Evolutionary relationship ofHLA-DRB genes inferred from intron sequences

The major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) consists of class I and class II genes. In the humanMhc (HLA) class II genes, nineDRB loci have been identified. To elucidate the origin of these duplicated loci and allelic divergences at the most polymorphicDRBI locus, introns 4 and 5 as well as the 3′ untranslated region (altogether approximately 1,000 base pairs) of sevenHLA-DRB loci, threeHLA-DRBI alleles, and nine nonhuman primateDRB genes were examined. It is shown that there were two major diversification events inHLA-DRB genes, each involving gene duplications and allelic divergences. Approximately 50 million years (my) ago,DRBI ^*04 and an ancestor of theDRB1 ^*03 cluster (DRBI ^*03, DRBI^*15, andDRB3) diverged from each other andDRB5, DRB7, DRB8, and an ancestor of theDRB2 cluster (DRB2, DRB4, andDRB6) arose by gene duplication. Later, about 25 my ago,DRBI ^*15 diverged fromDRBI*03, andDRB3 was duplicated fromDRBI ^*03. Then, some 20 my ago, the lineage leading to theDRB2 cluster produced two new loci,DRB4 andDRB6. TheDRBI ^*03 andDRBI ^*04 allelic lineages are extraordinarily old and have persisted longer than some duplicated genes. The orthologous relationships ofDRB genes between human and Old World monkeys are apparent, but those between Catarrhini and New World monkeys are equivocal because of a rather rapid expansion and contraction of primateDRB genes by duplication and deletion. Correspondence to: Y. Satta     

More than skin deep: Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-based attraction among Asian American speed-daters

What might explain our instinctual attraction to certain individuals, aside from visible factors such as appearance? We examined possible biologically-driven selection for immunology genes, specifically preferences for Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)-dissimilarity, through the ecologically-valid method of speed-dating. Two-hundred-and-sixty-two single Asian Americans went on speed-dates (N observations?=?2215) with participants of the other sex, making second date offers and rating each other on measures of mate desirability, facial attractiveness, and body scent attractiveness. Using a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, women, but not men, showed preferences for speed-dating partners based on MHC-complementarity. The direction of findings varied by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), such that SNPs closer to the major HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) genes supported dissimilarity preferences, whereas those farther away supported similarity preferences. The relative effects of MHC-based measures in comparison to an array of behavioral predictors were examined via random forests. Results indicated that for both men and women, the importance of MHC-based indices was comparable to that of a partner's self-reported personality attributes in predicting second date offers.     

Dynamic species distribution models reveal spatiotemporal habitat shifts in native range‐expanding versus non‐native invasive birds in an urban area

Urbanisation as a major driver of changes leads to the extinction of some species while others increase in abundance, especially non‐native species. Spatiotemporal distribution patterns of these successful species are likely to be shaped by their response and tolerance to urban features. This study assesses the anthropo‐ecological requirements of two co‐occurring bird species, the native range‐shifting jackdaw Corvus monedula and the non‐native invasive ring‐necked parakeet Psittacula krameri. We built yearly models over an eight‐year period using an ensemble modelling approach assessing response differences through time and between species. Predictors describing human‐made structures, socio‐ecological proxies and resources availability were extracted from temporally coincident databases. Dispersal and habitat constraints were implemented in final models to provide more realistic forecasts of species future distributions. Ensemble models evaluated with a random partition of the training dataset showed a higher accuracy than those evaluated with an independent dataset from another time period. Our results highlight temporal variations in the relative importance of predictors for both studied species. Single‐season occurrence data may thus be insufficient to characterize species ecological requirements. The ring‐necked parakeet and the jackdaw showed different responses to urban features. Jackdaws preferred the more urbanized part of the city while the distribution of parakeets was strongly positively associated with the density of exotic ornamental trees. We concluded that ring‐necked parakeet range expansion is likely to be driven by its effective ability to exploit urban resources which native species do not or under exploit, suggesting an open window of foraging opportunities. However, the jackdaw may be misled by a high cavity availability and a large amount of low‐quality anthropogenic food in the urban core. We suggest that dynamic SDMs are a critical tool not only to forecast the future expansion of invasive species but also for a better understanding of processes driving urban biodiversity persistence.     

Reduced neuropeptide Y mRNA levels in the frontal cortex of people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

To study the change of gene expression in the brain tissues of schizophrenia, we used the gene expression monitoring technology and compared two sets of pools each containing four RNA samples of frontal cortex that were randomly selected from the control or schizophrenia group. We found that the expression of two genes were commonly altered in four pairwise comparisons; the expression of DEAD-box protein p72 (p72) gene was increased and neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene expression was decreased in the schizophrenia group compared with the control group. To substantiate these results, we estimated their mRNA levels by the real time TaqMan method in the 15 samples of each frontal or temporal cortex of four matched groups of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and normal controls. A statistically significant decrease was observed for NPY in the frontal, but not in the temporal cortex, in the schizophrenia group (P=0.003). A decrease was also observed in the frontal cortex of the bipolar disorder group (P=0.031). In contrast, p72 gene expression showed no significant difference among the four groups. In conclusion, by novel technology of DNA array and TaqMan PCR analyses, we found that neuropeptide Y mRNA levels were significantly reduced in the frontal cortex in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.     

血清NT-proBNP 与hs-CRP在预测急性ST段抬高性心肌梗死主要心脏 不良事件的价值

目的:探讨血清N末端脑钠肽前体(NT-pro BNP)及超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)在预测急性ST段抬高性心肌梗死(STEMI)近期主要心脏不良事件(MACE)的价值。方法:选取172例STEMI患者为研究对象,按照住院期间是否发生MACE分为MACE组(n=56例)和非MACE组(n=116例),记录两组之间的入院时血清NT-pro BNP及hs-CRP水平及一般临床资料及实验室检查指标,将NT-pro BNP及hs-CRP水平按照四分位分组(Q_1、Q_2、Q_3和Q_4组),比较各组相关指标的差异,用多因素Logistic回归模型分析NT-pro BNP及hs-CRP水平与MACE发生的关系,用ROC曲线评价血清NT-pro BNP及hs-CRP预测MACE发生的价值。结果:MACE组和非MACE组在血清NT-pro BNP及hs-CRP存在显著的统计学差异(P0.05),MACE组两指标高于非MACE组;两者四分位分组之间MACE发生率存在统计学差异(P0.05),NT-pro BNP Q_4组和hs-CRP Q_4组中的MACE发生率高于NT-pro BNP Q_1~Q_2组及hs-CRP Q_1~Q_2组;多因素Logistic回归分析显示血清NT-pro BNP及hs-CRP是STEMI患者近期MACE发生的独立危险因素,且NT-pro BNP Q_1~Q_4组及hs-CRP Q_1~Q_4组之间风险值(OR)逐渐增大。ROC曲线提示血清NT-pro BNP及hs-CRP预测MACE发生的ROCACU分别为:0.887、0.797;灵敏度分别为91.1、85.6;特异度分别为82.6、75.2。结论:血清NT-pro BNP及hs-CRP可能是STEMI患者近期MACE发生的独立危险因素,应当引起临床重视。     

Size‐induced phenotypic reaction norms in a parasitoid wasp: an examination of life‐history and behavioural traits

The amount of resources available during development often affects body size, causing phenotypic variation in life‐history traits and reproductive behaviours. However, past studies have seldom examined the reaction norms of both life‐history and behavioural traits versus body size. We measured the phenotypic plasticity of several life‐history (age‐specific egg load, egg size, longevity) and behavioural (oviposition rate, host marking rate, walking speed) traits of the egg parasitoid Telenomus podisi Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) in response to body size variation. We predicted that life‐history traits would show more evidence of size compensation than behavioural traits, resulting in fewer positively‐sloped size versus trait reaction norms among the former. As predicted by life‐history models, smaller wasps appear to shift resource allocation towards early‐life reproduction, having a similar egg load to large individuals 9 days after emergence. Surprisingly, longevity was unaffected by body size. However, egg size, the number of offspring produced during oviposition bouts, and the rate of subsequent egg synthesis were greater for larger individuals. In addition, as predicted, the reaction norms of behavioural traits versus body size were all positively sloped. Thus, despite possible adaptive compensatory plasticity of life‐history traits by small individuals, behavioural constraints directly related to body size would contribute to maintaining a positive size–fitness relationship.     

The effect of body size and habitat on the evolution of alarm vocalizations in rodents

When confronted with a predator, many mammalian species emit vocalizations known as alarm calls. Vocal structure variation results from the interactive effects of different selective pressures and constraints affecting their production, transmission, and detection. Body size is an important morphological constraint influencing the lowest frequencies that an organism can produce. The acoustic environment influences signal degradation; low frequencies should be favoured in dense forests compared to more open habitats (i.e. the ‘acoustic adaptation hypothesis’). Such hypotheses have been mainly examined in birds, whereas the proximate and ultimate factors affecting vocalizations in nonprimate mammals have received less attention. In the present study, we investigated the relationships between the frequency of alarm calls, body mass, and habitat in 65 species of rodents. Although we found the expected negative relationship between call frequency and body mass, we found no significant differences in acoustic characteristics between closed and open‐habitat species. The results of the present study show that the acoustic frequencies of alarm calls can provide reliable information about the size of a sender in this taxonomic group, although they generally do not support the acoustic adaptation hypothesis.     

Physiological relevance of plant 2‐Cys peroxiredoxin overoxidation level and oligomerization status

Peroxiredoxins are ubiquitous thioredoxin‐dependent peroxidases presumed to display, upon environmental constraints, a chaperone function resulting from a redox‐dependent conformational switch. In this work, using biochemical and genetic approaches, we aimed to unravel the factors regulating the redox status and the conformation of the plastidial 2‐Cys peroxiredoxin (2‐Cys PRX) in plants. In Arabidopsis, we show that in optimal growth conditions, the overoxidation level mainly depends on the availability of thioredoxin‐related electron donors, but not on sulfiredoxin, the enzyme reducing the 2‐Cys PRX overoxidized form. We also observed that upon various physiological temperature, osmotic and light stress conditions, the overoxidation level and oligomerization status of 2‐Cys PRX can moderately vary depending on the constraint type. Further, no major change was noticed regarding protein conformation in water‐stressed Arabidopsis, barley and potato plants, whereas species‐dependent up‐ and down‐variations in overoxidation were observed. In contrast, both 2‐Cys PRX overoxidation and oligomerization were strongly induced during a severe oxidative stress generated by methyl viologen. From these data, revealing that the oligomerization status of plant 2‐Cys PRX does not exhibit important variation and is not tightly linked to the protein redox status upon physiologically relevant environmental constraints, the possible in planta functions of 2‐Cys PRX are discussed.     

烤烟不同生育时期产量性状的遗传效应分析

以烤烟高产品种竖把老母鸡和台烟7号与低产品种TI245配制成2个杂交组合,分别获得6个世代植株(P1、P2、F1、F2、B1、B2),运用主基因+多基因混合遗传多世代联合法对2个组合不同生育时期的产量性状进行遗传分析。研究结果表明,2个组合的产量性状在性状建成中发挥调控作用的基因数目与基因效应存在发育阶段性差异。基因加性效应与显性效应存在于整个发育过程中,且效应程度在不同生育时期存在明显差异,同时加性×加性、显性×显性互作效应在产量性状的发育过程中呈间断性表达。基因遗传力在不同生育时期存在差异,现蕾期产量性状的表型变异受基因遗传效应的决定作用高于其他2个生育时期,受环境因素影响小,且不同组合间的基因效应也存在显著差异,组合Ⅱ的遗传效应明显高于组合Ⅰ。不同组合的烤烟产量性状在不同生育时期主基因+多基因遗传效应差异显著,受环境影响程度不同,因此在育种工作中既要考虑基因效应,又要注意环境影响。