CPEB3 deficiency in mice affect ovarian follicle development and causes premature ovarian insufficiency

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a heterogeneous and multifactorial disorder. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in research on the pathogenesis and treatment of POI, owing to the implementation of the second-child policy in China. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 3 (CPEB3) is an RNA-binding protein that can bind to specific RNA sequences. CPEB3 can bind to and affect the expression, cellular location, and stability of target RNAs. Cpeb3 is highly expressed in the ovary; however, its functions remain unknown. In this study, Cpeb3-mutant mice were used to characterize the physiological functions of CPEB3. Cpeb3-mutant female mice manifested signs of gradual loss of ovarian follicles, ovarian follicle development arrest, increased follicle atresia, and subfertility with a phenotype analogous to POI in women. Further analysis showed that granulosa cell proliferation was inhibited and apoptosis was markedly increased in Cpeb3-mutant ovaries. In addition, the expression of Gdf9, a potential target of CPEB3, was decreased in Cpeb3-mutant ovaries and oocytes. Altogether, these results reveal that CPEB3 is essential for ovarian follicle development and female fertility as it regulates the expression of Gdf9 in oocytes, disruption of which leads to impaired ovarian follicle development and POI.Subject terms: RNA-binding proteins, Infertility     

暗纹东方鲀耐寒相关基因CIRBP、HMGB1和AFP-Ⅳ的分子特征和对低温胁迫的响应

为了探索暗纹东方鲀(Takifugu obscurus)对低温环境的响应机制,克隆了暗纹东方鲀耐寒相关基因CIRBP、HMGB1和AFP-Ⅳ的cDNA序列,并进行了基因的分子特征和功能分析。组织分布检测显示CIRBP和HMGB1在下丘脑、肝脏和肌肉中具有高表达,而AFP-Ⅳ则主要在肝脏中表达。在受到低温胁迫后, 3种基因在肝脏和下丘脑中的表达呈现不同的变化趋势,其中CIRBP基因在肝脏中于48h表达量显著增加,在下丘脑中于12h和48h有上调表达; HMGB1基因在肝脏中呈现逐渐上升的趋势,于48h达到最大值,而在下丘脑中呈现先上升后下降的趋势,处理后2h达到最大, 2—8h下降,于8h下降至最低,随后恢复至初始水平;肝脏中的AFP-Ⅳ在0—24h无显著变化,在48h上升至最大值。进一步通过大肠杆菌原核表达系统研究了AFP-Ⅳ的抗冻功能,发现AFP-Ⅳ融合蛋白在–80℃下具有抗冻活性,并且抗冻活性随着浓度的增加而提高。研究结果表明3种基因都参与了暗纹东方鲀对低温胁迫的应答过程,为深入探索暗纹东方鲀的耐低温机制奠定了基础。     

Positional cloning and characterization reveal the role of a miRNA precursor gene ZmLRT in the regulation of lateral root number and drought tolerance in maize

Lateral roots play essential roles in drought tolerance in maize(Zea mays L.). However, the genetic basis for the variation in the number of lateral roots in maize remains elusive. Here, we identified a major quantitative trait locus(QTL),q LRT5-1, controlling lateral root number using a recombinant inbred population from a cross between the maize lines Zong3(with many lateral roots) and 87-1(with few lateral roots).Fine-mapping and functional analysis determined that the candidate gene for qLRT...     

Formation of soil organic carbon pool is regulated by the structure of dissolved organic matter and microbial carbon pump efficacy: A decadal study comparing different carbon management strategies

To achieve long-term increases in soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, it is essential to understand the effects of carbon management strategies on SOC formation pathways, particularly through changes in microbial necromass carbon (MNC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Using a 14-year field study, we demonstrate that both biochar and maize straw lifted the SOC ceiling, but through different pathways. Biochar, while raising SOC and DOC content, decreased substrate degradability by increasing carbon aromaticity. This resulted in suppressed microbial abundance and enzyme activity, which lowered soil respiration, weakened in vivo turnover and ex vivo modification for MNC production (i.e., low microbial carbon pump “efficacy”), and led to lower efficiency in decomposing MNC, ultimately resulting in the net accumulation of SOC and MNC. In contrast, straw incorporation increased the content and decreased the aromaticity of SOC and DOC. The enhanced SOC degradability and soil nutrient content, such as total nitrogen and total phosphorous, stimulated the microbial population and activity, thereby boosting soil respiration and enhancing microbial carbon pump “efficacy” for MNC production. The total C added to biochar and straw plots were estimated as 27.3–54.5 and 41.4 Mg C ha⁻¹, respectively. Our results demonstrated that biochar was more efficient in lifting the SOC stock via exogenous stable carbon input and MNC stabilization, although the latter showed low “efficacy”. Meanwhile, straw incorporation significantly promoted net MNC accumulation but also stimulated SOC mineralization, resulting in a smaller increase in SOC content (by 50%) compared to biochar (by 53%–102%). The results address the decadal-scale effects of biochar and straw application on the formation of the stable organic carbon pool in soil, and understanding the causal mechanisms can allow field practices to maximize SOC content.     

Driving reactive nitrogen emissions in China: Competition between scale and efficiency

Reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions aggravate air and water pollution across the world. The factors influencing Nr emissions have not been clearly uncovered, especially for regions under rapid economic growth. Here we modeled total Nr emissions in mainland China and analyzed factors driving their growth during the decade (2000–2010) of fastest socioeconomic development. Results show that total Nr emissions increased from 24.9 terrogram (Tg) to 35.2 Tg, a 41.7% increase with an average annual growth rate of 3.5%. Agricultural activities, including crop planting and livestock and poultry breeding, together took a substantial but decreasing share, from 75.2% in 2000 to 61.4% in 2010. Industrial wastewater discharge, energy use, and crop production are the three largest sources contributing to the Nr emissions growth. Factors related to scale (e.g., the amount of industrial energy use) led to a growth in Nr emissions, and factors related to efficiency (e.g., industrial energy use per unit of economic output) contributed to reduction. The decreasing effect of efficiency gains, however, was still unable to overcome the increasing effect of the activity scale. More in-depth research studies on mitigation strategies are required, to inform the decoupling between socioeconomic development and Nr emissions.     

不同寄主来源的马铃薯Y病毒群体遗传结构的比较分析

文章以马铃薯Y病毒(Potato virus Y, PVY) P3和pipo基因为分子标记,比较分析烟草和马铃薯两个寄主的PVY遗传多样性和群体分化,并评估突变、选择、基因流等遗传力所起的作用。通过P3和pipo基因计算获得的烟草和马铃薯群体分化指数F_ST分别为0.116和0.120,且统计检验差异显著,表明烟草和马铃薯寄主的PVY之间中度分化。变异分析结果显示,烟草分离物P3和pipo基因的核苷酸序列一致性分别为85.2%~100%和76.5%~100%,而马铃薯分离物的P3和pipo基因的核苷酸序列一致性分别为95.7%~100%和93.0%~100%,表明烟草PVY变异程度高于马铃薯。同时,P3基因内检测到大量的净化选择位点,表明该基因大部分位点的变异为有害突变,在进化过程中被剔除。此外,P3基因内还检测到两个显著正向选择位点,表明这两个位点的变异为有益突变,有利于病毒的生存竞争。在pipo基因中未检测到显著的选择位点,表明该基因上的变异基本不受自然选择影响。通过P3和pipo基因计算烟草和马铃薯群体间的基因流Nm值分别为1.91和1.83,表明这两个群体间存在较强的基因交流。以上结果表明,来源于烟草和马铃薯寄主的PVY遗传差异显著,突变、自然选择以及基因流都影响两者的遗传多样性及遗传分化程度。     

热稳定性伯克霍尔德菌脂肪酶A突变体的筛选

摘要:【目的】为更好地提高伯克霍尔德菌ZYB002脂肪酶LipA在TMP纸浆造纸工艺中的应用,有必要利用蛋白质工程技术,提高其热稳定性。【方法】基于B-factor值筛选LipA多肽链中潜在的突变位点,利用迭代饱和诱变技术,构建突变文库,筛选热稳定性提高的突变体。【结果】利用上述方法,从4个突变文库中分别筛选到在55℃下,半衰期较野生型脂肪酶LipA分别提高了1.8倍、3倍、2.2倍和1.7倍的脂肪酶突变体。【结论】基于B-factor值选择突变位点,利用迭代饱和突变技术,快速筛选到热稳定性有显著提高的突变体。     

Long-term changes in Noctiluca scintillans blooms along the Chinese coast from 1933 to 2020

Noctiluca scintillans is one of the most common harmful algal species and widely known due to its bioluminescence. In this study, the spatial distribution, seasonal variations, and long-term trends of N. scintillans blooms in China and the related drivers were analyzed and discussed. From 1933 to 2020, a total of 265 events of N. scintillans blooms were recorded in Chinese coastal waters, with a total duration of 1052 days. The first N. scintillans bloom occurred in Zhejiang in 1933, and only three events were recorded before 1980. From 1981 to 2020, N. scintillans caused harmful algal blooms (HABs) almost every year, both the average duration and the proportion of multiphase HABs showed an increasing trend. 1986–1992, 2002–2004, and 2009–2016 were the three peak periods with a frequency of no less than five events of N. scintillans blooms per year. In terms of spatial distribution, N. scintillans blooms spread from the Southeast China Sea to the Bohai Sea after 2000, Guangdong, Fujian, and Hebei were the three provinces with the highest numbers of recorded events of N. scintillans blooms. Moreover, 86.8% of the events of N. scintillans blooms occurred in spring (March, April, and May) and summer (June, July, and August). Among environmental factors, the dissolved inorganic phosphate, dissolved silicate and chemical oxygen demand were significantly correlated with the cell density of N. scintillans during N. scintillans blooms, and most of N. scintillans blooms were recorded in the temperature range of 18.0–25.0°C. Precipitation, hydrodynamics, water temperature, and food availability might be the main factors affecting the spatial–temporal distribution of N. scintillans blooms along the Chinese coast.