α‐ketoglutarate delays age‐related fertility decline in mammals

The fecundity reduction with aging is referred as the reproductive aging which comes earlier than that of chronological aging. Since humans have postponed their childbearing age, to prolong the reproductive age becomes urgent agenda for reproductive biologists. In the current study, we examined the potential associations of α‐ketoglutarate (α‐KG) and reproductive aging in mammals including mice, swine, and humans. There is a clear tendency of reduced α‐KG level with aging in the follicle fluids of human. To explore the mechanisms, mice were selected as the convenient animal model. It is observed that a long term of α‐KG administration preserves the ovarian function, the quality and quantity of oocytes as well as the telomere maintaining system in mice. α‐KG suppresses ATP synthase and alterations of the energy metabolism trigger the nutritional sensors to down‐regulate mTOR pathway. These events not only benefit the general aging process but also maintain ovarian function and delay the reproductive decline. Considering the safety of the α‐KG as a naturally occurring molecule in energy metabolism, its utility in reproduction of large mammals including humans deserves further investigation.     

Genomic insights into selection for heterozygous alleles and woody traits in Populus tomentosa

Heterozygous alleles are widespread in outcrossing and clonally propagated woody plants. The variation in heterozygosity that underlies population adaptive evolution and phenotypic variation, however, remains largely unknown. Here, we describe a de novo chromosome-level genome assembly of Populus tomentosa, an economic and ecologically important native tree in northern China. By resequencing 302 natural accessions, we determined that the South subpopulation (Pop_S) encompasses the ancestral strains of P. tomentosa, while the Northwest subpopulation (Pop_NW) and Northeast subpopulation (Pop_NE) experienced different selection pressures during population evolution, resulting in significant population differentiation and a decrease in the extent of heterozygosity. Analysis of heterozygous selective sweep regions (HSSR) suggested that selection for lower heterozygosity contributed to the local adaptation of P. tomentosa by dwindling gene expression and genetic load in the Pop_NW and Pop_NE subpopulations. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealed that 88 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 63 genes are associated with nine wood composition traits. Among them, the selection for the homozygous AA allele in PtoARF8 is associated with reductions in cellulose and hemicellulose contents by attenuating PtoARF8 expression, and the increase in lignin content is attributable to the selection for decreases in exon heterozygosity in PtoLOX3 during adaptive evolution of natural populations. This study provides novel insights into allelic variations in heterozygosity associated with adaptive evolution of P. tomentosa in response to the local environment and identifies a series of key genes for wood component traits, thereby facilitating genomic-based breeding of important traits in perennial woody plants.     

糜子黄、黑种皮遗传及转录组学分析

同源异型域-亮氨酸拉链(homedomain-leucine zipper,HD-Zip)转录因子广泛参与植物的生长发育和抗胁迫过程。该研究通过生物信息学方法对青稞HD-Zip基因家族进行全基因组分析鉴定,并采用qRT-PCR技术分析非生物胁迫下该基因的表达特性,为深入探讨青稞HD-Zip转录因子的生物学功能及其在高原作物抗逆育种中的应用奠定基础。结果表明：(1)成功从青稞基因组中共鉴定出41个HD-Zip基因家族成员,依次命名为i>HvvHD-ZipⅠ-1~Ⅳ-13,且这些基因在7条染色体上呈不均匀分布。(2)理化性质分析发现,HvvHD-Zip蛋白包含197～885个不等的氨基酸残基;分子量范围在19 914.36～94 014.87 Da;亚细胞定位表明HvvHD-Zip蛋白都位于细胞核。(3)根据多序列比对、系统进化、基因结构和保守基序差异将其聚为4个亚家族,各亚家族分类特征与系统聚类结果一致。(4)顺式作用元件预测分析发现,i>HvvHD-Zip基因启动子中含有11种植物激素和胁迫响应元件。(5)qRT-PCR结果显示,HvvHD-Zip Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅳ亚家族基因对各胁迫响应明显;与根组织相比,多数i>HvvHD-Zip基因在叶组织中响应明显(上调或下调);与冷和盐胁迫相比,i>HvvHD-Zip各基因对旱胁迫响应较强。     

日本落叶松人工林针叶中矿质营养元素的季节吸收特点及其相互关系

本文测定了日本落叶松人工林针叶中N、P、K、Ca、Mg、Cu、Zn、Fe、Mn9种矿质营养元素含量并研究了生长期内元素含量的变化规律。结果表明,在生长期内各元素含量随季节变化可用修正指数曲钱描述;探讨了落叶松针叶中常量元素与某些土壤化学因子之间的关系。土壤有机质仅与土壤全量氮、水解氮表现了显著的线性相关,与落叶松针叶中的氮没有直接的线性相关。土壤中钙镁的含量则表现出明显的对针叶中磷、钾的含量的制约关系。在日本落叶松针叶中的氮、磷、钾3个元素之间,氮、磷的比值与钾的含量有显著的线性负相关,而磷与钾之间则表现为显著的线性正相关关系。     

Cardiac telocytes exist in the adult Xenopus tropicalis heart

Recent research has revealed that cardiac telocytes (CTs) play an important role in cardiac physiopathology and the regeneration of injured myocardium. Recently, we reported that the adult Xenopus tropicalis heart can regenerate perfectly in a nearly scar‐free manner after injury via apical resection. However, whether telocytes exist in the X tropicalis heart and are affected in the regeneration of injured X tropicalis myocardium is still unknown. The present ultrastructural and immunofluorescent double staining results clearly showed that CTs exist in the X tropicalis myocardium. CTs in the X tropicalis myocardium were mainly twined around the surface of cardiomyocyte trabeculae and linked via nanocontacts between the ends of the telopodes, forming a three‐dimensional network. CTs might play a role in the regeneration of injured myocardium.