Ancient DNA from Bronze Age bones of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is now widely distributed throughout the world as a result of transportation by man. The original populations, however, were confined to southern France and Spain. In order to investigate the role of human intervention in determining the genetic diversity of rabbit populations, we are studying the origin of rabbits introduced onto a small Mediterranean island (Zembra) near Tunis over 1400 years ago, by examining ancient DNA extracted from rabbit bones found both on Zembra and on the European mainland. Ancient DNA was successfully extracted from rabbit bones found at two archaeological sites dated to at least the Early Bronze Age (more than 3500 years ago) in south-central France, and compared to that found in modern mainland and island populations using a small variable region of the cytochromeb gene. The results confirm that the Zembra Island population is descended from that present over 1400 years ago. The technical aspects of DNA extraction from bones and the implications of this type of research for determining the origin of introduced rabbit populations are discussed.     

内蒙古砧子山墓地古人的线粒体DNA多态性分析

为了研究内蒙古元上都遗址砧子山墓地古代人群的遗传结构及其可能来源,对该墓地古人的DNA进行了抽提、扩增和测序,获得了10个个体的线粒体DNA高可变一区序列.结合现代东亚、北亚、中亚和欧洲人的线粒体DNA数据进行了系统发育分析和多维尺度分析.研究结果表明:埋藏在砧子山墓地的元代居民为汉族人,主要是来自中国北方地区的汉族.本研究为揭示元代的复杂社会结构和人群历史动态提供了新的方法.     

The longest ultraconserved sequences and evolution of vertebrate mitochondrial genomes

ULTRACONSERVED SEQUENCES (ULTRACONSERVED, 100% IDENTITY WITH NO INSERTIONS OR DELETIONS) AND SMALL RNA IN GENOMES OFTEN PLAY A SPECIAL ROLE IN LIFE AND EVOLU- TION OF MANY SPECIES[1-4]. WE COMPARED 753 GENOMESOF BACTERIA, ARCHAEA, AND MITOCHONDRIA (MORE T…     

Functional and biochemical characteristics of mitochondrial fractions from rat liver in cold-induced oxidative stress

We determined characteristics of rat liver mitochondrial fractions, resolved at 1000 (M₁), 3000 (M₃), and 10,000 g (M₁₀) after 2 and 10 days cold exposure. In all groups, the M₁ fraction exhibited the highest oxidative capacity, oxidative damage, H₂O₂ production rate, and susceptibility to stress conditions, and the lowest antioxidant levels. Cold exposure increased cytochrome oxidase activity in all fractions and succinate-supported O₂ consumption in the M₁ and M₁₀ fractions during state 3 and state 4 respiration, respectively. With succinate, the H₂O₂ release rate increased in all fractions during state 4 and state 3 respiration, whereas with pyruvate/malate, it increased only during state 4 respiration. Increases in tissue mitochondrial proteins caused a faster H₂O₂ flow from the mitochondrial to cytosolic compartment, which was limited by the reduction in the M₁ fraction. Despite increased liposoluble antioxidant levels, cold also caused enhanced oxidative damage and susceptibility to oxidative challenge and Ca²⁺-induced swelling in all fractions. These changes leading to elimination of H₂O₂-overproducing mitochondria avoided excessive tissue damage. We propose that triiodothyronine, whose levels increase in the cold environment, brings about the biochemical changes producing oxidative damage and those limiting its extent.Received 16 July 2004; received after revision 27 September 2004; accepted 18 October 2004     

Role of nitric oxide in the functional response to ischemia-reperfusion of heart mitochondria from hyperthyroid rats

We investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the mitochondrial derangement associated with the functional response to ischemia-reperfusion of hyperthyroid rat hearts. Mitochondria were isolated at 3000 g from hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion, with or without N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, an NO synthase inhibitor). During reperfusion, hyperthyroid hearts displayed tachycardia and low functional recovery. Their mitochondria exhibited O₂ consumption similar to euthyroid controls, while H₂O₂ production, hydroperoxide, protein-bound carbonyl and nitrotyrosine levels, and susceptibility to swelling were higher. L-NNA blocked the reperfusion tachycardic response and increased inotropic recovery in hyperthyroid hearts. L-NNA decreased mitochondrial H₂O₂ production and oxidative damage, and increased respiration and tolerance to swelling. Such effects were higher in hyperthyroid preparations. These results confirm the role of mitochondria in ischemia-reperfusion damage, and strongly suggest that NO overproduction is involved in the high mitochondrial dysfunction and the low recovery of hyperthyroid hearts from ischemia-reperfusion. L-NNA also decreased protein content and cytochrome oxidase activity of a mitochondrial fraction isolated at 8000 g. This and previous results suggest that the above fraction contains, together with light mitochondria, damaged mitochondria coming from the heaviest fraction, which has the highest cytochrome oxidase activity and capacity to produce H₂O₂. Therefore, we propose that the high mitochondrial susceptibility to swelling, favoring mitochondrial population purification from H₂O₂-overproducing mitochondria, limits hyperthyroid heart oxidative stress.Received 24 March 2004; received after revision 9 June 2004; accepted 5 July 2004     

PGC-1 α 与运动能力

长期的耐力训练可诱导成年的骨骼肌发生一系列的生理性适应,其中包括快肌纤维向慢肌纤维转换,线粒体的生物合成等。过氧化物酶体增殖物受体γ共激活因子1α(PGC-1a)可能在运动诱导骨骼肌的适应机制起着重要作用:增强骨骼肌氧化代谢能力,从而增强利用脂肪和碳水化合物的能力。但研究发现PGC-1a基因敲除小鼠进行长期的训练仍能够诱导线粒体蛋白表达增加。长期耐力训练可诱导骨骼肌PGC-1a表达增加和激活确切生理作用仍需要进一步研究。     

三苯基膦盐在肿瘤诊断和治疗中的应用

针对靶向亚细胞器的治疗是肿瘤治疗的一个新兴研究方向,其机理是通过损伤亚细胞器或影响亚细胞器周围的环境,使细胞凋亡. 而在众多的亚细胞器中,线粒体是亚细胞的能量工厂,可以为亚细胞的各项生命活动提供能量,因此靶向线粒体治疗是亚细胞器治疗的热点之一. 此外,线粒体还参与细胞分化、细胞信息传递和细胞凋亡等过程. 诱导线粒体损伤或者影响线粒体内表达物质的正常供应关系,对亚细胞生存状态有巨大的影响. 三苯基膦（TPP）盐可以利用线粒体膜电位差来实现线粒体靶向功能,是最广为接受和应用较多的线粒体靶向小分子. 为了进一步增加其功能的多样性,往往会在TPP烷基链的尾端进行设计,实现肿瘤的高效诊断和治疗. 文章综述了近年来TPP盐在肿瘤诊断和治疗领域中的研究进展,以及在未来所面对的挑战.     

拓跋鲜卑与四个北方少数民族间亲缘关系的遗传学分析

为了从整体上了解拓跋鲜卑的遗传多态性及其对中国北方少数民族起源的影响,对33例东汉到魏晋时期的拓跋鲜卑遗存的线粒体DNA进行了遗传学分析.结合已发表的中国北方少数民族的数据,在遗传多态性、单倍型组分布状态、Fst遗传距离、系统发育和多尺度分析等方面,对拓跋鲜卑和四个北方少数民族(鄂伦春、鄂温克、达斡尔和蒙古)之间的亲缘关系进行了探讨.结果表明:在多态性方面,拓跋鲜卑表现为与北亚类型具有相似性;在和北方少数民族的亲缘关系上,拓跋鲜卑首先表现出与鄂伦春人之间有更近的亲缘关系,其次是蒙古人、鄂温克人,再次是达斡尔人.     

通过同源搜索分析线粒体蛋白转运系统的进化

基于酵母线粒体蛋白转运系统的35个亚基,作者通过同源查找的方法,在27个不同进化层次物种的蛋白组和基因组序列中搜索线粒体蛋白转运系统亚基的同源序列,利用序列之间的同源关系进而构建线粒体蛋白转运系统的进化史.结果显示,线粒体蛋白转运系统的35个亚基中有6个可以在原核物种中找到同源序列,显示了它们的原核起源;线粒体蛋白转运系统的核心亚基出现在真核生物进化早期;其他亚基在真核物种的不同进化分枝中表现出了多样性,并且可以看到一些物种特异性亚基.