利用CoI基因序列对雀科鸟类的分子系统发育关系初探

基于线粒体DNA(mtDNA)中Col基因的部分序列(1300bp)对雀形目雀科(Fringillidae)36种鸟类进行系统发育分析.对数据集构建NJ树、Baycs树和ML树.对建树结果进行分析,发现铁爪鸦(Calcarius lapponicus)与鸦属(Emberiza)鸟类的亲缘关系比其他雀科的鸟类更近;支持蓝鹀(Latoucheornis siemsseni)隶属于鹀属的观点:证实了黄颈拟蜡嘴雀(Mycerobas affinis)与黑尾蜡嘴雀(Eophona migratorius)之间紧密的亲缘关系;发现长尾雀(Uragus sibiricus)和朱鸦(Urocynchramus pylzowi)之间亲缘关系很远,而与朱雀属(Carpodacus)有较近的亲缘关系:结果支持雀类与鸦类的亚科级分类水平.     

褐头朱雀和藏雀的研究现状

褐头朱雀(Carpodacus sillemi)与藏雀(C.roborowskii)均是我国的特有鸟类,也互为亲缘关系最近的姊妹种,它们自发现命名以来长期属于了解非常有限的种类,褐头朱雀更是全世界最罕为人知的现生鸟类之一.目前,与褐头朱雀及藏雀有关的研究报道和资料很少.根据已有的文献,结合在野外实地观察所获取的资料,对...     

青海禽棒恙螨属一新种：蜱螨亚纲：恙螨科

本文记述从朱雀Garpodacus erythrinus(Pallas)体上采到的禽棒恙螨属Ornithogastia Vercammen-Grandjean,1960,一新种,朱雀禽棒恙螨Ornithogastia erythinae sp.nov.标本采自青海省海南藏族自冶州贵南县。     

笼养普通朱雀适应北方冬季气候的体温调节特征

内温动物的能量代谢和体温调节表现出普遍的季节性适应,这对于动物的能量分配、存活和繁殖等具有积极意义.本研究中,利用陆生动物呼吸代谢测量系统,测定了在北方适应了3年(2018至2020年)的普通朱雀(Carpodacus erythrinus)冬季代谢产热特征,以期理解该物种对北方冬季气候的响应.结果 发现,普通朱雀冬季...     

嫩江高峰林区鸟类迁徙与气象因子的相关性初探

2001～2010年在黑龙江省嫩江县高峰林场开展了鸟类环志研究工作,共环志鸟类173种238672只,其中春季142种102285只,秋季147种136387只,隶属14目41科。春季以小鹀Emberiza pusilla、红胁蓝尾鸲Tar-siger cyanurus、黄眉柳莺Phylloscopus inornatus、栗鹀E.rutila、黄眉鹀E.chrysophrys、燕雀Fringilla montifringilla、田鹀E.rustica、黄雀Carduelis spinus等8种为迁徙鸟类的优势种,累计75145只,占春季环志数量的73.5%;秋季以白腰朱顶雀Carduelis flammea、黄雀、田鹀、燕雀、黄眉柳莺、煤山雀Parus ater、北朱雀Carpodacus roseus等7种为迁徙鸟类的优势种,累计99335只,占秋季环志数量的72.8%。利用统计软件对气象因子中的平均气温、日最高气温、日最低气温、平均水汽压、日最低气压、日最高气压、相对湿度、地面平均温度、平均风速、最大风速、最大风速的风向、日照时数与春秋季迁徙鸟类的优势种的相关性进行了分析,发现地面平均温度、日最高气温与鸟类迁徙的相关性很强。在春季,与鸟类迁徙的相关性很强的还有日最高气压,而秋季则是日照时数。相对湿度在鸟类迁徙中呈很强的负相关。     

4种雀形目鸟消化道形态特征

鸟类消化系统的形态结构与其食性密切相关。本文对红点颏(Luscinia calliope)、红喉姬(Ficedula parva)、栗(Emberiza rutila)和普通朱雀(Carpodacus erythrinus)4种雀形目鸟类的消化道形态特征进行了比较研究。实验结果显示,4种鸟的总消化道长度和各消化器官的长度(胃长度除外),消化道总重量和各消化器官的重量均存在明显的种间差异。植食性鸟(普通朱雀)具有相对较长的消化道,而食虫鸟(红点颏和红喉姬)则具有相对较高的消化道重量。实验证明,鸟类不同的食性特征塑造了不同的消化道适应对策。     

黑龙江嫩江高峰林区鸟类环志监测报告

1998～2006年,笔者在黑龙江省嫩江县高峰林场开展了鸟类环志研究工作。这里是候鸟经松嫩平原迁徙途中重要的停歇地和食物补给站。9年共环志鸟类13目37科165种184273只,其中春季135种80366只,秋季140种103907只。环志最多年份为2002年,44633只。环志数量最多的种类是白腰朱顶雀Cardueli sflammea,272日3只,其次是黄雀C.spinus,20163只。在所环志的鸟类中,春季以小鹀Emberiza pusilla、红胁蓝尾鸲Tarsiger cyanurus、黄眉柳莺Phyllosco pusinornatus、栗鹀E.rutila、田鹀E.rustica、黄眉鹀E.chrysophrys、燕雀Fringilla montifringilla、黄雀等8种为优势种:秋季以白腰朱顶雀、黄雀、田鹀、黄眉柳莺、燕雀、北朱雀Carpodacusroseus等6种为优势种,占秋季环志数量的69.3%。系统的环志监测,为深入开展鸟类环志研究,探索鸟类迁徙规律,以及进行鸟类疫情监测提供更为可靠的数据。     

柑桔种质资源谷氨酸草酰乙酸转氨酶同工酶研究

本文分析了125份柑桔属、枳属、金柑属和指来檬属种质资源的谷氨酸草酰乙酸转氨酶同工 酶(GOT)。新发现了GOT-1的两个等位基因B和C。宽皮柑桔的GOT同工酶颇为一致(仅两个例 外),表明可能有共同的起源。酸橙的GOT同工酶较复杂,可能有多种起源,其中朱栾和小红橙的起 源可能与宜昌橙或香橙有关。在单胚种柚中发现了6种GOT基因组合。宜昌橙存在着两种GOT同工酶类型。本文讨论了甜橙、酸橙、葡萄柚、香橙、柠檬等种类的可能起源。     

酒红朱雀的繁殖生态初步报道

2012年6月至8月期间,在甘肃莲花山国家级自然保护区发现3巢酒红朱雀(Carpodacus vinaceus).巢呈碗状,筑于小云杉(Picea asperata)或小灌木上,距地面高1.5～1.9 m.卵的大小为(21.06 ±0.59)mm ×(14.81±0.26)mm,重(2.32±0.08)g(n =6).雌鸟单独孵卵,雌雄共同育雏,孵卵期约14 d,育雏期约13 d.     

棕朱雀取食含盐墙土现象的观察

1996~1998年发现重庆市开县一字梁区域有棕朱雀(Carpodacus edwardsii)分布。此后陆续发现巫山县的葱坪和梨子坪也有棕朱雀分布,但遇见数量和遇见率远低于开县一字梁。调查发现,棕朱雀主要集中分布在海拔较高(1 841~2 560 m)地处僻远的管护站房屋边活动,并在开县一字梁观察到棕朱雀具有偏爱啄食含盐墙土的行为。鉴于当地居民营建房屋时,为了防止蚂蚁入侵,在砌筑石块的泥浆中添加食盐,我们分别对管护站的2所房屋及其附近3所传统民居房屋的墙缝土进行了土样化验分析,管护站的2所房屋墙缝土的含盐量(分别为12.92 mg/g、16.84 mg/g)远高于附近的3所民居房屋(分别为1.31 mg/g、7.18 mg/g、0.53 mg/g)。据此认为,人工盐源很可能是维系该区域棕朱雀种群数量和生境质量的生态因子。     

A molecular phylogeny of eurytomid wasps inferred from DNA sequence data of 28S, 18S, 16S, and COI genes

Using partial DNA sequence data from nuclear 28S and 18S genes and mitochondrial 16S and COI genes, we reconstructed a phylogeny of the family Eurytomidae. Both maximum parsimony and Bayesian methods were employed. The analysis revealed a significant incongruence between the mitochondrial genes and the nuclear genes, and we chose the results from the nuclear genes as our preferred hypothesis. Our phylogeny suggested that the family Eurytomidae is not a monophyletic group; neither are the genera Eurytoma and Bruchophagus. The monophyly of genera Sycophila and Plutarchia was well supported, as was the close association of the genera Aiolomorphus, Tenuipetiolus, Bephratelloides, and Phylloxeroxenus. Our phylogeny also revealed an anticipated pattern, in which species groups from the genera Eurytoma and Bruchophagus are often more closely related to other small genera than to other species groups of the same genus. Subsequent taxonomic revisions include elevating the subfamily Rileyinae to a family status and the divisions of the genera Eurytoma and Bruchophagus.     

Evolutionary rates, divergence dates, and the performance of mitochondrial genes in Bayesian phylogenetic analysis

The mitochondrial genome is one of the most frequently used loci in phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses, and it is becoming increasingly possible to sequence and analyze this genome in its entirety from diverse taxa. However, sequencing the entire genome is not always desirable or feasible. Which genes should be selected to best infer the evolutionary history of the mitochondria within a group of organisms, and what properties of a gene determine its phylogenetic performance? The current study addresses these questions in a Bayesian phylogenetic framework with reference to a phylogeny of plethodontid and related salamanders derived from 27 complete mitochondrial genomes; this topology is corroborated by nuclear DNA and morphological data. Evolutionary rates for each mitochondrial gene and divergence dates for all nodes in the plethodontid mitochondrial genome phylogeny were estimated in both Bayesian and maximum likelihood frameworks using multiple fossil calibrations, multiple data partitions, and a clock-independent approach. Bayesian analyses of individual genes were performed, and the resulting trees compared against the reference topology. Ordinal logistic regression analysis of molecular evolution rate, gene length, and the G-shape parameter a demonstrated that slower rate of evolution and longer gene length both increased the probability that a gene would perform well phylogenetically. Estimated rates of molecular evolution vary 84-fold among different mitochondrial genes and different salamander lineages, and mean rates among genes vary 15-fold. Despite having conserved amino acid sequences, cox1, cox2, cox3, and cob have the fastest mean rates of nucleotide substitution, and the greatest variation in rates, whereas rrnS and rrnL have the slowest rates. Reasons underlying this rate variation are discussed, as is the extensive rate variation in cox1 in light of its proposed role in DNA barcoding.     

The phylogenetic relationships of Przevalski's Finch Urocynchramus pylzowi,the most ancient Tibetan endemic passerine known to date

Competing systematic hypotheses have placed the Tibetan endemic Przevalski's Finch Urocynchramus pylzowi either with the Old World buntings (Emberizidae) or with the cardueline finches (Fringillidae, Carduelinae). Recent studies based on limited genetic evidence instead suggest an isolated position within Passeroidea and advocate a separate family, Urocynchramidae, as had been suggested much earlier on the grounds of morphology. We provide a time‐calibrated multi‐locus phylogeny for Passeroidea including Przevalski's Finch based on three mitochondrial markers and three nuclear introns that placed U. pylzowi in a clade together with Estrildidae, Viduidae and Ploceidae. A sister group relationship of U. pylzowi and weavers (Ploceidae) was concordant among three multilocus reconstructions but received only poor support. Divergence time estimates inferred from a fossil/biogeographical molecular dating approach suggested a late Oligocene split of U. pylzowi from its closest relatives at roughly 25 million years ago, making this the oldest known Tibetan endemic passerine. In addition to the molecular data, behavioural peculiarities and egg coloration further strengthen an isolated placement of U. pylzowi.     

MRS3 and MRS4, two suppressors of mtRNA splicing defects in yeast, are new members of the mitochondrial carrier family.

When present in high copy number plasmids, the nuclear genes MRS3 and MRS4 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae can suppress the mitochondrial RNA splicing defects of several mit- intron mutations. Both genes code for closely related proteins of about Mr 32,000; they are 73% identical. Sequence comparisons indicate that MRS3 and MRS4 may be related to the family of mitochondrial carrier proteins. Support for this notion comes from a structural analysis of these proteins. Like the ADP/ATP carrier protein (AAC), the mitochondrial phosphate carrier protein (PiC) and the uncoupling protein (UCP), the two MRS proteins have a tripartite structure; each of the three repeats consists of two hydrophobic domains that are flanked by specific amino acid residues. The spacing of these specific residues is identical in all domains of all proteins of the family, whereas spacing between the hydrophobic domains is variable. Like the AAC protein, the MRS3 and MRS4 proteins are imported into mitochondria in vitro and without proteolytic cleavage of a presequence and they are located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. In vivo studies support this mitochondrial localization of the MRS proteins. Overexpression of the MRS3 and MRS4 proteins causes a temperature-dependent petite phenotype; this is consistent with a mitochondrial function of these proteins. Disruption of these genes affected neither mitochondrial functions nor cellular viability. Their products thus have no essential function for mitochondrial biogenesis or for whole yeast cells that could not be taken over by other gene products. The findings are discussed in relation to possible functions of the MRS proteins in mitochondrial solute translocation and RNA splicing.     

Genetic divergences and phylogenetic relationships among the Fejervarya limnocharis complex in Thailand and neighboring countries revealed by mitochondrial and nuclear genes

To clarify the genetic divergence in the F. limnocharis complex from Thailand and neighboring countries and to elucidate the phylogenetic problems of this taxon, we analyzed partial sequences of the mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA genes and the nuclear CXCR4, NCX1, RAG-1, and tyrosinase genes. The F. limnocharis complex from Thailand had three distinct haplotypes for 12S and 16S rRNA genes. Nucleotide similarities and the phylogenetic relationships indicated that the haplotype 1 group corresponded to the real "F. limnocharis", the haplotype 2 group was F. orissaensis or closely related to it, and the haplotype 3 group was possibly an undescribed species. Mitochondrial gene data also showed two major clades of the genus Fejervarya, the Southeastern and South Asian groups. Although F. orissaensis is so far known only from Orissa in India, the haplotype 2 group was observed in Thailand. This distribution pattern and the phylogeny suggested that the origin of F. orissaensis and the haplotype 2 group might lie in Southeast Asia. There was also evidence suggesting that the haplotype 3 group originated in the South Asian area and has spread to northern Thailand. The nuclear gene data did not support the monophyly of the haplotypes recognized by mitochondrial genes. This incongruence between the mitochondrial and nuclear data seems to be caused by ancestral polymorphic sites contained in nuclear genes. Although neither the mitochondrial nor the nuclear data clarified intergeneric relationships, the nuclear data rejected the monophyly of the genus Fejervarya.     

The chloroplast ribosomal intron of Chlamydomonas reinhardii codes for a polypeptide related to mitochondrial maturases.

The sequences of the 888bp chloroplast ribosomal intron and of the flanking 23S rRNA gene regions of Chlamydomonasreinhardii have been established. The intron can be folded with a secondary structure which is typical of group I introns of fungal mitochondrial genes. It contains a 489bp open reading frame encoding a potential polypeptide that is related to mitochondrial maturases.     

Time-course of mitochondrial gene expressions in mice brains: implications for mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, and cytochrome c in aging

The study of aging is critical for a better understanding of many age-related diseases. The free radical theory of aging, one of the prominent aging hypotheses, holds that during aging, increasing reactive oxygen species in mitochondria causes mutations in the mitochondrial DNA and damages mitochondrial components, resulting in senescence. Understanding a mitochondrial gene expression profile and its relationship to mitochondrial function becomes an important step in understanding aging. The objective of the present study was to determine mRNA expression of mitochondrial-encoded genes in brain slices from C57BL6 mice at four ages (2, 12, 18, and 24 months) and to determine how these altered mitochondrial genes influence age-related changes, including oxidative damage and cytochrome c in apoptosis. Using northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization, and immunofluorescence analyses, we analyzed changes in the expression of mitochondrial RNA encoding the mitochondrial genes, oxidative damage marker, 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-OHG), and cytochrome c in brain slices from the cortex of C57BL6 mice at each of the four ages. Our northern blot analysis revealed an increased expression of mitochondrial-encoded genes in complexes I, III, IV, and V of the respiratory chain in 12- and 18-month-old C57BL6 mice compared to 2-month-old mice, suggesting a compensatory mechanism that allows the production of proteins involved in the electron transport chain. In contrast to the up-regulation of mitochondrial genes in 12- and 18-month-old C57BL6 mice, mRNA expression in 24-month-old C57BL6 mice was decreased, suggesting that compensation maintained by the up-regulated genes cannot be sustained and that the down-regulation of expression results in the later stage of aging. Our in situ hybridization analyses of mitochondrial genes from the hippocampus and the cortex revealed that mitochondrial genes were over-expressed, suggesting that these brain areas are critical for mitochondrial functions. Our immunofluorescence analysis of 8-OHG and cytochrome c revealed increased 8-OHG and cytochrome c in 12-month-old C57BL6 mice, suggesting that age-related mitochondrial oxidative damage and apoptosis are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Our double-labeling analysis of in situ hybridization of ATPase 6 and our immunofluorescence analysis of 8-OHG suggest that specific neuronal populations undergo oxidative damage. Further, double-labeling analysis of in situ hybridization of ATPase 6 and immunofluorescence analysis of cytochrome c suggest cytochrome c release is related to mitochondrial dysfunction in the aging C57BL6 mouse brain. This study also suggests that these mitochondrial gene expression changes may relate to the role of mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, and cytochrome c in aging and in age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.     

nMAT1, a nuclear-encoded maturase involved in the trans-splicing of nad1 intron 1, is essential for mitochondrial complex I assembly and function

Mitochondrial genomes (mtDNAs) in angiosperms contain numerous group II-type introns that reside mainly within protein-coding genes that are required for organellar genome expression and respiration. While splicing of group II introns in non-plant systems is facilitated by proteins encoded within the introns themselves (maturases), the mitochondrial introns in plants have diverged and have lost the vast majority of their intron-encoded ORFs. Only a single maturase gene (matR) is retained in plant mtDNAs, but its role(s) in the splicing of mitochondrial introns is currently unknown. In addition to matR, plants also harbor four nuclear maturase genes (nMat 1 to 4) encoding mitochondrial proteins that are expected to act in the splicing of group II introns. Recently, we established the role of one of these proteins, nMAT2, in the splicing of several mitochondrial introns in Arabidopsis. Here, we show that nMAT1 is required for trans-splicing of nad1 intron 1 and also functions in cis-splicing of nad2 intron 1 and nad4 intron 2. Homozygous nMat1 plants show retarded growth and developmental phenotypes, modified respiration activities and altered stress responses that are tightly correlated with mitochondrial complex I defects.