新疆盐生植物的钙调蛋白基因克隆与序列分析

采用RT-PCR扩增的方法,从新疆盐生植物花花柴(Karelinia caspica)、盐爪爪(Kalidium foliadum)和盐桦(Betula halophila)中分别克隆获得了450bp的cDNA片段.基因测序和序列同源性分析的结果表明,所克隆的基因片段均包含了钙调蛋白基因完整的读码框架.新疆花花柴钙调蛋白基因与盐爪爪钙调蛋白基因同源性达86%,盐爪爪与盐桦同源性达86.77%,花花柴与盐桦同源性达85.11%.新疆盐生植物钙调蛋白基因与其它已发表的植物钙调蛋白基因同源性均在80%以上,显示植物钙调蛋白基因具有高度保守性.     

盐生植物盐爪爪甜菜碱醛脱氢酶基因的克隆及在盐胁迫下的BADH基因的表达

根据已发表的几种藜科植物甜菜碱醛脱氢酶(BADH)基因的同源保守区设计了一对引物,采用RT-PCR方法从盐生植物盐爪爪(Kalidium foliatum)中扩增出BADH基因的1个开放阅读框架,其核苷酸序列长1503bp,推测的氨基酸序列全长为500个氨基酸残基。核苷酸序列与藜科几种盐生植物如滨藜、碱蓬、菠菜、山菠菜和甜菜等的同源性为81%,与甜土植物水稻的同源性为69%。氨基酸序列与以上两类植物(盐生植物和甜土植物)的同源性比对为80%和71%,说明BADH基因在藜科盐生植物中是一种较高保守的基因。BADH基因编码的多肽在高等植物中行使重要的功能。用不同浓度的NaCl胁迫处理盐爪爪植株,BADHmRNA的表达水平比对照植株高,说明盐爪爪BADH基因的表达受盐诱导,间接说明甜菜碱醛脱氢酶催化合成的甜菜碱作为渗透调节的小分子物质,它的积累与盐胁迫存在紧密关联,本研究为进一步从生理和分子水平阐明盐爪爪的耐盐机制提供一定的参考。     

盐生植物盐爪爪甜菜碱醛脱氢酶基因的克隆及在盐胁迫下的BADH 基因的表达

根据已发表的几种藜科植物甜菜碱醛脱氢酶(BADH) 基因的同源保守区设计了一对引物, 采用RT-PCR 方法从盐生植物盐爪爪( Kalidium foliatum) 中扩增出BADH 基因的1 个开放阅读框架, 其核苷酸序列长1 503 bp , 推测的氨基酸序列全长为500 个氨基酸残基。核苷酸序列与藜科几种盐生植物如滨藜、碱蓬、菠菜、山菠菜和甜菜等的同源性为81% , 与甜土植物水稻的同源性为69%。氨基酸序列与以上两类植物(盐生植物和甜土植物) 的同源性比对为80% 和71% , 说明BADH 基因在藜科盐生植物中是一种较高保守的基因。BADH 基因编码的多肽在高等植物中行使重要的功能。用不同浓度的NaCl 胁迫处理盐爪爪植株, BADH mRNA 的表达水平比对照植株高, 说明盐爪爪BADH 基因的表达受盐诱导, 间接说明甜菜碱醛脱氢酶催化合成的甜菜碱作为渗透调节的小分子物质, 它的积累与盐胁迫存在紧密关联, 本研究为进一步从生理和分子水平阐明盐爪爪的耐盐机制提供一定的参考。     

灰绿藜和碱蒿NHX基因 3'-UTR序列的差异性分析

采用3'末端快速扩增技术,分别从新疆野生盐生植物灰绿藜和碱蒿中克隆CgNHX和AaNHX cDNA 3'末端.测序结果表明克隆获得的片段为CgNHX和AaNHX基因3'末端,并且CgNHX和AaNHX3'-UTR的不同拷贝之间存在很大的差异性.序列同源性分析结果显示,AaNHX基因3'-UTR与CgNHX基因3'-UTR同源性高达52%,两者与SsNHX(碱蓬NHX)同源性分别达到60%和54%,表明NHX基因的加工方式可能相同,同时说明该基因在野生盐生植物中的功能是很重要的.     

采用RT-PCR扩增方法从犁苞滨藜中扩增NHX基因

采用RT-PCR扩增的方法,从新疆野生植物犁苞滨藜中克隆获得1.7 kb的cDNA片段,测序和序列分析表明该基因片段包含NHX基因完整的读码框架.序列同源性分析结果显示犁苞滨藜NHX基因与滨藜NHX基因同源性高达95%,与碱蓬同源性达到86%,与柑桔同源性为88%,与拟南芥同源性为84%,表明它是植物中高度保守的一种基因,同时说明野生植物犁苞滨藜中也存在与拟南芥相似的植物耐盐相关基因.     

盐分和水分胁迫对两种盐生植物盐爪爪和盐穗木种子萌发的影响

采用不同浓度NaCl和等渗PEG(分子量为6000)处理2种盐生植物种子(盐爪爪Kalidiumfoliatum、盐穗木Halostachys caspica)。结果表明,(1)NaCl和等渗PEG对种子的萌发均产生抑制作用,且PEG的抑制程度大于等渗NaCl,说明渗透胁迫是影响盐生植物种子萌发的主要因素;(2)盐胁迫和水分胁迫对盐生植物种子的萌发具有明显的抑制作用,降低了种子的萌发率,推迟了种子的初始萌发时间、延长了种子的萌发时间;(3)根据2种盐生植物种子萌发耐盐性比较,两种盐生植物均具有较强的耐盐性,在0~300 mmol.L-1NaCl盐溶液范围内,盐穗木种子相对萌发率达到95%以上,盐爪爪达到80%以上,说明盐穗木比盐爪爪具有更强的耐盐性。盐穗木种子耐盐适宜值为332.5 mmol.L-1,临界值为540 mmo.lL-1,极限值为749 mmo.lL-1;盐爪爪种子耐盐适宜值为246.5 mmol.L-1,临界值为391.8 mmo.lL-1,极限值为537 mmol.L-1;(4)低浓度的NaCl溶液对种子萌发的幼苗生长起着促进作用。在100 mmo.lL-1NaCl处理时,两种盐生植物幼苗的胚...     

单引物方法克隆盐角草orf25基因

采用单引物RT-PCR扩增的方法,从新疆野生植物盐角草（Salicornia europaea）中克隆获得了1.7kb的cDNA片段,经过测序和序列分析,发现基因片段包含了orf25基因完整的读码框架。采用序列同源性分析方法,结果显示新疆盐角草orf25基因与甜菜线粒体同源性高达98%,与烟草线粒体同源性达到95%,与小麦同源性为92%,与玉米同源性为88%,表明orf25基因在植物中是高度保守的一种基因,同时说明野生植物盐角草中也存在与农作物相似的雄性不育相关基因,orf25基因编码的功能性蛋白可能在影响植物雄性不育改良作物品种方面具有重要的意义。     

盐穗木甜菜碱醛脱氢酶基因（BADH）的克隆及其在盐胁迫下的表达分析

根据我们实验室已发表的植物甜菜碱醛脱氢酶基因（BADH）的同源保守区设计引物,通过RT—PCR扩增获得了由1503个核苷酸组成的盐穗木BADH基因开放阅读框,推测该基因编码500个氨基酸,分子量约为54．49kDa的多肽。推测的盐穗木BADH氨基酸序列中包含一段甜菜碱醛脱氢酶中高度保守的十肽序列（VTLELGGKSP）以及与酶功能有关的半胱氨酸残基（Cys）。序列比对结果显示,盐穗木BADH与盐地碱蓬、中亚滨藜、盐爪爪以及菠菜等的核苷酸序列同源性在81％以上,与水稻的同源性也达到68％。半定量RT—PCR分析结果表明,盐穗木BADH基因的表达受盐胁迫诱导,推测BADH可能与盐穗木具有较强的耐盐能力有关。     

在胡杨NHX基因内发现细菌转座子IS10-L的存在

采用RT-PCR扩增的方法,从新疆不同地区的野生植物胡杨中分别克隆获得lkb和2．3kb的cDNA片段,测序和序列分析表明这两个基因片段均包含NHX基因的部分读码框架,分别命名为PtNHX和PwNHX。PtNHX序列同源性分析结果显示胡杨NHX基因与滨藜NHX基因同源性高达98％,与碱蓬同源性达到86%,与拟南芥同源性为84％,与水稻同源性为80％,表明它是植物中高度保守的一种基因,同时说明野生植物胡杨中也存在与拟南芥相似的植物耐盐相关基因。PwNHX序列分析表明,该基因内部含有一种转座酶的读码框,大小约1350bp,与已发表的Shigella flexneri．转座子Th10基因序列(AF162223)同源性为99％。NHX基因的蛋白产物在植物的耐盐性方面起着重要的作用。推测PwNHX。由于插入转座酶读码框可能会导致该基因的功能丧失。胡杨生存于盐碱地,其体内可能存在另一些机制使胡杨具有抗盐碱的能力。对于这些机制的研究可能有助于进一步了解植物的抗盐机制。利用PwNHX基因内的转座子作基因标签,可进一步研究胡杨的其它基因,从而有可能揭示胡杨叶子发育的变态过程、耐盐碱等性状．     

塔里木盆地10种藜科植物种子萌发对干旱胁迫的响应及其抗旱性评价

以塔里木盆地分布的碱蓬、硬枝碱蓬、盘果碱蓬、五蕊碱蓬、星花碱蓬、刺藜、盐节木、盐穗木、盐角草、白茎盐生草等10种藜科植物的种子为材料,利用PEG-6000模拟干旱,研究种子萌发对干旱胁迫的响应规律,并对抗旱性进行综合评价。结果表明:(1)随渗透势的下降,干旱胁迫加重,10种藜科植物种子的最终萌发率受到不同程度的抑制,平均萌发时间逐渐延长,种子的胚根长度受到抑制;解除干旱胁迫后,碱蓬、硬枝碱蓬、盘果碱蓬、盐节木、盐穗木、盐角草和白茎盐生草种子可恢复萌发;(2)10种藜科植物种子萌发期抗旱(PEG)极限值从大到小依次为:盐穗木白茎盐生草盘果碱蓬硬枝碱蓬盐角草五蕊碱蓬盐节木星花碱蓬刺藜碱蓬;(3)采用隶属函数法,选取种子最终萌发率、平均萌发时间、胚根长度和恢复萌发率为主要评价指标,进行抗旱性综合评价,10种藜科植物种子抗旱性由强到弱依次为:盐穗木白茎盐生草硬枝碱蓬盐节木盘果碱蓬星花碱蓬盐角草刺藜碱蓬五蕊碱蓬;抗旱性较强的盐穗木、白茎盐生草、硬枝碱蓬和盐节木的隶属函数加权平均值分别为0.915、0.793、0.762和0.737。     

Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from goats from Brazil

Goats are economically important in many countries, and little is known of caprine toxoplasmosis in Brazil. Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were assayed in the sera of 143 goats from 3 Brazilian states, using modified agglutination test (MAT titer > or = 1:25); 46 (32.2%) tested positive. Samples of brain, heart, diaphragm, and masseter of seropositive animals were pooled, digested in pepsin, and bioassayed in mice. Viable T. gondii specimens were isolated from tissue homogenates of 12 goats; the isolates were designated TgGtBr1-12. Ten of the 12 isolates killed 100% of infected mice, indicating that goats can harbor mouse-virulent T. gondii and, hence, can serve as a source of infection for humans.     

Isolation of protein from humic acid extracted from soil

Summary Chromatography of humic acid in a phenol containing solvent system reveals, in the case of the three types of soil analyzed, the presence of humoprotein containing 11 per cent of nitrogen. Isolation of a humoprotein complex from humic acid, according to the method used by Kirby, followed by paper chromatography allowed the isolation of a protein fraction containing 14.8 per cent nitrogen. This fraction is not dialysable; it has a maximum absorption in ultraviolet light between 260–280 mµ, a small electronegative charge and gives rise to twenty different amino acids. This is the first time that a protein has been separated from humus. Thereby demonstrating that part of the nitrogen contained in humic acid is in the form of protein protected from decomposition.Research supported by the Institut pour l'Encouragement de la Recherche Scientifique dans l'Industrie et l'Agriculture (I.R.S.I.A.).     

Identification of trypanosomes isolated from reduviidae from north Chile

Examination of 54 Triatoma infestans from a village near the European Southern Observatory La Silla in Chile and of 9 Triatoma spinolai from the territory of the observatory showed that 10 T. infestans were infected with trypanosomatids. Mice were infected with in vitro cultures initiated with five different trypanosomatid isolates and treated with the immunosuppressive drug cyclophosphamide to increase the parasitemia of the flagellates. Evidence of the presence of T. cruzi was provided by a comparative biometrical analysis of blood trypomastigotes and the occurrence of intracellular amastigotes. Three methods for further identification were used: examination of kDNA ultrastructure, disc electrophoresis of soluble proteins and the Aaptos papillata II lectin induced agglutination. We obtained the following results for all isolates: (1) presence of a central band of the kDNA; (2) T. cruzi specific double bands of the protein patterns; (3) positive reaction with Aaptos papillata II. No differences between the five isolates from Chile and T. cruzi or T. cruzi-like strains from other countries could be observed. Based on these results an infection of the bugs with T. rangeli and T. conorhini could be excluded.     

Guaianolides from two subspecies of Amphoricarpos neumayeri from Montenegro

Quantitative (1)H NMR measurements revealed delta(11(13)) sesquiterpene gamma-lactones as the main constituents ( >or= 1% per weight of dried plant material) in the crude extracts of the aerial parts of Amphoricarpos neumayeri ssp. neumayeri and ssp. murbeckii from mountains Orjen and Visitor (Montenegro), respectively. Preparative silica gel chromatography afforded thirteen guai-11(13)-en-12,6alpha-olides, named amphoricarpolides (1-13), with the same relative (1alphaH,4betaH,5alphaH,7betaH) configuration of the basic skeleton. The common structural feature of lactones 2-13 was 3beta,15-dioxygenation pattern. The only exception was 1 (3-deoxyamphoricarpolide), containing a single oxygen substituent (15-OH). Eight of them exhibited an additional oxygen substituent, 9beta-OH (5 and 6), 2alpha-OH (8-12), or 2alpha-OAc (13). Compound 7 was epoxydated at 10alpha(14)-position, whereas the remaining lactones contained a 10(14) double bond.     

Isolation of intact plastids from protoplasts from castor bean endosperm

Protoplasts were prepared from castor bean (Ricinus communis) endosperm by treatment with a mixture of the commercial enzymes Macerozyme R-10 and Cellulose “Onozuka” R-10. The protoplasts were gently ruptured by forcing the suspension through a hypodermic needle and the homogenate centrifuged on a linear sucrose gradient. From such a homogenate the mitochondria are recovered at their typical isopycnic density of 1.18 g/ml, but the glyoxysomes are retained, with other membranes, at a density of 1.13. The plastids reach their typical density of 1.22 on the gradient and are thus clearly separated from other organelles. Moreover, since essentially all of the ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity on the gradient is present in this fraction it can be concluded that the plastids are intact and have been recovered in high yield.