Rapid Evolution, Genetic Variations, and Functional Association of the Human Spermatogenesis-Related Gene NYD-SP12

NYD-SP12 is a recently identified spermatogenesis-related gene with a pivotal role in human testis development. In this study, we analyzed between-species divergence and within-species variation of NYD-SP12 in seven representative primate species, four worldwide human populations, and 124 human clinical subjects. Our results indicate that NYD-SP12 evolves rapidly in both the human and the chimpanzee lineages, which is likely caused by Darwinian positive selection and/or sexual selection. We observed significant interpopulation divergence among human populations, which might be due to the varied demographic histories. In the association analysis, we demonstrated significant frequency discrepancy of a synonymous sequence polymorphism among the clinical groups with different sperm traits. [Reviewing Editor: Dr. Manyuan Long]     

中频交变电流抑制肿瘤细胞的体外增殖

目的:初步探究新型物理治疗技术中频交变电流对肿瘤细胞和正常细胞体外存活率的影响;设置不同实验参数(频率、电流、时间),观察影响效果;针对实验结果,分析中频交变电流抑制肿瘤细胞体外增殖的可能机制。方法:将对数生长期的细胞悬液接种于24孔培养板,贴壁后(24 h)施加不同参数的中频电流刺激,噻唑蓝(MTT)法检测细胞存活率;以人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7为例,观察中频交变电流对细胞生存环境温度和pH的影响,Annexin V-FITC/PI双染法流式细胞术定量检测细胞凋亡/死亡情况,扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜观察细胞结构变化。结果:中频交变电流能降低肿瘤细胞的体外存活率,诱导其凋亡,但不影响正常细胞(L929)存活率;MCF-7细胞体外实验最适参数是100 kHz,50 mA,每天30 min;电刺激后MCF-7细胞表面微绒毛减少,细胞线粒体肿胀,有多泡体及溶酶体形成。结论:中频交变电流能抑制肿瘤细胞增殖,但不影响正常细胞(L929);抑制效果和电刺激的频率、电流和时间有关;抑制机制可能是中频交变电流能够诱导细胞凋亡,影响细胞膜表面蛋白功能,但不影响细胞生存环境。中频交变电流抑制肿瘤体外增殖为实体瘤等增生性疾病的治疗提供了新的思路。     

Regulation of p38 MAP kinase by anastellin is independent of anastellin's effect on matrix fibronectin

Anastellin is an angiogenesis inhibitor derived from the first type III repeat of fibronectin (FN). Anastellin binds to fibronectin and promotes the polymerization of soluble fibronectin into a highly polymerized form termed superfibronectin. In addition, anastellin also causes remodeling of pre-existing fibronectin matrix and modulates cell signaling pathways in both endothelial cells and fibroblasts. In the present study, we address the relationship of anastellin's effects on fibronectin matrix to its effects on p38 MAP kinase (MAPK) activation. Using a mutant form of anastellin which binds to fibronectin matrix, but does not stimulate formation of superfibronectin, we demonstrate that the activation of p38 MAPK by anastellin is not dependent on the formation of superfibronectin. The mutant form of anastellin does stimulate matrix remodeling, but experiments using FN^?/? cells show that the effect of anastellin on p38-MAPK activation is completely independent of fibronectin. Anastellin was able to activate p38 MAPK on cells in suspension as well as on cells null for β1 integrins, suggesting that anastellin activity did not require ligation of integrins. These data suggest that the activation of p38 MAPK by anastellin is independent of anastellin's effects on fibronectin matrix organization.     

向日葵花盘水溶性多糖提取工艺及抗氧化研究

目的:研究了向日葵花盘中水溶性粗多糖的提取工艺及抗氧化性能.方法:采用单因素试验和L_9(3~4)正交试验设计,对多糖提取工艺进行优化,并采用Fenton体系和邻苯三酚自氧化法评价了该提取物的体外抗氧化能力.结果:优化工艺条件为:提取温度95℃、料液比1:20、提取时间4h,向日葵水溶性粗多糖得率为9.73%,其中温度是影响粗多糖提取的重要因素.结论:结果表明向日葵水溶性粗多糖有较好的抗氧化活性.     

Oxidative stress induced by beta-amyloid peptide(1-42) is involved in the altered composition of cellular membrane lipids and the decreased expression of nicotinic receptors in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells

The neurotoxic effects and influence of beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ)_1–42 on membrane lipids and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were investigated in parallel. Exposure of the cultured cells to varying concentrations of Aβ_1–42 evoked a significantly decrease in cellular reduction of MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5,diphenyl tetrazolium bromide), together with enhanced lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. Significant reductions in the total contents of phospholipid and unbiquinone-10, as well as in the levels of the 3 and 7 subunit proteins of nAChRs were detected in cells exposed to Aβ_1–42. In contrast, such treatment had no effect on the total cellular content of cholesterol. Among these alterations, increased lipid peroxidation and decreased levels of cellular phospholipids were most sensitive to Aβ_1–42, occurring at lower concentrations. In addition, when SH-SY5Y cells were pretreated with the antioxidant Vitamin E, prior to the addition of Aβ_1–42, these alterations in neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, composition of membrane lipids and expression of nAChRs were partially prevented. These findings suggest that stimulation of lipid peroxidation by Aβ may be involved in eliciting the alterations in membrane lipid composition and the reduced expression of nAChRs associated with the pathogenesis of AD.     

中国绒山羊遗传多样性现状和系统发生关系的微卫星分析

为了调查中国绒山羊遗传资源现状, 作者应用联合国粮农组织和国际家畜研究所推荐的19对微卫星引物并结合荧光PCR技术, 对9个中国地方产绒山羊群体和1个西非山羊品种进行了遗传多样性检测。14个微卫星座位在10个山羊群体中显示为高度多态, 可作为山羊遗传多样性分析的有效标记。多态信息含量和遗传杂合度等数据表明: 目前中国地方产绒山羊群体的遗传多样性较为丰富, 并且大部分保种场较好地保存了这些地方资源。采用非加权配对算术平均法构建的聚类图和采用主成分分析法得到的散点图均显示, 中国山羊与西非山羊为不同的2类; 中国产绒山羊中河谷山羊、河西绒山羊与其他山羊的遗传距离较远; 其他山羊又大致分为2类: 一类由辽宁绒山羊、新疆山羊、柴达木山羊、陕北山羊组成, 另一类由内蒙古绒山羊组成。此研究结果为开展我国地方绒山羊种质特性研究及资源保护和利用提供了科学依据。     

Functional Polymorphisms of CHRNA3 Predict Risks of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Cancer in Chinese

Recently, several genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified many susceptible single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer which are two closely related diseases. Among those SNPs, some of them are shared by both the diseases, reflecting there is possible genetic similarity between the diseases. Here we tested the hypothesis that whether those shared SNPs are common predictor for risks or prognosis of COPD and lung cancer. Two SNPs (rs6495309 and rs1051730) located in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 3 (CHRNA3) gene were genotyped in 1511 patients with COPD, 1559 lung cancer cases and 1677 controls in southern and eastern Chinese populations. We found that the rs6495309CC and rs6495309CT/CC variant genotypes were associated with increased risks of COPD (OR = 1.32, 95% C.I. = 1.14–1.54) and lung cancer (OR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.31–1.87), respectively. The rs6495309CC genotype contributed to more rapid decline of annual Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in both COPD cases and controls (P<0.05), and it was associated with advanced stages of COPD (P = 0.033); the rs6495309CT/CC genotypes conferred a poor survival for lung cancer (HR = 1.41, 95%CI = 1.13–1.75). The luciferase assays further showed that nicotine and other tobacco chemicals had diverse effects on the luciferase activity of the rs6495309C or T alleles. However, none of these effects were found for another SNP, rs1051730G>A. The data show a statistical association and suggest biological plausibility that the rs6495309T>C polymorphism contributed to increased risks and poor prognosis of both COPD and lung cancer.     

CRISPR/Cas9运输系统的研究进展及其在基因相关疾病方面的应用

CRISPR/Cas9系统是细菌体在长期进化过程中抵御病毒或噬菌体DNA的一种适应性免疫系统。尽管近年来的一些基因编辑技术,如锌指核酸酶、转录激活因子效应物核酸酶等已经给基因编辑带来了许多便利,但CRISPR/Cas9系统以其独特的优势,给基因编辑领域带来了革命性的变化。CRISPR/Cas9系统在生物研究、基因相关疾病的治疗、疾病的基因水平研究等多方面都有广泛的应用。综述近年来CRISPR/Cas9运输系统的研究进展及其在基因缺陷疾病方面取得的应用成果,分析慢病毒和腺相关病毒运载基因编辑元件的利弊,并探讨CRISPR/Cas9系统在基因编辑效率方面的影响因素及仍然存在的问题。     

Niche partitioning among three montane ground‐dwelling pheasant species along multiple ecological dimensions

Pheasants (order Galliformes) are typical ground‐dwelling birds, having a large body size and weak flight abilities. Sympatric pheasants are expected to share narrower niche space and face more extensive interspecific competition. However, little work has been undertaken simultaneously to investigate niche partitioning among sympatric pheasant species across multiple ecological dimensions. We compared microhabitat use, activity pattern and foraging strategy of sympatric Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus, Buff‐throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii and White Eared‐pheasant Crossoptilon crossoptilon on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau, China, to identify potential interspecific niche partitioning along different ecological dimensions in the breeding season. We found that the Buff‐throated Partridge differed significantly from the other two species in microhabitat use, and the three species showed different foraging strategies. It is likely that niche partitioning reduced potential interspecific competition, thus facilitating the species’ stable coexistence. Our study provides practical evidence of multidimensional niche theory within sympatric ground‐dwelling pheasant species, emphasizing that species interactions and coexistence within a guild are often not uni‐dimensional. Given global conservation concern for maintaining bird diversity, we recommend further restriction of yak grazing in these species’ habitat.