Invasion biology of Australian ectomycorrhizal fungi introduced with eucalypt plantations into the Iberian Peninsula

In the last two centuries, several species of Australian eucalypts (e.g. Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E.␣globulus) were introduced into the Iberian Peninsula for the production of paper pulp. The effects of the introduction of exotic root-symbitotic fungi together with the eucalypts have received little attention. During the past years, we have investigated the biology of ectomycorrhizal fungi in eucalypt plantations in the Iberian Peninsula. In the plantations studied, we found fruit bodies of several Australian ectomycorrhizal fungi and identified their ectomycorrhizas with DNA molecular markers. The most frequent species were Hydnangium carneum, Hymenogaster albus, Hysterangium inflatum, Labyrinthomyces donkii, Laccaria fraterna, Pisolithus albus, P. microcarpus, Rhulandiella berolinensis, Setchelliogaster rheophyllus, and Tricholoma eucalypticum. These fungi were likely brought from Australia together with the eucalypts, and they seem to have facilitated the establishment of eucalypt plantations and their naturalization. The dispersion of Australian fungal propagules may be facilitating the spread of eucalypts along watercourses in semiarid regions increasing the water lost. Because ectomycorrhizal fungi are obligate symbionts, their capacity to persist after eradication of eucalypt stands, and/or to extend beyond forest plantations, would rely on the possibility to find compatible native host trees, and to outcompete the native ectomycorrhizal fungi. Here we illustrate the case of the Australasian species Laccaria fraterna, which fruits in Mediterranean shrublands of ectomycorrhizal species of Cistus (rockroses). We need to know which other Australasian fungi extend to the native ecosystems, if we are to predict environmental␣risks associated with the introduction of Australasian ectomycorrhizal fungi into the Iberian Peninsula. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Preparation of amino-acid-type selective isotope labeling of protein expressed in Pichia pastoris

We report the culture conditions for successful amino-acid-type selective (AATS) isotope labeling of protein expressed in Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris). Rhodostomin (Rho), a six disulfide-bonded protein expressed in P. pastoris with the correct fold, was used to optimize the culture conditions. The concentrations of [alpha-15N] selective amino acid, nonlabeled amino acids, and ammonium chloride, as well as induction time, were optimized to avoid scrambling and to increase the incorporation rate and protein yield. The optimized protocol was successfully applied to produce AATS isotope-labeled Rho. The labeling of [alpha-15N]Cys has a 50% incorporation rate, and all 12 cysteine resonances were observed in HSQC spectrum. The labeling of [alpha-15N]Leu, -Lys, and -Met amino acids has an incorporation rate greater than 65%, and the expected number of resonances in the HSQC spectra were observed. In contrast, the labeling of [alpha-15N]Asp and -Gly amino acids has a low incorporation rate and the scrambling problem. In addition, the culture condition was successfully applied to label dendroaspin (Den), a four disulfide-bonded protein expressed in P. pastoris. Therefore, the described condition should be generally applicable to other proteins produced in the P. pastoris expression system. This is the first report to present a protocol for AATS isotope labeling of protein expressed in P. pastoris for NMR study.     

Comprehensive evaluation of multiple cropping systems on upland red soil

According to the principles and methods of ecology and system engineering, we set up an evaluation indicator system for multi-component and multiple cropping systems, evaluated the comprehensive benefits of multi-component and multiple cropping systems using grey relation clustering analysis and screened out the optimized model based on research done in the upland red soil in Jiangxi Agricultural University from 1984 to 2004. The results show that the grey relation degree of “cabbage/potato/maize — sesame” was the highest among 23 multi-component and multiple cropping systems and was clustered into the optimized system. This indicates that “cabbage/potato/maize — sesame” can bring the best social, economic and ecological benefits, increase product yield and farmers’ income and promote sustainable development of agricultural production. Therefore, it is suitable for promotion on upland red soil. The grey relation degree of “canola/Chinese milk vetch/maize/mung bean/maize” was second, which is suitable for implementation at the city outskirts. In conclusion, these two planting patterns are expected to play important roles in the reconstruction of the planting structure and optimization of the planting patterns on upland red soil. __________ Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2006, 26(8): 2532–2539 [译自: 生态学报]     

Ganodermasides C and D, two new anti-aging ergosterols from spores of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum

Two new anti-aging compounds, ganodermasides C and D, were isolated and their structures elucidated. They are novel ergosterols possessing a 4,6,8(14),22-tetraene-3-one unit with unique hydroxylation at C-9. Both of them significantly extended the replicative lifespan of the K6001 yeast strain. Ganodermasides C and D regulated the expression of the gene for UTH1 to prolong the replicative lifespan of yeast.     

Cathodic reduction of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] coupled with electricity generation in microbial fuel cells

A novel approach to Cr(VI)-contaminated wastewater treatment was investigated using microbial fuel cell technologies in fed-batch mode. By using synthetic Cr(VI)-containing wastewater as catholyte and anaerobic microorganisms as anodic biocatalyst, Cr(VI) at 100 mg/l was completely removed during 150 h (initial pH 2). The maximum power density of 150 mW/m² (0.04 mA/cm²) and the maximum open circuit voltage of 0.91 V were generated with Cr(VI) at 200 mg/l as electron acceptor. This work verifies the possibility of simultaneous electricity production and cathodic Cr(VI) reduction.     

正红菇的化学成分的研究

采用GC、HPLC、GC／MS、凝胶过滤层析等方法对正红菇(Russula vinosa)的某些成分的分析结果表明：正红菇其色素由红紫色素和黄色素两个组分组成,其中红紫色素对酸稳定,对碱及高温不稳定,而黄色素对它们则表现一定的稳定性。其多糖含量为2.74％,含有五种多糖组分。在脂肪酸组成上,主要是油酸和亚油酸,并有可能存在EPA和DHA。全氨基酸分析表明含有十六种氨基酸,必需氨基酸占总氨基酸的54．4％,所含挥发性物质是a一雪松烯,a一古芸烯及十五到二十烷。正红菇的提取液对细菌、酵母菌、霉菌均有一定抑制作用,对细菌抑制作用优于酵母菌和霉菌,革兰氏阴性细菌优于革兰氏阳性细菌的抑制作用。     

人工饲养条件下恒河猴血液学、血液生化正常参考值测定及分析

目的测定人工饲养条件下104只健康恒河猴的血液学、血液生化正常参考值,并分析不同性别、不同年龄阶段(青幼年组∶3～4岁,成年组∶5～10岁,老年组∶11～25岁)恒河猴的血液学、血液生化值的差异及相互关系.方法应用全自动血液细胞分析仪和全自动血液生化分析仪,测定及分析非麻醉状态下健康恒河猴血液学和血液生化正常值.结果血液学值中较明显低 (P<0.05) 的项目为MED.血液生化值中♀猴比♂猴明显低 (P<0.01)的项目有ALT、ALP、GGT、CHOL、APOA、HDL、LDL、P3+、BUN,较明显低 (P<0.05) 的项目为ALB.较明显高 (P<0.05) 的项目为UA.各年龄组之间的分析如下:血液学值中RDW值为青幼年组比成年组及老年组均明显低(P<0.01),MEDIAN值为成年组比青幼年组较明显高 (P<0.05),血液生化值中青幼年组比成年组及老年组均明显高 (P<0.01)的项目有ALT、ALP、GGT、P3+,青幼年组比成年组明显高(P<0.01)的项目为BUN、ALP、AST、,青幼年组比老年组明显高(P<0.01)的项目为CK、TF;成年组比老年组明显低(P<0.01)的项目为CREAT,较明显低 (P<0.05) 的为TRIG.结论本文建立了人工饲养条件下健康恒河猴血液学和血液生化值的正常指标,并讨论了年龄、性别对其正常指标的影响,可供参考.     

转基因植物中标记基因的安全性新策略

转基因植物中的除草剂和抗生素抗性标记基因潜在的生态环境和食用安全性令人担忧。解决转基因植物中抗性标记基因安全性问题有两种途径：一是转化时仍使用抗性标记基因,转基因植物再生成功后,在释放大田前将标记基因剔除;二是发展安全性标记基因用于植物遗传转化。本文综述了三种标记基因剔除系统和几种安全性标记基因在植物转化中的应用进展。     

小鼠泛素结合酶UBE2W的抗体制备及组织表达谱分析

泛素结合酶(E2)是蛋白泛素化修饰所需的第二个连接酶, 在泛素转移和底物特异性识别过程中发挥着重要作用。UBE2W是一种新发现的E2酶, 其果蝇属同源蛋白可能在光转导或视网膜变性过程中发挥作用, 鼠和人同源蛋白功能未见报道。生物信息学分析UBE2W鼠源氨基酸序列, 发现UBE2W具有典型的UBC结构域并在多种物种高度保守。通过构建UBE2W原核表达质粒, 在大肠杆菌中表达并纯化了GST-UBE2W融合蛋白。以此纯化蛋白作为抗原免疫新西兰白兔制备抗UBE2W多抗血清, 并利用制备的UBE2W抗原柱亲和纯化UBE2W多抗。为了检测纯化抗体特异性, 在真核细胞中瞬时表达了myc-UBE2W融合蛋白, 分别用myc单抗和UBE2W多抗进行Western blotting分析, 结果表明获得了特异性的UBE2W抗体。利用此特异性抗体在小鼠脑、心脏、肾脏、肝脏、肺、肌肉、脾脏和睾丸等组织中均检测到了UBE2W的表达, 且在小鼠睾丸中成年期表达最高。     

Solid Phase and Solution Phase Synthesis of Gamma Amino Acid Homo-Oligomers and Mixed Oligomers

Abstract  

An efficient stepwise synthesis of homo-oligomers and mixed oligomers of gabapentin and pregabalin on solid support using Fmoc-protected derivatives and HBTU/HOBt/DIEA as coupling agent is described. The synthesis was also carried out using solution phase methodology. The Gpn/Pgn homo oligomers and mixed oligomers forms C₉ helix in solution as determined by NMR study. Chiral as well as achiral gamma amino acids were used for the synthesis of oligomers in order to investigate the secondary structural preferences.