Genetic diversity patterns in Curcuma reflect differences in genome size

The relationships between genome size and the systematic and evolutionary patterns in vascular plants are equivocal, although a close relationship between genome size and evolutionary patterns has been previously reported. However, several studies have also revealed the dynamic nature of genome size evolution and its considerable ‘ups’ and ‘downs’. Thus, in this study, the phylogenetic relationships among three previously revealed genome size groups and among species of the highly polyploid genus Curcuma were evaluated using AFLP. Our results suggest two main lineages within Indian Curcuma reflecting evolution of genome size. The first one includes hexaploids and higher polyploids of the previously recognized genome size group I, and the second one includes mainly hexaploids of genome size groups II and III. Within genome size group I, relationships among species seem to be influenced by reticulate evolution and higher polyploids are likely to be of allopolyploid origin. Reproductive systems in Indian Curcuma vary considerably among ploidy levels and these differences considerably affect morphological and genetic variation. In general, clonally reproducing species are expected to exhibit low genotypic diversity, but, at the same time, species of allopolyploid origin are expected to maintain higher levels of heterozygosity compared with their progenitors. We investigated intra‐populational genetic variability in Curcuma spp. to evaluate whether mode of reproduction or ploidy represent the main factor influencing the degree of genetic diversity. We found that hexaploid species exhibited significantly higher genetic diversity than higher polyploids (9x, 15x). Our results suggest that this genetic diversity pattern is largely influenced by the mode of reproduction, as higher polyploids reproduce exclusively vegetatively, whereas hexaploids reproduce mainly sexually. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 165 , 388–401.     

天童米槠-木荷群落主要树种的结构及空间格局

种群的结构和空间格局是植物群落的重要特征.以浙江天童米槠（Castanopsis carlesii）-木荷（Schima superba）群落为对象,应用永久样方法和每木调查法调查了群落种类组成和结构,并对10个主要常绿阔叶树种的种群结构和空间格局进行了分析,种群结构分析包括胸径级结构和垂直层次结构,空间格局分析包括各种不同垂直层次个体的空间分布格局和空间关联,并考虑了空间关联的尺度依赖.所选10个种总体RBA值达到81.9﹪,包含了群落的全部5个优势种,SDI指数除黑山山矾（Symplocos heishanensis）为正值外,其余9种皆为负值,各个种在垂直空间上占据了不同的位置.不同种之间以及同种不同层次之间表现出复杂多样的分布格局,体现出多级复合分布特征,但多数种整体上表现为集群分布或基本分布成分为个体群.空间关联在不同种之间、同种不同层次之间以及不同空间尺度上发生了分化,随尺度的增加,正关联增加而负关联减少.各个物种通过占据不同的水平和垂直空间,并采取不同的生活史对策,在群落中得以共存,从而导致了群落高的生物多样性的形成和维持.     

丘陵地区地形梯度上植被格局的分异研究概述

植物群落的本质特征之一是群落中的植物和环境之间存在一定的相互关系。湿润的丘陵地区是由水侵蚀而形成的包含各种干扰频率的生境复合体,作为中尺度的地形单位,可以通过侵蚀前线划分为上部坡面和下部坡面两个小尺度的地形单位,而上部坡面可以进一步划分为顶坡、上部边坡、谷头凹地等微地形单元,下部坡面可以进一步划分为下部边坡、麓坡、泛滥性阶地及谷床等微地形单元。上部坡面发育的是气候顶极群落,沿顶坡向谷头凹地,群落发生逐渐、连续的变化,下部坡面发育的为地形群落,其物种组成、结构以及其它生态特征与上部坡面具有显著的差异,而其微地形单元之间植被的变化不明显。干扰作用是不同地形植被分异的控制因子,也是地形植被维持和更新的关键因子。下部坡面以相对积极的土壤侵蚀、滑坡和崩塌等过程为特征,其植被更新依赖于频繁的地面干扰,而上部坡面长期稳定,其植被更新依赖于林窗动态。地形是影响植被格局的最重要的也是最基本的生境因子,其引起的生境生态位分化为物种的共存提供了条件,导致了小尺度空间内高生物多样性的形成和维持。     

A possible role for dephosphorylation in glucocorticoid receptor transformation

Addition of bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase to mouse AtT-20 cell cytosol increases the rate of glucocorticoid receptor transformation, as evidenced by a change in sedimentation rate from 9.1S to 5.2S. Acid phosphatases are completely ineffective in this regard. Alkaline phosphatase-promoted receptor transformation is both time- and dose-dependent. A variety of phosphatase inhibitors are effective in inhibiting this process, the most potent being transition metal oxyanions such as molybdate, tungstate, and arsenate. The ability of the various inhibitors to suppress alkaline phosphatase-promoted receptor transformation does not correspond well with their potencies for inhibiting para-nitrophenyl phosphate hydrolysis. However, a better correspondence between the inhibition of endogenous receptor transformation and total cytosolic phosphatase activity is observed, and both sodium fluoride and glucose-1-phosphate inhibit endogenous receptor transformation. The protease inhibitors phenyl-methylsulfonyl fluoride and antipain have no effect on receptor transformation. Surprisingly, leupeptin is effective in inhibiting alkaline phosphatase-promoted receptor transformation. Although this raises the possibility of a contaminating protease activity in the alkaline phosphatase enzyme preparation, treatment of covalently affinity-labeled receptor with the enzyme shows no proteolysis of the receptor or any other non-specifically labeled cytosolic protein. Thus, it is possible that a novel action of leupeptin, unrelated to its protease-inhibitory activity, may be involved in the suppression of receptor transformation. The studies presented here suggest that dephosphorylation of some component in cytosol is involved in the destabilization of receptor subunit interactions, resulting in glucocorticoid receptor transformation.     

Hsp90 cochaperone Aha1 downregulation rescues misfolding of CFTR in cystic fibrosis

The pathways that distinguish transport of folded and misfolded cargo through the exocytic (secretory) pathway of eukaryotic cells remain unknown. Using proteomics to assess global cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein interactions (the CFTR interactome), we show that Hsp90 cochaperones modulate Hsp90-dependent stability of CFTR protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Cell-surface rescue of the most common disease variant that is restricted to the ER, DeltaF508, can be initiated by partial siRNA silencing of the Hsp90 cochaperone ATPase regulator Aha1. We propose that failure of DeltaF508 to achieve an energetically favorable fold in response to the steady-state dynamics of the chaperone folding environment (the "chaperome") is responsible for the pathophysiology of CF. The activity of cargo-associated chaperome components may be a common mechanism regulating folding for ER exit, providing a general framework for correction of misfolding disease.     

Comparative susceptibility of introduced forest-dwelling mosquitoes in Hawai'i to avian malaria, Plasmodium relictum

To identify potential vectors of avian malaria in Hawaiian native forests, the innate susceptibility of Aedes albopictus, Wyeomyia mitchellii, and Culex quinquefasciatus from 3 geographical sites along an altitudinal gradient was evaluated using local isolates of Plasmodium relictum. Mosquitoes were dissected 5-8 and 9-13 days postinfective blood meal and microscopically examined for oocysts and salivary-gland sporozoites. Sporogony was completed in all 3 species, but prevalence between species varied significantly. Oocysts were detected in 1-2% and sporozoites in 1-7% of Aedes albopictus that fed on infected ducklings. Wyeomyia mitchellii was slightly more susceptible, with 7-19% and 7% infected with oocysts and sporozoites, respectively. In both species, the median oocyst number was 5 or below. This is only the second Wyeomyia species reported to support development of a malarial parasite. Conversely, Culex quinquefasciatus from all 3 sites proved very susceptible. Prevalence of oocysts and sporozoites consistently exceeded 70%, regardless of gametocytemia or origin of the P. relictum isolate. In trials for which a maximum 200 oocysts were recorded, the median number of oocysts ranged from 144 to 200. It was concluded that Culex quinquefasciatus is the primary vector of avian malaria in Hawai'i.     

Molecular regulation of the brain natriuretic peptide gene

After brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was isolated in 1988, rapid progress was made in cloning its cDNA and gene, facilitating studies of tissue-specific expression and molecular regulation of gene expression. This review focuses on the molecular determinants of regulation of the rat and human BNP genes, including signaling pathways that impact on changes in gene expression and cis regulatory elements responsive to these signaling pathways. For both rat and human genes, elements in the proximal promoter (-124 to -80), including GATA, MCAT, and AP-1-like, have been shown to contribute to basal and inducible regulation. More distal elements in the human BNP gene respond to calcium signals (an NF-AT site at -927), thyroid hormone (a thyroid-responsive element at -1000), and mechanical stretch (shear stress-responsive elements at -652 and -162). Understanding how BNP is regulated by signaling molecules that are activated in the hypertrophied and ischemic heart should be useful in understanding the underlying pathology. This may lead to therapeutic strategies that prevent hypertrophy while allowing for the beneficial effects of BNP production.