黑曲霉糖化酶在酿酒酵母中的表达和分泌

从黑曲霉糖化酶高产株T2l合成的糖化酶cDNA,经5’端和3’端改造后克隆到酵母质粒YFDl8上,转化酿酒酵母。转化子的淀粉培养基平板检测,培养滤液蛋白电泳和糖化酶活力分析都表明,含有糖化酶基因表达质粒的酵母转化子能有效地分泌有功能的糖化酶到细胞外。实验证明酵母a园子启动子和分泌信号序列能促使黑曲霉糖化酶cDNA在酵母中表达和分泌．实验还表明．黑曲霉糖化酶原的翻译后加工序列很可能亦能被酵母识别,加工生成有功能的成熟的糖化酶。以上成功为构建有实用意义的淀粉水解酵母工程菌迈出了重要的一步。     

携多拷贝glaA的重组黑曲霉过量合成糖化酶的研究

以工业生产菌株黑曲霉CICIMF0410基因组DNA为模板,扩增出糖化酶glaA基因,测序并进行表达研究。GlaA基因的核苷酸序列长为2167bp,包含4个内含子。氨基酸序列比对表明此黑曲霉糖化酶与其他曲霉属来源的糖化酶有很高的同源性。将glaA基因克隆到pBC-Hygro载体中,构建重组质粒pBC-Hygro-glaA并转化A.nigerF0410。携多拷贝glaA的转化子用150μg/mL潮霉素抗性筛选并通过荧光实时定量PCR鉴定。结果表明,在染色体整合2~3倍糖化酶基因对糖化酶的过量合成是适宜的,有助于提高糖化酶活力。对转化子进行摇瓶发酵研究,发酵终止时转化子GB0506的糖化酶活力比出发菌株F0410提高了17.5%。因此,增加黑曲霉染色体糖化酶基因的拷贝数可以显著提高糖化酶活力。     

疏水吸附法稳定糖化酶的研究

 本文提出了一种新的稳定糖化酶的方法。用带有疏水基团的亲水性多糖,可以方便有效地稳定糖化酶,明显提高了糖化酶的储存稳定性。实验结果表明,在含有芳香基右旋糖酐,钙离子,甘油的缓冲溶液中,糖化酶于室温放置5个月,酶活力没有损失,放置7个月,活力只损失15.7％。     

我国商品糖化酶酶制剂中分解生淀粉糖化酶活力的比较

共收集国内有代表性酶制剂厂生产的糖化酶商品样２１份,测定其分解生淀粉糖化酶活力结果表明,万单位糖化酶含分解生淀粉糖化酶活力最高样品为１０８３８单位,最低为１０３９单位,平均为５４５０单位。取分解生淀粉糖化酶活力高、中、低的样品,进行了生淀粉吸附分离,并经凝胶电泳鉴定,其吸附的酶与测定的酶活力高低相符。     

蓝光诱导促进黑曲霉产糖化酶的研究

考察了蓝光对黑曲霉产糖化酶的影响并采用扫描电镜观察蓝光下黑曲霉形态发育过程,结果表明,与黑暗对照组相比,蓝光处理使菌丝粗壮,孢囊增大,分生孢子发育提前,黑曲霉糖化酶活力增加,孢子发育和产糖化酶的进程有一定的对应性。黑曲霉在黑暗下生长至36h时,经蓝光诱导糖化酶产量提高更为明显,提示了黑曲霉存在一个对蓝光反应产生最适光感应的发育阶段,对于光调节黑曲霉产糖化酶来说,蓝光诱导的光强由弱到强,比持续蓝光培养或采用较高光强诱导效果更好,表明黑曲霉产糖化酶存在一种光适应机制,能够感应和适应光强度变化,调节其自身代谢。从抑制性扣除杂交实验和蓝光光强变化对差异基因表达的分析来看,糖化酶基因以及呼吸链中部分氧化还原酶基因在蓝光诱导下表达皆有增强,蓝光信号转导影响了核基因编码的线粒体呼吸链相关酶基因表达水平,交替氧化酶可能参与了蓝光信号途径,影响了黑曲霉产糖化酶和孢子发育。研究结果可为在现有水平上应用蓝光调节提高糖化酶产量找到新的技术突破口和提供新思路。     

黑曲霉糖化酶高产株糖化酶cDNA的合成、克隆和序列分析

从黑曲霉糖化酶高产株T21分离总Poly(A)⁺RNA,经反转录合成cDNA,建立cDNA库。以糖化酶基因片段为探针从cDNA库进行筛选,阳性率达1．6％。由限制酶酶切图谱确定30％的阳性克隆携带全长的糖化酶cDNA。序列分析结果表明,菌株T21虽经多次诱变获得,但糖化酶基因编码区序列与文献报道的黑曲霉糖化酶基因编码区序列一致。从菌株T2l构建的cDNA库中含糖化酶cDNA插入片段的克隆的高比率充分证明,菌株T21中稳态糖化酶mRNA含量很高,显然这是突变株T21糖化酶高产的重要原因之一。     

嗜热糖化酶基因在重组黑曲霉工程菌中的表达及酶学性质初步研究

为了提高糖化酶的耐热性能,降低淀粉糖化发酵工艺的生产成本,构建了同源整合载体pEasy-glaAdir以及pEasyssg,将黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger)的糖化酶基因(glaA)灭活,并将硫磺矿硫化叶菌(Sulfolobus solfataricus)的嗜热糖化酶基因(ssg)插入到黑曲霉基因组中,筛选得到表达嗜热糖化酶的重组黑曲霉工程菌(A.nigerWW1)。重组菌的发酵结果显示,嗜热糖化酶在黑曲霉中得到了分泌表达,发酵液酶活达到3 030 U/mL。重组嗜热糖化酶的最适反应温度为90℃,最适pH为6.0,该酶具有较高的热稳定性,在80℃时的半衰期在60 min以上,具有良好的工业应用前景。     

离子型多孔聚苯乙烯固定化糖化酶

 用离子型多孔聚苯乙烯固定化了糖化酶。研究了制孔剂比例对载体孔径的影响。用麦芽糖做底物,三乙醇胺基聚苯乙烯载体使固定化糖化酶的最适pH向左移动约2个pH单位;磺酸基苯胺基聚苯乙烯载体使固定化糖化酶最适pH向右移动2个单位。固定化酶最适pH的移动值随缓冲液浓度的增加而减少。用可溶性淀粉为底物时固定化糖化酶的pH—活力曲线变宽。用dextrin作底物,天然糖化酶的Km为3.47×10~(-3)mol/L,固定化糖化酶的素质K_m为4.17×10~(-3)mol/L,表现K_m(app)为1.11×10~(-2)mol/L。延长重氮化反应时间,得到2000ug~(-1)干胶的高活力固定化糖化酶。     

携多拷贝glaA的重组黑曲霉过量合成糖化酶的研究

以工业生产菌株黑曲霉CICIM F0410基因组DNA为模板,扩增出糖化酶glaA基因,测序并进行表达研究。GlaA基因的核苷酸序列长为2167 bp,包含4个内含子。氨基酸序列比对表明此黑曲霉糖化酶与其他曲霉属来源的糖化酶有很高的同源性。将glaA基因克隆到pBC-Hygro载体中,构建重组质粒pBC-Hygro-glaA并转化A. nigerF0410。携多拷贝glaA的转化子用150μg/mL潮霉素抗性筛选并通过荧光实时定量PCR鉴定。结果表明,在染色体整合2～3倍糖化酶基因对糖化酶的过量合成是适宜的,有助于提高糖化酶活力。对转化子进行摇瓶发酵研究,发酵终止时转化子GB0506的糖化酶活力比出发菌株F0410提高了17.5%。因此,增加黑曲霉染色体糖化酶基因的拷贝数可以显著提高糖化酶活力。     

黑曲霉糖化酶基因表达调控的研究 Ⅰ.高产及低产菌株糖化酶表达的总体分析和比较

对黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger)高产菌株T21和原始菌株3.795糖化酶的基因表达从菌体生长、酶形成动力学、glaA基因拷贝数、糖化酶mRNA含量及其稳定性等多个方面进行了分析和比较。T21和3.795糖化酶的大量产生均自菌体生长的静止期开始。培养72h后,两者的菌体浓度相同,但T2l产生的糖化酶量为3.795的10～17倍,说明糖化酶产量的差异不是因生物量或酶起始合成期不同引起的,而是由于细胞内酶表达量不同引起的。Northern杂交显示T21总RNA中糖化酶mRNA含量为3.795的4.3～4.4倍.两菌株glaA基因拷贝数及糖化酶mRNA的稳定性分析结果排除了这两个因素的影响,因此T21糖化酶mRNA含量的增加主要是glaA基因转录水平提高的结果。T21与3.795之间糖化酶水平差异(10～17倍)与糖化酶mRNA水平差异(4.3～4.4倍)的不一致性,提示T21和3.795之间除转录水平外可能还存在着翻译水平上的差异(2～4倍)。此外,T21和3.795均存在着对糖化酶基因表达的碳源调控机制,根据两者在淀粉、麦芽糖和葡萄糖培养条件下所产生的mRNA比均为4:3:2,可以认为,这种调控作用发生在转录水平上,并且具有相同的调控方式。     

Échinodermes de l'Ordovicien supérieur (Ashgill) de Sardaigne et d'Algérie

Research on the influence of sea level variations on the benthic faunas have been carried out in the Upper Ordovician of Sardinia. Study of the depositional facies and sequence analysis of the upper part (Lower Ashgill) of the Portixeddu Formation led to the identification of the sedimentary environments. Cystoids and crinoids are associated to bryozoans and brachiopods in most levels. The numerical analysis of associations and megaguilds shows that crinoids and cystoids have a higher frequency in the proximal and median facies of the upper offshore. The columnal association characterized by Conspectocrinus celticus and the coronoid Mespilocystites tregarvanicus has been discovered in the upper part of the formation. This material and complementary samples from Upper Ordovician of Sardinia and Kabylia (Algeria) bring additional data on the systematic and show the wide distribution of this fauna outside of the Ibero-armorican domain. The distribution of this echinoderm association supports a palaeogeographical position of the Ibero-armorican domain and Sardinia within the north gondwanan margin during the Lower Palaeozoic.     

Labellar micromorphology of Bifrenariinae Dressler (Orchidaceae)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The two closely related subtribes Bifrenariinae Dressler and Maxillariinae Benth. are easily distinguished on morphological grounds. Recently, however, molecular techniques have supported the inclusion of Bifrenariinae within a more broadly defined Maxillariinae. The present paper describes the diverse labellar micromorphology found amongst representatives of Bifrenariinae (Bifrenaria Lindl., Rudolfiella Hoehne, Teuscheria Garay and Xylobium Lindl.) and compares it with that found in Maxillaria Pabst & Dungs and Mormolyca Fenzl (Maxillariinae). METHODS: The labella of 35 specimens representing 22 species of Bifrenariinae were examined by means of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and their micromorphology compared with that of Maxillaria sensu stricto and Mormolyca spp. The labellar epidermis of representatives of Bifrenaria, Xylobium and Mormolyca was tested for protein, starch and lipids in order to ascertain whether this tissue is involved in the rewarding of pollinators. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The labella of Bifrenaria spp. and Mormolyca spp. are densely pubescent but those of Xylobium, Teuscheria and Rudolfiella are generally papillose. However, whereas the trichomes of Bifrenaria and Mormolyca are unicellular, those found in the other three genera are multicellular. Hitherto, no unicellular trichomes have been described for Maxillaria, although the labella of a number of species secrete a viscid substance or bear moniliform, pseudopollen-producing hairs. Moniliform hairs and secretory material also occur in certain species of Xylobium and Teuscheria and these genera, together with Maxillaria, are thought to be pollinated by stingless bees (Meliponini). Differences in the labellar micromorphology of Bifrenaria and Mormolyca are perhaps related to Euglossine- and/ or bumble bee-mediated pollination and pseudocopulation, respectively. Although Xylobium and Teuscheria share a number of labellar features with Maxillaria sensu stricto, this does not necessarily reflect taxonomic relationships but may be indicative of convergence in response to similar pollinator pressures.     

Lipid composition of pine needle chloroplasts and apple bark tissue as affected by growth temperature and daylength changes. 1. Phospholipids

Phospholipid (PL) and fatty acid composition of chloroplasts of pine needles ( Pinus sylvestris L.) and apple bark tissue ( Malus sylvestris Mill. cv. Golden Delicious) was determined in a series of experiments in which growth temperature and daylength were changed. Trees were exposed to 0 and 20°C and to daylength conditions of 9 and 14 h. All 16 possible combinations were investigated by transfer of the trees from the original condition to each of the other conditions. There was no direct relation between cold hardiness and PL composition in apple bark and pine chloroplasts, when temperature and/or daylength were changed. PL composition seemed to be strongly determined by the sequence of the imposed sets of daylength and temperature. The effect of these environmental factors on PL composition strongly differed from that for cold hardiness. The correlation between the levels of PL (and phosphatidylcholine) and cold hardiness, as reported in the literature, was also evident in this experiment, when treatments, presenting the normal seasonal order, were compared. It seems that the yearly cycle of temperature and daylength is important in determining the PL composition of apple bark and pine chloroplasts.     

Cryogenic changes in proteases and antiprotease activities of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and cattle (Bos taurus) semen

The postthaw motility and fertility of buffalo and cattle semen is reduced when they are cryopreserved for artificial insemination. In the present study, an attempt was made to characterize the cryogenic changes in proteases and antiprotease activities (APA) of buffalo and cattle semen because these proteolysis regulators have been reported to be associated with sperm motility and fertility. Buffalo sperm demonstrated at least two major proteases of 45 and 42 kDa and three minor proteases of 95, 52, and 33 kDa. Similarly, cattle sperm demonstrated three major proteases of 62, 45, and 42 kDa and two minor proteases of 85 and 78 kDa. Buffalo seminal plasma demonstrated at least three major proteases of 78, 68, and 62 kDa and one minor protease of 98 kDa and cattle seminal plasma demonstrated one major protease of 68 kDa and two minor proteases of 78 and 75 kDa. Except for the 45 kDa protease, most of the previously mentioned proteases were found to be metalloproteinases. Compared with fresh sperm, cryopreserved buffalo and cattle sperm demonstrated a major protease band of 52/49 kDa and the activity of this protease reduced progressively with the duration of cryopreservation. On the contrary, compared with the fresh seminal plasma, cryopreserved buffalo and cattle semen extenders displayed the presence of a new protease band of 45 kDa and demonstrated that this protease activity was leaked from buffalo and cattle cryopreserved spermatozoa. Buffalo and cattle seminal plasmas displayed at least two major APA of 86 and 26 kDa. Compared with buffalo, cattle seminal plasma demonstrated significantly greater APA. Thus, the present study demonstrated the presence of an array of proteases and APA in buffalo and cattle semen and the activities of which changed during cryopreservation. The leakage of the specific protease activity and changes in the proteases and APA might be attributed to reduced motility and fertility of cryopreserved semen in these species.     

How Romanowsky stains work and why they remain valuable — including a proposed universal Romanowsky staining mechanism and a rational troubleshooting scheme

Abstract

An introduction to the nomenclature and concept of “Romanowsky stains” is followed by a brief account of the dyes involved and especially the crucial role of azure B and of the impurity of most commercial dye lots. Technical features of standardized and traditional Romanowsky stains are outlined, e.g., number and ratio of the acidic and basic dyes used, solvent effects, staining times, and fixation effects. The peculiar advantages of Romanowsky staining are noted, namely, the polychromasia achieved in a technically simple manner with the potential for stain intensification of “the color purple.” Accounts are provided of a variety of physicochemically relevant topics, namely, acidic and basic dyeing, peculiarities of acidic and basic dye mixtures, consequences of differential staining rates of different cell and tissue components and of different dyes, the chemical significance of “the color purple,” the substrate selectivity for purple color formation and its intensification in situ due to a template effect, effects of resin embedding and prior fixation. Based on these physicochemical phenomena, mechanisms for the various Romanowsky staining applications are outlined including for blood, marrow and cytological smears; G-bands of chromosomes; microorganisms and other single-cell entities; and paraffin and resin tissue sections. The common factors involved in these specific mechanisms are pulled together to generate a “universal” generic mechanism for these stains. Certain generic problems of Romanowsky stains are discussed including the instability of solutions of acidic dye–basic dye mixtures, the inherent heterogeneity of polychrome methylene blue, and the resulting problems of standardization. Finally, a rational trouble-shooting scheme is appended.     

Restoration and management of riparian ecosystems: a catchment perspective

1. We propose that strategies for the management of riparian ecosystems should incorporate concepts of landscape ecology and contemporary principles of restoration and conservation. A detailed understanding of the temporal and spatial dynamics of the catchment landscape (e.g. changes in the connectivity and functions of channel, riparian and terrestrial components) is critical. 2. This perspective is based upon previous definitions of riparian ecosystems, consideration of functional attributes at different spatial scales and retrospective analyses of anthropogenic influences on river catchments. 3. Restoration strategies must derive from a concise definition of the processes to be restored and conserved, recognition of social values and commitments, quantification of ecological circumstances and the quality of background information and determination of alternatives. 4. The basic components of an effective restoration project include: clear objectives (ecological and physical), baseline data and historical information (e.g. the hydrogeomorphic setting and the disturbance regime), a project design that recognizes functional attributes of biotic refugia, a comparison of plans and outcomes with reference ecosystems; a commitment to long-term planning, implementation and monitoring and, finally, a willingness to learn from both successes and failures. 5. Particularly important is a thorough understanding of past natural disturbances and human-induced changes on riparian functions and attributes, obtained by a historical reconstruction of the catchment.     

COEVOLUTION DRIVES TEMPORAL CHANGES IN FITNESS AND DIVERSITY ACROSS ENVIRONMENTS IN A BACTERIA–BACTERIOPHAGE INTERACTION

Coevolutionary interactions are thought to play a crucial role in diversification of hosts and parasitoids. Furthermore, resource availability has been shown to be a fundamental driver of species diversity. Yet, we still do not have a clear understanding of how resource availability mediates the diversity generated by coevolution between hosts and parasitoids over time. We used experiments with bacteria and bacteriophage to test how resources affect variation in the competitive ability of resistant hosts and temporal patterns of diversity in the host and parasitoid as a result of antagonistic coevolution. Bacteria and bacteriophage coevolved for over 150 bacterial generations under high and low-resource conditions. We measured relative competitive ability of the resistant hosts and phenotypic diversity of hosts and parasitoids after the initial invasion of resistant mutants and again at the end of the experiment. Variation in relative competitive ability of the hosts was both time- and environment-dependent. The diversity of resistant hosts, and the abundance of host-range mutants attacking these phenotypes, differed among environments and changed over time, but the direction of these changes differed between the host and parasitoid. Our results demonstrate that patterns of fitness and diversity resulting from coevolutionary interactions can be highly dynamic.     

Recent advances and prospects in Prunus virology

The stone fruit genus Prunus, within the family Rosaceae, comprises more than 230 species, some of which have great importance or value as ornamental or fruit crops. Prunus are affected by numerous viruses and viroids linked to the vegetative propagation practices in many of the cultivated species. To date, 44 viruses and three viroids have been described in the 9 main cultivated Prunus species. Seven of these viruses and one viroid have been identified in Prunus hosts within the last 5 years. This work addresses recent advances and prospects in the study of viruses and viroids affecting Prunus species, mostly concerning the detection and characterisation of the agents involved, pathogenesis analysis and the search for new control tools. New sequencing technologies are quickly reshaping the way we can identify and characterise new plant viruses and isolates. Specific efforts aimed at virus identification or data mining of high‐throughput sequencing data generated for plant genomics‐oriented purposes can efficiently reveal the presence of known or novel viruses. These technologies have also been used to gain a deeper knowledge of the pathogenesis mechanisms at the gene and miRNA expression level that underlie the interactions between Prunus spp. and their main viruses and viroids. New biotechnological control tools include the transfer of resistance by grafting, the use of new sources of resistance and the development of gene silencing strategies using genetic transformation. In addition, the application of next generation sequencing and genome editing techniques will contribute to improving our knowledge of virus–host interactions and the mechanisms of resistance. This should be of great interest in the search to obtain new Prunus cultivars capable of dealing both with known viruses and viroids and with those that are yet to be discovered in the uncertain scenario of climate change.     

Manipulation of xylem transport affects Zn and Mn transport into developing wheat grains of cultured ears

Zinc and manganese loading into developing wheat grain is little understood at present. The objective of this work was to investigate factors that may affect the rate of transport of Zn and Mn into developing wheat grain of cultured ears. Ears 18-22 days post-anthesis were cultured in solutions containing labelled Zn and Mn. The effect of additions of Cu, Fe, citrate, malate and EDTA to the culture solution was observed. The effect of humidity and awn removal as well as the sucrose status of the ears on Zn and Mn transport was also investigated. The effect of high concentration of Zn and Mn on [¹⁴C]-sucrose transport was determined. High humidity almost completely blocked transport of Zn and Mn into the grain. Awn removal reduced the transport of Zn and Mn to the lemma but not the grain. When the ears were depleted of sucrose (by maintaining them in the dark prior to labelling) transport of Zn and Mn to the grain was reduced compared to ears cultured with sucrose. The presence of Cu reduced the loading of Zn into the grain. There was little effect of Cu on Mn transport or Fe on either Zn or Mn transport. High concentrations of Zn and Mn in the culture solution did not affect [¹⁴C]-sucrose loading into the grain but loading of Zn and Mn was limited at high concentrations suggesting membrane saturation. This study demonstrates that sucrose status and humidity clearly influence the transport of Zn and Mn into the grain, and that other ions may influence Zn and Mn transport.