No evidence for MHC‐based mate choice in wild giant pandas

Major histocompatibility complex genes (MHC), a gene cluster that controls the immune response to parasites, are regarded as an important determinant of mate choice. However, MHC‐based mate choice studies are especially rare for endangered animals. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), a flagship species, has suffered habitat loss and fragmentation. We investigated the genetic variation of three MHC class II loci, including DRB1, DQA1, and DQA2, for 19 mating‐pairs and 11 parent‐pairs of wild giant pandas based on long‐term field behavior observations and genetic samples. We tested four hypotheses of mate choice based on this MHC variation. We found no supporting evidence for the MHC‐based heterosis, genetic diversity, genetic compatibility and “good gene” hypotheses. These results suggest that giant pandas may not use MHC‐based signals to select mating partners, probably because limited mating opportunities or female‐biased natal dispersal restricts selection for MHC‐based mate choice, acknowledging the caveat of the small sample size often encountered in endangered animal studies. Our study provides insight into the mate choice mechanisms of wild giant pandas and highlights the need to increase the connectivity and facilitate dispersal among fragmented populations and habitats.     

Pollen morphology and its evolutionary significance in Hemerocallis (Liliaceae)

Pollen morphology of 10 species of Hemerocallis was investigated with LM and SEM. In addition to pollen with reticulate sexine, a new verrucate sexine pattern is found in three Chinese endemic species, H. plicata, H. forrestii and H. nana . Between the two typical sexine patterns, there are transitional variants. Also, a new pollen shape, boat-shaped-elliptic, is observed exclusively in H. nana , besides-oblong shape in other species. Phylogenetically, the common reticulate sexine pattern would be more primitive than the verrucate one. The typical reticulate sexine pattern would be basic, from which transitional variants would have derived and finally led to the typical verrucate pattern. Similarly, the common boat-shaped-oblong pollen would be more primitive than the -elliptic one, from which the latter would have derived during phylogenetic development.     

竹叶吉祥草（鸭跖草科）的核型研究

本文对鸭跖草科的竹叶吉祥草（Ｓｐａｔｈｏｌｉｒｉｏｎｌｏｎｇｉｆｏｌｉｕｍ（Ｇａｇｎｅｐ．）Ｄｕｎｎ）进行了染色体研究．其染色体大型,数目为２ｎ＝２０;核型公式为２ｎ＝４ｓｍ＋１４ｓｔ＋２ｔ（ｓａｔ）．为首次报道。这支持了竹叶吉祥草属和竹叶子属是两个亲缘关系较近,但同时又是两个分明不同的属的观点。     

Glutathione reductase mediates drug resistance in glioblastoma cells by regulating redox homeostasis

Glutathione (GSH) and GSH‐related enzymes constitute the most important defense system that protects cells from free radical, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy attacks. In this study, we aim to explore the potential role and regulatory mechanism of the GSH redox cycle in drug resistance in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells. We found that temozolomide (TMZ)‐resistant glioma cells displayed lower levels of endogenous reactive oxygen species and higher levels of total antioxidant capacity and GSH than sensitive cells. Moreover, the expression of glutathione reductase (GSR), the key enzyme of the GSH redox cycle, was higher in TMZ‐resistant cells than in sensitive cells. Furthermore, silencing GSR in drug‐resistant cells improved the sensitivity of cells to TMZ or cisplatin. Conversely, the over‐expression of GSR in sensitive cells resulted in resistance to chemotherapy. In addition, the GSR enzyme partially prevented the oxidative stress caused by pro‐oxidant L‐buthionine ‐sulfoximine. The modulation of redox state by GSH or L‐buthionine –sulfoximine regulated GSR‐mediated drug resistance, suggesting that the action of GSR in drug resistance is associated with the modulation of redox homeostasis. Intriguingly, a trend toward shorter progress‐free survival was observed among GBM patients with high GSR expression. These results indicated that GSR is involved in mediating drug resistance and is a potential target for improving GBM treatment.

     

Effect of Sequestosome-1/p62 Expression on Autophagy of Human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts Induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - Porphyromonas gingivalis is the main pathogen of periodontitis. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of p62 protein on P. gingivalis-induced...     

Studies of Mycorrhizal Fungi of Chinese Orchids and Their Role in Orchid Conservation in China—A Review

China has over 1,200 species of native orchids in nearly 173 genera. About one fourth of native species are of horticultural merit. Some species are of Chinese medicinal value. In fact, the demand on orchid species with high Chinese medicinal values such as Gastrodia elata, Dendrobium offcinale, along with demands on species of cultural importance, such as those in the genus of Cymbidium, is a major factor causing wild populations to diminish and in some cases, drive wild populations to the brink of extinction. These market demands have also driven studies on the role of mycorrhizal fungi in orchid seed germination, seedling and adult growth, and reproduction. Most of these mycorrhizal studies of Chinese orchids, however, are published in Chinese, some in medical journals, and thus overlooked by the mainstream orchid mycorrhizal publications. Yet some of these studies contained interesting discoveries on the nature of the mycorrhizal relationships between orchids and fungi. We present a review of some of these neglected publications. The most important discovery comes from the mycorrhizal studies on G. elata, in which the researchers concluded that those fungi species required to stimulate seed germination are different from those that facilitate the growth of G. elata beyond seedling stages. In addition, presence of the mycorrhizal fungi associated with vegetative growth of post-seedling G. elata hindered the germination of seeds. These phenomena were unreported prior to these studies. Furthermore, orchid mycorrhizal studies in China differ from the mainstream orchid studies in that many epiphytic species (in the genus of Dendrobium, as medicinal herbs) were investigated as well as terrestrial orchids (mostly in the genus Cymbidium, as traditional horticultural species). The different responses between epiphytic and terrestrial orchid seeds to fungi derived from roots suggest that epiphytic orchids may have a more general mycorrhizal relationship with fungi than do terrestrial orchid species during the seed germination stage. To date, orchid mycorrhizal research in China has had a strongly commercial purpose. We suggest that this continuing research on orchid mycorrhizal relationships are a solid foundation for further research that includes more rare and endangered taxa, and more in-situ studies to assist conservation and restoration of the endangered orchids. Knowledge on the identities and roles of mycorrhizal fungi of orchids holds one of the keys to successful restoration and sustainable use of Chinese orchids.     

肝细胞治疗的新型种子细胞——诱导性多能干细胞

在回顾iPS细胞研究的基础上,针对肝细胞治疗的研究现状,就iPS细胞诱导分化为肝细胞的研究进展及其在肝病细胞治疗中的潜力进行了探讨,并提出了目前面对的主要问题,希望促进iPS细胞在肝病细胞治疗上的应用。     

气候变化对中国大黄花虾脊兰及其传粉者适生区的影响

大黄花虾脊兰(Calanthe sieboldii)是典型的大陆与岛屿间间断分布的兰科物种, 适宜分布气候范围狭窄, 同时依赖特殊的传粉者传粉, 包括黄胸木蜂(Xylocopa appendiculata)、赤足木蜂(X. rufipes)和中华绒木蜂(X. chinensis)等3种木蜂属(Xylocopa)昆虫。本文通过R语言Biomod2程序包建立物种分布模型(SDM), 预测了2050年和2070年时大黄花虾脊兰及其传粉者在3种代表浓度路径(RCP2.6、RCP4.5与RCP8.5)下的分布格局, 以期为该濒危植物的保育提供参考。结果表明: 降水相关变量比温度相关变量对大黄花虾脊兰分布的平均解释率更高, 两者分别为25.4%和13.9%。当前大黄花虾脊兰适生区主要集中在华中和华东地区, 未来适生区的增减主要受到气候情景的影响, 其变化范围为-59.0%到34.7%, 并可能向更高海拔的地区移动; 未来木蜂适生区将净收缩16.4%-19.7%, 且主要向西北和东北移动; 因而两者共同分布的面积占大黄花虾脊兰适生区的比例未来相比当前的90.0%可能下降0.5%-11.4%, 表明大黄花虾脊兰分布可能受到未来气候变化和传粉者分布减少的双重影响, 因此对该物种或类似特化传粉的兰科植物进行保育时应当充分考虑传粉者因素。     

Genomic Signatures of Coevolution between Nonmodel Mammals and Parasitic Roundworms

Antagonistic coevolution between host and parasite drives species evolution. However, most of the studies only focus on parasitism adaptation and do not explore the coevolution mechanisms from the perspective of both host and parasite. Here, through the de novo sequencing and assembly of the genomes of giant panda roundworm, red panda roundworm, and lion roundworm parasitic on tiger, we investigated the genomic mechanisms of coevolution between nonmodel mammals and their parasitic roundworms and those of roundworm parasitism in general. The genome-wide phylogeny revealed that these parasitic roundworms have not phylogenetically coevolved with their hosts. The CTSZ and prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit beta (P4HB) immunoregulatory proteins played a central role in protein interaction between mammals and parasitic roundworms. The gene tree comparison identified that seven pairs of interactive proteins had consistent phylogenetic topology, suggesting their coevolution during host–parasite interaction. These coevolutionary proteins were particularly relevant to immune response. In addition, we found that the roundworms of both pandas exhibited higher proportions of metallopeptidase genes, and some positively selected genes were highly related to their larvae’s fast development. Our findings provide novel insights into the genetic mechanisms of coevolution between nonmodel mammals and parasites and offer the valuable genomic resources for scientific ascariasis prevention in both pandas.