Determination of biotic aetiology of tapping panel dryness (TPD) syndrome of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) by return-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (R-PAGE) technique

Tapping panel dryness (TPD) syndrome affecting rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is known to reduce natural latex production. Its aetiology remains ambiguous despite long years of research. A low molecular weight RNA similar to viroid RNA was isolated from TPD-affected samples of rubber trees. In the present study, a modified return-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis procedure was standardised. The viroid-like low molecular weight (LMW) RNA was found associated with leaf, bark and root tissues and rubber seedlings. The technique was employed to detect LMW RNA in different clones of rubber planted in different locations and in bud-grafted plants. The LMW RNA isolated from TPD-affected trees was found infectious on seedlings of tomato cv Pusa Ruby. The LMW RNA was reisolated from symptomatic tomato leaves but not from control plants. This is for the first time that a biotic agent, a viroid RNA, is found consistently associated with the syndrome. The technology developed can be useful to demonstrate the onset of TPD in untapped trees in the absence of other methods such as nucleic acid hybridisation.     

Transfer RNAs as genotypic fingerprints of eubacteria

A new method was developed for rapid genotypic identification and classification of bacteria. The method is based on high resolution gel electrophoresis of the stable, low molecular weight (LMW) RNA fraction of single bacterial strains. This fraction comprises the total transfer RNA pool and the 5S ribosomal RNA. On a one-dimensional gel, every eubacterial strain exhibited a distinct LMW RNA profile, a set of bands belonging to three different size classes: 5S rRNAs (110–131 nt), class 2 tRNAs (82–96 nt) and class 1 tRNAs (72–79 nt). LMW RNA profiles of members of five of the ten major eubacterial groups, previously defined by 16S rRNA sequence analysis, were highly diverse. For some major groups, like flavobacteria and planctomyces, the distinctive sizes of their 5S rRNAs allowed the assignment of strains to these groups. More specific taxonomic information was gained from analysis of the tRNA part of the profile. Strains could be grouped as species and genera due to species- and genus-specific tRNA bands. From an evolutionary point of view, this order found in the total tRNA pool of eubacteria could indicate that cytoplasmic tRNA evolution reflects ribosomal RNA evolution. Given the universality of tRNAs, it is to be expected that their electrophoretic mobility profiles may serve as a convenient RNA fingerprint for defining bacterial species operationally and for identifying new genotypes by differing patterns.     

Identification of bacteria by low molecular weight RNA profiles: a new chemotaxonomic approach

A new chemotaxonomic method is presented for the identification of eubacteria. This method is based on one-dimensinal gel electrophoresis of total RNA extracts from eubacteria. Only low molecular weight (<150 nucleotides) RNA, comprising 5S ribosomal and transfer RNA, was used for the identification. The high resolution of the electrophoresis, better than half a nucleotide, allowed construction of low molecular weight (LMW) RNA profiles that contained 10 to 20 bands per strain. LMW RNA profiles of a set of eubacterial reference strains showed on variation in dependence on culture conditions or physiological state of the cells. Computer-assisted data evaluation, including six molecular weight markers, enabled the calculation of relative nucleotide units (RNU) for every band. The resulting normalized band pattern allowed the identification of identical strains on different gels. The relative position of the single bands from the different groups of RNAs made an identification of bacterial strains to genus and often species level possible.Especially valuable for the identification were the large, class 2 tRNAs that showed certain variation among species of the same genus and varied considerably among different genera. RNA profiles can provide a rapid and inexpensive screening technique for the taxonomic classification of single bacterial strains. Potential fields of application for this technique might be bacterial taxonomy, biotechnology and ecology.     

Altered nucleic acid partitioning during phenol extraction or silica adsorption by guanidinium and potassium salts

Nucleic acids were found to partition into the phenol phase during phenol extraction in the presence of guanidinium at certain concentrations under acidic conditions. The guanidinium-concentration-dependent nucleic acid partitioning patterns were analogous to those of the nucleic acid adsorption/partitioning onto silica mediated by guanidinium, which implied that phenol and silica interact with nucleic acids through similar mechanisms. A competition effect was observed in which the nucleic acids that had partitioned into the phenol phase or onto the silica solid phase could be recovered to the aqueous phases by potassium in a molecular weight–salt concentration-dependent manner (the higher molecular weight nucleic acids needed higher concentrations of potassium to be recovered, and vice versa). Methods were developed based on these findings to isolate total RNA from Escherichia coli. By controlling the concentrations of guanidinium and potassium salts used before phenol extraction or silica adsorption, we can selectively recover total RNA but not the high molecular weight genomic DNA in the aqueous phases. Genomic DNA-free total RNA obtained by our methods is suitable for RT-PCR or other purposes. The methods can also be adapted to isolate small RNAs or RNA in certain molecular weight ranges by changing the salt concentrations used.     

一种提取高质量油菜种子和种皮RNA的方法

提取高质量的RNA是从基因表达水平上研究油菜种子和种皮发育的必要条件。现有方法因为油菜种子脂肪、多酚和多糖,难以快速获得完整、高纯度的油菜种子总RNA。本试验针对油菜种子和种皮特点,利用苯酚-氯仿抽提后用无水乙醇沉淀RNA,建立了在油菜种子和种皮中快速提取高质量总RNA的提取方法,电泳分析表明28S rRNA亮度约为18S rRNA的2倍;紫外分光光度计检测A260/A280介于1.8～2.0之间。用该法分离的RNA,已成功用于RT-PCR、Northern blot分析和基因全长的克隆等分子生物学研究。     

Extraction and isolation of mRNA from adult articular cartilage.

We have developed a method to isolate RNA in high yield from adult articular cartilage. Homogenization of the articular cartilage with a freezer mill, extraction with 4 M guanidinium isothiocyanate/acid-phenol, and ultracentrifugation in cesium trifluoroacetate was found to be an effective and practical method for isolating a high yield of intact RNA from adult canine articular cartilage. The total RNA was suitable for Northern blot analysis. The mRNA that could then be isolated by oligo-dT affinity chromatography was found to be a suitable substrate for in vitro translation, for making a cDNA library, and for PCR amplification.     

蚜虫中携带马铃薯卷叶病毒检测方法的改进

马铃薯卷叶病毒( Potato leafroll virus,PLRV)对马铃薯生产的危害极大,是一种极为重要的马铃薯病毒病。 RT－PCR是马铃薯卷叶病毒检测较为常用的方法,该方法检测准确率高、成本低、适用范围广。但在实际生产中其检测对象多为染病植株,对PLRV传播的主要介体桃蚜( Myzus persicae)的检测,则由于蚜虫体积小、RNA提取难度大、成本高、且不能复检,因而在生产中不能被广泛使用。该研究以马铃薯感病植株和带毒蚜虫为材料,利用改进的RNA提取方法从它们中提取到PLRV的RNA,并以CP 基因设计特异性引物,进行PCR检测。结果表明：该方法提取的RNA完整性好,可用于蚜虫中PLRV检测,且同样适用于对马铃薯感病植株的检测。另外,通过对田间有翅蚜和无翅蚜携带 PLRV 情况进行检测发现,无翅蚜 PLRV 检出率为100％,有翅蚜PLRV检出率也高达60％,证明该体系在生产中的实用性。该研究使用改进的RNA提取方法,提取蚜虫中RNA,并利用RT－PCR进行了PLRV检测,与以前的方法相比简单实用,可被应用于生产检测中。该研究结果为马铃薯生产中PLRV的防控提供了一种新的手段。     

A Protocol for Extraction of High-quality RNA and DNA from Peanut Plant Tissues

Peanuts are an increasingly important global food source. However, until recently the lack of effective protocols for the extraction of nucleic acids has made molecular studies of peanut development and maturation difficult. Here, we describe a method to isolate high-quality RNA and DNA from peanut tissue and have successfully applied this method to peanut plant roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds. Spectrophotometric analysis showed that the average yields of total RNA from 100 mg of peanut materials ranged from 24.52 to 74.6 μg, and those of genomic DNA from the same tissues ranged from 23.47 to 57.68 μg. Using this protocol, we obtained OD260/280 values between 1.9 and 2.0 and isolated RNA which could be reverse transcribed in a manner suitable for RT-qPCR and expression analysis. In addition, genomic DNA isolated using this method produced reliable restriction enzyme digestion patterns and could be used for Southern blot hybridization.     

Use of a simple method to isolate intact RNA from partially hydratedSelaginella lepidophylla plants

Isolation of high-quality RNA is a necessary step in gene expression analysis. Although many methods can be used to isolate RNA from plants where contamination of preparations with complex carbohydrates or phenolic compounds is a problem, the application of these methods toSelaginella lepidophylla tissues has failed to obtain good-quality RNA. Here we introduce 2 modifications to the method developed by Chomczynski and Sacchi (1987), generating a simple and rapid method that allows the isolation of intact RNA fromS. lepidophylla-dehydrated tissues. Although the introduced modifications are not new, their addition proved to be decisive for success in RNA isolation. Quality of the RNA obtained was evaluated by electrophoresis in agarose and by 3 different PCR-based techniques—RT-PCR, RNA differential display, and synthesis of a cDNA library.     

Genotyping of Heterotrophic Bacteria from the Central Baltic Sea by Use of Low-Molecular-Weight RNA Profiles

The Gotland Deep, an anoxic basin, was investigated for its heterotrophic microflora as a station representative of the central Baltic Sea and as an example of a brackish water environment. One hundred twenty-three bacterial strains were isolated along the water column by use of four different cultivation procedures. High-resolution electrophoresis of the low-molecular-weight (LMW) RNA (5S rRNA and tRNA) was used for analysis of the taxonomic position of the strains. The banding pattern of the LMW RNA generated by the electrophoresis allowed a taxonomic grouping at the species level of the 123 strains into 24 different genotypes. This grouping was confirmed by use of long-range gels with a substantially better resolution than that of standard gels; i.e., about 60% more tRNA bands were obtained on the long-range gels, and the distance between the bands was increased by about two-thirds. The majority of the strains (76%) could be identified to the species level by comparison with LMW RNA profiles from reference strains stored in an electronic database. Eighty-seven percent of the strains could be assigned to the families Vibrionaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonadaceae (rRNA group I). The most abundant species among the isolates were Shewanella putrefaciens (48%) and a new Pseudomonas species (24%). The remaining fraction of 28% of the isolates was split into 22 other genotypes. Thirteen of these genotypes were represented by single isolates. This study demonstrates the utility of LMW RNA profiling for a rapid assessment of genotypic diversity of heterotrophic isolates from natural environments.     

Microarray-Based Analysis of Microbial Community RNAs by Whole-Community RNA Amplification

A new approach, termed whole-community RNA amplification (WCRA), was developed to provide sufficient amounts of mRNAs from environmental samples for microarray analysis. This method employs fusion primers (six to nine random nucleotides with an attached T7 promoter) for the first-strand synthesis. The shortest primer (T7N6S) gave the best results in terms of the yield and representativeness of amplification. About 1,200- to 1,800-fold amplification was obtained with amounts of the RNA templates ranging from 10 to 100 ng, and very representative detection was obtained with 50 to 100 ng total RNA. Evaluation with a Shewanella oneidensis Δfur strain revealed that the amplification method which we developed could preserve the original abundance relationships of mRNAs. In addition, to determine whether representative detection of RNAs can be achieved with mixed community samples, amplification biases were evaluated with a mixture containing equal quantities of RNAs (100 ng each) from four bacterial species, and representative amplification was also obtained. Finally, the method which we developed was applied to the active microbial populations in a denitrifying fluidized bed reactor used for denitrification of contaminated groundwater and ethanol-stimulated groundwater samples for uranium reduction. The genes expressed were consistent with the expected functions of the bioreactor and groundwater system, suggesting that this approach is useful for analyzing the functional activities of microbial communities. This is one of the first demonstrations that microarray-based technology can be used to successfully detect the activities of microbial communities from real environmental samples in a high-throughput fashion.     

Cloning and Expression of Low Molecular Weight Glutenin Genes from the Chinese Elite Wheat Cultivar ＂Xiaoyan 54＂

The low molecular weight （LMW） glutenln subunlts account for 40% of wheat gluten protein content by mass and these proteins are considered to significantly affect dough quality characteristics. Five new full-length LMW glutenln genes （designated LMW-5, LMW-7, LMW-42, LMW-58, and LMW-34） were isolated from the Chinese elite wheat cultivar ＂Xlaoyan 54＂ by PCR amplification of genomlc DNA using a pair of degenerate primers designed from the conserved sequences of the N- and C-terminal regions of published LMW glutenln genes. Deduced amino acid sequence analysis showed that LMW-5 belongs to the LMW-i type genes and that the other four belong to LMW-m type genes. Sequence comparisons revealed that point mutations occasionally occurred in signal peptide and N-terminus domains and often existed in domain III and domain V. Small insertions and deletions are represented in the repetitive domain. There is a stop codon after amino acid position 110 In the repetitive domain of LMW.34, indicating that It is a pseudogene. The other four genes have complete open reading frames and the putative mature regions of these genes were subcloned Into pET-30a expression vector and successfully expressed in Escherlchla coll. Protein sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamlde gel electro- phoresls analysis showed that all proteins expressed in E. coil by the four genes could be related to B-group LMW glutenln subunits of wheat.     

First evidence of the occurrence of Turnip mosaic virus in Ukraine and molecular characterization of its isolate

A total of 54 samples of Brassicaceae crops showing symptoms of mosaic, mottling, vein banding and/or leaf deformation were collected in Kyiv region (northern central part of Ukraine) in 2014–2015. A half of collected samples was found to be infected with Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), and TuMV was detected in samples from Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage), Raphanus sativus, Brassica juncea, Raphanus sp., Sinapis alba, Camelina sativa and Bunias orientalis (weed). The full‐length sequence of the genomic RNA of a Ukrainian isolate (UKR9), which was isolated from cabbage, was determined. Recombination analysis of UKR9 isolate showed that this isolate was an interlineage recombinant of world‐Brassica and Asian‐Brassica/Raphanus phylogenetic groups. This study shows for the first time the occurrence of TuMV in Ukraine.     

Rapid isolation of high-quality total RNA from taxus and ginkgo

An easy and efficient protocol was developed for isolating good-quality total RNA from various tissues including fruits, leaves, stems, and roots of ancient gymnosperm species, taxus and ginkgo. The protocol was developed based on the CTAB method with modifications, including higher-strength CTAB to help the lysis of plant cells, more PVP, and beta-mercaptoethanol to prevent oxidation of phenolic complexes, and higher-centrifugation force to get rid of most cell debris and to ensure RNA quality. In RNA isolation, chloroform/isoamyl alcohol was used to remove proteins, genomic DNA, and secondary metabolites and lithium chloride was subsequently adopted to concentrate total RNA away from most of the cytoplasmic components. Good-quality total RNA from various tissues of native taxus and ginkgo could be easily isolated within 24 hr by this protocol which avoided the limitation of plant materials and the usage of dangerous chemicals, such as phenol, and could provide total RNA for all kinds of further molecular studies.     

Microarray-based analysis of microbial community RNAs by whole-community RNA amplification

A new approach, termed whole-community RNA amplification (WCRA), was developed to provide sufficient amounts of mRNAs from environmental samples for microarray analysis. This method employs fusion primers (six to nine random nucleotides with an attached T7 promoter) for the first-strand synthesis. The shortest primer (T7N6S) gave the best results in terms of the yield and representativeness of amplification. About 1,200- to 1,800-fold amplification was obtained with amounts of the RNA templates ranging from 10 to 100 ng, and very representative detection was obtained with 50 to 100 ng total RNA. Evaluation with a Shewanella oneidensis Deltafur strain revealed that the amplification method which we developed could preserve the original abundance relationships of mRNAs. In addition, to determine whether representative detection of RNAs can be achieved with mixed community samples, amplification biases were evaluated with a mixture containing equal quantities of RNAs (100 ng each) from four bacterial species, and representative amplification was also obtained. Finally, the method which we developed was applied to the active microbial populations in a denitrifying fluidized bed reactor used for denitrification of contaminated groundwater and ethanol-stimulated groundwater samples for uranium reduction. The genes expressed were consistent with the expected functions of the bioreactor and groundwater system, suggesting that this approach is useful for analyzing the functional activities of microbial communities. This is one of the first demonstrations that microarray-based technology can be used to successfully detect the activities of microbial communities from real environmental samples in a high-throughput fashion.