Multilocus population analysis of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Gavia immer</Emphasis> (Aves: Gaviidae) mtDNA reveals low genetic diversity and lack of differentiation across the species breeding range

We analyzed the patterns of nucleotide sequence variation at three mitochondrial DNA loci, the noncoding mitochondrial control region and two genes (cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase I) of Gavia immer in the largest collection of wintering individuals from Southern Europe to date. The sample consisted of 33 birds, oiled during the 2002/2003 Prestige tanker spill and washed ashore on the Galician coast (NW Iberian Peninsula). The aims of the study were to investigate the levels of standing genetic variation in the species, and to identify the geographic origin of these wintering birds. To do this, all available sequences of these loci, mostly from North American specimens collected from both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, were retrieved from GenBank and included in the analysis. Overall, only 14 genetic variants were detected in the nearly 2 Kb surveyed, which reflects very low levels of nucleotide site diversity in this species. Interestingly, all variants were found at very low frequencies, and there was no indication of any clear subdivision in the G. immer population. This genetic profile is consistent with G. immer being a single panmictic population of small effective population size as compared with other seabirds. These circumstances preclude identification of the breeding regions of these wintering birds relying solely on genetic data. In the light of these results, possible causes, and the genetic and ecological consequences, of this demographic scenario are discussed.     

利用叶绿体基因探讨稻属BBCC基因组物种的系统起源

基于9个叶绿体基因片段(atpA、atpB、matK、petA、psaA、psbA、psbB、psbC和rbcL), 深入探讨了稻属(Oryza)3个BBCC基因组异源四倍体和5个与之相关的BB或CC基因组二倍体物种间的谱系关系。进一步的系统发育分析表明: 3个具有相同BBCC基因组的四倍体物种并非同一次物种形成事件的产物, 而是在不同的分布区经历了至少3次分别的物种起源。其中, 四倍体Oryza punctata的母本可能来自同样分布在非洲并具有CC基因组的二倍体物种O. eichingeri; 而四倍体O. malampuzhaensis和O. minuta的母本则可能来自亚洲已经灭绝的具有BB基因组的不同二倍体。研究结果不但为追溯稻属异源四倍体的复杂网状进化提供了重要的分子证据, 而且拓展了我们对有花植物复杂物种形成的深入理解。     

中国瓶尔小草科植物孢子形态的研究

利用扫描电镜对中国产瓶尔小草科2属7种的孢子进行了研究,其中包括瓶尔小草属6种,即裸茎瓶尔小草（OphioglossumnudicauleL．f）、尖头瓶尔小草（O．pedunculosumDesv．）、钝头瓶尔小草（O．petiolatumHook）、狭叶瓶尔小草（O．thermaleKom．）、心脏叶瓶尔小草（O．reticulatumL．）和瓶尔小草（O．vulgatumL．）,蛇蕨属1种,即蛇蕨（又名带状瓶尔小草OphiodermapendulaPresl）,对每个种的孢子形态特征进行描述。根据孢子形态特征,我们认为将中国的瓶尔小草科植物分为瓶尔小草属和蛇蕨属两个属是合适的。通过观察,进一步认定孢子外壁的纹饰特征极具分类参考价值,并可以作为种的界限的依据。     

Antioxidant properties of polysaccharide fractions with different molecular mass extracted with hot-water from rice bran

Polysaccharides were extracted with hot-water from rice bran and precipitated with 40% ethanol (PW1), 60% ethanol (PW2) and 80% ethanol (PW3) in turn. PW1 and PW3 were composed of Glu, Man, Gal, Rib and Ara with molar percent of 54.1%, 10.5%, 21.7%, 7.4% and 6.3% for PW1 and 50.7%, 10.1%, 32.7%, 2.4% and 4.1% for PW3. Man was not observed in PW2. The molecular weight distribution of PW1, PW2 and PW3 ranged from 1.2 × 10⁵ to 6.3 × 10⁶ Da, 3.5 × 10⁴ to 7.4 × 10⁴ Da and 5.3 × 10³ to 2.3 × 10⁴ Da, respectively. Antioxidant activity tests revealed that PW1 showed good capability of scavenging superoxide radical, hydroxyl free radical and anti-lipid peroxidation at 1.0 mg/mL. In the meanwhile PW3 exhibited the good potential for reducing power, chelating ferrous ions, scavenging 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide effects.     

3D Ferroconcrete‐Like Aminated Carbon Nanotubes Network Anchoring Sulfur for Advanced Lithium–Sulfur Battery

To address the serious capacity fading in lithium–sulfur batteries, a 3D ferroconcrete‐like aminated carbon nanotubes network with polyaniline coating as an effective sulfur host to contain polysulfide dissolution is presented here. In this composite, the cross‐linked aminated carbon nanotubes framework provides a fast charge transport pathway and enhancement in the reaction kinetics of the active material to greatly improve the rate capability and sulfur utilization. The ethylenediamine moieties provide strong adhesion of polar discharge products to nonpolar carbon surfaces and thus efficiently prevent polysulfide dissolution to improve the cycle stability, confirmed by density functional theory calculations. The outside polyaniline layers structurally restrain polysulfides to prevent the shuttle effect and active material loss. Benefiting from these advantages, the synthesized composite exhibits a high initial capacity of 1215 mAh g^?1 and a capacity of 975 mAh g^?1 after 200 cycles at 0.2 C. Even after 200 cycles at 0.5 C, a capacity of 735 mAh g^?1 can be maintained, among the best performance reported. The strategy in this work can shed some light on modifying nonpolar carbon surfaces via the amination process to chemically attach sulfur species for high‐performance lithium–sulfur batteries.     

Expression and biochemical characterization of a novel type I pullulanase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus megaterium</Emphasis>

Objectives

To identify novel pullulanases from microorganisms and to investigate their biochemical characterizations.

Results

A novel pullulanase gene (BmPul) from Bacillus megaterium WW1210 was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene has an ORF of 2814 bp encoding 937 amino acids. The recombinant pullulanase (BmPul) was purified to homogeneity and biochemically characterized. BmPul has an MW of approx. 112 kDa as indicated by SDS-PAGE. Optimum conditions were at 55 °C and pH 6.5. The enzyme was stable below 40 °C and from pH 6.5?8.5. The Km values of BmPul towards pullulan and amylopectin were 3.3 and 3.6 mg/ml, respectively. BmPul hydrolyzed pullulan to yield mainly maltotriose, indicating that it should be a type I pullulanase.

Conclusions

A novel type I pullulanase from Bacillus megaterium was identified, heterologously expressed and biochemically characterized. Its properties makes this enzyme as a good candidate for the food industry.

     

前脑生长抑素样神经元对大鼠颈部食管前运动神经元的支配——PRV和SOM荧光双标记法研究

用ＰＲＶ和ＳＯＭ免疫荧光双标记法研究了前脑中ＳＯＭ样神经元对孤束核中食管前运动神经元的支配。当ＰＲＶ注射于大鼠颈部食管后,在大脑皮质前部嗅沟背侧的无颗粒型岛叶皮质后部和嗅沟腹侧的梨状前皮质前部可见较多ＰＲＶ和ＳＯＭ双标记细胞。在终纹床核、内侧视前区、外侧视前区和正中视前区、终板血管器、穹隆下器、以及嗅结节等处也可见少量ＰＲＶ和ＳＯＭ双标记细胞。本文推测脑对颈部食管运动的调节是由广泛的中枢神经系统结构来完成的