Acceptor specificity of the human leukocyte alpha3 fucosyltransferase: role of FucT-VII in the generation of selectin ligands

The alpha3 fucosyltransferase, FucT-VII, is one of the key glycosyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of the sialyl Lewis X (sLex) antigen on human leukocytes. The sialyl Lewis X antigen (NeuAcalpha(2-3)Galbeta(1-4)[Fucalpha(1-3)]GlcNAc-R) is an essential component of the recruitment of leukocytes to sites of inflammation, mediating the primary interaction between circulating leukocytes and activated endothelium. In order to characterize the enzymatic properties of the leukocyte alpha3 fucosyltransferase FucT-VII, the enzyme has been expressed in Trichoplusia ni insect cells. The enzyme is capable of synthesizing both sLexand sialyl-dimeric-Lexstructures in vitro , from 3'-sialyl-lacNAc and VIM-2 structures, respectively, with only low levels of fucose transfer observed to neutral or 3'-sulfated acceptors. Studies using fucosylated NeuAcalpha(2-3)-(Galbeta(1- 4)GlcNAc)3-Me acceptors demonstrate that FucT-VII is able to synthesize both di-fucosylated and tri-fucosylated structures from mono- fucosylated precursors, but preferentially fucosylates the distal GlcNAc within a polylactosamine chain. Furthermore, the rate of fucosylation of the internal GlcNAc residues is reduced once fucose has been added to the distal GlcNAc. These results indicate that FucT-VII is capable of generating complex selectin ligands, in vitro , however the order of fucose addition to the lactosamine chain affects the rate of selectin ligand synthesis.      

Transfer of a genetic marker from a megaplasmid of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 to a megaplasmid of a different Anabaena strain.

The 410-kb alpha megaplasmid of the heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 was found to bear the nucA gene that encodes a sugar-nonspecific nuclease. That gene was mutated by insertion of a cassette that confers resistance to neomycin. The resulting strain, AMP2, was mated with a streptomycin-resistant derivative of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7118, a strain that does not form heterocysts. Cells resistant to both neomycin and streptomycin that were derived from such matings were found to bear the neomycin resistance cassette of the donor strain in a larger megaplasmid characteristic of the recipient strain and did not form heterocysts. This is the first example of transfer of a genetic marker directly between strains of cyanobacteria in which incontrovertible physical evidence of transfer has been obtained. DNA sequences homologous to the nucA gene were present in 13 heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria that were tested but in none of six diverse unicellular strains that were examined.     

CRISPR/Cas9技术在工业微生物中的应用

近年来,通过基因编辑技术对工业微生物底盘细胞改造从而获得的优良细胞工厂,促进了农业、医学、环境、能源等领域的可持续发展,提高了人民的生活水平。微生物底盘细胞的改造离不开基因编辑,作为现阶段主要的基因编辑技术,规律间隔成簇短回文重复序列（clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,CRISPR）/Cas9系统自被发现以来,依靠其低成本、高效率等编辑优点,被广泛用于工业微生物底盘细胞的改造。本文主要简述了以CRISPR/Cas9为基础而衍伸出的各种基因编辑技术,提出了常用的工业微生物对应底盘细胞的改造策略,以期为研究者在进行微生物底盘细胞改造时选择出合适的基因编辑方法。最后指出了CRISPR基因编辑技术面临的PAM位点的依赖性、脱靶效应和应用广泛性等问题。     

日本血吸虫尾蚴头腺及钻腺的超微结构

通过电镜观察发现：日本血吸虫尾蚴的头腺为多导管的单细胞腺,由腺体部和若干突起状的短导管构成,其分泌小体呈圆形或卵圆形,平均大小为 ０． ２９ × ０． ２３μｍ,具有同心的环层膜状结构。前钻腺含有 Ａ、Ｂ两型分泌小体。 Ａ型分泌小体近似圆形,平均大小为 ０． ４６× ０． ３２μｍ,基质为电子致密的均 匀结构;Ｂ型分泌小体数量众多,略呈不规则的圆形,平均大小为１．０２×０．８２μｍ,基质为中等电子致 密并含十余个小圆形的电子透亮区。后钻腺含有椭圆形或长条状的分泌小体,平均大小为０．９７×０．６２μｍ,基质呈同质性,或伴有电子密度较深的圆形聚集物,或基质呈泡沫状。每根钻腺导管 的胞质外周具有许多沿导管长轴纵行的微管结构,在导管周围有纤维性网状构造包绕,起着对细长导管的支架作用。在导管束外周又有大量肌纤维包统而形成的鞘状结构,它对管内分泌小体的排出可能具有选择性控制作用。     

铜陵淡水豚国家级自然保护区半自然水域鱼类群落结构研究

2021年5月采用多网目复合刺网和抛网相结合的方法,对铜陵淡水豚国家级自然保护区半自然水域夹江鱼类群落进行了调查。共采集到鱼类30种,隶属于5目7科27属。相对重要性指数显示鲢（Hypophthalmichthys molitrix）、贝氏?（Hemiculter bleekeri）、似鳊（Pseudobrama simoni）、团头鲂（Megalobrama amblycephala）、鳊（Parabramis pekinensis）和翘嘴鲌（Culter alburnus）为群落优势种。与长江江豚（Neophocaena asiaeorientalis）争夺饵料资源的凶猛性鱼类比例达到2.4%,体长分布显示夹江中存在大量长江江豚无法摄食的大个体鱼类（17.5%）。夹江鱼类群落的Shannon-Weiner指数、Simpson指数、Margalef指数和Pielou均匀度指数依次分别为1.955~2.181,0.794~0.820,2.952~3.856和0.705~0.730。空间生态位宽度指数、平均拥挤度和生态位重叠指数表明,夹江优势种鱼类可能存在较为激烈的种间竞争。建议清理鳡（Elopichthys bambusa）、翘嘴鲌、达氏鲌（Culter dabryi）和乌鳢（Channa argus）等凶猛性鱼类及其他与长江江豚争夺饵料的鱼类,及时捕捞全长超过25 cm的鱼类,补充投放鲢、似鳊、银鲴（Xenocypris argentea）等长江江豚偏好摄食鱼类。     

Deletion of the unique gene encoding a typical histone H1 has no apparent phenotype in Aspergillus nidulans

We have cloned the H1 histone gene (hhoA) of Aspergillus nidulans. This single-copy gene codes for a typical linker histone with one central globular domain. The open reading frame is interrupted by six introns. The position of the first intron is identical to that of introns found in some plant histones. An H1-GFP fusion shows exclusive nuclear localization, whereas chromosomal localization can be observed during condensation at mitosis. Surprisingly, the deletion of hhoA results in no obvious phenotype. The nucleosomal repeat length and susceptibility to micrococcal nuclease digestion of A. nidulans chromatin are unchanged in the deleted strain. The nucleosomal organization of a number of promoters, including in particular the strictly regulated niiA-niaD bidirectional promoter is not affected.     

RNA聚合酶Ⅲ启动子的结构与功能

ＲＮＡ聚合酶Ⅲ (ｐｏｌⅢ )是真核生物催化合成ｔＲＮＡ和 5ＳｒＲＮＡ及一些核小ＲＮＡ和胞质ＲＮＡ必需的酶。ＲＮＡ聚合酶Ⅲ能够识别ｔＲＮＡ基因中一些高度保守的特征性ＤＮＡ序列而启动下游ＤＮＡ的转录 ,这些序列称为ＲＮＡ聚合酶Ⅲ启动子。ＲＮＡ聚合酶Ⅲ启动子不仅广泛存在于真核细胞中ｔＲＮＡ、Ｕ6核小ＲＮＡ(ＳＮＲ6 )等的基因中 ,也是病毒催化合成一些小片段ＲＮＡ如腺病毒ＶＡＲＮＡ所必需的。ＲＮＡ聚合酶Ⅲ启动子因其能在体内外高效快速地转录某些小片段基因 ,已被人们广泛地应用于核酶和反义ＲＮＡ技术中 ,在众多的ＲＮＡ…     

集胞藻Synechocystissp.PCC6803利用葡萄糖生长与光合能量转化的关系

用PAM叶绿素荧光仪测定了饥饿细胞、光自养细胞和混合营养细胞的叶绿素荧光 ,并对 3种类型细胞的荧光参数 :PSⅡ实际光化学效率 φⅡ和还原型质醌Q-A 进行了比较。用双重转盘磷光机测定了光自养细胞和混合营养细胞的毫秒延迟发光。根据叶绿素荧光动力学分析和毫秒延迟发光的结果及光合电子传递抑制剂 3,4_二氯苯基二甲脲 (DCMU)、二溴百里香醌 (DBMIB)对集胞藻 6 80 3(Synechocystissp .PCC 6 80 3)混合营养生长影响进行了分析 ,集胞藻 6 80 3混合营养培养的生长速率显著高于光自养培养的原因可能在于一是外源葡萄糖没有抑制反而是促进了混合营养细胞的光自养生长 ,二是呼吸基质向质醌库提供电子 ,使光合机构的能量转化加强 ,从而促进了集胞藻6 80 3细胞的利用葡萄糖的合成代谢。