Monitoring hairy-root growth by image analysis

Hairy roots, incited byAgrobacterium rhizogenes, form a useful system for analysing the expression and phenotypic effects of foreign genes in plant root tissue. Image analysis offers a non-invasive method of describing their growth in culture. Images of pea (coarse) andBrassica (fine) hairy roots were captured, processed and analysed without difficulty using a commercially available image analysis system. The value of this method in monitoring intermediate changes in growth pattern was illustrated by following the changes in five putatively chlorsulfuron-resistantBrassicc hairy-root lines cultured with and without a selective level of chlorsulfuron. Areas of hairy-root research where this technique will be particularly useful are discussed.     

Broad-host-range cloning vectors derived from the W-plasmid Sa

Four nonconjugative broad-host-range cloning vectors were derived from the W-plasmid Sa. They are small (M_r 5.6?7.2 × 10⁶), carry several drug-resistance markers, and allow constructing and screening for recombinant plasmids generated by the restriction enzymes EcoRI, PstI, BglII, HindIII, BamHI and SalI,     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens ferritins play an important role in full virulence through regulating iron homeostasis and oxidative stress survival

Ferritins are a large family of iron storage proteins, which are used by bacteria and other organisms to avoid iron toxicity and as a safe iron source in the cytosol. Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a phytopathogen, has two ferritin-encoding genes: atu2771 and atu2477. Atu2771 is annotated as a Bfr-encoding gene (Bacterioferritin, Bfr) and atu2477 as a Dps-encoding gene (D NA binding p rotein from s tarved cells, Dps). Three deletion mutants (Δbfr, Δdps, and bfr-dps double-deletion mutant ΔbdF) of these two ferritin-encoding genes were constructed to investigate the effects of ferritin deficiency on the iron homeostasis, oxidative stress resistance, and pathogenicity of A. tumefaciens. Deficiency of two ferritins affects the growth of A. tumefaciens under iron starvation and excess. When supplied with moderate iron, the growth of A. tumefaciens is not affected by the deficiency of ferritin. Deficiency of ferritin significantly reduces iron accumulation in the cells of A. tumefaciens, but the effect of Bfr deficiency on iron accumulation is severer than Dps deficiency and the double mutant ΔbdF has the least intracellular iron content. All three ferritin-deficient mutants showed a decreased tolerance to 3 mM H₂O₂ in comparison with the wild type. The tumour induced by each of three ferritin-deficient mutants is less than that of the wild type. Complementation reversed the effects of ferritin deficiency on the growth, iron homeostasis, oxidative stress resistance, and tumorigenicity of A. tumefaciens. Therefore, ferritin plays an important role in the pathogenesis of A. tumefaciens through regulating iron homeostasis and oxidative stress survival.     

根癌农杆菌介导真菌遗传转化的研究及应用

根癌农杆菌介导转化法（Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation,ATMT）具有转化效率高、遗传稳定、适用范围广等诸多优点,已成为真菌遗传转化研究中的强有力手段,在真菌基因资源开发、真菌性疾病研究和外源蛋白表达研究中发挥巨大作用。本文概述了根癌农杆菌转化法在真菌转化中的研究进展、技术优缺点、转化机制、实验方法和应用现状,着重介绍影响其转化效率的因素并对优化方法进行探讨,展望了该技术在真菌基因资源发掘、基因编辑等方面的应用前景,为今后真菌的遗传转化研究提供参考。     

Agrobacterium as a tool for gene transfer in woody species: The state of the art and practical perspectives. A review

Abstract

The Agrobacterium-mediated ability to transfer genes into organisms without sexual crossing provides breeders with new opportunities to improve the efficiency of plant production. Gene transfer offers advantages over classical genetic manipulation since plants are improved without disruption of the integrity of their genomes. Several useful genes isolated from microrganisms and affecting pest resistance, rooting ability, hormonal metabolism etc., are now available. These genes can be easily cloned into suitable Ti and Ri derived plasmid vectors and transferred into woody species. The scarce ability of most fruit trees to regenerate the whole plant from in vitro-cultured cells remains the main obstacle to a wider use of gene transfer technology.     

农杆菌介导的日本落叶松胚性细胞遗传转化研究

基于体细胞胚胎发生技术平台,利用携带pSuper1300+质粒,以潮霉素为筛选标记基因的农杆菌GV3101介导日本落叶松遗传转化,对植物受体材料生理状态、农杆菌浓度和浸染时间以及共培养时间等影响因素进行了研究、分析和讨论.结果表明:综合优化各影响因素,生长旺盛的日本落叶松胚性细胞,经浓度为0.4(OD600)的农杆菌浸染10min,共培养2d,再用含400mg/L的头孢霉素的液体培养基清洗脱菌,然后在含400mg/L的头孢霉素固体培养基上恢复培养,并置于含5mg/L潮霉素的固体培养基上多次筛选,最终共获得54个抗性细胞系,转化率平均为0.94个/g.PCR检测鉴定,所有抗性细胞系均为阳性转化体,并排除了农杆菌污染导致的假阳性.研究建立并优化了农杆菌介导的日本落叶松遗传转化技术,为进行遗传改良和基因功能鉴定提供有利平台.     

极耐盐碱固氮菌的分离鉴定及固氮特性研究

我国盐碱土面积约9913万hm²,其中pH值高于9、盐含量大于0.6%的重度盐碱地每年以1.4%的速率增长。利用固氮微生物改善植物根际环境,提高作物产量,是盐碱地改良的重要方法。[目的] 从来自海南省三沙市热带珊瑚岛礁的土壤中,分离鉴定自生固氮菌,为极端盐碱地改良提供候选菌株。[方法] 通过形态学观察、生理生化特征分析和16S rRNA序列测定等方法进行菌种鉴定,分析其固氮、耐盐碱和促生长特性,盆栽试验验证其对玉米主要农艺性状的影响。[结果] 获得1株极端耐盐碱的固氮细菌DJ-1,其菌落呈圆形,菌体杆状,大小（0.5-1.3）μm×（0.3-0.5）μm,革兰氏染色阴性,与根癌土壤杆菌（Agrobacterium tumefaciens）的16S rRNA序列高度同源,确定其为根癌土壤杆菌。DJ-1在pH 9、NaCl含量为1%-4%的培养基上可正常生长,能耐受pH 12、NaCl含量8%的环境。从中克隆到固氮酶基因nifH。盆栽试验结果表明,DJ-1可显著促进玉米生长。[结论] 菌株DJ-1能耐受极端盐碱条件,且具有较强的固氮和促生长能力,有可能作为贫瘠盐碱耕地改良功能菌剂的候选菌株。     

Establishment of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation in Dunaliella bardawil

Dunaliella bardawil, a unicellular microalga, grows in relatively high concentrations of salt and has so far been refractory to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. An inverse relationship between salt concentration and hygromycin resistance was observed. Co-cultivation at 0.2?M NaCl allowed growth of both D. bardawil and A. tumefaciens. Lowering salt concentrations also enabled the use of lower concentrations of hygromycin, the selection agent. Cells resistant to 100?mg?l^?1 hygromycin were selected and growth of Agrobacterium was completely eliminated in these cells using cefotaxime/potassium clavulanate. The concentration of sodium chloride was gradually increased to 1.0?M with simultaneous reduction of hygromycin concentration for better growth of D. bardawil. Agrobacterium was unable to survive in the growth medium used for Dunaliella. Expression of β-glucuronidase (uidA), green fluorescent protein (GFP) and hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) in the hygromycin-resistant culture was detected using X-gluc as substrate and Western blotting using GFP antibodies and RT-PCR respectively. Cells growing in 1.0?M NaCl (in the absence of hygromycin) retained their ability to grow in hygromycin even after 18 months of cultivation. These cells expressed GFP and PCR for hpt gene was positive. The stability of the integrated transgene and resistance to hygromycin in three different transformation events were ascertained periodically. Southern blotting of DNA extracted from hygromycin resistant cells (HRC) that were 15–18 months old established the presence of the integrated transgene in the DNA of D. bardawil. Results of the present study substantiate A. tumefaciens-mediated transformation of the unicellular marine alga D. bardawil. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transgene integration along with the massive outdoor cultivation methods used for D. bardawil may allow the commercial synthesis of secondary metabolites and heterologous proteins.     

Polarographic Studies on Fat-soluble Vitamins in Nonaqueous Media

Vitamin D₂ and vitamin D_s gave a single reduction-wave, respectively, in polarography in acetonitrile containing 0.05 M-tetrabutylammonium iodide. The eduction-wave of vitamin D_s was indistinguishable from that of vitamin D₂, whose half-wave potentials were evaluated identically at -2.1₀ V vs. Hg. Proportionalities between wave-height and concentration were held in the concentration range fronl 4× 10^-4 M (ca. 6000 IU·ml^-1) to 1.2×10 M (ca. 18000 IUD·ml^-1)

In both cases, the conjugated three double-bond system may be reduced to two double-bond system, which corresponds to the third reduction-step of vitamin A.

Ergosterol which has a conjugated two double-bond system and an isolated double-bond gave no reduction-wave under the present conditions.     

Effect of Feeding Millet (Sorghum vulgarie) Protein at Various Protein Levels on Adrenal Lipids of Rats

A significant increase in adrenal weight, total lipids, cholesterol phospholipids and glycerides (mono-and triglycerides) was observed in rats fed millet at 5, 10 and 15 % protein levels respectively for a period of six weeks as compared to rats fed casein at 10 per cent level. Increases in cholesterol were in both its free and esterified fraction. Adrenal phosphatidyl etha-nolamine was increased in all millet fed rats whereas phosphatidyl choline increased in M–15 % and decreased in M–5 % groups. Other phospholipid fractions viz. monophosphatidyl inositol, lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine, sphingomyeline, phosphatidic acid and polyglycerophosphatide also showed significant alterations in rats fed millet protein as compared to control. Incorporation of acetate–l–¹⁴C into adrenal lipids was lower and that of glucose–U–¹⁴C, palmitate–l–¹⁴C and NaH₂³²PO₄ was higher than the control.