Evidence for Inbreeding and Genetic Differentiation among Geographic Populations of the Saprophytic Mushroom Trogia venenata from Southwestern China

During the past 40 years, more than 400 Sudden Unexplained Deaths (SUDs) have occurred in Yunnan, southwestern China. Epidemiological and toxicological analyses suggested that a newly discovered mushroom called Trogia venenata was the leading culprit for SUDs. At present, relatively little is known about the genetics and natural history of this mushroom. In this study, we analyzed the sequence variation at four DNA fragments among 232 fruiting bodies of T. venenata collected from seven locations. Our ITS sequence analyses confirmed that all the isolates belonged to the same species. The widespread presence of sequence heterozygosity within many strains at each of three protein-coding genes suggested that the fruiting bodies were diploid, dikaryotic or heterokaryotic. Within individual geographic populations, we found significant deviations of genotype frequencies from Hardy-Weinberg expectations, with the overall observed heterozygosity lower than that expected under random mating, consistent with prevalent inbreeding within local populations. The geographic populations were overall genetically differentiated. Interestingly, while a positive correlation was found between population genetic distance and geographic distance, there was little correlation between genetic distance and barium concentration difference for the geographic populations. Our results suggest frequent inbreeding, geographic structuring, and limited gene flow among geographic populations of T. venenata from southwestern China.     

Heritability of Eating Behavior Assessed Using the DEBQ (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire) and Weight‐related Traits: The Healthy Twin Study

The heritability of eating behavior and body weight–related traits in Asian populations has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to estimate the heritability of eating behavior and the body weight–related traits of current weight and self‐reported past weight among twins and their families. Study subjects were 2,144 Korean, adult, same‐sex twins and their families at the ages between 20 and 65 years (443 monozygotic (MZ) and 124 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs, and 1,010 individuals of their family). The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) was used to assess three eating behavior subscales measuring restraint, emotional eating, and external eating. A variance component approach was used to estimate heritability. After consideration of shared environmental effects and adjustment for age and sex effects, the heritability estimates ± s.e. among twins and their family members were 0.31 ± 0.036 for restraint, 0.25 ± 0.098 for emotional eating, 0.25 ± 0.060 for external eating, 0.77 ± 0.032 for measured current body weight, and 0.70 ± 0.051 for self‐reported weight at 20 years old. The three DEBQ subscales were associated with all weight related traits after adjustment for age and sex. These results suggest eating behaviors and weight‐related traits have a genetic influence, and eating behaviors are associated with obesity indexes. Our findings from Korean twin family were similar to those reported in Western populations.     

Long-term effects of postovulatory aging of mouse oocytes on offspring: a two-generational study.

Aims of this study were to analyze the long-term effects of postovulatory aging of mouse oocytes on 1) reproductive traits of parental (F(0)) and first (F(1))-generation females (pregnancy rate, gestation length, litter size, perinatal death, and sex ratio of offspring) and 2) developmental and behavioral variables of F(1) and second-generation (F(2)) offspring (birth weight and weight gain during preweaning development, postnatal day of attainment of immediate righting, spontaneous motor activity, and passive and active conditioned learning ability). Hybrid (C57BL/6JIco x CBA/JIco) females were artificially inseminated at 13 h (control group) or 22 h (oocyte-aged group) after GnRH injection. Experimental (oocyte-aged group) F(0) females exhibited lower pregnancy rate, shortened gestation length, decreased litter size, higher perinatal death of their pups, and increased percentage of male offspring compared to control F(0) females. Postovulatory aging of oocytes was also associated with increased number of growth-retarded pups, delayed development of the righting reflex, and higher spontaneous motor activity and emotionality of F(1) offspring. Postovulatory aging of F(0) oocytes did not affect birth weight, weight gain during preweaning development, passive and active conditioned learning ability of F(1) offspring, or reproductive traits of F(1) females or developmental and behavior variables of F(2) offspring.     

Studies on hypothalamo-pituitary corticoliberin system. I. Localization of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)- and neurophysin-immunoreactive neurons in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

The immunohistochemical localization of CRF- and neurophysin-containing neurons in the hypothalamus of the Mongolian gerbil was studied by means of the PAP technique. The CRF-immunoreactive fibers were detected mainly in the outer layer of the median eminence of intact adult male gerbils. The CRF-positive neurons respond to aminoglutethimide (Elipten, Ciba) administration by showing increased immunoreactivity and an increase in the number of stained cell bodies in the parvocellular division of the paraventricular nucleus. Aminoglutethimide treatment results also in an increase in the number of neurophysin-immunoreactive nervous fibers localized in the internal layer of the median eminence. However, CRF-immunoreactive fibers are observed mainly in the outer layer of the median eminence while neurophysin-immunopositive axons are seen predominantly in the internal layer of this region. Since the axons of paraventricular neurons run to the median eminence and their staining ability is changed due to aminoglutethimide, their involvement in the endocrine control of hypophysial ACTH release is postulated.     

Production of milk-clotting enzymes by basidiomycetes

BasidiomycetesPhellinus chrysoloma, Kuehneromyces mutabilis andGanoderma applanatum produce extracellular milk-clotting enzymes. The enzymes are acid proteinases stable at 40°C and within pH 3–5.5. Only the enzyme preparation fromP. chrysoloma exhibits properties comparable with animal chymosin.     

How M.MspI and M.HpaII decide which base to methylate.

The HpaII methylase (M.HpaII) recognizes the sequence CCGG and methylates the inner cytosine residue. The MspI methylase (MspI) recognizes the same sequence but methylates the outer cytosine residue. Both methylases have the usual architecture of 10 well-conserved motifs surrounding a variable region, responsible for sequence specific recognition, that is quite different in the two methylases. We have constructed hybrids between these two methylases and studied their methylation properties. A hybrid containing the variable region and C-terminal sequences from M.MspI methylates the outer cytosine residue. A second hybrid identical to the first except that the variable region derives from the M.HpaII methylates the inner cytosine residue. Thus the choice of base to be methylated within the recognition sequence is determined by the variable region.     

Ligninolytic properties of different white-rot fungi

Summary Seven white-rot fungi were examined for the production of ligninase, manganese peroxidase and laccase. All these enzymes were found inTrametes gibbosa andTrametes hirsuta. Only manganese peroxidase and laccase were produced byPycnoporus cinnabarinus,Coriolopsis polyzona,Stereum hirsutum,Dichomitus squalens andGanoderma valesiacum. All fungi decolorized Poly B-411 and Indulin AT plates with low-N medium. The differences in enzyme pattern indicate that different species of fungi may employ different modes of lignin metabolism.     

人体和动物模型的体表物理信息地形图的研究

对人体头面、躯干、四肢、耳廓各局部几十个及整个人体等体表部位正、背面等210个部位进行超微弱冷光和温度测量,输入电子计算机,经特殊的自编程序处理,获得十分清晰的,由3000多数据构成的各个局部或人体整体的冷光和温度地形图。 对家兔左、右耳廓、胸腹部、背部都分别观察32个部位的冷光与体表温度,经计算机分析处理,每观察区域获得约由2000个数据构成的精确的冷光、温度地形分市图。并可见不同生理、病理状态及不同病程家兔体表冷光、温度等地形图呈有规律的改变。 此外,我们还编制了以体表左右相应对称部位差值为分析数据进行地形图分析的程序,用以人体和动物体表物理信息对称规律的研究。 本工作以图形的形式显示物理参量在体表的广泛的分布规律,以揭示机体内部的不同生理、病理状态。本方法定位准确、直观醒目,为研究体表信息及机体生命活动规律提供了与逐点直接测量方法相互补充的有益的新手段。     

自交作物群体的遗传组成分析

用数学方法推导出了自交作物群体遗传组成的分析公式。根据所推出的公式,可以计算出任何自交世代群体的基因型频率和同一表现型中各基因型的频率。对自交群体遗传组成的分析可用于质量性状的选择,确定选择时需要的有效群体大小和选出有效群体的大小,亦有助于确定选择的最佳世代。