Alanine substitutions of noncysteine residues in the cysteine‐stabilized αβ motif

The protein scaffold is a peptide framework with a high tolerance of residue modifications. The cysteine‐stabilized αβ motif (CSαβ) consists of an α‐helix and an antiparallel triple‐stranded β‐sheet connected by two disulfide bridges. Proteins containing this motif share low sequence identity but high structural similarity and has been suggested as a good scaffold for protein engineering. The Vigna radiate defensin 1 (VrD1), a plant defensin, serves here as a model protein to probe the amino acid tolerance of CSαβ motif. A systematic alanine substitution is performed on the VrD1. The key residues governing the inhibitory function and structure stability are monitored. Thirty‐two of 46 residue positions of VrD1 are altered by site‐directed mutagenesis techniques. The circular dichroism spectrum, intrinsic fluorescence spectrum, and chemical denaturation are used to analyze the conformation and structural stability of proteins. The secondary structures were highly tolerant to the amino acid substitutions; however, the protein stabilities were varied for each mutant. Many mutants, although they maintained their conformations, altered their inhibitory function significantly. In this study, we reported the first alanine scan on the plant defensin containing the CSαβ motif. The information is valuable to the scaffold with the CSαβ motif and protein engineering.     

Changes in morphology and biochemical indices in browning callus derived from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis> hypocotyls

Callus browning is a typical feature of callus cultures derived from the hypocotyl of Jatropha curcas. Brown callus results in decreased regenerative ability, poor growth and even death. In this study, we investigated the effect of browning on callus morphology and biochemical indices. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed striking differences in callus morphology. During browning, chlorophylls and carotenoids concentrations decreased steadily. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) enzymatic activities patterns were similar during callus culture with a higher activity level at week 3 compared to week 2 or later weeks. Grey relation degree analysis indicated that PPO played a more important role than POD in enzymatic callus browning. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis results showed differences between browning and non-browning callus. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry results showed that saturated and unsaturated fatty acid quantities differed significantly but there was little difference in fatty acid composition between non-browning and browning callus. Differences in 17, 18.4 and 25 kDa protein concentrations were also observed in browning and non-browning callus using sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Expression of ethylene response factor JERF1 in rice improves tolerance to drought

Ethylene response factor (ERF) proteins regulate a variety of stress responses in plant. JERF1, a tomato ERF protein, can be induced by abscisic acid (ABA). Overexpression of JERF1 enhanced the tolerance of transgenic tobacco to high salt concentration, osmotic stress, and low temperature by regulating the expression of stress-responsive genes by binding to DRE/CRT and GCC-box cis-elements. In this research, we further report that overexpression of JERF1 significantly enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic rice. The overexpression activated the expression of stress-responsive genes and increased the synthesis of the osmolyte proline by regulating the expression of OsP5CS, encoding the proline biosynthesis key enzyme deltal-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase. JERF1 also activated the expression of two ABA biosynthesis key enzyme genes, OsABA2 and Os03g0810800, and increased the synthesis of ABA in rice. Analysis of cis-elements of JERF1-targeted genes pointed to the existence of DRE/CRT and/or GCC box in their promoters, indicating that JERF1 could activate the expression of related genes in rice by binding to these cis-elements. Unlike some other ERF proteins, constructive overexpression of JERF1 did not change the growth and development of transgenic rice, which makes JEFR1 a potentially useful source in breeding for greater tolerance to abiotic stress.     

Mitochondrial DNA diversity of the vulnerable Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes) from China

The genetic diversity and population structure of the vulnerable Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes) were surveyed in the present study from three archipelagoes that cover the most southerly to the very northerly parts of the Chinese distribution range of this species, using a 433-bp fragment of the mitochondrial control region (CR). Among 90 individual samples, 31 different haplotypes were defined by 30 polymorphic sites. Overall haplotype diversity, nucleotide diversity and mean sequence divergence (p-distance) of this egret were 0.920, 0.0088 and 1.11%, respectively. NJ tree and parsimony network for the CR haplotypes of the Chinese Egret showed little genetic structure, and analysis of molecular variance indicated low but significant genetic differentiation (haplotype-based Φ_ST = 0.03267, P < 0.05 and distance-based Φ_ST = 0.04194, P < 0.05) among populations. The significant Fu’s F _S tests (Fu’s F _S  = −16.946, P < 0.01) and mismatch distribution analysis (τ = 4.463, SSD = 0.0081, P = 0.12) suggested that the low genetic differentiation and little geographical structure of the genetic differentiation might be explained by the population expansion. The Mantel test (haplotype-based F _ST, r = 0.639, P = 0.34 and distance-based F _ST, r = 0.947, P = 0.15) suggest that the significant genetic differentiation among populations was likely due to isolation by distance.     

黄土高原半干旱区刺槐生长盛期树干液流动态

通过研究树干液流速率与气象因子的关系,可以定量地分析树木生长与群落蒸腾耗水的相互关系,揭示黄土高原半干旱区刺槐水分利用动态及其适应环境因子的内在机理,为当地生态环境建设提供理论依据。应用热扩散式树干茎流计(TDP)于2008年7月1日至7月26日,在黄土高原半干旱区安塞县对刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)人工林生长盛期树干液流速率进行了连续测定,并对周围气象、土壤水分等指标进行了同步测定。刺槐生长盛期树干液流速率晴天日变化呈宽峰形曲线,在测量时期液流速率日平均值为0.00133cm·s–1;刺槐树干单位边材面积的液流速率与光合有效辐射、大气温度、水汽压差呈极显著正相关关系,与相对湿度呈负相关关系。其相关程度绝对值顺序为光合有效辐射大气温度水汽压差相对湿度风速;刺槐边材面积与胸径之间存在着显著的线性相关关系,相关系数为0.878,单位边材面积的液流速率随树干胸径的增大而减小。     

希罗达对4T1乳腺癌小鼠肿瘤血管生成的影响

目的:探讨不同剂量希罗达对4T1乳腺癌小鼠肿瘤血管生成的影响,并观察其抑瘤效果和毒副作用。方法:建立荷4T1乳腺癌小鼠模型,分别给予持续低剂量希罗达、最大耐受剂量(maximumtolerateddose,MTD)希罗达、低剂量希罗达治疗,观察肿瘤体积、小鼠体重和外周血白细胞计数及小鼠生存期。实验终末时行免疫组化染色,测定肿瘤微血管密度(MVD)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)表达情况。结果:与对照组和MTD希罗达治疗组比较,持续低剂量希罗达治疗组小鼠肿瘤MVD值和VEGF表达均显著降低(P<0.05)。与MTD希罗达治疗组比较,持续低剂量希罗达治疗组肿瘤生长比较缓慢,并且没有明显的体重减轻或白细胞数下降等毒性迹象,小鼠生存期无显著延长(P>0.05)。结论:持续低剂量希罗达给药方式靶向于乳腺癌血管生成,不易产生耐药,增加了抑瘤效果,毒副作用小,动物生存质量明显提高。     

GSK3β在几种气道上皮损伤模型中的表达

目的观察糖原合成酶激酶3β(glycogen synthase kinase 3β,GSK3β)在气道上皮细胞(airway epithelialcells,AECs)损伤修复中的变化。方法利用吸烟/香烟提取物(cigarette smoke extract,CSE)、脂多糖(lipopolysacchor-id,LPS)和博来霉素(bleomycin,BLM)刺激分别建立几种体内、外气道上皮损伤模型,采用免疫细胞荧光、共聚焦成像和Western blot方法,观察GSK3β在几种不同损伤模型中的表达变化。结果①荧光共聚焦成像:GS3β在对照组小鼠AECs胞质内呈均匀分布的红色荧光颗粒,而吸烟、LPS和BLM三种体内模型中AEC胞质内红色荧光均明显减弱;免疫细胞荧光:GSK3β在对照组AECs胞质内呈强阳性均匀分布的红色荧光颗粒,而CSE、LPS、BLM刺激后的三种体外模型GSK3β在胞质内红色荧光均明显减弱。②Western blot:在体内模型中,吸烟组、LPS刺激组及BLM刺激组GSK3β表达均低于对照组,其中吸烟1w、LPS刺激1d、BLM刺激7d时表达最低(P≤0.05);而P-GSK3β均高于对照组,其中吸烟1w、LPS刺激7d和14d达到高峰(P<0.05)。在体外模型中,以上三种刺激均可导致抑制性磷酸化GSK3β的水平升高并呈浓度依赖性(P<0.05),而GSK3β表达则完全相反,随着浓度的升高趋势越明显(P<0.05)。结论吸烟/CSE,LPS、BLM刺激致AEC损伤修复过程中伴有GSK3β表达的活性改变,提示其在损伤修复中发挥重要作用。     

铜绿假单胞菌SOS反应阻遏蛋白LexA的复性及活性研究

目的:对LexA蛋白复性方法进行优化,对复性后的LexA蛋白的生物学活性进行分析。方法:采用含有GSH/GSSG的缓冲液,一步稀释法对变性LexA蛋白进行复性,用镍离子亲合柱及阳离子柱层析法对复性后的LexA蛋白进行纯化,再以Sephadex G-25凝胶柱脱盐,采用非变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和RP-HPLC法检测复性效果,Western blot法分析复性前后及经DTT处理后的LexA蛋白的免疫反应性,凝胶滞留电泳试验检测复性LexA蛋白与DNA的特异性结合能力。结果:复性后的LexA蛋白出现单体和多聚体的形式,多聚体是由单条肽链聚合而成。LexA单体和多聚体与兔抗LexA多克隆抗体均有较好的反应性。复性后的LexA蛋白能与SOS盒序列发生特异性结合。     

草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)线粒体DNA控制区及其两侧tRNA基因的克隆与结构分析

动物线粒体ＤＮＡ控制区是线粒体基因组复制与基因表达的最主要的调控区．采用杂交和测序的方法对草鱼线粒体ＤＮＡ控制区进行定位、克隆并测定了控制区及其旁侧的ｔＲＮＡＰｈｅ、ｒＲＮＡＰｒｏ和ｒＲＮＡＴｈｒ三个基因的序列,与多种脊椎动物的相应序列进行了比较,并进行了结构分析．草鱼线粒体控制区全长９２７ｂｐ,含有与酵母和爪蟾线粒体启动子相似的序列,其ＣＳＢⅠ、ＣＳＢⅡ和ＣＳＢⅢ序列与其他几种动物的ＣＳＢ比较相当保守,ＴＡＳ与其回文基序可形成稳定的茎环结构,成为Ｈ－链复制的终止信号．草鱼线粒体ｔＲＮＡＰｈｅ、ｔＲＮＡＰｒｏ和ｔＲＮＡＴｈｒ可折叠成三叶草形二级结构,其基因具有许多不同于细胞质ｔＲＮＡ基因的结构特点,可能反映了线粒体ｔＲＮＡ与线粒体核糖体具有不寻常的作用方式