Sl‐lncRNA15492 interacts with Sl‐miR482a and affects Solanum lycopersicum immunity against Phytophthora infestans

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the resistance of plants to infection by pathogens via interactions with microRNAs (miRNAs). Long non‐coding RNAs are cleaved by miRNAs to produce phased small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs), which, as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), function as decoys for mature miRNAs, thus inhibiting their expression, and contain pre‐miRNA sequences to produce mature miRNAs. However, whether lncRNAs and miRNAs mediate other molecular mechanisms during plant resistance to pathogens is unknown. In this study, as a positive regulator, Sl‐lncRNA15492 from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Zaofen No. 2) plants affected tomato resistance to Phytophthora infestans. Gain‐ and loss‐of‐function experiments and RNA ligase‐mediated 5′‐amplification of cDNA ends (RLM‐5′ RACE) also revealed that Sl‐miR482a was negatively involved in tomato resistance by targeting Sl‐NBS‐LRR genes and that silencing of Sl‐NBS‐LRR1 decreased tomato resistance. Sl‐lncRNA15492 inhibited the expression of mature Sl‐miR482a, whose precursor was located within the antisense sequence of Sl‐lncRNA15492. Further degradome analysis and additional RLM‐5′ RACE experiments verified that mature Sl‐miR482a could also cleave Sl‐lncRNA15492. These results provide a mechanism by which lncRNAs might inhibit precursor miRNA expression through antisense strands of lncRNAs, and demonstrate that Sl‐lncRNA15492 and Sl‐miR482a mutually inhibit the maintenance of Sl‐NBS‐LRR1 homeostasis during tomato resistance to P. infestans.     

Mutation of the chloroplast‐localized phosphate transporter OsPHT2;1 reduces flavonoid accumulation and UV tolerance in rice

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient required for plant development and production. The mechanisms regulating phosphate (Pi) uptake are well established, but the function of chloroplast Pi homeostasis is poorly understood in Oryza sativa (rice). PHT2;1 is one of the transporters/translocators mediating Pi import into chloroplasts. In this study, to gain insight into the role of OsPHT2;1‐mediated stroma Pi, we analyzed OsPHT2;1 function in Pi utilization and photoprotection. Our results showed that OsPHT2;1 was induced by Pi starvation and light exposure. Cell‐based assays showed that OsPHT2;1 localized to the chloroplast envelope and functioned as a low‐affinity Pi transporter. The ospht2;1 had reduced Pi accumulation, plant growth and photosynthetic rates. Metabolite profiling revealed that 52.6% of the decreased metabolites in ospht2;1 plants were flavonoids, which was further confirmed by 40% lower content of total flavonoids compared with the wild type. As a consequence, ospht2;1 plants were more sensitive to UV‐B irradiation. Moreover, the content of phenylalanine, the precursor of flavonoids, was also reduced, and was largely associated with the repressed expression of ADT1/MTR1. Furthermore, the ospht2;1 plants showed decreased grain yields at relatively high levels of UV‐B irradiance. In summary, OsPHT2;1 functions as a chloroplast‐localized low‐affinity Pi transporter that mediates UV tolerance and rice yields at different latitudes.     

Potential role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression

The regulation of insulin on depression and depression‐like behaviour has been widely reported. Insulin and activation of its receptor can promote learning and memory, affect the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis (HPA) balance, regulate the secretion of neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitters, interact with gastrointestinal microbiome, exert neuroprotective effects and have an impact on depression. However, the role of insulin on depression remains largely unclear. Therefore, in this review, we summarized the potential role of insulin on depression. It may provide new insight for clarifying role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression.     

部分扩增与双片段连接相结合制作长基因定点突变

重叠延伸PCR是基因定点突变的主要方法,但是以该方法制作长基因定点突变时,往往遇到难以获得第二轮PCR产物或容易引入新的非预期突变等问题。此时,可先以重叠延伸PCR扩增含突变位点的部分基因片段,再将其连入适当载体获得重组质粒。若该扩增片段两侧的酶切位点在质粒载体上不单一,则可采用双片段连接法构建完整质粒。以制作视网膜母细胞瘤基因S780E定点突变为例,直接以重叠延伸PCR扩增全长基因时未能得到理想的目标产物。故先扩增含点突变的F3片段,再将其与源自原始质粒的F2片段一起连入含F1片段的质粒载体而构建完整质粒。两个筛选出的重组质粒经序列检测完全符合目标突变序列特征,验证了该方案的可行性。该方法作为重叠延伸PCR的补充,可为许多长基因定点突变提供解决方案。     

基于整树称重法的Granier经验公式对毛白杨树干液流测定的适用性

为了评估Granier经验公式在树干液流测定中的适用性,以毛白杨为对象,利用热扩散式探针法(TDP)测定树木的液流速率,以整树称重法进行同步测定,对比分析Granier经验公式在毛白杨树干液流测定中是否存在误差,并对整树称重法测定的蒸腾速率与热扩散法测定的温差系数K进行幂指数回归拟合,建立校正的Granier公式。结果表明:与整树称重法测定的蒸腾速率相比,通过Granier经验公式计算的液流速率低估了67.7%;建立了毛白杨的Granier校正公式F_d=0.0135K^0.6952(R²=0.77),校正后Granier公式的计算结果与整树称重法测定的蒸腾速率相比仅降低了3.4%,具有较好的一致性。因此,采用Granier经验公式计算毛白杨树干液流速率需进行校正。     

有机类肥料对土壤养分含量的影响

绿色、可持续是我国发展现代农业的必然要求,肥料投入是关键之一。基于有机肥培肥土壤、生态友好的优势,发展和推广有机肥已经成为我国农业生产的一项基本国策。我国有机肥来源广泛、种类繁多,农业生产条件千差万别。本文分析了我国有机肥产品种类及标准现状、理化性质差异、碳氮矿化特性差异及影响因素,评述了施用有机肥对提高耕地基础地力的作用。因来源、制作工艺不同,不同有机肥的有机碳组分含量、全氮和活性氮含量、碳氮比等基本性质差异明显,这四者是影响有机肥碳氮矿化率、碳氮矿化量、碱解氮释放量等碳氮供应特性的主要内在因素;加之土壤环境等外界因素的影响,不同有机肥表现出不同的养分供应特性。总体上,有机肥一方面对提高土壤有机质含量,尤其是活性有机质含量和碳库管理指数效果明显,另一方面可增加土壤氮磷钾养分容量,减少作物生长消耗带来的土壤养分亏损,促进土壤质量良性发展。今后,应加强有机肥在耕地培肥中的应用,并加强有机肥肥效理论的基础研究和安全高效有机肥新产品的开发,促进有机肥资源的高效循环利用,使其成为重要的农业资源。     

基于功能性状的水杉原生母树种群生境适应策略

植物的功能性状变异和表型可塑性是其应对异质生境的主要机制, 对植物的生长和分布有重要贡献。本文以湖北星斗山国家级自然保护区的水杉(Metasequoia glyptostroboides)原生母树为研究对象, 分析了母树种群功能性状对树木形态、地形因子及人为干扰的响应机制。结果表明: 水杉原生母树叶面积、叶干重和比叶面积的变异幅度大, 可塑性较强, 而枝和叶的干物质含量稳定性最高。人为干扰和4个地形因子均对每个功能性状变异方差有5%-20%的解释度, 冠幅对枝、叶干物质含量的变异方差有高达38%和76%的解释度。5个功能性状主要受海拔、坡位和人为干扰影响, 其中, 比叶面积对环境因子和干扰的响应规律不明显, 叶面积和叶干重在强烈人为干扰的环境中普遍增大, 枝和叶的干物质含量对坡向的变化最敏感。总之, 水杉原生母树种群通过功能性状变异对环境能产生一定的可塑性响应, 但人为干扰对母树生长影响较大, 建议人工辅助更新, 并适度减少农业和建筑对现存母树的影响。     

Komagataeibacter rhaeticus 3-15全基因组及葡萄糖脱氢酶基因缺失体的构建

细菌纤维素(BC)是一种新型的可再生、可降解的生物高分子材料。为了最大程度的发挥BC生产菌株K.rhaeticus 315的生产能力,本文首先对K.rhaeticus 315进行全基因组测序,通过功能基因的注释、分析碳源代谢流向。结果显示,该菌株碳代谢特征之一是缺乏磷酸果糖激酶的编码基因,不能通过EMP途径代谢糖类碳源,而是主要通过PPP途径和TCA途径代谢碳源,维持菌体生长和BC合成。由于葡萄糖脱氢酶的存在,该菌株在合成BC的同时生成大量副产物—葡萄糖酸。为此,本文通过敲除葡萄糖酸合成酶相关基因,即葡萄糖脱氢酶基因gcd,构建葡萄糖脱氢酶基因缺失重组株(gcd^-),将葡萄糖酸的生成量降低了77%。