Chromosome‐level genome assembly for the horned‐gall aphid provides insights into interactions between gall‐making insect and its host plant

The aphid Schlechtendalia chinensis is an economically important insect that can induce horned galls, which are valuable for the medicinal and chemical industries. Up to now, more than twenty aphid genomes have been reported. Most of the sequenced genomes are derived from free‐living aphids. Here, we generated a high‐quality genome assembly from a galling aphid. The final genome assembly is 271.52 Mb, representing one of the smallest sequenced genomes of aphids. The genome assembly is based on contig and scaffold N50 values of the genome sequence are 3.77 Mb and 20.41 Mb, respectively. Nine‐seven percent of the assembled sequences was anchored onto 13 chromosomes. Based on BUSCO analysis, the assembly involved 96.9% of conserved arthropod and 98.5% of the conserved Hemiptera single‐copy orthologous genes. A total of 14,089 protein‐coding genes were predicted. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that S. chinensis diverged from the common ancestor of Eriosoma lanigerum approximately 57 million years ago (MYA). In addition, 35 genes encoding salivary gland proteins showed differentially when S. chinensis forms a gall, suggesting they have potential roles in gall formation and plant defense suppression. Taken together, this high‐quality S. chinensis genome assembly and annotation provide a solid genetic foundation for future research to reveal the mechanism of gall formation and to explore the interaction between aphids and their host plants.     

Toxicity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus sphaericus</Emphasis> LP1-G Against Susceptible and Resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Culex quinquefasciatus</Emphasis> and the Cloning of the Mosquitocidal Toxin Gene

Bacillus sphaericus LP1-G, belonging to flagellar serotype H3, has been found to have moderate toxicity against two resistant Culex quinquefasciatus colonies (RLCq1 and RLCq2) and the susceptible contrast (SLCq). With an aim of screening mosquitocidal acting factor, a partial genome library was prepared from a partial HindIII digest of the total DNA from Bacillus sphaericus LP1-G. Two thousand twenty Escherichia coli clones were screened for toxicity against susceptible SLCq, and a toxic clone, designated E-UL68, was chosen for further study. The recombinant E-UL68 performed toxicity against both susceptible and two resistant colonies, having the same level of toxicity as that of wide-type strain LP1-G. Sequence analysis revealed that the inserted fragment was composed of 3876 nucleotides and contained a complete gene, whose sequence was identical to that of the mtx gene from B. sphaericus SSII-1. Because the binary toxin produced during sporulation of strain LP1-G has no activity against the target mosquitoes, this indicates that the Mtx toxin or other active factors might perhaps be responsible for the toxicity of LP1-G against different colonies of mosquito larvae.Received: 7 October 2002 / Accepted: 4 November 2002     

Cloning and expression of a new rat procarboxypeptidase B gene in Escherichia coli and purification of recombination carboxypeptidase B

A new coding sequence of the procarboxypeptidase B gene was obtained from SD rat fresh pancreas by RT-PCR and highly expressed in Escherichia coli in inclusion bodies. The folded procarboxypeptidase B was subjected to trypsin enzymatic cleavage to produce active carboxypeptidase B, subsequently, carboxypeptidase B was effectively purified with anion exchange chromatography DEAE-FF and hydrophobic interaction chromatography Octyl FF, as a result, 40 mg carboxypeptidase B per litre cell culture with specific activity 7.42 u/mg was achieved. Further research showed that the obtained recombinant carboxypeptidase B could substitute carboxypeptidase B isolated from pancreas.     

中国2种归化植物新记录

报道了发现于辽宁省的2种中国归化植物新记录:白毛马鞭草(Verbena stricta Vent.)和向日葵(Helianthus annuus L.),白毛马鞭草穗状花序粗壮而紧凑,单生枝顶或呈简单的聚伞状或圆锥状排列,且花序轴在果期显著延长,叶卵圆形,无柄,与中国有报道的本属其他物种区别明显。该种原产美国西部至中部地区,近来在辽宁省铁岭市发现有归化。向日葵原产于北美地区,被发现广泛归化于辽宁省大连市,营口市鲅鱼圈也有发现。归化种群形态特征与该地区栽培类型完全不同,其花序极多分枝,头状花序直径较小,瘦果极小,表面纹饰多样性很高。     

Cigarette smoke extract alters genome‐wide profiles of circular RNAs and mRNAs in primary human small airway epithelial cells

As a novel kind of non‐coding RNA, circular RNAs (circRNAs) were involved in various biological processes. However, the role of circRNAs in the developmental process of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is still unclear. In the present study, by using a cell model of COPD in primary human small airway epithelial cells (HSAECs) treated with or without cigarette smoke extract (CSE), we uncovered 4,379 previously unknown circRNAs in human cells and 903 smoke‐specific circRNAs, with the help of RNA‐sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Moreover, 3,872 up‐ and 4,425 down‐regulated mRNAs were also identified under CSE stimulation. Furthermore, a putative circRNA‐microRNA‐mRNA network was constructed for in‐depth mechanism exploration, which indicated that differentially expressed circRNAs could influence expression of some key genes that participate in response to pentose phosphate pathway, ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters, glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis pathway and cancer‐related pathways. Our research indicated that cigarette smoke had an influence on the biogenesis of circRNAs and mRNAs. CircRNAs might be involved in the response to CSE in COPD through the circRNA‐mediated ceRNA networks.     

联合检测血清NGAL、KIM-1和SCr可有效提高慢性肾病分期诊断

为了探讨中性粒细胞明胶酶相关脂质运载蛋白(neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, NGAL)和肾损伤分子-1 (kidney injury molecule-1, KIM-1)以及血肌酐(serum creatinine, SCr)联合检测对慢性肾病(chronic kidney disease, CKD)的早期诊断价值,本研究收集260例肾病患者和85例健康体检者,检测其血清NGAL、KIM-1和SCr水平。依据肾功能分级标准,CKD患者分为CKD 1期(53例),CKD 2期(68例),CKD 3期(71例),CKD 4期(46例)和CKD 5期(22例),并分析以上指标在各组间的含量差异,及其联合测定对CKD早期的敏感性。与健康对照组相比较,CKD 1期、CKD 2期、3期、4期和5期患者的NGAL、KIM-1水平均明显升高(p<0.001)。血清SCr含量在CKD 3期、4期和5期组较健康对照组显著增加(p<0.001)。以上3项指标均随着CKD严重程度增加而升高。各组指标阳性率分析显示,3项联合检测阳性率高于单项检测阳性率。ROC曲线分析NGAL、KIM-1、SCr对CKD诊断的AUC值F分别是为0.824、0.805、0.856。相关性分析结果显示,GFR和NGAL、KIM-1、SCr相关系数分别是r=-0.784、-0.756、-0.728 (p<0.05)。NGAL与KIM-1、SCr的相关系数分别是r=0.932、0.764 (p<0.05);KIM-1与SCr的相关系数r分别是0.791 (p<0.05)。本研究初步得出结论:血清NGAL、Kim-1可作为CKD早期诊断的重要指标,联合检测血清NGAL、Kim-1、SCr可有效提高CKD早期肾损伤诊断的敏感度,对CKD的分期诊断和治疗具有极其重要的临床价值。     

Laser-raman spectroscopic study of carbohydrates: 1-thio-β-d-hexopyranosides

Some β-d-hexopyranosides of 1-thio-d-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1-thio-d-glucose, and 1-thio-d-galactose were examined by laser-Raman spectroscopy. An anomeric CH bending vibration was found at 891 ± 7 cm^-1 for all compounds investigated; thus, the anomers of these sugars can be differentiated by Raman spectroscopy. The N-acetyl group and carboxyl group can also be detected by Raman spectroscopy. Unlike protein samples, the carbohydrates in aqueous solution yield less useful information from Raman spectra than in the solid state; this is due to the extensive overlapping of carbohydrate OH bands with water OH bands.     

Preliminary studies on leaf beetle, Galeruca daurica on grassland

沙葱萤叶甲Galeruca daurica Joannis是近年来严重危害葱属(AUium)植物建群草场的重要食叶害虫.该虫在内蒙古地区一年发生1代,以卵越冬.本文介绍了该虫生活史、生活习性、发生范围、发生面积、危害症状、生境特征、危害损失,并提出了防治策略.     

Two Hox cofactors, the Meis/Hth homolog UNC-62 and the Pbx/Exd homolog CEH-20, function together during C. elegans postembryonic mesodermal development

The TALE homeodomain-containing PBC and MEIS proteins play multiple roles during metazoan development. Mutations in these proteins can cause various disorders, including cancer. In this study, we examined the roles of MEIS proteins in mesoderm development in C. elegans using the postembryonic mesodermal M lineage as a model system. We found that the MEIS protein UNC-62 plays essential roles in regulating cell fate specification and differentiation in the M lineage. Furthermore, UNC-62 appears to function together with the PBC protein CEH-20 in regulating these processes. Both unc-62 and ceh-20 have overlapping expression patterns within and outside of the M lineage, and they share physical and regulatory interactions. In particular, we found that ceh-20 is genetically required for the promoter activity of unc-62, providing evidence for another layer of regulatory interactions between MEIS and PBC proteins.