Mutational analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis PP2CA2</Emphasis> involved in abscisic acid signal transduction

The homozygous T-DNA mutant of the PP2CA2 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana was identified at DNA and RNA levels. The semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed expression of PP2CA2 was induced by NaCl and ABA. When grown in presence of increasing concentration of exogenous ABA the pp2ca2 mutant showed a significant loss of ABA sensitivity in terms of seed germination, efficiency of post-germination growth and root growth. In presence of all ABA and NaCl concentrations tested the germination percentage of wild-type seeds was lower than that of mutant ppca2 seeds. Furthermore, in the presence of exogenous ABA, the pp2ca2 seeds showed higher germination percentages than wild-type at different stages of development and the pp2ca2 seedlings showed a reduced inhibition of root growth compared with wild-type plants. The above results indicated that the pp2ca2 was an ABA-hyposensitive mutant.     

Tissue and data archives from irradiation experiments conducted at Argonne National Laboratory over a period of four decades

Irradiation experiments conducted on dogs and mice at Argonne National Laboratory, IL between 1952 and 1992 led to creation of archives of paraffin-embedded tissues accompanied by extensive datasets with gross pathology and histopathology information. Over the past 40 years, these data were investigated computationally, using different statistical approaches. Embedded tissues are used to this day as a source of genomic and mitochondrial DNA for quantitative PCR amplification. Data and paraffin block sections are available upon request—interested researchers should visit the Websites for dog and for mouse archive.     

Comparison of two next-generation sequencing technologies for resolving highly complex microbiota composition using tandem variable 16S rRNA gene regions

High-throughput molecular technologies can profile microbial communities at high resolution even in complex environments like the intestinal microbiota. Recent improvements in next-generation sequencing technologies allow for even finer resolution. We compared phylogenetic profiling of both longer (454 Titanium) sequence reads with shorter, but more numerous, paired-end reads (Illumina). For both approaches, we targeted six tandem combinations of 16S rRNA gene variable regions, in microbial DNA extracted from a human faecal sample, in order to investigate their limitations and potentials. In silico evaluations predicted that the V3/V4 and V4/V5 regions would provide the highest classification accuracies for both technologies. However, experimental sequencing of the V3/V4 region revealed significant amplification bias compared to the other regions, emphasising the necessity for experimental validation of primer pairs. The latest developments of 454 and Illumina technologies offered higher resolution compared to their previous versions, and showed relative consistency with each other. However, the majority of the Illumina reads could not be classified down to genus level due to their shorter length and higher error rates beyond 60 nt. Nonetheless, with improved quality and longer reads, the far greater coverage of Illumina promises unparalleled insights into highly diverse and complex environments such as the human gut.     

Highly selective and potent μ opioid ligands by unexpected substituent on morphine skeleton

Unexpected substituent on the well-known morphine skeleton is described to be account for highly selective and potent μ opioid ligands, which is strongly connected to substituted aromatic groups on this omitted 8α-position.     

The nucleocytoplasmic transport of viral proteins

Molecules can enter the nucleus by passive diffusion or active transport mechanisms, depending on their size. Small molecules up to size of 50-60 kDa or less than 10 nm in diameter can diffuse passively through the nuclear pore complex (NPC), while most proteins are transported by energy driven transport mechanisms. Active transport of viral proteins is mediated by nuclear localization signals (NLS), which were first identified in Simian Virus 40 large T antigen and had subsequently been identified in a large number of viral proteins. Usually they contain short stretches of lysine or arginine residues. These signals are recognized by the importin super-family (importin α and β) proteins that mediate the transport across the nuclear envelope through Ran-GTP. In contrast, only one class of the leucine-rich nuclear export signal (NES) on viral proteins is known at present. Chromosome region maintenance 1 (CRM1) protein mediates nuclear export of hundreds of viral proteins through the recognition of the leucine-rich NES.     

Effect of rainfall interannual variability on the biomass and soil water distribution in a semiarid shrub community

The dynamics of biomass and soil moisture in semiarid land is driven by both the current rainfall and the ecosystem memory. Based on a meta-analysis of existing experiments, an ecosystem model was used to calculate the effect of the rainfall interannual variability on the pattern of biomass and soil moisture in a shrub community. It was found that rainfall interannual variability enabled shrubs to be more competitive than grasses, and to maintain the dominant role over a longer time. The rainfall interannual variability resulted in complex soil moisture dynamics. The soil water recharge in wet years alternated with discharge in drought years.     

兴奋性氨基酸受体的激活介导冷水应激诱导的tau蛋白磷酸化

为探讨兴奋性神经传递系统是否参与冷水应激引起的tau蛋白磷酸化,将小鼠于4℃冷水应激5min.采用免疫印迹和免疫组织化学方法分析应激后脑内c-fos和磷酸化tau蛋白的表达情况;运用HPLC检测冷水应激后小鼠脑内兴奋性或抑制性神经递质的变化;同时分析兴奋性氨基酸受体和L-型钙通道拮抗剂预处理后冷水应激小鼠脑内磷酸化tau蛋白的水平.冷水应激后1h,海马内磷酸化tau蛋白的水平显著升高,同时伴c-fos的染色增加.HPLC检测显示,兴奋性和抑制性神经递质呈现急剧上升而后又下降的趋势.冷水应激后15min,天冬氨酸和甘氨酸水平显著升高,1h后天冬氨酸、谷氨酸、牛磺酸和γ-氨基丁酸显著下降.NMDA受体拮抗剂MK-801(5mg/kg)和AMPA受体拮抗剂DNQX(0.5,5mg/kg)可显著抑制冷水应激引起的磷酸化tau蛋白水平的升高,代谢性谷氨酸受体拮抗剂MAP-4不影响tau蛋白的磷酸化,另外,L-型钙通道阻断剂尼莫地平可抑制冷水应激引起的磷酸化tau蛋白水平的升高.这些结果表明,冷水应激可影响兴奋性神经传递系统,通过离子型兴奋性氨基酸受体和异常神经激活来调节tau蛋白的磷酸化.兴奋性神经传递系统的激活在冷水...     

Use of transposon promoter-probe vectors in the metabolic engineering of the obligate methanotroph Methylomonas sp. strain 16a for enhanced C40 carotenoid synthesis

The recent expansion of genetic and genomic tools for metabolic engineering has accelerated the development of microorganisms for the industrial production of desired compounds. We have used transposable elements to identify chromosomal locations in the obligate methanotroph Methylomonas sp. strain 16a that support high-level expression of genes involved in the synthesis of the C(40) carotenoids canthaxanthin and astaxanthin. with three promoterless carotenoid transposons, five chromosomal locations-the fliCS, hsdM, ccp-3, cysH, and nirS regions-were identified. Total carotenoid synthesis increased 10- to 20-fold when the carotenoid gene clusters were inserted at these chromosomal locations compared to when the same carotenoid gene clusters were integrated at neutral locations under the control of the promoter for the gene conferring resistance to chloramphenicol. A chromosomal integration system based on sucrose lethality was used to make targeted gene deletions or site-specific integration of the carotenoid gene cluster into the Methylomonas genome without leaving genetic scars in the chromosome from the antibiotic resistance genes that are present on the integration vector. The genetic approaches described in this work demonstrate how metabolic engineering of microorganisms, including the less-studied environmental isolates, can be greatly enhanced by identifying integration sites within the chromosome of the host that permit optimal expression of the target genes.