Nucleotide sequences of serine tRNAs from Bacillus subtilis.

Three B. subitilis serine tRNAs were sequenced including modified nucleosides. All the serine tRNAs contained 1-methyl-adenosine in the D-loop. As other characteristic modified nucleosides, 5-methoxyuridine was found in the first letter of the anticodon in the tRNA(UGA).     

Steroidal saponins from Smilax lebrunii.

Two new steroidal saponins, (25 R)-spirostan-3 beta-ol-6-one-3-O-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl (1----6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside and (25 R)-spirostan-3 beta-ol-6-one-3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1---4)] [alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1----6)]-beta-glucopyranoside, were isolated from the rhizomes of Smilax lebrunii. Their structures have been established by chemical and spectral methods.     

Genomic in situ hybridization to identify alien chromosomes and chromosome segments in wheat

Summary Genomic in situ hybridization was used to identify alien chromatin in chromosome spreads of wheat, Triticum aestivum L., lines incorporating chromosomes from Leymus multicaulis (Kar. and Kir.) Tzvelev and Thinopyrum bessarabicum (Savul. and Rayss) Löve, and chromosome arms from Hordeum chilense Roem. and Schult, H. vulgare L. and Secale cereale L. Total genomic DNA from the introgressed alien species was used as a probe, together with excess amounts of unlabelled blocking DNA from wheat, for DNA:DNA in-situ hybridization. The method labelled the alien chromatin yellow-green, while the wheat chromosomes showed only the orange-red fluorescence of the DNA counterstain. Nuclei were screened from seedling root-tips (including those from half-grains) and anther wall tissue. The genomic probing method identified alien chromosomes and chromosome arms and allowed counting in nuclei at all stages of the cell cycle, so complete metaphases were not needed. At prophase or interphase, two labelled domains were visible in most nuclei from disomic lines, while only one labelled domain was visible in monosomic lines. At metaphase, direct visualization of the morphology of the alien chromosome or chromosome segment was possible and allowed identification of the relationship of the alien chromatin to the wheat chromosomes. The genomic in-situ hybridization method is fast, sensitive, accurate and informative. Hence it is likely to be of great value for both cytogenetic analysis and in plant breeding programmes.     

苜蓿胚状体的分离及其发育过程中三种同工酶酶谱分析(简报)

目前,对胚状体发生过程中的生理生化研究表明,这一过程伴随有核酸、蛋白质等大分子物质合成速度的增加及与胚胎发生有关的特异性蛋白的合成;一些同工酶,如过氧化物酶、脂酶、细胞色素氧化酶和谷氨酸脱氢酶     

5个温带树种冠层枝叶非结构性碳水化合物浓度的空间变异

非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)是树木存活和生长的重要能源物质。冠层NSC不但是全树NSC的来源,也是全树NSC的重要储存库。然而,冠层NSC空间变异的研究较少,因而影响了树木NSC分配的估算精度。以红松(Pinus koraiensis)、兴安落叶松(Larix gmelinii)、水曲柳(Fraxinus mandshurica)、蒙古栎(Quercus mongolica)和白桦(Betula platyphylla)5个温带树种为研究对象,测定了不同高度冠层叶和细枝(直径≤3 cm)NSC浓度,分析了粗枝(一级侧枝)枝皮、边材和心材NSC浓度轴向变化及其与枝径的关系。结果表明:(1)除了5月末兴安落叶松树冠中层叶淀粉浓度显著高于树冠下层,以及8月中旬树冠上层叶可溶性糖浓度显著高于树冠中层之外,其他树种冠层叶NSC浓度的垂直变化不显著。常绿树种红松叶龄对NSC浓度的影响在生长季中期显著,但在生长季末期和休眠季节的影响不显著。(2)除了5月末红松树冠上层细枝可溶性糖浓度显著高于树冠中层之外,其他树种不同高度冠层间细枝NSC浓度差异不显著。(3)在纵向上,阔叶树种蒙古栎、水曲柳和白桦粗枝的枝皮、边材和心材NSC浓度多随着距树枝基部距离的增加而升高;在径向上,NSC浓度(除了水曲柳边材淀粉和白桦枝皮淀粉之外)多随着枝径增加而降低,表明树枝中的NSC浓度随着远离碳源而降低。总体上,5个温带树种冠层叶、细枝NSC浓度的空间变异不显著,但枝径和叶龄对NSC浓度的影响因树种、组织和季节而异,这在未来研究中应予考虑。     

藜异型性种子后代植株盐响应生理机制

种子异型性是植物适应异质生境的重要策略,异型性对后代植株的影响值得深入研究。以具有种子异型性的荒漠植物藜为材料,测定了异型种子后代植株在不同浓度(0,50,300 mmol/L)Na Cl胁迫下的表型及与耐盐相关的生理指标变化,探讨了异型种子后代植株之间对盐胁迫生理响应机制的差异。结果显示,褐色种子后代植株在各浓度盐胁迫下的表型(株高、分枝数)均优于黑色种子。对其生理指标测定结果显示,褐色种子植株除电导率显著低于黑色种子植株外,氧化损伤指标(氧自由基、丙二醛含量)及抗氧化酶(SOD、CAT、POX)活性、抗氧化剂(Car、As A)含量、渗调物质(可溶性糖、脯氨酸、甜菜碱)含量等在两者之间无明显差异。研究结果暗示,藜异型性种子后代植株的早期生长表型在盐胁迫下所产生的差异可能是由种子胚的大小及萌发快慢差异所导致,而这种差异并未引起盐胁迫下两种植株抗氧化系统响应的差异。     

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     

FERONIA is involved in phototropin 1-mediated blue light phototropic growth in Arabidopsis

Plant shoot phototropism is triggered by the formation of a light-driven auxin gradient leading to bending growth. The blue light receptor phototropin 1(phot1) senses light direction, but how this leads to auxin gradient formation and growth regulation remains poorly understood. Previous studies have suggested phot1’s role for regulated apoplastic acidification, but its relation to phototropin and hypocotyl phototropism is unclear. Herein, we show that blue light can cause phot1 to interact with...     

转Bt基因棉花对烟粉虱天敌昆虫龟纹瓢虫的影响

在实验室控制条件下,以转Bt基因棉花GK12、33B、SGK321上的烟粉虱为食料饲养龟纹瓢虫,研究转Bt基因棉花上的烟粉虱对龟纹瓢虫生长发育及捕食的影响,同时利用Y型嗅觉仪,观察龟纹瓢虫对来自不同类型棉花的棉叶及其烟粉虱的嗅觉反应和视觉反应。结果表明,转Bt基因棉花和对应的常规棉亲本上的烟粉虱对龟纹瓢虫的发育历期和存活率没有明显的影响。龟纹瓢虫对棉花叶片、烟粉虱若虫、蜜露、蜕等4种物质的视觉反应之间没有明显的差异。对4种嗅源物质的嗅觉选择性的大小依次为：烟粉虱若虫＞蜕＞棉花＞蜜露;在两类不同的棉花之间,转基因棉花和常规棉,龟纹瓢虫对GK12、33B、SGK321等三种转基因棉花上的烟粉虱若虫的嗅觉选择性明显较对应的常规棉亲本SM3、33、SY321上的烟粉虱若虫小;对烟粉虱若虫的蜕,两种转单价基因棉花GK12、33B较对应的常规棉亲本上的小,而转双价基因的棉花SGK321上与对应的常规棉之间没有明显的差异。烟粉虱密度大于200头.皿_-1时,龟纹瓢虫捕食转基因棉花上烟粉虱的数量大于对应的常规棉花亲本,但烟粉虱密度小于200头.皿_-1时,龟纹瓢虫捕食转基因棉花上烟粉虱的数量小于对应的常规棉花亲本。龟纹瓢虫对烟粉虱的捕食符合HollingⅡ型反应。龟纹瓢虫取食转基因棉花上的烟粉虱的理论极限值、瞬间攻击率均大于常规棉花。