Identification of genes related to white and black plumage formation by RNA-Seq from white and black feather bulbs in ducks

To elucidate the genes involved in the formation of white and black plumage in ducks, RNA from white and black feather bulbs of an F(2) population were analyzed using RNA-Seq. A total of 2,642 expressed sequence tags showed significant differential expression between white and black feather bulbs. Among these tags, 186 matched 133 annotated genes that grouped into 94 pathways. A number of genes controlling melanogenesis showed differential expression between the two types of feather bulbs. This differential expression was confirmed by qPCR analysis and demonstrated that Tyr (Tyrosinase) and Tyrp1 (Tyrosinase-related protein-1) were expressed not in W-W (white feather bulb from white dorsal plumage) and W-WB (white feather bulb from white-black dorsal plumage) but in B-B (black feather bulb from black dorsal plumage) and B-WB (black feather bulb from white-black dorsal plumage) feather bulbs. Tyrp2 (Tyrosinase-related protein-2) gene did not show expression in the four types of feather bulbs but expressed in retina. C-kit (The tyrosine kinase receptor) expressed in all of the samples but the relative mRNA expression in B-B or B-WB was approximately 10 fold higher than that in W-W or W-WB. Additionally, only one of the two Mitf isoforms was associated with plumage color determination. Downregulation of c-Kit and Mitf in feather bulbs may be the cause of white plumage in the duck.     

Fine mapping of the Bsr1 barley stripe mosaic virus resistance gene in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon

The ND18 strain of Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) infects several lines of Brachypodium distachyon, a recently developed model system for genomics research in cereals. Among the inbred lines tested, Bd3-1 is highly resistant at 20 to 25 °C, whereas Bd21 is susceptible and infection results in an intense mosaic phenotype accompanied by high levels of replicating virus. We generated an F(6:7) recombinant inbred line (RIL) population from a cross between Bd3-1 and Bd21 and used the RILs, and an F(2) population of a second Bd21 × Bd3-1 cross to evaluate the inheritance of resistance. The results indicate that resistance segregates as expected for a single dominant gene, which we have designated Barley stripe mosaic virus resistance 1 (Bsr1). We constructed a genetic linkage map of the RIL population using SNP markers to map this gene to within 705 Kb of the distal end of the top of chromosome 3. Additional CAPS and Indel markers were used to fine map Bsr1 to a 23 Kb interval containing five putative genes. Our study demonstrates the power of using RILs to rapidly map the genetic determinants of BSMV resistance in Brachypodium. Moreover, the RILs and their associated genetic map, when combined with the complete genomic sequence of Brachypodium, provide new resources for genetic analyses of many other traits.     

Halohasta litorea gen. nov. sp. nov., and Halohasta litchfieldiae sp. nov., isolated from the Daliang aquaculture farm, China and from Deep Lake, Antarctica, respectively

Two halophilic archaeal strains, R30^T and tADL^T, were isolated from an aquaculture farm in Dailing, China, and from Deep Lake, Antarctica, respectively. Both have rod-shaped cells that lyse in distilled water, stain Gram-negative and form red-pigmented colonies. They are neutrophilic, require >120?g/l NaCl and 48–67?g/l MgCl₂ for growth but differ in their optimum growth temperatures (30?°C, tADL^T vs. 40?°C, R30^T). The major polar lipids were typical for members of the Archaea but also included a major glycolipid chromatographically identical to sulfated mannosyl glucosyl diether (S-DGD-1). The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the two strains are 97.4?% identical, show most similarity to genes of the family Halobacteriaceae, and cluster together as a distinct clade in phylogenetic tree reconstructions. The rpoB′ gene similarity between strains R30^T and tADL^T is 92.9?% and less to other halobacteria. Their DNA G?+?C contents are 62.4–62.9?mol?% but DNA–DNA hybridization gives a relatedness of only 44?%. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties, we describe two new species of a novel genus, represented by strain R30^T (=?CGMCC 1.10593^T?=?JCM 17270^T) and strain tADL^T (=?JCM 15066^T?=?DSMZ 22187^T) for which we propose the names Halohasta litorea gen. nov., sp. nov. and Halohasta litchfieldiae sp. nov., respectively.     

丹参2 酮戊二酸依赖性双加氧酶基因克隆及表达分析

以商洛紫花丹参为材料,对其转录组序列SRA020132进行Blast分析,采用PCR技术克隆得到丹参2-酮戊二酸依赖性双加氧酶基因Sm2-ODD1,GenBank登录号为JN935923。Sm2-ODD1基因全长1 365bp,包含3个外显子和2个内含子;cDNA全长1 189bp,读码框951bp,编码316个氨基酸残基;预测的编码蛋白具有2-酮戊二酸依赖性双加氧酶中结合2-酮戊二酸和亚铁离子的"H-T-D"、"H-X"和"R-Y-S"保守基序以及"果冻状"空间结构。表达分析显示,Sm2-ODD1在丹参各个器官都表达,但表达水平具有组织特异性,在根中表达量最高,在叶中表达量最低;该基因表达明显受到MeJA、GA3和ABA的诱导,可能参与了丹参萜类代谢下游途径。     

野百合碱诱导大鼠肺动脉高压及肺源性心脏病的病理生理特征

目的:探讨野百合碱诱发肺动脉高压及肺源性心脏病模型的建立机制。方法:雄性Wistar大鼠20只,随机分为两组(n=10):正常组,模型组。模型组大鼠腹腔一次性注射野百合碱50 mg/kg,对照组注射同剂量的溶媒,28 d后测定大鼠血流动力学参数,硝酸盐还原酶法测定血清和肺组织中一氧化氮的含量;放射免疫法测定血浆中内皮素、脑钠素和肺组织中肿瘤坏死因子、内皮素的含量。结果:与对照组比较,右心室压力上升、心率和平均动脉压下降,血液和肺组织中肿瘤坏死因子、一氧化氮、内皮素-1、脑钠素含量上升,具有统计学意义。结论:野百合碱通过诱发肺血管和组织炎性损伤,升高体内肿瘤坏死因子、一氧化氮、内皮素-1的含量,建立肺动脉高压及肺源性心脏病模型。     

不同强度及时间窗骨骼肌缺血后处理对兔心肌的保护作用

目的:通过比较不同强度及时间窗骨骼肌缺血后处理对兔缺血/再灌注心肌的保护效能,试图寻找最佳强度和时间窗的骨骼肌缺血后处理方案。方法:健康新西兰大白兔42只(雄性)随机分为7组(n=6):①假手术组(Sham)、②缺血对照组(CON)、③标准骨骼肌后处理组(SP)、④延迟6min骨骼肌后处理组(6M-DSP)、⑤延迟1 min骨骼肌后处理组(1M-DSP)、⑥骨骼肌后处理加强组(SSP)、⑦骨骼肌后处理减弱组(WSP)。以开胸结扎冠状动脉左室支固定部位方法制作缺血/再灌注模型,以游离并夹闭双侧腹股沟髂外动脉固定位置方法造成骨骼肌缺血,再灌注末以TTC法确定心肌梗死范围,并分别于心肌缺血前、后及再灌注1 h、2 h,以生化法测定血清肌酸激酶(CK)及乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)水平。结果:和CON组相比,1M-DSP组心肌梗死重量比及面积比分别下降了42.32%及42.68%、SP组分别下降了49.97%及43.78%、SSP组分别下降了48.36%及48.86%,(P均<0.05),但三组之间相比,心梗范围未见明显差异;而6M-DSP、WSP组与CON组相比未见心肌保护作用;肌酸激酶(CK)的水平和梗死范围变化趋势一致。结论:兔在心肌缺血/再灌注之前完成骨骼肌5 min缺血/1 min再灌注1次循环的缺血后处理,可以起到明显的心肌保护作用。     

New bioactive sulfated alkenes from the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

Two new alkene sulfates, (5Z)-dec-5-en-1-yl sulfate (4) and (3E)-dec-3-en-1-yl sulfate (5), together with three known sulfated alkanes, 2,6-dimethylheptyl sulfate (1), octyl sulfate (2), and decyl sulfate (3), were isolated from the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. The structures of the new compounds 4 and 5 were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including 1H-, 13C-, and 2D-NMR, ESI-MS, and HR-ESI-MS. Compounds 2 and 3 were isolated from natural sources for the first time. In preliminary bioassays in vitro, compounds 4 and 5 showed antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities.     

Optical Absorption Enhancement in Freestanding GaAs Thin Film Nanopyramid Arrays

Although III–V compound semiconductor multi‐junction cells show the highest efficiency among all types of solar cells, their cost is quite high due to expensive substrates, long epitaxial growth and complex balance of system components. To reduce the cost, ultra‐thin films with advanced light management are desired. Here effective light trapping in freestanding thin film nanopyramid arrays is demonstrated and multiple‐times light path enhancement is realized, where only 160 nm thick GaAs with nanopyramid structures is equivalent to a 1 μm thick planar film. The GaAs nanopyramids are fabricated using a combination of nanosphere lithography, nanopyramid metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) growth, and gas‐phase substrate removal processes. Excellent optical absorption is demonstrated over a broad range of wavelengths, at various incident angles and at large‐curvature bending. Compared to an equally thick planar control film, the overall number of photons absorbed is increased by about 100% at various incident angles due to significant antireflection and light trapping effects. By implementing these nanopyramid structures, III–V material usage and deposition time can be significantly reduced to produce high‐efficiency, low‐cost thin film III–V solar cells.     

The effects of NMDA subunit composition on calcium influx and spike timing-dependent plasticity in striatal medium spiny neurons

Calcium through NMDA receptors (NMDARs) is necessary for the long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic strength; however, NMDARs differ in several properties that can influence the amount of calcium influx into the spine. These properties, such as sensitivity to magnesium block and conductance decay kinetics, change the receptor's response to spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP) protocols, and thereby shape synaptic integration and information processing. This study investigates the role of GluN2 subunit differences on spine calcium concentration during several STDP protocols in a model of a striatal medium spiny projection neuron (MSPN). The multi-compartment, multi-channel model exhibits firing frequency, spike width, and latency to first spike similar to current clamp data from mouse dorsal striatum MSPN. We find that NMDAR-mediated calcium is dependent on GluN2 subunit type, action potential timing, duration of somatic depolarization, and number of action potentials. Furthermore, the model demonstrates that in MSPNs, GluN2A and GluN2B control which STDP intervals allow for substantial calcium elevation in spines. The model predicts that blocking GluN2B subunits would modulate the range of intervals that cause long term potentiation. We confirmed this prediction experimentally, demonstrating that blocking GluN2B in the striatum, narrows the range of STDP intervals that cause long term potentiation. This ability of the GluN2 subunit to modulate the shape of the STDP curve could underlie the role that GluN2 subunits play in learning and development.