汉阳陵陶俑表面微生物群落结构与种群多样性分析

【背景】汉阳陵是我国截至目前发现的规模最大、陪葬级别最高的汉代陶俑群,出土了大量形神毕肖的裸体俑群,考古学家认为这种裸体陶俑原本“着衣、装木臂”,称为“着衣式陶俑”,为皇室独有,异常珍贵。然而这些推测尚无科学依据,而且陶俑表面附着微生物可能会腐蚀俑体。【目的】通过比较研究汉陶俑表面微生物的组成差异,为汉裸体陶俑着有衣物且装有断臂的推测提供一定的科学佐证,同时为汉陶俑微生物腐蚀的防控提供靶标。【方法】应用微生物高通量测序与纯培养相结合的方法,对着衣式陶俑不同部位微生物进行测定。【结果】高通量测序结果显示女俑头部微生物多样性较高;男俑上半身微生物多样性最高,腿部居中,头部较低。汉陶俑表面微生物组成按俑的类别及不同部位聚集在一起,其优势菌为放线菌门的克洛斯氏菌属、糖多孢菌属、假诺卡氏菌属及链霉菌科,其他各部位优势类群相对丰度存在差异,断臂处与碳循环相关功能微生物的相对丰度最高。纯培养结果显示女俑头部的可培养细菌数量高于男俑头部可培养的细菌数量;男俑上身与腿部可培养的微生物数量高于男俑头部,表明上半身与腿部可能有衣物覆盖,导致其营养差异。【结论】汉陶俑头部与身体表面部位微生物多样性与组成存在明...     

氮磷对污水净化中藻类叶绿素含量的影响

在室内模拟生物净化槽中比较研究了氮磷对污水中藻类叶绿素含量和污水净化的影响。污水中磷含量均为７ｍｇ／Ｌ左右,氮含量分别为７７．４、４４．４、２４．８和１３．５ｍｇ／Ｌ,结果发现ＴＮ／ＴＰ＝７７．４／７．０１ｍｇ／Ｌ组,污水经７ｄ净化,藻类叶绿素含量最高,污水净化效果较好。四个实验组比较,叶绿素含量随ＴＮ／ＴＰ比例的上升而上升,呈显著正相关。     

土壤氮素异质性分布和马先蒿寄生对长芒棒头草生长发育及根系分布的影响

无论在农田还是自然生态系统中,土壤养分异质性普遍存在。植物具有感知土壤养分异质性的能力,并通过调节根系生物量分配及空间分布以获取更多资源。了解寄生胁迫在不同养分条件下对寄主生长发育及根系空间分布的影响,对解析寄主应对寄生胁迫和养分胁迫的适应策略,进而指导寄生性杂草防控具有重要的指导意义。该文采用分根试验,通过对寄主分根,并控制根室两侧氮供应水平及寄生胁迫程度,考察了氮胁迫及两种寄主依赖程度不同的马先蒿的寄生对寄主长芒棒头草生长发育及根系空间分布的影响。结果表明:(1)土壤氮水平与马先蒿寄生均可显著影响长芒棒头草生物量及根冠比,并且两者之间存在显著交互作用,其中土壤氮水平为主要影响因子。(2)两种马先蒿对长芒棒头草的危害程度不同。在NPK和2NPK 处理时,三色马先蒿的寄生显著降低长芒棒头草生物量(茎叶:37.1%、51.5%; 根系:35.6%、63.6%); 在NPK处理时,大王马先蒿的寄生显著增加长芒棒头草生物量(茎叶:29.9%,根系:61.2%)。(3)长芒棒头草的根系生长和空间分布受氮营养的异质分布和寄生的影响,具有明显的感知养分空间分布及调节根系生长能力。     

桂林岩溶石山常绿落叶阔叶混交林乔木层优势物种生态位研究

采用样方法对不同资源位群落进行调查,通过冗余分析（RDA）结合Monte Carlo随机置换检验筛选出对桂林岩溶石山常绿落叶阔叶混交林乔木层优势物种分布影响显著的土壤资源轴（土壤有机质、土壤水溶钙、土壤速效氮、土壤全氮、土壤pH值和土壤厚度）。利用Levins生态位宽度指数和Pianka生态位重叠指数对桂林岩溶石山常绿落叶阔叶混交林乔木层14个优势物种在土壤有机质、土壤水溶钙、土壤速效氮、土壤全氮、土壤pH值和土壤厚度6个土壤资源轴上的生态位特征进行研究。结果表明：（1）在土壤有机质和土壤水溶钙资源轴上,生态位宽度最大值为常绿物种檵木（0.89、0.94）;在土壤pH值资源轴上,生态位宽度最大值为常绿物种粗糠柴（0.96）;在土壤速效氮、土壤全氮和土壤厚度资源轴上,生态位宽度最大值为落叶物种南酸枣（0.87、0.99、0.97）。（2）14个优势物种在6个土壤资源轴上,生态位重叠均值由大到小依次为土壤厚度 > 土壤全氮 > 土壤水溶钙 > 土壤速效氮 > 土壤pH值 > 土壤有机质,且均表现为常绿物种与常绿物种形成的种对生态位重叠均值（0.84） > 常绿物种与落叶物种（0.74） > 落叶物种与落叶物种（0.66）。（3）综合6个土壤资源轴,生态位重叠值≥0.5的种对高达480对,占总种对数的87.91%,暗示桂林岩溶石山常绿落叶阔叶混交林乔木层优势物种在资源匮乏且资源异质性高的特殊生境中存在激烈竞争,且乔木层种间关系相对不稳定。     

Genetic and physical fine mapping of a multilocular gene Bjln1 in Brassica juncea to a 208-kb region

Most of the germplasm resources in Brassica juncea produce silique with only two locules, whereas a few varieties can produce silique with three or four locules. The increase in locule number in B. juncea has been shown to cause an increase in the number of seeds per silique, resulting in an increase in the yield per plant. Thus, the development of high-locule-number varieties may be an effective way of improving the yield of B. juncea. Duoshi, a B. juncea landrace originating from the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau, produces silique with 3–4 locules. Genetic analysis has shown that the high-locule-number trait in Duoshi is determined by two recessive genes, tentatively designated as Bjln1 and Bjln2. For fine mapping of the Bjln1 gene, a BC3 population was developed from the cross between Duoshi (multilocular parent) and Xinjie (bilocular parent). Using a combination of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and bulked segregant analysis, only two AFLP markers linked to Bjln1 were identified. Preliminary linkage analysis showed that the two AFLP markers were located on the same side of Bjln1. Blast analysis revealed that the sequences of the two AFLP markers had homologues on Scaffold000019 at the bottom of B. rapa A7. Using the results of linkage analysis and BlastN searches, simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were subsequently developed based on the sequence information from B. rapa A7. Seven SSR markers were eventually identified, of which ln 8 was co-segregated with Bjln1. ln 7 and ln 9, the closest flanking markers, were mapped at 2.0 and 0.4 cM distant from the Bjln1 gene, respectively. The SSR markers were cloned, sequenced and mapped on A7 of B. rapa (corresponding to J7 in the A genome of B. juncea). The two closest flanking markers, ln 7 and ln 9, were mapped within a 208-kb genomic region on B. rapa A7, in which the Bjln1 gene might be included. The present study may facilitate cloning of the Bjln1 gene as well as the selection process for developing multilocular varieties in B. juncea by marker-assisted selection and genetic engineering.     

Two Homologous EF-G Proteins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exhibit Distinct Functions

Genes encoding two proteins corresponding to elongation factor G (EF-G) were cloned from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The proteins encoded by these genes are both members of the EFG I subfamily. The gene encoding one of the forms of EF-G is located in the str operon and the resulting protein is referred to as EF-G1A while the gene encoding the other form of EF-G is located in another part of the genome and the resulting protein is referred to as EF-G1B. These proteins were expressed and purified to 98% homogeneity. Sequence analysis indicated the two proteins are 90/84% similar/identical. In other organisms containing multiple forms of EF-G a lower degree of similarity is seen. When assayed in a poly(U)-directed poly-phenylalanine translation system, EF-G1B was 75-fold more active than EF-G1A. EF-G1A pre-incubate with ribosomes in the presence of the ribosome recycling factor (RRF) decreased polymerization of poly-phenylalanine upon addition of EF-G1B in poly(U)-directed translation suggesting a role for EF-G1A in uncoupling of the ribosome into its constituent subunits. Both forms of P. aeruginosa EF-G were active in ribosome dependent GTPase activity. The kinetic parameters (K _M) for the interaction of EF-G1A and EF-G1B with GTP were 85 and 70 μM, respectively. However, EF-G1B exhibited a 5-fold greater turnover number (observed k _cat) for the hydrolysis of GTP than EF-G1A; 0.2 s^-1 vs. 0.04 s^-1. These values resulted in specificity constants (k _cat ^obs/K _M) for EF-G1A and EF-G1B of 0.5 x 10³ s^-1 M^-1 and 3.0 x 10³ s^-1 M^-1, respectively. The antibiotic fusidic acid (FA) completely inhibited poly(U)-dependent protein synthesis containing P. aeruginosa EF-G1B, but the same protein synthesis system containing EF-G1A was not affected. Likewise, the activity of EF-G1B in ribosome dependent GTPase assays was completely inhibited by FA, while the activity of EF-G1A was not affected.     

pEGFP-N1-mediated BmK CT expression suppresses the migration of glioma

Gliomas can diffuse into the normal brain and this invasion of glioma cells involves modification of receptor-mediated adhesive properties of tumor cells, degradation and remodeling of extracellular matrix by tumor-secreted metalloproteinase (MMPs) such as MMP-2, consequently creating an intercellular space for invasion of glioma cells. BmK CT, one of the key toxins in scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch venom, is a novel blocker of the chloride ion channel and MMP-2. In this report, a recombinant plasmid pEGFP-N1-BmK CT was constructed and characterized by in vitro studies. The results showed that pEGFP-N1 mediated BmK CT expression displayed a high activity in suppressing cell migration via MMP-2. The potential therapeutic effect of pEGFP-N1 mediated BmK CT against rat glioma C6 cells was assessed and its potential mechanism was elucidated. It represented an approach for developing a novel therapeutic agent—recombinant plasmid pEGFP-N1-BmK CT as an efficient and powerful adjuvant.     

Promoter Hypermethylation of ARID1A Gene Is Responsible for Its Low mRNA Expression in Many Invasive Breast Cancers

ARID1A (AT-rich interactive domain 1A) has recently been identified as a tumor suppressor gene. Its mRNA expression is significantly low in many breast cancers; this is often associated with more aggressive phenotypes. However, the underlying molecular mechanism for its low expression has not been fully understood. This study was undertaken to evaluate the contribution of gene copy number variation, mutations, promoter methylation and histone modification to ARID1A’s low expression. 38 pairs of breast invasive ductal carcinomas and their normal breast tissue counterparts from the same patients were randomly selected for gene expression and copy number variation detection. Promoter methylation and histone modification levels were evaluated by MeDIP-qPCR and ChIP-qPCR, respectively. PCR product Sanger sequencing was carried out to detect the exon mutation rate. Twenty-two out of 38 invasive ductal carcinomas in the study (57.9%) revealed ARID1A mRNA low expression by realtime RT-PCR. The relative promoter methylation level was, significantly higher in ARID1A mRNA low expression group compared with its high expression group (p<0.001). In the low expression group, nineteen out of 22 invasive ductal carcinomas (86.4%) exhibited ARID1A promoter hypermthylation. In addition, the promoter hypermethylation was accompanied with repressive histone modification (H3K27Me3). Although five out of 38 invasive ductal carcinomas (13.2%) exhibited loss of ARID1A gene copy number by realtime PCR and nine exon novel mutations are seen from eight out of 33 invasive ductal carcinomas (24.2%), there was no statistically significant difference in both ARID1A mRNA low and high expression groups (p = 0.25,and p = 0.68, respectively). We demonstrate that promoter hypermethylation was the main culprit for ARID1A mRNA low expression in invasive ductal carcinomas. The influence of mutation and copy number variation on the expression were statistically insignificant at mRNA level, and were, therefore, not considered the main causes for ARID1A mRNA low expression in invasive breast cancer.     

<Superscript>1</Superscript>H, <Superscript>13</Superscript>C and <Superscript>15</Superscript>N resonance assignments and secondary structure analysis of translation initiation factor 1 from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis>

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen and a primary cause of infection in humans. P. aeruginosa can acquire resistance against multiple groups of antimicrobial agents, including β-lactams, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones, and multidrug resistance is increasing in this organism which makes treatment of the infections difficult and expensive. This has led to the unmet need for discovery of new compounds distinctly different from present antimicrobials. Protein synthesis is an essential metabolic process and a validated target for the development of new antibiotics. Translation initiation factor 1 from P. aeruginosa (Pa-IF1) is the smallest of the three initiation factors that acts to establish the 30S initiation complex to initiate translation during protein biosynthesis, and its structure is unknown. Here we report the ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N chemical shift assignments of Pa-IF1 as the basis for NMR structure determination and interaction studies. Secondary structure analyses deduced from the NMR chemical shift data have identified five β-strands with an unusually extended β-strand at the C-terminal end of the protein and one short α-helix arranged in the sequential order β1–β2–β3–α1–β4–β5. This is further supported by ¹⁵N–{¹H} hetero NOEs. These secondary structure elements suggest the Pa-IF1 adopts the typical β-barrel structure and is composed of an oligomer-binding motif.