Subcellular localization and role of Ran1 in Tetrahymena thermophila amitotic macronucleus

Amitosis, a direct method of cell division is common in ciliated protozoan, fungi and some animal and plant cells. During amitosis, intranuclear microtubules are reorganized into specified arrays which assist in separation of nucleus, despite lack of a bipolar spindle. However, the regulation of amitosis is not understood. Here, we focused on the localization and role of mitotic spindle assembly regulator: Ran GTPase (Ran1) in macronuclear amitosis in binucleated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila. HA-tagged Ran1 was localized in the macronucleus throughout the cell cycle of Tetrahymena during vegetative growth, and the accessory factor binding domains of Ran1 contributed to its macronuclear localization. Incomplete somatic knockout of RAN1 resulted in aberrant intramacronuclear microtubule array formation, missegregation of macronuclear chromosomes and ultimately blocked macronuclei proliferation. When the Ran1 cycle was perturbed by overexpression of Ran1T25N (GDP-bound Ran1-mimetic) or Ran1Q70L (GTP-bound Ran1-mimetic), intramacronuclear microtubule assembly was inhibited or multi-micronucleate cells formed. These results suggest that Ran GTPase pathway is involved in assembly of a specialized intramacronuclear microtubule network and coordinates amitotic progression in Tetrahymena.     

Leaf morphology shift linked to climate change

Climate change is driving adaptive shifts within species, but research on plants has been focused on phenology. Leaf morphology has demonstrated links with climate and varies within species along climate gradients. We predicted that, given within-species variation along a climate gradient, a morphological shift should have occurred over time due to climate change. We tested this prediction, taking advantage of latitudinal and altitudinal variations within the Adelaide Geosyncline region, South Australia, historical herbarium specimens (n = 255) and field sampling (n = 274). Leaf width in the study taxon, Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustissima, was negatively correlated with latitude regionally, and leaf area was negatively correlated with altitude locally. Analysis of herbarium specimens revealed a 2 mm decrease in leaf width (total range 1-9 mm) over 127 years across the region. The results are consistent with a morphological response to contemporary climate change. We conclude that leaf width is linked to maximum temperature regionally (latitude gradient) and leaf area to minimum temperature locally (altitude gradient). These data indicate a morphological shift consistent with a direct response to climate change and could inform provenance selection for restoration with further investigation of the genetic basis and adaptive significance of observed variation.     

微藻生物柴油研发态势分析

微藻是光合效率最高的原始植物之一,与农作物相比,单位面积的产率可高出数十倍。微藻生物柴油技术首先包括微藻的筛选和培育,获得性状优良的高含油量藻种,然后在光生物反应器中吸收阳光、CO2等,生成微藻生物质,最后经过采收、加工,转化为微藻生物柴油。完整的微藻生物柴油成套技术链涵盖多个技术环节,是一个复杂的系统工程,包括微藻生物工程技术、微藻高效规模化养殖技术,以及微藻生物质采收、加工与转化技术等。其中,降低生产成本是当前微藻生物柴油研究面临的主要挑战,各国的研究机构为此开展了多方面的研究。     

Scytovirin在大肠杆菌中的可溶性表达

目的:获得Scytovirin(SVN)蛋白及其多克隆抗体.方法:按照NCBI上公布的SVN基因序列设计合成引物,合成SVN基因,构建pET32c-SVN原核表达重组质粒,经限制性酶切分析、DNA序列测定插入片段正确;将该重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),IPTG诱导重组蛋白表达;用离子交换层析法及金属亲合层析法纯化蛋白,采用Tris-Tricine系统分析;以经过纯化的蛋白为抗原免疫白兔,制备SVN多克隆抗体.结果:对表达产物进行了分离纯化,SVN纯度达到91%;用纯化的样品制备了多克隆抗体,抗血清效价为1∶102 400.结论:SVN在大肠杆菌表达系统中获得了高效可溶表达,并制备了其多克隆抗体,为进一步深入研究SVN提供了材料.     

嗅球成鞘细胞的分离培养与鉴定

目的:探讨一种获取高纯度嗅球成鞘细胞(olfactory ensheathing cells,OECs)的方法.方法:从新生SD大鼠(3d)嗅球中迅速分离嗅神经层和嗅颗粒层,采用酶消化法分离细胞,差速贴壁法纯化细胞,接种于多聚赖氨酸包被的培养板内培养2d,采用NGFRp75和S100蛋白双标免疫组化、以Hoechst33342复染鉴定OECs的纯度.结果:OECs的纯度为(95.64±2.76)%.结论:本法是一种相对简便易行且经济、稳定、有效的OECs分离方法.     

冬凌草最佳采收期的研究

以冬凌草的分枝数、单墩叶重及叶中冬凌草甲素的含量作为冬凌草药材产量和质量的评价指标,确定了河南淇县野生冬凌草和湖北广水、武汉野转家种冬凌草的最佳采收期,并分析了气象因素对冬凌草药材质量和产量的影响。结果表明：气象因素对引种地与原产地冬凌草的质量没有明显影响,药材叶中冬凌草甲素含量均在6月份左右达到峰值且十分接近;但气象因素对冬凌草产量则有影响,气候不同导致引种地野转家种药材的分枝数比原产地野生药材多2～4倍。综合质量和产量的考察结果,冬凌草的最佳采收期应定在其开花前,引种地武汉宜定在6月份,引种地广水宜定在6～7月份,原产地河南淇县宜定在6～8月份。     

产金属硫蛋白酿酒酵母诱变菌株的生物学功能研究

以酿酒酵母 (Saccharomycescerevisiae)单倍体菌株SY1为出发菌株 ,通过紫外线和亚硝基胍复合诱变 ,获得 1株Cu2 高抗性突变株 ,并对其生物学功能进行了研究。结果表明 ,其拮抗紫外线 ,拮抗电离辐射 ,清除·OH自由基能力 ,Cu2 解毒能力均比出发菌株有所提高 ,经 5 0世代培养后 ,其遗传稳定性保持在 96 %以上。