Phosphoproteome Profiling of the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase MuSK Identifies Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Rab GTPases

Muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) agonist antibodies were developed 2 decades ago to explore the benefits of receptor activation at the neuromuscular junction. Unlike agrin, the endogenous agonist of MuSK, agonist antibodies function independently of its coreceptor low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 4 to delay the onset of muscle denervation in mouse models of ALS. Here, we performed dose–response and time-course experiments on myotubes to systematically compare site-specific phosphorylation downstream of each agonist. Remarkably, both agonists elicited similar intracellular responses at known and newly identified MuSK signaling components. Among these was inducible tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple Rab GTPases that was blocked by MuSK inhibition. Importantly, mutation of this site in Rab10 disrupts association with its effector proteins, molecule interacting with CasL 1/3. Together, these data provide in-depth characterization of MuSK signaling, describe two novel MuSK inhibitors, and expose phosphorylation of Rab GTPases downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase activation in myotubes.     

Growth period QTL-allele constitution of global soybeans and its differential evolution changes in geographic adaptation versus maturity group extension

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) has been disseminated globally as a photoperiod/temperature-sensitive crop with extremely diverse days to flowering (DTF) and days to maturity (DTM) values. A population with 371 global varieties covering 13 geographic regions and 13 maturity groups (MGs) was analyzed for its DTF and DTM QTL-allele constitution using restricted two-stage multi-locus genome-wide association study (RTM-GWAS). Genotypes with 20 701 genome-wide SNPLDBs (single-nucleotide polymorphism linkage disequilibrium blocks) containing 55 404 haplotypes were observed, and 52 DTF QTLs and 59 DTM QTLs (including 29 and 21 new ones) with 241 and 246 alleles (two to 13 per locus) were detected, explaining 84.8% and 74.4% of the phenotypic variance, respectively. The QTL-allele matrix characterized with all QTL-allele information of each variety in the global population was established and subsequently separated into geographic and MG set submatrices. Direct comparisons among them revealed that the genetic adaptation from the origin to geographic subpopulations was characterized by new allele/new locus emergence (mutation) but little allele exclusion (selection), while that from the primary MG set to emerged early and late MG sets was characterized by allele exclusion without allele emergence. The evolutionary changes involved mainly 72 DTF and 71 DTM alleles on 28 respective loci, 10–12 loci each with three to six alleles being most active. Further recombination potential for faster maturation (12–21 days) or slower maturation (14–56 days) supported allele convergence (recombination) as a constant genetic factor in addition to migration (inheritance). From the QTLs, 44 DTF and 36 DTM candidate genes were annotated and grouped respectively into nine biological processes, indicating multi-functional DTF/DTM genes are involved in a complex gene network. In summary, we identified QTL-alleles relatively thoroughly using RTM-GWAS for direct matrix comparisons and subsequent analysis.     

Managed Bumblebees Outperform Honeybees in Increasing Peach Fruit Set in China: Different Limiting Processes with Different Pollinators

Peach Prunus persica (L.) Batsch is self-compatible and largely self-fertile, but under greenhouse conditions pollinators must be introduced to achieve good fruit set and quality. Because little work has been done to assess the effectiveness of different pollinators on peach trees under greenhouse conditions, we studied ‘Okubo’ peach in greenhouse tunnels near Beijing between 2012 and 2014. We measured pollen deposition, pollen-tube growth rates, ovary development, and initial fruit set after the flowers were visited by either of two managed pollinators: bumblebees, Bombus patagiatus Nylander, and honeybees, Apis mellifera L. The results show that B. patagiatus is more effective than A. mellifera as a pollinator of peach in greenhouses because of differences in two processes. First, B. patagiatus deposits more pollen grains on peach stigmas than A. mellifera, both during a single visit and during a whole day of open pollination. Second, there are differences in the fertilization performance of the pollen deposited. Half of the flowers visited by B. patagiatus are fertilized 9–11 days after bee visits, while for flowers visited by A. mellifera, half are fertilized 13–15 days after bee visits. Consequently, fruit development is also accelerated by bumblebees, showing that the different pollinators have not only different pollination efficiency, but also influence the subsequent time course of fertilization and fruit set. Flowers visited by B. patagiatus show faster ovary growth and ultimately these flowers produce more fruit. Our work shows that pollinators may influence fruit production beyond the amount of pollen delivered. We show that managed indigenous bumblebees significantly outperform introduced honeybees in increasing peach initial fruit set under greenhouse conditions.     

林隙干扰和升温对小兴安岭红松和臭冷杉径向生长的影响

通过建立小兴安岭阔叶红松(Pinus koraiensis)林内林隙与非林隙红松、臭冷杉(Abies nephrolepis)轮宽年表,分析林隙干扰(微环境差异)和1980年后显著升温对树木径向生长的影响。结果表明:升温减缓了非林隙红松生长,却加快了林隙红松生长;升温后,非林隙红松受温度影响减弱,而林隙红松则增强,林隙和非林隙红松径向生长与帕默尔干旱指数(Palmer drought severity index,PDSI)均由负相关变为正相关;林隙干扰导致臭冷杉径向生长减缓,升温导致林隙与非林隙臭冷杉年生长量均下降了约50%,非林隙木对温度的负响应要高于林隙木;升温后,5—10月温度对非林隙木抑制作用明显,非生长季(1—5月)降水对非林隙臭冷杉的抑制作用加强,而对林隙臭冷杉则由抑制变为促进;PDSI与非林隙臭冷杉由升温前的负相关变为升温后的正相关,而林隙臭冷杉则负相关更显著;林隙干扰减少耐荫喜湿树木径向生长,而对阳性树种影响不大或略有增加;林隙木比非林隙木更易受外界环境变化的影响,林隙干扰可使喜湿耐荫树种提前适应暖干环境,以提高了对升温适应性;升温导致林隙木与非林隙木年轮气候响应差异变大。     

SSR与SRAP标记在玉米品种鉴定中的比较研究

利用SSR标记和SRAP标记对19个玉米品种及8份莱农15样品进行了分析,比较了2种标记的分辨能力及在亲缘关系和杂交种纯度鉴定中的表现.与SSR标记相比,SRAP标记用于玉米品种鉴定扩增住点数量更多,PIC值更高,具有更高的分辨率;在亲缘关系分析方面,SSR检测的遗传距离变幅更大,2种标记计算的遗传距离呈极显著正相关,分类结果基本一致;在杂交种纯度检测中,SRAP标记的期望位点在杂交种群体中检测率高于SSR标记相应位点,检测杂交种纯度结果更接近田问种植鉴定,因而准确度更高.SRAP在玉米品种鉴定中具有一定的优势,可作为SSR标记技术的有益补充,特别是在杂交种纯度鉴定中应用.     

可逆性肺动脉高压的治疗在心脏移植围术期的应用

目的：通过早期判断并治疗心脏移植围术期可逆性肺动脉高压,降低移植手术后右心功能衰竭的发生率。方法：20例接受心脏移植手术的病人,术前放置肺动脉导管,测定肺动脉压、肺循环阻力。对肺动脉高压的病人在肺动脉端泵入硝酸甘油、前列腺素E1以确定可逆性。并在术后早期抗排异治疗的基础上应用增强心肌收缩力、降低肺动脉压力、强化氧疗和呼吸管理等综合措施。结果：20例病人中6例出现急性右心功能衰竭,其中4例经治疗后症状改善、出院,2例死亡。结论：术前早期判断并治疗可逆性肺动脉高压,可以有效预防并减少心脏移植术后右心功能衰竭的发生,提高手术成功率。     

阻塞型睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征与代谢综合征组分关系探讨

目的:探讨阻塞型睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(OSAHS)与代谢综合征(MS)组分关系。方法:对我院2003年1月至2010年7月39例诊断为OSAHS住院患者进行回顾性调查,30例同期住院病人为对照组,均记录年龄、性别,测量身高、体重、血压,检测空腹血糖、血脂,分析OSAHS患者合并MS组分情况。结果:1.OSAHS组与对照组比较,体重指数(BMI)、血压、血清甘油三酯、总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、载脂蛋白A1升高,高密度脂蛋白胆固醇降低(P<0.05);2.OSAHS组与对照组相比较,无MS组分比例低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);3.OSAHS组与对照组相比较,OSAHS组合并MS组分,包括BMI≥25Kg/m2,血脂紊乱的比例,均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:OSAHS患者易合并代谢综合征组分。     

Polysaccharides derived from Balanophora polyandra significantly suppressed the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells through P53‐mediated pathway

Ovarian cancer (OC) is ranked the first among the cancers threatening women's health. It attracts tremendous attention of cancer researchers because of its extremely high mortality rate. Recent studies have indicated that traditional herbal medicines (THMs) can play a pivotal role in cancer prevention and treatment. THMs are gaining popularity as a source of anti‐cancer agents. The plant of Balanophora polyandra, which has been used as a traditional herbal medicine, has been known for exhibiting potential haemostatic, analgesic, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐cancer properties. However, few studies on inhibitory effect of B. polyandra on OC have been performed. In the present study, we found that B. polyandra polysaccharides (BPP) induced cell cycle arrest at S phase, triggered apoptosis and inhibited migration and invasion of OC cells. Furthermore, we also found that there was a potential and close relationship between BPP and P53‐mediated pathway. Overall, these findings suggest that BPP can be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of OC.