Identification and fine mapping of a mutant gene for palealess spikelet in rice

In grass, the evolutionary relationship between lemma and palea, and their relationship to the flower organs in dicots have been variously interpreted and wildely debated. In the present study, we carried out morphological and genetic analysis of a palealess mutant (pal) from rice (Oryza sativa L.), and fine mapping the gene responsible for the mutated trait. Together, our findings indicate that the palea is replaced by two leaf-like structures in the pal flowers, and this trait is controlled by one recessive gene, termed palealess1 (pal1). With a large F2 segregating population, the pal1 gene was finally mapped into a physical region of 35 kb. Our results also suggest that the lemma and palea of rice are not homologous organs, palea is likely evolutionarily equivalent to the eudicot sepal, and the pal1 should be an A function gene for rice floral organ identity.     

Design of a Virtual Player for Joint Improvisation with Humans in the Mirror Game

Joint improvisation is often observed among humans performing joint action tasks. Exploring the underlying cognitive and neural mechanisms behind the emergence of joint improvisation is an open research challenge. This paper investigates jointly improvised movements between two participants in the mirror game, a paradigmatic joint task example. First, experiments involving movement coordination of different dyads of human players are performed in order to build a human benchmark. No designation of leader and follower is given beforehand. We find that joint improvisation is characterized by the lack of a leader and high levels of movement synchronization. Then, a theoretical model is proposed to capture some features of their interaction, and a set of experiments is carried out to test and validate the model ability to reproduce the experimental observations. Furthermore, the model is used to drive a computer avatar able to successfully improvise joint motion with a human participant in real time. Finally, a convergence analysis of the proposed model is carried out to confirm its ability to reproduce joint movements between the participants.     

Simulated power spectral density (PSD) of background electrocorticogram (ECoG)

The ECoG background activity of cerebral cortex in states of rest and slow wave sleep resembles broadband noise. The power spectral density (PSD) then may often conform to a power-law distribution: a straight line in coordinates of log power vs. log frequency. The exponent, x, of the distribution, 1/f^x, ranges between 2 and 4. These findings are explained with a model of the neural source of the background activity in mutual excitation among pyramidal cells. The dendritic response of a population of interactive excitatory neurons to an impulse input is a rapid exponential rise and a slow exponential decay, which can be fitted with the sum of two exponential terms. When that function is convolved as the kernel with pulses from a Poisson process and summed, the resulting “brown” or “black noise conforms to the ECoG time series and the PSD in rest and sleep. The PSD slope is dependent on the rate of rise. The variation in the observed slope is attributed to variation in the level of the background activity that is homeostatically regulated by the refractory periods of the excitatory neurons. Departures in behavior from rest and sleep to action are accompanied by local peaks in the PSD, which manifest emergent nonrandom structure in the ECoG, and which prevent reliable estimation of the 1/f^x exponents in active states. We conclude that the resting ECoG truly is low-dimensional noise, and that the resting state is an optimal starting point for defining and measuring both artifactual and physiological structures emergent in the activated ECoG.     

根霉葡萄糖淀粉酶的复性复活动力学研究

本文利用荧光、紫外差光谱研究了根霉葡萄糖淀粉酶在盐酸胍变性后的复性、复活动力学。结果表明,该酶在小于4mol/L盐酸胍中变性是可逆的,其复性过程遵循一级反应方程。酶复活过程是由两个一级反应组成的复合反应,构象变化速度与复活过程中较快的反应速度相差无几,这可能是在Trp及Tyr微区的构象变化基本完成之后,酶活力恢复还没有完成造成的。     

昆虫抗菌物质研究进展

昆虫抗菌物质研究进展翟朝阳（华西医科大学医学分子生物学研究室成都６１００４４）昆虫是自然界中种类和数量繁多,生长繁殖迅速的一类动物。做为在自然界中长期生存的牛物,各种昆虫在适应环岛与环境的变化上各有其独特的方式,构成一幅丰富多彩,令人惊叹的画卷,而在...     

Vacancy in Ultrathin 2D Nanomaterials toward Sustainable Energy Application

The unique physicochemical properties of (2D) nanomaterials make them well‐suited for use in sustainable energy applications. Many of these materials can be further improved with vacancy engineering. This review details recent progress in the vacancy engineering of ultrathin 2D nanomaterials. For clarity, it mainly focuses on various ultrathin 2D materials in three categories: X_a&X_aY_b‐, M_aX_b‐, or M_aX_bY_c‐structured materials. Recently developed vacancies in different types of ultrathin 2D materials, as well as their preparation and characterization, are described. Emphasis is placed on the potential electrochemical energy storage and conversion applications of these materials. This review considers the relationship between vacancy properties and material categories of various ultrathin 2D materials in terms of application requirements, preparation, and characterization techniques. The challenges and future outlook of this promising field are summarized.     

原钙粘蛋白基因簇调控区域中成簇的CTCF结合位点分析

哺乳动物中原钙粘蛋白(Protocadherin, Pcdh)基因簇包含50多个串联排列的基因,这些基因形成3个紧密相连的基因簇(Pcdhα、Pcdhβ和Pcdhγ),所编码的原钙粘蛋白质群在神经元多样性(Neuronal diversity)和单细胞特异性(Single cell identity)以及神经突触信号转导中发挥重要作用。前期的工作已证实转录因子CTCF(CCCTC-binding factor)与CTCF结合位点(CTCF-binding site, CBS)的方向性结合能够决定增强子和启动子环化的方向以及其远距离交互作用的特异性,并进一步在Pcdh基因座(Locus)形成两个(Pcdhα和Pcdhγ)染色质拓扑结构域(CTCF/cohesin- mediated chromatin domain, CCD),而且染色质拓扑结构域对于控制基因表达调控至关重要。本文通过生物信息学方法对比人类和小鼠序列,发现Pcdhβγ染色质拓扑结构域调控区域中的DNase I超敏位点(DNase I hypersensitive sites, HSs)较为保守。染色质免疫沉淀及大规模测序实验(Chromatin immunoprecipitation and massive parallel sequencing, ChIP-Seq)揭示CBS位点在Pcdhβγ调控区域中成簇分布并且具有相同的方向。凝胶电泳迁移实验(Electrophoresis mobility shift assay, EMSA)确定Pcdhβγ调控区域内具体的42 bp CBS位点并且发现一个CTCF峰包含两个CBS位点。在全基因组范围内,运用计算生物学方法分析CTCF和增强子、启动子等调控元件的关系,发现CBS位点在调控元件附近有较多分布,推测CTCF通过介导增强子和启动子的特异性交互作用,在细胞核三维基因组内形成活性转录枢纽调控基因精准表达。     

Bienzymatic glucose biosensor based on co-immobilization of peroxidase and glucose oxidase on a carbon nanotubes electrode

A bienzymatic glucose biosensor was proposed for selective and sensitive detection of glucose. This mediatorless biosensor was made by simultaneous immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOD) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in an electropolymerized pyrrole (PPy) film on a single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) coated electrode. The amperometric detection of glucose was assayed by potentiostating the bienzymatic electrode at -0.1 versus Ag/AgCl to reduce the enzymatically produced H(2)O(2) with minimal interference from the coexisting electroactive compounds. The single-wall carbon nanotubes, sandwiched between the enzyme loading polypyrrole (PPy) layer and the conducting substrate (gold electrode), could efficiently promote the direct electron transfer of HRP. Operational characteristics of the bienzymatic sensor, in terms of linear range, detection limit, sensitivity, selectivity and stability, were presented in detail.