ASPM and CITK regulate spindle orientation by affecting the dynamics of astral microtubules

Correct orientation of cell division is considered an important factor for the achievement of normal brain size, as mutations in genes that affect this process are among the leading causes of microcephaly. Abnormal spindle orientation is associated with reduction of the neuronal progenitor symmetric divisions, premature cell cycle exit, and reduced neurogenesis. This mechanism has been involved in microcephaly resulting from mutation of ASPM, the most frequently affected gene in autosomal recessive human primary microcephaly (MCPH), but it is presently unknown how ASPM regulates spindle orientation. In this report, we show that ASPM may control spindle positioning by interacting with citron kinase (CITK), a protein whose loss is also responsible for severe microcephaly in mammals. We show that the absence of CITK leads to abnormal spindle orientation in mammals and insects. In mouse cortical development, this phenotype correlates with increased production of basal progenitors. ASPM is required to recruit CITK at the spindle, and CITK overexpression rescues ASPM phenotype. ASPM and CITK affect the organization of astral microtubules (MT), and low doses of MT‐stabilizing drug revert the spindle orientation phenotype produced by their knockdown. Finally, CITK regulates both astral‐MT nucleation and stability. Our results provide a functional link between two established microcephaly proteins.     

Adr亚型乙型肝炎病毒核心抗原基因的全顺序分析

采用定点克隆与随机克隆相结合的实验设计,用α~(35)S-dATP标记,以末端终止法测定了adr亚型乙型肝炎病毒DNA核心抗原基因的全顺序,包括终止密码子在内基因全长552核苷酸,编码由183氨基酸组成的多肽,计算分子量21000dlt。与日本及上海等实验室报道的adr亚型HBcAg基因比较,核苷酸点突变1.3—1.8％,由点突变导致的错义氨基酸突变有一处,占全部编码氨基酸的0.5％。与adw及ayw亚型比较,核苷酸点突变占全部核苷酸的9.8—10.9％,导致的错义突变占全部编码氨基酸的3.3—4.4％,并对eAg基因的定位进行了讨论。     

赤霉素对总状绿绒蒿三个居群种子萌发特性的影响

采集生长于滇西北不同海拔梯度的3个总状绿绒蒿居群种子,分别采用不同浓度的赤霉素(GA3)处理后,进行种子萌发实验。结果表明:(1)种子的长宽比和千粒重随海拔升高而增加,差异显著(P<0.05);种子含水量随海拔升高而降低,且差异显著(P<0.05)。(2)不同居群的对照种子发芽率随海拔升高而增加,平均发芽时间随海拔升高而缩短。(3)100~250 mg·L-1的GA3处理可提高种子的发芽率和发芽势,且差异极显著(P<0.001),但GA3处理对平均发芽时间无显著影响(P>0.05)。同时,各居群萌发指标的最适GA3处理浓度不一致。(4)居群对总状绿绒蒿种子的发芽率和发芽势无显著影响(P>0.05),而对种子平均发芽时间影响显著(P<0.05)。说明海拔是造成不同居群种子外部形态和种子萌发特性差异的原因之一,而不同浓度的GA3对各居群种子的萌发有不同程度的影响。     

Genetic diversity and peculiarity of annual wild soybean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">G. soja</Emphasis> Sieb. et Zucc.) from various eco-regions in China

Annual wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc.) is believed to be a potential gene source for future soybean improvement in coping with the world climate change for food security. To evaluate the wild soybean genetic diversity and differentiation, we analyzed allelic profiles at 60 simple-sequence repeat (SSR) loci and variation of eight morph-biological traits of a representative sample with 196 accessions from the natural growing area in China. For comparison, a representative sample with 200 landraces of Chinese cultivated soybean was included in this study. The SSR loci produced 1,067 alleles (17.8 per locus) with a mean gene diversity of 0.857 in the wild sample, which indicated the genetic diversity of G. soja was much higher than that of its cultivated counterpart (total 826 alleles, 13.7 per locus, mean gene diversity 0.727). After domestication, the genetic diversity of the cultigens decreased, with its 65.5% alleles inherited from the wild soybean, while 34.5% alleles newly emerged. AMOVA analysis showed that significant variance did exist among Northeast China, Huang-Huai-Hai Valleys and Southern China subpopulations. UPGMA cluster analysis indicated very significant association between the geographic grouping and genetic clustering, which demonstrated the geographic differentiation of the wild population had its relevant genetic bases. In comparison with the other two subpopulations, the Southern China subpopulation showed the highest allelic richness, diversity index and largest number of specific-present alleles, which suggests Southern China should be the major center of diversity for annual wild soybean. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Phylogenetic relationships of galeaspids (Agnatha)

We present the first parsimony analysis of the agnathan subclass Galeaspida based on the analysis of 53 morphological characters.Three most parsimonious cladograms (126 steps in length;CI=0.508;RI=0.801)were discovered.An amended classification of the Galeaspida is proposed corresponding to the present analysis.Our results suggest that hanyangaspids,xiushuiaspids and dayongaspids from the Llandovery-Wenlock of Silurian are basal galeaspids.Within the remaining galeaspids,three major monophyletic groups (the Eugaleaspidiformes,the Polybranchiaspidiformes and the Huananaspidiformes)are well supported.It is shown that the dorsal fenestrae of the headshield evolved twice within the Galeaspida,one in the polybranchiaspidiform lineage,and the other in the huananaspidiform lineage (nested within the Huananaspidae).The chronological distribution of galeaspids highlights two radiations of the group,one for basal galeaspids and eugaleaspids in the Telychian (Llandovery)of Silurian,and the other for polybranchiaspidiforms and huananaspidiforms in the Lochkovian of Early Devonian.