A novel ribotoxin with ribonuclease activity that specifically cleaves a single phosphodiester bond in rat 28S ribosomal RNA and inactivates ribosome

A unique ribonuclease named Biota orientalis ribonuclease (Biota orientalis RNase) is purified to homogeneity from mature seeds of oriental arborvitae (Biota orientalis). The molecular mass of Biota orientalis RNase is about 13 kDa. When the concentration of Mg(2+) is 25 mM in the incubation buffer, the ribonuclease specifically cleaves the phosphodiester bond between C4453 and A4454 in region K (a region in domain VII) of 28S RNA in rat ribosome, resulting in inactivation of ribosome. Thus, it is a ribotoxin similar to alpha-sarcin. The region around C4453-A4454 in rat 28S rRNA is named "Biota orientalis RNase region." Rat ribosome treated by Biota orientalis RNase produces a small RNA fragment (S-fragment) that contains 333 nucleotides from the 3'-terminus of rat 28S rRNA. The distance between the cleavage-sites of alpha-sarcin (G4325) and Biota orientalis RNase (C4453) is 128 nucleotides. Under restricted conditions (25 mM Mg(2+)), the substrate specificity of Biota orientalis RNase is extremely high: it acts only on the "Biota orientalis RNase region" of the largest RNA in ribosomes from certain eukaryotes. The ribosome specifically damaged by Biota orientalis RNase is unable to EF-1alpha-dependently bind aminoacyl-tRNA, whereas the formation of the EF-2/GDP/ribosome complex is not affected. It is proposed that Biota orientalis RNase inactivates ribosome at least partially by interfering with the EF-1alpha-dependent binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to ribosome. Biota orientalis RNase might be a useful tool in studying the structure/function of ribosome.     

陕北黄土高原侧柏疏林草原的初步研究

侧柏疏林草原是陕北黄土高原森林草原地带东部重要群落类型之一,现仅残存于东北部的神府地区,常见者有4个类型:①茭蒿-侧柏疏林草原;②白草-侧柏疏林草原;③茭蒿+长芒草-侧柏疏林草原;④细叶柴胡+长芒草-测柏疏林草原。根据群落中乔木的更新状况分析,今后在气候不发生明显波动的情况下,侧柏疏林草原仍为该森林草原地带稳定的群落。     

古侧柏种子活力与树龄的关系研究

以陕西黄帝陵、河南嵩阳书院、山东岱庙、山西晋祠、北京中山公园、北京卧佛寺不同树龄侧柏(20～3 000年)种子为试材,测定其千粒重、发芽指数、活性氧(ROS)、丙二醛(MDA)、ROS清除酶(SOD、POD、CAT、GR、APX)活性,分析各指标与树龄的变化关系,探讨通过古侧柏种子活力判断古树衰老程度的可能性。结果表明:所选6个地点侧柏种子千粒重和树龄无相关关系;6个地点20年侧柏种子的发芽率和各ROS清除酶活性均高于其他树龄侧柏种子,古侧柏种子ROS和MDA含量并没有随树龄增加而增大;6个地点侧柏种子发芽指数、ROS(O2.-、H2O2、.OH)、MDA、各ROS清除酶活性与树龄无显著相关关系;3 000年古侧柏与20年侧柏相比,种子发芽指数和ROS清除酶活性仍较高,而ROS和MDA含量相对较低。可见,高龄古侧柏的种子生理机能没有明显衰退迹象。     

鸟类对山黄麻种子的传播及其生态作用

在云南西双版纳的勐宋和勐仑地区观察和研究了传统山黄麻种子的鸟类。在野外持网捕获摄食山黄麻果实的鸟类,称量后分别放在布袋内,让其自然排泄,然后标志释放,观察和网捕共记录到摄食山黄麻果实的鸟类36种,其中26种挂网捕获并从排泄物得到种子。用鸟类排泄物中的山黄麻种子、山黄麻树上采摘的成熟果实及人工分离山黄麻种子播种,进行萌发对比实验,实验结果表明,直接播种成熟果实,在阳光充足的空旷地、林冠下或用树叶覆盖遮光等条件下都未萌发,种子容易霉烂或被虫蚀;从山黄麻果肉中分离出来的种子具有萌发能力;而经鸟类摄食、消化后从果肉中分离的种子,具有较好的萌发活力。在不同条件下山黄麻种子萌发情况差异明显,林冠下条件对种子有抑制作用,阳光作用下种子显示出很好的萌发及成活率。鸟类排泄物种子放在林上或用树叶覆盖遮光,经过较长时间便可萌发,而人工分离种子不能萌发。鸟类摄食及消化过程对山黄麻种子的处理表现出很好的生态互惠关系,观察萌发后的山黄麻幼苗的生长情况还表明,幼苗生长也需要光照和较开阔的生境条件,鸟类取食山黄麻果实及其将种子远距离传播适宜生境,正好具有这样的生态作用。     

Efficient transformation of Amycolatopsis orientalis (Nocardia orientalis) protoplasts by Streptomyces plasmids.

Conditions for efficient transformation of Amycolatopsis orientalis (Nocardia orientalis) protoplasts by Streptomyces plasmid cloning vectors were identified. Three streptomycete plasmid origins of replication function in A. orientalis, as do the apramycin resistance gene from Escherichia coli, the thiostrepton resistance gene from Streptomyces azureus, and the tyrosinase gene from Streptomyces antibioticus. A. orientalis appears to express some restriction and modification, because highest transformation frequencies (10(6)/micrograms of DNA) were obtained when plasmid pIJ702 was modified by passage in A. orientalis.     

悬铃木方翅网蝽寄主范围的测定

在室内选择上海地区的19科27种园林植物对悬铃木方翅网蝽Corythucha ciliata(Say)进行寄主专一性测定。非选择性试验结果表明:悬铃木方翅网蝽对一球悬铃木(Platanus occidentalis)、二球悬铃木(Platanus acerifolia)、三球悬铃木(Platanus orientalis)、红叶李(Prunus cerasifera)、构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)和红花槭(Acer rubrum)6种植物有取食现象,其中若虫在前5种植物上取食量较大,而对红花槭只表现为轻微取食;成虫在前4种植物上的取食量较大,而对构树和红花槭只有少量取食。在所有植物中,悬铃木方翅网蝽只能在一球悬铃木、二球悬铃木、三球悬铃木上完成完整的发育世代。选择性试验表明:成虫嗜食一球悬铃木、二球悬铃木、三球悬铃木,部分取食红叶李,而不取食红花槭和构树。成虫产卵显著偏爱于一球悬铃木、二球悬铃木、三球悬铃木,而不在其它植物上产卵。因此,悬铃木方翅网蝽的寄主范围较为单一,只有悬铃木属植物是其寄主。     

北京地区侧柏和垂柳释放有益挥发性有机物组分日动态变化特征

以侧柏(Platycladus orientalis)和垂柳(Salix babylonica)为研究对象,采用动态顶空套袋采集法和自动热脱附-气相色谱/质谱联用技术来分析这些植物释放的挥发性有机物(VOCs)的组成和释放模式。选择不同的时间和天气条件下的样本进行采集,并记录相关信息。通过对原始数据的分析,确定有益挥发性有机物(BVOCs)的成分和相对百分含量。研究结果显示,侧柏和垂柳在不同季节释放的BVOCs成分主要包括醇类、醛类、烯烃类等其他类化合物,这些有益BVOCs在植物的生理和生态功能中扮演着重要的角色,对于深入了解植物与环境之间的相互作用具有重要意义。侧柏和垂柳释放BVOCs成分在不同季节会有所变化。其次,研究分析了侧柏和垂柳在不同季节中有益BVOCs成分的含量和变动趋势。侧柏在不同季节的释放模式呈现出明显的差异。春季的释放模式呈现出“单峰单谷”曲线,夏季的释放模式呈现出“单峰”曲线,而秋季的释放模式呈现出“双峰单谷”曲线。这表明侧柏在不同季节中的挥发物释放存在明显的季节性变化。相比之下,垂柳的释放模式在不同季节中相对稳定,呈现出一致的“单峰型”曲线。这说明垂柳的挥发物释放...     

The taxonomy of the bovine Theileria spp

The classification of the benign species of Theileria of cattle is very confusing Representatives of this group of parasites appear worldwide, and are known as T. sergenti in Japan, T. buffeli in Australia and T. orientalis elsewhere. Consequently, these parasites are frequently referred to as the T. sergenti/buffeli/orientalis group. Kozo Fujisaki, Shin-ichiro Kawazu and Tsugihiko Kamio here argue that the Australian T. buffeli and British T. orientalis belong to one and the same species, and that the Japanese T. sergenti is a separate species.     

Sugars in the gut of the sandfly Phlebotomus orientalis from Dinder National Park, Eastern Sudan

The sandfly Phlebotomus orientalis Parrot (Diptera: Psychodidae) is the vector of visceral leishmaniasis in eastern and Upper Nile regions of Sudan, where vector infection rates of over 7% have been reported. Sugars are known to be important for development of the parasite and for increasing the survival and oviposition rates of several species of sandflies. In the present study we have analysed the sugars present in the guts of individuals and groups of male and female P. orientalis and compared these with sugars from several potential local plant sources: Acacia seyal, Balanites aegyptiaca and Combretum kordofanum. The distribution of these trees in Sudan is closely correlated with that of P. orientalis. Only 20% of individually analysed female sandflies had significant amounts of sugars present suggesting that P. orientalis either digest their sugar meal quickly or do not require regular sugar meals. Interestingly, the sugars present in the males were significantly different to those found in the females, indicating that they had fed on different sugar sources. There was evidence that fruit sugars from Balanites aegyptiaca, Combretum kordofanum and aphid or coccid honeydew are utilized by male and female P. orientalis. There was evidence to indicate that female P. orientalis feeds directly on honeydew. There was no evidence to indicate that direct feeding on leaves is a typical source for the sugar meal. There was no melizitose and only a very small amount of turanose present in the male, suggesting that honeydew was not an important sugar source for males.     

C-banding karyotype and relationship of the dipodids Allactaga and Jaculus (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Egypt

The C-banding karyotype of the jerboas Allactaga tetradactyla, Jaculus jaculus jaculus, and Jaculus orientalis was described and interspecific relationships were discussed. Despite the conservation of a relatively small amount of C-heterochromatin located at the centromeric region of some chromosomes in all karyotypes, a striking loss of C-heterochromatin was clearly observed in J. orientalis. C-bands were totally absent in 33 of the 48 chromosomes of J. orientalis, compared to only 7 for J.j.jaculus and 11 for A. tetradactyla. The differences in C-banding amongst karyotypes of the three species were attributed either to transformation of heterochromatin into euchromatin or vice versa, deletion of heterochromatic segments resulting from pericentric inversions, or to variation of euchromatin content and its correlation with the chromosome size and arrangement of heterochromatin. The present findings are consistent with the main hypotheses derived from morphological, chromosomal, and biochemical data that the genera Allactaga and Jaculus have independently developed from a common ancestral form and that J. jaculus and J. orientalis are both distinct congeneric species, but revealed that the C-banding karyotypes of both J.j.jaculus and J. orientalis are distantly related to each other. Therefore, it is concluded that the karyotype of J.j.jaculus may be ancestral and that of J. orientalis may have derived from it.     

泽泻的萜类化学成分研究进展

对泽泻的萜类化学成分进行了整理,三萜类成分为其主要成分。     

水麻果多酚的提取纯化及其抗氧化、抗肿瘤活性作用

为提取分离水麻果多酚,探索水麻果多酚的抗氧化及抗肿瘤能力。本研究通过单因素试验和正交试验优化水麻果多酚超声提取工艺,使用大孔树脂纯化水麻果多酚,通过测定水麻果多酚的总还原力以及清除·OH、DPPH·、ABTS·的能力来表征其抗氧化活性,以宫颈癌Hela细胞和肺癌A549细胞为抗肿瘤研究对象,测定水麻果多酚的抗肿瘤作用。在最优超声提取工艺条件下,即乙醇浓度为60%,料液比为1∶30,超声功率200 W,超声温度为70℃,提取时间为40 min,水麻果多酚得率为3. 29%,纯化产物总酚含量为40. 47 mg/100 mg,水麻果多酚的总还原力与维生素C相当,对·OH、DPPH·、ABTS·均具有显著清除作用,可抑制Hela细胞和A549细胞的生长增殖,并导致癌细胞产生大量活性氧,出现凋亡形态特征。该提取工艺简单、高效且多酚得率高,提取物经大孔树脂纯化后总多酚含量显著提高,且具有显著的抗氧化和抗肿瘤活性。     

Karyotypic variation in two species of jerboas Jaculus jaculus and Jaculus orientalis (Rodentia, Dipodidae) from Tunisia

The karyotypes of the lesser Egyptian jerboa Jaculus jaculus and the greater Egyptian jerboa Jaculus orientalis from Tunisia are described and compared with available data particularly from Egypt. The species examined have a similar karyotype consisting of 2n = 48 chromosomes and a fundamental number of autosomes (NFa) varying from 88 to 90 in J. jaculus and from 84 to 88 in J. orientalis. The X chromosome is submetacentric in both species, while the Y is submetacentric in J. orientalis and acrocentric in J. jaculus. Most of the autosomes are meta/submetacentric but the small pairs 22 - 23 in J. jaculus and 20-23 in J. orientalis are frequently acrocentric, yielding considerable differences in the NFa within and among species. Morphological variation in these small pairs of autosomes and/or in the Y chromosome in J. orientalis may distinguish populations of the two species from Egypt and Tunisia. The differences observed either between Egypt and Tunisia or between the Tunisian Jaculus species are probably associated with chromosomal rearrangements such as pericentric inversions or heterochromatin variation. They appear of lesser magnitude than other changes (especially molecular) that have occurred during the evolution of this genus.     

Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a focus of visceral leishmaniasis in White Nile, Sudan

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been known to occur since the 1980s on the western bank of the White Nile River (Central Sudan), 150 km south of Khartoum, and has resulted in high mortality. The most recent outbreak of the disease in this area began in 2006. Entomological surveys were carried out during May 2008, June 2010 and May and July 2011 in the White Nile area. Sandflies were collected using Centers for Disease Control light traps and sticky oil traps in the village of Kadaba and the nearby woodland. Phlebotomus females were dissected for the presence of Leishmania promastigotes. A total of 17,387 sandflies, including six species of Phlebotomus and 10 species of Sergentomyia, were identified. The Phlebotomus species recorded were Phlebotomus orientalis, Phlebotomus papatasi, Phlebotomus bergeroti, Phlebotomus duboscqi, Phlebotomus rodhaini and Phlebotomus saevus. P. orientalis was collected in both habitats. The relative abundance of P. orientalis in the woodland habitat was higher than that recorded in the village habitat. In the woodland habitat, there was a notable increase in the relative abundance of P. orientalis during the surveys conducted in 2008 and 2010 compared to 2011. None of the 311 P. orientalis females dissected were infected with Leishmania promastigotes, although relatively high parous rates were recorded in both habitats. Based on the distribution of P. orientalis recorded in this study, this species is the most likely vector of VL in the endemic focus in the White Nile area. Further investigation is required to elucidate the seasonal abundance and distribution of the vector, as well as the transmission season of VL in both habitats so that appropriate control strategies for the vector can be designed.     

Physiological and Biochemical Analysis of Factors in the Female Venom Gland and Larval Salivary Secretions of the Ectoparasitoid Wasp Eupelmus orientalis

The stinging adult female and the biting newly-hatched larva of the solitary ectoparasitoid wasp Eupelmus orientalis can both cause permanent paralysis and stop the development of Callosobruchus maculatus host larvae. These two processes of host envenomation appeared to be independent and complementary in primary parasitism or in hyperparasitism of a distantly related hymenopteran host species. In contrast, the development of larvae as hyperparasites on members of their own species or genus depended completely on the prior injection of female venom. The venoms of the female and the first instar larva had similar effects on the cellular metabolism of the primary hosts. Protein synthesis was blocked in C. maculatus hosts envenomated by a female or a first instar larva of E. orientalis, but the absence of DNA breakdown indicated that these paralysed hosts were alive and quiescent. The venomous secretions injected by adult females and first instar larvae of E. orientalis had distinct electrophoretic profiles. The immunoreactive features of proteins from female venom and larval secretions were also examined. There is evidence for antigenic conservation between some venom proteins of E. orientalis and Apis mellifera. Lastly, the hyaluronidase, phospholipase and lipase activities in the female venom gland and in larval-derived secretions of E. orientalis were assayed. No lipase activity was detected. Phospholipase activity was found in both the female venom and the larval secretions of E. orientalis, whereas hyaluronidase was specific to the female venom.     

豚草卷蛾和苍耳螟对豚草的联合控制作用

豚草卷蛾Epiblema strenuana是我国引进用于控制豚草Ambrosia artemisiifolia的重要天敌昆虫,苍耳螟Ostrinia orientalis是取食苍耳和豚草的本地种。为了全面评价释放的豚草卷蛾与苍耳螟共存系统中的竞争与控制作用, 作者采用三因子二次正交旋转组合设计的方法,选用豚草的生育期（以主茎近基部直径表示）、豚草卷蛾和苍耳螟虫量为参试因子,分别以豚草的地上部生物量（鲜重）、种子量和株高作为观测目标,分析了豚草卷蛾和苍耳螟对豚草的综合控制效应。结果表明,两种天敌对寄主的生物量、种子量和株高均有明显的抑制作用。各处理组合中,具有最大控制效果的处理组合及其防效分别为：当主茎直径为1.0 cm,单株分别接入豚草卷蛾和苍耳螟63头和8头时,对生物量的控制效果达到94.3%;当主茎直径为1.0 cm,分别接入豚草卷蛾和苍耳螟17头和8头时,对株高的防效为31.7%;当接虫主茎直径为0.7 cm时,单株分别接入豚草卷蛾和苍耳螟40头和5头时,对种子量的防效达到99.3%。而当主茎直径达到2.1cm时,分别接入豚草卷蛾和苍耳螟40头和5头,两种天敌对寄主生物量、种子量和株高的防效仅分别为2.0%、6.1%和-2.4%,抑制效果最低。两种天敌的控制效果随寄主生长和补偿能力的增强而减弱。当寄主处于生长前期（主茎直径小于0.7 cm）时,两种虫量的作用效应大于植株的补偿作用;而长成的寄主植物其补偿效应则大于两种天敌的虫量作用。3种因子间的作用方式相互独立,两种天敌之间不存在明显的竞争干扰现象,属于可利用的有效天敌。综合平均效应表明,寄主的生育期（补偿能力）要大于两种虫量的影响,豚草卷蛾对寄主种子量的影响大于苍耳螟,而苍耳螟对寄主的生物量和植株高度的影响要大于豚草卷蛾。在两种天敌的应用中,为了提高防治效果建议及早在豚草的生长前期释放或扩增天敌种群数量。     

Consumption rate, functional response and preference of the predaceous mite Iphiseius degenerans to Tetranychus urticae and Eutetranychus orientalis

The functional response of females of the phytoseiid mite, Iphiseius degenerans (Berlese), to increasing densities of females of its prey, Tetranychus urticae Koch and Eutetranychus orientalis Klein, on bean leaves, were studied under laboratory conditions. Our results indicated that the predator consumed significantly more items of E. orientalis than of T. urticae at all densities treatments. Daily consumption of the predator increased with increasing prey density until a plateau was reached-maximum number of prey consumed was ca. 4 for T. urticae and ca. 12 for E. orientalis. A Type II functional response was determined by a logistic regression model. The highest estimated value a (instantaneous rate of attack) and the lowest value of T ( h ) (handling time) were found for the predator feeding on E. orientalis. Prey selection was evaluated by simultaneously presenting both prey species to the predator in various ratios and at increasing densities. I. degenerans showed a higher predation rate and higher preference for E. orientalis at all the ratios and prey densities tested. This may be due to the smaller size or the inactivity of E. orientalis and the inability of the predator to cope with the webbing of T. urticae. Our results suggest that I. degenerans can be considered a suitable biological control candidate based on its preference for E. orientalis in the Mediterranean region.     

基于侧柏蒸腾量分析Granier经验公式的测量精度

为了解Granier热扩散法测定树木蒸腾耗水量的精度,2010年5-6月采用热扩散探针测定盆栽侧柏的液流量,并以整树盆栽称重法作为对照.结果表明:热扩散法测定侧柏南、北两个方位的树干液流速率与称重法测定的蒸腾速率均具有良好的线性关系(R2 ＞0.825).侧柏南、北两个方位的树干平均日液流量分别比平均日蒸腾量低10.6％和15.1％,但未达到显著水平.尽管昼夜温差较大会造成侧柏日液流量小于日蒸腾量,但采用Granier热扩散法测定侧柏的蒸腾量在日尺度上具有较高的可靠性.     

Genetic Variability of Yersinia pestis Isolates as Predicted by PCR-Based IS100 Genotyping and Analysis of Structural Genes Encoding Glycerol-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (glpD)

A PCR-based genotyping system that detects divergence of IS100 locations within the Yersinia pestis genome was used to characterize a large collection of isolates of different biovars and geographical origins. Using sequences derived from the glycerol-negative biovar orientalis strain CO92, a set of 27 locus-specific primers was designed to amplify fragments between the end of IS100 and its neighboring gene. Geographically diverse members of the orientalis biovar formed a homogeneous group with identical genotype with the exception of strains isolated in Indochina. In contrast, strains belonging to the glycerol-positive biovar antiqua showed a variety of fingerprinting profiles. Moreover, strains of the biovar medievalis (also glycerol positive) clustered together with the antiqua isolates originated from Southeast Asia, suggesting their close phylogenetic relationships. Interestingly, a Manchurian biovar antiqua strain Nicholisk 51 displayed a genotyping pattern typical of biovar orientalis isolates. Analysis of the glycerol pathway in Y. pestis suggested that a 93-bp deletion within the glpD gene encoding aerobic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase might account for the glycerol-negative phenotype of the orientalis biovar. The glpD gene of strain Nicholisk 51 did not possess this deletion, although it contained two nucleotide substitutions characteristic of the glpD version found exclusively in biovar orientalis strains. To account for this close relationship between biovar orientalis strains and the antiqua Nicholisk 51 isolate, we postulate that the latter represents a variant of this biovar with restored ability to ferment glycerol. The fact that such a genetic lesion might be repaired as part of the natural evolutionary process suggests the existence of genetic exchange between different Yersinia strains in nature. The relevance of this observation on the emergence of epidemic Y. pestis strains is discussed.