鼠兔属5个种的分子分类及进化

构建了甘肃鼠兔、黄河鼠兔、藏鼠兔、高原鼠兔和红耳鼠兔的mtDNA限制性内切酶图谱,并以PAUP程序建立其分子系统树。结果表明,鼠兔亚属的4个物种与耗兔亚属的红耳鼠兔存在明显的长度变异(1kb),从而为两亚属的划分提供了新的遗传标记。同时,甘肃鼠兔和黄河鼠兔的遗传分化已达明显的物种级别,因而进一步证实它们均为独立种。在系统树中,黄河鼠兔与高原鼠兔亲缘关系最近,然后是藏鼠兔,最后是甘肃鼠兔与前3种构成一对姊妹群。依据遗传距离计算了分歧年代。两亚属的分歧时间约距今8.8×10⁴ha,相当于中国哺乳动物时代的保德期中期;鼠兔亚属内4种间的分歧发生于约距今(2.5～4.2)×10⁴ha的上新世晚期,相当于榆社期晚期。     

Interactions between RAMP2 and CRF receptors: The effect of receptor subtypes,splice variants and cell context

Corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) acts via two family B G-protein-coupled receptors, CRFR1 and CRFR2. Additional subtypes exist due to alternative splicing. CRFR1α is the most widely expressed subtype and lacks a 29-residue insert in the first intracellular loop that is present in CRFR1β. It has been shown previously that co-expression of CRFR1β with receptor activity modifying protein 2 (RAMP2) in HEK 293S cells increased the cell-surface expression of both proteins suggesting a physical interaction as seen with RAMPs and calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR). This study investigated the ability of CRFR1α, CRFR1β and CRFR2β to promote cell-surface expression of FLAG-tagged RAMP2. Four different cell-lines were utilised to investigate the effect of varying cellular context; COS-7, HEK 293T, HEK 293S and [ΔCTR]HEK 293 (which lacks endogenous calcitonin receptor). In all cell-lines, CRFR1α and CRFR1β enhanced RAMP2 cell-surface expression. The magnitude of the effect on RAMP2 was dependent on the cell-line ([ΔCTR]HEK 293 > COS-7 > HEK 293T > HEK 293S). RT-PCR indicated this variation may relate to differences in endogenous RAMP expression between cell types. Furthermore, pre-treatment with CRF resulted in a loss of cell-surface FLAG-RAMP2 when it was co-expressed with CRFR1 subtypes. CRFR2β co-expression had no effect on RAMP2 in any cell-line. Molecular modelling suggests that the potential contact interface between the extracellular domains of RAMP2 and CRF receptor subtypes is smaller than that of RAMP2 and CRL, the canonical receptor:RAMP pairing, assuming a physical interaction. Furthermore, a specific residue difference between CRFR1 subtypes (glutamate) and CRFR2β (histidine) in this interface region may impair CRFR2β:RAMP2 interaction by electrostatic repulsion.     

High-throughput sequencing reveals dietary segregation in Malaysian babblers

The coexistence of numerous species within a community results from how those species use available resources. Babblers are one of the major groups of Malaysian insectivorous birds, which frequently forage in dense vegetation cover and have a high level of sympatry. Therefore, examining the diet, prey selection, and niche segregation of babblers can be challenging. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing to investigate potential dietary overlap or segregation among 10 babbler species of the 4 genera of the family Pellorneidae and Timaliidae: Pellorneum, Malacopteron, Stachyris, and Cyanoderma in central peninsular Malaysia. We tested the hypothesis that trophically similar species may differ in resource use to avoid competitive exclusion. We identified 81 distinct arthropod taxa from fecal samples, belonging to 71 families representing 13 orders, which were predominantly from 16 dipteran, 13 lepidopteran, and 10 coleopteran families. Of all the prey taxa consumed, 45% were found to be distinct across the 10 babbler species, and ˂35% were shared simultaneously by ≥3 babbler species, indicating minimal dietary overlap. The black-throated babbler Stachyris nigricollis and moustached babbler Malacopteron magnirostre had the most generalist tendencies because they consumed a greater variety of prey taxa. Small dietary overlap values (Ojk) and a relatively wide range of food resources suggest that dietary segregation occurred among the studied babblers. The great diversity of prey consumed revealed the presence of dietary flexibility among the sympatric insectivorous birds, thus reducing any active dietary competition and facilitating the coexistence through niche partitioning.     

胍丁胺对体外培养脊髓神经元的影响及在谷氨酸诱导损伤条件下的作用

研究胍丁胺(agmatine,AG)对培养脊髓神经元的作用及谷氨酸(glutamate,Glu)损伤后的影响,探讨其对神经元的毒性作用及其可能的机理.采用原代细胞培养法,分离培养胚胎大鼠脊髓神经元,3d后加入不同浓度的AG(0.5～80mg/L)继续培养12、24、36h,接着采用四甲基氮唑蓝法和中性红法分别测定胍丁胺对细胞存活率以及毒性的影响.在加入AG的同时给予2mmol/LGlu对细胞进行损伤,建立体外的损伤模型.然后进行细胞形态学观察、NeuN免疫细胞化学染色、四甲基氮唑蓝法测定细胞存活率、Hoechst33342和PI染色检测细胞凋亡和坏死率,同时对神经元中丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)含量的变化检测,最后对各组进行比较和统计分析.结果发现,AG作用浓度低于40mg/L对正常培养的脊髓神经元的存活没有明显的影响,而80mg/L的AG对神经元生长有毒副作用.在给予Glu损伤后,细胞生长状态较差,细胞出现退化,而且细胞存活率显著下降,细胞坏死和凋亡率显著增高(P<0.05或0.01),而同时给予AG干预(AG-Glu组),细胞生长较正常培养的细胞生长状态略差,但明显优于Glu组,而且细胞凋亡和坏死率降低,细胞存活率增高,MDA含量减少(P<0.05).结果提示AG作为一种新发现的神经递质或调质,在正常生理情况下对神经元的生长没有毒副作用,而在Glu诱导损伤条件下,能够抑制Glu诱导的损伤.其发生机制可能与AG通过拮抗N-甲基-M-天冬氨酸(N-methyl-D-aspartate,NMDA)受体,阻断或抑制Glu的氧化毒性的级链反应有关.     

甘蓝型油菜与紫罗兰属间杂交的植物遗传学研究

为探索属间杂种的遗传特点以及改良甘蓝型油菜油分品质,进行了甘蓝型油菜和紫罗兰的属间杂交.杂交母本为甘蓝型油菜奥罗(Brassica napus L. cv. oro),父本为紫罗兰(Matthiola incana (L.) R. Br.).将授粉7 d后的油菜子房切下,消毒后,培养于添加适当植物激素的MS培养基.从750个离体培养的油菜授粉子房中,获得了2粒成熟胚胎,其结籽率为0.26%.将胚胎取出,转接于MS培养基(添加2.0 mg/L 6-BA和0.1 mg/L NAA),获得了丛生芽.将丛生芽分割为许多单芽,转接到新鲜培养基中,长成了22株小苗.杂种一代植株呈中间性,它的许多性状介于两个亲本之间,一些性状倾向母本,少数性状表现显著的超亲杂种优势,植株结实性差.杂种后代(F2)植株表现多样性,多数植株的性状倾向母本,能育.部分植株表现中间性、育性差,少数植株发育不良、不育.染色体研究表明,杂种一代植株为混倍体.在杂种体细胞中,许多细胞的染色体数为2n=26,为两个亲本的配子染色体数之和.杂种后代(F2)中,倾母植株的染色体数为2n=38,矮小植株的许多细胞具非整倍染色体数,如2n-1=37、2n+1=39.从杂种后代中获得了种子油分品质较好的植株,有可能用于油菜的品质育种.     

世界热带森林生态系统大样地定位研究进展

热带森林是世界上生物多样性最为丰富的生态系统,但人们对此却知之甚少.为了更好地了解和合理利用热带森林,美国的史密斯桑尼亚热带研究所成立了热带森林研究中心,中心联合世界各国科学家和科研机构,通过建立热带森林动态监测的大样地网络来从事热带森林的科学研究.从该中心于1980年在巴拿马Barro ColoradoIsland(BCI)建立第一个50 hm2的大样地以来,现加入该中心的森林大样地有3个洲的18个样地,共监测了全球已知热带树种的10%的物种,约6 000个物种的300万植株.2004年在中国云南的西双版纳开始筹建我国第一个热带森林大样地的定位研究站.本文从全球范围内热带森林生态系统定位研究的大样地建立的意义出发,论述了热带森林大样地的研究方法及研究进展以及我国热带森林大样地的建立和研究进展.     

Let's prevent diabetes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of an educational intervention in a multi-ethnic UK population with screen detected impaired glucose regulation

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The prevention of type 2 diabetes is a globally recognised health care priority, but there is a lack of rigorous research investigating optimal methods of translating diabetes prevention programmes, based on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, into routine primary care. The aim of the study is to establish whether a pragmatic structured education programme targeting lifestyle and behaviour change in conjunction with motivational maintenance via the telephone can reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in people with impaired glucose regulation (a composite of impaired glucose tolerance and/or impaired fasting glucose) identified through a validated risk score screening programme in primary care. DESIGN: Cluster randomised controlled trial undertaken at the level of primary care practices. Follow-up will be conducted at 12, 24 and 36 months. The primary outcome is the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Secondary outcomes include changes in HbA1c, blood glucose levels, cardiovascular risk, the presence of the Metabolic Syndrome and the cost-effectiveness of the intervention. METHODS: The study consists of screening and intervention phases within 44 general practices coordinated from a single academic research centre. Those at high risk of impaired glucose regulation or type 2 diabetes are identified using a risk score and invited for screening using a 75 g-oral glucose tolerance test. Those with screen detected impaired glucose regulation will be invited to take part in the trial. Practices will be randomised to standard care or the intensive arm. Participants from intensive arm practices will receive a structured education programme with motivational maintenance via the telephone and annual refresher sessions. The study will run from 2009-2014. DISCUSSION: This study will provide new evidence surrounding the long-term effectiveness of a diabetes prevention programme conducted within routine primary care in the United Kingdom. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00677937.     

Cell Surface Rescue of Kidney Anion Exchanger 1 Mutants by Disruption of Chaperone Interactions

Mutations in the human kidney anion exchanger 1 (kAE1) membrane glycoprotein cause impaired urine acidification resulting in distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). Dominant and recessive dRTA kAE1 mutants exhibit distinct trafficking defects with retention in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi, or mislocalization to the apical membrane in polarized epithelial cells. We examined the interaction of kAE1 with the quality control system responsible for the folding of membrane glycoproteins and the retention and degradation of misfolded mutants. Using small molecule inhibitors to disrupt chaperone interactions, two functional, dominant kAE1 mutants (R589H and R901stop), retained in the ER and targeted to the proteasome for degradation by ubiquitination, were rescued to the basolateral membrane of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. In contrast, the Golgi-localized, recessive G701D and the severely misfolded, ER-retained dominant Southeast Asian ovalocytosis (SAO) mutants were not rescued. These results show that functional dRTA mutants are retained in the ER due to their interaction with molecular chaperones, particularly calnexin, and that disruption of these interactions can promote their escape from the ER and cell surface rescue.     

南沙群岛永暑礁泻湖南永3井晚全新世微型双壳类

南沙群岛永暑礁泻湖南永3井取岩屑样88个,均产有丰富的微型双壳类。本文描述了该井1680年以来的微型双壳类24属26种,包括1新种Philobrya (Neocardia) xishaensis Lan.Cai et Feng sp.nov.。13个种为南沙群岛海区首次记录。该井微型双壳类以Condylocuna flemingi Maxwell最为丰富,Borniopsis ariakensis Habe,Cadella semitorta (Reeve),Wallucina (Wallucina)xishaensis Lan为常见种。该动物群以热带、亚热带分子为主,亦见有热带-温带的分子,显示了典型的热带岛礁双壳类动物群特征。同时也发现一些澳大利亚和新西兰的分子,表明西太平洋经向暖流对于双壳类的跨纬度分布起着重要的作用。本区双壳类以生活于潮间带和潮下带的表生栖息型为主,悬食型和食沉积物型几乎各占一半。