Colonization genetics of an animal-dispersed plant (Vaccinium membranaceum) at Mount St Helens, Washington

Population founding and spatial spread may profoundly influence later population genetic structure, but their effects are difficult to quantify when population history is unknown. We examined the genetic effects of founder group formation in a recently founded population of the animal-dispersed Vaccinium membranaceum (black huckleberry) on new volcanic deposits at Mount St Helens (Washington, USA) 24 years post-eruption. Using amplified fragment length polymorphisms and assignment tests, we determined sources of the newly founded population and characterized genetic variation within new and source populations. Our analyses indicate that while founders were derived from many sources, about half originated from a small number of plants that survived the 1980 eruption in pockets of remnant soil embedded within primary successional areas. We found no evidence of a strong founder effect in the new population; indeed genetic diversity in the newly founded population tended to be higher than in some of the source regions. Similarly, formation of the new population did not increase among-population genetic variance, and there was no evidence of kin-structured dispersal in the new population. These results indicate that high gene flow among sources and long-distance dispersal were important processes shaping the genetic diversity in this young V. membranaceum population. Other species with similar dispersal abilities may also be able to colonize new habitats without significant reduction in genetic diversity or increase in differentiation among populations.     

利用染色体片段置换系定位水稻落粒性主效QTL

水稻落粒性是与其生产密切相关的重要性状之一。以7个染色体片段置换系为材料,采用重叠群代换作图法对控制落粒性的2个主效QTL进行定位。结果表明,104个SSR标记在亲本间具有多态性,多态率为68.0%;4个置换系的落粒性与亲本日本晴的落粒性相似,表现难落粒。3个置换系与亲本93-11的落粒性相似,表现易落粒;7个染色体片段置换系在第1和第6染色体上检出7个置换片段,其长度分别为23.6、16.5、6.6、9.9、10.4、20.2和7.1 cM;qSH-1-1被定位在第1染色体RM472-RM1387之间,遗传距离约为6.6 cM。qSH-6-1为新发现的落粒性主效QTL,被定位在第6染色体RM6782-RM3430之间,遗传距离约为4.2 cM。利用染色体片段置换系能准确地定位水稻落粒性QTL,qSH-1-1与qSH-6-1的鉴定和初步定位为其进一步的精细定位、图位克隆及分子标记辅助选择奠定了基础。     

中国东北样带的梯度分析及其预测

陆地样带研究已成为国际地圈-生物圈计划(IGBP)全球变化研究的重要手段与热点。中国东北样带(NECT)已被列为IGBP国际全球变化陆地样带之一。该样带在东经112°与130°30＇之间沿北纬43°30＇设置,长约1600km,是一条中纬度温带以降水为驱动因素的梯度,具有由温带针阔叶混交林向温带草原的3个亚地带——草甸草原、典型草原与荒漠草原过渡的空间系列。该样带上有4个生态实验站。在大量的固定样地、实验调查研究资料与数据的基础上给出了样带的初步梯度分析及在全球变化图景下的预测,包括其地理位置、设置意义、地形地貌、气候梯度、土壤类型、植被类型和土地利用格局,一个遥感数据驱动的模型和NPP模型在整个样带上运行过。今后NECT将在生物地球化学循环(水、C、N、P等与痕量气体CO_2、CH_4等)、生态系统结构、功能与动态、生物多样性、土地利用与土地覆盖、动态全球植被模型(DGVM)以及高分辨率遥感数据应用等方面得到加强,将成为我国全球变化与陆地生态系统(GCTE)与其它IGBP核心项目研究的前沿阵地。     

囊瓣亮花木化学成分的研究（Ⅰ）

从番荔枝科亮花木属植物囊瓣亮花木(Phaeanthus saccopetaloides)中分得8个化合物,经光谱解析和理化常数测定,鉴定了其中3个化合物,分别为穆坪马兜铃酰胺,(-)-北美鹅掌楸脂素-C和胡萝卜甙,它们均为从该属植物中首次分得。     

A new nitrilase from Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110. Gene cloning, biochemical characterization and substrate specificity

A nitrilase gene blr3397 from Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 was cloned and over-expressed in Escherichia coli, and the encoded protein was purified to give a nitrilase with a single band of about 34.5kD on SDS-PAGE. The molecular weight of the holoenzyme was about 340kD as determined by light scattering analysis, suggesting that nitrilase blr3397 self-aggregated to an active form with the native structure being a decamer. The V(max) and K(m) for phenylacetonitrile were 3.15U/mg and 4.36mM, respectively. The catalytic constant k(cat) and specificity constant k(cat)/K(m) were 111min(-1) and 2.6x10(4)min(-1)M(-1). This nitrilase is most active toward the hydrolysis of hydrocinnamonitrile among the tested substrates (4.3 times that of phenylacetonitrile). The nitrilase blr3397 shows higher activity towards the hydrolysis of aliphatic nitriles than that for the aromatic counterparts, and can be characterized as an aliphatic nitrilase in terms of activity. This nitrilase also possesses distinct features from the nitrilase bll6402 of the same microbe.     

Cyclophilin A binds to AKT1 and facilitates the tumorigenicity of Epstein-Barr virus by mediating the activation of AKT/mTOR/NF-κB positive feedback loop

The AKT/mTOR and NF-κB signalings are crucial pathways activated in cancers including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), which is prevalent in southern China and closely related to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. How these master pathways are persistently activated in EBV-associated NPC remains to be investigated. Here we demonstrated that EBV-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) promoted cyclophilin A (CYPA) expression through the activation of NF-κB. The depletion of CYPA suppressed cell proliferation and facilitated apoptosis. CYPA was able to bind to AKT1, thus activating AKT/mTOR/NF-κB signaling cascade. Moreover, the use of mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, subverted the activation of the positive feedback loop, NF-κB/CYPA/AKT/mTOR. It is reasonable that LMP1 expression derived from initial viral infection is enough to assure the constant potentiation of AKT/mTOR and NF-κB signalings. This may partly explain the fact that EBV serves as a tumor-promoting factor with minimal expression of the viral oncoprotein LMP1 in malignancies. Our findings provide new insight into the understanding of causative role of EBV in tumorigenicity during latent infection.     

Identification of Rabbit Annulus Fibrosus-Derived Stem Cells

Annulus fibrosus (AF) injuries can lead to substantial deterioration of intervertebral disc (IVD) which characterizes degenerative disc disease (DDD). However, treatments for AF repair/regeneration remain challenging due to the intrinsic heterogeneity of AF tissue at cellular, biochemical, and biomechanical levels. In this study, we isolated and characterized a sub-population of cells from rabbit AF tissue which formed colonies in vitro and could self-renew. These cells showed gene expression of typical surface antigen molecules characterizing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), including CD29, CD44, and CD166. Meanwhile, they did not express negative markers of MSCs such as CD4, CD8, and CD14. They also expressed Oct-4, nucleostemin, and SSEA-4 proteins. Upon induced differentiation they showed typical osteogenesis, chondrogenesis, and adipogenesis potential. Together, these AF-derived colony-forming cells possessed clonogenicity, self-renewal, and multi-potential differentiation capability, the three criteria characterizing MSCs. Such AF-derived stem cells may potentially be an ideal candidate for DDD treatments using cell therapies or tissue engineering approaches.     

Fine-mapping of the type 1 diabetes locus (IDDM4) on chromosome 11q and evaluation of two candidate genes (FADD and GALN) by affected sibpair and linkage-disequilibrium analyses

Previous studies have identified a susceptibility region for insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus on chromosome 11q13 (IDDM4). In this study, 15 polymorphic markers were analyzed for 382 affected sibpair (ASP) families with type 1 diabetes. Our analyses provided additional evidence for linkage for IDDM4 (a peak LOD score of 3.4 at D11S913). The markers with strong linkage evidence are located within an interval of approximately 6 cM between D11S4205 and GALN. We also identified polymorphisms in two candidate genes, Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) and galanin (GALN). Analyses of the data by transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) and extended TDT (ETDT) did not provide any evidence for association/linkage with these candidate genes. However, ETDT did reveal significant association/linkage with the marker D11S987 (P=0.0004) within the IDDM4 interval defined by ASP analyses, suggesting that IDDM4 may be in the close proximity of D11S987.