Low frequency of transgene flow from Bt/CpTI rice to its non-transgenic counterparts planted at close spacing

Crop-to-crop transgene flow will affect seed purity of non-GM rice varieties, leading to unwanted consequences. To assess the maximum probability of transgene outflow in rice (Oryza sativa), gene flow experiments were conducted with three cultivation patterns with different mixed-planting proportions of adjacent GM and non-GM rice at two sites in Fujian and Hainan Provinces of China. Three GM rice lines containing two insect-resistance genes (Bt/CpTI) and their non-GM counterparts were used in the experiments to allow natural hybridization to occur. A hygromycin resistance gene was used as a selective marker for identifying hybrids. Based on the examination of > 645 700 geminated seeds, the result showed low frequencies (0.05-0.79%) of transgene flow from GM to non-GM rice at close spacing, although with significant variation among mixed-planting proportions. It is concluded that rice transgene flow will occur at a very low frequency (< 1.0%), even if the GM rice is planted at close spacing with non-GM rice, and high densities of GM rice cultivated in the neighborhood of non-GM rice will increase the probability of outcrossing with the non-GM rice.     

A phylogeny of the rice tribe Oryzeae (Poaceae) based on matK sequence data

Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using nucleotide sequences of the chloroplast gene matK for 26 species representing 11 genera of the tribe Oryzeae and three outgroup species. The sequenced fragments varied from 1522 base pairs (bp) to 1534 bp in length with 15.4% variable and 7.9% phylogenetically informative sites when the outgroups were excluded. The aligned sequences were analyzed by maximum parsimony and neighbor-joining methods. Analyses of the sequence data indicated that species of Oryzeae form a strongly supported monophyletic group, concordant with previous morphological and anatomical evidence. The tribe Oryzeae can be divided into two monophyletic lineages, corresponding to the traditionally recognized subtribes Oryzinae and Zizaniinae. The first subtribe consists of Oryza and Leersia, while the subtribe Zizaniinae includes the remaining genera. The matK sequence data did not support the close affinities of the monoecious genera in Oryzeae, implying the possibility of multiple origins of the floral structures in the tribe. It is noteworthy that Porteresia coarctata is closely related to Oryza species, suggesting that it should be treated as a member in the genus Oryza rather than a separate monotypic genus.     

等离子经尿道前列腺电切对患者生活质量的影响

目的:探讨等离子经尿道前列腺电切(PKRP)和常规经尿道前列腺电切(TURP)对良性前列腺增生(BPH)患者生活质量的影响。方法:采取前瞻性随机对照的方法将105名需要手术治疗的BPH患者随机分成二组:即TURP组51例,PKRP组54例。使用IPSS、QOL和WHOQOL-BREF量表,分别在术前、术后第1、6和12个月对患者的LUTS和生活质量进行评估。结果:TURP组和PKRP组患者的生活质量在术后6个月得到明显改善。TURP组术后第6个月的IPSS、QOL和WHOQOL-BREF评分分别为10.4±2.6,1.7±0.6和55.1±7.4,术后第12个月的IPSS、QOL和WHOQOL-BREF评分分别为11.4±2.6,1.7±0.5和55.2±6.9,均比术前(21.5±5.3,5.3±0.9和52.4±7.0)有明显改善。PKRP组术后第6个月的IPSS、QOL和WHOQOL-BREF评分分别为9.8±2.4,1.5±0.4和57.9±8.1,术后第12个月的IPSS、QOL和WHOQOL-BREF评分分别为10.6±2.2,1.7±0.5和56.3±6.2,均比术前(21.3±6.1,5.2±1.0和55.0±8.8)有明显改善。结论:TURP和PKRP术后第6个月患者的生活质量得到持续改善,WHO-QOL-BREF可以作为评价TURP和PKRP对BPH患者生活质量影响的可靠测量工具。     

H-FABP基因多态性与江苏地方山羊品种IMF含量的关系

目的:探讨H -FABP基因多态性与江苏地方山羊品种肌内脂肪含量之间的相关性.方法:PCR - SSCP标记技术检测2个江苏地方山羊品种H -FABP基因部分外显子和内含子区域的多态性,利用最小二乘法分析其与IMF含量的关系.结果:在H - FABP基因第2外显子区域发现1个多态性位点,分别定义为GG和GC2种基因型.构建的固定效应模型显示,基因型GC的IMF含量含量高于基因型GG,在背最长肌和腿肌中GC基因型个体的IMF含量显著高于GG基因型(P＜0.05).结论:H-FABP基因第2外显子132 bp位点处GC基因型具有使IMF含量提高的遗传效应.     

不同土壤水分条件下珍珠油杏的光合光响应特征

用CIRAS-2便携式光合仪测定了不同土壤水分条件下(土壤相对含水量为84.7%～22.8%)2年生珍珠油杏叶片净光合速率、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率、胞间CO2浓度等光合生理参数的光响应过程,探讨其光合生理特性对土壤水分和光照强度的响应规律。结果表明:(1)随着土壤水分含量的降低,珍珠油杏叶片净光合速率、蒸腾速率、暗呼吸速率、光饱和点均呈降低趋势,表观量子效率先升高后降低,光补偿点先降低后升高。(2)利于珍珠油杏进行高光合作用并维持高水分利用效率的土壤相对含水量为43.6%～84.7%,适宜的光照强度为800～2 000μmol.m-2.s-1,即珍珠油杏对土壤水分和光照强度适应范围较广。(3)在土壤相对含水量43.6%～73.5%范围内,气孔限制是导致珍珠油杏光合速率下降的主要原因,在低于43.6%范围内,非气孔限制是导致光合速率下降的主要原因。研究认为,珍珠油杏是一种抗旱性比较强的植物,适合在华北干旱瘠薄山地引种栽培。     

葡萄休眠解除过程中冬芽组织活性氧与抗氧化系统的变化特征

以酿酒葡萄‘赤霞珠’(红)和‘霞多丽’(白)为试材,通过考察其自然休眠过程和打破休眠(单氰胺处理)过程中冬芽组织活性氧及抗氧化系统的变化,探讨葡萄休眠机制。结果表明:(1)在陕西杨陵地区,早熟品种‘霞多丽’在12月20日左右进入深度休眠,第2年1月29日进入休眠解除阶段;晚熟品种‘赤霞珠’在1月9日左右达到深度休眠,2月18日左右进入休眠解除阶段;单氰胺处理可促进葡萄休眠的解除。(2)葡萄休眠过程中,活性氧O2.-和H2O2含量在休眠初期逐渐增加,深度休眠时含量最高,休眠解除过程中含量降低,从而促进休眠的解除;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性在休眠中一直降低,休眠解除后活性上升;过氧化物酶(POD)活性在休眠前期较低,随后活性上升,休眠解除过程中活性又降低;过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性在休眠过程中持续上升,随后维持在较高水平;抗坏血酸-还原态的谷胱甘肽(ASA-GSH)循环在休眠前期较弱,休眠解除过程中逐渐增强。研究发现,葡萄进入休眠后,其冬芽抗氧化能力逐渐降低,至深度休眠时抗氧化能力降至最低,随着低温积累需冷量得到满足,活化了抗氧化系统进而抗氧化能力迅速提高,休眠被解除。     

MicroRNA-1在心肌肥大中对L-型钙通道β2亚基的负性调控作用

目的:研究微小RNA-1(microRNA-1,miR-1)在心肌细胞肥大中对L-型钙通道β2亚基(Cavβ2)的负性调控作用及机制。方法:应用异丙肾上腺素(ISO)诱导心肌细胞肥大;采用HJ2000通用图像分析系统测定心肌细胞表面积;应用数据库microCosm预测miR-1的靶基因;构建含Cavβ23’UTR报告基因质粒和miR-1瞬时共转染HEK293细胞,验证Cavβ2为miR-1靶基因;应用qRT-PCR或Western blot方法检测心房钠尿肽(ANP)、β-肌球蛋白重链(β-MHC)、miR-1和Cavβ2mRNA和蛋白表达水平;转染miR-1模拟物上调miR-1或应用Cavβ2RNAi干扰Cavβ2蛋白的表达,观察对心肌细胞肥大的影响。结果:①在ISO诱导的心肌细胞肥大中,miR-1表达显著下降;应用miR-1 mimic转染心肌细胞使miR-1表达上调,心肌细胞表面积、ANP和β-MHC mRNA表达均显著低于ISO组(P<0.05)。②网络数据库预测显示Cavβ2为miR-1的潜在靶点;将miR-1和含Cavβ23’UTR报告基因质粒共转染HEK293细胞,其萤光值显著降低(P<0.01)。转染miR-1 mimic使心肌细胞miR-1表达上调,可以明显抑制Cavβ2蛋白的表达。③在ISO诱导心肌细胞肥大中Cavβ2表达较对照组显著增加;应用RNAi技术下调Cavβ2表达可明显抑制心肌细胞表面积、ANP和β-MHC mRNA表达的增加。结论:预测并验证L-型钙通道β2亚基为miR-1的靶基因。miR-1可能通过抑制其靶基因Cavβ2蛋白的表达,降低细胞内钙离子浓度,抑制心肌细胞肥大。     

Limited fitness advantages of crop-weed hybrid progeny containing insect-resistant transgenes (Bt/CpTI) in transgenic rice field

Background

The spread of insect-resistance transgenes from genetically engineered (GE) rice to its coexisting weedy rice (O. sativa f. spontanea) populations via gene flow creates a major concern for commercial GE rice cultivation. Transgene flow to weedy rice seems unavoidable. Therefore, characterization of potential fitness effect brought by the transgenes is essential to assess environmental consequences caused by crop-weed transgene flow.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Field performance of fitness-related traits was assessed in advanced hybrid progeny of F₄ generation derived from a cross between an insect-resistant transgenic (Bt/CpTI) rice line and a weedy strain. The performance of transgene-positive hybrid progeny was compared with the transgene-negative progeny and weedy parent in pure and mixed planting of transgenic and nontransgenic plants under environmental conditions with natural vs. low insect pressure. Results showed that under natural insect pressure the insect-resistant transgenes could effectively suppress target insects and bring significantly increased fitness to transgenic plants in pure planting, compared with nontransgenic plants (including weedy parent). In contrast, no significant differences in fitness were detected under low insect pressure. However, such increase in fitness was not detected in the mixed planting of transgenic and nontransgenic plants due to significantly reduced insect pressure.

Conclusions/Significance

Insect-resistance transgenes may have limited fitness advantages to hybrid progeny resulted from crop-weed transgene flow owning to the significantly reduced ambient target insect pressure when an insect-resistant GE crop is grown. Given that the extensive cultivation of an insect-resistant GE crop will ultimately reduce the target insect pressure, the rapid spread of insect-resistance transgenes in weedy populations in commercial GE crop fields may be not likely to happen.