The mitochondrial genome organization of the rice frog, Fejervarya limnocharis (Amphibia : Anura): a new gene order in the vertebrate mtDNA

The mitochondrial DNA of the rice frog, Fejervarya limnocharis (Amphibia, Anura), was obtained using long-and-accurate polymerase chain reaction (LA-PCR) combining with subcloning method. The complete nucleotide sequence (17,717 bp) of mitochondrial genome was determined subsequently. This mitochondrial genome is characterized by four distinctive features: the translocation of ND5 gene, a cluster of rearranged tRNA genes (tRNA(Thr), tRNA(Pro), tRNA(Leu) ((CUN))) a tandem duplication of tRNA(Mer) gene, and eight large 89-bp tandem repeats in the control region, as well as three short noncoding regions containing two repeated motifs existing in the gene cluster of ND5/tRNA(Thr)/tRNA(Pro)/tRNA(Leu)/tRNA(Phe). The tandem duplication of gene regions followed by deletions of supernumerary genes can be invoked to explain the shuffling of tRNAM(Met) and a cluster of tRNA and ND5 genes, as observed in this study. Both ND5 gene translocation and tandem duplication of tRNA(Met) were first observed in the vertebrate mitochondrial genomes. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Assessment of cattle genetic introgression into domestic yak populations using mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA markers

Hybridization between yak Poephagus grunniens and taurine Bos taurus or indicine B. indicus cattle has been widely practiced throughout the yak geographical range, and gene flow is expected to have occurred between these species. To assess the impact of cattle admixture on domestic yak, we examined 1076 domestic yak from 29 populations collected in China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Russia using mitochondrial DNA and 17 autosomal microsatellite loci. A cattle diagnostic marker-based analysis reveals cattle-specific mtDNA and/or autosomal microsatellite allele introgression in 127 yak individuals from 22 populations. The mean level of cattle admixture across the populations, calculated using allelic information at 17 autosomal microsatellite loci, remains relatively low (mY(cattle) = 2.66 +/- 0.53% and Q(cattle) = 0.69 +/- 2.58%), although it varies a lot across populations as well as among individuals within population. Although the level of cattle admixture shows a clear geographical structure, with higher levels of admixture in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Mongolian and Russian regions, and lower levels in the Himalayan and Pamir Plateau region, our results indicate that the level of cattle admixture is not significantly correlated with the altitude across geographical regions as well as within geographical region. Although yak-cattle hybridization is primarily driven to produce F-1 hybrids, our results show that the subsequent gene flow between yak and cattle took place and has affected contemporary genetic make-up of domestic yak. To protect yak genetic integrity, hybridization between yak and cattle should be tightly controlled.

B itte r an d Sw e e t /Um am i Ta s te Re c ep to rs w ith D iffe ren tly Evo lu tio n a ry Pa thw ays

通过生物信息学和系统发育学分析,研究了苦味受体和甜味/鲜味受体的进化途径。结果显示,苦味受体 和甜味/鲜味受体在进化上具有远相关,并且具有不同的进化途径,提示这可能是导致这些受体具有不同功能,传 导不同味觉的原因。

The giant panda (Ailurapoda melanoleuca) somatic nucleus can dedifferentiate in rabbit ooplasm and support early development of the reconstructed egg

The giant panda skeletal muscle cells, uterus epithelial cells and mammary gland cells from an adult individual were cultured and used as nucleus donor for the construction of interspecies embryos by transferring them into enucleated rabbit eggs. All the three kinds of somatic cells were able to reprogram in rabbit ooplasm and support early embryo development, of which mammary gland cells were proven to be the Lest, followed by uterus epithelial cells and skeletal muscle cells. The experiments showed that direct injection of mammary gland cell into enucleated rabbit ooplasm, combined with in vivo development in ligated rabbit oviduct, achieved higher blastocyst development than in vitro culture after the somatic cell was injected into the perivitelline space and fused with the enucleated egg by electrical stimulation. The chromosome analysis demonstrated that the genetic materials in reconstructed blastocyst cells were the same as that in panda somatic cells. In addition, giant panda mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was shown to exist in the interspecies reconstructed blastocyst. The data suggest that (i) the ability of ooplasm to dedifferentiate somatic cells is not species-specific; (ii) there is compatibility between interspecies somatic nucleus and ooplasm during early development of the reconstructed egg.

绵羊大肠阻塞病理模型血浆及组织中内皮素-1含量的变化

选择绵羊建立反刍动物大肠阻塞病理模型,对手术前、后静脉血浆及死亡后心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏、肾脏、胰脏和肠组织中内皮素-1(ET-1)含量进行测定,探讨了该模型血浆及组织中ET-1含量的变化和临床意义。结果表明:模型组和对照组手术前血浆ET-1含量分别为(57.81±2.95)ng/L和(62.72±3.17)ng/L,手术后含量分别为(41.87±8.06)ng/L和(60.74±4.68)ng/L,模型组术后ET--1含量明显下降(P<0.05);每30min间隔采血,模型组术前、术后第2天和第4天ET--1含量依次降低,差异极显著(P<0.01);模型组心、肺、肾组织中的ET-1含量分别为(273.28±53.7)、(270.65±98.6)、(249.32±20.8)ng/L,分别比对照组心脏(105.73±32.2)ng/L、肺脏((34.34±6.73)ng/L、肾脏(50.43±12.89)ng/L明显升高(P<0.01)。这些变化可能与肠阻塞的发生、发展有密切关系。

Morphine withdrawal modifies antinociceptive effects of acute morphine in rats

Repeated opioid use is known to cause tolerance of antinociceptive effects. Whether opioid abstinence modifies antinociceptive effects is unknown. Here we reported that morphine withdrawal for 18 h and 4 days after repeated morphine treatment largely redu

卫星跟踪技术在候鸟迁徙研究中的应用

：自20世纪80年代末期应用基于Argos系统的卫星跟踪技术开展候鸟迁徙研究以来，鸟类学家取得了 许多利用传统鸟类迁徙研究方法所无法取得的成果。但在中国，卫星跟踪技术在鸟类迁徙中的应用尚属空白。作 者利用参与中国首次应用卫星跟踪技术跟踪候鸟迁徙研究之机，对该技术用于候鸟迁徙研究的技术平台、主要内 容和未来研究进行了综述和展望。利用卫星跟踪技术开展的主要研究内容有：揭示迁徙路线和重要停歇地点；寻 找新繁殖地和越冬地；利用卫星数据对栖息地及其利用进行评价；探讨鸟类的迁徙策略。期望该技术能够成为中 国濒危鸟类保护的有效方法，并尽快得到应用。

蓝氏贾第虫核纤层蛋白基因的初步研究

贾第虫一度被认为是迄今已知的最原始的真核细胞, 但近来争议日盛。利用PCR 和测序等技术, 对 蓝氏贾第虫( Giardia lamblia) 的核纤层蛋白(lamin) 基因进行了研究。结果表明: 蓝氏贾第虫基因组中存在 一个编码具有明显lamin 特征的基因序列。如该基因序列的3′- 端具有编码与核内膜亲和的特征性模体(motif ) CaaX 的序列; 具有B 型lamin 基因所特有的高度保守的27 bp 片段, 该片段编码高度保守的位于α螺旋杆状区 的9 氨基酸片段等。同时, 这些序列特征又与多细胞的后生动物存在一定差异。这些事实说明在贾第虫中已经 进化产生了典型真核细胞的B 型lamin (基因) 或至少是类似B 型的lamin (基因) , 该生物的进化地位可能并 非过去所认为的那么原始。

亚洲疣猴面颅和脑颅的比较研究

对123个头骨的面颅和脑颅作了分析, 讨论了东亚古环境的变化对亚洲疣猴 辐射的影响。提 出亚洲疣猴系统发育支序图。图3表2参40

白颊长臂猿染色体的研究

用各种染色体显带技术对云南南部的白颊长臂猿核型进行了详细研究, 并探讨了与其它长臂猿间的亲缘关系及核型进化的可能途径。它的2n=52, 核型公式为44(M或SM)+6(A), xy(M,A)。C带表明一些染色体着丝点C带弱化; 有的染色体出现插入的和端位的C带; X染色体两臂有端位C带, Y染色体是C带阳性和晚复制的。Ag-NORs的数目, 雌体有4个, 雄体有5个, Y染色体上具NOR。对白颊长臂猿与其它长臂猿间的亲缘关系和核型进化的可能途径进行了讨论。

微囊藻毒素-RR对反硝化细菌生长及生理特性的影响

用0.01、5.00mg/L微囊藻毒素-RR(MC-RR)处理反硝化细菌,研究了MC-RR对反硝化细菌的生长、培养液中NO3--N和NO2--N含量以及细胞内硝酸还原酶活性的影响。结果表明,高浓度MC-RR能显著抑制反硝化细菌的生长,延缓其细胞增殖,抑制培养液中硝酸盐含量的降低和亚硝酸盐含量的升高以及细胞内硝酸还原酶的活性,因而可能抑制或减缓生态系统中氮循环的进程。这表明,微囊藻毒素在一定程度上可能调节水体细菌群落。