Canaries in the coal mine: a cross-species analysis of the plurality of obesity epidemics

A dramatic rise in obesity has occurred among humans within the last several decades. Little is known about whether similar increases in obesity have occurred in animals inhabiting human-influenced environments. We examined samples collectively consisting of over 20 000 animals from 24 populations (12 divided separately into males and females) of animals representing eight species living with or around humans in industrialized societies. In all populations, the estimated coefficient for the trend of body weight over time was positive (i.e. increasing). The probability of all trends being in the same direction by chance is 1.2 × 10(-7). Surprisingly, we find that over the past several decades, average mid-life body weights have risen among primates and rodents living in research colonies, as well as among feral rodents and domestic dogs and cats. The consistency of these findings among animals living in varying environments, suggests the intriguing possibility that the aetiology of increasing body weight may involve several as-of-yet unidentified and/or poorly understood factors (e.g. viral pathogens, epigenetic factors). This finding may eventually enhance the discovery and fuller elucidation of other factors that have contributed to the recent rise in obesity rates.     

MicroRNAs and cystic fibrosis--an epigenetic perspective

CF (cystic fibrosis) is a recessive genetic disease caused by mutations of the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator), a cAMP-activated anion channel, exhibiting a multitude of clinical manifestations including lung inflammation/infection, pancreatic insufficiency/diabetes, intestinal obstruction and infertility in both sexes. While mutation DF508 is found in 70% of CF patients, large variation in disease phenotypes and severity is observed among the patients. This review discusses current theories accounting for the disease variations and puts forth an epigenetic hypothesis involving microRNAs.     

Mandibular premolar and second molar root morphological variation in modern humans: What root number can tell us about tooth morphogenesis

This investigation of modern human mandibular premolar root variation tests the hypothesis that population-specific mandibular single-rooted premolar root size can predict a predisposition to root morphological complexity. Mandibular postcanines were examined and quantified from dental radiographs in a globally spread sample of 1,615 modern humans. Multirooted premolars and a fused molar root phenotype were investigated as probes into greater than, and less than, the normative root number. Twelve questions were addressed concerning root structure of mandibular premolars and second molars. A direct correlation was found between single-rooted mandibular premolar size and the predisposition to multirootedness. This correlation infers the following: 1) that postcanine primordia size during root formation predisposes to the development of more, or less, than the normative postcanine root number; and 2) that the epigenetic effect of tooth primordium size per se influences the induction of interradicular processes, which divides the root during its development. This simple developmental model helps explain the following observations: 1) population-specific variation in postcanine root number; 2) sexual dimorphism for multirooted mandibular premolar prevalence; 3) why microdont teeth are single-rooted; 4) the hierarchy of developmental canalization of interradicular processes; 5) megadont-hominin to late-hominin mandibular premolar root number transition; and 6) the fluctuation of mandibular premolar root number in primate evolutionary history.     

Chromatin remodeling in plants

In the past two years, a variety of forward genetic screens have revealed predicted plant chromatin remodeling components that are involved in either differential histone acetylation or ATP-dependent SWI2/SNF2-related complexes. Combined with the results of recent reverse genetic studies, these findings have begun to provide the groundwork for determining the function of chromatin-based control in plants.     

组蛋白变异体H2A.Z的研究进展

H2A.Z是组蛋白H2A的变异体之一,是高度保守的组蛋白变异体,参与保护常染色体,防止形成异染色质;并且与转录调节、抗沉默、沉默和基因组稳定性有关。组蛋白变异体H2A.Z可能与染色体形成独立的结构域,从而调节染色质结构功能。但是,H2A.Z对染色体结构功能的作用机制还不是很清楚。组蛋白变异体H2A.Z和它的表观遗传修饰对染色体动态结构和功能起重要的作用。该文将对组蛋白变异体H2A.Z进行综述。