Quantitative trait loci for panicle size, heading date and plant height co-segregating in trait-performance derived near-isogenic lines of rice (Oryza sativa)

Near-isogenic lines (NILs) are ideal materials for precise estimation of quantitative trait loci (QTL) effects and map-based gene isolation. With the completion of the rice genome sequence, QTL isolation based on NILs is becoming a routine. In this study, a trait-performance derived NIL strategy was adopted to develop NILs. Two plants were identified within one inbred line of recombinant inbred lines (RILs, F₇ generation), exhibiting a significant difference in panicle size. By marker screening of the whole genome the genetic background of the two plants was estimated to be 98.7% identical. These two plants were selected as parents to produce a near-isogenic F₂ (NIL-F₂) population, consisting of 125 individuals, in which spikelets per panicle (SPP), grains per panicle (GPP), heading date (HD) and plant height (PH) were recorded. These four traits expressed discontinuous or bimodal distribution in the NIL-F₂ population and followed the expected segregation ratios for a single Mendelian factor by progeny tests. A partial dominant QTL for the four traits was mapped to the same interval flanked by RM310 and RM126 on chromosome 8. The QTL region explained 83.0, 80.2, 94.9 and 93.8% of trait variation of SPP, GPP, HD and PH in the progenies, respectively. Progeny tests also confirmed co-segregation of QTL for the four traits, tall plants consistently flowering late and carrying large panicles. Different NILs development strategies are discussed.     

Probing the differences between rat liver outer mitochondrial membrane cytochrome b5 and microsomal cytochromes b5

Two distinct forms of cytochrome b5 exist in the rat hepatocyte. One is associated with the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum (microsomal, or Mc, cyt b5) while the other is associated with the outer membrane of liver mitochondria (OM cyt b5). Rat OM cyt b5, the only OM cyt b5 identified so far, has a significantly more negative reduction potential and is substantially more stable toward chemical and thermal denaturation than Mc cytochromes b5. In addition, hemin is kinetically trapped in rat OM cyt b5 but not in the Mc proteins. As a result, no transfer of hemin from rat OM cyt b5 to apomyoglobin is observed at pH values as low as 5.2, nor can the thermodyamically favored ratio of hemin orientational isomers be achieved under physiologically relevant conditions. These differences are striking given the similarity of the respective protein folds. A combined theoretical and experimental study has been conducted in order to probe the structural basis behind the remarkably different properties of rat OM and Mc cytochromes b5. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations starting from the crystal structure of bovine Mc cyt b5 revealed a conformational change that exposes several internal residues to the aqueous environment. The new conformation is equivalent to the "cleft-opened" intermediate observed in a previously reported MD simulation of bovine Mc cyt b5 [Storch, E. M., and Daggett, V. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 9682-9693]. The rat OM protein does not adopt a comparable conformation in MD simulations, thus restricting access of water to the protein interior. Subsequent comparisons of the protein sequences and structures suggested that an extended hydrophobic network encompassing the side chains of Ala-18, Ile-32, Leu-36, and Leu-47 might contribute to the inability of rat OM cyt b5 to adopt the cleft-opened conformation and, hence, stabilize its fold relative to the Mc isoforms. A corresponding network is not present in bovine Mc cyt b5 because positions 18, 32, and 47, are occupied by Ser, Leu, and Arg, respectively. To probe the roles played by Ala-18, Ile-32, and Leu-47 in endowing rat OM cyt b5 with its unusual structural properties, we have replaced them with the corresponding residues in bovine Mc cyt b5. Hence, the I32L (single), A18S/L47R (double), and A18S/L47R/I32L (triple) mutants of rat OM cyt b5 were prepared. The stability of these proteins was found to decrease in the following order: WT rat OM > rat OM I32L > rat OM A18S/L47R > rat OM A18S/L47R/I32L > bovine Mc cyt b5. The decrease in stability of the rat OM protein correlates with the extent to which the hydrophobic cluster involving the side chains of residues 18, 32, 36, and 47 has been disrupted. Complete disruption of the hydrophobic network in the triple mutant is confirmed in a 2.0 A resolution crystal structure of the protein. Disruption of the hydrophobic network also facilitates hemin loss at pH 5.2 for the double and triple mutants, with the less stable triple mutant exhibiting the greater rate of hemin transfer to apomyoglobin. Finally, 1H NMR spectroscopy and side-by-side comparisons of the crystal structures of bovine Mc, rat OM, and rat OM A18S/L47R/I32L cyt b5 allowed us to conclude that the nature of residue 32 plays a key role in controlling the relative stability of hemin orientational isomers A and B in rat OM cyt b5. A similar analysis led to the conclusion that Leu-70 and Ser-71 play a pivotal role in stabilizing isomer A relative to isomer B in Mc cytochromes b5.     

金针菇漆酶基因的克隆及其在毕赤酵母中的表达研究

综合运用cDNA末端快速扩增 (RapidAmplificationofcDNAEnds ,RACE )和基因组步行等技术克隆到一个金针菇 (Flammulinavelutipes)的漆酶结构基因和其对应的全长cDNA ,经测序和BLAST比对分析表明该基因属于多铜氧化酶基因家族 ,与已发表的漆酶基因 (AF176 2 30 )的同源性最高 ,在氨基酸水平为 72 %。该结构基因命名为gl ccFv,cDNA命名为lccFv ,其序列提交GenBank ,登录号分别为AY4 85 82 6和AY4 5 0 4 0 6。将lccFv的开放阅读框克隆到毕赤酵母表达载体pHBM90 6 ,转化毕赤酵母GS115且实现了分泌表达。将重组毕赤酵母GS115 (pHBM5 6 5 )诱导产酶 ,在培养温度 2 0℃、甲醇流加量为 1 0 % (V V)的情况下 ,其分泌表达的LCCFv的最高酶活为 0 10 70U mL ,最适反应温度为 4 5℃ ,最适反应pH值为 3 9,在最适反应条件下其热稳定性和pH值稳定性均较好     

XRCC1 stimulates human polynucleotide kinase activity at damaged DNA termini and accelerates DNA single-strand break repair

XRCC1 protein is required for DNA single-strand break repair and genetic stability but its biochemical role is unknown. Here, we report that XRCC1 interacts with human polynucleotide kinase in addition to its established interactions with DNA polymerase-beta and DNA ligase III. Moreover, these four proteins are coassociated in multiprotein complexes in human cell extract and together they repair single-strand breaks typical of those induced by reactive oxygen species and ionizing radiation. Strikingly, XRCC1 stimulates the DNA kinase and DNA phosphatase activities of polynucleotide kinase at damaged DNA termini and thereby accelerates the overall repair reaction. These data identify a novel pathway for mammalian single-strand break repair and demonstrate a concerted role for XRCC1 and PNK in the initial step of processing damaged DNA ends.     

敦煌壁画色变中微生物因素的研究：Ⅲ.枝孢霉在石窟壁画铅丹变色 …

从敦煌莫高窟分离的枝孢霉在模拟壁画表面萌发的条件为：２０℃,ＲＨ６０％或３０℃,ＲＨ５０％。部分石窟在特定时间内可满足这一条件。骨胶对铅丹起到保护作用,而枝孢霉可以分解骨胶,并利用其生长和形成草酸等代谢产物。这些作用使铅丹处于一个特殊的化学环境,造成稳定性下降,并促进了铅丹向铅白的转变。     

培养时间对蛹拟青霉(Paecilomyces militaris)菌丝体中代谢产物的影响

[目的]通过测定不同培养时间蛹拟青霉(Paecilomyces militaris)菌丝体中次级代谢产物的变化,分析蛹拟青霉次级代谢产物与培养时间之间的关系.[方法]液体种子接入SDAY固体培养基 ;培养温度为25℃,培养周期为9d,从第2天开始每天取样 ;用甲醇与乙酸乙酯分别提取菌丝体中次级代谢产物,离心、过滤后合并提取液,用液质联用仪进行分析,用MetaboAnalyst software软件进行数据采集分析.[结果]主成分分析结果表明供试菌株在不同培养时间内其菌丝中次级代谢产物差异显著.聚类分析结果显示,供试拟青霉对生物碱、肽类和核苷等易形成阳离子类物质的代谢物可分为前中后三个阶段.供试拟青霉对糖类和有机酸等易形成阴离子类物质的代谢主要分为前后两个阶段.差异代谢物及热图分析结果表明,在培养的第2和第3天含量显著增加的代谢产物种类较多,主要有酯类及其水解产物、细胞破坏素B和拟青霉素,以及多种尚未鉴定的含氮化合物等 ;在培养第4和第5天含量显著增加的差异代谢物质种类较少,主要有细胞破坏素A和团囊虫草素等肽类抗菌杀虫物质 ;在培养第6天至第9天含量显著增加的代谢物种类较多,除多种白僵菌交酯和细胞破坏素等肽类抗生素外,显著增加的还有多种脂肪酸、氨基酸、鼠李糖、海藻糖、脑苷脂类化合物和核黄素等物质.[结论]培养时间对蛹拟青霉菌丝中次级代谢产物的产生有显著影响.在培养初期,菌体中酯类及细胞破坏素B和拟青霉素等含氮化合物的合成旺盛.在培养中期,次生代谢物明显减少,但细胞破坏素A2和团囊虫草素等肽类抗生素的合成却仍显著增多.在培养后期,供试蛹拟青霉除代谢出多种白僵菌交酯等肽类抗生素外,还大量产生有机酸、氨基酸和海藻糖等物质.虽然在整个培养过程中都有肽类抗生素产生,但这些抗生素并不相同,同时后一阶段新的抗生素的产生常常伴随着前一阶段的抗生素减少,因此前期的抗生素可能是后期产生的抗生素的前体.     

新城疫病毒非编码序列的遗传演化趋势

【目的】探讨新城疫病毒全基因序列中非编码序列的分子演化规律。【方法】结合本研究室2012年自产蛋下降鸭群中分离测序的一株鸭源新城疫病毒全序列,从GenBank下载35株不同基因型新城疫病毒全长cDNA序列,获取非编码序列,分别绘制引导序列、尾随序列、F-HN及HN-L基因间隔序列(IGS)的遗传进化树,比较编码基因内5’及3’UTR序列核苷酸序列替代特点。【结果】非编码序列的长度及位置高度保守,而其核苷酸基因序列在不断发生变异,且变异趋势与编码基因序列相一致。【结论】新城疫病毒在整个基因组上编码和非编码序列同步发生变异。     

陕西植物地理新分布

报道１７种、３变种、１亚种和１变型为陕西植物地理新分布,４属（毛药藤属、白接骨属、马蓝属、赤车属）为陕西植物地理新分布属。     

长江河口湿地鱼类的种类组成及多样性分析

为了解长江河口湿地鱼类种类组成的现状及变化趋势, 作者于2004–2007年间在长江河口湿地设置了33个采样站点, 采用多种调查网具对该水域的鱼类资源状况进行了较为系统的调查。共调查到鱼类123种, 隶属1纲18目46科。结合文献记录, 本地区共有鱼类208种, 隶属2纲22目67科。海鲢(Elops saurus)和印度小公鱼(Sardinella sindensis)为本地区的新记录种。鱼类组成以鲤形目和鲈形目为主; 生态型以淡水鱼类最多。长江南支、北支和口门区水域的种类组成存在一定的差异, 南支常见种以鲤形目鱼类为主, 而北支和口门区以鲈形目鱼类为主。与1990年以前的调查资料相比, 长江河口湿地鱼类物种数有所减少, 其中软骨鱼类和鲀科鱼类下降相对较多。一些重要经济种逐渐变为偶见种, 甚至成为濒危物种, 如鲥(Tenualosa reevesii)、前颌间银鱼(Hemisalanx prognathus)和暗纹东方鲀(Takifugu obscurus)等。导致河口湿地鱼类物种多样性下降的主要原因可能是过度捕捞、水域污染和栖息地丧失等。     

重组毕赤酵母高密度发酵生产碱性果胶酶的策略

重组Pichia pastoris GS115表达碱性果胶酶的诱导阶段, 最佳初始菌体浓度和甲醇诱导浓度分别为122 g/L和20 g/L, 两者之间最佳比值范围是0.16~0.20 g/g (甲醇/菌体浓度). 在此基础上通过生长阶段甘油的指数流加, 以及诱导阶段基于甲醇比消耗速率和溶氧等参数进行甲醇流加的方式, 将甲醇与菌体浓度比例控制在0.171~0.195 g/g之间. 此时, 酶活达到430 u/mL, 生产强度为4.34 u/mL/h, 实现了碱性果胶酶高效生产。