Formation of Polar Bundles of Pili and the Behavior of Azospirillum brasilenseCells in a Semiliquid Agar

This paper describes the formation of single polar bundles of pili on Azospirillum brasilensecells, the twitching motility of cell aggregates, and a new type of social behavior—the dispersal of bacterial cells in semiliquid agar associated with the formation of granular inclusions (the so-called Gri⁺phenotype)—which is an alternative to swarming (the Swa phenotype). The wild-type A. brasilensecells occurring in a semiliquid agar may show either the Swa⁺Gri^–, or Swa^–Gri^–, or Swa^–Gri⁺phenotype. The formation of single polar flagella (Fla) or polar bundles of pili may reflect two alternative states of A. brasilensecells. The components of the Fla system may be involved in the regulation of the phenotypic variation of azospirilla.     

鸭毛梗制备复合氨基酸工艺条件的研究

采用正交试验方法 ,研究了鸭毛梗水解制备复合氨基酸的工艺条件 ,结果表明 :温度 /压力是影响氨基酸转化率最主要的因素。鸭毛梗水解制备的复合氨基酸转化率盐酸法最高 (82 .36 % ) ,氢氧化钠法最低 (5 8.4 6 % ) ,硫酸法与盐酸法接近(79.4 4 % )。硫酸法产率较高 ,操作方便 ,环境污染和设备腐蚀均小 ,适合大量生产 ,确定为水解制备复合氨基酸介质 ,其最佳工艺条件为 :水解时间 8.0h ,硫酸浓度 3.0mol·L-1,水解温度 12 5℃。氨基酸分析表明 ,水解液中均含有 18种以上氨基酸。     

水稻穗颈维管束及穗部性状的QTL分析

以籼稻 (OryzasativaL .ssp .indicaZYQ8)和粳稻 (O .sativassp .japonicaJX17)的杂交F1代花培加倍的DH群体为材料考察了该群体的穗颈节大小维管束数、一次枝梗数、每穗颖花数、穗颈节顶部直径和穗长 ,并用该群体构建的分子图谱进行数量性状座位 (QTL)分析。检测到控制大维管束的 3个QTL (qLVB_1、qLVB_6和qLVB_7)分别位于第 1、第 6和第 7染色体 ;控制小维管束的 2个QTL (qSVB_4和qSVB_6 )分别位于第 4和第 6染色体 ;控制一次枝梗的 4个QTL (qPRB_4a、qPRB_4b、qPRB_6和qPRB_7)分别位于第 4(2个 )、第 6和第 7染色体 ;每穗颖花数的 3个QTL (qSPN_4a、qSPN_4b和qSPN_6 )分别位于第 4(2个 )和第 6染色体上 ;穗颈节顶部直径的 5个QTL (qPTD_2、qPTD_5、qPTD_6、qPTD_8和qPTD_12 )分别位于第 2、第 5、第 6、第 8和第 12染色体 ;穗长的 3个QTL (qPL_4、qPL_6和qPL_8)分别位于第 4、第 6、第 8染色体上。其中qLVB_6、qSVB_6、qSPN_6、qPTD_6和qPL_6均位于第 6染色体的G12 2_G1314b之间 ;qPL_8和qPTD_8位于第 8染色体的GA40 8_BP12 7a之间 ;qPRB_4a和qSPN_4a位于第 4染色体的G177_CT2 0 6之间 ;qPL_4和qSPN_4b位于第 4染色体CT40 4_CT5 0 0之间 ;qSVB_4所在的区间与qPL_4、qSPN_4b和qPRB_4b所在的区间相邻。     

Conformation and ion channel properties of a five-helix Bundle protein.

The primary amphipathic peptide Ac-Met-Gly-Leu-Gly-Leu-Trp-Leu-Leu-Val-Leu10-Ala-Ala-Ala-Leu-Gln-Gly-Ala-Lys-Lys-Lys20-Arg-Lys-Val-NH-CH2-CH2-SH called SPM was able to induce formation of ion channels into planar lipid bilayers with main conductance values of 75 and 950 pS in 1 M KCl. The 75 pS value can be attributed to an aggregate composed of five monomers since the corresponding five-unit bundle (5-SPM) also presented a 70 pS channels under the same conditions. The upper 950 pS level would be generated by a hexameric aggregate. Ion channels induced by both SPM and its pentameric bundle are slightly cation selective but not voltage-dependent. The structural studies showed that the SPM and 5-SPM possess mainly an alpha-helical structure (approximately 40%) and are strongly embedded in the bilayer. This behaviour and the strong hydrophobic interactions occurring between helices in the bundle induce a strong stabilization of 5-SPM in the bilayer and would be responsible for the stepwise current fluctuations observed during the incorporation of 5-SPM into the membrane.     

Functional,Morphological, and Evolutionary Characterization of Hearing in Subterranean,Eusocial African Mole-Rats

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Key taste components in two wild edible Boletus mushrooms using widely targeted metabolomics

Compounds from wild edible mushrooms has been reported to exert biological activities and contribute to the different flavors of mushrooms in our diet. Wild edible Boletus mushrooms are popular in Southwest China. In this study, we performed ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) based on widely targeted metabolomics analysis to identify key components. A total of 194 metabolites (113 upregulated, 81 downregulated) divided into 11 groups (49 metabolites in group lipids, 34 in amino acids and derivatives, 30 in organic acids, 18 in phenolic acids, 16 in nucleotides and derivatives, 13 in alkaloids, 6 in flavonoids, 3 in lignans and coumarins, 3 in tannins, 2 in terpenoids, and 20 in others) were found among Boletus bainiugan compared with B. subsplendidus. Through clustering analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal signal correction and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), different metabolites from fruiting bodies were clearly identified. Significant differences were observed in the metabolites between Boletus bainiugan and B. subsplendidus. These metabolites are involved in important biological functions. Our results provide new insights into important metabolites and theoretical basis for the taste difference of two wild edible Boletus mushrooms.     

Upregulation of bundle sheath electron transport capacity under limiting light in C4 Setaria viridis

C₄ photosynthesis is a biochemical pathway that operates across mesophyll and bundle sheath (BS) cells to increase CO₂ concentration at the site of CO₂ fixation. C₄ plants benefit from high irradiance but their efficiency decreases under shade, causing a loss of productivity in crop canopies. We investigated shade acclimation responses of Setaria viridis, a model monocot of NADP-dependent malic enzyme subtype, focussing on cell-specific electron transport capacity. Plants grown under low light (LL) maintained CO₂ assimilation rates similar to high light plants but had an increased chlorophyll and light-harvesting-protein content, predominantly in BS cells. Photosystem II (PSII) protein abundance, oxygen-evolving activity and the PSII/PSI ratio were enhanced in LL BS cells, indicating a higher capacity for linear electron flow. Abundances of PSI, ATP synthase, Cytochrome b₆f and the chloroplast NAD(P)H dehydrogenase complex, which constitute the BS cyclic electron flow machinery, were also increased in LL plants. A decline in PEP carboxylase activity in mesophyll cells and a consequent shortage of reducing power in BS chloroplasts were associated with a more oxidised plastoquinone pool in LL plants and the formation of PSII – light-harvesting complex II supercomplexes with an increased oxygen evolution rate. Our results suggest that the supramolecular composition of PSII in BS cells is adjusted according to the redox state of the plastoquinone pool. This discovery contributes to the understanding of the acclimation of PSII activity in C₄ plants and will support the development of strategies for crop improvement, including the engineering of C₄ photosynthesis into C₃ plants.