Characterization of Muskmelon Fruit Peroxidases at Different Developmental Stages

An increase in exocarp peroxidase activity was observed in fruit at 5 to 30 days post pollination (DPP), and decreased at 40 and 50 DPP. Total peroxidase activity of the mesocarp was significantly lower than the exocarp in all developmental stages. Mesocarp peroxidase activity decreased consecutively from outer, to middle and, to inner tissue at every developmental stage. Total activity in the mesocarp peaked at 20 DPP. Native-PAGE of exocarp tissue showed at least two cathodic (basic) peroxidases and two anionic (acidic) peroxidases. The number of isozymes was greatest and bands most intense at 30 DPP. IEF-PAGE of the 5 to 50 DPP fruit exocarp showed at least 8 peroxidase isozymes (pI 4.6 to 9.6). Anion exchange chromatography showed only one peak of anionic peroxidase activity that was not evident until 15 DPP. This peak was greatest at 30 DPP and declined at 40 and 50 DPP. Cationic peroxidase isozymes appeared to be the predominant and most intense isoforms throughout fruit development. The changes in peroxidase activity corresponded to fruit formation and may be associated with susceptibility to fruit rot.     

Microbial Community Structure at Different Fermentation Stages of Kutajarista, a Herbal Formulation

Kutajarista is an Ayurvedic fermented herbal formulation prescribed for gastrointestinal disorders. This herbal formulation undergoes a gradual fermentative process and takes around 2 months for production. In this study, microbial composition at initial stages of fermentation of Kutajarista was assessed by culture independent 16S rRNA gene clone library approach. Physicochemical changes were also compared at these stages of fermentation. High performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis showed that Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, and its derivatives were the major chemical constituents recovered in this process. At 0 day of fermentation, Lactobacillus sp., Acinetobacter sp., Alcaligenes sp., and Methylobacterium sp. were recovered, but were not detected at 8 day of fermentation. Initially, microbial diversity increased after 8 days of fermentation with 11 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which further decreased to 3 OTUs at 30 day of fermentation. Aeromonas sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Klebsiella sp. dominated till 30 day of fermentation. Predominance of γ- Proteobacteria and presence of gallolyl derivatives at the saturation stage of fermentation implies tannin degrading potential of these microbes. This is the first study to highlight the microbial role in an Ayurvedic herbal product fermentation.     

干旱胁迫下耐旱性小麦在不同生育期脱水素的表达分析

以2种耐旱性不同的盆栽小麦陕合6号(干旱耐受型)和郑引1号(干旱敏感型)为材料,分别在其苗期、分蘖期、拔节期、开花期对土壤实施不同程度的自然干旱胁迫和复水处理,采用SDS-PAGE和Western blotting技术研究其叶片脱水素的表达规律,探究小麦整个生长期脱水素的表达与干旱胁迫的关系.结果表明:2种小麦的脱水素均仅在干旱胁迫时表达,其中45 kD和37 kD的脱水素在2种小麦的4个发育期的叶片中均有表达,28 kD的脱水素仅在特定发育时期表达.在干旱耐受型小麦(陕合6号)中,脱水素在胁迫初期少量表达,随着胁迫程度加剧表达量急剧增加,在重度干旱胁迫下达到峰值,复水后小麦叶片中脱水素含量迅速下降;在干旱敏感型小麦(郑引1号)中,脱水素在胁迫初期大量表达,中度胁迫表达量小幅度回落,到复水1 d达到峰值,此后随着复水时间增加小麦叶片中脱水素的量逐渐下降.研究表明,小麦叶片脱水素表达与干旱胁迫程度和生育期迫密切相关,不同耐旱型小麦材料中叶片脱水素表达的差异与品种之间的干旱耐受能力密切相关.     

Vaccinia Reporter Viruses for Quantifying Viral Function at All Stages of Gene Expression

Poxviruses are a family of double stranded DNA viruses that include active human pathogens such as monkeypox, molluscum contagiousum, and Contagalo virus. The family also includes the smallpox virus, Variola. Due to the complexity of poxvirus replication, many questions still remain regarding their gene expression strategy. In this article we describe the conceptualization and usage of recombinant vaccinia viruses that enable real-time measurement of single and multiple stages of viral gene expression in a high-throughput format. This is enabled through the use of spectrally distinct fluorescent proteins as reporters for each of three stages of viral replication. These viruses provide a high signal-to-noise ratio while retaining stage specific expression patterns, enabling plate-based assays and microscopic observations of virus propagation and replication. These tools have uses for antiviral discovery, studies of the virus-host interaction, and evolutionary biology.     

苎麻纤维不同发育时期差异表达miRNAs的表达谱分析

miRNA在植物生长发育过程中起着重要的调控作用.本研究从苎麻纤维伸长期和胞壁加厚、端壁溶合期的中苎1号苎麻韧皮组织为材料的miRNA芯片中筛选出3个差异表达的miRNAs:miR1450、miR156h和miR172b1.利用半定量RT-PCR技术对3个差异表达miRNAs在4个苎麻纤维发育时期(苎麻纤维分生期,纤维伸长期,胞壁加厚端壁融合期和纤维成熟期)的韧皮组织以及花、叶、根和地下茎等组织和器官中的表达情况进行研究.结果表明供试的3个miRNA在苎麻纤维伸长期和胞壁加厚端壁融合期的表达量均为差异表达,进一步验证了芯片结果,其中mi1450在纤维成熟期表达量最高,在纤维伸长期的表达量最低;mi156h在花、地下茎、根和叶中的表达量显著高于4个苎麻纤维发育时期;mi172b1在纤维分生期的表达量最高,在花中的表达量最低.本研究建立了苎麻miRNA的茎环RT-PCR检测体系,为进一步研究miRNA在苎麻纤维发育过程中的作用奠定了基础.     

Global MicroRNA Expression Profiling of Mouse Livers following Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury at Different Stages

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury is a dynamic process consisting of two stages: ischemia and reperfusion, and triggers a cascade of physiological and biochemical events. Given the important role of microRNAs in regulating gene expression, we analyzed gene expression changes in mouse livers at sham control, ischemia stage, and reperfusion stage. We generated global expression profiles of microRNA and mRNA genes in mouse livers subjected to ischemia-reperfusion injury at the three stages, respectively. Comparison analysis showed that reperfusion injury had a distinct expression profile whereas the ischemia sample and the sham control were clustered together. Consistently, there are 69 differentially expressed microRNAs between the reperfusion sample and the sham control whereas 28 differentially expressed microRNAs between the ischemia sample and the sham control. We further identified two modes of microRNA expression changes in ischemia-reperfusion injury. Functional analysis of both the differentially expressed microRNAs in the two modes and their target mRNAs revealed that ischemia injury impaired mitochondrial function, nutrient consumption, and metabolism process. In contrast, reperfusion injury led to severe tissue inflammation that is predominantly an innate-immune response in the ischemia-reperfusion process. Our staged analysis of gene expression profiles provides new insights into regulatory mechanisms of microRNAs in mouse hepatic IR injury.     

玉米几个数量性状在不同发育阶段的基因效应分析

玉米株高、粒重和单株叶数在不同发育阶段的基因效应分析表明,终结性状的基因效应值为不同发育阶段性状净增量基因效应值的代数和,这使不同发育阶段净增量的正负基因效应相互抵消,故使终结性状的基因效应不能充分反映控制该性状的基因(组)在发育过程中的真实作用方式。不同发育阶段基因效应的符号、显著性关系及遗传模型的明显差异被认为是不同发育阶段由不同基因(组)作用的结果。净增量的基因效应估计值表明,显性效应在株高和粒重中比加性效应更重要,而单株叶数则相反;上位性效应普遍存在,其中株高>单株叶数>粒重。     

布氏田鼠GnRH基因克隆及不同组织和发育阶段的基因表达特征

促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)由GnRH编码,是调节动物繁殖活动的核心神经内分泌物质。布氏田鼠Lasiopodomys brandtii是我国内蒙古东部草原区的害鼠之一,具有明显季节性繁殖特征,但其繁殖调控机制仍未完全明确。本研究克隆了来自布氏田鼠下丘脑的GnRH cDNA序列,使用实时荧光定量技术检测了不同组织、不同年龄阶段GnRH mRNA水平。结果表明,克隆获得GnRH cDNA序列497 bp,包含开放阅读框273 bp,编码90个氨基酸和1个终止密码子的GnRH前体。DNA序列比对和氨基酸序列同源性分析表明,布氏田鼠下丘脑GnRH基因属于Ⅰ型,与橙腹田鼠Microtus ochrogaste GnRH1相似性最高。GnRH mRNA在下丘脑、垂体、睾丸、肾上腺、肠、膀胱均有表达。雄鼠血清睾酮水平和雌鼠血清雌二醇水平在出生后8周、36周、80周处于高水平,显著高于4周龄鼠,但除80周龄鼠下丘脑GnRH表达量处于高水平,8周龄、36周龄鼠GnRH表达量与4周龄鼠差异均无统计学意义。推测4周龄鼠下丘脑GnRH受GnRH调节剂的中心抑制,而8周龄、36周龄鼠下丘脑GnRH受性类固醇介导的反馈抑制调控,当年龄增加至80周龄,性类固醇介导的反馈抑制消失或者应答时间延长。本研究结果为探究布氏田鼠繁殖调控规律提供了更多基础资料。