A second species in the endemic New Caledonian genus Gastrolepis (Stemonuraceae) and its implications for the conservation status of high‐altitude maquis vegetation: coherent application of the IUCN Red List criteria is urgently needed in New Caledonia

A new species in the previously monotypic, endemic New Caledonian genus Gastrolepis (Stemonuraceae) is described. Gastrolepis alticola differs from G. austrocaledonica by its shorter and thicker petioles, strongly coriaceous leaves with revolute margins, shorter inflorescences, and pubescent corollas. The new species is further distinguished by its ecology, occurring only in high‐altitude maquis on two massifs in southern New Caledonia, Mt. Kouakoué and the Montagne des Sources. Gastrolepis alticola is assigned a preliminary conservation status of ‘Endangered’ using the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List criteria. Comparison of the IUCN threat status for the 19 species endemic to this distinctive, restricted vegetation type reveals a striking lack of consistency and underscores the need for a reassessment of the entire New Caledonian flora. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 775–783.     

原核表达载体pOPE101-8E5的改构及单链抗体的表达鉴定

本研究利用基因重组技术将链亲和素(core-streptavidin)cDNA插入原核表达载体pOPE101-8E5的3′端,并用单链抗体scFv-C4的重链和轻链可变区cDNA取代其scFv-8E5,构建重组表达载体pOPE101-C4::core-streptavidin。将该表达载体转化入在大肠杆菌中进行诱导表达,用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和免疫印迹法分析表达产物的表达量和产物活性。结果提示我们成功地获得一个分子量约为45kDa的scFv-C4::core-streptavidin的融合蛋白,它可结合KG1a细胞裂解物中分子量约为60kDa、45kDa的蛋白带,且其结合功能可以通过融合蛋白中的链亲和素基因直接测定。     

Anatomical and chemical characteristics of the seed coat of <i>Medicago sativa</i> L. (alfalfa) cv. Baralfa 85 seeds and their association with seed dormancy

Seeds of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) can exhibit seedcoat imposed dormancy, which produces hard seeds within a seed lot. These seeds do not germinate because they do not imbibe water due to a barrier to water entry in the seed coat. The aim of this work was to analyze the anatomical and chemical characteristics of the testa of alfalfa seeds with respect to water permeability levels. The anatomy of seeds of the cv. Baralfa 85 was studied and structural substances, polyphenols, tannins and cutin present in the testa of seeds of different water permeability levels were determined. The anatomical characteristics of the seed coat and the proportions of components were found to determine the permeability level of the seed coat, an aspect that is associated with the physical seed dormancy level. Anatomically, increased thickness of the testa was associated with a lower permeability level. The difference may be attributed to the variation in cuticle thickness, length of macrosclereids and thickness of the cell wall, and presence and development of osteosclereids. From the physiological and chemical points of view, the mechanism of physical dormancy of the testa is explained by a greater amount of components that repel water and cement the cell wall, such as polyphenols, lignins, condensed tannins, pectic substances, and a lower proportion of cellulose and hemicellulose.     

A glimmer of hope for diabetics?

Diabetes affects 150 million people worldwide and results from abnormal function of pancreatic islets. The scarcity of human tissue donors has focused interest in developing renewable sources of insulin-producing cells appropriate for engraftment. Advances in stem cell technology and transdifferentiation techniques have provided powerful tools to study pancreatic development, function and disease. Recent results from these two approaches could have significant implications for future therapies of diabetes.     

Linking dynamical and population genetic models of persistent viral infection

This article develops a theoretical framework to link dynamical and population genetic models of persistent viral infection. This linkage is useful because, while the dynamical and population genetic theories have developed independently, the biological processes they describe are completely interrelated. Parameters of the dynamical models are important determinants of evolutionary processes such as natural selection and genetic drift. We develop analytical methods, based on coupled differential equations and Markov chain theory, to predict the accumulation of genetic diversity within the viral population as a function of dynamical parameters. These methods are first applied to the standard model of viral dynamics and then generalized to consider the infection of multiple host cell types by the viral population. Each cell type is characterized by specific parameter values. Inclusion of multiple cell types increases the likelihood of persistent infection and can increase the amount of genetic diversity within the viral population. However, the overall rate of gene sequence evolution may actually be reduced.     

The genus Pseudo-nitzschia (Bacillariophyceae) in a temperate estuary with description of two new species: Pseudo-nitzschia plurisecta sp. nov. and Pseudo-nitzschia abrensis sp. nov.

The genus Pseudo‐nitzschia contains potentially toxic species of problematic taxonomy, making it one of the most intensively studied diatom genera. The study of 35 clonal strains isolated from the Bilbao estuary, an area that experiences recurrent blooms of Pseudo‐nitzschia, revealed the presence of two new species, P. abrensis and P. plurisecta, differing from their congeners in both morphology and gene sequence. The morphological features were analyzed by LM and EM, whereas molecular analyses were based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) regions of the rDNA. P. plurisecta appears closely related to P. cuspidata/P. pseudodelicatissima in the phylogenetic tree, whereas P. abrensis forms a moderately supported clade with P. heimii/P. subpacifica and P. caciantha/P. circumpora. Comparison of the secondary structure of ITS2 regions reveals marked differences in the most highly conserved regions among related taxa. Morphologically, the new species differ from their closest congeners in the arrangement of the poroid sectors and the density of valve striae and fibulae. The two species share similar pigment composition, and belong to the group of Pseudo‐nitzschia species containing only chlorophyll c₂ and c₃.     

A new species of Goniothalamus (Annonaceae) from New Caledonia, representing a significant range extension for the genus

A previously unknown Annonaceae species from the South Pacific island of New Caledonia is described as Goniothalamus dumontetii . This is the first Goniothalamus species reported from the island, and the easternmost record for the genus. It is easily distinguished from its congeners by the shape of the monocarp (flattened elongate with lateral triangular projections), which reflects the shape of the seeds (flattened rhombohedral). The conservation status of the species is evaluated as endangered (EN) using World Conservation Union (IUCN) red list categories, as it is known from only one relatively small population. The interpretation of geological and molecular data suggests that Goniothalamus dispersed to New Caledonia relatively recently, and does not represent a relict of the break-up of Gondwana.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 497–503.     

一种钒配合物LMC 抑制DNA 拓扑异构酶?的抗肿瘤作用

目的：探讨钒配合物LMc对拓扑异构酶Ⅰ、Ⅱ（Topo-Ⅰ、Topo-Ⅱ）的影响及其抗肿瘤活性。方法：采用DNA松弛实验观察LMC对Topo-Ⅰ、活性的影响并探讨其相关分子作用机制;采用MTT法、流式细胞术在细胞水平观察了IMC的抗肿瘤作用。结果：LMC可明显抑制Topo-Ⅰ活性,对Topo-Ⅱ无明显抑制作用,对多种肿瘤细胞株A549、Hela、BEL-7402具有明显抑制生长的作用,且可将细胞阻断在G2／M期,而对正常细胞株L-02生长无明显影响。结论：钒配合物LMC具有抑制Topo-Ⅰ活性而发挥抗肿瘤的作用。