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.     

The effects of dispersal limitation and topographic heterogeneity on beta diversity and phylobetadiversity in a subtropical forest

We assessed the effects of topographic heterogeneity and stem density on species composition between grains of different sizes (20 × 20, 50 × 50, and 100 × 100 m), based on partial Mantel tests. Similarity in species composition was measured by the abundance-based Jaccard index (C_J) and by an index that incorporates phylogenetic information into C_J (pC_J). Plants were divided into five groups, arbor, subarbor, and shrub according to life form and two other groups: species that produce dry fruits (PDF) and that produce fleshy fruits (PFF). C_J and pC_J between any two grains at each grain size were calculated separately for these groups and for all species combined. In order to examine what influences C_J and pC_J, we analyzed their correlations with topographic heterogeneity variables and two dispersal limitation-related variables (stem and topographic resistance). Our data indicate that at all three grain sizes, C_J and pC_J decrease with increasing distance for all plant groups. Dispersal limitation and topographic heterogeneity were both important at 20 × 20 and 50 × 50 m grain sizes for C_J and pC_J of all plant groups; and at 100 × 100 m grain size, topographic heterogeneity dominates over dispersal limitation for some plant groups. C_J and pC_J of PDFs are less negatively correlated with stem resistance than those of PFFs. We conclude that both beta diversity and phylobetadiversity are dependent on plant groups and grain sizes.     

九连小蘖悬浮培养细胞生理生化研究 Ⅰ.细胞生长与培养液的电导率和过氧化物酶活性的变化

本文报道了九连小蘖细胞悬浮培养过程中,细胞生长与培养液的电导率、pH值、可溶性糖含量及过氨化物酶活性的变化。实验表明细胞生长曲线与培养液的电导率、可溶性糖含量变化的曲线恰成镜像关系。而细胞生长曲线与培养液的过氨化物酶活性变化的曲线相互平行。从而,可以通过监测培养液的电导率和过氧化物酶活性的变化来了解细胞生长状况,并可作为植物细胞培养过程中生物量增长的参考指标。     

珍稀濒危植物蒜头果种子萌发特征与幼苗类型的研究

以去除果皮后阴干的珍稀濒危植物蒜头果种子为材料,在温室大棚沙池内进行层积处理,从层积处理开始至子叶出土的不同萌发阶段,考察蒜头果种子发育形态、贮藏物质积累、酶活性以及幼苗类型等变化特征,初步探讨其种子休眠形成原因。结果显示：(1)蒜头果种子从解除休眠开始至萌发形成幼苗的过程约需195 d,其中幼胚的形态发育后熟约需75 d,随后30 d内是种子集中萌发的时期,其发芽率达到最高(53.33%);依据种胚发育形态的标志特征将此过程划分为7个阶段(S1～S7阶段):S1阶段种子未萌发,S2阶段种胚“露白”,S3阶段胚根突破种皮长超过1 cm, S4阶段下胚轴与胚根连接处形成弯钩结构,S5阶段“S”型胚形成及胚根前端膨大,S6阶段种子不仅具有膨大的胚根且已有侧根的分化,S7阶段子叶脱落,胚芽出土,真叶出现。(2)蒜头果种子在湿沙层积过程中,种胚胚长和胚率从S1阶段的(5.49±1.57)mm和(19.48±5.72)%分别增加至S6阶段的(67.92±2.94)mm和(240.75±15.29)%,胚率平均增加了12.4倍,显示蒜头果种子的胚需要经历后熟过程才能萌发,属于胚后熟型种子。(3)从...     

真菌诱导子对悬浮培养西洋参细胞的生理效应

报道了不同真菌诱导子对悬浮培养的西洋参（Ｐａｎａｘｑｕｉｎｑｕｅｆｏｌｉｕｍ）细胞生长、皂甙和多糖合成,以及细胞内和培养液中过氧化物酶活性的生理效应。悬浮培养的西洋参细胞经刺盘孢菌（Ｃｏｌｌｅｔｏｔｒｉｃｈｕｍｎｉｃｏｌｔｉａｎａｅ）丝体诱导子处理后,总皂甙产率可由对照的２９６ｍｇ／Ｌ增加到６７９ｍｇ／Ｌ（约占细胞干重的（１６．３％）,比对照提高约１．３倍,而且总皂甙的８５％排放在培养液中;经黑曲霉（Ａｓｐｅｒｇｉｌｌｕｓｎｉｇｒａｎ）诱导子处理后,细胞多糖含量可达到１１．７９％（细胞干重）,比对照增加１倍多。初步纯化的刺盘孢菌丝体诱导子和尖孢镰刀菌（Ｆｕｓｕｒｉｕｍｏｘｙｓｐｏｒｕｍ）滤液诱导子在诱导处理前期能明显促进西洋参细胞生长,同时细胞内及培养液中过氧化物酶活性显著增加;随时间延长,细胞生长和酶活性逐步受到抑制。     

HIV-1 Env三聚体抗原改造研究进展

HIV-1疫苗研发是当前艾滋病研究的一大热点,其病毒表面包膜糖蛋白Env三聚体介导病毒与细胞融合,是HIV-1疫苗研究的重要靶点。因此,设计并在体外表达类天然Env三聚体对HIV-1疫苗的研发具有重要的意义。近年来,Env三聚体研究取得了显著的进展。SOSIP、NFL2P、UFO等抗原改造方法实现了类天然Env三聚体的体外表达,逐步解决了改造抗原产量低、结构不稳定等问题,且表达的Env三聚体抗原能在动物免疫中诱导机体产生较高的中和抗体水平。Env三聚体改造方法促进了HIV-1疫苗的研究。文中综述了SOSIP、NFL2P、UFO三种HIV-1 Env三聚体抗原改造方法,对比各个改造方法优缺点,并结合自身工作提出相关建议,为后续HIV-1抗原的相关设计提供指导。     

基于中国生态系统研究网络的典型森林生态系统土壤保持功能分析

森林生态系统土壤保持功能在控制土壤侵蚀以及维持生态安全方面具有不可替代的作用。根据不同气候带降雨特征进行降雨侵蚀力参数校正,基于中国生态系统研究网络(CERN)的森林生态系统长期定位观测样地2005—2015年监测数据利用修正的通用土壤流失方程(RUSLE)定量分析了典型森林生态系统土壤保持功能的时空变化特征,并探讨了土壤保持功能的影响因素。研究结果表明:①日雨量侵蚀力模型在降雨丰富的热带模拟效果优于降雨相对较少的亚热带和温带,参数校正后模拟效果明显提升;②研究期内10个典型森林生态系统土壤保持量变化范围为4.44—891.67 t hm~(-2) a~(-1),呈现北低南高的空间格局(R~2=0.65~(***));土壤保持率均达到97%以上;③降雨、归一化植被指数、土壤质地和植被林龄是影响森林生态系统土壤保持功能的主要影响因素;降雨量与土壤保持量显著相关(R~2=0.52~*),NDVI和土壤质地与实际土壤侵蚀量显著相关(R~2=0.64~(**),R~2=0.41~*),植被林龄主要影响土壤保持率的变化速率。     

Production of a Dominant-Negative Fragment Due to G3BP1 Cleavage Contributes to the Disruption of Mitochondria-Associated Protective Stress Granules during CVB3 Infection

Stress granules (SGs) are dynamic cytosolic aggregates containing messenger ribonucleoproteins and target poly-adenylated (A)-mRNA. A key component of SGs is Ras-GAP SH3 domain binding protein-1 (G3BP1), which in part mediates protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions. SGs are modulated during infection by several viruses, however, the function and significance of this process remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the interplay between SGs and Coxsackievirus type B3 (CVB3), a member of the Picornaviridae family. Our studies demonstrated that SGs were formed early during CVB3 infection; however, G3BP1-positive SGs were actively disassembled at 5 hrs post-infection, while poly(A)-positive RNA granules persisted. Furthermore, we confirmed G3BP1 cleavage by 3C^pro at Q325. We also demonstrated that overexpression of G3BP1-SGs negatively impacted viral replication at the RNA, protein, and viral progeny levels. Using electron microscopy techniques, we showed that G3BP1-positive SGs localized near mitochondrial surfaces. Finally, we provided evidence that the C-terminal cleavage product of G3BP1 inhibited SG formation and promoted CVB3 replication. Taken together, we conclude that CVB3 infection selectively targets G3BP1-SGs by cleaving G3BP1 to produce a dominant-negative fragment that further inhibits G3BP1-SG formation and facilitates viral replication.