Molecular structure and expression patterns of flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) Myf-5, a myogenic regulatory factor

Myf-5, a member of the myogenic regulatory factors (MRF), has been shown to be expressed in muscle precursors in early stage zebrafish embryos. The MRFs, including MyoD, Myf-5, Myogenin and MR-F4, belong to the basic Helix-Loop-Helix transcription factors that contain a conserved basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) domain. To better understand the role of Myf-5 in the development of fish muscles, we have isolated the Myf-5 genomic sequence and cDNA from Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), and analyzed its structures and patterns of expression. Promoter analysis identified several putative transcription factor binding sites such as an E-box, NF-Y sites that might confer muscle-specific expression. Myf-5 transcripts were first detected in the paraxial mesoderm that gives rise to slow muscles. During somitogenesis, Myf-5 expression was found in developing somites. Myf-5 expression decreased gradually in somites in the anterior region, but remained strong in the newly formed somites. In the hatching stage, the expression was also detected in other muscle cells such as head muscle and fin muscle. In the growing fish, RT-PCR results showed that Myf-5 was expressed in the skeletal muscle and intestine. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the mantid shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria (Crustacea: Malacostraca: Stomatopoda): Novel non-coding regions features and phylogenetic implications of the Stomatopoda

The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequence of Oratosquilla oratoria (Crustacea: Malacostraca: Stomatopoda) was determined; a circular molecule of 15,783 bp in length. The gene content and arrangement are consistent with the pancrustacean ground pattern. The mt control region of O. oratoria is characterized by no GA-block near the 3' end and different position of [TA(A)]n-blocks compared with other reported Stomatopoda species. The sequence of the second hairpin structure is relative conserved which suggests this region may be a synapomorphic character for the Stomatopoda. In addition, a relative large intergenic spacer (101 bp) with higher A + T content than that in control region was identified between the tRNA(Glu) and tRNA(Phe) genes. Phylogenetic analyses based on the current dataset of complete mt genomes strongly support the Stomatopoda is closely related to Euphausiacea. They in turn cluster with Penaeoidea and Caridea clades while other decapods form a separate group, which rejects the monophyly of Decapoda. This challenges the suitability of Stomatopoda as an outgroup of Decapoda in phylogenetic analyses. The basal position of Stomatopoda within Eumalacostraca according to the morphological characters is also questioned. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Identification and analysis of a Scophthalmus maximus ferritin that is regulated at transcription level by oxidative stress and bacterial infection

Ferritins are conserved Iron storage proteins that exist in most living organisms and play an essential role in Iron homeostasis. In this study, we reported the identification and analysis a ferritin M subunit, SmFerM, from turbot Scophthalmus maximus. The full length cDNA of SmFerM contains a 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of 232 bp, an open reading frame (ORF) of 531 bp, and a 3'-UTR of 196 bp The ORF encodes a putative protein of 176 amino acids, which shares extensive sequence identities with the M terrains of several fish species. In silico analysis identified in SmFerM both the ferroxidase center of mammalian H ferritins and the iron nucleation site of mammalian L ferritins. Quantitative real time reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis indicated that SmFerM expression was highest in muscle and lowest in heart and responded positively to experimental challenges with bacterial pathogens and poly(I center dot C) Exposure of cultured turbot hepatocytes to treatment of stress inducers (iron, copper, and H2O2) significantly upregulated the expression of SmFerM in a dose dependent manner. Iron chelating analysis showed that recombinant SmFerM purified from Escherichia coli exhibited apparent iron binding activity. These results suggest that SmFerM is a functional M ferritin and is likely to play a role in iron sequestration and protection against oxidative stress and microbial infection (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved

Identification, expression, function and localization of a DUF985 domain-containing hypothetical gene from amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri

The progress in genome sequencing has led to an increasing submission of uncharacterized hypothetical genes with the domain of unknown function, DUF985, in GenBank, and none of these genes is related to a known protein. We therefore underwent an experimental study to identify the function of a DUF985 domain-containing hypothetical gene BbDUF985 (GenBank Accession No. AY273818) isolated from amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri (B. belcheri). BbDUF985 was successfully expressed in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, and its recombinant proteins expressed in both systems definitely exhibited an activity of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI). Both tissue-section in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that BbDUF985 was expressed in a tissue-specific manner, with most abundant levels in the hepatic caecum and ovary. In CHO cells transfected with the expression plasmid pEGFP-N1/BbDUF985, the fusion protein was targeted in the cytoplasm of CHO cells, suggesting that BbDUF985 is a cytosolic protein. In contrast, Western blotting indicated that BbDUF985 was also present in amphioxus humoral fluids, suggesting that it exists as a secreted protein as well. Our study provided a framework for further understanding the biochemical properties and physiological function of DUF985-containing hypothetical proteins in other species. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Phenotypic plasticity of gut structure and function during periods of inactivity in Apostichopus japonicus

Apostichopus japonicus is a common sea cucumber that undergoes seasonal inactivity phases and ceases feeding during the summer months. We used this sea cucumber species as a model in which to examine phenotypic plasticity of the digestive tract in response to food deprivation. We measured the body mass, gross gut morphology and digestive enzyme activities of A. japonicus before, during, and after the period of inactivity to examine the effects of food deprivation on the gut structure and function of this animal. Individuals were sampled semi-monthly from June to November (10 sampling intervals over 178 days) across temperature changes of more than 18 degrees C. On 5 September, which represented the peak of inactivity and lack of feeding, A. japonicus decreased its body mass, gut mass and gut length by 50%, 85%, and 70%, respectively, in comparison to values for these parameters preceding the inactive period. The activities of amylase, cellulase and lipase decreased by 77%, 98%, and 35% respectively, in comparison to mean values for these enzymes in June, whereas pepsin activity increased two-fold (luring the inactive phase. Alginase and trypsin activities were variable and did not change significantly across the 178-day experiment. With the exception of amylase and cellulase, all body size indices and digestive enzyme activities recovered and even surpassed the mean values preceding the inactive phase during the latter part of the experiment (October-November). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) utilizing the digestive enzyme activity and body size index data divided the physiological state of this cucumber into four phases: an active stage, prophase of inactivity peak inactivity, and a reversion phase. These phases are all consistent with previously suggested life stages for this species, but our data provide more defined characteristics of each phase. A. japonicus clearly exhibits phenotypic plasticity (or life-cycle staging) of the digestive tract during its annual inactive period. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Photoperiodic regulation in energy intake, thermogenesis and body mass in root voles (Microtus oeconomus)

The present study was designed to examine whether photoperiod alone was effective to induce seasonal regulations in physiology in root voles (Microtus oeconomus) from the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau noted for its extreme cold environment. Root voles were randomly assigned into either long photoperiod (LD; 16L: 8D) or short photoperiod (SD; 8L: 16D) for 4 weeks at constant temperature (20 degrees C). At the end of acclimation, SD voles showed lower body mass and body fat coupled with higher energy intake than LD voles. SD greatly enhanced thermogenic capacities in root voles, as indicated by elevated basal metabolic rate (BMR), nonshivering thermogenesis (NST), mitochondrial protein content and uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) content in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Although no variations in serum leptin levels were found between SD and LD voles, serum leptin levels were positively correlated with body mass and body fat mass, and negatively correlated with energy intake and UCP1 content in BAT, respectively. To summarize, SD alone is effective in inducing higher thermogenic capacities and energy intake coupled with lower body mass and body fat mass in root voles. Leptin is potentially involved in the photoperiod induced body mass regulation and thermogenesis in root voles. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

人口统计信息空间可视化系统研究

Population research is a front area concerned by domestic and overseas, especially its researches on its spatial visualization and its geo-visualization system design, which provides a sound base for understanding and analysis of the regional difference in population distribution and its spatial rules. With the development of GIS, the theory of geo-visualization more and more plays an important role in many research fields, especially in population information visualization, and has been made the big achievements recently. Nevertheless, the current research is less attention paid to the system design for statistical-geo visualization for population information. This paper tries to explore the design theories and methodologies for statistical-geo-visualization system for population information. The researches are mainly focused on the framework, the methodologies and techniques for the system design and construction. The purpose of the research is developed a platform for population atlas by the integration of the former owned copy software of the research group in statistical mapping system. As a modern tool, the system will provide a spatial visual environment for user to analyze the characteristics of population distribution and differentiate the interrelations of the population components. Firstly, the paper discusses the essentiality of geo-visualization for population information and brings forward the key issue in statistical-geo visualization system design based on the analysis of inland and international trends. Secondly, the geo-visualization system for population design, including its structure, functionality, module, user interface design, is studied based on the concepts of theory and technology of geo-visualization. The system design is proposed and further divided into three parts: support layer, technical layer, user layer. The support layer is a basic operation module and main part of the system. The technical layer is a core part of the system, supported by database and function modules. The database module mainly include the integrated population database (comprises spatial data, attribute data and geographical features information), the cartographic symbol library, the color library, the statistical analysis model. The function module of the system consists of thematic map maker component, statistical graph maker component, database management component and statistical analysis component. The user layer is an integrated platform, which provides the functions to design and implement a visual interface for user to query, analysis and management the statistic data and the electronic map. Based on the above, China's E-atlas for population was designed and developed by the integration of the national fifth census data with 1:400 million scaled spatial data. The atlas illustrates the actual development level of the population nowadays in China by about 200 thematic maps relating with 10 map categories(environment, population distribution, sex and age, immigration, nation, family and marriage, birth, education, employment, house). As a scientific reference tool, China's E-atlas for population has already received the high evaluation after published in early 2005. Finally, the paper makes the deep analysis of the sex ratio in China, to show how to use the functions of the system to analyze the specific population problem and how to make the data mining. The analysis results showed that: 1. The sex ratio has been increased in many regions after fourth census in 1990 except the cities in the east region, and the high sex ratio is highly located in hilly and low mountain areas where with the high illiteracy rate and the high poor rate; 2. The statistical-geo visualization system is a powerful tool to handle population information, which can be used to reflect the regional differences and the regional variations of population in China and indicate the interrelations of the population with other environment factors. Although the author tries to bring up a integrate design frame of the statistical-geo visualization system, there are still many problems needed to be resolved with the development of geo-visualization studies.

苦苣苔科比较胚胎学和花粉形态学研究及其系统学意义

本文对苦苣苔科的3族8属10种植物进行了比较胚胎学研究，得出该科植物的基本胚胎学特征是： 花药具4个小孢子囊，当花药达到成熟期时，每—侧的两个小孢子囊由于隔壁的消失而连通。药壁由1层表皮，1层药室内壁，12层中层和1层绒毡层组成。花药壁的发育属双子叶类型，表皮细胞宿存，药室内壁在小孢子母细胞分裂成四分体后即开始纤维状加厚，到花药发育至成熟时期，药室内壁径向延长并由内切向壁向外和向上发生带状的加厚，但在同侧的两个小孢子囊的连接处并不发生纤维状加厚，以利于花药的开裂。中层细胞在小孢子母细胞分裂前即受到挤压，到发育后期被挤扁，．在成熟花药壁上只残留—些痕迹。有些种类中层细胞不退化，与药室内壁一样纤维状加厚。绒毡层初时为单核，在小孢子母细胞终变期分裂成双核，而当单核小孢子形成后，绒毡层细胞的两核可融合成单核，随后便解体。绒毡层为分泌型，在四分体分离成小孢子以后向药室内分泌乌氏体。在小孢子母细胞分裂前，细胞周围有大量的胼胝质出现。胞质纷裂为同时型。具四面体型的四分体。散粉时花粉具二细胞。 胚珠倒生，单珠被，薄珠心，珠被内无维管组织。珠心表皮下的—层细胞发育成为孢原细胞并直接起大孢子母细胞的功能，其胞质分裂伴随着减数分裂形成—直列式四分体。四分体珠孔端三个大孢子受挤压退化，合点端的功能大孢子进—步发育，经三次分裂形成蓼型胚囊。成熟胚囊的珠孔端部分圆形，合点端细长，如容量瓶状。胚囊内具—个由两个助细胞和—个卵细胞组成的卵器、两个极核和三个反足细胞。助细胞在花粉管通过珠孔进入胚囊后退化。极核在受精前不久融合，反足细胞形成后不久便退化。珠孔端的珠心细胞在功能大孢子发育后被挤压退化，也有的种类突出珠孔形成珠心喙，而合点端部分珠被最内的—层细胞则进—步发育，细胞质变浓，核体积增大，围绕胚囊的合点端细长部形成珠被绒毡层，此结构由胚囊形成到种子成熟—直存在，其中有丰富的内含物。 珠孔受精。胚乳发育为细胞型，种子成熟时几乎完全被胚吸收。合点端发育出具2核单胞的侵入性吸器，直达表皮。珠孔端吸器具2细胞。两种吸器的形态因种属不同而有很大差异。胚胎发生属柳叶菜型。 比较和分析表明，苦苣苔科的胚胎学特征与玄参科（Scrophujariaccae)、列当科（Orobanchaceae）和爵床科(Acanthaceae)较为相似，反映出这几个科在系统关系上比较接近。苦苣苔科族级分类群之间的胚胎学特征有一定的差异，但族内各属种的胚胎学特征差异较小，发育类型尤其是早期的形成过程非常相似。本文研究涉及的分类群在花药壁层的结构、反足细胞退化和极核融合韵时期、胚形成与胚乳发育的相对时间、吸器的有无及其形态等方面有所不同。 本文同时对苦苣苔科3族23属72种花粉，其中包括长蒴苣苔族(Trib. Didymocarpeae)16属56种、芒毛苣苔族(Trib. Trichosporeae)4属12种及尖舌苣苔族( Trib. Klugieae)3属4种，进行了扫描电镜观察。对族下各属种的形态特征作了详细的描述，每种花粉从极面观、赤道面观及局部放大三个侧面照相记录。以族为基本类群,对其中的各属的花粉形态结合系统学特征进行了讨论。 由此研究得出苦苣苔科植物花粉的基本特征是：所有研究属种的花粉均具三拟孔沟，拟孔极不明显。形状为近扁球形、圆球形、近长球形和长球形，极面观圆形、近圆形、近三角形和三裂圆形，赤道面观为圆形、近圆形、椭圆形和长圆形，不同材料各有差异，但在属内水平上基本—致。各属植物在花粉沟的形态和表面纹饰上有一定的区别。 在长蒴苣苔族中，本文对雇柱苣苔属(Chirita Buch．-Ham．ex D．Don)花粉进行了着重研究。结果表明：唇柱苣苔属在组内各种的花粉形态具有明显的相似性，但在组之间则有较大的差异。对本族其它各属的研究结果则充分表明各属花粉的形态特征有明显差别，可以从花粉形状、大小、沟的构造、沟膜的特点及表面纹饰等方面加以区分 在芒毛苣苔族中，紫花苣苔(Loxostigma griffithii)花粉沟膜表面残留着网状的覆盖层( tectum)，这种覆盖层可能代表—种较原始的性状。．在芒毛苣苔属’( Aeschynanthu8)中，花冠的檐部通常呈现不明显二唇形的显苞芒毛苣苔组(Sect．Haplotrichum)和大花芒毛苣苔组(Sect. Diplotrichum)的花粉粒较小，而花冠的檐部明显二属形的黄杨叶芒毛苣苔组(Sect. hlicrotrichium)、小齿芒毛苣苔组(Sect. Xanthanthos)以及全尊芒毛苣苔组(Sect．Aeschynanthus)的花粉粒较大。因此，花冠檐部的结构与花粉粒的大小表现出—定的相关性．在尖舌苣苔族中，异叶苣苔属( Whytokia)和尖舌苣苔属(Rhynchoglossum)的花粉沟较短，后者和十字苣苔属( Stauranthera)的沟膜表面具有密集或稀疏的颗粒状突起。河口异叶苣苔( Whytokia hekouensis)花粉沟的分化不明显，其沟膜上残留着网状的覆盖层可能代表着—种较原始的性状。具聚伞花序的盾座苣苔属( Epithema)和圆果苣苔属( Gyrogyne)，其花粉沟界极区及其沟间区呈皱波状(apocolpia and mesocolpia rugulate)，代表另一种演化方向。根据本文研究结果，并参考国内外有关报道，分别提出了芒毛苣苔族和尖舌苣苔族的以花粉特征为依据的分属检索表。