大麻哈鱼的年龄与生长

通过对2010和2011年采捕到乌苏里江大麻哈鱼洄游群体571个样本的鳞片观察和基础生物学测定,研究了大麻哈鱼的年龄判定和生长模拟。大麻哈鱼鳞片属于典型圆鳞,有明显的年轮特征,为一年一个周期,年轮特征表现为疏密型。部分鳞片有明显幼轮,幼轮和年轮根据鳞径大小能够区分。采集样本的雌雄组都分为2+,3+,4+三个年龄组,也都以3+龄组数量最多。采用特殊Von Bertalanffy、Logistic、Gompertz和幂指数生长方程分别模拟了大麻哈鱼1—4龄间的生长,通过最大似然法估计各模型的参数。采用残差平方和(Analysis of the residual sum of squares,ARSS)分析得出大麻哈鱼雌雄个体间生长无显著差异(P>0.05),故将雌雄个体放一起进行生长模拟。AIC和BIC检验结果显示特殊VBGF方程为最适生长模型,公式为:Lt=90.04×[1 e 0.3(ti+0.27)]。大麻哈鱼的生长速度随着年龄增长逐年降低,且性成熟年龄小的个体生长速度大于性成熟年龄大的个体。应对大麻哈鱼年龄与生长进行长期监测,为增殖放流等渔业资源管理措施提供基础资料。     

Development of highly polymorphic SNP markers from the complexity reduced portion of maize [Zea mays L.] genome for use in marker-assisted breeding

The duplicated and the highly repetitive nature of the maize genome has historically impeded the development of true single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in this crop. Recent advances in genome complexity reduction methods coupled with sequencing-by-synthesis technologies permit the implementation of efficient genome-wide SNP discovery in maize. In this study, we have applied Complexity Reduction of Polymorphic Sequences technology (Keygene N.V., Wageningen, The Netherlands) for the identification of informative SNPs between two genetically distinct maize inbred lines of North and South American origins. This approach resulted in the discovery of 1,123 putative SNPs representing low and single copy loci. In silico and experimental (Illumina GoldenGate (GG) assay) validation of putative SNPs resulted in mapping of 604 markers, out of which 188 SNPs represented 43 haplotype blocks distributed across all ten chromosomes. We have determined and clearly stated a specific combination of stringent criteria (>0.3 minor allele frequency, >0.8 GenTrainScore and >0.5 Chi_test100 score) necessary for the identification of highly polymorphic and genetically stable SNP markers. Due to these criteria, we identified a subset of 120 high-quality SNP markers to leverage in GG assay-based marker-assisted selection projects. A total of 32 high-quality SNPs represented 21 haplotypes out of 43 identified in this study. The information on the selection criteria of highly polymorphic SNPs in a complex genome such as maize and the public availability of these SNP assays will be of great value for the maize molecular genetics and breeding community.     

母子分离应激对complexin Ⅱ基因缺陷鼠快速移动行为的影响

本文旨在探讨母子分离应激对complexin Ⅱ基因缺陷(Cplx2-/-)小鼠快速移动行为的影响。实验分4组:应激Cplx2-/-组、应激Cplx2+/+组、无应激Cplx2-/-组和无应激Cplx2+/+组。无应激组小鼠正常饲养,应激组小鼠从出生后第2日至第21日每天施加母子分离应激。小鼠生长到第4周时,利用聚合酶链反应技术检测其基因型。4组小鼠腹腔注射激动剂去氧麻黄碱或生理盐水后,采用EthoVision系统对小鼠快速移动行为进行记录。结果显示,应激Cplx2-/-组、应激Cplx2+/+组、无应激Cplx2-/-组和无应激Cplx2+/+组注射去氧麻黄碱后,与生理盐水对照组相比,均出现快速移动行为不同程度的增多(P<0.01);与无应激Cplx2-/-组相比较,应激Cplx2-/-组注射去氧麻黄碱后快速移动行为增多更为明显(P<0.001);与应激Cplx2+/+组相比,应激Cplx2-/-组注射去氧麻黄碱后的快速移动行为增多更为明显(P<0.001)。本实验证实小鼠的行为可能受母子分离应激和Cplx2基因等因素的多重影响。     

分离自海洋沉积物的四个中国真菌新记录种

报道了分离自渤海沉积物的4个中国真菌新记录种：黄褐隐囊菌Aphanoascus fulvescens、小翅孢壳Emericellopsis minima、弗氏光黑壳Preussia flanaganii和湿生假散囊菌Pseudeurotium hygrophila。其中,隐囊菌属Aphanoascus为中国新记录属。研究菌株保存于中国海洋大学海洋生物标本室（OUCMB）。     

人胃癌BGC-823细胞中去甲斑蝥素抑癌作用机理的蛋白质组学研究

去甲斑蝥素是我国自行研制的抗肿瘤药物,在临床上主要用于消化道肿瘤的治疗．实验表明,去甲斑蝥素可引起人胃癌BGC-823细胞发生 M期阻滞及细胞凋亡．进一步利用双向电泳和质谱技术,筛选出了去甲斑蝥素抑癌作用相关蛋白．研究显示,线粒体热休克蛋白CH60、线粒体ATP合酶d亚单位、内质网葡萄糖调节蛋白GRP78、线粒体Hsp70的辅助因子GRPE1、SH3L3以及染色质组装因子1小亚基RBBP4参与了去甲斑蝥素的抑癌作用．研究提示,去甲斑蝥素可能通过促进线粒体热休克蛋白及p53的表达进而激活caspase-3依赖的凋亡通路,并且去甲斑蝥素在引发内质网协迫之后,可通过抑制胞外信号调节激酶(extracellular signal regulated kinase, ERK)的活性促进肿瘤细胞的凋亡．进一步分析了去甲斑蝥素与线粒体ATP合酶抑制剂寡霉素A的联合用药对人胃癌细胞生长的影响,结果表明,联合用药的抑瘤效果比单独用药的抑瘤效果显著,提示去甲斑蝥素可能通过抑制线粒体ATP合酶功能抑制BGC-823生长．上述结果为优化去甲斑蝥素的联合用药方案提供了新线索．     

宏基因组文库中的组成型启动子在大肠杆菌中的克隆

启动子是决定基因表达水平的重要因素之一。组成型表达启动子被认为是工业上表达重要蛋白质的理想启动子。本研究利用蔗糖为唯一碳源的基本培养基对榨糖废水浸润的土壤微生物宏基因组文库进行筛选,获得两个阳性克隆。对其中一个克隆的柯斯质粒进行亚克隆,利用在线启动子预测和序列比对工具对其中一个亚克隆子进行分析,获得一个启动子序列。然后,利用PCR方法将该启动子和地衣芽孢杆菌的α-淀粉酶基因一起克隆到T载体上。结果表明该启动子在不加诱导剂的条件下能够在大肠杆菌中启动外源基因的高效表达。本研究结果为在生物领域中组成型启动子的应用研究提供了基础。     

Methyl β-cyclodextrin reduces accumulation of reactive oxygen species and cell death in yeast

Stabilized F-actin structures have been shown to be detrimental to both mammalian and yeast cells. In yeast, stabilization of actin caused by addition of jasplakinolide, by point mutations in the act1 gene, or by deletion of certain genes that regulate F-actin leads to cell death with hallmarks of apoptosis. In particular, there is an elevation in the levels of reactive oxygen species, and we have shown the importance of the Ras/cAMP pathway for this effect. Here we show that in yeast cells deleted for end3, which functions to regulate actin organization during endocytosis, treatment of cells with methyl β-cyclodextrin reduces levels of reactive oxygen species and inhibits cell death progression. Methyl β-cyclodextrin is widely used to disrupt lipid rafts that contain cholesterol. The mechanism through which the rescue is achieved was investigated and we demonstrate that methyl β-cyclodextrin reduces accumulation of Ras2 at the plasma membrane in Δend3 cells. We use FRAP and live cell imaging to determine the possible mechanism through which methyl β-cyclodextrin functions to elicit this effect on Ras2 localization. Finally, we demonstrate that addition of methyl β-cyclodextrin to wild-type cells can act to protect cells from acute oxidative stress caused by addition of hydrogen peroxide.     

Combinatorial signals of activin/nodal and bone morphogenic protein regulate the early lineage segregation of human embryonic stem cells

Cell fate commitment of pre-implantation blastocysts, to either the inner cell mass or trophoblast, is the first step in cell lineage segregation of the developing human embryo. However, the intercellular signals that control fate determination of these cells remain obscure. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) provide a unique model for studying human early embryonic development. We have previously shown that Activin/Nodal signaling contributes to maintaining pluripotency of hESCs, which are derivatives of the inner cell mass. Here we further demonstrate that the inhibition of Activin/Nodal signaling results in the loss of hESC pluripotency and trophoblast differentiation, similar to BMP4-induced trophoblast differentiation from hESCs. We also show that the trophoblast induction effect of BMP4 correlates with and depends on the inhibition of Activin/Nodal signaling. However, the activation of BMP signaling is still required for trophoblast differentiation when Activin/Nodal signaling is inhibited. These data reveal that the early lineage segregation of hESCs is determined by the combinatorial signals of Activin/Nodal and BMP.     

Inhibition of mitochondrial complex I improves glucose metabolism independently of AMPK activation

Accumulating evidences showed metformin and berberine, well‐known glucose‐lowering agents, were able to inhibit mitochondrial electron transport chain at complex I. In this study, we aimed to explore the antihyperglycaemic effect of complex I inhibition. Rotenone, amobarbital and gene silence of NDUFA13 were used to inhibit complex I. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test were performed in db/db mice. Lactate release and glucose consumption were measured to investigate glucose metabolism in HepG2 hepatocytes and C2C12 myotubes. Glucose output was measured in primary hepatocytes. Compound C and adenoviruses expressing dominant negative AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) α1/2 were exploited to inactivate AMPK pathway. Cellular NAD⁺/NADH ratio was assayed to evaluate energy transforming and redox state. Rotenone ameliorated hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance in db/db mice. It induced glucose consumption and glycolysis and reduced hepatic glucose output. Rotenone also activated AMPK. Furthermore, it remained effective with AMPK inactivation. The enhanced glycolysis and repressed gluconeogenesis correlated with a reduction in cellular NAD⁺/NADH ratio, which resulted from complex I suppression. Amobarbital, another representative complex I inhibitor, stimulated glucose consumption and decreased hepatic glucose output in vitro, too. Similar changes were observed while expression of NDUFA13, a subunit of complex I, was knocked down with gene silencing. These findings reveal mitochondrial complex I emerges as a key drug target for diabetes treatment. Inhibition of complex I improves glucose homoeostasis via non‐AMPK pathway, which may relate to the suppression of the cellular NAD⁺/NADH ratio.