地上部植食者褐飞虱对不同水稻品种土壤线虫群落的影响

地上和地下部生物群落的交互作用对于调控陆地生态过程具有重要作用。在盆栽条件下利用2×2析因设计研究了褐飞虱(Nilaparvata lugens)取食不同水稻品种后对土壤线虫群落的影响。结果表明, 褐飞虱侵害水稻9 d后, 感虫品种(广四和汕优63)的土壤线虫总数、属数及自生线虫(食细菌线虫、食真菌线虫和捕食性线虫)数量增加, 并且一般达到显著水平(P<0.05); 而上述指标在抗虫品种(汕优559和IR36)土壤中则呈现相反的趋势。植食性线虫数量在强感虫品种广四上显著增加(P<0.05), 而在强抗虫品种IR36上显著减少(P<0.05)。褐飞虱和水稻品种对土壤线虫的生态指数(线虫通道指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、成熟度指数、富集指数和结构指数)没有明显影响, 可能与供试土壤线虫群落组成单一及褐飞虱作用时间较短有关。总之, 褐飞虱强烈影响土壤线虫数量、群落组成和营养结构, 并且作用的方向(促进或抑制)和程度依赖于水稻的品种特性, 揭示出地上部植食者的短期侵害将对稻田土壤生态系统的结构和功能产生深远影响。     

An isoform of GTPase regulator DOCK4 localizes to the stereocilia in the inner ear and binds to harmonin (USH1C)

The driving forces for the regulation of cell morphology are the Rho family GTPases that coordinate the assembly of the actin cytoskeleton. This dynamic feature is a result of tight coupling between the cytoskeleton and signal transduction and is facilitated by actin-binding proteins (ABPs). Mutations in the actin bundling and PDZ domain-containing protein harmonin are the causes of Usher syndrome type 1C (USH1C), a syndrome of congenital deafness and progressive blindness, as well as certain forms of non-syndromic deafness. Here, we have used the yeast two-hybrid assay to isolate molecular partners of harmonin and identified DOCK4, an unconventional guanine exchange factor for the Rho family of guanosine triphosphatases (Rho GEF GTPases), as a protein interacting with harmonin. Detailed molecular analysis revealed that a novel DOCK4 isoform (DOCK4-Ex49) is expressed in the brain, eye and inner ear tissues. We have further provided evidence that the DOCK4-Ex49 binds to nucleotide free Rac as effectively as DOCK2 and DOCK4 and it is a potent Rac activator. By immunostaining using a peptide antibody specific to DOCK4-Ex49, we showed its localization in the inner ear within the hair bundles along the stereocilia (SC). Together, our data indicate a possible Rac-DOCK4-ABP harmonin-activated signaling pathway in regulating actin cytoskeleton organization in stereocilia.     

枯草芽孢杆菌抗菌蛋白X98Ⅲ的纯化与性质

枯草芽孢杆菌（Bacillussubtilis）BS－98是一株能强烈抑制苹果轮纹病菌（Physalosporapiricola）等植物病原真菌的拮抗菌株。BS－98菌株培养液经硫酸铵分级盐析、SephadexG－100柱层析和DEAE－纤维素（DE32）柱层析后分离纯化出一种抗菌蛋白,命名为X98Ⅲ。蛋白电泳分析结果表明,此蛋白分子量为59000,等电点为4．50．醋酸纤维膜电泳后经特异染色证明X98Ⅲ含糖及胀。用DNS法测其含糖量为6％。此蛋白对热稳定,对蛋白酶部分敏感。氨基酸组分分析表明,该蛋白含11种不同氨基酸,尤富含谷氨酸和半胱氨酸等,而缺少天冬氨酸等。纯化后的X98Ⅲ对苹果轮纹病菌、芦笋茎枯病菌等有很强的抑制作用。X98Ⅲ的抑菌机理主要是溶解细胞壁,造成菌丝畸形、孢子不发芽或发芽异常。     

芒果APl同源基因的克隆及其生物信息学分析

我们采用RT-PCR方法克隆了2个APl同源基因全长cDNA,分别命名为MAPl-1(GenBank accession No.FJ529206)和MAPl-2(GenBank accession No.FJ529207).MAPl-1编码247个氨基酸,开放阅读框长度为741 bp,蛋白质分子量为28.54kD,等电点为8.31;MAPl-2编码248个氨基酸,开放阅读框长度为744 bp,蛋白质分子量为28.78 kD,等电点为8.70.同源性分析表明,它们的核苷酸序列与其它木本植物APl同源基因的一致性为72%～81%.实验分析表明,MAPl-1和MAPl-2第1至第61个氨基酸含有一个MADS盒结构域,第88至第178个为K盒结构域;两个基因均定位于细胞核,且功能位点分布存在着不同,推测这两个基因在花器官发育过程中的功能存在差异.蛋白二级结构预测显示,MAPl-1蛋白有12个a-螺旋,4个β折叠区,14个β-转角;而MAPl-2蛋白有11个a-螺旋,5个β折叠区,15个β-转角:其大多数氨基酸具有亲水性.本研究有助于进一步了解芒果的开花分子机理及成花的生物学发育阶段.     

A maize ADP‐ribosylation factor ZmArf2 increases organ and seed size by promoting cell expansion in Arabidopsis

ADP‐ribosylation factors (ARFs) are small GTP‐binding proteins that regulate a wide variety of cell functions. Previously, we isolated a new ARF, ZmArf2, from maize (Zea mays). Sequence and expression characteristics indicated that ZmArf2 might play a critical role in the early stages of endosperm development. In this study, we investigated ZmArf2 function by analysis of its GTP‐binding activity and subcellular localization. We also over‐expressed ZmArf2 in Arabidopsis and measured organ and cell size and counted cell numbers. The expression levels of five organ size‐associated genes were also determined in 35S::ZmArf2 transgenic and wild‐type plants. Results showed that the recombinant ZmArf2 protein purified from Escherichia coli exhibited GTP‐binding activity. Subcellular localization revealed that ZmArf2 was localized in the cytoplasm and plasma membrane. ZmArf2 over‐expression in Arabidopsis showed that 35S::ZmArf2 transgenic plants were taller and had larger leaves and seeds compared to wild‐type plants, which resulted from cell expansions, not an increase in cell numbers. In addition, three cell expansion‐related genes, AtEXP3, AtEXP5 and AtEXP10, were upregulated in 35S::ZmArf2 transgenic lines, while the expression levels of AtGIF1 and AtGRF5, were unchanged. Collectively, our studies suggest that ZmArf2 has an active GTP‐binding function, and plays a crucial role in growth and development in Arabidopsis through cell expansion mediated by cell expansion genes.     

西南干旱河谷植物多样性资源的保护与利用

西南干旱河谷是分布于我国亚热带横断山区的隐域性河谷景观, 其环境受季风气候、岭-谷地形环境和人类开发活动的共同影响。适应于季节性干旱和垂直气候分异, 干旱河谷具有独特的植被和丰富的物种多样性资源。在过去几十年中, 干旱河谷的气候变化以增温为一致特征, 同时经历着广泛的人类活动干扰, 特别是道路建设、水利工程、矿山开发和城镇化驱动的土地利用变化, 造成了普遍的植被破坏、生境退化和生物入侵, 给乡土植物多样性资源和生态系统稳定性带来了严重威胁, 然而至今对干旱河谷生物多样性的保护仍基本属于空白。因此, 建议及时建立干旱河谷的生物多样性保护体系; 因地制宜采取退化植被修复、立体农业规划、特色植物资源利用和风景旅游开发等措施, 以维持干旱河谷生态系统的可持续性; 落实生态文明建设的相关政策, 以保障西南生态屏障的生态安全和生态服务能力。     

Identification of pathogens in culture-negative infective endocarditis cases by metagenomic analysis

Background

Pathogens identification is critical for the proper diagnosis and precise treatment of infective endocarditis (IE). Although blood and valve cultures are the gold standard for IE pathogens detection, many cases are culture-negative, especially in patients who had received long-term antibiotic treatment, and precise diagnosis has therefore become a major challenge in the clinic. Metagenomic sequencing can provide both information on the pathogenic strain and the antibiotic susceptibility profile of patient samples without culturing, offering a powerful method to deal with culture-negative cases.

Methods

To assess the feasibility of a metagenomic approach to detect the causative pathogens in resected valves from IE patients, we employed both next-generation sequencing and Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION nanopore sequencing for pathogens and antimicrobial resistance detection in seven culture-negative IE patients. Using our in-house developed bioinformatics pipeline, we analyzed the sequencing results generated from both platforms for the direct identification of pathogens from the resected valves of seven clinically culture-negative IE patients according to the modified Duke criteria.

Results

Our results showed both metagenomics methods can be applied for the causative pathogen detection in all IE samples. Moreover, we were able to simultaneously characterize respective antimicrobial resistance features.

Conclusion

Metagenomic methods for IE detection can provide clinicians with valuable information to diagnose and treat IE patients after valve replacement surgery. However, more efforts should be made to optimize protocols for sample processing, sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.

     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in <Emphasis Type="Italic">TaER</Emphasis> genes and their association with carbon isotope discrimination in wheat genotypes under drought

Candidate gene association studies implicate the detection of contributing single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) for the target traits and have been recommended as a promising technique to anatomize the complex characters in plants. The ERECTA gene in plants controls different physiological functions. In this study, we identified SNPs in 1.1 kb partial sequences of TaER-1 and TaER-2 of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Thirty-nine SNPs were identified in the coding regions of TaER-1 gene in 33 wheat genotypes, of which 20 SNPs caused non-synonymous mutations while 19 SNPs produced synonymous mutations; 31 SNPs were located in the coding regions of TaER-2 gene in 26 genotypes, of which 18 SNPs caused non-synonymous mutations and 13 SNPs caused synonymous mutations. In addition, 32 SNPs in TaER-1 and 9 SNPs in TaER-2 were also identified in the non-coding regions. Moreover, the significant genetic associations of SNPs of TaER-1 and TaER-2 genes with carbon isotope discrimination, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE), leaf length, leaf width, stomatal density, epidermal cell density, and stomatal index were noted in wheat genotypes. This study confirms the importance of TaER-1 and TaER-2 genes which could improve iWUE of wheat by regulating leaf gas exchange and leaf structural traits. These identified SNPs may play a critical role in molecular breeding by means of marker-assisted selection.     

横斑锦蛇的现状

结合近几年来的野外调查,对横斑锦蛇的现状进行了报道。横斑锦蛇目前仅见于四川省西部的汶川、宝兴、石棉、泸定和雅安5个县、市,其中石棉和宝兴两县为其新分布区。横斑锦蛇栖息于海拔1650－2500m的湿润山地落叶阔叶林及灌草丛中,数量稀少,亟待加强保护和研究。 此外,还对唯一的幼蛇标本进行了描述。     

深黄被孢霉△^6—脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在转基因烟草中的表达

γ—亚麻酸(GLA)是人体和动物饮食中具有营养作用的重要的多烯不饱和脂肪酸,在大多数油料作物种子中不含有GLA,而只含有其前体物亚油酸,只有少数油料植物种子中含有GLA,如夜来香(Oenothera spp),琉璃苣(Borago officinalis)等。△^6—脂肪酸脱氢酶可将亚油酸转化为γ—亚麻酸,为了能够在传统的油料作物种子中产生GLA,我们将从深黄被孢霉中克隆的△^6—脂肪酸脱氢酶基因,与植物表达载体pGA643连接,构建了重组质粒pGAM—ICL6,将其通过农杆菌介导法,导入模式植物烟草中。经PCR和Southern杂交分析表明该基因已导入并整合到烟草的基因组中,Northern杂交结果表明该基因在转基因烟草的mRNA水平上获得表达。对转基因植株进行脂肪酸分析,结果显示,GLA和十八碳四烯酸(OTA)分别占总脂肪酸含量的19．7％和3．5％。