The effect of the substitute media on the development of the potted New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri)

Some kinds of agricultural castoffs such as sawdust (SD) and the powder of coconut coir (PCC) were used as growing media to substitute peat moss for the New Guinea Impatiens. It showed that all the substitute media should fit for the growth of the root system without disturbing the spatial development of the root. The growths of the plants in substitute media are all exceeded that in PM or only below the contrast indistinctly. The comprehensive indexes of plants in PCC and SD are 0.76 and 0.98, and the comprehensive indexes of plants in PSS and PPH are all higher than that in PM. It means that those four kinds of substitutes can be used to take the place of the peat moss totally as soilless growing media. In the period of 50–100 s, the differences of the Ultra-Weak Photon Intensity of the leaves among all the treatments are different significantly, and the trend is similar to that of the root. The photosynthesis of the New Guinea Impatiens is very different to the data of morphology evaluation indexes. There is no noticeable effect of the growing medium itself on the elements contents of the plant. The determinant may be the nutrients solution. There is no significant difference of the contents of chlorophyll in the plant that was planted in the substitute media between the PM. Under almost the same growth conditions, the Hoagland nutrients solution can make a steady and balanced supply of nutrients for the plant which cannot be evidently disturbed by the type of media. The substitute media have lower performance of preserving moisture and fertility, under normal cultivating conditions, the plants developed well, but in order to keep the plant in good condition, the substitute media depends more on extraneous nutrients from nutrients solution than PM.     

Genetic polymorphism of CYP4A11 and CYP4A22 genes and in silico insights from comparative 3D modelling in a French population

The CYP4A subfamily is known to ω-hydroxylate the endogenous arachidonic acid into 20-hydroxyeicosatetranoic acid, which has renovascular and tubular functions. The aim of this work was to report a comprehensive investigation of the CYP4A11 and CYP4A22 genetic polymorphisms in a French population. Using PCR-SSCP and sequencing strategies, a total of 26 sequence variations were identified comprising 3 missense mutations for CYP4A11 (Ser404Phe, Phe434Ser and Arg505His) and 7 missense mutations for CYP4A22 (Arg126Trp, Gly130Ser, Asn152Tyr, Val185Phe, Cys231Arg, Leu428Pro and Leu509Phe). In comparison with SNPs reported in the database (dbSNP) of the National Center for Biotechnology information (NCBI), 6 and 3 novel polymorphisms were identified in CYP4A11 and CYP4A22, respectively. The potential impact of the amino acid substitutions on the structure and/or catalytic activity of the enzymes has been estimated by the construction and validation of the CYP4A 3D models. These results could be helpful for further investigations of the potential role of CYP4A variants in the genetic susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases in humans such as arterial hypertension.     

Mutational and Structural Analysis of the Tandem Zinc Finger Domain of Tristetraprolin

Tristetraprolin (TTP), the best known member of a class of tandem (R/K)YKTELCX₈CX₅CX₃H zinc finger proteins, can destabilize target mRNAs by first binding to AU-rich elements (AREs) in their 3′-untranslated regions (UTRs) and subsequently promoting deadenylation and ultimate destruction of those mRNAs. This study sought to determine the roles of selected amino acids in the RNA binding domain, known as the tandem zinc finger (TZF) domain, in the ability of the full-length protein to bind to AREs within the tumor necrosis factor α (TNF) mRNA 3′-UTR. Within the CX₈C region of the TZF domain, mutation of some of the residues specific to TTP, not found in other members of the TTP protein family, resulted in decreased binding to RNA as well as inhibited mRNA deadenylation and decay. Evaluation of simulation solution models revealed a distinct structure in the second zinc finger of TTP that was induced by the presence of these TTP-specific residues. In addition, mutations within the lead-in sequences preceding the first C of highly conserved residues within the CX₅C or CX₃H regions or within the linker region between the two fingers also perturbed both RNA binding and the simulation model of the TZF domain in complex with RNA. We conclude that, although the majority of conserved residues within the TZF domain of TTP are required for productive binding, not all residues at sequence-equivalent positions in the two zinc fingers of the TZF domain of TTP are functionally equivalent.     

A functional (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase exhibits diurnal regulation of expression in Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni)

The leaves of stevia [Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni)] are a rich source of steviol glycosides that are used as non-calorific sweetener in many countries around the world. Steviol moiety of steviol glycosides is synthesized via plastidial 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate pathway, where (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (HDR) is the key enzyme. HDR catalyzes the simultaneous conversion of (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate into five carbon isoprenoid units, isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate. Stevia HDR (SrHDR) successfully rescued HDR lethal mutant strain MG1655 ara<>ispH upon genetic complementation, suggesting SrHDR to encode a functional protein. The gene exhibited diurnal variation in expression. To identify the possible regulatory elements, upstream region of the gene was cloned and putative cis-acting elements were detected by in silico analysis. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay, using a putative light responsive element GATA showed the binding of nuclear proteins (NP) isolated from leaves during light period of the day, but not with the NP from leaves during the dark period. Data suggested the involvement of GATA box in light mediated gene regulation of SrHDR in stevia.     

Concentrations of Selected Essential and Non-essential Elements in Blood of Harbor Seal (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoca vitulina</Emphasis>) Pups of the German North Sea

This study on harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups of the North Sea evaluated concentrations of 14 essential and non-essential elements (Al, As, Be, Ca, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, and Zn) in whole blood samples. The essential elements are analyzed to give references for health status determinations of pups. The measurement of classic toxic metals, like Pb or Cd, and other elements that may be in toxic concentrations in blood, is important due to their influence on health, particularly on the immune system. Blood samples of six seal pups found on the German Wadden Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein in 2004 and transported to the Seal Centre Friedrichskoog, Germany were collected. The blood sampling was performed three times, immediately after collection of the newborns, after 1.5 months, and after 2 months before their release back into the wild. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry were used to determine the element concentrations. We found higher concentrations of Al, As, Fe, Mo, and Zn in blood samples of newborns compared to samples collected later, probably due to transplacental and lactational transfer from mother to fetus. Furthermore, there is a high need for, in particular, Fe and Zn in the developing organism, which may cause reduced values after some month. In contrast, the concentrations of Be, Cd, Ca, Cr, Pb, Mn, Ni, Se, and Sn, which were low in newborns and increased during the study, may be due to the fish fed to infant pups. Compared to free-ranging adults, in pups, the concentrations of Al, Ni, and Pb were higher in contrast to lower concentrations of As, Mn, and Mo. This case study is the first report on element levels in harbor seal pups of the North Sea.     

太子参及其种植土壤中16种元素的测定

目的:建立电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法(ICP-AES)测定太子参及其种植土壤中16种元素含量的方法.方法:采用微波消解处理样品,并考察了不同元素间相互干扰,采用ICP-AES同时测定16种元素.结果:对所测定元素的相时标准偏差(RSD)均小于4%,回收率在95%～104%之间,结果可信度高.结论:本研究所建立的方法具有简便、快速、准确、灵敏度高的优点.     

紫云英根瘤菌基因组中存在有类似IS因子的DNA重复顺序

在紫云英根瘤菌(Rhizobium astragali)的基因组中存在有DNA重复顺序(RSRa)。它在Ra159的基因组中重复4～5次,其中一个拷贝位于nifH基因的上游。以1.25kbPvul片段作探针,在其他紫云英根瘤菌菌株及豌豆根瘤菌RI PRE中也都检测到与RSRa同源的DNA片段。序列测定的结果表明RSRa其结构类似于IS因子,具有原核插入顺序的一些特点。RSRa全长1468bp,在RSRa的两个末端具有反向重复顺序,RSRa中有一个大的开放阅读框架(ORF)。由ORF推定的蛋白与大肠杆菌插入顺序IS903推定的转座酶有较高的同源性。