Evaluation of voltage-dependent calcium channel gamma gene families identified several novel potential susceptible genes to schizophrenia

Voltage-gated L-type calcium channels (VLCC) are distributed widely throughout the brain. Among the genes involved in schizophrenia (SCZ), genes encoding VLCC subunits have attracted widespread attention. Among the four subunits comprising the VLCC (α − 1, α −2/δ, β, and γ), the γ subunit that comprises an eight-member protein family is the least well understood. In our study, to further investigate the risk susceptibility by the γ subunit gene family to SCZ, we conducted a large-scale association study in Han Chinese individuals. The SNP rs17645023 located in the intergenic region of CACNG4 and CACNG5 was identified to be significantly associated with SCZ (OR = 0.856, P = 5.43 × 10(−5)). Similar results were obtained in the meta-analysis with the current SCZ PGC data (OR = 0.8853). We also identified a two-SNP haplotype (rs10420331-rs11084307, P = 1.4 × 10(−6)) covering the intronic region of CACNG8 to be significantly associated with SCZ. Epistasis analyses were conducted, and significant statistical interaction (OR = 0.622, P = 2.93 × 10(−6), P(perm) < 0.001) was observed between rs192808 (CACNG6) and rs2048137 (CACNG5). Our results indicate that CACNG4, CACNG5, CACNG6 and CACNG8 may contribute to the risk of SCZ. The statistical epistasis identified between CACNG5 and CACNG6 suggests that there may be an underlying biological interaction between the two genes

Evaluation of genetic susceptibility of common variants in CACNA1D with schizophrenia in Han Chinese

The heritability of schizophrenia (SCZ) has been estimated to be as high as 80%, suggesting that genetic factors may play an important role in the etiology of SCZ. Cav1.2 encoded by CACNA1C and Cav1.3 encoded by CACNA1D are dominant calcium channel-forming subunits of L-type Voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels, expressed in many types of neurons. The CACNA1C has been consistently found to be a risk gene for SCZ, but it is unknown for CACNA1D. To investigate the association of CACNA1D with SCZ, we designed a two-stage case-control study, including a testing set with 1117 cases and 1815 controls and a validation set with 1430 cases and 4295 controls in Han Chinese. A total of selected 97 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CACNA1D were genotyped, and single-SNP association, imputation analysis and gender-specific association analyses were performed in the two independent datasets. None was found to associate with SCZ. Further genotype and haplotype association analyses indicated a similar pattern in the two-stage study. Our findings suggested CACNA1D might not be a risk gene for SCZ in Han Chinese population, which add to the current state of knowledge regarding the susceptibility of CACNA1D to SCZ

Detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology from the Upper Carboniferous sediments of Benxi Formation in the North China Craton: implications for tectonic-sedimentary evolution

The provenance of the Upper Carboniferous Benxi Formation in North China Craton (NCC) has been considered as the northern margin of the NCC, not the North Qinling Orogenic Belt. To understand the provenance and the tectonic-sedimentary evolution during the sedimentary period of the Benxi Formation, the zircon U–Pb geochronology analysis was conducted on eleven clastic sandstone samples. The south of the NCC received clastic sediments from the North Qinling Orogenic Belt. The orogenic movements around the NCC in the Late Carboniferous period had significant impacts on the changes in paleotopography. During the early sedimentary period of the Hutian member of the Benxi Formation, the north of the Qinling Orogenic Belt was rapidly uplifted, and paleotopography was south-uplifting and north-dipping; thus, the clastic source was the North Qinling Orogenic Belt. From the late sedimentary period of the Benxi Formation Hutian member to the sedimentary period of the Jinci member, paleotopography was reversed. The northern margin of the NCC quickly uplifted, and paleotopography was north-uplifting and south-dipping. Two distinct provenances were present in the sediments of the Benxi Formation. The sediments were supplied predominately by the provenance in the north

Detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology from the Upper Carboniferous sediments of Benxi Formation in the North China Craton: implications for tectonic-sedimentary evolution

The provenance of the Upper Carboniferous Benxi Formation in North China Craton (NCC) has been considered as the northern margin of the NCC, not the North Qinling Orogenic Belt. To understand the provenance and the tectonic-sedimentary evolution during the sedimentary period of the Benxi Formation, the zircon U–Pb geochronology analysis was conducted on eleven clastic sandstone samples. The south of the NCC received clastic sediments from the North Qinling Orogenic Belt. The orogenic movements around the NCC in the Late Carboniferous period had significant impacts on the changes in paleotopography. During the early sedimentary period of the Hutian member of the Benxi Formation, the north of the Qinling Orogenic Belt was rapidly uplifted, and paleotopography was south-uplifting and north-dipping; thus, the clastic source was the North Qinling Orogenic Belt. From the late sedimentary period of the Benxi Formation Hutian member to the sedimentary period of the Jinci member, paleotopography was reversed. The northern margin of the NCC quickly uplifted, and paleotopography was north-uplifting and south-dipping. Two distinct provenances were present in the sediments of the Benxi Formation. The sediments were supplied predominately by the provenance in the north

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Progress in Paleozoic coal-derived gas exploration in the Ordos Basin, West China

Based on practices of gas exploration and development in the Ordos Basin, this paper analyzes the controlling factors of large-scale accumulation conditions and distribution characteristics of coal-derived gas, and makes conclusions on the exploration progress of coal-derived gas based on present exploration situations. The approach has proven coal-derived gas reserves of 5.24×1012 m3 in the Ordos Basin. Twelve coal-derived gas fields have been found so far, mainly distributed in Upper Paleozoic Carboniferous-Permian clastic rocks and Lower Paleozoic Ordovician marine carbonate reservoirs. Tight sandstone gas reservoirs are developed in the Upper Paleozoic. The features of widely-distributed hydrocarbon-generation, interlayered with large-scale distribution of sandstones, where the reservoirs have become tight and followed by natural gas accumulation later, close range migration and efficient hydrocarbon accumulation, has resulted in a large area of distribution of tight sandstone gas zones. The Sulige large gas field has been found with proven coal-derived gas reserves of 3.49×1012 m3, and two large-scale gas reserve replacement fields have been developed and implemented in the eastern part of the basin and in the Longdong area. Marine carbonate gas reservoirs are developed in the Lower Paleozoic. Gas generated from overlying source rocks have migrate downwards and accumulated in Ordovician weathering crust karst and dolomite reservoirs. The Jingbian gas field was discovered, with proven coal-derived gas reserves of 7000×108 m3, meanwhile, several gas-rich regions have been found in the eastern side of the dolomite. Key words: Ordos Basin, Paleozoic, coal-derived gas, tight gas, carbonate gas, accumulation conditions, exploration progres

Natural gas migration and accumulation model and favorable exploration targets in Ordovician dolomite in Jingxi, Ordos Basin

The Ordovician dolomite reservoir in Ma5(5)-Ma5(10) sub-members in Jingxi in Ordos Basin is a newly discovered field with multiple natural gas pools. The gas accumulation patterns of the reservoir are unclear. Considering the geological background, the genesis, migration, and accumulation of natural gas in Jingxi were studied systematically, and favorable exploration targets were predicted. Natural gas in Ma5(5)-Ma5(10) sub-members is a mixture of Upper Paleozoic and Ordovician products. The Upper Paleozoic coaliferous gas was mainly expulsed downward through the hydrocarbon-providing window where the coal-bearing source rocks made contact with the dolomite reservoirs. The gas then migrated from west to east and accumulated under the condition of lithology variation. The Ordovician petroliferous gas mainly migrated from bottom to top through fractures and mixed with the coaliferous gas in Ma5(5)-Ma5(10) sub-members. The natural gas reservoir formation model was summarized as the migration of gas over a short distance and partial charging into the dolomite reservoirs from the Late Triassic to Middle Jurassic, and the migration of gas over a long distance and massive charging into the dolomite reservoirs during the Late Cretaceous. Ma5(5) and Ma5(6) sub-members are the focus of further exploration, and petroliferous gas in Ma5(7)-Ma5(10) sub-members deserves attention. The dolomite reservoirs of the hydrocarbon-providing windows and the east of these locations are the favorable exploration targets

Exploration practices and prospect of Upper Paleozoic giant gas fields in the Ordos Basin

Natural gas resources is abundant in the Ordos Basin, where six gas fields with more than 100 billion cubic meters of gas reserves have been successively developed and proved, including Jingbian, Yulin, Zizhou, Wushenqi, Sulige and Shenmu. This study aims to summarize the fruitful results and functional practices achieved in the huge gas province exploration, which will be regarded as guidance and reference for the further exploration and development in this basin. Based on the past five decades' successful exploration practices made by PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company, we first comb the presentation of geological theories at different historical stages as well as the breakthrough in the course. Then, we analyze a complete set of adaptive techniques obtained from the long-time technological research and conclude historical experiences and effective measures in terms of broadening exploration ideas, such as the fluvial delta reservoir-forming theory, giant tight gas reservoir-forming theory, the idea of sediment source system in the southern basin, etc., and innovating technical and management mechanism, such as all-digit seismic prediction, fine logging evaluation for gas formations, stimulation of tight sand reservoirs, flat project and benchmarking management, and so on