Positive selection driving the evolution of a gene of male reproduction, Acp26Aa, of Drosophila: II. Divergence versus polymorphism

The evolution of the gene for a male ejaculatory protein, Acp26Aa, has been shown to be driven by positive selection when nonsibling species in the Drosophila melanogaster subgroup are compared. To know if selection has been operating in the recent past and to understand the details of its dynamics, we obtained DNA sequences of Acp26Aa and the nearby Acp26Ab gene from 39 D. melanogaster chromosomes. Together with the 10 published sequences, we analyzed 49 sequences from five populations in four continents. The southern African population is somewhat differentiated from all other populations, but its nucleotide diversity is lower at these two loci. We find the following results for Acp26Aa: (1) The R: S (replacement : silent changes) ratio is significantly higher in the between-species comparisons than in the within-species data by the McDonald and Kreitman test. Positive selection is probably responsible for the excess of amino acid replacements between species. (2) However, within-species nucleotide diversity is high. Neither the Tajima test nor the Fu and Li test indicates a reduction in nucleotide diversity due to positive selection in the recent past. (3) The newly derived nucleotides in D. melanogaster are at high frequency significantly more often than predicted by the neutral equilibrium. Since the nearby Acp26Ab gene does not show these patterns, these observations cannot be attributed to the characteristics of this chromosomal region. We suggest that positive selection is active, but may be weak, for each amino acid change in the Acp26Aa gene.      

内蒙古呼伦贝尔沙地不同樟子松林竞争强度的比较

利用全林木定位和单木竞争指数模型, 以受到林火干扰的樟子松林为例,分析了呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松林的竞争强度.结果表明：同一样地中,死亡林木的竞争强度均比较接近;活立木、全部林木中,伴生树种的竞争强度是樟子松的2～3倍;樟子松的竞争压力主要来自于种内,伴生树种的竞争则主要来自于种间.林火干扰与无林火（对照）样地间的比较表明,林火干扰样地樟子松活立木的竞争强度均显著小于对照样地;活立木竞争强度与其胸径间均服从幂函数关系(CI=AD^-B).地表火干扰可显著降低林木个体间的竞争强度,有利于存活林木个体的生长发育和大径阶林木的培育.     

Novel quantitative real-time LCR for the sensitive detection of SNP frequencies in pooled DNA: method development, evaluation and application

Background

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) have proven to be powerful genetic markers for genetic applications in medicine, life science and agriculture. A variety of methods exist for SNP detection but few can quantify SNP frequencies when the mutated DNA molecules correspond to a small fraction of the wild-type DNA. Furthermore, there is no generally accepted gold standard for SNP quantification, and, in general, currently applied methods give inconsistent results in selected cohorts. In the present study we sought to develop a novel method for accurate detection and quantification of SNP in DNA pooled samples.

Methods

The development and evaluation of a novel Ligase Chain Reaction (LCR) protocol that uses a DNA-specific fluorescent dye to allow quantitative real-time analysis is described. Different reaction components and thermocycling parameters affecting the efficiency and specificity of LCR were examined. Several protocols, including gap-LCR modifications, were evaluated using plasmid standard and genomic DNA pools. A protocol of choice was identified and applied for the quantification of a polymorphism at codon 136 of the ovine PRNP gene that is associated with susceptibility to a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in sheep.

Conclusions

The real-time LCR protocol developed in the present study showed high sensitivity, accuracy, reproducibility and a wide dynamic range of SNP quantification in different DNA pools. The limits of detection and quantification of SNP frequencies were 0.085% and 0.35%, respectively.

Significance

The proposed real-time LCR protocol is applicable when sensitive detection and accurate quantification of low copy number mutations in DNA pools is needed. Examples include oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes, infectious diseases, pathogenic bacteria, fungal species, viral mutants, drug resistance resulting from point mutations, and genetically modified organisms in food.     

Lactic acid bacteria from chicken carcasses with inhibitory activity against Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes

This study was conducted to isolate psychrotrophic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from chicken carcasses with inhibitory activity against strains of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. A total of 100 broiler samples were examined for the presence of LAB. Ninety-two LAB isolates that showed antimicrobial effects against Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes were further analysed to examine their LAB (Gram-positive, catalase negative, oxidase negative) and psychrotrophic characteristics (ability to grow at 7 °C). Fifty isolates were further selected and identified initially using standard biochemical tests in miniature (Micro-kits API CH 50) and then by sequencing of the 16s-23s rRNA gene boundary region (Intergenic Spacer Region). By molecular identification, these isolates were classified into 5 different LAB species: Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Pediococcus acidilactici, and Lactobacillus paralimentarius. None of the isolates produced tyramine or histamine.     

小鼠和鸡的类E1酶新基因UBAL的克隆和表达分析

根据含有UBA_NADbindingdomain的EST序列,利用同源性序列查找和EST拼接的方法,克隆得到鼠、鸡的新基因UBAL(ubiquitin-activatingenzymelikeprotein),它们都具有泛素活化酶Uba1的保守结构域Ⅰ,可能的ATP结合序列GVGGVG和Cys活性位点.用半定量RT-PCR分析11种成年小鼠组织的mUBAL表达量,显示mUBAL在成年小鼠多种组织中都有表达,在肾、睾丸、脑、心脏中尤为丰富.用mUBAL的编码区为探针进行的小鼠胚胎整体原位杂交显示,mUBAL在胚胎发育早期即开始表达,并随着前内脏内胚层(AVE)的向前迁移而迁移,随后在胚胎的端脑区特异性表达.与小鼠胚胎的表达谱相类似,gUBAL在HH14、HH16和HH18期鸡胚中的表达主要集中在头部.根据mUBAL和gUBAL的序列相似性保守结构域和活性位点,可以初步断定它们可能是类泛素活化酶E1的新成员,可能通过活化类泛素蛋白参与胚胎脑部的发育和调控成体组织的功能.     

1980-2011年川东平行岭谷区农田土壤有机碳动态

选取重庆市垫江县为川东平行岭谷的典型区,使用1980第二次土壤普查和2011年实测土壤数据,基于土壤类型,运用通用SOC密度/储量计算法和逐步回归分析,对研究区1980—2011年0—20 cm农田SOC动态和动因进行分析,结果表明:(1)1980—2011年农田0—20 cm土层SOC密度/储量总体表现为略有增加态势,单位面积碳增量2307.63 kg C/hm2,碳增汇235945.83 t,增幅为10.74%,年均增长速率为72.11 kg C hm-2a-1;(2)丢碳、固碳和相对平衡面积比37.61∶49.03∶13.36,总体呈西部、西北部高于南部、东南部,更高于东北部和西南部的格局;(3)宏观上1980—2011年农田0—20 cm土层SOC密度/储量变化与土壤类型的分布及利用有很大关系,尤其是黄壤和紫色土在相异的质地本底和不同的扰动下,展现出相反的碳汇/源状态;(4)微观上SOC密度年均变化速率影响最大的因素是SOC密度初始值全N密度C/N比,且全N密度和C/N比拥有正向影响,SOC密度初始值则相反;⑸结果为川东平行岭谷区借助施加适当投入和合适的耕作与管理实践,有效管理农田表层SOC库提供科学依据。     

包含BTB锌指结构的新基因Bsg2结构特性及其在发育阶段的组织表达特异性

通过消减差异筛选法寻找小鼠胚胎发育过程中在脑中特异表达的基因 .克隆得到的脑特异表达新基因 2 (brainspecificgene 2 ,简称Bsg2 )长 36 91bp ,通过生物信息学方法预测其编码一个含713个氨基酸的锌指蛋白 .此蛋白N端有一个BTB(BR C ,ttkandbab)结构域 ,C端有 9个连续的C2H2锌指结构 .该基因定位在小鼠 12号染色体上 ,包含 1个内含子和 2个外显子 .应用生物信息学和RT PCR方法分别检验该基因在小鼠各组织中的表达 .结果表明 ,Bsg2基因在小鼠胚胎及成体的各组织中普遍表达 ,在脾、肾、睾丸、肠、子宫和脑的表达水平较强 .利用整体 (wholemount)原位杂交研究其时空表达模式 .结果显示 ,Bsg2在早期的小鼠胚胎和不同时期鸡胚的头部均特异表达 ,在11d鼠胚的肢芽里也有较强的表达 .Bsg2基因的结构和表达特征预示它编码 1个具有DNA结合功能的转录调控因子 ,同时揭示它在脑的发育和器官形成过程中发挥着重要作用