Coordinated spatial and temporal expression ofHox genes during embryogenesis in the acoelConvolutriloba longifissura

Background  

Hox genes are critical for patterning the bilaterian anterior-posterior axis. The evolution of their clustered genomic arrangement and ancestral function has been debated since their discovery. As acoels appear to represent the sister group to the remaining Bilateria (Nephrozoa), investigatingHox gene expression will provide an insight into the ancestral features of theHox genes in metazoan evolution.     

A developmentally regulated hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein in maize pericarp cell walls

We have studied the accumulation of peptidyl hydroxyproline in the pericarp of developing maize (Zea mays L., Golden cross Bantam sweet corn) kernels. Although this hydroxyproline accumulates throughout development, it is most soluble and its content per milligram dry weight greatest at midmaturation stages of development. Salt-soluble proteins containing this hydroxyproline from isolated cell walls of developing kernels were fractionated on a CsCl density gradient and on a Chromatofocusing column, resulting in the purification of an hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein, PC-1. PC-1 is a basic protein of approximately 65 to 70 kilodaltons in molecular weight with an isoelectric point of at least 10.2 and a density of 1.38 to 1.39 in CsCl. Amino acid composition data indicate that it is rich in hydroxyproline, threonine, proline, lysine, and glycine. Its relation to dicot extensin is discussed.     

LRRK2 R1628P increases risk of Parkinson’s disease: replication evidence

We showed that the frequency of a LRRK2 variant (c.4883G > C, R1628P) was higher in Parkinson’s disease (PD) compared to controls (8.4 vs. 3.4%, P = 0.046, OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.6). In the multivariate logistic regression (with adjustments made for the effect of age, age of onset, and gender), the heterozygous R1628P genotype was associated with an increased risk of PD compared to controls (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.4– 7.9, P = 0.007). We provided an independent confirmation that the R1628P variant increases the risk of PD among Chinese.     

Effects of rhFSH regimen and time interval on ovarian responses to repeated stimulation cycles in rhesus monkeys during a physiologic breeding season

We studied the effects of repeated stimulation by recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) at various time intervals during a physiologic breeding season in rhesus monkeys. Ovarian recovery and responses were assessed by ultrasonography, serum steroid concentrations, number of oocytes retrieved, and in vitro blastocyst development following IVF. One group underwent a single stimulation regimen with 18 IU rhFSH i.m., followed by 1000 IU hCG, and serum steroid concentrations and ovarian status were determined in the following three menses. Another group was stimulated as before and then allocated into three subgroups; each subgroup was re-stimulated once at the beginning of the ensuing first, second, or third menses. In the final experiment, one group was stimulated with 37.5 IU rhFSH, whereas another group received 18 IU rhFSH. In subsequent cycles, all were re-stimulated twice with 18 IU rhFSH at time intervals of two menstrual cycles (MCs). At the first menses after stimulation, serum progesterone concentrations were significantly higher and the ovaries larger than before stimulation. Monkeys that were re-stimulated at the first menses responded poorly; at the second menses, progesterone concentrations and ovarian size recovered, but the number of oocytes retrieved from re-stimulated monkeys was still significantly reduced. However, animals that were re-stimulated in two MCs later responded well (i.e., percentage of the animals responding, oocytes recovered, and potential for fertilization and blastocyst formation). In conclusion, rhesus monkeys were likely to have similar ovarian responses to repeated stimulation with the same regimen spaced at least two MCs apart.     

A Novel Gene Involved in Lesion Formation in Magnaporthe grisea

To date, a number of genes that are expressed in the early stages of infection have been reported, while few genes that are expressed during the course of colonization, after the initiation of plant infection, have been studied. Plant inoculations, real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gene cloning, protein expression and bioinformatics analysis were combined to identify a novel gene, MgNIP04, in the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the amino acid sequence contained a signal peptide. The wounded inoculation resulted in necrosis specks when the total expressed proteins including MBP‐MgNIP04 was inoculated on the wounded rice leaves, which demonstrated the protein directly interacted with rice. The real‐time PCR result of infected leaves showed that it is upregulated during late stages of infection of rice. Additionally, the copies of the gene expression absolute quantity of the gene were 7.61 × 10², 1.06 × 10³, 1.31 × 10³, 4.13 × 10³, and 4.00 × 10³, at 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 h postinoculation (HPI), respectively. The higher copies of MgNIP04 were found at 96 and 168 HPI. The copies of MgNIP04 in mycelia of Y98‐63C, Y99‐16, 94‐64‐1b and 95‐23‐4a were significantly lower than those of infected leaves. Through the above bioinformatics and experimental analysis, our result suggested that the MgNIP04 was novel pathogenicity‐related protein in rice blast fungus.     

Pollen morphology in relation to floral types and pollination syndromes in Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae)

Floral diversification in the genus Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae) is remarkable among flowering plants. In this genus, floral morphology and pollinator behavior are closely co-adaptive. In the current paper, pollen grains of 23 representative species of Pedicularis mainly from North America, with two species from Japan and two species from China, whose pollination ecology was previously studied, were examined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Two pollen aperture types and three kinds of exine ornamentation were recognized among these species. In addition, pollen data from previous and the current studies of Pedicularis were integrated and analyzed, together with some pollination characters. There was a significant association between pollen aperture types and corolla types, as well as between pollination syndromes and corolla types. However, there was no association of exine ornamentations with corolla types. The relationships and evolution of this genus were discussed with regards to pollen morphology, corolla types and pollination syndromes.     

Effects of heat acclimatisation on work tolerance and thermoregulation in trained tropical natives

This study aimed to investigate the effects of heat acclimatisation on thermoregulatory responses and work tolerance in trained individuals residing in the tropics. Eighteen male trained soldiers, who are native to a warm and humid climate, performed a total of four heat stress tests donning the Skeletal Battle Order (SBO, 20.5 kg) and Full Battle Order (FBO, 24.7 kg) before (PRE) and after (POST) a 10-day heat acclimatisation programme. The trials were conducted in an environmental chamber (dry bulb temperature: 32 °C, relative humidity: 70%, solar radiation: 400 W/m²). Excluding the data sets of which participants fully completed the heat stress tests (210 min) before and after heat acclimatisation, work tolerance was improved from 173±30 to 201±18 min (∼21%, p<0.05, n=9) following heat acclimatisation. Following heat acclimatisation, chest skin temperature during exercise was lowered in SBO (PRE=36.7±0.3 vs. POST=36.5±0.3 °C, p<0.01) and FBO (PRE=36.8±0.4 vs. POST=36.6±0.3 °C, p<0.01). Ratings of perceived exertion were decreased with SBO and FBO (PRE=11±2; POST=10±2; p<0.05) after heat acclimatisation. Heat acclimatisation had no effects on baseline body core temperature, heart rate and sweat rate across trials (p>0.05). A heat acclimatisation programme improves work tolerance with minimal effects on thermoregulation in trained tropical natives.     

ScanLag: High-throughput Quantification of Colony Growth and Lag Time

Growth dynamics are fundamental characteristics of microorganisms. Quantifying growth precisely is an important goal in microbiology. Growth dynamics are affected both by the doubling time of the microorganism and by any delay in growth upon transfer from one condition to another, the lag. The ScanLag method enables the characterization of these two independent properties at the level of colonies originating each from a single cell, generating a two-dimensional distribution of the lag time and of the growth time. In ScanLag, measurement of the time it takes for colonies on conventional nutrient agar plates to be detected is automated on an array of commercial scanners controlled by an in house application. Petri dishes are placed on the scanners, and the application acquires images periodically. Automated analysis of colony growth is then done by an application that returns the appearance time and growth rate of each colony. Other parameters, such as the shape, texture and color of the colony, can be extracted for multidimensional mapping of sub-populations of cells. Finally, the method enables the retrieval of rare variants with specific growth phenotypes for further characterization. The technique could be applied in bacteriology for the identification of long lag that can cause persistence to antibiotics, as well as a general low cost technique for phenotypic screens.