紫蓬山区三种鹭繁殖生物学研究

作者报道了１９９６年４～７月紫蓬山区的池鹭,白鹭和夜鹭的繁殖行为和雏鸟的食性及生长,结果表明：巢前期三种鹭取食地点远离巢区;求偶方式主要有婚飞,显示饰羽,求偶喂食和象征性营巢行为;获得巢材的方式不同,异步产卵,异步孵化;雏出孵前,白鹭和夜鹭的迅速加固和扩大巢的行为,育雏期,取食大小随雏鸟日龄增大而增大,取食距离随雏期延长而缩短,三者雏鸟重增长的数学模型分别为：ｗ＝２０５．１ｅ＾－（０．０６５ｅ）＾     

Analysis of synonymous codon usage in H5N1 virus and other influenza A viruses

In this study, we calculated the codon usage bias in H5N1 virus and performed a comparative analysis of synonymous codon usage patterns in H5N1 virus, five other evolutionary related influenza A viruses and a influenza B virus. Codon usage bias in H5N1 genome is a little slight, which is mainly determined by the base compositions on the third codon position. By comparing synonymous codon usage patterns in different viruses, we observed that the codon usage pattern of H5N1 virus is similar with other influenza A viruses, but not influenza B virus, and the synonymous codon usage in influenza A virus genes is phylogenetically conservative, but not strain-specific. Synonymous codon usage in genes encoded by different influenza A viruses is genus conservative. Compositional constraints could explain most of the variation of synonymous codon usage among these virus genes, while gene function is also correlated to synonymous codon usages to a certain extent. However, translational selection and gene length have no effect on the variations of synonymous codon usage in these virus genes.     

Nitrogen input quality changes the biochemical composition of soil organic matter stabilized in the fine fraction: a long-term study

The chemical composition of soil organic matter (SOM) is a key determinant of its biological stability. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the effects of various sources of supplemental N on the chemical composition of SOM in the fine (<5 μm) mineral fraction. Treatments were fallow, maize/soybean in rotation, and continuous maize receiving no fertilizer (maize0N), synthetic fertilizer N (maize + N), or composted manure (maize + manure). The chemical structures in SOM associated with the fine fraction were determined using XANES spectroscopy at the C and N K-edges, which was assessed using multidimensional scaling. Analysis of amino sugar biomarkers were used to evaluate the fungal:bacterial contributions to the SOM. The addition of N to soils (i.e., maize + N, maize + manure, and maize/soybean treatments) resulted in the enrichment of proteinaceous compounds. Soils which did not receive supplemental N (i.e., fallow and maize0N treatments) were enriched in plant-derived compounds (e.g., aromatics, phenolics, carboxylic acids and aliphatic compounds), suggesting that decomposition of plant residues was constrained by N-limitation. Microbial populations assessed by amino sugar biomarker ratios showed that the highest contributions to SOM by bacteria occurred in the maize + manure treatment (high N input), and by fungi in the fallow treatment (low N input). The SOM in the maize + N and maize/soybean treatments was enriched in N-bonded aromatics; we attribute this enrichment to the abiotic reaction of inorganic N with organic C structures. The SOM in the maize + manure treatment was enriched in pyridinic-N, likely as a result of intense microbial processing and high SOM turnover. The presences of signals for ketone and pyrrole compounds in XANES spectra suggest their use as biomarkers for microbially transformed and stabilized SOM. The SOM in the maize + manure treatment was enriched in ketones which are likely microbial by-products of fatty acid catabolism. Pyrrole compounds, which may accumulate over the long term as by-products of protein transformations by an N-limited microbial community, were dominant in the fallow soil. A combination of molecular spectroscopy and biomarker analysis showed that the source of supplemental N to soil influences the stable C- and N-containing compounds of SOM in a long-term field study. Indeed, any increase in N availability allowed the microbial community to transform plant material into microbial by-products which occur as stable SOM compounds in the fine soil fraction.     

Identification of tumor metastasisrelated gene TMSG-1 by mRNA differential display

To investigate genes involved in cancer metastasis, mRNA differential display was used to compare the levels of gene expression of two cancer sublines derived from prostate carcinoma cell PC-3M that had different metastatic potentials. The differentially expressed genes were confirmed by Northern blot, and sequenced. The full-length cDNA of a tumor metastasis suppressor gene (TMSG-1) was obtained by using EST assembling and verified by RT-PCR and sequencing. The results showed that expression levels of TMSG-1 were lower in the highly metastatic cell line 1E8, compared with the non-metastatic cell line 2B4. The difference was significant. Full-length cDNA of TMSG-1 was about 2 kb, containing an open reading frame that encoded a protein of 230 amino acids. GenBank Blastn showed no marked homology with known genes. The functional prediction of amino acids sequence encoded by TMSG-1 gene indicated TMSG-1 protein was transmembrane protein, with 3 transmembrane domains, 3 putative protein kinase phosphorylatio     

Simple sequence repeat genetic linkage maps of A-genome diploid cotton (Gossypium arboreum)

This study introduces the construction of the first intraspacific genetic linkage map of the A-genome diploid cotton with newly developed simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers using 189 F2 plants derived from the cross of two Asiatic parents were detected using 6 092 pairs of SSR primers. Two-hundred and sixty-eight pairs of SSR pdmers with better polymorphisms were picked out to analyze the F2 population. In total, 320 polymorphic bands were generated and used to construct a linkage map with JoinMap3.0. Two-hundred and sixty-seven loci, Including three phenotypic traits were mapped at a logarithms of odds ratio (LOD) ≥ 3.0 on 13 linkage groups. The total length of the map was 2 508.71 cM, and the average distance between adjacent markers was 9.40 cM. Chromosome assignments were according to the association of linkages with our backbone tetraploid specific map using the 89 similar SSR loci. Comparisons among the 13 suites of orthologous linkage groups revealed that the A-genome chromosomes are largely collinear with the At and Dt sub-genome chromosomes. Chromosomes associated with inversions suggested that allopolyploidization was accompanied by homologous chromosomal rearrangement. The inter-chromosomal duplicated loci supply molecular evidence that the A-genome diploid Asiatic cotton is paleopolyploid.     

Premortem autophagy determines the immunogenicity of chemotherapy-induced cancer cell death

One particular strategy to render anticancer therapies efficient consists of converting the patient's own tumor cells into therapeutic vaccines, via the induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD). One of the hallmarks of ICD dwells in the active release of ATP by cells committed to undergo, but not yet having succumbed to, apoptosis. We observed that the knockdown of essential autophagy-related genes (ATG3, ATG5, ATG7 and BECN1) abolishes the pre-apoptotic secretion of ATP by several human and murine cancer cell lines undergoing ICD. Accordingly, autophagy-competent, but not autophagy-deficient, tumor cells treated with ICD inducers in vitro could induce a tumor-specific immune response in vivo. Cancer cell lines stably depleted of ATG5 or ATG7 normally generate tumors in vivo, and such autophagy-deficient neoplasms, upon systemic treatment with ICD inducers, exhibit the same levels of apoptosis (as monitored by nuclear shrinkage and caspase-3 activation) and necrosis (as determined by following the kinetics of HMGB1 release) as their autophagy-proficient counterparts. However, autophagy-incompetent cancers fail to release ATP, to recruit immune effectors into the tumor bed and to respond to chemotherapy in conditions in which autophagy-competent tumors do so. The intratumoral administration of ecto-ATPase inhibitors increases extracellular ATP concentrations, re-establishes the therapy-induced recruitment of dendritic cells and T cells into the tumor bed, and restores the chemotherapeutic response of autophagy-deficient cancers. Altogether, these results suggest that autophagy-incompetent tumor cells escape from chemotherapy-induced (and perhaps natural?) immunosurveillance because they are unable to release ATP.     

Complete genome sequence of a bovine viral diarrhea virus 2 from commercial fetal bovine serum

We isolated a bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) from commercial fetal bovine serum and designated it HLJ-10. The complete genome is 12,284 nucleotides (nt); the open reading frame is 11,694 nt, coding 3,898 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that this strain belongs to BVDV group 2.     

A novel thermostable phytase from the fungus Aspergillus aculeatus RCEF 4894: gene cloning and expression in Pichia pastoris

A novel gene of thermostable phytase, phyA, was isolated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques from Aspergillus aculeatus RCEF 4894. The full-length phyA gene comprises 1,404 bp and encodes 467 amino-acid residues, including a 19-residue putative N-terminal signal peptide. The phytase of A. aculeatus was a novel addition to the histidine-acid phosphatase family, as evidenced by both the conserved motifs RHGXRXP and HD in the amino-acid sequence, and 3D structure models. The recombinant phytase was overexpressed in Pichia pastoris, and its specific activity reached 3,000 U mL⁻¹ at the optimum pH of 5.5. This recombinant, thermostable phytase was able to withstand temperatures of up to 90 °C for 10 min, with a loss of only 13.9% of initial enzymatic activity, and showed high activity with phytic-acid sodium salt at a pH range of 2.5–6.5. The broad pH optima and high thermostability of the phytase makes it a promising candidate for feed-pelleting applications.     

Response of rice (Oryza sativa) with root surface iron plaque under aluminium stress

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Rice (Oryza sativa) is an aquatic plant with a characteristic of forming iron plaque on its root surfaces. It is considered to be the most Al-tolerant species among the cereal crops. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of root surface iron plaque on Al translocation, accumulation and the change of physiological responses under Al stress in rice in the presence of iron plaque. METHODS: The japonica variety rice, Koshihikari, was used in this study and was grown hydroponically in a growth chamber. Iron plaque was induced by exposing the rice roots to 30 mg L(-1) ferrous iron either as Fe(II)-EDTA in nutrient solution (6 d, Method I) or as FeSO(4) in water solution (12 h, Method II). Organic acid in root exudates was retained in the anion-exchange resin and eluted with 2 m HCl, then analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after proper pre-treatment. Fe and Al in iron plaque were extracted with DCB (dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate) solution. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Both methods (I and II) could induce the formation of iron plaque on rice root surfaces. The amounts of DCB-extractable Fe and Al on root surfaces were much higher in the presence of iron plaque than in the absence of iron plaque. Al contents in root tips were significantly decreased with iron plaque; translocation of Al from roots to shoots was significantly reduced with iron plaque. Al-induced secretion of citrate was observed and iron plaque could greatly depress this citrate secretion. These results suggested that iron plaque on rice root surfaces can be a sink to sequester Al onto the root surfaces and Fe ions can pre-saturate Al-binding sites in root tips, which protects the rice root tips from suffering Al stress to a certain extent.