Isolation and molecular characterization of high molecular weight glutenin subunit genes 1Bx13 and 1By16 from hexaploid wheat

The high molecular weight glutenin subunit （HMW-GS） pair 1Bx13＋1By16 are recognized to positively correlate with bread-making quality; however, their molecular data remain unknown. In order to reveal the mechanism by which 1By16 and 1Bx13 creates high quality, their open reading frames （ORFs） were amplified from common wheat Atlas66 and Jimai 20 using primers that were designed based on published sequences of HMW glutenin genes. The ORF of 1By16 was 2220bp, deduced into 738 amino acid residues with seven cysteines including 59 hexapeptides and 22 nanopeptides motifs. The ORF of 1Bx13 was 2385bp, deduced into 795 amino acid residues with four cysteines including 68 hexapeptides, 25 nanopeptides and six tripepUdes motifs. We found that 1By16 was the largest y-type HMW glutenin gene described to date in common wheat. The 1By16 had 36 amino acid residues inserted in the central repetitive domain compared with 1By15. Expression in bacteria and western-blot tests confirmed that the sequence cloned was the ORF of HMW-GS 1By16, and that 1Bx13 was one of the largest 1Bx genes that have been described so far in common wheat, exhibiting a hexapeptide （PGQGQQ） insertion in the end of central repetitive domain compared with 1Bx7. A phylogenetic tree based on the deduced full-length amino acid sequence alignment of the published HMW-GS genes showed that the 1By16 was clustered with Glu-1B-2, and that the 1Bx13 was clustered with Glu-1B-1 alleles.     

The R1947X mutation of NF1 causing autosomal dominant neurofibromatosis type 1 in a Chinese family

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a common autosomal dominant disorder with a high rate of penetrance. It is caused by the mutation of the tumor suppressor gene NF1, which encodes neurofibromin. The main function of neurofibromin is down-regulating the biological activity of the proto-oncoprotein Ras by acting as a Ras-specific GTPase activating protein. In this study, we identified a Chinese family affected with neurofibromatosis type 1. The known gene NF1 associated with NF1 was studied by linkage analysis and by direct sequencing of the entire coding region and exon-intron boundaries of the NF1 gene. The R1947X mutation of NF1 was identified, which was co-segregated with affected individuals in the Chinese family, but not present in unaffected family members. This is the first report, which states that the R1947X mutation of NF1 may be one of reasons for neurofibromatosis type 1 in Chinese population.     

Characterization of Wheat Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers Associated with the H11 Hessian Fly Resistance Gene

In Tunisia, the Hessian fly Mayetiola destructor Say is a major pest of durum wheat （Triticum durum Desf.） and bread wheat （T. aestivum L.）. Genetic resistance is the most efficient and economical method of control of this pest. To date, 31 resistance genes, designated H1-H31, have been identified in wheat. These genes condition resistance to the insect genes responsible for virulence. Using wheat cultivars differing for the presence of an individual Hessian fly resistance gene and random amplified polymorphic DNA （RAPD） analysis, we have identified a polymorphic 386-bp DNA marker （Xgmib1-1A.1） associated with the H11 Hessian fly resistance gene. Blast analysis showed a high identity with a short region in the wild wheat （T. monococcum） genome, adjacent to the leaf rust resistance Lr10 gene. A genetic linkage was reported between this gene （Lr10） and Hessian fly response in wheat. These data were used for screening Hessian fly resistance in Tunisian wheat germplasm. Xgmib1-1A.1-like fragments were detected in four Tunisian durum and bread wheat varieties. Using these varieties in Hessian fly breeding programs in Tunisia would be of benefit in reducing the damage caused by this fly.     

Characterization of a mutant Listeria monocytogenes strain expressing green fluorescent protein

To construct a recombinant strain of Listeria monocytogenes for the expression of heterologous genes, homologous recombination was utilized for insertional mutation, targeting its listeriolysin O gene (hly). The gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) was used as the indicator of heterologous gene expression. The gene gfp was inserted into hly downstream from its promoter and signal sequence by an overlapping extension polymerase chain reaction, and was then cloned into the shuttle plasmid pKSV7 for allelic exchange with the L. monocytogenes chromosome. Homologous recombination was achieved by growing the electro-transformed L. monocytogenes cells on chloramphenicol plates at a non-permissive temperature. Sequencing analysis indicated correct insertion of the target gene in-frame with the signal sequence. The recombinant strain expressed GFP constitutively as revealed by fluorescence microscopy. The mutant strain L. monocytogenes hly-gfp lost its hemolytic activity as visualized on the blood agar or when analyzed with the culture supernatant samples. Such insertional mutation resulted in a reduced virulence of about 2 logs less than its parent strain L. monocytogenes 10403s as shown by the 50%-lethal-dose assays in the mouse and embryonated chicken egg models. These results thus demonstrate that mutated L. monocytogeues could be a potential carrier for the expression of heterologous passenger genes or could act as an indicator organism in the food industry.     

Characterization and Fine Mapping of a Novel Rice Narrow Leaf Mutant nal9

A narrow leaf mutant was isolated from transgenic rice （Oryza sativa L.） lines carrying a T-DNA insertion. The mutant is characterized by narrow leaves during its whole growth period, and was named nal9 （narrow leaf 9）. The mutant also has other phenotypes, such as light green leaves at the seedling stage, reduced plant height, a small panicle and increased tillering. Genetic analysis revealed that the mutation is controlled by a single recessive gene. A hygromycin resistance assay showed that the mutation was not caused by T-DNA insertion, so a map-based cloning strategy was employed to isolate the nal9 gene. The mutant individuals from the F2 generations of a cross between the nal9mutant and Longtepu were used for mapping. With 24 F2 mutants, the nal9 gene was preliminarily mapped near the marker RM156 on the chromosome 3. New INDEL markers were then designed based on the sequence differences between japonica and indica at the region near RM156. The nal9 gene was finally located in a 69.3 kb region between the markers V239B and V239G within BAC OJ1212_C05 by chromosome walking. Sequence and expression analysis showed that an ATP-dependent CIp protease proteolytic subunit gene （CIpP） was most likely to be the nal9 gene. Furthermore, the nal9 mutation was rescued by transformation of the CIpP cDNA driven by the 35S promoter. Accordingly, the CIpP gene was identified as the NAL9 gene. Our results provide a basis for functional studies of NAL9 in future work.     

The flhDC gene affects motility and biofilm formation in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

The flagella master regulatory gene flhDC of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype III (YPIII) was mu- tated by deleting the middle region and replaced by a tetracycline resistant gene, and the subsequent mutant strain named YPIII?flhDC was obtained. Swimming assay showed that the swimming motility of the mutant strain was completely abolished. The promoter region of the flagella second-class regula- tory gene fliA was fused with the lux box, and was conjugated with the mutant and the parent strains respectively for the first cross. LUCY assay result demonstrated that flhDC regulated the expression of fliA in YPIII as reported in E. coli. Biofilm formation of the mutant strain on abiotic and biotic surfaces was observed and quantified. The results showed that mutation of flhDC decreased biofilm formation on both abiotic and biotic surfaces, and abated the infection on Caenorhabdtis elegans. Our results suggest that mutation of the flagella master regulatory gene flhDC not only abolished the swimming motility, but also affected biofilm formation of YPIII on different surfaces. The new function of flhDC identified in this study provides a novel viewpoint for the control of bacterial biofilm formation.     

Mapping of a BYDV resistance gene from Thinopyrum intermedium in wheat background by molecular markers

The wheat line H960642 is a homozygous wheat-Thinopyrum intermedium translocation line with resistance to BYDV by genomie in situ hybridization (GISH) and RFLP analysis. The genomie DNA of Th. intermedium was used as a probe, and eonunon wheat genomie DNA as a blocking in GISH experiment. The results showed that the chromosome segments of Th. intermedium were transferred to the distal end of a pair of wheat chromosomes. RFLP analysis indicated that the transloeation line H960642 is a T7DS·7DL-7XL translocation by using 8 probes mapped on the homoeologous group 7 in wheat. The tranalocation breakpoint is located between Xpsr680 and Xpsr965 about 90—99 cM from the centromere. The RFLP markers psr680 and psr687 were closoly linked with the BYDV resistance gene. The gene is located on the distal end of 7XL around Xpsr680 and Xpsr687.     

Recent advances in the study of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus replication and pathogenesis

It has now been over twenty years since a novel herpesviral genome was identified in Kaposi's sarcoma biopsies. Since then, the cumulative research effort by molecular biologists, virologists, clinicians, and epidemiologists alike has led to the extensive characterization of this tumor virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus(KSHV; also known as human herpesvirus 8(HHV-8)), and its associated diseases. Here we review the current knowledge of KSHV biology and pathogenesis, with a particular emphasis on new and exciting advances in the field of epigenetics. We also discuss the development and practicality of various cell culture and animal model systems to study KSHV replication and pathogenesis.     

The structure, reproduction and taxonomy of Vidalia and Osmundaria (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae)

Comprises species occurring mostly in subtidal habitats in tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate areas of the world. An analysis of the type species, V. spiralis (Sonder) Lamouroux ex J. Agardh, a species from Australia, establishes basic characters for distinguishing species in the genus. These characters are (1) branching patterns of thalli, (2) flat blades that may be spiralled on their axis, (3) width of the blade, (4) primary or secondary derivation of sterile and fertile branchlets and (5) position of sterile and fertile branchlets on the thalli. Application of the latter two characters provides an important basic method for separation of species into three major groups. Osmundaria , a genus known only in southern Australia, was studied in relation to Vidalia , and its separation from the Vidalia assemblage is not accepted. Species of Vidalia therefore are transferred to the older genus name, Osmundaria. Two new species, Osmundaria papenfussii and Osmundaria oliveae are described from Natal. Confusion in the usage of the epithet, Vidalia fimbriala Brown ex Turner has been clarified, and Vidalia gregaria Falkenberg, described as an epiphyte on Osmundaria pro/ifera Lamouroux, is revealed to be young branches of the host, Osmundaria prolifera.     

New or rare chromosome counts in Artemisia L. (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) and related genera from Kazakhstan

Fifteen chromosome counts of six Artemisia taxa and one species of each of the genera Brachanthemum, Hippolytia, Kaschgaria, Lepidolopsis and Turaniphytum are reported from Kazakhstan. Three of them are new reports, two are not consistent with previous counts and the remainder are confirmations of very scarce (one to four) earlier records. All the populations studied have the same basic chromosome number, x = 9, with ploidy levels ranging from 2x to 6x. Some correlations between ploidy level, morphological characters and distribution are noted.     

肝癌中HBV和HCV基因和抗原的分布及意义

采用原位分子杂交方法检测HCV RNA及HBV X基因;采用免疫组织化学方法研究HCV核心抗原,非结构区C33c抗原及HBxAg在肝细胞肝癌中的定位及分布.结果表明(1)HCV RNA、HBV X基因在肝细胞肝癌组织检出率分别为40%(55/136)和82%(112/136).HCV RNA定位于癌细胞的胞浆内,阳性细胞呈散在、灶状及弥漫分布三种形式;HBV X基因在肝癌细胞中的分布呈胞浆型、核型及核浆型,阳性细胞也呈上述三种分布形式;(2)HCV C33c抗原、核心抗原在肝细胞肝癌中的阳性率为81%(133/164)及86%(141/164).C33c抗原定位于癌细胞及肝细胞的胞浆内;核心抗原既定位于癌细胞核中,又可定位于胞浆中.C33c抗原阳性细胞以灶状分布为主;而核心抗原阳性细     

Selection with two alleles and complete dominance

For a plant selection model with frequency-independent viabilities, fertilities and selfing rates, it is shown that apart from global fixation, for certain parameter combinations a protected polymorphism and facultative fixation (either allele may become fixed according to initial frequencies) may both occur. Facultative fixation requires different selling rates for the dominant and recessive type. Protection of the polymorphism requires resource allocation for male and female function. In this connection the problem of purely genetically caused population extinction is discussed.
For general frequency dependence and regular segregation, the chances for establishment of a completely recessive gene are compared to those of a completely dominant gene. It is proven that the process of establishment of the recessive gene, despite a fitness advantage, may be considerably endangered by drift effects if random mating prevails. The recessive gene may reach the same effectivity in establishment as a dominant gene, only if the recessive homozygote mates exclusively with its own type during the period of establishment.