含par位点的重组质粒Psjm3的构建及其稳定性研究

利用自然质粒pSC101par位点的分离稳定性功能,构建了含par位点的质粒pSJM4和pSJM3,通过在同样宿主E.coli HB101中的稳定性比较研究表明,不含par位点的重组质粒pSJ3很不稳定,E.coli G3(pSJ3)在培养到第10代时已开始出现pSJ3的丢失,到培养至50代时则已全部丢失;而含par位点的重组质粒pSJM3则表现得十分稳定,E.coli G3-1(pSJM3)经70代培养,仍无明显的质粒丢失现象,其稳定率保持97%以上。通过对不含par和含par的非重组质粒pUC18和pSJM4的稳定性比较也获得同样的结果。通过对E.coliG3(pSJ3)和E.coli G3-1(pSJM3)的产酶活性比较研究表明,G3-1菌株明显高于G3菌株,说明我们构建的重组质粒pSJM3上的par位点功能不仅没有因外源基因的表达而受影响,而且有利于外源基因的表达。     

Enhancing Specific-Antibody Production to the ragB Vaccine with GITRL That Expand Tfh,IFN-γ+ T Cells and Attenuates Porphyromonas gingivalis Infection in Mice

The outer membrane protein RagB is one of the major virulence factors of the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). In order to induce protective immune response against P. gingivalis infection, an mGITRL gene-linked ragB DNA vaccine (pIRES-ragB-mGITRL ) was constructed. Six-week-old female BALB/c mice were immunized with pIRES-ragB-mGITRL through intramuscular injection and then challenged by subcutaneous injection in the abdomen with P. gingivalis. RagB-specific antibody-forming cells were evaluated by an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot, and specific antibody was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the frequencies of Tfh and IFN-γ⁺ T cells in spleen were measured using flow cytometer, and the levels of IL-21 and IFN-γ mRNA or proteins were detected by real time RT-PCR or ELISA. The data showed that the mGITRL-linked ragB DNA vaccine induced higher levels of RagB-specific IgG in serum and RagB-specific antibody-forming cells in spleen. The frequencies of Tfh and IFN-γ⁺ T cells were obviously expanded in mice immunized by pIRES-ragB-mGITRL compared with other groups (pIRES or pIRES-ragB ). The levels of Tfh and IFN-γ⁺ T cells associated cytokines were also significantly increased in pIRES-ragB-mGITRL group. Therefore, the mice immunized with ragB plus mGITRL showed the stronger resistant to P. gingivalis infection and a significant reduction of the lesion size caused by P. gingivalis infection comparing with other groups. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that intramuscular injection of DNA vaccine ragB together with mGITRL induced protective immune response dramatically by increasing Tfh and IFN-γ⁺ T cells and antibody production to P. gingivalis.     

Correlations and comparisons of quantitative trait loci with family per se and testcross performance for grain yield and related traits in maize

Simultaneous improvement in grain yield and related traits in maize hybrids and their parents (inbred lines) requires a better knowledge of genotypic correlations between family per se performance (FP) and testcross performance (TP). Thus, to understand the genetic basis of yield-related traits in both inbred lines and their testcrosses, two F _2:3 populations (including 230 and 235 families, respectively) were evaluated for both FP and TP of eight yield-related traits in three diverse environments. Genotypic correlations between FP and TP, $ \hat{r}_{\text{g}} $ (FP, TP), were low (0–0.16) for grain yield per plant (GYPP) and kernel number per plant (KNPP) in the two populations, but relatively higher (0.32–0.69) for the other six traits with additive effects as the primary gene action. Similar results were demonstrated by the genotypic correlations between observed and predicted TP values based on quantitative trait loci positions and effects for FP, $ \hat{r}_{\text{g}} $ (M _FP, Y _TP). A total of 88 and 35 QTL were detected with FP and TP, respectively, across all eight traits in the two populations. However, the genotypic variances explained by the QTL detected in the cross-validation analysis were much lower than those in the whole data set for all traits. Several common QTL between FP and TP that accounted for large phenotypic variances were clustered in four genomic regions (bin 1.10, 4.05–4.06, 9.02, and 10.04), which are promising candidate loci for further map-based cloning and improvement in grain yield in maize. Compared with publicly available QTL data, these QTL were also detected in a wide range of genetic backgrounds and environments in maize. These results imply that effective selection based on FP to improve TP could be achieved for traits with prevailing additive effects.     

A Water‐Soluble Cu Complex as Molecular Catalyst for Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction on Graphene‐Based Electrodes

A structurally simple molecular 1,10‐phenanthroline‐Cu complex on a mesostructured graphene matrix that can be active and selective toward CO₂ reduction over H₂ evolution in an aqueous solution is reported. The active sites consist of Cu(I) center in a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry, which enables the adsorption of CO₂ with η¹‐COO‐like configuration to commence the catalysis, with a turnover frequency of ≈45 s^?1 at ?1 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Using in situ infrared spectroelectrochemical investigation, it is demonstrated that the Cu complex can be reversibly heterogenized near the graphene surface via potential control. An increase of electron density in the complex is observed as a result of the interaction from the electric field, which further tunes the electron distribution in the neighboring CO₂. It is also found that the mesostructure of graphene matrix favored CO₂ reduction on the Cu center over hydrogen evolution by limiting mass transport from the bulk solution to the electrode surface.     

Improving rice yield and quality by QTL pyramiding

To facilitate marker-assisted transfer of desirable genes for improvement of yield traits, we used a set of backcross recombinant inbred lines (BRIL) derived from two elite parental lines, ‘Zhenshan97’ and ‘93-11’, to resolve a quantitative trait loci (QTL) cluster for heading date and yield-related traits in rice. Four main-effect QTL (qHD6.1, qHD6.2, qHD7, and qHD8) and four epistatic QTL affecting heading date in the BRIL were detected in two experimental trials. The major QTL (qHD8) was confirmed in three heterogeneous inbred families (HIF) that segregated for this target region, and narrowed down to a 20-kb segment in a large HIF-derived population. qHD8 was found to interact with qHD7 and had a pleiotropic effect responsible for heading date and yield components. To test usability of the identified QTL in rice improvement, we further developed near-isogenic lines (NIL) containing one or more target genes by marker-assisted transfer of ‘93-11’ alleles at qHD8, qHD7, and qHD6.1, and the GS3 gene for grain size into ‘Zhenshan97’. The pyramid line NIL(qHD8 + GS3) had higher yield potential, longer grains, and a more suitable heading date than ‘Zhenshan97’. Comparison of the NIL showed existence of epistasis between alleles at different loci and background effect on qHD8, which are very important for pyramiding of desirable alleles at the target QTL. These results will be particularly useful not only to understand the genetic basis of yield-related traits but also to improve the efficiency of marker-assisted selection for favorable loci in rice breeding programs.     

Novel potassium N-[(2S,3R,4R,5R)-2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxylhex-1-yl]-L-amino acid dichloroplatinates(II) with high anti-tumor activity and low side reaction

To discover whether novel anti-tumor platinum agents are capable of selectively accumulating in tumor tissue, three novel potassium N-[(2S,3R,4R,5R)-2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxylhex-1-yl]-L-amino acid dichloroplatinates(II) were prepared. At a dose of 1.67 μmol kg(-1) the in vivo anti-tumor potencies of two of the compounds were higher than that of oxaliplatin. The mortality analysis indicated that these compounds resulted in a 100% survival rate, whereas oxaliplatin lead to an 80% survival rate. The organ damage examination indicated that these compounds induced less damage than oxaliplatin. The platinum accumulation in the organs, blood and bone was significantly lower than that of oxaliplatin treated mice, while the platinum accumulation in the tumor tissue was significantly higher than that of the oxaliplatin treated mice.     

Demographic trade-offs determine species abundance and diversity

Aims Much recent theory has focused on the role of neutral processes in assembling communities, but the basic assumption that all species are demographically identical has found little empirical support. Here, we show that the framework of the current neutral theory can easily be generalized to incorporate species differences so long as fitness equivalence among individuals is maintained through trade-offs between birth and death.Methods Our theory development is based on a careful reformulation of the Moran model of metacommunity dynamics in terms of a non-linear one-step stochastic process, which is described by a master equation.Important findings We demonstrate how fitness equalization through demographic trade-offs can generate significant macroecological diversity patterns, leading to a very different interpretation of the relation between Fisher's α and Hubbell's fundamental biodiversity number. Our model shows that equal fitness (not equal demographics) significantly promotes species diversity through strong selective sieving of community membership against high-mortality species, resulting in a positive association between species abundance and per capita death rate. An important implication of demographic trade-off is that it can partly explain the excessively high speciation rates predicted by the neutral theory of the stronger symmetry. Fitness equalization through demographic trade-offs generalizes neutral theory by considering heterospecific demographic difference, thus representing a significant step toward integrating the neutral and niche paradigms of biodiversity.