Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) endometrium and placenta during early pregnancy

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is fundamental for development and maintenance of endometrial and placental vascular function during pregnancy. While there are a number of studies on VEGF in the human placenta, they are mostly restricted to late pregnancy. To further understand the role of VEGF in mediating angiogenesis during human early pregnancy, we employed a rhesus monkey early pregnancy model to study the temporal and spatial expression of VEGF and its receptors, fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt)-1, and kinase-insert domain-containing receptor (KDR) mRNAs and proteins in the uteri on day 12, 18, and 26 of pregnancy using in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry. VEGF mRNA had been identified in the luminal epithelium on day 12, in the glandular epithelium on day 12 and 18, and the highest expression was detected in the walls of some spiral arterioles adjacent to the implantation site on day 18, in the placental villi and in the fetal-maternal border on day 18 and 26. Besides, immunostaining of VEGF was detected in the placental villi and endometrial compartments including spiral arteries walls and the glandular epithelium. The localization of VEGF in the endothelium correlates with the presence of Flt-1 and KDR receptors on vascular structure. All the results above suggest that VEGF-VEGFR pairs were involved in the process of trophoblast invasion, maternal vascular transformation, and fetoplacental vascular differentiation and development during the rhesus monkey early pregnancy. Expression of VEGF, Flt-1, and KDR in the epithelial cells also hints some additionally functional roles of VEGF during early pregnancy.     

Phylogeography of Quercus variabilis Based on Chloroplast DNA Sequence in East Asia: Multiple Glacial Refugia and Mainland-Migrated Island Populations

The biogeographical relationships between far-separated populations, in particular, those in the mainland and islands, remain unclear for widespread species in eastern Asia where the current distribution of plants was greatly influenced by the Quaternary climate. Deciduous Oriental oak (Quercus variabilis) is one of the most widely distributed species in eastern Asia. In this study, leaf material of 528 Q. variabilis trees from 50 populations across the whole distribution (Mainland China, Korea Peninsular as well as Japan, Zhoushan and Taiwan Islands) was collected, and three cpDNA intergenic spacer fragments were sequenced using universal primers. A total of 26 haplotypes were detected, and it showed a weak phylogeographical structure in eastern Asia populations at species level, however, in the central-eastern region of Mainland China, the populations had more haplotypes than those in other regions, with a significant phylogeographical structure (N _ST =0.751> G _ST =0.690, P<0.05). Q. variabilis displayed high interpopulation and low intrapopulation genetic diversity across the distribution range. Both unimodal mismatch distribution and significant negative Fu’s F_S indicated a demographic expansion of Q. variabilis populations in East Asia. A fossil calibrated phylogenetic tree showed a rapid speciation during Pleistocene, with a population augment occurred in Middle Pleistocene. Both diversity patterns and ecological niche modelling indicated there could be multiple glacial refugia and possible bottleneck or founder effects occurred in the southern Japan. We dated major spatial expansion of Q. variabilis population in eastern Asia to the last glacial cycle(s), a period with sea-level fluctuations and land bridges in East China Sea as possible dispersal corridors. This study showed that geographical heterogeneity combined with climate and sea-level changes have shaped the genetic structure of this wide-ranging tree species in East Asia.     

根际高温胁迫对5种瓜类作物生长及叶片光合和叶绿素荧光参数的影响

采用营养液栽培法,比较分析了根际高温(35℃)处理0、3和5 d以及恢复5 d后黑籽南瓜(Cucurbita ficifolia Bouché)、‘春秋王2号’黄瓜(Cucumis sativus‘Chunqiuwang No.2’)、‘兴蔬’丝瓜(Luffa cylindrica‘Xingshu’)、‘五叶香’丝瓜(Luffa cylindrica‘Wuyexiang’)和‘傲美’苦瓜(Momordica charantia‘Aomei’)幼苗的生长及叶片光合和叶绿素荧光参数的变化。结果表明:与对照(25℃)相比,在高温处理期间及恢复期间,黑籽南瓜、‘春秋王2号’黄瓜和‘傲美’苦瓜的株高、茎粗、叶面积、叶绿素相对含量(SPAD)以及叶片净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、PSⅡ的光能捕获效率(Fv’/Fm’)、PSⅡ的实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)、实际光化学量子产量(Yield)、表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)、光化学猝灭系数(qP)及PSⅡ用于光化学反应的能量比例(P)总体上均显著低于对照;而‘五叶香’丝瓜的上述指标大多无明显变化,但其非光化学猝灭系数(qN)及PSⅡ用于天线色素热耗散的能量比例(D)均低于对照;‘兴蔬’丝瓜的各项指标在高温处理期间均有不同程度的降低或升高,但在恢复5 d后各项指标均接近或高于对照。研究结果表明:5种瓜类作物对根际高温的耐受性有明显差异。其中,黑籽南瓜和‘春秋王2号’黄瓜对根际高温的耐性最差;2个丝瓜品种特别是‘五叶香’丝瓜的耐性较强,可作为耐高温瓜类作物的砧木。     

牦牛ZP3基因的克隆及蛋白质结构的预测

本研究对牦牛ZP3基因的编码区进行了克隆,在此基础上对ZP3蛋白的分子结构预测,为研究牦牛受精生物学提供基础。根据GenBank中普通牛的ZP3核苷酸序列设计特异性引物,以牦牛卵巢组织总RNA为模板,通过RT-PCR技术扩增牦牛ZP3基因cDNA序列(GenBank登录号为GQ856646),利用DNAMAN生物软件进行核苷酸和氨基酸序列分析、蛋白质专家系统ExPASy进行ZP3蛋白质分子结构预测。结果表明,扩增出的牦牛ZP3基因编码序列长1 266 bp,编码421个氨基酸。牦牛与牛、猪、狗、人、鼠和鸡ZP3基因核苷酸相应序列的同源性分别为98.42%、96.73%、79.67%、78.71%、69.15%和56.61%,氨基酸同源性分别为98.10%、83.85%、74.24%、70.26%、62.62%和46.12%,符合物种进化规律。预测的ZP3蛋白二级和三级结构显示它是一个具有22个氨基酸信号肽的亲水性β-桶状跨膜蛋白。牦牛ZP3基因编码区的成功克隆,为进一步研究该基因的结构与功能及其在受精过程中的作用提供了基础。     

Antisense repression of sucrose phosphate synthase in transgenic muskmelon alters plant growth and fruit development

To unravel the roles of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.), we reduced its activity in transgenic muskmelon plants by an antisense approach. For this purpose, an 830 bp cDNA fragment of muskmelon sucrose phosphate synthase was expressed in antisense orientation behind the 35S promoter of the cauliflower mosaic virus. The phenotype of the antisense plants clearly differed from that of control plants. The transgenic plant leaves were markedly smaller, and the plant height and stem diameter were obviously shorter and thinner. Transmission electron microscope observation revealed that the membrane degradation of chloroplast happened in transgenic leaves and the numbers of grana and grana lamella in the chloroplast were significantly less, suggesting that the slow growth and weaker phenotype of transgenic plants may be due to the damage of the chloroplast ultrastructure, which in turn results in the decrease of the net photosynthetic rate. The sucrose concentration and levels of sucrose phosphate synthase decreased in transgenic mature fruit, and the fruit size was smaller than the control fruit. Together, our results suggest that sucrose phosphate synthase may play an important role in regulating the muskmelon plant growth and fruit development.     

种子特异表达异源DGAT1基因提高大豆种子含油量和营养品质

为提高大豆Glycine max种子含油量和营养品质,文中以二酰甘油酰基转移酶1(Diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1,DGAT1)基因为遗传修饰靶标。将来自高油植物斑鸠菊Vernonia galamensis L.编码DGAT1酶蛋白的c DNA克隆Vg DGAT1A在大豆种子特异超表达。连续选择获得高代(T7)Vg DGAT1A转基因大豆株系。转基因株系表型鉴定显示,在大豆种子发育中期(30–45 DAF),Vg DGAT1A高表达,相应地DGAT酶活性是非转基因野生型和空载体转化对照的7.8倍。转基因成熟种子含油量比对照提高了5.1%,淀粉含量比对照减少2%–3%,蛋白质含量与对照无显著差异。此外,转基因大豆种子百粒重(14.5 g)和种子萌发率(95.6%)与对照亦无明显差异。种子油脂脂肪酸成分分析显示,转基因大豆种子油中抗氧化的油酸(C18:1Δ9)含量比对照提高8.2%,相应地易氧化的亚油酸(C18:2Δ9,12)和亚麻酸(C18:3Δ9,12,15)分别减少6%和2%。这些数据表明,种子特异超表达外源Vg DGAT1A基因,打破了大豆种子含油量和蛋白质含量的负连锁,显著提高种子含油量且未导致蛋白含量降低。转基因大豆种子重量和萌发率亦未显负效应,而且种子油脂抗氧化性和营养品质得以改善。研究表明应用这一高酶活性Vg DGAT1A的基因工程是提高种子含油量和改善油脂品质的一条有效途径。     

gTME构建共发酵木糖和葡萄糖的重组酿酒酵母

利用全转录工程（gTME）方法将全局转录因子spt15随机突变并克隆表达, 构建突变库。将突变基因连接到表达载体 pYX212上, 醋酸锂法转化入不利用木糖的酿酒酵母YPH499中, 经特定的培养基初筛获得高效利用木糖并共发酵木糖和葡萄糖的酿酒酵母重组菌株。对获得的重组菌株进行了初步研究, 该菌株能够很好的利用木糖并共发酵木糖和葡萄糖。在30oC, 200 r/min, 发酵96 h时, 50 g/L木糖和葡萄糖的利用率为94.0%和98.9%, 乙醇产率为32.4%和31.6%, 原始菌株乙醇产率为44.3%; 当木糖和葡萄糖以质量比1:1混合发酵时, 木糖和葡萄糖利用率分别为91.7%和85.9%, 乙醇产率为26%。木糖醇的含量极低。     

巢湖碳氮地球化学沉积记录揭示全新世以来的环境演化

通过对巢湖湖泊沉积物的总有机碳（TOC）、总氮（TN）、有机碳同位素（δ¹³C_org）、氮同位素（δ¹⁵N）和粒度参数的研究,重建了全新世以来湖泊初级生产力的变化,从而揭示了巢湖地区全新世环境变化历史。早全新世时期（10100-8200 cal a BP）,较高的TOC和TN、在波动中逐渐升高的δ¹³C_org值以及高δ¹⁵N值、高黏土（<4 μm）含量指示了较高的湖泊初级生产力,反映气候温暖较湿;中全新世时期（8200-4200 cal a BP）,TOC、TN、δ¹³C_org值和黏土（<4 μm）含量总体上较高但呈波动降低趋势,粉砂（4-64 μm）含量升高,δ¹⁵N值总体较低但变化幅度较大,指示初级生产力由较高水平开始逐渐降低,气候由温暖湿润逐渐向凉干方向发展;7300-5800 cal a BP和4300-3800 cal a BP的低δ¹⁵N和高TN值可能受到固氮蓝藻的影响,分别对应着7500-7000 cal a BP和4200-4000 cal a BP气候事件时期夏季风强度的减弱;晚全新世前期（4200-2000 cal a BP）,TOC、TN、δ¹³C_org值、黏土（<4 μm）含量的低值和较高的δ¹⁵N值、高粉砂（4-64 μm）含量代表初级生产力继续降低,气候环境进一步向冷干转变。全新世以来湖泊初级生产力的逐渐下降反映了季风的逐步减弱,而逐渐减少的30°N夏季太阳辐射是驱动季风减弱的主要因素。晚全新世后期（2000 cal a BP至今）,各环境代用指标的变化表现出不同于全新世环境演化趋势的异常,说明湖泊环境及沉积物受人类活动的影响加剧。     

Effects of frequent multiple plateletpheresis on complete blood count values of blood donors

The use of apheresis technique to collect platelets has rapidly increased in recent years. With an increased demand for plateletpheresis, higher donation frequencies are now observed. The aim of this study is to investigate changes in complete blood count values after frequent multiple plateletpheresis. A total of seventy-four blood donors were selected, from which complete blood count values in the first and the last screening were taken. There were fifty-four high frequency donors(13.0±2.6 plateletpheresis/year) and twenty low frequency donors(6.6±0.5 plateletpheresis/year). The results showed that complete blood count values at the first and last screening after plateletpheresis of both groups were within the normal range, and changes in their WBC, RBC and PLT values were not statistically significant(P>0.05, P>0.05, and P>0.05, respectively). The study suggests that frequent multiple plateletpheresis has no effects on complete blood count, and no adverse effects on blood donors.