Development of seven novel EST-SSR markers from Cycas panzhihuaensis (Cycadaceae)

? Premise of the study: Cycas panzhihuaensis L. Zhou & S. Y. Yang is a vulnerable gymnosperm endemic to China, where its range represents the northernmost occupation of Cycas L. We developed EST-derived SSR markers to investigate its genetic diversity and population structure. ? Methods and Results: Based on the expressed sequence tag (EST) database for Cycas rumphii Miq., seven simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were identified and screened in 55 individuals from seven wild populations of C. panzhihuaensis. Alleles numbered 2 to 5, and their observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.0000 to 0.6545 and from 0.0535 to 0.6966, respectively. ? Conclusions: These new EST-SSR markers will enhance further studies of the population genetics of C. panzhihuaensis, allowing researchers to design reasonable conservation and management protocols.     

环境胁迫和抗坏血酸的氧化还原状态

为了解环境胁迫对植物体中抗坏血酸含量及氧化还原状态的影响,以不同强度的冰冻和干旱两种胁迫为例,研究了它们对沈阳几种针叶树离体叶抗坏血酸、脱氢抗坏血酸含量以及抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环中4种酶活性的影响.结果表明,两种胁迫达到一定强度后,都能使还原态抗坏血酸含量下降而使脱氢抗坏血酸含量上升.冰冻使抗坏血酸过氧化酶和单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶活性下降.轻度失水使这两种酶活性上升,失水加重后转而趋于下降.脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶和谷胱甘肽还原酶活性对两种胁迫反应均不如前两种酶敏感.结合以前的研究结果,认为这一H2O2清除系统在导致驯化(acclimation)的轻度胁迫作用下可以得到加强,而当胁迫强度过大时则其清除能力下降并使组织受到伤害.文中还报告了沈阳几种针叶树抗寒性和针叶中抗坏血酸含量及上述4种酶活性之间的相关关系.     

Cloning, sequencing and prokaryotic expression of cDNAs for antifreeze protein family from beetle Tenebrio molitor

Partial cDNA sequences coding for antifreeze proteins in Tenebrio molitor were obtained by RT-PCR.Sequence analysis revealed nine putative cDNAs with a high degree of homology to Tenebrio molitor antifreeze protein genes published in GenBank.The recombinant pGEX-4T-l-tmafp-XJ430 was introduced into E.coli BL21 to induce a GST fusion protein by IPTG.SDS-PAGE analysis for the fusion protein shows a band of 38 kDa.pCDNA3- tmafp-XJ430 was injected into mice to generate antiserum which was later detected by indirect ELISA.The titer of the antibody was 1:2000.Western blot-ting analysis shows that the antiserum was specifically against the antifreeze protein.Our results laid the founda-tion for further studies on the properties and functions of insect antifreeze proteins.     

A novel rice C2H2-type zinc finger protein lacking DLN-box/EAR-motif plays a role in salt tolerance

A cDNA for the gene ZFP182, encoding a C2H2-type zinc finger protein, was cloned from rice by RT-PCR. ZFP182 codes an 18.2 kDa protein with two C2H2-type zinc finger motifs, one nuclear localization signal and one Leu-rich domain. The DLN-box/EAR-motif, which exists in most of plant C2H2-type zinc finger proteins, does not exist in ZFP182. The expression analysis showed that ZFP182 gene was constitutively expressed in leaves, culms, roots and spikes at the adult rice plants, and markedly induced in the seedlings by cold (4 degrees C), 150 mM NaCl and 0.1 mM ABA treatments. The approximate 1.4 kb promoter region of ZFP182 gene was fused into GUS reporter gene and transformed into tobacco. The histochemical analysis revealed that GUS expression could not be detected in transformed tobacco seedlings under normal conditions, but strongly observed in tobacco leaf discs and the vascular tissue of roots treated with NaCl or KCl. Expression of ZFP182 in transgenic tobacco and overexpression in rice increased plant tolerance to salt stress. These results demonstrated that ZFP182 might be involved in plant responses to salt stress.     

高山被孢霉产花生四烯酸及其遗传改造的研究进展

花生四烯酸作为一种重要的多价不饱和脂肪酸,因其具有多种生理功能而被认为是潜在的食品添加剂和药物。近年来,利用高山被孢霉合成花生四烯酸已成为研究热点。前期相关研究主要集中在菌种选育及发酵调控方面。随着研究的不断深入,关于高山被孢霉合成花生四烯酸的代谢途径的研究取得了较大进展。以下简要概述前期工作进展,着重论述花生四烯酸合成途径的关键酶及其高山被孢霉的遗传改造的研究情况,包括生物合成花生四烯酸代谢途径、关键酶及其应用、高山被孢霉的遗传操作系统的构建以及遗传改造的应用,并对其研究前景进行了展望。     

One-step electrochemically co-assembled redox-active [Ru(bpy)(2)(tatp)](2+)-BSA-SWCNTs hybrid film for non-redox protein biosensors

A redox-active [Ru(bpy)(2)(tatp)](2+)-BSA-SWCNTs (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, tatp=1,4,8,9-tetra-aza-triphenylene, BSA=bovine serum albumin, SWCNTs=single-walled carbon nanotubes) hybrid film is fabricated on an indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode via one-step electrochemical co-assembly approach. BSA is inherently dispersive and therefore served as the linking mediator of SWCNTs, which facilitate the redox reactions of [Ru(bpy)(2)(tatp)](2+) employed as a reporter of BSA. The evidences from differential pulse voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscope, emission spectroscopy and fluorescence microscope reveal that the [Ru(bpy)(2)(tatp)](2+)-BSA-SWCNTs hybrid can be electrochemically co-assembled on the ITO electrode, showing two pairs of well-defined Ru(II)-based redox waves. Furthermore, the electrochemical co-assembly of the [Ru(bpy)(2)(tatp)](2+)-BSA-SWCNTs hybrid is found to be strongly dependent on the simultaneous presence of BSA and SWCNTs, indicating a good linear response to BSA in the range from 6 to 50mgL(-1). The results from this study provide an electrochemical co-assembly method for the development of non-redox protein biosensors.     

CHS基因起源初探及其在被子植物中的进化分析

利用PCR与TAIL-PCR方法,从半月苔(Lunulariacruciata(L.)Dum.exLindb.)中获得了一段长约1000bp的基因片段,它与已知的CHS基因在核苷酸水平上的相似性大于56%,在氨基酸水平上的相似性大于60%,所推断的氨基酸序列中酶反应的4个催化位点与已知晶体结构的紫花苜蓿MCHS2A上的催化位点相同,首次证明了苔类植物中可能存在类CHS基因,将CHS基因的起源时间推到苔藓类植物出现之前。以该序列和两种蕨类植物(Psilotumnudum(L.)Griseb.和EquisetumarvenseL.)的CHS序列作为外类群,应用邻接法、最大简约法和最大似然法分别构建了被子植物的CHS的分子系统树。结果表明,大部分科中的CHS分布在不同的分支上,而十字花科、豆科和禾本科各自聚成一个单系类群。以邻接树为依据,对茄科、旋花科和菊科的CHS基因进行了相对碱基替换速率的检测,发现这三个科内或科间序列的替换速率不一致。被子植物的CHS基因在基因拷贝数目、碱基替换速率以及重复/丢失事件的发生上都存在较大的差异,这种差异可能与被子植物的生活史、生活环境、花的特性以及对外界的防御系统等的多样性相关。     

Spironolactone Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Injury Partially via Modulating Mononuclear Phagocyte Phenotype Switching in Circulating and Alveolar Compartments

Background

Recent experimental studies provide evidence indicating that manipulation of the mononuclear phagocyte phenotype could be a feasible approach to alter the severity and persistence of pulmonary injury and fibrosis. Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) has been reported as a target to regulate macrophage polarization. The present work was designed to investigate the therapeutic potential of MR antagonism in bleomycin-induced acute lung injury and fibrosis.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We first demonstrated the expression of MR in magnetic bead-purified Ly6G-/CD11b+ circulating monocytes and in alveolar macrophages harvested in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from C57BL/6 mice. Then, a pharmacological intervention study using spironolactone (20mg/kg/day by oral gavage) revealed that MR antagonism led to decreased inflammatory cell infiltration, cytokine production (downregulated monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, transforming growth factor β1, and interleukin-1β at mRNA and protein levels) and collagen deposition (decreased lung total hydroxyproline content and collagen positive area by Masson’ trichrome staining) in bleomycin treated (2.5mg/kg, via oropharyngeal instillation) male C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, serial flow cytometry analysis in blood, BALF and enzymatically digested lung tissue, revealed that spironolactone could partially inhibit bleomycin-induced circulating Ly6C^hi monocyte expansion, and reduce alternative activation (F4/80+CD11c+CD206+) of mononuclear phagocyte in alveoli, whereas the phenotype of interstitial macrophage (F4/80+CD11c-) remained unaffected by spironolactone during investigation.

Conclusions/Significance

The present work provides the experimental evidence that spironolactone could attenuate bleomycin-induced acute pulmonary injury and fibrosis, partially via inhibition of MR-mediated circulating monocyte and alveolar macrophage phenotype switching.     

离子注入对微生物细胞的刻蚀与对DNA的损伤及修复

以耐辐射异常球菌为试材,以E. coli 为对照,用显微扫描电镜和3H-TdR标记,研究了离子注入对微生物细胞的刻蚀与对DNA的损伤及其修复。结果表明,注入离子对细胞存在着刻蚀损伤;中性蔗糖梯度密度离心沉降分析证明, 大剂量下离子注入可直接导致DNA损伤,并观察到在对应的存活率峰值注入剂量下,D. radiodurans修复损伤DNA的能力比E. coli 强,还证明了细胞经不同时间温育后,损伤的DNA分子得到了部分修复。 Abstract：　The direct action of N+implantationin on D. radioduransand E. coliwas investigated by SEM, and their cells were labeled with 3H-TdR, which were implanted by 20keV N+after incubation 18hours, then the DNA of lysed cells was subjected to the neutral sucrose gradient(5%～20%) ultra-centrifugation sedimentation analysis. The results showed that N+implantation exerted direct action on two kinds of microorganisms; the momentum transfer and energy deposition of implantation ions produced the direct etching damage on cells, and repair DNA efficiency of D.radiodurans was higher than that of E. coli. Meanwhile, the damaged DNA incomplete repairing was observed. When incubation was continued up to 6 hours, the rejoined DNA molecules broke again. The repair of damaged DNA could be inhibited by 200μg/ml chloramphenicol. This suggested that DNA damage was serious by ion implantation and damaged DNA repair of cells need continuously synthesizing repair enzyme.