An insight into the sensitivity of maize to photoperiod changes under controlled conditions

Response of maize to photoperiods affects adaption of this crop to environments. We characterize the phenotypes of four temperate‐adapted maize foundation parents, Huangzao 4, Chang 7‐2, Ye 478 and Zheng 58, and two tropically adapted maize foundation parents, M9 and Shuang M9 throughout the growth stage under three constant photoperiod regimes in a daily cycle of 24 h at 28 °C, and analysed expression of 48 photoperiod response‐associated genes. Consequently, long photoperiod (LP) repressed development of the tassels of photoperiod‐sensitive maize lines at V9 stage, and caused subsequent failure in flowering; failure of photoperiod‐sensitive maize lines in flowering under LP was associated with lower expression of flowering‐related genes; photoperiod changes could make a marked impact on spatial layout of maize inflorescence. The larger oscillation amplitude of expression of photoperiod‐responsive genes occurred in LP‐sensitive maize lines. In conclusion, failure in development of tassels at V9 stage under LP is an early indicator for judging photoperiod sensitivity. The adaptation of temperate‐adapted maize lines to LP is due to the better coordination of expression among photoperiod‐sensing genes instead of the loss of the genes. High photoperiod sensitivity of maize is due to high expression of circadian rhythm‐responding genes improperly early in the light.     

Metabolomic analysis reveals the potential metabolites and pathogenesis involved in mulberry yellow dwarf disease

To analyse the molecular mechanisms of phytoplasma pathogenicity, the comprehensive metabolomic changes of mulberry leaf and phloem sap in response to phytoplasma infection were examined using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. The metabolic profiles obtained revealed that the metabolite compositions of leaf and phloem sap were different, and phytoplasma infection has a greater impact on the metabolome of phloem sap than of leaf. Phytoplasma infection brought about the content changes in various metabolites, such as carbohydrates, amino acids, organic acids, etc. Meanwhile, the results of biochemical analysis showed that the degradation of starch was repressed, and the starch content was increased in the infected leaves. In addition, we found that phytoplasma infection changed the levels of abscisic acid and cytokinin and break phytohormone balance. Interestingly, our data showed that the contents of H₂O₂ and superoxide were increased in the infected leaves, but not in the phloem saps. Based on the results, the expression levels of the genes involved in the metabolism of some changed metabolites were examined, and the potential molecular mechanisms of these changes were discussed. It can be concluded that both the leaf and phloem saps have a complicated metabolic response to phytoplasma infection, but their response mechanisms were different.     

Allosteric peptides bind a caspase zymogen and mediate caspase tetramerization

The caspases are a family of cytosolic proteases with essential roles in inflammation and apoptosis. Drug discovery efforts have focused on developing molecules directed against the active sites of caspases, but this approach has proved challenging and has not yielded any approved therapeutics. Here we describe a new strategy for generating inhibitors of caspase-6, a potential therapeutic target in neurodegenerative disorders, by screening against its zymogen form. Using phage display to discover molecules that bind the zymogen, we report the identification of a peptide that specifically impairs the function of caspase-6 in vitro and in neuronal cells. Remarkably, the peptide binds at a tetramerization interface that is uniquely present in zymogen caspase-6, rather than binding into the active site, and acts via a new allosteric mechanism that promotes caspase tetramerization. Our data illustrate that screening against the zymogen holds promise as an approach for targeting caspases in drug discovery.     

模拟增温对川西亚高山林线交错带绵穗柳生长、叶物候和叶性状的影响

采用开顶式生长室(open-top chamber, OTC)模拟增温的方法,研究了模拟增温对川西亚高 山林线交错带绵穗柳生长和叶性状的影响.结果表明：与对照样地相比,OTC内日平均气温(地上12 m)在植物生长季中增加2.9 ℃,而5 cm土壤温度仅增加0.4 ℃;温度升高使绵穗柳芽开放时间明显提前、落叶时间明显推迟,叶寿命延长;OTC内绵穗柳叶面积和侧枝生长速率明显加快,比叶面积明显增加,而叶氮浓度却显著下降;OTC内绵穗柳的气孔导度、净光合速率、光呼吸速率和暗呼吸速率总体上呈增加趋势.综上所述,绵穗柳适应增温效应的能力较强,在未来气候变化背景下,其分布的海拔高度有可能上升.     

三峡库区近50年间土地利用/覆被变化

基于1955年1∶50 000地形图、1972年MSS图像、1986和2000年TM图像,定量分析了三峡库区土地利用的动态变化过程,并对其驱动力进行了分析.结果表明：1955—2000年间,研究区土地利用结构发生了明显变化,林地、水域和未利用地面积减少,耕地、草地和建设用地面积增加.在1955—1972、1972—1986和1986—2000年3个时段,该区林地面积持续减少,但减幅逐渐变小;草地和耕地面积分别经历了增 减 增和增 增 减的过程;建设用地面积持续增加;水域和未利用地面积持续减少.政策、经济发展和人口增长等因素是研究区土地利用变化的主要影响因子.     

A specificity map for the PDZ domain family

PDZ domains are protein-protein interaction modules that recognize specific C-terminal sequences to assemble protein complexes in multicellular organisms. By scanning billions of random peptides, we accurately map binding specificity for approximately half of the over 330 PDZ domains in the human and Caenorhabditis elegans proteomes. The domains recognize features of the last seven ligand positions, and we find 16 distinct specificity classes conserved from worm to human, significantly extending the canonical two-class system based on position -2. Thus, most PDZ domains are not promiscuous, but rather are fine-tuned for specific interactions. Specificity profiling of 91 point mutants of a model PDZ domain reveals that the binding site is highly robust, as all mutants were able to recognize C-terminal peptides. However, many mutations altered specificity for ligand positions both close and far from the mutated position, suggesting that binding specificity can evolve rapidly under mutational pressure. Our specificity map enables the prediction and prioritization of natural protein interactions, which can be used to guide PDZ domain cell biology experiments. Using this approach, we predicted and validated several viral ligands for the PDZ domains of the SCRIB polarity protein. These findings indicate that many viruses produce PDZ ligands that disrupt host protein complexes for their own benefit, and that highly pathogenic strains target PDZ domains involved in cell polarity and growth.     

一株具有良好粘附性的植物乳杆菌的生物学特性及应用

本文研究了植物乳杆菌AR326的最适生长温度、最适接种量、生长曲线、最适初始pH、胆汁耐受性、NaCl耐受性,并进一步探究了单菌株发酵酸奶的性能。结果显示植物乳杆菌AR326生长较快,4 h进入对数期,14 h进入稳定期,最适生长温度为30℃,在初始pH 3.0~7.0范围可生长,适宜的接种量为1.5%~2.0%,耐受胆盐浓度达0.2%,耐高渗透压能力强,可在含NaCl 8%的MRS培养基中生长。发酵乳中菌落数和对照组一致,脱水收缩性优于对照组,因而可用于商业上生产功能性酸奶。     

昆虫钠离子通道基因突变及其与杀虫剂抗性关系的研究进展

昆虫电压门控钠离子通道(voltage-gated sodium channel)存在于所有可兴奋细胞的细胞膜上,在动作电位的产生和传导上起重要作用,是有机氯和拟除虫菊酯杀虫剂的靶标位点。在农业和医学害虫控制过程中,由于有机氯和拟除虫菊酯杀虫剂的广泛使用,抗药性问题日益突出。其中,由于钠离子通道基因突变,降低了钠离子通道对有机氯和拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂的亲和性,从而产生击倒抗性(knock-down resistance, kdr),已成为抗性产生的重要机制之一。本文综述了昆虫钠离子通道的跨膜拓扑结构、功能、进化及其基因的克隆;更重要的是总结了已报道的40多种昆虫40个钠离子通道基因非同义突变,以及钠离子通道基因选择性mRNA剪接和编辑,以及它们与杀虫剂抗性的关系;也评述了钠离子通道基因突变引起蛋白质结构的改变,从而对杀虫剂抗性的影响机制。这些研究对于进一步鉴定与杀虫剂抗性相关的突变及抗性机制,开发有机氯和拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂抗性分子监测方法具有重要意义。     

GFP为报告基因的酵母哺乳动物细胞穿梭载体的构建及其在人血管内皮细胞中的表达

为研究酵母作为载体在口服基因治疗及免疫中的作用 ,需要一种能够在酵母中复制而在哺乳动物细胞中表达的穿梭载体 .利用通用载体质粒融合系统 (UPS)构建了一种以GFP为报告基因的新载体 ,以常规的氯化锂法对酿酒酵母进行转化 ,证明该载体能够在酵母中复制 ;以脂质体介导向人血管内皮细胞进行了转染 ,有绿色荧光 ,证明该载体能够在哺乳动物细胞中表达 .所获得的新型的穿梭载体为口服酵母在基因治疗中的应用提供了物质准备