Genome‐wide distribution and functions of the AAE complex in epigenetic regulation in Arabidopsis

Heterochromatin is widespread in eukaryotic genomes and has diverse impacts depending on its genomic context. Previous studies have shown that a protein complex, the ASI1‐AIPP1‐EDM2 (AAE) complex, participates in polyadenylation regulation of several intronic heterochromatin‐containing genes. However, the genome‐wide functions of AAE are still unknown. Here, we show that the ASI1 and EDM2 mostly target the common genomic regions on a genome‐wide level and preferentially interacts with genetic heterochromatin. Polyadenylation (poly(A) sequencing reveals that AAE complex has a substantial influence on poly(A) site usage of heterochromatin‐containing genes, including not only intronic heterochromatin‐containing genes but also the genes showing overlap with heterochromatin. Intriguingly, AAE is also involved in the alternative splicing regulation of a number of heterochromatin‐overlapping genes, such as the disease resistance gene RPP4. We provided evidence that genic heterochromatin is indispensable for the recruitment of AAE in polyadenylation and splicing regulation. In addition to conferring RNA processing regulation at genic heterochromatin‐containing genes, AAE also targets some transposable elements (TEs) outside of genes (including TEs sandwiched by genes and island TEs) for epigenetic silencing. Our results reveal new functions of AAE in RNA processing and epigenetic silencing, and thus represent important advances in epigenetic regulation.     

13C脉冲标记法：不同生育期水稻光合碳在植物-土壤系统中的分配

定量生育期内植物光合碳在植物组织-土壤的分配规律,对于理解全球碳循环有着重要意义。采用~(13)C-CO_2脉冲标记结合室内培养,通过元素分析仪-稳定同位素联用(Flash HT-IRMS)分析植物各部分及土壤δ~(13)C值,比较了不同生育期下水稻光合碳在不同组织间的分配规律,并量化了水稻光合碳向土壤碳库的转移。结果表明:(1)水稻地上部和根系干物质量随水稻生育期的增加而呈现递增趋势,不同的生育期表现为:分蘖期拔节期抽穗期扬花期成熟期。而整个生育期的根冠比为0.2—0.4,分蘖期的根冠比最高,随着水稻生育期的增加而递减,到抽穗期以后根冠比稳定在0.2左右。(2)脉冲标记6h后,水稻地上部和地下部(根系)的δ~(13)C值在-25.52‰—-28.33‰,不同器官的δ~(13)C值存在明显分馏效应,且趋势基本一致,即茎杆(籽粒)叶片(根系);这种由于水稻生育期特性导致的各器官碳同位素分馏的现象,可用于指示不同生育期下水稻光合碳的分配和去向。(3)不同生育期~(13)C-光合碳在植物-土壤系统的分配规律不同,生长前期光合碳向根系及土壤中分配的比例高,具有较强的碳汇能力,而随生育期光合碳在根系及土壤中的分配比例呈下降趋势,但积累量不断增加。(4)不同生育期~(13)C光合碳在水稻-土壤系统中的分配比例差异明显。水稻分蘖期有近30%光合碳用于根系建成并部分通过根系分泌物进入土壤有机碳库(10%),而到成熟期则向籽粒中分配较多,而且光合碳在土壤中的分配比例也随生育期呈下降趋势。研究结果对稻田土壤有机碳循环过程和调控机制的揭示具有重要的理论意义。     

挺水植物与浮叶植物光合荧光特性的差异

为探讨自然生境中不同生活型水生植物光合生理特征的差异,选取4种挺水植物菖蒲(Acorus calamus L.)、再力花(Thalia dealbata Fraser)、梭鱼草(Pontederia cordata L.)、茭草(Zizania latifolia(Griseb.)Stapf),以及4种浮叶植物黄睡莲(Nymphaea mexicana Zucc.)、莼菜(Brasenia schreberi J.F.Gmel.)、金银莲花(Nymphoides indica(L.)O.Kuntze)、菱(Trapa bispinosa Roxb.)为研究对象,比较其叶绿素荧光参数、色素组成和比叶重的差异。研究发现,高光强下挺水植物电子传递速率(ETR)、非光化学淬灭(NPQ)等光合荧光参数、以及低光强下ETR拟合曲线的初始斜率(α)均值显著大于浮叶植物。不同挺水植物间光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)、ETR、NPQ、最大潜在电子传递速率(Ps)、最大电子传递速率(ETR_m)及饱和光强(E_m)变化幅度较大;不同浮叶植物间上述参数变化幅度较小。挺水植物叶绿素(Chls)、类胡萝卜素(Cars)含量均值也高于浮叶植物。但由于比叶重(SLW)的影响,不同水生植物间单位叶面积和单位叶鲜重色素含量的变化规律略有不同。挺水植物中再力花、梭鱼草光合能力较强,其光合荧光参数和色素比例均符合典型阳生型特征;菖蒲、茭草光合能力略弱,部分指标符合阴生型特征。4种浮叶植物各指标均符合阳生型特征。实验推测,挺水植物和浮叶植物由于叶片所处环境不同,其光合适应机制存在明显分化。挺水植物叶片所处环境异质性较大,因而不同物种之间光合参数适应范围也大;浮叶植物叶片所处环境相对均一,因而光合参数差异也小。浮叶植物也不依赖NPQ进行高光保护。在湿地植被恢复工具种筛选过程中应综合考虑环境异质性和不同物种光适应能力的差异。     

作物分枝的分子调控研究进展

分枝的数量及角度是决定作物株型的重要农艺性状.有效分枝数决定着作物的穗数或荚果数,进而决定着作物的产量;而分枝角度与光合效率、种植密度和抗病性密切相关,不仅影响作物的产量,也会影响作物的品质.由于分枝在作物生产中具有十分重要的作用,吸引了越来越多的研究者的注意,多个与分枝性状相关的关键基因被鉴定,分枝数目调控的分子机制...     

Neurotrophic Requirements of Human Motor Neurons Defined Using Amplified and Purified Stem Cell-Derived Cultures

Human motor neurons derived from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (hESCs and hiPSCs) are a potentially important tool for studying motor neuron survival and pathological cell death. However, their basic survival requirements remain poorly characterized. Here, we sought to optimize a robust survival assay and characterize their response to different neurotrophic factors. First, to increase motor neuron yield, we screened a small-molecule collection and found that the Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632 enhances motor neuron progenitor proliferation up to 4-fold in hESC and hiPSC cultures. Next, we FACS-purified motor neurons expressing the Hb9::GFP reporter from Y-27632-amplified embryoid bodies and cultured them in the presence of mitotic inhibitors to eliminate dividing progenitors. Survival of these purified motor neurons in the absence of any other cell type was strongly dependent on neurotrophic support. GDNF, BDNF and CNTF all showed potent survival effects (EC₅₀ 1–2 pM). The number of surviving motor neurons was further enhanced in the presence of forskolin and IBMX, agents that increase endogenous cAMP levels. As a demonstration of the ability of the assay to detect novel neurotrophic agents, Y-27632 itself was found to support human motor neuron survival. Thus, purified human stem cell-derived motor neurons show survival requirements similar to those of primary rodent motor neurons and can be used for rigorous cell-based screening.     

养殖美洲鲥的生长特性

通过对各周年生长阶段的养殖美洲鲥(Alosa sapidissima)体长、体重的测量与分析,研究了工厂化养殖美洲鲥的周年生长特性。养殖美洲鲥雌雄鱼的体长与体重关系均呈幂函数增长相关,其方程分别为,雌:W=0.8062×10~(-5) L~(3.1113)(n=122,R~2=0.997 5,P0.01);雄:W=1.0047×10~(-5) L~(3.0574)(n=125,R~2=0.997 5,P0.01),b均接近于3,呈等速生长;雌雄鱼生长均可分快速生长期(0~+龄)、稳定生长期(1~+龄)、生长衰老期(2~+龄)三个时期,雌鱼生长快于雄鱼。拟合出von Bertallanffy生长方程,雌:Lt=467.92(1﹣e~(-0.5748(t+0.1710))),Wt=1637.72(1﹣e~(-0.5748(t+0.1710)))~(3.1113);雄:Lt=389.21(1﹣e~(-0.7374(t+0.1975))),Wt=834.08(1﹣e~(-0.7374(t+0.7189)))~(3.0574)。雌雄鱼体重生长拐点分别位于1.517 8 a和1.224 7 a,属性成熟拐点,拐点前生长较快;拐点后,特别是性成熟后(2龄),2~+龄鱼的生长速度明显降低;同时,2龄鱼繁殖季节过后会出现大量死亡。建议商业化工厂化养殖美洲鲥以2龄前上市为宜。     

定向进化提高来源于Arthrobacter ramosus的MTHase的热稳定性

麦芽寡糖基海藻糖水解酶(mahosyhrehalose hydrolase,MTHase)是以淀粉或麦芽糊精为底物制备海藻糖的关键酶之一.来源于Arthrobacter ramosus的MTHase,表达量好,比活高,但热稳定性差,限制了其工业化应用.采用定向进化技术,筛选得到L137M和A216T两个突变体,在60℃...     

Cryopreservation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax ginseng</Emphasis> Adventitious Roots

We tested desiccation and/or vitrification procedures to cryopreserve the adventitious roots of Panax ginseng, the source of commercially produced ginsenosides. When only desiccation was applied, the post-freeze survival of 3- to 4-mm root tips was <14% regardless of the composition of the preculture medium or the explant origin. Callus formation was frequently observed after cryopreservation. In contrast, 90% survival and 32.5% root formation efficiency were achieved after cryopreservation when a vitrification protocol was followed. Adventitious root cultures in flasks and bioreactors were reestablished from root tips cryopreserved by vitrification. A prolonged lag-phase and lower biomass production were recorded in post-freeze-regenerated cultures compared with control roots that were subcultured four times in flasks. However, biomass accumulations did not differ between control and regenerated roots at the end of the sixth subculturing period. After 40 days of culture in bioreactors, a mean value of 12.5 g dw L⁻¹ was recorded for post-freeze-regenerated cultures versus 9.1 g dw L⁻¹ for the control roots. Production of triol and diol ginsenosides in our bioreactor cultures also was enhanced after cryopreservation, by 41.0% and 89.8%, respectively. These results suggest that the vitrification method is successful for cryopreservation of P. ginseng adventitious roots.