Silencing of a lipase maturation factor 2‐like gene by wheat‐mediated RNAi reduces the survivability and reproductive capacity of the grain aphid,Sitobion avenae

Lipase maturation factor (LMF) family proteins are required for the maturation and transport of active lipoprotein lipases. However, the specific roles of LMF2 remain unknown. In this study, a grain aphid lmf2‐like gene fragment was cloned and was highly similar in sequence to a homologous gene in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. An RNAi vector was constructed with this fragment and used for wheat transformation. The expression of the lmf2‐like gene in aphid, as well as the growth and reproduction of the aphids, was analyzed after feeding on the transgenic wheat. There were no significant differences in the expression of the lmf2‐like gene over development. The expression of the lmf2‐like gene was significantly reduced by 27.6% on the fifth day, and 57.6% on the 10th day after feeding. The total number of aphids produced on the transgenic plants was less than the number produced on control plants, and the difference became significant or after 2 weeks. The molting numbers were also reduced in the aphids reared on the transgenic plants. Our findings indicate that lmf2‐like genes may have potential as a target gene for the control of grain aphids and show that feeding aphids with wheat expressing lmf2‐like RNAi resulted in significant reductions in survival and reproduction.     

Polymorphism of rs3737597 in DISC1 Gene on Chromosome 1q42.2 in sALS Patients: a Chinese Han Population Case-Control Study

Although lots of genes have been revealed to relate to sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sALS), its genetic mechanisms still need to be further explored. We aimed to search the novel genetic factors of sALS and assess their contribution. We constructed an integrative dataset based on the 3227 subsignificant genes (P value?<?0.01) from two sALS-related genome-wide association studies (GWAS) (the US and Irish studies). A significant replication between both studies was confirmed by the gene set enrichment analysis in the integral level (P value?<?10^?4). Using the pathway overrepresentation analysis, we revealed the 34 shared Gene Ontology (GO) biological processes from the two independent studies (P value?<?0.01). Among these pathways, the nervous system developmental pathway (NSD function, GO:0007399) was further supported by the previously reported genes related to sALS (P value?=?3.28e?12). Importantly, four of 17 NSD-function-related target genes (disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 (DISC1), CNTN4, NRXN3, and ERBB4) presented a considerable association with sALS in both studies. To further verify the association between the NSD function target genes and sALS, we preformed a two-stage case–control study based on 500 sALS patients and 500 controls of Chinese Han populations from mainland. A polymorphism of rs3737597 in DISC1 gene involved in the nervous system developmental pathway was closely associated with sALS. The nervous system developmental pathway is a potential pathogenesis of sALS, among them, the polymorphism of rs3737597 in DISC1 might play some roles.     

High altitude flights by ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea during trans‐Himalayan migrations

Birds that migrate across high altitude mountain ranges are faced with the challenge of maintaining vigorous exercise in environments with limited oxygen. Ruddy shelducks are known to use wintering grounds south of the Tibetan Plateau at sea level and breeding grounds north of Himalayan mountain range. Therefore, it is likely these shelducks are preforming high altitude migrations. In this study we analyse satellite telemetry data collected from 15 ruddy shelduck from two populations wintering south of the Tibetan Plateau from 2007 to 2011. During north and south migrations ruddy shelduck travelled 1481 km (range 548–2671 km) and 1238 km (range 548–2689 km) respectively. We find mean maximum altitudes of birds in flight reached 5590 m (range of means 4755–6800 m) and mean maximum climb rates of 0.45 m s^–1 (range 0.23–0.74 m s^–1). The ruddy shelduck is therefore an extreme high altitude migrant that has likely evolved a range of physiological adaptations in order to complete their migrations.     

Optimized ultra-high-pressure-assisted extraction of procyanidins from lychee pericarp improves the antioxidant activity of extracts

To establish optimal ultra-high-pressure (UHP)-assisted extraction conditions for procyanidins from lychee pericarp, a response surface analysis method with four factors and three levels was adopted. The optimum conditions were as follows: 295 MPa pressure, 13 min pressure holding time, 16.0 mL/g liquid-to-solid ratio, and 70% ethanol concentration. Compared with conventional ethanol extraction and ultrasonic-assisted extraction methods, the yields of the total procyanidins, flavonoids, and phenolics extracted using the UHP process were significantly increased; consequently, the oxygen radical absorbance capacity and cellular antioxidant activity of UHP-assisted lychee pericarp extracts were substantially enhanced. LC-MS/MS and high-performance liquid chromatography quantification results for individual phenolic compounds revealed that the yield of procyanidin compounds, including epicatechin, procyanidin A2, and procyanidin B2, from lychee pericarp could be significantly improved by the UHP-assisted extraction process. This UHP-assisted extraction process is thus a practical method for the extraction of procyanidins from lychee pericarp.     

Mapping protein–protein interactions by double-REDOR-filtered magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy

REDOR-based experiments with simultaneous ¹H–¹³C and ¹H?¹⁵N dipolar dephasing are explored for investigating intermolecular protein–protein interfaces in complexes formed by a U–¹³C,¹⁵N-labeled protein and its natural abundance binding partner. The application of a double-REDOR filter (dREDOR) results in a complete dephasing of proton magnetization in the U–¹³C,¹⁵N-enriched molecule while the proton magnetization of the unlabeled binding partner is not dephased. This retained proton magnetization is then transferred across the intermolecular interface by ¹H–¹³C or ¹H–¹⁵N cross polarization, permitting to establish the residues of the U–¹³C,¹⁵N-labeled protein, which constitute the binding interface. To assign the interface residues, this dREDOR-CPMAS element is incorporated as a building block into ¹³C–¹³C correlation experiments. We established the validity of this approach on U–¹³C,¹⁵N-histidine and on a structurally characterized complex of dynactin’s U–¹³C,¹⁵N-CAP-Gly domain with end-binding protein 1 (EB1). The approach introduced here is broadly applicable to the analysis of intermolecular interfaces when one of the binding partners in a complex cannot be isotopically labeled.     

家蚕蜕皮液蛋白质双向电泳及质谱分析

蜕皮液是存在于新旧表皮之间的一层液体,在昆虫蜕皮和变态发育的过程中发挥了重要的作用。为进一步探究家蚕蜕皮液的功能,利用双向电泳技术对家蚕预蛹期及羽化前期的蜕皮液的蛋白质进行了分析,结果表明,预蛹期及羽化前期的蜕皮液中分别可以检测出超过200个蛋白点,它们主要分布在等电点4-9、分子量10-180 kDa之间。利用MALDI TOF/TOF对羽化前期蜕皮液的42个蛋白点进行了鉴定分析,结果表明34个蛋白点成功得到了鉴定,它们主要包括载脂蛋白类、蛋白酶与蛋白酶抑制剂、免疫相关蛋白、几丁质结合蛋白等,部分蛋白在预蛹期的蜕皮液和羽化前的蜕皮液之间存在明显的差异表达。为了进一步验证蛋白质组分析的结果,对其中1个差异表达明显的蛋白质Apolipoprotein D进行了进一步的分析,Q-PCR的结果表明,该蛋白主要在化蛹第1–4天存在高表达,其在羽化前蜕皮液中的高度累积暗示了它可能参与了家蚕羽化变态的过程。以上研究结果进一步丰富了人们对蜕皮液蛋白质的认识,为深入研究蜕皮液蛋白质的功能提供了一些参考。     

In vitro induction of tetraploid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ziziphus jujuba</Emphasis> Mill. var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">spinosa</Emphasis> plants from leaf explants

The genetic manipulation of Capsicum has been unsuccessful, and a large bottleneck to transferring the desired genes is due to the difficulty in regenerating whole plants through tissue culture because of its highly recalcitrant and high genotype specificity. This study aimed to investigate and establish rapid shoot regeneration from the proximal ends of the leaves of Capsicum frutescens KT-OC and BOX-RUB varieties. A maximum of 8–10 shoot buds were obtained from the margins of the proximal portion of a cotyledonary leaf explant of C. frutescens variety KT-OC on medium I containing 44.44 µM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), 5.71 µM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 10 µM silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and 1.98 mg L^?1 2-(N-morpholine) ethane sulphonic acid within 4 weeks of incubation, of which 60% of explants responded in terms of shoot buds. Petiole explants (40%) cultured on the same medium produced 2–4 shoots per explant from the distal portion. The cut portions of the cotyledonary leaf proximal portions responded well to shoot bud formation in the presence of 22.20 µM BA and 14.68 µM phenyl acetic acid (PAA), wherein 100% of explants responded in terms of shoot bud formation, with an average of 10?±?1.7 and 8?±?1.9 shoot buds per explant in KT-OC and BOX-RUB varieties, respectively. The differentiated shoots grew well and proliferated in the presence of 14.68 µM PAA?+?22.20 µM BA and 10 µM AgNO₃. Shoot elongation was obtained in presence of 1.44 µM gibberellic acid (GA₃) and 10 µM AgNO₃. These shoots were rooted on plant growth regulator-free half-strength MS medium and upon hardening; field survival rate was 70%. This reproducible regeneration method for C. frutescens, especially the Indian high pungent variety, from proximal portion of cotyledonary leaf and petiole explants, can be used for biotechnological improvement.