Fine‐scale population structure of Collichtys lucidus populations inferred from microsatellite markers

The spinyhead croaker Collichthys lucidus (Richardson) is a small sciaenid species distributed along the inshore waters of northwestern Pacific Ocean, and now has been listed as Key Protected Commercial Sources of Aquatic Animals and Plants in China. To delineate stock boundaries and inform conservation policy for its management, samples were collected from eight locations across the Chinese coastal waters and analyzed at nine microsatellite loci. C. lucidus populations showed low genetic diversity (expected heterozygosity = 0.445–0.542; observed heterozygosity = 0.392–0.539; Polymorphism Information Content = 0.268–0.684). Strong genetic fdifferentiation (F_st = 0.065–0.510, all significant after Bonferroni correction) among all populations and high levels of self‐recruitment (89.2%–91.5%) were observed, which suggested limited genetic exchange for this species. Clustering results of discriminant analysis of principal components and STRUCTURE found strong support for obvious genetic clusters (populations FZ, XM and SZ vs. populations SH, YRE, ZS, WZ and ND). The results of the present study not only supported the phylogeographic pattern of north‐south differentiation, but also suggested that C. lucidus populations may be predominantly sustained by self‐replenishment rather than by recruitment from distant populations.     

Simultaneous binding of Guidance Cues NET1 and RGM blocks extracellular NEO1 signaling

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城市化进程中城市热岛景观格局演变的时空特征——以厦门市为例

热岛效应作为城市化过程中产生的特有环境问题,对其形成和演变规律的研究有助于人们提出有效的应对措施。以厦门市为研究对象,利用1987—2007年等时间间隔、同时相的5景Landsat TM/ETM+遥感影像数据进行地表温度反演,在此基础上使用景观格局指数分析厦门城市热岛景观格局随城市化进程演变的趋势。结果表明:随着厦门城市化进程加深,整个热岛景观在逐渐变得更加破碎化,高等级热岛景观斑块个数、类型面积和个体面积都增大;新的高等级热岛景观斑块都出现在原有高等级斑块附近,致使高等级类型的邻近度增加而各类型之间相互接触的程度也增加;景观总体的聚合度逐渐下降,而高等级热岛景观类型的聚合度则呈上升趋势;景观水平的蔓延度总体呈下降趋势,优势度高的低等级热岛景观所占的比重下降,优势度逐渐降低;多样性指数、均匀度指数总体呈上升趋势,各热岛景观面积在各类型间的分配逐渐趋于均匀;热岛景观斑块的转化方面,在20 a间低等级斑块类型(1、2、3级)向高等级斑块类型(4、5、6级)转化的面积总体上呈增加趋势,而高等级斑块类型向低等级斑块类型转化的面积总体上呈减小趋势,且等级升高的面积明显大于同期等级降低的面积;就高等级热岛景观斑块而言,他们与3级热岛景观斑块间的相互转化最容易发生,远比高等级斑块内部各类型之间的相互转化来得容易,尤其6类和5类的转化是最为困难的热岛景观变化之一;从空间上看,各高等级热岛景观斑块都经历了数量增加、面积扩大、等级升高三个方面的变化,形成了海沧、新阳、杏林、厦门岛西北港口区和机场5个高温组团。利用景观指数分析城市热环境,可探明热岛景观随城市化演变的趋势,并为有效的热岛效应减缓措施提供直接的理论依据。     

ESCRT proteins and cell signalling

Subunits of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) were identified as components of a molecular machinery that sorts ubiquitinated membrane proteins into the intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) of multivesicular endosomes (MVEs) for subsequent delivery to the lumen of lysosomes or related organelles. As many of the membrane proteins that undergo ESCRT-mediated sorting are signalling receptors that are ubiquitinated in response to ligand binding, ESCRT subunits have been hypothesized to play a crucial role in attenuation of cell signalling by mediating ligand-induced receptor degradation. Here we discuss this concept based on the examples from loss-of-function studies in model organisms and cell lines. The emerging picture is that ESCRTs are indeed involved in downregulation of receptor signalling pathways associated with cell survival, proliferation and polarity. In addition, the recent discovery of a positive role for the ESCRT pathway in Wnt signalling through sequestration of an inhibitory cytosolic component into MVEs illustrates that ESCRTs may also control signalling in ways that are independent of degradative receptor sorting.     

Development and characterization of wheat-Psathyrostachys huashanica partial amphiploids for resistance to stripe rust

Two partial amphiploid lines, B113 (32 plants) and B21 (13 plants), derived from a wheat-Psathyrostachys huashanica intergeneric cross were characterized by Giemsa C-banding and SDS-PAGE and evaluated for stripe rust resistance. All 15 partial amphiploid plants were aneuploids with either 50 (8 plants), 51 (6 plants) or 54 (1 plant) chromosomes. Some showed regular meiosis and all the P. huashanica chromosomes were included, although not in a single plant. Of 45 plants 34 showed specific bands on SDS-PAGE representing high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) and 41 had bands representing P. huashanica low molecular weight glutenin subunit (LMW-GS), including two new subunits. All 45 plants were highly resistant (10) or immune (35) to stripe rust mixed races CYR-30, CYR-31, Shuiyuan 7 and Shuiyuan 14. These amphiploid plants could be useful germplasm for enhancing stripe rust resistance and might improve wheat grain quality.     

Multivariate meta-analysis of proteomics data from human prostate and colon tumours

Background  

There is a vast need to find clinically applicable protein biomarkers as support in cancer diagnosis and tumour classification. In proteomics research, a number of methods can be used to obtain systemic information on protein and pathway level on cells and tissues. One fundamental tool in analysing protein expression has been two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE). Several cancer 2DE studies have reported partially redundant lists of differently expressed proteins. To be able to further extract valuable information from existing 2DE data, the power of a multivariate meta-analysis will be evaluated in this work.     

Sensitivity of Soil Restoration Indicators during Páramo Succession in the High Tropical Andes: Chronosequence and Permanent Plot Approaches

The aim of this study was to analyze indicators of soil restoration during secondary succession in a heterogeneous valley in the high tropical Andes. A combination of chronosequence and permanent plot methods was used to detect changes in this heterogeneous matrix. Thirty-six plots with different fallow times (1–9 years) and four noncultivated plots with natural vegetation (páramo) were sampled twice in a 3-year interval (1996 and 1999). The following soil properties were determined: total C and N, pH, exchangeable bases, cation exchange capacity, and microbial biomass N (MB-N). Using the chronosequence approach, successional increases in soil pH and Mg were detected, pointing to these variables as indicators of soil restoration during the fallow period. Comparing the noncultivated páramo with the fallow plots, a significant decrease in MB-N was found, suggesting that this is a sensitive agricultural disturbance indicator. The permanent plot analysis failed to detect successional trends in any of the study variables, probably as a result of a lack of sensitivity of the indicators used within the 3-year interval. Nevertheless, a strong acidification was detected by the permanent plot method when fallow plots were cultivated. We conclude that the size of important soil components such as total soil organic matter or microbial biomass is not a sensitive soil restoration indicator in these heterogeneous mountain systems but that other integrative variables such as pH could be more sensitive to successional changes in key soil processes (e.g., nitrification or nutrient losses).     

Protein O-Mannosyltransferases Associate with the Translocon to Modify Translocating Polypeptide Chains

O-Mannosylation and N-glycosylation are essential protein modifications that are initiated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Protein translocation across the ER membrane and N-glycosylation are highly coordinated processes that take place at the translocon-oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) complex. In analogy, it was assumed that protein O-mannosyltransferases (PMTs) also act at the translocon, however, in recent years it turned out that prolonged ER residence allows O-mannosylation of un-/misfolded proteins or slow folding intermediates by Pmt1-Pmt2 complexes. Here, we reinvestigate protein O-mannosylation in the context of protein translocation. We demonstrate the association of Pmt1-Pmt2 with the OST, the trimeric Sec61, and the tetrameric Sec63 complex in vivo by co-immunoprecipitation. The coordinated interplay between PMTs and OST in vivo is further shown by a comprehensive mass spectrometry-based analysis of N-glycosylation site occupancy in pmtΔ mutants. In addition, we established a microsomal translation/translocation/O-mannosylation system. Using the serine/threonine-rich cell wall protein Ccw5 as a model, we show that PMTs efficiently mannosylate proteins during their translocation into microsomes. This in vitro system will help to unravel mechanistic differences between co- and post-translocational O-mannosylation.