Morphology and functions of calyx fluid filaments in the reproductive tracts of endoparasitoid,Microplitis mediator [Hym.: Braconidae]

Very long virus-like filaments were found in calyx region of the reproductive tracts of the braconid parasitoid,Microplitis mediator Haliday, which attacks the Noctuid,Pseudaletia (=Leucania) separata Walker. These filaments are nuclear in origin; Feulgen and methyl-green pyronin reactions revealed cytochemically the presence of DNA. Filaments are attached to the surface of the chorion of an egg until hatching and function to suppress the encapsulation reaction of the host. Furthermore, it was observed that serosal cells, 18-h and 24-h from oviposition, released substances possibly related to the inhibition of encapsulation.      

鳜两种生长抑素受体cDNA全长克隆与组织表达

利用cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE)技术克隆了鳜(Siniperca chuatsi)脑中2种生长抑素受体(somatostatin receptor,SSTR2和SSTR3)cDNA全长序列。结果显示,鳜SSTR2 cDNA全长1 820 bp,含开放阅读框1 146 bp,编码382个氨基酸;SSTR3 cDNA全长1 874 bp,含开放阅读框1 458 bp,编码486个氨基酸。SSTR均由5个结构区域组成:N端、7个转膜区(TMD)、3个细胞外袢(ECLs)、4个细胞内袢(ICLs)和C末端。NJ系统进化树分析显示,鳜SSTR2和SSTR3分别形成相对独立的分支,两者间的氨基酸序列相似度为51.2%,表明它们是由不同基因编码而成。利用实时荧光定量RT-PCR技术检测了鳜SSTR2和SSTR3 mRNA的组织表达特征,它们均在多种组织中广泛表达,SSTR2 mRNA在肝中表达量最高,SSTR3 mRNA在胃中表达量最高。SSTR2、SSTR3表达差异反映它们可能参与不同生理调控作用。     

毛竹油菜素内酯受体激酶基因的分子特征及表达模式分析

为探究毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)油菜素内酯(brassinolide,BL)受体激酶基因的分子特征和表达模式,采用生物信息学方法对毛竹中BL受体激酶基因进行了分析,并应用实时定量PCR技术对基因的表达模式进行了研究。结果表明,在毛竹基因组中共获得8条BL受体激酶基因同源序列(PeBRLs),分别属于4个亚家族。8个PeBRLs编码858~1 224氨基酸,分子量为92~130 kDa。PeBRLs结构相对保守,激酶区均具有BL受体激酶特有的3个保守结构域;除PeBRL1-1具有2个跨膜结构域外,其余PeBRLs只有1个跨膜结构域。8个PeBRLs全部定位在细胞膜上,属于典型的膜嵌合蛋白。实时定量PCR结果显示,每个亚家族成员基因的组织特异性表达模式基本一致,但不同亚家族之间差异明显;在不同发育阶段的竹笋中,PeBRLs的表达呈现为4种变化趋势。因此,8个PeBRLs在毛竹不同组织和笋的不同发育阶段可能发挥着不同的作用。     

Extended in vitro culture of Microplitis croceipes teratocytes and secretion of TSP14 protein

Teratocytes, cells which originate from the serosal membrane of some Braconidae and Scelionidae, can be found in the hemocoel of permissive hosts during part or all of the developmental time of the parasitoid larva. Teratocytes from Microplitis croceipes are known to secrete biologically active proteins, which contribute to developmental arrest and failure to pupate of Heliothis virescens larvae. One such protein, which has a molecular weight of approximately 14 kDa is called TSP14. The presence of parasitoid larvae is essential to maintain teratocytes under in vitro conditions with protein-free EX-CELL 400. The teratocyte viability was maintained in vitro for at least 12 days in the presence of larvae when medium was exchanged every three days. Western blots show that TSP14 was secreted during the entire period of exchanges. In the absence of parasitoid larvae, teratocyte viability was only 30% by day 6 and no TSP14 had been secreted. In the absence of parasitoid larvae, teratocytes maintained in vitro in EX-CELL 400 medium supplemented with 10% FBS remained viable for at least nine days and secreted TSP14 for at least six days. This suggests that parasitoid larval secretions are sufficient but not uniquely essential to maintain teratocyte viability. Parasitoid larvae maintained in the absence of teratocytes did not secrete TSP14 and their secretory products did not inhibit pupation of H. virescens larvae.     

Differential Expression of Hox and Notch Genes in Larval and Adult Stages of Echinococcus granulosus

This investigation aimed to evaluate the differential expression of HoxB7 and notch genes in different developmental stages of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto. The expression of HoxB7 gene was observed at all developmental stages. Nevertheless, significant fold differences in the expression level was documented in the juvenile worm with 3 or more proglottids, the germinal layer from infected sheep, and the adult worm from an experimentally infected dog. The notch gene was expressed at all developmental stages of E. granulosus; however, the fold difference was significantly increased at the microcysts in monophasic culture medium and the germinal layer of infected sheep in comparison with other stages. The findings demonstrated that the 2 aforementioned genes evaluated in the present study were differentially expressed at different developmental stages of the parasite and may contribute to some important biological processes of E. granulosus.     

病毒感染相关基因微阵列的制备及其在HBV感染应答基因筛选中的应用

为筛选乙型肝炎(乙肝)病毒(HBV)感染应答基因,探讨HBV感染分子机理,采用生物信息学分析、筛选宿主细胞中与乙肝病毒、丙型肝炎(丙肝)病毒、流行性感冒(流感)病毒等感染密切相关的基因,设计并合成寡核苷酸探针,制备了含231种病毒感染相关基因的寡核苷酸微阵列.利用此微阵列比较HepG2细胞、HepG2.2.15细胞之间的基因表达谱差异,筛选乙肝病毒感染候选应答基因,从分子水平对乙肝病毒感染作用机理进行初步研究.制备的病毒感染相关基因表达谱微阵列的监测结果显示,阳性对照和看家基因探针出现较强信号,空白点样液和阴性对照探针未出信号,大部分基因探针信号强度在可分析范围内,上矩阵和下矩阵反映的基因表达情况一致,证明微阵列的特异性、敏感性、重复性都较好.HepG2.2.15与HepG2细胞基因表达谱比较结果显示,28个宿主基因在HepG2.2.15细胞中高表达,包括ASGR1、AFP、Fibronectin、APOC等基因;4个基因低表达,包括RRM1、ICSBP等基因.初步筛选获得HBV感染候选应答基因.此结果表明,制备的微阵列敏感性、特异性、重复性好,可为研究病毒宿主相互作用关系提供技术平台,应用此微阵列筛选获得的HBV候选应答基因可为揭示HBV感染的分子致病机理提供新的信息,为抗HBV药物研究提供潜在的作用靶点.     

Tissue-Specific Activation of a Single Gustatory Receptor Produces Opposing Behavioral Responses in Drosophila

Understanding sensory systems that perceive environmental inputs and neural circuits that select appropriate motor outputs is essential for studying how organisms modulate behavior and make decisions necessary for survival. Drosophila melanogaster oviposition is one such important behavior, in which females evaluate their environment and choose to lay eggs on substrates they may find aversive in other contexts. We employed neurogenetic techniques to characterize neurons that influence the choice between repulsive positional and attractive egg-laying responses toward the bitter-tasting compound lobeline. Surprisingly, we found that neurons expressing Gr66a, a gustatory receptor normally involved in avoidance behaviors, receive input for both attractive and aversive preferences. We hypothesized that these opposing responses may result from activation of distinct Gr66a-expressing neurons. Using tissue-specific rescue experiments, we found that Gr66a-expressing neurons on the legs mediate positional aversion. In contrast, pharyngeal taste cells mediate the egg-laying attraction to lobeline, as determined by analysis of mosaic flies in which subsets of Gr66a neurons were silenced. Finally, inactivating mushroom body neurons disrupted both aversive and attractive responses, suggesting that this brain structure is a candidate integration center for decision-making during Drosophila oviposition. We thus define sensory and central neurons critical to the process by which flies decide where to lay an egg. Furthermore, our findings provide insights into the complex nature of gustatory perception in Drosophila. We show that tissue-specific activation of bitter-sensing Gr66a neurons provides one mechanism by which the gustatory system differentially encodes aversive and attractive responses, allowing the female fly to modulate her behavior in a context-dependent manner.     

雄激素非依赖性前列腺癌细胞雄激素受体靶基因的筛选与初步鉴定

采用染色质免疫共沉淀技术在全基因组水平筛选雄激素非依赖性前列腺癌细胞LNCaP-AI的雄激素受体结合位点,行高通量测序及生物信息学分析共得到2 876个peak（pvalue〈1×10–5）,peak平均长度为673 bp;将peak序列定位到Hg19基因组,共有1 865个靶基因,其中fold enrichment≥10的基因有425个。对peak相关基因进行GO分析发现,与细胞、细胞组分、细胞过程、结合、细胞器相关的基因位列前五位;对peak相关基因进行通路分析发现,与黏着斑、代谢通路、癌症中的转录错误调控、嘌呤代谢等信号通路相关的基因占大多数。筛选出7个候选AR靶基因,采用Real-time qPCR技术分析它们在LNCaP-AI细胞和雄激素依赖性前列腺癌细胞LNCaP中对DTH刺激的反应性,发现DHT刺激可改变7个候选AR靶基因在LNCaP-AI细胞中的表达,为进一步研究雄激素依赖性前列腺癌向非依赖性前列腺癌发展的过程中雄激素受体及其调控的下游靶基因功能起着至关重要的作用。     

木薯SYP基因的序列特征及表达分析

植物突触融合蛋白(SYP)是一类与植物细胞内囊泡介导转运有关的蛋白。部分SYP基因与植物对生物和非生物胁迫的响应有关。该文利用生物信息学工具分析了木薯(Manihot esculenta)SYP基因及其蛋白结构、核苷酸多态性和系统进化关系, 并利用RT-PCR技术检测了木薯不同组织中SYP基因的表达。结果表明, 木薯SYP基因及其蛋白结构均具有明显的规律性和家族成员间的保守性; SYP基因的cDNA在基因间以及不同品种间具高度一致性, 核苷酸变异以同义替换为主。进化分析表明, 植物SYP基因可分为2个亚家族, 木薯SYP基因倾向于与蓖麻(Ricinus communis)SYP基因聚在进化树同一分支的末端。半定量RT-PCR分析表明, 5个木薯SYP家族成员具有组织特异性。上述研究结果为木薯SYP基因功能研究和功能单核苷酸标记的开发奠定了重要基础。     

Antennal expression pattern of two olfactory receptors and an odorant binding protein implicated in host odor detection by the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae

Odor-detection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae involves large families of diverse proteins, including multiple odorant binding proteins (AgOBPs) and olfactory receptors (AgORs). The receptors AgOR1 and AgOR2, as well as the binding protein AgOBP1, have been implicated in the recognition of human host odors. In this study, we have explored the expression of these olfactory proteins, as well as the ubiquitous odorant receptor heteromerization partner AgOR7, in the thirteen flagellomeres (segments) of female and male antenna. Expressing cells were visualized by adapting a whole mount fluorescence in situ hybridization method. In female mosquitoes, AgOR1-expressing olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) were almost exclusively segregated in segments 3 to 9, whereas AgOR2-expressing ORNs were distributed over flagellomeres 2 to 13. Different individuals comprised a similar number of cells expressing a distinct AgOR type, although their antennal topography and number per flagellomere varied. AgOBP1-expressing support cells were present in segments 3 to 13 of the female antenna, with increasing numbers towards the distal end. In male mosquitoes, total numbers of AgOR- and AgOBP1-expressing cells were much lower. While AgOR2-expressing cells were found on both terminal flagellomeres, AgOR1 cells were restricted to the most distal segment. High densities of AgOBP1-expressing cells were identified in segment 13, whereas segment 12 comprised very few. Altogether, the results demonstrate that both sexes express the two olfactory receptor types as well as the binding protein AgOBP1 but there is a significant sexual dimorphism concerning the number and distribution of these cells. This may suggest gender-specific differences in the ability to detect distinct odorants, specifically human host-derived volatiles.     

The effects of host age and superparasitism by the parasitoid, Microplitis rufiventris on the cellular and humoral immune response of Spodoptera littoralis larvae

To study the dynamics of stage-dependent immune responses in Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), single and superparasitism experiments were carried out using the parasitoid Microplitis rufiventris Kok. (Braconidae: Hymenoptera). Compared to younger (preferred) host larvae, the older (non-preferred) host larvae displayed a vigorous humoral response that often damaged and destroyed the single wasp egg or larva. Superparasitism and host age altered both the cellular and humoral immune responses. Younger host larvae showed a stronger encapsulation response compared to older host larvae. Moreover encapsulation rates in younger hosts (e.g., second instar) decreased with increasing numbers of parasitoid eggs deposited/larvae. In older larvae, the encapsulation rate was low in fourth, less in fifth and absent in sixth instar hosts. Conversely, the order and magnitude of the cellular immune response in S. littoralis hosts were highest in second instar larvae with the first instar larvae being a little lower. The immune response steadily decreased from the third through to the fifth instar and was least obvious in the sixth instar. In contrast, the general humoral immune response was most pronounced in sixth instar larvae and diminished towards younger stages. The results suggest that both cellular and humoral responses are stage-dependent. Wasp offspring in younger superparasitized host larvae fought for host supremacy with only one wasp surviving, while supernumerary wasp larvae generally survived in older superparasitized larvae, but were unable to complete development. Older instars seem to have a method for immobilizing/killing wasp larvae that is not operating in the younger instars.     

毛竹实时荧光定量PCR内参基因的筛选及成花基因PheTFL1表达分析

通过qRT-PCR对毛竹相关成花基因PheTFL1的表达进行研究,为毛竹开花机理的研究提供理论依据.从毛竹UBC18、PP2A和EF1α等9个候选内参基因中筛选出在叶、幼嫩花序、花序轴、枝、竹青等11个组织器官中都稳定表达的PP2A用于毛竹PheTFL1基因qRT-PCR结果的校正.结果显示:PheTFL1基因在开花竹叶、枝和竹青中低丰度表达,与未开花竹差异不显著,但在花和花序轴中高丰度表达;在实生苗叶和根中高丰度表达,在实生苗茎中低丰度表达.PheTFL1基因在具有分生能力的幼嫩组织中高丰度表达,说明其不仅参与花发育的调控,还参与了分生组织生长的调控.