A novel algesic peptide derived from skin secretions of the frog Amolops loloensis.

Several algesic agents including bradykinin and tachykinin have been identified from skin secretions of amphibians. They may act in defensive roles against aggressors. In this study, a novel peptide named Amolos with an amino acid sequence of FLPIVGAKL and isolated from skin secretion of the frog Amolops loloensis, is shown to strengthen nociceptive responses induced by inflammatory factors and strongly inhibit the contraction of isolated ileum. A synthetic peptide based on the sequence obtained showed characterization data identical to those of the isolated material, confirming its structure. These two types of responses seem to be a part of the defensive functions against predators or aggressors. The current results suggest that pharmacological molecules in amphibian skins not only act as innate defense mechanisms against microorganisms but also exert other defensive physiological functions against other aggressors.     

植物类受体激酶CrRLK1-L亚家族及其生物学功能

植物CrRLK1-L亚家族类受体激酶的胞外域具有新颖结构基序,但功能大都未知.该家族成员广泛存在于被子植物中,但在动物和微生物中不存在其同源物.CrRLK1-L家族成员相对较少,但组织表达非常广泛.它们定位于细胞质膜上,并且部分成员的定位还具有极性,这与其参与雌雄配子体的识别和受精作用密切相关.该家族成员普遍具有激酶活性,该活性对其功能的发挥至关重要.目前仅报道在拟南芥中参与助细胞与花粉的识别和调控营养组织的细胞伸长,但参与这些生物学过程的作用机制似乎独立于已知的信号通路之外,可能有自身独特的信号传导机制.所以对这一类具特有结构基序的类受体激酶基因的功能研究,将有助于解析植物特有生物学过程的分子作用机制,特别是在植物有性生殖过程中,合理利用这些分子开展育种实践对未来农业生产具有潜在的应用价值.     

遗传学实验教学改革初探

对遗传学实验教学改革从建立开放式实验的教学模式,加强对学生平时实验操作能力的考核,以及充分利用多媒体教学等方面进行了探讨,促进了遗传学教学水平的提高。更加注重对学生综合能力的培养,使学生真正成为具有良好的职业素质和较强的实践能力的实用型人才。     

A defensin‐like antimicrobial peptide from the venoms of spider,Ornithoctonus hainana

The defensin‐like antimicrobial peptides have been characterized from various other arthropods including insects, scorpions, and ticks. But no natural spider defensin‐like antimicrobial peptides have ever been isolated from spiders, except couple of cDNA and DNA sequences of five spider species revealed by previous genomic study. In this work, a defensin‐like antimicrobial peptide named Oh‐defensin was purified and characterized from the venoms of the spider, Ornithoctonus hainana. Oh‐defensin is composed of 52 amino acid (aa) residues including six Cys residues that possibly form three disulfide bridges. Its aa sequence is MLCKLSMFGAVLGV PACAIDCLPMGKTGGSCEGGVCGCRKLTFKILWDKKFG. By BLAST search, Oh‐defensin showed significant sequence similarity to other arthropod antimicrobial peptides of the defensin family. Oh‐defensin exerted potent antimicrobial activities against tested microorganisms including Gram‐positive bacteria, Gram‐negative bacteria, and fungi. The cDNA encoding Oh‐defensin precursor was also cloned from the cDNA library of O. hainana. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two novel antimicrobial peptides from skin secretions of the frog,Rana nigrovittata

Two novel antimicrobial peptides with similarity to brevinin‐2 family are purified and characterized from the skin secretions of the frog, Rana nigrovittata. Their amino acid sequences were determined as GAFGNFLKGVAKKAGLKILSIAQCKLSGTC (brevinin‐2‐RN1) and GAFGNFLKGVAKKAGLKILSIAQCKLFGTC (brevinin‐2‐RN2), respectively, by Edman degradation. Different from brevinin‐2, which is composed of 33 amino acid residues (aa), both brevinin‐2‐RN1 and ‐RN2 contain 30 aa. Five cDNA sequences (Genbank accession numbers, EU136465‐9) encoding precursors of brevinin‐2‐RN1 and ‐RN2 were screened from the skin cDNA library of R. nigrovittata. These precursors are composed of 72 aa including a predicted signal peptide, an acidic spacer peptide, and a mature brevinin‐2‐RN. Both brevinin‐2‐RN1 and ‐RN2 showed strong antimicrobial activities against gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria and fungi. The current work identified and characterized two novel antimicrobial peptides with unique primary structure. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于核核糖体DNA ITS序列的真藓科系统发育新证据

主要是利用核基因组的核糖体DNA内转录间隔区（nrDNA ITS）序列数据探讨了Buck和Goffinet（2000）限定的真藓科内各属间及属内种间的系统发育关系。ITS序列的最大简约法（MP）及贝叶斯推论（BI）分析结果显示：不支持Cox（1999）利用rps4/trnL-trnF数据分析将丝瓜藓属移至提灯藓科的结论。ITS数据分析与Holyoak（2007）利用trnL-F,trnG和atpB-rbcL序列数据分析将Bryum algovicum、B.caespiticium、B.capillare、B.pseudotriquetrum和Plagiobryum zierii划归Ptychostomum的结论一致,同时,为Spence(2005)依据形态学特征将B.pallescen、B.pallens、B.uliginosum、B.amblyodon和B.lonchocaulon划归Ptychostomum提供ITS分子证据支持。基于以上研究,建议将以上提到的真藓属种和平蒴藓移至Ptychostomum。     

Identification of NaCl stress-responsive apoplastic proteins in rice shoot stems by 2D-DIGE

Plants have evolved sophisticated systems to cope with adverse environmental conditions such as cold, drought, and salinity. Although a number of stress response networks have been proposed, the role of plant apoplast in plant stress response has been ignored. To investigate the role of apoplastic proteins in the salt stress response, 10-day old rice plants were treated with 200mM NaCl for 1, 6 or 12h, and the soluble apoplast proteins of rice shoot stems were extracted for differential analysis, compared with untreated controls, by 2-D DIGE saturation labeling techniques. One hundred twenty-two significantly changed spots were identified by LC-MS/MS, and 117 spots representing 69 proteins have been identified. Of these proteins, 37 are apoplastic proteins according to the bioinformatic analysis. These proteins are mainly involved in the processes of carbohydrate metabolism, oxido-reduction, and protein processing and degradation. According to their functional categories and cluster analysis, a stress response model of apoplastic proteins has been proposed. These data indicate that the apoplast is important in plant stress signal reception and response.     

STRUCTURE AND CHANGES OF THE SALIVARY GLAND OF FEMALE DERMACENTOR SILVARUM OLENEV (ACARI: IXODIDAE)

Abstract The salivary gland (SG) of female Dermacentor silvarum consists of salivary ducts and lots of acini.
From the basis capituli to the end of the gland, the ducts can be divided into three parts, namely, central duct, major branch ducts and the lobular ducts, and the acini is spherical-like structures attached to various ducts. The central duct parallels with trachea. The surface of the acini is wrinkly and many small tracheae distributed on the acini. In unfed female, the length of SG is short (547.33 μm) and extends on the first day after feeding, and reaches its maximum value (1109.40 μm) on the 3rd day after feeding, while copulation has justly completed. From the 3rd day after feeding to the first three days after engorgement, no apparent change in length of the gland is observed. On the 4th day after engorgement, it shortens sharply (500.00 μm). The diameter of the acini of unfed female is also short (45.24 μm), it increases gradually during feeding and reaches its maximum (74.10 μm) on the 5th day after feeding. After engorgement, the acini becomes atrophic slowly and degenerated sharply on the 4th day.     

河北唐海湿地四种鹭的种群动态和繁殖空间生态位

2004年8月—2005年7月对河北唐海湿地夜鹭(Nycticoraxnycticorax)、白鹭(Egtettagarzetta)、池鹭(Ardeolabacchus)、大白鹭(Casmerodiusalbus)的种群动态和繁殖行为进行了观察,并对巢群关系进行了研究。统计了4种鹭垂直和水平巢位的巢密度,计算了不同种鹭巢的生态位重叠、生态位宽度值。结果4种鹭在唐海数量最多月份为4—9月,最大量达到了近5800只。共有Ⅰ、Ⅱ两个巢区,迁来Ⅱ区时间较Ⅰ区晚半个月左右。除池鹭外,3种鹭之间均有争巢现象,后期趋于稳定。迫于密度压力和竞争,部分白鹭和池鹭取食范围较广。除大白鹭外,其他3种鹭同种间均有混交现象。在混巢区,夜鹭迁来最早,数量最大,为优势种,多数占据中心区的顶巢;大白鹭数量最少,亦占据中心区的顶巢;白鹭迁来较晚,占据中位巢;池鹭迁来最晚,数量较白鹭少,多数在边缘区单独筑巢,少数在中心区占下位巢。白鹭巢的垂直生态位最宽;夜鹭巢的水平生态位最宽;池鹭巢的综合空间生态位最宽。池鹭和夜鹭巢位的空间格局最为相似,池鹭和白鹭的生态位重叠较大。夜鹭的数量最多、大白鹭的个体最大,导致其处于优势;白鹭和池鹭数量少、个体小,导致其处于劣势。唐海湿地内丰富的食物和适宜的林带是鹭鸟密度较大的主要原因。此外,鹭类只筑巢在散布的、双行杨树林带均高为22m以上区域,是该地鹭类巢区的主要特点。