Non-specific phospholipase C4 hydrolyzes phosphosphingolipids and phosphoglycerolipids and promotes rapeseed growth and yield

Phosphorus is a major nutrient vital for plant growth and development, with a substantial amount of cellular phosphorus being used for the biosynthesis of membrane phospholipids. Here, we report that NON-SPECIFIC PHOSPHOLIPASE C4 (NPC4) in rapeseed (Brassica napus) releases phosphate from phospholipids to promote growth and seed yield, as plants with altered NPC4 levels showed significant changes in seed production under different phosphate conditions. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (Cas9)-mediated knockout of BnaNPC4 led to elevated accumulation of phospholipids and decreased growth, whereas overexpression (OE) of BnaNPC4 resulted in lower phospholipid contents and increased plant growth and seed production. We demonstrate that BnaNPC4 hydrolyzes phosphosphingolipids and phosphoglycerolipids in vitro, and plants with altered BnaNPC4 function displayed changes in their sphingolipid and glycerolipid contents in roots, with a greater change in glycerolipids than sphingolipids in leaves, particularly under phosphate deficiency conditions. In addition, BnaNPC4-OE plants led to the upregulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism, phosphate release, and phosphate transport and an increase in free inorganic phosphate in leaves. These results indicate that BnaNPC4 hydrolyzes phosphosphingolipids and phosphoglycerolipids in rapeseed to enhance phosphate release from membrane phospholipids and promote growth and seed production.     

Genome-wide RAD sequencing data suggest predominant role of vicariance in Sino-Japanese disjunction of the monotypic genus Conandron (Gesneriaceae)

Disjunct distribution is a key issue in biogeography and ecology, but it is often difficult to determine the relative roles of dispersal vs. vicariance in disjunctions. We studied the phylogeographic pattern of the monotypic Conandron ramondioides (Gesneriaceae), which shows Sino-Japanese disjunctions, with ddRAD sequencing based on a comprehensive sampling of 11 populations from mainland China, Taiwan Island, and Japan. We found a very high degree of genetic differentiation among these three regions, with very limited gene flow and a clear Isolation by Distance pattern. Mainland China and Japan clades diverged first from a widespread ancestral population in the middle Miocene, followed by a later divergence between mainland China and Taiwan Island clades in the early Pliocene. Three current groups have survived in various glacial refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum, and experienced contraction and/or bottlenecks since their divergence during Quaternary glacial cycles, with strong niche divergence between mainland China + Japan and Taiwan Island ranges. Thus, we verified a predominant role of vicariance in the current disjunction of the monotypic genus Conandron. The sharp phylogenetic separation, ecological niche divergence among these three groups, and the great number of private alleles in all populations sampled indicated a considerable time of independent evolution, and suggests the need for a taxonomic survey to detect potentially overlooked taxa.     

Critical roles of non-coding RNAs in lifecycle and biology of Marek’s disease herpesvirus

Science China Life Sciences - Over the past two decades, numerous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been identified in different biological systems including virology, especially in large DNA viruses...     

Biological monitoring of deltamethrin in sprayers by HPLC method.

Using HPLC, the authors had investigated the three metabolites of deltamethrin (DM) in the urine of spraymen and one suicide, namely: dibromovinyl-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (Br2A), 3-phenoxybenzyl-hydroxy-ethyl acetate (PHE) and 3-phenoxyl-benzoic acid (BA). Br2A was chosen as the biological monitoring parameter for DM exposed people, and the urine samples of one suicide and 11 farmers sprayed DM or DM plus methamidophos were examined for Br2A quantitatively which was detected in 8 of 11 sprayers and in the suicide case.     

小米psbA基因5''末端非编码区的结构特征

以小米(Setaria italica)为材料,克隆了含有叶绿体psbA基因的2.2kb EcoRⅠ片段,测定了该基因5＇末端非编码区的核苷酸序列。序列分析显示psbA基因5＇末端非编码区存在着与原核类似的启动子结构,其“-10”区的序列为TATACT,与原核生物“-10”共有基序(Consensus motif)仅相差一个核苷酸;其“-35”区的序列为TTGACA,与原核生物“-35”共有基序完全相同。另外,在“-10”区和“-35”区之间还存在着一个类似真核启动子结构的“TATATA”保守序列。这些结果表明小米psbA基因的启动子既具有原核的特征又具有真核的特征。小米psbA基因的mRNA前导序列长87bp,与高粱完全一致,而比水稻多出了“CTATTTT”7个核苷酸,比小麦、大麦和黑麦多出了“TTTT”4个核苷酸。因此推测在禾本科的C_3和C_4植物之间,psbA基因mRNA前导序列区的差异可能具有普遍性。计算机分析结果显示,以上6种植物的psbA基因mRNA前导序列区内均能形成小的茎环结构,而且这段“CTATTTT”额外序列恰好位于茎环结构中,造成了6种植物间茎环大小的差异。这一小的二级结构可能对psbA基因的表达调控有一定的影响。     

A rapid method for determination of Proteus vulgaris with a piezoelectric quartz crystal sensor coated with a thin liquid film

A rapid method for microorganism detection using a piezoelectric quartz crystal sensor (PQC) coated with a thin liquid culture medium film was developed and applied to detect the cell number of Proteus vulgaris. This method employed the viscosity and density response of PQC and utilized the coagulation of gelatine medium solution in which the microorganisms had grown to determine the microorganism indirectly. Three time points (TT₁, DT, TT₂) were obtained from the coagulation curve and were found to be in good linear relationship with the logarithm of the initial number of P. vulgaris in the range 1·3 × 10²−1·3 × 10⁵ cells/ml. The detection was rapid and accurate because the coagulation of the thin liquid culture medium film was quick and the time points in the response curve were sharp and so were easy to determine accurately. The detection time was less than 4 h and only a micro sample was needed. A 5 h preincubation was needed before detection. Some experimental conditions are discussed in detail.     

运用差异展示分离特异性表达的基因

在高等生物中含有约100000个不同的基因,其中仅有15％的基因在任何个体细胞中均表达．因此分离特异的目的基因便显得十分重要.差异展示是通过部分扩增mRNA的逆转录产物、经测序胶电泳,分离到差异性表达的基因.它与消减杂交相比是分离特异表达基因的更有效的手段．虽然这种方法在实际运用中存在着这样或那样的困难,但随着对这种技术的不断改进,它将会有越来越广泛的用途．     

氟烷对慢性缺氧兔心肌β肾上腺素能受体的影响

用放射配基结合法和高效液相色谱电化学法分别测定氟烷对慢性缺氧免心肌β肾上腺素能受体（简称β受体）和血浆儿茶酚胺的影响。结果表明：慢性缺氧后兔心肌β受体密度明显下降,受体亲和力无明显变化,血浆肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素明显升高。缺氧吸入氟烷后兔心肌β受体密度进一步下降,亲和力增加,血浆肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素无进一步变化。常氧吸入氟烷后心肌β受体密度无明显变化,亲和力升高,血浆肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素反而降低。结果提示,氟烷抑制常氧兔交感神经活动而不能抑制缺氧兔交感神经活动,氟烷不改变常氧兔心肌β受体密度,但降低缺氧兔心肌β受体密度。β受体密度降低与缺氧后升高的儿茶酚胺下调β受体数目有关,同时可能与氟烷改变了缺氧心肌细胞膜脂质流动性使受体易向膜内移动有关。     

浩浩巴组织培养和快速繁殖

浩浩巴顶芽、茎段在ＭＳ基本培养基中培养,附加植物激素１～２ｍｇ／Ｌ的ＢＡ或ＺＴ和０．２ｍｇ／Ｌ的ＮＡＡ配合使用明显促进芽苗形成。诱导生根采用两步生根法能有效地提高生根率。试管苗移栽获得成活。