Cloning and functional expression of a cDNA encoding stearoyl-ACP Δ9-desaturase from the endosperm of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.)

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is an economically tropical fruit tree with special fatty acid compositions. The stearoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) desaturase (SAD) plays a key role in the properties of the majority of cellular glycerolipids. In this paper, a full-length cDNA of a stearoyl-acyl carrier protein desaturase, designated CocoFAD, was isolated from cDNA library prepared from the endosperm of coconut (C. nucifera L.). An 1176 bp cDNA from overlapped PCR products containing ORF encoding a 391-amino acid (aa) protein was obtained. The coded protein was virtually identical and shared the homology to other Δ9-desaturase plant sequences (greater than 80% as similarity to that of Elaeis guineensis Jacq). The real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR result indicated that the yield of CocoFAD was the highest in the endosperm of 8-month-old coconut and leaf, and the yield was reduced to 50% of the highest level in the endosperm of 15-month-old coconut. The coding region showed heterologous expression in strain INVSc1 of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). GC–MS analysis showed that the levels of palmitoleic acid (16:1) and oleic acid (18:1) were improved significantly; meanwhile stearic acid (18:0) was reduced. These results indicated that the plastidial Δ9 desaturase from the endosperm of coconut was involved in the biosynthesis of hexadecenoic acid and octadecenoic acid, which was similar with other plants. These results may be valuable for understanding the mechanism of fatty acid metabolism and the genetic improvement of CocoFAD gene in palm plants in the future.     

羰基还原酶产生菌Candida ontarioensis制备(R)-2-氯-1-(3-氯苯基)乙醇

从实验室保藏的菌株中筛选获得Candida sp.PT2A,并通过18S rRNA鉴定为安大略假单胞菌Candida on-tarioensis。对C.ontarioensis不对称还原合成(R)-2-氯-1-(3-氯苯基)乙醇的发酵产酶条件和转化条件进行优化,确定了最适的发酵产酶条件和转化条件:温度30℃,初始pH 6.5,摇床转速180 r/min,菌体质量浓度200 g/L。采用2-氯-1-(3-氯苯基)乙酮质量浓度为10 g/L时,还原反应72 h,(R)-2-氯-1-(3-氯苯基)乙醇的e.e.值为99.9%,产率为99%;底物质量浓度提高至30 g/L时,产率下降为84.3%。采用十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)对C.ontarioensis细胞进行通透性处理(CTAB g/L,4℃下处理20 min),在30 g/L底物下反应24 h,产物的e.e.和产率分别达到99.9%和97.5%。     

CTAB选择性沉淀和纯化质粒DNA工艺的建立

通过直接在大肠杆菌碱裂解上清中加入十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB), 优化CTAB与质粒DNA量的比例、质粒DNA选择性释放溶液的选择和TritonX-114的使用, 建立了简单、易行的大规模质粒DNA纯化工艺。纯化质粒DNA的质量检测结果显示, CTAB纯化的质粒DNA无菌体RNA污染, 菌体基因组DNA、内毒素和蛋白含量分别小于 100 ng/mg、50 EU/mg和10 mg/mg质粒DNA, OD260/OD280比值介于1.75~1.85之间, 超螺旋质粒DNA的比例大于80%, 该工艺纯化的质粒DNA能达到或接近FDA规定的人用质粒DNA的各项指标, 整个过程不使用动物源性酶和苯酚、氯仿、无水乙醇等有毒或易燃、易爆试剂, 成本低廉, 工艺环保。     

RNA isolation from highly viscous samples rich in polyphenols and polysaccharides

The homogenized solution of leaves from woody plantCinnamomum tenuipilum is relatively viscous, gluelike, and rich in polysaccharides and polyphenols, which makes the isolation of RNA particularly difficult. If drawing with a tip, continuous filaments are formed at the end of tip. Guanidine-based and phenol/SDS methods resulted in brown and water-insoluble RNA pellets. With modifications of a CTAB method by including 2 centrifugation steps at 30,000g, we developed an effective and reproducible protocol that yields enough good quality RNA for northern analysis and RT-PCR.     

Isolating conifer DNA: A superior polysaccharide elimination method

Genomic DNA was isolated from frozen needles of maturePinus radiata clones using a modified extraction technique incorporating cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) for cell lysis. A high sodium chloride concentration (2 M) was used at 2 stages of the extraction procedure to eradicate polysaccharides, yielding pure genomic DNA suitable for restriction enzyme digestion and PCR amplification. Extractions were scaled down to suit 1.5-mL Eppendorf tubes, allowing easier handling and enhanced sterility.     

Stimulation of initiation factor eIF-2 by a rat liver protein with GDPase activity

Phosphocellulose chromatography of initiation factor eIF-2 from rat liver separates it from a protein fraction which is highly stimulatory for [eIF-2.GTP.Met-tRNA_f] ternary complex formation. Evidence is presented which indicates that this stimulatory fraction contains a specific GDPase activity. eIF-2 dependent formation of 40S ribosomal initiation complexes is also enhanced by the GDPase preparation. The enzyme may play a role in the recycling of eIF-2 by removing inhibitory GDP which is generated during 80S initiation complex formation.