侵染西番莲属(Passiflora)植物的五个黄瓜花叶病毒分离物的特性比较

从紫果西番莲（Ｐａｓｉｆｌｏｒａｅｄｕｌｉｓ）、杂交种西番莲（Ｐ．ｅｄｕｌｉｓＸＰ．ｅｄｕｌｉｓｖａｒ．ｆｌａｖｉｃａｒｐａ）、黄果西番莲（Ｐ．ｅｄｕｌｉｓｖａｒ．ｆｌａｖｉｃａｒｐａ）、转心莲（Ｐ．ｃａｅｒｕｌｅａ）及龙珠果（Ｐ．ｆｏｅｔｉｄａ）分离到的５个黄瓜花叶病毒（ＣＭＶ）分离物（ＰＥ、ＰＥ２、ＰＥｆ、ＰＣ、ＰＦ）所作的生物学性质、理化特性和血清学关系的比较研究结果表明,５个分离物在寄主反应及血清学性质上存在不同,而在病毒粒体形态、体外抗性、蚜虫传毒和病毒外壳蛋白分子量方面无明显差异。根据５个分离物的寄主反应和血清学关系,可将其区分为ＣＭＶ的两个亚组,其中ＰＥ、ＰＥ２、ＰＣ和ＰＦ属ＣＭＶ亚组Ｉ,ＰＥｆ属ＣＭＶ亚组Ｉ。     

人红细胞生成素乳腺特异性表达载体构建及其可行性检验方法的建立

将大鼠乳清酸蛋白（ＷＡＰ）基因的上游调控序列与人红细胞生成素基因组ＤＮＡ融合,构建了ｐＷＡＰ－ＥＰＯ－ＷＡＰ３乳腺特异性表达载体,该载体经脂质体包裹后,通过显微外科技术,经乳腺导管注入妊娠中后期大鼠乳腺中进行表达。经ＥＬＩＳＡ检测,大鼠乳汁中有ＥＰＯ表达,外周血网织红细胞计数法测定表达的ＥＰＯ具有体内生物活性,说明乳腺导管注入法是一种较理想的评价乳腺特异性表达载体可行性方法     

Broadening the reach and investigating the potential of prime editors through fully viral gene-deleted adenoviral vector delivery

Prime editing is a recent precision genome editing modality whose versatility offers the prospect for a wide range of applications, including the development of targeted genetic therapies. Yet, an outstanding bottleneck for its optimization and use concerns the difficulty in delivering large prime editing complexes into cells. Here, we demonstrate that packaging prime editing constructs in adenoviral capsids overcomes this constrain resulting in robust genome editing in both transformed and non-transformed human cells with up to 90% efficiencies. Using this cell cycle-independent delivery platform, we found a direct correlation between prime editing activity and cellular replication and disclose that the proportions between accurate prime editing events and unwanted byproducts can be influenced by the target-cell context. Hence, adenovector particles permit the efficacious delivery and testing of prime editing reagents in human cells independently of their transformation and replication statuses. The herein integrated gene delivery and gene editing technologies are expected to aid investigating the potential and limitations of prime editing in numerous experimental settings and, eventually, in ex vivo or in vivo therapeutic contexts.     

High‐altitude adaptation in vertebrates as revealed by mitochondrial genome analyses

The high‐altitude environment may drive vertebrate evolution in a certain way, and vertebrates living in different altitude environments might have different energy requirements. We hypothesized that the high‐altitude environment might impose different influences on vertebrate mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA). We used selection pressure analyses and PIC (phylogenetic independent contrasts) analysis to detect the evolutionary rate of vertebrate mtDNA protein‐coding genes (PCGs) from different altitudes. The results showed that the ratio of nonsynonymous/synonymous substitutions (dN/dS) in the mtDNA PCGs was significantly higher in high‐altitude vertebrates than in low‐altitude vertebrates. The seven rapidly evolving genes were shared by the high‐altitude vertebrates, and only one positive selection gene (ND5 gene) was detected in the high‐altitude vertebrates. Our results suggest the mtDNA evolutionary rate in high‐altitude vertebrates was higher than in low‐altitude vertebrates as their evolution requires more energy in a high‐altitude environment. Our study demonstrates the high‐altitude environment (low atmospheric O₂ levels) drives vertebrate evolution in mtDNA PCGs.     

Associations of the PTEN − 9C>G polymorphism with insulin sensitivity and central obesity in Chinese

Background

Phosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosome 10 gene (PTEN) is known as a tumor-suppressor gene. Previous studies demonstrated that PTEN dysfunction affects the function of insulin. However, investigations of PTEN single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and IR-related disease associations are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether its polymorphism could be involved in the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods

The genotype frequency of PTEN − 9C>G polymorphism was determined by using a Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) method in 530 subjects with MetS and 202 healthy control subjects of the Han Ethnic Chinese population in a case–control analysis.

Results

The PTEN − 9C>G polymorphism was not associated with MetS or its hyperglycemia, hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia components. In the control individuals aged < 60 years or ≥ 60 years, the CG genotype individuals had lower insulin sensitivity than CC individuals (P < 0.05). In the < 60-year-old MetS group and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) subgroup, the CG individuals had lower insulin sensitivity and higher waist circumference (WC) and waist-height-ratio (WHtR) than CC individuals (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the PTEN polymorphism (P = 0.001) contributed independently to 4.2% (adjusted R²) of insulin sensitivity variance (estimated by Matsuda ISI), while age (P = 0.004), gender (P = 0.000) and the PTEN polymorphism (P = 0.032) contributed independently to 5.6% (adjusted R²) of WHtR variance.

Conclusions

The CG genotype of PTEN − 9C>G polymorphism was not associated with MetS and some of its components as well. However, it may not only decrease insulin sensitivity in the healthy control and MetS in pre-elderly or NGT subjects, but may also increase the risk of central obesity among these MetS individuals.     

The first baleen whale marine protected area proposed for Bryde's whales in the Beibu Gulf,China

The establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) for cetaceans is an important strategy to mitigate human disturbance and protect biodiversity. Despite abundant cetacean species, there are only a few MPAs dedicated to cetacean conservation in China, all of which are for inshore dolphins. Bryde's whales, the only nearshore baleen whale population in mainland China, are conflicting with intensive human activities, yet an effective conservation strategy is lacking. This study used species distribution models to analyze distribution patterns and suitable habitats of Bryde's whales in the Beibu Gulf and proposes the first baleen whale MPA in China. Our results showed Bryde's whales have a seasonal distribution pattern in the Beibu Gulf, and that the waters around Weizhou Island and the southeastern coast of Vietnam were their core habitats. The seasonal nighttime light data indicated a negative relationship between the number of ship lights and Bryde's whale sightings and suggest that Bryde's whales might be threatened by fisheries. We proposed an MPA based on the results, suggesting that the waters within 20 km around Weizhou Island should be declared a protected area. Furthermore, we recommend that anthropogenic activities in the waters around Weizhou Island are better managed to reduce negative impacts on marine life.     

炎症性肠病与艰难梭菌感染相关性研究的文献计量学和可视化分析

【背景】近年来,炎症性肠病患者中艰难梭菌（Clostridium difficile）感染率逐年上升,受到国内外学者广泛关注。我国在该领域的研究起步较晚,但患者数量众多,学习国际上对于炎症性肠病合并艰难梭菌感染的研究,对推动我国在该领域的深入发展具有重要意义。【目的】通过文献计量和可视化分析帮助研究者把握炎症性肠病与艰难梭菌感染相关性研究中的研究主题、方向、热点与前沿。【方法】同时检索Web of Science （WOS）中Science Citation Index Expanded （SCI-E）和CNKI中收录的关于炎症性肠病和艰难梭菌的相关文献,应用CiteSpace 6.2.2r软件进行国家/地区、机构、作者、关键词共现及被引文献、期刊共被引分析,同时进行可视化分析。【结果】经过数据检索和查重,最终可供分析的文献为WOS数据库1 030篇、CNKI数据库80篇。全球范围内,发文最多的国家是美国,主要研究机构有Harvard University、University of California System和Mayo Clinic等,高产作者有Khanna S、Shen B和Ananthakrishnan AN等,高频关键词包括Inflammatory bowel disease、Ulcerative colitis、Clostridium difficile、Clostridium difficile infection和Crohn’s disease等,聚类方向有#0 Diarrhea、#1 Ulcerative colitis、#2 Probiotics、#3 Pouchitis、#4 Gut microbiota、#5 Fecal microbiota transplantation、#6 Depression、#7 Entamoeba histolytica、#8 Pseudomembranous colitis、#9 Clostridium difficile和#10 Clindamycin。国内主要研究机构有南方医科大学和河北医科大学,高产作者有王浦、王斯淇等,高频关键词包括粪菌移植、艰难梭菌、肠道菌群、危险因素和克罗恩病等,聚类方向有#0艰难梭菌、#1益生菌、#2危险因素、#3腹泻和#4粪菌移植。【结论】利用CiteSpace软件对炎症性肠病和艰难梭菌感染相关性研究进行计量及可视化分析可知,该方向仍得到全球各医疗机构及研究者的关注,腹泻及粪菌移植这两个关键词分别代表了WOS数据库和CNKI数据库关于炎症性肠病合并艰难梭菌感染研究的热点。     

N‐cadherin/catenin–based costameres in cultured chicken cardiomyocytes

N‐cadherin is a member of the Ca²⁺‐dependent cell adhesion molecules and plays an important role in the assembly of the adherens junction in chicken cardiomyocytes. In addition to being present at the cell‐cell junction, N‐cadherin is associated with costameres in extrajunctional regions. The significance of the N‐cadherin‐associated costameres and whether catenins are components of costameres in chicken cardiomyocytes are not known. In this study, double‐labeling immunofluorescence microscopy was used to determine the extrajunctional distribution of both N‐cadherin and its cytoplasmic associated proteins, α‐ and β‐catenins, and their relationship to myofibrillar Z‐disc α‐actinin. N‐cadherin, α‐, and β‐catenins were all found to be present at the extrajunctional region and, in some cases, were codistributed with myofibrillar α‐actinin exhibiting a periodic staining pattern. Confocal microscopy confirmed that both N‐cadherin and β‐catenin colocalized with peripheral myofibrillar α‐actinin on the dorsal surface of cardiomyocytes as components of the costameres. Intracellular application of antibodies specific for the cytoplasmic portions of N‐cadherin, α‐, and β‐catenin, either by electroporation or microinjection, resulted in myofibril disorganization and disassembly. These results suggest the existence of N‐cadherin/catenin‐based costameres in the dorsal surface of cultured chicken cardiomyocytes in addition to the integrin/vinculin‐based costameres found in the ventral surface and indicate that the former set of costameres is essential for cardiac myofibrillogenesis. J. Cell. Biochem. 75:93–104, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Diversification of plant agronomic traits by genome editing of brassinosteroid signaling family genes in rice

Brassinosteroids (BRs) regulate various agronomic traits such as plant height, leaf angle, and grain size in rice (Oryza sativa L.); thus, BR signaling components are promising targets for molecular rational design. However, genetic materials for BR-signaling genes or family members remain limited in rice. Here, by genome editing using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRSPR)/Cas9 tools, we generated a panel of single, double, triple, or quadruple mutants within three BR signaling gene families, including GSK3/SHAGGY-LIKE KINASE1 (GSK1)–GSK4, BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT1 (OsBZR1)–OsBZR4, and protein phosphatases with kelch-like (PPKL)1–PPKL3, under the same background (Zhonghua11, japonica). The high-order mutants were produced by either simultaneously targeting multiple sites on different genes of one family (GSKs and PPKLs) or targeting the overlapping sequences of family members (OsBZRs). The mutants exhibited a diversity of plant height, leaf angle, and grain morphology. Comparison analysis of the phenotypes together with BR sensitivity tests suggested the existence of functional redundancy, differentiation, or dominancy among the members within each family. In addition, we generated a set of transgenic plants overexpressing GSK2, OsBZR1/2, and PPKL2, respectively, in wild-type or activated forms with fusion of different tags, and also verified the protein response to BR application. Collectively, these plants greatly enriched the diversity of important agronomic traits in rice. We propose that editing of BR-related family genes could be a feasible approach for screening of desired plants to meet different requirements. Release of these materials as well as the related information also provides valuable resources for further BR research and utilization.