RNA‐seq analysis reveals new candidate genes for drip loss in a Pietrain × Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire population

Drip loss, one of the most important meat quality traits, is characterized by low heritability. To date, the genetic factors affecting the drip loss trait have not been clearly elucidated. The objective of this study was to identify critical candidate genes affecting drip loss. First, we generated a Pietrain × Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire commercial pig population and obtained phenotypic values for the drip loss trait. Furthermore, we constructed two RNA libraries from pooled samples of longissimus dorsi muscles with the highest (H group) and lowest (L group) drip loss and identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between these extreme phenotypes using RNA‐seq technology. In total, 25 883 genes were detected in the H and L group libraries, and none was specifically expressed in only one library. Comparative analysis of gene expression levels found that 150 genes were differentially expressed, of which 127 were upregulated and 23 were downregulated in the H group relative to the L group. In addition, 68 drip loss quantitative trait loci (QTL) overlapping with 63 DEGs were identified, and these QTL were distributed mainly on chromosomes 1, 2, 5 and 6. Interestingly, the triadin (TRDN) gene, which is involved in muscle contraction and fat deposition, and the myostatin (MSTN) gene, which has a role in muscle growth, were localized to more than two drip loss QTL, suggesting that both are critical candidate genes responsible for drip loss.     

受白粉菌诱导大麦抗感等基因系蛋白质变化的双向电泳分析

分别对接种与否的大麦抗—感白粉病等基因系—叶期幼苗取材进行蛋白质双向电泳分析。结果表明,病原的侵入使抗—感两系在30Kd以下的低分子量区域的蛋白质发生了明显变化。接种48小时之后,抗病系在pH5.5、6.0、6.8及8.8附近出现了对照中所没有的蛋白质,而在pH6.0和8.8附近的蛋白质则较对照有减小的趋势;感病系在pH6.0附近蛋白质明显增多,在pH8.8处不仅在量上有大幅度提高,而且种类也有增加。结果还表明,抗—感系间在未接种的情况下双向电泳图谱也有差异,接种之后由于感病系在pH8.8处蛋白质的特异性合成,使抗—感两系间的差异缩小。     

中国大麦叶绿体DNA和核糖体RNA基因限制性片段长度多型性

本文报道了我们对我国不同大麦区80份大麦品种叶绿体DNA和核糖体RNA基因限制性片段长度多型性的研究。结果表明:rDNA间隔序列长度存在丰富的多样性,80份材料中出现了8种长度变异炎型共组成8种表现型。长度变异类型及其表现型在地理分布上存在着明显的区域性。推测这种分布上的地区性与植物对环境的适应性有关。所用的两个叶绿体DNA克隆片段未检测到限制性片段长度多型性,说明栽培大麦叶绿体DNA变异程度低。     

GPR50 Distribution in the Mouse Cortex and Hippocampus

Neurochemical Research - G protein-coupled receptor 50 (GPR50) belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor which is highly homologous with the sequence of melatonin receptor MT1 and MT2. GPR50...     

Ultrahigh frequency lensless ultrasonic transducers for acoustic tweezers application

Similar to optical tweezers, a tightly focused ultrasound microbeam is needed to manipulate microparticles in acoustic tweezers. The development of highly sensitive ultrahigh frequency ultrasonic transducers is crucial for trapping particles or cells with a size of a few microns. As an extra lens would cause excessive attenuation at ultrahigh frequencies, two types of 200‐MHz lensless transducer design were developed as an ultrasound microbeam device for acoustic tweezers application. Lithium niobate single crystal press‐focused (PF) transducer and zinc oxide self‐focused transducer were designed, fabricated and characterized. Tightly focused acoustic beams produced by these transducers were shown to be capable of manipulating single microspheres as small as 5 µm two‐dimensionally within a range of hundreds of micrometers in distilled water. The size of the trapped microspheres is the smallest ever reported in the literature of acoustic PF devices. These results suggest that these lensless ultrahigh frequency ultrasonic transducers are capable of manipulating particles at the cellular level and that acoustic tweezers may be a useful tool to manipulate a single cell or molecule for a wide range of biomedical applications. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 881–886. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Diagnosis and treatment of viral diseases in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Viral infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic stem cell hematopoietic transplantation (allo-HSCT). Although most viral infections present with asymptomatic or subclinical manifestations, viruses may result in fatal complications in severe immunocompromised recipients. Reactivation of latent viruses, such as herpesviruses, is frequent during the immunosuppression that occurs with allo-HSCT. Viruses acquired from community, such as the respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses, are also important pathogens of post-transplant viral diseases. Currently, molecular diagnostic methods have replaced or supplemented traditional methods, such as viral culture and antigen detection, in diagnosis of viral infections. The utilization of polymerase chain reaction facilitates the early diagnosis. In view of lacking efficacious agents for treatment of viral diseases, prevention of viral infections is extremely valuable. Application of prophylactic strategies including preemptive therapy reduces viral infections and diseases. Adoptive cellular therapy for restoring virus-specific immunity is a promising method in the treatment of viral diseases.     

Focused ultrasound stimulation on meibomian glands for the treatment of evaporative dry eye

Current treatments for meibomian gland dysfunction have several limitations, creating a necessity for other advanced treatment options. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of focused ultrasound stimulation for the treatment of dry eye disease caused by meibomian gland dysfunction. An in vivo study of nine Dutch Belted rabbits was conducted with focused ultrasound stimulation of the meibomian glands. A customized line-focused ultrasonic transducer was designed for treatment. Fluorescein imaging, Schirmer’s test, and Lipiview II ocular interferometer were used to quantify outcomes from three aspects: safety, tear production, and lipid layer thickness. Both tear secretion and lipid layer thickness improved following ultrasound treatment. Five to 10 min after the ultrasound treatment, the mean values of lipid layer thickness increased from 55.33 ± 11.15 nm to 95.67 ± 22.77 nm (p < 0.05), while the mean values measured with the Schirmer’s test increased from 2.0 ± 2.3 to 7.2 ± 4.3 (p < 0.05). Positive effects lasted more than three weeks. Adverse events such as redness, swelling, and mild burn, occurred in two rabbits in preliminary experiments when the eyelids sustained a temperature higher than 42°C. No serious adverse events were found. The results suggest that ultrasound stimulation of meibomian glands can improve both tear production and lipid secretion. Ultimately, ultrasound stimulation has the potential to be an option for the treatment of evaporative dry eye disease caused by meibomian gland dysfunction.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci and epistatic interactions for plant height and heading date in rice

Appropriate heading date and plant height are prerequisites for attaining the desired yield level in rice breeding programs. In this study, we analyzed the genetic bases of heading date and plant height at both single- locus and two-locus levels, using a population of 240 F_2:3 families derived from a cross between two elite rice lines. Measurements for the traits were obtained over 2 years in replicated field trials. A linkage map was constructed with 151 polymorphic marker loci, based on which interval mapping was performed using Mapmaker/QTL. The analyses detected six QTLs for plant height and six QTLs for heading date; collectively the QTLs for heading date accounted for a much greater amount of phenotypic variation than did the QTLs for plant height. Two-way analyses of variance, with all possible two-locus combinations, detected large numbers (from 101 to 257) of significant digenic interactions in the 2 years for both traits involving markers distributed in the entire genome; 22 and 39 were simultaneously detected in both years for plant height and heading date, respectively. Each of the interactions individually accounted for only a very small portion of the phenotypic variation. The majority of the significant interactions involved marker loci that did not detect significant effects by single-locus analyses, and many of the QTLs detected by single-locus analyses were involved in epistatic interactions. The results clearly demonstrated the importance of epistatic interactions in the genetic bases of heading date and plant height. Received: 5 May 2001 / Accepted: 3 August 2001     

Genetic dissection of an elite rice hybrid revealed that heterozygotes are not always advantageous for performance

We introduced an experimental design that produced an "immortalized F(2)" population allowing for complete dissection of genetic components underlying quantitative traits. Data for yield and three component traits of the immortalized F(2) were collected from replicated field trials over 2 years. Using 231 marker loci, we resolved the genetic effects into individual components and assessed relative performance of all the genotypes at both single- and two-locus levels. Single-locus analysis detected 40 QTL for the four traits. Dominance effects for about one-half of the QTL were negative, resulting in little "net" positive dominance effect. Correlation between genotype heterozygosity and trait performance was low. Large numbers of digenic interactions, including AA, AD, and DD, were detected for all the traits, with AA as the most prevalent interaction. Complementary two-locus homozygotes frequently performed the best among the nine genotypes of many two-locus combinations. While cumulative small advantages over two-locus combinations may partly explain the genetic basis of heterosis of the hybrid as double heterozygotes frequently demonstrated marginal advantages, double heterozygotes were never the best genotypes in any of the two-locus combinations. It was concluded that heterozygotes were not necessarily advantageous for trait performance even among genotypes derived from such a highly heterotic hybrid.