Dietary Fucoxanthin Increases Metabolic Rate and Upregulated mRNA Expressions of the PGC-1alpha Network,Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Fusion Genes in White Adipose Tissues of Mice

The mechanism for how fucoxanthin (FX) suppressed adipose accumulation is unclear. We aim to investigate the effects of FX on metabolic rate and expressions of genes related to thermogenesis, mitochondria biogenesis and homeostasis. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, four groups of mice were respectively fed a high sucrose (50% sucrose) or a high-fat diet (23% butter + 7% soybean oil) supplemented with or without 0.2% FX. FX significantly increased oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production and reduced white adipose tissue (WAT) mass. The mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), cell death-inducing DFFA-like effecter a (CIDEA), PPARα, PPARγ, estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα), β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) and deiodinase 2 (Dio2) were significantly upregulated in inguinal WAT (iWAT) and epididymal WAT (eWAT) by FX. Mitochondrial biogenic genes, nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) and NRF2, were increased in eWAT by FX. Noticeably, FX upregulated genes of mitochondrial fusion, mitofusin 1 (Mfn1), Mfn2 and optic atrophy 1 (OPA1), but not mitochondrial fission, Fission 1, in both iWAT and eWAT. In conclusion, dietary FX enhanced the metabolic rate and lowered adipose mass irrespective of the diet. These were associated with upregulated genes of the PGC-1α network and mitochondrial fusion in eWAT and iWAT.     

Influence of salinity on the energetics of gill and kidney of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

The effect of seawater acclimation and adaptation to various salinities on the energetics of gill and kidney of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was examined. Smolts and non-smolts previously reared in fresh water were exposed to a rapid increase in salinity to 30 ppt. Plasma osmolarity, [Na⁺], [Cl^–], [K⁺] and [Mg⁺⁺] increased in both groups but were significantly lower in smolts than non-smolts. Gill Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase specific activity, initially higher in smolts, increased in both groups after 18 days in seawater. Kidney Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase specific activity was not affected by salinity in either group. Gill and kidney citrate synthase specific activity was not affected by seawater exposure in smolts but decreased in non-smolts. In a second experiment, Atlantic salmon smolts reared in fresh water were acclimated to 0, 10 or 30 ppt seawater for 3 months at a temperature of 13–14°C. Gill Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase was positively correlated with salinity, displaying 2.5- and 5-fold higher specific activity at 10 and 30 ppt, respectively, than at 0 ppt. Kidney Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase specific activity was not significantly affected by environmental salinity. Citrate synthase and cytochrome c oxidase specific activities in gill were slightly (6–13%) lower at 10 ppt than at 0 and 30 ppt, whereas kidney activities were lowest at 30 ppt. Oxygen consumption of isolated gill filaments was significantly higher when incubated in isosmotic saline and at 30 ppt than at 0 ppt, but was not affected by the prior acclimation salinity. The results indicate that although high salinity induces increased gill Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity, it does not induce substantial increases in metabolic capacity of gill or kidney.     

Assessing common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population structure in Mississippi Sound and coastal waters of the north central Gulf of Mexico

1. Population structure of highly mobile marine organisms can be complex and difficult to study, but it is important to understand how populations partition themselves within their environment for accurate assessment of both natural and anthropogenic impacts and successful management. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill negatively impacted common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) within Mississippi Sound and the surrounding north central Gulf of Mexico (GOMx); however, little was known about their underlying population structure in these waters. Thus, it was unclear how many demographically independent populations were affected by the spill.
2. Common bottlenose dolphin samples were collected throughout inshore waters of Mississippi Sound and coastal waters of the north-central GOMx. Mitochondrial DNA control region sequence data and 19 nuclear microsatellite loci were analysed to determine how many populations are present and characterize their range throughout these waters.
3. Bayesian clustering and migration analyses identified two genetically distinct and demographically independent populations: one predominantly inhabiting Mississippi Sound and adjacent coastal waters, and a second population extending generally from offshore of Mobile Bay, Alabama, east along the Florida Panhandle. Neither of these populations align with the currently delineated management stocks previously used to estimate impacts from the oil spill on common bottlenose dolphins in this portion of the GOMx.
4. These results suggest that revisions may be necessary so that management stocks accurately represent the demographically independent populations present in these waters. Furthermore, better comprehension of underlying population structure will enhance impact assessments on common bottlenose dolphins and provide more appropriate baseline data to support future restoration and conservation objectives.

     

国外种质在山东大豆育种中的遗传贡献分析

14个国外大豆品种和种质被广泛应用于山东大豆育种研究和生产,共衍生出26个大豆品种,占山东省大豆育成品种的33 3%。衍生品种的播种面积占山东省大豆播种面积的40 2%。国外种质在山东省大豆育种中的细胞核遗传贡献值为10 751,细胞质遗传贡献值为2。     

唐代后期宦官与皇位继承权之争

唐代后期宦官对皇位继承权的争夺非常激烈。考察玄宗到唐末哀帝的皇位继承形式 ,可以总结出唐末皇位继承之争的特点 :垄断性 ,分阶段性 ,斗争的复杂性。垄断性是由于宦官任枢密、典禁军、掌监军所致 ;分阶段性是由于宦官典掌禁军、出任监军、养子制度在德宗时的制度化使得宦官对唐末皇位继承权的控制在德宗前后有所不同 ;斗争的复杂性是由于宦官在宫中的特殊地位所致     

Genetic Diversity Analysis of Three Newly Discovered Native Chicken Breeds in Yunnan Using mtDNA D-loop Region Sequences

This study was aimed to evaluate the information of their genetic background of Frizzle chicken (FM),Naked-neck chicken (CB) and YN chicken (YN) that were three newly discovered native chicken genetic resources with excellent characteristics,which had been found in Nujiang prefecture and mountainous area of Yunnan province.The variation in a total of 168 individuals sampled from the three chicken populations was assessed using the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop region sequences as genetic marker.The results showed that there were a total of 27 haplotypes were defined in the three native chicken as well as the haplotype diversity of these three chicken were 0.947,0.938 and 0.596,respectively.The nucleotide diversity of these three chicken were 0.01268,0.01434 and 0.00239,respectively.Phylogenetic tree displayed that all 168 individuals distributed in maternal lineage A,B,C,E,F and G.Frizzle chicken contained lineages E,F and G,and Naked-neck chicken contained all 6 lineages,of which the main lineages were E,F and G.YN chicken included lineages E,F and G,and lineage E was the highest percentage in this population.Also,it found that YN chicken was closely related to Gallus gallus murghi,White Plymouth Rock chicken,White Leghorn chicken and New Hampshires chicken,while Naked-neck chicken was closely related to Gallus gallus spadiceus,Gallus gallus jabouillei,Gallus gallus gallus Linnaeus,Indonesian cockfight and Laos chicken.The Frizzle chickens shared more haplotypes with Naked-neck chicken,and the evolutionary relationship between the two species was closer.This study provided a basis for the origin and genetic assessment of three newly discovered Yunnan local chicken breeds.     

A fine map for maternal lineage analysis by mitochondrial hypervariable region in 12 Chinese goat breeds

As the fast pace of genomic research continues to identify mitochondrial lineages in animals, it has become apparent that many independent studies are needed to support a robust phylogenetic inference. The aim of this study was thus to further characterize the maternal lineage, proposed to originate in southwestern region of China, using a wider survey of diverse goat breeds in China. To this end, we sequenced the mitochondrial hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of the mtDNA control region in 145 goats of 12 Chinese breeds. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Chinese goats were classified into four distinct lineages (A, B, C and D) as previously reported. A Mantel test and the analysis of Analysis of Molecular Variance (ANOVA) indicated that there was not an obvious geographic structure among Chinese goat breeds. Population expansion analysis based on mismatch distribution and Fu's Fs statistic indicate that two expansion events in Chinese goats occurred respectively at about 11 and 29 mutational time units ago, revealing two star-like subclades in lineage B corresponding to two population expansion events. Moreover, lineage B sequences were presented only in the breeds of southwestern or surrounding regions of China. Multiple lines of evidence from this study and previous studies indicate that for Chinese goats mtDNA lineage B originated from the southwestern region of China.     

番茄抗叶霉病基因Cf19的抗性特点及遗传连锁分析

番茄抗叶霉病基因Cf19的抗性范围基本涵盖了中国目前分化出的所有叶霉菌生理小种,且抗性显著;台盼蓝染色结果显示该基因介导的抗性应答中出现明显的超敏反应,强度介于Cf4和Cf9基因之间;遗传连锁分析说明该基因的遗传特性符合单基因显性遗传规律;通过进一步SSR和AFLP分子标记连锁分析,共找到6个与Cf19基因连锁的分子标记,并将该基因初步定位于番茄1号染色体短臂区域。     

Resistance to the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum, within Brassica fruticulosa

Two transgenic Bt rice lines, KMD1 and KMD2, both containing a synthetic cry1Ab gene from Bt, were crossed with conventional rice varieties. The inheritance of resistance to SSB of KMD1 and KMD2was investigated through LSB and field examination of their progenies, e.g. F₁, BC₁ and F₂ populations. In LSBs, 100.0% of newly hatched SSB larvae died on the second day after feeding on leaf tissues of F₁ and GUS positive BC₁ plants, of which the area of leaf tissues consumed by SSB is also similar to that of transgenic parents. These results imply that the resistance of Bt rice to SSB is dominantly controlled and could be easily exploited in hybrid rice production. Field evaluation showed that segregation ratios for SSB resistance to susceptibility in BC₁ populations fit the ratio of 1:1, which was also confirmed by LSBs. However, in F₂ populations, the ratio was significantly smaller than 3:1 for resistant to susceptible plants in all 6 indica × japonica (KMD1 and KMD2) crosses, though it fitted 3:1 in all 4 japonica × japonica crosses. The results implied that the resistance of Bt rice to SSB was controlled by a dominant gene which was present in a homozygous condition in both KMD1 and KMD2, but the inheritance could be affected by other factors. Assays for Cry1Ab protein showed that, in most crosses, the content of Cry1Ab is significantly higher in leaves of GUS positive F₁, BC₁ and F₂ plants than that in transgenic Bt parent plants, which accounts for the high resistance observed in these plants to SSB. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.