Mechanisms of chromatin-based epigenetic inheritance

Multi-cellular organisms such as humans contain hundreds of cell types that share the same genetic information(DNA sequences), and yet have different cellular traits and functions. While how genetic information is passed through generations has been extensively characterized, it remains largely obscure how epigenetic information encoded by chromatin regulates the passage of certain traits, gene expression states and cell identity during mitotic cell divisions, and even through meiosis. In this r...     

IL1RN promotes osteoblastic differentiation via interacting with ITGB3 in osteoporosis

The occurrence and progress of osteoporosis(OP)are partially caused by impaired osteoblast differentiation.Interleukin-I receptor antagonist(IL1RN)is an immune ...     

武汉东湖星形柄裸藻种群与宿主的关系以及生态因子对它的影响

星形柄裸藻与附生宿主之间的相互作用为:它是偏利者,而对宿主无很大影响;当其在宿主体表大量附着时,才对宿主有偏害作用。它的种群密度(N,个/L)与宿主密度(Na,个/L)有密切的正相关关系:N=0.0858e0.0528Na(r=0921,pT,天)对星形柄裸藻的平均附着量(m,个/每个甲壳动物)和附着量(B,个/L)的影响是:在一定的蜕皮间隔时间范围内呈正相关性:m=aebT和B=aebT(a和b为方程常数,下同);超过这个范围呈负相关性:m=aT-b和B=aT-b。而宿主蜕皮间隔时间(T,天)对星形柄裸藻附着率(R,%)的影响则仅为正相关性:R=a+blnT。星形柄裸藻对宿主的附生有一定的选择性。水温(t,℃)与星形柄裸藻种群密度(N,个/L)的关系为:在5-12℃时呈正相关性,N=0.309e0.624t(r=0.914,pN=0.0000617e190.2/t(r=0.941,pR,%)的影响则仅呈负相关关系:R=bln(30-t)-a。水的透明度(d,cm)与星形柄裸藻种群密度(N,个/L)的相关方程为:N=0.020e0.037d(r=0.838,pS,mg/L)与种群密度(N,个/L)有一定的正相关性:N=0.00254e0.178S(r=0.816,pN,个/L)与4个主要因子:宿主密度(N,个/L),透明度(d,cm),水温(t,℃),含钙量(S,mg/L)的多元回归方程为:N=1.208Na+0.698d+5.584t+2.942S-357.957(R=0.853,df=11,k=4,p<0.01)。       

Cryptic phenology in plants: Case studies,implications, and recommendations

Plant phenology—the timing of cyclic or recurrent biological events in plants—offers insight into the ecology, evolution, and seasonality of plant‐mediated ecosystem processes. Traditionally studied phenologies are readily apparent, such as flowering events, germination timing, and season‐initiating budbreak. However, a broad range of phenologies that are fundamental to the ecology and evolution of plants, and to global biogeochemical cycles and climate change predictions, have been neglected because they are “cryptic”—that is, hidden from view (e.g., root production) or difficult to distinguish and interpret based on common measurements at typical scales of examination (e.g., leaf turnover in evergreen forests). We illustrate how capturing cryptic phenology can advance scientific understanding with two case studies: wood phenology in a deciduous forest of the northeastern USA and leaf phenology in tropical evergreen forests of Amazonia. Drawing on these case studies and other literature, we argue that conceptualizing and characterizing cryptic plant phenology is needed for understanding and accurate prediction at many scales from organisms to ecosystems. We recommend avenues of empirical and modeling research to accelerate discovery of cryptic phenological patterns, to understand their causes and consequences, and to represent these processes in terrestrial biosphere models.     

九节龙皂苷诱导胶质瘤SHG-44细胞凋亡的实验观察

目的：探讨九节龙皂苷对胶质瘤SHG-44细胞潜在的治疗作用及其机制。方法：用四基偶唑蓝（MTT）法检测5、7．5、10、12．5、15、20、40、80mg／L九节龙皂苷作用6、12、24、72h对人胶质瘤SHG-44细胞活性的影响和细胞流式术检测SGH-44细胞调亡情况;Hoeehst33258荧光染色法观察细胞形态的变化;琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测SHG-44细胞DNA的完整性。结果：九节龙皂苷明显抑制SHG-44细胞生长活性呈浓度-时间依赖性,并诱导细胞发生明显的凋亡,细胞核发生浓聚边集,DNA呈凋亡特异性“梯状”分布。结论：九节龙皂苷明显抑制SHG-44细胞的生长活性,能引起胶质瘤细胞大量凋亡,具有显著的抗肿瘤作用。     

Monitoring vegetation recovery after China’s May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake using Landsat TM time-series data: a case study in Mao County

The Wenchuan earthquake (Richter scale 8) on 12 May 2008 in southwestern China caused widespread ecosystem damage in the Longmenshan area. It is important to evaluate natural vegetation recovery processes and provide basic information on ecological aspects of the recovering environment after the earthquake. To circumvent the weather limits of remote sensing in the Wenchuan earthquake-hit areas, and to meet the need for regional observation analyses, three Landsat TM images pre- and post-earthquake in Mao County were used for analysis. Post-earthquake normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values were compared to pre-earthquake values with an NDVI-based index differencing method to determine the extent to which the vegetation was damaged in relation to the pre-earthquake pattern, and the rate of recovery was evaluated. The spatial characteristics of vegetation loss and natural recovery patterns were analyzed in relation to elevation, slope and aspect. The results indicated that severely damaged sites occurred mainly in river valleys, within a range of 1,500?C2,500?m elevation and on slopes of 25?C55°. The distance from rivers, rather than the distance from active faults, controls the damage patterns. After 1?year of natural regeneration, 36?% of the destroyed areas showed a decrease in NDVI value, 28.8?% showed very little change, 19.1?% showed an increase, and 16.1?% also increased with a recovery rate greater than 100?%. Moreover, there is a good correlation between recovery rate and both slope and elevation, but recovery patterns in the damaged area are complicated. Our results indicate that natural recovery in this arid valley is a slow process.     

FRIL蛋白体外维持脐血造血干/祖细胞的作用及细胞周期调控基因的表达

为探讨新的豆类凝集素(Flt3 receptor-interacting lectin,FRIL)体外维持脐血CD34^ 细胞的作用以及维持过程中细胞周期调控基因HTm4及HTm4S mRNA的表达及意义,我们利用FRIL维持培养脐血CD34^ 细胞,对其增殖曲线、细胞周期及集落形成能力进行常规分析,并用半定量RT—PCR法分别测定FRIL体外维持不同时间后脐血CD34^ 细胞中周期调控基因HTm4及HTm4S mRNA的表达变化。结果显示,FRIL培养的CD34^ 造血干／祖细胞的增殖趋势平缓,整个培养期间细胞增殖倍数不超过起始的3倍：14d之前,FRIL培养细胞的高增殖潜能集落形成细胞(HPP—CFC)形成集落数与FL组无差别,其后则维持高于FL的情况。细胞周期分析则显示,在28d的培养过程内,利用FRIL培养的细胞始终有80％以上维持在G0期;而周期调控基因HTm4及HTm4S在刚分离的脐血CD34^ 细胞中的表达水平较高;但培养1d后,几乎检测不到HTm4基因的表达;培养3～14d,该基因的表达回升并持续维持在高水平。而HTm4S基因的表达在第7d达最高水平,其余时间基本呈稳定表达。转染HTm4和HTm4S,亚细胞定位结果显示HTm4主要定位于核周围,而HTm4S则定位于整个胞浆,由此可能导致它们功能的区别。以上结果提示,长期培养体现出FRIL在维持造血干／祖细胞多能性上的优势;细胞周期调控基因HTm4及其新剪接子参与了FRIL体外长期维持脐血造血干／祖细胞处于静息状态的过程。     

桂林小花苣苔离体快速繁殖技术

对抗结核植物桂林小花苣苔(Chiritopsis repanda var. guilinensis)进行离体培养与快速繁殖技术研究。结果表明: 桂林小花苣苔叶片外植体的最适初代诱导培养基为MS+0.5 mg·L^–16-BA+0.05 mg·L^–1IBA, pH8.0; 最适继代增殖培养基为 MS+0.1 mg·L^–16-BA+0.05 mg·L^–1IBA, pH6.0, 繁殖系数7.0/35天; 最适生根培养基为1/2MS+0.2 mg·L^–1NAA, pH6.0, 生根率为93.6%。模拟桂林小花苣苔自然生境, 在春季对生根试管苗进行大棚移栽, 成活率达90%。根据上述快繁技术, 理论上每株试管苗每年可繁殖桂林小花苣苔种苗46万株。