南荻纤维素合成的相关生理特性

为探明南获纤维素合成相关的生理特性,研究了盆栽条件下南荻生长过程中IAA、ABA含量和纤维素合成关键酶（蔗糖合成酶、β-1,3-葡聚糖酶）活性的变化及其与纤维素含量间的关系。结果显示,在整个生育期,叶片中IAA含量、蔗糖合成酶活性和β-1,3-葡聚糖酶活性变化趋势一致,均呈先升高后降低的单峰曲线变化;叶片中ABA含量与茎秆蔗糖含量均先降低后增加再降低;茎秆纤维素、半纤维素和木质素含量均随生育进程呈现升高趋势。生育前期为调控纤维素合成的关键时期,此时ABA／IAA比值下降,蔗糖合成酶和β-1,3-葡聚糖酶活性快速上升,有利于纤维素的快速积累。     

Editor's choice: High-Resolution Linkage and Quantitative Trait Locus Mapping Aided by Genome Survey Sequencing: Building Up An Integrative Genomic Framework for a Bivalve Mollusc

Genetic linkage maps are indispensable tools in genetic and genomic studies. Recent development of genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) methods holds great promise for constructing high-resolution linkage maps in organisms lacking extensive genomic resources. In the present study, linkage mapping was conducted for a bivalve mollusc (Chlamys farreri) using a newly developed GBS method—2b-restriction site-associated DNA (2b-RAD). Genome survey sequencing was performed to generate a preliminary reference genome that was utilized to facilitate linkage and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in C. farreri. A high-resolution linkage map was constructed with a marker density (3806) that has, to our knowledge, never been achieved in any other molluscs. The linkage map covered nearly the whole genome (99.5%) with a resolution of 0.41 cM. QTL mapping and association analysis congruously revealed two growth-related QTLs and one potential sex-determination region. An important candidate QTL gene named PROP1, which functions in the regulation of growth hormone production in vertebrates, was identified from the growth-related QTL region detected on the linkage group LG3. We demonstrate that this linkage map can serve as an important platform for improving genome assembly and unifying multiple genomic resources. Our study, therefore, exemplifies how to build up an integrative genomic framework in a non-model organism.     

Comparative population genomics reveals the domestication history of the peach,Prunus persica,and human influences on perennial fruit crops

Background

Recently, many studies utilizing next generation sequencing have investigated plant evolution and domestication in annual crops. Peach, Prunus persica, is a typical perennial fruit crop that has ornamental and edible varieties. Unlike other fruit crops, cultivated peach includes a large number of phenotypes but few polymorphisms. In this study, we explore the genetic basis of domestication in peach and the influence of humans on its evolution.

Results

We perform large-scale resequencing of 10 wild and 74 cultivated peach varieties, including 9 ornamental, 23 breeding, and 42 landrace lines. We identify 4.6 million SNPs, a large number of which could explain the phenotypic variation in cultivated peach. Population analysis shows a single domestication event, the speciation of P. persica from wild peach. Ornamental and edible peach both belong to P. persica, along with another geographically separated subgroup, Prunus ferganensis.We identify 147 and 262 genes under edible and ornamental selection, respectively. Some of these genes are associated with important biological features. We perform a population heterozygosity analysis in different plants that indicates that free recombination effects could affect domestication history. By applying artificial selection during the domestication of the peach and facilitating its asexual propagation, humans have caused a sharp decline of the heterozygote ratio of SNPs.

Conclusions

Our analyses enhance our knowledge of the domestication history of perennial fruit crops, and the dataset we generated could be useful for future research on comparative population genomics.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13059-014-0415-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Dictyostelium discoideum Dgat2 Can Substitute for the Essential Function of Dgat1 in Triglyceride Production but Not in Ether Lipid Synthesis

Triacylglycerol (TAG), the common energy storage molecule, is formed from diacylglycerol and a coenzyme A-activated fatty acid by the action of an acyl coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT). In order to conduct this step, most organisms rely on more than one enzyme. The two main candidates in Dictyostelium discoideum are Dgat1 and Dgat2. We show, by creating single and double knockout mutants, that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized Dgat1 enzyme provides the predominant activity, whereas the lipid droplet constituent Dgat2 contributes less activity. This situation may be opposite from what is seen in mammalian cells. Dictyostelium Dgat2 is specialized for the synthesis of TAG, as is the mammalian enzyme. In contrast, mammalian DGAT1 is more promiscuous regarding its substrates, producing diacylglycerol, retinyl esters, and waxes in addition to TAG. The Dictyostelium Dgat1, however, produces TAG, wax esters, and, most interestingly, also neutral ether lipids, which represent a significant constituent of lipid droplets. Ether lipids had also been found in mammalian lipid droplets, but the role of DGAT1 in their synthesis was unknown. The ability to form TAG through either Dgat1 or Dgat2 activity is essential for Dictyostelium to grow on bacteria, its natural food substrate.     

山核桃林集约经营过程中土壤有机碳和微生物功能多样性的变化

研究集约经营时间为5、10、15、20 a山核桃林的土壤有机碳和微生物功能多样性的演变规律.结果表明: 天然混交林改造为山核桃纯林并经强度经营后,林地土壤有机碳(TOC)、微生物生物量碳(MBC)、水溶性有机碳(WSOC)含量显著下降,但有机碳库的稳定性增强.与天然山核桃 阔叶混交林(0 a)相比,经过5 a的强度经营,TOC、MBC、WSOC含量分别下降28.4%、34.1%和53.3%,20 a后分别下降38.6%、48.9%和64.1%,土壤有机碳组分中的芳香碳、酚基碳和羰基碳比例提高,芳香度提高了23.0%.山核桃的强度经营降低了土壤微生物功能多样性,0、5 a与10、15、20 a土壤微生物活性的平均颜色变化率(AWCD)值差异显著,Shannon指数(H)和均匀度指数(E)在0、5 a与15、20 a间差异显著.林地土壤TOC、WSOC、MBC、AWCD、H和E等6个指标两两之间均显著相关.     

BALB/c小鼠子宫内膜异位症痛经模型的建立

目的建立近交系BALB/c小鼠子宫内膜异位症痛经模型。方法采用自体移植法将小鼠自体子宫组织块移植到腹膜,复制子宫内膜异位症模型,将术后的小鼠随机分为4组,手术+雌激素+缩宫素组、手术+雌激素组、手术+缩宫素组、手术组,并设假手术组和雌激素+缩宫素组,术后1~12 d采用不同方案诱发小鼠扭体反应,记录扭体潜伏期及扭体次数,并取异位灶行HE染色和病理组织学观察,筛选建立内异症痛经模型的最佳方案。结果除假手术组、雌激素+缩宫素组外,各组小鼠移植物均生长良好,镜下可见子宫内膜腺体及间质细胞,证实内异症造模成功,与手术+缩宫素组、手术组相比,手术+雌激素+缩宫素组、手术+雌激素组移植物体积明显增大,差异有显著性(P0.01);手术+雌激素+缩宫素组扭体发生率100%,雌激素+缩宫素组扭体发生率80%,手术+缩宫素组扭体发生率50%,其余组未出现扭体反应,组间差异有显著性(P0.01);与手术+缩宫素组、雌激素+缩宫素组相比,手术+雌激素+缩宫素组扭体潜伏期明显缩短(P0.01,P0.05),扭体次数明显增多(P0.01,P0.05),差异有显著性。结论手术+雌激素+缩宫素组为建立内异症痛经模型的最佳方案,方法简单易行,可用于内异症痛经发病机制及药物治疗研究。     

Whole Brain Radiotherapy Plus Concurrent Chemotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases: A Meta-Analysis

Objective

The aim of the present meta-analysis is to evaluate the response rate, median survival time (MST) and toxicity in patients with brain metastases (BM) originating from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and who were treated using either whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) plus concurrent chemotherapy or WBRT alone.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, clinical trials and current controlled trials were searched to identify any relevant publications. After screening the literature and undertaking quality assessment and data extraction, the meta-analysis was performed using Stata11.0 software.

Results

In total, six randomized controlled trials (RCT) involving 910 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The results of the analysis indicate that WBRT plus concurrent chemotherapy was more effective at improving response rate (RR = 2.06, 95% CI [1.13, 3.77]; P = 0.019) than WBRT alone. However, WBRT plus concurrent chemotherapy did not improve median survival time (MST) (HR = 1.09, 95%CI [0.94, 1.26]; P = 0.233) or time of neurological progression (CNS-TTP) (HR = 0.93, 95%CI [0.75, 1.16]; P = 0.543), and increased adverse events (Grade≥3) (RR = 2.59, 95% CI [1.88, 3.58]; P = 0.000). There were no significant differences in Grade 3–5 neurological or hematological toxicity between two patient groups (RR = 1.08, 95%CI [0.23, 5.1]; P = 0.92).

Conclusion

The combination of chemotherapy plus WBRT in patients with BM originating from NSCLC may increase treatment response rates of brain metastases with limited toxicity. Although the therapy schedule did not prolong MST or CNS-TTP, further assessment is warranted.     

Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Reveals Novel USH2A Mutations Associated with Diverse Disease Phenotypes: Implications for Clinical and Molecular Diagnosis

USH2A mutations have been implicated in the disease etiology of several inherited diseases, including Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2), nonsyndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and nonsyndromic deafness. The complex genetic and phenotypic spectrums relevant to USH2A defects make it difficult to manage patients with such mutations. In the present study, we aim to determine the genetic etiology and to characterize the correlated clinical phenotypes for three Chinese pedigrees with nonsyndromic RP, one with RP sine pigmento (RPSP), and one with USH2. Family histories and clinical details for all included patients were reviewed. Ophthalmic examinations included best corrected visual acuities, visual field measurements, funduscopy, and electroretinography. Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) was applied using two sequence capture arrays to reveal the disease causative mutations for each family. Genotype-phenotype correlations were also annotated. Seven USH2A mutations, including four missense substitutions (p.P2762A, p.G3320C, p.R3719H, and p.G4763R), two splice site variants (c.8223+1G>A and c.8559-2T>C), and a nonsense mutation (p.Y3745*), were identified as disease causative in the five investigated families, of which three reported to have consanguineous marriage. Among all seven mutations, six were novel, and one was recurrent. Two homozygous missense mutations (p.P2762A and p.G3320C) were found in one individual family suggesting a potential double hit effect. Significant phenotypic divergences were revealed among the five families. Three families of the five families were affected with early, moderated, or late onset RP, one with RPSP, and the other one with USH2. Our study expands the genotypic and phenotypic variability relevant to USH2A mutations, which would help with a clear insight into the complex genetic and phenotypic spectrums relevant to USH2A defects, and is complementary for a better management of patients with such mutations. We have also demonstrated that a targeted NGS approach is a valuable tool for the genetic diagnosis of USH2 and RP.