原生质体诱变选育无孢平菇

用紫外线照射紫孢侧耳(Pleurotus sapidus)双核菌丝原生质体,再生后筛选生长势好的菌株, 通过出菇试验得到了生产性状与紫孢侧耳一致的无孢和少孢平菇新品种。Abstract: This paper reported isolation and regeneration of the dikaryocyte protoplasts from Pleurotus sapidus, and the protoplasts were treated by U.V-irradiation for selection spore less mutants.     

Human RNaseP RNA and nucleolar 7-2 RNA share conserved ‘To’ antigen-binding domains

RNase P in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes is a ribonucleoprotein that cleaves tRNA precursors to generate the 5 termini of the mature tRNAs. Many patients with autoimmune diseases produce antibodies against a 40 kDa protein (designatedTo orTh antigen) which is an integral component of eukaryotic RNaseP as well as nucleolar 7-2 RNP which is identical to the mitochondrial RNA processing (MRP) RNP. Interestingly, theTo antigen found in human cells and the C5 protein, the only protein component ofE. coli RNaseP, are antigenically related. In this study, we show that a 56 nucleotide-long sequence, corresponding to nucleotides 20–75 near the 5 end of human RNaseP RNA, is sufficient to bind theTo antigen. We previously showed that the humanTo antigen binds to a short distinct structural domain near the 5 end of human 7-2/MRP RNA. There is no obvious primary sequence homology between theTo antigen binding sites in RNaseP RNA and 7-2/MRP RNA; however, these sequences are capable of assuming a similar secondary structure which corresponds to the recently proposed cage structure for RNaseP RNAs and 7-2/MRP RNA (Forster and Altman (1989) Cell 62: 407–409). These data are supportive of the idea that these two RNAs may have evolved from a common progenitor molecule.     

Effects of irradiation on neuropeptide expression in rat salivary gland and spinal cord

Summary It is well-known that a large number of factors can influence the expression of neuropeptides in the nervous system. In the present study, the effects of unilateral and bilateral irradiation to the rat head and neck on the expression of neuropeptides in the innervation of the submandibular gland and in the ganglionic cells of the submandibular ganglion was examined ten days and six months after treatment. Antisera directed against enkephalin and bombesin and immunohistochemical methods were used. The effects of bilateral irradiation on the staining pattern of various neuropeptides in the cervical spinal cord were also studied. In the submandibular gland and in the submandibular ganglionic cells, there was a markedly increased neuropeptide expression ten days after bilateral treatment, as seen after staining with both antisera used, while no changes occurred after unilateral treatment. Six months after treatment, the pattern of neuropeptide expression in the submandibular gland/ganglion corresponded to that seen in controls. Irradiation did not lead to any changes in the staining pattern of neuropeptides in the spinal cord. The observations show that there is a great complexity in the susceptibility of nervous tissues to radiotherapy with respect to influences on the expression of neuropeptides.     

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PHASE-SPECIFIC COMPLEMENTARY DNAs FROM SPOROPHYTES AND GAMETOPHYTES OF PORPHYRA PURPUREA (RHODOPHYTA) USING SUBTRACTED COMPLEMENTARY DNA LIBRARIES1

The red alga Porphyra purpurea (Roth) C. Agardh has a life cycle that alternates between shell-boring, filamentous sporophytes and free-living, foliose gametophytes. The significant morphological differences between these two phases suggest that many genes should be developmentally regulated and expressed in a phase-specific manner. In this study, we prepared and screened subtracted complementary DNA (cDNA) libraries specific for the sporophyte and gametophyte of P. purpurea. This involved the construction of cDNA libraries from each phase, followed by the removal of common clones through subtractive hybridization. Sampling of the subtracted libraries indicated that 8–10% of the recombinant colonies in each library were specific for the appropriate phase. Of 20 putative phase-specific cDNAs selected from each subtracted library, eight unique clones were obtained for the sporophyte and seven for the gametophyte. After confirming their phase-specificities by hybridization to gametophyte and sporophyte messenger RNA, these 15 phase-specific cDNAs were sequenced, and the deduced amino acid sequences were used to search protein databanks. Two proteins encoded by the sporophyte-specific cDNAs and two by the gametophyte-specific cDNAs were identified by their similarity to databank entries.     

Protein synthesis is not required for the inhibitory effect of selenite on cell colony formation and RNA synthesis

Selenite has been shown to undergo intracellular metabolism that results in its conversion to other low molecular weight Secontaining species and also to its incorporation into a selenocysteine residue in selenoprotein. In order to investigate whether the incorporation into protein is required for the cytotoxic effects of selenite, we have examined whether inhibition of protein synthesis prevents the inhibitory effect of selenite on the ability of cells to form colonies or to synthesize RNA. We have found that treatment of HeLa cells with cycloheximide inhibited protein synthesis by >90% but had no effect on the inhibitory effect of selenite on cell colony formation or RNA synthesis. Since protein synthesis is not necessary for these cytotoxic effects of selenite they are unlikely to result from an increase in the synthesis of selenoproteins.     

The last 140 ka in the Afro-Asian arid/semi-arid transitional zone

During the last ten years, a great number of geological or other proxy records provided radiocarbon, U/Th or TL dated information on the past climatic oscillations in the arid/semi-arid zones extending between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Comparisons and a synthetic view of these results can now be attempted for the last 140 ka, and compared with global changes, as registered in oceanic or ice cores, and with palaeomonsson models: for this purpose, wide spatial and time scales have to be used. On the whole, arid/humid alternations roughly fit global changes, cold phases corresponding to an extension of the arid areas to the South, warm phases corresponding to the shrinking of the same to the North.

The last interglacial is associated with an increase of precipitation throughout the area considered. Isotopic stage 4 brings no evidence whatsoever of humid conditions. Two wetter episodes are registrated during stage 3. A major rainfall decrease is everywhere associated with the Last Glacial Maximum (21-15 ka in most regions), the arid or semi-arid zones extending several hundred kilometers southwards, relative to the present-day pattern. The two abrupt deglaciation steps and the Younger Dryas are recorded in all of the most sensitive regions, at the margins of the present-day monsoonal range. During the Holocene, the precipitation increases everywhere (by 100–400 mn, relative to the present-day values), the optimum being at 8.5-6.5 ka. A climatic deterioration follows with an irregular pattern of dry/wet episodes, according to the different geographic conditions. The humid phase terminates at 3.5-3 ka in the whole transitional zone.

The major southward shift of the monsoonal precipitation range since its optimum, some 8000 years ago, fits the astronomical neoglacial trend and may possibly be correlated with past stage 5d, although its rapidity and spatial importance may just reflect one of the sharp successive cold/warm variations registered by GRIP during the whole stage 5.