Analysis and location of a rice BAG clone containing telomeric DNA sequences

BAC2, a rice BAC clone containing (TTTAGGG)n homologous sequences, was analyzed by Southern hybridization and DNA sequencing of its subclones. It was disclosed that there were many tandem repeated satellite DNA sequences, called TA352, as well as simple tandem repeats consisting of TTTAGGG or its variant within the BAC2 insert. A 0. 8 kb (TTTAGGG) n-containing fragment in BAC2 was mapped in the telomere regions of at least 5 pairs of rice chromosomes by using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). By RFLP analysis of low copy sequences the BAC2 clone was localized in one terminal region of chromosome 6. All the results strongly suggest that the telomeric DNA sequences of rice are TTTAGGG or its variant, and the linked satellite DNA TA352 sequences belong to telomere-associated sequences.     

Analysis and location of a rice BAG clone containing telomeric DNA sequences

BAC2, a rice BAC clone containing (TTTAGGG)_n homologous sequences, was analyzed by Southern hybridization and DNA sequencing of its subclones. It was disclosed that there were many tandem repeated satellite DNA sequences, called TA352, as well as simple tandem repeats consisting of TTTAGGG or its variant within the BAC2 insert. A 0. 8 kb (TTTAGGG)_n-containing fragment in BAC2 was mapped in the telomere regions of at least 5 pairs of rice chromosomes by using fluorescencein situ hybridization (FISH). By RFLP analysis of low copy sequences the BAC2 clone was localized in one terminal region of chromosome 6. All the results strongly suggest that the telomeric DNA sequences of rice are TTTAGGG or its variant, and the linked satellite DNA TA352 sequences belong to telomere-associated sequences.     

Assembly and structure of neurofllaments isolated from bovine spinal cord

Neurofilaments (NFs) are neuron-specific intermediate filaments. The NFs were isolated from bovine spinal cord by differential centrifugation. The NFs were detected with electron microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Under STM, two kinds of sidearm of NFs were revealed: one was short, the other was long. They were arrayed along the 10-nm width core filaments one by one. The intervals between two adjacent long sidearms or two short sidearms were 20—22 nm, while those between two adjacent long and short sidearms were 10—11 nm. It was proposed that the rod domain of NF triplet prnteins was 3/4-staggered. The assembly properties of NF triplet proteins were also studied. Immuno-colloidal-gold labeling assay showed that NF-M and NF-H are able to co-assemble into long filaments with NF-L. NF-M and NF-H can also co-constitute into winding filaments.     

Study of Intermediate Filaments in Adiantum philippense and Comparative Analysis of Karetin-like Proteins in Some Plant Species

Network of filaments, 10 nm in diameter, was detected in the frond cells of Adiantum philippense L. by selective extraction combined with whole mount electron microscopy. Western blot analysis showed that the major filament components were cross-reacted with monoclonal antibodies against animal keratin. The phenomenon was in concert with the result of indirect immunofluoreseenee observation. The filaments with 10 nm in diameter could be reassembled in vitro. Using selective extraction, proteins were prepared from cells of Spirulina subtillissima Kutz., thalli of Marchantia polymorpha L., and leaf blades of A. philippense L. , Ginkgo biloba L. and Brassica pekinensis Rupr. Western blot showed that S. subtillissima Kutz. has two acidic keratin-like pro- teins and all of the other four plant species have three basic keratin-like proteins and three acidic keratin-like proteins. These results may suggest the existance of an intermediate filament network with keratin-like proteins in the cells of pteridophyte and their existance in plant cells is popular.     

A New Method for Purifing Cyt b6f Protein Complex

A new protocol which is much simpler than current procedures, has been developed for purification of the Cyt b6f protein complex. The protocol contained only two steps dialysis-cen- trifugation and stepwise precipitation with ammonium sulfate. Moreover, this method is suitable for larger scale preparation. The purified complex from spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L. ) contained 9.8 nmol Cyt f per milligram protein. 2 Cyt b6(b-hemes) and 1 Chl a per Cyt f. SDS-PAGE showed four main bands and one weak band with low molecular weight. Its activity(PQ2H2→Cyt c)was around 80 μmol Cyt c·nmol Cyt f-1·h-l     

植物光反应突变体

光信号转导途径是植物发育调控机制的中心组成部分。目前在植物光信号受体及下游转导组分突变体筛选方面已经取得许多重要结果。本文综述了这些突变体和光信号转导途径组成及调控机制研究方面的进展。     

一株猪葡萄球菌的分离鉴定、生物学特性研究及全基因组测序分析

【背景】2021年6月,广东省茂名市某散养户送检了一头发病仔猪,猪身上长有脓疱,四肢关节肿大,关节内可见脓液。【目的】确定引起仔猪发病的病原菌,分析其药物敏感性,为临床用药提供指导;对分离菌株进行全基因组序列分析,挖掘其毒力因子和耐药基因,揭示该菌致病和耐药的分子机制。【方法】取关节脓液分离细菌;通过革兰氏染色、16S rRNA基因和全基因组测序分析,鉴定细菌种类;通过溶血试验、血浆凝固酶试验和生长曲线测定,确定分离菌株的溶血活性、血浆凝固酶活性和生长特性;用小鼠感染模型评估分离菌株的致病性;用纸片扩散法测定分离菌株的药物敏感性;通过全基因组序列分析挖掘分离菌株的毒力因子和耐药基因。【结果】分离菌株被鉴定为猪葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus hyicus);该菌不溶血,无血浆凝固酶活性,在胰蛋白胨大豆肉汤培养基中于37℃、120r/min条件下生长良好;小鼠感染试验结果显示,该菌具有高致病性;药敏试验结果显示,该菌对苯唑西林、大观霉素等7种药物敏感,对青霉素G、红霉素等9种药物耐药;全基因组序列分析结果显示,该菌携带多个毒力因子和耐药基因。【结论】从发病仔猪的关节脓液中分离到一株猪葡萄球菌,可用苯唑西林、大观霉素等药物防控该菌感染;解析了该菌的基因组信息,为后续深入研究该菌致病和耐药的分子机制奠定了基础。     

Chromosome-level genome assembly of a xerophytic plant,Haloxylon ammodendron

Haloxylon ammodendron is a xerophytic perennial shrub or small tree that has a high ecological value in anti-desertification due to its high tolerance to drought and salt stress. Here, we report a high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly of H. ammodendron by integrating PacBio’s high-fidelity sequencing and Hi-C technology. The assembled genome size was 685.4 Mb, of which 99.6% was assigned to nine pseudochromosomes with a contig N50 value of 23.6 Mb. Evolutionary analysis showed that both the recent substantial amplification of long terminal repeat retrotransposons and tandem gene duplication may have contributed to its genome size expansion and arid adaptation. An ample amount of low-GC genes was closely related to functions that may contribute to the desert adaptation of H. ammodendron. Gene family clustering together with gene expression analysis identified differentially expressed genes that may play important roles in the direct response of H. ammodendron to water-deficit stress. We also identified several genes possibly related to the degraded scaly leaves and well-developed root system of H. ammodendron. The reference-level genome assembly presented here will provide a valuable genomic resource for studying the genome evolution of xerophytic plants, as well as for further genetic breeding studies of H. ammodendron.     

12种酢浆草属植物核型分析

【目的】为了从细胞学角度明确12种酢浆草属（Oxalis）植物核型特征与亲缘关系,探究酢浆草属植物染色体的多样性,进一步为酢浆草种质资源鉴定与杂交育种亲本选择提供参考。【方法】应用根尖压片法对酢浆草属12个物种植物有丝分裂中期的染色体形态、数目及其核型进行观察分析。【结果】结果表明：（1）7个物种的染色体数目为首次报道,5种已报道物种中,兔耳酢浆草（O. fabaefolia）和黄花酢浆草（O. pes-caprae）染色体数目与前人报道一致,其余3种,与先前报道存在差异,其中2n=26为酢浆草属植物中首次报道的染色体数目,共发现7种染色体基数,其中x=13为首次报道,倍性范围从2x~6x;实际染色体大小范围为0.27~2.23 μm,着丝点位置为中部着丝点区（m）和亚中部着丝点区（sm）,核型类型共4种,核型不对称系数范围为56.31%~65.40%。（2）12种酢浆草属植物中兔耳酢浆草最为进化,扁平酢浆草（O. compressa）最为原始。（3）根据染色体核型相似性可将12个酢浆草属植物划分为4组。【结论】研究认为,12个酢浆草属物种具有广泛的核型多样性,核型分类结果与前人形态学分类不完全一致。     

Designing future crops: challenges and strategies for sustainable agriculture

Crop production is facing unprecedented challenges. Despite the fact that the food supply has significantly increased over the past half-century, ~8.9 and 14.3% people are still suffering from hunger and malnutrition, respectively. Agricultural environments are continuously threatened by a booming world population, a shortage of arable land, and rapid changes in climate. To ensure food and ecosystem security, there is a need to design future crops for sustainable agriculture development by maximizing net production and minimalizing undesirable effects on the environment. The future crops design projects, recently launched by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), aim to develop a roadmap for rapid design of customized future crops using cutting-edge technologies in the Breeding 4.0 era. In this perspective, we first introduce the background and missions of these projects. We then outline strategies to design future crops, such as improvement of current well-cultivated crops, de novo domestication of wild species and redomestication of current cultivated crops. We further discuss how these ambitious goals can be achieved by the recent development of new integrative omics tools, advanced genome-editing tools and synthetic biology approaches. Finally, we summarize related opportunities and challenges in these projects.