Toxicological and biochemical characterizations of malathion sensitivity in two field populations of Oxya chinensis （Orthoptera： Acridoidea）

We evaluate comparative toxicity of malathion in the two populations of the grasshopper Oxya chinensis, collected from Daixian and Fanshi of Shanxi province, China. General esterases and acetylcholinesterase （ACHE） from the two populations were characterized and compared. LD50 of the Daixian population （7.58 μg/g body weight） was 2.02-fold higher than that of the Fanshi population （3.75μg/g body weight）. General esterase-specific activities in the Daixian population were 1.91,130 and 1.85-fold higher than those in the Fanshi population, when α-NA, α-NB and β-NA were used as a substrate, respectively. Kinetic studies of general esterase showed that Vmax values of general esterases hydrolyzing α-NA,α-NB and β-NA in the Daixian population were 2.15-, 1.12-, and 1.47-fold, respectively, higher than those in the Fanshi population. The AChE activity of the Fanshi population was 1.54-fold higher than that of the Daixian population. Kinetic analysis of AChE showed that significant differences were presented between the two populations in the Km values; and the Vmax value in the Fanshi population was higher than that in the Daixian population. Inhibition studies of AChE indicated that AChE from the Daixian population was 2.56-, 2.80-, and 2.29-fold less sensitive to inhibition by paraoxon, chlorpyrifos-oxon, and demeton-S-methyl, respectively, than that from the Fanshi population. These biochemical characterizations of general esterases and AChE were consistent with malathion bioassay in the two populations. It is inferred that the reduced sensitivity of altered AChE and increased general esterase activities play an important role in the differences of insusceptibility of Oxya chinensis to malathion between the two populations.     

Secretory/releasing proteome-based identification of plasma biomarkers in HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

For successful therapy, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) must be detected at an early stage. Herein, we used a proteomic approach to analyze the secretory/releasing proteome of HCC tissues to identify plasma biomarkers. Serum-free conditioned media (CM) were collected from primary cultures of cancerous tissues and surrounding noncancerous tissues. Proteomic analysis of the CM proteins permitted the identification of 1365 proteins. The enriched molecular functions and biological processes of the CM proteins, such as hydrolase activity and catabolic processes, were consistent with the liver being the most important metabolic organ. Moreover, 19% of the proteins were characterized as extracellular or membrane-bound. For validation, secretory proteins involved in transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways were validated in plasma samples. Alphafetoprotein (AFP), metalloproteinase (MMP)1, osteopontin (OPN), and pregnancy-specific beta-1-glycoprotein (PSG)9 were significantly increased in HCC patients. The overall performance of MMP1 and OPN in the diagnosis of HCC remained greater than that of AFP. In addition, this study represents the first report of MMP1 as a biomarker with a higher sensitivity and specificity than AFP. Thus, this study provides a valuable resource of the HCC secretome with the potential to investigate serological biomarkers. MMP1 and OPN could be used as novel biomarkers for the early detection of HCC and to improve the sensitivity of biomarkers compared with AFP.     

Quantitative Trait Loci Mapping of Leaf Morphological Traits and Chlorophyll Content in Cultivated Tetraploid Cotton

Genetic mapping provides a powerful tool for quantitative trait loci （QTL） analysis at the molecular level. A simple sequence repeat （SSR） genetic map containing 590 markers and a BCI population from two cultivated tetraploid cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） cultivars, namely TM-1 and Hai 7124 （G. barbadense L.）, were used to map and analyze QTL using the composite interval mapping （CIM） method. Thirty one QTLs, 10 for lobe length, 13 for lobe width, six for lobe angle, and two for leaf chlorophyll content, were detected on 15 chromosomes or linkage groups at logarithm of odds （LOD）≥2.0, of which 15 were found for leaf morphology at LOD≥3.0. The genetic effects of the QTL were estimated. These results are fundamental for marker-assisted selection （MAS） of these traits in tetraploid cotton breeding.     

Gene cloning and expression of cadherin in midgut of Helicoverpa armigera and its Cry1A binding region

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a Gram-positive bacte-rium, produces insecticidal crystal proteins during sporulation. Bt has been used as biopesticides to con-trol a number of insect pests from Lepidoptera, Dip-tera and Hymenoptera and also has become so far the leading gene sources of transgenic plants resistant toinsect pests[1,2]. In China, the use of Bt cotton began in 1997 in Hebei, Shandong and Henan provinces, etc. and rapidly increased to more than 2 million ha in 2002, which is effe…     

Effects of Temperature and pH on Cell Growth of a Flocculating Microalga (Chlorella vulgaris) JSC-7

微藻是可广泛用于健康食品及水产养殖的饵料,同时,微藻细胞内积累的油脂可作为可再生生物燃料,因此微藻的生长和代谢受到广泛关注。温度和pH对微藻的生物量积累有很大影响,考察不同温度和pH条件下微藻细胞的生长有助于寻找最佳的条件进行微藻的培养。自絮凝小球藻JSC-7（Chlorella vulgaris JSC-7）可实现自沉降采收,有利于降低微藻生产成本,优化其生长条件对更好地利用该微藻具有重要意义。考察了温度（22∽40℃）及pH（6.0∽10.0）对其细胞生长、叶绿素含量和油脂产量的影响。在所选取的温度及pH范围内,JSC-7细胞均可生长,显示该藻种可以适应广泛的温度和pH条件。适合细胞生长的温度依次为31℃〉28℃〉35℃〉25℃,pH依次为7.0〉8.0〉6.0。pH 8.0时生物量和油脂的积累量最多,说明该藻株在弱碱条件下更适合生长和产油。当温度为31℃、pH为7.0时,可获得最高的生长量（OD690=0.941）、叶绿素含量（19 mg/L）及油脂产量（39.07%/克干重）。     

Benzene containing polyhydroxyalkanoates homo- and copolymers synthesized by genome edited Pseudomonas entomophila

Microbial synthesis of functional polymers has become increasingly important for industrial biotechnology.For the first time,it became possible to synthesize controllable composition of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)(P3HA)consisting of 3-hydroxydodecanoate(3HDD)and phenyl group on the side-chain when chromosome of Pseudomonas entomophila was edited to weaken itsβ-oxidation.Cultured in the presence of 5-phenylvaleric acid(PVA),the edited P.entomophila produced only homopolymer poly(3-hydroxy-5-phenylvalerate)or P(3HPhV).While copolyesters P(3HPhV-co-3HDD)of 3-hydroxy-5-phenylvalerate(3HPhV)and 3-hydroxydodecanoate(3HDD)were synthesized when the strain was grown on mixtures of PVA and dodecanoic acid(DDA).Compositions of 3HPhV in P(3HPhV-co-3HDD)were controllable ranging from 3%to 32%depending on DDDA/PVA ratios.Nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectra clearly indicated that the polymers were homopolymer of P(3HPhV)and random copolymers of 3HPhV and 3HDD.Their mechanical and thermal properties varied dramatically depending on the monomer ratios.Our results demonstrated the possibility to produce tailor-made,novel functional PHA using the chromosome edited P.entomophila.