紫杉醇合成相关候选基因A02725的克隆及转基因菌株的构建

真菌紫杉醇合成相关基因的功能研究是揭示真菌紫杉醇合成机制的关键。为了揭示产紫杉醇内生真菌枝状枝孢霉MD2的候选基因A02725对宿主紫杉烷类合成的作用,本研究克隆了候选基因A02725的DNA全长序列(1 524 bp);生物信息学预测结果表明该基因编码蛋白为亲水蛋白,含508个氨基酸,无信号肽和跨膜结构,与牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合成酶(geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase,GGPPS)具有79%的一致性;进一步构建该基因的超表达载体并转化枝状枝孢霉MD2,通过抗性筛选以及Southern blot检测,共获得27株转基因菌株,其中5株转基因菌株的外源基因是以单拷贝方式整合。该结果为深入分析超表达候选基因A02725对宿主紫杉烷类合成的影响奠定了基础。     

香樟GGPPS基因的克隆及生物信息学分析

本研究目的是克隆香樟牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合成酶(geranyl-geranyl pyrophosphate synthetase,GGPPS)的c DNA序列,并进行生物信息学分析,为香樟萜类物质的生物合成及调控机制研究提供基础。根据香樟叶的转录组测序数据,设计特异性PCR引物,应用反转录RT-PCR方法,克隆获得香樟GGPPS基因,通过生物信息学对该基因蛋白的特征进行分析。结果显示,GGPPS基因包含全长1 152 bp的开放读码框(ORF),编码383个氨基酸,蛋白分子量为41.41 k D,等电点p I为5.84,是一个定位于叶绿体,不含跨膜结构域,不含信号肽的不稳定疏水蛋白。GGPPS氨基酸序列的主要二级结构为α-螺旋并含有一个类异戊二烯类化合物合酶的特征结构域。通过氨基酸序列的同源性分析发现,香樟的GGPPS氨基酸序列与苹果、陆地棉和紫苜蓿等植物的GGPPS氨基酸序列有较高的同源性。分子进化树分析结果表明,香樟树GGPPS蛋白与无油樟GGPPS蛋白的亲缘关系相对较近。本研究成功克隆、分析并表达了香樟GGPPS,为进一步研究香樟GGPPS基因的功能,萜类合成调控机制等奠定了分子基础。     

高等植物牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合成酶基因的研究进展

牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合成酶(GGPPS)在植物体内催化牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸(GGPP)的合成,GGPP是萜类物质、类胡萝卜素、叶绿素及几个重要植物激素合成的前体物,是联系植物体内多条重要次生代谢通路的节点物质。本文综述了植物GGPPS基因近年来的生物学功能研究进展和该基因家族的遗传分类情况,以及GGPPS小亚基基因的重要调控作用,拟为深入研究植物GGPPS基因的生物学功能和萜类含量调控的遗传工程提供新认识和新思路。     

人牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合成酶的cDNA克隆、基因定位及组织表达谱分析

牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸(GGPP)在真核生物中主要参与对包括Rho/Rac,Rap和Rab家族在内的多种蛋白质的翻译后修饰及细胞凋亡的调控.牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合成酶(GGPPS)是合成GGPP的关键酶,它催化法呢基焦磷酸与异戊烯焦磷酸的缩合反应而产生GGPP.报道了从人睾丸cDNA文库中克隆到一个与果蝇GGPPS cDNA高度同源的基因转录本,它的序列长1466 bp,其中nt 239～1138是一个完整的可读框,编码一个由300个氨基酸组成的35 ku蛋白质.该推导蛋白质的氨基酸序列与果蝇GGPPS的一致性和相似性分别达到了57.5%和75%,并且含有异戊二烯转移酶中保守的5个特征性结构域.Northern杂交结果显示人GGPPS基因在心脏中表达最高,在脾、睾丸、脑、胎盘、肺、肝、骨胳肌、肾、胰腺组织中为中度表达,而在其他组织中未见有明显的杂交带.采用辐射杂种细胞系定位技术,发现GGPPS位于人染色体lq43区.由于此前有遗传连锁资料证实该区域存在一个前列腺癌的易感位点,并且另有研究发现GGPP的结构类似物可抑制PC-3前列腺癌细胞系中p21rap蛋白的牻牛儿基牻牛儿基化,从而提示GGPPS有可能是与该病相关的候选基因之一.     

竹叶花椒ZaGGPPS基因克隆与表达分析

为了揭示竹叶花椒萜类代谢的分子机理及嫁接对其风味的影响,该文依据转录组数据设计特异性引物,采用RT-PCR方法从竹叶花椒(Zanthoxylum armatum)中克隆得到一个全新的牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合成酶(GGPPS)基因的全长cDNA序列,命名为ZaGGPPS,并利用NCBI、ProParam、SignalP 4.1 server、DNAMAN和MEGA 7.0软件对ZaGGPPS基因进行生物信息学分析,并比较其在嫁接树和实生树中的表达量。结果表明:ZaGGPPS包含完整的cDNA开放阅读框(OFR),由1 086 bp组成,编码361个氨基酸。其蛋白的相对分子量为39 079.14 Da,理论等电点pI为6.38。Blast比对结果显示该蛋白质属于GGPPS家族蛋白,含有2个GGPPS蛋白特有的天冬氨酸富集基序,分别是"DDXXXXD"和"DDXXD",以及5个特征性功能结构域。系统进化树结果显示竹叶花椒与芸香科植物甜橙(Citrus sinensis)、克里曼丁桔(C. clementina)、柚子(C. maxima)等亲缘关系较近。荧光定量PCR检测显示,ZaGGPPS基因在竹叶花椒中的表达量从高到低分别为实生树的叶、嫁接树的叶、实生树的茎、嫁接树的茎。牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合成酶是竹叶花椒萜类化合物生物合成途径中的关键酶,通过嫁接可影响ZaGGPPS基因在叶和茎中的表达量。该文对竹叶花椒ZaGGPPS基因进行了克隆与分析,为后续深入研究竹叶花椒香气形成的分子机理及利用分子生物学手段选育优良品种提供理论依据。     

曼地亚红豆杉植株中GGPP合成酶的克隆与分析

从 5年生曼地亚红豆杉 (Taxusmedia)的当年生新鲜枝叶中提取分离出mRNA ,然后根据已知植物的牛儿基牛儿基焦磷酸合成酶基因 (GGPPS基因 )DNA序列保守区设计特异简并引物。RT PCR获得了一条大小约 60 0bp的扩增谱带 ,回收该特异谱带并进行TA克隆 ,蓝白斑筛选 ,得到若干阳性克隆。经过质粒大小比较和PCR验证后 ,进行序列测定和同源性比较。发现该序列属于GGPP合成酶的片断 ,与Taxuscanadensis (AAD 1 60 1 8 1 )和Abiesgrandis (AAL1 761 4 2 )的GGPP合成酶相应区段的氨基酸序列一致性为 98%和 86%。蛋白质序列分析发现该序列含有一个特征的异戊二烯合成酶保守的结构域。进化树分析表明 ,曼地亚红豆杉GGPPS在进化上位于植物类 ,靠近古细菌类。曼地亚红豆杉GGPPS基因的克隆为研究红豆杉生产紫杉醇的分子机理和转基因植株的构建奠定了良好的基础。     

地黄GGPPS1基因克隆及表达分析

以地黄为材料,通过分析地黄转录组数据,设计特异性引物,克隆了地黄牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合酶（geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase,GGPPS）基因的cDNA序列,命名为RgGGPPS1,GenBank登录号为KU258808。同时在生物信息学分析的基础上,进行原核表达、纯化以及组织特异性表达分析。结果显示：（1）RgGGPPS1基因开放阅读框为987 bp,编码328个氨基酸。（2）生物信息学分析结果显示,RgGGPPS1蛋白含有2个富含天冬氨酸的基序(DDXXXXDD和DDXXD),与芝麻等双子叶植物中的GGPPS蛋白相似性较高。（3）利用构建的原核表达载体pET 32a RgGGPPS1在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)菌株中成功表达RgGGPPS1重组蛋白,采用Ni²⁺亲和层析得到了纯化的RgGGPPS1重组蛋白。（4）荧光定量PCR结果显示,RgGGPPS1基因在根中表达量最高,叶、茎中表达量较低。研究结果为进一步研究RgGGPPS1基因在地黄环烯醚萜苷生物合成途径中的功能奠定了基础。     

代谢工程改造酿酒酵母生产β-胡萝卜素

β-胡萝卜素在食品、药品和化妆品领域有广泛用途。为获得生产β-胡萝卜素的微生物细胞工厂,本研究首先在酿酒酵母BY4742中过表达甲羟戊酸(MVA)途径的限速酶3-羟基-3-甲基戊二酰辅酶A还原酶(HMGR)基因及二萜化合物合成的关键酶牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合酶(GGPS)基因,来提高牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸(GGPP)的供给。在酿酒酵母底盘菌BY4742-T2的基础上整合来源于成团泛菌和红法夫酵母的β-胡萝卜素合成基因,比较酿酒酵母工程菌生产β-胡萝卜素的差别。结果表明提高酿酒酵母中HMGR和GGPS酶基因的表达能将工程菌中β-胡萝卜素的产量提高26.0倍。另外,来源于真核生物红法夫酵母的合成基因相比成团泛菌,更有利于酿酒酵母生产β-胡萝卜素。最终获得的酿酒酵母工程菌BW02能生产1.56 mg/g细胞干重的β-胡萝卜素,为进一步获得高产β-胡萝卜素细胞工厂提供基础。     

红豆杉内生真菌产紫杉醇相关基因BAPT的鉴定及初步研究

从几种红豆杉中先后分离了30余种内生真菌,深入研究了三种能够产紫杉醇的内生真菌。形态学观察及18srDNA鉴定它们分属于Fusarium(属)和Pestalotiopsis(属),三个菌株均可以在离体培养的条件下产生紫杉醇,经两周培养产量可分别达到8.5,31.5,31.1μg/L。(其中Pestalotiopsis1分离于南方红豆杉,Fusarium1分离于东北红豆杉,Pestalotiopsis2分离于中国红豆杉)。对这些内生真菌产紫杉醇的初步机理作了研究。BAPT(C-13phenylpropanoidsidechain-CoAacyltransferase)是红豆杉中紫杉醇合成途径里支链合成的关键酶之一,我们根据其保守区序列设计了引物,首次在能产生紫杉醇的上述三种红豆杉内生真菌中克隆得到了BAPT基因片段,而分离的其它真菌并没有得到扩增。序列分析表明,来自内生真菌的BAPT基因片段序列与红豆杉BAPT基因片段序列具有非常高的相似性(98.9%)。推测红豆杉内生真菌之所以能够合成紫杉醇,相关基因可能直接源于其宿主植物,即其遗传学起源是基因转移而不是共进化。这同时也建立了一种快速经济的鉴定产紫杉醇真菌的辅助方法。内生真菌的遗传稳定性及改良在进一步研究中。     

牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合酶和紫杉二烯合酶基因在灰盖鬼伞中的组合表达

紫杉二烯是紫杉醇合成途径中的前体物质。紫杉醇是红豆杉的一种重要的次级代谢产物,是一种重要的新型抗癌药物。然而,紫杉醇在植物中含量低且难提取,限制了高效应用。利用基因工程手段,借助担子菌类真菌灰盖鬼伞具有的内源类异戊二烯合成途径,构建含有牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸(Geranylgeranyl diphosphate,GGPP)合酶和紫杉二烯合酶的融合基因表达载体p Bg GGTS和独立表达盒表达载体p Bg GGg TS,并分别转入灰盖鬼伞LT2菌株中,经过选择性筛选、PCR鉴定、Southern blotting杂交验证,分别获得了5株融合表达的灰盖鬼伞工程菌和5株独立表达盒的灰盖鬼伞工程菌株。各随机挑选了1株工程菌株,分别提取菌丝体和发酵液分析。GC-MS分析表明,两种工程菌株与原出发菌株的菌丝提取物无明显差异峰,而与出发菌株的发酵液提取物相比,两种转基因灰盖鬼伞的发酵液中均出现了明显的差异峰,采用GC-MS特征质量离子分析方法判定为紫杉二烯,分别为44 ng/L(转化p Bg GGg TS)和30 ng/L(转化p Bg GGTS)。结果表明,通过在灰盖鬼伞融合基因或各自独立表达的形式共表达ggpps和ts基因,可以生物合成紫杉二烯。     

Astragalar morphology of late Eocene anthropoids from the Fayum Depression (Egypt) and the origin of catarrhine primates

The phylogenetic relationships of the late Eocene anthropoids Catopithecus browni and Proteopithecus sylviae are currently a matter of debate, with opinion divided as to whether these taxa are stem or crown anthropoids. The phylogenetic position of Catopithecus is of particular interest, for, unlike the highly generalized genus Proteopithecus, this taxon shares apomorphic dental and postcranial features with more derived undoubted catarrhines that appear in the same region 1-2 Ma later. If these apomorphies are homologous and Catopithecus is a stem catarrhine, the unique combination of plesiomorphic and apomorphic features preserved in this anthropoid would have important implications for our understanding of the crown anthropoid morphotype and the pattern of morphological character transformations that occurred during the early phases of stem catarrhine evolution.Well-preserved astragali referrable to Proteopithecus, Catopithecus, and the undoubted early Oligocene stem catarrhine Aegyptopithecus have provided additional morphological evidence that allows us to further evaluate competing hypotheses of interrelationships among Eocene-Oligocene Afro-Arabian anthropoids. Qualitative observations and multivariate morphometric analyses reveal that the astragalar morphology of Proteopithecus is very similar to that of early Oligocene parapithecids and living and extinct small-bodied platyrrhines, and strengthens the hypothesis that the morphological pattern shared by these taxa is primitive within crown Anthropoidea. In contrast, Catopithecus departs markedly from the predicted crown anthropoid astragalar morphotype and shares a number of apomorphic features (e.g., deep cotylar fossa, laterally projecting fibular facet, trochlear asymmetry, mediolaterally wide astragalar head) with Aegyptopithecus and Miocene-Recent catarrhines. The evidence from the astragalus complements other independent data from the dentition, humerus and femur of Catopithecus that support this taxon's stem catarrhine status, and we continue to maintain that oligopithecines are stem catarrhines that constitute the sister group of a clade containing propliopithecines and Miocene-Recent catarrhines.     

scabrous Modifies Epithelial Cell Adhesion and Extends the Range of Lateral Signalling during Development of the Spaced Bristle Pattern in Drosophila

The role of scabrous (sca) in the evenly spaced bristle pattern of Drosophila is explored. Loss-of-function of sca results in development of an excess of bristles. Segregation of alternately spaced bristle precursors and epidermal cells from a group of equipotential cells relies on lateral inhibition mediated by Notch and Delta (Dl). In this process, presumptive bristle precursors inhibit the neural fate of neighbouring cells, causing them to adopt the epidermal fate. We show that Dl, a membrane-bound ligand for Notch, can inhibit adjacent cells, in direct contact with the precursor, in the absence of Sca. In contrast, inhibition of cells not adjacent to the precursor requires, in addition, Sca, a secreted molecule with a fibrinogen-related domain. Over-expression of Sca in a wild-type background, leads to increased spacing between bristles, suggesting that the range of signalling has been increased. scabrous acts nonautonomously, and we present evidence that, during bristle precursor segregation, Sca is required to maintain the normal adhesive properties of epithelial cells. The possible effects of such changes on the range of signalling are discussed. We also show that the sensory organ precursors extend numerous fine cytoplasmic extensions bearing Dl molecules, and speculate on a possible role for these structures during signalling.     

楼梯草属苞片形态和演化趋势

(Ⅰ)对荨麻科楼梯草属的苞片和小苞片的形态进行了全面研究。(Ⅱ)该属原始群疏伞楼梯草组的雄聚伞花序苞片在每花序为15～90枚,纸质,绿色,狭卵形、狭三角形或条形,长0.5～4 mm,扁平,无任何突起,而与楼梯草族的冷水花属和赤车属的聚伞花序苞片极为相似,因此,上述各种形态可以视为楼梯草属苞片的原始特征,并据此观察到总苞苞片的以下演化趋势:(1)近等大,形状相似,在花序托边缘轮生形成一层→排列为二层,外层2苞片对生,较大,内层苞片较小,形状稍不同;(2)狭卵形,狭三角形或条形→宽卵形或宽三角形,或扁半圆形→由于长度强烈缩小,宽度增大而最终消失;(3)扁平→顶端兜形→船形→船形,顶端突起成细筒;(4)无任何突起↗背面有1龙骨状突起,或有1～6条纵肋或狭翅 ↘顶端具短到长的角状突起→背面顶端之下具角状突起;(5)分生→基部合生→由于长度强烈缩小,宽度强烈增大,总苞苞片合生成一横条形狭片;(6)在数目上,由每花序的7～45枚,一方面增加到50～180枚,另一方面则减少到5枚以下。同时,观察到小苞片形态以下演化趋势:(1)膜质,半透明,白色↗具褐色线纹或呈褐色→呈黑色 ↘薄膜质,透明,无色;(2)扁平→顶端兜形→船形;(3)无任何突起→顶端或在背面顶端之下具角状突起;(4)在数目上,由每花序的7～45枚一方面增加到100或数百枚,甚至达1千到数千枚,另一方面则减少到5枚以下,甚至到0枚。上述演化趋势有助于了解属下各级分类群的演化水平。     

除草剂精喹禾灵用于硅藻过量产生二十碳五烯酸

硅藻itzschia laevis是EPA很好的替代来源。除了对硅藻进行高密度培养外,EPA的产量还能利用除草剂来提高。本文研究了除草剂精喹禾灵对硅藻的生长和产EPA的影响。DMSO作为除草剂的溶剂,会对硅藻的生长造成抑制,DMSO在培养基中的添加量最好不要超过0.2%。除草剂能对硅藻的细胞形态造成损害,随着除草剂浓度的增加,硅藻的产量减低了,但脂质和EPA的含量提高了。当除草剂浓度为0.1mmol/L时,EPA的含量从3.00%增加到3.58%,提高了19.3%,EPA占总脂肪酸的含量也由25.15%提高到了32.88%。实验表明,除草剂精喹禾灵能促进硅藻EPA的积累,因而在筛选过量产生EPA微藻方面有重要用途。     

Hexagonal columnar liquid crystal in the cells secreting spider silk

The liquid crystallinity of spider dragline silk dope is thought to be important for both the spinning process and the extreme mechanical properties of the final thread. Although the formation of the liquid crystalline units is poorly understood, it has been suggested that spider silk proteins are secreted in a random coil and then aggregate end-to-end into rod-shaped units to form supramolecular liquid crystals. However, evidence presented here from transmission electron microscopy indicates that coat protein of the dragline silk of a Nephila spider is stored as hexagonal columnar liquid crystals within the intracellular secretory vesicles. This implies that this component is already folded into short rods within the gland cells and forms molecular rather than supramolecular liquid crystals.     

质体系统发育基因组解析旋花科系统发育关系

旋花科是一个世界广布的类群,具有丰富的形态特征和重要的经济价值。然而,目前该科主要分支或族间的系统发育关系问题一直未解决。为解析旋花科内系统发育关系,该研究代表性选取旋花科内8个族40个物种,基于质体全基因组数据,使用最大似然法和贝叶斯推论进行系统发育分析。结果表明：(1)旋花科质体基因组均为四分体结构,质体基因组大小为113 273～164 112 bp,蛋白质编码基因数目为66～79个。(2)基于五种DNA矩阵(即WCG、CDS、LSC、IR、SSC)的系统发育分析结果显示,WCG矩阵和CDS矩阵的拓扑结构基本一致,仅少数分支的支持率略有差异;LSC矩阵和WCG矩阵的拓扑结构差异在于菟丝子族、马蹄金族和盐帚花族的系统位置;AU检验和SH检验结果显示,WCG矩阵和SSC矩阵与IR矩阵的拓扑结构有显著冲突。(3)所有系统发育分析结果均显示,菟丝子属和马蹄金族都包括在旋花亚科内,应处理为族等级。(4)基于WCG矩阵和CDS矩阵较好地解决了旋花科8个族之间的系统发育关系,即心被藤族和丁公藤族聚为一支,最先从旋花亚科分化出来,随后是菟丝子族,剩下的5个族分成2个分支。(5)系统发育基因组分析...     

膜蕨科植物rbcL基因的适应性进化和共进化分析

膜蕨科植物是薄囊蕨类中种类最多的科,主要分布在潮湿的热带地区,拥有陆生、附生、半附生和攀生等多种生态型。为进一步了解膜蕨科植物辐射式物种分化的分子适应机制,该研究在时间框架下采用位点模型对膜蕨科植物rbc L基因的进化式样进行分析。结果表明:共鉴定出6个氨基酸正选择位点(125I、227L、231A、258F、304S和351L),其中位点304S位于环六上,对维持Rubisco功能有重要作用。此外,还计算了Rubisco大亚基内部氨基酸位点之间的共进化关系,共检测出39组(35个氨基酸)共进化位点,其中位点在α螺旋上的占46%,在β折叠上的占14%。膜蕨科植物rbc L基因这种复杂的进化式样可能与其起源较早有关。鉴于此,基于UCLD分子钟模型对膜蕨科植物的分化时间进行了估计,结果显示膜蕨科植物首次发生分歧的时间在三叠纪早期,瓶蕨属和膜蕨属的分歧时间分别发生在侏罗纪早期和白垩纪晚期,并且得出陆生生态型是其它生态型进化的基础,推测最近几次最热事件可能对物种分化的形成产生一定的作用。该研究结果对认识膜蕨科植物如何应对被子植物兴起所导致的陆地生态系统改变具重要意义。     

Paleosols and paleoenvironments of the middle Miocene,Maboko Formation,Kenya

The middle Miocene (15 Ma) Maboko Formation of Maboko Island and Majiwa Bluffs, southwestern Kenya, has yielded abundant fossils of the earliest known cercopithecoid monkey (Victoriapithecus macinnesi), and of a kenyapithecine hominoid (Kenyapithecus africanus), as well as rare proconsuline (Simiolus leakeyorum, cf. Limnopithecus evansi) and oreopithecine apes (Mabokopithecus clarki, M. pickfordi), and galagids (Komba winamensis). Specific habitat preferences can be interpreted from large collections of primate fossils in different kinds of paleosols (pedotypes). Fossiliferous drab-colored paleosols with iron-manganese nodules (Yom pedotype) are like modern soils of seasonally waterlogged depressions (dambo). Their crumb structure and abundant fine root-traces, as well as scattered large calcareous rhizoconcretions indicate former vegetation of seasonally wet, wooded grassland. Other fossiliferous paleosols are evidence of nyika bushland (Ratong), and early-successional riparian woodland (Dhero). No fossils were found in Mogo paleosols interpreted as saline scrub soils. Very shallow calcic horizons (in Yom, Ratong, and Mogo paleosols) and Na-montmorillonite (in Mogo) are evidence of dry paleoclimate (300-500 mm MAP=mean annual precipitation). This is the driest paleoclimate and most open vegetation yet inferred as a habitat for any Kenyan Miocene apes or monkeys. Victoriapithecus was abundant in dambo wooded grassland (Yom) and riparian woodland (Dhero), a distribution like that of modern vervet monkeys. Kenyapithecus ranged through all these paleosols, but was the most common primate in nyika bushland paleosols (Ratong), comparable to baboons and macaques today. Mabokopithecus was virtually restricted to riparian woodland paleosols (Dhero), and Simiolus had a similar, but marginally wider, distribution. Habitat preferences of Mabokopithecus and Simiolus were like those of modern colobus monkeys and mangabeys. A single specimen of Komba was found in dambo wooded grassland paleosol (Yom), a habitat more like that of the living Senegal bushbaby than of rainforest galagids. A shift to non-forest habitats may explain the terrestrial adaptations of Victoriapithecus, basal to the cercopithecid radiation, and of Kenyapithecus, basal to the hominoid radiation. Both taxa are distinct from earlier Miocene arboreal proconsulines, oreopithecines and galagids.     

类胡萝卜素在耐辐射奇球菌辐射抗性中的作用

为研究耐辐射奇球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans)中类胡萝卜素的生化合成基因及其在该细菌抗辐射机制中的生物学作用,通过有机溶剂提取及LC-MS技术分析了D. radiodurans所产类胡萝卜素物质的主要组分,运用PCR及基因同源重组技术,对该菌中类胡萝卜素生化合成途径的八氢番茄红素合成酶(phytoene synthase,crtB)及八氢番茄红素脱氢酶(phytoene desaturase,crtI)基因进行了缺失突变,通过表型观察及HPLC定量分析突变株所产类胡萝卜素的组分变化确证突变株构建成功．野生株及crtB 与crtI基因缺失突变株对电离辐射和H₂O₂的敏感性差异比较分析显示,和野生株相比,两种突变株对不同剂量电离辐射和不同浓度H₂O₂的敏感性更强．crtB及crtI基因功能研究表明,这两个关键性合成基因的缺失,导致突变株不能催化合成类胡萝卜素生化合成途径中的重要中间体——番茄红素及一系列下游产物．通过λ原噬菌体紫外线诱导系统、电子自旋共振 (ESR)及DMPO自旋捕集技术,分别在体内和体外评价了其类胡萝卜素的抗氧化能力．结果表明,两种类胡萝卜素对超氧阴离子(O₂^·)及羟自由基(·OH)均表现出较强的清除作用．上述研究结果为探究D. radiodurans的类胡萝卜素合成基因和生物学功能,及类胡萝卜素在D. radiodurans抗辐射机制中的作用提供了新的直接实验证据．     

Histology and morphometrics of testes of the white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) in bycatch samples from the northeastern Atlantic

The testes of 31 Atlantic white-sided dolphins, Lagenorhynchus acutus bycaught in the northeastern Atlantic were studied by histological and morphometric techniques. Twenty specimens were classified as mature, nine as immature and two as pubescent. Between immature and mature specimens there were overlappings in body length and body weight, but clear differences in the diameter of seminiferous tubules (<80 and >80 μm) and the proportion of seminiferous tubules to interstitial tissue (ST:INT-ratio). Also relative testes weight differed clearly. The pubescent specimens showed intermediate characteristics. Spermatogenetic activity of mature dolphins ranged from quiescent to different degrees of activity and varied even in animals from the same site and capture date. The fact that we found mature males with quiescent testes suggests a seasonal rather than a continuous spermatogenesis. We assume that sexual activity in L. acutus begins at an age of 7–8 GLGs and that the reproductive season of this species in the northeastern Atlantic starts in February. Further, the ultrastructure of the spermatozoon is similar to that of the related Lagenorhynchus obliquidens.