The genomic evolution of visual opsin genes in amphibians.

Among tetrapod (terrestrial) vertebrates, amphibians remain more closely tied to an amphibious lifestyle than amniotes, and their visual opsin genes may be adapted to this lifestyle. Previous studies have discussed physiological, morphological, and molecular changes in the evolution of amphibian vision. We predicted the locations of the visual opsin genes, their neighboring genes, and the tuning sites of the visual opsins, in 39 amphibian genomes.

Long-Read Genome Sequencing of (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), the Endemic Firefly of Taiwan.

is the most abundant and widely distributed endemic firefly species in Taiwan and is considered a key environmental and ecological indicator organism. In this study, we report the first long-read genome sequencing of sequenced by Nanopore technology. The draft genome size, 967 Mb, was measured through a hybrid approach that consisted of assembling using 11.

A change of PD-1/PD-L1 expression on peripheral T cell subsets correlates with the different stages of Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Immune checkpoints are a set of costimulatory and inhibitory molecules that maintain self-tolerance and regulate immune homeostasis. The expression of immune checkpoints on T cells in malignancy, chronic inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases has gained increasing attention.

Results: To characterize immune checkpoints in neurodegenerative diseases, we aimed to examine the expression of the immune checkpoint PD-1/PD-L1 in peripheral T cells in different Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.

A simulation of acetate consumption and electricity generation in a single microbial fuel cell considering the diversity of nonelectrogenic bacteria.

To simulate acetate consumption and electricity generation in a cycle of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) treating synthetic acetate-based wastewater with low concentration, nonelectrogenic bacteria (NEB), which had no contribution in electricity generation, was incorporated with methanogen's kinetic parameters into a previous biofilm model proposed by Marcus et al. (Biotechnol Bioeng 98:1171-1182, 2007). However, the Coulombic efficiency was estimated to be 40.

DNA metabarcoding for dietary analysis of Holland's carp (Spinibarbus hollandi) to evaluate the threat to native fishes in Taiwan.

DNA metabarcoding analysis for gut contents has been shown to compensate the disadvantage of traditionally morphological identification and offer higher resolution of prey items in an efficient way. Holland's carp (Spinibarbus hollandi) is a freshwater fish native to southern and eastern Taiwan. In the past two decades, this species has been introduced as a sport fish into the river basins of northern and western Taiwan.

The Cone Opsin Repertoire of Osteoglossomorph Fishes: Gene Loss in Mormyrid Electric Fish and a Long Wavelength-Sensitive Cone Opsin That Survived 3R.

Vertebrates have four classes of cone opsin genes derived from two rounds of genome duplication. These are short wavelength sensitive 1(SWS1), short wavelength sensitive 2(SWS2), medium wavelength sensitive (RH2), and long wavelength sensitive (LWS). Teleosts had another genome duplication at their origin and it is believed that only one of each cone opsin survived the ancestral teleost duplication event.

Opsin gene expression regulated by testosterone level in a sexually dimorphic lizard.

Expression of nuptial color is usually energetically costly, and is therefore regarded as an 'honest signal' to reflect mate quality. In order to choose a mate with high quality, both sexes may benefit from the ability to precisely evaluate their mates through optimizing visual systems which is in turn partially regulated by opsin gene modification. However, how terrestrial vertebrates regulate their color vision sensitivity is poorly studied.

Molecular Phylogeny of the Group (Teleostei: Cypriniformes) Based On Complete Mitochondrial Genomes.

The complete mitochondrial genomes of 76 species from 43 genera under Cyprinidae were collected to reassess the molecular phylogeny of Opsariichthyinae Liao et al. 2011. The mitogenomes of three species, , and , were newly sequenced.

The rises and falls of opsin genes in 59 ray-finned fish genomes and their implications for environmental adaptation.

We studied the evolution of opsin genes in 59 ray-finned fish genomes. We identified the opsin genes and adjacent genes (syntenies) in each genome. Then we inferred the changes in gene copy number (N), syntenies, and tuning sites along each phylogenetic branch during evolution.

Peroxiredoxin 5 is essential for in vitro development of bovine SCNT embryos.

Peroxiredoxin 5 (PRDX5) is an important peroxiredoxin with antioxidant and antiapoptotic functions. The objective of this study was to determine whether the antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities of PRDX5 play an essential role in the in vitro development of bovine SCNT embryos. We analyzed the expression patterns of PRDX5, and found the expression of PRDX5 in second meiotic metaphase oocytes, which persisted until the blastocyst stage IVF and SCNT embryos.

Complete mitogenome of three flyingfishes , and (Teleostei: Exocoetidae).

The complete mitogenomes of , and were determined by the next-generation sequencing (NGS) method. The assembled mitogenome of , and consist of 16 529 bp, 16 530 bp and 16 530 bp, respectively. Three mitogenomes contain the typical gene complement including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNA genes and a non-coding D-loop.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Nemateleotris decora (gobiiformes, gobiidae).

We determined the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence of Nemateleotris decora by using a long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and next-generation sequence (NGS) technology. The total length of N. decora mitogenome is 16 502 bp, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs genes, and a non-coding control region.

Androgens increase lws opsin expression and red sensitivity in male three-spined sticklebacks.

Optomotor studies have shown that three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) are more sensitive to red during summer than winter, which may be related to the need to detect the red breeding colour of males. This study aimed to determine whether this change of red light sensitivity is specifically related to reproductive physiology. The mRNA levels of opsin genes were examined in the retinae of sexually mature and immature fish, as well as in sham-operated males, castrated control males, or castrated males implanted with androgen 11-ketoandrostenedione (11 KA), maintained under stimulatory (L16:D8) or inhibitory (L8:D16) photoperiods.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Belligobio nummifer (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae).

We determined the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence of Belligobio nummifer, which is known as a cyprinid fish in mainland China, with a long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The total length of B. nummifer mitogenome is 16,610 bp, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs genes and a noncoding control region.

Chiral recognition of doxazosin enantiomers in 3 targets for therapy as well as adverse drug reactions in animal experiments.

Doxazosin used in benign prostatic hyperplasia has the side effects of causing hypotension and the risk of heart failure. The 3 targets of α(1A)-adrenoceptors (in the prostate), α(1D)-adrenoceptors (in the aorta), and an unknown mechanism (in the heart) are involved, respectively. We hypothesized that there is a chiral recognition of doxazosin enantiomers in the 3 targets.

[Mutation analysis of pathogenic genes in a Henan family affected with congenital stationary night blindness].

Objective: To detect genetic mutations associated with autosomal dominant congenital stationary night blindness (ADCSNB) in a family from Henan province.

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of 14 family members. Based on 3 genes reported previously, PCR primers were designed and corresponding exons containing the mutation sites were amplified with PCR.

A comparative study on the visual adaptations of four species of moray eel.

The goal of this study was to investigate how the eyes of different species of moray eel evolved to cope with limitations to vision imposed on them by the photic environments in which they reside. The comparative retinal histological structures and visual pigment characteristics including opsin gene sequences, of four species of moray eel inhabiting diverse habitats (i.e.

[Mutation analysis of the pathogenic gene in a Chinese family with Brachydactyly type B1].

We identified and characterized a Chinese family with autosomal dominant Brachydactyly type B1 (BDB1). Linkage analysis revealed that the disease gene of the Chinese BDB1 family was linked to ROR2 locus. Mutational hot spot of ROR2 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced directly.

[The mutation spectrum of phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in patients with phenylketonuria in Henan province].

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene mutations in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) in Henan province, China, in order for providing basic information for clinical genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

Methods: All the exons and partial flanking introns of the PAH gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bi-directional sequencing in 34 patients with PKU from Henan province.

Results: A total of 23 different disease-causing mutations were identified which corresponded to 92.

[Characteristics and numerical simulation of surface albedo in temperate desert steppe in Inner Mongolia].

Based on the meteorological and biological observation data from the temperate desert steppe ecosystem research station in Sunitezuoqi of Inner Mongolia during growth season (from May 1st to October 15th, 2008), the diurnal and seasonal characteristics of surface albedo in the steppe were analyzed, with related model constructed. In the steppe, the diurnal variation of surface albedo was mainly affected by solar altitude, being higher just after sunrise and before sunset and lower in midday. During growth season, the surface albedo was from 0.

Treatment of hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis: a meta-analysis.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of antiviral or corticosteroid treatment on hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis (HBV-GN).

Methods: Six and five trials were used respectively to evaluate the efficacy of either antiviral or corticosteroid treatment on HBV-GN. Pediatric patients were pooled separately to assess their response to the above treatment modalities.

Adaptation of visual spectra and opsin genes in seabreams.

Three species of seabreams, Acanthopagrus berda, Acanthopagrus schlegelii and Pagrus major, living at different depths, were chosen to investigate how visual spectra and opsin genes evolve in response to various photic environments. The lambda max of photoreceptors and opsin genes were measured and cloned from these species. Eight to twelve nm spectral shifts in the rod and blue cone cells were observed between the deep-sea, P.