Chromosome‐level genome assembly for the horned‐gall aphid provides insights into interactions between gall‐making insect and its host plant

The aphid Schlechtendalia chinensis is an economically important insect that can induce horned galls, which are valuable for the medicinal and chemical industries. Up to now, more than twenty aphid genomes have been reported. Most of the sequenced genomes are derived from free‐living aphids. Here, we generated a high‐quality genome assembly from a galling aphid. The final genome assembly is 271.52 Mb, representing one of the smallest sequenced genomes of aphids. The genome assembly is based on contig and scaffold N50 values of the genome sequence are 3.77 Mb and 20.41 Mb, respectively. Nine‐seven percent of the assembled sequences was anchored onto 13 chromosomes. Based on BUSCO analysis, the assembly involved 96.9% of conserved arthropod and 98.5% of the conserved Hemiptera single‐copy orthologous genes. A total of 14,089 protein‐coding genes were predicted. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that S. chinensis diverged from the common ancestor of Eriosoma lanigerum approximately 57 million years ago (MYA). In addition, 35 genes encoding salivary gland proteins showed differentially when S. chinensis forms a gall, suggesting they have potential roles in gall formation and plant defense suppression. Taken together, this high‐quality S. chinensis genome assembly and annotation provide a solid genetic foundation for future research to reveal the mechanism of gall formation and to explore the interaction between aphids and their host plants.     

A mitochondrial ubiquitin ligase MITOL controls cell toxicity of polyglutamine-expanded protein

Expansion of a polyglutamine tract in ataxin-3 (polyQ) causes Machado–Joseph disease, a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder characterized by ubiquitin-positive aggregate formation. Several lines of evidence demonstrate that polyQ also accumulates in mitochondria and causes mitochondrial dysfunction. To uncover the mechanism of mitochondrial quality-control via the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway, we investigated whether MITOL, a novel mitochondrial ubiquitin ligase localized in the mitochondrial outer membrane, is involved in the degradation of pathogenic ataxin-3 in mitochondria. In this study, we used N-terminal-truncated pathogenic ataxin-3 with a 71-glutamine repeat (ΔNAT-3Q71) and found that MITOL promoted ΔNAT-3Q71 degradation via the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway and attenuated mitochondrial accumulation of ΔNAT-3Q71. Conversely, MITOL knockdown induced an accumulation of detergent-insoluble ΔNAT-3Q71 with large aggregate formation, resulting in cytochrome c release and subsequent cell death. Thus, MITOL plays a protective role against polyQ toxicity, and thereby may be a potential target for therapy in polyQ diseases. Our findings indicate a protein quality-control mechanism at the mitochondrial outer membrane via a MITOL-mediated ubiquitin–proteasome pathway.     

KNOCKDOWN OF THE IONOTROPIC γ‐AMINOBUTYRIC ACID RECEPTOR (GABAR) RDL GENE DECREASES FIPRONIL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE SMALL BROWN PLANTHOPPER,Laodelphax striatellus (HEMIPTERA: DELPHACIDAE)

Insect γ‐aminobutyric acid receptors (GABARs) are important molecular targets of cyclodiene and phenylpyrazole insecticides. Previously GABARs encoding rdl (resistant to dieldrin) genes responsible for dieldrin and fipronil resistance were identified in various economically important insect pests. In this study, we cloned the open reading frame cDNA sequence of rdl gene from fipronil‐susceptible and fipronil‐resistant strains of Laodelphax striatellus (Lsrdl). Sequence analysis confirmed the presence of a previously identified resistance‐conferring mutation. Different alternative splicing variants of Lsrdl were noted. Injection of dsLsrdl reduced the mRNA abundance of Lsrdl by 27–82%, and greatly decreased fipronil‐induced mortality of individuals from both susceptible and resistant strains. These data indicate that Lsrdl encodes a functional RDL subunit that mediates susceptibility to fipronil. Additionally, temporal and spatial expression analysis showed that Lsrdl was expressed at higher levels in eggs, fifth‐instar nymphs, and female adults than in third‐instar and fourth‐instar nymphs. Lsrdl was predominantly expressed in the heads of 2‐day‐old female adults. All these results provide useful background knowledge for better understanding of fipronil resistance related ionotropic GABA receptor rdl gene expressed variants and potential functional differences in insects.     

转反义蜡质基因水稻亲本后代性状分析

以单质粒转化的粳稻广粳一号和双质粒共转化的籼稻01早5202所获得的转反义蜡质基因水稻后代为供试材料, 通过潮霉素抗性、PCR检测等手段分析了外源基因的遗传分离特性, 同时, 还分析了转基因材料的直链淀粉含量、waxy蛋白含量的变化特性。结果表明, 无论是采用标记基因(hpt)与目的基因(Anti-sense waxy)连锁的单质粒转化, 还是采用双质粒共转化, 其供试的后代植株材料都发生了外源基因分离现象, 且转基因植株材料的直链淀粉含量都有所下降, 有些单株的直链淀粉含量已降至10%(质量百分比)以下, 远低于对照(其直链淀粉含量为22.04%); SDS-PAGE检测结果显示, 供试的转基因材料的waxy蛋白的含量与对应的直链淀粉含量呈正相关性。     

Selection of mRNA 5'-untranslated region sequence with high translation efficiency through ribosome display

The 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR) of mRNAs functions as a translation enhancer, promoting translation efficiency. Many in vitro translation systems exhibit a reduced efficiency in protein translation due to decreased translation initiation. The use of a 5′-UTR sequence with high translation efficiency greatly enhances protein production in these systems. In this study, we have developed an in vitro selection system that favors 5′-UTRs with high translation efficiency using a ribosome display technique. A 5′-UTR random library, comprised of 5′-UTRs tagged with a His-tag and Renilla luciferase (R-luc) fusion, were in vitro translated in rabbit reticulocytes. By limiting the translation period, only mRNAs with high translation efficiency were translated. During translation, mRNA, ribosome and translated R-luc with His-tag formed ternary complexes. They were collected with translated His-tag using Ni-particles. Extracted mRNA from ternary complex was amplified using RT-PCR and sequenced. Finally, 5′-UTR with high translation efficiency was obtained from random 5′-UTR library.     

福建省直播稻根结线虫病的病原种类鉴定

[目的] 福建省福清市江镜镇与福安市潭溪镇水稻区直播稻苗期分别发生严重的根结线虫病,本研究对其病原物进行形态和分子鉴定,明确病原物种类,以期为福建省直播稻根结线虫病害防控提供理论依据。[方法] 通过根结线虫各虫态形态学特征进行观测;同时对其rDNA-ITS区进行测序,通过贝叶斯法与最大似然法构建了系统发育树来确定种类;利用拟禾本科根结线虫特异性引物Mg-F/Mg-R检测种群。[结果] 根结线虫的雌虫、雄虫和2龄幼虫的形态学特征与拟禾本科根结线虫原始描述种一致;rDNA-ITS区序列长度为576 bp,与GenBank拟禾本科根结线虫种群相似度均达99%以上;系统发育树明确了该根结线虫与拟禾本科根结线虫处于同一分支;特异性引物Mg-F/Mg-R检测进一步明确病原为拟禾本科根结线虫单一种群。[结论] 本研究通过形态与分子特征,明确了在福建直播稻上发现的根结线虫为拟禾本科根结线虫。拟禾本科根结线虫在福建省最早于2011年在政和县小范围水稻田发现,此后未在其他水稻种植区发现。本次在福建直播稻上首次发现大面积的根结线虫为害。随着直播稻的种植面积扩大,拟禾本根结线虫引起的水稻病害可能会成为制约其发展的新问题,应引起足够重视。     

Seasonal changes in the biomass of floating leaved plant,Trapa spp., and its relation with a leaf beetle,Galerucella nipponensis,in Lake Inba,Japan

Limnology - Trapa spp. dominate many shallow eutrophic lakes in Japan, which must affect the nutrient dynamics in lakes. Trapa spp. are utilized by several animals, in particular the leaf beetle,...     

太平洋克拉里昂-克利伯顿断裂带嘴刺目线虫多样性

从太平洋深海克拉里昂-克利伯顿断裂带(Clarion-Clipperton fracture zone,简称CC区)4个站位采集的深海沉积物样品中检出26条嘴刺目(Enoplida)线虫个体。综合应用形态学和分子生物学方法,共鉴定嘴刺目线虫6科8属,其中尖口线虫科(Oxystominidae)个体数量最多,占总数的57.7%,其次为前感线虫科(Anticomidae,19.2%)、光皮线虫科(Phanodermatidae,7.7%)、钩线虫科(Oncholaimidae,7.7%)、烙线虫科(Ironidae,3.8%)和矛线虫科(Enchelidiidae,3.8%)。科、属组成与相邻站点同期采样所获的线虫近似,而丰度组成比例有所差异。分子生物学方法获得了线虫rRNA基因序列16条,经Gen Bank数据库比对,其与已有的序列相似性范围为94%—99%,以此为依据可确定到科的水平和大部分属的水平(84.6%)。DNA条形码比对结果和形态学鉴定结果有较高一致性,表明分子条形码技术可作为深海线虫鉴定的有效手段。系统发育分析结果显示,基于18S和28S rRNA基因序列,采用不同方法构建系统发育树,其分支结构基本一致;钩线虫科和矛线虫科聚类在一起,光皮线虫科和前感线虫科聚类在一起,显示出彼此间较近的遗传关系。     

ATP-induced shrinkage of DNA with MukB protein and the MukBEF complex of Escherichia coli

Fluorescence microscopic observation of individual T4 DNA molecules revealed that the MukBEF complex (bacterial condensin) and its subunit, the MukB (a member of the SMC [structural maintenance of chromosomes] superfamily) homodimer, of Escherichia coli markedly shrunk large DNA molecules in the presence of hydrolyzable ATP. In contrast, in the presence of ADP or ATP-gammaS, the conformation of DNA was almost not changed. This suggests that the ATPase activity of subunit MukB is essential for shrinking large DNA molecules. Stretching experiments on the shrunken DNA molecules in the presence of ATP and MukBEF indicated a cross-bridging interaction between DNA molecules.