Molecular characterization of LMW-GS genes from a somatic hybrid introgression line Ⅱ-12 between Triticum aestivum and Agropyron elongatum in relation to quick evolution

In order to exploit the evolution and find novel low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit(LMW-GS)for improvement of common wheat quality,thirteen variants from a somatic hybrid introgression line Ⅱ-12 between Triticum aestivum cv.Jinan 177(JN177)and Agropyron elongatum were characterized via genomic PCR.Four clones were pseudogenes because they contained an internal stop codon.The remaining nine variants contained intact open reading frames(ORFs).Sequence alignment indicates that the proteins deduced from the nine ORFs have similar primary structure with LMW-GS cloned from its parents previously.However,they have some unique modifications in the structures.For example,EU292737 contains not only an extra Cys residue in the C-terminal domain but also a long repetitive domain.Both EU159511 and EU292738 start their first Cys residue in the N-terminal repetitive domain,but not in the N-conserved domain traditionally.These structural alterations may have positive contributions to wheat flour quality.The results of phylogeny showed that most LMW-GS variances from Ⅱ-12 were homologous to those from parent JN 177 and other wheat lines.The reason for quick evolution of LMW-GS in Ⅱ-12 was discussed.     

Olfactory system gamma oscillations: the physiological dissection of a cognitive neural system

Oscillatory phenomena have been a focus of dynamical systems research since the time of the classical studies on the pendulum by Galileo. Fast cortical oscillations also have a long and storied history in neurophysiology, and olfactory oscillations have led the way with a depth of explanation not present in the literature of most other cortical systems. From the earliest studies of odor-evoked oscillations by Adrian, many reports have focused on mechanisms and functional associations of these oscillations, in particular for the so-called gamma oscillations. As a result, much information is now available regarding the biophysical mechanisms that underlie the oscillations in the mammalian olfactory system. Recent studies have expanded on these and addressed functionality directly in mammals and in the analogous insect system. Sub-bands within the rodent gamma oscillatory band associated with specific behavioral and cognitive states have also been identified. All this makes oscillatory neuronal networks a unique interdisciplinary platform from which to study neurocognitive and dynamical phenomena in intact, freely behaving animals. We present here a summary of what has been learned about the functional role and mechanisms of gamma oscillations in the olfactory system as a guide for similar studies in other cortical systems.

Enhanced motor unit rate coding with improvements in a force-matching task

These data describe improved modulation of discharge rates (rate coding) of first dorsal interosseous motor units throughout the acquisition of a complex force-matching skill involving isometric index finger abduction. In each of 15 consecutive trials, subjects attempted to match their force to a trajectory consisting of the sum of two sine waves (0.15 and 0.5 Hz) and random oscillations (overall mean force level ˜20% MVC). Reductions in root-mean-square (RMS) error of each subject’s force relative to the trajectory indicated substantial improvements in force-matching ability (F=33.8, p<0.001). With the acquisition of this new skill, there was increased amplitude modulation of muscular force near both dominant frequencies of the force-matching trajectory (F=10.6, p=0.008). The standard deviation and coefficient of variation of motor unit inter-spike intervals both decreased with improved performance indicating a general reduction in the amplitude of firing rate modulations (SD: F=18.69, p=0.001; CV: F=43.6, p<0.001). After skill acquisition, there was decreased firing rate modulation outside of the two dominant frequencies and increased amplitude of firing rate modulation at the higher of the two dominant frequencies (0.5 Hz, F=8.23, p=0.015). These findings indicate that improved precision of rate coding was a contributor to the acquisition of the new force-matching task. That the change in rate coding was frequency dependent suggests that factors other than frequency coding may contribute to the improved force matching at 0.15 Hz.     

基于非线性方法的DNA序列分析

以人类DNA序列为原始数据,对其进行数字编码。在利用功率谱分析编码DNA序列的基础上,利用Hurst指数进一步分析序列的自相似性。从分析结果看出,DNA序列中的确存在长程相关现象,而且这种长程相关现象与DNA的组成结构有关,表现为它的结构基团的Hurst指数大于其功能基团的Hurst指数。同时,从内含子含量的角度分析序列的长程相关程度,结果表明,同一序列中,内含子含量与不同的化学基团具有不同的关系。这表明不同的化学结构对DNA序列特征具有不同的贡献。这些结论从非线性方法的角度对DNA序列的分析提供了新的思路。     

Odor‐evoked responses in the olfactory center neurons in the terrestrial slug

The procerebrum (PC) of the terrestrial mollusk Limax is a highly developed second‐order olfactory center consisting of two electrophysiologically distinct populations of neurons: nonbursting (NB) and bursting (B). NB neurons are by far the more numerous of the two cell types. They receive direct synaptic inputs from afferent fibers from the tentacle ganglion, the primary olfactory center, and also receive periodic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) from B neurons. Odor‐evoked activity in the NB neurons was examined using perforated patch recordings. Stimulation of the superior tentacle with odorants resulted in inhibitory responses in 45% of NB neurons, while 11% of NB neurons showed an excitatory response. The specific response was reproducible in each neuron to the same odorant, suggesting the possibility that activity of NB neurons may encode odor identity. Analysis of the cycle‐averaged membrane potential of NB neurons revealed a correlation between the firing rate and the membrane potential at the plateau phase between IPSPs. Also, the firing rate of NB neurons was affected by the frequency of the IPSPs. These results indicate the existence of two distinct mechanisms for the regulation of NB neuron activity. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 58: 369–378, 2004     

Learning-induced modulation of oscillatory activities in the mammalian olfactory system: The role of the centrifugal fibres

In the mammalian olfactory system, oscillations related to odour representation have been described in field potential activities. Previous results showed that in olfactory bulb (OB) of awake rats engaged in an olfactory learning, odour presentation produced a decrease of oscillations in gamma frequency range (60-90 Hz) associated with a power increase in beta frequency range (15-40 Hz). This response pattern was strongly amplified in trained animals. The aim of this work was twofold: whether learning also induces similar changes in OB target structures and whether such OB response depends on its centrifugal inputs. Local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded through chronically implanted electrodes in the OB, piriform and enthorhinal cortices of freely moving rats performing an olfactory discrimination. Oscillatory activities characteristics (amplitude, frequency and time-course) were extracted in beta and gamma range by a wavelet analysis. First, we found that odour induced beta oscillatory activity was present not only in the OB, but also in the other olfactory structures. In each recording site, characteristics of the beta oscillatory responses were dependent of odour, structure and learning level. Unilateral section of the olfactory peduncle was made before training, and LFPs were symmetrically recorded in the two bulbs all along the acquisition of the learning task. Data showed that deprivation of centrifugal feedback led to an increase of spontaneous gamma activity. Moreover, under this condition olfactory learning was no longer associated with the typical large beta band. As a whole, learning modulation of the beta oscillatory response in olfactory structures may reflect activity of a distributed functional network involved in odour representation.     

河狸亲缘信息素的遗传力:遗传关系的信息是怎样编码的?

本研究利用几种亲缘关系对河狸 (Castorcanadensis)肛腺分泌物中的单个化合物和其整体组合的狭义遗传力进行了估算。使用气相色谱和质谱对河狸肛腺化合物进行定性和定量分析 ,发现了单个化合物的遗传力很低 ,但化合物的整体组合却显示有适度的遗传力。因此 ,我们认为亲缘关系的编码可能涉及多种化合物 ,并以数量和数字编码并用的方式进行     

遗传密码格式的组合编码数分析

用N个密码子对m个编码对象进行编码的编码格式是m元N维空间中的一个顶点。64个密码子对20种氨基酸和终止密码子进行编码格式的组合编码数是一个十分巨大的数字。对多元高维编码空间的拓扑特性进行了分析和研究 ,并由此推导出m -N空间的特性三角的排列方式以及给出特性三角公式的数学证明。指出 ,目前的遗传密码的编码格式是21元64维编码空间的一个顶点。应用组合数学分析的方法 ,计算了遗传密码格式的最大组合编码数CM =4.19×1084 ,基因组遗传密码的组合编码数CG =1.13×1080 以及线粒体遗传密码的组合编码数CT =1.38×1079 等。分析结果表明 ,遗传密码的指定是一个小概率事件 ,可能来源于λ简并后的偶数三联密码配对的组合编码的对称破缺     

光周期和气味信号对雄性布氏田鼠血浆睾酮含量的影响

Chemical signals provide important cues in social behavior of many mammalian speciesly, mediating sexual, aggressive, parental and spacing behavior, as well as influencing an animals internal hormonal milieu. Conspecific novel males substrate was given as individual odor stimulus to adult male Brandts voles(Microtus brandti) that left in individual cases in long\|photoperiod (LD) and short\|photoperiod (SD) resfectioely. The plasma testosterone of these male actors was mensurated by radioimmunoassay. The results indicated that plasma testosterone increased with the duration that the male vole was exposed to the odor of a novel male. Plasma testosterone concentration in LD males increased sigrificanily than those in SD males in 30 minutes.After 1 hour or 2 hours, exposed to the novel scents, the testosterone levels of LD males were higher than SD males, but didnt show significant difference. The results demonstrated that the chemical signals induced releasing of androgen and the increase of plasma testosterone of males voles exposed to novel conspecific odors was also influenced by the photoperiod. It suggest that the change of testosterone concentration would underlie the odor producing and odor preferences of Brandts vole.     

Traits of brown trout prey in relation to habitat characteristics and benthic invertebrate communities

A trait database based on habitat, behavioural and morphological characteristics of invertebrates enabled invertebrates known to have differential vulnerability to salmonid predation to be discriminated. Among all of these traits the most important were associated with invertebrate spatial proximity to salmonids (macrohabitat preference), potential conspicuousness and accessibility (e.g. flow exposure, mobility, tendency to drift, trajectory and agility) and handling efficiency (body flexibility and size). Data on benthos assemblages and brown trout salmo trutta diets collected over two consecutive summers in different macrohabitat types (e.g. pools, runs and riffles) of two Pyrenean streams demonstrated that: (i) decrease in torrential flow characteristics of habitats was associated with changes in invertebrate body shape and movement, and a decrease in body flexibility and tendency to drift; (ii) brown trout tended to feed on the most vulnerable invertebrates (e.g. those living in exposed microhabitats and with a high tendency to drift, agility and aggregation), except in faster flowing habitats. The results suggest that the potential vulnerability of benthic invertebrates increased with increases in flow (torrential) characteristics. Also, the database compiled on traits explained differences among brown trout diets, especially in slow flowing areas.