α‐ketoglutarate delays age‐related fertility decline in mammals

The fecundity reduction with aging is referred as the reproductive aging which comes earlier than that of chronological aging. Since humans have postponed their childbearing age, to prolong the reproductive age becomes urgent agenda for reproductive biologists. In the current study, we examined the potential associations of α‐ketoglutarate (α‐KG) and reproductive aging in mammals including mice, swine, and humans. There is a clear tendency of reduced α‐KG level with aging in the follicle fluids of human. To explore the mechanisms, mice were selected as the convenient animal model. It is observed that a long term of α‐KG administration preserves the ovarian function, the quality and quantity of oocytes as well as the telomere maintaining system in mice. α‐KG suppresses ATP synthase and alterations of the energy metabolism trigger the nutritional sensors to down‐regulate mTOR pathway. These events not only benefit the general aging process but also maintain ovarian function and delay the reproductive decline. Considering the safety of the α‐KG as a naturally occurring molecule in energy metabolism, its utility in reproduction of large mammals including humans deserves further investigation.     

武汉东湖桡足类的生态学演变

根据１９６２－１９６３,１９７４－１９７５,１９７９－１９９１年在武汉东湖进行的调查资料,考察了过去三十年内在东湖两个代表性采样站桡足类的种类组成及现存量的变化。结果表明：桡足类种类数由６０年代的１４种减少为９０年代的７种,Ｉ、Ⅱ站在种类组成的差别趋于消失。统计结果表明,东湖桡足类现存量以８０年代初、中期较高。但在水平分布格局上却发生了根本变化,由１９８７年前的Ｉ站现存量高于Ⅱ站,至１９８７年后Ⅱ站高于Ｉ站。本文还就影响东湖桡足类演变的生态因子进行了讨论。     

Hectogram-scale synthesis of [Aib8, Arg34]-GLP-1 (7–37) by liquid-phase fragment condensation

Based on small-scale synthesis (0.3 g), a 100-g scale-up synthesis of crude [Aib⁸, Arg³⁴]-glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) (7–37) was completed. The crude [Aib⁸, Arg³⁴]-GLP-1 (7–37) was purified using a dynamic axial compression column 200 (DAC-200). Approximately 61 g of [Aib⁸, Arg³⁴]-GLP-1 (7–37) with a purity of >99% was obtained through one-step reverse-phase chromatography. The purification yield was approximately 92%. The yield from the total reaction was approximately 60%. In summary, we developed an economical and environmentally friendly route to the synthesis and purification of crude [Aib⁸, Arg³⁴]-GLP-1 (7–37), laying a foundation for subsequent industrial production.     

Genomic insights into selection for heterozygous alleles and woody traits in Populus tomentosa

Heterozygous alleles are widespread in outcrossing and clonally propagated woody plants. The variation in heterozygosity that underlies population adaptive evolution and phenotypic variation, however, remains largely unknown. Here, we describe a de novo chromosome-level genome assembly of Populus tomentosa, an economic and ecologically important native tree in northern China. By resequencing 302 natural accessions, we determined that the South subpopulation (Pop_S) encompasses the ancestral strains of P. tomentosa, while the Northwest subpopulation (Pop_NW) and Northeast subpopulation (Pop_NE) experienced different selection pressures during population evolution, resulting in significant population differentiation and a decrease in the extent of heterozygosity. Analysis of heterozygous selective sweep regions (HSSR) suggested that selection for lower heterozygosity contributed to the local adaptation of P. tomentosa by dwindling gene expression and genetic load in the Pop_NW and Pop_NE subpopulations. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealed that 88 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 63 genes are associated with nine wood composition traits. Among them, the selection for the homozygous AA allele in PtoARF8 is associated with reductions in cellulose and hemicellulose contents by attenuating PtoARF8 expression, and the increase in lignin content is attributable to the selection for decreases in exon heterozygosity in PtoLOX3 during adaptive evolution of natural populations. This study provides novel insights into allelic variations in heterozygosity associated with adaptive evolution of P. tomentosa in response to the local environment and identifies a series of key genes for wood component traits, thereby facilitating genomic-based breeding of important traits in perennial woody plants.     

放牧对祁连山高寒典型草原土壤质量的影响

土壤质量是维持陆地生态系统稳定性与功能多样性的基础。放牧作为草地资源最广泛的利用方式之一,其对草地土壤质量的影响却缺乏量化标准,且两者之间的作用机理尚不明确。以祁连山高寒草原两个季节性牧场为研究对象,结合生态系统耦合与生态系统多功能性,探究了放牧对高寒草原土壤质量的影响与潜在机制。试验结果表明：基于最小数据集,不同放牧率下土壤质量指数差异显著(P<0.05),冬季牧场和春秋季牧场放牧率分别在2.45头月^-1 hm^-2和0.80头月^-1 hm^-2时土壤质量指数最高。土壤速效磷、有机碳、氮磷比和土壤pH是决定冬季牧场土壤质量的关键因子,而春秋季牧场中则是土壤有机碳、碳氮比和土壤pH;两个季节性牧场土壤质量指数与物种丰富度指数(P<0.05)和香浓维纳多样性指数(P<0.0001)呈显著正相关。高寒草原季节性牧场放牧地植物群落物种多样性与土壤因子耦合度在0.67—0.81之间,平均耦合度为0.74,属于中度协调;随着放牧率的增加,生态系统多功能性指数逐渐减低且与土壤质量指数变化趋势相似,...     

Cardiac telocytes exist in the adult Xenopus tropicalis heart

Recent research has revealed that cardiac telocytes (CTs) play an important role in cardiac physiopathology and the regeneration of injured myocardium. Recently, we reported that the adult Xenopus tropicalis heart can regenerate perfectly in a nearly scar‐free manner after injury via apical resection. However, whether telocytes exist in the X tropicalis heart and are affected in the regeneration of injured X tropicalis myocardium is still unknown. The present ultrastructural and immunofluorescent double staining results clearly showed that CTs exist in the X tropicalis myocardium. CTs in the X tropicalis myocardium were mainly twined around the surface of cardiomyocyte trabeculae and linked via nanocontacts between the ends of the telopodes, forming a three‐dimensional network. CTs might play a role in the regeneration of injured myocardium.     

Seasonal variation and correlation analysis of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone in Hangzhou,Southeast China

This study aimed to describe the 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) status of Southeast Chinese individuals influenced by season. The secondary aim was to determine the cutoff for sufficient 25(OH)D in a four‐season region. From January 2011 to June 2014, a total of 17 646 individuals were evaluated in our study. The serum levels of PTH were detected simultaneously in 5579 cases. A total of 25(OH)D and intact PTH were measured by the electrochemiluminescent immunoassay. The distribution of the concentration, prevalence and seasonal variability of 25(OH)D and PTH were studied. The mean 25(OH)D concentration in our study was 43.00(30.40) nmol/L. The prevalence of insufficiency (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L) was 62.87% and that of deficiency (<30 nmol/L) was 28.54%. Mean serum 25(OH)D levels revealed a limited sinusoidal profile throughout the year and were significantly higher in Autumn. On the other hand, PTH levels showed an opposite response to seasonal effects relative to 25(OH)D. Age, BMI and daylight were not significantly correlated with 25(OH)D and serum PTH reached a plateau at higher values of serum 25(OH)D of 42.86 nmol/L. This study demonstrated that Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent in Southeast China. The concentration of 25(OH)D in the male group was generally higher than that in the female group. Seasonal variation was an important aspect of 25(OH)D and PTH concentration. This study revealed that the optimal serum threshold of 25(OH)D for bone health should be between 40 and 50 nmol/L for Southeast Chinese individuals.