粘类小麦细胞质雄性不育系育性基因的地区分布

以具4种细胞质、2种核类型的粘类小麦雄性不育系为测验种,对309份来自国内外不同地区普通小麦品种对应粘类小麦不育系的育性恢复和保持关系进行调查,研究粘类小麦雄性不育系育性基因的地理分布.结果表明:(1)普通小麦品种中广泛存在着粘类雄性不育系的恢复基因,所配组合中,高恢复度以上的组合占到45.24%;(2)所配组合F1小穗结实率范围在0~91.35%之间,其中0和60%~80%的分布范围较多;(3)具有恢复能力的品种在供试6个地区均有分布,但比例不同,中国南方、新疆内陆、青藏高原等春麦地区高,可育品种的分布比例均超过50%;具有育性保持作用的品种在中国黄淮海暖温带冬麦气候生态区和加拿大地区分布较多,在新疆麦区分布最少;(4)恢复度80%以上的品种在6个地区均有分布,但在各地区供试材料中的比例都不高.     

发根农杆菌介导的菠菜毛状根遗传转化体系的建立

发根农杆菌(Agrobacterium rhizogenes)侵染植物后可诱导植物产生毛状根。菠菜(Spinacia oleracea)是常见的食用蔬菜, 目前尚未见菠菜毛状根的研究报道。经筛选得到适合诱导菠菜毛状根的发根农杆菌菌株LBA9402, LBA9402侵染菠菜外植体茎后, 毛状根的诱导率最高可达16%。菠菜毛状根呈白色, 具有丰富的根毛, 能在无外源激素的固体培养基上快速增殖生长。通过诱导菠菜毛状根产生愈伤组织并进行分化, 获得了菠菜毛状根的再生植株, 再生率为8%。此外, LBA9402可将含有Ri质粒的T-DNA和携带外源GFP基因的Ti质粒T-DNA共同导入外植体中。PCR检测和荧光显微观察结果显示, rolB及GFP基因在菠菜毛状根基因组中稳定表达, 共转化频率为50%。     

Admixture mapping of an allele affecting interleukin 6 soluble receptor and interleukin 6 levels

Circulating levels of inflammatory markers can predict cardiovascular disease risk. To identify genes influencing the levels of these markers, we genotyped 1,343 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 1,184 African Americans from the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study. Using admixture mapping, we found a significant association of interleukin 6 soluble receptor (IL-6 SR) with European ancestry on chromosome 1 (LOD 4.59), in a region that includes the gene for this receptor (IL-6R). Genotyping 19 SNPs showed that the effect is largely explained by an allele at 4% frequency in West Africans and at 35% frequency in European Americans, first described as associated with IL-6 SR in a Japanese cohort. We replicate this association (P<1.0x10-12) and also demonstrate a new association with circulating levels of a different molecule, IL-6 (P<3.4x10-5). After replication in 1,674 European Americans from Health ABC, the combined result is even more significant: P<1.0x10-12 for IL-6 SR, and P<2.0x10-9 for IL-6. These results also serve as an important proof of principle, showing that admixture mapping can not only coarsely localize but can also fine map a phenotypically important variant.     

利用锌特异性探针HL~1示踪植物细胞外Zn~(2+)的分布

以拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)和谷子(Setaria italic)为研究材料,利用锌特异性探针HL1,使用荧光分光光度仪、等温滴定热量测定仪(ITC200)和倒置荧光显微镜等仪器探究了该化学探针的特性以及植物细胞外游离Zn~(2+)的分布。结果表明,当HL1与不同元素溶液混合时,只与Zn~(2+)特异性结合,在紫外光(UV)激发下,发射出波长为500 nm的蓝色荧光;生成物的平衡解离常数KD=7.02×10–4 mol·L–1,具有很好的稳定性。拟南芥叶片中的Zn~(2+)分布于细胞间隙及叶表皮毛的外周和表层,且叶表皮毛的荧光强度具有明显的浓度依赖性;谷子叶片中的Zn~(2+)分布在细胞间隙以及维管组织。拟南芥根中的Zn~(2+)分布于根的伸长区,且荧光强度也明显地表现出与浓度相关。由此推断,根伸长区与Zn~(2+)运输有关,叶的维管组织是植物细胞外运输Zn~(2+)的主要途径,细胞间隙和叶表皮毛是植物储存Zn~(2+)的主要区域。HL1适用于检测细胞外Zn~(2+)的分布。     

DISCOVERY OF TWO MID-TERTIARY MAMMALIAN FAUNAS FROM HAIYUAN, NINGXIA, CHINA

Inl988-199otheRegionalGeologicalSurveyTeamoftheGeologicalBureauofNingxia(RGSN)foundsomefossilmammalsinthelowerpartoftheHo11g1iugouFormationandtheupperpartoftheOligocene.Inl992ajointteamoflnstituteofVertebratePaleontologyandPaleoanthropo1ogy,AcademiaSinica(IVPP),andtheRGSNwenttoHaiyuailCountyandcollectedmorefossilmamma1sfromtheYuanjia-wowoareausi11gascreen-washingmethodThemammalfaunafromthelowerpartoftheHongliugouFormationiscomposedofAprotodonsp.,Indricotheriidaeindet.,Rhinoceroti…     

Symposium: ethical considerations in HIV preventive vaccine research: examining the 18 UNAIDS guidance points. The 18 UNAIDS guidance points

Here are the 18 guidance points contained in the UNAIDS document on Ethical Considerations in HIV Preventive Vaccine Research, reproduced by kind permission of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).     

Comparison and validation of novel pyrogen tests based on the human fever reaction

The Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) test has replaced about 80% of the use of the rabbit pyrogen test. Ideally, human-based in vitro tests are needed, to replace the remaining use of the rabbit test and the use of the LAL test. The progress of an EU-funded project is described, in which a number of in vitro tests, based on the human fever reaction are passing through a prevalidation study on the way to evaluation in a formal validation study.     

Effects of cod liver oil on tissue antioxidant pathways in normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Lipid disorders and increased oxidative stress may exacerbate some complications of diabetes mellitus. Previous studies have implicated the beneficial effects of some antioxidants, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the protection of cells from the destructive effect of increased lipids and lipid peroxidation products. This study, therefore, was designed to investigate the effects of cod liver oil (CLO, Lysi Ltd. Island), which comprises mainly vitamin A, PUFAs, EPA and DHA. Effects were monitored on plasma lipids, lipid peroxidation products (MDA) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and catalase in heart, liver, kidney and lung of non-diabetic control and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced-diabetic rats. Two days after STZ-injection (55 mg kg(-1) i.p.), non-diabetic control and diabetic rats were divided randomly into two groups as untreated or treated with CLO (0.5 ml kg(-1) rat per day) for 12 weeks. Plasma glucose, triacylglycerol and cholesterol concentrations were significantly elevated in 12-week untreated-diabetic animals; CLO treatment almost completely prevented these abnormalities in triacylglycerol and cholesterol, but hyperglycaemia was partially controlled. CLO also provided better weight gain in diabetic animals. In untreated diabetic rats, MDA markedly increased in aorta, heart and liver but was not significantly changed in kidney and lung. This was accompanied by a significant increase in both GSHPx and catalase enzyme activities in aorta, heart, and liver of diabetic rats. In kidney and lung, diabetes resulted in reduced catalase while GSHPx was significantly activated. In aorta, heart, and liver, diabetes-induced changes in MDA were entirely prevented by CLO treatment. In the tissues of CLO-treated diabetic animals, GSHPx activity paralleled those of control animals. CLO treatment also caused significant improvements in catalase activities in every tissue of diabetic rats, but failed to affect MDA and antioxidant activity in control animals. The current study suggests that the treatment of diabetic rats with CLO provides better control of glucose and lipid metabolism, allows recovery of normal growth rate, prevents oxidative/peroxidative stress and ameliorates endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities in various tissues. Because CLO contains a plethora of beneficial compounds together, its use for the management of diabetes-induced complications may provide important advantages.