Mapping soil salinity and pH across an estuarine and alluvial plain using electromagnetic and digital elevation model data

Increasing pressures from agriculture and urbanization have resulted in drainage of many floodplains along the eastern Australian coastline, which are underlain by sulphidic sediments, to lower water tables and reduce soil salinity. This leads to oxidation of the sediments with a rapid decline in pH and an increase in salinity. Accurately mapping soil salinity and pH in coastal acid sulphate soil (CASS) landscapes is therefore important. One required map is the extent of highly acidic (i.e. pH < 4.5) areas, so that the application of alkaline amendments (e.g. lime) to neutralize the acid produced can be specifically targeted to the variation in pH. One approach is to use digital soil mapping (DSM) using ancillary information, such as an EM38, digital elevation models (DEM – elevation) and trend surface parameters (east and north). We used an EM38 in the horizontal (EM38h) and vertical (EM38v) modes together with elevation data to develop multiple linear regressions (MLR) for predicting EC_1:5 and pH. For pH, best results were achieved when the EM38 EC_a data were log‐transformed. By comparing MLR models using REML analysis, we found that using all ancillary data was optimal for mapping EC_1:5, whereas the best predictors for pH were north, log‐EM38v and elevation. Using residual maximum likelihood (REML), the final EC_1:5 and pH maps produced were consistent with previously defined soil landscape units, particularly CASS. The DSM approach used is amenable for mapping saline soils and identifying areas requiring the application of lime to manage acidic soil conditions in CASS landscape.     

辽葱5号的选育

辽葱5号是以玉田县五叶齐大葱为母本、朝阳鳞棒葱为父本进行有性杂交，对杂交后代进行季节穿梭选择的方法，即用3年时间进行了3个世代的以株为单位的混合选择及以株系为单位的选择，最后留选1个经济性状整齐、生殖性状稳定的雄性可育母系，经系内混合授粉育成的大葱新品种。该葱生长旺盛、秋葱产量高、葱白较长、叶片直立性好、抗紫斑病能力较强，适合长季节栽培，生育期在120d以上，属中晚熟品种。冬贮干葱可食用率高，适宜北方各省、区种植。     

5-Aza-dC对牛成肌细胞MyoD1启动子甲基化及mRNA表达的影响

旨在探究5-氮杂-2-脱氧胞苷（5-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine,5-Aza-dC）对牛成肌细胞的增殖和肌分化因子（myogenic differentiation 1,MyoD1）启动子甲基化以及mRNA表达的影响。本研究复苏了前期冻存的关岭牛成肌细胞,并进行培养,待其生长到对数生长期,再通过不同浓度的5-Aza-dC对牛成肌细胞进行处理,利用流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡和周期;结合高通量检测方法检测MyoD1启动子甲基化水平,并利用qRT-PCR检测MyoD1及相关基因的表达水平。研究发现,0.1 μmol·L^-15-Aza-dC为最适浓度,该浓度下细胞抗凋亡因子Bcl的表达极显著降低（P<0.01）,促凋亡因子Bax的表达极显著提高（P<0.01）,促凋亡因子Caspase-9的表达显著提高（P<0.05）;周期因子Cyclin A2的表达显著提高（P<0.05）,而细胞因子Cyclin B1、Cyclin D的表达无显著变化;检测空白组和试验组MyoD1启动子甲基化水平发现,试验组甲基化水平极显著低于空白组（P<0.01）;而mRNA的表达水平极显著高于空白组（P<0.01）。5-Aza-dC能够通过改变Caspase-9、Bcl、Bax、Cyclin A2等基因的表达来调节关岭牛成肌细胞的增殖和凋亡,并能够有效降低MyoD1基因启动子的甲基化水平（P<0.01）;极显著提高其mRNA的表达量（P<0.01）。低浓度的5-Aza-dC能通过促进细胞凋亡及调控关岭牛MyoD1的甲基化水平来调控MyoD1的表达;同时推测,MyoD1基因启动子的甲基化水平能够影响关岭牛成肌细胞的生长发育,可为遗传标记辅助关岭牛的改良提供理论参考。     

Characterization of a novel nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-cytochrome b5 reductase mutation associated with canine hereditary methemoglobinemia

Hereditary methemoglobinemia associated with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-cytochrome b5 reductase (b5R) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder in animals. Recently, nonsynonymous b5R gene (CYB5R3) variants have been reported to be associated with canine and feline hereditary methemoglobinemia. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of canine and feline methemoglobinemia caused by these nonsynonymous variants have not yet been reported. Previously, we reported a Pomeranian dog family with hereditary methemoglobinemia, carrying CYB5R3 mutation of an A>C transition at codon 194 in exon 7, replacing an isoleucine residue with leucine (p.Ile194Leu). In this study, we investigated the enzymatic and structural properties of the soluble form of wild-type and Ile194Leu canine b5Rs to characterize the effects of this missense mutation. Our results showed that the kinetic properties of the mutant enzyme were not affected by this amino acid substitution. The secondary structure of the wild-type and Ile194Leu b5Rs detected by circular dichroism showed a similar pattern. However, the mutant enzyme exhibited decreased heat stability and increased susceptibility to trypsin hydrolysis. Moreover, the thermostability and unfolding measurements indicated that the mutant enzyme was more sensitive to temperature-dependent denaturation than the wild-type b5R. We concluded from these results that unstable mutant enzyme properties with normal enzymatic activity would be associated with hereditary methemoglobinemia in the Pomeranian dog family.     

鸡FKBP5基因的克隆、生物信息学及组织表达谱分析

本研究旨在对鸡FK506结合蛋白5(FK506 binding protein 5,FKBP5)基因进行克隆和生物信息学分析,并检测其在鸡不同组织中的表达量。以鸡脾脏cDNA为模板,通过PCR方法扩增和克隆鸡FKBP5基因完整CDS区序列,并进行同源性比对及系统进化树构建;使用在线软件分析FKBP5蛋白的理化性质、疏水性、跨膜结构、信号肽、二级结构和三级结构;利用实时荧光定量PCR检测其在肢体内外翻畸形(valgus-varus deformity,VVD)组肉鸡和正常组肉鸡组织中的表达量,并绘制组织表达谱。结果显示,鸡FKBP5基因CDS区序列全长1350 bp,编码449个氨基酸;同源性比对和进化树分析表明,鸡FKBP5基因氨基酸序列与鹌鹑、鸭、壁虎、中华鳖、小鼠、人、猪、斑马鱼的同源性分别为98.4%、96.2%、85.8%、87.4%、81.1%、85.2%、86.1%和61.2%,与鹌鹑、鸭的亲缘关系最近,爬行类和哺乳类动物次之,与斑马鱼(鱼类)亲缘关系最远。鸡FKBP5蛋白分子质量为50.43 ku,理论等电点(pI)为5.94,半衰期为30 h,肽链N端为蛋氨酸(Met),不稳定系数为23.80,属于稳定蛋白;跨膜区和信号肽预测结果显示,FKBP5蛋白不属于跨膜蛋白和分泌型蛋白。结构域分析结果表明,该蛋白包括2个FKBP型肽基脯氨酰异构酶(FKBP-type peptidylprolyl isomerases)、3个四肽重复(TPR)序列,主要包含α-螺旋(46.77%)、延伸链(12.47%)和无规则卷曲(40.76%),且该蛋白与HSPA2、PPID、STIP1、HSP90AA1和HSP90AB1等互作蛋白具有很强的相关性。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,FKBP5基因在鸡各组织中广泛表达,其中在软骨和法氏囊中表达量较高,在发病组肉鸡组织中的表达量均高于正常组肉鸡,且在心脏、腿肌、法氏囊、胸腺、软骨中表达量差异显著(P<0.05),在脾脏中表达量差异极显著(P<0.01)。本试验结果可为肉鸡骨骼疾病及腿部健康选育提供参考。     

猪miR-199a-5p对脂质生成的影响及其靶基因的预测和分析

本研究旨在分析miR-199a-5p对猪肌内脂肪细胞脂质生成的影响及作用机制。采集淮南猪不同育肥时期(育肥前期、中期和后期)的背最长肌和皮下脂肪组织,通过实时荧光定量PCR分析其表达变化趋势;合成miR-199a-5p的mimics,转染猪原代肌内脂肪细胞,诱导分化后通过油红O染色观察过表达miR-199a-5p对脂质生成的影响;结合之前筛选到的脂肪型和瘦肉型猪差异表达mRNAs、lncRNAs和circRNAs,使用miRanda软件筛选miR-199a-5p的靶分子,并用GO和KEGG富集分析法对这些mRNAs、lncRNAs的共表达基因和circRNAs的来源基因进行功能分析。结果显示,随着育肥进程,miR-199a-5p在背最长肌中表达量持续上调,而在皮下脂肪组织中表达量先下调后上调;过表达miR-199a-5p可抑制肌内脂肪细胞的脂质生成。共筛选到9个mRNAs、5个lncRNAs和1258个circRNAs包含miR-199a-5p结合位点,GO分析主要富集于内质网和肌动蛋白结合,KEGG分析发现主要富集于糖、脂质和蛋白质代谢。提示miR-199a-5p可能通过与lncRNAs和circRNAs互作间接调控靶基因,参与调控肌肉发育、脂质生成和代谢,可作为影响肉质性状的候选miRNA。     

Study on Expression Difference of IGFBP-5 Gene in Different Tissues of Kazakh and Yanqi Horses

The study aimed to explore the mRNA expression pattern of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5) gene in different tissues of Kazakh and Yanqi horses.The expression of IGFBP-5 gene in different tissues of heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney,small intestine,large intestine,cecum,intercostal muscles,longissimus dorsi muscles,brachialis muscle and gluteus in two horses were detected by Real-time quantitative PCR and compared the mRNA expression in the same tissues of two breeds.The results showed that the expression of IGFBP-5 in longissimus dorsi muscle and brachialis muscle of two breeds were significantly higher than other tissues including heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney,small intestine,large intestine and cecum (P<0.05),and was the lowest in large intestine.The expression of IGFBP-5 in kidney,small intestine,large intestine,cecum,longissimus dorsi muscle and brachialis muscles of Yanqi horse were higher than in the same part of Kazakh horse,and among those in longissimus dorsi muscle and large intestine of Yanqi horse were extremely significantly higher than in the same part of Kazakh horse (P<0.01),and in small intestine and cecum of Yanqi horse were significantly higher than in the same part of Kazakh horse (P<0.05).The test was for further researching the biological function of IGFBP-5 gene,and it could provide a theoretical basis for genetic improvement of production performance of horse in our country.     

NO/ADMA在布鲁菌侵染小鼠机体过程中的响应特征

本试验旨在研究布鲁菌侵染小鼠过程中一氧化氮(NO)的作用,以及NO和非对称性二甲基精氨酸(ADMA)在此过程的相互作用关系。以布鲁菌标准疫苗株M5侵染小鼠,首先用小鼠的血清进行虎红平板凝集(RBPT)和试管凝集试验(SAT),再用Griess试剂法和ELISA法测定对照组和侵染组不同组织和血清中的NO和ADMA含量,对小鼠肝脏和脾脏的各个侵染时间段进行CFU计数观察。结果显示,用布鲁菌M5侵染小鼠后,RBPT和SAT在14d时检测到有阳性反应。侵染组和空白对照组NO总含量上变化不大,但侵染组血清中的NO含量随时间出现下降,而肝脾中NO含量随时间出现上升,其他各组织NO含量波动不明显。而ADMA的总趋势与NO相反。CFU计数结果显示,小鼠肝脾内布鲁菌的数量在14d时一直处于增长状态,28d时布鲁菌的数量下降,表明布鲁菌的分裂繁殖和机体NO的含量存在一定的关系。     

The 5‐lipoxygenase inhibitor tepoxalin induces oxidative damage and altered PTEN status prior to apoptosis in canine osteosarcoma cell lines

The 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LOX) inhibitor tepoxalin has been shown to slow canine osteosarcoma (OSA) tumour xenografts growth, yet the mechanisms are poorly elucidated. Further examination of tepoxalin in canine OSA cell lines shows that tepoxalin treated cells undergo apoptosis through caspase‐3 activation and annexin staining. Interestingly, apoptosis is superseded by an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), as measured by activation of dihydrorhodamine 123 and mitosox. This increase in ROS appears to be related to the 5‐LOX inhibitor regardless of cellular 5‐LOX status, and was not observed after treatment with the tepoxalin metabolite RWJ20142. Additionally, 5‐LOX inhibition by tepoxalin appears to increase phosphatase and tensin (PTEN) homolog activity by preventing its alkylation or oxidation. PTEN modification or inhibition allows phosphoinositide‐3 (PI3) kinase activity thereby heightening activation of protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation. Our data suggest that off target oxidation and LOX inhibition play roles in the apoptotic response.