非洲猪瘟病毒I226R蛋白抑制cGAS-STING通路介导的天然免疫应答

本研究旨在探究非洲猪瘟病毒(African swine fever virus, ASFV) I226R蛋白(I226R protein, pI226R)抑制cGAS-STING信号通路的作用机制。利用双荧光素酶报告系统和实时荧光定量PCR (real-time quantitative PCR, qPCR)证明pI226R显著抑制cGAS-STING通路介导的I型干扰素及干扰素刺激相关基因的产生。免疫共沉淀及激光共聚焦显微镜试验发现pI226R与cGAS蛋白相互作用。免疫印迹分析证明pI226R通过自噬-溶酶体途径促进cGAS蛋白的降解。同时,pI226R阻碍了cGAS与E3泛素连接酶三基序蛋白56 (tripartite motif protein 56, TRIM56)的结合,导致cGAS的单泛素化减弱,从而抑制了cGAS的活化和cGAS-STING通路的激活。总之,本研究证明ASFV pI226R通过拮抗cGAS进而抑制宿主的抗病毒天然免疫反应,进一步增加了对研究ASFV免疫逃逸机制的理解,为疫苗的研发提供了理论基础。     

Genome-wide analysis of ACO and ACS genes in pear (Pyrus ussuriensis)

The “Nanguo” pear is a typically climacteric fruit and ethylene is the main factor controlling the ripening process of climacteric fruit. Ethylene biosynthesis has been studied clearly and ACC synthase (ACS) is the rate-limited enzyme. ACO (ACC oxidase) is another important enzyme in ethylene biosynthesis. By exploring the pear genome, we identified 13 ACS genes and 11 ACO genes, respectively, and their expression patterns in fruit and other organs were investigated. Among these genes, 11 ACS and 8ACO genes were expressed in pear fruits. What’s more, 4 ACS and 3ACO genes could be induced by Ethephon and inhibited by 1-MCP treatment. This study is the first time to explore ACS and ACO genes at genome-wide level and will provide new data for research on pear fruit ripening.

     

京津冀地区生态系统服务供需测度及时空演变

生态系统服务供需状况深刻影响地区生态安全与经济社会的可持续发展。以京津冀为研究区,选取产水、碳固持以及粮食生产3项生态系统服务,应用InVEST模型、ArcGIS空间分析模块,定量测度2005年与2015年京津冀地区生态系统服务供需水平,探索京津冀地区生态系统服务供需时空格局及类型演变特征。结果表明：（1）在2005年与2015年,京津冀地区产水服务处于供需赤字状态,碳固持服务和粮食生产服务处于供需盈余状态,且各项生态系统服务供需状态呈显著的空间异质性;（2）2005年与2015年京津冀地区生态系统服务综合供需状况呈赤字状态,主要赤字范围以京津为中心呈环状分布,并在此期间范围有所扩大。（3）基于生态系统服务供需状况,将京津冀各县区划分为生态涵养区、生态保育区、生态改良区、生态恢复区以及生态控制区,并针对各类型区生态系统供需状况及其时空演变规律,提出了相应的政策建议。     

Pyridinylpyrimidines selectively inhibit human methionine aminopeptidase-1

Cellular protein synthesis is initiated with methionine in eukaryotes with few exceptions. Methionine aminopeptidases (MetAPs) which catalyze the process of N-terminal methionine excision are essential for all organisms. In mammals, type 2 MetAP (MetAP2) is known to be important for angiogenesis, while type 1 MetAP (MetAP1) has been shown to play a pivotal role in cell proliferation. Our previous high-throughput screening of a commercial compound library uncovered a novel class of inhibitors for both human MetAP1 (HsMetAP1) and human MetAP2 (HsMetAP2). This class of inhibitors contains a pyridinylpyrimidine core. To understand the structure–activity relationship (SAR) and to search for analogues of 2 with greater potency and higher HsMetAP1-selectivity, a total of 58 analogues were acquired through either commercial source or by in-house synthesis and their inhibitory activities against HsMetAP1 and HsMetAP2 were determined. Through this systematic medicinal chemistry analysis, we have identified (1) 5-chloro-6-methyl-2-pyridin-2-ylpyrimidine as the minimum element for the inhibition of HsMetAP1; (2) 5′-chloro as the favored substituent on the pyridine ring for the enhanced potency against HsMetAP1; and (3) long C4 side chains as the essentials for higher HsMetAP1-selectivity. At the end of our SAR campaign, 25b, 25c, 26d and 30a–30c are among the most selective and potent inhibitors of purified HsMetAP1 reported to date. In addition, we also performed crystallographic analysis of one representative inhibitor (26d) in complex with N-terminally truncated HsMetAP1.     

Molecular dynamics simulation on the allosteric analysis of the c‐di‐GMP class I riboswitch induced by ligand binding

Riboswitches are RNA molecules that regulate gene expression using conformation change, affected by binding of small molecule ligands. Although a number of ligand‐bound aptamer complex structures have been solved, it is important to know ligand‐free conformations of the aptamers in order to understand the mechanism of specific binding by ligands. In this paper, we use dynamics simulations on a series of models to characterize the ligand‐free and ligand‐bound aptamer domain of the c‐di‐GMP class I (GEMM‐I) riboswitch. The results revealed that the ligand‐free aptamer has a stable state with a folded P2 and P3 helix, an unfolded P1 helix and open binding pocket. The first Mg ions binding to the aptamer is structurally favorable for the successive c‐di‐GMP binding. The P1 helix forms when c‐di‐GMP is successive bound. Three key junctions J1/2, J2/3 and J1/3 in the GEMM‐I riboswitch contributing to the formation of P1 helix have been found. The binding of the c‐di‐GMP ligand to the GEMM‐I riboswitch induces the riboswitch's regulation through the direct allosteric communication network in GEMM‐I riboswitch from the c‐di‐GMP binding sites in the J1/2 and J1/3 junctions to the P1 helix, the indirect ones from those in the J2/3 and P2 communicating to P1 helix via the J1/2 and J1/3 media.     

Molecular Cytogenetic Identification of a New Wheat-Rye 6R Chromosome Disomic Addition Line with Powdery Mildew Resistance

Rye (Secale cereale L.) possesses many valuable genes that can be used for improving disease resistance, yield and environment adaptation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). However, the documented resistance stocks derived from rye is faced severe challenge due to the variation of virulent isolates in the pathogen populations. Therefore, it is necessary to develop desirable germplasm and search for novel resistance gene sources against constantly accumulated variation of the virulent isolates. In the present study, a new wheat-rye line designated as WR49-1 was produced through distant hybridization and chromosome engineering protocols between common wheat cultivar Xiaoyan 6 and rye cultivar German White. Using sequential GISH (genomic in situ hybridization), mc-FISH (multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization), mc-GISH (multicolor GISH) and EST (expressed sequence tag)-based marker analysis, WR49-1 was proved to be a new wheat-rye 6R disomic addition line. As expected, WR49-1 showed high levels of resistance to wheat powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, Bgt) pathogens prevalent in China at the adult growth stage and 19 of 23 Bgt isolates tested at the seedling stage. According to its reaction pattern to different Bgt isolates, WR49-1 may possess new resistance gene(s) for powdery mildew, which differed from the documented powdery mildew gene, including Pm20 on chromosome arm 6RL of rye. Additionally, WR49-1 was cytologically stable, had improved agronomic characteristics and therefore could serve as an important bridge for wheat breeding and chromosome engineering.     

马尾松和香樟的抗土壤酸化能力及细根生长的差异

采用钻取土芯法对土壤和根系取样,分析比较了在相似立地条件下的酸化土壤上生长的马尾松（Pinus massoniana）纯林和香樟（Cinnamomum camphora）纯林的抗酸能力及细根生长与垂直分布。研究结果表明,与马尾松纯林相比,香樟纯林在腐殖质层和0—60cm土层中的盐基离子（Ca^2＋和Mg^2＋）含量、盐基饱和度和pH值较高,而Al^3＋、H^＋含量较低,香樟纯林具有较强的减缓土壤酸化能力;在腐殖质层和0—20cm土层,香樟纯林单位面积的各项细根生长指标均显著高于马尾松纯林（P〈0．05）,其中,在0—20cm土层,香樟纯林单位面积的细根干重、长度、表面积、体积和根尖数分别是马尾松纯林的1．40、2．91、2．55、2．27倍和3．48倍;在腐殖质层,香樟纯林和马尾松纯林单位土体的细根干重、长度、表面积、体积和根尖数达最大值,而且香樟纯林分别是马尾松纯林的3．30、7．55、6．16、4．89倍和6．89倍,二者各项细根密度指标的垂直分布均随土层加深而减少,但香樟纯林递减速度快于马尾松纯林,就细根而言,香樟属于浅根性树种,马尾松属于深根性树种。对两树种0～20cm土层的土壤酸化程度和细根生长的分析表明,香樟细根的抗土壤酸化能力较强。因此,利用香樟混交来改良酸沉降区马尾松纯林的酸化土壤和林木生长具有重要意义。     

石灰石粉施用剂量对重庆酸雨区受害 马尾松林细根生长的影响

马尾松(Pinus massoniana)为重庆的重要乡土树种和主要造林树种,担负着特殊而重要的生态环境保全功能,但在酸雨的长期影响下,其健康状况持续低下。为探究不同剂量石灰石粉对马尾松细根生长的影响,给受害马尾松纯林的恢复与管理提供科学依据,2004年5月在属于酸雨区的重庆市江北区铁山坪林场,采用随机区组设计,设立在马尾松纯林酸化土壤表面一次性撒施石灰石粉0(不撒施对照)、1、2、3,4t/hm² 5个处理的长期定位观测试验。2006年10月的监测结果表明,与对照相比,撒施石灰石粉可明显促进腐殖质层和0-20、20-40、40-60cm土层马尾松细根的生长(P < 0.05),尤其是改善腐殖质层和20-40、40-60cm的根量,在腐殖质层和0-60cm马尾松细根的干重总密度、长度总密度、表面积总密度、体积总密度和根尖总密度与对照各项密度指标对应值的比值,1t/hm²下分别为1.53、1.34、1.39、1.24,1.48,2t/hm²下分别为2.05、1.83、1.94、1.79,2.04,3t/hm²下分别为2.17、2.02、2.02、1.78,2.32,4t/hm²下分别为2.68、2.52、2.62、3.70和2.71,改善效果总体上随撒施剂量增大而增强。从有限时间(2-3a)内观测的根系生长改善效果与经济投入的比值来看,建议一次性撒施的最佳剂量为2t/hm²,但在考虑时间加长情况下,效果最好和最经济的剂量还有待后续研究。     

On the phylogeny of Mustelidae subfamilies: analysis of seventeen nuclear non-coding loci and mitochondrial complete genomes

Background  

Mustelidae, as the largest and most-diverse family of order Carnivora, comprises eight subfamilies. Phylogenetic relationships among these Mustelidae subfamilies remain argumentative subjects in recent years. One of the main reasons is that the mustelids represent a typical example of rapid evolutionary radiation and recent speciation event. Prior investigation has been concentrated on the application of different mitochondrial (mt) sequence and nuclear protein-coding data, herein we employ 17 nuclear non-coding loci (>15 kb), in conjunction with mt complete genome data (>16 kb), to clarify these enigmatic problems.