A rhizobia strain isolated from root nodule of gymnosperm Podocarpus macrophyllus

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation of rhizobia and leguminous plants is considered as the most important biologic nitrogen fixation system on earth. Symbiotic nodulation of gymnosperm Podocarpus macro-phyllus and rhizobia has never been reported. In this study, 11 endophytic bacteria strains were isolated from root nodules of P. macrophyllus and its variation P. macrophyllus var. maki. The plant infection tests on these strains indicated that the isolated strains could be nodulated on P. macrophyllus plants, and weak nitrogenase activity of nodules was found in acetylene reduction method. According to the physiological and biochemical characteristics of the 11 strains, GXLO 02 was selected as the representative strain. 16S rDNA full-length sequence analysis of GXLO 02 confirmed that the representative strain GXLO 02 belongs to Rhizobium sp.     

Purification,Characterization and Cloning of a Chymotrypsin Inhibitor (CI-9) from the Hemolymph of the Silkworm, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombyx mori</Emphasis>

Hemolymph chymotrypsin inhibitor 9 (CI-9) from the hemolymph of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Butyl Toyopearl hydrophobic chromatography, gel filtration through Sephadex C-50 and chymotrypsin-sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. Checked by Native PAGE and SDS-PAGE in combination with silver staining, the final preparation appeared homogeneous. In tricine SDS-PAGE, CI-9 displayed a molecular weight of 7.5 kD, which was determined to be 7167 Da with the Voyager TOFMass analyser. The pI value for CI-9, revealed by 2D-PAGE (two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), was 4.3. CI-9 exhibited inhibitory activity at a temperature as high as 100°C and a stability against a wide range of pH (1–12). In N-terminal amino-acid analysis of CI-9, 40 amino acid residues were obtained. The C-terminal 22 amino acid residues were deduced by subsequently cloned cDNA and genomic fragments. MW and pI of CI-9 were predicted to be 7170.98 Da and 4.61, respectively, on the website. Its low molecular weight, high stability, conserved active site and Kunitz domain showed that CI-9 is a Kunitz-type CI. The difference of sequence and pI between CI-9 and other Kunitz type CIs indicated that it is a novel chymotrypsin inhibitor.     

Exploring proteasome complexes by proteomic approaches

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) represents a major pathway for intracellular protein degradation. Proteasome dependent protein quality control participates in cell cycle, immune response and apoptosis. Therefore, the UPS is in focus of therapeutic investigations and the development of pharmaceutical agents. Detailed analyses on proteasome structure and function are the foundation for drug development and clinical studies. Proteomic approaches contributed significantly to our current knowledge in proteasome research. In particular, 2-DE has been essential in facilitating the development of current models on molecular composition and assembly of proteasome complexes. Furthermore, developments in MS enabled identification of UPS proteins and their PTMs at high accuracy and high-throughput. First results on global characterization of the UPS are also available. Although the UPS has been intensively investigated within the last two decades, its functional significance and contribution to the regulation of cell and tissue phenotypes remain to be explored. This review recapitulates a variety of applied proteomic approaches in proteasome exploration, and presents an overview of current technologies and their potential in driving further investigations.     

Biotechnological production of lactic acid integrated with fishmeal wastewater treatment by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizopus oryzae</Emphasis>

Fishmeal wastewater, a seafood processing waste, was utilized for production of lactic acid and fungal biomass by Rhizopus oryzae AS 3.254 with the addition of sugars. The 30 g/l exogenous glucose in fishmeal wastewater was superior to starch in view of productivities of lactic acid and fungal biomass, and COD reduction. Fishmeal wastewater can be a replacement for peptone which was the most suitable nitrogen source for lactic acid production among the tested organic or inorganic nitrogen sources. Exogenous NaCl (12 g/l) completely inhibited the production of lactic acid and fungal growth. In the medium of COD 5,000 mg/l fishmeal wastewater with the addition of 30 g/l glucose, the maximum productivity of lactic acid was 0.723 g/l h corresponding to productivity of fungal biomass 0.0925 g/l h, COD reduction 84.9% and total nitrogen removal 50.3% at a fermentation time of 30 h.     

The perpetuation and epidemic recurrence of communicable diseases in human populations

Recurrence of communicable diseases is a looming threat for human populations. Factors explaining the recurrences are partially known, involving demographics, biology, and complex relationships with the environment, but no comprehensive theory exists today. Here, we review some recent results obtained in modelling studies with a view to understanding better the mechanisms of perpetuation. Factors intrinsic to the interaction of pathogen and host have regained interest in this respect, especially with multiple pathogen and multiple population interactions. Extrinsic factors, including pure demography and environmental forcing are also strong predictors. With increasingly detailed data available, large-scale integrated models will help sorting out the multiple influences on recurrence.     

Comparative proteomes of Corynebacterium glutamicum grown on aromatic compounds revealed novel proteins involved in aromatic degradation and a clear link between aromatic catabolism and gluconeogenesis via fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase

The current study examined the aromatic degradation and central metabolism in Corynebacterium glutamicum by proteomic and molecular methods. Comparative analysis of proteomes from cells grown on gentisate and on glucose revealed that 30% of the proteins of which their abundance changed were involved in aromatic degradation and central carbon metabolism. Similar results were obtained from cells grown on benzoate, 4-cresol, phenol, and resorcinol. Results from these experiments revealed that (i) enzymes involved in degradation of benzoate, 4-cresol, gentisate, phenol, and resorcinol were specifically synthesized and (ii) that the abundance of enzymes involved in central carbon metabolism of glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway, and TCA cycles were significantly changed on various aromatic compounds. Significantly, three novel proteins, NCgl0524, NCgl0525, and NCgl0527, were identified on 4-cresol. The genes encoding NCgl0525 and NCgl0527 were confirmed to be necessary for assimilation of 4-cresol with C. glutamicum. The abundance of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (Fbp) was universally increased on all the tested aromatic compounds. This Fbp gene was disrupted and the mutant WT(Deltafbp) lost the ability to grow on aromatic compounds. Genetic complementation by the Fbp gene restored this ability. We concluded that gluconeogenesis is a necessary process for C. glutamicum growing on various aromatic compounds.     

测序水稻品种SSR遗传连锁图谱的构建及其农艺性状基因座分析

利用测序水稻品种"Nipponbare（粳）/广陆矮4号（籼）"杂交F2群体90个单株为作图群体,构建含148个SSR标记的水稻遗传连锁图谱,覆盖基因组全长1737.81cM,标记间平均距11.90cM。利用该图谱及Excel2000和Mapmaker/QTL1.1b软件对分蘖数、穗数、穗长、主穗长、株高、剑叶长等六个农艺性状间的相互关系和基因位点进行分析,结果在LOD>2.2和P<0.005的条件下共检测到28个QTLs,它们分布在水稻所有染色体上,单个QTL对性状的分子贡献率11.1%-42.9%,其中大于20%有10个,并对选用已测序材料为亲本构建图谱来探讨水稻农艺性状的分子基础及其育种意义进行了讨论。     

利用野生青狗尾草的细胞质培育谷子质核互作雄性不育材料

利用野生青狗尾草N10为母本,谷子农家品种大青秸为父本,进行种间杂交,获得了3株杂种。杂种在农艺性状上表现为谷子和青狗尾草的种间类型,花器表现了雄性败育,但雌蕊发育正常,能接受外来花粉结实。细胞形态学观察表明,其雄性败育表现为单核小孢子典败。该谷子雄性不育材料的获得,为利用野生青狗尾草的细胞质培育谷子质核互作雄性不育系,进而为实现谷子三系配套杂种优势利用奠定了基础。