外周炎性刺激条件下大鼠脊髓背角PPE mRNA及L-ENK样品和μ阿片受体样阳性结构的变化

以鹿角菜胶（ＣＡＲ）注射到大鼠一侧后爪的足底皮下作为伤害性刺激模型,分别于ＣＡＲ刺激后６、１２ｈ和１、３ｄ处死动物,对照组动物仅将盐水注入一侧后爪足底皮下,用原位杂交法和免疫组织化学法观察前原脑啡肽（ＰＰＥ）ｍＲＮＡ阳性神经元、亮氨酸脑啡肽（Ｌ－ＥＮＫ）和μ阿片受体（ＭＯＲ）样阳性结构在大鼠脊髓背角（ＳＤＨ）的分布和变化。对照组大鼠ＳＤＨ内可见到大量ＰＰＥｍＲＮＡ阳性神经元,这些阳性神经元主要分布于Ⅰ、Ⅱ层和Ⅴ、Ⅵ层,ＣＡＲ刺激后６ｈ,刺激侧ＳＤＨ中ＰＰＥｍＲＮＡ阳性神经元的数量明显增多,１２ｈ和１ｄ达到最高水平,３ｄ时略有下降,但仍高于正常水平。Ｌ－ＥＮＫ样阳性纤维和终末主要分布于正常大鼠ＳＤＨ的Ⅰ、Ⅱ层,ＣＡＲ刺激后１ｄ,Ｌ－ＥＮＫ样阳性结构在刺激侧ＳＤＨ中的密度略有升高,３ｄ后下降直至低于正常水平。ＭＯＲ阳性胞体和纤维主要分布于ＳＤＨ的Ⅱ层,ＣＡＲ刺激后１ｄ,刺激侧Ⅱ层中ＭＯＲ阳性结构明显增加,并持续到刺激后３ｄ。上述结果提示阿片类物质在伤害性信息调控中具有重要作用。     

High photoluminescence quantum yield of TiO2 nanocrystals prepared using an alcohothermal method.

Highly dispersible TiO2 nanocrystals (approximately 6 nm) were prepared by an alcohothermal method. A strong and stable photoluminescence emission with a maximum at 450 nm was observed in the original TiO2 nanocrystals colloid. Compared with the emission from quinine sulphate in 0.05 mol/L sulphuric acid, the emission quantum yield of TiO2 nanocrystals was determined to be about 0.20, which was much higher than the values (0.002 and 0.001) reported in previous studies. The fluorescence micrograph of TiO2 nanocrystals encapsulated in lipsomes shows that TiO2 nanocrystals prepared in such a way have potential application as a fluorescence probe in biological imaging. Research on the luminescence mechanism indicates that the surface state and extent of crystallization of the TiO2 nanocrystals are crucial factors in the high photoluminescence quantum yield obtained in this study.     

不同核背景对小麦V-CMS coxⅢ基因转录本编辑的影响

RNA编辑现象普遍存在于高等植物线粒体中,RNA编辑的不充分或偏离与植物细胞质雄性不育具有相关性。以V型小麦细胞质雄性不育恢复基因的近等基因系为材料,研究了不育系、保持系、恢复系和杂种F1 coxⅢ基因转录本编辑位点的差异,发现coxⅢ基因转录本共有14个编辑位点,其中有12个引起了氨基酸种类的变化。通过对不育系、保持系、恢复系和杂种F1线粒体RNA编辑频率的比较,发现引入恢复基因后,不育胞质中coxⅢ基因转录本的编辑频率明显提高,说明coxⅢ基因转录本的RNA编辑与细胞质雄性不育具有一定相关性。     

Evaluation of DNA microarray results with quantitative gene expression platforms

We have evaluated the performance characteristics of three quantitative gene expression technologies and correlated their expression measurements to those of five commercial microarray platforms, based on the MicroArray Quality Control (MAQC) data set. The limit of detection, assay range, precision, accuracy and fold-change correlations were assessed for 997 TaqMan Gene Expression Assays, 205 Standardized RT (Sta)RT-PCR assays and 244 QuantiGene assays. TaqMan is a registered trademark of Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. We observed high correlation between quantitative gene expression values and microarray platform results and found few discordant measurements among all platforms. The main cause of variability was differences in probe sequence and thus target location. A second source of variability was the limited and variable sensitivity of the different microarray platforms for detecting weakly expressed genes, which affected interplatform and intersite reproducibility of differentially expressed genes. From this analysis, we conclude that the MAQC microarray data set has been validated by alternative quantitative gene expression platforms thus supporting the use of microarray platforms for the quantitative characterization of gene expression.     

Crystal structure of D-Hydantoinase from Burkholderia pickettii at a resolution of 2.7 Angstroms: insights into the molecular basis of enzyme thermostability

D-Hydantoinase (D-HYD) is an industrial enzyme that is widely used in the production of D-amino acids which are precursors for semisynthesis of antibiotics, peptides, and pesticides. This report describes the crystal structure of D-hydantoinase from Burkholderia pickettii (HYD(Bp)) at a 2.7-A resolution. The structure of HYD(Bp) consists of a core (alpha/beta)(8) triose phosphate isomerase barrel fold and a beta-sheet domain, and the catalytic active site consists of two metal ions and six highly conserved amino acid residues. Although HYD(Bp) shares only moderate sequence similarity with D-HYDs from Thermus sp. (HYD(Tsp)) and Bacillus stearothermophilus (HYD(Bst)), whose structures have recently been solved, the overall structure and the structure of the catalytic active site are strikingly similar. Nevertheless, the amino acids that compose the substrate-binding site are less conserved and have different properties, which might dictate the substrate specificity. Structural comparison has revealed insights into the molecular basis of the differential thermostability of D-HYDs. The more thermostable HYD(Tsp) contains more aromatic residues in the interior of the structure than HYD(Bp) and HYD(Bst). Changes of large aromatic residues in HYD(Tsp) to smaller residues in HYD(Bp) or HYD(Bst) decrease the hydrophobicity and create cavities inside the structure. HYD(Tsp) has more salt bridges and hydrogen-bonding interactions and less oxidation susceptible Met and Cys residues on the protein surface than HYD(Bp) and HYD(Bst). Besides, HYD(Tsp) also contains more rigid Pro residues. These factors are likely to make major contributions to the varying thermostability of these enzymes. This information could be exploited in helping to engineer more thermostable mesophilic enzymes.     

MicroRNA‐29b regulates DNA methylation by targeting Dnmt3a/3b and Tet1/2/3 in porcine early embryo development

MicroRNA‐29b (miR‐29b) is a member of the miR‐29 family, which targets DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and ten eleven translocation enzymes (TETs), thereby regulating DNA methylation. However, the role of miR‐29b in porcine early embryo development has not been reported. In this study, we examined the effects of miR‐29b in porcine in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos to investigate the mechanism by which miR‐29b regulated DNA methylation. The interference of miR‐29b by its special miRNA inhibitor significantly up‐regulated Dnmt3a/b and Tet1 but downregulated Tet2/3; meanwhile it increased DNA methylation levels of the global genome and Nanog promoter region but decreased global DNA demethylation levels. The inhibition of miR‐29b also resulted in a decrease in the development rate and quality of blastocysts. In addition, the pluripotency genes Nanog and Sox2 were significantly downregulated, and the apoptosis genes Bax and Casp3 were upregulated, but anti‐apoptosis gene Bcl‐2 was downregulated in blastocysts. Our study indicated that miR‐29b could regulate DNA methylation mediated by miR29b‐ Dnmt3a/b – Tet1/2/3 signaling during porcine early embryo development.     

Pistillate flower development and pollen tube growth mode during the delayed fertilization stage in Corylus heterophylla Fisch

Unlike most angiosperms, in which fertilization occurs within several days after pollination, fertilization in hazel (Corylus Spp.) is delayed by two to three and a half months. However, the female inflorescences or young fruits are too hard or lignified to be dissected according to regular paraffin sectioning technique. So, what the nature of development during the extended progamic phases of hazel remains unknown. The female inflorescence development and pollen tube growth mode during the delayed fertilization stage in hazel were investigated by improved paraffin sectioning and aniline blue staining of pollen tubes. The results showed ovaries and ovules of hazel were invisible at the time of blooming. Early ovary and ovule primordium began to form from 15 to 20 days after blooming, respectively. Integument and mature embryo sacs differentiated from the nucellus on 40th and 55th day after blooming, respectively. Pollen tubes were retarded in the bottom of the style or the pollen tube cavity (PTC, a specifical lignified cavity structure at the bottom of style for pollen tube to rest during progamic phase) for about 26 days. Then, the pollen tubes were observed to leave the PTC and began to enter the ovary. After that, a single pollen tube passed through the vicinity of the micropyle. Finally, pollen tubes turned a corner and penetrated the embryo sac through the tissue of the chalaza instead of micropyle on 52 and 55 days after blooming, respectively. The results of more in-depth information will be beneficial to better understanding of the delayed fertilization process in hazel.     

Association of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">lactase</Emphasis> 13910 C/T polymorphism with bone mineral density and fracture risk: a meta-analysis

A number of studies have investigated the association of lactase (LCT, C/T-13910) gene polymorphism with bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk, but previous results were inconclusive. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to quantify the association of LCT (C/T-13910) polymorphism with BMD and fracture risk. Eligible publications were searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase databases, Google Scholar, Yahoo and Baidu. Pooled weighed mean difference (WMD) or odds ratio (OR) with their 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a fixed-effects or random-effects model. A total of nine articles with 8871 subjects were investigated in the present meta-analysis. Overall, the TT/TC genotypes of LCT 13910 C/T polymorphism showed significantly higher BMD than those with the CC genotype at femur neck (FN) (\(\hbox {WMD} = 0.011\,\hbox {g/cm}^{2}\), 95% CI \(=\) 0.004–0.018, \(P = 0.003\)). Besides, LCT 13910 C/T polymorphism may decrease the risk of any site fractures (for TT versus TC \(+\) CC, OR \(=\) 0.813, 95% CI \(=\) 0.704–0.938, \(P = 0.005\); for T allele versus C allele, OR \(=\) 0.885, 95% CI \(=\) 0.792–0.989, \(P = 0.032\)). However, there was no significant association of LCT 13910 C/T polymorphism with BMD at lumbar spine and risk of vertebral fractures under all genetic contrast models (all P values were \({>}0.05\)). The meta-analysis suggests that there are significant effects of LCT 13910 C/T polymorphism on BMD and fracture risk. Large-scale studies with different ethnic populations will be needed to further investigate the possible race-specific effect of LCT 13910 C/T polymorphism on BMD and fracture risk.     

1998-2014年艾比湖湿地自然保护区生态系统服务价值及其时空变异

湿地的生态系统服务价值是生态学研究的热点之一。以艾比湖湿地自然保护区为研究区,以1998年的TM影像、2006年的Landsat ETM+影像及2014年的Landsat OLI影像为数据源,采用Costanza生态系统服务价值公式进行生态系统服务价值评估,结合空间自相关模型,定量探讨了艾比湖湿地自然保护区生态系统服务价值时空分异特征。结果表明：（1）近20年来,研究区的土地利用/覆被变化显著,除了水体和裸地面积减少,其它土地覆被类型面积都有不同比例的增加。（2）在生态系统服务价值方面,近20年来ESV（Ecosystem Services Values）整体变化不大,但近年ESV有所降低,生态环境出现恶化趋势。（3）在生态系统服务的时空变异方面,研究区ESV空间正相关显著,空间集聚程度高值区主要集中在艾比湖水域和湿地,并且高值区有增加向减少转变的趋势,低值聚集区在湖区四周,且逐年增加。（4）近20年来,影响研究区生态系统服务价值时空变化的驱动力因素主要包括自然因素和人为因素,人为因素是研究区生态系统服务价值时空变化的主要驱动因素。