Characterization of 15 microsatellite loci and genetic analysis of Heterodera schachtii (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) in South Korea

Heterodera schachtii, the sugar beet cyst nematode, is a major pest of agricultural crops worldwide. We report the development of fifteen polymorphic microsatellite markers and assess the genetic diversity and structure of three populations following a recent invasion of a previously unaffected region. Populations had low levels of heterozygosity, likely indicative of population structure, history, and inbreeding. Genetic diversity analysis suggested that the current infestation in South Korea may have come either from a single source population of mixed ancestry, or from multiple sources, indicating that implementing adequate prevention measures is still an unmet challenge. Much more work is needed on this species to identify global patterns of spread, and the microsatellite loci we develop here should be useful in many regions for modeling range expansion, studying the evolution of resistance, and increasing the effectiveness of pest management strategies.     

温度胁迫下棉花粉蚧热激蛋白基因的表达分析

【目的】为了研究热激蛋白 Hsp70, Hsp70-4和Hsp90在棉花粉蚧Phenacoccus solenopsis抵抗逆温中的作用。【方法】在测序棉花粉蚧转录组的基础上,分析了该虫热激蛋白Hsp70基因家族的2个序列［Pshsp70（GenBank登录号为KJ909505）和Pshsp70-4（GenBank登录号为KJ909506）］和Hsp90基因家族的1个序列,［Pshsp90(GenBank登录号为KJ909507)］,采用实时荧光定量 PCR（RT-qPCR）检测了在不同温度（18和32℃恒温, 37, 39, 41, 43和45℃热激1 h 后26℃恢复1 h)下棉花粉蚧不同发育阶段（2龄若虫、3龄若虫、雌成虫）3种热激蛋白基因的表达量。【结果】Pshsp70 cDNA序列包含1 923 bp的开放阅读框,编码641个氨基酸,理论分子量和等电点分别为70.9 kDa和5.65; Pshsp70-4 cDNA序列包含1 962 bp的开放阅读框,编码654个氨基酸,理论分子量和等电点分别为71.8 kDa和5.38;Pshsp90 cDNA序列包含2 172 bp的开放阅读框,编码724个氨基酸,理论分子量和等电点分别为83.5 kDa和4.93。Pshsp70 和Pshsp70-4均含有Hsp70基因家族高度保守的基序,Pshsp70编码的氨基酸序列与烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci和家蚕Bombyx mori等昆虫的Hsp70 的氨基酸序列一致性为 85%;Pshsp70-4编码的氨基酸序列与白蜡蚧Ericerus pela和点蜂缘蝽Riptortus pedestris等昆虫的Hsp70的氨基酸序列一致性高达95%;Pshsp90也含有Hsp90基因家族高度保守的基序,Pshsp90编码的氨基酸序列与赤拟谷盗Tribolium castaneum和东亚小花蝽Orius sauteri等昆虫的Hsp90 的氨基酸序列一致性为 87%。热激蛋白基因表达量分析结果表明,在18℃恒温条件下,粉蚧2龄若虫的3个PsHsps基因的mRNA相对表达量均比对照(26℃)低,在32℃恒温条件下,各龄期的Hsp70基因的相对表达量均显著高于对照。在37~45℃下热激1 h并在26℃下恢复1 h,棉花粉蚧3个龄期的3个热激蛋白PsHsps基因的相对表达量随温度的升高总体呈增加趋势,相关性分析表明,除Pshsp70-4在雌成虫中的表达量与热胁迫温度的相关系数为0.225外,各龄期中3个基因的表达量与温度的相关系数均大于0.6,显著相关;43℃和45℃胁迫下,各龄期的3个热激蛋白基因相对表达量均显著高于对照组（P<0.05）。【结论】棉花粉蚧热激蛋白基因的表达与温度呈正相关,在该虫应对高温中起着重要作用。     

Molecular cloning,characterization and expression analysis of BcHHP3 under abiotic stress in Pak-choi (Brassica rapa ssp. Chinensis)

In this study, BcHHP3 was isolated from Pak-choi; it has an open-reading frame (ORF) of 1044 base pairs, encoding 347 amino acids, a molecular weight of 39.35?kDa, isoelectric point (pI) of 9.08, an instability index of 48.35, and grand average of hydropathicity of 0.382. Multi-alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that BcHHP3 bears a high similarity to AtHHP2. As predicted by SOMPA and SWISS-MODEL databases, the structure of the BcHHP3 protein is relatively stable and highly conservative. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that BcHHP3 was induced to co-express under cold and abscisic acid (ABA) stresses. The BcHHP3-GFP fusion protein was localized on the cell membrane and nuclear membrane. This work might be useful for future analysis of other HHP-like genes in Pak-choi.     

拟黑多刺蚁成虫头部USP基因的定位与定量分析及其与EcR基因相关性

【目的】超气门蛋白（ultraspiracle protein, USP）是蜕皮激素作用靶标的重要组成部分。本研究拟通过分析在拟黑多刺蚁Polyrhachis vicina Roger USP基因PvUSP在不同品级成虫头部mRNA表达的差异,推测PvUSP对其脑神经功能或行为的影响;拟通过饲喂PvUSP dsRNA对拟黑多刺蚁不同品级成虫PvUSP进行RNA干扰（RNAi）,推测PvUSP对虫体生理功能的影响及其与蜕皮激素受体（ecdysone receptor, EcR）基因PvEcR之间功能的相关性。【方法】利用荧光原位杂交及荧光实时定量PCR技术对拟黑多刺蚁不同品级成虫头部PvUSP mRNA组织分布与表达水平进行检测;通过饲喂PvUSP dsRNA对拟黑多刺蚁不同品级成虫PvUSP进行RNAi,采用荧光实时定量PCR检测拟黑多刺蚁PvUSP与PvEcR表达水平的变化。【结果】PvUSP mRNA广泛表达于拟黑多刺蚁不同品级成虫头部（主要分布于蕈形体）,不同品级成虫头部PvUSP mRNA的表达量不同,工蚁头部表达量最高,雄蚁头部次之,雌蚁头部的表达量最低;RNAi沉默PvUSP后,与对照组相比,PvUSP mRNA在不同品级拟黑多刺蚁成虫体内表达量均明显降低,并存在显著差异(P<0.01);与对照组相比,PvEcR mRNA在各品级表达量均有增加,工蚁和雄蚁表达量变化不显著（P>0.05）,但雌蚁体内PvEcR mRNA表达量显著增加（P<0.05）。【结论】PvUSP基因对拟黑多刺蚁不同品级头部神经系统的构建、功能作用的发挥有关;拟黑多刺蚁PvUSP基因与PvEcR基因可能在异源二聚体形成过程中存在关联性或功能的互补性;PvUSP可能对雌蚁的生殖功能产生重要影响。     

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) synthesis in fed-batch culture of Ralstonia eutropha with phosphate limitation under different glucose concentrations

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) was produced by fed-batch cultures of Ralstonia eutropha with phosphate limitation under different glucose concentrations. When glucose was kept at 2.5 g l^–1, cell growth and PHB synthesis were limited due to the shortage of carbon source but a higher PHB content occurred in the cell-growth stage. This shows that a low glucose concentration is favorable for PHB accumulation in R. eutropha. PHB obtained with glucose at 9 g l^–1 is 1.6 times that obtained with 40 g l^–1. When glucose was in the range of 9 to 40 g l^–1, PHB concentration and productivity decreased significantly with the increase of glucose concentration. The highest PHB productivity was obtained with glucose at 9 g l^–1.     

苹果蠹蛾热激蛋白Hsp90基因的克隆及热胁迫下的表达分析

世界检疫性害虫苹果蠹蛾Cydia pomonella是一种温度耐受可塑性很高的物种。本研究针对温度波动可能导致其耐热性增强的科学问题, 采用生测法鉴定了苹果蠹蛾实验种群的高温耐受阈值, 采用同源克隆、 RACE和实时荧光定量PCR (RT-qPCR)等方法研究了苹果蠹蛾热激蛋白Hsp90基因的应激表达对耐热性的重要作用。高温耐受阈值研究结果表明, 苹果蠹蛾实验种群的死亡率随温度的升高和时间的延长显著性升高, 1-5龄幼虫分别经50℃和52℃高温处理2, 5和10 min后, 3龄幼虫耐热性最差, 5龄幼虫最强。50℃和52℃分别处理10 min和5 min均可导致1-4龄幼虫全部死亡, 而5龄幼虫在这两种处理下仍有25.0%和11.1%的存活率。以35℃处理的5龄雌幼虫为材料克隆苹果蠹蛾Hsp90基因全长cDNA, 结果显示该基因全长为2 470 bp, 完整开放阅读框为2 148 bp, 共编码716个氨基酸, 预测分子量为82.07 kDa, 命名为Cphsp90 (GenBank登录号JN624775)。该基因编码的氨基酸序列与亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis和甘蓝夜蛾Mamestra brassicae等昆虫的Hsp90的氨基酸序列一致性高达96%, 表明了Hsp90家族的保守特性。Cphsp90 mRNA的相对表达量在32~44℃高温胁迫下随温度的升高而显著增高, 证实Cphsp90是诱导型热激基因, 且mRNA相对表达量与胁迫程度正相关。Cphsp90基因的表达还具有组织特异性, 35℃处理幼虫的表皮中Cphsp90相对表达量显著高于血淋巴、 脂肪体和中肠, 应激响应最为活跃。与未经温热预处理的昆虫相比, 35℃温热预处理3 h后的5龄幼虫在40, 45和50℃更高的温度胁迫下, Cphsp90 mRNA达到最高表达量所需要的胁迫温度有所提升, 由未经预热处理的40℃处理10 min提高到45℃处理10 min, 这与温热预处理会增强5龄幼虫耐热性的现象相符, 表明Cphsp90基因的响应表达在苹果蠹蛾耐热性及其可塑性过程中发挥重要的作用。     

Urinary steroid hormone analysis of ovarian cycles and pregnancy in mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) indicate that menses,copulatory behavior,sexual swellings and reproductive condition are associated with changing estrone conjugates (E1C) and pregnanediol‐3‐glucuronide (PdG)

The objective of this study was to determine if sexual swellings in mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) are a reflection of reproductive endocrine state. Urine samples were assayed using an enzyme immunoassay measuring pregnanediol‐3‐glucuronide (PdG) and estrone conjugates (E₁C). Hormone patterns of ovarian cycles, pregnancy and lactation were characterized and compared with sexual swellings and copulations relative to menses and peak E₁C. Cycle lengths averaging 28.7 days and pregnancy length of 181 days determined by hormonal and sexual swelling measures were similar to those reported in other Old World primate species. First day of copulation was observed during rising E₁C concentrations and preceded observations of peak swelling by 1–2 days. Observations of peak sexual swellings occurred at or on the day after peak E₁C and decreased following the ovulatory increase in PdG. Observations of menses and sexual swellings are a useful method to track mandrill ovarian cycles and can assist zoos in determining the reproductive state of females in their collections. Zoo Biol 27:320–330, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Gene expression analysis in LLC-PK1 renal tubular cells by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP): correlation of homologous human genes with renal response

We used human DNA microarray to explore the differential gene expression profiling of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-stimulated renal tubular epithelial kidney cells (LLC-PK1) in order to understand the biological effect of ANP on renal kidney cell's response. Gene expression profiling revealed 807 differentially expressed genes, consisting of 483 up-regulated and 324 down-regulated genes. The bioinformatics tool was used to gain a better understanding of differentially expressed genes in porcine genome homologous with human genome and to search the gene ontology and category classification, such as cellular component, molecular function and biological process. Four up-regulated genes of ATP1B1, H3F3A, ITGB1 and RHO that were typically validated by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis serve important roles in the alleviation of renal hypertrophy as well as other related effects. Therefore, the human array can be used for gene expression analysis in pig kidney cells and we believe that our findings of differentially expressed genes served as genetic markers and biological functions can lead to a better understanding of ANP action on the renal protective system and may be used for further therapeutic application.     

Alteration of mTOR signaling occurs early in the progression of Alzheimer disease (AD): analysis of brain from subjects with pre‐clinical AD,amnestic mild cognitive impairment and late‐stage AD

The clinical symptoms of Alzheimer disease (AD) include a gradual memory loss and subsequent dementia, and neuropathological deposition of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. At the molecular level, AD subjects present overt amyloid β (Aβ) production and tau hyperphosphorylation. Aβ species have been proposed to overactivate the phosphoinositide3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) axis, which plays a central role in proteostasis. The current study investigated the status of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in post‐mortem tissue from the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) at three different stages of AD: late AD, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and pre‐clinical AD (PCAD). Our findings suggest that the alteration of mTOR signaling and autophagy occurs at early stages of AD. We found a significant increase in Aβ (1–42) levels, associated with reduction in autophagy (Beclin‐1 and LC‐3) observed in PCAD, MCI, and AD subjects. Related to the autophagy impairment, we found a hyperactivation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in IPL of MCI and AD subjects, but not in PCAD, along with a significant decrease in phosphatase and tensin homolog. An increase in two mTOR downstream targets, p70S6K and 4EBP1, occurred in AD and MCI subjects. Both AD and MCI subjects showed increased, insulin receptor substrate 1, a candidate biomarker of brain insulin resistance, and GSK‐3β, a kinase targeting tau phosphorylation. Nevertheless, tau phosphorylation was increased in the clinical groups. The results hint at a link between Aβ and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis and provide further insights into the relationship between AD pathology and insulin resistance. In addition, we speculate that the alteration of mTOR signaling in the IPL of AD and MCI subjects, but not in PCAD, is due to the lack of substantial increase in oxidative stress.