High Altitude Frogs (Rana kukonoris) Adopt a Diversified Bethedging Strategy in the Face of Environmental Unpredictability

Environmental unpredictability can influence strategies of maternal investment among eggs within a clutch. Models predict that breeding females should adopt a diversified bet-hedging strategy in unpredictable environments, but empirical field evidence from Asia is scarce. Here we tested this hypothesis by exploring spatial patterns in egg size along an altitudinal gradient in a frog species(Rana kukunoris) inhabiting the Tibetan Plateau. Within-clutch variability in egg size increased as the environment became variable(e.g., lower mean monthly temperature and mean monthly rainfall at higher altitudes), and populations in environments with more unpredictable rainfall produced eggs that were smaller and more variable in size. We provide support for a diversified bet-hedging strategy in high-altitude environments, which experience dynamic weather patterns and therefore are of unpredictable environmental quality. This strategy may be an adaptive response to lower environmental quality and higher unpredictable environmental variance. Such a strategy should increase the likelihood of breeding success and maximize maternal lifetime fitness by producing offspring that are adapted to current environmental conditions. We speculate that in high-altitude environments prone to physical disturbance, breeding females are unable to consistently produce the optimal egg size due to physiological constraints imposed by environmental conditions(e.g., duration of the active season, food availability). Species and populations whose breeding strategies are adapted to cope with uncertain environmental conditions by adjusting offspring size and therefore quality show a remarkable degree of ability to cope with future climatic changes.     

Isoliquiritigenin prevents hyperglycemia-induced renal injuries by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress via SIRT1-dependent mechanism

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) as a global health concern is closely related to inflammation and oxidation. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a natural flavonoid compound, has been demonstrated to inhibit inflammation in macrophages. Herein, we investigated the effect of ISL in protecting against the injury in STZ-induced type 1 DN and in high glucose-induced NRK-52E cells. In this study, it was revealed that the administration of ISL not only ameliorated renal fibrosis and apoptosis, but also induced the deterioration of renal function in diabetic mice. Mediated by MAPKs and Nrf-2 signaling pathways, respectively, upstream inflammatory response and oxidative stress were neutralized by ISL in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, as further revealed by the results of molecular docking, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) binds to ISL directly, and the involvement of SIRT1 in ISL-mediated renoprotective effects was confirmed by studies using in vitro models of SIRT1 overexpression and knockdown. In summary, by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, ISL has a significant pharmacological effect on the deterioration of DN. The benefits of ISL are associated with the direct binding to SIRT1, the inhibition of MAPK activation, and the induction of Nrf-2 signaling, suggesting the potential of ISL for DN treatment.Subject terms: Pharmacology, Molecular biology     

H.pylori可塑区tfs3a分泌系统virB2基因功能

目的对virB2基因编码蛋白进行分析,为virB2基因及其编码蛋白功能提供实验依据。方法利用多种生物学软件以及网站对VirB2蛋白的结构和功能进行分析预测,VirB2蛋白序列通过基因推导获得并由生物公司合成,然后通过免疫动物实验制备鼠抗VirB2蛋白多克隆抗体,同时设计进行VirB2蛋白细胞毒试验(MTT法)。结果virB2基因编码蛋白属于疏水性蛋白,为鞭毛样结构,有较强的细胞毒作用。结论对VirB2蛋白的结构和功能进行了分析预测,证明VirB2蛋白在H.pylori相关的致病性特别是引起胃黏膜炎症方面起到一定的作用,能够为研究H.pylori致病机制提供帮助。     

数种昆虫5S rRNA结构特点的比较

比较已知结构的昆虫5S rRNA的核苷酸顺序,发现同科、同目的昆虫比不同科、不同目的昆虫有较少的核苷酸差别.根据Kimura和Ohta(1972)提出的经验公式,绘制了数种昆虫的系统发育图.结果表明,从分子进化得到的结论和经典分类基本上是一致的.根据DeWachter等(1982)提出的二级结构模型,归纳分析这些昆虫5S rRNA,发现保守位点与半保守位点(同一位点仅出现二种核苷酸残基)之和几乎占整个5S rRNA分子的100%.     

棉酚对几种动物精子ATP酶抑制作用的比较研究

本文比较了棉酚对几种动物精子ATP酶的抑制作用。实验所测为精子细胞的总ATP酶活力;采用的棉酚浓度为10μM至80μM。20μM时精子酶的相对活力为海胆7604％,大鼠74％,家兔51.6％;40μM时酶的相对活力百分数下降至海胆52.5,大鼠35和家兔29.7;达80μM时酶的相对活力进一步下降至海胆26.7,而大鼠及家兔仅余13.2。结果表明(1)棉酚对精于ATP酶的抑制作用是依赖浓度的变化;(2)各种动物精子ATP酶活力的下降情况显示,大鼠及家兔(哺乳动物)精子ATP酶对棉酚的敏感性比海胆(无脊椎动物)要高些。这种差异性可能对棉酚在临床上的应用具有一定的参考价值。     

水稻二九南1号雄性不育系及相应保持系一些生化性状的比较

为研究高等植物雄性不育特性的遗传本质,我们以具有野败型不育细胞质、细胞核相同的水稻二九南一号(Oryza sativasubsp.Indica)雄性不育系、保持系为材料,分析了不同生长发育阶段正、负极向过氧化物酶、β-淀粉酶、酯酶同工酶和可溶性叶蛋白,结果初报如下。一、正、负极向过氧化物酶同工酶所分析的7个组织(根、茎、叶、芽鞘、胚轴、花药、胚乳)中不育系与保持     

油桐尺蠖的生物学和防治

油桐尺蠖主要为害茶叶和油桐。1979年,湖南网岭数百亩茶园被该虫毁灭。近年来,有人从该虫尸体上分离出核型多角体病毒(以上简称NPV)。但是,有关它的生物学特性和用NPV防治它的报道甚少。作者从1979年起进行了这方面的一些研究。现将结果整理如下。 一、生物学特性     

金丝猴的牙齿

牙齿对古生物、古人类研究是十分重要的。牙齿也是动物分类学所依据的重要特征之一,它所提供的亲缘证据和来自其他方面的材料多是相吻合的。在讨论和评价现生灵长类时,牙齿同样是不可缺少的材料之一。就目前所知,已发表的金丝猴(Rhinopithecus)牙齿的研究资料较少。Hooiier(1952)和Swindler(1976)对川金丝猴的牙齿只作了一个简单的记录和扼要的形态描述。至于滇金丝猴和黔金丝猴牙齿的研究纯属空白。为此,有必要对这三个类群牙齿的形态结构作一个简要的比较观察,试图找出它们之间和属间的异同点,为今后的综合性探讨提供基本材料。