since we hypothesize that tumor-cell specific surface markers are key to metastasis. A gene encoding Tumor Endothelial Marker7 (TEM7) was selected as a candidate for further study. TEM7 expression pattern was assessed by RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunostaining. TEM7 mRNA was abundantly expressed in SAOS cells (derived from high-grade OGS), but not in FOB or MG63 cells (derived from low-grade OGS). Virtually no expression of TEM7 protein was observed in FOB cells but abundant expression was noted in SAOS and TE85 cells. Employing immunostaining of 92 human OGS specimens (50 high-grade and 42 low-grade) collected before chemotherapy show 97% (37 of 38) of high-grade OGS specimens with metastasis have high TEM7 staining. Further, we found that elevated expression of TEM7 correlated with poor survival (p<0.04) of affected patients. Inhibiting TEM7 function by siRNA inhibited invasion and migration of OGS cells with metastatic potential. Our results suggest TEM7 expression level closely parallels histology-based prognostication of OGS metastasis and, therefore, it is a therapeutic target. This is the first demonstration of a link between TEM7 and cancer metastasis.     

猪F2设计资源家系中4条染色体微卫星标记分析

利用中国地方猪种蓝塘猪(16头母猪)与外来品种长白猪(8头公猪)按F2设计建立资源家系, 根据美国肉畜中心(USDA-MARC 2.0)公布的猪连锁图谱, 在1、4、7和8号染色体上间隔10~20 cM选择一个微卫星标记, 共31个标记, 采用WAVEÒ核苷酸片段分析系统和ABI 377 DNA序列分析仪检测资源群体的P、F1和F2代个体微卫星的基因型, 对其基因频率、杂合度和多态信息含量等进行统计分析。结果发现: 利用ABI 377检测的猪1、4和8号染色体上的有效微卫星标记21个, 其中13个标记的18个等位基因片段大小超过了网上已报道的结果, 发现新等位基因的标记占62%; 在31个微卫星标记中, 杂合度(h)在0.043~0.7855之间, 总平均杂合度为0.6460, 其中70%座位的h>0.60; 总平均多态信息含量(PIC)为0.5949, 有77.4%位点的PIC>0.5。统计分析结果表明, 选用的微卫星标记能够较好地提供标记信息, 为进一步在该家系中进行猪重要性状的QTL定位打下了良好的基础。     

A novel approach for the identification of bacterial taxa-specific molecular markers

AIMS: To develop and establish a methodology for an oriented and fast identification of species taxa-specific molecular markers useful for the identification of micro-organisms. METHODS AND RESULTS: From the complete microbial genomes available in Pfam database, taxa-specific protein domains were identified which lead to the selection of taxa-specific loci. This strategy was used to identify six genetic markers: four specific for Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, one specific for P. syringae pv. syringae and one specific for P. putida. The discriminatory potential of these loci was evaluated by Southern hybridization using several pseudomonad species and pathovars, by dot-blot hybridization and by multiplex PCR optimized for the simultaneous detection of P. putida, P. syringae pv. syringae and P. syringae pv. tomato. Sensitivity assays indicated a detection limit of approximately 10 pg of chromosomal DNA template needed for each bacterium. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed methodology was efficient on the selection of six Pseudomonas-specific markers able to discriminate Pseudomonas at the species and pathovar level. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The oriented search of taxa-specific molecular probes described in this work, which can be easily extended to other groups of bacteria, will improve the accuracy and expedite the identification of micro-organisms by DNA-based molecular methods.     

利用AFLP分子标记探讨蜡梅种质资源的遗传多样性

利用AFLP分子标记技术,对中国蜡梅种质资源7个野生种群的遗传多样性进行了研究。利用筛选出的3对引物,共扩增出253条谱带,其中218条多态带,多态位点占86.17% ;种群间的基因分化系数为0.2906,说明蜡梅基因多样性主要存在于种群内;种群总的Nei s基因多样性指数为0.2933,Shannon信息多态性指数为0.4487,蜡梅总的遗传多样性水平较高。蜡梅不同种群遗传多样性水平差异较大,种群多态位点百分率在65.44% ～87.16%之间,Nei s基因多样性指数为0.1653 ～0.4012,Shannon信息多态性指数为0.3132 ～0.5603。神农架种群(SN)和保康种群(BK)的遗传多样性水平较高。用NTSYS2.01版软件对样品进行UPGMA聚类分析,结果7个种群并没有按地理距离进行聚类。最后提出要对各蜡梅野生群体采取相应的迁地和就地保护措施。     

葫芦科瓜类作物分子标记辅助育种研究进展

综述了几种常用分子标记在葫芦科瓜类作物遗传图谱构建、重要性状基因定位、遗传多样性及亲缘关系分析、分子标记辅助选择及在葫芦科遗传育种中的应用,对目前葫芦科遗传育种中应用分子标记技术存在的问题和解决方案进行了探讨,并对葫芦科分子标记辅助育种的前景做了展望。     

Application of artificial neural network coupling particle swarm optimization algorithm to biocatalytic production of GABA

The biotransformation of L-sodium glutamate (L-MSG) to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) catalyzed by the cells of Lactobacillus brevis with higher glutamate decarboxylase activity was investigated. The results showed that pH, temperature, and FeSO(4) x 7H(2)O concentration had significantly positive effect on GABA yield. The individual and interactive effects of pH, temperature, and FeSO(4) x 7H(2)O concentration were further optimized in terms of GABA yield. In the present work, an artificial neural network (ANN) and response surface methodology (RSM) models were developed, which incorporated pH, temperature, and FeSO(4) x 7H(2)O concentration as input variables, and GABA yield as output variable. The optimized ANN topology included four neurons in the hidden layer and the best network architecture was 3-4-1. The trained ANN gave total root-mean square error (sigma) equal to 1.84 for GABA yield while the RSM gave sigma equal to 2.63. The results demonstrated a slightly higher prediction accuracy of ANN compared to RSM. The modeled maximum GABA yield was identified by applying particle swarm optimization algorithm to the ANN model developed. The modeled maximum GABA yield reached 91 mM under the following optimal conditions: 25 mL Na(2)HPO(4)-citric acid buffer (100 mM, pH 4.23), 120 mM L-MSG, 0.83 g/L FeSO(4) x 7H(2)O, 10 microM PLP, the resting cells obtained from a 60-h culture broth, 2.68 g dry cell weight (DCW)/L, and without agitation at 40 degrees C for 5 h. The previous high value of GABA yield that was observed was 81.8 mM. The optimized conditions allowed GABA yield to be increased from 81.8 to 90.57 mM after verification experiments test.     

Fetal muscle-derived cells can repair dystrophic muscles in mdx mice

We have previously reported that CD34(+) cells purified from mouse fetal muscles can differentiate into skeletal muscle in vitro and in vivo when injected into muscle tissue of dystrophic mdx mice. In this study, we investigate the ability of such donor cells to restore dystrophin expression, and to improve the functional muscle capacity of the extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL) of mdx mice. For this purpose green fluorescent-positive fetal GFP(+)/CD34(+) cells or desmin(+)/(-)LacZ/CD34(+) cells were transplanted into irradiated or non-irradiated mdx EDL muscle. Donor fetal muscle-derived cells predominantly fused with existing fibers. Indeed more than 50% of the myofibers of the host EDL contained donor nuclei delivering dystrophin along 80-90% of the length of their sarcolemma. The presence of significant amounts of dystrophin (about 60-70% of that found in a control wild-type mouse muscle) was confirmed by Western blot analyses. Dystrophin expression also outcompeted that of utrophin, as revealed by a spatial shift in the distribution of utrophin. At 1 month post-transplant, the recipient muscle appeared to have greater resistance to fatigue than control mdx EDL muscle during repeated maximal contractions.     

稻瘟病菌群体遗传结构的研究进展

稻梨孢引起的稻瘟病是世界水稻生产的最重要病害,严重影响水稻的产量和米质。文中综述了分子标记技术在稻瘟病菌群体遗传结构研究上的应用,分析了病原菌遗传宗谱的特点及其与致病谱的关系,探讨了导致稻瘟病菌群体遗传结构发生变化的相关因素。     

利用微卫星多重PCR技术鉴定剑尾鱼RR-B系

目的建立多重PCR技术鉴定选育剑尾鱼RR-B系的方法。方法根据可明显鉴定剑尾鱼RR-B系的6对特异性微卫星引物Msa012、Msa014、Msa033、Msb025、Msd003、Msd051,采用不同的组合方式对RR-B系剑尾鱼和红眼红体的非选育剑尾鱼进行多重PCR扩增。结果引物组合1(Msa014、Msb025、Msd003)和组合2(Msa012、Msa033、Msd051)两个三重PCR反应体系能清楚的扩增各个微卫星座位,且各目的片段之间无干扰,易于识别,引物组合1的排除概率为99.98%,引物组合2的排除概率为99.96%,能准确鉴定剑尾鱼RR-B系。结论本检测方法具有较高的稳定性,可快速准确鉴定剑尾鱼RR-B系。