Diversity and dispersal history of the talitrids (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae) of Bermuda

Five taxa of talitrid amphipods were found in the archipelago of Bermuda, of which three were recorded there for the first time. Four of these are supralittoral wrack generalists: Platorchestia monodi BOLD:AAB3402, (a unique Molecular Operational Taxonomic Unit according to the Barcode Index Number system), a related species recognized by molecular methods, Platorchestia platensis BOLD:AAA2949, Mexorchestia carpenteri carpenteri BOLD:AAC1491 and Tethorchestia antillensis; and one a terrestrial leaf-litter generalist: Talitroides alluaudi. A key is provided to discriminate between the formally described talitrids of Bermuda. Dispersal mechanisms from the American continent to Bermuda were considered for all taxa based on species distributions along the North American Atlantic coast and also investigated by molecular methods, using genetic population differentiation and haplotype network analysis based on the barcode region of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. For P. monodi BOLD:AAB3402 the genetic results suggest that some dispersal events occurred before human colonization of Bermuda but are equivocal about the source population and therefore the direction of dispersal. Some very recent synanthropic dispersal is possible with this species. For the other two species studied genetically, P. platensis BOLD:AAA2949 and M. c. carpenteri BOLD:AAC1491, the small population samples analysed support dispersal to Bermuda from the American mainland, before human occupation of Bermuda, although the available sample size was limited for these species. The available limited direct, non-genetic evidence supports synanthropic transport for Talitroides alluaudi. Platorchestia monodi BOLD:AAB3402 is found in the same wrack habitat as P. platensis BOLD:AAA2949 on Bermuda, apparently without interbreeding. No evidence was found that driftwood specialist talitrids had become established in Bermuda.     

An important functional group,benzo[1,3]dioxole,of alkaloids induces the formation of the human telomeric DNA G-quadruplex

Over the past few decades, numerous molecules have been discovered or designed to interact efficiently and selectively with a peculiar DNA structure named G-quadruplex. Some of these molecules have been developed as anticancer agents. To aid the design of anticancer agents, the ability of alkaloids possessing Protoberberine and Benzophenanthridine groups to induce the formation of G-quadruplexes were studied using CD spectroscopy. By careful examination of their structures, we found that a benzo[1,3]dioxole group plays an important role in influencing their inductive properties. The more functional groups the alkaloids have, the stronger their G-quadruplex inductive ability.     

稀溶液中线形DNA分子链结构及扩散的布朗动力学模拟

通过构建全参数化的珠一弹簧分子链模型,并运用一种高效稳定的半隐式预测-校验积分算法求解描述稀溶液中DNA分子链结构演化的随机动力学方程组,系统研究了体积排斥作用、有限伸长弹性作用和涨落流体动力学作用对分子链的回旋半径、质心扩散系数以及相应标度指数的影响.模拟结果能够验证良溶剂中分子链Zimm模型的标度规律,并揭示出3种...     

Serine/threonine protein phosphatases in DNA damage response

DNA damage response (DDR) is among the most important of the mechanisms that maintain genome stability which, when destabilized, predisposes organs to cancer. Reversible phosphorylation mediated by protein kinases and protein phosphatases regulates most, if not all, cellular activities, including DDR. Protein kinase inhibitors have become the main focus of targeted therapy and anticancer drug development. However, our limited knowledge of protein phosphatase function is compromising our capacity to develop therapeutic agents against phosphatases. In this review, we summarize the roles of serine/threonine protein phosphatases involved in DDR and propose that in situ dephosphorylation of phosphoproteins by protein phosphatases, instead of proteasome-mediated degradation of phosphoproteins, is mainly employed by cells.     

Mitochondrial DNA variation analysis suggests extreme low genetic diversity in Guizhou snub-nosed monkeys （Rhinopithecus brelichi）

Guizhou snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus brelichi) is a unique, endangered primate in China, mainly distributed in Fanjing Mountain National Natural Reserve, Guizhou Province, in an area of 275 km2. Recently, habitat loss and fragmentation have caused population isolation. To assess genetic diversity within this species and its population structure, we sequenced 400 bp of the hypervariable I segment from the mitochondrial DNA control region for 128 individuals. Only one haplotype was identified from these individuals. Compared with other primate species, R. brelichi can be regarded as a species with very low genetic diversity, which further adds to the conservation concern.     

LAGE-1DNA肿瘤疫苗的抗肿瘤治疗效果研究

以LAGE-1转染EMT6构建小鼠乳腺癌肿瘤模型;将BalB/c小鼠随机分为4组,以pcDNA3.1/LAGE-1及对照pcDNA3.1分别接种实验组和对照组各三次.于末次免疫后10 d在小鼠左背部、右背部皮下分别种植EMT6肿瘤细胞和EMT6/LAGE1肿瘤细胞．荷瘤后观察成瘤时间、肿瘤大小,并对小鼠脾细胞进行CTL细胞杀伤活性实验来观察DNA疫苗引起的免疫反应.结果显示LAGE-1DNA疫苗在体内能诱导有效的特异性肿瘤免疫应答,该疫苗简便有效.     

古代DNA 技术及其在家养动物驯化历史研究中的应用

家养动物始终伴随着人类文明的发生、发展, 其起源和驯化历史一直备受关注. 而在其 近万年的演化历史中, 家养和野生群体间可能发生基因互渗及替代, 因此基于现代物种DNA 信息进行的历史推断可能存在偏差. 近年来, 古代生物遗骸中的DNA (古代DNA)获取技术日 益成熟, 为这类研究开辟了新的途径. 本文总结了近年来古代DNA 技术研究进展, 点评了古 代生物遗骸DNA 的获取和鉴别方法、古代DNA 提取、扩增及测序技术的革新. 最后, 本文综 述了古代DNA 技术在猪、马、羊、狗等主要家养动物驯化历史研究中的应用进展, 为该技术 的进一步发展及应用提供有益的参考.     

Role of Tip60 tumor suppressor in DNA repair pathway

To prevent the damage caused by DNA strand breaks, eukaryotic cells have evolved a series of highly conserved DNA repair mechanisms. The ubiquitously expressed acetyltransferase, Tip60, plays a central role in ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated) activation which is involved in DNA repair. Recent work uncovered a new mechanism of ATM activation mediated by Tip60 and demonstrated that histone methylation, specifically, trimethylation of histone H3, is a key factor in the process. Here, we review the current understanding of how Tip60 is activated and how it activates ATM in response to DNA damage.     

结核分支杆菌Ag85B DNA疫苗构建、免疫原性及其保护效力

构建结核分支杆菌分泌蛋白Ag85B编码基因的DNA疫苗,研究其免疫原性和保护效力.构建该DNA疫苗并经鉴定后,应用Qiagen试剂盒大量纯化无内毒素的质粒DNA.将C57BL/6小鼠随机分为4组,分别3周间隔3次用生理盐水（A）、载体质粒（B）、卡介苗（C）、Ag85B DNA疫苗（D）免疫小鼠,通过ELISA方法检测血清中抗Ag85B抗体及其亚型.第三次免疫后28 d用结核分支杆菌H37Rv攻击,观察小鼠体重变化,攻击4周后检测细胞因子IFN-γ、IL-12,进行肺组织病理检查及菌落计数等.经Ag85B DNA疫苗免疫的小鼠特异性抗体IgG均显著高于对照组,而且IgG2b均高于IgG1和IgG2a.结核分支杆菌攻击后各组小鼠体重变化呈现不同趋势,A、B组小鼠体重从第3周开始下降;C组体重总体呈上升趋势;D组体重第2周开始下降,之后维持不变.MTT法检测脾淋巴细胞增殖实验中D组的刺激指数显著高于其它组;D组小鼠脾淋巴细胞转化率也显著高于A、B组.肺组织菌落计数C组最低,其次是D组.大体病理结果显示C组和D组肺组织病变较A、B组轻.A、B组肺泡腔内有较多渗出液,肺泡壁充血、水肿.C组肉芽肿数目最多.上述结果表明Ag85B DNA疫苗具有较强的免疫原性,呈TH1型细胞介导的免疫应答.Ag85B DNA疫苗的免疫保护效力不如BCG,有待进一步研究其应用价值.