The Caenorhabditis elegans par-5 gene encodes a 14-3-3 protein required for cellular asymmetry in the early embryo.

The establishment of anterior-posterior polarity in the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo requires the activity of the maternally expressed par genes. We report the identification and analysis of a new par gene, par-5. We show that par-5 is required for asynchrony and asymmetry in the first embryonic cell divisions, normal pseudocleavage, normal cleavage spindle orientation at the two-cell stage, and localization of P granules and MEX-5 during the first and subsequent cell cycles. Furthermore, par-5 activity is required in the first cell cycle for the asymmetric cortical localization of PAR-1 and PAR-2 to the posterior, and PAR-3, PAR-6, and PKC-3 to the anterior. When PAR-5 is reduced by mutation or by RNA interference, these proteins spread around the cortex of the one-cell embryo and partially overlap. We have shown by sequence analysis of par-5 mutants and by RNA interference that the par-5 gene is the same as the ftt-1 gene, and encodes a 14-3-3 protein. The PAR-5 14-3-3 protein is present in gonads, oocytes, and early embryos, but is not asymmetrically distributed. Our analysis indicates that the par-5 14-3-3 gene plays a crucial role in the early events leading to polarization of the C. elegans zygote.     

Realized vs apparent reduction in enemies of the European starling

Release from parasites, pathogens or predators (i.e. enemies) is a widely cited ‘rule of thumb’ to explain the proliferation of nonindigenous species in their introduced regions (i.e. the ‘enemy release hypothesis’, or ERH). Indeed, profound effects of some parasites and predators on host populations are well documented. However, some support for the ERH comes from studies that find a reduction in the species richness of enemies in the introduced range, relative to the native range, of particular hosts. For example, data on helminth parasites of the European starling in both its native Eurasia and in North America support a reduction of parasites in the latter. However, North American ‘founder’ starlings were likely not chosen randomly from across Eurasia. This could result in an overestimation of enemy release since enemies affect their hosts on a population level. We control for the effects of subsampling colonists and find, contrary to previous reports, no evidence that introduced populations of starlings experienced a reduction in the species richness of helminth parasites after colonization of North America. These results highlight the importance of choosing appropriate contrast groups in biogeographical analyses of biological invasions to minimize the confounding effects of ‘propagule biases’.     

细菌介导的RNA干扰对C.elegans中par-3基因的作用

设计并构建了针对par-3基因的发夹RNA载体，将构建好的质粒转入大肠杆菌HT115，25℃喂食Caenorhabditis elegans（C.elegans）野生型虫体，24h后观察par-3（RNA干扰）celegans的胚胎发育情况。结果显示通过喂食形成发夹结构dsRNA的细菌可以对celegans中par-3基因进行RNA干扰，干扰率可以达到60％以上。干扰后的早期胚胎发育丧失第一次卵裂的不对称性，第二次卵裂的纺锤体方向发生改变，与par-3突变体的观察结果一致，为进一步在mex-3转基因虫体中通过RNA干扰研究基因表达打下了基础。     

细菌介导的发夹结构双链RNA对秀丽小杆线虫中par-1基因的RNA干扰

秀丽小杆线虫(Caenorhabditis elegans)是一种重要的模式生物,目前在C.elegans中发现的许多基因在序列和功能上与哺乳动物的基因有很高的同源性,对其基因功能的研究有助于阐明哺乳动物的基因功能。为检测细菌介导的通过发夹结构表达双链RNA(dsRNA)的RNA干扰(RNAi)在C.elegans中的作用效果,我们设计并构建了可以转录表达母源极性基因par-1的发夹dsRNA的RNAi载体,并转入E.coli HT115中,经过IPTG诱导后浓缩。浓缩菌液在25℃下喂食C.elegans48h后,观察C.elegans胚胎发育情况,同时以含有空载体的菌液作为对照,并与par-1突变体及野生型比较。结果显示:发夹结构表达的dsRNA对par-1基因进行RNAi后,虫体内par-1 mRNA几乎消失,C.elegans早期胚胎分裂不对称性丧失,par-1(RNAi)干扰率在95%以上。