VKORC1 rs2359612C allele is associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease in the presence of coronary calcification

VKORC1 genetic polymorphisms affect warfarin dose response, aortic calcification, and the susceptibility of coronary artery disease as shown in our previous study. Little is known regarding the association of VKORC1 polymorphisms with coronary artery calcification (CAC) and the role of CAC in the association with coronary artery disease (CAD). Due to a natural haplotype block in the VKORC1 gene in Chinese, polymorphism rs2359612 was analyzed in a case–control study and a prospective study. The case–control study included 464 CAD patients with non-calcified plaque (NCP), 562 CAD patients with mixed calcified plaque (MCP), 492 subjects with calcified plaque (CP), and 521 controls. The rs2359612C was only associated with increased risk of MCP, the CAD in the presence of CAC; the odds ratio was 1.397 (95 % CI 1.008–1.937, P < 0.05), which was replicated in the second independent population. On the contrary, a negative correlation was observed between rs2359612 and log-transformed Agatston score, and rs2359612 was negatively associated with the number of calcified vessels. Moreover, in a prospective study including 849 CAD patients undergoing revascularization, rs2359612C predicted a higher incidence of cardiovascular events in MCP subgroup; the relative risk was 1.435 (95 % CI 1.008–2.041, P = 0.045), which was not observed in the NCP subgroup. We conclude that the rs2359612C was associated with a higher risk of CAD in the presence of CAC and a higher incidence of cardiovascular events in CAD patients with CAC, but a lower coronary calcification. VKORC1 polymorphisms may be associated with the endophenotype of CAD, calcification-related atherosclerosis.     

The Role of HSPA12B in Regulating Neuronal Apoptosis

Heat shock protein A12B (HSPA12B) is the newest member of a recently defined subfamily of proteins distantly related to the 70-kDa family of heat shock proteins (HSP70) family. HSP70s play a crucial role in protecting cells, tissues, organs and animals from various noxious conditions. Here we studied the dynamic expression changes and localization of HSPA12B after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with reperfusion induced ischemic insult processes in adult rats. Apoptosis, as indicated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, was also increased in the peri-ischemic cortex compared to non-ischemic hemisphere. The expression of HSPA12B was strongly induced in the ischemic hemisphere of MCAO reperfusion rats in vivo. In vitro studies indicated that the up-regulation of HSPA12B may be involved in oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced PC12 cell death. And knockdown of HSPA12B in cultured differentiated PC12 cells by siRNA showed that HSPA12B inhibited the expression of active caspase-3. Collectively, these results suggested that HSPA12B may be required for protecting neurons from ischemic insults.     

Nogo-B的生物学功能

Nogo-B是网状蛋白家族4的重要成员,其广泛表达于中枢神经系统及外周组织,其亚细胞定位于细胞内质网及细胞膜。研究显示,Nogo-B主要参与血管损伤、组织修复、再生及炎症过程的调控,并可能在肿瘤细胞凋亡及中枢神经系统疾病中也发挥重要作用。对Nogo-B的结构及其功能的进一步探索,有助于更加深入地了解其在各种疾病中发挥作用的机制。     

我国云南食用牛肝菌的DNA条形码研究

iFlora是结合传统分类学与DNA测序和信息技术,通过系列关键技术进行集成,构建便捷、准确识别物种和掌握相关数字化信息的新一代智能植物志。iFlora研发中首要和迫切的任务之一就是寻找适合于大多数植物和经济蘑菇的标准DNA条形码序列。为筛选适合大型经济蘑菇的DNA条形码,本研究以云南食用牛肝菌为例,选取野生食用菌市场上常见的、被当地人认为的4“种”牛肝菌为研究对象,利用核糖体大亚基（nrLSU）、翻译延长因子1-α（tefl-α）、RNA聚合酶II大亚基（rpbl）和RNA聚合酶II的第二个大亚基（rpb2）四个DNA序列,使用真核生物通用引物进行扩增、测序和测试。研究发现这4“种”样品实际上代表了12个独立的物种,进一步研究表明4个候选片段的扩增和测序成功率均为100％,且不存在种问和种内变异的重叠。4个片段的物种分辨率均较高,但与nrLSU相比,rpbl、tefl-α和rpb2具有更为明显的条形码间隔。鉴于rpbl比tefl-α和rpb2具有更高的种间变异和较低的种内变异,建议将rpbl作为牛肝菌属的核心条形码,tefl-α和rpb2可作为该属的辅助条形码。     

新一代植物志：创新与发展

2004年10月,由三代植物学家历时45年完成了《中国植物志》。7年之后,中国植物学会系统与进化植物学专业委员会和云南省植物学会在昆明举办了201l全国系统与进化植物学研讨会暨第十届青年研讨会。会议明确提出了“后植物志时代的系统与进化植物学”这一主题。2013年9月,英文和修订版《中国植物志》联合编委会在北京宣布,世界上最大和高水平的FloraofChina已全面完成,     

Blockage of glucocorticoid receptors during memory acquisition, retrieval and reconsolidation prevents the expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preferences in mice

Association between the reward caused by consuming drugs and the context in which they are consumed is essential in the formation of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). Glucocorticoid receptor (GRs) activation in different regions of the brain affects reward-based reinforcement and memory processing. A wide array of studies have demonstrated that blockage of GRs in some brain areas can have an effect on reward-related memory; however, to date there have been no systematic studies about the involvement of glucocorticoids (GCs) in morphine-related reward memory. Here, we used the GR antagonist RU38486 to investigate how GRs blockage affects the sensitization and CPP behavior during different phases of reward memory included acquisition, retrieval and reconsolidation. Interestingly, our results showed RU38486 has the ability to impair the acquisition, retrieval and reconsolidation of reward-based memory in CPP and sensitization behavior. But RU38486 by itself cannot induce CPP or conditioned place aversion (CPA) behavior. Our data provide a much more complete picture of the potential effects that glucocorticoids have on the reward memory of different phases and inhibit the sensitization behavior.     

鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区东方白鹳(Ciconia boyciana)种群数量变化与气候的关系

该研究分析了1985—2011年鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区东方白鹳(Ciconia boyciana)越冬种群数量的年际变化趋势,探究了越冬地气候条件对其种群数量变化的影响。结果表明,1985—2011年,保护区东方白鹳种群数量为(1 340±178)只,呈显著线性增长趋势,但年际波动较大。种群数量与越冬当年11月份的平均最低气温显著正相关(r=0.554,P=0.003,n=27),越冬初期较低的温度可能影响东方白鹳选择鄱阳湖作为长期越冬地的决策,而增加对长江中、下游其他湿地的利用。同时,越冬地气候条件对种群数量的影响存在显著的时滞效应。越冬初期以及越冬后期的气温变量与2~9年后的种群数量显著正相关。尤其是越冬初期10月份的气温变量与2~5年后的种群数量变化极显著相关,越冬后期2月和3月的气温变量分别与8年后和3年后的种数数量极显著正相关。多元线性回归分析结果表明,2年前的10月平均最高温度、2年前的3月平均最高气温、4年前的10月平均最高温度、4年前的3月平均气温是东方白鹳种群数量变化的显著预测变量,共同解释了种群数量年际变化的79.2%(R2=0.792,F=20.901,df=26,P=0.000)。越冬初期和末期可能是个体迁飞后补充能量和迁飞前积累能量的关键阶段,适宜的气温有利于成体的能量积累和幼体的存活,且东方白鹳性成熟年龄为2~6年,因此,越冬地气候条件对其种群增长的影响将会在2年后体现。     

淹水胁迫对不结球白菜渗透调节物质含量的影响

以不结球白菜‘新矮青’品种为材料,研究了不同时间(1、3、5、7d)和不同程度(根淹、半淹、全淹)淹水处理及解除淹水恢复生长后叶片内渗透调节物质含量的变化规律。结果表明:(1)在根淹和半淹胁迫处理下,不结球白菜叶片中可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白和游离脯氨酸含量随处理时间的延长呈先上升后下降的趋势;全淹胁迫下,这3种渗透调节物质的含量随处理时间的延长出现不同程度的下降。(2)解除淹水恢复生长7d后,各处理组的不结球白菜叶片中渗透调节物质的含量在短期(1d)淹水下基本恢复正常,在长期淹水条件下未完全恢复;全淹处理组恢复能力较弱,而根淹处理组恢复能力相对较强;可溶性糖的恢复幅度高于可溶性蛋白和游离脯氨酸。     

Comparative systems biology between human and animal models based on next-generation sequencing methods

Animal models provide myriad benefits to both experimental and clinical research. Unfortunately, in many situations, they fall short of expected results or provide contradictory results. In part, this can be the result of traditional molecular biological approaches that are relatively inefficient in elucidating underlying molecular mechanism. To improve the efficacy of animal models, a technological breakthrough is required. The growing availability and application of the high-throughput methods make systematic comparisons between human and animal models easier to perform. In the present study, we introduce the concept of the comparative systems biology, which we define as "comparisons of biological systems in different states or species used to achieve an integrated understanding of life forms with all their characteristic complexity of interactions at multiple levels". Furthermore, we discuss the applications of RNA-seq and ChIP-seq technologies to comparative systems biology between human and animal models and assess the potential applications for this approach in the future studies.     

成年雄性斑胸草雀前脑与中脑对习得性发声控制的侧别差异

成年雄性鸣禽的习得性发声信号——长鸣(long call)和鸣唱(song)是由前脑高级发声中枢启动,以及由前脑最后一级输出核团弓状皮质栎核(robust nucleus of the arcopallium,RA)整合输出.RA投射神经元与位于中脑的基本发声中枢丘间复合体背内侧核(dorsomedial nucleus of the intercollicular,DM)形成突触连接.该文采用电损毁与声谱分析相结合的方法,通过依次损毁成年雄性斑胸草雀(Taeniopygia guttata)单侧RA和DM核团,探讨了前脑和中脑对习得性发声的影响.结果提示,RA核团与DM核团共同参与了对雄性斑胸草雀习得性声音的调控,而且这种控制具有右侧优势.