Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in Elliot's pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti)

We isolated eight microsatellite loci from genomic DNA in Elliot's pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti using streptavidin‐coated magnetic beads. In the analyses of 53 individuals sampled, these loci displayed polymorphism varying from six to nine alleles per locus and observed heterozygosities ranging from 0.174 to 0.430. The results suggested that these novel microsatellite markers could become useful molecular tools for genetic studies of S. ellioti.     

Identification of methylation-driven genes related to prognosis in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma

With the participation of the existing treatment methods, the prognosis of advanced clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is poor. More evidence indicates the presence of methylation in ccRCC cancer cells, but there is a lack of studies on methylation-driven genes in ccRCC. We analyzed the open data of ccRCC in The Cancer Genome Atlas database to obtain ccRCC-related methylation-driven genes, and then carried out pathway enrichment, survival, and joint survival analyses. More important, we deeply explored the correlation between differential methylation sites and the expression of these driving genes. Finally, we screened 29 methylation-driven genes via MethylMix, of which six were significantly associated with the survival of ccRCC patients. This study demonstrated that the effect of hypermethylation or hypomethylation on prognosis is different, and the level of methylation of key methylation sites is associated with gene expression. We identified methylation-driven genes independently predicting prognosis in ccRCC, which offers theoretical support in bioinformatics for the study of methylation in ccRCC and a new perspective for the epigenetic study of ccRCC.     

广东肇庆地区金线莲低海拔林下栽培研究

为探索林下栽培金线莲[Anoectochilus roxburghii(Wall.)Lindl.]的方法,以肇庆广东星湖国家湿地公园核心区为基地,对低海拔(21~23 m)栽培金线莲的生长特性进行研究。结果表明,金线莲栽培地建议选择郁闭度约为65%的常绿阔叶林下。以原土壤+泥炭土(1∶1,V/V)为建畦基质,选择地上茎长≥4.16 cm,茎粗≥0.176 cm的Ⅰ级金线莲组培苗,在温度为18.3℃~24.5℃,湿度为84%~87%的3-4月份种植,成活率可达83.3%~86.7%,栽培120 d后植株地上茎长和单株鲜重分别增加了3.33 cm与0.71 g。5月份温湿度上升,金线莲栽培成活率显著下降(70.3%),且虫害高发。合理的林下栽培技术有助于开发利用和保护金线莲种质资源。     

The Mechanism,Thermodynamic and Kinetic Characteristics of the Microbial Reduction of Goethite Mediated by Anthraquinone-2-Sulfonate

The microbial reduction process of goethite by Shewanella decolorationis S12 was evaluated. The results showed the electron shuttle, anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQS), could enhance the microbial reduction. The thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of goethite reduction by microorganisms were influenced by AQS, concentrations of iron oxide, and electron donor. Transformation between oxidized and reduced species of the electron shuttle during the microbial reduction could be newly noticed. Two interactive steps, biotic and abiotic, were involved in the microbial reduction of Fe (III) oxide mediated by electron shuttle.     

Cys Palmitoylation of the β Subunit Modulates Gating of the Epithelial Sodium Channel

The epithelial Na⁺ channel (ENaC) is comprised of three homologous subunits (α, β, and γ) that have a similar topology with two transmembrane domains, a large extracellular region, and cytoplasmic N and C termini. Although ENaC activity is regulated by a number of factors, palmitoylation of its cytoplasmic Cys residues has not been previously described. Fatty acid-exchange chemistry was used to determine whether channel subunits were Cys-palmitoylated. We observed that only the β and γ subunits were modified by Cys palmitoylation. Analyses of ENaCs with mutant β subunits revealed that Cys-43 and Cys-557 were palmitoylated. Xenopus oocytes expressing ENaC with a β C43A,C557A mutant had significantly reduced amiloride-sensitive whole cell currents, enhanced Na⁺ self-inhibition, and reduced single channel P_o when compared with wild-type ENaC, while membrane trafficking and levels of surface expression were unchanged. Computer modeling of cytoplasmic domains indicated that β Cys-43 is in proximity to the first transmembrane α helix, whereas β Cys-557 is within an amphipathic α-helix contiguous with the second transmembrane domain. We propose that β subunit palmitoylation modulates channel gating by facilitating interactions between cytoplasmic domains and the plasma membrane.     

大兴安岭林区驯鹿夏季喜栖生境的生态特征

2012和2013年7—8月采用样线和样带调查结合的生境调查方法,对分布于我国大兴安岭西北麓的驯鹿的夏季偏好生境开展了对比研究,并对样地的海拔和乔木郁闭度等23个生境变量进行测量及比较.结果表明: 与对照样地相比,夏季驯鹿利用样地的海拔(926.9±0.8 m)、乔木郁闭度(17.9%±2.4%)、乔木胸径(35.5±2.1 cm)、乔木高度(8.2±0.5 m)、乔木密度(6.9±0.5 株·400 m^-2)及树桩数(1.3±0.2 个·400 m^-2)较大,但灌木均高(54.2±2.0 cm)较小(P<0.01).驯鹿夏季偏好选择坡度较缓的中坡生境,因其夏季喜栖生境的水源较多、隐蔽度和避风性较差,距人为干扰距离和牧民点距离均较远.主成分分析(PCA)表明,干扰强度(由距人为干扰距离及距牧民点距离变量组成)、乔木特征(由乔木的高度、密度、胸径和郁闭度变量组成)、地理特征(由坡位、坡向和土壤湿润度变量组成)、食物多度(地表植被盖度和灌木盖度变量构成)、开阔度(由隐蔽度和避风状况变量构成)和坡度是影驯鹿夏季生境选择的重要因素.这6个因子提供了70.7%的累积贡献率,主要反映了驯鹿夏季在喜栖生境选择中的食物资源、抗干扰性和反捕需求.从夏季喜栖生境的生态特征来看,驯鹿并没有被完全驯化.在保护和管理实践中,应使驯鹿种群及其核心栖息地免受高强度的人为干扰.     

后丽盲蝽属四新种记述（半翅目：盲蝽科）

Ｍｉｙａｍｏｔｏ于１９８７年将Ａｐｏｌｙｇｕｓ Ｃｈｉｎａ提升为独立的属,但其他作者仍将其作为丽盲蝽属Ｌｙｇｏｃｏｒｉｓ Ｒｅｕｔｅｒ的一个亚属,作者认为Ｍｉｙａｍｏｔｏ的意见更为合理。本文记述了产于中国的后丽盲蝽属４新种。标本度量单位均为ｍｍ。模式标本除注明者外,均保存于面开大学生物系。     

Anti-apoptotic activity of gentiopicroside in d-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced murine fulminant hepatic failure

This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of gentiopicroside on d-galactosamine (d-GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fulminant hepatic failure. Mice were administrated orally with gentiopicroside (40 or 80 mg/kg body weight) at 12 h and 1 h before d-GalN (700 mg/kg)/LPS (10 μg/kg) injection. Gentiopicroside markedly reduced the increases in serum aminotransferase activities and lipid peroxidation. The glutathione content decreased in d-GalN/LPS alone group, and this decrease was attenuated by gentiopicroside. Increases in serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which were observed in d-GalN/LPS alone group, were significantly reduced by gentiopicroside. Importantly, gentiopicroside attenuated d-GalN/LPS-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes, as estimated by the caspase-3 cleavage, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and DNA fragmentation. d-GalN/LPS-induced caspase-8 and -9 activation was significantly suppressed by gentiopicroside. Moreover, increased cytosolic cytochrome c protein was reduced by gentiopicroside. Also, the increased ratio of Bax and Bcl-2 protein was significantly attenuated by gentiopicroside. After 6 h of d-GalN/LPS injection, phosphorylated c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) was significantly increased, whereas phosphorylation JNK and ERK were attenuated by gentiopicroside. Our results suggest that gentiopicroside offers remarkable hepatoprotection against damage induced by d-GalN/LPS related with its anti-apoptotic activities.     

Intramolecular occlusion of the diacylglycerol-binding site in the C1 domain of munc13-1

Protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes and other receptors of diacylglycerol (DAG) bind to this widespread second messenger through their C(1) domains. These alternative DAG receptors include munc13-1, a large neuronal protein that is crucial for DAG-dependent augmentation of neurotransmitter release. Whereas the structures of several PKC C(1) domains have been determined and have been shown to require little conformational changes for ligand binding, it is unclear whether the C(1) domains from other DAG receptors contain specific structural features with key functional significance. To gain insight into this question, we have determined the three-dimensional structure in solution of the munc13-1 C(1) domain using NMR spectroscopy. The overall structure includes two beta-sheets, a short C-terminal alpha-helix, and two Zn(2+)-binding sites, resembling the structures of PKC C(1) domains. However, the munc13-1 C(1) domain exhibits striking structural differences with the PKC C(1) domains in the ligand-binding site. These differences result in occlusion of the binding site of the munc13-1 C(1) domain by a conserved tryptophan side chain that in PKCs adopts a completely different orientation. As a consequence, the munc13-1 C(1) domain requires a considerable conformational change for ligand binding. This structural distinction is expected to decrease the DAG affinity of munc13-1 compared to that of PKCs, and is likely to be critical for munc13-1 function. On the basis of these results, we propose that augmentation of neurotransmitter release may be activated at higher DAG levels than PKCs as a potential mechanism for uncoupling augmentation of release from the multitude of other signaling processes mediated by DAG.