The emergence of transgenic potatoes as commercial products and tools for basic science

The potato has tremendous potential as a transgenic crop and is a good model system by which to analyse metabolic regulation and gene expression. The potato’s difficult genetics, but ease of genetic transformation and its clonal means of propagation make it ideal for applied agricultural molecular genetics. Thus, the next 4 years promise to put the potato (with a diversity of transgenic constructs expressed) in the limelight as many of the first transgenic agricultural products enter the marketplace.     

Trade-off among antiherbivore defences in a south american blackberry (Rubus bogotensis)

Summary The idea of trade-offs among antiherbivore defences in plants is examined using data from a South American blackberry (Rubus bogotensis). Two distinct morphs of R. bogotensis, one with glandular trichomes and one without, were compared with respect to leaf toughness, number of prickles and prickle length. The two morphs were sympatric and grew under similar environmental conditions. The morph lacking trichomes had significantly tougher leaves and also tended to have more and longer prickles. Bioassay showed that Ithomiid larvae fed to a lesser extent on tough leaves than on more tender ones. Correlations between antiherbivore defences within each phenotype revealed three significant or almost significant negative relationships. The comparisons support the hypothesis that trade-offs exist among antiherbivore defences.     

Toxicity symptoms caused by high expression of Tet represser in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. L.) are alleviated by tetracycline

As a first step towards transferring a tetracycline (Tc)-inducible gene expression system to tomato, we have transformed tomato plants with the Tn10-encoded tet repressor gene (tetR). Homozygous transformed plants with high expression of tetR mRNA show a deleterious phenotype, having reduced shoot dry weights and leaf chlorophyll content, an even more marked reduction in root dry weight and leaf size, and altered photosynthetic physiology. It appears that TetR protein exerts its toxicity only when expressed beyond a threshold level and by interacting with a process that is non-limiting under slow growth conditions. The deleterious phenotype was almost completely reversed by the application of 1 mg dm^?3 Tc to plants grown in sand. The possiblity is discussed that TetR causes these symptoms by binding to a specific DNA sequence functioning as a Tet operator. The effect of Tc on growth and physiology in wild-type plants grown in sand or rockwool is described. Tc at 0.1 mg cm^?3 had no effect. Tc at 1 mg dm^?3 caused a small reduction in root growth, while 5 and 20 mg dm^?3 Tc caused large reductions in growth and photosynthetic parameters.     

Rip stop in marine algae: Minimizing the consequences of herbivore damage

Summary Structural features of marine macrophytes are generally believed to act as defences against herbivores by reducing the ability of herbivores to consume the plants. Thallus form and calcification in particular have been considered structural defences that act by reducing the probability of consumption of tissue by herbivores. Studies directly measuring the mechanical resistance of a variety of marine algae (tropical and temperate) to herbivores of two important feeding types, rasping herbivores (docoglossan limpets) and a biting herbivore (an herbivorous crab), do not support this hypothesis. I suggest that thallus form and calcification may play a more important role in minimizing the impact of herbivores by reducing the probability of subsequent tissue loss due to herbivore-induced damage. For some algal species, tissue lost subsequent to herbivore damage may greatly exceed loss due to direct consumption by herbivores. I suggest that calcification and thallus properties resulting in preferential tear directions reduce the probability of tissue loss subsequent to herbivore damage rather than prevent herbivores from removing tissue as has been suggested in the past.     

Nitric oxide is involved in heat-induced HSP70 accumulation

Heat shock potentiated the nitric oxide production (EPR assay) in the liver, kidney, heart, spleen, intestine, and brain. The heat shock-induced sharp transient increase in the rate of nitric oxide production preceded the accumulation of heat shock proteins (HSP70) (Western blot analysis) as measured in the heart and liver. In all organs the nitric oxide formation was completely blocked by the NO-synthase inhibitor (L-NNA). L-NNA also markedly attenuated the heat shock-induced accumulation of HSP70. The results suggests that nitric oxide is involved in the heat shock-induced activation of HSP70 synthesis.     

Availability,uptake and regeneration of phosphate in mesocosms with varied levels of P deficiency

A population of cyclomorphic Bosmina coregoni was studied in Lake Östersjön, southwestern Sweden and results from field samples collected in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991 are presented. Animals collected in summer have remarkably higher carapace and prolonged antennule compared to what we call the normal morph. In 1991 the extreme morph reach its maximum body length, body height and antennule length in July to September. The occurrence of the extreme morph coincide with the hatching of the predaceous cladoceran Leptodora kindtii.The two morphs fluctuate in abundance and in relation to each other. In early spring only the normal morph occurred in the samples followed by a period of about two months when the two morphs were found together, in July only the extreme morph was found. In September the two morphs were again present in the lake. As has been shown for other cladoceran, the conspicuous carapace and antennule could be an adaptive response that decreases mortality due to invertebrate predation. Spectacular features like these are likely also accompanied by some sort of costs.     

电针诱导心肌缺血大鼠延髓头端腹外侧区nNOS和iNOS差异表达

许多研究表明,延髓头端腹外侧区(rostral ventrolateml medulla,RVLM)的NO/NOS系统参与心血管活动的中枢调节.本实验以结扎Wistar大鼠左冠状动脉前降支法建立急性心肌缺血(acute myocardial ischemia,AMI)动物模型,观察针刺"内关"穴改善AMI大鼠的心功能作用,同时检测大鼠RVLM区神经元型一氧化氮合酶(neuronal nitric oxide synthase,nNOS)和诱导型一氧化氮合酶(inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS)表达的变化,进而探讨针刺治疗AMI的中枢机制.实验观察显示,AMI大鼠心功能各项指标减弱,伴随外周血去甲肾上腺素(norepinephrine,NE)和脑钠肽(brain natriuretic peptide,BNP)水平显著升高,同时RVLM区nNOS阳性神经元数和nNOS mRNA表达升高,而iNOS水平则降低.针刺"内关"穴(Pe 6)(每天30 min,连续5天)改善心功能,降低AMI大鼠血清中NE和BNP的水平,同时升高iNOS并降低nNOS在RVLM的表达.以上结果提示,针刺治疗心肌缺血的同时可以调节iNOS/NO和nNOS/NO在RVLM的变化,这可能与针刺通过调节RVLM区的NO含量进而降低交感传出,从而改善AMI大鼠的心功能有关.     

siRNA干扰HIF-1α表达对高糖高胰岛素诱导的肥大心肌细胞的影响

目的 研究胰岛素受体底物1(insulin receptor substrate 1,IRS1)和缺氧诱导因子1a(hypoxia inducible factor 1a,HIF-1a)在高糖高胰岛素诱导的肥大心肌细胞中的表达及其之间的关系;观察siRNA沉默HIF-1a基因对高糖高胰岛素诱导的心肌细胞肥大的影响.方法 新生大鼠心肌细胞培养48h后,换用无血清DMEM培养液并分别加入高糖高胰岛素、高糖高胰岛素+HIF-1a-siRNA培养48h,未加入任何药物的心肌细胞在无血清DMEM培养液中继续培养48h作为对照.通过心肌细胞表面积、总蛋白含量指标检测心肌细胞肥大,并利用Real time PCR检测转染前后HIF-1a mRNA表达变化及免疫细胞化学方法检测HIF-1a及IRS1蛋白水平的表达.结果 高糖高胰岛素可增加心肌细胞表面积、总蛋白含量、HIF-1a mRNA以及HIF-1a表达,并降低IRS1表达.转染siRNA后使HIF-1a基因的表达下降,能部分抑制心肌细胞的肥大,降低心肌细胞表面积和总蛋白含量,但对IRS1表达的影响不明显.在对正常对照组和高糖高胰岛素组中IRS1表达量与HIF-1a表达量进行相关分析表明,两者的表达量成负相关.结论 通过siRNA技术对HIF-1a的有效沉默可明显地抑制高糖高胰岛素诱导大鼠乳鼠心肌细胞肥大,并且这种作用可能是通过作用于IRS1/PI3K/ Akt/MTOR途径来实现的.