Filter feeding,deviations from bilateral symmetry,developmental noise,and heterochrony of hemichordate and cephalochordate gills

We measured gill slit fluctuating asymmetry (FA), a measure of developmental noise, in adults of three invertebrate deuterostomes with different feeding modes: the cephalochordate Branchiostoma floridae (an obligate filter feeder), the enteropneusts Protoglossus graveolens (a facultative filter feeder/deposit feeder) and Saccoglossus bromophenolosus (a deposit feeder). FA was substantially and significantly low in B. floridae and P. graveolens and high in S. bromophenolosus. Our results suggest that the gills of species that have experienced a relaxation of the filter feeding trait exhibit elevated FA. We found that the timing of development of the secondary collagenous gill bars, compared to the primary gill bars, was highly variable in P. graveolens but not the other two species, demonstrating an independence of gill FA from gill bar heterochrony. We also discovered the occasional ectopic expression of a second set of paired gills posterior to the first set of gills in the enteropneusts and that these were more common in S. bromophenolosus. Moreover, our finding that gill slits in enteropneusts exhibit bilateral symmetry suggests that the left‐sidedness of larval cephalochordate gills, and the directional asymmetry of Cambrian stylophoran echinoderm fossil gills, evolved independently from a bilaterally symmetrical ancestor.     

Proteomic Analysis of High Temperature Stress-Responsive Proteins in Chrysanthemum Leaves

Chrysanthemum is one of the most important ornamental flowers in the world, and temperature has a significant influence on its field production. In the present study, differentially expressed proteins were investigated in the leaves of Dendranthema grandiflorum ‘Jinba’ under high temperature stress using label-free quantitative proteomics techniques. The expressed proteins were comparatively identified and analyzed. A total of 1,463 heat-related, differentially expressed proteins were successfully identified by Liquid Chromatography-tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and 1,463 heat-related, differentially expressed proteins were successfully identified by mass spectrometry after a high temperature treatment. Among these, 701 proteins were upregulated and 762 proteins were downregulated. The in-depth bioinformatics analysis of these differentially expressed proteins revealed that these were involved in energy metabolism pathways, protein metabolism, and heat shock. In the present study, the investigators determined the changes in the levels of some proteins, and their expression at the protein and molecular levels in chrysanthemum to help reveal the mechanism of heat resistance in chrysanthemum. Furthermore, the present study elucidated some of the proteins correlated to heat resistance in chrysanthemum, and their expression changes at the protein and molecular levels to help reveal the mechanism of heat resistance in this flower species. These results provide a theoretical basis for the selection of new heat resistant varieties of chrysanthemum in the field.     

Sex identification of morphologically-undifferentiated Siberian sturgeon with statistical analysis of gene expression patterns

The purpose of this study was to detail a simple strategy for sexing morphologically-undifferentiated fish using statistical analysis of gene expression patterns characterized by quantitative PCR. This approach is especially relevant for species without known genomic sex markers. The method was developed for early identification of female Siberian sturgeon as part of a genomics study. That study documented activation of the enzyme 17ß-hydroxy-steroid-dehydrogenase (hsd17b1) in future ovarian tissue at 3 months of age, concurrent with a small forkhead box L2 (foxl2) peak and emerging cytochrome P450, family 19, subfamily A (cyp19a1) expression. Major cyp19a1 and foxl2 peaks occurred in presumptive female gonads at 5–6 months. This pattern suggested a genetic relay mediating estrogen production throughout differentiation, possibly to maintain gonadal femininity. Genes involved in stem cell proliferation (lim homeobox 2 (lhx2)) and somatic-germ cell interaction maintenance (iroquois homeobox 5 (irx5) and iroquois homeobox 3 (irx3)) were also expressed during molecular differentiation, at 5–6 months. The roles of lhx2, irx3, and irx5 in fish sex differentiation should be confirmed using other methodologies. These results indicate that estrogens are crucial for ovarian differentiation in basal non-teleost fish, consistent with well-established patterns in teleosts, with hsd17b1 as one of the earliest biomarkers of gonadal development.     

双委夜蛾气味结合蛋白AdisOBP6的原核表达抗体制备及表达谱分析

【目的】本研究旨在对双委夜蛾Athetis dissimilis气味结合蛋白OBP6进行原核表达、抗体制备以及表达谱分析,便于今后对AdisOBP6功能展开研究。【方法】利用生物信息学软件分析AdisOBP6蛋白结构特征;利用通过原核表达获得的重组蛋白4次免疫新西兰大白兔,制备AdisOBP6抗体;采用荧光定量PCR和Western blot技术检测AdisOBP6在双委夜蛾雌雄成虫触角、不同时期精巢以及受精卵和未受精卵中的表达情况。【结果】同源建模预测显示,AdisOBP6具有6个保守半胱氨酸残基和7个α-螺旋结构,并 折叠成一个结合口袋。原核表达结果显示,在20℃下0.5 mmol/L IPTG诱导重组蛋白表达量最多、最稳定。4次免疫重复中,抗体效价分别超过1∶512 000, 1∶512 000, 1∶512 000和1∶64 000。Westernblot检测获得的抗体与AdisOBP6蛋白能够特异性结合。荧光定量PCR结果显示,AdisOBP6在双委夜蛾精巢中的表达量远高于在触角中的,在幼虫期精巢中AdisOBP6就已经开始表达,在蛹期精巢中表达量低于在幼虫期的, 成虫羽化后精巢中的表达量逐渐进入高峰,在未受精卵和受精卵中几乎不表达或表达量极低。Western blot分析发现,AdisOBP6蛋白也主要在精巢中表达,在雌雄成虫触角、受精卵和未受精卵中表达量很低。【结论】本研究实现了AdisOBP6的原核表达,成功地制备了抗体;并证实AdisOBP6在双委夜蛾精巢中大量表达,成虫羽化后表达量达到高峰,推测AdisOBP6可能参与了授精过程。本研究结果为今后进一步研究AdisOBP6的功能奠定了基础。     

A gene silencing of V‐ATPase subunit A interferes with survival and development of the tomato leafminer,Tuta absoluta

RNA interference (RNAi) technology is not only considered as a tool to analyze gene function, but it is also potentially considered as a strategy to develop novel biopesticide. In the current study, a double‐stranded RNA specific to v‐ATPase subunit A of the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick; Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), was orally administered. A gradual decrease in the expression of the gene was observed from Day 1 to 3 and resulted in significant larval mortality. These results suggest that v‐ATPases A can be considered as a promising target gene by RNAi technology to be used in the management of the tomato leafminer.