宏基因组文库中的组成型启动子在大肠杆菌中的克隆

启动子是决定基因表达水平的重要因素之一。组成型表达启动子被认为是工业上表达重要蛋白质的理想启动子。本研究利用蔗糖为唯一碳源的基本培养基对榨糖废水浸润的土壤微生物宏基因组文库进行筛选,获得两个阳性克隆。对其中一个克隆的柯斯质粒进行亚克隆,利用在线启动子预测和序列比对工具对其中一个亚克隆子进行分析,获得一个启动子序列。然后,利用PCR方法将该启动子和地衣芽孢杆菌的α-淀粉酶基因一起克隆到T载体上。结果表明该启动子在不加诱导剂的条件下能够在大肠杆菌中启动外源基因的高效表达。本研究结果为在生物领域中组成型启动子的应用研究提供了基础。     

水杉愈伤组织诱导及植株再生

通过愈伤组织诱导器官发生途径,建立了水杉（Metasequoia glyptostroboides）的植株再生体系,探讨了不同外植体（种胚、幼叶切块、茎段、根段）和植物生长调节剂对不定芽直接再生和愈伤组织诱导器官发生的影响。结果表明：以种胚、无菌苗叶片、茎段和根作为外植体,在MS补加2,4-D、NAA和6-BA不同组合的培养基上都能诱导得到愈伤组织,其中种胚诱导愈伤组织效果最好,诱导率可达100%,茎诱导效果次之,诱导率为97.1%。诱导愈伤组织效果较好的培养基有：MS＋1.0mg·L-12,4-D＋0.5mg·L-16-BA、MS＋0.1mg·L-16-BA＋1.0mg·L-1NAA、MS＋0.5mg·L-16-BA＋1.0mg·L-1NAA、MS＋1.0mg·L-16-BA＋1.0mg·L-1NAA、MS＋0.5mg·L-16-BA＋2.0mg·L-1NAA、MS＋1.0mg·L-16-BA＋2.0mg·L-1NAA和MS＋0.5mg·L-12,4-D＋0.5mg·L-1NAA。以愈伤组织在MS培养基上植株再生效果最好,再生率为62.5%。     

Transitions between central and peripheral vision create spatial/temporal distortions: a hypothesis concerning the perceived break of the curveball

Background

The human visual system does not treat all parts of an image equally: the central segments of an image, which fall on the fovea, are processed with a higher resolution than the segments that fall in the visual periphery. Even though the differences between foveal and peripheral resolution are large, these differences do not usually disrupt our perception of seamless visual space. Here we examine a motion stimulus in which the shift from foveal to peripheral viewing creates a dramatic spatial/temporal discontinuity.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The stimulus consists of a descending disk (global motion) with an internal moving grating (local motion). When observers view the disk centrally, they perceive both global and local motion (i.e., observers see the disk''s vertical descent and the internal spinning). When observers view the disk peripherally, the internal portion appears stationary, and the disk appears to descend at an angle. The angle of perceived descent increases as the observer views the stimulus from further in the periphery. We examine the first- and second-order information content in the display with the use of a three-dimensional Fourier analysis and show how our results can be used to describe perceived spatial/temporal discontinuities in real-world situations.

Conclusions/Significance

The perceived shift of the disk''s direction in the periphery is consistent with a model in which foveal processing separates first- and second-order motion information while peripheral processing integrates first- and second-order motion information. We argue that the perceived distortion may influence real-world visual observations. To this end, we present a hypothesis and analysis of the perception of the curveball and rising fastball in the sport of baseball. The curveball is a physically measurable phenomenon: the imbalance of forces created by the ball''s spin causes the ball to deviate from a straight line and to follow a smooth parabolic path. However, the curveball is also a perceptual puzzle because batters often report that the flight of the ball undergoes a dramatic and nearly discontinuous shift in position as the ball nears home plate. We suggest that the perception of a discontinuous shift in position results from differences between foveal and peripheral processing.     

Characterization and molecular mapping of stripe rust resistance gene Yr61 in winter wheat cultivar Pindong 34

Key message

We report a new stripe rust resistance gene on chromosome 7AS in wheat and molecular markers useful for transferring it to other wheat genotypes.

Abstract

Several new races of the stripe rust pathogen have established throughout the wheat growing regions of China in recent years. These new races are virulent to most of the designated seedling resistance genes limiting the resistance sources. It is necessary to identify new genes for diversification and for pyramiding different resistance genes in order to achieve more durable resistance. We report here the identification of a new resistance gene, designated as Yr61, in Chinese wheat cultivar Pindong 34. A mapping population of 208 F₂ plants and 128 derived F_2:3 lines in a cross between Mingxian 169 and Pindong 34 was evaluated for seedling stripe rust response. A genetic map consisting of eight resistance gene analog polymorphism (RGAP), two sequence-tagged site (STS) and four simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers was constructed. Yr61 was located on the short arm of chromosome 7A and flanked by RGAP markers Xwgp5467 and Xwgp5765 about 1.9 and 3.9 cM in distance, which were successfully converted into STS markers STS5467 and STS5765b, respectively. The flanking STS markers could be used for marker-assisted selection of Yr61 in breeding programs.     

温度对鳙幼鱼疲劳引起的生理变化和游泳能力的影响研究(英文)

鳙(花鲢)在自然环境中分布于中国南部流域至阿穆尔河,是重要的经济性鱼类,具江湖生殖洄游特性。大坝建设阻碍了其洄游产卵繁殖通道,导致自然环境中其繁殖力的下降,需要有效的过鱼设施帮助鳙通过大坝等水流屏障。为了设计高效的鱼道引导鳙通过,本文通过自制密封的鱼类游泳实验装置,研究了鳙幼鱼游泳能力。测定了5个温度(5、10、15、20和25℃)下鳙幼鱼的临界游泳速度。通过测定不同温度下,疲劳前后血清总蛋白(TP)、血糖(GLU)和甘油三酯(TG)含量,评价疲劳运动引起的生理胁迫。结果表明,在试验温度范围内,随着温度的升高,临界游泳速度显著提高(P0.05)。25℃时临界游泳速度最大,为7.01 BL/s(1.19 m/s)。在疲劳运动后,血清总蛋白、血糖和甘油三酯含量显著升高(P0.05)。水温低于15℃与高于15℃相比,鳙疲劳运动后血清总蛋白、血糖和甘油三酯含量显著升高。以鳙幼鱼为研究对象,研究了非适宜温度环境和疲劳运动胁迫下鱼类的生理反应。以期为鱼类生理学研究和渔业保护管理等领域提供理论依据,为制定有效的鱼道提供数据参考。     

Development and function of central cell in angiosperm female gametophyte

The central cell characterizes the angiosperm female gametophyte (embryo sac or megagametophyte) in that it directly participates in “double fertilization” to initiate endosperm development, a feature distinguishing angiosperm from all other plant taxa. Polygonum‐type central cell is a binucleate cell that, upon fertilization with one of the two sperm cells, forms triploid endosperm to nourish embryo development. Although the formation and the structure of central cell have well been elucidated, the molecular mechanisms for its specification and development remain largely unknown. The central cell plays a critical role in pollen tube guidance during pollination and in endosperm initiation after fertilization. Recently, a group of mutants affecting specific steps of central cell development and function have been identified, providing some clues in understanding these questions. This review summarizes our current knowledge about central cell development and function, and presents overview about hypotheses for its evolution. genesis 48:466–478, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

pKILLIN: a versatile positive-selection cloning vector based on the toxicity of Killin in Escherichia coli

The invention of DNA cloning over 40 years ago marked the advent of molecular biology. The technique has now become a routine practice in any modern biomedical laboratory. Although positive-selection of recombinants in DNA cloning seems to be superior to blue/white selection based on the disruption of the lacZ gene, it is rarely practiced due to its high background, lack of multiple cloning sites, and inability to express the genes of interest or purify the protein products. Here we report the creation of a new positive-selection cloning vector dubbed pKILLIN, which overcomes all of the above pitfalls. The essence behind its high cloning efficiency is the extreme toxicity and small size of the toxic domain of killin, a recently discovered p53 target gene. Insertion inactivation of killin within the multiple cloning site via either blunt- or sticky-end ligation not only serves as a highly efficient cloning trap, but also may allow any cloned genes to be expressed as His-tagged fusion proteins for subsequent purification. Thus, pKILLIN is a versatile positive-selection vector ideal for cloning PCR products, making DNA libraries, as well as routine cloning and bacterial expression of genes.     

Precise mapping of a quantitative trait locus interval for spike length and grain weight in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The spike characteristics length, spikelet density and fertile floret number are related yield components and are important in cereal improvement. QSpl.nau-2D is a major quantitative trait locus controlling spike length (SPL) detected in the recombinant inbred line population developed by crossing wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars Nanda2419 with Wangshuibai. In this study, to validate its genetic effect and determine its precise location, QSpl.nau-2D’s near-isogenic line (NIL) was developed using Mianyang99-323 as the recurrent parent through marker-assisted selection. Field trials showed that the NIL not only had significantly longer spikes on average than the recurrent parent but also had significantly higher grain weight, but did not differ in spikelet number and kernel number per spike. In the F2 population derived from a cross of the NIL with Mianyang99-323, QSpl.nau-2D functioned like a single gene and conditioned the SPL in a partially dominant manner, and was thus designated as HL1 (for head length). To precisely map HL1, 89 recombinants, consisting of 11 genotypes, were identified in the NIL-derived F2 population of 674 plants by using markers in the Xwmc25–Xgpw4080 interval. Phenotyping these lines showed that the introduction of a 0.9-cM interval flanked by Xcfd53 and DG371 in Nanda2419 resulted in longer spikes and a higher grain weight in the NIL. The availability of markers closely linked to HL1 could facilitate its use in breeding programs.