Centromere localization and function of Mis18 requires Yippee‐like domain‐mediated oligomerization

Mis18 is a key regulator responsible for the centromere localization of the CENP‐A chaperone Scm3 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe and HJURP in humans, which establishes CENP‐A chromatin that defines centromeres. The molecular and structural determinants of Mis18 centromere targeting remain elusive. Here, by combining structural, biochemical, and yeast genetic studies, we show that the oligomerization of S. pombe Mis18, mediated via its conserved N‐terminal Yippee‐like domain, is crucial for its centromere localization and function. The crystal structure of the N‐terminal Yippee‐like domain reveals a fold containing a cradle‐shaped pocket that is implicated in protein/nucleic acid binding, which we show is required for Mis18 function. While the N‐terminal Yippee‐like domain forms a homodimer in vitro and in vivo, full‐length Mis18, including the C‐terminal α‐helical domain, forms a homotetramer in vitro. We also show that the Yippee‐like domains of human Mis18α/Mis18β interact to form a heterodimer, implying a conserved structural theme for Mis18 regulation.     

猪囊尾蚴疫苗候选基因TSO18在酵母中的高效表达

将猪带绦虫六钩蚴TSO18基因亚克隆至毕赤酵母分泌性表达载体pPIC9K,构建重组表达载体pPIC9K_TSO18,电转化毕赤酵母菌GS115,使重组表达载体与酵母染色体发生同源整合。采用G418抗性梯度法筛选得到多拷贝重组菌株,用甲醇进行诱导表达,并对表达产物进行SDS_PAGE和Western blot分析、脱糖基化分析、分子筛纯化和小鼠免疫接种等表明,目的蛋白得到了高效表达并进行了适度的糖基化,易于纯化且具有免疫活性。在5L发酵罐中目的蛋白表达量达到2.54mg/mL,为制备基因工程疫苗打下了坚实的基础。     

Analyses of soil fungal communities in adjacent natural forest and hoop pine plantation ecosystems of subtropical Australia using molecular approaches based on 18S rRNA genes

Soil fungal communities were studied using 18S rDNA-based molecular techniques. Soil DNA was analyzed using temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE), single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP), cloning and sequencing methods, following community DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The extracted community DNA was successfully amplified using the primer pair of EF4f-Fung5r which produced ca. 550bp 18S rDNA fragments. TGGE screening of the PCR products showed some differences in band position and intensity between two soil samples in adjacent natural forest (YNF) and hoop pine plantation (YHP) ecosystems at Yarraman in subtropical Australia. TGGE and SSCP could be used for screening PCR products. However, care must be exercised when interpreting the TGGE and SSCP results with respect to microbial diversity, because one band may not necessarily represent one species. It is recommended that the PCR products should be purified before TGGE or SSCP screening. SSCP screening of the clone sequences revealed differences among the clones. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses revealed that all obtained clones were affiliated to the kingdom Fungi, including three phyla, i.e., Zygomycota, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Our results suggested that community DNA extraction, PCR, cloning, SSCP screening of clones, sequencing of selected clones and phylogentic analyses could be a good strategy in investigation of soil fungal community and diversity.     

Relative humidity- and ABA-induced variation in carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of cotton leaves

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. CS50) plants were grown at two levels of relative humidity (RH) and sprayed daily with abscisic acid (ABA) at four concentrations. Plants grown at lower humidity had higher transpiration rates, lower leaf temperatures and lower stomatal conductance. Plant biomass was also reduced at low humidity. Within each humidity environment, increasing ABA concentration generally reduced stomatal conductance, evaporation rates, superficial leaf density and plant biomass, and increased leaf temperature and specific leaf area. As expected, decreased stomatal conductance resulted in decreased carbon isotope discrimination in leaf material ( Δ ¹³C_l). Plants grown at low humidity were more enriched in ¹⁸O than those grown at high RH, as theory predicts. Within each humidity environment, increasing ABA concentration increased oxygen isotope enrichment of leaf cellulose ( Δ ¹⁸O_c) and whole‐leaf tissue ( Δ ¹⁸O_l). Values of Δ ¹³C_l and Δ ¹⁸O_l predicted by theoretical models were close to those observed, accounting for 79% of the measured variation in Δ ¹³C_l and 95% of the measured variation in Δ ¹⁸O_l. Supporting theory, Δ ¹³C_l and Δ ¹⁸O_l in whole‐leaf tissue were negatively related.     

Fungal endophytes in potato roots studied by traditional isolation and cultivation-independent DNA-based methods

The composition and relative abundance of endophytic fungi in roots of field-grown transgenic T4-lysozyme producing potatoes and the parental line were assessed by classical isolation from root segments and cultivation-independent techniques to test the hypothesis that endophytic fungi are affected by T4-lysozyme. Fungi were isolated from the majority of root segments of both lines and at least 63 morphological groups were obtained with Verticillium dahliae, Cylindrocarpon destructans, Colletotrichum coccodes and Plectosporium tabacinum as the most frequently isolated species. Dominant bands in the fungal fingerprints obtained by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of 18S rRNA gene fragments amplified from total community DNA corresponded to the electrophoretic mobility of the 18S rRNA gene fragments of the three most abundant fungal isolates, V. dahliae, C. destructans and Col. coccodes, but not to P. tabacinum. The assignment of the bands to these isolates was confirmed for V. dahliae and Col. coccodes by sequencing of clones. Verticillium dahliae was the most abundant endophytic fungus in the roots of healthy potato plants. Differences in the relative abundance of endophytic fungi colonizing the roots of T4-lysozyme producing potatoes and the parental line could be detected by both methods.     

人IL-18的基因克隆、表达及纯化

目的 :克隆人IL 1 8基因 ,并构建高表达人IL 1 8的工程菌 ,纯化获得重组人IL 1 8。方法 :从人肿瘤组织内提取总RNA ,利用逆转录聚合酶链反应扩增人IL 1 8基因 ,在基因的 5′和 3′端分别加上NcoI和EcoRI酶切位点 ,酶切后直接克隆至质粒表达载体pET2 8a( + )内 ,转化大肠杆菌BL2 1 (DE3) ,挑选转化子 ,IPTG诱导后SDS PAGE筛选高表达人IL 1 8的工程菌。提取表达菌质粒进行DNA序列分析。表达菌大量培养及IPTG诱导后 ,超声破菌收集包涵体 ,十二烷基肌苷酸钠溶解后用阳离子柱和分子筛纯化。结果 :克隆的人IL 1 8基因序列完全正确 ,工程菌表达的人IL 1 8约占菌体蛋白 30 % ,以包涵体形式存在 ,经阳离子柱和分子筛纯化获得了较纯的人IL 1 8。结论 :可用构建的工程菌大量制备人IL 1 8,为开展人IL 1 8药物的临床前研究奠定了基础。     

A new lineage of trypanosomes from Australian vertebrates and terrestrial bloodsucking leeches (Haemadipsidae)

Little is known about the trypanosomes of indigenous Australian vertebrates and their vectors. We surveyed a range of vertebrates and blood-feeding invertebrates for trypanosomes by parasitological and PCR-based methods using primers specific to the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene of genus Trypanosoma. Trypanosome isolates were obtained in culture from two common wombats, one swamp wallaby and an Australian bird (Strepera sp.). By PCR, blood samples from three wombats, one brush-tailed wallaby, three platypuses and a frog were positive for trypanosome DNA. All the blood-sucking invertebrates screened were negative for trypanosomes both by microscopy and PCR, except for specimens of terrestrial leeches (Haemadipsidae). Of the latter, two Micobdella sp. specimens from Victoria and 18 Philaemon sp. specimens from Queensland were positive by PCR. Four Haemadipsa zeylanica specimens from Sri Lanka and three Leiobdella jawarerensis specimens from Papua New Guinea were also PCR positive for trypanosome DNA. We sequenced the SSU rRNA and glycosomal glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) genes in order to determine the phylogenetic positions of the new vertebrate and terrestrial leech trypanosomes. In trees based on these genes, Australian vertebrate trypanosomes fell in several distinct clades, for the most part being more closely related to trypanosomes outside Australia than to each other. Two previously undescribed wallaby trypanosomes fell in a clade with Trypanosoma theileri, the cosmopolitan bovid trypanosome, and Trypanosoma cyclops from a Malaysian primate. The terrestrial leech trypanosomes were closely related to the wallaby trypanosomes, T. cyclops and a trypanosome from an Australian frog. We suggest that haemadipsid leeches may be significant and widespread vectors of trypanosomes in Australia and Asia.     

脂肪酶产生菌Aspergillus sp.FS132产酶条件的初步优化及其18S rRNA基因序列的比较分析

从新疆火焰山口土样中分离的一株脂肪酶产生菌FS132,菌落形态表明为霉菌。对其产酶条件的初步优化表明,产酶的最适培养时间为45h,培养基最适初始pH7．0,最适培养温度36℃,最适摇瓶空气量25mL／250mL锥形瓶。为进一步鉴定该菌株,克隆测定了该菌18SrRNA基因序列。并对其进行系统进化树分析,结果表明该菌与已报道的Aspergillus tamarii具有最紧密亲缘关系。     

Grindelane diterpenoids from Chrysothamnus nauseosus

Two new grindelic acid diterpenoids, 18-hydroxygrindelic acid and 18-succinyloxygrindelic acid, were isolated from Chrysothamnus nauseosus. The assigned structures rest on their spectroscopic properties as well as chemical interconversions.