The Cancer Mutation D83V Induces an α-Helix to β-Strand Conformation Switch in MEF2B

MEF2B is a major target of somatic mutations in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Most of these mutations are non-synonymous substitutions of surface residues in the MADS-box/MEF2 domain. Among them, D83V is the most frequent mutation found in tumor cells. The link between this hotspot mutation and cancer is not well understood. Here we show that the D83V mutation induces a dramatic α-helix to β-strand switch in the MEF2 domain. Located in an α-helix region rich in β-branched residues, the D83V mutation not only removes the extensive helix stabilization interactions but also introduces an additional β-branched residue that further shifts the conformation equilibrium from α-helix to β-strand. Cross-database analyses of cancer mutations and chameleon sequences revealed a number of well-known cancer targets harboring β-strand favoring mutations in chameleon α-helices, suggesting a commonality of such conformational switch in certain cancers and a new factor to consider when stratifying the rapidly expanding cancer mutation data.     

Characterization of a Novel Intestinal Glycerol-3-phosphate Acyltransferase Pathway and Its Role in Lipid Homeostasis

Dietary triglycerides (TG) are absorbed by the enterocytes of the small intestine after luminal hydrolysis into monacylglycerol and fatty acids. Before secretion on chylomicrons, these lipids are reesterified into TG, primarily through the monoacylglycerol pathway. However, targeted deletion of the primary murine monoacylglycerol acyltransferase does not quantitatively affect lipid absorption, suggesting the existence of alternative pathways. Therefore, we investigated the role of the glycerol 3-phosphate pathway in dietary lipid absorption. The expression of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT3) was examined throughout the small intestine. To evaluate the role for GPAT3 in lipid absorption, mice harboring a disrupted GPAT3 gene (Gpat3^−/−) were subjected to an oral lipid challenge and fed a Western-type diet to characterize the role in lipid and cholesterol homeostasis. Additional mechanistic studies were performed in primary enterocytes. GPAT3 was abundantly expressed in the apical surface of enterocytes in the small intestine. After an oral lipid bolus, Gpat3^−/− mice exhibited attenuated plasma TG excursion and accumulated lipid in the enterocytes. Electron microscopy studies revealed a lack of lipids in the lamina propria and intercellular space in Gpat3^−/− mice. Gpat3^−/− enterocytes displayed a compensatory increase in the synthesis of phospholipid and cholesteryl ester. When fed a Western-type diet, hepatic TG and cholesteryl ester accumulation was significantly higher in Gpat3^−/− mice compared with the wild-type mice accompanied by elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, a marker of liver injury. Dysregulation of bile acid metabolism was also evident in Gpat3-null mice. These studies identify GPAT3 as a novel enzyme involved in intestinal lipid metabolism.     

Diploid hybrid origin of Hippophaë gyantsensis (Elaeagnaceae) in the western Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Homoploid hybrid speciation, the origin of a hybrid species without change in chromosome number, is currently considered to be a rare form of speciation. In the present study, we examined the phylogenetic origin of Hippophaë gyantsensis, a diploid species occurring in the western Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Some of its morphological and molecular traits suggest a close relationship to H. rhamnoides ssp. yunnanensis while others indicate H. neurocarpa. We conducted phylogenetic analyses of sequence data of two maternally inherited chloroplast (cp) DNA fragments and the bi‐parentally inherited nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) from 17 populations of H. gyantsensis, 15 populations of H. rhamnoides ssp. yunnanensis and 27 populations of H. neurocarpa across their distributional ranges, and modelled the niche differentiation of the three taxa. Multiple lines of evidence suggested that H. gyantsensis is a morphologically stable, genetically independent and ecologically distinct species. The inconsistent phylogenetic placements of the H. gyantsensis clade that comprised the dominant cpDNA haplotypes and ITS ribotypes suggested a probable diploid hybrid origin from multiple crosses between H. rhamnoides ssp. yunnanensis and H. neurocarpa. This tentative hypothesis is more parsimonious than alternative explanations according to the data available, although more evidence based on further testing is needed.     

Didymodon liae sp. nov. (Pottiaceae) from Tibet,China

Didymodon liae J. Kou, X.‐M. Shao & C. Feng sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Dagzê County in south central Tibet, China. The new species is most similar to Didymodon australasiae (Hook. & Grev.) R. H. Zander, but differs in plants growing loosely in a thin turf, stems without hyalodermis and sclerodermis, margins recurved from just above the base nearly to the apex, laminal cells strongly bulging, mammillose, covered with simple or forked papillae, and costa with a layer of ventral substereids. The new species is contrasted with other similar species of the genus. Information on its distribution and ecology is also provided.     

Dynamic reprogramming of histone acetylation and methylation in the first cell cycle of cloned mouse embryos

Epigenetic reprogramming is thought to play an important role in the development of cloned embryos reconstructed by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). In the present study, dynamic reprogramming of histone acetylation and methylation modifications was investigated in the first cell cycle of cloned embryos. Our results demonstrated that part of somatic inherited lysine acetylation on core histones (H3K9, H3K14, H4K16) could be quickly deacetylated following SCNT, and reacetylation occurred following activation treatment. However, acetylation marks of the other lysine residues on core histones (H4K8, H4K12) persisted in the genome of cloned embryos with only mild deacetylation occurring in the process of SCNT and activation treatment. The somatic cloned embryos established histone acetylation modifications resembling those in normal embryos produced by intracytoplasmic sperm injection through these two different programs. Moreover, treatment of cloned embryos with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, Trichostatin A (TSA), improved the histone acetylation in a manner similar to that in normal embryos, and the improved histone acetylation in cloned embryos treated with TSA might contribute to improved development of TSA-treated clones. In contrast to the asymmetric histone H3K9 tri- and dimethylation present in the parental genomes of fertilized embryos, the tri- and dimethylations of H3K9 were gradually demethylated in the cloned embryos, and this histone H3K9 demethylation may be crucial for gene activation of cloned embryos. Together, our results indicate that dynamic reprogramming of histone acetylation and methylation modifications in cloned embryos is developmentally regulated.     

Effects of Low Temperature on Photosynthesis in Flag Leaves of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

After low temperature (16℃) treatment, the net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content and FBPase activity tended to decrease and ratio of chlorophyll a/b, stomatal resistance, sucrose and starch content tended to increase in rice flag leaves at heading stage. However, the Pi content and water potential did not show pronounced change. The flag leaf chloroplasts contained large starch grains after three days at low temperature. The recovery of net photosynthetic rate in the flag leaves which had recieved stress at 16℃ for three days and transferred to normal nature condition was gradually increased. It almost came up to the value of control after five days. However, the decrease in stomatal resistance was rapid. It was almost lowered to the value of control after one day. Under normal nature comdition for five days, the chlorophyll content and FBPase activity reached near to the value of control. Meanwhile, the ratio of chlorophyll a/b, the sucrose and starch content almost declined to the value of control. The large starch grain in flag leaf chloroplast also disappeared. According to the experimental results, we discussed the relationship between the above-mentioned various changes and net photosynthetic rate We suggested that the effect of low temperature on photosynthesis might be one of factors in yield-reduction of rice.     

开封沙地试验区不同作物种植方式的综合效益评价

开封沙区地处河南省沙区腹地,风沙灾害严重,旱涝灾害频繁,地力瘠薄,严重障碍着沙区农牧业生产的发展。因此,自１９８３年在国家科技攻关的基础上建立了开封沙地试验区,探索平原沙区农业生产的发展模式。尤其是“八五”攻关期间,深化农林牧复合生态系统的优化研究,...     

池蝶蚌线粒体基因组双单性遗传现象分析

部分双壳贝类的线粒体遗传方式不同于标准的母系遗传(SMI),被称为双单性遗传现象(DUI)。池蝶蚌(Hyriopsis schlegelii)是淡水双壳贝类,是否存在双单性遗传现象?本文采用普通PCR扩增、SHOT-GUN测序及软件拼接获得了雄性池蝶蚌线粒体基因组(以下简称Hs-mtDNA)全序列,并与本实验室已报道的雌性池蝶蚌线粒体基因组全序列进行差异性分析。结果表明,雄性和雌性Hs-mtDNA全长分别为15961 bp和15939 bp,雄性比雌性长22 bp,雌雄线粒体基因组成与排列顺序一致。各蛋白编码基因的碱基数目均一致,碱基转换率为1.01%～7.34%,颠换率为0.00%～0.62%,氨基酸差异率为0.00%～9.35%;其中,COX1基因变异率为2.72%;COX2基因碱基变异率最高,达7.50%,雄性COX2的3'末端没有出现编码延伸区。雄性12S rRNA基因发生5 bp的碱基转换,差异率为0.6%;16S rRNA基因比雌性长9 bp,碱基差异率仅为1.2%。雌雄tRNA-His均位于H链上,介于COX2与ND3之间,没有出现位置的差异性。雌雄Hs-mtDNA的非编码区共有28个1～393 bp的片段,但未见控制区。在tRNA-Glu与tRNA-Tyr间有一段长393 bp的非编码区存在蛋白质翻译功能,但非雄性特异性蛋白。以COX1基因建立系统进化树,池蝶蚌和三角帆蚌(H.cumingii)聚在一起,而含有双单性遗传现象的无齿蚌属的Pyganodon grandis、小方蚌亚科的Venustaconcha ellipsiformis及小方形蚌属的Quadrula quadrula三者雄性聚为一支,雌性聚为一支。因此,雌雄池蝶蚌线粒体存在一定的差异性,但其差异要比其他具有双单性遗传现象的淡水双壳类小得多,且池蝶蚌线粒体遗传可能不存在双单性遗传现象。     

Didymodon mesopapillosus sp. nov. (Pottiaceae) from Tibet,China

Didymodon mesopapillosus J. Kou, X.‐M. Shao & C. Feng is described and illustrated as a new species from Tibet, China. It is characterized mainly by its ovate to ovate‐lanceolate leaves appressed to weakly erect when dry, margins recurved from leaf base to apex, laminal cell superficial walls markedly thicker than the internal walls, laminal papillae present only on both sides of costa, short‐excurrent costa, undifferentiated basal cells and differentiated perichaetial leaves. This species is compared with similar species and its ecology is discussed.