Symbiosome-like intracellular colonization of cereals and other crop plants by nitrogen-fixing bacteria for reduced inputs of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers

It has been forecast that the challenge of meeting increased food demand and protecting environmental quality will be won or lost in maize, rice and wheat cropping systems, and that the problem of environmental nitrogen enrichment is most likely to be solved by substituting synthetic nitrogen fertilizers by the creation of cereal crops that are able to fix nitrogen symbiotically as legumes do. In legumes, rhizobia present intracellularly in membrane-bound vesicular compartments in the cytoplasm of nodule cells fix nitrogen endosymbiotically. Within these symbiosomes, membrane-bound vesicular compartments, rhizobia are supplied with energy derived from plant photosynthates and in return supply the plant with biologically fixed nitrogen, usually as ammonia. This minimizes or eliminates the need for inputs of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. Recently we have demonstrated, using novel inoculation conditions with very low numbers of bacteria, that cells of root meristems of maize, rice, wheat and other major non-legume crops, such as oilseed rape and tomato, can be intracellularly colonized by the non-rhizobial, non-nodulating, nitrogen fixing bacterium, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus that naturally occurs in sugarcane. G. diazotrophicus expressing nitrogen fixing (nifH) genes is present in symbiosome-like compartments in the cytoplasm of cells of the root meristems of the target cereals and non-legume crop species, somewhat similar to the intracellular symbiosome colonization of legume nodule cells by rhizobia. To obtain an indication of the likelihood of adequate growth and yield, of maize for example, with reduced inputs of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, we are currently determining the extent to which nitrogen fixation, as assessed using various methods, is correlated with the extent of systemic intracellular colonization by G. diazotrophicus, with minimal or zero inputs.     

Contaminant Removal of Domestic Wastewater by Constructed Wetlands： Effects of Plant Species

A comparative study of the efficiency of contaminant removal between five emergent plant species and between vegetated and unvegetated wetlands was conducted in small-scale （2.0 m×1.0 m×0.7 m, lengthxwidthxdepth） constructed wetlands for domestic wastewater treatment in order to evaluate the decontaminated effects of different wetland plants. There was generally a significant difference in the removal of total nitrogen （TN） and total phosphorus （TP）, but no significant difference in the removal of organic matter between vegetated and unvegetated wetlands. Wetlands planted with Canna indica Linn., Pennisetum purpureum Schum., and Phragmites communis Trin. had generally higher removal rates for TN and TP than wetlands planted with other species. Plant growth and fine root （root diameter ≤ 3 mm） biomass were related to removal efficiency. Fine root biomass rather than the mass of the entire root system played an important role in wastewater treatment. Removal efficiency varied with season and plant growth. Wetlands vegetated by P. purpureum significantly outperformed wetlands with other plants in May and June, whereas wetlands vegetated by P. communis and C. indica demonstrated higher removal efficiency from August to December. These findings suggest that abundance of fine roots is an important factor to consider in selecting for highly effective wetland plants. It also suggested that a plant community consisting of multiple plant species with different seasonal growth patterns and root characteristics may be able to enhance wetland performance.     

Phenotypic analysis of Phytophthora parasitica by using high throughput phenotypic microarray北大核心CSCD

［Objective］We studied the phenotypic characterization of Phytophthora parasitica Dastur var.nicotianae．［Methods］Phenotypic characterization of the pathogen was studied to provide information for disease management program by using BIOLOG phenotype MicroArray(PM).Using PM plates 1 to 10,950 different phenotypic characterizations were tested.［Results］P．parasitica was able to metabolize 74% of tested carbon sources,96% of nitrogen sources,100%of sulfur sources,and 98%of phosphorus sources.Most informative utilization patterns for carbon sources of P．parasitica were organic acids and carbohydrates,and for nitrogen were various amino acids.The pathogen presented 285 different nitrogen pathways.It had wide range adaptabilities in osmolytes with up to 1%sodium chloride,up to 3%potassium chloride,up to 5%sodium sulfate,up to 20%ethylene glycol,up to 2%sodium formate,up to 5% urea,and up to 2% sodium lactate.It also exhibited active metabolism under pH values between 3.5 and 10,with optimal pH of around 7.0.The pathogen showed both decarboxylase and deaminase activities in the presence of various amino acids.［Conclusion］These phenotypic characterizations of P．parasitica provided the theoretical basis for the next study of the pathogen in physiology and metabolism,and provided potential new way for tobacco black shank management.     

Community composition and spatial variation of bacteria in the sediments of a eutrophic fresh water urban lake， East Lake， Wuhan， China北大核心CSCD

［Objective］ Sediment bacteria are the important biological factors for remediating of eutrophic environments. To enrich our understanding of the bacteria communities in eutrophic urban lake sediments for better environment protection and pollution control in urban lake eco-systems, we resolved the composition of bacteria communities and their spatial variation in the sediments of a middle-size eutrophic urban lake, East Lake. ［Methods］We used 16S rRNA gene RFLP and sequencing methods to generate the phylogeny information of the bacteria community, used principal coordinates analysis （PCoA） and canonical correspondence analysis （CCA） methods to resolve the relationship between East Lake and other lakes, and the relationship between environmental factors and the bacteria communities. ［Results］ Sediments inhabited 13 phyla and 2 unclassified clusters. PCoA further revealed that the bacteria communities in three sub-lakes of East Lake sediments were closely related to the communities in similar eutropic lake environments, and divergent from the hypereutrophic sub-lake Miao Lake, which was also found to inhabit a relative abundant amount of Thermogymnomonas-type archaea. CCA further revealed that the distribution of bacteria was closely correlated with the carbon, nitrogen and phosphate contents in the sediments. ［Conclusion］The environment factors regulated the bacteria community composition and distribution. The results of this study providereference to the research, protection and pollution control on urban lake eco-systems.     

Identification and characterization of new plant microRNAs using EST analysis

Seventy-five previously known plant microRNAs (miRNAs) were classified into 14 families according to their gene sequence identity. A total of 18,694 plant expressed sequence tags (EST) were found in the GenBank EST databases by comparing all previously known Arabidopsis miRNAs to GenBank‘s plant EST databases with BLAST algorithms. After removing the EST sequences with high numbers (more than 2) of mismatched nucleotides, a total of 812 EST contigs were identified. After predicting and scoring the RNA secondary structure of the 812 EST sequences using mFold software, 338 new potential miRNAs were identified in 60 plant species, miRNAs are widespread. Some microRNAsmay highly conserve in the plant kingdom, and they may have the same ancestor in very early evolution. There is no nucleotide substitution in most miRNAs among many plant species. Some of the new identified potential miRNAs may be induced and regulated by environmental biotic and abiotic stresses. Some may be preferentially expressed in specific tissues, and are regulated by developmental switching. These findings suggest that EST analysis is a good alternative strategy for identifying new miRNA candidates, their targets, and other genes. A large number of miRNAs exist in different plant species and play important roles in plant developmental switching and plant responses to environmental abiotic and biotic stresses as well as signal transduction. Environmental stresses and developmental switching may be the signals for synthesis and regulation of miRNAs in plants. A model for miRNA induction and expression, and gene regulation by miRNA is hypothesized.     

Cloning and molecular characterization of a novel lectin gene from Pinellia ternata

The full-length cDNA of Pinellia ternata agglutinin (PTA) was cloned from inflorescences using RACE-PCR. Through comparative analysis of PTA gene (pta) and its deduced amino acid sequence with those of other Araceae species, pta was found to encode a precursor lectin with signal peptide and to have extensive homology with those of other Araceae species. PTA was a heterotetrameric mannose-binding lectin with three mannose-binding boxes like lectins from other Araceae and Amaryllidaceae species. Southern blot analysis of the genomic DNA revealed that pta belonged to a low-copy gene family. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that pta constitutively expressed in various plant tissues including root, leaf, stem and inflorescence. The pta cDNA sequence encoding for mature PTA protein was cloned into pET-32a plasmid and the resulting plasmid, pET-32a-PTA containing Trx-PTA fusion protein, was investigated for the expression in E. coli BL21. SDS-PAGE gel analysis showed that the Trx-PTA fusion protein was successfully expressed in E. coli BL21 when induced by IPTG. Artificial diet assay revealed that PTA fusion protein had significant levels of resistance against peach potato aphids when incorporated into artificial diet at 0.1% (w/v). The cloning of the pta gene will enable us to further test its effect in depth on aphids by transferring the gene into crop plants.     

拉杰沙希大学校园药用植物菌根研究

Forty different medicinal plants were investigated for arbuscular mycorrhizal association in the Rajshahi University Campus in Bangladesh. The results indicated that 35 different plants were infected by AM (arbuscular mycorrhizal) fungi as found by trypan blue staining procedure. The percentage of root colonization by AM fungi varied from 13.3% to 100%. Mangifera indica and Morus indica have maximum percentage of colonization (100%). The intensity of root colonization were abundant in the plants belonging to the families Anacardiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Moraceae, Leguminosae and Apocynaceae whereas the intensity of colonization of crop roots were moderate and poor belonging to Gramineae and Leguminosae. The presence of greater number of spore in soil was always associated with the incidence of abundant mycelia. In plant roots the formation of spore and mycelia was restricted by low pH. Number of mycorrhizal fungus spores ranged between 35 to100 per 100g air dried soil in different family respective soils. The frequency of mycorrhizal fungus infection showed positive correlation with soil pH, moisture, water holding capacity, texture, total nitrogen, organic carbon, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Especially phosphorus and nitrogen in the soil greatly influenced the plant root infection by AM fungi.     

Effects of Elevated Carbon Dioxide on the Growth and Foliar Chemistry of Transgenic Bt Cotton

A field study was carried out to quantify plant growth and the foliar chemistry of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis （Bt） cotton （cv. GK-12） exposed to ambient CO2 and elevated （double-ambient） CO2 for different lengths of time （1, 2 and 3 months） in 2004 and 2005. The results indicated that CO2 levels significantly affected plant height, leaf area per plant and leaf chemistry of transgenic Bt cotton. Significantly, higher plant height and leaf area per plant were observed after cotton plants that were grown in elevated CO2 were compared with plants grown in ambient CO2 for 1, 2 and 3 months in the investigation. Simultaneously, significant interaction between CO2 level x investigating year was observed in leaf area per plant. Moreover, foliar total amino acids were increased by 14%, 13%, 11% and 12%, 14%, 10% in transgenic Bt cotton after exposed to elevated CO2 for 1, 2 or 3 months compared with ambient CO2 in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Condensed tannin occurrence increased by 17%, 11%, 9% in 2004 and 12%, 11%, 9% in 2005 in transgenic Bt cotton after being exposed to elevated CO2 for 1, 2 or 3 months compared with ambient CO2 for the same time. However, Bt toxin decreased by 3.0%, 2.9%, 3.1% and 2.4%, 2.5%, 2.9% in transgenic Bt cotton after exposed to elevated CO2 for 1, 2 or 3months compared with ambient CO2 for same time in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Furthermore, there was prominent interaction on the foliar total amino acids between the CO2 level and the time of cotton plant being exposed to elevated CO2. It is presumed that elevated CO2 can alter the plant growth and hence ultimately the phenotype allocation to foliar chemistical components of transgenic Bt cotton, which may in turn, affect the plant-herbivore interactions.     

Ensifer alkalisoli YIC4027趋化受体基因的比较及相关蛋白序列分析

[目的] 田菁共生根瘤菌Ensifer alkalisoli YIC4027是从宿主植物田菁的根瘤中分离出来的一株新型高效的固氮菌。本研究对E.alkalisoli的趋化受体基因与其他研究透彻的物种进行比较以及相关蛋白分析。[方法] 利用NCBI的BLAST对E.alkalisoli趋化受体基因进行序列相似性搜索。以Pfam数据库为基础,用HMMR3对甲基化趋化受体蛋白（MCP）进行比较分析。[结果] E.alkalisoli有2个趋化基因簇,共有13个MCP,含有不同的信号传感结构。此外,这些MCPs的胞质结构域除了一个是由40个七肽重复序列组成,其余都是由36个七肽重复序列组成。[结论] 尽管E.alkalisoli的趋化受体与已被广泛研究的物种的趋化受体具有较高的相似性,但仍显示出其特性。通过基因的比对以及相关蛋白的分析,我们能够更好地理解E.alkalisoli是如何通过趋化系统来响应外界变化的。     

阿拉伯海假交替单胞菌N1230-9两个甲基受体趋化蛋白的功能鉴定

【目的】作为海洋中的特有及优势种群,假交替单胞菌(Pseudoalteromonas)普遍拥有多个甲基受体趋化蛋白(methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein, MCP),探究这些趋化受体的功能。【方法】以太平洋表层海水来源的一株阿拉伯海假交替单胞菌(Pseudoalteromonas arabiensis) N1230-9为研究对象,利用软琼脂平板法测试该菌株对23种碳源的趋化能力,继而利用同源重组策略构建2个含sCache结构域MCP编码基因(woc28264和woc27036)缺失突变体,并分析突变体对10种碳源的趋化能力。【结果】菌株N1230-9对海藻糖、麦芽糖、蔗糖、N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖、l-苹果酸、乙酸钠、丙酸钠、丙酮酸钠、柠檬酸和琥珀酸10种碳源具有趋化能力。WOC28264是l-苹果酸和蔗糖的特异性趋化受体,WOC27036则是柠檬酸和琥珀酸的特异性趋化受体。此外,WOC28264和WOC27036还均是N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖和海藻糖的趋化受体。【结论】WOC28264和WOC27036存在重叠的碳源效应物。     

茎瘤固氮根瘤菌环二鸟苷酸代谢相关基因的功能鉴定

【目的】考察茎瘤固氮根瘤菌ORS571中c-di-GMP合成酶AZC-2412的编码基因缺失的突变表型,初步探究其功能机理。【方法】本实验构建基于cre-loxp重组酶系统的根瘤菌基因敲除系统,以及采用三亲接合技术构建突变株。测定野生型和突变株的生长速率、趋化能力、胞外多糖产量、生物膜形成等表型。【结果】突变株与野生型生长速率几乎相同。与野生型相比突变株由于细胞内c-di-GMP水平降低,胞外多糖、生物膜产量等均有所下降。【结论】实验表明,环二鸟苷酸合成酶AZC-2412缺失,使得c-di-GMP水平降低,对胞外多糖生成、细菌的运动能力、生物膜的形成、细胞絮凝、与植物的互作等均有调控作用。     

几株新鞘氨醇杆菌的趋化性及其相关基因组成特点

【目的】选择了几株隶属于新鞘氨醇杆菌属(Novosphingobium)的有和没有多环芳烃(PAHs)降解能力的细菌,在基因组水平比较分析它们的趋化通路,并探究其中一些菌株对芳香化合物和三羧酸(TCA)循环中间代谢产物的趋化性。【方法】通过基因组的比较分析,研究了几株新鞘氨醇杆菌的趋化蛋白组成和趋化基因分布,并采用滴定法和游动平板法检测了相关菌对芳香族化合物和TCA循环中间代谢产物的趋化性。【结果】N.pentaromativorans US6-1、N.pentaromativorans F2、Novosphingobium indicum K13、Novosphingobium stygium DSM 12445、Novosphingobium sp.C2AC等5株新鞘氨醇杆菌对芳香族化合物和TCA循环中间代谢物具有不同程度的趋化性;所选的7株已完成基因组测序的新鞘氨醇杆菌N.pentaromativorans F2、N.pentaromativorans US6-1、Novosphingobium sp.PP1Y、Novosphingobium sp.AP12、Novosphingobium sp.Rr 2-17,Novosphingobium sp.B-7和Novosphingobium sp.DSM 19370均含有趋化蛋白MCP、CheW、CheA、CheB、CheR和CheY,且亲缘关系最近的US6-1、F2和PP1Y 3株菌的che基因簇中的基因排列一致,为che W-Y-D-B-R-A-(X);新鞘氨醇杆菌的趋化系统属Fla类型。【结论】几株新鞘氨醇杆菌都具有较为完整的趋化通路,且对多种芳烃及其代谢物的趋化性各不相同,其中菌株US6-1趋化现象最明显。     

茎瘤固氮根瘤菌ORS571中motA基因的功能分析

[目的] MotA是细菌的鞭毛马达蛋白,是跨膜质子通道的重要组成结构之一,在调控鞭毛运动中具有至关重要的作用。本研究探究了Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571中鞭毛马达基因motA对菌株表型和植物互作的影响。[方法] 通过同源重组原理和三亲接合转移方法构建突变菌株∆motA,测定野生型与突变体在菌体生长、运动、固氮、胞外多糖合成、生物膜形成及根系定殖能力的差异。[结果] 与野生型相比,突变体菌体生长没有明显差异,但其运动能力完全丧失,固氮、胞外多糖合成、生物膜形成及根系定殖能力减弱。[结论] MotA鞭毛马达蛋白对A.caulinodans ORS571的运动、固氮、胞外多糖合成、生物膜形成及根系定殖能力均有调控作用。     

AI-2通过甲基化趋化受体McpU调控恶臭假单胞菌KT2440的趋化运动及生物膜形成

[背景]广泛存在于革兰氏阴性菌和革兰氏阳性菌中的自诱导物autoinducer-2 (AI-2)能够介导细菌种内和种间通讯,并调节细菌的多种生理过程.然而恶臭假单胞菌KT2440能否感知AI-2信号还未见报道.[目的]挖掘介导恶臭假单胞菌KT2440对AI-2趋化反应的趋化受体,检测AI-2信号通过趋化受体对恶臭假单胞...     

田菁根瘤菌YIC4027可溶性趋化受体Tlp1的功能鉴定

【目的】初步探究田菁根瘤菌Sinorhizobium alkalisoli YIC4027中唯一含有PAS结构域可溶性趋化受体Tlp1的功能机理。【方法】本研究基于Red重组系统以及三亲接合技术进行缺失突变株的构建。对野生型和突变株的生长情况、趋化能力、趋氧性、细胞凝结、生物膜的形成、胞外多糖产量、在宿主根表的定殖及竞争性结瘤等表型进行了测定。【结果】与野生型相比,突变株的生长不受影响,趋化和趋氧能力降低,在宿主根表的定殖及竞争性结瘤能力降低,而细胞凝结能力、生物膜形成以及胞外多糖产生能力等均有所提高【。结论】本研究首次证实了S. alkalisoli YIC4027中可溶性趋化受体Tlp1影响细胞的趋化运动。     

假单胞菌NyZ12基因组的可塑多变特征

【背景】假单胞菌是广泛存在于土壤、水体环境的微生物,其中Pseudomonas plecoglossicida NyZ12是一株能够以环己胺为唯一碳源和氮源生长的革兰氏阴性菌,其基因组达到7.0Mb左右。【目的】研究假单胞菌NyZ12的基因组是否具有可塑性和多变特征。【方法】以环己胺为唯一碳源和氮源生长的P. plecoglossicida NyZ12为研究对象,以琥珀酸或者代谢中间产物环己酮为碳源连续传代让其自然发生突变,然后筛选在以环己胺为唯一碳源和氮源的无机盐培养基上不能生长的突变体。将获得的突变体进行全基因组测序,并与野生型假单胞菌NyZ12的全基因组进行比对。【结果】以琥珀酸和环己酮为碳源分别筛选到一株突变体T1和T2,测序比对后发现假单胞菌突变体T1、T2的基因组发生大量的缺失和突变。对基因丢失的原因进行了分析,丢失的2个大片段中存在大量的重复序列、转座酶、转座子和原噬菌体。【结论】假单胞菌NyZ12的基因组具有可塑多变的特征。其可能的机制为进一步揭示微生物的适应和进化提供了参考。     

氧化葡萄糖酸杆菌中一种潜在的双组分系统蛋白的功能研究

氧化葡萄糖酸杆菌(Gluconobacteroxydans)基因组编码的蛋白质中,有相当数量的传感器激酶和反应调控蛋白组成了细菌的多个双组分信号转导系统(two-componentsignaltransduction systems, TCSs),这些系统能够介导细菌对外界环境变化做出反应。但目前对G. oxydans中潜在的双组分系统成员蛋白质结构和功能缺少必要的研究【。目的】研究菌株G. oxydans 621H中GOX0645基因序列所编码蛋白质的自磷酸化活性,探究其与细菌趋化性运动的关联,揭示其是否作为一种双组分系统成员蛋白在细胞内发挥作用。【方法】以菌株G. oxydans 621H基因组中一段可能编码双组分系统蛋白质的基因GOX0645为基础,通过生物信息学分析其保守结构域;采用体外化学发光实验证明其编码蛋白的自磷酸化活性;利用基因定点突变筛选出与自磷酸化活性相关的氨基酸位点;通过差速离心法寻找双组分蛋白的亚细胞定位;最后运用体内双分子荧光互补和体外生物大分子相互作用实验印证其与下游鞭毛马达蛋白之间的相互作用。【结果】生物信息学分析发现GOX0645编码蛋白同时具有组氨酸激...     

华重楼内生真菌聚多曲霉的促生与拮抗作用

【背景】华重楼(Paris polyphylla var. chinensis)是我国一种名贵稀缺中药材,有多种药效,由于过度采挖等原因,其野生资源现已极度匮乏。华重楼的人工栽培技术尚未成熟,生长缓慢、病害频繁发生是主要的制约因素。【目的】植物益生菌的开发是一种环保且有效的解决途径,符合生态种植的要求。【方法】通过常规方法分离鉴定内生菌,选取已报道具有促生抗病作用的菌株进行玉米种子发芽试验,无氮培养基定性检测固氮活性,平板拮抗试验检测抗菌性;高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术(Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry,LC-MS)检测其菌液的代谢成分;分光光度法检测华重楼幼苗丙二醛和叶绿素含量,LC-MS检测叶片水杨酸、茉莉酸、脱落酸、赤霉素、细胞分裂素、生长素的含量,测量华重楼地下部分生物量指标。【结果】分离得到一株菌jdqmzz-1,经rDNA ITS序列扩增比对、形态学观察、生理生化鉴定,确定为聚多曲霉(Aspergillus sydowii);其可以促进玉米种子发芽和华重楼生长,具有固氮、拮抗病原真菌尖孢镰刀菌(Fusarium oxysporum GSICC 60612)、病原细菌胡萝卜软腐果胶杆菌胡萝卜亚种(Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum,Pcc ATCC15713)的作用,真菌拮抗指数为42.50%,其菌液含有种类较多的促生和抑菌杀虫物质,菌液处理过的华重楼幼苗,叶片内源赤霉素和生长素含量较对照分别提高了54.1倍和2.3倍,叶绿素含量达到209.88 mg/g鲜重,较对照增加了48.80%,丙二醛含量较对照降低了15.20%;平均根数、平均根长、平均百株重较对照也有显著性(P0.01)提高。【结论】分离出的内生真菌聚多曲霉jdqmzz-1能够有效地促进华重楼的生长。