Improved genome assembly of Chinese shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis) suggests adaptation to the environment during evolution and domestication

A high-quality reference genome is necessary to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying important biological phenomena; therefore, in the present study, a chromosome-level genome assembly of the Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis was performed. Muscle of a male shrimp was sequenced using PacBio platform, and assembled by Hi-C technology. The assembled F. chinensis genome was 1.47 Gb with contig N50 of 472.84 Kb, including 57.73% repetitive sequences, and was anchored to 43 pseudochromosomes, with scaffold N50 of 36.87 Mb. In total, 25,026 protein-coding genes were predicted. The genome size of F. chinensis showed significant contraction in comparison with that of other penaeid species, which is likely related to migration observed in this species. However, the F. chinensis genome included several expanded gene families related to cellular processes and metabolic processes, and the contracted gene families were associated with virus infection process. The findings signify the adaptation of F. chinensis to the selection pressure of migration and cold environment. Furthermore, the selection signature analysis identified genes associated with metabolism, phototransduction, and nervous system in cultured shrimps when compared with wild population, indicating targeted, artificial selection of growth, vision, and behavior during domestication. The construction of the genome of F. chinensis provided valuable information for the further genetic mechanism analysis of important biological processes, and will facilitate the research of genetic changes during evolution.     

不同温度对脊尾白虾胚胎发育与幼体变态存活的影响

选用实验室内人工控制交尾的脊尾白虾,研究了不同温度对脊尾白虾胚胎发育及幼体变态、存活的影响。结果表明,在盐度为31的条件下,脊尾白虾胚胎发育的生物学零度为12.18℃,有效积温为3828.27℃.h。在15.3—28.1℃范围内,胚胎发育时间随着温度升高而呈双曲线性缩短,而胚胎发育速度随着温度的升高而呈直线性加快,但当温度超过30℃时,胚胎无法正常完成发育。脊尾白虾幼体变态发育速度随着温度的升高而加快,18、20、22、24、26、28℃各实验组开始出现仔虾的时间依次为17、14、11、9、8和8 d,各组90%以上幼体变态为仔虾的时间依次为21、18、15、14、11和11 d。各实验组在幼体变态过程中存活率都呈明显的阶梯式下降趋势,且28℃组的存活率下降最快,但当存活幼体全部变为仔虾时,各实验组间的存活率并无显著性差异(P>0.05)。18℃组仔虾干质量明显高于其它各组(P<0.05),28℃组仔虾干质量最低,但与20、22、24、26℃组无显著性差异(P>0.05)。因此在脊尾白虾育苗中,幼体孵化温度不应低于12℃,最高不超过28℃为宜;幼体培育温度,建议控制在22—26℃为最佳。     

黄河流域生态安全屏障防风固沙时空变化及驱动因素

黄河流域是我国重要的生态屏障和经济区,防风固沙服务及其驱动机制的研究对于筑牢黄河流域生态安全屏障具有重要意义。基于修正土壤风蚀模型(RWEQ)定量评估黄河流域2000—2018年防风固沙服务时空变化,采用相关分析和地理加权回归模型(GWR)从社会、气候、土壤、植被、地形等角度探究各驱动因素对黄河流域防风固沙服务影响的空间异质性。结果表明：(1)2000—2018年黄河流域土壤风蚀模数与单位面积防风固沙量分别以0.04 t hm^-2 a^-1和0.14 t hm^-2 a^-1的速率下降,而防风固沙保有率和植被覆盖度则分别以0.05%·a^-1和0.26%·a^-1的速率上升。(2)黄河流域土壤风蚀以微度(<2 t hm^-2 a^-1)和轻度(2—25 t hm^-2 a^-1)为主,共占研究区面积的96.28%。土壤风蚀在空间分布呈现西北高东南低的特点,而防风固沙服务高值则主要分...     

INH-α对BMP9诱导间充质干细胞成骨分化的作用

为了研究抑制素α亚基(inhibinα-subunit INH-α)对骨形态发生蛋白9(bone morphogenetic protein9,BMP9)诱导的间充质干细胞(mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs)成骨分化的影响,本研究采用细胞化学染色法检测第3天、第5天、第7天细胞中碱性磷酸酶(alkaline phosphatase,ALP)活性的变化。利用RT-PCR和Western blotting检测细胞中的成骨分化早期标志物(Runx2)和晚期标志物(OPN)的mRNA含量及蛋白表达水平。茜素红S染色法检测第21天细胞中的钙盐沉积变化。发现BMP9组ALP活性明显增高,INH-α组ALP活性与对照组相比无明显变化,但联合运用BMP9和INH-α组ALP活性较BMP9组明显降低。此外,BMP9组Runx2和OPN的mRNA含量和蛋白表达水平明显增高,而联用BMP9和INH-α组中的Runx2和OPN水平较BMP9组显著下降(p<0.01)。同样,在茜素红S染色实验中,BMP9组钙盐结节明显增多,染色深;而在联合运用BMP9和INH-α组钙盐结节较BMP9组明显减少,染色变浅。说明INH-α能够抑制BMP9诱导间充质干细胞成骨分化作用。     

The yeast acylglycerol acyltransferase LCA1 is a key component of Lands cycle for phosphatidylcholine turnover

Cellular phospholipids undergo deacylation and reacylation through a process known as Lands cycle. In this report, we provide evidence demonstrating that yeast YOR175c, herein designated as LCA1, encodes a key component of the Lands cycle, the acyl-CoA: lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT). Deletion of LCA1 resulted in a drastic reduction in LPCAT activity, while over expression led to a several fold increase in enzyme activity. We further show that disruption of LCA1 caused an enhanced production of glycerophosphorylcholine, a product of phosphatidylcholine (PC) deacylation and that the lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase SLC1 was not involved in this process. Identification of LCA1 provides an essential molecular tool for further study of Lands cycle in PC turnover.     

Biochemical and physiological studies of Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic lines with repressed expression of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase

Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDHK), a negative regulator of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (mtPDC), plays a pivotal role in controlling mtPDC activity, and hence, the TCA cycle and cell respiration. Previously, the cloning of a PDHK cDNA from Arabidopsis thaliana and the effects of constitutively down-regulating its expression on plant growth and development has been reported. The first detailed analyses of the biochemical and physiological effects of partial silencing of the mtPDHK in A. thaliana using antisense constructs driven by both constitutive and seed-specific promoters are reported here. The studies revealed an increased level of respiration in leaves of the constitutive antisense PDHK transgenics; an increase in respiration was also found in developing seeds of the seed-specific antisense transgenics. Both constitutive and seed-specific partial silencing of the mtPDHK resulted in increased seed oil content and seed weight at maturity. Feeding 3-(14)C pyruvate to bolted stems containing siliques (constitutive transgenics), or to isolated siliques or immature seeds (seed-specific transgenics) confirmed a higher rate of incorporation of radiolabel into all seed lipid species, particularly triacylglycerols. Neither constitutive nor seed-specific partial silencing of PDHK negatively affected overall silique and seed development. Instead, oil and seed yield, and overall plant productivity were improved. These findings suggest that a partial reduction of the repression of the mtPDC by antisense PDHK expression can alter carbon flux and, in particular, the contribution of carbon moieties from pyruvate to fatty acid biosynthesis and storage lipid accumulation in developing seeds, implicating a role for mtPDC in fatty acid biosynthesis in seeds.     

Male gametophyte development in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): molecular,cellular, and biochemical analyses of a sporophytic contribution to pollen wall ontogeny

Bread wheat (hexaploid AABBDD genome; 16 billion basepairs) is a genetically complex, self-pollinating plant with bisexual flowers that produce short-lived pollen. Very little is known about the molecular biology of its gametophyte development despite a longstanding interest in hybrid seeds. We present here a comprehensive characterization of three apparently homeologous genes (TAA1a, TAA1b and TAA1c) and demonstrate their anther-specific biochemical function. These eight-exon genes, found at only one copy per haploid complement in this large genome, express specifically within the sporophytic tapetum cells. The presence of TAA1 mRNA and protein was evident only at specific stages of pollen development as the microspore wall thickened during the progression of free microspores into vacuolated-microspores. This temporal regulation matched the assembly of wall-impregnated sporopollenin, a phenylpropanoid-lipid polymer containing very long chain fatty alcohols (VLCFAlc), described in the literature. Our results establish that sporophytic genes contribute to the production of fatty alcohols: Transgenic expression of TAA1 afforded production of long/VLCFAlc in tobacco seeds (18 : 1; 20 : 1; 22 : 1; 24 : 0; 26 : 0) and in Escherichia coli (14 : 0; 16 : 0; 18 : 1), suggesting biochemical versatility of TAA1 with respect to cellular milieu and substrate spectrum. Pollen walls additionally contain fatty alcohols in the form of wax esters and other lipids, and some of these lipids are known to play a role in the highly specific sexual interactions at the pollen-pistil interface. This study provides a handle to study these and to manipulate pollen traits, and, furthermore, to understand the molecular biology of fatty alcohol metabolism in general.     

Arabidopsis AtGPAT1, a member of the membrane-bound glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase gene family,is essential for tapetum differentiation and male fertility

Membrane-bound glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT; EC 2.3.1.15) mediates the initial step of glycerolipid biosynthesis in the extraplastidic compartments of plant cells. Here, we report the molecular characterization of a novel GPAT gene family from Arabidopsis, designated AtGPAT. The corresponding polypeptides possess transmembrane domains and GPAT activity when expressed heterologously in a yeast lipid mutant. The functional significance of one isoform, AtGPAT1, is the focus of the present study. Disruption of the AtGPAT1 gene causes a massive pollen development arrest, and subsequent introduction of the gene into the mutant plant rescues the phenotype, illustrating a pivotal role for AtGPAT1 in pollen development. Microscopic examinations revealed that the gene lesion results in a perturbed degeneration of the tapetum, which is associated with altered endoplasmic reticulum profiles and reduced secretion. In addition to the sporophytic effect, AtGPAT1 also exerts a gametophytic effect on pollen performance, as the competitive ability of a pollen grain to pollinate is dependent on the presence of an AtGPAT1 gene. Deficiency in AtGPAT1 correlates with several fatty acid composition changes in flower tissues and seeds. Unexpectedly, however, a loss of AtGPAT1 causes no significant change in seed oil content.