Expansion of MIR482/2118 by a class‐II transposable element in cotton

Some plant microRNA (miRNA) families contain multiple members generating identical or highly similar mature miRNA variants. Mechanisms underlying the expansion of miRNA families remain elusive, although tandem and/or segmental duplications have been proposed. In this study of two tetraploid cottons, Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense, and their extant diploid progenitors, Gossypium arboreum and Gossypium raimondii, we investigated the gain and loss of members of the miR482/2118 superfamily, which modulates the expression of nucleotide‐binding site leucine‐rich repeat (NBS‐LRR) disease resistance genes. We found significant expansion of MIR482/2118d in G. barbadense, G. hirsutum and G. raimondii, but not in G. arboreum. Several newly expanded MIR482/2118d loci have mutated to produce different miR482/2118 variants with altered target‐gene specificity. Based on detailed analysis of sequences flanking these MIR482/2118 loci, we found that this expansion of MIR482/2118d and its derivatives resulted from an initial capture of an MIR482/2118d by a class‐II DNA transposable element (TE) in G. raimondii prior to the tetraploidization event, followed by transposition to new genomic locations in G. barbadense, G. hirsutum and G. raimondii. The ‘GosTE’ involved in the capture and proliferation of MIR482/2118d and its derivatives belongs to the PIF/Harbinger superfamily, generating a 3‐bp target site duplication upon insertion at new locations. All orthologous MIR482/2118 loci in the two diploids were retained in the two tetraploids, but mutation(s) in miR482/2118 were observed across all four species as well as in different cultivars of both G. barbadense and G. hirsutum, suggesting a dynamic co‐evolution of miR482/2118 and its NBS‐LRR targets. Our results provide fresh insights into the mechanisms contributing to MIRNA proliferation and enrich our knowledge on TEs.     

Requirements for human embryonic stem cells

‘Requirements for Human Embryonic Stem Cells’ is the first set of guidelines on human embryonic stem cells in China, jointly drafted and agreed upon by experts from the Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research. This standard specifies the technical requirements, test methods, test regulations, instructions for use, labelling requirements, packaging requirements, storage requirements and transportation requirements for human embryonic stem cells, which is applicable to the quality control for human embryonic stem cells. It was originally released by the China Society for Cell Biology on 26 February 2019 and was further revised on 30 April 2020. We hope that publication of these guidelines will promote institutional establishment, acceptance and execution of proper protocols, and accelerate the international standardization of human embryonic stem cells for applications.     

Genetic variants and underlying mechanisms influencing variance heterogeneity in maize

Traditional genetic studies focus on identifying genetic variants associated with the mean difference in a quantitative trait. Because genetic variants also influence phenotypic variation via heterogeneity, we conducted a variance‐heterogeneity genome‐wide association study to examine the contribution of variance heterogeneity to oil‐related quantitative traits. We identified 79 unique variance‐controlling single nucleotide polymorphisms (vSNPs) from the sequences of 77 candidate variance‐heterogeneity genes for 21 oil‐related traits using the Levene test (P < 1.0 × 10^?5). About 30% of the candidate genes encode enzymes that work in lipid metabolic pathways, most of which define clear expression variance quantitative trait loci. Of the vSNPs specifically associated with the genetic variance heterogeneity of oil concentration, 89% can be explained by additional linked mean‐effects genetic variants. Furthermore, we demonstrated that gene × gene interactions play important roles in the formation of variance heterogeneity for fatty acid compositional traits. The interaction pattern was validated for one gene pair (GRMZM2G035341 and GRMZM2G152328) using yeast two‐hybrid and bimolecular fluorescent complementation analyses. Our findings have implications for uncovering the genetic basis of hidden additive genetic effects and epistatic interaction effects, and we indicate opportunities to stabilize efficient breeding and selection of high‐oil maize (Zea mays L.).     

A review on methods for diagnosis of breast cancer cells and tissues

Breast cancer has seriously been threatening physical and mental health of women in the world, and its morbidity and mortality also show clearly upward trend in China over time. Through inquiry, we find that survival rate of patients with early‐stage breast cancer is significantly higher than those with middle‐ and late‐stage breast cancer, hence, it is essential to conduct research to quickly diagnose breast cancer. Until now, many methods for diagnosing breast cancer have been developed, mainly based on imaging and molecular biotechnology examination. These methods have great contributions in screening and confirmation of breast cancer. In this review article, we introduce and elaborate the advances of these methods, and then conclude some gold standard diagnostic methods for certain breast cancer patients. We lastly discuss how to choose the most suitable diagnostic methods for breast cancer patients. In general, this article not only summarizes application and development of these diagnostic methods, but also provides the guidance for researchers who work on diagnosis of breast cancer.     

双特异抗体的研究进展

双特异抗体是指可以同时结合两个不同抗原或一个抗原不同表位的特殊抗体,目前已有3个双特异抗体批准上市,还有很多个双特异抗体处于临床或临床前研究阶段。文中就双特异抗体的发现、制备方法、结构类型和设计策略、作用机制以及目前研究现状进行综述。     

人乳寡糖2’-FL和3-FL的生物制备研究进展

人乳寡糖 (Human milk oligosaccharides,HMO) 是母乳中重要的免疫活性成分,对婴幼儿健康起到显著促进作用。2’-岩藻糖基乳糖 (2’-FL) 是HMO的主要组分,极具应用价值,3-岩藻糖基乳糖 (3-FL) 与2’-FL的合成途径相似,两者的研究具有相互借鉴意义,近年来针对它们的研究取得了较多进展。以微生物细胞工厂为核心理念的新型生物合成途径有望将2’-FL和3-FL产业化,未来将对乳制品行业产生重要的影响。文中综述了生物技术制备2’-FL和3-FL的最新研究进展,并对未来发展趋势进行了展望。     

新疆塔什库尔干野生动物自然保护区马可波罗盘羊生境适宜性评价

马可波罗盘羊是帕米尔高原的代表性物种,开展生境适宜性评价对于该物种的保护与管理具有重要意义。综合考虑植被、地形等影响马可波罗盘羊生境选择的关键因子,以及道路和牧场等人为干扰因子,借助ArcGIS,构建生境适宜性指数模型,在不同尺度上评价分析马可波罗盘羊的生境适宜性及其季节变化特征。结果表明:15836 km~2保护区内马可波罗盘羊夏季潜在适宜生境面积为2127.19 km~2,冬季为1915.70 km~2。保护区西北部面积3767.73 km~2的马可波罗盘羊实际分布区内,夏季潜在适宜生境面积为1095.48 km~2,冬季为1072.82 km~2,马可波罗盘羊适宜生境集中分布于保护区内该物种实际分布区。受人为干扰,保护区内马可波罗盘羊夏季和冬季实际适宜生境丧失率分别为18.43%和17.78%,实际分布区内适宜生境丧失率分别为33.65%和29.73%,表明实际分布区马可波罗盘羊适宜生境受人类活动影响较大,应予以重点保护。总体而言,影响马可波罗盘羊生境适宜性的关键因素是国道314和放牧。基于上述研究结果,作者提出了4点关于马可波罗盘羊生境保护,以及保护区管理与规划的建议与思考。     

海南铜鼓岭鸭脚木种群动态特征研究

鸭脚木(Schefflera octophylla)是海南文昌铜鼓岭国家级自然保护区内滨海森林的优势种,也是海南其他地区热带森林常见伴生种。为深入了解该区滨海森林内鸭脚木种群的生存现状、更新机制以及未来发展的动态变化特点,该研究通过对海南热带滨海森林2.56 hm²样地中鸭脚木种群的调查,以径级结构代替龄级结构,编制鸭脚木种群静态生命表,并结合种群动态量化指数、生存函数、时间序列预测模型等方法定量分析鸭脚木种群结构和数量动态变化。结果表明:(1)研究区域内共记录鸭脚木数量2 814株,按照径级大小共划分为12个龄级,龄级结构呈倒J字型,属于趋向稳定型种群。(2)该区鸭脚木的存活曲线趋于Deevey-Ⅱ型,种群各径级的死亡率相接近。(3)鸭脚木种群的量化指数显示,V_pi=30.685>0,V_pi''=0.236>0,说明该种群现处增长阶段并且相对稳定。(4)据时间序列模型预测鸭脚木种群在未来的3、6、9 a内各龄级的种群个体数量整体呈现增加的趋势。综上分析认为,该区生境有利于鸭脚木种群的生长且该种群形成了良好的生存策略,其幼龄个体较多且后备资源丰富,能较好地补充各龄级个体自然死亡造成的损失,对森林的天然更新起到一定促进作用     

不同林龄和密度对马尾松人工林凋落叶养分变化的影响

该文选择广西南宁市横县镇龙林场的4种林龄(幼龄林、中龄林、成熟林和过熟林)和4种密度(低密度林、中低密度林、中高密度林和高密度林)马尾松人工林共8种林分作为研究对象,分析了未破碎和破碎两个不同降解阶段的凋落叶C、N、P含量及其生态化学计量学特征。结果表明:(1)不同林龄中,凋落叶初始C、N含量在过熟林和成熟林中较高,P含量没有显著变化,且C∶N比值和C∶P比值从幼龄林到成熟林逐渐升高,说明较高林龄马尾松对N和P重吸收较低,而较低林龄马尾松对N和P重吸收较强,需要较大。(2)不同密度林中,随着林木密度的增加,凋落叶初始C含量逐渐升高,N含量无显著变化,P含量降低;高密度林凋落叶的初始C∶P比值和N∶P比值较高,说明高种植密度下马尾松可能对N和P养分的需求较大,P重吸收较强。(3)不同林龄和不同密度马尾松林的破碎凋落叶C含量、C∶N比值、C∶P比值和N∶P比值比未破碎凋落叶的低,N和P含量较高,说明凋落物在降解过程中出现N和P养分的富集现象。(4)中林龄和较高种植密度的马尾松破碎凋落叶与未破碎凋落物的C含量差值最大,C∶N比值和C∶P比值较低,说明这两种林分的凋落叶C的降解速率可能较大。上述结果说明,中龄林和中高、高密度林的马尾松可能对N和P养分的需求较大,重吸收效率较高,且凋落叶C的潜在分解速率较高,可能利于有机碳较快进入土壤中。