Mitogenomes provide new insights of evolutionary history of Boreheptagyiini and Diamesini (Diptera: Chironomidae: Diamesinae)

Mitogenomes have been widely used for phylogenetic reconstruction of various Dipteran groups, but specifically for chironomid, they have not been carried out to resolve the relationships. Diamesinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) are important bioindicators for freshwater ecosystem monitoring, but its evolutionary history remains uncertain for lack of information. Here, coupled with one previously published and 30 new mitogenomes of Diamesinae, we carried out comparative mitogenomic analysis and phylogenetic analysis. Mitogenomes of Diamesinae were conserved in structure, and all genes arranged in the same order as the ancestral insect mitogenome. All protein‐coding genes in Diamesinae were under stronger purifying selection than those of other nonbiting midge species, which may exhibit signs of adaptation to life at cold living conditions. Phylogenetic analyses strongly supported the monophyly of Diamesinae, with Boreheptagyiini deeply nested within Diamesini. In addition, phylogenetic relationship of selected six genera was resolved, except Sympotthastia remained unstable. Our study revealed that the mitogenomes of Diamesinae are highly conserved, and they are practically useful for phylogenetic inference.     

SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like pathological damages and constitutes an antiviral target

Cytokine storm and multi-organ failure are the main causes of SARS-CoV-2-related death. However, the origin of excessive damages caused by SARS-CoV-2 remains largely unknown. Here we show that the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (2-E) protein alone is able to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like damages in vitro and in vivo. 2-E proteins were found to form a type of pH-sensitive cation channels in bilayer lipid membranes. As observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells, heterologous expression of 2-E channels induced rapid cell death in various susceptible cell types and robust secretion of cytokines and chemokines in macrophages. Intravenous administration of purified 2-E protein into mice caused ARDS-like pathological damages in lung and spleen. A dominant negative mutation lowering 2-E channel activity attenuated cell death and SARS-CoV-2 production. Newly identified channel inhibitors exhibited potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and excellent cell protective activity in vitro and these activities were positively correlated with inhibition of 2-E channel. Importantly, prophylactic and therapeutic administration of the channel inhibitor effectively reduced both the viral load and secretion of inflammation cytokines in lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE-2). Our study supports that 2-E is a promising drug target against SARS-CoV-2.Subject terms: Cell death, Molecular biology     

Rapid improvement of rice eating and cooking quality through gene editing toward glutelin as target

Rice eating and cooking quality(ECQ) is a major concern of breeders and consumers, determining market competitiveness worldwide. Rice grain protein content(GPC) is negatively related to ECQ,making it possible to improve ECQ by manipulating GPC. However, GPC is genetically complex and sensitive to environmental conditions; therefore, little progress has been made in traditional breeding for ECQ. Here, we report that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of genes encoding the grain storage protein gluteli...     

哺乳动物毛被传热性能及其影响因素

毛被能够加强或减弱动物向周围环境的热量散失,毛被的形态结构和颜色是传热性能的决定因素,其传热过程往往是传导、对流和辐射3个过程的耦合。以往研究发现环境因子中,风可增加机体向环境中的散热速率,且散失量与风速正相关,且动物通过调节在风场中的姿态来适应不同风向。动物体与环境间的温差是影响散热速率的另一因素,不同环境中的动物通过改变毛被结构来适应温差变化。毛被含水率上升会引起导热和蒸发冷却作用加强,动物通过行为或毛被结构变化来调节毛被含水率。毛色决定毛被吸收和反射热辐射的能力。毛被传热性能直接把动物的生理特点与环境因子关联起来,这对揭示动物的适应、进化都具有重要意义。同时提出,毛被结构和传热性能的研究还有助于仿生学意义的挖掘。因此,今后应重点在毛被结构和物理性能、研究技术与方法以及毛被生物学和仿生学意义等方面开展研究。     

乳酸菌微机检索软件的开发

以现有乳酸菌信息为依据,利用汉字foxbase^＋2．10进行数据处理,研制出一套乳酸菌微机检索软件。该软件的特点：检索速度快,途径灵活,增添、修改、删除、打印方便,各模块性能优良,实用性强。     

盐增强培养对弗氏链霉菌产新霉素的影响

目的:弗氏链霉菌(Streptomyces fradiae)作为氨基糖苷类抗生素新霉素的主要生产菌株,其新霉素B具有抗菌活性强、抗癌、抗HIV等作用,提高新霉素B的效价具有重要意义.方法:在满足微生物正常生长所需盐离子的条件下,通过盐增强培养的方式向培养基中添加不同种类、浓度无机盐来改变细胞壁附近的理化特性、渗透压以及...     

有关彩色真菌培养基的应用

彩色真菌培养基具有选择性强、分辨率高、易生长、易观察的特点。在真菌培养方面优于其它培养基,其主要作用机理在于应用了化学生物效应促进真菌生长。     

体外重构STUB1介导α-1抗胰蛋白酶突变体Z蛋白泛素化修饰反应体系

α-1抗胰蛋白酶Z型突变体蛋白(α-1 antitrypsin Z-mutant protein, ATZ)是引发α-1抗胰蛋白酶缺陷症(α-1 antitrypsin deficiency, AATD)的主要原因,研究ATZ蛋白的泛素化修饰和降解对于治疗AATD具有重要意义。STUB1是一种重要的E3泛素连接酶,参与调节多种蛋白质的泛素化修饰。然而,STUB1是否参与ATZ的泛素化修饰尚未明确。本研究首先将ATZ和STUB1的编码基因克隆到pET28a质粒,构建了这2个蛋白的表达质粒。随后,将重组质粒转入大肠杆菌表达系统,在优化诱导条件实现了重组蛋白的异源表达。通过金属螯合亲和层析技术纯化得到目的蛋白,并通过蛋白质谱分析验证了其氨基酸序列的准确性。利用纯化的ATZ和STUB1重组蛋白,构建了一个体外泛素化修饰反应体系。实验结果显示,在ATP、E1泛素激活酶和E2泛素结合酶的协同作用下,STUB1成功催化了ATZ的泛素化修饰。本研究提供了一种体外获得Z型突变体ATZ纯化蛋白的方法,并确认了STUB1介导ATZ的泛素化修饰功能,推进了对α-1抗胰蛋白酶Z型突变体蛋白在细胞内降解过程的调控机制的理解。