Optimization for xylanase and cellulase production from Aspergillus niger ATTC 6275 in palm oil mill wastes and its application

Optimization of enzyme production from Aspergillus niger ATCC 6275 under both submerged and solid-substrate cultivation was investigated. Results from submerged cultivation using palm oil mill effluent revealed that pretreatment of ground palm cake did not improve enzyme production. Addition of 0.60g NH4NO3/l generated maximum activity of xylanase and cellulase (CMCase). The optimum aeration rate was 1.2 v/v min. Under solid-substrate cultivation, the results indicated that heating and alkali treatment of the ground palm cake gave no further improvement in enzyme production. The optimal N-source was 2% urea. Optimal initial moisture contents for xylanase and CMCase activities were 60% and 50% respectively, with temperature optima of 30°C and 35°C, respectively. The optimal inoculum size was 1× 108 spores/g palm cake with an initial pH of 4.5–5.0. The maximum activities of xylanase (282.9U/g) and CMCase (23.8U/g) were obtained under the optimum conditions. Solid-substrate cultivation was a better method for the production of enzyme, particularly xylanase, from A. niger ATCC 6275. The application of these enzymes to decanter effluent showed the separation of oil and grease and suspended solids from the effluent. This is comparable to the result achieved from using the commercial xylase preparation Meicelase and superior to the effect of Sumyzyme.     

Analysis of genetic diversity in common loon Gavia immer using RAPD and mitochondrial RFLP techniques

We used random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b ) gene to evaluate the genetic diversity in common loon Gavia immer populations from two regions in the United States: New England (NE) and Michigan (MI). RAPD analysis with 18 primers showed 74% polymorphism in NE and 50% in MI loons (similarity coefficient F = 0.92). Although no population-specific markers were found, the frequencies of some RAPD bands varied between the two populations suggesting geographical differences. RFLP analyses with Bam HI enzyme and a 307-bp mitochondrial cyt b gene showed four haplotypes in the NE loon samples and two in the MI samples. The mtDNA haplotype diversity was 0.74 for NE and 0.51 for MI loons, supporting the RAPD data that NE loons have greater genetic diversity than MI loons.     

Population genetic response to microsite ecological stress in wild barley, Hordeum spontaneum

Genetic diversity was studied in six subpopulations (a total of 60 individuals) of wild barley, Hordeum spontaneum , the progenitor of cultivated barley, sampled from six stations located along a transect of 300 m across the two opposing slopes of 'Evolution Canyon', a Mediterranean microsite at Lower Nahal Oren, Mt Carmel. The two opposing slopes are separated by between 100 and 400 m and designated SFS (South-Facing Slope) and NFS (North-Facing Slope) with each having three equidistant test stations. The SFS, which receives up to 300% more solar radiation, is drier, ecologically more heterogeneous, fluctuating, and more stressful than the NFS. Analysis of 12 RAPD primers, representing a total of 51 putative loci, revealed a significant inter- and intraslope variation in RAPD band polymorphism. A significantly higher proportion of polymorphic RAPD loci was found amongst the subpopulations on the SFS (mean P = 0.909) than on the NFS (mean P = 0.682), on the basis of the presence and absence of 22 strong bands. Polymorphism generally increased upwards from the bottom to the top of the SFS (0.636, 0.773, 0.955) and NFS (0.409, 0.500, 0.545), respectively. Gametic phase disequilibria estimates, D, revealed SFS and NFS unique predominant combinations which sharply differentiated the two slopes and indicated that there is differential interslope selection favouring slope-specific multilocus combinations of alleles, or blocks of genes over tens to hundreds of meters. This suggests that selection overrides migration. RAPD polymorphism appears to parallel allozyme diversity which is climatically adaptive and driven by natural selection in the same subpopulations at the microsite.     

应用RAPD技术对大熊猫分类地位的探讨

采用ＰＣＲ和Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交等方法对大熊猫与小熊猫、马来熊、浣熊等共有的一条１．３ｋｂ的ＲＡＰＤ产物片段进行了初步分析。研究结果显示,来自于大熊猫的此共有片段可能为一重复序列,并且其内部含有多个随机引物ＡＢ１－０８的结合位点。以此来自于大熊猫的１．３ｋｂ片段为探针进行杂交,发现马来熊ＲＡＰＤ产物中的对应片段显示了很高的同源性,而小熊猫和浣熊ＲＡＰＤ产物则无相应的杂交带。这暗示,从分类地位上来看,大熊猫与熊科马来熊的亲缘关系应更近于与小熊猫和浣熊的亲缘关系,应与马来熊一样划分为熊科。本研究为大熊猫分类地位的确定提供了又一分子生物学证据     

How did glycogen structure evolve to satisfy the requirement for rapid mobilization of glucose? A problem of physical constraints in structure building

Optimization of molecular design in cellular metabolism is a necessary condition for guaranteeing a good structure–function relationship. We have studied this feature in the design of glycogen by means of the mathematical model previously presented that describes glycogen structure and its optimization function [Meléndez-Hevia et al. (1993), Biochem J 295: 477–483]. Our results demonstrate that the structure of cellular glycogen is in good agreement with these principles. Because the stored glucose in glycogen must be ready to be used at any phase of its synthesis or degradation, the full optimization of glycogen structure must also imply the optimization of every intermediate stage in its formation. This case can be viewed as a molecular instance of the eye problem, a classical paradigm of natural selection which states that every step in the evolutionary formation of a functional structure must be functional. The glycogen molecule has a highly optimized structure for its metabolic function, but the optimization of the full molecule has meaning and can be understood only by taking into account the optimization of each intermediate stage in its formation. Received: 23 October 1996 / Accepted: 21 April 1997     

Sequence Tag Site and Host Range Assays Demonstrate that Radapholus similis and R. citraphilus are not Reproductively Isolated

Males of citrus-parasitic Radopholus citrophilus (FL1) were mated with non-citrus-parasitic R. similis (FL5) females. Progeny inherited a 2.4-kb sequence tag site (DK#1) and the ability to reproduce in citrus from the paternal parent (FLl); both traits were absent in the maternal line (FL5). The hybrid progeny produced offspring in roots of citrus seedlings over an 8-month period and therefore were considered reproductively viable. Genomic DNA hybridization studies indicated that one or more copies of DK#1 were present in R. citrophilus FL1. It is not likely that DK#1 represents a citrus parasitism gene because it was amplified from some burrowing nematode isolates that did not parasitize citrus and because DK#1 contains no open reading frames. Inability to reliably test individual nematodes for their ability to parasitize citrus was a constraint to obtaining F2 data required for definitive genetic characterization of citrus parasitism in burrowing nematodes, and alternate approaches will be required. Although the physical relationship of DK#1 and the citrus parasitism locus remains undefined, results of controlled mating studies using these parameters as genetic markers enabled us to identify hybrid F₁ progeny. Therefore, R. similis and R. citrophilus are not sibling species since gene flow between the two does not appear to be restricted via geographic isolation (sympatric in Florida) or by genetics.     

玉米CMS材料线粒体DNA遗传多型性的研究

选用１１×４＝４４个探针／酶组合,５０个（１０ｍｅｒ）随机序列引物对２５种不同胞质来源的ＣＭＳ玉米,５种正常胞质玉米线粒体ＤＮＡ进行ＲＦＬＰ和ＲＡＰＤ研究。研究结果表明：（１）４５％的探针／酶组合可检测到玉米线粒体ＤＮＡ的多型性,共表现１５种ＲＦＬＰ类型,其中Ｓ组ＣＭＳ材料内有７种,正常胞质材料内有２种;８０％的随机引物可检测到ＲＡＰＤ。（２）基于ＲＦＬＰ资料的聚类分析结果,可将３０种胞质明确地划分为Ｔ、Ｃ、Ｓ、Ｎ４组,其结果与恢复专效性测定结果一致。其中ｐＨＪ２－７－１／ＢａｍＨＩ的ＲＦＬＰ类型可成为利用ＲＦＬＰ技术进行胞质分组的鉴定体系。（３）“双”型胞质线粒体ＤＮＡ常表现Ｓ＋Ｃ胞质的ＲＦＬＰ图谱。     

冬虫夏草(Cordyceps sinensis)的随机扩增多态DNA及其遗传分化

本文对来自青藏高原3个区域5个具有代表性地方的13个冬虫夏草(Cordyceps sinensis[Berk.] Sacc.)样本进行随机扩增多态DNA(RAPD)分析。19个随机引物获得的RAPD谱带清晰并呈现多态,单个引物获得的RAPD片段数在3～10个之间。该19个引物在每个样本中扩增的RAPD片段总数平均约为65个。基于遗传距离分析,受试的13个冬虫夏草样本中,来自同一地方的样本间遗传差异甚微,同一区域不同地方的样本间遗传差异较大,不同区域的样本间遗传差异最大。这说明冬虫夏草地理群体间存在着遗传分化。应用UPGMA和NJ方法构建的分子系统树显示,来自5个地方的冬虫夏草实际上可以归并为显著不同的3个组,对应于样本来源的3个区域,提示RAPD标记在冬虫夏草群体中有显著的地区特异性。我们的结果还表明,冬虫夏草地理群体间的遗传差异度与地理距离呈正相关。因此,RAPD作为有效的遗传标记,可用于研究冬虫夏草的遗传多样性、起源以及系统演化等。     

食用菌灭活原生质体电融合及属间融合产物的鉴定分析

食用菌因其显著的营养、保健、药用及综合利用价值受到世人青睐。原生质体融合技术则为食用菌的育种和遗传学研究提供了一条很好的途径。食用菌的种内、种间乃至属间、目间的原生质体融合均已有过报道,但这些工作大多利用营养缺陷型标记的亲株,采用化学融合法完成。这种融合的效率较低,对亲株的标记繁琐费时,甚至会对菌株性状产生不良影响。最近,一种具有较高融合效率的物理融合法——电融合法以及非遗传性标记法分别被一些研究者所采用。本研究将原生质体电融合法与灭活标记法相结合来获得食用菌的属间融合产物,并采用包括同工酶分析和RAPD(或AP-PCR)方法在内的分子生物学方法,对食用菌属间杂交后代的遗传学特性进行初步探讨。1 材料和方法     

RAPD技术的特点及其在昆虫分类中的应用

随机扩增的多态性DNA(RAPD)技术,是近年来发展起来的一项DNA分子水平上 的大分子多态检测手段。由于它具有简捷、灵敏、对材料要求不高,取材少、成本低等优点, 备受人们青睐,在遗传学、分子进化、生物分类等领域被广泛地运用。在昆虫分类的过程中, 由于昆虫的种类繁多,形态、生态差异很大,许多在其它领域被广泛运用的分子生物学技术不能在昆虫分类中充分发挥作用。同时在昆虫分类中出现的一些问题却又需要用涉及遗传本质的分子生物学技术进行探讨和研究。本文就RAPD技术的特点及其在解决昆虫分类中的问题时的优势作一简介。