ArfGAP1 inhibits mTORC1 lysosomal localization and activation

The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) integrates nutrients, growth factors, stress, and energy status to regulate cell growth and metabolism. Amino acids promote mTORC1 lysosomal localization and subsequent activation. However, the subcellular location or interacting proteins of mTORC1 under amino acid‐deficient conditions is not completely understood. Here, we identify ADP‐ribosylation factor GTPase‐activating protein 1 (ArfGAP1) as a crucial regulator of mTORC1. ArfGAP1 interacts with mTORC1 in the absence of amino acids and inhibits mTORC1 lysosomal localization and activation. Mechanistically, the membrane curvature‐sensing amphipathic lipid packing sensor (ALPS) motifs that bind to vesicle membranes are crucial for ArfGAP1 to interact with and regulate mTORC1 activity. Importantly, ArfGAP1 represses cell growth through mTORC1 and is an independent prognostic factor for the overall survival of pancreatic cancer patients. Our study identifies ArfGAP1 as a critical regulator of mTORC1 that functions by preventing the lysosomal transport and activation of mTORC1, with potential for cancer therapeutics.     

大蒜气生鳞茎形态发生及其碳水化合物和内源激素含量以及相关基因表达的变化特征

以大蒜品种‘二水早’(早熟)、‘麻江红蒜’(中晚熟)和‘徐州白’(晚熟)为材料,采用石蜡切片技术结合显微观察探讨气生鳞茎形成过程中植株茎尖和花序轴形态变化,并测定了‘麻江红蒜’气生鳞茎形成过程中可溶性糖、蔗糖、淀粉和内源激素含量及相关基因表达变化,明确不同熟期各品种大蒜气生鳞茎形成进程和形态解剖学特征,以及碳水化合物和内源激素与大蒜气生鳞茎形成的关系,以探讨大蒜气生鳞茎分化的生理机制。结果表明:(1)依据茎尖生长点和花序轴的形态解剖特征,将气生鳞茎形成进程划分为启动期、气生鳞茎原基分化期(包括保护叶原基、贮藏叶原基分化)、气生鳞茎膨大期和气生鳞茎成熟期等4个时期;3个品种气生鳞茎在相同发育时期的形态解剖学特征相同,但分化时间不同,其分化顺序与大蒜品种成熟期表现一致;当总苞叶叶尖露出叶鞘,花器官原基分化时,花序轴周围分生组织区域产生小突起,标志着气生鳞茎原基分化的开始;外层保护叶由白色转为紫色时气生鳞茎进入成熟期。(2)气生鳞茎开始膨大后,其可溶性糖和蔗糖含量均显著降低,淀粉含量显著升高;ZR含量在启动期显著升高;IAA和MeJA含量在气生鳞茎原基分化期维持在较高水平,但IAA含量随着气生鳞茎膨大显著降低,并在成熟期降至最低。(3)果聚糖代谢相关基因1-SST、1-FEH分别在膨大初期、膨大中期表达量显著升高;细胞壁转移酶基因CWI相对表达量在气生鳞茎原基分化期显著升高;蔗糖信号转导基因T6P和生长素信号转导的关键转录因子ARF1相对表达量均在气生鳞茎分化期显著升高;茉莉酸信号调控途径中的负调控因子JAZ相对表达量在大蒜气生鳞茎原基分化期和膨大初期均维持一个较低水平。研究认为,大量可溶性糖及ZR在茎尖积累,可以启动气生鳞茎原基分化,促进气生鳞茎形态发生;高浓度IAA和MeJA可促进气生鳞茎原基分化;气生鳞茎膨大消耗可溶性糖,且低浓度IAA有利于气生鳞茎膨大;成熟的气生鳞茎积累大量淀粉。     

大蒜体细胞胚发生过程中内源激素含量及相关基因表达的变化特征

该研究以大蒜品种‘二水早’为材料,采用高效液相色谱串联质谱法(LC-MS/MS),检测了大蒜体细胞胚发生过程中花序轴(EX)、愈伤组织(CA)、早期胚性愈伤组织(PC)、后期胚性愈伤组织(LC)和球形胚(GE)阶段的5种生长素及其类似物、4种细胞分裂素(CTK)和脱落酸(ABA)含量,结合激素合成和信号转导相关基因表达量的动态变化,探讨3类激素在大蒜体细胞胚发生中的调控作用,为大蒜体细胞胚发生的激素调控提供理论依据,也为进一步研究植物体细胞胚发生的分子机理奠定基础。结果表明:(1)在大蒜体细胞胚发生过程中,生长素及其类似物含量均呈现先升高后降低的变化趋势,且在PC阶段最高而在GE阶段最低;异戊烯基腺嘌呤(IP)、反式玉米素(tZ)和ABA在EX阶段含量最高,其余4个阶段的含量均显著低于EX阶段,而顺式玉米素(cZ)在CA和PC阶段含量较高,在GE阶段含量最低。(2)在PC阶段,IAA合成基因AsYUCCA1和AsTA1以及生长素外运载体基因AsABCB1的表达量升高;在LC阶段,生长素内运载体基因AsAUX1表达量升高,生长素应答基因AsARF1和AsARF2表达量降低,cZ合成基因AsLOG1在CA阶段表达量最高,细胞分裂素运输相关基因AsENT2和信号转导相关基因AsORR-A1、AsORR-A2在PC阶段表达量最高。(3)ABA合成限速酶基因AsNCED1和AsNCED2的表达量在大蒜体细胞胚发生的后4个阶段显著低于EX阶段,ABA信号转导相关基因AsPP2C表达量在PC阶段升高,AsABI1表达量在LC阶段升高,AsPYL1表达量在GE阶段升高。研究认为,在大蒜体细胞胚发生过程中,吲哚-3-甲醛(ICAld)、吲哚-3-丁酸(IBA)和cZ的积累有助于促进大蒜愈伤组织的形成,高水平的生长素及其类似物和低水平的IP、tZ有利于大蒜早期胚性愈伤组织的形成,而低水平的生长素及其类似物、CTK和ABA更利于大蒜球形胚的形成,表明激素合成相关基因可调控内源激素含量的变化,激素信号转导相关基因参与了大蒜体细胞胚的发生。     

安徽北部地区恶性肿瘤人群卡波氏肉瘤相关疱疹病毒血清学分析

卡波氏肉瘤相关疱疹病毒是一种新发现的γ疱疹病毒(Kaposi'ssarcoma-associated herpesvirus,KSHV).在中国新疆,KSHV感染率比较高,KSHV在免疫缺陷患者和静脉吸毒者中感染率也比在普通人群中高.为了进一步研究KSHV在安徽北部地区恶性肿瘤人群中的感染率和高风险因素,初步探讨KSHV与肿瘤的发生之间相关性,研究KSHV的高发人群特点,本研究选用KSHV病毒重组蛋白ORF65、ORF 73和K8.1为抗原,利用酶联免疫吸附实验(ELISA)对500份恶性肿瘤患者血清样本及200份健康体检人群血清样本进行KSHV抗体检测,分析KSHV的感染率及危险因素.结果显示500例肿瘤患者KSHV阳性总数170例,总阳性率为34％,200份健康人群KSHV阳性总数22例,总阳性率为11％,肿瘤人群KSHV阳性率明显高于健康人群(P＜0.001).其中肺癌、肝癌、结肠癌、宫颈癌、乳腺癌样本KSHV阳性率分别为36.4％,34.1％,41.7％,28.6％,30.3％,此5组肿瘤组KSHV阳性率也分别高于健康人群,都具有统计学意义(P＜0.001).但5组肿瘤样本之间KS-HV阳性率无明显差异(P＞0.05),且各组肿瘤样本分别与性别、乙肝五项、丙肝之间无统计学意义(P＞0.05).本研究结果提示安徽北部地区恶性肿瘤患者KSHV抗体阳性率显著高于中国普通人群总体KSHV抗体阳性率,证明KSHV在恶性肿瘤人群中呈现较高比例的分布.     

小麦倒春寒研究现状与进展

由于全球气候变暖,近年来小麦低温灾害事件频发,尤其是拔节-孕穗期的倒春寒灾害已成为制约小麦产量和品质的重要因素之一。本文综述了小麦倒春寒灾害的发生特点(鉴定与分级、时空特征),倒春寒对小麦生理特性(叶片、茎秆、穗部、根系)和产量、质量的影响,总结了抗倒春寒小麦育种、倒春寒危害的分子生物学机制及灾害的监测预警与风险评估等方面的研究进展,并从小麦抗倒春寒遗传基础、倒春寒危害小麦评价体系和防控技术体系等方面进行了展望,以期为抗倒春寒小麦品种的遗传改良和栽培调控新措施的建立提供理论依据。     

Sustainability of SARS-CoV-2 Induced Humoral Immune Responses in COVID-19 Patients from Hospitalization to Convalescence Over Six Months

Virologica Sinica - Understanding the persistence of antibody in convalescent COVID-19 patients may help to answer the current major concerns such as the risk of reinfection, the protection period...     

Congruent spatial patterns of species richness and phylogenetic diversity in karst flora: Case study of Primulina (Gesneriaceae)

The karst landform in southern China is renowned for its high levels of species diversity and endemism. Globally, karst ecosystems are under threat from unsustainable anthropogenic disturbance and climate changes and are among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide. In this study, we used the typical karst endemic genus in southern China, Primulina Hance, as a model to identify areas within the karst landform with high diversity and to investigate congruence between phylogenetic and species‐based measures of diversity. Using phylogenetic information and species distribution data, we measured geographical patterns of diversity with four metrics: species richness (SR), corrected weighted endemism (CWE), phylogenetic diversity (PD), and phylogenetic endemism (PE). Our results revealed a high spatial congruence among SR, PD, and PE, with hotspot areas identified in the Nanling Mountains (i.e., north Guangdong and northeast Guangxi) and southeast Yungui Plateau (i.e., north and southwest Guangxi), whereas the hotspots of CWE are comparatively uniform throughout the geographic extent. The categorical analysis of neo‐ and paleoendemism identified a pattern of mixed neo‐ and paleoendemism in numerous grid cells, suggesting that karst areas in southern China have acted as both “museums” and “cradles” of plant evolution. Conservation gap analysis of hotspots revealed that the majority of prioritized hotspots (>90%) of the genus are outside of protected areas, therefore indicating the limited effectiveness of national nature reserves for the karst flora. Overall, our results suggest that the karst flora merits more conservation attention and SR can be an effective surrogate to capture PD in conservation planning.     

Evolution and diversity of axon guidance Robo receptor family genes

The diversity of axon guidance (AG) receptors reflects gains in complexity of the animal nervous system during evolution. Members of the Roundabout (Robo) family of receptors interact with Slit proteins and play important roles in many developmental processes, including AG and neural crest cell migration. There are four members of the Robo gene family. However, the evolutionary history of Robo family genes remain obscure. We analyzed the distribution of Robo family members in metazoan species ranging in complexity from hydras to humans. We undertook a phylogenetic analysis in metazoans, synteny analysis, and ancestral chromosome mapping in vertebrates, and detected selection pressure and functional divergence among four mammalian Robo paralogs. Based on our analysis, we proposed that the ancestral Robo gene could have undergone a tandem duplication in the vertebrate ancestor; then one round of whole genome duplication events occurred before the divergence of ancestral lamprey and gnathostome, generating four paralogs in early vertebrates. Robo4 paralog underwent segmental loss in the following evolutionary process. Our results showed that Robo3 paralog is under more powerful purifying selection pressure compared with other three paralogs, which could correlate with its unique expression pattern and function. Furthermore, we found four sites under positive selection pressure on the Ig1‐2 domains of Robo4 that might interfere with its binding to Slits ligand. Diverge analysis at the amino acid level showed that Robo4 paralog have relatively greater functional diversifications than other Robo paralogs. This coincides with the fact that Robo4 predominantly functions in vascular endothelial cells but not the nervous system.     

澳洲坚果MtMADS1-like基因的克隆与表达分析

MADS～box家族基因广泛分布于植物中,在植物花发育的整个阶段起着至关重要的作用.为了探索MADS-box基因在澳洲坚果花发育过程中的分子机理,本研究以澳洲坚果'695'为试材,采用RT-PCR及RACE技术克隆获得澳洲坚果MADS-box类转录因子基因cDNA全长,命名MtMADS1-like(GenBank登录号:MK491608).该基因全长967 bp,开放阅读框ORF长672 bp,编码223个氨基酸,5'-UTR和3'-UTR分别为58 bp和237 bp.序列分析表明,MtMADS1-like具有保守的MADS-box结构域(MADS-MEF2-like)和半保守的K-box结构域,属于Type Ⅱ型MADS-box家族基因.进化分析表明,MtMADS1-like与其他植物中MADS-box蛋白具有较高的同源性,且与猴面花(Erythranthe guttata)MADS-box家族中SVP254的同源性高达67.10％,亲缘关系最近.生物信息学分析表明MtMADS1-like属于不稳定的亲水性蛋白,不具备信号肽,属于非分泌蛋白,α-螺旋和无规则卷曲构成了二级结构的主要蛋白框架,三级结构中MADS-box结构域和K-box形成该蛋白的核心结构,并且作为转录因子定位于细胞核.qPCR分析表明,MtMADS1-like基因在不同的澳洲坚果品种中差异表达,在品种'333'中表达量最高,在品种'344'中表达量最低.研究结果为进一步验证MtMADS1-like的功能及阐明澳洲坚果花发育和开花调控的分子机制奠定了基础.     

Drought stress and plant ecotype drive microbiome recruitment in switchgrass rhizosheath

The rhizosheath, a layer of soil grains that adheres firmly to roots, is beneficial for plant growth and adaptation to drought environments. Switchgrass is a perennial C4 grass which can form contact rhizosheath under drought conditions. In this study, we characterized the microbiomes of four different rhizocompartments of two switchgrass ecotypes (Alamo and Kanlow) grown under drought or well-watered conditions via 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing. These four rhizocompartments, the bulk soil, rhizosheath soil, rhizoplane, and root endosphere, harbored both distinct and overlapping microbial communities. The root compartments (rhizoplane and root endosphere) displayed low-complexity communities dominated by Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Compared to bulk soil, Cyanobacteria and Bacteroidetes were selectively enriched, while Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were selectively depleted, in rhizosheath soil. Taxa from Proteobacteria or Firmicutes were specifically selected in Alamo or Kanlow rhizosheath soil. Following drought stress, Citrobacter and Acinetobacter were further enriched in rhizosheath soil, suggesting that rhizosheath microbiome assembly is driven by drought stress. Additionally, the ecotype-specific recruitment of rhizosheath microbiome reveals their differences in drought stress responses. Collectively, these results shed light on rhizosheath microbiome recruitment in switchgrass and lay the foundation for the improvement of drought tolerance in switchgrass by regulating the rhizosheath microbiome.