P物质及其mRNA在家兔圆小囊组织内表达的研究

P物质(substanee P,SP)是第一个被发现的脑肠肽类物质。大量研究表明SP在激发非特异性免疫调节和诱发炎症等方面发挥着重要的功能。家兔的圆小囊是兔特有的肠道粘膜免疫器官,在家兔的抗感染免疫中发挥着非常重要的作用。采用免疫组化和原位杂交的方法,显示了家兔圆小囊中的SP和其mRNA的分布和表达情况。免疫组织化学结果表明:在家兔的圆小囊粘膜层和黏膜下淋巴组织中存在有大量SP免疫组化阳性反应信号;原位杂交实验结果观察到的圆小囊淋巴组织的各个部位均有SP mRNA阳性反应信号出现,表明兔圆小囊淋巴组织中确实存在着产SP的细胞。     

Contact and hybrid zone hotspots and evolution of birds in the Middle East

The Middle East is an important contact zone for a considerable number of bird taxa from the western and eastern Palearctic and from the great Saharo-Sindian desert belt. Using WORLDMAP software, we analyzed the geographical distribution of secondary contact zones for parapatric species pairs of birds in the Middle East. We identified 56 species (29 species pairs) that make contact in the Middle East. The species pairs belong to three orders, i.e. Falconiformes, Piciformes, and Passeriformes. Almost half (46%) of these species pairs hybridize in their contact zones. Although contact zones occur over a large part of northern Middle East, spatially they were not evenly distributed. Contact zone richness was highest in the mountain ranges south of the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus. The hottest hotspots, where up to nine bird species pairs occur sympatrically, are situated in north-eastern Iran and Azerbaijan. We discuss the relevance of these hotspots for improving our understanding of the biogeography and evolution of the avifauna in the Middle East.     

Molecular cloning and characterisation of DESC4, a new transmembrane serine protease

Type II transmembrane serine proteases (TTSPs) are a growing family of multidomain proteins. Among the TTSPs, a new subfamily of HAT/DESC1-like ( human airway trypsin-like protease/ differentially expressed in squamous cell carcinoma gene 1) proteases is emerging consisting so far of four members: DESC1–3 and HAT. The cDNA of a new member of this subfamily, named DESC4, was isolated from rat tongue tissue and characterised. Analysis of selected tissues by RT-PCR demonstrated expression of DESC4 in brain, colon, heart, liver, lung and tongue. At the cellular level, DESC4 expression is confined to epithelial cells within the cleft of the circumvallate papillae extending into the ducts of minor salivary glands, the respiratory epithelium of the nasal cavity and tear gland ducts of the eyes as analysed by in situ hybridisation of sensory organ tissues. In transfected mammalian cells, DESC4 is localised to the plasma membrane as shown by immunocytochemistry and subcellular fractionation experiments. Our results suggest that we have identified a protease that is an important constituent of sensory systems and other organs.Received 20 June 2004; received after revision 3 September 2004; accepted 17 September 2004     

Contact and hybrid zone hotspots and evolution of birds in the Middle East

The Middle East is an important contact zone for a considerable number of bird taxa from the western and eastern Palearctic and from the great Saharo-Sindian desert belt.Using WORLDMAP software,we analyzed the geographical distribution of secondary contact zones for parapatric species pairs of birds in the Middle East.We identified 56 species(29 species pairs)that make contact in the Middle East.The species pairs belong to three orders,i.e.Falconiformes,Piciformes,and Passeriformes.Almost half(46%)of these species pairs hybridize in their contact zones.Although contact zones occur over a large part of northern Middle East,spatially they were not evenly distributed.Contact zone richness was highest in the mountain ranges south of the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus.The hottest hotspots,where up to nine bird species pairs occur sympatrically,are situated in north-eastern Iran and Azerbaijan.We discuss the relevance of these hotspots for improving our understanding of the biogeography and evolution of the avifauna in the Middle East.