2016年古生物学热点回眸

 2016年国际古生物研究领域见证了一系列重要事件和研究热点。本文回顾2016年在地球早期生命研究、琥珀中的特异保存化石、中生代羽毛的颜色的分子证据、志留纪古鱼、早泥盆世植物根系、古DNA等研究方向的重要进展,盘点了国际古生物研究领域的前沿及热点,部分展示了中国古生物学界做出的突出贡献。     

纳米材料对DNA热变性行为的影响

在基因操作过程中经常需要对脱氧核糖核酸(DNA)进行高温处理,如在聚合酶链式反应PCR操作中就需要对模板DNA进行升降温的操作,因此,DNA的热变性行为是关系到一些基因操作效率高低的关键,琼脂糖凝胶电泳实验显示,1972bp的短链入DNA高温处理后在1000bp左右处出现额外一条下带,而且此条带经过37℃处理数小时即可恢复到1 972bp,不像48 000 bp长链λDNA那样在高温处理后出现弥散现象.另外,显著添加不同的纳米材料对下带出现的温度有明显的影响,意味着添加适量纳米材料可以改变DNA分子结构对温度的敏感性,所发现的下带可能具有尚未报道过的特殊结构.     

Using Acoustic Emissions to Detect Damage in Three-Dimensional Braided Composites

Three-dimensioual(3D)braided composites with better properties have been used in some particular industries.Some have had obvious signs of crack when they are braided.Others have had catastrophic failures occuring without warning.A new methodology for the analysis of failure modes in composite materials by means of acoustic emission techniques has been developed.The occurrence of fiber-breakage during tensile loading tests has been observed by the acoustic emission technology.Using acoustic emission technology is investigated as a means of monitoring 3D braided composites structures,detecting damage,and predicting impending damage.Stone of the findings of the research project were presented.     

The DNA concentration effect on DNA radiation damage induced by <Superscript>7</Superscript>Li ions and γ rays

To evaluate the influence of the DNA concentration in the aqueous solution on DNA radiation damage, the plasmid DNA in the presence or absence of Mannitol （scavenger of free radical OH.） was irradiated by ^7Li ions and γ rays at various DNA concentrations. Gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that the DNA damage of single and double strand breaks induced by irradiation became more severe at lower DNA concentration. In the condition of γ-ray irradiation, most of double strand breaks （DSB） damage was neutralized and less associated with DNA concentration in the presence of mannitol. However, under ^7Li irradiation, DSB damage could not be cleared by mannitol but was gradually aggravated with decreasing DNA concentrations. These findings imply that under low-LET irradiation, most of the DSB damage is generated by free radical OH·diffusion, and thus may be counteracted by scavengers, while at higher-LET irradiation, quite a fraction of DSB induction is caused by direct ionizing energy deposition of heavy ions, which cannot be eliminated. This work also indicates that the proportion between free radical damage and direct ionizing damage is s constant which is independent of DNA concentration when the DNA concentration is under a certain value （50ng/μL）. Our study sheds light on the un- derlying mechanisms in the DNA radiation damage process.     

基于DNA计算的指派问题

给出了推广的闭环DNA计算模型及其生化实验.用闭环DNA计算模型设计出了指派问题的DNA算法.对决策变量进行4组DNA编码来存放决策变量和效益值;通过有目的的终止技术和删除实验得到指派问题的全部可行解;通过批接入实验、电泳实验和检测实验获得最优指派问题的最优解.举例说明了算法的可行性.最后讨论了推广的闭环DNA计算模型的应用前景和不足之处.     

劳氏紫在DNA修饰的金电极上的电化学行为

使用循环伏安和交流阻抗技术研究了劳氏紫在纳米金和单双链DNA修饰的金电极表面的电化学行为．劳氏紫在纳米金和DNA修饰的金电极表面显示了良好的氧化还原电特性．纳米金在金电极表面的修饰改善了劳氏紫的氧化还原特性．循环伏安结果显示劳氏紫和双链DNA的作用比和单链DNA的作用更强,其结果使电位发生更大的正移并使氧化还原峰电流有所增大．劳氏紫和双链DNA的这种相互作用对于基因药物的设计有重要的意义．这种作用也被交流阻抗研究结果所证实．     

MGB probe assay for rapid detection of mtDNAl1778 mutation in the Chinese LHON patients by real-time PCR

Objective： Leber＇s hereditary optic neuropathy （LHON） is a maternally inherited degeneration of the optic nerve caused by point mutations of mitochondrial DNA （mtDNA）. Many unsolved questions regarding the penetrance and pathophysiological mechanism of LHON demand efficient and reliable mutation testing. This study aims to develop a minor groove binder （MGB） probe assay for rapid detection of mtDNA11778 mutation and heteroplasmy in Chinese LHON patients by real-time polymerase chain reaction （PCR）. Methods： Forty-eight patients suspected of having LHON and their maternal relatives underwent a molecular genetic evaluation, with 20 normal individuals as a control group at the same time. A real-time PCR involving two MGB probes was used to detect the mtDNA 1 1778 mutation and heteroplasmy. A linear standard curve was obtained by pUCmLHONG and pUCmLHONA clones. Results： All 48 LHON patients and their maternal relatives were positive for rntDNA11778 mutation in our assay, 27 heteroplasmic and 21 homoplasmic. Eighteen cases did not show an occurrence of the disease, while 9 developed the disease among the 27 heteroplasmic mutation cases. Eleven did not show an occurrence of the disease, while 10 cases developed the disease among 21 homoplasmic mutation cases. There was a significant difference in the incidence between the heteroplasmic and the homoplasmic mutation types. The time needed for running a real-time PCR assay was only 80 min. Conclusion： This real-time PCR assay is a rapid, reliable method for mtDNA mutation detection as well as heteroplasmy quantification. Detecting this ratio is very important for predicting phenotypic expression of unaffected carriers.