Sef (similar expression to fgf genes) was identified as a feedback antagonist of FGF signaling in zerbrafish, mouse and human. Sefhas been reported to function in different ways, however the regulation of Sef stability remains unknown. The possible role of c-Cbl in the regulation of Sef protein degradation was investigated. Results from coimmunoprecipitation and immunostaining assays reveal that hSef colocalizes and interacts with c-Cbl. Data suggest that the interaction between hSef and c-Cbl results in the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of the hSef protein. It was proposed that c-Cbl may serve as a modulator to regulate Sef protein stability during FGF signal transduction.

Solar energy, which is essential for the origin and evolution of all life forms on Earth, can be objectively recorded through attributes such as climatic ambient temperature (CAT), ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and sunlight duration (SD). These attributes have specific geographical variations and may cause different adaptation traits. However, the adaptation profile of each attribute and the selective role of solar energy as a whole during human evolution remain elusive. Here, we performed a genome-wide adaptation study with respect to CAT, UVR, and SD using the Human Genome Diversity Project-Centre Etude Polymorphism Humain (HGDP-CEPH) panel data. We singled out CAT as the most important driving force with the highest number of adaptive loci (6 SNPs at the genome-wide 1 × 10-7 level;401 at the suggestive 1 × 10-5 level). Five of the six genome-wide significant adaptation SNPs were successfully replicated in an independent Chinese population (N = 1395). The corresponding 316 CAT adaptation genes were mostly involved in development and immunity. In addition, 265 (84％) genes were related to at least one genome-wide associationstudy (GWAS)-mapped human trait, being significantly enriched in anthropometric loci such as those associated with body mass index (x2;P<0.005), immunity, metabolic syndrome, and cancer (x2;P<0.05). For these adaptive SNPs, balancing selection was evident in Euro-Asians, whereas obvious positive and/or purifying selection was observed in Africans. Taken together, our study indicates that CAT is the most important attribute of solar energy that has driven genetic adaptation in development and immunity among global human populations. It also supports the non-neutral hypothesis for the origin of disease-predisposition alleles in common diseases.

Piao chicken,a rare Chinese native poultry breed,lacks primary tail structures,such as pygostyle,caudal vertebra,uropygial gland,and tail feathers.So far,the molecular mechanisms underlying tail absence in this breed remain unclear.In this study,we comprehensively employed comparative transcriptomic and genomic analyses to unravel potential genetic underpinnings of rum-plessness in Piao chicken.Our results reveal many biological factors involved in tail development and several genomic regions under strong positive selection in this breed.These regions contain can-didate genes associated with rumplessness,including Irx4,Il18,Hspb2,and Cryab.Retrieval of quantitative trait loci(QTL)and gene functions implies that rumplessness might be consciously or unconsciously selected along with the high-yield traits in Piao chicken.We hypothesize that strong selection pressures on regulatory elements might lead to changes in gene activity in mes-enchymal stem cells of the tail bud.The ectopic activity could eventually result in tail truncation by impeding differentiation and proliferation of the stem cells.Our study provides fundamental insights into early initiation and genetic basis of the rumpless phenotype in Piao chicken.