An expanded CRISPRi toolbox for tunable control of gene expression in Pseudomonas putida

Owing to its wide metabolic versatility and physiological robustness, together with amenability to genetic manipulations and high resistance to stressful conditions, Pseudomonas putida is increasingly becoming the organism of choice for a range of applications in both industrial and environmental applications. However, a range of applied synthetic biology and metabolic engineering approaches are still limited by the lack of specific genetic tools to effectively and efficiently regulate the expression of target genes. Here, we present a single-plasmid CRISPR-interference (CRISPRi) system expressing a nuclease-deficient cas9 gene under the control of the inducible XylS/P_m expression system, along with the option of adopting constitutively expressed guide RNAs (either sgRNA or crRNA and tracrRNA). We showed that the system enables tunable, tightly controlled gene repression (up to 90%) of chromosomally expressed genes encoding fluorescent proteins, either individually or simultaneously. In addition, we demonstrate that this method allows for suppressing the expression of the essential genes pyrF and ftsZ, resulting in significantly low growth rates or morphological changes respectively. This versatile system expands the capabilities of the current CRISPRi toolbox for efficient, targeted and controllable manipulation of gene expression in P. putida.     

Biochemistry,genetics and biotechnology of glycerol utilization in Pseudomonas species

The use of renewable waste feedstocks is an environment-friendly choice contributing to the reduction of waste treatment costs and increasing the economic value of industrial by-products. Glycerol (1,2,3-propanetriol), a simple polyol compound widely distributed in biological systems, constitutes a prime example of a relatively cheap and readily available substrate to be used in bioprocesses. Extensively exploited as an ingredient in the food and pharmaceutical industries, glycerol is also the main by-product of biodiesel production, which has resulted in a progressive drop in substrate price over the years. Consequently, glycerol has become an attractive substrate in biotechnology, and several chemical commodities currently produced from petroleum have been shown to be obtained from this polyol using whole-cell biocatalysts with both wild-type and engineered bacterial strains. Pseudomonas species, endowed with a versatile and rich metabolism, have been adopted for the conversion of glycerol into value-added products (ranging from simple molecules to structurally complex biopolymers, e.g. polyhydroxyalkanoates), and a number of metabolic engineering strategies have been deployed to increase the number of applications of glycerol as a cost-effective substrate. The unique genetic and metabolic features of glycerol-grown Pseudomonas are presented in this review, along with relevant examples of bioprocesses based on this substrate – and the synthetic biology and metabolic engineering strategies implemented in bacteria of this genus aimed at glycerol valorization.     

Late Jurassic footprints reveal walking kinematics of theropod dinosaurs

Avanzini, M., Piñuela, L. & García‐Ramos, J.C. 2011: Late Jurassic footprints reveal walking kinematics of theropod dinosaurs. Lethaia, Vol. 45, pp. 238–252. This study describes a set of theropod footprints collected from the Late Jurassic Lastres Formation (Asturias, N Spain). The footprints are natural casts (tracks and undertracks) grouped into three morphotypes, which are characterized by different size frequency, L/W relationship and divarication angles: ‘Grallatorid’ morphotype, ‘Kayentapus–Magnoavipes’ morphotype, ‘Hispanosauropus’ morphotype. The tracks were produced in firm, stiff and soft sediments. The infills of deep tracks, which are typically formed in soft mud, lack fine anatomical details, but they can reveal the walk kinematics of the trackmaker through the morphology of internal track fills and sinking traces. In all footprints, a horizontal outwardly directed translation movement and rotation are recognizable. The amount and geometry of digit penetration in the ground also show a pronounced difference. It can be inferred from the described sample that different theropoda‐related ichnogenera share common kinematics. □Asturias, dinosaur footprint, late jurassic, theropods, walking kinematics.     

The role of historical factors and natural selection in the evolution of breeding systems of Oxalis alpina in the Sonoran desert ‘Sky Islands’

Pleistocene climatic oscillations are known to influence the patterns of genetic diversity and the distribution of traits that are the target of selection. Here, we combine phylogeographical and ecological niche modelling (ENM) approaches to explore the influence of historical factors (Pleistocene climatic shifts) and natural selection on the evolution of distyly (two floral morphs) from tristyly (three floral morphs) of Oxalis alpina in the Sky Islands of the Sonoran Desert. Molecular data and ENM indicate that historical factors have had a strong influence on the genetic structure and the geographical distribution of reproductive systems of O. alpina. Moreover, genetic results suggest the possibility that distylous populations do not represent a monophyletic group. We propose that the combined effects of natural selection and genetic drift have influenced the tristyly–distyly transition.     

抗RA33抗体与幼年特发性关节炎的诊断意义

目的：通过检测幼年特发性关节炎（JIA）患者血清中的抗RA33抗体,了解抗RA33抗体与幼年特发性关节炎的临床诊断价值。方法：采用酶联免疫固相分析检测81例JIA患儿（女19名,男62名,平均年龄8.6岁,平均病程1.4年）血清中抗RA33抗体、RF,同时以55例儿童系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）等其他关节性疾病或病毒感染患者和49例健康儿童作为对照组。阴阳性结果判断均采用试剂盒推荐的临界值。结果：81例JIA患儿中抗RA33抗体阳性率为11.11%（9/81）,RF阳性率为12.35%（10/81）,特异性均为91.35%;JIA组与正常对照组抗RA33抗体阳性率比较有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,与其他关节性疾病对照组比较差异无显著性（P〉0.05）。JIA组中抗RA33抗体的检出与RF无相关性（P〉0.05）;在JIA各亚型中抗RA33抗体主要存在于全身型和多关节型,各占33.3%和25.0%,RF则只出现于多关节型,占62.5%。两者比较有显著性差异（P〈0.05）。81例JIA患儿中共有18例关节出现影像学改变,其中4例抗RA33抗体阳性（22.2%）,与未发生影像学改变的JIA患儿比较无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。结论：抗RA33抗体尚不能作为JIA早期诊断的新的可靠性指标,抗RA33抗体主要见于全身型和多关节型,对JIA的分型有指导意义。     

子宫内膜癌患者P16基因甲基化和血清CA125检测的临床意义

目的：探讨子宫内膜癌患者P16基因甲基化和血清CA125检测的临床意义。方法：采用DNA甲基化特异性PCR分别对46例子宫内膜癌及12例正常内膜对照组织中抑癌基因p16甲基化进行检测;对所有病例术前均测定血清CA125水平。结果：子宫内膜癌组p16甲基化率45．6％,而12例对照组织均未检测到甲基化;子宫内膜癌组血清CA125水平明显升高。结论：子宫内膜癌患者p16基因甲基化和血清CA125水平与发病关系密切,两者结合对早期诊断及预后判断具有一定的临床指导意义。     

内质网应激与肝细胞脂类代谢

肝细胞担负大量的代谢功能,包括脂肪酸的合成与类固醇的代谢。内质网应激反应（ERstressresponse）作为内质网中特殊的机制用以保证内质网内部的稳态和功能正常。有研究指出内质网应激诱导的信号通路及其通路上的关键蛋白参与肝细胞的脂类代谢过程。本文主要讨论内质网应激反应影响肝细胞脂类代谢的机制,以及内质网应激与脂类代谢紊乱疾病的相关性。     

赤霉素诱导小桐子产生两性花

小桐子（Jatropha curcas）种子含油率高,油脂组成适合于生产生物燃油,是制备航空生物燃油和生物柴油的理想原料。小桐子是一种雌雄同株植物,雌雄花着生于同一花序,其花序中雌花比例很低,可能是其种子产量低的主要原因之一。本文研究用不同浓度的赤霉素外源喷施处理小桐子花序芽对其花和种子发育的影响。结果表明：外源赤霉素处理能够诱导小桐子产生两性花,且处理浓度越高,两性花数量越多;随着两性花数量的增加,雌花数量相应越少,但雌花与两性花数量之和在各处理和对照之间差异不显著,这表明赤霉素诱导出的两性花可能来源于雌花。另外,高浓度(500~1500mg·L-1)的赤霉素处理会导致小桐子的种子不能正常发育, 表现为每个果实中的种子数量、大小、单粒种子重量、每个果序的种子重量以及种子的含油量都显著减少。这些结果有助于深入理解赤霉素在小桐子花器官形成及种子发育过程中所发挥的生理作用,为从分子水平上对小桐子进行遗传改良、提高其种子产量奠定基础。     

思维导图对肝移植患者依从性的临床应用价值

目的:思维导图作为一种思维工具,被广泛应用于医学研究方面。本研究主要探讨思维导图对肝移植患者依从性的临床应用价值。方法:选择2010年6月至2012年9月在我院接受肝移植手术的患者100例,按手术时间进行编号,使用随机数字表将患者分为试验组和对照组,每组各50例,对照组应用常规健康教育模式,试验组应用思维导图方法宣教。采用调查问卷就肝移植患者依从性进行调查,比较两组患者问卷调查及质量评定的结果。结果:两组患者出院时依从性比较,服药、饮食、生活习惯、锻炼四个方面均没有统计学差异(P0.05),自我监测护理在出院时两组患者有统计学差异(P0.01)。患者术后六个月的依从性比较,除生活习惯和外,其余四个方面试验组的依从性明显要比对照组好(P0.05或P0.01)。两组患者术后第三日生活质量指数评分比较均没有统计学差异(P0.05)。患者术后六个月试验组生活质量较对照组高(P0.05)。结论:思维导图作为一种思维工具,应用于患者的健康宣教,取得了良好的效果。