Mutations in short stature homeobox containing gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">SHOX</Emphasis>) in dyschondrosteosis but not in hypochondroplasia

Dyschondrosteosis (DCO) and hypochondroplasia (HCH) are common skeletal dysplasias characterized by disproportionate short stature. The diagnosis of these conditions might be difficult to establish especially in early childhood. Point mutations and deletions of the short stature homeobox containing gene (SHOX) are detected in DCO and idiopathic short stature with some rhizomelic body disproportion, whereas mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene are found in 40-70% of HCH cases. In this study, we performed mutational analysis of the coding region of the SHOX gene in five DCO and 18 HCH patients, all of whom tested negative for the known HCH-associated FGFR3 mutations. The polymorphic CA-repeat analysis, direct sequencing and Southern blotting were used for detection of deletions and point mutations. The auxological and radiological phenotype of these patients was carefully determined. Three novel mutations in DCO patients were found: (1) a deletion of one base (de1272G) (according to GenBank accession nos. Y11536, Y11535), resulting in a premature stop codon at position 75 of the amino acid sequence; (2) the transversion C485G resulting in the substitution Leu132Val; and (3) the transversion G549T causing an Arg153Leu substitution. These substitutions segregate with the DCO phenotype and affect evolutionarily conserved homeodomain residues, based on a comparison of homeobox containing proteins in 13 species. Moreover, these changes were not found in 80 unrelated, unaffected individuals. This strongly suggests that these mutations are pathogenic. The phenotype of our patients with DCO and HCH varied from mild to severe shortness and body disproportion. These results further support clinical and genetic heterogeneity of dyschondrosteosis and hypochondroplasia.     

Behavior and Activity Pattern of Cephalonomia stephanoderis (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) Attacking the Coffee Berry Borer,Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

We describe behavioral sequences and daily activities of pre-ovipositing and ovipositing females of Cephalonomia stephanoderis (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), an ectoparasitoid of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Noticeable behavioral differences among preovipositing and ovipositing females include host examination, host stinging—probing, host feeding, and the oviposition per se. The female of C. stephanoderis feeds primarily on host eggs, but pupae are also exploited, mainly by pre-ovipositing females. After the onset of the oviposition period, C. stephanoderis examines the pupae repeatedly, stings them at frequent intervals, and spends more time feeding than during the pre-oviposition period. Host paralysis is linked both to host feeding and oviposition. It induces irreversible developmental arrest, which presumably allows preservation of the host until subsequent utilization, and contributes to successful offspring development, particularly by reducing host motility. Oviposition consists in a host selection process, a prolonged period of preparation of the potential host, and the egg-laying phase itself. Under our experimental conditions, pre-ovipositing and ovipositing females are active 17% and 36% of the day, respectively. Host handling time averages 6% and 23% in pre-ovipositing and ovipositing females, respectively. All coffee berry borer developmental stages are exploited by C. stephanoderis females, either for host feeding and/or oviposition activities. Such flexible behavior is advantageous given that host availability is limited inside the coffee berries.     

蜂毒溶血肽前体蛋白cDNA的克隆及其融合蛋白的表达

从蜜蜂毒腺中提取总RNA ,通过RT PCR扩增得到了蜂毒溶血肽前体蛋白的cDNA ,将扩增产物克隆到 pT7Blu T载体上 ,再进一步将插入片段酶切并连接到 pUC1 1 8载体上 ,构建了重组质粒pUMP。DNA序列分析结果表明 ,克隆得到的cDNA序列与所发表序列完全相同 ,且与 β 半乳糖苷酶部分序列构成正确的读码框。含重组质粒 pUMP的大肠杆菌DH5α表达了与β 半乳糖苷酶部分序列融合的蜂毒溶血肽前体蛋白     

Testing a simple stochastic model for the dynamics of waterfowl aggregations

We consider a simple stochastic model for the dynamics of mixed-species waterfowl aggregations and describe two methods for assessing the fit of this model to field data. The model does not incorporate species-specific behavior. It assumes that all birds act independently and incorrectly predicts an exponential distribution for inter-event times. We reject this model, show that 29% of the birds move in groups of two or more birds, and demonstrate that the distribution of inter-event times between the movements of groups of birds is exponential. We find no difference in movement rates or group sizes between seasons, and no difference between groups arriving into or departing from the observed aggregations. An analysis of group composition suggests that species at low abundance behave differently than species at high abundance: birds with few conspecifics are more likely to move in mixed-species groups than birds with many conspecifics. We suggest that simple stochastic models provide a useful way to explore the dynamics of animal behavior.     

东北蒿属艾组12种植物核型研究

报道东北蒿属艾组12种植物的染色体数及核型资料,结果如下：宽叶山蒿（Artemisia stolonifera (Maixm.)Komar.)2n=4x=36=28m 4sm(4SAT) 4st(4SAT);野艾蒿（A.lavandulaefolia DC)2n=2x=50=40m 4sm 6st(6SAT); 矮蒿（A.lancea Van.)2n=2x=16=10m 4sm 2st;蒙古蒿（A.mongolica (fisch.ex Bess.)Nakai]2n=2x=16=14m 2st;红足蒿（A.rubripes Nakai)2n=2x=16=14m 2st;歧茎蒿（A.igniaria Maixm.)2n=2x=34=28m 2sm 4st(4SAT);柳叶蒿（A.integrifolia Linn.)2n=4x=36=20m 12sm 4st;线叶蒿（A.subula 4st(4SAT);柳叶蒿（A.integrifolia Linn.)2n＝4x=36=20m 12sm 4st;线叶蒿（A.subulata Nakai)2n=2x=16=14m 2st;高岭蒿（A.brachyphylla Kitam.)2n=2x=18=14m 2sm 2st;林文稿[A.uiridissima(Komar.)Pamp.]2n=2x=18=14m 4sm;奄癌（A.keiskeana Miq.)2n=2x=18=16m 2sm;阴地蒿（A.sylvatica Maxim.)2n=2x=16=14m 2sm,核型对称性野艾蒿（A.lavandulaefolia)为2B型,其余均为2A型,依据核型资料对个别种的演化 分类进行了初步探讨。     

Metformin protects PC12 cells and hippocampal neurons from H2O 2-induced oxidative damage through activation of AMPK pathway

Metformin, a first line anti type 2 diabetes drug, has recently been shown to extend lifespan in various species, and therefore, became the first antiaging drug in clinical trial. Oxidative stress due to excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) is considered to be an important factor in aging and related disease, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the antioxidative effects of metformin and its underlying mechanisms in neuronal cells is not known. In the present study, we showed that metformin, in clinically relevant concentrations, protected neuronal PC12 cells from H₂O₂-induced cell death. Metformin significantly ameliorated cell death due to H₂O₂ insult by restoring abnormal changes in nuclear morphology, intracellular ROS, lactate dehydrogenase, and mitochondrial membrane potential induced by H₂O₂. Hoechst staining assay and flow cytometry analysis revealed that metformin significantly reduced the apoptosis in PC12 cells exposed to H₂O₂. Western blot analysis further demonstrated that metformin stimulated the phosphorylation and activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in PC12 cells, while application of AMPK inhibitor compound C, or knockdown of the expression of AMPK by specific small interfering RNA or short hairpin RNA blocked the protective effect of metformin. Similar results were obtained in primary cultured hippocampal neurons. Taken together, these results indicated that metformin is able to protect neuronal cells from oxidative injury, at least in part, via the activation of AMPK. As metformin is comparatively cheaper with much less side effects in clinic, our findings support its potential to be a drug for prevention and treatment of aging and aging-related diseases.     

三倍体湘云鲫繁殖季节的性腺结构观察

在繁殖季节解剖３７尾龄和１６尾声龄湘云鲫,用光镜和电镜观察了湘云鲫的性腺结构。在湘鲫的性腺部位有三种类型的结构：（１）清巢型;精巢小叶内分布有精子细胞,精子细胞呈退化现象,没有发现有正常成熟精子。（２）卵巢型,该类型性腺的大部分为体积较小,分化程度较低的呈囊状排列的细胞,在这些小细胞中镶嵌着少量初级卵母细胞和体积较大的退化的卵母细胞。（３）脂肪型;该类型的性腺部位仅有两条脂肪组织,即没有卵巢结构,     

薜荔的组织培养和快速繁殖

1 植物名称薜荔(Ficuspumila),采自进口观叶小盆栽(泥炭基质)。 2 材料类别顶芽、带腋芽的茎段、叶片。 3 培养条件诱芽培养基：(B1)MS + 6-BA 2mg·L-1(单位下同)+ NAA 0.5; (B2) MS +6-BA 2 + NAA 0.5 + AC 1500;(B3)MS + 6-BA0.5+IBA0. 1;(B4)MS+6-BA 1 +IBA 0.1;(Bs)MS + 6-BA 0.5 + NAA 0.1; (B6)MS + 6-BA0.5 + NAA 2; (B7)MS + KT 1 + NAA 0.1。生根培养基：(大量元素减半)+ IBA0.1+ NAA 0.1; (R2) 1/2MS + IBA 0.5; (Rs)1/2MS+ NAA 0. 1 + AC 1 500; (P4) 1/2MS + NAA 0.1; (Rs) 1/2MS + NAA 0.05。上述各培养基均加蔗糖2％、琼脂0.75％,pH 5.8。培养温度(20±5)℃,每天光照12 h,光照度1 500～2 000 lx。     

Broad-host-range properties of plasmid RK2: importance of overlapping genes encoding the plasmid replication initiation protein TrfA.

The trfA gene, encoding the essential replication initiation protein of the broad-host-range plasmid RK2, possesses an in-frame overlapping arrangement. This results in the production of TrfA proteins of 33 and 44 kDa, respectively. Utilizing deletion and site-specific mutagenesis to alter the trfA operon, we compared the replication of an RK2-origin plasmid in several distantly related gram-negative bacteria when supported by both TrfA-44 and TrfA-33, TrfA-33 alone, or TrfA-44/98L (a mutant form of the TrfA-44 protein) alone. TrfA-44/98L is identical to wild-type TrfA-44 with the exception of a single conservative amino acid alteration from methionine to leucine at codon 98; this alteration removes the translational start codon for the TrfA-33 protein. Copy number and stability were virtually identical for plasmids containing both TrfA-44 and TrfA-33 proteins or TrfA-44/98L alone in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Agrobacterium tumefaciens, two unrelated bacteria in which TrfA-33 is poorly functional. This, along with recent in vitro studies comparing TrfA-44, TrfA-33, and TrfA-44/98L, suggests that the functional activity of TrfA-44 is not significantly affected by the 98L mutation. Analysis of minimal RK2 derivatives in certain gram-negative bacterial hosts suggests a role of the overlapping arrangement of trfA in facilitating the broad host range of RK2. RK2 derivatives encoding TrfA-44/98L alone demonstrated decreased copy number and stability in Escherichia coli and Azotobacter vinelandii when compared with derivatives specifying both TrfA-44 and TrfA-33. A strategy employing the trfA-44/98L mutant gene and in vivo homologous recombination was used to eliminate the internal translational start codon of trfA in the intact RK2 plasmid. The mutant intact RK2 plasmid produced only TrfA-44/98L. A small reduction in copy number and beta-lactamase expression resulted in E. coli, suggesting that overlapping trfA genes also enhance the efficiency of replication of the intact RK2 plasmid.