马克斯克鲁维酵母的木糖和阿拉伯糖发酵

马克斯克鲁维酵母作为非常规酵母在燃料乙醇发酵中受到人们越来越多的关注。马克斯克鲁维具有天然的发酵戊糖的能力,但不同菌株的发酵能力存在较大差异。本研究比较了3株马克斯克鲁维菌株Kluyveromyces marxianus 9009/1911/1727(K.m 9009/1911/1727)在不同温度下的木糖和阿拉伯糖的发酵性能差异,结果发现不同发酵温度下,3株菌在耗糖速率、糖醇产率均表现出了显著的差异。菌株K.m 9009和K.m 1727在40℃下的发酵性能均优于30℃,这充分体现了马克斯克鲁维酵母的高温发酵优势。针对发酵差异,采用PCR方法获得3个不同菌株的戊糖代谢途径中的5种关键代谢酶(XR、XDH、XK、AR和LAD)的基因序列,并利用Clustalx 2.1进行了序列比对。结果显示3株菌的相关基因与文献中报道的1株克鲁维酵母的相应关键酶氨基酸编码序列相似性达98%以上,并且差异的氨基酸不在酶的关键位点处。在此基础上,通过Real-time实验,对木糖发酵差异最为明显的K.m 1727和K.m 1911的木糖代谢过程4个关键酶(XR、XDH、XK和ADH)的基因表达量进行测定,其结果显示对于耐热菌株K.m 1727,XDH和XK基因表达量低是导致木糖代谢过程中木糖醇积累、乙醇产量低的主要原因。最后,将所测得的马克斯克鲁维酵母的戊糖代谢关键酶序列与其他不同种属相比对,确定了其木糖和阿拉伯糖代谢途径,为进一步利用代谢工程方法提高戊糖发酵性能奠定了基础。     

Comparative Genomic Analysis of N2-Fixing and Non-N2-Fixing Paenibacillus spp.: Organization,Evolution and Expression of the Nitrogen Fixation Genes

We provide here a comparative genome analysis of 31 strains within the genus Paenibacillus including 11 new genomic sequences of N₂-fixing strains. The heterogeneity of the 31 genomes (15 N₂-fixing and 16 non-N₂-fixing Paenibacillus strains) was reflected in the large size of the shell genome, which makes up approximately 65.2% of the genes in pan genome. Large numbers of transposable elements might be related to the heterogeneity. We discovered that a minimal and compact nif cluster comprising nine genes nifB, nifH, nifD, nifK, nifE, nifN, nifX, hesA and nifV encoding Mo-nitrogenase is conserved in the 15 N₂-fixing strains. The nif cluster is under control of a σ⁷⁰-depedent promoter and possesses a GlnR/TnrA-binding site in the promoter. Suf system encoding [Fe–S] cluster is highly conserved in N₂-fixing and non-N₂-fixing strains. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the nif cluster enabled Escherichia coli JM109 to fix nitrogen. Phylogeny of the concatenated NifHDK sequences indicates that Paenibacillus and Frankia are sister groups. Phylogeny of the concatenated 275 single-copy core genes suggests that the ancestral Paenibacillus did not fix nitrogen. The N₂-fixing Paenibacillus strains were generated by acquiring the nif cluster via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from a source related to Frankia. During the history of evolution, the nif cluster was lost, producing some non-N₂-fixing strains, and vnf encoding V-nitrogenase or anf encoding Fe-nitrogenase was acquired, causing further diversification of some strains. In addition, some N₂-fixing strains have additional nif and nif-like genes which may result from gene duplications. The evolution of nitrogen fixation in Paenibacillus involves a mix of gain, loss, HGT and duplication of nif/anf/vnf genes. This study not only reveals the organization and distribution of nitrogen fixation genes in Paenibacillus, but also provides insight into the complex evolutionary history of nitrogen fixation.     

Refolding, purification, and crystallization of apical membrane antigen 1 from Plasmodium falciparum

Extracellular domains of malaria antigens almost invariably contain disulphide linkages but lack N- and O-linked glycosylation. The best practical approach to generating recombinant extracellular Plasmodium proteins is not established and the problems encountered when using a bacterial expression/refolding approach are discussed in detail. Limited proteolysis experiments were used to identify a relatively non-flexible core region of the Plasmodium falciparum protein apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1), and refolding/purification was used to generate two fragments of AMA1. Several chromatographically distinct AMA1 variants were identified that are presumably differentially refolded proteins. One of these AMA1 preparations proved to be crystallizable and generated two crystal forms that diffracted X-rays to 2 A resolution.     

CD8+ DC,but Not CD8?DC,Isolated from BCG-Infected Mice Reduces Pathological Reactions Induced by Mycobacterial Challenge Infection

Background

Tuberculosis is a mycobacterial infection causing worldwide public health problems but the available vaccine is far from ideal. Type-1 T cell immunity has been shown to be critical for host defence against tuberculosis infection, but the role of dendritic cell (DC) subsets in pathogenesis of mycobacterial infection remains unclear.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We examined the effectiveness of dendritic cell (DC) subsets in BCG-infected mice in generating immune responses beneficial for pathogen clearance and reduction of pathological reactions in the tissues following challenge infection. Our data showed that only the adoptive transfer of the subset of CD8α⁺ DC isolated from infected mice (iCD8⁺ DC) generated significant protection, demonstrated by less mycobacterial growth and pathological changes in the lung and liver tissues in iCD8⁺ DC recipients than sham-treated control mice. The adoptive transfer of the CD8α⁻DC from the infected mice (iCD8⁻ DC) not only failed to reduce bacterial growth, but enhanced inflammation characterized by diffuse heavy cellular infiltration. Notably, iCD8⁻ DC produced significantly higher levels of IL-10 than iCD8⁺ DC and promoted more Th2 cytokine responses in in vitro DC-T cell co-culture and in vivo adoptive transfer experiments.

Conclusions/Significance

The data indicate that in vivo BCG-primed CD8⁺ DC is the dominant DC subset in inducing protective immunity especially for reducing pathological reactions in infected tissues. The finding has implications for the rational improvement of the prophylactic and therapeutic approaches for controlling tuberculosis infection and related diseases.     

林木分布格局多样性测度方法: 以阔叶红松林为例

林木分布格局是森林结构的重要组成部分, 直接影响森林生态系统的健康与稳定, 维持森林结构多样性被认为是保护生物多样性的最佳途径。本研究探讨了林木分布格局多样性的测度方法, 以期为揭示森林结构多样性提供理论依据。格局多样性研究的关键在于选择合适的生物多样性测度方法和具有分布属性的格局指数。本研究通过统计角尺度分布频率和Voronoi多边形边数分布频率, 运用Simpson指数分别计算角尺度多样性和Voronoi多边形边数分布多样性, 作为表达林木分布格局多样性指数的方法, 并以我国东北吉林蛟河的3个100 m × 100 m的阔叶红松(Pinus koreansis)林长期定位监测标准地为例, 分析了林木分布格局的多样性。结果表明: 无论是角尺度分布还是Voronoi多边形的边数分布都接近正态分布, 角尺度分布中随机分布林木的频数最多, 占55%以上; Voronoi多边形的类型多达10个以上, 50%以上的林木有5-6株最近相邻木。利用Simpson指数衡量林木格局多样性, 角尺度分布与Voronoi多边形的边数分布都显示出聚集分布的林分比随机分布林分的格局多样性高。研究还发现, 两种格局判定方法得出的Simpson指数值有所不同, 角尺度分布的多样性数值明显低于Voronoi多边形的边数分布的多样性数值, 主要原因是二者的等级数量不同。可见, 林木分布格局多样性研究应选择具有分布属性的格局指数, 但由于各指数反映的角度不同, 所以在分析比较不同林分格局多样性时应采用相同的分析方法。     

拟南芥根毛衰老死亡过程的PCD检测

根毛是植物体吸收养分的重要器官, 自然条件下根毛的寿命很短, 仅能存活2–3周, 随即脱落死亡。以模式植物拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)根毛为材料, 对根毛死亡的细胞学特征进行了报道。结果发现, 根毛衰老死亡后细胞内的原生质体发生了收缩, 并在胞质中观察到凝集物的出现; 通过原位末端标记(TUNEL)检测, 发现幼根上的根毛细胞核DNA发生了片段化。上述结果表明, 拟南芥根毛的衰老死亡很可能是植物体自主调控的程序性细胞死亡(PCD)。另外, 当根毛衰老死亡后,细胞核大多会迁移到靠近根毛基部的位置, 且正常的长管状根毛发生旋转扭曲。     

电针对帕金森病模型小鼠黑质铁染色细胞和铁蛋白表达的影响

目的探讨电针防治帕金森病的作用机制。方法采用1-甲基-4-苯基1,2,3,6四氢吡啶腹腔注射建立帕金森病小鼠模型,利用组织化学技术以及免疫组织化学技术观察电针对帕金森病小鼠脑黑质铁染色细胞和铁蛋白表达的影响。结果模型组1周、2周、4周小鼠黑质铁染色阳性细胞的数量较正常组明显增多,染色强度也明显增强（P〈0．001;P〈0．01;P〈0．001）,电针在3个存活期内均可明显减少帕金森病小鼠黑质铁阳性细胞的数量和染色强度（P〈0．001;P〈0．05;P〈0．001）;模型组1周、2周黑质部位铁蛋白的表达与正常组相比都有不同程度下降（P〈0．01;P〈0．001）,而电针组2周帕金森病小鼠黑质铁蛋白的表达与模型组相比显著增加（P〈0．01）。结论电针可以通过降低脑内铁的含量,同时增加铁蛋白的表达,从而提高帕金森病模型小鼠脑抗氧化能力,达到保护黑质多巴胺能神经元的目的。     

Novel mutations in ADAMTS13 CUB domains cause abnormal pre-mRNA splicing and defective secretion of ADAMTS13

Hereditary thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an autosomal recessive thrombosis disorder, caused by loss-of-function mutations in ADAMTS13. Mutations in the CUB domains of ADAMTS13 are rare, and the exact mechanisms through which these mutations result in the development of TTP have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we identified two novel mutations in the CUB domains in a TTP family with an acceptor splice-site mutation (c.3569−1, G>A, intron 25) and a point missense mutation (c.3923, G>A, exon 28), resulting in a glycine to aspartic acid substitution (p.G1308D). In vitro splicing analysis revealed that the intronic mutation resulted in abnormal pre-mRNA splicing, and an in vitro expression assay revealed that the missense mutation significantly impaired ADAMTS13 secretion. Although both the patient and her brother displayed significantly reduced ADAMTS13 activity and increased levels of ultra-large VWF (ULVWF) multimers in plasma, only the female developed acute episodes of TTP. Our findings indicate the importance of the CUB domains for the protein stability and extracellular secretion of ADAMTS13.     

Dietary adaptations and palaeoecology of Lophialetidae (Mammalia,Tapiroidea) from the Eocene of the Erlian Basin,China: combined evidence from mesowear and stable isotope analyses

Lophialetidae is an extinct group of endemic Asiatic tapiroids that are widely distributed in the Eocene sediments of Asia. Schlosseria magister and Lophialetes expeditus are the most abundant species in this family. However, their dietary and ecological characteristics are largely unknown. For the first time, we reconstruct the palaeodiet and habitat of these two lophialetids using a combination of mesowear and stable carbon isotope analysis of fossil teeth excavated from the Erlian Basin, China. Mesowear analysis (n = 141) suggests that the dietary structure of S. magister and L. expeditus shifted from less to more abrasive diets from ~52 to ~42 Ma. Stable carbon isotope analysis (n = 137) suggests that the habitats of S. magister and L. expeditus became drier and/or more open through time. The dietary shifts of the two lophialetids are consistent with evident changes in habitat. The changes in the diet and habitat were probably related to global climate change during that time period. The gradual drop in global temperatures during the early–middle Eocene led to a drier and more open terrestrial ecosystem in the Erlian Basin, probably resulting in changes in floral composition of the environment inhabited by S. magister and L. expeditus. Hence, herbivores highly susceptible to vegetation modification had to develop new resource exploitation strategies to adapt to these changes. Schlosseria magister, considered to be the sister-group of L. expeditus and with a low level of ecological flexibility, was unable to adapt to the habitat changes finally becoming extinct at ~45 Ma.