Genetic structure and demographic history should inform conservation: Chinese cobras currently treated as homogenous show population divergence.

An understanding of population structure and genetic diversity is crucial for wildlife conservation and for determining the integrity of wildlife populations. The vulnerable Chinese cobra (Naja atra) has a distribution from the mouth of the Yangtze River down to northern Vietnam and Laos, within which several large mountain ranges and water bodies may influence population structure. We combined 12 microsatellite loci and 1117 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene to explore genetic structure and demographic history in this species, using 269 individuals from various localities in Mainland China and Vietnam.

A new genus and two new species of the subfamily Pauropodinae (Myriapoda: Pauropoda: Pauropodidae) from China.

A new genus Songius is established and two new species--Songius rugosus from Qixia Mountain and Laoshan Forest Park, Jiangsu, and Tiantangzhai, Dabie Mountain, Anhui, and Songius bicruris from Tiantangzhai--are described. A novel surface structure of the pygidial tergum was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The genus is established on the basis of the distinctive appearance of the modification of the surface structure of the pygidial tergum.

Identification and characteristics of a novel gene, EJO1, in the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir japonica sinensis) ovary.

EJO1, a novel gene presumably involved in the ovary development of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir japonica sinensis), was identified and characterized by suppression subtractive hybridization and cDNA macroarray analysis. EJO1 expression was 2.6-fold higher at stage III than at stage II during the ovary development of the mitten crab.

Sequence polymorphism and evolution of three cetacean MHC genes.

Sequence variability at three major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes (DQB, DRA, and MHC-I) of cetaceans was investigated in order to get an overall understanding of cetacean MHC evolution. Little sequence variation was detected at the DRA locus, while extensive and considerable variability were found at the MHC-I and DQB loci. Phylogenetic reconstruction and sequence comparison revealed extensive sharing of identical MHC alleles among different species at the three MHC loci examined.

[Cloning and prokaryotic expression of major ampullate spidroin gene of spider].

RT-PCR was conducted with one degenerate primer designed according to repetitive regions' amino acid sequence of major ampullate spidroin (MaSp) in spiders and adaptor primer in the SMART cDNA Library Construction Kit. By cloning and sequencing of amplified products, one cDNA clone (GenBank Accession No. AY365017) of Argiope amoena MaSp gene was obtained.

[Antibacterial activity of water soluble fraction from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans].

The water soluble fraction (SWSF) of centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mautilans, injected with Escherichia coli K12 D31 for 3-4 days showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. It showed strong antibacterial activity against E. coli K12D31 at different temperatures, pH and ionic strengths.

Myriapod monophyly and relationships among myriapod classes based on nearly complete 28S and 18S rDNA sequences.

Myriapods play a pivotal position in the arthropod phylogenetic tree. The monophyly of Myriapoda and its internal relationships have been difficult to resolve. This study combined nearly complete 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequences (3,826 nt in total) to estimate the phylogenetic position of Myriapoda and phylogenetic relationships among four myriapod classes.

[Molecular identification of medicinal plants: Dendrobium chrysanthum, Dendrobium fimbriatum and their morphologically allied species by PCR-RFLP analyses].

Aim: To establish a simple method for molecular identification of original plants of D. chrysanthum and D. fimbriatum using molecular marker rDNA ITS region.

Relationship between lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase and alpha-glucosidase in azoospermia seminal plasma.

Background: [corrected] To determine the correlation of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) and alpha-glucosidase in semen.

Methods: We analyzed 68 seminal plasmas for lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) and alpha-glucosidase, L-PGDS was analyzed by ELISA. The semen donors were categorized in 3 groups: normal, obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia.

[Population genetic structure of Pelophylax nigromaculata in Chinese mainland based on mtDNA control region sequences].

Molecular genetic data were used to investigate population genetic structure and differentiation of Pelophylax nigromaculata (Anura: Ranidae). Frogs were collected from 12 localities across Chinese mainland. Sample sizes of up to 10 frogs per population were assayed for mitochondrial control region sequence variation.

Phylogenetic placement of the spider genus Nephila (Araneae: Araneoidea) inferred from rRNA and MaSp1 gene sequences.

The family status of the genus Nephila, which belongs to Tetragnathidae currently but Araneidae formerly, was reexamined based on molecular phylogenetic analyses. In the present study, 12S and 18S rRNA gene fragments of eight species of spiders were amplified and sequenced. In addition, 3'-end partial cDNA of major ampullate spidroin-1 (MaSp1) gene of Argiope amoena was cloned and sequenced, and the 3'-end non-repetitive region's cDNA sequence of MaSp1 gene and the predicted amino acid sequence of C-terminal non-repetitive region of MaSp1 were aligned with some previously known sequences.

Aberrant expression and function of TCF4 in the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7402.

Wnt signaling pathway is essential for development and tumorigenesis, however, this signaling pathway in the progress of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. In this paper, we studied the function of human T-cell transcription factor-4 (TCF4), a key factor of Wnt signaling pathway, on the proliferation of HCC cell line. We showed that the expression of TCF4 mRNA in HCC cell line BEL-7402 was higher than that in immortalized normal liver cell line L02.

[Database establishment of the whole rDNA ITS region of Dendrobium species of "fengdou" and authentication by analysis of their sequences].

Aim: To establish the whole rDNA ITS region sequence database of various Dendrobium species of "Fengdou" and to authenticate exactly the inspected species of "Fengdou".

Methods: The rDNA ITS regions of various Dendrobium species of "Fengdou" were amplified and sequenced. The database of their rDNA ITS regions was established in order to authenticate the inspected species by means of the softwares of CLUSTRAL and MEGA which were used to analyze the rDNA ITS region.

[RbcL sequence analysis of Belamcanda chinensis and related medicinal plants of Iris].

Aim: To identify "Shegan" [Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC.] and relative medicinal plants of Iris including Iris tectorum Maxim.

[Molecular authentication of Dendrobium chrysanthum from its allied species of Dendrobium].

Objective: To define molecular characters to distinguish D. chrysanthum from its allied species D. primulinum, D.

[Study on sequence difference and SNP pheomenon of rDNA ITS region in F type and H type population of Dendrobium officinale].

Objective: To study rDNA ITS sequence differences between F type and that of H type of Dendrobium officinale in main habitat of China.

Method: The population differences of the rDNA ITS region (including ITS1, ITS2, 5.8S) sequences of D.

Cloning, Expression, Purification and Activity of the hsBLyS.

The full length cDNA of human B lymphocyte stimulator (hBLyS) was amplified by using PCR method from cDNA library of human placenta. After purifying and sequencing, the DNA fragment of functional domain of hBLyS (hsDNA fragment)was amplified by using nested PCR method from the PCR product. The prokaryotic expression plasmid pET-30a( )/ hBLyS was constructed with recombinant DNA techniques after purifying and identifying the hsDNA fragment.