Secretory type of recombinant thioredoxin h induces ER stress in endosperm cells of transgenic rice

Thioredoxin h (TRX h) functions as a reducing protein and is present in all organisms. As a new approach for inducing the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, TRX h (OsTRX23) was expressed as a secretory protein using the endosperm-specific glutelin GluB-1 promoter and a signal peptide. In transgenic rice seeds, the majority of the recombinant TRX h accumulated in the ER but some was also localized to the protein body IIs (PB-IIs). The rice grain quality was dependent on the TRX h accumulation level. Increased TRX h expression resulted in aberrant phenotypes, such as chalky and shriveled features, lower seed weight and lower seed protein content. Furthermore, the accumulation of some seed storage proteins (SSPs) was significantly suppressed and the morphology of the protein bodies (PB-Is and PB-IIs) changed according to the level of TRX h. SSPs, such as 13 kDa prolamin and GluA, were specifically modified via the reducing action of TRX h. These changes led to the activation of the ER stress response, which was accompanied by the expression of several chaperone proteins. Specifically, the ER stress markers BiP4 and BiP5 were significantly up-regulated by an increase in the level of TRX h. These results suggest that changes in the conformation of certain SSPs via the action of recombinant TRX h lead to an induced ER stress response in transgenic rice seeds.     

Calreticulin mRNA and protein are localized to protein bodies in storage maize callus cells

Maize callus cells possess numerous protein bodies which develop as sub-compartments of the endoplasmic reticulum. We localized maize calreticulin mRNAs and protein in maize callus cells using in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. Calreticulin mRNAs were selectively targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) subdomains surrounding protein bodies. Profilin mRNAs, used as a positive control for in situ hybridization experiments, showed distinct and rather diffuse localization pattern. Using both, immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy localization techniques, calreticulin was found to be enriched around and within protein bodies in maize callus storage cells. As a positive control for reticuloplasmins, HDEL antibody revealed labelling of protein bodies and of the nuclear envelope. The identity of protein bodies was confirmed by specific binding of an α zein antibody. These data suggest that calreticulin mRNA is targeted towards protein body forming subdomains of the ER, and that calreticulin is localized and enriched in these protein bodies. The possibility that calreticulin plays an important role in zein retention within the ER and/or its assembly and packaging into protein bodies during protein body biogenesis in maize callus is discussed.     

European springtime temperature synchronises ibex horn growth across the eastern Swiss Alps

Direct effects of climate change on animal physiology, and indirect impacts from disruption of seasonal synchrony and breakdown of trophic interactions are particularly severe in Arctic and Alpine ecosystems. Unravelling biotic from abiotic drivers, however, remains challenging because high‐resolution animal population data are often limited in space and time. Here, we show that variation in annual horn growth (an indirect proxy for individual performance) of 8043 male Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) over the past four decades is well synchronised among eight disjunct colonies in the eastern Swiss Alps. Elevated March to May temperatures, causing premature melting of Alpine snowcover, earlier plant phenology and subsequent improvement of ibex food resources, fuelled annual horn growth. These results reveal dependency of local trophic interactions on large‐scale climate dynamics, and provide evidence that declining herbivore performance is not a universal response to global warming even for high‐altitude populations that are also harvested.     

对比分析IPS e.max Press铸瓷高嵌体与普兰梅卡CADCAM系统制作的高嵌体修复后牙牙体缺损的效果

摘要 目的：本研究旨在探讨对比分析IPS e.max Press铸瓷高嵌体与普兰梅卡CADCAM系统制作的高嵌体修复后牙牙体缺损的效果。方法：以2021年8月-2022年8月我院诊治的60例（86颗）后牙牙体缺损患者为研究对象,采用随机数字表法将其分为研究组（给予普兰梅卡CADCAM系统制作的高嵌体修复）和对照组（给予IPS e.max Press铸瓷高嵌体修复）各30例,对比两组修复前及修复1年后咀嚼功能、牙龈情况、RANK、CXCL16水平、IL-6、IL-8水平,统计修复结果及美牙效果满意度。结果：（1）修复前,两组咀嚼功能比较无差异（P＞0.05）;修复1年后,研究组咀嚼功能优于对照组（P＜0.05）;（2）修复前,两组牙龈指数、菌斑指数评分比较无差异（P＞0.05）;修复1年后,研究组牙龈指数、菌斑指数评分优于对照组（P＜0.05）;（3）修复前,两组RANK、CXCL16水平比较无差异（P＞0.05）;修复1年后,研究组RANK、CXCL16水平低于对照组（P＜0.05）;（4）修复前,两组IL-6、IL-8水平比较无差异（P＞0.05）;修复1年后,研究组IL-6、IL-8水平与对照组比较（P＞0.05）;（5）修复1年后,研究组修复体边缘适合性、修复体邻面解剖形态优于对照组（P＜0.05）;两组修复体表面及边缘着色、修复体折裂与固位比较,差异不显著（P＞0.05）;（6）修复1年后,研究组美牙效果满意度优于对照组（P＜0.05）。结论：与IPS e.max Press铸瓷高嵌体相比,普兰梅卡CADCAM系统制作的高嵌体修复后牙牙体缺损的效果更佳,能够提高咀嚼功能,改善牙龈指数,提高美牙效果满意度。     

MULE DEER SURVIVAL AMONG ADJACENT POPULATIONS IN SOUTHWEST IDAHO

Abstract: We investigated survival and cause-specific mortality of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) on 3 distinct winter ranges in southwest Idaho from 1992 to 1997 to identify demographic variation and potential limiting factors based on a sample of 447 radiocollared deer. During winters 1995–1996 and 1996–1997, we modeled overwinter fawn mortality based on early winter mass, sex, activity, and habitat use variables. Annual survival rates of adult mule deer varied among the 3 adjacent study areas (χ₂² = 10.93, P = 0.004). Overwinter deer survival also varied among study areas (χ₂² = 8.00, P = 0.018), and the study area X year, study area X sex, and study area X age interactions were all significant (P ≤ 0.018). Overwinter survival differences among the study areas were not consistent over time or among sexes and ages of deer. Winter malnutrition was the main cause of mortality for both adults and fawns during the severe winter of 1992–1993, when overall survival was low. Excluding harvest, predation was the major proximate cause of deer mortality during 1993–97 when overall survival was higher. The probability of winter fawn mortality increased with lower mass (χ₂¹ = 7.38, P = 0.007), being male (χ₂¹ = 5.61, P = 0.018), smaller group sizes (χ₂¹ = 3.62, P = 0.057), and using steeper slopes (χ₂¹ = 3.05, P = 0.081). Smaller group sizes and use of steep slopes corresponded to conditions where predators were more successful. Our findings suggest that coyote (Canis latrans) predation was largely compensatory whereas mountain lion (Puma concolor) predation was apparently independent of animal condition and dependent more on deer habitat use. Early winter fawn mass was a better predictor of overwinter fawn survival than a suite of winter resource use variables, lending further support for use of fawn mass to predict winters where fawn mortality may be high. No single population in this study could be used to make reliable inferences regarding deer survival in the other populations. Survival rate measurements should be used cautiously to make inferences in populations where survival has not been directly measured.     

A novel 62‐bp indel mutation in the promoter region of transforming growth factor‐beta 2 (TGFB2) gene is associated with body weight in chickens

Transforming growth factor‐beta 2 (encoded by TGFB2) is a growth factor that regulates a plethora of cellular functions. In this study, we sequenced the promoter and full‐length exon region of the chicken TGFB2 and found two mutations (g.‐640C>T and g.‐851_‐790del) within the promoter. The two polymorphisms were genotyped in 1030 pedigreed hens recorded for body weight at 7 (BW7), 9 (BW9), 11 (BW11), 13 (BW13), 17 (BW17) weeks old, egg weight at 36 weeks of age (EW36) and egg numbers from the age at first egg (AFE) to 40 weeks of age (EN40). Despite the fact that no mutations were found to have statistically significant genetic effects on egg production, the association results of growth traits showed that both g.‐640C>T and g.‐851_‐790del had significant effects on body weights and that both genotype g.‐640TT and g.‐851_‐790wt/wt were positive for body weight performance. Therefore, the polymorphisms of TGFB2, especially the g.‐851_‐790del mutation associated with body weight at almost all periods, could be potential useful genetic markers to improve the growth of Beijing You chickens.     

Do intraspecific life history patterns follow interspecific predictions? A test using latitudinal variation in ringed seals

Mammals adapted to unpredictable and low-energy environments often evolve a “bet-hedging” life history strategy characterized by less costly reproductive outputs over a longer and slower-growing life. In contrast, species adapted to more predictable (i.e., low variation) and higher energy environments may evolve greater fecundity over a shorter and faster-growing life. We tested whether this known interspecific pattern also occurs within a species. We compared life history traits of the ringed seal (Pusa hispida) in the Canadian High Arctic to those closer to the southern limit of the species' circumpolar distribution. We found that northern seals grew slower than southern seals (Brody growth coefficient), achieved a greater asymptotic body weight (82 and 69 kg vs. 74 and 54 kg female and male, respectively), reached sexual maturity later (6.1 years vs. 4.5 years), had lower fecundity (1.8 years vs. 1.3 years interbirth interval), longer average lifespan (5 years vs. 3 years median age), and greater movements (1,269 vs. 681 km). Mating systems also likely differed with northern seals showing morphological evidence of a promiscuous mating system with potential sperm competition as indicated by greater relative testes size. The northern region was also characterized by more unpredictable environmental timing of seasonal events, such as spring sea ice breakup. Life history variation between the intraspecific groups of seals appears to agree with interspecific patterns and provides a better understanding of how species' life history parameters shift in concert with environmental conditions.     

Response of severed Penicillium chrysogenum hyphae following rapid Woronin body plugging of septal pores

Colonies of Penicillium chrysogenum (Thom) Wisconsin strain Q176 were fixed at varying time intervals after having been severed with a razor blade and were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Within such colonies Woronin bodies were found to have plugged septal pores on either side of the cut, both towards and away from the hyphal apices. A very close association of Woronin bodies with septa was retained in damaged compartments emptied of virtually all other contents. In colonies fixed 3 h after cutting, deposition of material over the plugged pores occurred on the side of the septum away from the cut. The newly deposited material was similar in appearance to hyphal wall and septal plate constituents. This consolidation of the seal was apparently completed within 3 h because no further change was observed in colonies fixed 17 h after cutting.