Variability and evolution of the plant RNA virus pepper mild mottle virus

The RNA genomes of 26 isolates of pepper mild mottle virus were compared by their RNase T1 fingerprints. Twenty-three isolates came from epidemic outbreaks in greenhouse-grown peppers in Almería (southeastern Spain) from 1983 to 1987; three other isolates, from 1980, came from Sicily (Italy) and Zaragoza (central Spain). The 26 fingerprints can be classified into 10 different types; nucleotide substitution rates show them to be very similar. Cluster and cladistic analyses group types corresponding to the Almería isolates separate from those of 1980. Intraannual and interannual nucleotide differences were estimated. An evolutionary model for pepper mild mottle virus built on these data indicates a highly stable population, maintaining its diversity through time, with a main prevailing haplotype from which closely related variants arise that do not replace it. This high stability could be due to strong functional constraints on variation, as suggested by the high proportion of invariant versus polymorphic sites in fingerprints.     

Isolation and Analysis of Protein Bodies from Cotyledons of Lablab purpureus and Phaseolus vulgaris (Leguminoseae)

Protein bodies, isolated by differential and isopycnic centrifugation, have been observed in transmission and scanning electron microscope and biochemically analysed. The powders of the axes and of the cotyledons contain numerous protein bodies, which in the scanning microscope appear to be surrounded by a more or less torn membrane. The proportion of intact, isolated protein bodies is influenced by the grinding methods, but even in the best conditions soaking disaggregates the majority of them. After isopycnic centrifugation, their debris gather in different density zones. Analyses of each zone have revealed that the caseinases are associated with particles of higher density than are peptidases and trypsin inhibitors. A minority population of small-size protein bodies resists the homogenization and fractioning modalities. A double origin of the protein bodies is considered.     

昆虫卵黄蛋白及其激素调控的研究进展

卵黄蛋白的结构及其合成、摄取过程与激素的调控机理是目前昆虫生理学的研究热点之一。近几年,随着分子克隆技术、基因工程手段和生物信息学的发展,对卵黄蛋白基因的研究将为寻找害虫生物防治提供新途径。本文对昆虫卵黄蛋白及其激素调控进行了综述。为防治害虫再猖獗的发生和促进大量繁殖益虫提供重要的理论依据。     

松毛虫雌性信息素的研究与应用

目前,在我国对松林危害最严重的害虫主要有马尾松毛虫Dendrolimnspunctatus(Walker)、落叶松毛虫D.superaus(Butler)、油松毛虫D.tabulaeformisTsaietLiu、赤松毛虫D.spectabilis(Butler)、思茅松毛虫D.kikuchiiMatsumura、云南松毛虫D.houiLajonqui埁re等。综述6种松毛虫的雌性信息素的成分鉴定、合成、EAG反应,人工合成雌性信息素的田间活性测定,性诱剂在林间的设置技术及种群监测等应用。     

城市新建景观湖泊浮游植物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

2019年对南通市中央创新区新建湖泊紫琅湖的浮游植物进行了4个季度的调查,旨在研究典型城市新建景观湖泊的浮游植物群落结构特征及其与环境因子关系。紫琅湖全年共鉴定出浮游植物种类7门186种,春季种类数最多,共6门113种,其中蓝藻门（Cyanophyta）占17.7%,绿藻门（Chlorophyta）占19.5%,硅藻门（Bacillariophyta）占39.8%;夏季种类数最少,共7门43种,其中蓝藻门占32.6%,绿藻门占30.2%,硅藻门占16.3%;冬季和春季则硅藻种类多。从丰度来看,各季节浮游植物组成均以蓝藻为主,冬、夏、秋季蓝藻的丰度分别为（26.81±6.70）×10⁶ ind./L、（12.77±1.02）×10⁶ ind./L和（31.99±10.23）×10⁶ ind./L,显著高于其他藻类（P<0.05）。典范对应分析（CCA）表明透明度、pH、总磷和浊度是与浮游植物群落相关性较强的4个环境因子,其中透明度是最主要的环境因子。冬季和春季浮游植物主要与透明度正相关,夏季主要与总磷和浊度呈正相关,秋季主要与pH呈正相关。紫琅湖的浮游植物优势类群以蓝藻门为主,其中伪鱼腥藻（Pseudoanabaena sp.）为全年唯一的优势藻类（优势度指数分别为Y_冬=0.66,Y_春=0.10,Y_夏=0.16,Y_秋=0.26）。综合营养指数表明湖泊处于轻度富营养水平,浮游植物多样性水质评价表明夏季水体污染相对严重。城市新建景观湖泊紫琅湖营养水平较高、透明度低、浮游植物群落结构波动大,暴发蓝藻水华的可能性较高,研究结果可为城市新建景观湖泊水质改善和健康生态系统的构建提供科学依据。     

Axonal transport of the cellular prion protein is increased during axon regeneration

The cellular prion protein, PrPc, is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored cell surface glycoprotein and a protease-resistant conformer of the protein may be the infectious agent in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. PrPc is localized on growing axons in vitro and along fibre bundles that contain elongating axons in developing and adult brain. To determine whether the growth state of axons influenced the expression and axonal transport of PrPc, we examined changes in the protein following post-traumatic regeneration in the hamster sciatic nerve. Our results show (1) that PrPc in nerve is significantly increased during nerve regeneration; (2) that this increase involves an increase in axonally transported PrPc; and (3) that the PrPc preferentially targeted for the newly formed portions of the regenerating axons consists of higher molecular weight glycoforms. These results raise the possibility that PrPc may play a role in the growth of axons in vivo, perhaps as an adhesion molecule interacting with the extracellular environment through specialized glycosylation.     

Spectral characterization of NAD(P)H fluorescence in intact isolated chloroplasts and leaves: Effect of chlorophyll concentration on reabsorption of blue-green fluorescence

In the present communication we report a spectral analysis of the blue-green fluorescence related to changes in NAD(P) redox state in chloroplasts and leaves. To assess the contribution of reabsorption and the inner filter effect, we compared transmission and fluorescence at different chloroplast concentrations, and showed that reabsorption by the photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) was at the origin of the two peaks in the emission spectrum in vivo. The absence of potential green-emitting fluorophores in chloroplasts was determined by measuring variable and time-resolved fluorescence at different wavelengths. We defined the conditions which optimize the UV-excited blue-green fluorescence signal dependent on NAD(P)H, and we present an example of monitoring of NAD(P)H fluorescence in intact leaves.