Comparison of genetic characteristics between captive and wild giant pandas based on 13 mitochondrial coding genes.

Background: Research on genetic diversity based on mitochondrial DNA of giant pandas mainly focused on a single marker or a few genes.

Objective: To provide a more comprehensive assessment of the genetic diversity on giant pandas based on 13 mitochondrial protein coding genes.

Methods: We assembled 13 protein coding genes in the mitochondrial genome of the giant panda based on the whole genome sequencing data, including ND1, ND2, COX1, COX2, ATP8, ATP6, COX3, ND3, ND4L, ND4, ND5, ND6 and Cyt b.

Chromosome-scale genomes provide new insights into subspecies divergence and evolutionary characteristics of the giant panda.

Extant giant pandas are divided into Sichuan and Qinling subspecies. The giant panda has many species-specific characteristics, including comparatively small organs for body size, small genitalia of male individuals, and low reproduction. Here, we report the most contiguous, high-quality chromosome-level genomes of two extant giant panda subspecies to date, with the first genome assembly of the Qinling subspecies.

Population genetics reveals high connectivity of giant panda populations across human disturbance features in key nature reserve.

The giant panda is an example of a species that has faced extensive historical habitat fragmentation, and anthropogenic disturbance and is assumed to be isolated in numerous subpopulations with limited gene flow between them. To investigate the population size, health, and connectivity of pandas in a key habitat area, we noninvasively collected a total of 539 fresh wild giant panda fecal samples for DNA extraction within Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China. Seven validated tetra-microsatellite markers were used to analyze each sample, and a total of 142 unique genotypes were identified.

Diagnosing Zygosity in Giant Panda Twins Using Short Tandem Repeats.

The giant panda, native to mountains of south-west China, is one of the world's rarest bear species and is subject to considerable conservation effort. In captivity, the proportion of twins accounts for 54% of the total number of births. To date, little is known about zygosity in panda populations - specifically, the proportion of monozygotic and dizygotic twins.

The tomato DWD motif-containing protein DDI1 interacts with the CUL4-DDB1-based ubiquitin ligase and plays a pivotal role in abiotic stress responses.

CULLIN4(CUL4)-DAMAGED DNA BINDING PROTEIN1 (DDB1)-based ubiquitin ligase plays significant roles in multiple physiological processes via ubiquitination-mediated degradation of relevant target proteins. The DDB1-CUL4-associated factor (DCAF) acts as substrate receptor in the CUL4-DDB1 ubiquitin ligase complex and determines substrate specificity. In this study, we identified a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) DDB1-interacting (DDI1) protein as a DCAF protein involved in response to abiotic stresses, including UV radiation, high salinity and osmotic stress.