贵州梵净山国家级自然保护区鸟兽红外相机监测

红外相机监测是了解野生动物多样性现状、动态变化和面临威胁的重要手段。本研究采用网格抽样调查法, 在贵州梵净山国家级自然保护区内选取2个监测样区共40个监测位点布设红外相机, 对区内兽类和鸟类物种进行监测调查。2017年4月至2018年12月间, 红外相机累积监测14,808个相机工作日, 共收集有效照片14,119张, 独立有效物种照片3,199张。共鉴定野生动物9目22科61种, 其中兽类26种, 隶属于4目12科; 鸟类35种, 隶属于5目10科。记录到国家I级重点保护野生动物2种: 黔金丝猴(Rhinopithecus brelichi)和白颈长尾雉(Syrmaticus ellioti), 国家II级重点保护野生动物9种; 被IUCN红色名录评估为濒危(EN)的1种、易危(VU)的5种、近危(NT)的8种。物种的相对多度指数(relative abundance index, RAI)分析结果显示, 藏酋猴(Macaca thibetana, RAI = 28.23)、毛冠鹿(Elaphodus cephalophus, RAI = 15.46)、野猪(Sus scrofa, RAI = 11.82)、小麂(Muntiacus reevesi, RAI = 9.05)、黔金丝猴(RAI = 7.70)为相对多度最高的5种兽类; 紫啸鸫(Myophonus insularis, RAI = 10.33)、红腹角雉(Tragopan temminckii, RAI = 9.59)、红腹锦鸡(Chrysolophus pictus, RAI = 6.96)、白颈长尾雉(RAI = 3.71)、勺鸡(Pucrasia macrolopha, RAI = 1.55)为相对多度最高的5种鸟类。另外, 红外相机还监测到较多的家畜活动(RAI = 11.14)和人为活动(RAI = 12.90), 保护区管理部门仍需采取相应管理措施, 进一步提高周边居民的保护意识, 促进保护区与社区的协调发展。     

药品与个人护理品生物降解研究进展

药品与个人护理品(Pharmaceuticals and personal care products, PPCPs)包括各种处方药和非处方药(如各类抗生素、人工合成麝香、止痛药、降压药、避孕药、催眠药和减肥药等)与个人护理用品(如化妆品、香料、遮光剂、发胶、染发剂和杀菌剂等)。作为一类新兴环境微污染物,PPCPs因具有潜在的环境毒理学效应和人体健康风险逐渐受到人们的广泛关注。有关PPCPs的生物降解研究已展开了大量的工作并取得了较大进展。文中总结概括了目前国内外PPCPs生物降解方法、功能菌种类、PPCPs的生物降解特性及产物组成与降解途径等,分析了PPCPs微生物降解机理,并对PPCPs生物降解的研究方向进行了展望。     

The synergy between RSC,Nap1 and adjacent nucleosome in nucleosome remodeling

Eukaryotes have evolved a specific strategy to package DNA. The nucleosome is a 147-base-pair DNA segment wrapped around histone core proteins that plays important roles regulating DNA-dependent biosynthesis and gene expression. Chromatin remodeling complexes (RSC, Remodel the Structure of Chromatin) hydrolyze ATP to perturb DNA-histone contacts, leading to nucleosome sliding and ejection. Here, we utilized tethered particle motion (TPM) experiments to investigate the mechanism of RSC-mediated nucleosome remodeling in detail. We observed ATP-dependent RSC-mediated DNA looping and nucleosome ejection along individual mononucleosomes and dinucleosomes. We found that nucleosome assembly protein 1 (Nap1) enhanced RSC-mediated nucleosome ejection in a two-step disassembly manner from dinucleosomes but not from mononucleosomes. Based on this work, we provide an entire reaction scheme for the RSC-mediated nucleosome remodeling process that includes DNA looping, nucleosome ejection, the influence of adjacent nucleosomes, and the coordinated action between Nap1 and RSC.     

Efficient Human Genome Editing Using SaCas9 Ribonucleoprotein Complexes

Genome editing using RNA‐guided nucleases in their ribonucleoprotein (RNP) form represents a promising strategy for gene modification and therapy because they are free of exogenous DNA integration and have reduced toxicity in vivo and ex vivo. However, genome editing by Cas9 nuclease from Staphylococcus aureus (SaCas9) has not been reported in its RNP form, which recognizes a longer protospacer adjacent motif (PAM), 5′‐NNGRRT‐3′, compared with Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) of 5′‐NGG‐3′ PAM. Here, SaCas9‐RNP‐mediated genome editing is reported in human cells. The SaCas9‐RNP displayed efficient genome editing activities of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) coding gene as well as three endogenous genes (OPA1, RS1, and VEGFA). Further, SaCas9‐RNP is successfully implemented to correct a pathogenic RS1 mutation for X‐linked juvenile retinoschisis. It is also shown that off‐target effects triggered by SaCas9‐RNP are undetectable by targeted deep sequencing. Collectively, this study demonstrates the potential of SaCas9‐RNP‐mediated genome editing in human cells, which could facilitate genome‐editing‐based therapy.     

Multiple freshwater invasions of the tapertail anchovy (Clupeiformes: Engraulidae) of the Yangtze River

Freshwater fish evolved from anadromous ancestors can be found in almost all continents. The roles of paleogeographic events and nature selection in speciation process often are under focus of research. We studied genetic diversity of anadromous and resident tapertail anchovies (Coilia nasus species complex) in the Yangtze River Basin using 4,434 nuclear loci, and tested the history of freshwater invasion of C. nasus. We found that both C. brachygnathus and C. nasus were valid species, but the resident C. nasus taihuensis and the anadromous C. nasus were not different genetically based on Bayes factor species delimitation (BFD*). Maximum likelihood tree, Network, PCA and STRUCTURE analyses all corroborated the results of BFD*. Two independent freshwater invasion events of C. nasus were supported, with the first event occurring around 4.07 Ma and the second happened around 3.2 Ka. The time of the two freshwater invasions is consistent with different paleogeographic events. Estimation showed that gene flow was higher within ecotypes than between different ecotypes. F‐DIST analyses identified 120 disruptive outliers by comparing C. brachygnathus to anadromous C. nasus, and 21 disruptive outliers by comparing resident C. nasus to anadromous C. nasus. Nine outliers were found to be common between the two comparisons, indicating that independent freshwater invasion of C. nasus might involve similar molecular pathways. The results of this study suggest that adaptation to landlocked freshwater environment of migratory fish can evolve multiple times independently, and morphology of landlocked ecotypes may cause confusion in their taxonomy.     

“Closer‐to‐home” strategy benefits juvenile survival in a long‐distance migratory bird

Human‐induced changes in the climate and environment that occur at an unprecedented speed are challenging the existence of migratory species. Faced with these new challenges, species with diverse and flexible migratory behaviors may suffer less from population decline, as they may be better at responding to these changes by altering their migratory behavior. At the individual level, variations in migratory behavior may lead to differences in fitness and subsequently influence the population's demographic dynamics. Using lifetime GPS bio‐logging data from 169 white storks (Ciconia ciconia), we explore whether the recently shortened migration distance of storks affects their survival during different stages of their juvenile life. We also explore how other variations in migratory decisions (i.e., time, destination), movement activity (measured using overall body dynamic acceleration), and early life conditions influence juvenile survival. We observed that their first autumn migration was the riskiest period for juvenile white storks. Individuals that migrated shorter distances and fledged earlier experienced lower mortality risks. In addition, higher movement activity and overwintering “closer‐to‐home” (with 84.21% of the tracked individuals stayed Europe or North Africa) were associated with higher survival. Our study shows how avian migrants can change life history decisions over only a few decades, and thus it helps us to understand and predict how migrants respond to the rapidly changing world.     

Expanded Expression Landscape and Prioritization of Circular RNAs in Mammals

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LATS1 K751 acetylation blocks activation of Hippo signalling and switches LATS1 from a tumor suppressor to an oncoprotein

Science China Life Sciences - Large tumor suppressor 1 (LATS1) is the key kinase controlling activation of Hippo signalling pathway. Post-translational modifications of LATS1 modulate its kinase...     

Conversion therapy of intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma using superstable homogeneous iodinated formulation technology

Science China Life Sciences -