Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) demographic structure in the northern Gulf of Mexico based on spatial patterns in growth rates and morphometrics

Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) in the United States waters of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) has been considered a single unit stock since management of the species began in 1991. The validity of this assumption is essential to management decisions because measures of growth can differ for nonmixing populations. We examined growth rates, size-at-age, and length and weight information of red snapper collected from the recreational harvests of Alabama (n=2010), Louisiana (n=1905), and Texas (n =1277) from 1999 to 2001. Ages were obtained from 5035 otolith sections and ranged from one to 45 years. Fork length, total weight, and age-frequency distributions differed significantly among all states; Texas, however, had a much higher proportion of smaller, younger fish. All red snapper showed rapid growth until about age 10 years, after which growth slowed considerably. Von Bertalanffy growth models of both mean fork length and mean total weight-at-age predicted significantly smaller fish at age from Texas, whereas no differences were found between Alabama and Louisiana models. Texas red snapper were also shown to differ significantly from both Alabama and Louisiana red snapper in regressions of mean weight at age. Demographic variation in growth rates may indicate the existence of separate management units of red snapper in the GOM. Our data indicate that the red snapper inhabiting the waters off Texas are reaching smaller maximum sizes at a faster rate and have a consistently smaller total weight at age than those collected from Louisiana and Alabama waters. Whether these differences are environmentally induced or are the result of genetic divergence remains to be determined, but they should be considered for future management regulations.

中国东北样带草原段关键种——羊草茎、叶显微结构的生态可塑性及群落功能群组成和多样性研究

陆地样带是国际地圈——生物圈计划(IGBP)研究中最引入注目的创新之一。目前，国际上已经设立了15条陆地样带，研究内容涉及环境梯度分析、气候变化对植被初级生产力的影响及环境变化、土地利用等与植被变化的对应关系等。沿该陆地样带分布较广的关键种生理适应性等方面对影响其生理功能形态结构的研究较少，特别是茎、叶等组织功能研究较少。 中国东北样带(NECT)是全球陆地样带的重要组成部分，多年来已开展了大量深入系统的研究工作，已成为我国生态学、地学等学科的重要研究平台。本研究以中国东北样带中西段广泛分布的重要关键种——羊草（Leymus chinensis）为研究对象，分析了羊草茎、叶显微结构的生态可塑性及其与水分利用效率的关系，进而阐述了羊草适应不同生境条件，特别是适应水分变化的机制，为揭示羊草及其种群、群落乃至以羊草为优势种或建群种的草地生态系统在全球变化背景下的发展趋势提供理论依据。 基于2001年7～8月第3次中国东北样带考察资料，采用高精度Olympus显微镜及C同位素分析技术（δ13C判别值），结合在野外取样过程中测定的样地土壤含水量和海拔高度，以及近十年各样地年降水量和年均温度气象资料，分析了羊草茎、叶显微结构和水分利用变化与环境因子的关系，以及以羊草为建群种或共建种的无牧和放牧样地群落生物量、物种多样性和植物功能型组成变化与环境因子的关系。 结果表明：羊草叶片表面及内部主要显微结构特征参数各样地间有不同程度的差异，其中气孔密度与降水量呈线性正相关。代表气孔开张程度的气孔长度和宽度变化与土壤含水量呈线性相关。叶表面角质层厚度与海拔高度变化关系较大，并以上表面角质层厚度变化最为明显，主要受海拔高度升高引起的紫外线照射增强的影响。运动细胞带宽度占叶面积比虽然与各环境因子关系不很密切，但温度变化的影响较突出，这一显微结构调整与气孔变化构成干旱——高温调节机制。叶片表面毛茸的变化也是非常显著的，但与各环境因子关系密切程度均不大，可以肯定的是在土壤水分状况较好的生境下羊草叶片表面毛茸密度及长度明显增加，而一些干旱生境中常表现为毛茸较少、较短，个别样地基本没有发育较好的毛茸。总体上看，羊草叶片对干旱化的形态结构调整以气孔密度和开张程度的变化最大，是羊草叶片调节水分利用效率的重要适应性生态可塑性调整。 与叶片相比，羊草茎横切面结构特征的变化与各环境因子关系的显著性不是很强，但各样地间的差异是比较显著的，许多结构调整可能与土壤养分条件的变化有一定关系，如茎秆粗度变化、基本薄壁组织厚度和中央空腔（髓腔）直径的变化等，但本研究未能涉及这方面内容，有待于进一步研究。 羊草水分利用效率与降水量和土壤含水量呈显著的负相关关系，即随降水量和土壤含水量增大羊草水分利用效率明显降低，蒸腾耗水增大，这一生理变化与显微结构的调整关系密切，特别是气孔密度与气孔宽度在水分较差生境中明显减小，从而有利于适应干旱环境，减少耗水量。表现比较突出的是非地带性林西样地，其降水量处于10个样地的中等偏低水平，但其δ13C判别值较低，达-26.063‰，与降水量较大的长岭、双辽样地几乎相当，并比相邻的林东和克旗样地明显低，其气孔密度、开张程度及叶脉后生导管直径均较高（大），但其土壤水分状况是最好的样地之一，尽管取样时不幸遇到雨天，但从其群落类型——羊草杂类草草甸，并伴生许多中、湿生种类上看，其生境的湿润程度是毋庸置疑的。这一非地带性样地中羊草结构的变化从另一侧面反映了羊草显微结构调整对水分环境的适应。δ13C判别值是一个非常敏感的参数，在分析植物水分利用效率及其相关领域的研究中应深入利用。 群落植物功能群组成与环境因子及群落初级生产力关系研究结果表明，丛生禾草生长型功能群、旱生和中旱生植物水分生态类型功能群具有明显的地带性变化规律，并与群落生物量变化关系密切，变异性较低，占群落生物量比例较大，可考虑作为植物功能型组合对无牧样地植被变化进行评估和预测。在放牧影响下，C4植物光合类型功能群呈现明显的地带性变化，并在群落中所起的作用明显增强，亦可考虑作为评估和预测植被变化的植物功能型组合。无牧样地与放牧样地研究结果均表明，按Raunkiaer划分的地面芽、地下芽、地上芽和一年生植物生活型功能群，其地带性变化不明显，或变异率高，或占群落生物量比例小，不宜作植物功能群组合对植被变化进行评估和预测。

AN ACTIVATOR OF BLOOD-COAGULATION FACTOR-X FROM THE VENOM OF BUNGARUS-FASCIATUS

A specific activator of blood coagulation factor X was purified from the venom of Bungarus fasciatus by gel filtration and by ion-exchange chromatography on a Mono-Q column (FPLC). It consisted of a single polypeptide chain, with a mel. wt of 70,000 in reducing and non-reducing conditions. The enzyme had an amidolytic activity towards the chromogenic substrates S-2266 and S-2302 but it did not hydrolyse S-2238, S2251 or S-2222, which are specific substrates for thrombin, plasmin and factor Xa, respectively. The enzyme activated factor X in vitro and the effect was Ca2+ dependent with a Hill coefficient of 7.9. As with physiological activators, the venom activator cleaves the heavy chain of factor X, producing the activated factor Xa alpha. The purified factor X activator from B. fasciatus venom did not activate prothrombin, nor did it cleave or clot purified fibrinogen. The amidolytic activity and the factor X activation activity of the factor X activator from B. fasciatus venom were readily inhibited by serine protease inhibitors such as diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), benzamidine and by soybean trypsin inhibitor but not by EDTA. These observations suggest that the factor X activator from B. fasciatus venom is a serine protease. It therefore differs from those of activators obtained from Vipera russelli and Bothrops atrox venoms, which are metalloproteinases.

SLA 的分型与检测

:传统的强调抗原多态性的SLA 分型方法主要是血清学、细胞学和生物化学的方法,随着分子生物学技术发 展,各具特点的SLA 分型技术不断涌现,如PCR2RFL P 法、PCR2SSCP 法、微卫星(MS) 法、DNA 序列的测定等,基于 强调SLA 的抗原多态性的分型和强调抗原保守性的功能学上的新分型技术(如SLA 超型和超基序) 进行了详细探 讨,比较了各类方法的优缺点,指明了未来SLA 分型的发展趋势。此外还指出了现行参考教材血清学SLA 单倍型 的编写错误以及重点强调了SL A2DQB 基因的准确分型技术必须借鉴于克隆测序。

Positive selection on multiple antique allelic lineages of transferrin in the polyploid Carassius auratus

Transferrin polymorphism has been studied in the polyploid Carassius auratus by cloning and sequence analysis of cDNAs from its three subspecies C. auratus gibelio, C. auratus auratus, and C. auratus cuvieri. DNA polymorphism of extremely high extent was shown for the transferrin gene by the 248 segregation sites among coding region sequences of its alleles. The deduced amino acid sequences of the transferrin alleles showed variable theoretical physicochemical parameters, which might constitute molecular basis for their electrophoretic heterogeneity. Positive selection was inferred by the replacement/synonymous ratios larger than 1 in partial allelic lineages which was subsequently confirmed by likelihood simulation under neutral or selection models. Furthermore, the correspondent sites to these selected codons were collectively located at two planes in the crystallographic structure of rabbit transferrin, which suggested that the rapid evolution of C. auratus transferrin might correlate to its adaptation to variable environmental elements such as oxygen pressure. The minimal 26 recombination events were detected among coding sequences of C. auratus transferrin, with partial mosaic sequences and breakpoints identified by identity scanning and information site analyses. Phylogenetic analyses revealed multiple antique allelic lineages of transferrin, which was estimated to diverge fifteen to twenty MYA. All these features strongly suggested the role of balancing selection in long persistence of high transferrin polymorphism in C. auratus. Furthermore, owing to its particular evolutionary backgrounds, the silver crucian carp might possess a distinctive balancing selection mechanism.

Oligonucleotide ligation assay-based DNA chip for multiplex detection of single nucleotide polymorphism

An oligonucleotide ligation assay-based DNA chip has been developed to detect single nucleotide polymorphism. Synthesized nonamers, complementary to the flanking sequences of the mutation sites in target DNA, were immobilized onto glass slides through disulfide bonds on their 5' terminus. Allele-specific pentamers annealed adjacent to the nonamers on the complementary target DNA, containing 5'-phosphate groups and biotin labeled 3'-ends, were mixed with the target DNA in tube. Ligation reactions between nonamers and pentamers were carried out on chips in the presence of T4 DNA ligase. Ligation products were directly visualized on chips through enzyme-linked assay. The effect of G:T mismatch at different positions of pentamers on the ligation were evaluated. The results showed that any mismatch between pentamer and the target DNA could lead to the decrease of ligation, which can be detected easily. The established approach was further used for multiplex detection of mutations in rpoB gene of rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nuclear transplantation in different strains of zebrafish

Single later blastula nuclei from AB strain of zebrafish (Danio rerio) were transplanted into enucleated unfertilized eggs of Long fin strain. Of 1119 cloning embryos, 14 reconstructed embryos developed into fry. DNA fingerprinting systems of the cloned fish were similar to those of the nuclear donor fish, but were distinctly different from those of the unclear recipient fish. It confirmed that the genetic material originated from nuclear donor cell other than from nuclear recipient egg. The research suggested that the basic technique for nuclear transplantation performed with different strains of zebrafish has made a breakthrough. It should be helpful for the study of some important developmental problems such as gene function, the regulation of gene expression during animal development, the developmental potential of a nucleus and the interactions between the donor nucleus and the recipient cytoplasm, etc.