Isolation and characterization of 12 microsatellite loci for Michelia coriacea (Magnoliaceae), a critically endangered endemic to Southeast Yunnan, China

By using a modified biotin–streptavidin capture method, a total of 12 microsatellite loci were developed and characterized for Michelia coriacea (Magnoliaceae), a critically endangered endemic to Southeast Yunnan, China. The number of alleles (A) ranged from two to six in 30 samples of this species. The ranges of observed (H _O ) and expected (H _E ) heterozygosities were 0.033–0.8000 and 0.033–0.7910, respectively. Cross-species amplification in M. yunnanensis showed that a subset of these markers holds promise for congeneric species. These polymorphic SSR markers would be useful tools for population genetics studies on M. coriacea and other congeneric species.     

TRAF2 phosphorylation modulates tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced gene expression and cell resistance to apoptosis

TRAF2 is an adaptor protein that regulates the activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and IkappaB kinase (IKK) signaling cascades in response to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) stimulation. Although the downstream events in TNF-alpha signaling are better understood, the membrane-proximal events are still elusive. Here, we demonstrate that TNF-alpha and cellular stresses induce TRAF2 phosphorylation at serine 11 and that this phosphorylation is required for the expression of a subset of NF-kappaB target genes. Although TRAF2 phosphorylation had a minimal effect on the TNF-alpha-induced rapid and transient IKK activation, it was essential for secondary and prolonged IKK activation. Consistent with this, TRAF2 phosphorylation is not required for its recruitment to the TNFR1 complex in response to TNF-alpha stimulation but is required for its association with a cytoplasmic complex containing RIP1 and IKK. In addition, TRAF2 phosphorylation was essential for the full TNF-alpha-induced activation of JNK. Notably, TRAF2 phosphorylation increased both basal and inducible c-Jun and NF-kappaB activities and rendered cells resistant to stress-induced apoptosis. Moreover, TRAF2 was found to be constitutively phosphorylated in some lymphomas. These results unveil a new, finely tuned mechanism for TNF-alpha-induced IKK activation modulated by TRAF2 phosphorylation and suggest that TRAF2 phosphorylation contributes to elevated levels of basal NF-kappaB activity in certain human cancers.     

Molecular Detection and Complete Genome Sequences of Tomato chlorosis virus Isolates from Infectious Outbreaks in China

Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) is a whitefly‐transmitted, phloem‐limited, bipartite Crinivirus. In 2012, severe interveinal symptoms characteristic of ToCV infections were observed in greenhouse tomato plants in the Shandong province of China. High levels of infestation by whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci), which transmit ToCV, were also observed on tomato plants in all the greenhouses investigated. The presence of ToCV was confirmed by specific RT‐PCR either in the sampled plants or in the whiteflies collected from the ventral surface of the leaves of diseased plants. The complete genomic nucleotide sequences (RNA1 and RNA2) of the Shandong isolate of ToCV (ToCV‐SDSG) were determined and analysed. ToCV‐SDSG RNA1 consisted of 8594 nucleotides encompassing four open reading frames (ORFs). ToCV‐SDSG RNA2 consisted of 8242 nucleotides encompassing nine ORFs. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the Chinese ToCV‐SDSG isolate is most similar to the ToCV‐Florida isolate.     

pH值对FOXO1、GDF-8基因反义RNA寡核苷酸吸收的影响

研究不同pH值下,口服靶向FOXO1与GDF-8基因反义RNA寡核苷酸药物对药效的影响.化学合成靶向FOXO1与GDF-8基因的有效反义RNA寡核苷酸片段,调节药物PH值,通过灌胃方式给药,给药20 d后处死小鼠,进行体重,腿部肌肉增长情况分析.提取腿部肌肉组织总RNA,用real time PCR检测FOXO1与GDF-8基因的表达.结果表明,服用RNA oligos的试验组小鼠腿部肌肉重量均比对照组肌肉重量增长快.其中pH为7.0的RNA oligos的效果比pH为5.0的效果好, pH9.0的RNA oligos的作用效果最弱.与小鼠体重变化结果一致,real time PCR检测实验组FOXO1与GDF-8基因转录水平较对照组均有明显下降,其中服用pH为7.0的RNA oligos的下降最多.因此,口服靶向FOXO1与GDF-8基因的反义RNA寡核苷酸药物的最适pH值应为中性偏酸.     

Isolation and molecular characterization of a new CRT binding factor gene from Capsella bursa-pastoris

A new CRT binding factor (CBF) gene designated Cbcbf25 was cloned from Capsella bursa-pastoris, a wild grass, by the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA of Cbcbf25 was 898 bp with a 669 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a putative DRE/CRT (LTRE)-binding protein of 223 amino acids. The predicted CbCBF25 protein contained a potential nuclear localization signal (NLS) in its N-terminal region followed by an AP2 DNA-binding motif and a possible acidic activation domain in the C-terminal region. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that Cbcbf25 has a high level of similarity with other CBF genes like cbf1, cbf2, and cbf3 from Arabidopsis thaliana, and Bncbf5, Bncbf7, Bncbf16, and Bncbf17 from Brassica napus. A cold acclimation assay showed that Cbcbf25 was expressed immediately after cold triggering, but this expression was transient, suggesting that it concerns cold acclimation. Our study implies that Cbcbf25 is an analogue of other CBF genes and may participate in cold-response, by for example, controlling the expression of cold-regulated genes or increasing the freezing tolerance of plants.     

Influence of dietary carbohydrate on zinc-deficiency-induced changes in oxidative defense mechanisms and tissue oxidative damage in rats

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dietary carbohydrate type on the expression of zinc (Zn) deficiency in rats with respect to tissue oxidative damage and defense mechanisms. Rats were fed diets containing adequate (+Zn) or low concentrations (-Zn) of Zn. Both fructose- and glucose-based diets were tested. Pair-fed controls were also studied to evaluate changes in the oxidative defense system which are secondary to Zn-deficiency-induced anorexia. Plasma and liver Zn concentrations and CuZn superoxide dismutase activities were lower in the -Zn rats than in the +Zn rats. Liver glutathione (GSH) and disulfide glutathione concentrations were higher in the -Zn rats than in the +Zn rats; this difference was most pronounced in the fructose groups. Liver and heart selenium glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSH-Px) activities were lower in the -Zn-fructose group than in the +Zn-fructose group. Liver Se-GSH-Px activity was higher in the fructose groups than in the glucose groups. Liver GSH reductase (GSH-Red) activity was lower in the -Zn-fructose group than in its control group. Liver glutamine synthetase activity was lower in the -Zn-glucose group and in the fructose groups than in the glucose control group. Liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) production was similar among the groups. Collectively, these results support the concept that Zn deficiency can result in an impaired oxidant defense system. Based on the observation that pair-fed control animals also showed evidence of oxidative damage, we suggest that one factor that contributes to the effect of Zn deficiency is the reduction in caloric intake that occurs in these animals. Fructose feeding resulted in increased activities of several of the oxidant defense enzymes. Protein oxidative damage assessed by glutamine synthetase activity was increased by both Zn deficiency and fructose feeding.     

兰属、兜兰属、石斛属植物叶片的扫描电镜观察

对兰科植物的兰属、兜兰属及石斛属１６个种折叶片及其横断面进行了扫描电镜的观察。兰属各种叶片上表皮细胞均为矩形,上表皮细胞表面具小乳突或不明显突起。石斛属及兜兰属的各个种上下表皮细胞均为多边形,但石斛属表皮细胞表面无坦无纹饰,而兜兰属花叶类上表皮细胞表面明显呈乳突状,绿叶类呈龟背状隆起。兰属及石斛属叶片叶肉组织没有栅栏组织及海绵组织的分化,而兜兰属的绿叶类叶肉不分化;花叶类叶肉有分化。     

人白细胞介素－2的两个部分拮抗剂

通过定点诱变技术得到６个生物活性剧烈下降的人白细胞介素－２（ＩＬ－２）突变体,其中两个突变体即１５Ｖａｌ－ＩＬ－２和１２６Ａｓｐ－ＩＬ－２可以在一定浓度范围内使ＩＬ－２的生物效应降低。在对高亲和力ＩＬ－２受体（ＩＬ－２Ｒ）的竞争抑制实验中,１５Ｖａｌ－ＩＬ－２和１２６Ａｓｐ－Ｉｌ－２又表现了一定的竞争能力。这些结果表明１５Ｖａｌ－ＩＬ－２和１２６Ａｓｐ－ＩＬ－２可部分拮抗天然ＩＬ－２的作用。结合Ｉ     

外显子和内含子的序列复杂性

引入了两个新的关于序列复杂性的测度,并以此为指标分析比较了结构基因序列中的外显子和内含子的复杂性差异。     

The effects of external electric field: creating non-zero first hyperpolarizability for centrosymmetric benzene and strongly enhancing first hyperpolarizability for non-centrosymmetric edge-modified graphene ribbon H2N-(3,3)ZGNR-NO2

How to generate a non-zero first hyperpolarizability for a centrosymmetric molecule is a challenging question. In this paper, an external (pump) electric field is used to make a centrosymmetric benzene molecule generate a non-zero value of the electric field induced first hyperpolarizability (β ^F ). This comes from the centrosymmetry breaking of electron cloud. Two interesting rules are exhibited. (1) β ^F is anisotropic for different directional fields (F _i, i?=?X, Y, Z). (2) The field dependence of β ^F is a non-monotonic function, and an optimum external electric field causes the maximum value of β ^F . The largest first hyperpolarizability β ^F reaches the considerable level of 3.9?×?10⁵ a.u. under F _Y?=?330?×?10^?4 a.u. for benzene. The external electric field effects on non-centrosymmetric edge-modified graphene ribbon H₂N-(3,3)ZGNR-NO₂ was also studied in this work. The first hyperpolarizability reaches as much as 2.1?×?10⁷ a.u. under F _X?=?600?×?10^?4 a.u. for H₂N-(3,3)ZGNR-NO₂. We show that the external electric field can not only create a non-zero first hyperpolarizability for centrosymmetric molecule, but also remarkably enhance the first hyperpolarizability for a non-centrosymmetric molecule.