高粱LEA3蛋白基因和启动子的克隆及序列分析

根据禾本科LEA3基因保守序列设计简并引物,同时结合RACE方法获得高粱LEA3基因全长cDNA序列1032bp,该序列含有一个612bp的阅读框,编码203个氨基酸,包含7个串联的LEA3蛋白的基元序列。通过与玉米、小麦、水稻、大麦的LEA3蛋白序列比较,氨基酸序列同源性分别为73.8%、53.77%、45.63%和53.99%;其编码蛋白理论相对分子量为21.22kD,等电点pI=8.79;蛋白质二级结构预测表明2段α螺旋结构占主导,与目前已知的多种植物的LEA3蛋白具有相似的结构功能域。通过热不对称交错PCR(TAIL PCR)技术获得LEA3基因启动子749bp的DNA序列,该区域包含ABA应答元件、干旱胁迫应答元件、以及胚胎和胚乳特异表达元件;通过PHyML软件构建了禾本科植物LEA3基因ML系统树。这些研究结果为深入了解该基因的功能和高粱抗旱的分子机理提供了基础数据。     

蓝光调节高粱突变体har1幼苗的去黄化反应

以航空诱变高粱突变体har1为材料,对其幼苗去黄化过程进行研究。萌发的种子在远红光下预培养6小时后,置于12小时蓝光/2小时黑暗条件下培养。测量幼苗的各器官伸长,结果表明,与野生型R111相比,harl的胚芽鞘、中胚轴、第一叶鞘以及第二叶鞘的伸长均受到蓝光的明显抑制,而蓝光对叶片生长影响不明显。3天龄har1黄化苗在连续蓝光下中胚轴花色素苷的积累明显增高,红光和远红光无此效应。此外,蓝光促进har1叶片叶绿体发育,且在蓝光照射24小时后叶片中叶绿素含量升高。Westernblot检测结果显示,7天龄R111和har1幼苗隐花色素SbCRY1b蛋白水平呈现蓝光下低、黑暗中高的变化趋势,har1的SbCRY1b蛋白水平在黑暗中高于R111。研究结果表明,高粱har1在去黄化过程中具有蓝光超敏感表型,SbCRY1b的作用值得进一步深入研究。     

The leucocyte enzyme cytochemistry of the Indian eel, Anguilla bicolor bicolor McClelland

Activity of peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, α-naphthyl acetate esterase and naphthol-AS-D chloroacetate esterase in the leucocytes of the Indian eel, Anguilla bicolor bicolor McClelland, was studied. But for some minor differences, the enzyme pattern of the leucocytes, especially neutrophil peroxidase, of the Indian eel closely resembled that of the New Zealand eels, suggesting that the Indian eel is phylogenetically more closely allied to the New Zealand eels than to the European eel.     

朱砂根叶绿体全基因组解析及系统发育分析

基于Illumina平台对朱砂根和红凉伞叶绿体全基因组进行测序,利用生物信息学比较叶绿体基因组结构特征与变异程度,旨在明确朱砂根（Ardisia crenata）及红凉伞（Ardisia crenata var. bicolor）叶绿体基因组特征及差异,并与同科其他物种叶绿体全基因组进行比较分析,确定其在紫金牛属系统发育位置。结果表明,朱砂根和红凉伞均为由一个大单拷贝区（LSC）、一个小单拷贝区（SSC）和一对反向重复区（IRa/IRb）构成的环状四分体结构,注释得到132个基因,其重复序列的类型与分布模式相似,但数量有所差异。其中psbA、matK、rpoC2、ropB、ndhK、accD、ndhF、ndhD、ndhH及ycf1等基因的编码区存在差异,这些位点为朱砂根分子鉴定提供新位点。朱砂根及红凉伞叶绿体基因组具有较高保守性,叶绿体基因组之间没有重排或倒置,IR区序列变异最低,SSC区变异程度最高。系统发育树分析表明紫金牛科和报春花科为两个分支,朱砂根和红凉伞归为紫金牛科,且朱砂根与红凉伞亲缘关系最为密切,从分子水平为红凉伞作为朱砂根变种提供了科学解释。本研究解析了朱砂根及变种红凉伞叶绿体基因组结构,探讨了紫金牛科属间系统发育关系,也为紫金牛科药用植物分类鉴定、系统进化及资源开发利用研究奠定基础。     

Characterization of 14 different putative protein kinase cDNA clones of the C4 plantSorghum bicolor

C₄ photosynthesis is functionally dependent on metabolic interactions between mesophyll- and bundle-sheath cells. Although the C₄ cycle is biochemically well understood, many aspects of the regulation of enzyme activities, gene expression and cell differentiation are elusive. Protein kinases are likely involved in these regulatory processes, providing links to hormonal, metabolic and developmental signal-transduction pathways. Here we describe the cloning and characterization of 14 different putative protein kinase leaf cDNA clones from the C₄ plant Sorghum bicolor. These genes belong to three different protein kinase subfamilies: ribosomal protein S6 kinases, SNF1-like protein kinases, and receptor-like protein kinases. We report the partial cDNA sequences, mesophyll/bundle-sheath steady-state mRNA ratios, mesophyll/etiolated leaf steady-state mRNA ratios, and the positions of 14 protein kinase genes on the genetic map of S. bicolor. Only three of the protein kinase genes described here are expressed preferentially in mesophyll cells as compared with the bundle-sheath. Received: 16 January 1998 / Accepted: 3 April 1998     

A carbon balance model of the sorghum-Striga hermonthica host-parasite association

Abstract. Growth and gas exchange measurements are used to formulate a carbon balance model to describe the sorghum- Striga hermonthica host-Parasite association. S. hermonthica reduces the growth and radically alters the architecture of infected sorghum plants. Grain and stem weight are reduced, whilst leaf and root biomass are maintained. Losses in host productivity result from two processes: export of carbon to the parasite and Parasite-induced reductions in host photosynthesis. The latter occurs before the emergence of the Parasite above ground and accounts for 80% of the Predicted loss in production over the lifecycle of the association. S. hermonthica is dependent on carbon exported from the host, since the plant has low rates of photosynthesis coupled with high rates of respiration. Host-derived carbon accounts for approximately one-third of the total parasite carbon requirement.     

Sources of variation in firmness and ester content of ''Cox'' apples stored in 2% oxygen

The contribution of various factors to variation in the quality of 'Cox' apples after storage in 2% oxygen at 3.3°C was investigated. Within one season variation in the firmness of fruits from different orchards could be largely accounted for by correlations with firmness at harvest and the position of the fruit on the climacteric at the time of harvest. However, different relationships were found between these variables in different seasons. The butyl and hexyl acetate contents of fruit were influenced by season and source of fruit, but little affected by maturity at harvest. Ester content was inversely correlated with fruit firmness after storage. Other factors which were expected to influence the ripening of fruit during storage were found to be unrelated to firmness and ester content. These included the respiration rate of fruit during storage, the resistance of the fruit to gaseous diffusion and its specific gravity. Carbon dioxide production was nearly constant at about 2.3 ml kg^-1h^-1 across seasons, sources and harvest dates. Specific gravity seemed to be particularly affected by season, whereas diffusive resistance decreased with maturity.     

Genome evolution in the genus Sorghum (Poaceae)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The roles of variation in DNA content in plant evolution and adaptation remain a major biological enigma. Chromosome number and 2C DNA content were determined for 21 of the 25 species of the genus Sorghum and analysed from a phylogenetic perspective. METHODS: DNA content was determined by flow cytometry. A Sorghum phylogeny was constructed based on combined nuclear ITS and chloroplast ndhF DNA sequences. KEY RESULTS: Chromosome counts (2n = 10, 20, 30, 40) were, with few exceptions, concordant with published numbers. New chromosome numbers were obtained for S. amplum (2n = 30) and S. leiocladum (2n = 10). 2C DNA content varies 8.1-fold (1.27-10.30 pg) among the 21 Sorghum species. 2C DNA content varies 3.6-fold from 1.27 pg to 4.60 pg among the 2n = 10 species and 5.8-fold (1.52-8.79 pg) among the 2n = 20 species. The x = 5 genome size varies over an 8.8-fold range from 0.26 pg to 2.30 pg. The mean 2C DNA content of perennial species (6.20 pg) is significantly greater than the mean (2.92 pg) of the annuals. Among the 21 species studied, the mean x = 5 genome size of annuals (1.15 pg) and of perennials (1.29 pg) is not significantly different. Statistical analysis of Australian species showed: (a) mean 2C DNA content of annual (2.89 pg) and perennial (7.73 pg) species is significantly different; (b) mean x = 5 genome size of perennials (1.66 pg) is significantly greater than that of the annuals (1.09 pg); (c) the mean maximum latitude at which perennial species grow (-25.4 degrees) is significantly greater than the mean maximum latitude (-17.6) at which annual species grow. CONCLUSIONS: The DNA sequence phylogeny splits Sorghum into two lineages, one comprising the 2n = 10 species with large genomes and their polyploid relatives, and the other with the 2n = 20, 40 species with relatively small genomes. An apparent phylogenetic reduction in genome size has occurred in the 2n = 10 lineage. Genome size evolution in the genus Sorghum apparently did not involve a 'one way ticket to genomic obesity' as has been proposed for the grasses.