In vitro development and transfer of resistance to chlortetracycline in Bacillus subtilis

The present criteria and rules controlling the approval of the use of probiotics are limited to antibiotic resistance patterns and the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria. There is little information available in the literature regarding the risk of the usage of probiotics in the presence of antibiotic pressure. In this study we investigated the development and transfer of antibiotic resistance in Bacillus subtilis selected in vitro by chlortetracycline in a stepwise manner. Bacillus subtilis was exposed to increasing concentrations of chlortetracyclineto induce in vitro resistance to chlortetracycline, and the minimal inhibitory concentrations were determinedfor the mutants. Resistant B. subtilis were conjugated with Escherichia coli NK5449 and Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2 using the filter mating. Three B. subtilis tetracycline resistant mutants (namely, BS-1, BS-2, and BS-3) were derived in vitro. A tetracycline resistant gene, tet (K), was found in the plasmids of BS-1 and BS-2. Three conjugates (BS-1N, BS-2N, and BS-3N) were obtained when the resistant B. subtilis was conjugated with E. coli NK5449. The conjugation frequencies for the BS-1N, BS-2N, and BS-3N conjugates were 4.57×10^?7, 1.4×10^?7, and 1.3×10^?8, respectively. The tet(K) gene was found only in the plasmids of BS-1N. These results indicate that long-term use of probiotics under antibiotic selection pressure could cause antibiotic resistance, and the resistance gene could be transferred to other bacteria. The risk arising from the use of probiotics under antibiotic pressure should be considered in the criteria and rules for the safety assessment of probiotics.     

In situ observation of elementary growth processes of protein crystals by advanced optical microscopy

To start systematically investigating the quality improvement of protein crystals, the elementary growth processes of protein crystals must be first clarified comprehensively. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has made a tremendous contribution toward elucidating the elementary growth processes of protein crystals and has confirmed that protein crystals grow layer by layer utilizing kinks on steps, as in the case of inorganic and low-molecular-weight compound crystals. However, the scanning of the AFM cantilever greatly disturbs the concentration distribution and solution flow in the vicinity of growing protein crystals. AFM also cannot visualize the dynamic behavior of mobile solute and impurity molecules on protein crystal surfaces. To compensate for these disadvantages of AFM, in situ observation by two types of advanced optical microscopy has been recently performed. To observe the elementary steps of protein crystals noninvasively, laser confocal microscopy combined with differential interference contrast microscopy (LCM-DIM) was developed. To visualize individual mobile protein molecules, total internal reflection fluorescent (TIRF) microscopy, which is widely used in the field of biological physics, was applied to the visualization of protein crystal surfaces. In this review, recent progress in the noninvasive in situ observation of elementary steps and individual mobile protein molecules on protein crystal surfaces is outlined.     

嗜热四膜虫的着丝粒蛋白检查

目前国际上的着丝粒蛋白研究工作几乎全是以酵母和高等生物为材料进行的,为了从起源与进化的角度考察着丝粒蛋白。我们以人喉癌培养细胞ＨｅｐＩＩ作为对照材料,以两种ＡＣＡ血清和ＣＥＮＰ－Ｂ单抗,多抗以及ＣＨＯ动粒蛋白单抗为探针,用间接免疫荧光和免疫印迹技术对嗜热四膜虫作检查,免疫荧光结果表明,ＨｅｐＩＩ细胞的着丝粒抗原间期核中呈点状分布;与ＨｅｐＩＩ细胞的不同,嗜热四膜虫的着丝粒抗原在间期核中的分布不规则     

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces apoptosis in a transfected cell line expressing EGF receptor on its membrane

Interaction between epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF receptor (EGFR) promotes cell growth in most cell lines, but in a number of cell lines, EGF paradoxically inhibits proliferation. In the present study, we established a cell line expressing full-length human EGFR on membrane with a GFP fluorescence reporter at the C-terminal and studied the effects of EGF on cell proliferation in the transfected cell line. Our results suggested that low concentrations of EGF promoted proliferation, while high concentrations of EGF induced loss of adhesion, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and inhibition of proliferation. The effects of EGF on cell proliferation correlated well with the expression levels of EGFR. High concentrations of EGF induced both EGFR expression and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Our study reported, for the first time, a relationship between the effects of EGF on cell proliferation and levels of EGFR expression in one cell line expressing different levels of EGFR caused by different concentrations of EGF treatment. The study should provide considerable insight into the effects of EGF on cell proliferation and tumor cell metastasis.     

Biochemical synthesis of novel,self-assembling glycolipids from ricinoleic acid by a recombinant α-glucosidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Geobacillus</Emphasis> sp.

Purpose of work  

To explore a novel glycolipid, we performed biochemical reactions using a recombinant α-glucosidase from Geobacillus sp. which shows excellent transglycosylation reaction to hydroxyl groups in a variety of compounds.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus enhances P acquisition of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a sandy loam soil with long-term inorganic fertilization regime

The P efficiency, crop yield, and response of wheat to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus caledonium were tested in an experimental field with long-term (19 years) fertilizer management. The experiment included five fertilizer treatments: organic amendment (OA), half organic amendment plus half mineral fertilizer (1/2 OM), mineral fertilizer NPK, mineral fertilizer NK, and the control (without fertilization). AMF inoculation responsiveness (MIR) of wheat plants at acquiring P were estimated by comparing plants grown in unsterilized soil inoculated with G. caledonium and in untreated soil containing indigenous AMF. Without AMF inoculation, higher crop yields but lower colonization rates were observed in the NPK and two OA-inputted treatments, and NPK had significantly (P < 0.05) lower impacts on organic C and available P in soils and thereby P acquisition of wheat plants compared with OA and 1/2 OM. G. caledonium inoculation significantly (P < 0.05) increased colonization rates with the NPK and two P-deficient treatments but significantly (P < 0.05) increased vegetative biomass, crop yield, and P acquisition of wheat as well as soil alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, only with the NPK treatment. This gave an MIR of ca. 45% on total P acquisition of wheat plants. There were no other remarkable MIRs. It suggested that the MIR is determined by soil available P status, and rational combination of AMF with chemical NPK fertilizer can compensate for organic amendments by improving P-acquisition efficiency in arable soils.     

基于GIS的浙北近海海域生态系统健康评价

在浙江省北部地区经济高速发展,科学高效利用海洋资源的同时,也不可避免的对浙北近海海域的生态系统造成一定的威胁。为了降低涉海工程对海洋生态环境可能造成的不利影响,通过分析浙江省北部海域高浊度、复杂水体等特点,利用层次分析法从水环境、沉积环境和海洋生物多样性构建了浙北近海海域生态系统评价指标体系,采用熵权法确定了相关因子的权重。在此基础上,综合GIS空间分析方法、数学模型,对2009年至2012年浙江省北部海域进行了实证研究。结果表明:(1)浙江省北部近海海域生态系统整体上处于不健康状态。含量较高的无机氮和磷酸盐及较低的海洋初级生产力是影响其环境质量的主要因素。(2)浙北近海海域生态系统主要薄弱区域与人类活动格局基本一致,由此推断,人类活动是影响浙北海域生态系统健康状态的主要因素。总体上,从2009至2012年浙北近海海域生态系统健康呈现逐年恶化的趋势。     

秋葵AeMYB1R1转录因子基因克隆及对胁迫的响应北大核心CSCD

MYB转录因子家族广泛参与了植物对干旱、盐渍、冷害等非生物胁迫的应答。为了深入研究秋葵[Abelmoschus esculentus(L.) Moench]中的MYB类转录因子,该研究以‘北海道1号’秋葵为研究对象,采用PCR方法克隆AeMYB1R1基因,并借助生物信息学进行特征分析;采用qRT-PCR荧光定量方法分析其表达模式及其在非生物胁迫下的表达特性。结果表明:(1)成功克隆获得1个秋葵AeMYB1R1基因;该基因包含1个1 056 bp的开放阅读框,编码352个氨基酸;序列对比和系统进化树结果显示,AeMYB1R1在植物进化过程中具有较高的保守性;AeMYB1R1蛋白分子量为37 891.57 Da,等电点为8.75,含有较多的谷氨酸和较少的色氨酸,以及较多潜在的磷酸化位点和糖基化位点。(2)结构分析显示,AeMYB1R1蛋白主要由α螺旋和无规则卷曲构成,无信号肽和跨膜结构,为疏水性蛋白;同时,氨基酸序列在第104至第156位含有一个保守结构域,表明其属于SHAQKYF类MYB家族转录因子。(3)qRT-PCR结果显示,AeMYB1R1基因在秋葵叶中的表达量最高,其次是根和茎,具有组织表达特性;与高温和低温胁迫相比,在盐胁迫和干旱胁迫中AeMYB1R1表达量更高,说明AeMYB1R1可能是秋葵抗盐和抗旱的关键转录因子。研究结果为AeMYB1R1基因在秋葵生长发育和抗逆机制中的功能研究奠定了理论依据。