New insights to the molecular phylogenetics and generic assessment in the Rhacophoridae (Amphibia: Anura) based on five nuclear and three mitochondrial genes, with comments on the evolution of reproduction

The phylogenetic relationships among 12 genera of treefrogs (Family, Rhacophoridae), were investigated based on a large sequence data set, including five nuclear (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, proopiomelanocortin, recombination activating gene 1, tyr

Evidence for Positive Selection on the Osteogenin (BMP3) Gene in Human Populations

Background: Human skeletal system has evolved rapidly since the dispersal of modern humans from Africa, potentially driven by selection and adaptation. Osteogenin (BMP3) plays an important role in skeletal development and bone osteogenesis as an antagonist of the osteogenic bone morphogenetic proteins, and negatively regulates bone mineral density. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here, we resequenced the BMP3 gene from individuals in four geographically separated modern human populations. Features supportive of positive selection in the BMP3 gene were found including the presence of an excess of nonsynonymous mutations in modern humans, and a significantly lower genetic diversity that deviates from neutrality. The prevalent haplotypes of the first exon region in Europeans demonstrated features of long-range haplotype homogeneity. In contrast with findings in European, the derived allele SNP Arg192Gln shows higher extended haplotype homozygosity in East Asian. The worldwide allele frequency distribution of SNP shows not only a high-derived allele frequency in Asians, but also in Americans, which is suggestive of functional adaptation. Conclusions/Significance: In conclusion, we provide evidence for recent positive selection operating upon a crucial gene in skeletal development, which may provide new insight into the evolution of the skeletal system and bone development.

In vitro construction of a recombinant human embryonic brain-derived neurotrophin-4 gene and pEGFP-N1 vector

BACKGROUND: Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) can promote neuronal growth, development, differentiation, maturation, and survival. NT-4 can also improve recovery and regeneration of injured neurons, but cannot pass through the blood-brain barrier, which limits its ac

A de novo originated gene depresses budding yeast mating pathway and is repressed by the protein encoded by its antisense strand

Recent transcription profiling studies have revealed an unexpectedly large proportion of antisense transcripts in eukaryotic genomes. These antisense genes seem to regulate gene expression by interacting with sense genes. Previous studies have focused on the non-coding antisense genes, but the possible regulatory role of the antisense protein is poorly understood. In this study, we found that a protein encoded by the antisense gene ADF1 acts as a transcription suppressor, regulating the expression of sense gene MDF1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Based on the evolutionary, genetic, cytological and biochemical evidence, we show that the protein-coding sense gene MDF1 most likely originated de novo from a previously non-coding sequence and can significantly suppress the mating efficiency of baker's yeast in rich medium by binding MAT alpha 2 and thus promote vegetative growth. These results shed new light on several important issues, including a new sense-antisense interaction mechanism, the de novo origination of a functional gene, and the regulation of yeast mating pathway.

Crossmodal effects of Guqin and piano music on selective attention: An event-related potential study

To compare the effects of music from different cultural environments (Guqin: Chinese music; piano: Western music) on crossmodal selective attention, behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) data in a standard two-stimulus visual oddball task were reco

Crossmodal effects of Guqin and piano music on selective attention: An event-related potential study (vol 466, pg 21, 2009)

Special thanks to Christopher Blair and Mumtaz Baig for their suggestions. This work was supported by National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, 2007CB411600), National Natural Science Foundation of China (30621092), and Bureau of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province.

Reversible disconnection of the hippocampal-prelimbic cortical circuit impairs spatial learning but not passive avoidance learning in rats

Wistar rats, treated with the GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol, were used to investigate the role of the hippocampal-prelimbic cortical (Hip-PLC) circuit in spatial learning in the Morris water maze task, and in passive avoidance learning in the step-thr

湖水含盐量和Cu~(2+)浓度变化对Kinneret湖浮游植物的影响

通过人为改变湖水中的Cu2 + 浓度和含盐量的方法 ,Cu2 + 浓度和含盐量变化对Kinneret湖水中浮游植物可能造成的影响进行了分析。结果表明 ,湖水Cu2 + 浓度增加会抑制Kinneret湖水中藻类等浮游植物的生长 ,这对改善湖水水质来说是非常有利的 ,但高的Cu2 + 浓度对农作物生长和人类健康是有害的。在另一方面 ,对含盐量较低的约旦河水来说 ,适当增加Cu2 + 浓度则有利于藻类的生长。Kinneret湖中浮游植物的年平均生物量随湖水含盐量的下降而有增加的趋势 ,特别是当含盐量低于 2 0

日本产和中国产中华细鲫的RAPD分析

使用 2 0个随机引物对日本和中国辽宁产中华细鲫、日本产Hemigrammocyprissp .和中国产稀有鲫各 4个个体的随机扩增 ,得到了大量DAN多态片段。通过Rapdplot程序将DAN的多态片段转换成遗传距离 (d =1 -S ,S =2NxNy/Nx +Ny)。该遗传距离的矩阵经Phylip软件包中Neighbor程序计算 ,生成了四个物种的相互关系分支图。从图中可以看出 ,分布于日本和中华细鲫有较近的遗传距离 ,然后是Hemigrammocypris,最后是稀有鲫。该结果说明分布于日本和