Molecular cloning and functional analyses of low-temperature induced genes from Ammopiptanthus mongolicus

Studies on the cold-responsive genes and cold signaling of woody species drop far behind in comparison to herbaceous plants.Due to similar lignified structure,perennial characteristic,and enhanced tolerance,it seems much easier to find strongly antifreeze genes and obtain effective results in transgenic woody plants.In this study,Ammopiptanthus mongolicus,an evergreen,broadleaf and cold-resist leguminous shrub growing in the desert of Inner Mongolia,was used as a material for low-temperature induced gene isolation.Through differential expression analysis induced by low-temperature,thirteen up-regulated cDNAs were identified.One of them,AmEBP1,(accession number:DQ519359)confers enhanced cold-tolerance to both transgenic E.coli and transgenic Arabidopsis.Results suggest that AmEBP1 can stimulate the synthesis of ribosome and the dephosphyration of the α-subunit of initiation factor 2(eIF2α),and subsequently promote the translation process.By which the transgenic plants obtained increased cold-resistant ability.

A New Species of the Genus Liurana(Anura:Ceratobatrachidae)from Medog,China

A new species of the genus Liurana is described from Medog,Xizang,China,based on morphological and molecular data.Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial gene COI indicated that this new species represented an independent evolutionary lineage.In addition,the uncorrected genetic distance between the new species and its closest congener species,L.alpina,was 9.6%-9.8%for COI.The new species,Liurana namchabarwa sp.nov.Yu,Lin,Wang,Jiang and Xie,could be distinguished from its congeners by following characters:(1)relatively large body size in this genus,SVL=21.2-23.1 mm in adult males(n=3);(2)relatively narrow head(HL/HW=100.5%-104.8%(n=3));(3)digital disc not expanded;(4)relatively long hindlimbs,with tibiotarsal articulation reaching tip of snout when adpressed.

A New Species of the Genus Tylototriton(Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae) from the Southern Dabie Mountains in Anhui Province

A new species of the genus Tylototriton is described,from Yuexi county,Anhui province,in the south of the Dabie Mountains.It is based on morphological and molecular analysis.The new species is identified as belonging to the Tylototriton asperrimus group and shares a number of similarities with T.wenxianensis,T.broadoridgus and T.dabienicus.The diagnostic characteristics of the new species are as follows： the head length is greater than the width of the head; bony ridges on the head are prominent and necked-in; the distal digit ends,ventral digits,peripheral area of the cloaca and the tail＇s lower edge are orange.The result from the molecular analysis of the genus Tylototriton（including the type specimen of the new species） based on three mitochondrial genes（ND1,ND2 and CYTB） indicated that the new species was close to T.wenxianensis,T.dabienicus,and T.broadoridgus,but formed an independent clade.This result was consistent with the morphological analysis above,which supports the theory that the population distributed in the south of the Dabie Mountains,namely in from Yuexi county,Anhui province,represented a distinct species,Tylototriton anhuiensis sp.nov.

Prognostic and predictive response factors in colorectal cancer patients:Between hope and reality

Colorectal cancer(CRC) represents one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide.It is the second leading cause of cancer death in Western Countries.In the last decade the survival of patients with metastatic CRC has improved dramatically.Due to the advent of new drugs(irinotecan and oxaliplatin) and target therapies(i.e.,bevacizumab,cetuximab and panitumab),the median overall survival has risen from about 12 mo in the mid nineties to 30 mo recently.Many questions needing of right collocations and more clearness still exist regarding the prognostic factors and the predictive factors of response to therapy.Despite advances in dosing and scheduling of chemotherapy in both adjuvant and advanced settings,and a greater emphasis on early detection,the outlook still remains poor for most patients.Molecular analyses have shown that the natural history of all CRCs is not the same.Individual patients with same stage tumours may have different long term prognosis and response to therapy.In addition,some prognostic variables are likely to be more important than others.Here we review the role of prognostic factors and predictive factors according to the recently published English literature.

A new species of Macandrewia(Demospongiae,Tetractinellida,Macandrewiidae)from a seamount in the Western Pacific Ocean

A new species of Macandrewia Gray from a seamount near Yap Trench in the Western Pacific Ocean was described.Macandrewia yapensis sp.nov.is distinct from its congeners by possessing a foliate shape with contorted lamellae,tuberculiform terminations of desmas,and unique size of spicules.This is the third species of Macandrewia described from the Pacific Ocean.In addition a partial sequence of COI gene was obtained from the new specimen and then it submitted to GenBank.Phylogenetic tree constructed with the partial COI sequences appears to exhibit a more congruent relationship with morphological data of macandrewiid species compared to 28 S gene tree.

Multiple Data Sources Reveal a New Asian Leaf Litter Toad of Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 (Anura, Megophryidae) from Southwestern China

A new species of Leptobrachella is described from Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality,China.Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences indicated that the new species is genetically divergent from its congeners.It could be identified from its congeners by a combination of followings characters:body size of male 29.1-34.1 mm(n=14),female 34.1-34.9 mm(n=4);dorsal skin rough with large tubercles in size of humeral glands,without conical spines;fringes on toes narrow;ventral body basically floral white with deep grey pigments all over;dorsal body deep greyish brown with smoky black markings;iris gold above,gradually silver bellow;tibia-tarsal articulation reaches the level of the middle of the eye when leg being stretched forward;the main call type with dominant frequency4.08 ± 0.16 kHz(14.1-14.9℃),call duration 170.35± 15.19ms,the number of pulses for the first note in a call 3.50±0.89,and the number of pulses for the second note in a call 5.08±0.77.

Eukaryotic microbial distribution pattern and its potential effects on fisheries in the fish reserves of Qiantang River in breeding season

To examine the eukaryotic biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems in the Qiantang River,China,eukaryotic microbes in the river were investigated using 18S rRNA gene sequencing during the breeding season(July to August 2018).Four distinct distribution patterns(1.Jiande;2.Tonglu and Fuyang;3.Jiubao;4.Yanguan)of the microbial community and their potential effects on fishery activities were observed.Results show lower abundances of Dinophyta and Fungi and higher abundances of Cryptophyta and Chlorophyta in Tonglu and Fuyang than those in the other three sections.In addition,the reserves(Tonglu and Fuyang)destabilized the original eukaryotic microbial co-occurrence network.Among all the environmental factors measured,nitrogen(nitrite,nitrate,ammonium),water temperature and total chlorophyll a acted as major driving factors that controlled the eukaryotic microbial distribution.Furthermore,the existence of some algae(e.g.,Chrysophyceae,Cryptophytes,and Chlorophyceae)and fungi(e.g.,Rhizophydium)in Tonglu and Fuyang was beneficial to juvenile fish growth and water quality,although some detrimental species(e.g.,Aphanomyces)needed attention.This study provides further insights into the sustainable protection and utilization of rivers.