麻疯树种子发育过程中JcOle14.3和JcOle16.6基因的表达模式研究

油质蛋白基因对种子中油体的形成至关重要,该研究通过实时荧光定量PCR,对麻疯树的两个油质蛋白基因JcOle14.3和JcOle16.6在种子不同发育时期的表达模式进行了分析。结果表明:两个基因在种子发育初期(10~30 d)表达量逐渐升高,但表达水平均较低;40 d时表达量急剧增加并达到最高,而种子发育后期(50~55 d)两个基因表达水平均逐渐降低。由此可初步推测,JcOle14.3和JcOle16.6基因的表达量可能与种子油脂积累量存在正相关。该研究结果为麻疯树油体形成机理和油质蛋白的深入研究提供了理论基础。     

酵母菌促进铅和镉胁迫下麻疯树生长的研究

为了筛选对铅和镉具有抗性和吸附性的酵母菌,构建麻疯树根系-酵母菌联合修复体系,促进高浓度铅和镉胁迫下麻疯树的生长。该研究分别从麻疯树的根段、珙桐的茎段、珙桐的根段分离到3株具有铅、镉抗性的酵母菌,分别命名为Jc、Di1、Di2,测定了三者对铅、镉的抗性和吸附性,并将筛选出的2株能吸附铅、镉的酵母菌菌株接种到麻疯树幼苗,研究接种两种酵母菌的麻疯树植株对铅、镉胁迫的响应。结果表明:经形态学和生理生化特征观察,Jc初步鉴定红酵母属(Rhodotorula sp.),Di1为假丝酵母属(Candida sp.),Di2为德巴利酵母属(Debaryomyces sp.)。三种酵母菌对铅、镉都有一定的抗性,其抗性能力的大小为JcDi2Di1。Di1和Jc对铅和镉都具有一定的吸附性将其用于接种麻疯树幼苗。与不接种酵母菌(CK)的麻疯树植株相比,接种Di1和Jc的麻疯树植株在根、茎、叶、全株干重方面显著增加,叶绿素、全株氮、全株磷浓度显著增加,SOD、POD、CAT的活性提高,丙二醛(MDA)浓度显著下降。从综合接种效应来看,Jc、Di1作为铅、镉的钝化剂,是铅、镉胁迫下促进麻疯树生长的备选菌株,这对于提高麻疯树对铅、镉污染土壤修复效率具有重要的意义。     

麻疯树雌雄花中MADS-BOX基因的表达分析

麻疯树(Jatropha curcas)种子含油率高,种子中的油类物质可作为生物柴油被开发和利用,是极具潜力的生物质能源树种之一。麻疯树雌雄异花,在自然条件下雄花数量通常远远大于雌花,这大大限制了种子和油的产量,因此开展麻疯树性别分化与花发育分子机理的研究具有重要意义。该研究选取10个麻疯树的MADS-BOX基因(JcAGL1,JcAGL6,JcAGL9,JcAGL11,JcAGL15,JcAGL61-3,JcAGL62-1,JcAGL62-6,JcAGL62-7,JcAGL80-2),提取麻疯树早期发育各个阶段的雌雄花总RNA,并反转录成cDNA,采用实时荧光定量方法,探索早期发育不同阶段的麻疯树雌雄花目的基因的表达情况。结果表明:目的基因在发育起始的雌雄花中的表达具有差异,比如JcAGL6和JcAGL15在雄花中表达量要高于雌花,而JcAGL1,JcAGL9和JcAGL11在雌花中的表达量要高于雄花,这说明花原基中目的基因表达会直接或间接决定性别分化的方向;在之后的发育过程中,目的基因的表达情况在雌雄花中有所不同:随着花的发育,目的基因在雌雄花中的表达量变化存在差别,这反应出麻疯树雌雄花发育中目的基因表达模式上的差异;另外,也能看出在此过程中各个目的基因又发挥着不同的功能。该研究结果为进一步探究麻疯树雌雄花发育相关基因的表达提供了理论依据,为了解麻疯树性别分化和花发育的分子机理奠定了基础。     

麻疯树curcin 启动子的分离及其在转基因烟草中的功能分析

核糖体失活蛋白是一类可以使核糖体28S rRNA的保守a茎环结构域脱嘌呤的蛋白质。麻疯树毒蛋白(curcin)前体基因编码麻疯树胚乳I 型核糖体失活蛋白。从麻疯树基因组中克隆得到其5'侧翼区0.6 kb长的片段, 将该片段插入pBI121载体置换其中的CaMV 35S启动子并在相应的转基因烟草中检测报告基因GUS的表达情况。经过GUS活性检测分析发现, 该0.6 kb长的片段能够启动报告基因在种子中的表达, 并且其在种子不同发育阶段的表达活性存在差异。同时, GUS组织化学染色定位分析表明, 在双子叶植物中该启动子片段是胚乳特异性表达的, 它从心形胚时期开始持续地在烟草的胚乳中发挥启动活性。     

一个麻疯树胞质Ⅱ类小热激蛋白基因JcHSP17.5的克隆和异源表达

从麻疯树胚乳cDNA文库中得到分子量大小约为17.5kDa的细胞质Ⅱ类小热激蛋白基因,命名为JcHSP17.5,GenBank登录号为GU320741。通过构建外源表达载体,将JcHSP17.5基因分别在大肠杆菌以及酿酒酵母中过量表达来研究基因的耐热和耐渗透压胁迫能力,发现两种重组菌在逆境下都较对照组生活力有显著提高。推测JcHSP17.5在麻疯树生长过程中可能与麻疯树耐热、耐旱以及耐离子胁迫相关。     

麻疯树curcin启动子的分离及其在转基因烟草中的功能分析

核糖体失活蛋白是一类可以使核糖体28S rRNA的保守α茎环结构域脱嘌呤的蛋白质。麻疯树毒蛋白（curcin）前体基因编码麻疯树胚乳I型核糖体失活蛋白。从麻疯树基因组中克隆得到其5＇侧翼区0.6 kb长的片段,将该片段插入pBI121载体置换其中的CaMV 35S启动子并在相应的转基因烟草中检测报告基因GUS的表达情况。经过GUS活性检测分析发现,该0.6 kb长的片段能够启动报告基因在种子中的表达,并且其在种子不同发育阶段的表达活性存在差异。同时,GUS组织化学染色定位分析表明,在双子叶植物中该启动子片段是胚乳特异性表达的,它从心形胚时期开始持续地在烟草的胚乳中发挥启动活性。     

一个麻疯树RING型锌指蛋白基因JcRFP1的克隆及表达

首次从麻疯树胚乳cDNA丈库中克隆得到一个RJNG型锌指蛋白基（GenBank登录号为JF920726）,命名为JcRFP1。该cDNA长度为728bp,包含编码JcRFP1蛋白的完整开放阅读框（516bp）。脚,基因在麻疯树各器官中均检测到表达且表达量依次为：叶〉茎〉花〉果实〉种子〉根。将克隆到的JcRFP1基因的cDNA序列连接到表达载体pET32a（＋）上,导入BL21（DE3）pLysS菌株,成功诱导表达相对分子质量为33．2kDa的可溶性融合蛋白。该融合蛋白免疫新西兰大白兔,得到效价为1：6500的抗血清。研究表明,JcRFP1蛋白具有体外泛素连接酶E3活性,在麻疯树体内可能参与油菜素甾醇信号转导途径。     

花生温度诱导载脂蛋白基因AhTIL1的克隆和表达研究

温度诱导的载脂蛋白(temperature induced lipocalins,TILs)与植物在热、冷、光、氧化等胁迫下的稳定性相关,旨在克隆花生中的温度诱导的载脂蛋白基因,分析其在响应低温、高温中的作用。从花生c DNA文库中筛选到一个TIL候选基因,命名为Ah TIL1,通过PCR扩增获得了其基因组和候选启动子的序列,并利用实时定量PCR等方法检测了该基因在花生不同组织、种子不同发育时期和温度胁迫下的相对表达量。序列分析结果表明,该基因的开放阅读框(open reading frame,ORF)为558 bp,编码185个氨基酸。生物信息学分析显示,推测的Ah TIL1蛋白质相对分子质量为21.4 k D,等电点为6.78。序列比对结果显示,该蛋白氨基酸序列同其他物种TIL蛋白显示出很高的同源性。对候选启动子预测结果表明,该基因的候选启动子包含ACE、Box4、G-box、GAG-motif等与光反应相关的调控元件以及与ABA、水杨酸、赤霉素、厌氧等相关的顺式调控元件。基因芯片和RNASeq结果表明,该基因在花生的根、茎、叶、花、果针、种子中均有表达,在花中表达量最高,茎中次之,在根中表达量最低;Ah TIL1在果针入土后表达量下降,随着荚果的膨大和种子的成熟,Ah TIL1的表达量逐渐增加。实时定量PCR结果证明,Ah TIL1在高温和低温诱导3、6、12和24 h后上调表达,在48 h后表达量下降。Ah TIL1可能在花生响应低温、冷胁迫中发挥着重要的作用。     

森林草莓FvZF-HD7基因的鉴定及表达分析

锌指同源蛋白ZF-HD(zinc finger homeodomain)家族是植物中所特有的一类转录因子家族,在响应植物逆境胁迫,调控花发育以及种子寿命等方面具有重要作用,但其在草莓中的功能尚不清楚。该研究从森林草莓(Fragaria vesca)基因组数据库分离获得了10个ZF-HD家族的基因。进化树分析显示,按照亲缘关系远近该基因家族可分为6个不同的亚族;启动子顺式元件分析发现,该基因家族基因的启动子区域含有较多的逆境胁迫和激素响应相关的元件。荧光定量PCR检测发现,FvZF-HD7基因在花中的表达量显著大于其他基因;组织特异性表达分析表明,FvZF-HD7基因在花中表达量最高,在叶和茎中也有表达,在果实发育的前期表达量较高,而在果实发育后期急剧降低。利用森林草莓‘Yellow Wonder 5AF7’(YW)的cDNA成功克隆到FvZF-HD7基因,生物学信息学分析表明FvZF-HD7基因全长1083 bp,编码360个氨基酸;序列比对结果显示,其编码的蛋白质同时含有ZF以及HD保守结构域;蛋白质的相对分子质量为39153.89 Da,结构中富含α螺旋和无规则卷曲。成功构建表达载体pGWB5-FvZF-HD7,将目的基因载体转入烟草中,Confocal激光共聚焦显微镜观察发现,转基因烟草的细胞核中检测到GFP信号,表明FvZF-HD7蛋白定位于细胞核中。研究表明,FvZF-HD7可能广泛参与了植物花发育和逆境胁迫调控,为进一步分析森林草莓ZF-HD基因家族的功能奠定了理论与分子基础。     

小桐子类固醇还原酶基因Jc5β-StR的克隆和表达分析

以小桐子(Jatropha curcas L.)cDNA为模版,克隆了Jc5β-StR基因的CDS序列,并对其序列进行了生物信息学分析。序列分析表明该基因包含1 173 bp开放阅读框(ORF),编码390个氨基酸。预测其编码蛋白质的相对分子量为44.23 k D,理论等电点为5.22。Blast搜索结果及进化分析结果表明,Jc5β-StR与蓖麻5β-St R蛋白序列一致性最高(87%)且亲缘关系最近。Jc5β-StR是一个短链还原酶,该蛋白编码有一个短链还原酶家族(SDRs)的黄体酮5β还原酶(5β-POR),还含有SDRs的6个保守结构域。组织表达结果显示Jc5β-StR在小桐子根、茎、叶、花、果皮和种子中都有表达,在种子中表达量最高,且随种子发育过程表达量逐渐上升,在种子生长发育的后期(50 d)达到最高值后下降。非生物胁迫(PEG、Na Cl、低温和机械损伤)诱导下,Jc5β-StR的表达量都不同程度上调,推测其参与小桐子非生物胁迫响应。     

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.