Genetic variation in human NPY expression affects stress response and emotion

Understanding inter-individual differences in stress response requires the explanation of genetic influences at multiple phenotypic levels, including complex behaviours and the metabolic responses of brain regions to emotional stimuli. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is anxiolytic and its release is induced by stress. NPY is abundantly expressed in regions of the limbic system that are implicated in arousal and in the assignment of emotional valences to stimuli and memories. Here we show that haplotype-driven NPY expression predicts brain responses to emotional and stress challenges and also inversely correlates with trait anxiety. NPY haplotypes predicted levels of NPY messenger RNA in post-mortem brain and lymphoblasts, and levels of plasma NPY. Lower haplotype-driven NPY expression predicted higher emotion-induced activation of the amygdala, as well as diminished resiliency as assessed by pain/stress-induced activations of endogenous opioid neurotransmission in various brain regions. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs16147) located in the promoter region alters NPY expression in vitro and seems to account for more than half of the variation in expression in vivo. These convergent findings are consistent with the function of NPY as an anxiolytic peptide and help to explain inter-individual variation in resiliency to stress, a risk factor for many diseases.     

根际微生物群落多样性在重金属土壤修复中的研究

植物根际微生物在植物修复重金属污染土壤时分泌的激素、铁载体、ＡＣＣ脱氨酶、黄酮类化合物和酚酸类等\r\n有机物具有增强植物生长、促进植物根际对重金属吸收、转运和积累的作用,同时促进适应相应根际环境的功能微\r\n生物群落的建立．文章结合作者课题组的研究结果,概述根际微生物在植物修复重金属污染土壤过程中的作用,总\r\n结了根际细菌、真菌、古菌在植物修复中的作用,进一步分析了土壤污染类型、改良剂、根际植物的种类等对根际微\r\n生物活动的影响,对今后植物修复重金属污染土壤过程中与根际微生物作用相关的研究进行了展望．