Transfer of resistance to potato leafroll virus, potato virus Y and potato virus X from Solarium brevidens to S. tuberosum through symmetric and designed asymmetric somatic hybridisation

Resistance to potato leafroll virus (PLRV), potato virus Y (PVY^o) and potato virus X (PVX) was studied in symmetric and asymmetric somatic hybrids produced by electrofusion between Solanum brevidens (2n=2×=24) and dihaploid S. tuberosum (2n=2×=24), and also in regenerants (B-hybrids) derived through protoplast culture from a single somatic hybrid (chromosome number 48). All of the somatic hybrids between 5. brevidens and the two dihaploid lines of potato cv. Pito were extremely resistant to PLRV and PVY^oand moderately resistant to PVX, irrespective of their chromosome number and ploidy level (tetraploid or hexaploid). Most (56%) of the asymmetric hybrids of irradiated S. brevidens and the dihaploid line of potato cv. Pentland Crown (PDH40) had high titres of PVY^osimilar to those of PDH40, whereas the rest of the hybrids had PVY^otitres less than a tenth of those in PDH40. Three B-hybrids had a highly reduced chromosome number (27, 30 and 34), but were however as resistant to PLRV, PVY^oand PVX as 5. brevidens. Two asymmetric hybrids and one B-hybrid were extremely resistant to PLRV but susceptible to both PVY and PVX. The results suggested that resistance to PLRV in 5. brevidens is controlled by a gene or genes different from those controlling resistance to PVY and PVX, and the gene(s) for resistance to PVY and PVX are linked in S. brevidens.     

浙江省等翅目两新种（等翅目：白蚁科）

本文记述了等翅目白蚁科两新种：浙江大白蚁Ｍａｃｒｏｔｅｒｍｅｓ ｚｈｅｊｉａｎｇｅｎｓｉｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．和小葫白蚁Ｃｕｃｕｒｂｉｔｅｒｍｅｓ ｐａｒｖｉｃｅｐｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．。标本均采自浙江省,正模保存于广东省昆虫研究所。     

人抑胃肽的研究：合成和性质

人抑胃肽的研究：合成和性质崔大敷,崔恒苒,徐明华,曹蕙婷,朱尚权（中国科学院上海生物化学研究所,２０００３１）陈可靖,邓华云（上海医科大学附属中山医院,２０００３２）关键词人抑胃肽,合成,生物活性抑胃肽（简称ＧＩＰ）最早由Ｂｒｏｗｎ等’”从猪小肠分离...     

索曼中毒运动终板乙酰胆碱酯酶活性和接头传递功能的关系

用大鼠的在体膈肌局部索曼(Soman)中毒法,观察了乙酰胆碱酯酶(ACHE)在运动终板的再生和肌接头传递功能的恢复过程,以及肟类药物(HI-6)对两过程的促进作用。提出终板 AChE 活性与高频间接刺激(100次/秒)引起膈肌强直收缩幅度有一定的关系。中毒早期(30分钟以内)HI-6对索曼抑制的膈肌终板 AChE 有一定的重活化作用,并能相应地恢复肌接头的传递功能。     

Intrinsically disordered inhibitor of glutamine synthetase is a functional protein with random‐coil‐like pKa values

The sequential action of glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) in cyanobacteria allows the incorporation of ammonium into carbon skeletons. In the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, the activity of GS is modulated by the interaction with proteins, which include a 65‐residue‐long intrinsically disordered protein (IDP), the inactivating factor IF7. This interaction is regulated by the presence of charged residues in both IF7 and GS. To understand how charged amino acids can affect the binding of an IDP with its target and to provide clues on electrostatic interactions in disordered states of proteins, we measured the pK_a values of all IF7 acidic groups (Glu32, Glu36, Glu38, Asp40, Asp58, and Ser65, the backbone C‐terminus) at 100 mM NaCl concentration, by using NMR spectroscopy. We also obtained solution structures of IF7 through molecular dynamics simulation, validated them on the basis of previous experiments, and used them to obtain theoretical estimates of the pK_a values. Titration values for the two Asp and three Glu residues of IF7 were similar to those reported for random‐coil models, suggesting the lack of electrostatic interactions around these residues. Furthermore, our results suggest the presence of helical structure at the N‐terminus of the protein and of conformational changes at acidic pH values. The overall experimental and in silico findings suggest that local interactions and conformational equilibria do not play a role in determining the electrostatic features of the acidic residues of IF7.     

Synthesis,receptor binding studies,optical spectroscopic and in silico structural characterization of morphiceptin analogs with cis‐4‐amino‐L‐proline residues

Three novel morphiceptin analogs, in which Pro in position 2 and/or 4 was replaced by cis‐4‐aminoproline connected with the preceding amino acid through the primary amino group, were synthesized. The opioid receptor affinities, functional assay results, enzymatic degradation studies and experimental and in silico structural analysis of such analogs are presented. Copyright © 2017 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Long‐term temporal and spatial trends in eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea

Much of the Baltic Sea is currently classified as ‘affected by eutrophication’. The causes for this are twofold. First, current levels of nutrient inputs (nitrogen and phosphorus) from human activities exceed the natural processing capacity with an accumulation of nutrients in the Baltic Sea over the last 50–100 years. Secondly, the Baltic Sea is naturally susceptible to nutrient enrichment due to a combination of long retention times and stratification restricting ventilation of deep waters. Here, based on a unique data set collated from research activities and long‐term monitoring programs, we report on the temporal and spatial trends of eutrophication status for the open Baltic Sea over a 112‐year period using the HELCOM Eutrophication Assessment Tool (HEAT 3.0). Further, we analyse variation in the confidence of the eutrophication status assessment based on a systematic quantitative approach using coefficients of variation in the observations. The classifications in our assessment indicate that the first signs of eutrophication emerged in the mid‐1950s and the central parts of the Baltic Sea changed from being unaffected by eutrophication to being affected. We document improvements in eutrophication status that are direct consequences of long‐term efforts to reduce the inputs of nutrients. The reductions in both nitrogen and phosphorus loads have led to large‐scale alleviation of eutrophication and to a healthier Baltic Sea. Reduced confidence in our assessment is seen more recently due to reductions in the scope of monitoring programs. Our study sets a baseline for implementation of the ecosystem‐based management strategies and policies currently in place including the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directives and the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan.     

Phylogeography and diversification of an Amazonian understorey hummingbird: paraphyly and evidence for widespread cryptic speciation in the Plio‐Pleistocene

Straight‐billed Hermit Phaethornis bourcieri inhabits the understorey of upland terra firme forest throughout most of the Amazon basin. Currently, two allopatric taxa regarded as subspecies are recognized: P. b. bourcieri and P. b. major. However, the validity, interspecific limits and evolutionary history of these taxa are not yet fully elucidated. We use molecular characters to propose a phylogenetic hypothesis for populations and taxa grouped under Phaethornis bourcieri. Our results showed that P. bourcieri is part of the ‘Ametrornis’ clade, along with Phaethornis philippii and Phaethornis koepckeae, and that the subspecies major is more closely related to the latter two species than to populations grouped under nominate bourcieri. Our phylogenetic hypotheses recovered three main reciprocally monophyletic clades under nominate bourcieri separated by the lower Negro River and the Branco River or the Branco–Negro interfluve (clades B and C) and the upper Amazon (Solimões) or lower Marañon/Ucayali Rivers (clades C and D). Based on multi‐locus phylogeographic and population genetics approaches, we show that P. b. major is best treated as a separate species, and that P. b. bourcieri probably includes more than one evolutionary species, whose limits remain uncertain. The diversification of the ‘Ametrornis’ clade (P. bourcieri, P. philippii and P. koepckeae) is centred in the Amazon and appears to be closely linked to the formation of the modern Amazon drainage during the Plio‐Pleistocene.     

Probiotic roles of Lactobacillus sp. in swine: insights from gut microbiota

The use of lactobacilli as probiotics in swine has been gaining attention due to their ability to improve growth performance and carcass quality, prevent gastrointestinal infection and most importantly, their ‘generally recognized as safe’ status. Previous studies support the potential of lactobacilli to regulate host immune systems, enhance gut metabolic capacities and maintain balance in the gut microbiota. Research on swine gut microbiota has revealed complex gut microbial community structure and showed the importance of Lactobacillus to the host's health. However, the species‐ and strain‐specific characteristics of lactobacilli that confer probiotic benefits are still not well understood. The diversity of probiotic traits in a complex gut ecosystem makes it challenging to infer the relationships between specific functions of Lactobacillus sp. and host health. In this review, we provide an overview of how lactobacilli play a pivotal role in the swine gut ecosystem and identify key characteristics that influence gut microbial community structure and the health of pigs. In addition, based on recent and ongoing meta‐omics and omics research on the gut microbiota of pigs, we suggest a workflow combining culture‐dependent and culture‐independent approaches for more effective selection of probiotic lactobacilli.