A chicken transferrin gene in transgenic mice escapes X-chromosome inactivation

Mammalian X-chromosome inactivation involves a coordinate shutting down of physically linked genes. Several proposed models require the presence of specific sequences near genes to permit the spread of inactivation into these regions. If such models are correct, one might predict that heterologous genes transferred onto the X chromosome might lack the appropriate signal sequences and therefore escape inactivation. To determine whether a foreign gene inserted into the X chromosome is subject to inactivation, transgenic mice harboring 11 copies of the complete, 17-kilobase chicken transferrin gene on the X chromosome were used. Male mice hemizygous for this insert were bred with females bearing Searle's translocation, an X-chromosome rearrangement that is always active in heterozygous females (the unrearranged X chromosome is inactive). Female offspring bearing the Searle's translocation and the chicken transferrin gene had the same amount of chicken transferrin messenger RNA in liver as did transgenic male mice or transgenic female mice lacking the Searle's chromosome. This result shows that the inserted gene is not subject to X-chromosome inactivation and suggests that the inactivation process cannot spread over 187 kilobases of DNA in the absence of specific signal sequences required for inactivation.     

江苏省扬中杂草稻的遗传相似性及起源分析

为了从分子水平上深入了解扬中地区杂草稻的遗传背景,本研究对江苏省39份试验材料(扬中地区杂草稻10份、其他地区杂草稻6份、塘稻4份、穞稻2份、普通野生稻3份、典型的粳稻和籼稻14份)从分布在水稻基因组的12条染色体上的63对SSR引物中筛选出36对多态性丰富、重复性高的引物,利用这36对引物对39份材料进行遗传多样性分析。36对SSR引物共扩增出92个多态性片段。遗传相似性分析结果表明:39份材料间遗传相似系数为0.35～1.00,平均遗传相似系数为0.62。聚类分析结果表明:16份杂草稻材料都属于籼稻类型,与籼稻9311、IR26相似性较高。10份扬中杂草稻可以聚合为2个组群,2个组群间的相似系数为0.74,2个组群间在株高、穗长、落粒率上存在显著性差异(P<0.05)。表明扬中地区的杂草稻可能是由于栽培稻的基因重组或回复突变产生的返祖遗传。     

PALEONTOLOGY: Homoplasy in the Mammalian Ear

The separation of the middle ear bones from the mandible is considered a defining feature of all modern mammals. But did this event happen once in a primitive mammalian ancestor or independently in the monotreme lineage and therian (marsupial and placental) lineage? As Martin and Luo discuss in their Perspective, a new fossil-the dentary bone of an ancient toothed monotreme-suggests that the middle ear bones formed independently in these two mammalian lineages, providing a remarkable example of homoplastic evolution.     

Regulation of X-chromosome counting by Tsix and Xite sequences

In mammals, X-inactivation establishes X-chromosome dosage parity between males and females. How X-chromosome counting regulates this process remains elusive, because neither the hypothesized inactivation "blocking factor" nor the required cis-elements have been defined. Here, a mouse knockout and transgenic analysis identified DNA sequences within the noncoding Tsix and Xite genes as numerators. Homozygous deficiency of Tsix resulted in "chaotic choice" and a variable number of inactive X's, whereas overdosage of Tsix/Xite inhibited X-inactivation. Thus, counting was affected by specific Tsix/Xite mutations, suggesting that counting is genetically separable from but molecularly coupled to choice. The mutations affect XX and XY cells differently, demonstrating that counting and choice are regulated not by one "blocking factor," but by both a "blocking" and a "competence" factor.     

Deamino-oxytocin: inactivation plasma of women in labor

Incubation of deamino-oxytocin with plasma obtained from women in labor reduced the potency of this analog of oxytocin when assayed on an isolated strip of mammary gland taken from a lactating rat. Plasmas of nonpregnant women had no detectable effect on this activity of deamino-oxytocin, and the effect of plasmas from women just previous to the beginning of labor was not significant. The original. activities of the incubated deamino-oxytocin solutions could be restored by treatment with hydrogen peroxide. The inactivation may be caused by reductive cleavage of the disulfide bridge of deamino-oxytocin, this bridge being reformed by oxidation.     

RNAi及其在哺乳动物中的应用*

 RNA干扰(RNAi)是由特定双链RNA(dsRNA)引发的转录后基因沉默,广泛存在于真菌、植物和动物中,它是近年来迅速发展起来的高效、特异、易操作的基因阻断技术,在功能基因组的研究中有着广阔的应用前景。研究表明,断裂dsRNA产生的小干扰RNA(siRNA)可抑制哺乳动物基因表达。从哺乳动物整体水平应用研究的角度,对RNAi的分子机制、生物学功能和特点,siRNA导入体内的方法以及应用等方面的研究作一综述。     

Mammalian X-chromosomes: change in patterns of DNA replication during embryogenesis

One arm of both X-chromosomes in female eight-cell embryos of the golden hamster replicates late in the period of DNA synthesis. Midgestation embryos and adult fibroblasts show an increase in late-replicating DNA. Here, one X-chromosome is labeled in one arm; the other is labeled throughout.     

Lymphocytic-choriomeningitis virus in hamster tumor: spread to hamsters and humans

A passage line of a spontaneous hamster fibrosarcoma is contaminated by the virus. of lymphocytic choriomeningitis. Tumors from animals receiving implants when newborn contain high titers of infectious lymphocytic-choriomeningitis virus and complement-fixing antigen, and hamsters receiving implants when weanlings develop high titers of complement-fixing antibody against lymphocytic-choriomeningitis virus. In contrast with the specific reactions of tumorous hamsters to the initiating virus in virus-induced tumors, the development of complement-fixing antibody to lymphocytic-choriomeningitis virus does not depend on the development of tumors. Infant hamsters bearing the tumor have a generalized subclinical infection and seem able to spread virus to other hamsters and to humans.     

RNA干涉技术及其在哺乳动物中的应用进展

RNA干涉(RNA interference,RNAi)作为一种有效的用于转录后基因沉默,从而抑制特定基因表达的技术,近年来在哺乳动物细胞中的研究已取得了长足发展,且在基因功能以及疾病治疗的研究中有着广阔的应用前景。研究表明,哺乳动物细胞中的RNAi作用方式与植物有所不同,笔者对哺乳动物RNAi技术的发展、作用机制及其在基因功能、基因治疗、转基因动物研究、药物开发等方面的应用做了综述。     

舟山普陀山岛兽类区系及分布

2004年5月至2005年7月,采用样线法和访问对浙江省普陀山岛兽类资源和分布进行了调查。结果表明,普陀山岛有兽类5目9科15种。其中,獐Hydropotes inermis intermis,水獭Lutra lutra和穿山甲Manis pentadactyla auritus等3种为国家二级重点保护动物,其栖息环境应做好保护。表3参17