Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers in Gallionella

This is a report of microbial formation of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and nanofibers at normal pressure and temperature. Our results demonstrate a single cell organism's ability to form complicated material of high industrial interest. The microorganism, Gallionella, is classified as autotrophic and dysoxic. It uses CO₂ for its carbon source and grows in environments with low concentrations of free oxygen. The organisms were taken from a deep bedrock tunnel where water leaking from cracks in the rock formed a precipitate of iron as a bacterial slime on the rock wall. Detailed investigations of the samples by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed several types of MWCNT. The stalk single MWCNT was observed with a diameter of about 10 nm and with an inner diameter of 1.35 nm. The wall of the nanotube is built by graphite layers. The 10 to 20 sheets are used to form the tubes. The measured spacing between the lines is 0.34 nm, which is an average value of interlayer spacing, close to the graphitic distance (0.335 nm). HRTEM images reveal a two-dimensional lattice with a spacing of 0.24 nm, indicating the presence of graphene.     

Patterns of autotomy and regeneration in Hemigrapsus nudus

Leg autotomy and regeneration can have severe impacts on survival and reproduction, and these impacts may be even more pronounced in animals with multifarious legs, such as decapods. Thus, determining the patterns and frequency of autotomy and regeneration could reveal the effects of these processes on the individual and population level. We investigated whether some legs are lost more often than others and if all legs are equally likely to be regenerated. We sampled nearly 500 purple shore crabs (Hemigrapsus nudus) and showed that (1) most animals are found with at least one injured leg, (2) the patterns of autotomy differ between males and females, and (3) successful claw regeneration is unlikely in both males and females. Future work with H. nudus and other grapsid crabs will elucidate how patterns seen here relate to other developmental and ecological factors.     

Efficient Genome-Wide Detection and Cataloging of EMS-Induced Mutations Using Exome Capture and Next-Generation Sequencing

Chemical mutagenesis efficiently generates phenotypic variation in otherwise homogeneous genetic backgrounds, enabling functional analysis of genes. Advances in mutation detection have brought the utility of induced mutant populations on par with those produced by insertional mutagenesis, but systematic cataloguing of mutations would further increase their utility. We examined the suitability of multiplexed global exome capture and sequencing coupled with custom-developed bioinformatics tools to identify mutations in well-characterized mutant populations of rice (Oryza sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). In rice, we identified ∼18,000 induced mutations from 72 independent M2 individuals. Functional evaluation indicated the recovery of potentially deleterious mutations for >2600 genes. We further observed that specific sequence and cytosine methylation patterns surrounding the targeted guanine residues strongly affect their probability to be alkylated by ethyl methanesulfonate. Application of these methods to six independent M2 lines of tetraploid wheat demonstrated that our bioinformatics pipeline is applicable to polyploids. In conclusion, we provide a method for developing large-scale induced mutation resources with relatively small investments that is applicable to resource-poor organisms. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that large libraries of sequenced mutations can be readily generated, providing enhanced opportunities to study gene function and assess the effect of sequence and chromatin context on mutations.     

Baseline map of organic carbon in Australian soil to support national carbon accounting and monitoring under climate change

We can effectively monitor soil condition—and develop sound policies to offset the emissions of greenhouse gases—only with accurate data from which to define baselines. Currently, estimates of soil organic C for countries or continents are either unavailable or largely uncertain because they are derived from sparse data, with large gaps over many areas of the Earth. Here, we derive spatially explicit estimates, and their uncertainty, of the distribution and stock of organic C in the soil of Australia. We assembled and harmonized data from several sources to produce the most comprehensive set of data on the current stock of organic C in soil of the continent. Using them, we have produced a fine spatial resolution baseline map of organic C at the continental scale. We describe how we made it by combining the bootstrap, a decision tree with piecewise regression on environmental variables and geostatistical modelling of residuals. Values of stock were predicted at the nodes of a 3‐arc‐sec (approximately 90 m) grid and mapped together with their uncertainties. We then calculated baselines of soil organic C storage over the whole of Australia, its states and territories, and regions that define bioclimatic zones, vegetation classes and land use. The average amount of organic C in Australian topsoil is estimated to be 29.7 t ha^?1 with 95% confidence limits of 22.6 and 37.9 t ha^?1. The total stock of organic C in the 0–30 cm layer of soil for the continent is 24.97 Gt with 95% confidence limits of 19.04 and 31.83 Gt. This represents approximately 3.5% of the total stock in the upper 30 cm of soil worldwide. Australia occupies 5.2% of the global land area, so the total organic C stock of Australian soil makes an important contribution to the global carbon cycle, and it provides a significant potential for sequestration. As the most reliable approximation of the stock of organic C in Australian soil in 2010, our estimates have important applications. They could support Australia's National Carbon Accounting System, help guide the formulation of policy around carbon offset schemes, improve Australia's carbon balances, serve to direct future sampling for inventory, guide the design of monitoring networks and provide a benchmark against which to assess the impact of changes in land cover, land management and climate on the stock of C in Australia. In this way, these estimates would help us to develop strategies to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change.     

A turn‐on indole‐based sensor for hydrogen sulfate ion

A simple indole‐based receptor 1 was prepared by a simple Schiff‐base reaction of 1H‐indole‐3‐carbaldehyde with ethane 1,2‐diamine and its fluoroionophoric properties toward anions were investigated. Indole‐based receptor 1 acts as a selective turn‐on fluorescent sensor for HSO₄^? in methanol among a series of tested anions. Fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging support that the HSO₄^– indeed interacted with imine nitrogen and the proton of nitrogen in indole ring. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

被子植物生殖细胞与精细胞的分离方法

开花植物精细胞的发育经历一个独特的后减数分裂过程,在此过程中每个花粉母细胞减数分裂的产物——小孢子经不对称有丝分裂产生1个大的营养细胞和1个小的生殖细胞,随后生殖细胞经过正常的有丝分裂产生2个精细胞。近几年,随着高通量组学技术的不断完善,利用组学技术比较分析生殖细胞和精细胞的分子特征、揭示决定精细胞命运与功能以及受精识别的重要分子已成为植物生殖生物学备受关注的课题。开展此项研究的关键是建立能获得大量高纯度的生殖细胞与精细胞分离纯化技术。该文综述了被子植物生殖细胞和精细胞分离方法的主要研究进展,分析了关键方法的特点和要点以及不同方法之间的差异和共性,以期为相关领域的研究人员提供借鉴。     

Role of the gibberellin receptors GID1 during fruit‐set in Arabidopsis

Gibberellins (GAs) play a critical role in fruit‐set and fruit growth. Gibberellin is perceived by its nuclear receptors GA INSENSITIVE DWARF1s (GID1s), which then trigger degradation of downstream repressors DELLAs. To understand the role of the three GA receptor genes (GID1A, GID1B and GID1C) in Arabidopsis during fruit initiation, we have examined their temporal and spatial localization, in combination with analysis of mutant phenotypes. Distinct expression patterns are revealed for each GID1: GID1A is expressed throughout the whole pistil, while GID1B is expressed in ovules, and GID1C is expressed in valves. Functional study of gid1 mutant combinations confirms that GID1A plays a major role during fruit‐set and growth, whereas GID1B and GID1C have specific roles in seed development and pod elongation, respectively. Therefore, in ovules, GA perception is mediated by GID1A and GID1B, while GID1A and GID1C are involved in GA perception in valves. To identify tissue‐specific interactions between GID1s and DELLAs, we analyzed spatial expression patterns of four DELLA genes that have a role in fruit initiation (GAI, RGA, RGL1 and RGL2). Our data suggest that GID1A can interact with RGA and GAI in all tissues, whereas GID1C–RGL1 and GID1B–RGL2 interactions only occur in valves and ovules, respectively. These results uncover specific functions of each GID1–DELLA in the different GA‐dependent processes that occur upon fruit‐set. In addition, the distribution of GA receptors in valves along with lack of expression of GA biosynthesis genes in this tissue, strongly suggests transport of GAs from the developing seeds to promote fruit growth.