摘要: The leopard coral grouper(Plectropomus leopardus) is a species of significant economic importance. Although artificial cultivation of P. leopardus has thrived in recent decades, the advancement of selective breeding has been hindered by the lack of comprehensive population genomic data. In this study, we identified over 8.73 million single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) through whole-genome resequencing of 326 individuals spanning six distinct groups. Furthermore, we categorized 226 individuals with high-coverage sequencing depth(≥14×) into eight clusters based on their genetic profiles and phylogenetic relationships. Notably, four of these clusters exhibited pronounced genetic differentiation compared with the other populations. To identify potentially advantageous loci for P.leopardus, we examined genomic regions exhibiting selective sweeps by analyzing the nucleotide diversity(θπ)and fixation index(FST) in these four clusters. Using these high-coverage resequencing data, we successfully constructed the first haplotype reference panel specific to P. leopardus. This achievement holds promise for enabling high-quality,cost-effectiveimputationmethods.Additionally, we combined low-coverage sequencing data with imputation techniques for a genome-wide association study, aiming to identify candidate SNP loci and genes associated with growth traits. A significant concentration of these genes was observed on chromosome 17, which is primarily involved in skeletal muscle and embryonic development and cell proliferation. Notably, our detailed investigation of growth-related SNPs across the eight clusters revealed that cluster 5 harbored the most promising candidate SNPs, showing potential for genetic selective breeding efforts. These findings provide a robust toolkit and valuable insights into the management of germplasm resources and genome-driven breeding initiatives targeting P. leopardus.

摘要: Dormancy represents a fascinating adaptive strategy for organisms to survive in unforgiving environments. After a period of dormancy, organisms often exhibit exceptional resilience. This period is typically divided into hibernation and aestivation based on seasonal patterns. However, the mechanisms by which organisms adapt to their environments during dormancy, as well as the potential relationships between different states of dormancy,deserve further exploration. Here, we selected Perccottus glenii and Protopterus annectens as the primary subjects to study hibernation and aestivation, respectively. Based on histological and transcriptomic analysis of multiple organs, we discovered that dormancy involved a coordinatedfunctionalresponseacrossorgans.Enrichment analyses revealed noteworthy disparities between the two dormant species in their responses to extreme temperatures. Notably, similarities in gene expression patterns pertaining to energy metabolism,neural activity, and biosynthesis were noted during hibernation, suggesting a potential correlation between hibernation and aestivation. To further explore the relationship between these two phenomena, we analyzed other dormancy-capable species using data from publicly available databases. This comparative analysis revealed that most orthologous genes involved in metabolism, cell proliferation, and neural function exhibited consistent expression patterns during dormancy, indicating that the observed similarity between hibernation and aestivation may be attributable to convergent evolution. In conclusion,this study enhances our comprehension of the dormancy phenomenon and offers new insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning vertebrate dormancy.

摘要: Testosterone is closely associated with lipid metabolism and known to affect body fat composition and muscle mass in males. However, the mechanisms by which testosterone acts on lipid metabolism are not yet fully understood, especially in teleosts. In this study, cyp17a1-/-zebrafish(Danio rerio) exhibited excessive visceral adipose tissue(VAT), lipid content, and up-regulated expression and activity of hepatic de novo lipogenesis(DNL) enzymes. The assay for transposase accessible chromatinwithsequencing(ATAC-seq)results demonstrated that chromatin accessibility of DNL genes was increased in cyp17a1-/-fish compared to cyp17a1+/+male fish, including stearoyl-CoA desaturase(scd) and fatty acid synthase(fasn). Androgen response element(ARE) motifs in the androgen signaling pathway were significantly enriched in cyp17a1+/+ male fish but not in cyp17a1-/-fish. Both androgen receptor(ar)-/-and wildtype(WT) zebrafish administered with Ar antagonist flutamide displayed excessive visceral adipose tissue, lipid content, and up-regulated expression and activity of hepatic de novo lipogenesis enzymes. The Ar agonist BMS-564929 reduced the content of VAT and lipid content,and down-regulated acetyl-CoA carboxylase a(acaca),fasn, and scd expression. Mechanistically, the rescue effect of testosterone on cyp17a1-/-fish in terms of phenotypes was abolished when ar was additionally depleted. Collectively, these findings reveal that testosterone inhibits lipid deposition by down-regulating DNL genes via Ar in zebrafish, thus expanding our understanding of the relationship between testosterone and lipid metabolism in teleosts.

摘要: The autotetraploid Carassius auratus(4nRR, 4n=200,RRRR) is derived from whole-genome duplication of Carassius auratus red var.(RCC, 2n=100, RR). In the current study, we demonstrated that chromatophores and pigment changes directly caused the coloration and variation of 4nRR skin(red in RCC, brownish-yellow in4nRR). To further explore the molecular mechanisms underlying coloration formation and variation in 4nRR, we performed transcriptome profiling and molecular functional verification in RCC and 4nRR. Results revealed that scarb1, associated with carotenoid metabolism, underwent significant down-regulation in 4nRR. Efficient editing of this candidate pigment gene provided clear evidence of its significant role in RCC coloration. Subsequently, we identified four divergent scarb1 homeologs in 4nRR: two original scarb1 homeologs from RCC and two duplicated ones. Notably, three of these homeologs possessed two highly conserved alleles, exhibiting biased and allelespecific expression in the skin. Remarkably, after precise editing of both the original and duplicated scarb1homeologs and/or alleles, 4nRR individuals, whether singly or multiply mutated, displayed a transition from brownishyellow skin to a cyan-gray phenotype. Concurrently, the proportional areas of the cyan-gray regions displayed a gene-dose correlation. These findings illustrate the subfunctionalization of duplicated scarb1, with all scarb1genes synergistically and equally contributing to the pigmentation of 4nRR. This is the first report concerning the functional differentiation of duplicated homeologs in an autopolyploidfish,substantiallyenrichingour understanding of coloration formation and change within this group of organisms.

摘要: As highly social animals, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins(Sousa chinensis) exhibit community differentiation.Nevertheless, our understanding of the external and internal factors influencing these dynamics, as well as their spatiotemporal variations, is still limited. In the present study, variations in the social structure of an endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin population in Xiamen Bay,China, were monitored over two distinct periods(2007–2010 and 2017–2019) to analyze the effects of habitat utilization and the composition of individuals within the population. In both periods, the population demonstrated a strikingly similar pattern of social differentiation, characterized by the division of individuals into two main clusters and one small cluster. Spatially, the two primary clusters occupied the eastern and western waters, respectively, although the core distribution area of the eastern cluster shifted further eastward between the two periods. Despite this distribution shift, the temporal stability of the social structure and inter-associations within the eastern cluster remained unaffected. A subset of 16individuals observed in both periods, comprising 51.6%and 43.2% of the population in each respective period,emerged as a foundational element of the social structure and may be responsible for sustaining social structure stability, especially during the 2007–2010 period. These observations suggest that the composition of dominant individuals, an internal factor, had a more substantial influence on the formation of the social network than changes in habitat use, an external factor. Consequently,the study proposes distinct conservation measures tailored to each of the two main clusters.

摘要: PTEN-induced putative kinase 1(PINK1), a mitochondrial kinase that phosphorylates Parkin and other proteins,plays a crucial role in mitophagy and protection against neurodegeneration. Mutations in PINK1 and Parkin can lead to loss of function and early onset Parkinson's disease. However, there is a lack of strong in vivo evidence in rodent models to support the theory that loss of PINK1 affects mitophagy and induces neurodegeneration. Additionally, PINK1 knockout pigs(Sus scrofa) do not appear to exhibit neurodegeneration.In our recent work involving non-human primates, we found that PINK1 is selectively expressed in primate brains, while absent in rodent brains. To extend this to other species, we used multiple antibodies to examine the expression of PINK1 in pig tissues. In contrast to tissues from cynomolgus monkeys(Macaca fascicularis), our data did not convincingly demonstrate detectable PINK1expression in pig tissues. Knockdown of PINK1 in cultured pig cells did not result in altered Parkin and BAD phosphorylation, as observed in cultured monkey cells. A comparison of monkey and pig striatum revealed more PINK1-phosphorylated substrates in the monkey brain.Consistently, PINK1 knockout in pigs did not lead to obvious changes in the phosphorylation of Parkin and BAD. These findings provide new evidence that PINK1expression is specific to primates, underscoring the importance of non-human primates in investigating PINK1function and pathology related to PINK1 deficiency.

摘要: In eukaryotic organisms, the most common internal modification of messenger RNA(m RNA) is N6-methyladenosine(m6A). This modification can be dynamically and reversibly controlled by specific enzymes known as m6A writers and erasers. The fat-mass and obesity-associated protein(FTO) catalyzes RNA demethylation and plays a critical role in various physiological and pathological processes. Our research identified dynamic alterations in both m6A and FTO during the assembly of primordial follicles, with an inverse relationship observed for m6A levels and nuclear-localized FTO expression. Application of Fto small interfering RNA(si RNA) altered the expression of genes related to cell proliferation, hormone regulation, and cell chemotaxis, and affected RNA alternative splicing. Overexpression of the full-length Fto gene led to changes in m6A levels,alternative splicing of Cdk5, cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and proportion of primordial follicles.Conversely, overexpression of Fto lacking a nuclear localization signal(NLS) did not significantly alter m6A levels or primordial follicle assembly. These findings suggest that FTO, localized in the nucleus but not in the cytoplasm, regulates RNA m6A demethylation and plays a role in cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and primordial follicle assembly. These results highlight the potential of m6A and its eraser FTO as possible biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

摘要: A letter to the editor constitutes a short communication addressing a range of topics pertinent to the readership of a journal (Dkhar, 2018). This format offers several benefits, such as timeliness, accessibility, innovation, and conciseness,thereby serving as an effective means to disseminate cuttingedge scientific ideas.

摘要: Prof. Yun Zhang was born on 9 July 1963 in Kunming,Yunnan, China, during a tumultuous period which he often referenced. Throughout his life, he harbored a steadfast belief in using knowledge to unravel the mysteries of human diseases.

摘要: Parkinson's disease(PD) is a neurodegenerative condition that results in dyskinesia, with oxidative stress playing a pivotal role in its progression. Antioxidant peptides may thus present therapeutic potential for PD. In this study, a novel cathelicidin peptide(Cath-KP; GCSGRFCNLF NNRRPGRLTLIHRPGGDKRTSTGLIYV) was identified from the skin of the Asiatic painted frog(Kaloula pulchra).Structural analysis using circular dichroism and homology modeling revealed a unique αββ conformation for Cath-KP.In vitro experiments, including free radical scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant analyses, confirmed its antioxidantproperties.Usingthe1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion(MPP+)-induced dopamine cell line and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)-induced PD mice, Cath-KP was found to penetrate cells and reach deep brain tissues, resulting in improved MPP+-induced cell viability and reduced oxidative stress-induced damage by promoting antioxidant enzyme expression and alleviating mitochondrial and intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation through Sirtuin-1(Sirt1)/Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2) pathway activation.Both focal adhesion kinase(FAK) and p38 were also identified as regulatory elements. In the MPTP-induced PD mice, Cath-KP administration increased the number of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)-positive neurons, restored TH content, and ameliorated dyskinesia. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report on a cathelicidin peptidedemonstratingpotentantioxidantand neuroprotective properties in a PD model by targeting oxidative stress. These findings expand the known functions of cathelicidins, and hold promise for the development of therapeutic agents for PD.