Maize HapMap2 identifies extant variation from a genome in flux

Whereas breeders have exploited diversity in maize for yield improvements, there has been limited progress in using beneficial alleles in undomesticated varieties. Characterizing standing variation in this complex genome has been challenging, with only a small fraction of it described to date. Using a population genetics scoring model, we identified 55 million SNPs in 103 lines across pre-domestication and domesticated Zea mays varieties, including a representative from the sister genus Tripsacum. We find that structural variations are pervasive in the Z. mays genome and are enriched at loci associated with important traits. By investigating the drivers of genome size variation, we find that the larger Tripsacum genome can be explained by transposable element abundance rather than an allopolyploid origin. In contrast, intraspecies genome size variation seems to be controlled by chromosomal knob content. There is tremendous overlap in key gene content in maize and Tripsacum, suggesting that adaptations from Tripsacum (for example, perennialism and frost and drought tolerance) can likely be integrated into maize.     

A genetic interaction network of five genes for human polycystic kidney and liver diseases defines polycystin-1 as the central determinant of cyst formation

Autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease results from mutations in PRKCSH or SEC63. The respective gene products, glucosidase IIβ and SEC63p, function in protein translocation and quality control pathways in the endoplasmic reticulum. Here we show that glucosidase IIβ and Sec63p are required in mice for adequate expression of a functional complex of the polycystic kidney disease gene products, polycystin-1 and polycystin-2. We find that polycystin-1 is the rate-limiting component of this complex and that there is a dose-response relationship between cystic dilation and levels of functional polycystin-1 following mutation of Prkcsh or Sec63. Reduced expression of polycystin-1 also serves to sensitize the kidney to cyst formation resulting from mutations in Pkhd1, the recessive polycystic kidney disease gene. Finally, we show that proteasome inhibition increases steady-state levels of polycystin-1 in cells lacking glucosidase IIβ and that treatment with a proteasome inhibitor reduces cystic disease in orthologous gene models of human autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease.     

工业源挥发性有机物治理功能材料研究进展

挥发性有机物(volatile organic compounds,VOCs)是大气中一类重要的污染物质,即使在低浓度下也会对人类的健康造成威胁。对VOCs的治理刻不容缓,而VOCs治理关键功能材料性能的优劣是整个VOCs治理技术的核心。文章总结了近年来用于吸附法、光催化法以及催化燃烧法治理VOCs的功能材料的最新科研成果,希望以此能够为将来VOCs治理材料的设计与研发提供一定的参考。     

IFT54 regulates IFT20 stability but is not essential for tubulin transport during ciliogenesis

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is required for ciliogenesis by ferrying ciliary components using IFT complexes as cargo adaptors. IFT54 is a component of the IFT-B complex and is also associated with cytoplasmic microtubules (MTs). Loss of IFT54 impairs cilia assembly as well as cytoplasmic MT dynamics. The N-terminal calponin homology (CH) domain of IFT54 interacts with tubulins/MTs and has been proposed to transport tubulin during ciliogenesis, whereas the C-terminal coiled-coil (CC) domain binds IFT20. However, the precise function of these domains in vivo is not well understood. We showed that in Chlamydomonas, loss of IFT54 completely blocks ciliogenesis but does not affect spindle formation and proper cell cycle progression, even though IFT54 interacts with mitotic MTs. Interestingly, IFT54 lacking the CH domain allows proper flagellar assembly. The CH domain is required for the association of IFT54 with the axoneme but not with mitotic MTs, and also regulates the flagellar import of IFT54 but not IFT81 and IFT46. The C-terminal CC domain is essential for IFT54 to bind IFT20, and for its recruitment to the basal body and incorporation into IFT complexes. Complete loss of IFT54 or the CC domain destabilizes IFT20. ift54 mutant cells expressing the CC domain alone rescue the stability of IFT20 and form stunted flagella with accumulation of both IFT-A component IFT43 and IFT-B component IFT46, indicating that IFT54 also functions in IFT turn-around at the flagellar tip.     

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and its stability

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is responsible for the disease cystic fibrosis (CF). It is a membrane protein belonging to the ABC transporter family functioning as a chloride/anion channel in epithelial cells around the body. There are over 1500 mutations that have been characterised as CF-causing; the most common of these, accounting for ~70 % of CF cases, is the deletion of a phenylalanine at position 508. This leads to instability of the nascent protein and the modified structure is recognised and then degraded by the ER quality control mechanism. However, even pharmacologically ‘rescued’ F508del CFTR displays instability at the cell’s surface, losing its channel function rapidly and it is rapidly removed from the plasma membrane for lysosomal degradation. This review will, therefore, explore the link between stability and structure/function relationships of membrane proteins and CFTR in particular and how approaches to study CFTR structure depend on its stability. We will also review the application of a fluorescence labelling method for the assessment of the thermostability and the tertiary structure of CFTR.     

Melatonin and mitochondrial function during ischemia/reperfusion injury

Ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury occurs in many organs and tissues, and contributes to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Melatonin, an endogenously produced indolamine, provides a strong defense against IR injury. Mitochondrion, an organelle for ATP production and a decider for cell fate, has been validated to be a crucial target for melatonin to exert its protection against IR injury. In this review, we first clarify the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial dysfunction during IR and melatonin’s protection of mitochondria under this condition. Thereafter, special focus is placed on the protective actions of melatonin against IR injury in brain, heart, liver, and others. Finally, we explore several potential future directions of research in this area. Collectively, the information compiled here will serve as a comprehensive reference for the actions of melatonin in IR injury identified to date and will hopefully aid in the design of future research and increase the potential of melatonin as a therapeutic agent.     

全面二孩政策下对实施教育、医疗、就业配套措施的研究

全面二孩政策的实施与生殖健康、妇幼保健和入托入学等一系列行业与部门息息相关.通过调查居民二孩生育意愿,从教育、医疗和就业3个方面研究在全面二孩政策下人们产生的新需求,使用RPART分析和方差分析等方法深入分析调查数据,研究如何布局好二孩政策的配套措施,消除居民的生育顾虑,促进二孩政策的推行,解决我国面临的人口老龄化问题,优化人口结构.     

自动化立体仓库固定货架货位的优化研究

通过对自动化立体仓库总体工作过程和存储模式的分析,提出了一种基于作业时间的固定货架的货位优化设计思想,并应用遗传算法进行了实验验证,证明优化后的货位设计确实提高了仓储作业效率。     

基于ATmega8的智能CO_2变送器

本文以一种固态电化学型二氧化碳(CO_2)传感器TGS4161和ATmega8单片机为基础,提出了实现智能CO_2变送器的一种设计方素.该系统的特点是采用软硬件相结合的方法来弥补传感器自身所存在的不足.实验结果表明,该系统能够实现CO_2检测功能,而且成本较低,具有很高的实用价值和广泛的应用前景.     

基于循环前缀的MIMO-OFDM改进信道估计算法

多输入多输出正交频分复用(multiple input multiple output-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, MIMO-OFDM)系统中,为提升最小二乘(least squares, LS)信道估计算法的估计精度,可以利用离散傅里叶变换(discrete Fourier transform, DFT)算法对LS算法进行改进,然而,DFT算法对最大时延内的噪声未作处理,因此算法的估计精度仍易受噪声影响。针对这一不足,本文提出基于循环前缀(cyclic prefix,CP)的改进DFT信道估计算法。该算法以CP的长度为标准,对CP长度外的信道系数置零,对CP长度内的信道系数设置门限值,将模值小于门限值的信道系数置零。理论分析和仿真结果表明,改进算法中噪声被有效抑制,估计算法的精度得到提高。