Comparing and combining distance-based and character-based approaches for barcoding turtles

Molecular barcoding can serve as a powerful tool in wildlife forensics and may prove to be a vital aid in conserving organisms that are threatened by illegal wildlife trade, such as turtles (Order Testudines). We produced cytochrome oxidase subunit one (COI) sequences (650 bp) for 174 turtle species and combined these with publicly available sequences for 50 species to produce a data set representative of the breadth of the order. Variability within the barcode region was assessed, and the utility of both distance-based and character-based methods for species identification was evaluated. For species in which genetic material from more than one individual was available (n = 69), intraspecific divergences were 1.3% on average, although divergences greater than the customary 2% barcode threshold occurred within 15 species. High intraspecific divergences could indicate species with a high degree of internal genetic structure or possibly even cryptic species, although introgression is also probable in some of these taxa. Divergences between species of the same genus were 6.4% on average; however, 49 species were <2% divergent from congeners. Low levels of interspecific divergence could be caused by recent evolutionary radiations coupled with the low rates of mtDNA evolution previously observed in turtles. Complementing distance-based barcoding with character-based methods for identifying diagnostic sets of nucleotides provided better resolution in several cases where distance-based methods failed to distinguish species. An online identification engine was created to provide character-based identifications. This study constitutes the first comprehensive barcoding effort for this seriously threatened order.     

Changes in Abscisic Acid Content in Axis and Cotyledons of Developing Phaseolus vulgaris Embryos and their Physiological Consequences

Prevost, I. and Le Page–Degivry, M. Th. 1985. Changesin absicisic acid content in axis and cotyledons of developingPhaseolus vulgaris embryos and their physiological consequences.—J.exp. Bot. 36: 1900–1905.Changes in abscisic acid (ABA)content with time were measured in embryonic axes and in cotyledonsof Phaseolus vulgaris embryos using a radio–immunoassay.During embryogenesis, a similar pattern was observed in bothtissues: ABA increased to a maximum 29 d after an thesis, followedby a decrease as the seed matured. The level of ABA in the cotyledonswas always much higher than that in the axes. In in vitro cultures,the duration of the lag phase before germination of isolatedembryonic axes increased with ABA content. The presence of cotyledonsalways lengthened the lag phase; longer lag phases were associatedwith greater concentrations of ABA in the cotyledons. Moreoverthe presence of cotyledons stimulated the growth of seedlings. Key words: ABA distribution, embryo maturation, axis and embryo germinability     

盐度对互花米草枯落物分解释放硅、碳、氮元素的影响

为了研究潮汐湿地盐度对枯落物分解过程中硅、碳、氮元素释放的影响,通过室内模拟不同盐度(0、5、15和30)对互花米草枯落物茎和叶分解释放过程中硅、碳、氮元素的动态变化进行测定。结果表明:(1)互花米草茎和叶枯落物失重率和分解速率均随盐度增加而降低。(2)互花米草茎和叶枯落物分解水体中硅含量均随着盐度升高而增加,并且盐度30处理下,枯落物分解硅释放量显著高于盐度0和5(P0.05)。而分解末期生物硅残留量则随盐度升高而降低。(3)不同盐度处理茎枯落物分解碳释放量无显著差异,但叶枯落物分解碳释放量在盐度5、15和30处理中显著高于淡水(P0.05)。(4)互花米草茎枯落物分解释放到水中的NH_4~+-N含量随着盐度的升高而减少,NO_3~--N含量与之相反。研究单因素盐度对枯落物分解及元素释放的影响,可以为预测潮汐湿地枯落物分解对盐水入侵的响应机制提供参考,为湿地生源要素生物地球化学循环过程研究提供基础依据。     

siRNA, miRNA and HIV: promises and challenges

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) are small RNAs of 18-25 nucleotides (nt) in length that play important roles in regulating gene expression. They are incorporated into an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and serve as guides for silencing their corresponding target mRNAs based on complementary base-pairing. The promise of gene silencing has led many researchers to consider siRNA as an anti-viral tool. However, in long-term settings, many viruses appear to escape from this therapeutical strategy. An example of this may be seen in the case of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) which is able to evade RNA silencing by either mutating the siRNA-targeted sequence or by encoding for a partial suppressor of RNAi (RNA interference). On the other hand, because miRNA targeting does not require absolute complementarity of base-pairing, mutational escape by viruses from miRNA-specified silencing may be more difficult to achieve. In this review, we discuss stratagems used by various viruses to avoid the cells' antiviral si/mi-RNA defenses and notions of how viruses might control and regulate host cell genes by encoding viral miRNAs (vmiRNAs).