Cell-Bound Serine Proteinase of Sporulating Cells of Bacillus subtilis

2-Deuterio-2-cyclohexen-l-one, 3-deuterio-2-cyclohexen-l-one and 2-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one were reduced by Clostridium La 1 giving a single bioconversion product resulting from reduction of the carbon-carbon double bond. Stereochemistry of the reaction was studied.     

Inhibition of Protein Synthesis by Antiviral Protein from Yucca recurvifolia Leaves

We analyzed 18S and 26S rRNA partial base sequences [positions 1451–1618 (168 bases) of 18S rRNA and positions 1611–1835 (225 bases) and 493–622 (130 bases) of 26S rRNA] of a total of three strains of Pichia jadinii and Candida utilis. The three strains had identical base sequences with the type strain of P. jadinii (IFO 0987) in the 18S rRNA partial base sequencings. In the 26S rRNA partial base sequencings, there were partial base sequences similar to each other (1–0 base difference and 87–95 percent similarities). The sequence data obtained are discussed taxonomically and phylogenetically, especially in connection with Williopsis saturnus, the type species of the genus Williopsis ZENDER.     

(2-Nitroethyl)benzene: a major flower scent from the Japanese loquat Eriobotrya japonica [Rosales: Rosaceae]

(2-Nitroethyl)benzene was identified as a major component of the flower scent of the Japanese loquat Eriobotrya japonica [Rosales: Rosaceae], together with p-methoxybenzaldehyde and methyl p-methoxybenzoate. The corresponding volatiles from chopped leaves did not contain these three compounds. This is the first time that 1-nitro-2-phenyl-ethane has been demonstrated to be a natural product among Japanese plants, although two Japanese millipedes are known to possess the same aromatics.     

Strict Binding Specificity of Small-Sized Lectins from the Red Alga Hypnea japonica for Core (α1-6) Fucosylated N-Glycans

Small-sized isolectins (9 KDa) from Hypnea japonica belong to a new lectin family. Here, we describe the carbohydrate-binding properties of the three isolectins (hypninA1, A2, and A3) and the amino acid sequence of hypninA3 (P85888). In frontal affinity chromatography with about 100 pyridylaminated oligosaccharides, the isolectins, which had no affinity for monosaccharides, commonly bound only core (α1-6) fucosylated N-glycans, and did not the other oligosaccharides examined, including (α1-2), (α1-3), and (α1-4) fucosylated glycans. The specific binding of hypninA3 with the fucosylated N-glycans (K _a; 0.52–7.58×10⁶ M^?1) was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance analyses on an immobilized glycoprotein with and without core (α1-6) fucose. Such specificity of hypninA is clearly distinct from those of other known fucose-binding lectins, making it a valuable tool for cancer diagnosis and quality control of medicinal antibodies. HypninA3 is a polypeptide composed of 90 amino acids containing four half-cystines.     

温度对2个地理种群莲草直胸跳甲成虫产卵量及存活率的影响

【背景】温度对莲草直胸跳甲种群增长具有重要作用,了解引进的莲草直胸跳甲泰国种群的温度适应性,同时与福州本地种群相比较,可以有效地利用其防治空心莲子草。【方法】采用室内继代饲养的方法,设置3个温度,对莲草直胸跳甲福州本地种群和泰国热带种群的成虫产卵量及存活率进行了研究。【结果】在相同温度条件下,泰国热带种群的繁殖力显著高于福州本地种群。随着温度的升高,泰国热带种群和福州本地种群的产卵量均有显著下降,但泰国热带种群的产卵量均稍高于福州本地种群。在3个试验温度下,莲草直胸跳甲泰国热带种群的成虫寿命较福州本地种群的寿命长。【结论与意义】莲草直胸跳甲泰国热带种群对温度的适应性和繁殖力强,更容易构建种群,有利于对空心莲子草的生物防治。     

Impact of elevated CO2 and increased temperature on Japanese beetle herbivory

To examine how the major elements of global change affect herbivory in agroecosystems, a multifactorial experiment was conducted where soybeans were grown at two levels of carbon dioxide and temperature, including those predicted for 2050, under otherwise normal field conditions. Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman) were enclosed on foliage for 24 h, after which the beetle survivorship, total and per capita leaf consumption, and leaf protease inhibitor activity were measured. The direct effect of temperature on beetle consumption and survivorship also was measured under controlled environmental conditions. No differences in total foliage consumption were observed; however, beetles forced to feed at elevated temperature in the field demonstrated greater per capita consumption and reduced survivorship compared to beetles feeding at ambient temperature. Survivorship was also greater for beetles that consumed foliage grown under elevated CO₂, but there were no interactive effects of CO₂ and temperature, and no differences in leaf chemistry were resolved. Leaf consumption by beetles increased strongly with increasing temperature up to ～37° C, above which increased mortality caused a precipitous decrease in consumption. An empirical model based on the temperature dependence of leaf consumption and flight suggests that the 3.5°C increase in temperature predicted for 2050 will increase the optimal feeding window for the Japanese beetle by 290%. Elevated temperature and CO₂ operating independently have the potential to greatly increase foliage damage to soybean by chewing insects, such as Popillia japonica, potentially affecting crop yields.     

基于COⅠ基因探讨北京及其周边地区跳钩虾种群遗传结构

跳钩虾Platorchestia japonica栖息于湖泊、河流岸边,是重要的环境指示生物。本研究以线粒体COⅠ基因片段为分子标记,对北京及其周边地区22个采样点的128个样本进行种群遗传多样性和遗传结构研究。结果显示,623 bp的COⅠ基因序列中有567个保守位点、56个变异位点和38个简约信息位点。128个样本检测到43个单倍型,单倍型多样性为0.938,核苷酸多样性为0.011 72。最大似然法和贝叶斯法构建的系统发育树以及单倍型网络图表明,研究区域跳钩虾没有明显的地理种群结构,但所有单倍型形成2个遗传进化支。分子变异分析结果证实,跳钩虾2个进化支间的遗传变异显著高于进化支内的,进化支间固定系数为0.852 19,表明2个进化支遗传分化明显。本研究为进一步研究中国区域跳钩虾的遗传结构提供了有意义的基础数据。