Size analysis of residual host cell DNA in cell culture-produced vaccines by capillary gel electrophoresis

Residual host cell DNA poses potential safety concerns for cell culture-derived vaccines or other biological products. In addition to the quantity of residual DNA, the size distribution is an important measure for determination of its associated risk factor. We have developed a new method for residual DNA size analysis, based on capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) technology with sensitive laser induced fluorescence detection (LIF). The performance of this method was optimized through empirical selection of appropriate testing conditions and optimized conditions are presented. Examples are given to demonstrate the successful employment of this method for residual DNA size analysis of cell culture-produced vaccine samples.     

Control of cell proliferation and apoptosis by mob as tumor suppressor, mats

Appropriate cell number and organ size in a multicellular organism are determined by coordinated cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis. Disruption of these processes can cause cancer. Recent studies have identified the Large tumor suppressor (Lats)/Warts (Wts) protein kinase as a key component of a pathway that controls the coordination between cell proliferation and apoptosis. Here we describe growth inhibitory functions for a Mob superfamily protein, termed Mats (Mob as tumor suppressor), in Drosophila. Loss of Mats function results in increased cell proliferation, defective apoptosis, and induction of tissue overgrowth. We show that mats and wts function in a common pathway. Mats physically associates with Wts to stimulate the catalytic activity of the Wts kinase. A human Mats ortholog (Mats1) can rescue the lethality associated with loss of Mats function in Drosophila. As Mats1 is mutated in human tumors, Mats-mediated growth inhibition and tumor suppression is likely conserved in humans.     

人工诱导异源四倍体,新四倍体及异源三倍体白鲫的细胞遗传学研究

作者比较了第一代异源四倍体鱼、异源三倍体鱼、新四倍体鱼与亲本白鲫、红鲫及其杂交一代的染色体组型。三种亲本的二倍体染色体数均为100,但其组型分组各有差异,白鲫染色体组型公式：12m＋36sm＋32st十20t,NF＝148,在亚中着丝点组中有一对特大的标记染色体;红鲫染色体组型：20m＋34sm＋26st＋20t,NF＝154;白鲫×红鲫杂种染色体组型：16m＋35sm＋29st＋20t,NF＝151,有一条与白鲫相似的特大标记染色体,证实其组型由白鲫和红鲫各提供一套染色体组组成。异源三倍体的染色体数为150,是亲本的1.5倍,染色体组型是：22m＋53sm＋45st＋30t,NF＝225,在亚中着丝点组中有一对特大标记染色体,表明异源三倍体的染色体组型含有两套白鲫染色体组和一套红鲫染色体组。第一代异源四倍体和新四倍体鱼染色体数目为其亲本的2倍,4n＝200。前者的染色体组型为：32m＋70sm＋58st＋40t,NF＝302,一对与白鲫相似的特大标记染色体明显可见,证明其染色体组型由白鲫和红鲫各提供两套染色体组。新四倍体的染色体组组型为：28m＋71sm＋61st＋40t,NF＝299,分裂相中三条特大的标记染色体较明显,推测其染色体组型由三套白鲫染色体组和一套红鲫染色体组组成。结果表明：第一代异源四倍体、异源三倍体和新四倍体与三种亲本的     

Genetic diversity of common carp from two largest Chinese lakes and the Yangtze River revealed by microsatellite markers

Six polymorphic microsatellites (eight loci) were used to study the genetic diversity and population structure of common carp from Dongting Lake (DTC), Poyang Lake (PYC), and the Yangtze River (YZC) in China. The gene diversity was high among populations with values close to 1. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 11, and the average number of alleles among 3 populations ranged from 6.5 to 7.9. The mean observed (H _O) and expected (H _E) heterozygosity ranged from 0.4888 to 0.5162 and from 0.7679 to 0.7708, respectively. Significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium expectation were found at majority of the loci and in all three populations in which heterozygote deficits were apparent. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that the percent of variance among populations and within populations were 3.03 and 96.97, respectively. The Fst values between populations indicated that there were significant genetic differentiations for the common carp populations from the Yangtze River and two largest Chinese freshwater lakes. The factors that may result in genetic divergence and significant reduction of the observed heterozygosity were discussed.     

Sox genes in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) with their implications for genome duplication and evolution

The Sox gene family is found in a broad range of animal taxa and encodes important gene regulatory proteins involved in a variety of developmental processes. We have obtained clones representing the HMG boxes of twelve Sox genes from grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), one of the four major domestic carps in China. The cloned Sox genes belong to group B1, B2 and C. Our analyses show that whereas the human genome contains a single copy of Sox4, Sox11 and Sox14, each of these genes has two co-orthologs in grass carp, and the duplication of Sox4 and Sox11 occurred before the divergence of grass carp and zebrafish, which support the "fish-specific whole-genome duplication" theory. An estimation for the origin of grass carp based on the molecular clock using Sox1, Sox3 and Sox11 genes as markers indicates that grass carp (subfamily Leuciscinae) and zebrafish (subfamily Danioninae) diverged approximately 60 million years ago. The potential uses of Sox genes as markers in revealing the evolutionary history of grass carp are discussed.     

Centromere Localization for Bighead Carp (Aristichthys nobilis) through Half-Tetrad Analysis in Diploid Gynogenetic Families

Gene-centromere (G-C) mapping provides insights into structural and behavioural properties of chromosomes. In this study, G-C mapping using microsatellite markers and meiogynogenetic (meiotic gynogenetic) families were performed in bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis, 2N = 48), which belongs to Cyprinidae. A total of 218 microsatellites were selected across 24 linkage groups (LGs) of a recently well-defined genetic linkage map for bighead carp, with 151 being heterozygous in at least one of six dams in diploid meiogynogenetic families. After tests for Mendelian segregation in two diploid control families, 103 microsatellites were used for G-C distance calculation in 383 gynogens. The second division segregation frequency (y) was computed through half-tetrad analyses, and the values ranged from 0 to 0.97 (mean 0.40). High G-C recombination frequencies (over 0.667) were observed in 18 (17.5%) of the loci examined, which revealed a low level of chiasma interferences compared with other fishes studied previously. Distribution of G-C distances across LGs ranged from 0 cM to 48.5 cM (mean 20 cM) under the assumption of complete interference. All 24 centromeres were localized according to their closest-related microsatellites at 95% confident intervals. The average distance between centromeres and their closest-linked markers was 6.1 cM with 15 out of 24 LGs having a distance below 5 cM. Based on the centromere positions in this study, we proposed a formula of 24 m/sm+24 t/st chromosomes with 92 arms for bighead carp, which was mostly in accordance with a previously reported karyotype for bighead carp (24 m/sm+24 st). These results of centromere localization provide a basic framework and important resources for genetics and comparative genomics studies in bighead carp and its closely-related cyprinid species.     

Creation of aromatic maize by CRISPR/Cas

Aroma is an important quality parameter for breeding in rice (Oryza sativa). For example, the aromatic rice varieties basmati and jasmine rice, with a popcorn-like scent, are popular worldwide and routinely command a price premium. 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) is a key flavor compound among over 200 volatiles identified in fragrant rice. A naturally fragrant germplasm exists in multiple plant species besides rice, which all exhibit lower activity of BETAINE ALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE 2 (BADH2). However, no equivalent aromatic germplasm has been described in maize (Zea mays). Here, we characterized the two maize BADH2 homologs, ZmBADH2a and ZmBADH2b. We generated zmbadh2a and zmbadh2b single mutants and the zmbadh2a-zmbadh2b double mutant by CRISPR/Cas in four inbred lines. A popcorn-like scent was only noticeable in seeds from the double mutant, but not from either single mutant or in wild type. In agreement, we only detected 2AP in fresh kernels and dried mature seeds from the double mutant, which accumulated between 0.028 and 0.723 mg/kg 2AP. These results suggest that ZmBADH2a and ZmBADH2b redundantly participate in 2AP biosynthesis in maize, and represent the creation of the world's first aromatic maize by simultaneous genome editing of the two BADH2 genes.     

克氏原螯虾用芽孢杆菌的特性及其安全性评价

为评估克氏原螯虾用产芽孢益生菌的特性和安全,本研究从市售益生菌产品中分离到19株芽孢杆菌属成员.通过测定抗菌活性、产纤维素酶活性、温度对生长影响来评价其益生菌的特性;通过测定芽孢对高温、低pH、胆汁酸盐的耐受、自聚集性和表面疏水性等评价其稳定性;通过溶血活性、抗生素敏感性、小鼠攻毒试验、克氏原螯虾饲养试验等评价其安全性.以抗菌和产纤维素酶活性、低温(15℃)生长快和无溶血活性这四项指标为标准进行筛选,结果表明:只有3株芽孢杆菌(B8,B20,B27)可成为益生菌候选株.在15℃低温时生长迅速、抗菌和产纤维素酶活性高的2株解淀粉芽孢杆菌(B14和B40)有溶血活性,能引起克氏原螯虾的肠炎,并导致肠道菌群中气单胞菌丰度显著上升.因此,在克氏原螯虾用芽孢杆菌益生菌的选择中,不仅要关注益生功能,更要考虑其安全性.本研究结果为芽孢杆菌在动物保护产品中科学评价和合理使用提供参考.