Stripe rust analysis of D-genome synthetic wheats (2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD) and their molecular diversity

Stripe or yellow rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici is a threat to many of the existing cultivars of Pakistan. Many attempts are being made to evolve new varieties resistant to stripe rust to reduce the losses caused by this disease. For this purpose, novel genes are needed to incorporate into the existing cultivars. These genes are found in the wild progenitors of wheat that are D-genome donors to wheat. As a result of extensive research, wheat synthetic hexaploids have been developed. These synthetics have resistances against biotic as well as abiotic stresses including the yellow rust. A group of such synthetics has been identified which seems resistant to this destructive disease. This group was tested under field conditions to identify resistance against stripe rust. The same population was analysed at molecular level to explore the genetic diversity for rust resistance. Genetic diversity among 34 selected synthetic hexaploid wheats was studied by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. A set of 12 RAPD primers was applied, and the level of polymorphism was found to be 46.67%. The coefficients in the range of 71–100% were detected by genetic similarity matrix based on Nei and Li's index. These coefficients were used for constructing a dendrogram using unweighted pair group of arithmetic means. Synthetic hexaploid line 34 was found to exhibit maximum genetic distances among the 34 selected lines. The same accession also showed excellent phenotypic characters with above average grain weight. These synthetic hexaploids carrying genetic potential for stripe rust resistance and morphological traits should be useful for improvement of existing wheat cultivars.     

ND-FISH技术在两栖类中的应用

非变性荧光原位杂交(ND-FISH)是近年来兴起的一种技术,一般使用带有荧光标记的简单序列重复(SSRs)作为探针,杂交中不需要进行探针和染色体的变性使得检测简单快捷。SSRs探针可检测出染色体上SSR富集的区域,可以帮助辨识染色体,SSRs分布的多态性还可以为遗传多态性的研究提供信息。(1)该研究首次将ND-FISH运用于两栖动物中,得到了5个可运用于多态性研究的标记。(2)研究发现,有别于其他类群,当ND-FISH应用于两栖动物时,染色体标本必须进行变性。(3)该研究还对双色荧光原位杂交流程进行了较大的改进,在一个杂交体系中同时使用直接和间接标记探针,通过一次实验获得双色信号,从而使步骤简化。     

高梁肉桂酸羟化酶基因SbC4H1降低拟南芥的木质素合成

肉桂酸羟化酶（C4H）是苯丙烷代谢通路的关键酶,其活性和含量直接影响木质素合成的效率。本文研究通过高粱bmr突变体的抑制差减杂交筛选、克隆到了一个C4H基因sbC4H。半定量RT-PCR发现,SbC4H1在多个bmr突变体中上调表达。将SbC4H1-GFP融合基因转化拟南芥原生质体进行瞬时表达,发现SbC4H1表达产物蛋白定位于细胞质。SbC4H1在拟南芥中的异源表达明显降低其茎的木质素含量,并且下调了拟南芥4CL1、FSH和HCT质素合成基因的表达。这些结果表明,高粱SbC4H1抑制了拟南芥木质素的合成。     

Matrix stiffness controls cardiac fibroblast activation through regulating YAP via AT1R

Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathway leading to heart failure and involves continued activation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) into myofibroblasts during myocardium damage, causing excessive deposition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and thus increases matrix stiffness. Increasing evidence has shown that stiffened matrix plays an important role in promoting CF activation and cardiac fibrosis, and several signaling factors mediating CF mechanotransduction have been identified. However, the key molecules that perceive matrix stiffness to regulate CF activation remain to be further explored. Here, we detected significantly increased expression and nuclear localization of Yes-associated protein (YAP) in native fibrotic cardiac tissues. By using mechanically regulated in vitro cell culture models, we found that a stiff matrix-induced high expression and nuclear localization of YAP in CFs, accompanied by enhanced cell activation. We also demonstrated that YAP knockdown decreased fibrogenic response of CFs and that YAP overexpression promoted CF activation, indicating that YAP plays an important role in mediating matrix stiffness-induced CF activation. Further mechanistic studies revealed that the YAP pathway is an important signaling branch downstream of angiotensin II type 1 receptor in CF mechanotransduction. The findings help elucidate the mechanism of fibrotic mechanotransduction and may contribute to the development of new approaches for treating fibrotic diseases.     

IGFBP6 regulates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and morphology via cyclin E–CDK2

Despite the high prevalence of varicose veins, the underlying pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear. The present study aims to explore the role of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6 (IGFBP6) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Using a protein array approach, we identified several differentially expressed proteins between varicose great saphenous veins and normal great saphenous veins. Bioinformatic analysis showed that IGFBP6 was closely related to cell proliferation. Further validation confirmed that IGFBP6 was one of the most highly expressed proteins in varicose vein tissue. Knocking down IGFBP6 in VSMCs significantly attenuated cell proliferation and induced the S phase arrest during the cell cycle. Further experiments demonstrated that IGFBP6 knockdown increased cyclin E ubiquitination, which reduced expression of cyclin E and phosphorylation of CDK2. Furthermore, IGFBP6 knockdown arrested centrosome replication, which subsequently influenced VSMC morphology. Ultimately, IGFBP6 was validated to be involved in VSMC proliferation in varicose vein tissues. The present study reveals that IGFBP6 is closely correlated with VSMC biological function and provides unprecedented insights into the underlying pathogenesis of varicose veins.     

Zn~(2+)对EGCG的结构和抑菌活性的影响

揭示耻垢分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium smegmatis mc~2155)和Zn~(2+)对表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(Epigallocatechin-3-gallate,EGCG)结构和生物学活性的影响,为开发高活性EGCG制剂奠定基础。首先利用HPLC检测EGCG和耻垢分枝杆菌相互作用后的含量和结构变化,进而化学合成EGCG-Zn~(2+),利用紫外吸收光谱法和HPLC方法鉴定EGCG被Zn~(2+)修饰前后的结构变化。最后采用纸片琼脂扩散法比较EGCG和EGCG-Zn~(2+)对耻垢分枝杆菌的抑制作用。EGCG与耻垢分枝杆菌相互作用18 h后,即出现不同的EGCG代谢物,且EGCG自身结构含量比例明显降低。EGCG与特定金属离子Zn~(2+)结合后,其最大吸收波长和吸收强度均有改变,且EGCG-Zn~(2+)在紫外吸收光区有明显的酚羟基吸收。HPLC结果表明, EGCG-Zn~(2+)能引起EGCG结构变化而导致保留时间延长。抑菌实验研究发现,EGCG-Zn~(2+)对耻垢分枝杆菌的抑菌作用弱于EGCG。研究表明,EGCG结构的稳定性容易受到细菌以及Zn~(2+)的影响,为EGCG的进一步研究开发提供线索。     

补充维生素D联合益生菌对多囊卵巢综合征患者肠道菌群多样性、代谢和激素水平的影响

目的探究补充维生素D联合益生菌治疗多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)对患者菌群多样性、代谢和激素水平的影响。方法选取2019年1月至2019年3月在东南大学附属中大医院诊断并治疗的PCOS患者60例,采用随机数表法分为联合补充组(30例)和维生素D组(30例),联合补充组同时使用维生素D和益生菌,维生素D组只补充维生素D。对治疗前后患者肠道菌群进行检测,并比较代谢因子和激素水平,使用Pearson相关性分析探究指标间的相关性。结果治疗后两组菌群丰富度、Shannon-Wiener指数及最大Shannon-Wiener指数均较治疗前显著升高(均P<0.05),且联合补充组丰富度、Shannon-Wiener指数显著高于维生素D组(t=4.496,2.896,均P<0.05);治疗后两组GSH、TAC水平均显著升高,其中联合补充组TAC显著高于维生素D组(t=2.505,P=0.002);治疗后两组MDA、TT显著降低,其中联合补充组MDA、TT显著低于维生素D组(t=2.371,2.177,P=0.021,0.034)。副拟杆菌属与MDA呈显著正相关(r=0.339,P=0.040),肠杆菌科与TT呈显著正相关(r=0.330,P=0.046),粪杆菌属与TAC呈显著正相关(r=0.437,P=0.007),乳杆菌属与TAC呈显著正相关(r=0.350,P=0.033),与TT呈显著负相关(r=-0.371,P=0.024)。结论补充维生素D联合益生菌可有效改善PCOS患者代谢因子及激素水平,且其肠道微生物与PCOS代谢及激素指标存在一定相关性。     

香椿木材解剖构造及其物理力学性质

为扩大和培育香椿资源和填补国内经济建设及人民生活对优质木材的需求,为其开发和利用提供一定的基础数据及科学的理论指导,依照GB1927-91实验方法对其木材的解剖和物理力学性质做了系统研究。结果表明：香椿纤维13年生后形态均匀,长宽比46.18,双壁厚11.00μm,纤维壁腔比0.56,腔径比0.76;导管分子平均长度383.52μm,宽度143.98μm;基本密度和气干密度分别为0.415g/cm3和0.475g/cm3,属“轻”型;差异干缩为1.93;木材的抗弯强度、抗弯弹性模量和顺纹抗压强度分别为67.85MPa、6179.82MPa和38.23MPa,综合强度106.08MPa,均属“低”级,香椿的综合品质系数为2556.1×105 Pa,为高等级材。综合分析表明香椿材质优良。     

高温和密度效应对棉蚜死亡和繁殖的影响

在室内采用叶子圆片培养基饲养棉蚜的方法,研究不同温度(32、34、36、38、40 ℃)和密度(每皿5、25、50、75)对棉蚜死亡和繁殖的影响.结果表明： 随着温度的升高、密度和持续天数的增加,棉蚜累计死亡率呈上升趋势.互补重对数模型模拟结果表明：β值随着密度的增加而减小,说明随着棉蚜密度的增加,温度对棉蚜的作用减弱;不同持续天数的γ_j值不同,说明棉蚜条件死亡率受温度和作用时间的共同影响.双因素方差分析结果表明,温度和密度显著影响棉蚜的繁殖率,且存在交互作用.32~36 ℃范围内,棉蚜繁殖率随密度的增加呈降低趋势,40 ℃条件下,不同密度棉蚜繁殖率没有差异,说明随着温度的升高,密度对棉蚜的作用逐渐减弱.即在不同的温度区间和密度范围内,温度和密度对棉蚜的作用大小、主次发生了改变.研究结果为棉蚜种群监测、预警和改进害虫控制方法提供了科学依据.     

东方马脑炎E2蛋白原核表达及免疫活性初步研究

为构建东方马脑炎病毒E2基因原核表达载体,完成E2蛋白表达及其免疫活性研究。利用PCR方法扩增E2编码全基因,大小为1 260 bp,将酶切后目的片段连接到原核表达载体pET-30a(+)上,构建成重组质粒pET30a(+)-EEEV-E2,采用酶切和测序分析方法鉴定正确的重组质粒转化到大肠杆菌BL21中,诱导E2蛋白表达,并用SDS-PAGE电泳和Western-blotting分析和鉴定目的蛋白;最后,用纯化的E2蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠,小鼠随机分成4组:PBS对照组、弗氏佐剂对照组、E2蛋白免疫组和E2蛋白+弗氏佐剂免疫组,每组小鼠免疫2次,两次免疫间隔时间为14天,免疫剂量均为100μL/只;小鼠初次免疫后第10天,用细胞因子ELISA试剂盒检测血清中IL-6、IL-12与TNF-α的浓度,加强免疫后第14天,用EEEV的假病毒检测血清中E2蛋白抗体的中和作用。结果表明完成了E2基因的原核表达载体pET30a(+)-E2构建和成功表达了带有His标签的E2融合蛋白,蛋白以包涵体形式存在,大小为53.0 kDa;免疫小鼠血清中产生了高水平的IL-6、IL-12与TNF-α和具有较强中和作用的E2蛋白抗体。研究结果为今后E2蛋白作为基因工程亚单位疫苗的研究提供了重要参考。