Cooperation of Aspergillus nidulans enzymes increases plant polysaccharide saccharification

Efficient polysaccharide degradation depends on interaction between enzymes acting on the main chain and the side chains. Previous studies demonstrated cooperation between several enzymes, but not all enzyme combinations have been explored. A better understanding of enzyme cooperation would enable the design of better enzyme mixtures, optimally profiting from synergistic effects. In this study, we analyzed the cooperation of several enzymes involved in the degradation of xylan, glucan, xyloglucan and crude plant biomass from Aspergillus nidulans by single and combined incubations with their polymeric substrate. Positive effects were observed between most enzymes, although not always to the same extent. Moreover, the tailor made cocktails formulated in this study resulted in efficient release of glucose from plant biomass. This study also serves as an example for the complex cooperation that occurs between enzymes in plant biomass saccharification and how expression in easily‐accessible hosts, such as Pichia pastoris, can help in revealing these effects.     

鱼类多样性监测的理论方法及中国内陆 水体鱼类多样性监测

近年来, 生物多样性监测网络的建设得到广泛重视, 全球、地区或国家生物多样性观测网不断组建。生物多样性观测的理论框架得到发展, 提出了生物多样性核心监测指标(Essential Biodiversity Variables, EBV)。鱼类多样性监测的理论框架包含于生物多样性核心监测指标之内, 在遗传、物种、生态系统等多层次进行。基于鱼类监测提出的生物完整性指数(index of biotic integrity, IBI)强调不同物种的生态功能, 可以综合反映群落结构和功能的变化, 得到广泛应用。鱼类多样性的监测方法是传统网具和现代水声学等方法的结合。监测结果的分析可以进行简单的指数比较, 也可以进行长期的趋势分析, 寻找关键节点, 探讨宏观生态格局的变化。中国内陆水体鱼类多样性监测网隶属于中国生物多样性监测与研究网络, 拟选取长江、黄河、黑龙江、珠江、澜沧江、怒江、塔里木河及青海湖8大流域, 对25个重要区域和24个重点物种(类群)进行监测, 从重要区域鱼类群落结构、重点物种(类群)种群动态和个体生物学特征、遗传多样性、早期资源等不同层次, 全面监测我国内陆水体鱼类生物多样性状况。     

巨膜长蝽的形态特征和生物学特性

【目的】近年来巨膜长蝽Jakowleffia setulosa(Jakovlev)由以往稳定种群的荒漠昆虫上升为暴发性发生并迁移至农区危害的农业害虫。由于缺乏对巨膜长蝽基础生物学的相关研究,对其开展监测预警和农业防治存在困难。开展巨膜长蝽个体生物学研究,填补研究空白对于有效监测预报和防控提供可靠的依据,同时能为下一步分析巨膜长蝽成灾规律提供基础数据。【方法】本文通过室内观察和野外调查相结合,系统阐明该种形态特征、生活史、习性和行为等生物学特性。【结果】巨膜长蝽在宁夏中部干旱带一年发生2代,5月中旬和10月中下旬是两个发生高峰期,6月中旬至8月中旬以成虫进入滞育状态,11月下旬以成虫越冬;雌成虫的平均寿命为(32.14±2.34)d,雄成虫的平均寿命为(28.00±3.13)d,雌雄性比为1︰1.9,有多次交尾多次产卵的习性,每头雌虫抱卵量10粒左右,平均产卵量10~15粒左右;食性杂,群居危害,喜食白茎盐生草(Halogeton arachnoideus)等沙生草本植物的种子。【结论】该虫具有以成虫形态越冬和滞育、迁移性强等生物学特性。在生态环境发生较大变动后,能够经历逆境后迅速恢复种群并迁移危害。宁夏中南部地区种植结构调整,极大改变了该地区的荒漠生态环境,促使巨膜长蝽在经过夏季高温滞育恢复种群后无法获得足够野生寄主的情况下,大规模迁入农田系统危害。     

PEGylation of lysine residues improves the proteolytic stability of fibronectin while retaining biological activity

Excessive proteolysis of fibronectin (FN) impairs tissue repair in chronic wounds. Since FN is essential in wound healing, our goal is to improve its proteolytic stability and at the same time preserve its biological activity. We have previously shown that reduced FN conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) at cysteine residues is more proteolytically stable than native FN. Cysteine‐PEGylated FN supported cell adhesion and migration to the same extent as native FN. However, unlike native FN, cysteine‐PEGylated FN was not assembled into an extracellular matrix (ECM) when immobilized. Here, we present an alternative approach in which FN is preferentially PEGylated at lysine residues using different molecular weight PEGs. We show that lysine PEGylation does not perturb FN secondary structure. PEG molecular weight, from 2 to 10 kDa, positively correlates with FN–PEG proteolytic stability. Cell adhesion, cell spreading, and gelatin binding decrease with increasing molecular weight of PEG. The 2‐kDa FN–PEG conjugate shows comparable cell adhesion to native FN and binds gelatin. Moreover, immobilized FN–PEG is assembled into ECM fibrils. In summary, lysine PEGylation of FN can be used to stabilize FN against proteolytic degradation with minimal perturbation to FN structure and retained biological activity.     

Generalization of the QST framework in hierarchically structured populations: Impacts of inbreeding and dominance

Q_ST is a differentiation parameter based on the decomposition of the genetic variance of a trait. In the case of additive inheritance and absence of selection, it is analogous to the genic differentiation measured on individual loci, F_ST. Thus, Q_ST?F_ST comparison is used to infer selection: selective divergence when Q_ST > F_ST, or convergence when Q_ST < F_ST. The definition of Q‐statistics was extended to two‐level hierarchical population structures with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Here, we generalize the Q‐statistics framework to any hierarchical population structure. First, we developed the analytical definition of hierarchical Q‐statistics for populations not at Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. We show that the Q‐statistics values obtained with the Hardy–Weinberg definition are lower than their corresponding F‐statistics when F_IS > 0 (higher when F_IS < 0). Then, we used an island model simulation approach to investigate the impact of inbreeding and dominance on the Q_ST?F_ST framework in a hierarchical population structure. We show that, while differentiation at the lower hierarchical level (Q_SR) is a monotonic function of migration, differentiation at the upper level (Q_RT) is not. In the case of additive inheritance, we show that inbreeding inflates the variance of Q_RT, which can increase the frequency of Q_RT > F_RT cases. We also show that dominance drastically reduces Q‐statistics below F‐statistics for any level of the hierarchy. Therefore, high values of Q‐statistics are good indicators of selection, but low values are not in the case of dominance.     

Structural Basis for the Biological Effects of Pr(III) Ions: Alteration of Cell Membrane Permeability

The biological effects of rare-earth ions on the organism have been studied using Pr³⁺ as a probe ion and Escherichia coli cell as a target. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) observation of the surface of E. coli cells shows that the presence of Pr³⁺ substantially changes the structure of the outer membrane. By induced coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), more Cu²⁺ was found in the cells grown in the presence of Pr³⁺, indicating changes of cell permeability. Using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Ca²⁺ is found on the outer surface of the original cell. It is proposed that Pr³⁺ can replace Ca²⁺ from the binding sites because of their close ionic radii and similar ligand speciality.     

蛋白质组学在农业生物科学研究中的应用

蛋白质组学是后基因组时代的新兴研究领域,详细介绍了蛋白质组学的原理和方法在农业生物科学研究中的最新应用进展,提出了蛋白质组学技术目前所面临的问题,并展望了今后的发展前景.     

二元融合子与荧光假单胞菌耐药性遗传标记的筛选

应用定性和定量药物敏感性试验与诱变相结合,筛选出荧光假单胞菌56-12-10菌株的遗传标记为链霉素抗性,二元融合子AM-1菌株的遗传标记为环丙沙星抗性,确定了在这两种细菌原生质体融合试验中,选择培养基中链霉素的应用浓度为300Iu/ml,环丙沙星应用浓度为100Iu/ml。