线粒体转移核糖核酸（mt-tRNA）的牛磺酸修饰——纪念邹承鲁先生百年诞辰

转移核糖核酸(tRNA)是转录后修饰种类最多和修饰最密集的RNA分子，特别是其反密码子环含有大量的修饰。线粒体具有相对独立的蛋白质合成系统，线粒体tRNA (mt-tRNA)全部由线粒体基因组编码。研究表明，5-牛磺酸甲基尿嘧啶核苷(5-taurinomethyluridine，τm⁵U)修饰只存在于高等真核生物mt-tRNA第34位，能够调节密码子和反密码子相互作用的精确性，控制翻译的速度和保真性。人类GTP结合蛋白质3(GTPBP3)和线粒体翻译优化蛋白1(MTO1)介导τm⁵U修饰，其缺陷可能引起线粒体脑肌病。本文综述了τm⁵U修饰及其修饰酶的生物学性质，为深入研究τm⁵U修饰的机制，及认识τm⁵U修饰缺陷导致线粒体疾病的致病机理提供一个新的视角。     

蓖麻蚕后部丝腺体核酸及丝蛋白含量的变化

五龄蓖麻蚕(Philosamia cynthia ricina)后部丝腺体在大量合成丝蛋白前其中的DNA,RNA以及tRNA即开始大量增加,直至蓖麻蚕上簇。在合成丝心蛋白的最旺盛时期,tRNA^Aia和tRNA^Gty含量的增加最为明显,可分别达到总tRNA置的37.3%和33.5%。这与丙氨酸和甘氨酸在丝心蛋白中的含量(分别为43.2%和33.5%)有对应关系。     

稀土元素对短叶对齿藓生理生化的研究

通过测定分析3个主要生理指标过氧化物酶（POD）活性、丙二醛（MDA）含量和叶绿素含量的变化,研究了短叶对齿藓组培苗在6个不同浓度梯度的轻稀土La³⁺,Ce⁴⁺和重稀土Y³⁺单一元素胁迫下的生理响应和变化。结果如下：（1）短叶对齿藓体内的过氧化物酶（POD）活性和丙二醛（MDA）含量各处理组均低于对照组;Ce⁴⁺元素在3.55×10^-2 mmol·L^-1时显著提高了POD活性,在7.1×10^-2 mmol·L^-1时显著增加了膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛（MDA）含量。表明短叶对齿藓对Ce⁴⁺元素胁迫响应较强;而La³⁺元素各处理浓度间POD的变化较为平缓,胁迫响应较弱;Y³⁺处理居中。（2）较低浓度的La³⁺（1.8×10^-2 mmol·L^-1）和Ce⁴⁺（3.55×10^-2 mmol·L^-1）时显著提高叶绿素a、叶绿素b和总叶绿素含量;3种稀土元素在较高浓度时叶绿素的含量均有明显下降。本研究为进一步探明白云鄂博稀土矿区的苔藓植物生长发育受稀土元素的影响奠定了基础。     

舟山海域大中型浮游动物群落时空变化及受控要素

为更好地保护舟山海域的渔业资源和生态环境,了解舟山海域浮游动物组成的时空变化,于2014年到2017年对舟山海域33个站位开展4个季节的生态综合调查,结果表明:4个航次共鉴定出浮游动物成体88种和浮游幼体19类,优势种共12种,浮游动物的优势种更替和群落特征季节变化明显,春夏、夏秋、秋冬、冬春相邻季节优势种更替率分别为75%、80%、100%和60%;平均生物量为夏季(176.34 mg/m³)>春季(120.20 mg/m³)和秋季(86.28 mg/m³)>冬季(7.21 mg/m³);平均丰度为夏季(143.97个/m³)>春季(86.30个/m³)>秋季(21.38个/m³)和冬季(26.86个/m³);平均多样性指数:夏季(3.03)>秋季(2.82)>春季(2.05)>冬季(1.71)。舟山海域浮游动物群落具有明显的季节和区域差异,温度、盐度、Chl a和营养盐是影响舟山浮游动物群落时空变化的主要环境因素,其中春季浮游动物群落空间分布主要受盐度的影响,夏季主要受温度、盐度和Chl a的影响,秋季主要受Chl a的影响,冬季主要受悬浮物和溶解氧的影响,而营养盐对每个季节的浮游动物群落分布都有一定的影响。     

能源植物杂交狼尾草对NaCl胁迫的响应及其耐盐阈值

以能源植物杂交狼尾草(Pennisetum americanum × P. purpureum)为实验材料, 用沙培盆栽的方法, 分别用0、0.3%、0.5%、0.9%和1.2%的NaCl处理4周后, 测定植株鲜重、干重、含水量、株高、分蘖数和不同部位的离子含量, 以确定其耐盐阈值和耐盐方式。结果表明, 随着NaCl浓度的增加, 杂交狼尾草的鲜重、干重、株高和分蘖数都显著降低, 地上部分鲜重和干重分别在NaCl浓度为0.568%和0.570%时下降了50%, 1.2% NaCl处理的杂交狼尾草几乎全部死掉。表明杂交狼尾草的耐盐阈值为0.57%; 但植株含水量和功能叶的Na⁺含量变化不明显, 老叶Na⁺含量在NaCl浓度为0.9%时明显升高, 是对照的2倍; 随NaCl浓度的升高, 根中的Na⁺含量显著升高, 在NaCl浓度为0.9%时, 根中的Na⁺含量达到对照的3倍以上。Na⁺含量在功能叶, 老叶和根中含量依次升高; 随NaCl浓度的升高, 地上部分和根中的K⁺含量都无明显变化; 随NaCl浓度的升高, 根中的Na⁺/K⁺明显增加, 而地上部分Na⁺/K⁺只有当NaCl浓度为0.9%时明显增加。以上结果表明杂交狼尾草具有一定的耐盐性, 其耐盐方式为拒盐, 耐盐阈值为0.57% (约100 mmol·L^-1)。     

滨海滩涂地带乌哺鸡竹和淡竹离子含量变化及其与生长及光合作用的关系

在沿海滩涂防护林带低盐区(0.1%)、中盐区(0.2%)和重盐区(0.4%) 3个盐分梯度下,研究了栽植10年的乌哺鸡竹和淡竹Na⁺、K⁺、Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺含量变化及其与生长和光合作用的相关关系.结果表明: 从低盐区到重盐区,乌哺鸡竹的立竹密度和地径分别下降30.4%和28.8%,降幅低于淡竹的44.1%和31.2%;两竹种单株生物量下降,地上器官生物量降幅均显著高于地下器官;乌哺鸡竹和淡竹净光合速率(P_n)和PSⅡ最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)分别下降57.6%和67.7%、6.1%和7.4%,乌哺鸡竹耐盐能力比淡竹强.随着土壤含盐量的增大,乌哺鸡竹和淡竹各器官Na⁺含量逐渐增加,K⁺、Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺含量逐渐降低.两竹种根Na⁺积累较多,而地上部分K⁺含量较高.盐胁迫环境导致乌哺鸡竹根Ca²⁺含量与淡竹叶片Mg²⁺含量明显下降.两竹种的生物量、P_n、F_v/F_m与Na⁺含量呈显著负相关,与K⁺、Ca²⁺含量呈显著正相关.     

镉胁迫下三个萝卜栽培种蛋白质变化的双向电泳比较研究

在0.5mmol·L^-1 Cd²⁺处理时,小五缨(XWY)的发芽率下降至92%,并且随着Cd²⁺浓度的增加,发芽率逐渐降低,在1和5mmol·L^-1 Cd²⁺浓度处理时,发芽率分别降至83%和67%。象牙白(XYB)则在5mmol·L^-1 Cd²⁺浓度时,发芽率下降。卫青(WQ)在0.05mmol·L^-1 Cd²⁺浓度时,发芽率已降至83%, 1和5mmol·L^-1时则下降至58%。幼苗生长也明显受Cd²⁺处理影响,在0.05mmol·L^-1 Cd²⁺处理时, 3种栽培萝卜的幼苗生长均受到明显影响,并且随Cd²⁺浓度的增加,生长受抑加重。从发芽率和幼苗生长两种实验结果看,卫青对Cd²⁺最为敏感。双向电泳结果表明, Cd²⁺处理后3种栽培萝卜幼苗中蛋白质组分有明显变化。小五缨中, 0.1 mmol·L^-1Cd²⁺处理后,有5个蛋白质点消失, 15个新的蛋白质点被诱导产生。象牙白中, 2个蛋白质点消失, 1个蛋白质点含量减少, 13个新的蛋白质点被诱导产生。卫青中, 12个新的蛋白质点诱导产生,但没有发现蛋白质点消失现象。Cd²⁺处理后, 3种栽培萝卜中,蛋白质合成的变化与幼苗生长受抑存在明显相关性,这一实验结果对于探讨萝卜Cd²⁺害的生化机理是有重要意义的。     

施用氮肥对油用牡丹叶片氮素吸收积累与籽粒品质的影响

利用田间栽培试验,研究0 (对照)、18、24和30 g N·m^-2 4个氮肥用量对油用牡丹“凤丹”叶片氮素吸收转运以及籽粒产量和品质的影响.结果表明: 施用氮肥处理牡丹株高、冠幅、花径和花干质量与对照相比均显著增加,其中,24和30 g·m^-2氮肥处理株高比对照分别增加14.7%和15.2%.施用氮肥提高了牡丹籽粒的相关指标,24和30 g·m^-2氮肥处理籽粒产量达到最大,分别比对照增加15.2%和15.4%.施用氮肥明显增加了叶片氮素积累量、叶片氮素转移量和籽粒氮素积累量.其中,24 g·m^-2氮肥处理叶片氮素对籽粒贡献率最大.与对照相比,施用氮肥明显提高了籽粒蛋白氮、总氨基酸,以及部分饱和脂肪酸和不饱和脂肪酸的含量.在本试验条件下,施氮量为24 g N·m^-2时,叶片积累氮素向籽粒的转移量、转移率和贡献率均达到较高水平,籽粒产量较高,并且蛋白氮、氨基酸含量和不饱和脂肪酸含量也相对较高.     

LED短期连续光照与氮营养对水培生菜品质的影响

设置10和15 mmol·L^-12个氮水平处理,NO₃^- -N∶NH₄⁺-N比例分别为1∶0、4∶1和1∶1的3个氮形态处理,水培紫叶生菜,研究其在LED红蓝组合光短期连续光照(SCL)后的品质提升效果.结果表明： 各处理生菜地上部干质量在LED光源SCL处理后均显著提高,最小增幅为35.1%,根系干质量除NO₃^- -N∶NH₄⁺-N为1∶1且氮水平为15 mmol·L^-1的处理和NO₃^- -N∶NH₄⁺-N为1∶0且氮水平为10 mmol·L^-1的处理外,差异都达到显著水平.SCL处理前,不同氮营养处理生菜总酚、类黄酮相对含量差异不显著.SCL处理后,不同氮营养条件下生菜总酚、类黄酮和花青素相对含量差异显著.2种氮水平下,总酚和类黄酮相对含量随铵氮比例的提高而增加,花青素相对含量随铵氮比例增加而先降低后升高.SCL处理使生菜叶片、叶柄硝酸盐含量显著降低,其中叶片硝酸盐含量降低23.2%,生菜叶片抗坏血酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量均显著提高.叶片硝酸盐含量降低速率随氮水平和铵氮比例的增加而提高.抗坏血酸含量增加速率主要受氮水平影响,氮水平较低时抗坏血酸含量增加速率较高.可溶性糖含量增加速率随着铵氮比例的增加而增加.SCL处理显著提高了不同氮营养水培生菜干物质的积累,同时显著降低了硝酸盐的积累,显著提高了抗坏血酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量,氮营养条件对SCL改善生菜品质的速率有显著影响.     

褶纹冠蚌线粒体基因组全序列分析

采用LA-PCR(Long amplification polymerase chain reaction )扩增方法首次获得褶纹冠蚌(Cristaria plicata)线粒体基因组全序列。分析表明:序列全长15 712 bp, 包括13个蛋白质基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因和26个长度为2~328 bp的非编码区。A、T、C、G碱基组成分别为36.54%、27.22%、23.22%、13.02%。大部分基因在L链编码, 其中ND3~ND5、ND4L、COI~COIII、ATP6、ATP8、tRNA^Asp和tRNA^His在H链编码。基因排列与同科的射线佩饰真珠蚌(Lampsilis ornata)一致, 与三角帆蚌(Hyriopsis cumingii)在COII和12S rRNA之间存在差异。13个蛋白质基因具有I(AUU、AUC)、V(GUG)、M (AUA、AUG)3种起始密码子, 除ND2终止密码子为不完整的T, 其余基因均为典型的UAA或UAG。22个tRNA中, 除tRNA^Thr、tRNA^Lys、tRNA^Ser(UCN)、tRNA^Asp、tRNA^Arg、tRNA^Tyr和tRNA^Met之外, 其他15个tRNA都具有典型三叶草结构。与其他淡水双壳贝类一样, 褶纹冠蚌具有ATP8基因, 该基因可能与细胞质的渗透压平衡有关。     

Increased levels of glycine tRNA associated with collagen synthesis

Analysis of codon usage for chick Type I collagen indicates that 89% of glycine codons are GGU/C. Since collagens are one-third glycine, chick Type I collagen synthesis should require large amounts of tRNAGly with the anticodon GCC. Earlier chromatographic studies of chick tRNA had indicated that connective tissues showed altered tRNAGly isoacceptor profiles [P. J. Christner and J. Rosenbloom (1976) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 172, 399-409; H. J. Drabkin and L. N. Lukens (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 6233-6241]. We have therefore used both two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and hybridization analysis to investigate whether collagen synthesis in chick connective tissues is associated with expression of a novel tRNAGly. Liver and calvaria tRNAs produced qualitatively similar patterns when separated on 2-D gels. Northern blots of 2-D-separated tRNAs from liver and calvaria, when hybridized to genes for vertebrate tRNAGly isoacceptors with GCC or UCC anticodons, showed hybridization to the same tRNAs in both tissues. Quantitation of tRNA species by dot blot hybridization indicated an increase in levels of the tRNAGly isoacceptor with anticodon GCC. Tissues synthesizing Type I collagen had a two- to threefold increase in this tRNA while tissues synthesizing Type II collagen showed a more modest increase. We conclude that elevated tRNAGly levels associated with collagen synthesis are due to increased amounts of the same isoacceptor which is the major tRNAGly in other tissues.     

Loss of positional specificity in the aminoacylation of Escherichia coli tRNAGly

The positional specificity in the aminoacylation of Escherichia coli tRNAGly by its cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase has been studied using tRNAGlys terminating in 2'- or 3'-deoxyadenosine under conditions believed to alter tRNA conformation. Although E. coli tRNAGly terminating in 3'-deoxyadenosine has been reported not to be a good substrate for activation by the homologous glycyl-tRNA synthetase, by systematic variation of the conditions employed for aminoacylation it was possible to activate this tRNA to essentially the same extent as unmodified tRNAGly. Activation of tRNAGly terminating in 3'-deoxyadenosine was carried out optimally at 45 degrees C in an incubation mixture containing 0.3-0.4 M NaCl; 10% methanol, ethanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide were found to facilitate activation of the modified tRNA. Interestingly, the conditions employed to enhance activation of this modified tRNAGly had no effect on the activation of unmodified tRNAGly or tRNAGly terminating in 2'-deoxyadenosine. These experiments afford insight into the activation of tRNAGly by glycyl-tRNA synthetase and provide facile access to positionally defined, isomeric glycl-tRNAGlys.     

Evidence that translational control mechanisms operate to optimize antifreeze protein production in the winter flounder

In fall and winter, the liver of the winter flounder produces large amounts of alanine-rich (60 mol %) antifreeze proteins for export to the circulation. We have examined the tRNA in the liver to see if the seasonal production of antifreeze protein is accompanied by changes in tRNAAla isoacceptors. Total tRNA from the liver of winter fish showed an approximate 40% increase in alanine acceptor capacity over tRNA from summer fish. In contrast, the acceptor capacities for other amino acids showed no seasonal difference. When labeled alanyl-tRNAs were separated by reverse phase chromatography-5 chromatography, a large proportion of the increase in alanine acceptor capacity was in one of three main peaks. Measurements of the optimum temperatures for various flounder amino-acyl-tRNA synthetases suggest that alanyl-tRNA synthetase functions best between 0 and 5 degrees C, which is the sea water temperature when antifreeze protein synthesis occurs, while prolyl- and valyl-tRNA synthetases are most active between 20 and 30 degrees C. These differences in temperature optima and the seasonal variation in tRNAAla levels and isoaccepting species may both serve to optimize antifreeze protein production by increasing the translational efficiency of its mRNA.     

Locations and sequences of tobacco chloroplast genes for tRNAPro(UGG), tRNATrp, tRNAfMet and tRNAGly(GCC): the tRNAGly contains only two base-pairs in the D stem.

The nucleotide sequences of tobacco chloroplast genes for tRNAPro(UGG), tRNATrp, tRNAfMet and tRNAGly(GCC) have been determined. None of these genes contains an intron. One unusual feature is that the tRNAGly contains only two base-pairs (A-U, G-U) in the D stem. These four tRNA genes were located in the known physical map of tobacco chloroplast DNA. Hybridization analysis to chloroplast tRNA revealed that all four tRNA genes are transcribed in vivo.     

Study of the transfer RNAs coded by T2, T4, and T6 bacteriophages.

T2, T4, and T6 bacteriophage tRNAs coding for arginine, leucine, proline, isoleucine, and glycine were isolated under conditions of short term and long term infection of Escherichia coli B cells. The corresponding phage tRNA species were examined for sequence homology by RNA-DNA hybridization analysis and by their relative behavior on reversed phase chromatography. The results indicate that all three T-even phages code for similar tRNA species; however, some tRNA species are homologous, others are not, and not all of the same tRNA species are coded by each bacteriophage. Reversed phase chromatography showed the presence of isoacceptor tRNAs for each phage aminoacyl-tRNA species. Pulse-chase experiments for [32P]tRNAGly suggest that the multiple isoacceptor species observed derive from the intracellular modification of a single tRNAGly gene product.     

An extra tRNAGly(U*CU) found in ascidian mitochondria responsible for decoding non-universal codons AGA/AGG as glycine.

Amino acid assignments of metazoan mitochondrial codons AGA/AGG are known to vary among animal species; arginine in Cnidaria, serine in invertebrates and stop in vertebrates. We recently found that in the mitochondria of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi these codons are exceptionally used for glycine, and postulated that they are probably decoded by a tRNA(UCU). In order to verify this notion unambig-uously, we determined the complete RNA sequence of the mitochondrial tRNA(UCU) presumed to decode codons AGA/AGG in the ascidian mitochondria, and found it to have an unidentified U derivative at the anticodon first position. We then identified the amino acids attached to the tRNA(U*CU), as well as to the conventional tRNAGly(UCC) with an unmodified U34, in vivo. The results clearly demonstrated that glycine was attached to both tRNAs. Since no other tRNA capable of decoding codons AGA/AGG has been found in the mitochondrial genome, it is most probable that this tRNA(U*CU) does actually translate codons AGA/AGG as glycine in vivo. Sequencing of tRNASer(GCU), which is thought to recognize only codons AGU/AGC, revealed that it has an unmodified guanosine at position 34, as is the case with vertebrate mitochondrial tRNASer(GCU) for codons AGA/AGG. It was thus concluded that in the ascidian, codons AGU/AGC are read as serine by tRNASer(GCU), whereas AGA/AGG are read as glycine by an extra tRNAGly(U*CU). The possible origin of this unorthodox genetic code is discussed.     

Preferential usage of glycyl-tRNA isoaccepting species in collagen synthesis.

Chick embryo tRNA charged with [3H]glycine was incubated in an in vitro protein-synthesizing system using polysomes isolated from either chick embryo liver or calvaria. Using collagenase digestion to measure the fraction of protein synthesized which was collagenous, the results indicate that in the calvaria system approximately 65% of the incorporated [3H]glycine was in collagen. The incorporation of [3H]glycine into protein from individual isoaccepting species was determined by chromatography on a reversed phase system of the charged tRNA before and after incubation in the polysome systems. In the calvaria system, a single tRNAGly species cognate to GGU and GGC and which is found in unusually large amounts in collagen-synthesizing tissues was used preferentially in collagen-synthesizing tissues was used preferentially in collagen synthesis. In the liver system, the rate of incorporation was similar to the calvaria, but no collagen synthesis was detected and only a relatively small preferential usage of any of the four major isoaccepting species was observed. These results support the notion that the complement of tRNA found in a cell may be adapted to the synthesis of a particular protein. It is also possible that under certain circumstances, collagen synthesis may be controlled in vivo at the translational level by the concentration of particular tRNA species.     

2'-Versus 3'-OH specificity in tRNA aminoacylation. Further support for the "secondary cognition" proposal.

Purified Escherichia coli tRNAAla and tRNALys were each converted to modified species terminating in 2'- and 3'-deoxyadenosine. The modified species were tested as substrates for activation by their cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and for misacylation with phenylalanine by yeast phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase. E. coli alanyl- and lysyl-tRNA synthetases normally aminoacylate their cognate tRNA's exclusively on the 3'-OH group, while yeast phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase utilizes only the 2' position on its own tRNA. Therefore, the finding that the phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase activated only those modified tRNAAla and tRNALys species terminating in 3'-deoxyadenosine indicated that the position of aminoacylation in this case was specified entirely by the enzyme, an observation relevant to the more general problem of the reason(s) for using a particular site for aminoacylation and maintaining positional specificity during evolution. Initial velocity studies were carried out using E. coli tRNAAla and both alanyl- and phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetases. As noted in other cases, activation of the modified and unmodified tRNA's had essentially the same associated Km values, but in each case the Vmax determined for the modified tRNA was smaller.