Modulation of chromium(VI) toxicity by organic and inorganic sulfur species in yeasts from industrial wastes

Two chromium(VI) resistant yeast strains (Candida sp. and Rhodosporidium sp.) were isolated from industrial wastes. Four different yeasts, three from the Industrial Yeast Collection and one of pharmaceutical origin, were also studied in relation to chromate toxicity and its alleviation by sulfur species. The growth of yeasts from industrial wastes was inhibited by 50% by high concentrations of Cr(VI): Candida sp. by 4 mM Cr(VI) and Rhodosporidium sp. by 10 mM Cr(VI) in Sabouraud Broth medium. The other Cr(VI)-sensitive yeasts were inhibited by 0.1 mM Cr(VI). The general mechanism of chromium resistance in Candida sp. and Rhodosporidium sp. was due to reduced uptake of chromium, but not to biological reduction from Cr(VI) to Cr(III). In Cr(VI)-sensitive yeasts, chromium was accumulated as much as 10-fold, as in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cr(VI) toxicity in Candida sp. was modulated from Cr(VI)-resistance to Cr(VI)-hypersensitivity depending on the addition of methionine, cysteine, sulfate and djenkolic acid. If Candida sp. was grown in the presence of S-amino acids, especially methionine, it was more resistant than if the sulfur source was sulfate. When sulfate transport was enhanced by addition of djenkolic acid, Candida sp. became hypersensitive. Rhosporidium sp. was always resistant to Cr(VI) because sulfate transport was inefficient and it assimilated sulfur as S-amino acids. Cr(VI)-sensitive yeasts required larger amounts of S-amino acids, especially methionine, to tolerate Cr(VI) toxicity. Cysteine was toxic for C.famata 6016 above 50 microM.     

Pattern of sulfate uptake during root elongation in maize: its correlation with productivity

The efficiency of sulfate uptake was evaluated in excised roots of 22 maize genotypes, 12 inbreds and 10 hybrids, in order to study the relationship between the kinetic characteristics of the uptake and the grain productivity. During root elongation, the uptake capacity showed a pulse which appeared when the root reached 1/3 to 1/2 of its final length. The size of the accumulated pool of sulfate was significantly correlated with the productivity. The kinetic parameters of the uptake, Vmax and Km, followed the same trend, showing pulses, whoxe maximum had the same position for Vmax and Km in each genotype. The variability with the genotype of the size and duration of the Vmax pulse was not strictly connected with that of Km. The main correlation between Vmax and Km patterns was the following; inbreds were generally characterized by low Vmax and low Km; hybrids by high Vmax and high Km. As a consequence, in most cases, the benefit of the heterotic stimulation of Vmax was contrasted by the loss of affinity of the transport system or the nutrients.     

Efficiency of the first steps of sulfate utilization by maize hybrids in relation to their productivity

The genetic variability of the efficiency of the first steps of sulfate utilization and its correlation with productivity were evaluated in nine maize hybrids. ³⁵SO₄²⁻ uptake by excised roots, uptake by intact plant roots, translocation to leaves, and ATP sulfurylase in leaves were taken into account. Uptake rate by roots of intact plants did not show any pulse within 7 to 12 days from emergence, in contrast with the previously observed behaviour of excised roots during root elongation. The uptake rate of intact plants was positively correlated with that of excised roots, but the variability within the nine genotypes tested was less. Productivity was positively correlated with sulfate uptake by both intact plant and excised roots, the level of significance being higher in the first case. Translocation to leaves and ATP sulfurylase activity were not correlated to productivity. Therefore, in the case of sulfate, the grain yield of commonly cultivated maize hybrids appeared to be controlled more by the root uptake step than by the activation and translocation steps.     

Chromate (VI) uptake by and interactions with cyanobacteria

Summary The short-term accumulation of chromate by the cyanobacteriaAnabaena variabilis andSynechococcus PCC 6301 has been described as consisting of a rapid and relatively low level of biosorption of chromate to the cell walls; no energy-dependent uptake was detected. This biosorption was dependent on chromate concentration and could be described by a Freundlich adsorption isotherm for both cyanobacterial species studied. Decreasing the external pH increased the chromate accumulation by both species. Over a longer time period with growth it was shown thatA. variabilis was capable of reducing chromate (VI) to chromium (III) and then accumulating the chromium (III).Synechococcus PCC 6301 showed no further interaction with chromate concentrations over the same time period after the initial biosorption.     

玉米不同杂种优势近等基因系及其杂交种的基因表达分析

以自发突变产生的籽粒大小和穗位叶片不同的 3对近等基因系及其杂交种为材料 ,研究了 6个基因在其叶片组织中的表达情况 ,以评价这些基因在杂种优势形成中可否作为“限率性基因”模式存在。结果表明 ,有些基因通过增强或减弱表达在杂种优势现象中起一定作用。将被测基因视为整体时会发现它们依次增强表达趋势为 :近等基因系 4 88 1>4 88 2 >4 78;相应杂交种 4 88 1× 340 >4 88 2× 340 >4 78× 340。对近等基因系及其杂交种个体千粒重和穗粒重的相关分析表明 ,Sus1、Sh1和ZmSps34 3′基因亦可作为适合的限率性候选基因以研究杂种优势分子机理。     

9个玉米DOF基因对逆境胁迫的响应模式分析

植物DOF (DNA binding with one zinc finger)锌指蛋白是植物特有的一类转录因子,在植物生长发育及代谢途径中发挥着重要作用。该研究采用qRT PCR方法分析了玉米应答逆境(盐、干旱、硝态氮缺乏和铵态氮缺乏)胁迫条件下9个ZmDOFs基因的表达模式。结果表明：(1)生物信息学分析显示,9个ZmDOF基因散布于5个染色体上,聚类为一个基因亚家族,且9个基因还可以细分为4个小亚家族。(2)9个ZmDOFs基因的表达具有组织特异性,且主要在玉米的穗和雄花中表达,其中ZmDOF1、ZmDOF4、ZmDOF11和ZmDOF12在穗部的表达量分别是根部的18倍、60倍、11倍和75倍以上,ZmDOF19、ZmDOF26、ZmDOF27和ZmDOF42在雄花中的表达量分别是根部的360倍、28倍、13倍和44倍以上,推测这些基因在玉米的雄花和穗的生长发育进程中具有重要的作用。(3)实时定量qRT PCR方法显示,在硝态氮胁迫下有7个ZmDOFs基因强烈诱导表达(>5倍),其中ZmDOF12、ZmDOF27和ZmDOF42基因的表达超过10倍,表明这些基因参与调控硝态氮胁迫的响应途径; 有7个ZmDOFs基因受铵态氮胁迫的强烈诱导表达(>2倍),表明这7个基因在玉米应答铵态氮胁迫中起作用;有5个ZmDOFs基因受PEG6000胁迫的强烈诱导表达(>2倍),其中ZmDOF34的表达上调超过10倍; 有8个ZmDOFs基因受NaCl胁迫的强烈诱导表达(>2倍),其中ZmDOF4、ZmDOF11和ZmDOF12的表达上调在10倍以上,表明这些基因在玉米抵御干旱或盐胁迫中起重要作用。     

Chromate-resistance in a chromate-reducing strain of Enterobacter cloacae

Resistance to toxic hexavalent chromium (chromate: CrO4(2)) in Enterobacter cloacae strain HO1, isolated from an activated sludge sample, was investigated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Decreased uptake of 51CrO4(2-) in E. cloacae strain HO1 was observed under aerobic conditions, when compared with a standard laboratory E. cloacae strain (IAM 1624). Under anaerobic conditions E. cloacae strain HO1 was able to reduce hexavalent chromium to the less toxic trivalent form. When E. clocacae strain HO1 was grown with nitrate anaerobically, the cells were observed to lose simultaneously their chromate-reducing ability and chromate-resistance under anaerobic conditions.     

基因芯片技术与基因表达谱研究

基因芯片技术是近年来出现的分子生物学与微电子技术相结合的最新DNA分析检测技术,该技术将成为信息科学与生命科学之间的联系纽带,为后基因组时代基因功能的分析提供一种最重要的技术手段,目前基因芯片技术已在基因表达谱等研究中得到广泛应用。     

Sterol content and efficiency of ion uptake by roots of maize genotypes

Data of compartmental analysis of sulphate were compared with the sterol content of roots of differently yielding maize genotypes. In conditions of steady state nutrient supply, sterol content was significantly correlated only with sulphate efflux (co). This increased at increasing concentration of sterols in the roots. Influx to cytoplasm (oc) was evaluated after sulphate deprivation leading to an induced rate of sulphate uptake. This was negatively correlated with sterol content, which was lower in the high than in the low yielding genotypes. When the highest yield genotype was grown at different sulphate concentrations, influx, efflux, root content of sulphate and sterols were positively correlated with the concentration of sulphate in the nutrient medium. Sterol content in roots appears to be controlled by both the genetic settlement and the nutritional status in maize. Low sterol content is connected with a high efficiency of sulphate utilization.     

玉米ST和ATPS部分cDNA序列克隆及分析

硫酸盐转运蛋白(ST)和ATP硫酸化酶(ATPS)是根系吸收硫酸盐和植物体内硫酸盐同化过程的关键蛋白和酶,在硫酸盐的生物转运过程中具有重要作用.以水培玉米农大108根系为材料,并根据已报道的玉米的硫酸盐转运蛋白和ATP硫酸化酶基因保守序列分别设计PCR引物对,采用RT-PCR方法克隆到783 bp和820 bp的部分硫酸盐转运蛋白和ATP硫酸化酶cDNA片段,分别命名为ST_ND108和ATPS_ND108.序列分析和比对结果显示,ST_ND108与已报道的玉米和水稻的高亲和型硫酸盐转运蛋白基因同源性分别为99%和85%;而ATPS_ND108与已报道的玉米ATP硫酸化酶基因同源性达到97%,进化树聚类分析和预测氨基酸的BLAST结果证实ST_ND108为高亲和性硫酸盐转运蛋白基因片段,ATPS_ND108为质体ATP硫酸化酶基因片段.     

Isolation and characterization of cDNA clones for RNA species induced by substituted benzenesulfonamides in corn

A search of compounds capable of inducing specific gene expression in plants without affecting growth and development led to the examination of changes in the pattern of gene expression in corn after treatment with substituted benzenesulfonamide herbicide safeners. Following hydroponic treatment of corn with the safener N-(aminocarbonyl)-2-chlorobenzenesulfonamide (2-CBSU), the specific induction of new translatable mRNA species was observed. Replicate copies of a cDNA library made using RNA from 2-CBSU-treated corn roots were differentially screened with cDNA probes made from either the same mRNA fraction used for library construction or mRNA isolated from roots treated with 2-chlorobenzenesulfonamide (2-CBSA), an inactive analog of the safener. Colonies showing hybridization only with the probe made using mRNA from 2-CBSU-treated roots were further characterized to assess the specificity of the induction and decay of the corresponding induced RNA species. RNA blot analyses showed two clones, designated In2-1 and In2-2, contained plasmids that hybridized to RNAs that were induced from an undetectable background in corn roots within 30 minutes after treatment with 2-CBSU. Leaf and meristem tissues showed similar inductions of the In2-1 and In2-2 RNA species after a delay of several hours. In addition, both RNA species were induced in corn by foliar application of 2-CBSU. In contrast, neither RNA species was induced following stress treatments of plants. These results indicate a substituted benzenesulfonamide safener might be used with the promoters from the In2-1 and In2-2 genes to develop a new inducible gene expression system for plants.