白菜叶裂数性状主基因+多基因遗传分析

以叶片全缘的大白菜自交系(P1)和叶缘深裂的欧洲白菜型油菜自交系(P2)杂交所获得的6个基本世代(P1、P2、F1、B1、B2、F2)为材料,应用主基因+多基因混合遗传模型对白菜叶裂数进行遗传分析。结果表明,白菜的叶裂数受2对加性-显性-上位性主基因+加性-显性多基因的控制,第1对主基因加性效应为-1.154 7,显性效应为-1.516 8;第2对主基因的加性效应为-1.154 8,显性效应为1.034 9;多基因加性效应为0.591 9,显性效应为1.145 2,2对主基因间存在明显的交互作用。B1、B2和F2世代叶裂数的主基因遗传率分别为88.48%、90.40%、93.03%;多基因遗传率分别为4.114%、0、0。B1、B2、F2世代叶裂数表现出较高的主基因遗传率,受环境影响较小。在白菜叶裂数性状的改良中应以主基因为主,并适于早代选择。     

tBu-D-Gly5]NPS, a pure and potent antagonist of the neuropeptide S receptor: in vitro and in vivo studies

Neuropeptide S (NPS) regulates various biological functions by selectively activating the NPS receptor (NPSR). Recently, the NPSR ligand [(t)Bu-D-Gly(5)]NPS was generated and in vitro characterized as a pure antagonist at the mouse NPSR. In the present study the pharmacological profile of [(t)Bu-D-Gly(5)]NPS has been investigated. [(t)Bu-D-Gly(5)]NPS activity was evaluated in vitro in the calcium mobilization assay at the rat NPSR and in vivo in the locomotor activity and righting reflex tests in mice and in the elevated plus maze and defensive burying assays in rats. In vitro, [(t)Bu-D-Gly(5)]NPS was inactive per se while it inhibited the calcium mobilization induced by 30 nM NPS (pK(B) 7.42). In Schild analysis experiments [(t)Bu-D-Gly(5)]NPS (0.1-10 μM) produced a concentration-dependent rightward shift of the concentration-response curve to NPS, showing a pA(2) value of 7.17. In mouse locomotor activity experiments, supraspinal injection of [(t)Bu-D-Gly(5)]NPS (1-10 nmol) dose dependently counteracted NPS (0.1 nmol) stimulant effects. In the mouse righting reflex assay [(t)Bu-D-Gly(5)]NPS (0.1-10 nmol) fully prevented the arousal-promoting action of the natural peptide (0.1 nmol). Finally, [(t)Bu-D-Gly(5)]NPS (3-30 nmol) was able to completely block NPS (1 nmol) anxiolytic-like actions in rat elevated plus maze and defensive burying assays. Collectively, the present results demonstrated that [(t)Bu-D-Gly(5)]NPS behaves both in vitro and in vivo as a pure and potent NPSR antagonist. This compound represents a novel and useful tool for investigating the pharmacology and neurobiology of the NPS/NPSR system.     

Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bradyrhizobium</Emphasis> Strains Isolated from Different Varieties of Soybean with 16SrDNA RFLP from Agricultural Land of Madhya Pradesh,India

Madhya Pradesh is the major soybean contributor in India. The taxonomy of nitrogen fixing bacteria forming symbiotic associations with leguminous plants has been deeply changed in recent years. The use of very sensitive and accurate molecular methods has enabled the detection of large rhizobial diversity. Molecular biotyping and characterization the Bradyrhizobium, isolates from eleven varieties of soybean from agricultural field of Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh is done using 16S rDNA typing. Bradyrhizobia were identified genetically by determining the %Guanine plus Cytosine content of the whole genome, followed by 16S rDNA-RFLP analysis % Guanine plus Cytosine content of all the Bradyrhizobium isolates reflects similarity at generic level among all Bradyrhizobial isolates. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) further showed a considerable level of genetic diversity among the Bradyrhizobial isolates. PCR-RFLP of 16S rDNA supported existence of two divergent groups among indigenous Bradyrhizobial isolates, at similarity level of 66, and 75 and 74% of similarity within the group. The technique used was helpful in characterizing Bradyrhizobium isolates to be used as inoculants for improving productivity of agricultural land of Madhya Pradesh (India).     

The p76 and p100 truncated forms of the Rb protein exert antagonistic roles on cell death regulation in human cell lines

Several caspase-cleaved forms of the retinoblastoma protein have been described. Here, we compared the effect of full-length Rb versus the truncated p76^Rb and p100^Rb proteins on cell death regulation in five human cell lines. Interestingly, we observed that p76^Rb triggers cell death in all tested cell lines and that p100^Rb protects two cell lines against etoposide or TNF-α-induced cell death, whereas full-length Rb has no apoptotic effect. These results show that truncated forms of Rb can have specific activities in the regulation of cell death. They also suggest that caspase cleavage of Rb should not be simply assimilated to a degradation process. Finally, we show that cell death induced by p76^Rb is Bax-dependent and is diminished by Bcl-2 overexpression or by caspase inhibition and that p100^Rb could inhibit cell death by decreasing both p53 stability and caspase activity.     

Use of a herbicide or lysine plus threonine for non-antibiotic selection of transgenic chickpea

A desensitized aspartate kinase (AK) gene has been developed as a non-antibiotic selection marker for use in the production of transgenic chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Transgenic shoots regenerated from embryo explants bombarded with the desensitized AK gene were selected on media containing two amino acids, lysine and threonine (LT). Approximately 15% of the putative transgenic shoots of vars. P-362 and P-1042 survived after 4 weeks of growth on MSB5 medium (MS mineral salts and B5 vitamins) containing 2 µM thidiazuron (TDZ) and 2 mM lysine and 2 mM threonine. These shoots were subsequently grown on MSB5 medium supplemented with 2 µM TDZ and 5 mM lysine and 5 mM threonine, and nearly 1% continued to grow after 16 weeks of selection. A phosphinothricin (PPT) selection system for Agrobacterium-mediated chickpea transformation was also developed. Three varieties of chickpea, P-362, P-1042 and P-1043, were successfully used for Agrobacterium transformation. Following Agrobacterium infection, 3-8% of the regenerated shoots remained green and continued to grow on MSB5 medium supplemented with 2.5 mg l^-1 PPT. Increasing the concentrations of PPT to 15 mg l^-1 reduced transgenic shoot production in P-362, P-1042 and P-1043 to 0.7%, 1.2% and 1.1%, respectively. Selected putatively transformed shoots of all three varieties were rooted and grown to maturity. Southern hybridization analysis revealed single as well as multiple integration of genes in selected transgenic lines. The level of AK activity detected in LT-selected plants was higher than that detected in the non-transformed control.Abbreviations AK: Aspartate kinase - CP: Chlorophenol red - GUS: -Glucuronidase - IBA: Indole-3-butyric acid - Kn: Kinetin (6-furfuryl aminopurine) - LT: Lysine plus threonine - MSB5: Murashige and Skoog salts with B5 vitamins - nptII: Neomycin phosphotransferase II - pat: Phosphinothricin-acetyltransferase - PPT: Phosphinothricin - TDZ: Thidiazuron [1-phenyl-3-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-YL) urea]Communicated by P. LakshmananJ. Sen and N. Tewari-Singh have contributed equally to this article.     

Prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa FP plasmids which enhance spontaneous and uv-induced mutagenesis.

From work reported here and from previous studies 16 out of 53 (30%) FP plasmids (i.e. those plasmids that promote host chromosome transfer) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are found to protect host cells against UV irradiation. 13 of these UV-protecting FP plasmids were tested to determine their mode of DNA repair and were found to contribute to error-prone repair because of their enhancement of UV-induced mutagenesis and in most instances spontaneous mutagenesis as well. Some of these plasmids were tested for their behaviour in a DNA polymerase I deficient (Pol^?) mutant of P. aeruginosa; the remainder could not be tested due to plasmid instability in the Pol^? mutant. 11 of these FP plasmids provided wild-type level of UV protection to the mutant. 4 of the plasmids tested (FP18, FP103, FP109 and FP111) were able to enhance the mutant's ability to host cell reactivate UV irradiated phage, though not to the level of the Pol⁺ parent. The presence of FP18 or FP111 in the Pol^? mutant did not increase polymerase I-like enzymatic activity. It is concluded that the plasmids do not confer a polymerase activity functionally equivalent to host DNA polymerase I. It is possible however, that the plasmids code for another polymerase or for a cofactor which interacts with a host polymerase, as seen by the partial restoration by FP plasmids of host-cell reactivation of UV-irradiated phage in the polymerase I deficient mutant.The mutagenic properties of those FP plasmids tested appears to be nonspecific because of their ability to mutate two host chromosomal genes, trpB1 and leu38 and an R plasmid gene, bla.The implications of the prevalence of FP plasmids in P. aeruginosa which enhance mutagenesis are discussed.     

Conformational changes in CLIP-170 regulate its binding to microtubules and dynactin localization

Cytoplasmic linker protein (CLIP)-170, CLIP-115, and the dynactin subunit p150(Glued) are structurally related proteins, which associate specifically with the ends of growing microtubules (MTs). Here, we show that down-regulation of CLIP-170 by RNA interference results in a strongly reduced accumulation of dynactin at the MT tips. The NH(2) terminus of p150(Glued) binds directly to the COOH terminus of CLIP-170 through its second metal-binding motif. p150(Glued) and LIS1, a dynein-associating protein, compete for the interaction with the CLIP-170 COOH terminus, suggesting that LIS1 can act to release dynactin from the MT tips. We also show that the NH(2)-terminal part of CLIP-170 itself associates with the CLIP-170 COOH terminus through its first metal-binding motif. By using scanning force microscopy and fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based experiments we provide evidence for an intramolecular interaction between the NH(2) and COOH termini of CLIP-170. This interaction interferes with the binding of the CLIP-170 to MTs. We propose that conformational changes in CLIP-170 are important for binding to dynactin, LIS1, and the MT tips.     

Estrogen receptor alpha influences socially motivated behaviors

Male mice lacking estrogen receptor alpha (ERalphaKO) show reduced social behaviors. We hypothesized that this might be due to either socially elicited or generalized anxiety. Male ERalphaKOs and wild type (WT) mice were given a series of behavioral tests: elevated plus maze, T-maze, and social recognition. Each test included a social dimension by exposing males to ovariectomized (OVX) females. In addition plasma concentrations of corticosterone were measured, and open field activity was assessed. In the elevated plus maze, WT males exposed to an OVX female 1 min prior to the test were more anxious than WT controls. ERalphaKO males showed anxiety in this test whether or not they were preexposed to a female. In the T-maze, WT males increased exploration of a novel arm when it contained an OVX female. The presence or absence of a female in a novel arm did not affect behavior of ERalphaKO males. In social recognition tests, ERalphaKO males spent less time than WT littermates investigating an OVX female that was repeatedly introduced into their home cage. On the final trial, when a novel female was introduced, WT males increased their chemo-investigation but ERalphaKOs did not. Plasma corticosterone levels were lower in ERalphaKO than in WT males when plasma was taken directly after a brief (control) cage disturbance. In the open field WT and ERalphaKO males behaved essentially the same. Taken together, the results of these experiments suggest the ERalphaKO males avoid contact with other conspecifics, perhaps due to an inability to be aroused by social cues.     

油菜半矮秆新种质10D130株高主基因+多基因遗传模型分析

株高是油菜重要的株型改良性状之一。油菜株高对提高油菜的产量、抗倒伏能力和机械收获都有非常重要的作用。本文利用株高性状差异较大的半矮杆新种质10D130和常规品种中双11进行杂交,构建6世代遗传分析群体（P1、F1、P2、B1、B2、F2）,以主基因＋多基因混合遗传模型对该组合株高进行遗传分析。结果表明：10D130?中双11号组合株高受到1对加性-显性-上位性主基因 加性-显性-上位性多基因控制（D模型）。其中,株高性状加性效应值为-8.58,显性效应值为7.44.在B1、B2和F2 3个分离世代群体中主基因遗传率分别为23.52％、0.91%和17.81%,多基因遗传率分别为30.05％、68.05%和39.35%。10D130半矮杆遗传分析揭示在该材料的运用上不仅要考虑主基因的作用、还要考虑多基因与环境对株高性状的影响。     

硫加树脂包膜尿素控释肥对小麦干物质积累分配及产量的影响

在田间高产条件下,设置硫加树脂包膜尿素控释肥(SRCU)、树脂包膜尿素控释肥(RCU)、普通尿素加硫磺粉(SU)、普通尿素(U)处理,研究硫和SRCU对冬小麦干物质积累与分配及产量的影响.结果表明:施用RCU处理的植株干物质积累量和籽粒产量与分期施氮不施硫处理相比无显著差异.在土壤有效硫含量为43.2 mg·kg-1的条件下,施硫量为91.4 kg·hm-2的SRCU处理与相同施硫量分期施氮处理相比,花后干物质积累与分配及产量无显著差异;与无硫的RCU处理相比,花后同化物输入籽粒量、籽粒灌浆中期的灌浆速率、千粒重和产量均显著提高.在土壤有效硫含量为105.1 mg·kg-1的条件下,施硫量为120kg·hm-2的SRCU处理籽粒产量显著高于相同施硫量分期施氮处理,与不施硫分期施氮处理和RCU处理无显著差异.说明SRCU释放的氮素对冬小麦干物质积累、分配和产量的调节作用与速效氮素分期施用的效果一致.SRCU释放的硫素对冬小麦的调节作用受土壤有效硫含量高低的影响,在有效硫含量为43.2 mg·kg-1的条件下,能促进花后干物质积累和籽粒灌浆,显著提高籽粒产量;在有效硫含量为105.1 mg·kg-1的条件下,则无显著增产作用,过多施用硫磺粉还可导致产量显著降低.