An engineered Bacillus thuringiensis strain with insecticidal activity against Scarabaeidae (Anomala corpulenta) and Chrysomelidae (Leptinotarsa decemlineata and Colaphellus bowringi)

A genetically-engineered Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strain, 3A-HBF, with a broad insecticidal spectrum was constructed by introducing the recombinant plasmid pSTK-3A containing cry3Aa7 into the wild-type Bt strain HBF-1 containing the cry8Ca2 gene. The Cry3Aa7 protein produced by strain 3A-HBF was verified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Flat rectangular crystals of Cry3Aa7 protein were observed besides spherical crystals (Cry8Ca2). The plasmid pSTK-3A was stable when strain 3A-HBF was grown in medium without antibiotics. The growth rate of 3A-HBF was not significantly different from that of the recipient strain, HBF-1. Strain 3A-HBF showed toxicity against two families of pests, Scarabaeidae and Chrysomelidae pests, which are susceptible to Cry8Ca (Anomala corpulenta) and Cry3Aa (Leptinotarsa decemlineata and Colaphellus bowringi). The 50% lethal concentrations of 3A-HBF against A. corpulenta, L. decemlineata and C. bowringi were 0.730 × 10⁸ c.f.u./g dry soil, 1.74 μg/ml and 1.15 μg/ml, respectively.     

Light induction of the clock-controlled geneccg-1 is not transduced through the circadian clock inNeurospora crassa

Ambient light and the circadian clock have been shown to be capable of acting either independently or in an interrelated fashion to regulate the expression of conidiation in the ascomycete fungusNeurospora crassa. Recently several molecular correlates of the circadian clock have been identified in the form of the morning-specific clock-controlled genesccg-1 andccg-2. In this paper we report studies on the regulation ofccg-1, an abundantly expressed gene displaying complex regulation. Consistent with an emerging consensus for clock-controlled genes and conidiation genes inNeurospora, we report thatccg-1 expression is induced by light, and show that this induction is independent of the direct effects of light on the circadian clock. Although circadian regulation of the gene is lost in strains lacking a functional clock, expression ofccg-1 is still not constitutive, but rather fluctuates in concert with changes in developmental potential seen in such strains. Light induction ofccg-1 requires the products of theNeurospora wc-1 andwc-2 genes, but surprisingly the requirement forwc-2 is suppressed in conditional mutants ofcot-1, a gene that encodes a cAMP-dependent protein kinase. These data provide insight into a complex regulatory web, involving at least circadian clock control, light control, metabolic control, and very probably developmental regulation, that governs the expression ofccg-1.     

AFM imaging of surface adsorbed polymeric 3-alkylpyridinium salts from the marine sponge Reniera sarai

Bioactive 3-alkylpyridinium polymers (poly-APS) have recently been isolated from the marine sponge Reniera sarai. Previous results have shown that these molecules in aqueous solutions form supramolecular aggregates with an average hydrodynamic radius of 23±2 nm. To obtain additional evidences about the shape and the dimensions of poly-APS aggregates, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) operating in tapping mode. The images clearly showed adsorbed aggregates with a lateral dimension of ≈40 nm and a thickness of the order of ≈1 nm. The distribution of volumes of the adsorbed aggregates is very similar to the distribution of hydrodynamic radii as obtained from the dynamic light scattering experiments. The volume distribution of these aggregates shows a maximum at 1750 nm³, which corresponds to a sphere with a radius of 7.5 nm.     

华重楼离体胚培养及植株再生初探

为探明华重楼离体胚培养及植株再生的基本体系,该文以华重楼离体幼胚为试验材料,以MS培养基为基本培养基,研究不同光照、不同浓度梯度组合的植物生长调节剂对华重楼离体幼胚萌发、成苗的影响。结果表明:培养到60 d时,暗培养条件下华重楼离体幼胚的生长率和萌发率分别比光培养条件下高45.25%、19.17%,故暗培养比光培养更有利于华重楼离体幼胚生长发育。当GA₃浓度相同时,离体幼胚萌发所需时间随IAA浓度增加而延长。不同浓度的GA₃都可促进离体幼胚萌发,促进作用由强到弱依次为5 mg·L^-1 GA₃>1 mg·L^-1 GA₃> 10 mg·L^-1 GA₃。在黑暗条件下,优选得到最适华重楼离体幼胚生长发育配方为1/2 MS+30 g·L^-1 蔗糖+7 g·L^-1琼脂+0.5 g·L^-1 活性炭+5 mg·L^-1GA₃+1 mg·L^-1 IAA。此配方可诱导华重楼离体幼胚在2个月左右萌发,萌发率达50%需80 d左右。在华重楼成熟胚出苗培养时发现,高浓度的植物生长调节剂会抑制华重楼成熟胚生长发育,高浓度GA₃甚至会导致华重楼成熟胚死亡。优选得到最适华重楼成熟胚出苗配方为MS+30 g·L^-1 蔗糖+6.2 mg·L^-1 硼酸+7 g·L^-1 琼脂+0.7 g·L^-1 活性炭+0.5 mg·L^-1 2,4-D+1.5 mg·L^-1 IAA + 1.5 mg·L^-1 ZT+5mg·L^-1 GA₃,诱导成熟胚出苗需43 d左右,75 d左右可形成真叶。     

香樟叶肉含晶细胞季节变化研究

为探讨香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)叶肉含晶细胞超微结构的季节变化,阐明香樟叶肉中草酸钙晶体在春夏秋冬的变化规律。该研究以多年生香樟(C. camphora)叶片为材料,分别于春夏秋冬四个季节露地取样,制作超薄切片,用透射电子显微镜(TEM)观察叶肉含晶细胞超微结构的变化。结果表明:春季时香樟叶肉中只有少数细胞有草酸钙晶体,数量较少,晶体结构多为柱状晶、方晶; 夏季时香樟叶肉细胞中随机分布于液泡的草酸钙晶体明显比春季的数量多、体积大、形态丰富,晶体多为柱状晶、方晶、针晶、簇晶; 秋季时香樟叶肉细胞草酸钙晶体和夏季的类似,数量较多,形态多样,以方晶和柱状晶针晶为主,伴有晶簇; 冬季时香樟叶肉含晶细胞晶体形态为柱状晶、方晶、针晶,数量比夏季和秋季的数量略有减少。该研究结果表明在一年四季中香樟叶肉细胞液泡中均有草酸钙晶体结构存在。     

下延叉蕨和芽胞叉蕨配子体发育的研究

利用光学显微镜详细观察了叉蕨属(Tectaria)下延叉蕨(Tectaria decurrens)和芽胞叉蕨(T.fauriei)的配子体发育过程,记录了配子体各发育阶段的特征。结果表明:(1)下延叉蕨和芽胞叉蕨的孢子均为单裂缝,具周壁,由周壁形成纹饰,孢子极面观椭圆形,赤道面观豆形或肾形。(2)孢子萌发方式为向心型。(3)原叶体发育方式为三叉蕨型。(4)成熟原叶体心脏形,两翼向斜上方扩展。(5)均具单细胞和多细胞毛状体,在丝状体或片状体阶段出现。研究认为,从配子体发育角度看,叉蕨属是较进化的陆生真蕨类;毛状体的类型、位置和出现时间等特征在叉蕨属种间存在差异,可作为该属种间分类的特征。     

Quantitative analysis of a stand of Pinus densiflora undergoing succession to Quercus mongolica ssp. crispula : II. Growth and population dynamics of Q. mongolica ssp. crispula under the P. densiflora canopy

We report here the results of an 8-year study of the growth and population dynamics of Quercus mongolica ssp. crispula in a Pinus densiflora stand in a state of succession. In 1998, there were 169 Q. mongolica ssp. crispula individuals in a 400-m² plot under the P. densiflora canopy. This number remained nearly constant between 1998 and 2005. Mean recruitment of new individuals was 11 year⁻¹, while mean mortality was 12 year⁻¹. Of the 35 individuals ≥60 cm in height existing in 1998, 30 were still surviving in 2005. We were able to represent the height growth of Q. mongolica ssp. crispula individuals as H=30 [1+21.96 exp(−0.0839t)]⁻¹, with t = years since 1998 and H = height in meters. Using this equation we predict that by 2015 the mean height of Q. mongolica ssp. crispula trees in the stand will exceed those of understory trees, such as Rhus trichocarpa and Prunus maximowiczii. Once above the understory stratum, the Q. mongolica ssp. crispula trees can be expected to grow more rapidly due to the better light conditions, thereby rapidly reaching the canopy stratum of the P. densiflora stand.     

拟南芥GH3.9基因的过表达及其表型分析

为研究GH3.9基因在植物生长发育过程中的作用,利用RT-PCR成功克隆到GH3.9基因,该基因全长为1 750bp。通过构建pEGAD-GH3.9过表达载体转化拟南芥,获得过表达GH3.9基因纯系转基因株系GH3.9ox-3和GH3.9ox-7。对拟南芥野生型(WT)和转基因株系(GH3.9ox-3和GH3.9ox-7)幼苗用不同光强和光质进行处理,结果显示:在蓝光、红光、远红光等不同光照强度下培养,过表达株系幼苗下胚轴的生长均明显受到抑制,且较野生型明显;采用不同光周期处理拟南芥幼苗,过表达幼苗下胚轴的伸长明显低于野生型;对成年植株表型进行观察,发现过表达株系植株矮小、雄蕊变短、果荚短小。研究表明:GH3.9基因参与了拟南芥生长发育调控,过表达GH3.9基因对拟南芥生长有抑制作用。     

Comparative studies on photosynthesis and phosphate metabolism of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii with Microcystis aeruginosa and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae

The physiological differences for three bloom-forming cyanobacteria (Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae) were investigated. In comparison with M. aeruginosa and A. flos-aquae, C. raciborskii exhibited a significantly higher concentration of carotenoids, higher values in maximum photosynthesis rate (P_m), apparent photosynthetic efficieny (a), and maximum electron transport rate (ETR_max) during the growth period. In addition, higher extracellular alkaline phosphatase activities and lower light compensation point (I_c) were also detected in C. raciborskii (p < 0.05, ANOVA). Therefore, it is suggested that the higher photosynthetic activities, more effective uptake and utilization to phosphate, and low light requirements might play important roles in the occurrence and invasive behavior of C. raciborskii.     

Growth responses of the mixotrophic dinoflagellates, Cryptoperidiniopsis sp. and Pfiesteria piscicida, to light under prey-saturated conditions

Recent research emphasis on the ecology of Pfiesteria spp. (Dinophyceae) has led to recognition of several morphologically similar heterotrophic dinoflagellates that often co-occur with Pfiesteria spp. in estuaries along the United States Atlantic coast. These include cryptoperidiniopsoid dinoflagellates, which resemble Pfiesteria spp. in having complex life cycles that include zoospores capable of kleptoplastidy. To examine and compare the role of kleptoplastidy in Cryptoperidiniopsis sp. and Pfiesteria piscicida, we tested the effects of irradiance on growth under prey-saturated (Storeatula major, Cryptophyceae) conditions. Growth of Cryptoperidiniopsis was strongly influenced by light intensity while no major effects were observed in P. piscicida. In Cryptoperidiniopsis, highest cell numbers and specific growth rates, but lowest specific cryptophyte consumption rates, were found at the highest light intensity tested (100 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹). A growth model was developed and used to estimate that the average half-life of chloroplasts ingested by Cryptoperidiniopsis decreased 3.4-fold from 12.6 h at high light to 3.7 h in the dark. These results show that light strongly enhances specific growth rate and growth efficiency of Cryptoperidiniopsis feeding on cryptophytes, and suggest that retained kleptochloroplasts may play a quantitatively significant role in carbon and energy metabolism of this organism. Differences in the effects of light between Cryptoperidiniopsis and P. piscicida may reflect different nutritional strategies, and allow these closely related dinoflagellates to occupy different niches and co-exist.     

山茶CjMYB1基因的克隆及表达分析

该研究通过序列比对分析,以野生红山茶和不同花色品种山茶为材料,采用PCR方法克隆CjMYB1基因,并通过生物信息学和表达分析对其进行初步研究,为深入研究山茶CjMYB1基因在花色形成和花发育过程的调控机理奠定理论基础。结果表明：(1)成功克隆获得山茶CjMYB1基因(GenBank登录号为OL347930),其开放阅读框长为879 bp,编码292个氨基酸,相对分子质量为33.17 kD;CjMYB1基因属于R2R3-MYB转录因子,且与拟南芥MYB基因家族的第7亚组处于同一分支。(2)荧光定量PCR分析发现,山茶CjMYB1基因在野生红山茶花芽中表达量最高,在萼片、花瓣、雄蕊和心皮中都有较高的表达量,推测其在山茶花器官发育中发挥着重要作用;在红色山茶品种中表达量较高,而在粉色、淡黄色、白色山茶品种中表达量较低,说明CjMYB1基因可能在红色山茶品种的花色苷合成途径中起到了关键作用。(3)亚细胞定位实验表明,CjMYB1蛋白定位在细胞核。     

异角毛藻和平滑角毛藻的分类学修订

为了澄清异角毛藻和平滑角毛藻的分类学疑问,在广东南澳岛海域建立了单克隆培养株系,利用光学显微镜和电子显微镜技术,开展了基于生活史的连续形态学观察,发现粗大角毛的延伸方向易变,是不稳定特征,不宜继续赋予分类学价值。对核糖体大亚基编码基因的D1～D3区序列进行扩增和分析,结果异角毛藻和平滑角毛藻的目标基因序列基本一致,仅有1个平滑角毛藻株系存在2个差异碱基。因此,两者具有一致的系统学位置,属于同一物种,平滑角毛藻应该是异角毛藻的同种异名。     

CYP72B1基因和AUR3基因响应光、生长素和油菜素内酯的转录调控机制研究

为研究光、生长素和油菜素内酯在基因层次上的互作机制,开发了转录调控元件识别工具OCMMat,其中,在对共表达基因信息和直系同源基因信息进行整合时,利用了转录调控元件在直系同源基因启动子中的富集性.利用该方法发现,CYP7281基因和AUR3基因启动子含有3个相同的调控模序GAGACA、AAGAAAAA、ATCATG,它们分别承担了AuxRE元件、GT元件和GT辅助元件的功能.其中,ATCATG模序是目前尚未报道过的调控元件,与AAGAAAAA模序的距离相对恒定.基于调控元件识别结果,构建了CYP7281基因和AUR3基因响应光、生长素和油菜素内酯的转录调控模型,模型显示:光信号和生长素、油菜素内酯信号在CYP72B1基因和AUR3基因的转录调控元件上相互交叠,而生长素和油菜素内酯信号则在转录因子ARF水平上相交.     

小立碗藓PpAGO7基因启动子分离及其启动活性分析

AGO7蛋白在多种植物中被发现并预测在叶片生长发育过程中起作用,但是在高等植物中最古老且唯一没有维管束的苔藓植物中却未有报道。该文通过BLAST比对水稻OsAGO7基因编码的氨基酸序列得到小立碗藓AGO7蛋白编码基因PpAGO7,扩增PpAGO7基因起始密码子上游的启动子序列,利用在线软件PlantCARE和PLACE分析该启动子的结构特征;并构建启动子分析载体pPpAGO7-GUS,转化拟南芥,通过转基因拟南芥GUS染色结果分析推测PpAGO7启动子的启动特性。结果显示:(1)PpAGO7基因启动子序列中含有大量的光反应有关的顺式作用元件以及数个分生组织相关和防御与胁迫相关作用元件。(2)T2代转基因拟南芥的GUS染色结果表明,PpAGO7基因启动子会启动GUS在拟南芥的不同部位和不同生长时期表达,而且在根尖、叶片顶端、雄蕊的花药、雌蕊的柱头和种子等部位的染色较其他部位更深。(3)生长在光照强度1 000lx和4 000lx下转基因拟南芥的GUS酶活性比光照强度7 000lx和10 000lx下的低。研究表明所克隆的PpAGO7基因启动子具有组成性启动活性,且在生长旺盛的部位启动活性较强,此外其启动活性还受到光照因素的影响,为进一步研究小立碗藓的PpAGO7基因功能提供了重要依据。     

High resolution crystal structure of Rubrivivax gelatinosus cytochrome c′

The structure of the cytochrome c′ from the purple non-sulfur phototrophic bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus was determined using two crystals grown independently at pH 6.3 and pH 8. The resolution attained for the two structures (1.29 Å and 1.50 Å for the crystals at high and low pH, respectively) is the highest to date for this class of proteins. The two structures were compared in detail in an attempt to investigate the influence of pH on the geometry of the haem and of the coordination environment of the Fe(III) ion. However, while the results suggest some small propensity for the movement of the metal atom out of the plane of the haem ring upon pH increase, the accuracy of the measurements at these two pH below the pK of the axial histidine is not sufficient to provide hard evidence of a shift in the iron position and associated changes.     

Using reverse micelles as microreactor for hydrogen production by coupled systems of Nostoc / R. palustris and Anabaena / R. palustris

Uptake hydrogenase negative mutants of bloom forming cyanobacteria (Nostoc and Anabaena) and the fermentative bacteria Rhodopseudomonas palustris P₄ were used together for producing hydrogen within the reverse micelles fabricated by N-ethyl hexyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) in isooctane and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) in benzene. The rate of H₂ production in AOT/isooctane reverse micellar system was found to be more promising in comparison to the CTAB/Benzene reverse micellar entrapment. After mutagenesis in 2.0% (v/v) ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) mutants of Nostoc and Anabaena were selected on BG-11 plates (containing 2% agar) and then used for analysis of produced hydrogen. In comparison to the unmutated Nostoc with R. palustris (within AOT/isooctane) the coupled system of mutated Nostoc and R. palustris produced H₂ by 3.9-fold higher rate, which is 8.6 mmol H₂/h/mg protein. Whereas, mutated Anabaena coupled with R. palustris produced 4.8 times higher hydrogen production within (AOT)/isooctane reverse micelles in comparison to the unmutated Anabaena with R. palustris. Effect of nitrogen to carbon ratio (N/C) on hydrogen production was studied and Anabaena/R. palustris and Nostoc/R. palustris systems were, respectively, found to generate 11.2 and 9.8 mmol H₂/h/mg protein continuously for 3 days. Effects of temperature and light intensity were also investigated and we found that 32°C temperature and 1,000 Lux light intensity are the optimum values in these systems. Addition of sodium dithionite also resulted in further enhancement of the rate and duration of hydrogen production in both (mutated Nostoc/R. palustris and mutated Anabaena/R.␣palustris) systems.     

The FUSCA genes of Arabidopsis: negative regulators of light responses

More than 200 fusca mutants of Arabidopsis have been isolated and characterised, defining 14 complementation groups. Mutations in at least nine FUSCA genes cause light-dependent phenotypic changes in the absence of light: high levels of anthocyanin accumulation in both the embryo and the seedling, inhibition of hypocotyl elongation, apical hook opening, and unfolding of cotyledons. In double mutants, the fusca phenotype is epistatic to the hy phytochromedeficiency phenotype, indicating that the FUSCA genes act downstream of phytochrome. By contrast, the accumulation of anthocyanin is suppressed by mutations in TT and TTG genes, which affect the biosynthesis of anthocyanin, placing the FUSCA genes upstream of those genes. Regardless of the presence or absence of anthocyanin, fusca mutations limit cell expansion and cause seedling lethality. In somatic sectors, mutant fus1 cells are viable; expressing tissue-specific phenotypes: reduced cell expansion and accumulation of anthocyanin in subepidermal tissue, formation of ectopic trichomes but no reduced cell expansion in epidermal tissue. Our results suggest a model of FUSCA gene action in light-induced signal transduction.     

麻栎和闽楠幼苗叶功能性状及生物量对光照和施肥的响应

光照和养分条件是影响植物生长的重要环境因子,不同生活型植物对环境异质性的响应机制不同。以落叶阔叶树种麻栎和常绿阔叶树种闽楠幼苗为研究对象,设置2个光照梯度（全光照和45%全光照）和4个施肥梯度（不施肥、氮磷供应比为5、15和45）共8种处理,研究光照和施肥及其交互作用对麻栎和闽楠生物量和叶形态、生理及化学性状的影响,并探讨了叶功能性状和生物量的关系。结果表明：（1）光照、施肥及其交互作用对光合气体交换参数（除水分利用效率外）、叶绿素荧光参数、叶形态指标（除比叶面积外）、单位质量叶氮含量和根冠比影响显著（P<0.05）。此外,光照和施肥对地上生物量和总生物量影响显著（P<0.05）。（2）全光照显著增加了麻栎和闽楠单株总叶面积和地上、地下生物量及总生物量（P<0.05）,而遮荫降低了非光化学猝灭系数、光合氮利用率和根冠比,增加了单位质量叶氮含量。（3）在全光照处理中,施肥显著增加了麻栎和闽楠水分利用效率（P<0.05）;在遮荫处理中,氮磷供应比45显著增加了麻栎和闽楠净光合速率和水分利用效率（P<0.05）。（4）麻栎和闽楠在全光照中倾向于资源获取策略,在遮荫中偏向于资源保守策略。在光照和施肥处理中,麻栎和闽楠单株总叶面积与地上生物量均显著正相关（P<0.05）。总之,单株总叶面积是预测麻栎和闽楠幼苗地上生物量变化的稳定指标,施肥有助于增加低光环境下麻栎和闽楠幼苗的生态适应能力。