Genome‐wide scans to detect positive selection in Large White and Tongcheng pigs

Due to the direction, intensity, duration and consistency of genetic selection, especially recent artificial selection, the production performance of domestic pigs has been greatly changed. Therefore, we reasoned that there must be footprints or selection signatures that had been left during domestication. In this study, with porcine 60K BeadChip genotyping data from both commercial Large White and local Chinese Tongcheng pigs, we calculated the extended haplotype homozygosity values of the two breeds using the long‐range haplotype method to detect selection signatures. We found 34 candidate regions, including 61 known genes, from Large White pigs and 25 regions comprising 57 known genes from Tongcheng pigs. Many selection signatures were found on SSC1, SSC4, SSC7 and SSC14 regions in both populations. According to quantitative trait loci and network pathway analyses, most of the regions and genes were linked to growth, reproduction and immune responses. In addition, the average genetic differentiation coefficient F_ST was 0.254, which means that there had already been a significant differentiation between the breeds. The findings from this study can contribute to further research on molecular mechanisms of pig evolution and domestication and also provide valuable references for improvement of their breeding and cultivation.     

Classical Raman spectroscopic studies of NADH and NAD+ bound to lactate dehydrogenase by difference techniques

The binding of the coenzymes NAD+ and NADH to lactate dehydrogenase causes significant changes in the Raman spectra of both of these molecules relative to spectra obtained in the absence of enzyme. The molecular motions of the bound adenine moiety of both NAD+ and NADH as well as adenine containing analogues of these coenzymes produce Raman bands that are essentially identical, suggesting that the binding of adenine to the enzyme is the same regardless of the nicotinamide head-group nature. We also have observed that the molecular motions of the bound adenine moiety are different from both those obtained when it is in either water, various hydrophobic solvents, or various other solvent compositions. Protonation of the bound adenine ring at the 3-position is offered as a possible explanation. Significant shifts are observed in both the stretching frequency of the carboxamide carbonyl of NAD+ and the rocking motion of the carboxamide NH2 group of NADH. These shifts are probably caused by hydrogen bonding with the enzyme. The interaction energies of these hydrogen-bonding patterns are discussed. The aromatic nature of the nicotinamide moiety of NAD+ appears to be unchanged upon binding. Pronounced changes in the Raman spectrum of the nicotinamide moiety of NADH are observed upon binding; some of these changes are understood and discussed. Finally, these results are compared to analogous results that were recently reported for liver alcohol dehydrogenase [Chen et al. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 4776-4784]. In general, the coenzyme binding properties are found to be quite similar, but not identical, for the two enzymes.     

香薷中的化学成分

从香[Eltholtzia ciliata(Thund.)Hyland]中分出14个化合物,用波谱和化学等方法确定为6-甲基三十三烷(Ⅰ),13-环己基二十六烷(Ⅱ),β-谷甾醇(Ⅲ),棕榈酸(Ⅳ_a),亚油酸(Ⅳ_b),亚麻酸(Ⅳ_c),熊果酸(Ⅴ),5-羟基-6、7-二甲氧基黄酮(Ⅵ),5-羟基-7、8-二甲氧基黄酮(Ⅶ),5、7-二羟基-4′-甲氧基黄酮(Ⅷ),5-羟基-7、4′-二甲氧基双氢黄酮醇(Ⅸ),β-谷甾醇-3-β-D-葡萄糖甙(Ⅹ),5-羟基-6-甲基-7-O-α-D-半乳吡喃糖双氢黄酮甙(Ⅺ),刺槐素-7-O-β-D-葡萄糖甙(Ⅻ)。其中化合物Ⅺ为新化合物,除(Ⅳ_b)和(Ⅳ_c)外,其余为首次从该属植物中得到。     

Flavonoids as superoxide scavengers and antioxidants

The superoxide anions scavenging activity and antioxidation of seven flavonoids--quercetin, rutin, morin, acacetin, hispidulin, hesperidin, and naringin--were studied. The superoxide anions were generated in a phenazin methosulphate-NADH system and were assayed by reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. The scavenging activity ranked: rutin was the strongest, and quercetin and naringin the second, while morin and hispidulin were very weak. The concentration values yielding 50% inhibition of lipid peroxidation in mouse liver homogenate were in order of 10(-6) M for quercetin, rutin, and morin; and of 10(-5) M for acacetin and hispidulin, while naringin and hesperidin had no antioxidative action. In comparison with the antioxidative and scavenging activities of flavonoids, there are no correlations.     

金线鲃属鱼类一新种(鲤形目:鲤科)

作者于1986年6月在贵州盘县一溶洞的水体中采到金线鲃属鱼类一新种,命名为角金线鲃,新种Sinocyclocheilus angularis sp. nov.。本新种形状怪异,头背缘末端具一朝前的角状突,其内有顶骨突;眼正常;侧线鳞明显;鳔后室发达等特征而易与金线鲃属其他种相区别。