The potato amylase inhibitor gene SbAI regulates cold‐induced sweetening in potato tubers by modulating amylase activity

Potato cold‐induced sweetening (CIS) is critical for the postharvest quality of potato tubers. Starch degradation is considered to be one of the key pathways in the CIS process. However, the functions of the genes that encode enzymes related to starch degradation in CIS and the activity regulation of these enzymes have received less attention. A potato amylase inhibitor gene known as SbAI was cloned from the wild potato species Solanum berthaultii. This genetic transformation confirmed that in contrast to the SbAI suppression in CIS‐resistant potatoes, overexpressing SbAI in CIS‐sensitive potatoes resulted in less amylase activity and a lower rate of starch degradation accompanied by a lower reducing sugar (RS) content in cold‐stored tubers. This finding suggested that the SbAI gene may play crucial roles in potato CIS by modulating the amylase activity. Further investigations indicated that pairwise protein–protein interactions occurred between SbAI and α‐amylase StAmy23, β‐amylases StBAM1 and StBAM9. SbAI could inhibit the activities of both α‐amylase and β‐amylase in potato tubers primarily by repressing StAmy23 and StBAM1, respectively. These findings provide the first evidence that SbAI is a key regulator of the amylases that confer starch degradation and RS accumulation in cold‐stored potato tubers.     

The application of musculoskeletal modeling to investigate gender bias in non-contact ACL injury rate during single-leg landings

The central tenet of this study was to develop, validate and apply various individualised 3D musculoskeletal models of the human body for application to single-leg landings over increasing vertical heights and horizontal distances. While contributing to an understanding of whether gender differences explain the higher rate of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among females, this study also correlated various musculoskeletal variables significantly impacted by gender, height and/or distance and their interactions with two ACL injury-risk predictor variables; peak vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) and peak proximal tibia anterior shear force (PTASF). Kinematic, kinetic and electromyography data of three male and three female subjects were measured. Results revealed no significant gender differences in the musculoskeletal variables tested except peak VGRF (p = 0.039) and hip axial compressive force (p = 0.032). The quadriceps and the gastrocnemius muscle forces had significant correlations with peak PTASF (r = 0.85, p < 0.05 and r = ? 0.88, p < 0.05, respectively). Furthermore, hamstring muscle force was significantly correlated with peak VGRF (r = ? 0.90, p < 0.05). The ankle flexion angle was significantly correlated with peak PTASF (r = ? 0.82, p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that compared to males, females did not exhibit significantly different muscle forces, or ankle, knee and hip flexion angles during single-leg landings that would explain the gender bias in non-contact ACL injury rate. Our results also suggest that higher quadriceps muscle force increases the risk, while higher hamstring and gastrocnemius muscle forces as well as ankle flexion angle reduce the risk of non-contact ACL injury.     

长诏水库浮游植物群落结构及水质评价

于2010年5月、8月和11月对新昌长诏水库浮游植物群落进行了调查,运用Shannon多样性指数(H)、Simpson多样性指数(D)、Margalef丰富度指数(M)及Pielou均匀度指数(J)分析了浮游植物种群的多样性,并结合水质理化指标对长诏水库的富营养化程度及水质状况进行了综合评价.结果显示:长诏水库浮游植物有6门26属(种),其中,绿藻门10属(种),硅藻门9属(种),蓝藻门4属(种),隐藻门1属,甲藻门1属,黄藻门1属.浮游植物的丰度为5.73×105～7.73×105ind·L-1,平均为(6.71±0.81)×105 ind·L-1;生物量为0.73～1.03 mg·L-1,平均为(0.83±0.12) mg·L-1.在水平分布上,蓝藻门、硅藻门和绿藻门的丰度在各采样点中均较高;在季节分布上,硅藻门、绿藻门、蓝藻门分别在春季、夏季、秋季占绝对优势.总体上,浮游植物丰度和生物量在水库入水口较高,出水口较低.水库浮游植物的多样性较差,水质受到较重污染,且主要为氮、磷污染;富营养化程度为中-富营养化水平.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new active For‐Met‐Leu‐Phe‐OMe analogues containing para‐substituted Phe residues

In the present study, we report synthesis and biological evaluation of the N‐Boc‐protected tripeptides 4a–l and N‐For protected tripeptides 5a–l as new For‐Met‐Leu‐Phe‐OMe (fMLF‐OMe) analogues. All the new ligands are characterized by the C‐terminal Phe residue variously substituted at position 4 of the aromatic ring. The agonism of 5a–l and the antagonism of 4a–l (chemotaxis, superoxide anion production, lysozyme release as well as receptor binding affinity) have been examined on human neutrophils. No synthesized compounds has higher activity than the standard fMLF‐OMe tripeptide to stimulate chemotaxis, although compounds 5a and 5c with ‐CH₃ and ‐C(CH₃)₃, respectively, in position 4 on the aromatic ring, are better than the standard tripeptide to stimulate the production of superoxide anion, in higher concentration. Compounds 4f and 4i , containing ‐F and ‐I in position 4, respectively, on the aromatic ring of phenylalanine, exhibit significant chemotactic antagonism. The influence of the different substitution at the position 4 on the aromatic ring of phenylalanine is discussed. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biochemical characteristics and antioxidant activity of crude and purified sulfated polysaccharides from Gracilaria fisheri

Sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) from Gracilaria fisheri of Thailand, which were extracted in low-temperature (25 °C) water showed the highest content of phenolic compounds compared with those extracted at high temperature (55 °C). Crude SP antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the DPPH free radical scavenging effect which is directly related to the level of phenolic compounds. The sulfate content, total sugar, and SPs yield were also directly related to the extraction temperature. All extracts contained galactose as a major monosaccharide. High antioxidant activity of crude SP, positively correlated with the phenolic compound contents (R² = 0.996) contributed by the existence of sulfate groups and phenolic compounds. In purified SP, F1 fraction exhibited strong radical scavenging ability, but it was not significantly different compared to crude SP extracted at 25 °C. This indicated that the appropriate density and distribution of sulfate groups in the SP extract showed the best antioxidant activity.     

5-脱氧杂氮胞苷抑制小鼠附植前的胚胎发育

DNA甲基化在哺乳动物发育过程中有关键作用．在小鼠附植前胚胎发育过程中,DNA甲基化一直处于动态变化过程中．通过将体外受精胚在5-AZA-CdR中持续培养,研究5-AZA-CdR对小鼠附植前胚胎发育的影响,为附植前胚胎发育机理的研究及5-AZA-CdR的毒副作用研究提供试验基础．从原核期加入不同浓度的5-AZA-CdR时,胚胎不能发育到桑椹胚(0.2 和1.0 μmol/L)和4-细胞胚(5.0 μmol/L);从2-细胞期加入时,胚胎阻滞于未致密化的8-细胞(0.2 和1.0 μmol/L)和3/4-细胞期(5.0 μmol/L);而当从4-细胞加入时,虽然胚胎能够发育到早期桑椹胚,但发育比例同对照相比显著降低(P < 0.05)．进一步检测凋亡、基因组DNA甲基化和整体转录活性,结果显示,高浓度的5-AZA-CdR导致8-细胞和早期桑椹胚发生早期凋亡,而低浓度的5-AZA-CdR引起8-细胞和早期桑椹胚基因组DNA甲基化的降低和转录活性的降低,并且这种降低呈浓度依赖性．所以加入低浓度的5-AZA-CdR时,胚胎的DNA甲基化降低,引起转录活性的降低,进而导致胚胎发育的停滞．     

白木香内生真菌的分离鉴定及其抑菌活性

从白木香Aquilaria sinensis（Lour．）Gilg木质部的树脂形成部位和健康部位中共分离获得42株内生真菌,经初步鉴定,产孢的33株分属于3目4科7属,其余未产孢的9株暂归为无孢菌群。采用杯碟法和MTT法分别测定了各菌株的发酵上清液对3种病原菌的体外抑菌活性和2种肿瘤细胞的体外细胞毒活性。结果表明,白木香木质部健康部位内生真菌以枝顶孢霉属为优势属,而树脂形成部位的内生真菌种类比健康部位要多,且以青霉属为优势属。其中26株至少能抑制一种指示菌,占总数的61．9％;7株对指示瘤株具有细胞毒活性,占总数的16．7％。抑菌活性菌株主要分布在枝顶孢霉属和青霉属。枝顶孢霉属菌株抑菌活性较强,其抗菌活性成分值得进一步研究。     

New metabolites of Azotobacter vinelandii exhibiting antifungal activity

New metabolites exhibiting antifungal activity were isolated from the culture liquid of Azotobacter vinelandii strain IB 4. The metabolites were characterized by IR and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy and defined as sucrose polythiophosphates of tetraamine (α-D-2,3-diaminoglucopyranosyl-β-D-3,4-diaminofructofuranose).