VEGF165 induces differentiation of hair follicle stem cells into endothelial cells and plays a role in in vivo angiogenesis

Within the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of five subtypes, VEGF165 secreted by endothelial cells has been identified to be the most active and widely distributed factor that plays a vital role in courses of angiogenesis, vascularization and mesenchymal cell differentiation. Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) can be harvested from the bulge region of the outer root sheath of the hair follicle and are adult stem cells that have multi‐directional differentiation potential. Although the research on differentiation of stem cells (such as fat stem cells and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells) to the endothelial cells has been extensive, but the various mechanisms and functional forms are unclear. In particular, study on HFSCs’ directional differentiation into vascular endothelial cells using VEGF165 has not been reported. In this study, VEGF165 was used as induction factor to induce the differentiation from HFSCs into vascular endothelial cells, and the results showed that Notch signalling pathway might affect the differentiation efficiency of vascular endothelial cells. In addition, the in vivo transplantation experiment provided that HFSCs could promote angiogenesis, and the main function is to accelerate host‐derived neovascularization. Therefore, HFSCs could be considered as an ideal cell source for vascular tissue engineering and cell transplantation in the treatment of ischaemic diseases.     

崇明东滩南部河口盐沼植物群落种间关系的数量分析

对崇明东滩南部盐沼植物群落样方进行调查,基于现有17种高等植物,特别是8种常见植物的2×2联列表和植被盖度值,利用方差比率法、χ²检验以及Spearman秩相关分析对物种关联性和相关性进行分析.结果表明: 方差比率(VR=0.61)的检验统计量W=48.61,落在 χ² 2个临界值区间之外,因此该区域盐沼植物群落内植物整体关联度表现为显著负相关;依据各优势植物对环境的适应方式和生境的主导因素,参考Spearman秩相关分析的结果,将它们划分为4个生态种组: 芦苇、糙叶苔草-藨草-水莎草、互花米草-海三棱藨草、白茅-稗草.崇明东滩南部盐沼植物群落种间关系复杂,群落表现极不稳定,植物对于环境影响较为敏感.在明确物种之间关系的基础上,针对海三棱藨草的分布现状提出了相应种群的保护措施和建议.     

利用定点突变分析白念珠菌依赖铁基因FRP1启动子元件

通过对白念珠菌高铁还原酶基因FRP1启动子进行突变分析, 确认启动子中特殊调控元件。我们通过分析FRP1起始密码子上游1000 bp序列发现在-160 和-650处有2个推测的Rim101p结合位点, 对其分别进行定点突变, 然后构建启动子与报告基因LacZ融合质粒, 转化整合到白念珠菌rim101-/-株和野生株中, 检测不同缺铁条件下b-半乳糖苷酶活性。结果发现碱性条件, Rim101p能够正向调控FRP1的表达; 启动子-160处突变对启动子功能影响较弱, 而-650突变使启动子活性大大降低, 此结果和双突变的结果相同, 表明Rim101p主要通过与启动子-650处结合位点相互作用来调控FRP1的表达。     

Estimation of genetic parameters for disease‐resistance traits in Cynoglossus semilaevis (Günther, 1873)

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for three traits based on 28 Cynoglossus semilaevis families approximately 6 months of age (at least 5 cm total length), including trait_1 (survival of 26 families, 3434 individuals in total subjected to challenge tests with Edwardsiella tarda), trait_2 (survival of 20 families, 2016 individuals in total subjected to challenge tests with Vibrio anguillarum) and trait_3 (survival of 27 families, 9340 individuals tagged at circa 180 days of age and reared in indoor ponds for circa another 5 months). The result showed that there were large differences in the survival of the families after challenge (11.11–65.31% for E. tarda and 9.18–70.54% for V. anguillarum). Additionally, the survival of families reared in indoor ponds was also different, varying from 21.00% to 73.67%. Heritabilities of the three traits varied from 0.14 to 0.26, as estimated by the linear model (LM) and the threshold model (TM). The trait_1 heritabilities (0.26 and 0.19 estimated by LM and TM) were higher than those of the others (0.20 and 0.23 estimated by LM, 0.14 and 0.19 estimated by TM). The estimates of heritabilities using LM were consistently higher than those of TM in this study. There were significant medium genetic correlations of 0.44 and 0.42 between trait_1 and trait_2 obtained from LM and TM (P < 0.05). However, very low and non‐significant genetic correlations of trait_1 and trait_3 (?0.10 for LM, ?0.05 for TM), as well as those of trait_2 and trait_3 (0.05 for LM, 0.04 for TM) were obtained. Therefore, indirect selection for trait_1 and trait_2 was effective, but almost ineffectual for trait_1 and trait_3 as well as trait_2 and trait_3. Otherwise, there was no significant difference in the predictive abilities of LM and TM. Two families resistant to both Edwardsiella tarda and Vibrio anguillarum were selected plus one family resistant to both Vibrio anguillarum and naturally infected by unknown pathogens through family selection. As there was very low and non‐significant genetic correlation of trait_3 and trait_1 as well as trait_2, superior strains are anticipated with the ability to resist two or more kinds of diseases, through the crossing of families selected for the three traits described above. The results support the hypothesis that genetic variation exists for disease survival, which could be used to design a breeding program for selecting strains of Cynoglossus semilaevis with high disease resistance.     

SHORT-ROOT 1 is critical to cell division and tracheary element development in rice roots

The exocyst is a key factor in vesicle transport and is involved in cell secretion, cell growth, cell division and other cytological processes in eukaryotes. EXO70 is the key exocyst subunit. We obtained a gene, SHORT-ROOT 1 (SR1), through map-based cloning and genetic complementation. SR1 is a conserved protein with an EXO70 domain in plants. SR1 mutation affected the whole root-development process: producing shorter radicles, adventitious roots and lateral roots, and demonstrating abnormal xylem development, resulting in dwarfing and reduced water potential and moisture content. SR1 was largely expressed in the roots, but only in developing root meristems and tracheary elements. The shortness of the sr1 mutant roots was caused by the presence of fewer meristem cells. The in situ histone H4 expression patterns confirmed that cell proliferation during root development was impaired. Tracheary element dysplasia was caused by marked decreases in the inner diameters of and distances between the perforations of adjacent tracheary elements. The membrane transport of sr1 mutants was blocked, affecting cell division in the root apical region and the development of root tracheary elements. The study of SR1 will deepen our understanding of the function of EXO70 genes in Oryza sativa (rice) and guide future studies on the molecular mechanisms involved in plant root development.     

羊草(Leymus chinensis)草地雨天放牧与非雨天放牧的绵羊采食特征

通过受控实验,比较了雨天和非雨天放牧在采食方式、采食损失量、践踏折损率以及土壤含水量和容重的差异.得出雨天放牧条件下,羊草各种采食方式的比例降低,去顶量依旧随放牧压升高而增加,但与非雨天放牧不同的是不再占主要比例.羊草采食损失量与非雨天差异不大,对于适口性更高的植物,如芦苇和全叶马兰,雨天放牧时损失更高.绵羊在冷湿环境中活动明显减少,羊草的践踏折损率各放牧压下差异不大,但芦苇的折损率依旧表现为随放牧压增强而增加.放牧后土壤15cm的含水量都低于对照小区,表明绵羊践踏加速了土壤水分的蒸发.放牧后土壤容重与放牧前和非牧区差异显著,并且容重随放牧压增强而增加.     

Structural basis of EZH2 recognition by EED

The WD-repeat domain is a highly conserved recognition module in eukaryotes involved in diverse cellular processes. It is still not well understood how the bottom of a WD-repeat domain recognizes its binding partners. The WD-repeat-containing protein EED is one component of the PRC2 complex that possesses histone methyltransferase activity required for gene repression. Here we report the crystal structure of EED in complex with a 30 residue peptide from EZH2. The structure reveals that the peptide binds to the bottom of the WD-repeat domain of EED. The structural determinants of EZH2-EED interaction are present not only in EZH2 and EZH1 but also in its Drosophila homolog E(Z), suggesting that the recognition of ESC by E(Z) in Drosophila employs similar structural motifs. Structure-based mutagenesis identified critical residues from both EED and EZH2 for their interaction. The structure presented here may provide a template for understanding of how WD-repeat proteins recognize their interacting proteins.