Pseudogenization of the umami taste receptor gene Tas1r1 in the giant panda coincided with its dietary switch to bamboo.
- Huabin Zhao, Jian-Rong Yang, Huailiang Xu, Jianzhi Zhang
- BiologyMolecular biology and evolution
- 1 December 2010
It is probable that the giant panda's decreased reliance on meat resulted in the dispensability of the umami taste, leading to Tas1r1 pseudogenization, which in turn reinforced its herbivorous life style because of the diminished attraction of returning to meat eating in the absence of Tas1 r1.
Alpha-Ketoglutarate: Physiological Functions and Applications
- N. Wu, Mingyao Yang, U. Gaur, Huailiang Xu, Yongfang Yao, Diyan Li
- BiologyBiomolecules & Therapeutics
- 1 January 2016
Alpha-ketoglutarate not only extends lifespan, but also delays age-related disease and can be used in clinical applications.
Melatonin Receptor Genes in Vertebrates
- Di-yan Li, D. G. Smith, Qing Zhu
- BiologyInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
- 27 May 2013
This article reviews recent studies of gene organization, expression, evolution and mutations of melatonin receptor genes of vertebrates and reveals that numerous mutations are associated with diseases and disorders.
Population genomics of wild Chinese rhesus macaques reveals a dynamic demographic history and local adaptation, with implications for biomedical research
- Zhijin Liu, X. Tan, Ming Li
- BiologyGigaScience
- 27 August 2018
The first genomic survey of wild RMs in China is presented, sequencing 81 geo-referenced individuals of five subspecies from 17 locations in China, offering new insights into their evolution and providing valuable baseline information for biomedical investigation.
Multilocus genotypes and broad host-range of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive wildlife at zoological gardens in China
The occurrence of zoonotic genotypes suggests that wildlife may act as reservoirs of E. bieneusi that can serve as a source of human microsporidiosis, and the findings presented here should contribute to the control ofZoonotic disease in China.
Measuring the evolutionary rate of protein–protein interaction
- Wenfeng Qian, Xionglei He, E. Chan, Huailiang Xu, Jianzhi Zhang
- BiologyProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- 9 May 2011
The experimentally examine 87 potential interactions between Kluyveromyces waltii proteins, whose one to one orthologs in the related budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been reported to interact, and estimate the evolutionary rate of protein interaction is three orders of magnitude lower than that of protein sequence evolution measured by the number of amino acid substitutions per protein per year.
The effect of monochromatic light-emitting diode light on reproductive traits of laying hens
- Diyan Li, Long Zhang, Qing Zhu
- Biology
- 1 September 2014
E egg weight was affected by light wavelength, but the rate of egg production was not, and the ratio between egg components can be changed by the light source without changing the egg weight.
Ancient hybridization and admixture in macaques (genus Macaca) inferred from whole genome sequences.
Characterization of the Gut Microbiota in the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)
- Fanli Kong, Jiangchao Zhao, Y. Li
- Environmental Science, BiologyPLoS ONE
- 3 February 2014
The data suggest that, similar to the giant panda, the gut microbiota in the red panda might also play important roles in the digestion of bamboo.
Characterisation of the gut microbial community of rhesus macaques in high-altitude environments
- Yuhan Wu, Yongfang Yao, Huailiang Xu
- Biology, Environmental ScienceBMC Microbiology
- 28 January 2020
The gut microbial community of high-altitude rhesus macaques was significantly distinct from that of low-altitudes populations in terms of diversity, composition and function, and may play a critical role in the adaptive evolution of rhesu macaques to high-ALTitude environments.
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