Fine mapping of a fertility restoring gene for a new CMS hybrid rice system

The Fujian Abortion cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS-FA) system, a new type of sporophytic CMS system in indica rice (Oryza sativa L.), was developed using the cytoplasm and the corresponding fertility-restoring gene from a wild rice (O. rufipogon L.), which originated from Fujian Province, China. Previous studies in combination with several years of production practice demonstrated that CMS-FA hybrid rice was superior to CMS-WA hybrid rice, a prevailing hybrid rice worldwide, and that the male fertility restoration was controlled by a pair of dominant alleles. We tentatively designated the fertility restoration gene as Rf(fa). The analysis of the polymorphism between the fertile and sterile pool DNAs from a mapping segregation population (BC1F1) indicated that Rf(fa) was located on rice chromosome 10. We further delimited the Rf(fa) locus to a 121.1-kb region flanked by RM6100 and MM2023, which were approximately 0.26 cM and 0.18 cM away from Rf(fa), respectively, by simple sequence repeat molecular marker linkage genetic analysis. These results would facilitate the map-based cloning of Rf(fa), the elucidation of a novel molecular mechanism underlying cytoplasm–nucleus interaction in the CMS-FA system, and the production application of this hybrid rice.     

Functional conservation and diversification of APETALA1/FRUITFULL genes in Brachypodium distachyon

The duplicated grass APETALA1/FRUITFULL (AP1/FUL) genes have distinct but overlapping patterns of expression, suggesting their discrete roles in transition to flowering, specification of spikelet meristem identity and specification of floral organ identity. In this study, we analyzed the expression patterns and functions of four AP1/FUL paralogs (BdVRN1, BdFUL2, BdFUL3 and BdFUL4) in Brachypodium distachyon, a model plant for the temperate cereals and related grasses. Among the four genes tested, only BdVRN1 could remember the prolonged cold treatment. The recently duplicated BdVRN1 and BdFUL2 genes were expressed in a highly consistent manner and ectopic expressions of them caused similar phenotypes such as extremely early flowering and severe morphological alterations of floral organs, indicating their redundant roles in floral transition, inflorescence development and floral organ identity. In comparison, ectopic expressions of BdFUL3 and BdFUL4 only caused a moderate early flowering phenotype, suggesting their divergent function. In yeast two‐hybrid assay, both BdVRN1 and BdFUL2 physically interact with SEP proteins but only BdFUL2 is able to form a homodimer. BdVRN1 also interacts weakly with BdFUL2. Our results indicate that, since the separation of AP1/FUL genes in grasses, the process of sub‐ or neo‐functionalization has occurred and paralogs function redundantly and/or separately in flowering competence and inflorescence development.     

Structural characterization and biological activities of two α-glucans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Radix Paeoniae Alba</Emphasis>

Radix Paeoniae Alba is widely used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat various diseases such as gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, and other diseases. In this study, two polysaccharides RPAPW1 and RPAPW2 were isolated from Radix Paeoniae Alba by DEAE-52 cellulose chromatography and G-25 sephadex. According to physicochemical methods, NMR and methylation analysis, RPAPW1 and RPAPW2 were established to be α-glucans consisting of predominant 4-linked α- Glc residues branched at O-6 and contained trace amount of protein and uronic acid. Immunological tests indicated that RPAPW1, RPAPW2 and could promote splenocyte proliferation and RAW264.7 phagocytic activity. In vitro, RPAPW1 and RPAPW2 elicited a week reducing power, DPPH scavenging activity and could not protect the PC12 cells from H₂O₂ damage. These data implied polysaccharides RPAPW1 and RPAPW2 had the potential to be a natural immunopotentiating and antioxidant supplement for preparing functional foods and nutraceuticals.     

Ecophysiological responses of Cunninghamia lanceolata to nongrowing-season warming,nitrogen deposition,and their combination

Warming winter and atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition are expected to have effects on net primary production (NPP) of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation and implications for plantation carbon sequestration. The effects of nongrowing-season warming on plant morphological and physiological traits were investigated in a greenhouse experiment with two-year-old C. lanceolata seedlings. Elevated temperature (ET) during the nongrowing season significantly increased the net photosynthetic characteristics. The strongest effects occurred during warming period from 1 December 2014 to 1 February 2015 (W1). Moreover, the carbohydrate concentration was elevated due to the warming during W1, but it declined during four months of the warming (from 1 December 2014 to 1 April 2015, W2). The seedlings kept under N deposition (CN) showed a positive effect in all the above-mentioned parameters except δ¹³C. Significant interactions between ET and N deposition were observed in most parameters tested. At the end of the experiment (W2), the seedlings exposed to a combined ET and N deposition treatment exhibited the highest carbon contents. Our results showed that N deposition might ameliorate the negative effects of the winter warming on the carbon content.     

The genetic diversity of SMLS (Sitobion miscanthi L type symbiont) and its effect on the fitness,mitochondrial DNA diversity and Buchnera aphidicola dynamic of wheat aphid,Sitobion miscanthi (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

SMLS (Sitobion miscanthi L type symbiont) is a recently discovered aphid secondary symbiont. Using evidence extracted from 16S rRNA sequences, previous studies indicate that SMLS is the most widely distributed and most recently transferred secondary symbiont in Chinese Sitobion miscanthi populations. Here, we further investigated genetic diversity among SMLS geographic strains with multiloci data. Furthermore, the influence of SMLS on S. miscanthi was uncovered with ecological and evolutionary evidence. The results indicated that there was limited influence of infection with SMLS on variation and evolutionary patterns of S. miscanthi mitochondrial DNA. By hemolymph injection, the SMLS‐infected and SMLS‐uninfected S. miscanthi clones with the identical genetic background were built in this study. Although similar Buchnera aphidicola dynamics were observed between SMLS‐infected and SMLS‐uninfected S. miscanthi population, B. aphidicola density of SMLS‐infected S. miscanthi population was always significantly higher than SMLS‐uninfected ones. The results of fitness measurements indicated that under laboratory rearing conditions, transfection of SMLS could confer modest advantages to some fitness components of S. miscanthi, that is, total number of offspring, longevity, age of first reproduction and weight of adult. However, as SMLS is not strictly associated with S. miscanthi, further investigations are needed to uncover the mechanisms responsible for this inconceivable association.     

CRISPR/Cas系统与志贺菌毒力和耐药的关系及插入序列IS600对cse2表达水平的影响北大核心CSCD

【目的】了解志贺菌中成簇的规律间隔短回文重复序列(Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,CRISPR)的分布及其与毒力和耐药的关系,并分析志贺菌中插入序列IS600对CRISPR相关蛋白基因cse2 m RNA表达水平的影响。【方法】利用课题组前期设计的引物PCR扩增志贺菌的3个CRISPR位点、CRISPR相关蛋白基因cse2、耐药基因和毒力基因;改良Kirby-Bauer(K-B)纸片法进行药敏试验;台盼蓝计数试验检测细菌毒力;Real-time PCR检测志贺菌中cse2基因m RNA表达水平。分别分析志贺菌中CRISPR/Cas系统与耐药基因、耐药表型、毒力基因、毒力表型的关系;了解IS600对CRISPR相关蛋白基因cse2 m RNA表达水平的影响。【结果】志贺菌中CRISPR1位点阴性细菌的毒力强;插入序列IS600使cse2 m RNA表达水平降低。【结论】志贺菌中存在CRISPR1、2、3位点;CRISPR1位点与毒力有关;插入序列IS600对cse2 m RNA表达水平有影响。