Evolutionary study of multigenic families mapping close to the human MHC class I region

Summary During a search for novel coding sequences within the human MHC class I region (chromosome 6p21.3), we found an exon (named B30-2) coding for a 166-amino-acid peptide which is very similar to the C-terminal domain of several coding sequences: human 52-kD Sjögren's syndrome nuclear antigen A/Ro (SS-A/Ro) and ret finger protein (RFP), Xenopus nuclear factor 7 (XNF7), and bovine butyrophilin. The first three of these proteins share similarities over the whole length of the molecule whereas butyrophilin is similar in the C-terminal domain. The N-terminal domain of butyrophilin is similar to rat myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and chicken B blood group system (B-G) protein. These domains are components of a new subfamily of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF). Butyrophilin is thus a mosaic protein composed of the MOG/B-G Ig-like domain and the C-terminal domain of 52-kD SS-A/Ro, RFP, and XNF7 (1330-2-like domain). Moreover, in situ hybridization shows that RFP, butyrophilin, and MOG map to the human chromosome 6p2l.3-6p22 region and are thus close to the MHC class I genes. It is therefore possible that the butyrophilin gene is the product of an exon shuffling event which occurred between ancestors of the RFP and MOG genes. To our knowledge, this is the first example of the colocalization of a chimeric gene and its putative progenitors. Finally, regulatory protein T-lymphocyte 1 (Rpt-1) shares similarities with the N-terminal halves of RFP, 52-kD SS-A/Ro, and XNF7, but not with the B30-2-like domain. We show that the ancestral Rpt-l gene evolved by overprinting. Correspondence to: P. Pontarotti     

Two new false click-beetles from China (Coleoptera: Elateroidae: Eucnemidae)

Thambus planifrons Muona & Meng sp. nov. and Otho rutriclypeus Muona & Meng sp. nov. are described from China. Both genera are recorded for the first time from China. Except for the European T. friwaldszkyi Bonvouloir, 1871, and the Japanese T. curvicaria Hisamatsu, 1956, all other previously known species belonging to Otho were from the Americas. Eight Otho species have been described from disparate parts of Asia earlier.urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:10B667F6-F11E-454B-9653-D66A2D7ABFA1.     

我国新疆球蛛属1新种（蜘蛛目：球蛛科）

记述我国新疆和田县球蛛属1新种,命名为和田球蛛,新种Theridon hotanenis Sp.nov。,     

The earliest fossil record of the extant rove beetle genus Phloeocharis from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of northern Myanmar and its biogeographic implications (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Phloeocharinae)

Phloeocharis Mannerheim is the largest genus within the problematic rove beetle subfamily Phloeocharinae, with a single extinct and 44 recent species recorded from the Holarctic Region. Until now, the oldest fossil record of Phloeocharis was known from Late Cretaceous (Turonian) amber from New Jersey, USA. Here we describe 2Phloeocharis burmana n. sp. from mid-Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian) Kachin amber from northern Myanmar, as the earliest extinct species of this genus. Our finding also sheds light on the biogeography of Phloeocharis, since no recent or extinct species have so far been recorded from the Oriental Region. Furthermore, the discovery of 2P. burmana n. sp. extends the Mesozoic diversity of the phloeocharine rove beetles both taxonomically and morphologically, particularly from Kachin amber.     

中国(竹思)簩竹属(Schizostachyum Nees)的研究及其它

对国产(竹思)(竹劳)竹属(Schizostachyum Nees)进行了系统整理。对属的范围进行了修订,认为本属应包括乔草竹属(Dendrochloa Parkinson),薄竹属(Leptocanna Chia et H.L.Fung),长穗竹属(Teinostachyum Munro)和李海竹属(Neohouzeaua A.Camus),并首次建立了本属的属下分类系统。此外,对二种竹子起了新名:甲竹(Bambusa austro-sinensis Xia)和毛环单竹(B.yunnanensis Xia);作了4个新组合,即Schizostachyum coradatum(Wen et Dai)Xia, S.dumetorum(Hance)Munro var.xinwuense(Wen et J. Y Chin)Xia, Bambusa glaucescens glaucescens(Willd)Sieb. ex Munro var.annulata(W.T.Lin et Z.J.Feng)Xia和B.glaucescens (Willd)Sieb.ex Munro var.pubivagina(W.T....     

Hidden diversity in high-latitude Southern Hemisphere environments: Reinstatement of the genus Rama and description of Vandenhoekia gen. nov. (Cladophoraceae,Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta), two highly variable genera

The continental coasts and remote islands in the high-latitude Southern Hemisphere, including the subantarctic region, are characterized by many endemic species, high abundance of taxa, and intermediate levels of biodiversity. The macroalgal flora of these locations has received relatively little attention. Filamentous green algae are prolific in the intertidal of southern islands, but the taxonomy, distribution, and evolutionary history of these taxa are yet to be fully explored, mostly due to the difficulty of access to some of these locations. In this study, we examined specimens of the order Cladophorales from various locations in the high-latitude Southern Hemisphere including the subantarctic (the Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Macquarie Island, and Kerguelen Islands), as well as mainland New Zealand, the Chatham Islands, Chile, and Tasmania. The analyses of the rDNA sequences of the samples revealed the existence of two new clades in a phylogeny of the Cladophoraceae. One of these clades is described as the novel genus Vandenhoekia gen. nov., which contains three species that are branched or unbranched. The amended genus Rama is reinstated to accommodate the other clade, and contains four species, including the Northern Hemisphere “Cladophora rupestris.” In Rama both branched and unbranched morphologies are found. It is remarkable that gross morphology is not a predictor for generic affiliations in these algae. This study illustrates that much can still be learned about diversity in the Cladophorales and highlights the importance of new collections, especially in novel locations.     

中华鳖阴茎头的组织学观察

2021年8月,在安徽省合肥市庐江县牛王寨采集到东亚腹链蛇属(Hebius)蛇类标本1号。经形态比较发现,该蛇明显不同于大别山地区已有的东亚腹链蛇属物种——棕黑腹链蛇(H. sauteri)和绣链腹链蛇(H. craspedogaster)。分子系统学分析显示,该标本与东亚腹链蛇(H. vibakari)遗传关系最近,且形态上符合东亚腹链蛇特征,提示该标本应为东亚腹链蛇。东亚腹链蛇是安徽省和大别山地区爬行动物分布新记录种,这也是该物种在中国东北地区之外首次被报道。该分布新记录扩大了对东亚腹链蛇的分布范围的认知,对东亚腹链蛇的种群分化和生物地理学研究具有重要意义。     

湖南省发现云开脊蛇兼记棕脊蛇新地模标本

云开脊蛇(Achalinus yunkaiensis)之前仅在广东和广西有分布报道。本文基于形态比较及线粒体COI基因序列分子系统关系分析结果,确定采集于湖南省新宁县的1号雌性脊蛇标本(CIB 119041)为云开脊蛇,为湖南省新记录种。该标本鼻间鳞沟约等于前额鳞沟,上颔齿24枚;背鳞通身23行,腹鳞150枚,尾下鳞55枚;尾长与体长之比为0.203。至此共有4种脊蛇分布于湖南省。此外,本文还报道了棕脊蛇(A. rufescens)1号雄性地模标本(CIB 119042),该标本鼻间鳞沟长于前额鳞沟;背鳞通身23行,腹鳞153枚,尾下鳞62枚;尾长与体长之比0.201。分子系统发育结果显示,棕脊蛇种组各支系的系统地位还需进一步研究厘定。     

四川宜宾发现黔北角蟾

2021年7月在四川省宜宾市筠连县大雪山风景区乌岭沟东北（27°53′N,104°45′E,海拔1 380 m）采集到2号角蟾科（Megophryidae）布角蟾属（Boulenophrys）物种标本（标本号：WG202107005和WG202107006）。通过形态学比较并基于线粒体16S rRNA和细胞色素氧化酶亚基I(COI)基因序列构建的最大似然树显示,2号标本是黔北角蟾（B. qianbeiensis）。目前,已知黔北角蟾分布于贵州省桐梓县黄连自然保护区和贵州省宽阔水国家级自然保护区,此次在四川宜宾发现黔北角蟾确定为四川省两栖类分布新记录种。     

湖南郴州发现岭南两头蛇

2022年8月,于湖南省郴州市永兴县湘阴渡镇（113°01′18′′E,26°11′87′′N,海拔174 m）采集到两头蛇活体标本1号,通过形态测量比较,发现所采集标本与中国广东省分布的岭南两头蛇（Calamariaarcana）形态特征基本一致;后基于线粒体Cytb基因片段进行分子系统发育分析,结果显示该标本与岭南两头蛇形成高支持率单系群（后验概率PP为1.00,自举值BS为100）,所采集标本与岭南两头蛇的遗传距离为1%。综合形态学和分子生物学证据,最终确定该标本为两头蛇科（Calamariidae）两头蛇属的岭南两头蛇,系湖南省蛇类分布新记录种。