Growth hormone affects behaviour of wild brown trout Salmo trutta in territorial owner–intruder conflicts

The effects of growth hormone (GH) implants on aggression, and ability to win dyadic territorial conflicts were studied in brown trout Salmo trutta parr. Bovine GH or vehicle (C) was given to either the territory owner or the intruder in four treatment combinations: C and C, C and GH, GH and C, GH and GH (owner and intruder). GH‐treated intruders initiated significantly more conflicts compared to control intruders. Furthermore, GH treatment of either the owner or intruder tended to increase aggression of the intruder. This indicates that intruders have more scope for motivational increase, while the motivation of owners is already at a maximum. The GH treatment, however, did not affect the outcome of the conflict. It thus appears that growth enhancement increases intruder aggression without increasing the chance of winning the conflict, which may have implications for the effect of growth‐selected or growth‐enhanced farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar on wild populations.     

Recent climate changes interact with stand structure and management to determine changes in tree carbon stocks in Spanish forests

Most temperate forests are accumulating carbon (C) and may continue to do so in the near future. However, the situation may be different in water‐limited ecosystems, where the potentially positive effects of C and N fertilization and rising temperatures interact with water availability. In this study, we use the extensive network of plots of two consecutive Spanish national forest inventories to identify the factors that determine the spatial variation of the C stock change, growth, and mortality rate of forests in Peninsular Spain (below‐ and aboveground). We fitted general linear models to assess the response of C stock change and its components to the spatial variability of climate (in terms of water availability), forest structure (tree density and C stock), previous forest management, and the recent warming trend. Our results show that undisturbed forests in Peninsular Spain are accumulating C at a rate of ~1.4 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1, and that forest structural variables are the main determinants of forest growth and C stock change. Water availability was positively related to growth and C accumulation. On the other hand, recent warming has reduced growth rate and C accumulation, especially in wet areas. Spatial variation in mortality (in terms of C loss) was mostly driven by differences in growth rate across plots, and was consistent with ‘natural’, self‐thinning dynamics related to the recent abandonment of forest management over large areas of Spain, with the consequent increase in tree density and competition. Interestingly, the negative effect of warming on forest C accumulation disappears if only managed stands are considered, emphasizing the potential of forest management to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, the effect of forest management was weak and, in some cases, not significant, implying the need of further research on its impact.     

Cognitive and socio-emotional deficits in platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β gene knockout mice

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent mitogen. Extensive in vivo studies of PDGF and its receptor (PDGFR) genes have reported that PDGF plays an important role in embryogenesis and development of the central nervous system (CNS). Furthermore, PDGF and the β subunit of the PDGF receptor (PDGFR-β) have been reported to be associated with schizophrenia and autism. However, no study has reported on the effects of PDGF deletion on mice behavior. Here we generated novel mutant mice (PDGFR-β KO) in which PDGFR-β was conditionally deleted in CNS neurons using the Cre/loxP system. Mice without the Cre transgene but with floxed PDGFR-β were used as controls. Both groups of mice reached adulthood without any apparent anatomical defects. These mice were further examined by conducting several behavioral tests for spatial memory, social interaction, conditioning, prepulse inhibition, and forced swimming. The test results indicated that the PDGFR-β KO mice show deficits in all of these areas. Furthermore, an immunohistochemical study of the PDGFR-β KO mice brain indicated that the number of parvalbumin (calcium-binding protein)-positive (i.e., putatively γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic) neurons was low in the amygdala, hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex. Neurophysiological studies indicated that sensory-evoked gamma oscillation was low in the PDGFR-β KO mice, consistent with the observed reduction in the number of parvalbumin-positive neurons. These results suggest that PDGFR-β plays an important role in cognitive and socioemotional functions, and that deficits in this receptor may partly underlie the cognitive and socioemotional deficits observed in schizophrenic and autistic patients.     

Sp1真核表达载体的构建及对USP22基因转录活性的影响

目的 克隆人sp1基因,构建真核表细胞达载体pVAX-Sp1,研究其对USP22基因转录活性的影响.方法 Trizol试剂快速提取人肝癌细胞株HepG2总RNA,经RT-PCR扩增Sp1基因序列,与pVAX1真核表达载体连接;测序、酶切鉴定重组载体;pVAX1-Sp1与含USP22启动子的萤光素酶报告质粒共转染HepG2细胞,双萤光素酶报告系统检测萤光素酶活性表达.结果 测序及酶切结果显示重组质粒pVAX1-Sp1构建成功;高表达sp1可使USP22启动子的转录活性降低（P＜0.01）.结论 成功构建了sp1真核表达质粒,sp1对USP22启动子具有转录抑制作用.     

Endometrial stem cell transplantation restores dopamine production in a Parkinson’s disease model

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Adult human endometrial derived stem cells (HEDSC), a readily obtainable type of mesenchymal stem‐like cell, were used to generate dopaminergic cells and for transplantation. Cells expressing CD90, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)‐Rβ and CD146 but not CD45 or CD31 were differentiated in vitro into dopaminergic neurons that exhibited axon projections, pyramidal cell bodies and dendritic projections that recapitulate synapse formation; these cells also expressed the neural marker nestin and tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate‐limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis. Whole cell patch clamp recording identified G‐protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium current 2 channels characteristic of central neurons. A 1‐methyl 4‐phenyl 1,2,3,6‐tetrahydro pyridine induced animal model of PD was used to demonstrate the ability of labelled HEDSC to engraft, migrate to the site of lesion, differentiate in vivo and significantly increase striatal dopamine and dopamine metabolite concentrations. HEDSC are a highly inducible source of allogenic stem cells that rescue dopamine concentrations in an immunocompetent PD mouse model.     

水稻转导外源总DNA变异后代盐胁迫下株高及生理指标分析

通过田间筛选的G系列水稻耐盐新品系生理生化指标和形态学指标的测定,进一步鉴定筛选的耐盐水稻的耐盐性.采用沙培法培养水稻幼苗,在水稻幼芽期和两叶一心期进行盐处理,设清水、0.3％ NaCl、0.6％ NaCl、0.9％ NaCl 4个浓度盐溶液浇灌植株.前者,待两叶一心期,测定丙二醛(MDA)含量、脯氨酸(Pro)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和株高;后者,从浇盐水当天开始算起,分别测定第3天和第6天水稻的上述4个指标.结果显示,G16、G20这两个新品系在两个处理下都是随着盐浓度的增加,MDA含量逐渐降低,但在同一浇灌条件下均低于对照G6;Pro含量逐渐升高,但在同一浇灌条件下均高于对照G6;SOD活性先增强后减弱,但在同一浇灌条件下均高于对照G6;随着盐浓度的增加株高逐渐减小,但在同一浇灌条件下均高于对照G6.通过MDA含量、PRO含量、SOD活性和株高的显著变化,由此得出田间筛选出的水稻G16、G20的耐盐性都强于对照G6,从生理角度和形态学角度证实了田间筛选耐盐水稻结果的正确性,也证实了丙二醛含量、脯氨酸含量、SOD活性和株高可以做为水稻耐盐性鉴定的生理生化指标和形态学指标.     

解脂耶氏酵母脂肪酶基因lip1的克隆、密码子优化及功能表达

摘要：【目的】克隆解脂耶氏酵母（Yarrawia lipolytica）脂肪酶基因lip1,并通过密码子优化,首次实现其在毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)中的诱导型和组成型表达。【方法】通过PCR扩增Y. lipolytica脂肪酶基因lip1,根据P. pastoris密码子偏爱性,运用重叠延伸PCR合成改造后基因MLip1,将其分别克隆至诱导型分泌载体pPIC9K和新构建的组成型分泌载体pGAP9K上,电转至P. pastoris GS115中,G418抗性筛选得到高拷贝转化重组子,摇瓶发酵