Glutamine-dependent signaling controls pluripotent stem cell fate

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Variability of cross-tissue X-chromosome inactivation characterizes timing of human embryonic lineage specification events

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荒漠植物四合木(Tetraena mongolica Maxim.)EST-SSR标记的识别与开发

四合木(Tetraena mongolica Maxim.)是内蒙古东阿拉善-西鄂尔多斯地区的特有珍稀植物,为古地中海孑遗物种.自然环境恶化和人类活动干扰,使其生境发生了严重的破碎化,甚至消失.有限的分子标记限制了对该植物种质遗传多样性和生存现状的认识.本研究通过转录组测序,构建了含有119603条Unigenes的四...     

Growth curve,blood parameters and carcass traits of grass-fed Angus steers

The increasing demand for natural products is currently transforming the meat industry, making grass-fed and finished beef a valuable option for improving profits. However, the transformation of conventional operations to grass-fed systems comprises many modifications, such as logistical, technological, and financial that could be very complex and expensive, involving economic risk. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the growth curve, critical economic traits, and carcass quality and finished characteristics over several consecutive years in closely related grass-fed and finished Angus steers, to reduce the genetic effect on the results. We found that grass-fed steers require around 188 additional days to reach the market weight (approx. 470 kg) and had approximately 70% less average daily gain compared to the grain-fed and finished steers. Regression analysis demonstrated an interaction between feed and age (P < 0.01); thus, individual regressions were fitted for each regimen style, obtaining almost perfect linear curves for both treatments, which could be straightforwardly used in practical situations due to its simplicity. Six of eight carcass traits were different between grain-fed and grass-fed and finished steers. Hot-carcass weight, dressing, back fat, and quality grade were superior in grain-fed individuals, contrarily to yield grade and ribeye area/carcass ratio, which were better in grass-fed and finished steers (P < 0.05).Interestingly, the meat tenderness was certainly low and similar in both treatments (P = 0.25), indicating the feasibility of producing tender meat with animals under a grass-fed diet. Nevertheless, according to the quality grade analysis, grain-fed carcasses were greater ranked compared to grass-fed bodies (P < 0.01), regardless of their same tenderness. The results will provide valuable information for better understanding beef cattle in grass-feeding finishing systems, especially from weaning to harvest. Additionally, the study will expand the knowledge about the quality of meat obtained from animals that received grass exclusively, becoming relevant information for economic evaluation and management decisions for grass-based cattle operations.     

Marker-free site-specific gene integration in rice based on the use of two recombination systems

Transgene integration mediated by heterologous site-specific recombination (SSR) systems into the dedicated genomic sites has been demonstrated in a few different plant species. This approach of plant transformation generates a precise site-specific integration (SSI) structure consisting of a single copy of the transgene construct. As a result, stable transgene expression correlated with promoter strength and gene copy number is observed among independent transgenic lines and faithfully transmitted through subsequent generations. Site-specific integration approaches use selectable marker genes, removal of which is necessary for the implementation of this approach as a biotechnology application. As SSR systems are also excellent tools for excising marker genes from transgene locus, a molecular strategy involving gene integration followed by marker excision, each mediated by a distinct recombination system, was earlier proposed. Experimental validation of this approach is the focus of this work. Using FLPe-FRT system for site-specific gene integration and heat-inducible Cre-lox for marker gene excision, marker-free SSI lines were developed in the first generation itself. More importantly, progeny derived from these lines inherited the marker-free locus, indicating efficient germinal transmission. Finally, as the transgene expression from SSI locus was not altered upon marker excision, this method is suitable for streamlining the production of marker-free SSI lines.     

肉苁蓉研究进展

本文就肉苁蓉资源分布、化学成分、分离提纯、药理作用和资源开发利用作一综述,并展望其发展前景     

Maturation of vomeronasal receptor neurons in vitro by coculture with accessory olfactory bulb neurons

To analyze the mechanisms of perception and processing of pheromonal signals in vitro, we previously developed a new culture system for vomeronasal receptor neurons (VRNs), referred to as the vomeronasal pocket (VN pocket). However, very few VRNs were found to express the olfactory marker protein (OMP) and to have protruding microvilli in VN pockets, indicating that these VRNs are immature and that VN pockets are not appropriate for pheromonal recognition. To induce VRN maturation in VN pockets, we here attempted to coculture VN pockets with a VRN target-accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) neurons. At 3 weeks of coculture with AOB neurons, the number of OMP-immunopositive VRNs increased. By electron microscopy, the development of microvilli in VRNs was found to occur coincidentally with OMP expression in vitro. These results indicate that VRN maturation is induced by coculture with AOB neurons. The OMP expression of VRNs was induced not only by AOB neurons but also by neurons of other parts of the central nervous system (CNS). Thus, VRN maturation requires only CNS neurons. Since the maturation of VRNs was not induced in one-well separate cultures, the nonspecific induction of OMP expression by CNS neurons suggests the involvement of a direct contact effect with CNS in VRN maturation.     

Appearance of an intra-acrosomal antigen during the terminal step of spermiogenesis in the rat

Summary In a survey of sperm antigens in the rat, a new intra-acrosomal antigen was found using a monoclonal antibody MC41 raised against rat epididymal spermatozoa. The MC41 was immunoglobulin G₁ and recognized spermatozoa from rat, mouse and hamster. Indirect immunofluorescence with MC41 specifically stained the crescent region of the anterior acrosome of the sperm head. Immuno-gold electron microscopy demonstrated that the antigen was localized within the acrosomal matrix. Immunoblot study showed that MC41 recognized a band of approximately 165000 dalton in the extract of rat sperm from the cauda epididymidis. Immunohistochemistry with MC41 demonstrated that the antigen was first detected in approximately step-2 spermatids, and distributed over the entire cytoplasmic region of spermatids from step 2 to early step 19. The head region became strongly stained in late step-19 spermatids and then in mature spermatozoa. Distinct immunostaining was not found in the developing acrosome of spermatids throughout spermiogenesis. These results suggest that the MC41 antigen is a unique intra-acrosomal antigen which is accumulated into the acrosome during the terminal step of spermiogenesis.     

非洲菊盘状花雄蕊发育与舌状花生长着色的对应关系

非洲菊(Gerbern hybrida)头状花序由外轮舌状花和内轮盘状花构成。通过观察内轮盘状花雄蕊花粉囊和花粉粒的形态结构与发育顺序,和测定外轮舌状花花瓣的长度、宽度、花色素苷含量等,对它们之间的对应关系进行了研究。花序外轮舌状花花瓣开始着色时为P3期,此时第1轮盘状花出现成熟花粉粒。研究明确了内轮盘状花花粉粒发育与外轮舌状花生长时期和花色素苷积累的对应关系。     

不同发育期贝居腹盾吸虫体内乙酰胆碱酯酶分布特征

乙酰胆碱酯酶(ACh E)被证明存在于多种吸虫体内,但是关于ACh E在吸虫发育过程中的分布变化情况却少有报道。本实验以贝居腹盾吸虫(Aspidogaster conchicola)为研究对象,选取不同发育阶段的虫体,分别采用醋酸洋红染色和乙酰胆碱酯酶组织化学染色方法,对比处于不同发育阶段虫体的正常结构及乙酰胆碱酯酶分布特征,了解乙酰胆碱酯酶在吸虫发育过程中的分布变化规律。结果显示,从河蚌(Anodonta woodiana)体内获得的虫体根据内部器官的发育程度,可以分为4个不同发育阶段,即幼虫阶段Ⅰ、幼虫阶段Ⅱ、成虫阶段Ⅰ、成虫阶段Ⅱ。乙酰胆碱酯酶的分布在不同发育阶段存在着明显差异,幼虫阶段Ⅰ的睾丸及阴茎囊基部最先出现乙酰胆碱酯酶阳性反应,幼虫阶段Ⅱ在子宫末段膨大部位出现阳性反应;成虫阶段Ⅰ的卵黄腺、输卵管出现阳性反应,并且随着虫体的发育上述部位的阳性反应逐渐加强。而该吸虫的附着、消化、排泄器官在发育早期即出现较强的阳性反应,并伴随虫体发育全过程。该吸虫的神经系统在幼虫早期既已具备脑神经节、主要神经干等结构,而完整、复杂的中枢神经结构至成虫阶段才得以清晰显现。结果表明,乙酰胆碱酯酶的分布区域及反应程度随着虫体的发育而出现变化。