基于单拷贝核基因的褐沙蒿遗传结构和谱系地理学分析

褐沙蒿(Artemisia intramongolica)是我国浑善达克沙地重要的固沙植物。本研究利用转录组测序开发获得的直系同源单拷贝核基因c9065和c7847对褐沙蒿8个自然种群进行群体遗传结构与谱系地理特征研究。结果表明：c9065和c7847总长度分别为485、457 bp,具有14、19个变异位点,分别获得48、40种单倍型;褐沙蒿单倍型多样性H_d分别为0.871 6和0.934 8,各种群均在0.8以上;总核苷酸多样性π分别为0.008 2和0.005 9,各种群均在0.005以上,表明不论是种还是种群均有高的遗传多样性。AMOVA分析结果显示,基于c9065和c7847,褐沙蒿分别有99.398%和98.908%的遗传变异存在于种群内,基因流N_m分别为6.810和7.270,远远大于1,说明褐沙蒿种群间基因交流十分广泛。c9065的分析结果N_stst,c7847虽然N_st>G_st,但差异不显著(P>0.05),说明褐沙...     

空间和环境因子对黄河口自然和淡水恢复湿地底栖动物群落的差异影响

生物多样性的形成和维持机制是生态学研究的核心问题,其中环境和空间因子在群落构建中的相对重要性是生态学家面临的重要挑战。为探究黄河口湿地底栖动物群落的关键影响因子,及环境和空间因子对底栖动物群落结构的相对调控作用。于2017年10月与2018年5月对黄河口湿地32个样点（淡水恢复湿地19个和自然湿地13个）的底栖动物和水体理化指标进行采集分析。非度量多维标度排序（NMDS）结果显示,黄河口淡水恢复湿地和自然湿地的底栖动物群落结构显著不同。典范对应分析（CCA）表明,影响淡水恢复湿地底栖动物群落结构的环境因子主要为电导率、盐度和氧化还原电位;而自然湿地底栖动物群落结构主要受pH和无机碳的影响;盐度是两类湿地底栖动物群落组成差异的关键因子。变差分解（VPA）结果显示,环境过滤对淡水恢复湿地底栖动物群落起主导作用;在自然湿地中,空间因子对底栖动物群落具有主要的调控作用,同时环境和空间因子的相互作用也至关重要。本研究明确了黄河口的自然和恢复湿地中环境和空间因素对底栖动物群落特征的相对作用,对黄河三角洲河口湿地中生物多样性的保护和生态系统管理提供参考。     

六盘山华北落叶松土壤有机碳沿海拔梯度的分布规律及其影响因素

以六盘山自然保护区华北落叶松林地土壤（海拔范围为1800-2700 m）为研究对象,选取1900、2100、2300、2500 m 4个海拔梯度,研究华北落叶松林土壤有机碳含量、有机碳密度沿海拔梯度的分布规律及其影响因素,以期为准确估算华北落叶松林土壤有机碳储量及其固碳效益评价提供科学依据。结果表明：（1）六盘山不同海拔梯度华北落叶松林土壤粒径范围主要集中在粗粉粒、细粉粒和极细砂粒,粘粒含量最少,不足1%。林地土壤呈中性或弱碱性,pH均值范围为6.74-8.19;除土壤pH外,其他土壤理化指标沿海拔梯度的分布差异不显著（P>0.05）。（2）在1 m的标准土壤剖面内,土壤有机碳含量变化范围为15.80-35.45 g/kg,总有机碳密度的分布在21.34-42.28 kg/m²,且深层（40-100 cm）土壤有机碳含量及其密度在各海拔梯度内的变异程度大于表层土壤。（3）随着海拔的升高,土壤有机碳含量及其密度的表聚现象逐渐不明显;同一海拔高度,土壤有机碳含量和碳密度均随土层深度的增加而逐渐降低;同一土层深度土壤有机碳含量及其密度均随海拔的升高呈先增加后减少的趋势,而在整个土壤剖面上,土壤有机碳含量及其密度在较低海拔区域（小于2100 m）的变异程度较大。（4）冗余分析（RDA）表明：土壤理化性质可以解释华北落叶松林土壤有机碳含量及其密度81.02%的变异,其中电导率是影响华北落叶松土壤有机碳沿海拔梯度变异的主导因子,占环境因子总解释量的67.4%。     

Symplastic communication in the root cap directs auxin distribution to modulate root development

Root cap not only protects root meristem, but also detects and transduces the signals of environmental changes to affect root development. The symplastic communication is an important way for plants to transduce signals to coordinate the development and physiology in response to the changing enviroments. However, it is unclear how the symplastic communication between root cap cells affects root growth. Here we exploit an inducible system to specifically block the symplastic communication in the root cap. Transient blockage of plasmodesmata (PD) in differentiated collumella cells severely impairs the root development in Arabidopsis, in particular in the stem cell niche and the proximal meristem. The neighboring stem cell niche is the region that is most sensitive to the disrupted symplastic communication and responds rapidly via the alteration of auxin distribution. In the later stage, the cell division in proximal meristem is inhibited, presumably due to the reduced auxin level in the root cap. Our results reveal the essential role of the differentiated collumella cells in the root cap mediated signaling system that directs root development.     

Effect of ethanol on spectral binding, inhibition, and activity of CYP3A4 with an antiretroviral drug nelfinavir

Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) is the most abundant CYP enzyme in the liver and metabolizes approximately 50% of the drugs, including antiretrovirals. Although CYP3A4 induction by ethanol and impact of CYP3A4 on drug metabolism and toxicity is known, CYP3A4-ethanol physical interaction and its impact on drug binding, inhibition, or metabolism is not known. Therefore, we studied the effect of ethanol on binding and inhibition of CYP3A4 with a representative protease inhibitor, nelfinavir, followed by the effect of alcohol on nelfinavir metabolism. Our initial results showed that methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, isobutanol, and isoamyl alcohol bind in the active site of CYP3A4 and exhibit type I spectra. Among these alcohol compounds, ethanol showed the lowest K_D (5.9 ± 0.34 mM), suggesting its strong binding affinity with CYP3A4. Ethanol (20 mM) decreased the K_D of nelfinavir by >5-fold (0.041 ± 0.007 vs. 0.227 ± 0.038 μM). Similarly, 20 mM ethanol decreased the IC₅₀ of nelfinavir by >3-fold (2.6 ± 0.5 vs. 8.3 ± 3.1 μM). These results suggest that ethanol facilitates binding of nelfinavir with CYP3A4. Furthermore, we performed nelfinavir metabolism using LCMS. Although ethanol did not alter k_cat, it decreased the K_m of nelfinavir, suggesting a decrease in catalytic efficiency (k_cat/K_m). This is an important finding because alcoholism is prevalent in HIV-1-infected persons and alcohol is shown to decrease the response to antiretroviral therapy.     

Crystal structure of group A streptococcus Mac-1: insight into dimer-mediated specificity for recognition of human IgG

Group A Streptococcus secretes cysteine proteases named Mac-1 and Mac-2 that mediate host immune evasion by targeting both IgG and Fc receptors. Here, we report the crystal structures of Mac-1 and its catalytically inactive C94A mutant in two different crystal forms. Despite the lack of sequence homology, Mac-1 adopts the canonical papain fold. Alanine mutations at the active site confirmed the critical residues involved in a papain-like catalytic mechanism. Mac-1 forms a symmetric dimer in both crystal forms and displays the unique dimer interface among papain superfamily members. Mutations at the dimer interface resulted in a significant reduction in IgG binding and catalysis, suggesting that the dimer contributes to both IgG specificity and enzyme cooperativity. A tunnel observed at the dimer interface constitutes a target for designing potential Mac-1-specific antimicrobial agents. The structures also offer insight into the functional difference between Mac-1 and Mac-2.     

The mechanism of direct heme transfer from the streptococcal cell surface protein Shp to HtsA of the HtsABC transporter

The heme-binding proteins Shp and HtsA are part of the heme acquisition machinery found in Streptococcus pyogenes. The hexacoordinate heme (Fe(II)-protoporphyrin IX) or hemochrome form of holoShp (hemoShp) is stable in air in Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.0, binds to apoHtsA with a K(d) of 120 +/- 18 microm, and transfers its heme to apoHtsA with a rate constant of 28 +/- 6s(-1) at 25 degrees C, pH 8.0. The hemoHtsA product then autoxidizes to the hexacoordinate hemin (Fe(III)-protoporphyrin IX) or hemichrome form (hemiHtsA) with an apparent rate constant of 0.017 +/- 0.002 s(-1). HemiShp also rapidly transfers hemin to apoHtsA through a hemiShp.apoHtsA complex (K(d) = 48 +/- 7 microM) at a rate approximately 40,000 times greater than the rate of simple hemin dissociation from hemiShp into solvent (k(transfer) = 43 +/- 3s(-1) versus k(-hemin) = 0.0003 +/- 0.00006 s(-1)). The rate constants for hemin binding to and dissociation from HtsA (k'(hemin) approximately 80 microm(-1) s(-1), k(-hemin) = 0.0026 +/- 0.0002 s(-1)) are 50- and 10-fold greater than the corresponding rate constants for Shp (k(hemin) approximately 1.6 microM(-1) s(-1), k(-hemin) = 0.0003 s(-1)), which implies that HtsA has a more accessible active site. However, the affinity of apoHtsA for hemin (k(hemin) approximately 31,000 microm(-1)) is roughly 5-fold greater than that of apoShp (k(hemin) approximately 5,300 microM(-1)), accounting for the net transfer from Shp to HstA. These results support a direct, rapid, and affinity-driven mechanism of heme and hemin transfer from the cell surface receptor Shp to the ATP-binding cassette transporter system.     

内蒙古白绒山羊erk2基因的克隆及表达模式分析

旨在克隆内蒙古白绒山羊erk2基因cDNA并分析其基本表达模式。采用RT-PCR方法克隆白绒山羊erk2基因cDNA。通过在线软件Blast进行核酸序列分析,用SMART与Psite进行氨基酸序列分析。定量RT-PCR检测erk2基因在绒山羊组织中的表达特异性。免疫组化法检测绒山羊睾丸中erk2表达。克隆到的内蒙古白绒山羊erk2基因cDNA片段 (GenBank Accession No.JX569765) 长1 083 bp,包含了编码360个氨基酸残基的全长ORF,氨基酸序列与牛的ERK2 (Bos Taurus BC133588.1) 同源性为100％。SMART分析表明,ORF编码的蛋白包含了活化位点“TEY”及具有丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶催化活性的S-TKc结构域。Psite分析表明,含2个N-糖基化位点、1个依赖于cAMP/cGMP的蛋白激酶磷酸化位点、3个蛋白激酶c磷酸化位点、5个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点、2个N-豆蔻酰化位点、2个异戊二烯基结合区 (CAAX box)、7个微体羧基端靶向信号、2个蛋白激酶ATP结合区标记及一个丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶活性区域标记。PSORT (k-NN prediction) 程序预测其定位于细胞质中。定量RT-PCR分析显示erk2基因mRNA丰度在心脏、皮肤以及乳腺组织中mRNA丰度较高,脾、肾中的表达相对较低。在睾丸中检测到ERK2蛋白表达。     

Incorporation of Chitosan Microspheres into Collagen-Chitosan Scaffolds for the Controlled Release of Nerve Growth Factor

Background

Artifical nerve scaffold can be used as a promising alternative to autologous nerve grafts to enhance the repair of peripheral nerve defects. However, current nerve scaffolds lack efficient microstructure and neurotrophic support.

Methods

Microsphere–Scaffold composite was developed by incorporating chitosan microspheres loaded with nerve growth factor (NGF–CMSs) into collagen-chitosan scaffolds (CCH) with longitudinally oriented microchannels (NGF–CMSs/CCH). The morphological characterizations, in vitro release kinetics study, neurite outgrowth assay, and bioactivity assay were evaluated. After that, a 15-mm-long sciatic nerve gap in rats was bridged by the NGF–CMSs/CCH, CCH physically absorbed NGF (NGF/CCH), CCH or nerve autograft. 16 weeks after implantation, electrophysiology, fluoro-gold retrograde tracing, and nerve morphometry were performed.

Results

The NGF–CMSs were evenly distributed throughout the longitudinally oriented microchannels of the scaffold. The NGF–CMSs/CCH was capable of sustained release of bioactive NGF within 28 days as compared with others in vitro. In vivo animal study demonstrated that the outcomes of NGF–CMSs/CCH were better than those of NGF/CCH or CCH.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that incorporation of NGF–CMSs into the CCH may be a promising tool in the repair of peripheral nerve defects.     

Differential Expression of Meis2, Mab21l2 and Tbx3 during Limb Development Associated with Diversification of Limb Morphology in Mammals

Bats are the only mammals capable of self-powered flight using wings. Differing from mouse or human limbs, four elongated digits within a broad wing membrane support the bat wing, and the foot of the bat has evolved a long calcar that spread the interfemoral membrane. Our recent mRNA sequencing (mRNA-Seq) study found unique expression patterns for genes at the 5′ end of the Hoxd gene cluster and for Tbx3 that are associated with digit elongation and wing membrane growth in bats. In this study, we focused on two additional genes, Meis2 and Mab21l2, identified from the mRNA-Seq data. Using whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) we validated the mRNA-Seq results for differences in the expression patterns of Meis2 and Mab21l2 between bat and mouse limbs, and further characterize the timing and location of the expression of these two genes. These analyses suggest that Meis2 may function in wing membrane growth and Mab21l2 may have a role in AP and DV axial patterning. In addition, we found that Tbx3 is uniquely expressed in the unique calcar structure found in the bat hindlimb, suggesting a role for this gene in calcar growth and elongation. Moreover, analysis of the coding sequences for Meis2, Mab21l2 and Tbx3 showed that Meis2 and Mab21l2 have high sequence identity, consistent with the functions of genes being conserved, but that Tbx3 showed accelerated evolution in bats. However, evidence for positive selection in Tbx3 was not found, which would suggest that the function of this gene has not been changed. Together, our findings support the hypothesis that the modulation of the spatiotemporal expression patterns of multiple functional conserved genes control limb morphology and drive morphological change in the diversification of mammalian limbs.