Hybridisation between oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and tetraploid Brassica rapa under field conditions

Cross-compatible relatives of crop species contribute to the uncertainty regarding the potential risk of transgene escape from genetically modified varieties. The most successful crossing partner of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is diploid Brassica rapa L. Variation of ploidy level among B. rapa cultivars has, until recently, been neglected in the context of gene flow and hybridisation with oilseed rape. We estimated the extent of hybridisation between autotetraploid B. rapa varieties (female) and B. napus (pollen donor) under experimental field conditions. Morphology, variation of relative DNA amount, and microsatellite markers were used to distinguish between intraspecific offspring of tetraploid B. rapa and interspecific hybrids with B. napus. Of 517 seed progenies of tetraploid B. rapa, 45 juvenile plants showed species specific morphological traits of oilseed rape. The detection of putative hybrids based on variation in relative DNA amounts was problematic due to the occurrence of aneuploidy. In total, 84 offspring showed relative DNA amounts deviating from tetraploid B. rapa, four of which were hexaploids. Of the 205 offspring analysed at three microsatellite loci, 67 had oilseed rape alleles. Based on molecular evidence a minimum hybridisation rate of 13.0% was estimated. A few mother plants accounted for the majority of hybrids. The mean pollen viability of hybrids between B. napus and tetraploid B. rapa (80.6%) was high in comparison with mean pollen viability of triploid hybrids between B. napus and diploid B. rapa. Therefore, the occurrence of tetraploid B. rapa should be taken into consideration when estimating the likelihood of gene flow from oilseed rape to close relatives at the landscape level. Tetraploid B. rapa is a common component of several seed mixtures and establishes feral populations in northwest Germany. Assuming a similar abundance of diploid and tetraploid B. rapa, gene flow from B. napus to tetraploid may be more likely than gene flow to diploid B. rapa.     

The History of Toxoplasma gondii—The First 100 Years

ABSTRACT. In this paper the history of Toxoplasma gondii and toxoplasmosis is reviewed. This protozoan parasite was first discovered in 1908 and named a year later. Its medical importance remained unknown until 1939 when T. gondii was identified in tissues of a congenitally infected infant, and veterinary importance became known when it was found to cause abortion storms in sheep in 1957. The discovery of a T. gondii specific antibody test, Sabin–Feldman dye test in 1948 led to the recognition that T. gondii is a common parasite of warm‐blooded hosts with a worldwide distribution. Its life cycle was not discovered until 1970 when it was found that felids are its definitive host and an environmentally resistant stage (oocyst) is excreted in feces of infected cats. The recent discovery of its common infection in certain marine wildlife (sea otters) indicates contamination of our seas with T. gondii oocysts washed from land. Hygeine remains the best preventive measure because currently there is no vaccine to prevent toxoplasmosis in humans.     

Differential cell surface properties of vegetative Bacillus

Aims:  The genus Bacillus encompasses a wide range of species which display varying pathogenic abilities. The hydrophobicity of a range of Bacillus species was determined to evaluate the correlation between bacterial hydrophobicity and pathogenicity.
Methods and Results:  Bacterial adhesion to hydrocarbon assays were used to determine the hydrophobicity of various Bacillus species. Significant differences in the hydrophobicity of vegetative Bacilli were found. Specifically, vegetative Bacillus anthracis or Bacillus thuringiensis cells were highly hydrophobic whereas Bacillus cereus or Bacillus subtilis were only slightly hydrophobic using this test. Cell adhesion assays using A549 or J774 cells were used to demonstrate a correlation between the bacterial hydrophobicity profiles with the ability to adhere to the mammalian cell lines.
Conclusions:  The ability of Bacillus species to adhere to mammalian cell lines correlates with the hydrophobicity of the bacteria and also correlates with the relative pathogenicity of some of the Bacillus species tested.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This work suggests that study of the physical-chemical properties of vegetative cells could inform future approaches for the rapid identification and discrimination of potentially pathogenic Bacilli .     

sTRAIL蛋白原核表达载体的构建、表达及抗肿瘤活性研究

目的:从HL-60细胞中获得了sTrail基因片段,优化蛋白表达条件,并研究其抗肿瘤活性。方法:培养HL-60细胞,提取总RNA,通过RT-PCR扩增sTRAIL蛋白基因片段,并将目的基因克隆至原核表达载体p ET28a上,并电击转化E.coli BL21(DE3),IPTG诱导表达,优化蛋白表达条件,Ni-IDA柱纯化重组蛋白,SDS-PAGE蛋白电泳,胶内酶解质谱鉴定。纯化后的重组蛋白作用HUVEC,He La,Hep-3B,HCT-116,MDA-MB-231,H460细胞检测蛋白生物学作用。结果:DNA测序结果证实成功构建了重组质粒p ET28a-sTrail,SDS-PAGE蛋白电泳,胶内酶解质谱检测显示成功表达sTRAIL蛋白,MTT法和流式细胞术结果显示,sTRAIL蛋白对肿瘤细胞包括He La,HCT-116,MDA-MB-231,H460,Hep-3B细胞有良好的生物活性,对正常的HUVEC细胞无毒性。结论:成功构建可以高效表达sTRAIL蛋白的原核表达载体,优化蛋白的表达和纯化后所得sTRAIL蛋白具有良好的抗肿瘤生物活性,为研究和发展利用sTRAIL蛋白作为临床治疗抗肿瘤药物提供了重要基础。     

假单胞菌属脂肪酶的分子生物学研究进展

微生物脂肪酶是商品化脂肪酶的主要来源,并广泛应用于诸多工业领域。与其他微生物脂肪酶相比,细菌脂肪酶催化反应的类型更多、活性更高、稳定性更好,其中又以假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)脂肪酶的性能最为优越。作为性能最为优越、应用最为广泛的一类脂肪酶,假单胞菌属脂肪酶研究一直是脂肪酶领域的热点。就假单胞菌属脂肪酶的分子生物学研究进展进行归纳和述评,包括基因资源挖掘及克隆、基因表达调控及分泌机制、活性过表达策略、蛋白质结晶及3D结构解析、蛋白质工程,并对其未来研究方向做出展望,以期为后续研究提供有益参考。     

植物重金属胁迫耐受机制

重金属是一类会对植物产生毒害作用的污染物,植物在长期进化过程中演变出耐受重金属胁迫的相关机制。以植物重金属耐受性为基础,对近几年来国内外植物响应重金属胁迫的耐受机制研究作一简要综述。主要概述了重金属对植物的胁迫影响及植物抗氧化系统,脯氨酸、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白等渗透调节物质和不同类型基因家族等方面对植物耐受重金属胁迫机制的研究进展。以期为提高植物耐重金属胁迫能力及研究植物修复重金属污染土壤的应用奠定一定的基础。     

植物肉桂酰辅酶A还原酶基因克隆研究进展

木质素单体合成的过程中涉及了许多酶的参与,而肉桂酰辅酶A还原酶(cinnamoyl-CoA reductase,CCR)是该过程中的一个关键酶。综述了CCR基因在植物体内的克隆、基因功能及在植物组织中的表达情况,并介绍了该基因在植物的抗病虫害和抗逆性研究、饲草和能源上的应用潜力,为进一步研究CCR基因生物学功能和利用奠定了基础。     

增强型肿瘤特异性启动子介导CDTK治疗肝癌的体内外研究

目的:探讨运用增强子上调肿瘤特异性启动子h TERT转录活性后,调控自杀融合基因CDTK对人肝癌细胞系Bel-7402的体内外杀伤作用。方法:将CMV增强子、h TERT启动子及CDTK自杀融合基因克隆入核糖体基因区打靶载体p Hrn,构建p Hr-Ce Tp CDTK-GFP治疗载体并转染Bel-7402细胞,经RT-PCR、HPLC、MTT检测CDTK基因的表达和对肝癌细胞的体外杀伤效果。再将Bel-7402细胞接种到裸鼠皮下致瘤,以肿瘤杀伤载体p Hr-Ce Tp CDTK-GFP进行瘤内转染并检测其抑瘤效果,此外将转染后的细胞接种致瘤,检测其成瘤时间及肿瘤生长曲线等,从两方面检测其体内杀伤效果。结果:成功构建了肿瘤特异性治疗载体,体外转染肝癌细胞后,经RTPCR、HPLC证明CDTK基因能在肝癌中表达,且治疗载体在体外对肝癌细胞有明显毒性。动物实验结果发现裸鼠致瘤后治疗组血清中5-Fu浓度为7.694μg/ml,治疗组肿瘤体积与对照组相比减小6.5倍。而细胞转染治疗载体后致瘤,治疗组成瘤时间比对照组晚8天,且治疗组裸鼠的平均生存期较对照组延长16天。结论:p Hr-Ce Tp CDTK-GFP载体能在体内外高效靶向杀伤肝癌细胞,为肝癌基因治疗提供了一种新的途径。     

多靶向RNA干扰技术在基因治疗中的应用与前景

RNA干扰(RNA interference,RNAi)通过转录后基因沉默效应特异性抑制靶基因的表达,其沉默机制的高效性、特异性及稳定性使这项技术成为生物医学领域研究基因治疗的重要工具。阐述RNAi技术的特点和RNAi疗法的现状,特别是多靶小干扰RNA(small interference RNA,siRNA)目前的发展态势及其各种结构性修饰,通过使用这些结构修饰的siRNA提高基因沉默的效率,将有助于提高疗效。但该技术在广泛应用于临床之前,仍存在一些亟待解决的问题与面临的挑战,需进一步研究。