Psychological Stress Expands Low Molecular Weight Iron Pool in Cerebral Cortex,Hippocampus, and Striatum of Rats

We have previously demonstrated that psychological stress (PS) can cause iron to accumulate in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum of rats. However, why iron accumulates and in what oxidation state iron it accumulates in the brain of PS-exposed rats has not been well elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the influence of PS on the low molecular weight iron pool (LMWIP) in the rat brain. The results showed that: (1) PS significantly expanded LMWIP in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum in rats; (2) PS caused derangement of pyramidal cells and reduced the layers of pyramidal CA1 and CA2 neurons; (3) PS exposure greatly lowered the expression of ferritin (Fn) and hephaestin (HP) in the rat cortex and hippocampus; and (4) PS decreased superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione level and increased malondialdehyde level in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum in rats. These results indicated that PS could expand LMWIP significantly, which may be attributed to PS-induced decrease in Fn, HP expression, and the subsequent reduction in iron storage and utilization, and expansion of LMWIP could in turn lead to aggravation of oxidative damage.     

Epigenetic instability in genetically stable micropropagated plants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gardenia jasminoides</Emphasis> Ellis

Gardenia jasminoides Ellis is an evergreen tropical plant and favorite to gardeners throughout the world. Several studies have documented that in vitro micropropagation can be used for clonal propagation of G. jasminoides Ellis, the efficiency remained low. In addition, no information is available on the genetic and epigenetic fidelity of the micropropagated plants. Here, we report on a simplified protocol for high efficient micropropagation of G. jasminoides Ellis cv. “Kinberly” based on enhanced branching of shoot-tips as explants. The protocol consisted of sequential use of three media, namely, bud-induction, elongation and root-induction. By using two molecular markers, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP), we analyzed the genetic and DNA methylation pattern stability of 23 morphologically normal plants randomly taken from a sub-population (>100) of micropropagated plants originated from a single shoot-tip. We found that of >1,000 scored AFLP bands across the 23 micropropagated plants, no incident of genetic variation was detected. In contrast, of 750 scored MSAP bands, moderate but clear alteration in several DNA methylation patterns occurred in the majority of the 23 micropropagated plants. The changed methylation patterns involved both CG and CHG sites representing either hyper- or hypo-methylation, which occurred without altering the total methylation levels partly due to concomitant hyper- and hypo-methylation alterations. Our results indicated that epigenetic instability in the form of DNA methylation patterns can be susceptible to the in vitro micropropagation process for G. jasminoides Ellis, and needs to be taken into account in the process of large-scale commercial propagation of this plant.     

橡胶树未成苗体细胞胚的茎芽分化及利用

以橡胶树未成苗体细胞胚为试材,选取未成苗双子叶胚、连体胚、多子叶胚、单子叶胚和子叶愈伤化胚作为外植体,研究不同体细胞胚类型的外植体分化茎芽的情况,并利用其进行幼态微型芽条的培育研究。结果表明:在植株诱导培养基中培养80d后,未成苗双子叶胚、连体胚、多子叶胚、单子叶胚、子叶愈伤化胚均能分化出芽,双子叶胚分化率最高(达90%),单子叶胚最低(20%),多子叶胚和连体胚最多可分化出芽3个,双子叶胚2个。幼态微型芽条增殖的最优培养基为MS+6-BA2mg·L-1或MS+6-BA2mg·L-1+KT1mg·L-1,而添加NAA对芽的伸长有抑制作用;适宜幼态微型芽条伸长培养的基本培养基为MS。     

福建及中国其他沿岸海域中国鲎资源分布现状调查

采用调访渔民、浅海底拖网、野外观测潮间带亲鲎产卵和幼鲎孵育情况等调查方法,重点调查了福建沿岸海域中国鲎(Tachypleus tridentatus)资源分布和数量,并走访调查了浙江省、广东省、海南省、广西壮族自治区和台湾地区金门岛等地代表性的中国鲎栖息地,对中国沿岸海域中国鲎资源现状作了较全面的调查。结果表明,大部分海滩已多年未见中国鲎上岸产卵,中国鲎在上岸之前已被渔民通过底拖网捕获,能见到幼鲎的海滩寥寥无几,中国鲎已经从大部分海域消失,中国鲎资源量濒临枯竭。目前尚存少量中国鲎的海域主要是东山湾和北部湾海域。金门岛海域则因为人工放流和设立了中国鲎保护区,中国鲎资源得到较好的恢复。中国鲎资源衰竭的主要原因是人类的过度捕捞、栖息地的破坏和海域环境污染等。中国鲎资源的保护迫在眉睫。建议将中国鲎列入国家级重点保护动物名录,增设中国鲎自然保护区,加强渔业管理以及人工增殖放流等措施。     

海南万泉河中发现外来有害种——马那瓜丽体鱼

2011年在海南琼海万泉河发现外来鱼种马那瓜丽体鱼(Parachromis managuensis)。该种为凶猛的肉食性鱼类,已在野外建立种群,可能会对本土鱼类产生不利影响。建议主管部门禁止人为放生。     

棕头鸥线粒体基因组全序列测定与分析

基于长距PCR扩增及保守引物步移法测定并注释了棕头鸥(Larus brunnicephalus)的线粒体基因组全序列。结果表明,棕头鸥线粒体基因组全长16 769 bp,GenBank登录号JX155863。基因含量和排列次序与红原鸡一致,包含13个蛋白编码基因、22个tRNA、2个rRNA和一个D-loop区(控制区)。除COI基因以GTG、ND3基因以ATT为起始密码子外,其余11个蛋白质编码基因均以ATG起始。11个蛋白质编码基因以典型的完全终止密码子AGG、TAG、TAA或AGA终止,COIII和ND4基因为不完全终止密码子T。预测了22个tRNA基因的二级结构,发现tRNASer(AGN)缺少DHU臂,tRNAPhe的TψC臂出现第4种排列形式。预测的棕头鸥12S和16S rRNA二级结构分别包括4个结构域47个茎环和6个结构域60个茎环。其他鸟类控制区发现的F-box、E-box、D-box、C-box、B-box、Bird similarity-box和CSB-boxes(1-3)也存在于棕头鸥中,预测了控制区H链复制起始序列OH和双向复制起始序列LSP/HSP。系统发育分析支持将棕头鸥划归为面具鸥族(Masked gulls)。     

Molecular mechanisms of seed dormancy

Seed dormancy is an important component of plant fitness that causes a delay of germination until the arrival of a favourable growth season. Dormancy is a complex trait that is determined by genetic factors with a substantial environmental influence. Several of the tissues comprising a seed contribute to its final dormancy level. The roles of the plant hormones abscisic acid and gibberellin in the regulation of dormancy and germination have long been recognized. The last decade saw the identification of several additional factors that influence dormancy including dormancy-specific genes, chromatin factors and non-enzymatic processes. This review gives an overview of our present understanding of the mechanisms that control seed dormancy at the molecular level, with an emphasis on new insights. The various regulators that are involved in the induction and release of dormancy, the influence of environmental factors and the conservation of seed dormancy mechanisms between plant species are discussed. Finally, expected future directions in seed dormancy research are considered.     

Genome sequence of the facultative anaerobic arsenite-oxidizing and nitrate-reducing bacterium Acidovorax sp. strain NO1

Acidovorax sp. strain NO1, isolated from gold mine soil, was shown to be a facultative anaerobic arsenite-oxidizing and nitrate-reducing bacterium. The reported draft genome predicts the presence of genes involved in arsenic metabolism, nitrate reduction, phosphate transport, and multiple metal resistances and indicates putative horizontal gene transfer events.     

Naturally acquired immune responses against Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites and liver infection

Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by infection with eukaryotic pathogens termed Plasmodium. Epidemiological hallmarks of Plasmodium falciparum malaria are continuous re-infections, over which time the human host may experience several clinical malaria episodes, slow acquisition of partial protection against infection, and its partial decay upon migration away from endemic regions. To overcome the exposure-dependence of naturally acquired immunity and rapidly elicit robust long-term protection are ultimate goals of malaria vaccine development. However, cellular and molecular correlates of naturally acquired immunity against either parasite infection or malarial disease remain elusive. Sero-epidemiological studies consistently suggest that acquired immunity is primarily directed against the asexual blood stages. Here, we review available data on the relationship between immune responses against the Anopheles mosquito-transmitted sporozoite and exo-erythrocytic liver stages and the incidence of malaria. We discuss current limitations and research opportunities, including the identification of additional sporozoite antigens and the use of systematic immune profiling and functional studies in longitudinal cohorts to look for pre-erythrocytic signatures of naturally acquired immunity.