Regulatory Network of Transcription Factors in Response to Drought in Arabidopsis and Crops

Drought is one of the most important environmental constraints limiting plant growth, development and crop yield. Many drought-inducible genes have been identified by molecular and genomic analyses in ...     

Conditional expression of harpinPsscauses yeast cell death that shares features of cell death pathway with harpinPss-mediated plant hypersensitive response (HR)

Conditional expression of harpin_Psscauses yeast cell death that shares features of cell death pathway with harpin_Pss-mediated plant hypersensitive response (HR).Pseudomonas syringae pv.syringae 61 hrp Z gene encodes harpin_Pss, a 34.7 kD extracellular protein that elicits a hypersensitive response (HR) in plants. Conditional expression of either full-length or truncated hrp Z sequences under the GAL1 promoter caused cell death in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y187. Plating of pYEUT- hrp Z transformants on a medium containing galactose resulted in complete inhibition of colony formation, whereas their growth on a glucose-based medium was unaffected. Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of harpin_Pssin yeast cells transformed with pYEUT- hrp Z and grown in galactose-containing medium. A time-dependent decline in the percentage of trypan blue-excluding cells in cultures of pYEUT- hrp Z transformants was observed when cultured on galactose-containing medium. Similarly, the number of viable cells reduced to about 50% within 6 h. There were similarities in the harpin_Pss-mediated cell death in plants and yeast cell death (YCD). Galactose-induced cell death in pYEUT-hrp Z transformants of S. cerevisiae Y187 was suppressed by a protein kinase inhibitor K252a (10 μ M). The viability of pYEUT- hrp Z transformants was prolonged in the presence of 100 U ml⁻¹catalase suggesting a role for the oxidative burst in YCD that was further supported by the flow cytometric patterns of propidium iodide uptake by yeast cells. Overall, it appears that yeast provides a useful model system to understand the molecular mechanism of harpin_Pss-mediated cell death.     

When, why, and how to perform cardiac radiofrequency catheter ablation

Radiofrequency catheter ablative techniques provide a unique opportunity to cure dogs of certain supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, rather than simply controlling the rhythm with drug therapy. Accessory pathways, which can participate as one limb of a rapid, narrow complex tachyarrhythmia circuit, have a particularly high cure rate with radiofrequency catheter ablation. Focal atrial tachycardias also provide a substrate that can be amenable to ablation. Tachycardia-induced myocardial dysfunction resulting from frequent tachyarrhythmic episodes will resolve after a successful ablation. This report outlines the indications, equipment, and techniques used in dogs for performing catheter ablation with temperature-controlled radiofrequency energy delivery.     

套袋对苹果果皮花青苷合成及着色的影响

套袋是提高苹果果实着色的主要技术措施之一,也是研究苹果果皮花青苷合成和基因表达的重要手段。苹果果皮花青苷的合成经由苯丙烷类代谢途径,编码苹果花青苷合成酶类的基因已得到克隆。套袋后果皮花青苷合成酶类的基因表达受到抑制,因而抑制了花青苷合成;摘袋后果皮花青苷迅速合成,与套袋后果皮光受体浓度增加和叶绿素含量降低从而提高对光的敏感度、迅速启动花青苷合成酶类的基因协同表达有关。果皮色素特别是花青苷和叶绿素的含量、比例和分布决定果实的着色状况,套袋促进果皮花青苷合成的同时大大降低了叶绿素含量,从而使果实着色鲜艳。     

Testing assumptions of cost surface analysis—a tool for invasive species management

Applied ecology could benefit from new tools that identify potential movement pathways of invasive species, particularly where data are sparse. Cost surface analysis (CSA) estimates the permeability (friction) across a landscape and can be applied to dispersal modelling. Increasingly used in a diversity of applications, several fundamental assumptions that might influence the outputs of CSA (cost surfaces and least-cost pathways) have yet to be systematically examined. Thus, we explore two issues: the presumed relationship between habitat preferences and dispersal behaviour as well as the degree of landscape fragmentation through which an organism moves by modelling a total of 18 sensitivity and dispersal scenarios. We explored the effect of fragmentation by altering the friction values (generally assigned using expert opinion) associated with patch and linear features. We compared these sensitivity scenarios in two sites that differed in fragmentation. We also used eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) as an example invading species and compared diffusion models and two contrasting cost surface dispersal scenarios. The diffusion model underestimated spread because squirrels did not move randomly through the landscape. Despite contrasting assumptions regarding dispersal behaviour, the two cost surfaces were strikingly similar while the least-cost paths differed. Furthermore, while the cost surfaces were insensitive to changes in friction values for linear features, they were sensitive to assumptions made for patch features. Our results suggest that movement in fragmented landscapes may be more sensitive to assumptions regarding friction values than contiguous landscapes. Thus, the reliability of CSA may depend not only on the range of friction values used for patches but also the degree of contiguity in the landscape.     

依普黄酮对骨质疏松症笼养蛋鸡OPG和RANKL表达的影响

选用200只24周龄健康海兰褐蛋鸡,随机分为4组:对照组(基础日粮中含钙3.55％)、低钙组(日粮合钙1.27％)、试验Ⅰ组(依普黄酮8 mg/kg,低钙日粮)和试验Ⅱ组(依普黄酮20 mg/kg,低钙日粮),观察依普黄酮对骨质疏松症笼养蛋鸡血清及骨骼骨保护素(Osteo protegerin,OPG)/核因子-相受体活化因子配体(Receptor activatorof NF-κB ligand,RANKL)表达的影响.结果显示:与低钙组相比,30 d时,试验Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组血清OPG分别显著升高33.12％和60.19％(P＜0.05)；60 d时,试验Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组血清OPG分别显著升高35.89％和61.59％ (P＜0.05)；30 d时,试验Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组血清RANKL分别极显著降低63.85％和70.87％(P＜0.01)；60 d时,试验Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组血清RANKL分别极显著降低69.98％和72.85％ (P＜0.01).与低钙组相比,试验Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组骨组织OPG平均光密度分别显著(P＜0.05)和极显著(P＜0.01)升高,试验Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组蛋鸡骨组织RANKL平均光密度极显著低于低钙组蛋鸡(P＜o.01).试验Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组OPG/RANKL值高于低钙组.结果表明,低钙日粮中添加依普黄酮对蛋鸡骨质疏松症可起到一定改善作用,这可能与OPG上调,RANKL下调,影响RANKL信号通路,使其骨量增加,骨结构改善密切相关.     

水稻粒型调控基因功能研究进展

水稻是世界上的重要谷类粮食作物之一，其产量和品质一直都是育种学家关注的重点，关系到全球粮食安全和人类健康。水稻粒型主要包括粒长、粒宽、粒厚等，是受多基因控制的重要数量性状，不仅直接影响水稻产量，还与水稻品质密切相关。深入了解水稻粒型的形成与调控机理将有助于进一步提升水稻单株产量、改善稻米品质。分子生物学的发展和基因组学的研究为探究水稻内部调控机制带来了新的变革。大量水稻粒型的数量性状遗传位点（Quantitative trait locus，QTL）成功被鉴定与解析，并验证了与之有关的基因功能。目前，已有几条调控粒型的通路得到鉴定，如泛素 - 蛋白酶体降解途径、G 蛋白信号途径、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶途径、转录因子调控途径、植物激素途径以及表观遗传途径等。然而，粒型调控网络极其复杂，多数基因上下游的调控组件作用机制尚不清楚，甚至影响粒型的各条通路间均存在一定的交叉互作。本文综述了影响水稻粒型的不同信号通路相关基因研究进展及关键粒型基因间的互作关系，总结了近年来粒型基因在育种上的应用情况，并提出结合多组学解析水稻粒型的调控机理研究，以期更好地服务于分子设计育种，为开发新的高产优质稻育种提供支撑。     

Comparative analysis of MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathway activation and inhibition in human and canine melanoma

The lack of advanced animal models of human cancers is considered a barrier to developing effective therapeutics. Canine and human melanomas are histologically disparate but show similar disease progression and response to therapies. The purpose of these studies was to compare human and canine melanoma tumours and cell lines regarding MAPK and PI3K/AKT signalling dysregulation, and response to select molecularly targeted agents. Pathway activation was investigated via microarray and mutational analysis. Growth inhibition and cell cycle effects were assessed for pathway inhibitors AZD6244 (MAPK) and rapamycin (PI3K/AKT) in human and canine melanoma cells. Human and canine melanoma share similar differential gene expression patterns within the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways. Constitutive pathway activation and similar sensitivity to AZD6244 and rapamycin was observed in human and canine cells. These results show that human and canine melanoma share activation and sensitivity to inhibition of cancer‐related signalling pathways despite differences in activating mutations.     

咖啡酸苯乙酯通过AMPK/FOXO3a信号通路缓解猪精液常温保存氧化应激的作用机制

【目的】探究咖啡酸苯乙酯（caffeic acid phenethyl ester,CAPE）通过AMPK/FOXO3a信号通路缓解氧化应激对猪精液的影响及其分子机制。【方法】选取8头成年（1—2岁）、健康状况良好长白种公猪进行鲜精采集,将质检合格的样品混池待用。试验设计如下：首先,在常温基础稀释液中分别添加0、0.02、0.04、0.06、0.08和0.10 g·L^-1浓度的CAPE,将精液样品与各个浓度组依次混合后放置室温平衡,随即转入17 ℃电子恒温冰箱进行常温保存。全自动精子分析仪（CASA）测定1—5 d精子运动学参数（总活率与渐进性活力）,筛选出最佳适宜浓度为0.06 g·L^-1。其次,将0.06 g·L^-1 CAPE与400 μmol·L^-1的H₂O₂建立氧化胁迫模型,在第1、3、5天分别采用CASA测定精子总活率与渐进性活力,荧光探针技术评估质膜完整性与顶体完整性,抗氧化试剂盒检测过氧化氢酶（catalase,CAT）与超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）活性,在第5 天利用实时荧光定量 PCR技术测定AMPK/FOXO3a信号通路下游靶向基因（AMPK、FOXO3a、SOD1、SOD2、CAT）及凋亡基因BAX的mRNA表达水平,蛋白免疫印记技术测定AMPK、p-AMPK蛋白表达。【结果】（1）浓度筛选试验中,0.06 g·L^-1的CAPE在保存第3 天显著提高精子的总活率并维持至第5天（P<0.05）,不仅如此,精子的渐进性活力在第1 天显著高于其他处理组（P<0.05）。（2）氧化胁迫试验中,H₂O₂处理组的精子质膜完整性、顶体完整性、总活率、渐进性活力、SOD与CAT活性在保存的第5天均极限显著低于空白组与CAPE+H₂O₂混合组（P<0.001）,而空白组与CAPE+H₂O₂混合组的总活率、顶体完整性、CAT与SOD活性不存在显著差异（P>0.05）。与CAPE+H₂O₂混合组相比,H₂O₂处理组AMPK、FOXO3a、SOD1、SOD2、CAT的mRNA表达水平显著降低（P<0.05）,BAX的表达水平显著升高（P<0.05）,而空白组与CAPE+H₂O₂混合组的AMPK、SOD1、CAT与BAX不存在显著差异（P>0.05）。在蛋白表达水平中,CAPE+H₂O₂混合组与H₂O₂组相比,AMPK、p-AMPK 与p-AMPK/AMPK比率显著提升（P <0.05）。【结论】在常温基础稀释液中添加0.06 g·L^-1CAPE可通过促进磷酸化AMPK的表达,诱导AMPK/FOXO3a信号下游抗氧化分子的转录,继而缓解H₂O₂介导的氧化危害对精液品质产生的影响,延长精液的保存时间,但CAPE保护精子氧化损伤更为深入的分子机制仍需作进一步探究。     

刀鲚基因家族鉴定及扩张与收缩

为增加对刀鲚在进化过程中因核心基因家族改变而产生的特殊机制的了解。实验利用比较基因组学,通过比较刀鲚及其近缘物种斑马鱼、三刺鱼、青鳉、红鳍东方鲀和绿河鲀基因组,鉴定刀鲚基因家族;利用CAFév 4.2软件进行基因家族扩张和收缩分析;最后将鉴定的扩张基因家族基因与GO、KEGG等数据库进行比对、注释和通路分析。结果显示,刀鲚具有11 872个基因家族,包含16 470个基因,有2 963个基因未形成基因家族。同其他5个物种相比,刀鲚有150个特有基因家族,包含419个基因。刀鲚扩张和收缩基因家族分析结果表明,刀鲚有1 200个基因家族扩张了,7 543个基因家族收缩了。刀鲚显著扩张的基因家族有39个,包含508个基因;显著收缩的基因家族有36个,包含21个基因。刀鲚显著扩张基因家族GO富集分析条目中鉴定较多的是,代谢过程、催化活性、细胞、细胞组分等。KEGG富集分析条目中鉴定较多的是紧密连接、心肌细胞的肾上腺素能信号、心肌收缩、细胞黏附分子等。与渗透压调节相关的通路有紧密连接、心肌收缩等;与生殖洄游行为相关的通路有GnRH信号通路、嗅觉转导通路等。对显著扩张基因家族基因进行基因组定位,结...