Development of a sensitive molecular detection assay for mango malformation disease caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium mangiferae</Emphasis>

Objectives

To develop a sensitive and specific molecular assay for detection of mango malformation disease (MMD), which is caused primarily by Fusarium mangiferae.

Results

We screened 100 ISSR primers and identified one (UBC888) that directed the stable amplification of a specific gene fragment of 479 bp (GenBank accession number KJ526382). Based on the DNA sequence of this fragment, a pair of SCAR primers (W342 and W1772) were designed to amplify another gene fragment of 1376 bp (GenBank accession number KJ526383), demonstrating the successful conversion of an ISSR marker to a SCAR marker. An effective and simple detection assay for MMD was established based on this pair of PCR primers, with a high level of specificity and sensitivity to the DNA of F. mangiferae and other species of Fusarium both in vitro and in vivo. It can detect as little as 10 pg fungal DNA from the DNA of mango’s tissues.

Conclusions

Our assay provides a practical method for the early diagnosis so that proper prevention of the mango malformation disease can be developed.

     

cDNA Microarray Analysis Revealing Candidate Biomineralization Genes of the Pearl Oyster, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinctada fucata martensii</Emphasis>

Biomineralization is a common biological phenomenon resulting in strong tissue, such as bone, tooth, and shell. Pinctada fucata martensii is an ideal animal for the study of biomineralization. Here, microarray technique was used to identify biomineralization gene in mantle edge (ME), mantle center (MC), and both ME and MC (ME-MC) for this pearl oyster. Results revealed that 804, 306, and 1127 contigs expressed at least three times higher in ME, MC, and ME-MC as those in other tissues. Blast against non-redundant database showed that 130 contigs (16.17 %), 53 contigs (17.32 %), and 248 contigs (22.01 %) hit reference genes (E?≤??10), among which 91 contigs, 48 contigs, and 168 contigs could be assigned to 32, 26, and 63 biomineralization genes in tissue of ME, MC, and ME-MC at a threshold of 3 times upregulated expression level. The ratios of biomineralization contigs to homologous contigs were similar at 3 times, 10 times, and 100 times of upregulated expression level in either ME, MC, or ME-MC. Moreover, the ratio of biomineralization contigs was highest in MC. Although mRNA distribution characters were similar to those in other studies for eight biomineralization genes of PFMG3, Pif, nacrein, MSI7, mantle gene 6, Pfty1, prismin, and the shematrin, most biomineralization genes presented different expression profiles from existing reports. These results provided massive fundamental information for further study of biomineralization gene function, and it may be helpful for revealing gene nets of biomineralization and the molecular mechanisms underlining formation of shell and pearl for the oyster.     

Adsorption of heavy metal from aqueous solution by dehydrated root powder of long-root Eichhornia crassipes

The root powder of long-root Eichhornia crassipes, as a new kind of biodegradable adsorbent, has been tested for aqueous adsorption of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd. From FT-IR, we found that the absorption peaks of phosphorous compounds, carbonyl, and nitrogenous compounds displayed obvious changes before and after adsorption which illustrated that plant characteristics may play a role in binding with metals. Surface properties and morphology of the root powders have been characterized by means of SEM and BET. Energy spectrum analysis showed that the metals were adsorbed on root powders after adsorption. Then, optimum quantity of powder, pH values, and metal ion concentrations in single-system and multi-system were detected to discuss the characteristics and mechanisms of metal adsorption. Freundlich model and the second-order kinetics equation could well describe the adsorption of heavy metals in single-metal system. The adsorption of Pb, Zn, and Cd in the multi-metal system decreased with the concentration increased. At last, competitive adsorption of every two metals on root powder proved that Cu and Pb had suppressed the adsorption performance of Cd and Zn.     

Green synthesis of fluorescence carbon nanoparticles from yum and application in sensitive and selective detection of ATP

Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CPs), a fascinating class of recently discovered nanocarbons, have been widely known as some of the most promising sensing probes in biological or chemical analysis. In this study, we demonstrate a green synthetic methodology for generating water‐soluble CPs with a quantum yield of approximately 24% via a simple heating process using yum mucilage as a carbon source. The prepared carbon nanoparticles with an ~10 nm size possessed excellent fluorescence properties, and the fluorescence of the CPs was strongly quenched by Fe³⁺, and recovered by adenosine triphosphate (ATP), thus, an ‘off’ and ‘on’ system can be easily established. This ‘CPs‐Fe³⁺‐ATP’ strategy was sensitive and selective at detecting ATP with the linear range of 0.5 µmol L^?1 to 50 µmol L^?1 and with a detection limit of 0.48 µmol L^?1. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Three pairs of weak interactions precisely regulate the G‐loop gate of Kir2.1 channel

Kir2.1 (also known as IRK1) plays key roles in regulation of resting membrane potential and cell excitability. To achieve its physiological roles, Kir2.1 performs a series of conformational transition, named as gating. However, the structural basis of gating is still obscure. Here, we combined site‐directed mutation, two‐electrode voltage clamp with molecular dynamics simulations and determined that H221 regulates the gating process of Kir2.1 by involving a weak interaction network. Our data show that the H221R mutant accelerates the rundown kinetics and decelerates the reactivation kinetics of Kir2.1. Compared with the WT channel, the H221R mutation strengthens the interaction between the CD‐ and G‐loops (E303‐R221) which stabilizes the close state of the G‐loop gate and weakens the interactions between C‐linker and CD‐loop (R221‐R189) and the adjacent G‐loops (E303‐R312) which destabilizes the open state of G‐loop gate. Our data indicate that the three pairs of interactions (E303‐H221, H221‐R189 and E303‐R312) precisely regulate the G‐loop gate by controlling the conformation of G‐loop. Proteins 2016; 84:1929–1937. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

反硝化基因工程菌株YP4S的构建及对污水除氮特性研究

从养殖场污泥中筛选出菌株YP4,经16S rDNA分子发育树的同源序列比对,确定为克雷伯什菌属(Klebsiella sp.)。由NCBI数据库查编码亚硝酸还原酶(Nir)的基因nirS序列,设计引物,以铜绿假单胞菌PAOI基因组DNA为模板,应用PCR技术扩增目的片段nirS,经过双酶切、克隆和转化,得到重组质粒pYP4S,然后转化野生菌株YP4,构建反硝化基因工程菌YP4S。菌株生长曲线测定表明,工程菌株YP4S与YP4的生长特性基本一致。工程菌株YP4S对模拟污水COD、TN、NH_4^+-N和NO_3^--N具有较高的去除率,YP4S与YP4相比,对NO_2^--N积累的减少量为(32.44±3.96)%,明显减少了NO_2^--N的积累。通过正交试验获得工程菌株YP4S在C/N=10、T=30℃、r=200 r/min和pH=7.0的最佳组合条件下,对模拟污水TN去除率较高。应用工程菌株YP4S处理猪场沉淀池的实际污水,COD、TN、TP、NH_4^+-N和NO_3^--N去除率分别为(95.87±0.82)%、(76.38±3.84)%、(97.13±0.54)%和(75.35±2.57)%,NO_2^--N积累量为(3.31±1.24) mg/L,表明工程菌株YP4S具有较好反硝化作用,对含氮量高的实际污水修复具有潜在的应用前景。     

Cytotoxic Spliceostatin Analogs from Pseudomonas sp.

Two new spliceostatin analogs, designed as spliceostatins J and K ( 1 and 2 ), were isolated and identified from the culture of Pseudomonas sp., along with two known ones, FR901464 ( 3 ) and spliceostatin E ( 4 ). Their structures were elucidated by detailed interpretation of their spectroscopic data, especially 2D‐NMR and HR‐ESI‐MS. Spliceostatin J ( 1 ) represented the first example of spliceostatins bearing an unusual hexahydrofuro[3,4‐b]furan moiety. Biological assay showed all the isolated compounds except 1 displayed potent cytotoxic activities against two cancer cell lines (MDA‐MB‐231 and A‐549). Structure‐activity‐relationship studies revealed that the tetrahydropyran ring in spliceostatin analogs was necessary for their bioactive retention.