The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phthonandria atrilineata</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Using long-polymerase chain reaction (Long-PCR) method, we determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Phthonandria atrilineata. The complete mtDNA from P. atrilineata was 15,499 base pairs in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a control region. The P. atrilineata genes were in the same order and orientation as the completely sequenced mitogenomes of other lepidopteran species. The nucleotide composition of P. atrilineata mitogenome was biased toward A + T nucleotides (81.02%), and the 13 PCGs show different A + T contents that range from 73.25% (cox1) to 92.12% (atp8). Phthonandria had the canonical set of 22 tRNA genes, that fold in the typical cloverleaf structure described for metazoan mt tRNAs, with the unique exception of trnS(AGN). The phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed with the concatenated sequences of the 13 PCGs of the mitochondrial genome, which confirmed that P. atrilineata is most closely related to the superfamily Bombycoidea.     

Regulation of Notch1 and Dll4 by vascular endothelial growth factor in arterial endothelial cells: implications for modulating arteriogenesis and angiogenesis

Notch and its ligands play critical roles in cell fate determination. Expression of Notch and ligand in vascular endothelium and defects in vascular phenotypes of targeted mutants in the Notch pathway have suggested a critical role for Notch signaling in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. However, the angiogenic signaling that controls Notch and ligand gene expression is unknown. We show here that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) but not basic fibroblast growth factor can induce gene expression of Notch1 and its ligand, Delta-like 4 (Dll4), in human arterial endothelial cells. The VEGF-induced specific signaling is mediated through VEGF receptors 1 and 2 and is transmitted via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway but is independent of mitogen-activated protein kinase and Src tyrosine kinase. Constitutive activation of Notch signaling stabilizes network formation of endothelial cells on Matrigel and enhances formation of vessel-like structures in a three-dimensional angiogenesis model, whereas blocking Notch signaling can partially inhibit network formation. This study provides the first evidence for regulation of Notch/Delta gene expression by an angiogenic growth factor and insight into the critical role of Notch signaling in arteriogenesis and angiogenesis.     

Differential activation of potassium channels in cerebral and hindquarter arteries of rats during simulated microgravity

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that differential autoregulation of cerebral and hindquarter arteries during simulated microgravity is mediated or modulated by differential activation of K(+) channels in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of arteries in different anatomic regions. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 1- and 4-wk tail suspension to simulate the cardiovascular deconditioning effect due to short- and medium-term microgravity. K(+) channel function of VSMCs was studied by pharmacological methods and patch-clamp techniques. Large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK(Ca)) and voltage-gated K(+) (K(v)) currents were determined by subtracting the current recorded after applications of 1 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA) and 1 mM TEA + 3 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), respectively, from that of before. For cerebral vessels, the normalized contractility of basilar arterial rings to TEA, a BK(Ca) blocker, and 4-AP, a K(v) blocker, was significantly decreased after 1- and 4-wk simulated microgravity, respectively. VSMCs isolated from the middle cerebral artery branches of suspended rats had a more depolarized membrane potential (E(m)) and a smaller K(+) current density compared with those of control rats. Furthermore, the reduced total current density was due to smaller BK(Ca) and smaller K(v) current density in cerebral VSMCs after 1- and 4-wk tail suspension, respectively. For hindquarter vessels, VSMCs isolated from second- to sixth-order small mesenteric arteries of both 1- and 4-wk suspended rats had a more negative E(m) and larger K(+) current densities for total, BK(Ca), and K(v) currents. These results indicate that differential activation of K(+) channels occur in cerebral and hindquarter VSMCs during short- and medium-term simulated microgravity. It is further suggested that different profiles of channel remodeling might occur in VSMCs as one of the important underlying cellular mechanisms to mediate and modulate differential vascular adaptation during microgravity.     

杂拟谷盗体内 Wolbachia 感染密度的时间和空间分布状况

为搞清杂拟谷盗体内沃尔巴克氏体(Wolbachia)感染密度的时间和空间分布状况,本研究采用实时荧光定量PCR方法测定了杂拟谷盗不同发育阶段、不同日龄、不同性别和不同身体部位的Wolbachia感染密度。结果表明,杂拟谷盗在卵和成虫期Wolbachia感染密度高于其幼虫和蛹期,成虫腹部的Wolbachia感染密度高于其头部和胸部,而成虫不同日龄和雌雄之间的Wolbachia感染密度均没有显著性差异。本研究明确了Wolbachia在杂拟谷盗体内的时空分布和动态变化规律,这对于揭示寄主与共生菌之间的互作关系有着重要意义。     

北江间（鱼骨）的年龄与生长特征

于2007年4月至2009年3月间,在广东北江中上游地区采集间(鱼骨)(Hemibarbus medius)样本640尾,以鳞片作为年龄鉴定材料,对其种群的年龄与生长特征进行了研究.结果表明,间(鱼骨)鳞片上年轮结构清晰,前区主要表现为疏密型,而侧区主要为切割型;鳞片的边缘生长率表明,间(鱼骨)年轮的形成期主要为3～4月份.样本由0+～6+龄7个龄组组成,其中,雌性由1+～6+龄6个龄组组成,主要为1+～4+龄;而雄性由1+～5+龄5个龄组组成,主要为1+～3+龄;在4+ ～6+龄个体中,雌性78尾,雄性27尾,雌性显著多于雄性.体长(L,cm)与体重(W,g)的关系为W=0.011L3.149(♀)、W=0.011L3.135(♂),协方差分析表明,雌雄个体体长与体重关系的差异不显著,所有样本体长与体重的关系式为W=0.011L3.148.体长与鳞长(R,mm)呈幂函数及直线关系,关系式分别为L=6.387R0.853、L=4.569R+ 2.587.拟合的von Bertalanffy生长参数为L∞=29.855 0 cm,k=0.223 1,W∞=483.889 8 g,t0=-0.928 2龄.对理论体长与实测体长、理论体重与实测体重进行x2检验,两者的差异均不显著,表明von Bertalanffy生长方程能较好地拟合间(鱼骨)的生长.体重生长的拐点年龄为4.21龄,拐点体长约为20.37 cm,体重约为166.19 g.作为渔业保护对策,建议起捕年龄3龄以上或体长17 cm以上的个体.     

Novel alternative splicing of GABA receptor RDL exon 9 from Laodelphax striatellus modulates agonist potency

The resistance to dieldrin gene (RDL) encodes the primary subunit of the insect ionotropic γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor (GABAR), which is the target of phenylpyrazole and isoxazoline insecticides. The splice variants in exons 3 and 6 of RDL, which have been widely explored in many insects, modulate the agonist potency of the homomeric RDL GABAR and potentially play an important role in the development of insects. In the present study, four splice variants of exon 9 were identified in RDL of the small brown planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus (LsRDL), resulting in LsRDL-9a, LsRDL-9a’, LsRDL-9b, and LsRDL-9c. LsRDL-9a has one more amino acid (E, glutamic acid) compared with LsRDL-9a’, and LsRDL-9b lacked two amino acids and had seven different amino acids compared with LsRDL-9c. Two-electrode voltage-clamp recording on LsRDLs expressed in Xenopus oocytes showed that alternative splicing of exon 9 has significant impact on LsRDL sensitivity to the agonists GABA and β-alanine, whereas no significant difference was observed in the potencies of the non-competitive antagonists (NCAs) ethiprole and fluralaner on the splice variants. Our results suggest that alternative splicing of RDL exon 9 broadens functional capabilities of the GABAR in L. striatellus by influencing the action of GABA.     

南京地区小菜蛾的抗药性检测及初步分析

利用浸叶法对南京郊区小菜蛾Plutella xylostella的抗药性进行了监测,发现其对拟除虫菊酯类药剂的抗性较高,而对氟虫腈、辛硫磷、毒死蜱、多杀菌素和虫酰肼依然处于敏感阶段。利用抗性小菜蛾测试发现,氧化胡椒基丁醚（增效醚,简称PBO）对拟除虫菊酯具有显著的增效作用。室内敏感性恢复实验表明,在不接触药剂的条件下,小菜蛾对拟除虫菊酯的抗性迅速下降,繁殖10代以后,抗性维持在低抗水平。因此, 小菜蛾的抗药性治理,应充分利用不同药剂的轮换使用,避免单一使用某一品种,以延缓抗性的发展,同时可以利用PBO增强拟除虫菊酯的防治效果,保证这类药剂在小菜蛾防治中的作用。