连续光照转暗培养联合药物处理实现衣藻细胞的高水平同步化

单细胞衣藻(Chlamydomonas)是光合作用和植物细胞周期等生物学过程研究的一个重要模式系统, 同步化培养是进行相关研究的必要手段。该研究探索了连续光照转暗培养联合细胞周期阻断剂实现莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)细胞高水平同步化的新方法, 并利用流式细胞术对同步化程度进行了精确的分析。结果表明, 连续光照转暗培养或联合S期阻断剂可以使衣藻细胞同步化到G1期或G1/S期边界; 连续光照转暗培养联合M期阻断剂或者在“加入-释放”S期阻断剂后再加入M期阻断剂可以使衣藻细胞同步化到M期, 同步化水平可达80%。具体的同步化培养步骤要根据研究对象(特别是某些衣藻突变株系)的特性和研究目的确定。     

缺氮介导的莱茵衣藻油脂合成过程的内参及标志物蛋白质的筛选鉴定

微藻被认为是最有潜力的生物能源原料之一,了解油脂合成机理、提升油脂合成的效率是重要的生物学问题.莱茵衣藻缺氮胁迫是油脂合成机理研究的模式系统,组学研究已经积累了大量的数据,但针对莱茵衣藻缺氮介导的油脂合成过程的内参及标志物蛋白质还鲜有报道.本研究对莱茵衣藻进行了对照和缺氮胁迫培养,比较了多个时间点(0、1、2、4和6d)在2种处理条件下的培养物表型、细胞密度、油脂含量以及总蛋白质含量的变化等特征.结果显示:莱茵衣藻细胞在受到缺氮胁迫后表现为培养物颜色由绿变黄;A750和细胞计数结果显示细胞生长趋于停滞;尼罗红染色定量实验鉴定到油脂含量的显著升高;考马斯亮蓝染色实验检测到总蛋白质含量降低.以20个莱茵衣藻蛋白质为候选,利用蛋白质印迹技术(Western blot,WB)检测了其在不同处理和不同时间点的表达特征变化,通过计算总蛋白质和候选蛋白质含量的皮尔森相关系数(Pearson’s correlation coefficient, PCC)筛选了莱茵衣藻缺氮胁迫的内参蛋白质,发现Histone H3、 RBCL(ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit)和BCR1(biotin carboxylase,ACCase complex 1)在对照和缺氮胁迫条件下均与总蛋白质含量变化呈现极显著或显著正相关,所以被选作内参蛋白质.进而通过比较候选蛋白质的平均相对倍率变化(average relative fold change, ARF),鉴定了莱茵衣藻缺氮胁迫的标志物蛋白质,发现ATPs-β(ATP synthase CF1beta subunit)、 GAP2(glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydratase 2)和RMT1(rubisco large subunit N-methyltransferase 1)蛋白质的ARF值分别为180.59、52.90和12.48,明显高出其他蛋白质,由此把它们选做缺氮胁迫的标志物蛋白质.接下来,对缺氮胁迫早期(0、2、4、8、12、18、24和48 h)的样品进行蛋白质印迹法分析,发现可检测的ATPs-β、GAP2和RMT1的缺氮诱导条带出现的时间分别是8、18和12 h.综上可以认为,在所有候选蛋白质中,ATPs-β是出现最早且变化幅度最大的缺氮处理标志物蛋白质.本研究鉴定的内参和标志物蛋白质对了解缺氮应答及油脂合成机理会有所帮助,所积累的蛋白质表达信息可供研究同行参考.     

莱茵衣藻E2泛素结合酶CrUBC23调控油脂积累

【目的】为研究莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)泛素结合酶(ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes,E2)CrUBC23在莱茵衣藻油脂代谢中的作用,为高产油微藻基因工程改良和揭示藻类油脂合成及代谢调控机理奠定基础。【方法】qRT-PCR分析莱茵衣藻在低氮、低磷胁迫下泛素结合酶CrUBC23表达情况;克隆CrUBC23同源基因干涉片段和全长基因,构建RNAi干涉载体和过量表达载体,转化莱茵衣藻并检测生物量和油脂含量;构建CrUBC23-GFP融合表达载体,用农杆菌浸染洋葱表皮细胞进行亚细胞定位。【结果】莱茵衣藻在低氮、低磷胁迫下CrUBC23基因表达量显著增加,增加幅度分别为正常培养的4.98–5.80倍和1.85–5.20倍。RNAi干扰结果显示,转基因藻细胞中性脂含量降低5.5%,总脂含量降低3.16%–17.6%。过量表达结果显示,转基因藻细胞中性脂含量增加8.8%,总脂含量增加4.51%–14.03%。【结论】CrUBC23正向调控莱茵衣藻油脂代谢,该基因定位于细胞核。     

高浓度CO2对莱茵衣藻光系统Ⅱ能量流和能量利用效率的影响

研究了短期内高浓度CO2培养下莱茵衣藻光系统Ⅱ行为的变化,结果表明高浓度CO2培养导致叶绿素a、b和类胡萝卜素含量明显增加,同时随培养时间的延长叶绿素a荧光动力学(快相)曲线中O、J、I、P期的荧光强度明显增加。与空气培养的细胞相比,高浓度CO2在J期的相对可变荧光均维持在较高水平;单位反应中心复合体吸收的能量在高浓度CO2培养6小时后有明显的增加,但单位反应中心捕获和用于电子传递的能量并没有明显地增加。高浓度CO2培养使光系统Ⅱ最大光化学效率、传递的电子能引起的光化学反应效率和电子传递的量子效率均明显低于通空气培养的细胞。以上结果表明不同CO2浓度培养导致莱茵衣藻叶绿素a荧光动力学快相的变化与其光系统Ⅱ功能的变化密切相关,也可能与HCO-3转运过程中能量需求的变化有关。     

莱茵衣藻LZTFL1蛋白的多克隆抗体制备及应用

目的:亮氨酸拉链转录因子1(LZTFL1)是一种与纤毛信号转导相关的蛋白质,关于其如何在信号转导中发挥作用以及作用机制目前尚不清楚。莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)是研究纤毛信号传导的模式生物,而目前对莱茵衣藻LZTFL1蛋白的研究甚少,尚未有相应的检测抗体,因此制备LZTFL1多克隆抗体用于后续实验研究。方法:采用RT-PCR技术从C.reinhardtii CC125中提取总RNA,扩增981bp的目的基因Lztfl1,插入到p ET-28a(+)原核表达载体,成功构建p ET-28a(+)-Lztfl1重组质粒,转入E.coli BL21(DE3)经IPTG诱导后成功表达6×His-LZTFL1融合蛋白,融合蛋白经亲和纯化后免疫新西兰大白兔制备多克隆抗体,最后采用间接ELISA法测得抗血清效价达到1∶512 000,经Western blot对C.reinhardtii CC125检测具有较高特异性。结果:首次实现了莱茵衣藻LZTFL1蛋白的原核表达,制备出一支兔抗莱茵衣藻LZTFL1蛋白的多克隆抗体,为后续研究LZTFL1蛋白在莱茵衣藻中的结构功能及在纤毛信号转导中的相互作用奠定了基础。     

莱茵衣藻LZTFL1蛋白的多克隆抗体制备及应用

目的:亮氨酸拉链转录因子1(LZTFL1)是一种与纤毛信号转导相关的蛋白质,关于其如何在信号转导中发挥作用以及作用机制目前尚不清楚。莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)是研究纤毛信号传导的模式生物,而目前对莱茵衣藻LZTFL1蛋白的研究甚少,尚未有相应的检测抗体,因此制备LZTFL1多克隆抗体用于后续实验研究。方法:采用RT-PCR技术从C.reinhardtii CC125中提取总RNA,扩增981bp的目的基因Lztfl1,插入到p ET-28a(+)原核表达载体,成功构建p ET-28a(+)-Lztfl1重组质粒,转入E.coli BL21(DE3)经IPTG诱导后成功表达6×His-LZTFL1融合蛋白,融合蛋白经亲和纯化后免疫新西兰大白兔制备多克隆抗体,最后采用间接ELISA法测得抗血清效价达到1∶512 000,经Western blot对C.reinhardtii CC125检测具有较高特异性。结果:首次实现了莱茵衣藻LZTFL1蛋白的原核表达,制备出一支兔抗莱茵衣藻LZTFL1蛋白的多克隆抗体,为后续研究LZTFL1蛋白在莱茵衣藻中的结构功能及在纤毛信号转导中的相互作用奠定了基础。     

4种常用抗生素对莱茵衣藻生长及光化学活性的影响

采用4种不同浓度的抗生素对(氨苄青霉素(Amp)、卡那霉素(Kan)、氯霉素(Cmp)及四环素(Tet))莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)进行无菌化处理,研究抗生素种类及浓度对莱茵衣藻的细胞密度、叶绿素a含量及光化学活性的影响,以确定对莱茵衣藻细胞无害并能抑制伴杂菌生长的抗生素种类及使用浓度。结果表明:低于100μg/mL的氨苄青霉素(Amp)及20μg/mL的氯霉素(Cmp)处理,会使莱茵衣藻的细胞密度及叶绿素a的含量增加,卡那霉素(Kan)及四环素(Tet)各浓度的处理都会使细胞密度及叶绿素a的含量下降,并呈现抗生素的剂量依赖效应;50μg/mL的Amp及10μg/mL的Cmp在处理3 d后会增加莱茵衣藻的实际光合效率(YII)及相对电子传递效率(rETR),而后下降;Kan及Tet各浓度的处理都会使YII及rETR显著下降。结合4种抗生素对莱茵衣藻伴生菌的抑菌实验结果,表明在4种抗生素中,Cmp在抑菌范围内并不会明显地抑制莱茵衣藻细胞的生长与光化学活性,可用于莱茵衣藻细胞无菌化培养中。     

莱茵衣藻Nfr-4突变株中类胡萝卜素含量的变化及其对藻生长的影响

文章对相同条件下培养的莱茵衣藻野生型CC-137和八氢番茄红素脱氢酶(phytoene desaturase,PDS)基因突变株Nfr-4的生长进行分析;并用反相高效液相色谱分析总有色类胡萝卜素以及叶绿素含量变化,结果表明两者生长的差异明显;Nfr-4突变株的单细胞叶绿素和总有色类胡萝卜素含量高于野生型CC-137的。     

莱茵衣藻中Limp77基因干涉后油脂含量升高

随着能源危机问题日益严重,可再生能源的研究渐渐成为目前研究的热点.微藻生物能源又以众多的优点成为目前可再生能源的研究重点.我们发现,在减氮培养下的莱茵衣藻,其油脂含量增加,Limp77基因的表达量明显下降.Limp77基因编码的是一类CCCH型锌指蛋白,具有通过与DNA、RNA结合来实现转录的调控或通过调控其它基因转录的锌指蛋白来实现转录调控的功能,极可能参与到莱茵衣藻油脂代谢调控中.通过利用RNAi干涉技术构建Limp77基因的干涉载体,并通过玻璃珠法转入莱茵衣藻（Chlamydomonas reinhardtii）2A38中,研究其与油脂相关的生理生化指标的变化.实验结果表明,Limp 77基因明显抑制莱茵衣藻油脂的积累.     

甜菜夜蛾雌蛾求偶行为及性信息素产生的时间节律(英文)

研究了甜菜夜蛾雌蛾求偶行为和腺体中性信息素滴度时日变化的规律。结果表明 ,雌蛾求偶行为和性信息素滴度均呈明显的昼夜节律 ,且均在暗期的中后期达到高峰。比较而言 ,雌蛾的求偶活动期较短 ,在暗期中期开始 ,暗期结束后很快停止 ;但峰期较长 ,从中后期达到高峰后一直保持到暗期结束。而腺体内 4种性信息素组份从暗期前 0 .5h到下一个光期 4.5h均有产生 ;但峰期很短 ,暗期 6.5h显著增加达到高峰后 ,在 8.5h又迅速回落。日变化研究表明 ,甜菜夜蛾当日龄即可求偶 ,3日龄起进入求偶盛期 ,至 7日龄末有明显减退。 0～ 3日龄雌蛾的平均初始求偶时间逐日显著提前 ,以后则稳定在暗期 5h左右。不同日龄间性信息素滴度的变化较小     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.