Sex-specific organisation of middle repetitive DNA sequences in the mealybug Planococcus lilacinus

Differential organisation of homologous chromosomes is related to both sex determination and genomic imprinting in coccid insects, the mealybugs. We report here the identification of two middle repetitive sequences that are differentially organised between the two sexes and also within the same diploid nucleus. These two sequences form a part of the male-specific nuclease-resistant chromatin (NRC) fraction of a mealybug Planococcus lilacinus. To understand the phenomenon of differential organisation we have analysed the components of NRC by cloning the DNA sequences present, deciphering their primary sequence, nucleosomal organisation, genomic distribution and cytological localisation, Our observations suggest that the middle repetitive sequences within NRC are functionally significant and we discuss their probable involvement in male-specific chromatin organisation.

On the dynamics of activation of mammalian X chromosomes

We have investigated a mathematical model of the process of activation of the X chromosomes in eutherian mammals. The model assumes that the activation is brought about over some definite time interval T by the complete saturation of N receptor sites on an X chromosome by M activating molecules (or multiples of M). The probability λ of a first hit on the receptor site is considered to be very much lower than that of subsequent hits; that is, we assume strong co-operative binding. Assuming further that an incomplete saturation of receptor sites is malfunctional, we can show that for proper activation of X chromosomes in normal diploid males and females, we must have λMT ≥ 3 and 0·96 ≤ N/M ≤ 1. An extension of this analysis for the triploid cases shows that under these conditions, we cannot explain the activation of two X's if the number of activating molecules is fixed at M. This suggests that there must be two classes of triploid embryos differing from each other in a step-wise manner in the number of activating molecules. In other words, triploids with two active X chromosomes would require 2M activating molecules as opposed to M molecules in triploids with a single active X. This interpretation of the two classes of triploids would be consistent with differing imprinting histories of the parental contributions to the triploid zygote.

Stochastic Simulations Suggest that HIV-1 Survives Close to Its Error Threshold

The use of mutagenic drugs to drive HIV-1 past its error threshold presents a novel intervention strategy, as suggested by the quasispecies theory, that may be less susceptible to failure via viral mutation-induced emergence of drug resistance than current strategies. The error threshold of HIV-1, mu(c), however, is not known. Application of the quasispecies theory to determine mu(c) poses significant challenges: Whereas the quasispecies theory considers the asexual reproduction of an infinitely large population of haploid individuals, HIV-1 is diploid, undergoes recombination, and is estimated to have a small effective population size in vivo. We performed population genetics-based stochastic simulations of the within-host evolution of HIV-1 and estimated the structure of the HIV-1 quasispecies and mu(c). We found that with small mutation rates, the quasispecies was dominated by genomes with few mutations. Upon increasing the mutation rate, a sharp error catastrophe occurred where the quasispecies became delocalized in sequence space. Using parameter values that quantitatively captured data of viral diversification in HIV-1 patients, we estimated mu(c) to be 7 x 10(-5) -1 x 10(-4) substitutions/site/replication, similar to 2-6 fold higher than the natural mutation rate of HIV-1, suggesting that HIV-1 survives close to its error threshold and may be readily susceptible to mutagenic drugs. The latter estimate was weakly dependent on the within-host effective population size of HIV-1. With large population sizes and in the absence of recombination, our simulations converged to the quasispecies theory, bridging the gap between quasispecies theory and population genetics-based approaches to describing HIV-1 evolution. Further, mu(c) increased with the recombination rate, rendering HIV-1 less susceptible to error catastrophe, thus elucidating an added benefit of recombination to HIV-1. Our estimate of mu(c) may serve as a quantitative guideline for the use of mutagenic drugs against HIV-1.

Multiple molecular alterations in phosphodegrons 1-3 within AAV2 capsid demonstrates higher hepatic gene transfer efficiency

The success of AAV2 mediated hepatic gene transfer in human trials for diseases such as hemophilia has been hampered by a combination of low transduction efficiency and a robust immune response directed against these vectors. We have previously shown that AAV2 is targeted for destruction in the cytoplasm by the host-cellular kinase/ubiquitination/proteasomal degradation machinery and modification of the serine(S)/threonine(T) kinase and lysine(K) targets on AAV capsid is beneficial. Thus targeted single mutations of S/T>A(S489A, S498A, T251A) and K>R (K532R) improved the efficiency of gene transfer in vivo as compared to wild type (WT)-AAV2 vectors (∼6-14 fold). In the present study, we evaluated if combined alteration of the phosphodegrons (PD), which are the phosphorylation sites recognized as degradation signals by ubiquitin ligases, improves further the gene transfer efficiency. Thus, we generated four multiple mutant vectors (PD: 1+3, S489A+K532R, PD: 1+3, S489A+K532R together with T251 residue which did not lie in any of the phosphodegrons but had shown increased transduction efficiency compared to the WT-AAV2 vector (∼6 fold) and was also conserved in 9 out of 10 AAV serotypes (AAV 1 to 10), PD: 1+3, S489A+K532R+S498A and a fourth combination of PD: 3, K532R+T251. We then evaluated them in vitro and in vivo and compared their gene transfer efficiency with either the WT-AAV2 or the best single mutant S489A-AAV2 vector. The novel multiple mutations on the AAV2 capsid did not affect the overall vector packaging efficiency. All the multiple AAV2 mutants showed superior transduction efficiency in HeLa cells in vitro when compared to either the WT (62-72% Vs 21%) or the single mutant S489A (62-72% Vs 50%) AAV2 vectors as demonstrated by FACS analysis (Fig. 1A). On hepatic gene transfer with 5x10^10 vgs per animal in C57BL/6 mice, all the multiple mutants showed increased transgene expression compared to either the WT-AAV2 (∼15-23 fold) or the S489A single mutant vector (∼2-3 fold) (Fig.1B and C). These novel multiple mutant AAV2 vectors also showed higher vector copy number in murine hepatocytes 4 weeks post transduction, as compared to the WT-AAV2 (∼5-6 Vs 1.4 vector copies/diploid genome) and further higher when compared to the single mutant S489A(∼5-6 fold Vs 3.8 fold) (Fig.1D). Further ongoing studies will demonstrate the therapeutic benefit of one or more of the multiple mutants vectors in preclinical models of hemophilia.

Targeted Modifications in Adeno-Associated Virus Serotype 8 Capsid Improves Its Hepatic Gene Transfer Efficiency In Vivo

Recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors based on serotype 8 (AAV8) have shown significant promise for liver-directed gene therapy. However, to overcome the vector dose dependent immunotoxicity seen with AAV8 vectors, it is important to develop better AAV8 vectors that provide enhanced gene expression at significantly low vector doses. Since it is known that AAV vectors during intracellular trafficking are targeted for destruction in the cytoplasm by the host-cellular kinase/ubiquitination/proteasomal machinery, we modified specific serine/threonine kinase or ubiquitination targets on the AAV8 capsid to augment its transduction efficiency. Point mutations at specific serine (S)/threonine (T)/lysine (K) residues were introduced in the AAV8 capsid at the positions equivalent to that of the effective AAV2 mutants, generated successfully earlier. Extensive structure analysis was carried out subsequently to evaluate the structural equivalence between the two serotypes. scAAV8 vectors with the wild-type (WT) and each one of the S/T -> Alanine (A) or K-Arginine (R) mutant capsids were evaluated for their liver transduction efficiency in C57BL/6 mice in vivo. Two of the AAV8-S -> A mutants (S279A and S671A), and a K137R mutant vector, demonstrated significantly higher enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transcript levels (similar to 9- to 46-fold) in the liver compared to animals that received WT-AAV8 vectors alone. The best performing AAV8 mutant (K137R) vector also had significantly reduced ubiquitination of the viral capsid, reduced activation of markers of innate immune response, and a concomitant two-fold reduction in the levels of neutralizing antibody formation in comparison to WT-AAV8 vectors. Vector bio-distribution studies revealed that the K137R mutant had a significantly higher and preferential transduction of the liver (106 vs. 7.7 vector copies/mouse diploid genome) when compared to WT-AAV8 vectors. To further study the utility of the K137R-AAV8 mutant in therapeutic gene transfer, we delivered human coagulation factor IX (h. FIX) under the control of liver-specific promoters (LP1 or hAAT) into C57BL/6 mice. The circulating levels of h. FIX: Ag were higher in all the K137R-AAV8 treated groups up to 8 weeks post-hepatic gene transfer. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of the use of this novel AAV8 vectors for potential gene therapy of hemophilia B.

SUB1 Plays a Negative Role during Starvation Induced Sporulation Program in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sub1 is involved in several cellular processes such as, transcription initiation, elongation, mRNA processing and DNA repair. It has also been reported to provide cellular resistance during conditions of oxidative DNA damage and osmotic stress. Here, we report a novel role of SUB1 during starvation stress-induced sporulation, which leads to meiosis and spore formation in diploid yeast cells. Deletion of SUB1 gene significantly increased sporulation efficiency as compared to the wild-type cells in S288c genetic background. Whereas, the sporulation functions of the sub1(Y66A) missense mutant were similar to Sub1. SUB1 transcript and protein levels are downregulated during sporulation, in highly synchronized and sporulation proficient wild-type SK1 cells. The changes in Sub1 levels during sporulation cascade correlate with the induction of middle sporulation gene expression. Deletion of SUB1 increased middle sporulation gene transcript levels with no effect on their induction kinetics. In wild-type cells, Sub1 associates with chromatin at these loci in a temporal pattern that correlates with their enhanced gene expression seen in sub1. cells. We show that SUB1 genetically interacts with HOS2, which led us to speculate that Sub1 might function with Set3 repressor complex during sporulation. Positive Cofactor 4, human homolog of Sub1, complemented the sub1. sporulation phenotype, suggesting conservation of function. Taken together, our results suggest that SUB1 acts as a negative regulator of sporulation.

Isolation and characterization of proteins that bind to yeast origins of DNA replication

Yeast chromosomes contain sequences called ARSs which function as origins of replication in vitro and in vivo. We have carried out a systematic deletion analysis of ARS1, allowing us to define three functionally distinct domains, designated A, B, and C. Domain A is a sequence of 11 to 19bp, containing the core consensus element that is required for replication. The core consensus sequence, A/TTTTATPuTTTA/T, is conserved at all ARSs sequenced to date. A fragment containing only element A and 8 flanking nucleotides enables autonomous replication of centromeric plasmids. These plasmids replicate very inefficiently, suggesting that flanking sequences must be important for ARS function. Domain B also provides important sequences needed for efficient replication. Deletion of domain B drastically increases the doubling times of transformants and reduces plasmid stability. Domain B contains a potential consensus sequence conserved at some ARSs which overlaps a region of bent DNA. Mutational analysis suggests this bent DNA may be important for ARS function. Deletion of domain C has only a slight effect on replication of plasmids carrying those deletions.

We have identified a protein called ARS binding factor I (ABF-I) that binds to the HMR-E ARS and ARS1. We have purified this protein to homogeneity using conventional and oligonucleotide affinity chromatography. The protein has an apparent molecular weight of 135kDa and is present at about 700 molecules per diploid cell, based on the yield of purified protein and in situ antibody staining. DNaseI footprinting reveals that ABF-I binds sequence-specifically to an approximately 24bp sequence that overlaps element Bat ARSl. This same protein binds to and protects a similar size region at the HMR-E ARS.

We also find evidence for another ARS binding protein, ABF-III, based on DN asei footprint analysis and gel retardation assays. The protein protects approximately 22bp adjacent to the ABF-I site. There appears to be no interaction between ABF-I and ABF-III despite the proximity of their binding sites.

To address the function of ABF-I in DNA replication, we have cloned the ABF-I gene using rabbit polyclonal anti-sera and murine monoclonal antibodies against ABF-I to screen a λgt11 expression library. Four EcoRI restriction fragments were isolated which encoded proteins that were recognized by both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. A gene disruption can now be constructed to determine the in vivo function of ABF-I.

高山松的二倍体杂种起源-来自三个基因组的证据

利用松科植物特殊的遗传体系（叶绿体基因组一父系遗传、线粒体基因组—母系遗传、核基因组一双亲遗传），我们对高山松及其两个亲本种进行了广泛的群体取样，通过线粒体基因nadl、叶绿体基因rbcL和trnL-F基因间区以及低拷贝核基因4CL的序列分析或PCR-RFLP分析，为高山松同倍体杂种起源假说提供了翔实的遗传学证据，同时在个体水平上探讨了高山松不同群体的遗传组成、群体遗传结构、基因交流方向、群体建立过程以及杂种基因组的进化。具体结果如下： 1．细胞质基因组分析 1)线粒体基因nudl分析 本研究对油松、高山松和云南松的19个群体、295个个体的线粒体基因nadl的一个内含子进行了序列分析或PCR-RFLP分析，共检测到3种线粒体DNA单倍型-A、B和C。油松所有的取样群体仅含单倍型A;除BX群体外，所有的云南松群体仅含单倍型B; 10个高山松群体中，5个群体固定单倍型A，4个群体固定单倍型B，1个群体(ZD)分布有A和B两种单倍型。2)叶绿体rbcL基因分析 对同一组群体的rbcL基因进行序列分析或PCR-RFLP分析，共检测到两个变异位点和三种叶绿体单倍型（TT、TC和GC）。TT和GC分别是油松和云南松种特异性叶绿体单倍型，而在高山松群体里则三种单倍型均有分布，而且TC单倍型广泛地分布在7个杂种群体中，该单倍型很可能来源于点突变或第三个已灭绝的亲本。rbcL基因检测到的高山松群体分化系数很高(Gst=0.533)。 3)叶绿体trn L-F区序列分析 叶绿体trnL-F分子标记检测到的不同单倍型的差异主要是由引物“e”下游120碱基处一个多聚T结构的长度变异所致（叶绿体SSR位点）。10个高山松群体中共检测到5种叶绿体单倍型，其中两种主要的单倍型(9T和11T)分别为油松和云南松的种特异性单倍型，其他单倍型均为非典型单倍型。群体遗传结构分析表明：杂种群体表现最高的遗传多样性，而且trnL-F分析得到的高山松群体的分化系数也很高( Gst=0.443)。 总之，对高山松、油松和云南松的同一组群体取样进行的细胞质基因组分析表明：高山松群体分布有油松和云南松种特异性的线粒体和叶绿体单倍型，该细胞质DNA单倍型的地理分布为假说“高山松为油松和云南松的的二倍体杂种”提供了翔实的遗传学证据。油松和云南松在不同的杂种群体中分别做父本和母本，即两亲本在杂交过程中发生了双向基因交流。群体遗传结构分析发现高山松群体表现最高的遗传多样性，而且群体间的分化系数很高。不同的杂种群体在遗传组成上的差异表明他们经历过不同的建立和进化历史。从线粒体和叶绿体单倍型的地理分布可以看出杂种群体的建立曾经历强烈的奠基者效应和回交。青藏高原的隆升对高山松的起源、杂种群体的适应辐射以及保持产生了重要的影响。川西南和滇西北作为青藏高原的东边边界，很可能是当初云南松和油松分布的重叠区及杂交地带，即高山松的起源地。 2．核基因4CL分析 对高山松、油松和云南松的19个群体、32个个体的低拷贝核基因4CL进行了克隆及序列分析，获得的78条序列可分为两种类型（类型A和类型B）。这两种类型明显的差别是类型A相对于类型B在内含子区有- 20bp的缺失。以华山松的3条序列为外类群，对得到的78条序列进行基因谱系分析，发现所有的序列分成明显的两支，分别对应于类型A和类型B，而且每一支均包含三个种的部分序列，表明4CL基因在这三个种分化之前就已发生重复。另一个明显的特点是某个种的一条序列与另一个种的序列比其与同种的其他序列关系更近，可能因基因交流（杂交和渐渗）、非共祖、致同进化和重组等进化事件所致。三种松树中共检测到4CL基因序列的两种类型和六个亚类型，高山松群体中没有发现杂种独特的类型或亚类型。高山松和云南松共享三种序列亚类型以及最多的序列多态性，表明这两个种之间曾存在广泛的基因交流。

高山松的群体历史及其适应性进化研究

物种形成一直以来是进化生物学的一个中心议题。因为杂交能够快速创造出新的遗传变异和提高基因组重组率，加速物种形成和适应性进化，所以杂交物种形成是其重要的组成部分。但是直到最近几年，人们才逐渐意识到同倍体杂种形成的重要性和普遍性。此外，人工杂交种群结果证实了杂种的适应性起源于亲本基因的超亲分离现象，这些基因之间通过加和效应或上位效应相互连锁，并在杂种后代中逐渐固定，因此，探讨维持这种适应机制的杂种的连锁不平衡模式就显得尤为重要。到目前为止，关于自然杂种的核苷酸多态性和连锁不平衡结构的报道非常稀见，对杂种的进化历史知之更少。高山松能生长于亲本种不能正常繁殖生长的青藏高原上，这种极端环境为杂种的适应性进化和与亲本的生态隔离造就了绝佳的条件，其生态和生殖的稳定性极大地方便了我们研究植物物种形成和适应性进化的遗传机理，对高山松开展的生态学、遗传学的系列分析已使高山松成为同倍体杂种形成的经典范例。 该论文通过随机挑选7个核基因位点对5个高山松群体、3个油松群体和3个云南松群体的164个大配子体单倍体基因组进行了核苷酸多态性分析。研究发现：所有基因座位的单倍型组成和基因谱系的拓扑结构都支持高山松的多次杂交起源。高山松的平均核苷酸多态性与油松相当，θW达到0.0107;比云南松高出一倍;高于已报道的裸子植物类群遗传变异水平。高山松如此高的遗传多态性与其杂交特性和有效群体大有关。我们运用分子钟和共祖模拟分析，推测出高山松的有效群体为7.32 x 105。等位基因共祖时间模拟分析发现，杂交过程早于青藏高原的隆升，也即是说，在杂种稳定成种以前，两个亲本种之间存在广泛的渐渗杂交。此外，高山松杂种的群体间分化严重，并且在不同的群体中，我们找到了多个偏离中性的基因座位。由此说明，高山松复杂的进化历史和适应的策略区域化。 在显著偏离中性的基因座位上，选取群体历史清晰的高山松群体，对其全基因序列多态性和连锁不平衡结构进行了深入调查，以期找到选择作用位点或区域。Ara-like和Dhn1两个基因在高山松与亲本之间都没有发现固定变异。在高山松中，Ara-like基因和Dhn1基因核苷酸多态性式样和连锁不平衡结构存在明显差异，这说明在两个基因上选择作用的程度和方向不尽相同。 我们对Dhn1基因的多态性分布、LD结构和中性偏离水平进行了分析，结果表明，该基因可能在PdNX和PdLZ群体中受到平衡选择的作用。从Dhn1基因谱系结构可以看出有两种来源的等位基因造成这种平衡多态性，一种属于祖先类型，另一种是从云南松继承衍生而来。这两种等位基因之间的分化很大，极有可能造成编码蛋白的亚功能化。事实上，Dhn1编码的脱水蛋白在植物对环境的抗逆过程中发挥着重要作用。由此我们推测高山松在高海拔极端环境中的适应性进化与Dhn1基因的平衡作用有关。 对Ara-like和Dhn1基因进行HKA检测，结果表明，与Dhn1基因相比，在Ara-like基因上，双维管束亚属与单维管束亚属之间存在显著分化，沉默突变位点的分化Ksil达到了0.1392，远远高于平均水平0.0508;在双维管束亚属共发现了43个固定突变位点，其中有6个能导致氨基酸突变，它们有可能导致了Ara-like基因功能的分化。结合裸子植物近缘物种间共享多态性的普遍性，我们推测Ara-like基因可能在单维管束亚属中的进化速率加快，暗示其在单维管束亚属中的适应性进化。 最后，基因内连锁不平衡分析结果显示，随机筛选的基因座位之间不存在连锁不平衡。高山松平均的基因内LD程度非常低，仅有18%的信息位点之间显著连锁。平均基因内LD在油松和高山松中的衰减速率很快，尤其在杂种中下降最快，在不到200bp以内就降到0.1以下。 LD的结果印证了高山松的有效群体大和多次起源特性。另外，我们也怀疑杂交物种形成过程中染色体组的重组和重排频繁发生，也是造成自然杂种现有群体的LD水平低的一个主要原因。 通过LD衰减曲线估计高山松的平均单位重组率,比亲本油松高17倍，比云南松高45倍。这个结果表明，杂种共适应的基因间要维持超亲分离，需要强烈的自然选择压力，才能保持它们之间的连锁不平衡。

染色体加倍对忍冬生物学性状及其生态适应性的影响

忍冬（Lonicera japonica Thunb.）属忍冬科忍冬属，是一种重要的药用植物，其花蕾称为金银花（Flos Lonicerae），在我国已有1000多年的药用历史，具有清热解毒、凉散风热等功效。我们利用秋水仙素诱导二倍体“大毛花”品种茎尖选育出同源四倍体“九丰一号”品种，并在生产中发现花蕾产量显著提高，而药效成份含量是否发生变化了呢？四倍体忍冬表现出典型的器官巨大性，这些变化是否与其较强生态适应性之间存在联系呢？染色体加倍增强了忍冬的生态适应性，其生态修复功能如何呢？在本研究中，主要从以下几个方面进行了探讨：（1）染色体加倍对其叶片，茎、花蕾和花蕾产量及其药效成份等生物学性状的影响;（2）染色体加倍后植物对水分胁迫的响应;（3）染色体加倍后植物对热胁迫的响应;（4）除上述两个品种外，增加一个变异品种“红银花”，探讨3个忍冬品种对退化生态系统的修复功能。主要结果如下： 1. 通过测定根尖细胞染色体数目和使用流式细胞仪分析茎尖细胞DNA含量，表明四倍体忍冬（2n = 4x = 36）确实来自二倍体忍冬（2n = 2x = 18）的染色体加倍。四倍体忍冬气孔细胞大小显著大于二倍体，而气孔密度显著低于二倍体。四倍体忍冬没有光合“午休”，而二倍体存在明显的光合“午休”，这可能与其存在抗高温的叶片解剖结构特性有关。四倍体忍冬叶片较二倍体变大、变厚、变浓绿（较高叶绿素含量）。与二倍体相比，四倍体忍冬单位叶面积重量显著增高，表明其具有较强的生态适应性。四倍体忍冬单个花蕾的鲜重和干重均显著大于二倍体。连续3年的花蕾产量调查表明，四倍体显著高于二倍体。染色体加倍使其茎干粗壮、节间变短、新梢上着生花蕾数目增多及单个花蕾变大，这是其花蕾高产的生物学基础。对金银花的药效成份而言，染色体加倍不影响绿原酸的含量，但增加了木犀草苷的含量。结果表明，染色体加倍能增加金银花的产量和药效成份的含量，建议四倍体忍冬在药材生产中推广应用。 2. 水分胁迫显著降低二倍体和四倍体忍冬叶片的净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率。水分胁迫也降低电子传递速率、光系统II实际量子产量和光化学猝灭，而增加非光化学猝灭、总可溶性糖、脯氨酸和丙二醛的含量。四倍体忍冬对水分胁迫的响应表现为其叶片水势、气体交换、叶绿素荧光和有关代谢物含量的变化程度低于二倍体，并且复水后其恢复能力快于二倍体，表明染色体加倍增强了忍冬的抗旱能力。分析其主要原因，可能是由于四倍体植株总叶面积减少、单位叶面积重量增加、叶片表皮细胞和栅栏组织增大以及叶片表皮毛较浓密等形态解剖结构特性有关。结果表明，染色体加倍能增加忍冬植物的抗旱能力，而使其具有较强的生态适应性。 3. 二倍体和四倍体忍冬受48 ºC热胁迫处理6 h和恢复10 h，以及离体叶片45 ºC，50 ºC，55 ºC 水浴热胁迫3 min，应用叶绿素荧光成像系统研究了它们对热胁迫的响应。热胁迫显著降低了两个品种叶片的最大光化学效率、电子传递速率、光系统II实际量子产量和光化学猝灭，降低了四倍体的非光化学猝灭，而增加了二倍体的非光化学猝灭。热胁迫增加了两个品种叶片的总可溶性糖、脯氨酸和丙二醛的含量。四倍体受热胁迫的叶绿素荧光参数和有关代谢物的响应程度低于二倍体，以及其恢复程度快于二倍体，表明染色体加倍提高了抗热性。此外，叶绿素荧光成像的异质性也表明，四倍体的抗热能力大于二倍体。进一步的叶片解剖结构分析表明，四倍体叶片的表皮细胞变大、栅栏组织增厚、表皮毛较浓密等特点，是其抗热性强的主要原因。 4.根据以上的研究结果，通过四倍体忍冬生态修复功能的野外试验证明染色体加倍后其生态适应性变化。在本研究中，针对北京市门头沟区大面积不同类型的废弃地急需恢复植被和景观的问题，在恢复生态学理念的指导下，综合运用集成技术，将3个忍冬品种植物用于这些退化生态系统的恢复。在王平镇的公路下边坡（以碎石和矿渣为主）、煤矿、石灰窑和采石场4种类型废弃地建立生态修复的试验示范区。结果表明，在4个废弃地类型上引进的3个金银花品种，具有使示范区快速复绿、当年成景和群落快速形成的潜力，并具有对不同退化迹地的适应能力和恢复效果，其中四倍体忍冬效果更好些，这主要与其形态解剖结构和较强的生态适应性有关。

Estimation of ploidy and hybridization status by erythrocyte and nucleus size analysis in carps

The present experiment was designed to observe whether the nuclear volume and area are affected by the ploidy and hybrid status of the individual. Polyploidy was induced by heat shock treatment given at 44 ± 0.5°C for 30 seconds and 45 seconds which was found to be most effective (64.7%) for induction of triploidy in Cyprinus carpio. Cell and nuclear volume and cell and nuclear area varied significantly in triploid fishes as compared to those of controls. Triploid fishes showed significantly higher growth compared to diploid counterparts. It was also observed that catla x rohu hybrid and its parents showed significant difference in the nuclear volume and area of their erythrocytes. Except nuclear volume, all the parameters were significantly different between catla and catla x rohu hybrid. The hybrids showed a closer relationship with catla as compared to rohu.

THE CHROMOSOMES OF TUFTED DEER (ELAPHODUS-CEPHALOPHUS)

Mitotic and meiotic chromosome preparations of the tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus) were studied to elucidate the sex-chromosomal polymorphism evidenced by this species. Females had 2n = 46 or 47 chromosomes, whereas males had 2n = 47 or 48 chromosomes. An X;autosome translocation was identified by synaptonemal complex analysis of spermatocytes at pachytene and confirmed by the presence of a trivalent at diakinesis/metaphase I. The present work, in combination with earlier observations by others, indicates that E. cephalophus possesses a varied X-chromosome morphology involving an X;autosome translocation and addition of varying amounts of heterochromatin. It is speculated that sex-chromosome polymorphism may be responsible for the observed differences in diploid chromosome number of tufted deer.

Evolution of the black muntjac (Muntiacus crinifrons) karyotype revealed by comparative chromosome painting

The black muntjac (Muntiacus crinifrons) has an unusual karyotype of 2n = 8 in females and 2n = 9 in males. We have studied the evolution of this karyotype by hybridising chromosome-specific paints derived from flow-sorted chromosomes of the Chinese muntjac (M. reevesi, 2n = 46) to chromosomes of the black muntjac. The hybridisation pattern allowed us to infer chromosomal homologies between these two species. Tandem and centromeric fusions, reciprocal translocations, and insertions are involved in the reduction of the diploid number from 2n = 46 to 2n = 8, 9. The painting patterns further show complex chromosomal rearrangements in the male black muntjac which involve more than half the karyotype, including both sex chromosomes. Since early meiosis is reported to be normal without any visible inversion loops of the synaptonemal complex, the observed chromosomal rearrangements would lead to heterosynapsis and, therefore, leave a large fraction of the male black muntjac karyotype balanced between the two sexes.

Dog chromosome-specific paints reveal evolutionary inter- and intrachromosomal rearrangements in the American mink and human

Forty chromosome-specific paint probes of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris, 2n = 78) were used to delineate conserved segments on metaphase chromosomes of the American mink (Mustela vison, 2n = 30) by fluorescence in situ hybridisation. Half of the 38 canine autosomal probes each painted one pair of homologous segments in a diploid mink metaphase, whereas the other 19 dog probes each painted from two to five pairs of discrete segments. In total, 38 canine autosomal paints highlighted 71 pairs of conserved segments in the mink. These painting results allow us to establish a complete comparative chromosome map between the American mink and domestic dog. This map demonstrates that extensive chromosome rearrangements differentiate the karyotypes of the dog and American mink. The 38 dog autosomes could be reconstructed from the 14 autosomes of the American mink through at least 47 fissions, 25 chromosome fusions, and six inversions. Furthermore, comparison of the current dog/mink map with the published human/dog map discloses 23 cryptic intrachromosomal rearrangements in 10 regions of conserved synteny in the human and American mink genomes and thus further refined the human/mink comparative genome map. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Cross-species chromosome painting in the Perissodactyla: delimitation of homologous regions in Burchell's zebra (Equus burchellii) and the white (Ceratotherium simum) and black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)

Conserved chromosomal segments in the black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis (DB1, 2n = 84), and its African sister-species the white rhinoceros, Ceratotherim simum (CSI, 2n = 82), were detected using Burchell's zebra (Equus burchellii, EBU, 2n = 44) chromosome-specific painting probes supplemented by a subset of those developed for the horse (Equus caballus, ECA, 2n = 64). In total 41 and 42 conserved autosomal segments were identified in C simum and D. bicornis respectively. Only 21 rearrangements (20 fissions and I fusion) are necessary to convert the Burchell's zebra karyotype into that of the white rhinoceros. One fission distinguishes the D. bicornis and C simum karyotypes which, excluding hetero- chromatic differences, are identical in all respects at this level of resolution. Most Burchell's zebra chromosomes correspond to two rhinoceros chromosomes although in four instances (EBU 18, 19, 20 and 21) whole chromosome synteny has been retained among these species. In contrast, one rhinoceros chromosome (DBI1, CSI1) comprises two separate Burchell's zebra chromosomes (EBU11 and EBU17). In spite of the high diploid numbers of the two rhinoceros species their karyotypes are surprisingly conserved offering a glimpse of the putative ancestral perissodactyl condition and a broader understanding of genome organization in mammals. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Base