Uncovering the evolutionary origin of blue anthocyanins in cereal grains

Functional divergence after gene duplication plays a central role in plant evolution. Among cereals, only Hordeum vulgare (barley), Triticum aestivum (wheat) and Secale cereale (rye) accumulate delphinidin‐derived (blue) anthocyanins in the aleurone layer of grains, whereas Oryza sativa (rice), Zea mays (maize) and Sorghum bicolor (sorghum) do not. The underlying genetic basis for this natural occurrence remains elusive. Here, we mapped the barley Blx1 locus involved in blue aleurone to an approximately 1.13 Mb genetic interval on chromosome 4HL, thus identifying a trigenic cluster named MbHF35 (containing HvMYB4H, HvMYC4H and HvF35H). Sequence and expression data supported the role of these genes in conferring blue‐coloured (blue aleurone) grains. Synteny analyses across monocot species showed that MbHF35 has only evolved within distinct Triticeae lineages, as a result of dispersed gene duplication. Phylogeny analyses revealed a shared evolution pattern for MbHF35 in Triticeae, suggesting that these genes have co‐evolved together. We also identified a Pooideae‐specific flavonoid 3′,5′‐hydroxylase (F3′5′H) lineage, termed here Mo_F35H2, which has a higher amino acid similarity with eudicot F3′5′Hs, demonstrating a scenario of convergent evolution. Indeed, selection tests identified 13 amino acid residues in Mo_F35H2 that underwent positive selection, possibly driven by protein thermostablility selection. Furthermore, through the interrogation of barley germplasm there is evidence that HvMYB4H and HvMYC4H have undergone human selection. Collectively, our study favours blue aleurone as a recently evolved trait resulting from environmental adaptation. Our findings provide an evolutionary explanation for the absence of blue anthocyanins in other cereals and highlight the importance of gene functional divergence for plant diversity and environmental adaptation.     

小麦矮秆突变体jm22d响应赤霉素处理的转录组学分析

为拓宽小麦矮秆遗传资源,利用γ射线辐照济麦22获得了一个赤霉素不敏感型矮秆突变体jm22d。株高相关性状调查结果及茎秆细胞学试验显示,jm22d株高为53±1.8 cm,比野生型（WT）低约20 cm。jm22d整株茎秆共有4节,比WT少一节且各节间长度显著小于WT。与WT相比,jm22d茎秆细胞长度缩短。赤霉素含量测定发现,jm22d叶片中赤霉素含量高于WT,而茎秆中赤霉素含量低于WT（P<0.01）,因此,jm22d株高降低与赤霉素转运途径出现异常有关。为了深入研究jm22d对赤霉素的响应机理,对jm22d和WT幼苗进行赤霉素处理,分别收取处理0（D0）、1（D1）和3 d（D3）的样品进行转录组学分析。结果表明,与WT相比,在jm22d中共筛选到696个上调和1 067个下调的表达基因,其中62个和349个基因在3个时间点分别表现为上调和下调表达。叶绿素含量测定表明,jm22d中叶绿素含量随赤霉素处理时间的延长而降低,聚类分析结果表明,差异表达基因主要富集在光合作用-天线蛋白（photosynthesis-antenna proteins,ko00196）、卟啉和叶绿素代谢（porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism,ko00860）、亚油酸新陈代谢（linoleic acid metabolism,ko00591）等通路,因此赤霉素处理对jm22d体内叶绿素含量的积累具有抑制作用。通过KEGG分析在植物激素信号转导途径中挖掘到5个差异表达基因（TraesCS2B01G582300、TraesCS2B01G600800、TraesCS2B01G556600、TraesCS2B01G630000和TraesCS6B01G439600）参与生长素、细胞分裂素等激素代谢途径,这些基因在jm22d中显著下调,这可能是jm22d矮化的重要原因。研究结果为矮秆突变体矮化机制的解析提供了重要参考。     

怀来盆地西沟湾1号旧石器地点试掘简报

西沟湾1号旧石器地点位于河北省张家口市怀来县官厅镇珠窝园村,埋藏于永定河右岸第二级阶地后缘。2015年8-9月对该地点进行试掘,揭露面积约27m2,出土232件石制品和19件动物化石。石制品原料以粗面岩为主,应为就地取材;类型包括石核、石片、断块等,标本大小总体以小型为主;石核剥片均采用硬锤锤击法。石制品的类型和技术特征显示其总体属于石片石器技术体系。结合遗物和堆积状况,推测西沟湾1号地点为一处原地埋藏类型的临时性石制品剥片场所。依碳十四年代测定,初步推断该地点的时代为旧石器时代晚期。     

Gain-of-Function Mutations of SLC16A11 Contribute to the Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes

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纽蛋白在神经干细胞定向分化为神经元过程中的表达及其与辅肌动蛋白的关系

目的探讨纽蛋白(vinculin)在新生大鼠大脑皮层神经干细胞定向分化神经元过程中的表达变化及其与辅肌动蛋白(α-actinin)的关系.方法将神经干细胞分离、培养、分化及鉴定后,采用免疫组化技术对新生大鼠皮层神经干细胞向神经元定向分化过程中,纽蛋白的时空表达进行研究,并采用免疫荧光双标技术及共聚焦激光扫描显微术对神经元定向分化过程中,纽蛋白与辅肌动蛋白关系进行探讨,利用图像分析技术对不同时段分化的神经元中vinculin平均积分光密度进行定量测定.结果在神经干细胞定向分化为神经元的过程中,vinculin由核周淡染分布逐渐至在胞体与突起中密集均匀分布,随着突起伸展而不断地延伸.图像分析结果表示,随神经元的分化成熟,vinculin的表达量呈逐渐增加趋势.在共聚焦激光扫描显微镜下观察免疫荧光双标vinculin/α-actinin在分化早期胞体和突起内均有分布,可见核周和突起两者融合两蛋白共存.近成熟期,随突起生长,两蛋白渐伸入突起,直至末端共存.结论本研究揭示大脑皮质神经干细胞定向分化为神经元过程中,vinculin表达变化与神经元发育成熟呈正相关,并且vinculin与α-actinin共存.     

大脑皮层神经干细胞定向分化为神经元过程中细胞骨架-α辅肌蛋白表达的研究

目的探讨α辅肌蛋白在新生大鼠大脑皮层神经干细胞定向分化神经元过程中的表达变化.方法采用细胞培养、免疫细胞化学方法(SABC法)、免疫电镜技术观察α辅肌蛋白在神经干细胞定向分化神经元过程中不同时段的表达变化.利用图像分析技术对不同时段分化的神经元中α辅肌蛋白平均积分光密度进行定量测定.结果在神经干细胞定向分化神经元过程中,α辅肌蛋白由核周淡染分布逐渐至在胞体与突起中密集均匀分布,随着突起伸展而不断地延伸.免疫电镜可见α辅肌蛋白呈高电子密度球形颗粒.图像分析结果表示,随神经元的分化成熟,α辅肌蛋白的表达量呈逐渐增加趋势.结论大脑皮质神经干细胞定向分化为神经元过程中,α辅肌蛋白表达变化与神经干细胞定向分化的神经元形态变化相关.     

生物多样性理论最新进展

生物多样性是生态系统复杂性的重要特征, 理解多样性的形成和维持机制一直是理论生态学研究的核心议题。本文从三方面概述了生物多样性理论的最新进展。一是物种共存和群落构建, 总结了现代共存理论和基于过程的群落构建理论的新进展。二是物种相互作用, 综述了利用经验数据推断物种相互作用关系和强度的最新方法。三是生态-进化动态, 介绍了生态-进化模型的一般框架及其在生物多样性研究中的应用。最后对生物多样性理论的发展趋势做了展望, 特别是多尺度整合理论和全球变化下的预测理论。     

H2V3O8 Nanowire/Graphene Electrodes for Aqueous Rechargeable Zinc Ion Batteries with High Rate Capability and Large Capacity

Aqueous rechargeable zinc ion batteries are considered a promising candidate for large‐scale energy storage owing to their low cost and high safety nature. A composite material comprised of H₂V₃O₈ nanowires (NWs) wrapped by graphene sheets and used as the cathode material for aqueous rechargeable zinc ion batteries is developed. Owing to the synergistic merits of desirable structural features of H₂V₃O₈ NWs and high conductivity of the graphene network, the H₂V₃O₈ NW/graphene composite exhibits superior zinc ion storage performance including high capacity of 394 mA h g^?1 at 1/3 C, high rate capability of 270 mA h g^?1 at 20 C and excellent cycling stability of up to 2000 cycles with a capacity retention of 87%. The battery offers a high energy density of 168 W h kg^?1 at 1/3 C and a high power density of 2215 W kg^?1 at 20 C (calculated based on the total weight of H₂V₃O₈ NW/graphene composite and the theoretically required amount of Zn). Systematic structural and elemental characterization confirm the reversible Zn²⁺ and water cointercalation electrochemical reaction mechanism. This work brings a new prospect of designing high‐performance aqueous rechargeable zinc ion batteries for grid‐scale energy storage.