DIFFERENTIATION AND TRANSDIFFERENTIATION IN VITRO OF NEURAL RETINA FROM MUTANT CHICKENS WITH HYPERPLASIC LENS EPITHELIUM1)

Mutant chickens, Hy-1 and Hy-2, show abnormalities in growth and differentiation of the lens epithelium. In this study, neural retinal cells (NR cells) from 3.5-day-old embryos of these mutants were cultured, and the differentiation in vitro was compared with the cells of the normal strain. Hy-1 cells in vitro were characterized by a delay in the first appearance of neuronal cells (N-cells) and by excessive production of this cell type at later stages. By contrast, the Hy-2 cells were indistinguishable from the normal cells in the early phase of culturing. In spite of the marked difference of Hy-1 NR cells in neuronal differentiation up to about 7 days in culture, the transdifferentiation of lens and pigmented cells occurred to a similar extent and with the same time schedule as cultures of normal cells. A number of lentoid bodies were formed by about 10 days. The relative composition of the three major classes of crystallins in transdifferentiated lens cells was almost identical between normal and Hy-1 strains. The results were discussed in comparison with the previous results of cell culture of NR of 8-day embryonic mutant chickens, and it was concluded that the process of transdifferentiation in cell culture is different between NR from 3.5-day-old and 8-day-old embryos.     

Effect of Azotobacter strains on sugar beet callus proliferation and nitrogen metabolism enzymes

The effect of five Azotobacter chroococcum strains and nitrogen content in nutrient media on callus growth of two Beta vulgaris L. cultivars were investigated, as well as the activity of nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in inoculated callus tissue. On medium with full nitrogen content (1 N) the inoculation with A. chroococcum strain A2 resulted in the highest calli mass, while strains A8 and A14 maximally increased NR activity. On media with 1/8 N the highest effect on calli growth, GS and GDH activity had the strain A8. The strain A2/1 significantly increased callus proliferation on medium without N. Asymbiotic association between sugar beet calli and Azotobacter depended on genotype/strain interaction and was realised in presence of different nitrogen levels. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Characterization of frankial strains isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hippophae salicifolia</Emphasis> D. Don,based on physiological,SDS–PAGE of whole cell proteins and RAPD PCR analyses

Different Frankia strains (HsIi2, HsIi4, HsIi5, HsIi8, HsIi9, HsIi10, HsIi11, HsIi12, HsIi13, HsIi14) nodulating Hippophae salicifolia D. Don, were characterized on the basis of physiological, biochemical and molecular attributes. Results suggest that the physiological approaches i.e., nitrogenase activity, glutamine synthetase (GS) activity and ammonia excretion are strain specific. The highest rate of nitrogen fixation and maximum production of ammonia with low GS makes the strain HsIi11, a suitable biofertilizer as compared to other strains. Analysis of total protein pattern (SDS–PAGE) revealed that the most closely related strains HsIi10 and HsIi4 were found to be most distantly related to the most similar strains HsIi14, HsIi5, HsIi13, HsIi11 and HsIi12. RAPD PCR analyses with an arbitrary primer 1253 produced distinct, unique and specific DNA fingerprints for each of the Frankia strain and 100% polymorphism was observed which uncovers the genetic diversity. These approaches might be helpful in rapid identification, in designing the marker for the specific strains as well as in improving nitrogen fixation in agroforestry.     

Specific relations between some strains of diazotrophs and corn hybrids

Summary We tested the effect of a large number of diazotrophic strains from the genera Azotobacter, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Derxia, Beijerinckia, and Azospirillum, on nitrogen concentration in four corn hybrids. The range obtained, from highly significant positive to highly significant negative effects, indicates that the strains studied differed in their characters, including the capacity to form useful associations with certain hybrids. The forming of positive associations depended on the specificity of diazotrophic strains and corn hybrids.     

Genetics of Survival in Mice: Subregions of the Major Histocompatibility Complex

In this study of murine survival, 422 F1 hybrids between DBA/2J (D2) female mice and C57BL/10 (B10) background H-2 congenic male mice (11 strains), 88 F1 hybrids between B10 female mice and B10 background H-2 congenic male mice (3 strains), and 532 control mice from the 11 parental B10 background H-2 congenic mice were bred over a period of 2 yr. Toward the end of the breeding period there was documentation of Sendai infection in the mouse rooms. All analyses were done separately for the two sexes. Although it did not appear that an unusually high number of mice died during the time the colony was infected with Sendai, there was a highly significant tendency for mice who were younger at the time of the Sendai infection to have shorter survival than mice who were older at that time point. The effect of birth date on survival was approximately as significant as the effect of strain on survival. Hence all analyses of genetic effects on survival were either done within subsets of mice born in the same quarter of a particular year or else included date of birth variables in survival models. Of the 18 possible comparisons of pairs of strains which overlapped in birth dates and differed only in the D end of H-2, five were associated with highly significant survival differences. Of the 11 pairs of strains which overlapped in birth date and differed only in the K end of H-2, none was associated with significant survival differences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

紫色红曲霉Mp-24高产Monacolin K发酵工艺响应面优化

将单因素实验结果与响应面法相结合,对高产Monacolin K的紫色红曲霉Mp-24菌株进行发酵工艺条件优化。通过摇瓶发酵对碳源、氮源、碳源含量、氮源含量、培养时间等进行单因素优化,确定Mp-24菌株摇瓶发酵适宜条件：乳糖为碳源、酵母膏为氮源、碳源含量7%、氮源含量2%、培养时间12 d,Monacolin K产量为167 mg/L。应用Box-Behnken中心组合试验设计建立数学模型,进行响应面分析优化发酵条件,结果显示最佳发酵工艺条件为：碳源(乳糖)8%,氮源(酵母膏)3%,培养时间11 d,在此条件下Monacolin K的含量达到247.8 mg/L,比优化前提高1.5倍。     

The physiology and biochemistry of cultivar-strain interactions in the white clover-Rhizobium symbiosis

Two white clover cultivars were inoculated with two Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii strains in a factorial series of experiments. Plants were grown in axenic conditions in nitrogen free nutrient solution in a controlled environment room. Variations in nitrogen fixation were dependent partly upon general strain effects, partly upon general cultivar effects but there were also substantial differences attributable to precise interactions between specific combinations. The physiological and biochemical basis of these differences was examined. There were variations in the onset of nodulation and nitrogenase (acetylene reduction) activity. The rate at which nitrogenase activity developed also differed between associations as did the average size and number of nodules but none of these effects correlated well with differences in plant dry matter accumulation. Studies on nodule biochemistry revealed that the major nitrogen fixation enzymes were present in all four associations. Nodule protein content and enzyme activity (on a g nodule fresh weight basis) were substantially greater in associations formed by the more effective strain but cannot explain the interactive effect on dry matter accumulation. The relevance of these data to our understanding of factors regulating variations in nitrogen fixation is discussed.     

Aberrations in sexual behavior in some brewing and other industrial yeasts

Summary The mating behavior of a number of brewer's and distiller's yeasts was determined with a and haploid and aa and diploid tester strains. Mating frequencies were not high, ranging from one to (rarely) 2,000/10⁸ cells in the mating mixture. Sporulating hybrids were obtained in most matings, though the percentage spore viability initially obtained was often low. Notable the spore viability obtained in hybrids with the haploid tester strains and the brewing strains DIB and DICH was much higher than from the a haploid tester strain, and higher in hybrids between these strains and the aa diploid tester than in those from the tester strain. With the brewing strain NBA, the spore viability in hybrids with the a haploid tester strain was higher than in the case of strains DIB and DICH, but the spore viability in the hybrid of NBA x the haploid strain was higher still. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that with the a and aa tester strains, most of the industrial yeasts tested mate as diploids, and with the and testers, they mate as haploids, an hypothesis which is supported by the segregation of adenine markers in the progeny of these hybrids.Presented in part at the 6th International Specialized Symposium on Yeasts, Montpellier, France, 2–8 July, 1978     

利用地域野生资源创制地方适栽的优质香菇新品种

香菇是我国深受欢迎的食药用菌,产量居食用菌产业之首。为拓宽栽培香菇菌株的遗传背景,解决现有主栽香菇菌株种性退化的问题,本研究以香菇‘808’菌株与3个香菇野生资源、3个栽培菌株（辽抚4号、BY1和荷香）开展单-双杂交育种,开发适合当地栽培环境的主栽品种。研究结果显示：在270对单-双杂交组合中,通过锁状联合观察和与亲本的拮抗试验,鉴定出89个杂交子,进一步通过栽培试验筛选出10个性状相对优良的候选菌株;最终通过农艺性状对比试验,筛选出ZJXG 5和ZJXG 8两个优良杂交菌株,这两个菌株均以当地长白山野生资源S1和本地主栽菌株BY1为双核杂交亲本选育而来,表现出超亲显著、菇形圆整、颜色呈浅褐色的特性,前4潮生物学效率在86%-88%之间。本研究结果揭示,在香菇杂交育种中,当亲本菌株来源地域与杂交后代菌株筛选地域相近时,单双杂交亲和率、杂交菌株的出菇率和丰产性指标较高,这提示我们,利用当地野生香菇资源更有利于创制适合当地自然环境的地方品种。     

Optimum associations of tester strains for maximum detection of mutagenic compounds in the Ames test

The Ames test is now widely used as a short-term test for the detection of mutagens. Different strains are available with various genetic characteristics, and in the past decade various authors have recommended different associations of strains to give maximum detection potential. However, few studies have been done to compare the sensitivity of individual strains towards a wide range of compounds in a single study. In order to define the best association of strains for screening or regulatory purpose, we have tested 103 direct mutagens (reference genotoxins or in-house compounds) on 7 strains of Salmonella typhimurium: TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, TA97, TA98, TA100 and TA102. 126 different associations of strains have been studied in terms of sensitivity and percentage overlap. Optimum associations of 2, 3, 4 or 5 strains included strains both with and without plasmid pKM101. However, the specificity of detection is greatly diminished by the presence of plasmid pKM101 in the strain, as shown by the high degree of overlap in associations constituted entirely of strains containing the plasmid. The association of strains TA1538 and TA100 detected 86% of the chemicals tested and is therefore recommended for large-scale screening. A rate of detection of 100% was obtained when 6 strains were used. The best associations of 4 and 5 strains, which detected 97 and 99% chemicals respectively, all contained strains TA1537, TA1538 and TA102. Finally, the associations of 4 strains (TA1537, TA1538, TA100, TA102) or 5 strains (TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, TA97, TA102) seemed well adapted to the optimum detection of mutagenic compounds.     

Dominant expression of an amino-acid uptake deficiency in carrot somatic fusion hybrids

Somatic hybrids were selected previously by their ability to grow in medium containing normally inhibitory levels of the two amino acid analogs aminoethylcysteine (AEC) and 5-methyltryptophan (5MT) following fusion of protoplasts from a cell strain resistant to AEC with protoplasts resistant to 5MT. The hybrid nature of the selected clones was shown by several criteria including the presence of another resistance, azetidine-2-carboxylate (A2C), carried by one of the parental strains which was not selected for in the initial hybrid selection scheme. The characterization presented here shows that the AEC resistance in the parental strain, as well as the two somatic hybrids, was due to decreased AEC uptake. Also the 5MT resistance in the hybrids, as in the parent was caused by a feedback altered form of the tryptophan biosynthetic control enzyme, anthranilate synthase which leads to increases in free tryptophan. The A2C resistance was caused by the accumulation of free proline by a mechanism which has not been studied. These studies confirm that AEC resistance caused by decreased uptake can be expressed dominantly in protoplast fusion hybrids.Abbreviations A2C Azetidine-2-carboxylate - AEC Aminoethylcysteine - 5MT 5-methyltryptophan     

Factors on the third chromosome affect the level of cyp6a2 and cyp6a8 expression in Drosophila melanogaster

The expression of two second chromosome-linked cytochrome P450 genes, Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8, of Drosophila melanogaster was measured in various strains. Six different strains, including ry(506) and 91-C, showed low or undetectable levels of CYP6A2 and CYP6A8 mRNAs, suggesting that low expression is the wild-type phenotype of Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 genes. In the 91-R and MHIII-D23 strains, however, both these genes are overexpressed. In order to examine the genetic basis of Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 expression, CYP6A2 and CYP6A8 RNA levels were measured in the F1 hybrids of overproducer (91-R and MHIII-D23) and underproducer (ry(506) and 91-C) strains. Results showed that the total amounts of CYP6A2 and CYP6A8 mRNAs in the F1 hybrids were lower than half the amounts of these RNAs found in the overproducer parental strains. This suggested that the underproducer strains carry loci which downregulate Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 gene expression. To determine the chromosome linkage of these loci, several stocks homozygous for the second chromosome of overproducer 91-R strain and, therefore, homozygous for the Cyp6a2-91R and Cyp6a8-91R alleles were synthesized. The third chromosomes in all these stocks were from the underproducer ry(506) strain. The levels of expression of both Cyp6a2-91R and Cyp6a8-91R genes in these three stocks were significantly lower than that observed in the 91-R strain. One of these stocks, named iso-2, showing reduced expression, was used to synthesize two new isogenic stocks by resubstituting the third chromosome of ry(506) origin with third chromosomes of the 91-R strain. Expression of both Cyp6a2-91R and Cyp6a8-91R alleles was found to be much higher in these two resubstituted isogenic stocks than in the progenitor iso-2 stock. Taken together, these results suggest that the second chromosome-linked Cyp6a2 and Cypa8 genes are regulated by loci present on the third chromosome, and the wild-type function of these loci is to repress these two Cyp genes. The data also suggest that Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 overexpression in the 91-R and MHIII-D23 strains is more likely due to mutation in the repressor locus (or loci) rather than in the cis-regulatory sequences of the Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 genes.     

Flow cytometric analysis and microsatellite genotyping reveal extensive DNA content variation in Trypanosoma cruzi populations and expose contrasts between natural and experimental hybrids

Trypanosoma cruzi exhibits remarkable genetic heterogeneity. This is evident at the nucleotide level but also structurally, in the form of karyotypic variation and DNA content differences between strains. Although natural populations of T. cruzi are predominantly clonal, hybrid lineages (TcIId and TcIIe) have been identified and hybridisation has been demonstrated in vitro, raising the possibility that genetic exchange may continue to shape the evolution of this pathogen. The mechanism of genetic exchange identified in the laboratory is unusual, apparently involving fusion of diploid parents followed by genome erosion. We investigated DNA content diversity in natural populations of T. cruzi in the context of its genetic subdivisions by using flow cytometric analysis and multilocus microsatellite genotyping to determine the relative DNA content and estimate the ploidy of 54 cloned isolates. The maximum difference observed was 47.5% between strain Tu18 cl2 (TcIIb) and strain C8 cl1 (TcI), which we estimated to be equivalent to 73 Mb of DNA. Large DNA content differences were identified within and between discrete typing units (DTUs). In particular, the mean DNA content of TcI strains was significantly less than that for TcII strains (P < 0.001). Comparisons of hybrid DTUs TcIId/IIe with corresponding parental DTUs TcIIb/IIc indicated that natural hybrids are predominantly diploid. We also measured the relative DNA content of six in vitro-generated TcI hybrid clones and their parents. In contrast to TcIId/IIe hybrid strains these experimental hybrids comprised populations of sub-tetraploid organisms with mean DNA contents 1.65–1.72 times higher than the parental organisms. The DNA contents of both parents and hybrids were shown to be relatively stable after passage through a mammalian host, heat shock or nutritional stress. The results are discussed in the context of hybridisation mechanisms in both natural and in vitro settings.     

Restriction fragment length polymorphism differences among Illinois long-term selection oil strains

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was used to characterize variability in the Illinois Long-Term Selection Experiment oil strains. Considerable polymorphism was detected within each oil strain and among oil strains. Fifty-two individual plants from each of the Illinois High Oil (IHO), Illinois Low Oil (ILO), Reverse High Oil (RHO) and Reverse Low Oil (RLO) strains were sampled to determine RFLP allele/variant frequencies. Generation 90 was sampled for IHO, RHO, and RLO whereas generation 87 was sampled for ILO. Forty-nine RFLP probes distributed throughout the maize genome were used. Chi-square analysis was performed to determine if RFLP genotypes at each of the 49 RFLP loci were significantly different among strains. Oil strains that have been separated for 90 generations showed high levels of significantly-different RFLP genotypic frequencies. The comparison of ILO vs RHO gave only significant chi-square values while the comparisons of IHO vs RLO and RHO vs RLO had 111 ratios of significant to non-significant chi-square values. Strains that have been separated for only 42 generations showed a lower level of significantly-different RFLP genotypic frequencies. The comparisons of IHO vs RHO and ILO vs RLO both had only a 32 ratio of significant to non-significant chi-squares values. Detection of multiple RFLP alleles/variants among the oil strains was common with 59% of the RFLP loci examined exhibiting multiple variants. A number of RFLP loci in RHO (3) and RLO (11) were associated with a trend in RFLP allele/variant frequencies consistent with a response to reverse selection for oil concentration.     

Measurement and prediction of the susceptibility of lager beer to spoilage by lactic acid bacteria

J.L. FERNANDEZ AND W.J SIMPSON. 1995. The ability of 14 strains of hop-resistant lactic acid bacteria ( Lactobacillus spp., Pediococcus spp.) to grow in 17 different lager beers was assessed using a biological challenge test. All beers were spoiled by at least one strain: all strains could grow in at least one beer. The sensitivity of different beers to spoilage by lactic acid bacteria varied. Spoilage potential could be described in the form of a 'Resistance to Spoilage Value' (RSV) based on the ability of the organisms to grow in each beer. Parameters which correlated to RSV included pH, beer colour and the content of free amino nitrogen, total soluble nitrogen, a range of individual amino acids, maltotriose and the undissociated forms of SO₂ and hop bitter acids. Predictive models based on the technique of partial least squares regression and constructed using values for undissociated SO₂ content, undissociated hop bitter acids content, polyphenol content, maltotriose content, free amino nitrogen content and a colour intensity component allowed RSV to be predicted.     

香菇单孢杂交子代群体灰色关联度和ISSR分析

以香菇Lentinula edodes栽培菌株秋6和K95-1为亲本,通过单孢菌株配对杂交获得21个杂交子,观察杂交子及亲本菌丝体生长情况,进行栽培出菇试验。采用灰色关联度分析法,对9个正常出菇的杂交子从8个性状方面进行综合评价,结果表明,杂交子QK-8和QK-15关联度仅次于亲本秋6,农艺性状和子实体性状表现最好。采用ISSR技术对21个杂交子及亲本进行DNA多态性聚类分析,单孢杂交后代遗传分化十分明显,归于同一类群的杂交子在菌丝生长、子实体形态和农艺性状等方面常表现相似,ISSR分析能为优良杂交子初步筛选提供重要参考。     

A locus on distal chromosome 11 (ahl8) and its interaction with Cdh23 ahl underlie the early onset, age-related hearing loss of DBA/2J mice

The DBA/2J inbred strain of mice is used extensively in hearing research, yet little is known about the genetic basis for its early onset, progressive hearing loss. To map underlying genetic factors we analyzed recombinant inbred strains and linkage backcrosses. Analysis of 213 mice from 31 BXD recombinant inbred strains detected linkage of auditory brain-stem response thresholds with a locus on distal chromosome 11, which we designate ahl8. Analysis of 225 N2 mice from a backcross of (C57BL/6JxDBA/2J) F1 hybrids to DBA/2J mice confirmed this linkage (LOD>50) and refined the ahl8 candidate gene interval. Analysis of 214 mice from a backcross of (B6.CAST-Cdh23 Ahl+ xDBA/2J) F1 hybrids to DBA/2J mice demonstrated a genetic interaction of Cdh23 with ahl8. We conclude that ahl8 is a major contributor to the hearing loss of DBA/2J mice and that its effects are dependent on the predisposing Cdh23 ahl genotype of this strain.     

治理维生素B12发酵废液的菌种选育

从12株野生细菌或酵母中筛选出了2株去除维生素B_(12)发酵废液COD能力较强的酵母菌株:Z8,F2。在废液不稀释的情况下,Z8的COD去除率最高,当处理时间为5 d时,其COD去除率为46.24%。废液的稀释倍数、单菌株的处理时间均明显影响单菌株的COD去除率。当稀释倍数为废液:去离子水=1:2,处理时间为4 d时,F2的COD去除率较高,可达88.11%。由Z8和F2组成的多菌种混合发酵体系的COD去除率和菌体增长倍数均明显高于单菌株单独发酵体系。在废液不稀释的情况下。采用第4种处理的混合发酵体系,当处理时间为5 d时,COD去除率可达到63.77%。     

SMALL SUBUNIT rDNA SEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF SYMBIOTIC DINOFLAGELLATES FROM SEVEN SCLERACTINIAN CORALS IN A TAHITIAN LAGOON

The diversity of symbiotic dinoflagellates from reef-building corals collected in the lagoon of Tahiti (South Pacific ocean) was investigated by using a molecular approach. Populations of symbionts (strains or species) of 7 coral species ( Fungia scutaria , F. paumotensis Stutchbury, Pavona cactus Forskål, Leptastrea transversa Kluzinger, Pocillopora verrucosa Ellis and Solender, Montastrea curta Dana, and Acropora formosa Dana) were delimited by phylogenetic analysis of small subunit rDNA sequences. Coral P. verrucosa harbored 2 populations of symbiont SSU rDNA sequences that may correspond to two different Symbiodinium species. Corals F. scutaria and M. curta also seemed to contain two different Symbiodinium species. SSU rDNA dinoflagellate sequences from P. cactus , L. transversa , F. scutaria , F. paumotensis , and P. verrucosa were in the same phylogenetic cluster and showed low variability. For these distantly related coral species, dinoflagellate strains from the same species, rDNA paralogues from the same strain, or closely related Symbiodinium species could not be distinguished because monophyletic subgroups were not observed. SSU rDNA dinoflagellate sequences from A. formosa and M. curta were clearly different from the other Symbiodinium sequences and may represent specific species. This molecular approach highlighted a greater diversity of symbiotic dinoflagellates from corals in South Pacific ( Symbiodinium groups A, B, and C) than that observed in the rest of the Pacific ocean ( Symbiodinium group C). The diversity of symbiotic associations in a restricted area of the lagoon of Tahiti may reflect the complexity of interactions between species of Symbiodinium and corals.