Proto-genes and de novo gene birth

Novel protein-coding genes can arise either through re-organization of pre-existing genes or de novo. Processes involving re-organization of pre-existing genes, notably after gene duplication, have been extensively described. In contrast, de novo gene birth remains poorly understood, mainly because translation of sequences devoid of genes, or 'non-genic' sequences, is expected to produce insignificant polypeptides rather than proteins with specific biological functions. Here we formalize an evolutionary model according to which functional genes evolve de novo through transitory proto-genes generated by widespread translational activity in non-genic sequences. Testing this model at the genome scale in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we detect translation of hundreds of short species-specific open reading frames (ORFs) located in non-genic sequences. These translation events seem to provide adaptive potential, as suggested by their differential regulation upon stress and by signatures of retention by natural selection. In line with our model, we establish that S. cerevisiae ORFs can be placed within an evolutionary continuum ranging from non-genic sequences to genes. We identify ~1,900 candidate proto-genes among S. cerevisiae ORFs and find that de novo gene birth from such a reservoir may be more prevalent than sporadic gene duplication. Our work illustrates that evolution exploits seemingly dispensable sequences to generate adaptive functional innovation.     

Towards a proteome-scale map of the human protein-protein interaction network

Systematic mapping of protein-protein interactions, or 'interactome' mapping, was initiated in model organisms, starting with defined biological processes and then expanding to the scale of the proteome. Although far from complete, such maps have revealed global topological and dynamic features of interactome networks that relate to known biological properties, suggesting that a human interactome map will provide insight into development and disease mechanisms at a systems level. Here we describe an initial version of a proteome-scale map of human binary protein-protein interactions. Using a stringent, high-throughput yeast two-hybrid system, we tested pairwise interactions among the products of approximately 8,100 currently available Gateway-cloned open reading frames and detected approximately 2,800 interactions. This data set, called CCSB-HI1, has a verification rate of approximately 78% as revealed by an independent co-affinity purification assay, and correlates significantly with other biological attributes. The CCSB-HI1 data set increases by approximately 70% the set of available binary interactions within the tested space and reveals more than 300 new connections to over 100 disease-associated proteins. This work represents an important step towards a systematic and comprehensive human interactome project.     

浅谈高校图书馆服务模式创新和形象塑造

网络化、信息化、数字化时代的到来改变了图书馆的运行环境,使高校图书馆的信息服务出现了危机,因此需要创新服务模式,优化服务流程,即开展个性化服务,设立学科信息服务中心,开展层次化信息服务。     

某型航空发动机对插板式进气畸变的响应

为得到较为准确的发动机对进气畸变的稳定性响应模型,首先分析了由实验所得到的某型航空涡扇发动机进口扰流插板产生的稳态总压畸变和紊流分布。相对于压气机转子进口,将周向分布的稳态总压畸变和截面脉动压力处理成为一组不同频率的压力激励波形分布。通过频谱分析得到:在发动机失稳前,稳态畸变形成的波形频率最低,幅值最大,是引起发动机失稳的主要原因。对该组合畸变激励波用一阶响应模型进行动态修正并使用平行压气机分析模型,得到了经修正的压气机喘振边界和得到改善的发动机进气畸变响应模型。最后分别计算了高、低压压气机逐步失稳的工作点移动过程。结果表明:与压气机出口实验失稳波形十分接近,该模型准确可行。     

局部固支功能梯度板的横向弯曲研究

研究了局部固支功能梯度方板在横向均布载荷作用下的静力学问题。假设功能梯度材料由陶瓷和钢组成，材料弹性模量设计为沿着板的厚度方向按照幂指数形式连续变化，功能梯度方板的四个边均为局部固支，应用Kirchhoff薄板理论和虚功原理推导了板的静力学有限元方程。另分别考虑了各边50%固支和25%固支两种情况，在板材料为纯陶瓷和纯钢时，将所得结果与ANSYS软件结果对比，验证了所建模型的准确性。最后，重点分析了梯度指数对板面和边界最大挠度的影响。结果表明梯度指数和固支范围是决定最大挠度的关键参数，其中固支范围对边界上最大挠度的影响更大。