Quadruple-layer group-IV tellurides: low thermal conductivity and high performance two-dimensional thermoelectric materials.

Through first-principles calculations, we report the thermoelectric properties of two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal group-IV tellurides XTe (X = Ge, Sn and Pb), with quadruple layers (QL) in the Te-X-X-Te stacking sequence, as promising candidates for mid-temperature thermoelectric (TE) materials. The results show that 2D PbTe exhibits a high Seebeck coefficient (∼1996 µV K-1) and a high power factor (6.10 × 1011 W K-2 m-1 s-1) at 700 K. The lattice thermal conductivities of QL GeTe, SnTe and PbTe are calculated to be 2.29, 0.29 and 0.15 W m-1 K-1 at 700 K, respectively. Using our calculated transport parameters, large values of the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.67, 1.90, and 2.44 can be obtained at 700 K under n-type doping for 2D GeTe, SnTe, and PbTe, respectively. Among the three compounds, 2D PbTe exhibits low average values of sound velocity (0.42 km s-1), large Grüneisen parameters (∼2.03), and strong phonon scattering. Thus, 2D PbTe shows remarkable mid-temperature TE performance with a high ZT value under both p-type (2.39) and n-type (2.44) doping. The present results may motivate further experimental efforts to verify our predictions.

KAgX (X = S, Se): High-Performance Layered Thermoelectric Materials for Medium-Temperature Applications.

Monolayer KAgX are a class of novel two-dimensional (2D) layered materials with efficient optical absorption and superior carrier mobility, signifying their potential application prospect in photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) fields. Motivated by the recent theoretical studies on the KAgX monolayer, we carried out systematic investigations on the TE performance of KAgS and KAgSe monolayers, employing density functional theory (DFT) and semiclassical Boltzmann transport equation (BTE). For both KAgSe and KAgS monolayers, large Grüneisen parameters, low group velocities, and short phonon scattering time greatly hinder their heat transport and result in an ultralow thermal conductivity, 0.26 and 0.33 W m-1 K-1 at 300 K, respectively. A twofold degeneracy appearing at the Γ point and the abrupt slope of the density of states (DOS) near the Fermi level give rise to high Seebeck coefficients of KAgX monolayers. Due to the ultralow thermal conductivity and excellent electronic transport performance, the ZT values as high as 4.65 (3.11) and 4.05 (2.63) at 500 (300) K in the n-type doping for KAgSe and KAgS monolayers are obtained. The exceptional performance of KAgX monolayers sheds light on their immense potential applications in the medium-temperature (around 300-500 K) thermoelectric devices and greatly stimulates further experimental synthesis and validation.

Monolayer SnP3: an excellent p-type thermoelectric material.

Monolayer SnP3 is a novel two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor material with high carrier mobility and large optical absorption coefficient, implying its potential applications in the photovoltaic and thermoelectric (TE) fields. Herein, we report on the TE properties of monolayer SnP3 utilizing first principles density functional theory (DFT) together with semiclassical Boltzmann transport theory. Results indicate that it exhibits a low lattice thermal conductivity of ∼4.97 W m-1 K-1 at room temperature, mainly originating from its small average acoustic group velocity (∼1.18 km s-1), large Grüneisen parameters (∼7.09), strong dipole-dipole interactions, and strong phonon-phonon scattering. A large in-plane charge transfer is observed, which results in a non-ignorable bipolar effect on the lattice thermal conductivity. The exhibited mixed mode between in-plane and out-of-plane vibrations enhances the complexity of the phonon phase space, which enhances the possibility of phonon scattering processes and results in suppression of thermal conductivity. A highly twofold degeneracy appearing at the K point gives a high Seebeck coefficient. Our calculated figure of merit (ZT) for optimal p-type doping at 500 K can approach 3.46 along the armchair direction, which is better than the theoretical value of 1.94 reported in the well-known TE material SnSe. Our studies here shed light on monolayer SnP3 in use as a TE material and supply insights to further optimize the TE properties in similar systems.

First-principles calculations of thermal transport properties in MoS2/MoSe2 bilayer heterostructure.

Bilayer transition metal dichalcogenide heterostructures obtained by vertical stacking have attracted considerable attention because of their potential applications in thermoelectric and optoelectronics devices. The thermal transport behavior plays a pivotal role in assessing their functional performance. Here, we systematically investigate the thermal transport properties of the MoS2/MoSe2 bilayer heterostructure (MoS2/MoSe2-BH) by combining first-principles calculations and Boltzmann transport theory (BTE). The results show that the thermal conductivity of MoS2/MoSe2-BH at room temperature is 25.39 W m-1 K-1, which is in-between those of monolayer MoSe2 and MoS2. According to our calculated orbital-resolved phonon dispersion curves, Grüneisen parameters, phonon group velocity and relaxation time, we find that the acoustic and low-frequency optical branches below 172.65 cm-1 have strong coupling and contribute mainly to the lattice thermal conductivity. Compared with free standing monolayer MoS2 and MoSe2, the lattice thermal conductivity of MoS2/MoSe2-BH is influenced by the weak van der Waals interlayer interactions.

First-principles study of thermal transport properties in the two- and three-dimensional forms of Bi2O2Se.

Recently, an air-stable layered semiconductor Bi2O2Se has been synthesized [Nat. Nanotechnol., 2017, 12, 530; Nano Lett. 2017, 17, 3021]. It possesses ultrahigh mobility, semiconductor properties, excellent environmental stability and easy accessibility. Here, we report on the thermal transport properties in monolayer (ML), bilayer (BL), and bulk forms of Bi2O2Se using density-functional theory and the Boltzmann transport approach. The results show that the ML exhibits better thermal transport properties than the BL and bulk. The intralayer opposite phonon vibrations greatly suppress the thermal transport and lead to an ultralow lattice thermal conductivity of ∼0.74 W m-1 K-1 in the ML, which has a large band gap of ∼2.12 eV, a low value of average acoustic group velocity of ∼0.76 km s-1, low-lying optical modes of ∼0.54 THz, strong optical-acoustic phonon coupling, and large Grüneisen parameters of ∼5.69. The size effect for all three forms is much less sensitive due to their short intrinsic phonon mean free path (MFP).

Thermoelectric Properties of Hexagonal M2C3 (M = As, Sb, and Bi) Monolayers from First-Principles Calculations.

Hexagonal M2C3 compound is a new predicted functional material with desirable band gaps, a large optical absorption coefficient, and ultrahigh carrier mobility, implying its potential applications in photoelectricity and thermoelectric (TE) devices. Based on density-functional theory and Boltzmann transport equation, we systematically research the TE properties of M2C3. Results indicate that the Bi2C3 possesses low phonon group velocity (~2.07 km/s), low optical modes (~2.12 THz), large Grüneisen parameters (~4.46), and short phonon relaxation time. Based on these intrinsic properties, heat transport ability will be immensely restrained and therefore lead to a low thermal conductivity (~4.31 W/mK) for the Bi2C3 at 300 K. A twofold degeneracy is observed at conduction bands along Γ-M direction, which gives a high n-type electrical conductivity. Its low thermal conductivity and high Seebeck coefficient lead to an excellent TE response. The maximum thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of n-type can approach 1.41 for Bi2C3. This work shows a perspective for applications of TE and stimulate further experimental synthesis.

Preliminary serological evidence for Schmallenberg virus infection in China.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an emerging and rampant arbovirus in Europe, and even Africa and West Asia. Investigating whether SBV existed in new regions or countries, it was very helpful for the early warning and control of SBV. In this study, we collected 317 serum samples (n = 242 for dairy cattle, n = 13 for yellow cattle, n = 21 for buffalo, and n = 41 for goats) from Guangdong province of southern China, which is located in a subtropical region and is an important distribution area for arboviral diseases. A commercial competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) kit and a previously established real-time PCR were used to detect SBV antibody and RNA in those serum samples. Via testing, serological evidence of SBV was confirmed, with total positive rates (57.4, 15.4, 19, and 9.8%) in dairy cattle, yellow cattle, buffalo, and goats, respectively, while no positive signal for SBV RNA was found. To summarize, this study for the first time provided preliminary serological evidence of SBV infection in China, East Asia. Further investigations on molecular evidence, origin, and pathogenesis of SBV in ruminants needed to be studied in China.

Genome Sequence of a Novel Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Strain That Reemerged in Southern China.

Here, we describe a novel porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) variant (GD2014) found in the Guangdong province, southern China. Its complete genome is 1,766 nucleotides and contained a 708-nucleotide open reading frame 2 (ORF2). Sequence analysis suggested that GD2014 is closest to JS2015 originating from the Jiangsu province of China and belongs to the PCV2d genotype.

[Basic Regularities and Characteristics of Compound Reinforcing--reducing Manipulation of Acu- puncture Revealed by Data Mining].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regularities and features of compound reinforcing-reducing manipulation of acupuncture filiform needles in the treatment of clinical conditions or diseases by using data mining technique, so as to guide clinical practice. METHODS: At first, the data base about the reinforcing-reducing manipulation (CRRM) of filiform needles for different clinical problems was established by collection, sorting, screening, recording, collation, data extraction of the related original papers published in journals and conferences and related academic dissertations from Jan. 1 of 1950 to Jan. 31 of 2015 by using key words of "acupuncture" "moxibustion" "needling" "filiform needle", and according to the included and excluded standards. RESULTS: A total of 130 835 papers met the included standards were collected. Outcomes of data mining in the present study showed that (1) the ORRM is most frequently applied in the internal medicine, followed by surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, dermatology, and pediatrics, successively, mostly for lumbago and leg pain; (2) the heat-producing needling manipulation is the most frequently applied technique, followed by cool-producing needling, dragon-tiger warring, yang occluding in yin, yin occluding in yang techniques; (3) the highest effective rate of CRRM is for problems of the pediatrics, followed by those of the internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, dermatology, and gynecology; (4) the most fre- quently used acupoints are Zusanli (ST 36), then Sanyinjiao (SP 6), stimulated by heat-producing needling, and Zusanli (ST 36), then Quchi (LI 11), stimulated by cool-producing needling, and Huantiao (GB 30), stimulated by dragon-tiger warring needling. CONCLUSION: The compound reinforcing-reducing manipulation of acupuncture is most frequently applied to problems in the inter- nal medicine, predominately for lumbago and leg pain, and the best effectiveness is for pediatric conditions. The heat-producing needling and cool-producing needling are most frequently applied at Zusanli (ST 36) and the dragon-tiger warring manipulation is most frequently applied at Huantiao (GB 30).

[Basic Characteristics of Simplex Reinforcing and Reducing Manipulations of Filiform Acupuncture Needle in Clinical Practice Based upon Data Mining].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regularities and features of clinical application of simplex reinforcing or reducing manipulation of filiform acupuncture needles by data mining in order to guide clinical decision in a better way. METHODS: A database about simplex reinforcing and reducing manipulations of filiform acupuncture needle was established first after collection, sorting, screening, type-in, and collation of the related papers, academic dissertations and theses of academic conferences published from January 1st of 1950 to January 31 of 2015 by using key word "acupuncture" "acupuncture and moxibustion" "needle manipulation" and "filiform needle" from database of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI, a full-text database of Chinese journals), followed by data extraction and statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1 304 articles were found to meet the standards formulated in the present study. Among them, 800 papers belong to the internal medicine covering apoplectic sequelae (153 papers), apoplexy (52), headache (63) and insomnia (60), 271 to surgery involving soft tissue injury (63) and backleg pain (46); 93 to five-sense-organs involving nasosinusitis (14), 64 gynecology involving dysmenorrhea (13), 41 to dematology involving struma (20), and 35 to pediatrics covering five kinds of tardy growth and five flaccid syndromes(8). These 1 304 papers contain 2 542 of simplex reinforcing and reducing manipulations, including 895 of twirling-thrusting reducing, 611 of twirling-rotating reinforcing, 571 of lifting-thrusting reducing, 303 of lifting-thrusting reinforcing, 32 of reinforcing and 32 of reducing in cooperation wihpatients' respiration, 23 open-close reducing, 12 open-close reinforcing, 21 reducing and 16 of reinforcing achieved by inserting the needle along or against the meridian, 14 rapid-slow reinforcing, and 12 rapid-slow reducing. Regarding the acupoint selection, distal and local acupoints are most frequently used, followed by symptoms-determined and syndrome-determined, respectively. The acupuncture needle retained time was from 0 min to 45 mn, and the therapeutic effect was relatively better for post-stroke. The totally therapeutic effects of the simplex reinforcing and reducing manipulations were 96.07% for problems of demotology, 94.19% for gynecology, 96. 58% for surgery, 92.85% for pediatrics, 91.78% for five-sense organs and 93. 70% for internal medicine, respectively. CONCLUSION: Simplex reinforcing and reducing manipulations of acupuncture has a definite effect in the treatment of different problems particularly in the internal medicine and surgery. Often, the twirling-rotating and lifting-thrusting reinforcing and reducing manipulations of acupuncture are employed in clinical practice.

[Comparison of different moxibustion techniques in clinical treatment of diseases based on data mining].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the specific efficacy of different moxibustion techniques in treatment of common diseases and clinical indications, and compare the specificity in clinical indications and efficacy among different moxibustion techniques so as to guide clinical practice better. METHODS: The modern computerization and data mining technology were adopted to set up moxibustion literature database. The relevant literature of moxibustion techniques in recent 60 years were collected, screened, examined, extracted and analyzed statistically so as to explore the advantages of different moxibustion techniques in clinical treatment. RESULTS: (1) Of 2,516 literature, moxa stick, moxe cone and moxa device were used in the highest frequency in internal medicine department, for 730 times, 278 times and 102 times respectively. The warm needling technique was used in the highest frequency, for 70 times in the surgical department. (2) In the dermatology department, the curative rate with moxa cone was the highest, 75%. In the ear-nose-throat department, the warm needing technique and moxa device achieved the highest curative rate, 49% for both of them. In the internal medicine department and surgical department, the curative rate of warm needling technique was 53% and 58% respectively. In the gynecology department, the curative rate of moxa device was the highest, 59%. In the pediatrics department, the curative rate of moxa cone was the highest, 80%. (3) The numbers of priority disorders, frequency ≥20 times: 24 kinds of disease for moxa stick, five kinds of disease for moxa cone, 2 kinds of disease for warm needling technqiue and one disorder for moxa device. Facial paralysis, diarrhea, lumbar and leg pain and elbow and knee swelling pain were of the highest priority, treated with these 4 moxibustion techniques, with a certain of literature research values. (4) The warm needling technique achieved the better efficacy on elbow and knee swelling pain, lumbar and leg pain and diarrhea compared with the other three techniques and the curative rate was higher. The moxa device tecnique achieved the higher curative rate for facial paralysis compared with the other three techniques. CONCLUSION: Through the comparison of application frequency, curative rate, clinical application frequency in disorders and the efficacy of priority disorders in the treatment with different moxibustion techniques, it is found that moxa stick, moxa cone and moxa device are simple in manipulation, safe and effective. Hence, they can be extensively used in the treatment of common disorders in every department in clinic. The warm needling technique acts on the body by the co-work of needling and warming stimulation of mugwort. It achieves the particular effect on the disorders with complicated etiologies compared with the other three techniques. It can be chosen in priority for the disorders caused by blockage in meridian and collateral and stagnation of qi and blood.

[Data mining-based research on regularities and characteristics of application of moxibustion therapy for different clinical disorders].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regularities and characteristics of application of moxibustion therapy for different clinical problems or diseases by using data mining technique. METHODS: A database on moxibustion therapy was established first by collection, sorting, screening, recording, collation, data extraction of the related literatures published in recent 60 years. By analyzing the appearance-frequency of clinical disorders treated by moxibustion and their effective rates, the regularities and characteristics were summed up. RESULTS: Moxibustion therapy has been used to treat 193 types of clinical disorders or diseases up to now, mostly in internal medicine for 72 types (accounting for 37%). Of the collected 2 516 articles about moxibustion therapy, 1 107 are for problems of the internal medicine, accounting for 44% ; those of facial paralysis and uroschesis are 139 and 108 respectively. The second and third mostly seen articles are surgery and gynecology respectively. Analysis on the therapeutic effect showed that moxibustion therapy is effective for relieving many types of clinical conditions or diseases, particularly those of pediatrics, surgery and dermatology. By taking both the appearing frequency and efficacy into account, analysis on the therapeutic effect shows that a total of 29 types of clinical disorders are preferably treated by moxibustion, including 12 types (41. 4%) attributed to the department of internal medicine, 10 types (34. 5%) to the department of surgery, 2 types to the department of dermatology, 3 types to the department of gynecology, one to the pediatrics and one to the department of five-organs. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion therapy is effective for many clinical disorders, particularly for those of the department of internal medicine and surgery.

[Diseases treated by moxibustion and fire needling in clinical practice based on data mining: a comparison study].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the specificity of diseases treated by moxibustion and fire needling in clinical practice, so as to provide references for clinical treatment. METHODS: With data mining of modern computer technique, journal and literature databases regarding moxibustion and fire needling were established, respectively. Literature regarding moxibustion and fire needling for the past 60 years has been collected, screened, included, reviewed and abstracted. The utility rate of moxibustion and fire needling in each department was calculated, frequency of diseases in clinical practice was summarized, and diseases which had differences in clinical practice in each department were screened; also the advantages of disease categories and clinical practice between two kinds of therapies in each department were compared. RESULTS: (1) The utility rate of moxibustion was highest in department of internal medicine and surgery, which were 43.6% and 28.1%, respectively; the utility rate of fire needling was highest in surgery and dermatological department, which were 53.7% and 23.8%, respectively. (2) According to the comparison and analysis on diseases treated by two therapies in clinic, among 26 kinds of gynecology diseases that were treated by moxibustion, 20 kinds were not involved with fire needling; among 22 kinds of pediatrics diseases that were treated by moxibustion, 20 kinds were not involved with fire needling. It was certain that the difference of the two therapies in clinical application was more significant in gynecology and pediatrics than that in the rest four departments. (3) Among the diseases which had differences in clinical practice in each department, the ones involved with moxibustion alone were insomnia, distention and fullness, consumptive fatigue in the department of internal medicine, blood-vessel Bi, stiff neck and hernia in surgery department, urticarial, skin Bi and skin cancer in dermatological department, malposition, infertility and amenorrhea in gynecology department, diarrhea, indigestion and stomachache in pediatrics department, blepharoptosis, blurred vision and dryness syndrome in ENT department; the ones involved with fire needling alone were numbness, coldness syndrome and acute renal colic in the department of internal medicine, lipoma, soft tissue injury and papilloma in surgery department, bromhidrosis, freckle and erysipelas in dermatological department, uterine fibroid in gynecology department, umbilical polyp in pediatrics department, auricle pseudocyst, starred nebula and phlegmatic mass in ENT department. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion is frequently applied in department of internal medicine and surgery, while fire needling is frequently used in surgery and dermatological department; the application of moxibustion is broader than that of fire needling in gynecology and pediatrics department. Among the diseases which have differences in clinical practice in each department, moxibustion is commonly seen for clinical symptoms featured with deficiency syndrome, while fire needling is commonly applied for the diseases that have obvious local symptoms.

[Construction and expression of the eukaryotic expression plasmids of human TSHR extracellular domain].

AIM: To construct the eukaryotic expression plasmids of hTSHR extracellular domain and study their expression in CHO cells. METHODS: The human TSHR extracellular domain cDNAs, which were 188-403 bp and 407-904 bp, were amplified from human normal thyroid by RT-PCR. Two fragments were inserted into pcDNA3.1(D)/V5-His-TOPO.Then the recombinant plasmids pcDNA3.1-hTSHRf and pcDNA3.1-hTSHRe were transfected into CHO cells by Lipofectin after they were identified by restricting enzyme HindIII digestion analysis, PCR amplifying and DNA sequencing. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were used to analyse hTSHR expression on mRNA and at protein levels. RESULTS: Two bands of 220 bp and 540 bp were amplified from CHO cells transfected by the recombinant plasmids pcDNA3.1-hTSHRf and pcDNA3.1-hTSHRe, respectively. Western blot analysis revealed that CHO cells transfected by pcDNA3.1-hTSHRf and pcDNA3.1-hTSHRe had strong bands with molecular weight of about 11 900 and 23 600, respectively. CONCLUSION: The recombinant plasmids have been successfully constructed. The transcription on CHO cells transfected by the recombinant plasmids has been proved by RT-PCR and eukaryotic expression has been confirmed by Western blot analysis. Our research will contribute to further study on gene expression in vivo and the establishment of animal models of Graves' disease.

The timing of endocytosis after activation of a G-protein-coupled receptor in a sensory neuron.

Endocytosis is a fundamental cellular event in membrane retrieval after exocytosis and in the regulation of receptor-mediated signal transduction. In contrast to the well-studied depolarization-induced membrane recycling, little is known about the kinetics of ligand-induced endocytosis of G-protein-coupled receptors in neurons. Here we investigated the kinetics of ligand-receptor binding-induced endocytosis in rat sensory neurons using a membrane capacitance assay. The time constant of ADP-induced endocytosis of P2Y-receptors was determined as 1.7 s. The ADP-induced endocytosis was blocked by antagonists against P2Y, phosphorylation, and clathrin. However, block of dynamin was without effect. The ADP-induced endocytosis was confirmed independently by a single vesicle image technique using a styryl FM2-10. Finally, the receptors were internalized in response to ADP, as determined by GFP-labeled P2Y. We conclude that ligand-receptor binding leads to rapid endocytosis in the cytoplasm of rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

Synthetic peptides derived from SARS coronavirus S protein with diagnostic and therapeutic potential.

The spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is an important viral structural protein. Based on bioinformatics analysis, 10 antigenic peptides derived from the S protein sequence were selected and synthesized. The antigenicity and immunoreactivity of all the peptides were tested in vivo and in vitro. Four peptides (P6, P8, P9 and P10) which contain B cell epitopes of the S protein were identified, and P8 peptide was confirmed in vivo to have a potential in serological diagnosis. By using a syncytia formation model, we tested the neutralization ability of all 10 peptides and their corresponding antibodies. It is interesting to find that P8 and P9 peptides inhibited syncytia formation, suggesting that the P8 and P9 spanning regions may provide a good target for anti-SARS-CoV drug design. Our data suggest that we have identified peptides derived from the S protein of SARS-CoV, which are useful for SARS treatment and diagnosis.

The spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is cleaved in virus infected Vero-E6 cells.

Spike protein is one of the major structural proteins of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus. It is essential for the interaction of the virons with host cell receptors and subsequent fusion of the viral envelop with host cell membrane to allow infection. Some spike proteins of coronavirus, such as MHV, HCoV-OC43, AIBV and BcoV, are proteolytically cleaved into two subunits, S1 and S2. In contrast, TGV, FIPV and HCoV-229E are not. Many studies have shown that the cleavage of spike protein seriously affects its function. In order to investigate the maturation and proteolytic processing of the S protein of SARS CoV, we generated S1 and S2 subunit specific antibodies (Abs) as well as N, E and 3CL protein-specific Abs. Our results showed that the antibodies could efficiently and specifically bind to their corresponding proteins from E.coli expressed or lysate of SARS-CoV infected Vero-E6 cells by Western blot analysis. Furthermore, the anti-S1 and S2 Abs were proved to be capable of binding to SARS CoV under electron microscope observation. When S2 Ab was used to perform immune precipitation with lysate of SARS-CoV infected cells, a cleaved S2 fragment was detected with S2-specific mAb by Western blot analysis. The data demonstrated that the cleavage of S protein was observed in the lysate, indicating that proteolytic processing of S protein is present in host cells.

Mitosin/CENP-F is a conserved kinetochore protein subjected to cytoplasmic dynein-mediated poleward transport.

Mitosin/CENP-F is a human nuclear protein transiently associated with the outer kinetochore plate in M phase and is involved in M phase progression. LEK1 and CMF1, which are its murine and chicken orthologs, however, are implicated in muscle differentiation and reportedly not distributed at kinetochores. We therefore conducted several assays to clarify this issue. The typical centromere staining patterns were observed in mitotic cells from both human primary culture and murine, canine, and mink cell lines. A C-terminal portion of LEK1 also conferred centromere localization. Our analysis further suggests conserved kinetochore localization of mammalian mitosin orthologs. Moreover, mitosin was associated preferentially with kinetochores of unaligned chromosomes. It was also constantly transported from kinetochores to spindle poles by cytoplasmic dynein. These properties resemble those of other kinetochore proteins important for the spindle checkpoint, thus implying a role of mitosin in this checkpoint. Therefore, mitosin family may serve as multifunctional proteins involved in both mitosis and differentiation.

[Cloning and analysis of highly repetitive sequence fragments from takin (Budorcas taxicolor)].

Takin (Budorcas taxicolor) is a large animal living in China and other adjacent countries, which belongs to Bovidae of Artiodactyla. The anatomy, morphology and behavior of takin are between species of the subfamily Bovinae and Caprinae. It is now in a separated genus or in the same genus with muskox (Ovibos moschatus). To gain insight into the evolution of takin, we purified and cloned its highly repetitive BamHI fragments from the genomic DNA. The sequences of three fragments were highly homologous, indicative of units of a large repetitive DNA arrays. Southern hybridization using these fragments as probes showed identical patterns among individuals in both the same and different subspecies, implying conserved sequences and distributions of the BamHI clusters in takin genome. Sequence comparison with 1.714 and 1.715 satellite DNA of other species in Bovidae supports that takin has a closer relationship with the subfamily Caprinae than with Bovinae. It also suggests that these BamHI fragments may represent repeat units of the centromeric satellite DNA of takin.