玉米联合固氮菌Kosakonia radicincitans GXGL-4A的分离鉴定与固氮特性研究

【目的】固氮微生物是生物固氮的主体,其菌种的选育更是生物固氮研究的基础。本实验室分离鉴定出一株新的固氮菌,并对其固氮相关活性进行初步研究。【方法】固氮菌采用Ashby无氮培养基进行分离纯化。通过形态特征分析、生理生化特征分析、16S r RNA基因序列分析和基因组扫描对固氮菌进行鉴定。利用靛酚蓝-分光光度法检测固氮菌的泌铵能力。固氮酶活性的测定使用乙炔还原法。【结果】从玉米根部分离到一株固氮菌株GXGL-4A,菌体短杆状,大小约为1.5μm×0.5μm,单个或常见2个菌体细胞串联在一起,革兰氏染色结果为阴性。16S r RNA基因序列分析结果表明该菌株与Kosakonia oryzae Fo8A1d 16S r RNA基因序列有95%的相似性,结合形态特征、生理生化特征和基因组扫描,将其命名为K.radicincitans GXGL-4A。对其进行固氮基因nif H的检测,经PCR扩增得到预期的296 bp条带;采用靛酚蓝-分光光度法,测得发酵液中铵态氮含量为2.5 mg/L,表明该菌株具有较好的泌铵能力。乙炔还原法测其固氮酶活性,以乙烯生产量表示,结果显示GXGL-4A菌株在无氮培养基上能够有效地还原乙炔,达到232.94 nmol C2H4/(m L·h)。【结论】菌株GXGL-4A是一株可较好地分泌铵的新的固氮菌,具有很好的研究价值。     

SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like pathological damages and constitutes an antiviral target

Cytokine storm and multi-organ failure are the main causes of SARS-CoV-2-related death. However, the origin of excessive damages caused by SARS-CoV-2 remains largely unknown. Here we show that the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (2-E) protein alone is able to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like damages in vitro and in vivo. 2-E proteins were found to form a type of pH-sensitive cation channels in bilayer lipid membranes. As observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells, heterologous expression of 2-E channels induced rapid cell death in various susceptible cell types and robust secretion of cytokines and chemokines in macrophages. Intravenous administration of purified 2-E protein into mice caused ARDS-like pathological damages in lung and spleen. A dominant negative mutation lowering 2-E channel activity attenuated cell death and SARS-CoV-2 production. Newly identified channel inhibitors exhibited potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and excellent cell protective activity in vitro and these activities were positively correlated with inhibition of 2-E channel. Importantly, prophylactic and therapeutic administration of the channel inhibitor effectively reduced both the viral load and secretion of inflammation cytokines in lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE-2). Our study supports that 2-E is a promising drug target against SARS-CoV-2.Subject terms: Cell death, Molecular biology     

LGR5 regulates osteogenic differentiation of human thoracic ligamentum flavum cells by Wnt signalling pathway

Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF) is ectopic ossification of the spinal ligaments. Histologically, the development of TOLF can be described as the process of endochondral ossification. However, the underlying aetiology has not been completely clarified. In this investigation, the gene expression profile associated with leucine‐rich repeat‐containing G‐protein‐coupled receptors (LGR) and Wnt signalling pathway in the thoracic ligamentum flavum cells (TLFCs) of different ossification stages was analysed via RNA sequencing. We further confirmed the significant differences in the related gene expression profile by Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis. LGR5 was first identified in primary human TLFCs during osteogenic differentiation. To evaluate the effect of LGR5 on osteogenic differentiation, LGR5 has been knocked down and overexpressed in human TLFCs. We observed that the knockdown of LGR5 inhibited the activity of Wnt signalling and attenuated the potential osteogenic differentiation of TLFCs, while overexpression of LGR5 activated the Wnt signalling pathway and increased osteogenic differentiation. Our results provide important evidence for the potent positive mediatory effects of LGR5 on osteogenesis by enhancing the Wnt signalling pathway in TOLF.     

SWAT模型对景观格局变化的敏感性分析——以丹江口库区老灌河流域为例

景观的空间配置与类型组成能够对流域的产流、产沙及非点源污染产生影响。在以往SWAT模型研究中,往往默认水文模型考虑了该影响。为分析SWAT模型对不同景观格局变化的敏感性,根据老灌河流域2000年土地利用在各子流域的组成,模拟研究区更为破碎、复杂的景观空间配置,通过设置多套试验参数,利用SWAT模型生成基于不同景观格局的模拟结果。结果表明,SWAT模型不能反映除坡度和面积变化之外的景观水平下各斑块之间因景观空间格局改变对流域产流、产沙以及非点源污染的影响;模型通过其他参数的调整,弥补了模型分析数据的不足,使实测数据与模型部分结果高度吻合。这表明,一个能够反映流域部分水文特征的SWAT模型,未必是对研究区真实情形的模拟,而是各个参数间平衡的结果。因此,在利用SWAT模型分析模拟景观变化时,不应默认模型能够模拟景观空间格局改变对流域水文过程的影响,同时研究者可以通过划分坡度带,提高模型对不同坡度土地利用的敏感性。     

苹果柠檬酸合酶3基因家族成员鉴定及表达分析

柠檬酸合酶(citrate synthase 3, CS3)是细胞代谢途径中的关键酶之一,其活性调节着生物体的物质和能量代谢过程。本研究旨在从苹果全基因组中鉴定CS3基因家族成员,并进行生物信息学和表达模式分析,为研究苹果CS3基因的潜在功能提供理论基础。利用BLASTp基于GDR数据库鉴定苹果CS3家族成员,通过Pfam、SMART、MEGA5.0、clustalx.exe、ExPASy Proteomics Server、MEGAX、SOPMA、MEME和WoLF PSORT等软件分析CS3蛋白序列基本信息、亚细胞定位情况、结构域组成、系统进化关系以及染色体定位情况。利用酸含量的测定和实时荧光定量PCR (real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, qRT-PCR)技术检测苹果6个CS3的组织表达和诱导表达特性。苹果CS3基因家族包含6个成员,这些CS3蛋白包括473−608个不等的氨基酸残基,等电点分布在7.21−8.82。亚细胞定位结果显示CS3蛋白分别定位在线粒体和叶绿体。系统进化分析可将其分为3类,各亚家族基因数量分别为2个。染色体定位结果显示,CS3基因分布在苹果不同的染色体上。蛋白二级结构以a-螺旋为主,其次是无规则卷曲,b-转角所占比例最小。筛选的6个家族成员在不同苹果组织中均有表达,整体表达趋势从高到低依次为MdCS3.4相对表达含量最高,MdCS3.6次之,其他家族成员相对表达量依次为MdCS3.3>MdCS3.2>MdCS3.1>MdCS3.5。qRT-PCR结果显示,MdCS3.1和MdCS3.3基因在酸含量较低的‘成纪1号’果肉中相对表达量最高,酸含量较高的‘艾斯达’果肉中MdCS3.2和MdCS3.3基因相对表达量最高。因此,本研究对不同苹果品种中CS3基因相对表达量进行了检测,并分析了其在苹果果实酸合成过程中的作用。结果表明,CS3基因在不同苹果品种中的相对表达量存在差异,为后续研究苹果品质形成机制提供了参考。     

不同居群不同部位头花蓼总黄酮含量研究

以原产贵州、四川的10个头花蓼收集系为材料,采用紫外分光光度法,研究了各头花蓼收集系植株不同部位总黄酮含量的变异,以便找出总黄酮含量较高的头花蓼收集系及其头花蓼植株上总黄酮含量较高的部位,为头花蓼药业提供指导。结果表明,不同部位头花蓼总黄酮含量差异很大,其含量大小依次为老茎>花>嫩叶>老叶>嫩茎。头花蓼老茎、花中总黄酮含量在不同居群间差异显著,其它部位差异不显著。四川都江堰居群老茎总黄酮含量最高,达2.761%,显著高于其它收集系。     

mTORC1-independent translation control in mammalian cells by methionine adenosyltransferase 2A and S-adenosylmethionine

Methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) catalyzes the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). As the sole methyl-donor for methylation of DNA, RNA, and proteins, SAM levels affect gene expression by changing methylation patterns. Expression of MAT2A, the catalytic subunit of isozyme MAT2, is positively correlated with proliferation of cancer cells; however, how MAT2A promotes cell proliferation is largely unknown. Given that the protein synthesis is induced in proliferating cells and that RNA and protein components of translation machinery are methylated, we tested here whether MAT2 and SAM are coupled with protein synthesis. By measuring ongoing protein translation via puromycin labeling, we revealed that MAT2A depletion or chemical inhibition reduced protein synthesis in HeLa and Hepa1 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of MAT2A enhanced protein synthesis, indicating that SAM is limiting under normal culture conditions. In addition, MAT2 inhibition did not accompany reduction in mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 activity but nevertheless reduced polysome formation. Polysome-bound RNA sequencing revealed that MAT2 inhibition decreased translation efficiency of some fraction of mRNAs. MAT2A was also found to interact with the proteins involved in rRNA processing and ribosome biogenesis; depletion or inhibition of MAT2 reduced 18S rRNA processing. Finally, quantitative mass spectrometry revealed that some translation factors were dynamically methylated in response to the activity of MAT2A. These observations suggest that cells possess an mTOR-independent regulatory mechanism that tunes translation in response to the levels of SAM. Such a system may acclimate cells for survival when SAM synthesis is reduced, whereas it may support proliferation when SAM is sufficient.     

使用冷冻方法防治昆虫标本虫害

皮蠹幼虫对昆虫标本的蛀蚀是我国北方地区标本保藏时需要注意的首要问题。经12次的试验观察表明,花斑皮蠹幼虫TrogodermavariabileBallion在冰柜中放置位置不同其冷冻致死率亦不相同置于冰柜表层的,死亡率介于0～50%;上层的死亡率为95%～100%;中上层及中层死亡率达100%。放置在表层及上层的皮蠹幼虫,在经2d以上的冷冻处理后部分个体出现复活。因此,对那些原先放置上层及表层的标本,第1次冷冻结束后,间隔数天应再进行第2次冷冻,以提高和巩固冷冻杀虫效果。经3年的实践证明,采用冷冻方法治理皮蠹幼虫为害效果明显,可以推广普及。     

水稻对褐飞虱抗性相关蛋白的双向电泳分析

以药用野生稻 (Oryzaofficinalis)的转育后代B5 (高抗褐飞虱 (NilaparvatalugensSt l) )与感虫品种明恢 6 3(OryzasativaL .)为亲本 ,构建了一个重组自交系群体。通过抗褐飞虱鉴定 ,筛选出极端抗虫株系和极端感虫株系 ,运用分群分析法 (bulkedsegregantanalysis ,BSA)分别建成了极端抗虫集团 (resistantbulk)和极端感虫集团 (susceptiblebulk)的蛋白质池。利用双向电泳技术 ,分别分析了极端抗虫集团和极端感虫集团受虫害与未受虫害的秧苗蛋白质的变化。结果发现 ,虫害 48h后 ,感虫集团的一个分子量为 40kD的蛋白质P40 (pI=6 .3)的表达明显减弱甚至消失 ,而在抗虫集团中 ,P40的表达未受影响。与褐飞虱为害后抗虫株系和感虫株系不同的生理反应相联系 ,推测P40与水稻受褐飞虱虫害后引起的应答反应相关