Comparative study of nickel toxicity to growth and photosynthesis in nickel-resistant and -sensitive strains of Scenedesmus acutus f. alternans (Chlorophyceae)

Nickel (Ni) toxicity to growth and photosynthesis was studied in four strains of Scenedesmus acutus f. alternans. Effects of Ni dosage and duration of exposure on growth and photosynthesis were strain specific. Large differences in responses of both growth and photosynthesis to Ni were detected between three resistant strains (B4, Cu-Tol, and Ni-Tol) and one sensitive strain (UTEX 72). Growth of UTEX 72 was 18 times more sensitive to Ni than those of the three resistant strains. The order of Ni dosages (fmol Ni/pg cell dry weight) causing 50% inhibition (D₁₅₀) of growth rates in the four strains was Ni-Tol (10.5) > B4 (8.19) > Cu-Tol (4.60) > UTEX 72 (0.25). The effect of Ni dosage on photosynthetic rate as percentage of control corresponded to a saturation curve and was a strong function of duration of exposure. The DI₅₀s of photosynthetic rates were 3.5 times lower in UTEX 72 than in the three resistant strains, and in all four strains they decreased sharply with the increase in duration of exposure. The order of the four strains in DI₅₀s of photosynthetic rate was B4 (58.2) > Cu-Tol (38.0) > Ni-Tol (28.9) > UTEX 72 (8.24) for 6-h exposure and Ni-Tol (2.88) > Cu-Tol (1.30) > B4 (1.01) > UTEX 72 (0.15) for 24-h exposure. The DI₅₀s of photosynthetic rate for 6-h exposure were higher than those of growth rate in all four strains, and for 24-h exposure they were lower, except in UTEX 72. Thus, the relative Ni sensitivity of growth and photosynthesis of the four strains depends on the duration of exposure. The results of factorial analysis of variance suggested that Ni toxicity to photosynthesis is a consequence of a strong interaction among strain, Ni dosage, and duration of exposure.     

Characterization of a cDNA encoding cysteine proteinase inhibitor from Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis) flower buds

A cDNA encoding a new phytocystatin isotype named BCPI-1 was isolated from a cDNA library of Chinese cabbage flower buds. The BCPI-1 clone encodes 199 amino acids resulting in a protein much larger than other known phytocystatins. BCPI-1 has an unusually long C-terminus. A BCPI-1 fusion protein expressed in Escherichia coli strongly inhibits the enzymatic activity of papain, a cysteine proteinase. Genomic Southern blot analysis revealed that the BCPI gene is a member of a small multi-gene family in Chinese cabbage. Northern blot analysis showed that it is differentially expressed in the flower bud, leaf and root.     

生物复苏——大绝灭后生物演化历史的第一幕

生命史是一部生物界短期,快速剧变与长期,慢速稳定相互交替的历史。大绝灭（即集群绝灭）事件反映了全球环境的大突变,点断了地质历史中的生命记录及其发展历程,预示着生物界的演化出现了最有意义的飞跃,近年来尝试研究大绝灭后全球生物界的残存－复苏及其基本型式,并探索复苏的控制因素,标志着地质科学中一个重心的转移（即从大绝灭转向其后的生物残存与复苏的研究）。生物复苏揭示了大绝灭后生物演化历史的第一幕,其研究的     

融合株SPSC发酵生产酒精的工艺研究 Ⅰ.絮凝速率、发酵过程的最适温度和pH值

酿酒酵母属(S. cereviae)变异株和粟酒裂殖酵母属(S. pombe)变异株进行属间原生质体融合得到融合株SPSC,该融合株比S. cereviae具有强的自身絮凝能力。以葡萄糖浓度150g/L的底物在30～44℃的温度范围内进行摇瓶厌氧发酵,获得最佳温度范围为34～38℃,最高发酵温度为40℃。在有效容积2.35L悬浮床反应器中,在pH值3.0～5.0范围内进行连续发酵,获得最适发酵pH为3.5～4.5。     

Identification of molecular markers in soybean comparing RFLP,RAPD and AFLP DNA mapping techniques

Three different DNA mapping techniques—RFLP, RAPD and AFLP—were used on identical soybean germplasm to compare their ability to identify markers in the development of a genetic linkage map. Polymorphisms present in fourteen different soybean cultivars were demonstrated using all three techniques. AFLP, a novel PCR-based technique, was able to identify multiple polymorphic bands in a denaturing gel using 60 of 64 primer pairs tested. AFLP relies on primers designed in part on sequences for endonuclease restriction sites and on three selective nucleotides. The 60 diagnostic primer pairs tested for AFLP analysis each distinguished on average six polymorphic bands. Using specific primers designed for soybean fromEco RI andMse I restriction site sequences and three selective nucleotides, as many as 12 polymorphic bands per primer could be obtained with AFLP techniques. Only 35% of the RAPD reactions identified a polymorphic band using the same soybean cultivars, and in those positive reactions, typically only one or two polymorphic bands per gel were found. Identification of polymorphic bands using RFLP techniques was the most cumbersome, because Southern blotting and probe hybridization were required. Over 50% of the soybean RFLP probes examined failed to distinguish even a single polymorphic band, and the RFLP probes that did distinguish polymorphic bands seldom identified more than one polymorphic band. We conclude that, among the three techniques tested, AFLP is the most useful.     

Genetic and clonal diversity in Korean populations ofVitex rotundifolia (Verbenaceae)

Vitex rotundifolia L.f. is a woody perennial and has sexual and asexual modes of reproduction. Allozyme study was conducted on 550 plants in 13 Korean populations. The levels of genetic variability and divergence within and among populations, respectively, are considerably lower and higher than the mean values for woody plants with similar life history tralts. Mean percentage of polymorphic loci (P _P), mean number of alleles per locus (A _P), and mean genetic diversity (He _P) within populations ofV. rotundifolia were: 16.7%, 1.21, and 0.047. On average, about 79% of the total variation inV. rotundifolia was common to all populations (meanG _ST=0.208). In addition, significant differences in allele frequencies among populations were found in all polymorphic loci examined (P<0.001). On the other hand, levels of genotypic diversity within and among populations were moderate. About 44% (18/41) of multilocus genotypes were “local genotypes” (genotypes occurring in only one population), whereas only one “widespread genotype” (genotypes occurring in more than 75% of the populations) were detected. The mean number of multilocus genotypes per population (G) and mean genotypic diversity index (D _G) were 8.4 and 0.74, respectively. Most common multilocus genotypes found in populations were homozygous for five polymorphic loci. The abundance of ramets of these genets is responsible for the low levels of expected heterozygosity within populations. The results indicate that clonal reproduction may act as an enhancer of genetic drift by reducing effective size of local populations ofV. rotundifolia.     

Comparison of the computed three-dimensional structures of oncogenic forms (bound to GDP) of theras-Gene-Encoded p21 protein with the structure of the normal (non-transforming) wild-type protein

Theras-oncogene-encoded p21 protein becomes oncogenic if amino acid substitutions occur at critical positions in the polypeptide chain. The most commonly found oncogenic forms contain Val in place of Gly 12 or Leu in place of Gln 61. To determine the effects of these substitutions on the three-dimensional structure of the whole p21 protein, we have performed molecular dynamics calculations on each of these three proteins bound to GDP and magnesium ion to compute the average structures of each of the three forms. Comparisons of the computed average structures shows that both oncogenic forms with Val 12 and Leu 61 differ substantially in structure from that of the wild type (containing Gly 12 and Gln 61) in discrete regions: residues 10–16, 32–47, 55–74, 85–89, 100–110, and 119–134. All of these regions occur in exposed loops, and several of them have already been found to be involved in the cellular functioning of the p21 protein. These regions have also previously been identified as the most flexible domains of the wild-type protein and have been bound to be the same ones that differ in conformation between transforming and nontransforming p21 mutant proteins neither of which binds nucleotide. The two oncogenic forms have similar conformations in their carboxyl-terminal domains, but differ in conformation at residues 32–47 and 55–74. The former region is known to be involved in the interaction with at least three downstream effector target proteins. Thus, differences in structure between the two oncogenic proteins may reflect different relative affinities of each oncogenic protein for each of these effector targets. The latter region, 55–74, is known to be a highly mobile segment of the protein. The results strongly suggest that critical oncogenic amino acid substitutions in the p21 protein cause changes in the structures of vital domains of this protein.     

固定化虫荧光素酶光纤传感器

固定化虫荧光素酶光纤传感器蔡谨,王顺光,杨歧生,吉鑫松（浙江大学化工系生化教研室,杭州３１００２７;中国科学院上海生物化学研究所,２０００３１）关键词虫荧光素酶,ＡＴＰ,固定化酶,光纤生物传感器ＡＴＰ是生物体内极为重要的能量物质。如何准确快速地定量Ａ...     

拟夏孢锈属（Uredinopsis）新记录种

采到骨状拟夏孢锈（Ｕｒｅｄｉｎｏｐｓｉｓ ｏｓｓｉｆｏｒｍｉｓ Ｋａｍｅｉ）为中国新记录种。