Diallyl trisulfide induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of A549 cells in vitro and in vivo

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality all over the world. In recent years, pulmonary adenocarcinoma has surpassed squamous cell carcinoma in frequency and is the predominant form of lung cancer in many countries. Epidemiological investigations have shown an inverse relationship between garlic (Allium sativum) consumption and death rate from many cancers. Diallyl trisulfide (DATS) is one of the garlic-derived compounds (also known as: organosulfer compounds, OSC). DATS can induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of many cancer cell lines. Our study demonstrated that the apoptotic incidents induced by DATS were a mitochondria-dependent caspase cascade through a significant decrease of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 that resulted in up-regulation of the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and the activity of caspase-3, -8, and -9. Eventually, DATS induced the apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, by establishing an animal model of female BALB/c nude mice with A549 xenografts, we found that oral gavage of DATS significantly retarded growth of A549 xenografts in nude mice without causing weight loss or any other side effects compared with the control group. All the evidence both in vitro and in vivo suggested that DATS could be an ideal anti-cancer drug.     

Facilitation promotes invasions in plant‐associated microbial communities

While several studies have established a positive correlation between community diversity and invasion resistance, it is less clear how species interactions within resident communities shape this process. Here, we experimentally tested how antagonistic and facilitative pairwise interactions within resident model microbial communities predict invasion by the plant–pathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum. We found that facilitative resident community interactions promoted and antagonistic interactions suppressed invasions both in the lab and in the tomato plant rhizosphere. Crucially, pairwise interactions reliably explained observed invasion outcomes also in multispecies communities, and mechanistically, this was linked to direct inhibition of the invader by antagonistic communities (antibiosis), and to a lesser degree by resource competition between members of the resident community and the invader. Together, our findings suggest that the type and strength of pairwise interactions can reliably predict the outcome of invasions in more complex multispecies communities.     

鸡减蛋综合征病毒（EDSV—76）末端前体蛋白的基因结构分析

从中国发病鸡群中分离的鸡减蛋综合征病毒弱毒株ＡＡ－２,经常规方法提取其病毒核酸后,组建了完整的限制性内切酶ＰｓｔＩ及ＨｉｎｇⅢ水解片段的基因文库,并对其中ＨｉｎｄⅢ,－ＳａｃⅠ进行了序列测定。同源比较分析证明：其Ｌ链含编码病毒末端前体蛋白,容量为５８０个氨基酸残基的开放读码框架。     

Delayed development of the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and increased parasitism by Encarsia bimaculata in response to sublethal doses of piperonyl butoxide

Abstract Effects of sublethal piperonyl butoxide (PB) on parasitization of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius ) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) by Encarsia bimaculata Heraty et Polaszek (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) were evaluated both in cage and greenhouse experiments. When first, second and third instar B. tabaci nymphs were treated with PB, all but the first instar were significantly prolonged. Data indicated that sublethal PB could improve E. bimaculata parasitism rates without influencing parasitoid eclosion rates. Prolonged development increased rates of parasitism by E. bimaculata, from 17.6% to 24.7% in cages, presumably by increasing the duration of host exposure. Sublethal PB combined with E. bimaculata as an integrated approach to control B. tabaci was evaluated using life table parameters under greenhouse conditions. Indices of population trend (I) calculated from life tables were estimated at 4.6 for B. tabaci exposed to PB and parasitoids compared to 14.1 with parasitoids alone and 23.5 in untreated controls. The results showed that after PB was sprayed and parasitoids introduced, development of B. tabaci was delayed and the peak of each stage was postponed. The older nymphal stage had highest mortality, primarily due to mortality caused by parasitism by E. bimaculata.     

彩色马蹄莲的组织培养

以彩色马蹄莲芽眼为外植体,在添加不同激素配比的MS培养基上进行培养.结果表明:(1)较适宜诱导愈伤组织的激素组合是1.5 mg/L Zt+0.1 mg/L NAA、3.0 mg/L 6-BA+0.1 mg/L NAA或0.5 mg/L 2,4-D+0.1 mg/L NAA,出愈率分别为94.12%、100%和86.67%;较适宜诱导不定芽的激素组合是2.0 mg/L 6-BA+0.1 mg/L NAA,芽丛诱导率可达87.3%;芽增殖较适宜的激素组合是2.0 mg/L 6-BA+0.1 mg/L NAA或2.0 mg/L KT+1.0 mg/L NAA,而且在继代培养中,交替使用这两种激素组合,繁殖系数可达4倍以上;生根培养基以1/2 MS+0.3 mg/L NAA+0.2 mg/L IAA较为适宜,生根率达95%以上.(2)彩色马蹄莲小块茎形成的主要影响因素是培养基中的蔗糖浓度,最适宜蔗糖浓度为10%;10 mg/L多效唑和8 mg/L NAA对小块茎的形成有明显的促进作用,而分裂素则表现出较强的抑制作用.     

Isolation and characterization of a mesophilic Arthrospira maxima strain capable of producing docosahexaenoic acid

A strain of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira was isolated from Lake Chahannaoer in northern China and was characterized according to microscopic morphology, photosynthetic oxygen-evolving activity, growth rate, and nutritional profile. Compared with thermophilic Arthrospira species occurring naturally in tropical and subtropical lakes, this isolate is mesophilic and grows optimally at ~20 degreesC. The total protein, fatty acid, phycocyanin, carotenoid, and chlorophyll a contents were 67.6, 6.1, 4.32, 0.29, and 0.76 grams per 100 grams of dry weight, respectively. The strain is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). An essential omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), was detected, and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and DHA accounted for 28.3% of the total fatty acid content. These features of this newly isolated strain make it potentially useful in commercial mass culture in local areas or as a biofuel feedstock. It is also an alternative resource for studying the metabolic PUFA pathways and mechanisms of cold stress tolerance in cyanobacteria.     

6个线粒体脑肌病伴高乳酸血症和卒中样发作综合征(MELAS)家系先证者线粒体基因全序列比较分析

线粒体脑肌病伴高乳酸血症和卒中样发作综合征(Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes, MELAS)是一种异质性很强的遗传代谢性疾病,而位于tRNA ^Leu(UUR)基因的A3243G突变是该疾病最常见的致病位点。文章对6个汉族MELAS家系的先证者进行了临床病理、分子遗传学特征分析,探讨了线粒体基因多态性对MELAS病人表型可能产生的影响。线粒体基因检测结果显示,4例先证者为A3243G阳性,其异质性比例介于29%~59%之间,临床症状的严重性和异质性程度大致呈正相关;2例MELAS/Leigh叠加综合征先证者为A3243G阴性,复发次数和严重程度重于其他4例先证者,其中1例先证者的血液和肌肉组织中发现ND5基因T13094C突变,该位点已报道与MELAS/Leigh叠加综合征、小脑共济失调相关。另外,线粒体基因全序列测序结果显示：除主要致病突变外,还存在多个与耳聋、癫痫、糖尿病、心肌病、Leigh综合征相关的线粒体基因多态位点,临床症状严重的患者其多态位点也更多。这表明MELAS综合征的复杂表型不仅受致病突变位点的直接影响,也可能受到其他与疾病相关的多态性位点的修饰作用。     

芳香植物广陈皮和山奈中有翅桃蚜驱避物质的化学鉴定

芳香植物广陈皮和山奈的挥发物对有翅桃蚜具有较强的驱避作用,本试验采用提取、浓缩、柱层析和GC-MS等技术鉴定了其中的活性成分。生物测定结果表明,索氏提取法能够保留原始材料的驱避效果,且广陈皮和山奈的索氏提取物存在加成效应或微弱的拮抗效应。分别采用梯度混合的石油醚-乙醚混合淋洗剂对两种材料的索氏提取物进行柱层析分离,发现广陈皮仅3∶7体积比的石油醚-乙醚洗脱液有活性;山奈层析物中驱避作用最强的是石油醚-乙醚等体积混合淋洗的馏分,驱避百分率达到45.56%,另外7∶3和2∶8体积比的石油醚-乙醚淋洗物也有相对较弱的驱避活性。GC-MS分析表明,广陈皮活性馏分的主要挥发物成分为D-柠檬烯(39.07%),山奈活性馏分的主要挥发物成分为反-对甲氧基肉桂酸乙酯(70.22%)和顺-对甲氧基肉桂酸乙酯(19.55%),两类化合物对桃蚜具有较强驱避活性,且两者之间仍表现为加成效应。     

白三叶生物技术研究进展

白三叶(Trifolium repens L.)是品质优良、易于栽培的一种重要豆科牧草.随着分子生物学和植物基因工程的发展,在分子水平上对白三叶进行遗传改良的研究已经取得了部分成果.综述了近20年来生物技术在白三叶研究领域的应用.