黑籽南瓜NBS类基因CfRFN2的克隆及VIGS验证

黑籽南瓜(Cucurbita ficifolia)是云南特有的具有高抗枯萎病遗传性状的瓜类种质资源。为鉴定黑籽南瓜中NBS-LRR类基因的抗病功能,该研究从其叶片中克隆了NBS类基因CfRFN2 (GenBank ID:MK618462),测序全长为4 303 bp,完整的编码框长度为4 092 bp,编码1 363个氨基酸残基,该基因注释为拟南芥抗病蛋白At4g27190类转录体X1的同源基因,含有1个NB-ARC和2个LRR结构域,属于具有信号肽的可溶性蛋白。核苷酸相似性分析显示,CfRFN2与其他瓜类NBS类基因相似性在87%～98%之间;系统进化树分析表明,CfRFN2蛋白和瓜类的其他NBS类抗病蛋白聚为一个分支,其中CfRFN2蛋白与中国南瓜和美洲南瓜的RPS2、印度南瓜的RPS2-like亲缘关系最近,其次是黄瓜的At4g27190和苦瓜的At4g27220,与甜瓜的Atg27190亲缘关系相对较远;组织表达特性分析表明,CfRFN2基因在黑籽南瓜叶片中表达量最高,其次是茎,而在果皮和根中表达量较低。该研究采用烟草脆裂病毒载体系统,构建了黑籽南瓜VIGS沉默载体pTRV2-CfRFN2,含沉默载体的农杆菌侵染黑籽南瓜幼苗后接种枯萎病菌,qRT-PCR检测表明,接种后2 d和4 d的转pTRV2-CfRFN2沉默组植株的CfRFN2基因表达量比接种后同时期的野生型植株显著降低(分别下降34.75%和98.27%),病情指数增加为野生型的1.32倍,初步证明黑籽南瓜CfRFN2基因具有抗枯萎病的功能,推测该基因可能在黑籽南瓜抗枯萎病防御过程中发挥着重要作用。该研究中NBS类基因CfRFN2的克隆和VIGS验证为黑籽南瓜更多优异基因的克隆和功能验证奠定了前期基础,也为发掘黑籽南瓜优异抗病基因和开展瓜类分子育种提供新信息。     

实验小鼠种群管理（英文）

2009年11月份在西安举行由中国实验动物学会发起的实验动物医药技术培训研讨会上,本人做了关于实验小鼠种群管理的演讲。其主题涵盖了小鼠繁殖性能的维护和基因工程种群的管理。本篇文章的目的在于强调其所涵盖的材料并为进一步研究提供参考。如若对本文所讨论的内容希望有更深刻的理解,这篇文章所引用的参考资料值得进一步的阅读。另外本文未涉及远交系小鼠的繁殖培育和基因管理,但如有需要可以联系本文作者,可推荐需阅读的材料清单。     

Conservation of rDNA inPolystichum (Dryopteridaceae)

Restriction site variation in the nuclear 18S–25S ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) was analyzed hierarchically in a species complex in the fern genusPolystichum. Two distinct rDNA repeat types were present in all individuals ofPolystichum examined. No variation was detected among individuals within a population ofP. munitum, among populations ofP. munitum orP. imbricans, or among the six diploid species ofPolystichum from North America, including the circumborealP. lonchitis. The identity of rDNA repeats across all six North American species ofPolystichum may reflect an overall similarity of the nuclear genomes of these species, an observation supported by isozyme data as well. However, this nuclear similarity contrasts sharply with the highly divergent chloroplast genomes of these six species. The conservative nature of the rDNA inPolystichum also is in contrast to the much more variable rDNAs of most angiosperms investigated. Perhaps the tempo and mode of evolution of rDNA in ferns differ from those of angiosperms; however, the data base for fern rDNA is very small. Furthermore, the number of repeat types per individual is consistent with a diploid, rather than polyploid, condition despite the high chromosome number (n = 41) of these plants, although homogenization of multiple, divergent rRNA genes cannot be disproven.     

Mechanistic studies on carboxypeptidase a from goat pancreas — part II: Evidence for carboxyl group

Studies with substrate analogues and the pH optimum indicated the involvement of carboxyl group in the active site of goat carboxypeptidase A. Chemical modification of the enzyme with 1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinoethyl) carbodiimide methoI -p-toluene sulphonate, a carboxyl specific reagent, led to loss of both esterase and peptidase activities. Protection studies showed that this carboxyl group was in the active site and was protected by Βp-phenylpropionic acid and glycyl-L-tyrosine. Kinetic studies also confirmed the involvement of carboxylic group because the enzyme modification with water soluble carbodiimide was a two step reaction which excluded the possibility of tyrosine or lysine which are known to give a one step reaction with this reagent     

Docking and molecular dynamics studies of peripheral site ligand–oximes as reactivators of sarin-inhibited human acetylcholinesterase

In the present work, we performed docking and molecular dynamics simulations studies on two groups of long-tailored oximes designed as peripheral site binders of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and potential penetrators on the blood brain barrier. Our studies permitted to determine how the tails anchor in the peripheral site of sarin-inhibited human AChE, and which aminoacids are important to their stabilization. Also the energy values obtained in the docking studies corroborated quite well with the experimental results obtained before for these oximes.     

Deciduous enamel defects and caries susceptibility in a prehistoric Ohio population

Clinical studies of the relationship between developmental enamel defects and caries susceptibility have often produced conflicting results. This has been due in part to a failure to distinguish between different types of defects. Studies of this association in prehistoric populations have been rare. The complete deciduous dentitions of 57 subadults from the Libben site, a large Late Woodland cemetery in Ottawa County, Ohio, were selected for analysis. Defects were classified as either hypoplasias (deficiencies in matrix apposition) or hypocalcifications (deficiencies in mineralization) and were graded for severity. The presence or absence of carious lesions was recorded for each tooth. Results indicate a strong positive relationship between hypocalcifications and caries susceptibility. The elevated caries susceptibility of hypocalcified teeth may be related to high levels of magnesium or altered enamel microcrystallite orientation within these teeth. Variations in the frequency of hypocalcifications may partially explain differences in caries rates that have been observed in different prehistoric populations.     

Energy coupling sites in the electron transport chain of Zymomonas mobilis

Abstract Energy-coupling sites in the electron transport chain of the obligately fermentative aerotolerant bacterium Zymomonas mobilis were examined. The H⁺ /O stoichiometry of the electron transport chain in intact bacteria oxidizing ethanol was close to 3.3. Cytoplasmic membrane vesicles coupled NADH oxidation to ATP synthesis. With ascorbate/phenazine methosulfate they showed oxygen uptake which was sensitive to antimycin A, but no significant ATP synthesis could be detected. Cells with a defective coupling site I, prepared by cultivation on a sulfate-deficient medium, showed a decreased rotenone sensitivity of respiration, and they lacked almost all the respiration-driven proton translocation and ATP synthesis. We conclude that, despite the reported composition of the electron transport chain, only energy coupling site 1 was functional in Z. mobilis .     

The CTPase activity of ParB determines the size and dynamics of prokaryotic DNA partition complexes

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Combinatorial optimization of cyanobacterial 2,3-butanediol production

A vital goal of renewable technology is the capture and re-energizing of exhausted CO₂ into usable carbon products. Cyanobacteria fix CO₂ more efficiently than plants, and can be engineered to produce carbon feedstocks useful for making plastics, solvents, and medicines. However, fitness of this technology in the economy is threatened by low yields in engineered strains. Robust engineering of photosynthetic microorganisms is lagging behind model microorganisms that rely on energetic carbon, such as Escherichia coli, due in part to slower growth rates and increased metabolic complexity. In this work we show that protein expression from characterized parts is unpredictable in Synechococcus elongatus sp. strain PCC 7942, and may contribute to slow development. To overcome this, we apply a combinatorial approach and show that modulation of the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) can produce a range of protein expression sufficient to optimize chemical feedstock production from CO₂.