Functional variants of hepatocyte growth factor identified in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

The genetic etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) remains obscure. Whole-genome sequencing was performed in four members of one family. Then, we performed a rigorous computational analysis to determine the deleterious effects of the identified variants. Furthermore, the structural differences between the native hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) protein and a protein encoded by an HGF variant containing one mutation (p.T596M) were analyzed using molecular dynamic stimulation. A novel heterozygous mutation (p.T596M) within the HGF gene was identified and found to cosegregate with scoliosis phenotypes in three affected family members. Subsequent modeling and structure-based analyses supported the theory that this mutation is functionally deleterious. Functional analyses demonstrated that the HGF p.T596 M mutation changed the ability of the HGF protein to be secreted and impaired migration and invasion in HEK293T cells. Furthermore, an HGF knockdown zebrafish model exhibited a curly tailed phenotype. Mutation in HGF is associated with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance of AIS. This finding increases our understanding of the genetic heterogeneity of AIS.     

Focus: The Science of Stress: Potential Societal and Cultural Implications of Transgenerational Epigenetic Methylation of Trauma and PTSD: Pathology or Resilience?

Psychological trauma is unique in that it is an environmental event that could induce biological changes and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or other mood disorders in some patients. On the other hand, there may be no psychopathology (in most cases), or even sometimes post-traumatic growth and resilience. According to the DSM-5, trauma is a prerequisite for PTSD and traumatic stress disorder, but not for depressive episodes or mood disorders, or other psychiatric conditions. This paper brings attention to the preliminary literature on transgenerational inheritance due to trauma exposure and its societal and cultural implications. There is accumulating evidence that exposure to trauma can be passed transgenerationally through epigenetic inheritance leading to changes in gene expression and possible disorders or resilience. The effects of resilience from transgenerational inheritance have not been studied, but should be, for a full understanding not only of the disease risk across generations, but also of its social and cultural implications. The epigenetic pathologic effects across generations also need further studies, as the current research is preliminary; larger replications are needed for definitive and more complete understanding. I present here a glimpse of where we are, a vision of where we should go in terms of future research direction for disease risk transmission, and recommend studies of resilience and post-traumatic growth across generations, as well as other studies related to the societal implications at the population level.     

The significance of specific distributions and functions in models of quantitative inheritance

The main purpose of this paper is to attract attention to the fact that a mathematical model of quantitative inheritance can lead to qualitatively different results, if distributions and functions which in the model represent biological processes are assumed to take analytically different (even though qualitatively similar) forms. A simple model of the effect of environmental variation on the post-selection genotypic variance in a population under phenotypic stabilizing selection is considered. It is demonstrated that this model leads to qualitatively different conclusions depending on whether the phenotypic fitness function is assumed in a Gaussian or in a quadratic form.     

转基因棉花的遗传研究

选用不同来源的转Ｂｔ基因抗虫棉中棉所３０号和新棉３３Ｂ、转ｔｆｄＡ基因抗除草剂棉花材料ＴＦＤ,通过与不同主栽推广品种正反交和回交研究外源Ｂｔ基因和ｔｆｄＡ基因在棉花体内的遗传和分离行为。结果表明,由外源基因提供给转基因的抗虫和抗除草剂性状均是由一对基因控制的显性性状,且该性状不受细胞质效应的影响,符合孟德尔遗传规律。     

小菜蛾对阿维菌素的抗性遗传方式 和相对适合度研究

就小菜蛾Plutella xylostella对阿维菌素的抗性遗传方式和抗性品系的相对适合度进行了研究。室内选育的阿维菌素抗性品系与同源的敏感品系杂交、F₁代自交、F₁代与亲本回交,结果表明：杂交后的显性度（D）分别为-0.64和-0.52,说明小菜蛾对阿维菌素的抗性是常染色体、不完全隐性遗传;χ²检验证实,可能是多基因控制的抗性遗传。杂交F₁代乙酰胆碱酯酶（AChE）、羧酸酯酶（CarE）和谷胱甘肽转移酶（GST）活性比抗性亲本有所降低,F2代及回交后代三种酶的活性继续降低。种群适合度研究表明,抗性品系相对于敏感品系有0.84的适合度。     

Quantitative cytology of the alfalfa generative cell and its relation to male plastid inheritance patterns in three genotypes

Summary Studies utilizing restriction analysis of plastid DNA, as well as those employing chlorophyll-deficient mutants, have shown a high frequency of paternal plastid transmission in alfalfa. Recent research has also shown that plastid inheritance patterns among alfalfa genotypes and are under genetic control. In a previous study we were unable to detect any correlations between qualitative, three-dimensional ultrastructure of generative cells and male plastid transmission strength in certain genotypes. In the present study we used serial ultrathin sectioning, computerized reconstruction and quantitation, and stereology to further analyze generative cells within mature pollen. Measurements included volumes and surface areas of cells, nuclei, and organelles, as well as organelle number and distribution. Three genotypes were investigated, one that is a strong transmitter of male plastids (genotype 301), one that is a weaker transmitter of male plastids (genotype 7W), and a third that is an even weaker male plastid transmitter (genotype MS-5). Our results show that genotype MS-5 has significantly fewer plastids/generative cell than either of the other genotypes, which may account for it being a relatively poor transmitter of male plastids. However, plastid number does not explain known differences in male plastid inheritance between genotypes 301 and 7W, since plastid number does not differ significantly between these two genotypes. Regarding the other features of generative cells measured in this study, no consistent correlations were found that might account for differences in male plastid inheritance patterns between genotypes. Plastid distribution is equal in each end of the spindle-shaped generative cell in all genotypes studied. Similar relative results were found with regard to mitochondria within generative cells; however, comparative genetic data are not available on mitochondrial transmission patterns in alfalfa genotypes.     

害虫及害螨对阿维菌素抗药性研究进展

阿维菌素(avermectins)是一类新型高效广谱的生物源农药,对多种害虫及害螨具有极好的防效。随着阿维菌素在害虫及害螨防治中的广泛应用,害虫和害螨对其的抗性问题日益受到关注。文章综述国内外的最新研究结果表明:小菜蛾Pluttella xylostella(L.)、二斑叶螨Tetranychus urticate Koch等已对阿维菌素产生抗性,对阿维菌素产生抗性的害虫和螨并不总是表现适合度劣势,且抗性一旦产生敏感性较难以恢复;抗性遗传多数由多基因、不完全隐性控制;抗性机理涉及多种因素。综合分析发现害虫和螨对阿维菌素存在较大的、潜在抗性风险。     

烟草叶片外植体脱分化与再分化过程中FtsZ蛋白的表达（简报）

在植物叶肉细胞的脱分化、再分化过程中伴随着叶绿体与质体相互转化的过程。已高度分化的叶肉细胞脱分化为分生状态细胞时．其中的原质体主要由叶绿体出芽生殖产生．偶尔可以看到某些叶绿体分裂或分裂与出芽同时出现的情况。此外,叶绿体在出芽产生原质体的同时自身逐渐被巨大的淀粉粒所充满．从而转变为淀粉体。