Sex Differentiation in Meloidogyne incognita and Anatomical Evidence of Sex Reversal

Sex differentiation was studied by examining the cellular structure of gonad primordia extracted from second-stage juveniles developing under different environmental conditions. In female jnveniles, divisions of the two somatic cells of the primordium occurred in mid-sccond stage and resulted in 12 cells. Two of them were differentiated as cap cells, two occupied the anterior central and eight the posterior central part of the V-shaped primordium. The two germinal cells divided at the 6-8 somatic-cell stage of the primordium; i.e., earlier than in any other plant-parasitic nematode. In male juveniles of similar developmental stage, divisions of somatic cells resulted in 10 cells: one cap cell at the posterior tip and nine cells at the anterior part of the rod-shaped primordium. Germinal cells divided at the 6-8 sontatic-cell stage. On the basis of gonad anatomy it was concluded that some female juveniles undergo sex reversal and proceed with further development as males. The degree of expression of intersexual features depends on the period at which sex reversal occurs. Sex reversal at an early period gives rise to males with one testis, almost indistinguishable front true males. Sex reversal at mid-second stage involves degeneration of the nucleus of one of the cap cells resulting in males with an atrophied testis and a well-developed testis. More delayed sex reversal results in males with two testes of approximately equal size. To explain these patterns of development, it is assumed that sex differentiation is hormonally controlled and that the environment influences hormonal balance by affecting gene expression.     

黄瓜性别决定相关基因和性别表达机制

介绍黄瓜的性别决定相关基因,黄瓜性别决定的假说和性别决定的分子机制的研究进展.     

线虫的性别分化和决定

线虫（Caeborhabditis elegans)是十分重要的模式生物。在遗传学,发育生物学以及神经生物学中有着广泛的应用。就线虫性别分化和性别决定相关基因的特性和功能进行了详细介绍,并在此基础上初步概括了其性别决定的分子机制。     

植物性染色体进化及性别决定基因研究进展

植物性染色体起源于1对常染色体, 其在不同雌雄异株植物中多次起源并独立演变, 是研究性染色体起源和进化机制的理想材料。过去的研究在一定程度上阐明了植物性染色体的起源和演化动力; 且性染色体遗传退化、性别决定基因以及剂量补偿效应正逐渐成为研究的热点。近年来, 关于植物性染色体进化及性别决定基因的研究取得了一些重要进展。该文综述了植物性染色体的起源、进化、遗传退化、剂量补偿效应以及性别决定基因等, 并对植物性染色体进化研究发展趋势进行了展望。     

Characterization of MORE AXILLARY GROWTH Genes in Populus

Background

Strigolactones are a new class of plant hormones that play a key role in regulating shoot branching. Studies of branching mutants in Arabidopsis, pea, rice and petunia have identified several key genes involved in strigolactone biosynthesis or signaling pathway. In the model plant Arabidopsis, MORE AXILLARY GROWTH1 (MAX1), MAX2, MAX3 and MAX4 are four founding members of strigolactone pathway genes. However, little is known about the strigolactone pathway genes in the woody perennial plants.

Methodology/Principal Finding

Here we report the identification of MAX homologues in the woody model plant Populus trichocarpa. We identified the sequence homologues for each MAX protein in P. trichocarpa. Gene expression analysis revealed that Populus MAX paralogous genes are differentially expressed across various tissues and organs. Furthermore, we showed that Populus MAX genes could complement or partially complement the shoot branching phenotypes of the corresponding Arabidopsis max mutants.

Conclusion/Significance

This study provides genetic evidence that strigolactone pathway genes are likely conserved in the woody perennial plants and lays a foundation for further characterization of strigolactone pathway and its functions in the woody perennial plants.     

罗非鱼性别决定及分化的研究进展

对罗非鱼的性别决定和分化的研究现状和研究成果进行综述,并探讨了在罗非鱼性别决定研究上的研究趋势。     

鲟鱼性别分化相关基因研究进展

鲟鱼是目前世界上最古老的鱼类之一,其肉质鲜美,营养丰富,鱼卵加工成的鱼子酱具有极高的经济价值。鲟鱼鱼子酱价格居高不下,因此养殖雌性鲟鱼比养殖雄鱼具有更高的经济前景。由于鲟鱼外形无法辨别雌雄,目前,通常借助超声波、内窥镜等仪器进行早期性别鉴定,但鉴别准确性无法保证。因此采用现代分子生物学技术探究鲟鱼性别决定及性别分化机制有助于早期鲟鱼性别鉴定技术的开发及实现鲟鱼全雌化苗种培育。总结了鱼类性别决定与性别分化相关基因的研究现状,综述了目前在鲟鱼上性别决定与性别分化相关基因的研究进展并预测了未来的研究方向及研究趋势。     

甲壳动物性别分化的遗传决定及外界因素的影响(英文)

本文综述了甲壳动物的性别决定机理及外界因素对性别分化的影响。绝大多数甲壳动物没有明显的性染色体 ,促雄腺被认为是甲壳动物性别分化的最主要的决定因子 ,其作用已得到了广泛的证明。由于甲壳动物幼体在早期发育过程中具有向两性发育的潜能 ,促雄腺可以决定个体未来发育的性别 ,并且通过人为摘除或移植促雄腺的方法可以使性别已经分化的个体发生性逆转 ,从而改变幼体的性别。虽然甲壳动物的性别是由遗传决定的 ,但外界的因素比如寄生、光周期、温度或激素可以改变其性比 ,其中以寄生的影响研究比较多 ,并认为是影响某些甲壳动物性别分化的主要外界因子。由于大多数养殖的甲壳动物雌雄性之间有体重和体长的差异 ,在水产养殖中可以利用这些特征进行全雌或全雄种苗的生产 ,以提高产量和效益。     

Characterization of the FKBP12-Encoding Genes in Aspergillus fumigatus

Invasive aspergillosis, largely caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, is responsible for a growing number of deaths among immunosuppressed patients. Immunosuppressants such as FK506 (tacrolimus) that target calcineurin have shown promise for antifungal drug development. FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) form a complex with calcineurin in the presence of FK506 (FKBP12-FK506) and inhibit calcineurin activity. Research on FKBPs in fungi is limited, and none of the FKBPs have been previously characterized in A. fumigatus. We identified four orthologous genes of FKBP12, the human FK506 binding partner, in A. fumigatus and designated them fkbp12-1, fkbp12-2, fkbp12-3, and fkbp12-4. Deletional analysis of the four genes revealed that the Δfkbp12-1 strain was resistant to FK506, indicating FKBP12-1 as the key mediator of FK506-binding to calcineurin. The endogenously expressed FKBP12-1-EGFP fusion protein localized to the cytoplasm and nuclei under normal growth conditions but also to the hyphal septa following FK506 treatment, revealing its interaction with calcineurin. The FKBP12-1-EGFP fusion protein didn’t localize at the septa in the presence of FK506 in the cnaA deletion background, confirming its interaction with calcineurin. Testing of all deletion strains in the Galleria mellonella model of aspergillosis suggested that these proteins don’t play an important role in virulence. While the Δfkbp12-2 and Δfkbp12-3 strains didn’t show any discernable phenotype, the Δfkbp12-4 strain displayed slight growth defect under normal growth conditions and inhibition of the caspofungin-mediated “paradoxical growth effect” at higher concentrations of the antifungal caspofungin. Together, these results indicate that while only FKBP12-1 is the bona fide binding partner of FK506, leading to the inhibition of calcineurin in A. fumigatus, FKBP12-4 may play a role in basal growth and the caspofungin-mediated paradoxical growth response. Exploitation of differences between A. fumigatus FKBP12-1 and human FKBP12 will be critical for the generation of fungal-specific FK506 analogs to inhibit fungal calcineurin and treat invasive fungal disease.     

Complementary Sex Determination in the Parasitic Wasp Diachasmimorpha longicaudata

We studied the sex determination in Diachasmimorpha longicaudata, a parasitoid braconid wasp widely used as biological control agent of fruit pest tephritid flies. We tested the complementary sex determination hypothesis (CSD) known in at least 60 species of Hymenoptera. According to CSD, male or female development depends on the allelic composition of one sex locus (single-locus CSD) or multiple sex loci (multiple-locus CSD). Hemizygote individuals are normal haploid males, and heterozygotes for at least one sex locus are normal diploid females, but homozygotes for all the sex loci are diploid males. In order to force the occurrence of diploid males in D. longicaudata, we established highly inbred lines and examined their offspring using chromosome counting, flow cytometry, and sex ratio analysis. We found that when mother-son crosses were studied, this wasp produced about 20% of diploid males out of the total male progeny. Our results suggest that this parasitoid may represent the second genus with multiple-locus CSD in Hymenoptera. Knowledge about the sex determination system in D. longicaudata is relevant for the improvement of mass rearing protocols of this species. This information also provides the necessary background for further investigations on the underlying molecular mechanisms of sex determination in this species, and a better insight into the evolution of this pathway in Hymenoptera in particular and insects in general.