Q 型烟粉虱扬州种群 cyp6cm1基因内含子抗性相关多态性检测及其5′侧翼序列克隆

【目的】烟粉虱 Bemisia tabaci（Gennadius）已对包括有机磷类、拟除虫菊酯类、新烟碱类和昆虫生长调节剂等多种杀虫剂产生了不同程度的抗药性,其中尤以对新烟碱类杀虫剂的抗性问题最为突出。本研究旨在克隆 Q 型烟粉虱扬州种群细胞色素 P450基因 cyp6cm1片段序列及其5′侧翼序列。【方法】分别应用 PCR 和基因组步移技术克隆 cyp6cm1基因片段序列及其5′侧翼序列。【结果】 cyp6cm1基因片段序列包括63 bp 的外显子片段和826~829 bp 的内含子片段。多重序列比对发现,在内含子第195、230和242等3个碱基处存在与新烟碱类杀虫剂抗性相关的单核苷酸多态性（SNPs）。进一步利用基因组步移技术获得了长度为962 bp 的 cyp6cm1基因5′侧翼序列,利用 NNPP 在线分析软件预测转录起始位点为位于起始密码子上游57 bp 处的碱基 A;ConSite 软件分析发现,cyp6cm1基因5′侧翼序列具有 XRE-AhR、CREB、Oct-1和 Broad-complex-4等多种转录因子结合位点。     

A novel method to perform genomic walks using a combination of single strand DNA circularization and rolling circle amplification

Characterization of regions flanking a known sequence within a genome, known as genome walking, is a cornerstone technique in modern genetic analysis. In the present work we have developed a new PCR-dependent, directional genome walking protocol based on the unique circularization property of a novel DNA ligase, CircLigase. In the first step, PCR based primer extension is performed using a phosphorylated primer, designed to extend from the boundary of the known sequence, into the flanking region. This linear amplification results in the generation of single-stranded (ss) DNA, which is then circularized using CircLigase. Using the hyperbranching activity of Phi29 DNA polymerase, the circular ssDNA is then linearized by rolling circle amplification, resulting in copious amounts of double stranded concatameric DNA. Nested primers are used to amplify the flanking sequence using inverse PCR. The products are resolved on an agarose gel and the bands whose mobility change due to the nested location of the primer combination used are identified, extracted, and cloned into a plasmid vector for sequencing. Empirical proof for this concept was generated on two antimicrobial biosynthetic genes in Pseudomonas sp. LBUM300. Using the hcnB and phlD genes as starting points, ca 1 kb of flanking sequences were successfully isolated. The use of locus specific primers ensured both directionality and specificity of the walks, alleviating the generation of spurious amplicons, typically observed in randomly primed walking protocols. The presented genome walking protocol could be applied to any microbial genome and requires only 100-150 bp of prior sequence information. The proposed methodology does not entail laborious testing of restriction enzymes or adaptor ligation. This is the first report of a successful application of the novel ligase enzyme, CircLigase for genomic walking purposes.     

Evaluation of PCR-based methods for isolating flanking regions of genes

Several polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods are available for isolation of unknown genomic fragments. In the present study, a comparative evaluation of a few methods of ligation-mediated PCR methods and a ligation-independent one were made by isolating promoter fragment for N-methyltransferase gene involved in the caffeine biosynthetic pathway of Coffea canephora. The benefits of tertiary PCR and the effects of a 4-base cutting restriction endonuclease on the size of the PCR products obtained were demonstrated in one of the ligation-mediated PCR methods. The methods adopted in this study differed in the sizes of the 5'-flanking regions obtained. The efficiencies of various methods used reflect the inherent limitations of the PCR-based methods for isolation of unknown flanking regions.     

Correlates of ecological dominance within Pheidole ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

1. In any group of organisms, one can almost invariably find some species that are ecologically dominant (i.e. disproportionately more abundant and widespread), whereas others are comparatively less prevalent. Understanding of the causes of variation in ecological dominance has been elusive, particularly given that dominant and subordinate species often lack obvious features that could predict their abundance in nature. 2. In this study, physiological, behavioural, morphological, and phylogenetic information is integrated in an effort to understand the mechanisms underlying ecological dominance in ants using the hyperdiverse ant genus Pheidole (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) as a model system. Field estimates of the relative abundance of 10 Pheidole species were compared with potential correlates, which included behavioural (walking velocity), physiological (tolerance to high and low temperatures and desiccation), and morphological traits (body size and degree of dimorphism in the worker caste). A molecular phylogeny of the tested species was also generated to account for potential confounding effects of phylogenetic non‐independence. 3. Dominant Pheidole species were characterised by higher environmental tolerance with respect to temperature and humidity, as well as faster walking speeds. On the other hand, no morphological correlates of ecological dominance were detected. Interestingly, subordinate species showed no evidence of trade‐off in performance, being both more fragile to environmental challenges and slower in their walking speeds. 4. These results provide important insights into the mechanisms involved in local species coexistence in Pheidole.     

Variability of neural activation during walking in humans: short heels and big calves

People come in different shapes and sizes. In particular, calf muscle size in humans varies considerably. One possible cause for the different shapes of calf muscles is the inherent difference in neural signals sent to these muscles during walking. In sedentary adults, the variability in neural control of the calf muscles was examined with muscle size, walking kinematics and limb morphometrics. Half the subjects walked while activating their medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles more strongly than their lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscles during most walking speeds ('MG-biased'). The other subjects walked while activating their MG and LG muscles nearly equally ('unbiased'). Those who walked with an MG-biased recruitment pattern also had thicker MG muscles and shorter heel lengths, or MG muscle moment arms, than unbiased walkers, but were similar in height, weight, lower limb length, foot length, and exhibited similar walking kinematics. The relatively less plastic skeletal system may drive calf muscle size and motor recruitment patterns of walking in humans.     

Biologically inspired control of physically simulated bipeds

Summary The basic rhythmicity underlying animal locomotion is created by dedicated neural structures called central pattern generators (CPGs). We describe the implementation of such structures in simulation and their successful use for the control of bipedal walking. Artificial evolution (in the form of genetic algorithms) is used as the optimisation procedure. Two CPG types are illustrated, the more advanced of which being based on recent theoretical findings on the nature of neural architectures required to drive animal locomotion. It is shown that CPGs in conjunction with simple reflex responses as well as an appropriate mechanical implementation of the biped are capable of producing stable walking patterns on planar surfaces. This finding corroborates circumstantial experimental evidence that limited bipedal locomotion is possible without the employment of higher level control centres.     

桑树肌动蛋白actin基因全长序列的克隆与分析

肌动蛋白在植物的各种生理活动中起着重要作用,是研究基因表达与调控模式的内标参考。通过染色体步移方法获得了桑树肌动蛋白actin基因1612bp的序列,该基因CDS长1312bp(GenBank登录号:HM623866),编码377个氨基酸残基,与水稻、葡萄等的同源基因的序列一致性在90%以上。基因内含子的数目及其在基因组上的位置也与水稻、葡萄等的相似。对来自不同物种的24个肌动蛋白基因进行聚类分析的结果显示,基因被分为ClassⅠ和ClassⅡ两个明显的亚群。     

Evolutionary trade-offs between thermal tolerance and locomotor and developmental performance in drosophilid flies

Cold-tolerant ectothermal animals are generally absent from warmer regions, suggesting that the acquisition of cold tolerance is associated with the loss of adaptation to warmer environments. In the present study, we compared thermal tolerance, walking speed (WS) and pupal development (PD) for 28 drosophilid species from cool-temperate, warm-temperate, and subtropical regions by the phylogenetically-based method and the conventional regression to understand trade-offs between these traits. A significant negative relationship was observed between cold tolerance and the rate of PD in both sexes and between cold tolerance and WS in the male in the phylogenetically-based analysis. Similar results were obtained in the conventional regression analysis, although the level of significance somewhat differed. Thus, cold tolerant species are assumed to have lost abilities to develop and walk fast. Subsequently, they may become more vulnerable to predators, parasitoids or infectious microorganisms and may have become extinct in warmer regions through enemy-mediated interactions and/or resource competition with cold susceptible species with faster development and quicker locomotion. In the present study, no significant relationship was observed between heat tolerance and WS or the rate of PD in the phylogenetically-based analysis, although heat tolerance was significantly related with the rate of PD in the conventional regression analysis. Thus, trade-offs associated with heat tolerance were not apparent.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 90 , 375–380.     

Muscle mitochondrial energetics predicts mobility decline in well‐functioning older adults: The baltimore longitudinal study of aging

BackgroundMuscle mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with poor mobility in aging. Whether mitochondrial dysfunction predicts subsequent mobility decline is unknown.MethodsWe examined 380 cognitively normal participants aged 60 and older (53%women, 22%Black) who were well‐functioning (gait speed ≥ 1.0 m/s) and free of Parkinson''s disease and stroke at baseline and had data on baseline skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and one or more mobility assessments during an average 2.5 years. Muscle oxidative capacity was measured by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy as the post‐exercise recovery rate of phosphocreatine (k_PCr). Mobility was measured by four walking tests. Associations of baseline k_PCr with mobility changes were examined using linear mixed‐effects models, adjusted for covariates. In a subset, we examined whether changes in muscle strength and mass affected these associations by adjusting for longitudinal muscle strength, lean mass, and fat mass.ResultsLower baseline k_PCr was associated with greater decline in all four mobility measures (β, p‐value: (0.036, 0.020) 6‐m usual gait speed; (0.029, 0.038) 2.5‐min usual gait speed; (0.034, 0.011) 6‐m rapid gait speed; (−0.042, <0.001) 400‐m time). In the subset, further adjustment for longitudinal muscle strength, lean mass, and fat mass attenuated longitudinal associations with changes in mobility (Δβ reduced 26–63%).ConclusionAmong initially well‐functioning older adults, worse muscle mitochondrial function predicts mobility decline, and part of this longitudinal association is explained by decline in muscle strength and mass. Our findings suggest that worse mitochondrial function contributes to mobility decline with aging. These findings need to be verified in studies correlating longitudinal changes in mitochondrial function, muscle, and mobility performance.