RNAi knockdown of Oryza sativa root meander curling gene led to altered root development and coiling which were mediated by jasmonic acid signalling in rice

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a well-known defence hormone, but its biological function and mechanism in rice root development are less understood. Here, we describe a JA-induced putative receptor-like protein (OsRLK, AAL87185) functioning in root development in rice. RNA in situ hybridization revealed that the gene was expressed largely in roots, and a fusion protein showed its localization on the plasma membrane. The primary roots in RNAi transgenic rice plants meandered and curled more easily than wild-type (WT) roots under JA treatment. Thus, this gene was renamed Oryza sativa root meander curling (OsRMC). The transgenic primary roots were shorter, the number of adventitious roots increased and the number of lateral roots decreased as compared to the WT. As well, the second sheath was reduced in length. Growth of both primary roots and second sheaths was sensitive to JA treatment. No significant change of JA level appeared in the roots between the transgenic rice line and WT. Expression of RSOsPR10, involved in the JA signalling pathway, was induced in transgenic rice. Western blotting revealed OsRMC induced by JA. Our results suggest that OsRMC of the DUF26 subfamily involved in JA signal transduction mediates root development and negatively regulates root curling in rice.     

Profiling of Substrate Specificity of SARS-CoV 3CLpro

Background

The 3C-like protease (3CL^pro) of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus is required for autoprocessing of the polyprotein, and is a potential target for treating coronaviral infection.

Methodology/Principal Findings

To obtain a thorough understanding of substrate specificity of the protease, a substrate library of 198 variants was created by performing saturation mutagenesis on the autocleavage sequence at P5 to P3'' positions. The substrate sequences were inserted between cyan and yellow fluorescent proteins so that the cleavage rates were monitored by in vitro fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The relative cleavage rate for different substrate sequences was correlated with various structural properties. P5 and P3 positions prefer residues with high β-sheet propensity; P4 prefers small hydrophobic residues; P2 prefers hydrophobic residues without β-branch. Gln is the best residue at P1 position, but observable cleavage can be detected with His and Met substitutions. P1'' position prefers small residues, while P2'' and P3'' positions have no strong preference on residue substitutions. Noteworthy, solvent exposed sites such as P5, P3 and P3'' positions favour positively charged residues over negatively charged one, suggesting that electrostatic interactions may play a role in catalysis. A super-active substrate, which combined the preferred residues at P5 to P1 positions, was found to have 2.8 fold higher activity than the wild-type sequence.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results demonstrated a strong structure-activity relationship between the 3CL^pro and its substrate. The substrate specificity profiled in this study may provide insights into a rational design of peptidomimetic inhibitors.     

OsAGAP, an ARF-GAP from rice, regulates root development mediated by auxin in Arabidopsis

Arf (ADP-ribosylation factor) proteins, which mediate vesicular transport, have little or no intrinsic GTPase activity. They rely on the action of GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) for their function. In the present study the OsAGAP gene in rice, which encoded a protein with predicted structure similar to ArfGAP, was identified. The purified OsAGAP-GST fusion protein was able to stimulate the GTPase activity of rice Arf. Furthermore, OsAGAP can rescue the defect of vesicular transport in the yeast gcs1 delta glo3 delta double-mutant cells. Transgenic Arabidopsis with OsAGAP constitutively expression showed reduced apical dominance, shorter primary roots, increasing number of longer adventitious roots. Many of the phenotypes can be phenocopied by treatment of exogenous indoleacetic acid level (IAA) in wild-type plants. Determination of whole-plant IAA level showed that there is a sharp increase of free IAA in OsAGAP transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings. In addition, removal of the 4-day-old shoot apex could inhibit the adventitious root formation in the transgenic seedlings. These results suggest OsAGAP, an ARF-GAP of rice, maybe involved in the mediation of plant root development by regulating auxin level.     

盾叶薯蓣营养器官薯蓣皂甙元含量的动态变化

利用高效液相色谱(HPLC)法对盾叶薯蓣营养器官特别是根状茎中薯蓣皂甙元含量的动态变化、品种之间的差异以及雌雄株之间的差异进行了研究。结果表明：实生苗根状茎中薯蓣皂甙元的含量,2年生高于1年生;根茎营养繁殖的2年生根状茎中皂甙元的含量高于1年生的含量;花叶品种的含量高于绿叶品种的含量;雄株的含量比雌株的含量高。在地上的缠绕茎和叶中没有检测到薯蓣皂甙元。由根茎繁殖的1年生根状茎前期皂甙元含量增加缓慢,后期增加较快;2年生根状茎盛花期含量最高,开花后期含量最低,随后含量逐渐增加。为此应在花叶品种中选择产量高、抗性强的品种作为栽培品种。合适的采挖期仍以地上缠绕茎枯萎期为宜。     

Determination of the enantiomeric composition of (R*,S*)-1-ethylpropyl 2-methyl-3-hydroxypentanoate, the male-produced aggregation pheromone of Sitophilus granarius

The enantiomeric composition of sitophilate, the granary weevil [Sitophilus granarius (L.)] male-produced aggregation pheromone [(R^*,S^*)-1-ethylpropyl 2-methyl-3-hydroxypentanoate)], was determined by three methods: (1) bioassaying the synthetic (2S,3R) and (2R,3S) enantiomers of the active (R^*,S^*) diastereomer; (2) ¹H NMR spectroscopy of Mosher ester derivatives of the natural pheromone and synthetic (2S,3R)-and (2R,3S)-sitophilate; and (3) capillary GLC comparisons of the retention times of derivatized natural pheromone and the two synthetic enantiomers. The combined methods confirmed the (2S,3R) enantiomer as the active form of sitophilate. Male granary weevils were shown to produce >96% (2S,3R)-sitophilate. No significant attraction of S. granarius by the (2R,3S) enantiomer was observed. Rice and maize weevils [S. oryzae (L.) and S. zeamais Motschulsky] were not attracted by (2S,3R)-sitophilate. S. granarius L. est un déprédateur important des grains stockés. Le (R^*,S^*)-1-éthylpropyl 2-méthyl-3-hydroxypentanoate a été identifié en 1987 comme le principal composé du sitophilate, la phéromone mâle d'agrégation de S. granarius. La composition énantiométrique du sitophilate a été déterminée par 3 méthodes:

蛋白酶抗性人睫状神经营养因子突变体基因的构建及其在巴斯德毕赤酵母中的表达

AX15是一种比天然睫状神经营养因子具有更高的生物学活性、更好的稳定性和可溶性的hCNTF突变体。在巴斯德毕赤酵母中表达时AX15易发生降解。氨基酸序列分析表明降解位于由12和13位氨基酸残基组成的双碱性氨基酸之后。根据KEX2蛋白酶的底物专一性把双碱性氨基酸从RR变为RK,构建了KEX2抗性的AX15突变体AX15（R13K）。AX15（R13K）的稳定性得到了显著的提高,在诱导100 h后也未发生降解。利用超滤浓缩和凝胶过滤得到了纯度>90%的AX15（R13K）。TF-1细胞存活实验表明AX15（R13K）具有与AX15相同的生物学活性。蛋白酶抗性人睫状神经营养因子突变体可能具有更好的体内稳定性,在临床应用上具有潜在的优势。     

Characterization of senescence-associated proteases in postharvest broccoli florets.

We characterized the senescence-associated proteases of postharvest broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var Green King) florets, using class-specific protease inhibitors and gelatin-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Different classes of senescence-associated proteases in broccoli florets were partially characterized for the first time. Protease activity of broccoli florets was depressed by all the inhibitors and showed different inhibition curves during postharvest. The hydrolytic activity of metalloprotease (EC 3.4.24. - ) and serine protease (EC 3.4.21. - ) reached a maximum, 1 day after harvest (DAH), then decreased, while the hydrolytic activity of cysteine protease (EC 3.4.22. - ) and aspartic protease (EC 3.4.23. - ) increased throughout the postharvest senescence based on the calculated inhibition percentage of protease activity. The senescence-associated proteases were separated into seven endoprotease (EP) groups by gelatin-polyacryamide gel electrophoresis and classified into EP1 (metalloprotease), EP2 (metalloprotease and cysteine protease), EP3 (serine protease and aspartic protease), EP4, EP5, EP7 (cysteine protease), and EP6 (serine protease) based on the sensitivity of class-specific protease inhibitors. The proteases EP2, EP3, and EP4 were present throughout the postharvest stages. EP3 was the major EP at all times during senescence; EP4 intensity of activity increased after 2 DAH; EP6 and EP7 clearly increased after 4 DAH. Our results suggest that serine protease activity contributes to early stage (0-1 DAH) and late stage (4-5 DAH) of senescence; metalloprotease activity was involved in the early and intermediate stages (0-3 DAH) of senescence; and cysteine protease and aspartic protease activities participated in the whole process of broccoli senescence.     

抑郁症模型大鼠学习记忆能力变化研究

为探讨抑郁症发生发展过程中学习记忆能力的变化模式及其可能机制．分别采用21天慢性非预见性刺激法和嗅球切除法建立的抑郁症模型大鼠．运用旷场行为实验（open—field behavior）检测大鼠主动性活动能力,用Morris水迷宫法检测大鼠空间学习记忆能力,HPLC—UV法测定大鼠血清皮质醇含量。电生理法记录海马CA1区LTP与LTD,观察海马神经元的突触可塑性。结果显示：与对照组相比,两种模型的自主活动性、空间探索兴趣和学习能力都明显降低,而记忆的反馈功能没有明显的变化。同时．两种模型大鼠海马神经细胞的突触可塑性显著下降,血清皮质醇的含量则明显上升。提示两种建模方法均导致大鼠产生抑郁症状和学习能力障碍．但对记忆反馈功能无明显影响。     

The directional flow of visual information transfer between pedestrians

Close behavioural coupling of visual orientation may provide a range of adaptive benefits to social species. In order to investigate the natural properties of gaze-following between pedestrians, we displayed an attractive stimulus in a frequently trafficked corridor within which a hidden camera was placed to detect directed gaze from passers-by. The presence of visual cues towards the stimulus by nearby pedestrians increased the probability of passers-by looking as well. In contrast to cueing paradigms used for laboratory research, however, we found that individuals were more responsive to changes in the visual orientation of those walking in the same direction in front of them (i.e. viewing head direction from behind). In fact, visual attention towards the stimulus diminished when oncoming pedestrians had previously looked. Information was therefore transferred more effectively behind, rather than in front of, gaze cues. Further analyses show that neither crowding nor group interactions were driving these effects, suggesting that, within natural settings gaze-following is strongly mediated by social interaction and facilitates acquisition of environmentally relevant information.