Identification and inter-relationship analysis of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)

Genomic DNA of 13 Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains was prepared and analysed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with nif and nod probes, and by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) with 11 primers of arbitrary nucleotide sequence. Polymorphism was observed in both analyses. The RFLP and RAPD banding patterns of different strains were used to calculate genetic divergence and to construct phylogenetic trees, allowing studies on the relationships between the strains. RFLP with nif and nod probes permitted the separation of the strains into two divergent groups, whereas RAPD separated them into four main groups. RAPD allowed closely related strains to be distinguished.     

Constitutive and inducible aspects of nitrate-nitrogen uptake by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Similarly to higher plant root systems, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dangeard (UTEX 90) cells exhibited biphasic NO₃^? uptake kinetics. The uptake pattern was similar in cells cultured in 10 mM NO₃^? (NO₃^?-grown), 0.25 mM NO₃^? (N-limited) or 10 mM NO₃^? followed by an 18-h period of N-deprivation (N-starved). In all cell types there was an apparent phase transition in uptake at 1.1 mM NO₃^?, although there were variations in the uptake V_max of both isotherms. The rate of uptake via isotherm 0 ([NO₃^?]<1.1 mM) in N-limited cells was higher than that of either NO₃^?-grown or N-starved cells. In contrast, NO₃^?-grown and N-limited cells exhibited comparable V_max values when supplied with 1.1 to 1.8 mM NO₃^? (isotherm 1). When supplied with 1.6 mM NO₃^?, both N-limited and N-starved cells exhibited enhanced linear uptake after 60 min of incubation. We ascribed this to an induction phenomenon. This trend was not observed when NO₃^?-grown cells were supplied with 1.6 mM NO₃^?, or when N-limited and N-starved cells were supplied with 0.6 mM NO₃^?. The ‘inducible’ aspect of uptake by N-limited cells was blocked by cycloheximide (10 mg l^?1), but not by actinomycin D (5 mg l^?1), thus indicating the involvement of a translational or post-translational event. To investigate this phenomenon further, we analysed the cell proteins of N-limited cells supplied with either 0.6 or 1.6 mM NO₃^? for 90 min, using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Comparison of protein profiles enabled the identification of a single cell membrane-associated polypeptide (21 kDa, pI ca 5.5) and ten soluble fraction polypeptides (17–73 kDa, pI ca 5.0 to 7.1) unique to the high NO₃^? treatment. We propose that the ‘inducible’ portion of NO₃^? uptake may provide the means by which C. reinhardtii cells regulate uptake in accordance with assimilatory capacity.     

The genetic control of seven isozymic loci in Vicia faba L. Identification of lines and estimates of outcrossing rates between plants pollinated by bumble bees

A simplified and non-destructive method using starch gel electrophoresis has been developed on seeds to identify inbred lines of Vicia faba and assess outcrossing rates and gene dispersal in pollination experiments. Six enzyme systems (Alcohol dehydrogenase, Aspartate aminotransferase, Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, Isocitrate dehydrogenase, Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and Shikimate dehydrogenase) were analysed from parental lines, crosses performed between lines bearing dissimilar isozyme patterns in pollination cages with Bombus and F₂ progenies obtained from manual selfing of F₁ hybrids. The allozymes at each of the seven studied loci segregated in the expected Mendelian fashion and behaved in a co-dominant manner except for the Adh-2 locus where the only variant was a null allele. No evidence of genetic linkage was observed between at least 13 of the 15 pairs of the studied loci. Percentage of cross fertilisation by Bombus between seven pairs of inbred lines ranged between 1.7% and 28.3%. Pollen transfer between a donor line and a recipient line by two species of Bombus did not lead to differences in outcrossing rates (both about 8%). The new PGD marker with two loci at three alleles each is particularly discriminating and valuable in pollination studies and breeding of V. faba.     

Biosynthesis of 12α-and 13-hydroxylated gibberellins in a cell-free system from Cucurbita maxima endosperm and the identification of new endogenous gibberellins

Gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis in cell-free systems from Cucurbita maxima L. endosperm was reinvestigated using incubation conditions different from those employed in previous work. The metabolism of GA₁₂ yielded GA₁₃, GA₄₃ and 12α-hydroxyGA₄₃ as major products, GA₄, GA₃₇, GA₃₉, GA₄₆ and four unidentified compounds as minor products. The intermediates GA₁₅, GA₂₄ and GA₂₅ accumulated at low protein concentrations. The structure of the previously uncharacterised 12α-hydroxyGA₄₃ was inferred from its mass spectrum and by its formation from both GA₃₉ and GA₄₃. Gibberellin A₃₉ and 12α-hydroxyGA₄₃ were formed by a soluble 12α-hydroxylase that had not been detected before. Gibberellin A₁₂-aldehyde was metabolised to essentially the same products as GA₁₂ but with less efficiency. A new 13-hydroxylation pathway was found. Gibberellin A₅₃, formed from GA₁₂ by a microsomal oxidase, was converted by soluble 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxidases to GA₁ GA₂₃, GA₂₈, GA₄₄, and putative 2β-hydroxyGA₂₈. Minor products were GA₁₉, GA₂₀, GA₃₈ and three unidentified GAs. Microsomal 13-hydroxylation (the formation of GA₅₃) was suppressed by the cofactors for 2-oxoglutarate-dependent enzymes. Reinvestigation of the endogenous GAs confirmed the significance of the new metabolic products. In addition to the endogenous GAs reported by Blechschmidt et al. (1984, Phytochemistry 23, 553–558), GA₁, GA₈, GA₂₅, GA₂₈, GA₃₆, GA₄₈ and 12α-hydroxyGA₄₃ were identified by full-scan capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and Kovats retention indices. Thus both the 12α-hydroxylation and the 13-hydroxylation pathways found in the cell-free system operate also in vivo, giving rise to 12α-hydroxyGA₄₃ and GA₁ (or GA₈), respectively, as their end products. Evidence for endogenous GA₂₀ and GA₂₄ was also obtained but it was less conclusive due to interference.     

石菖蒲中一新倍半萜

石菖蒲（Acorus gramineus Soland）的精油经GC/MS/DS检测,硅胶加压柱层分离,得到一新的倍半萜,其在精油中的含量达60.30％,通过波谱方法确定了结构,并命名为石菖蒲酮（gramenone）。     

半枝莲中二萜内酯和黄酮化合物的分离和鉴定

半枝莲（Scutellaria barbata D.Don）为唇形科黄芩属植物,全草入药,具有清热解毒,化瘀利尿,消肿止痛和抗癌等功效。国内学者报道从全草中分得红花素（carthamidin）、异红花素（isocarthamidin）、印黄芩甙（scutellarein）、β-谷甾醇（β-sitosterol）、硬脂酸（stearic acid）和生物碱。台湾学者从中分离得汉黄芩素（wogonin）、5-羟基-7,8-二甲氧基黄酮（5-hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavone）、半枝莲素（Rivularin）。我们从全草的乙醇提取液中分得两个化合物,经鉴定为汉黄芩素、新穿心莲内酯,该内酯在本植物中属首次发现。     

Methods to identify protein targets of metal-based drugs

Metal-based anticancer agents occupy a distinct chemical space due to their particular coordination geometry and reactivity. Despite the initial DNA-targeting paradigm for this class of compounds, it is now clear that they can also be tuned to target proteins in cells, depending on the metal and ligand scaffold. Since metallodrug discovery is dominated by phenotypic screenings, tailored proteomics strategies were crucial to identify and validate protein targets of several investigative and clinically advanced metal-based drugs. Here, such experimental approaches are discussed, which showed that metallodrugs based on ruthenium, gold, rhenium and even platinum, can selectively and specifically target proteins with clear-cut down-stream effects. Target identification strategies are expected to support significantly the mechanism-driven clinical translation of metal-based drugs.     

棒状腐败乳杆菌Lc7的生物学特性及益生作用

【目的】对分离自健康成人粪便样本的棒状腐败乳杆菌(Loigolactobacillus coryniformis)Lc7进行分类学鉴定和益生潜力评估。【方法】基于16SrRNA基因和基因组核心基因构建系统发育树,对Lc7进行分类学鉴定;通过耐酸和胆汁酸盐、粘附、抗氧化和抑菌实验,以及溶血、明胶酶活性和抗菌药物敏感性实验,评估Lc7的益生特性。同时,构建小鼠溃疡性结肠炎模型,评估Lc7的体内抗炎潜力。【结果】Lc7鉴定为L. coryniformis,在酸和胆汁酸盐的连续作用下,Lc7的存活率为70.17%。Lc7对HT-29细胞的粘附指数为56.33 CFU/cell,其自聚集和疏水性分别为80%和40%;Lc7对福氏志贺菌和鼠伤寒沙门菌等7个常见致病菌均有较强的抑制能力;对1,1-二苯基-2-苦基肼(1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl,DPPH)和羟自由基(hydroxyl radicals,·OH)的清除率分别为91.70%和48.53%;Lc7无溶血现象和明胶酶活性,对选取的大多数抗生素均敏感。在小鼠结肠炎实验中,Lc7干预组小鼠结肠长度明显长于模型组(...     

“DNA signaturing” database construction for Tetradesmus species identification and phylogenetic relationships of Scenedesmus-like green microalgae (Scenedesmaceae,Chlorophyta)

Species identification of Scenedesmus-like microalgae, comprising Desmodesmus, Tetradesmus, and Scenedesmus, has been challenging due to their high morphological and genetic similarity. After developing a DNA signaturing tool for Desmodesmus identification, we built a DNA signaturing database for Tetradesmus. The DNA signaturing tool contained species-specific nucleotide sequences of Tetradesmus species or strain groups with high similarity in ITS2 sequences. To construct DNA signaturing, we collected data on ITS2 sequences, aligned the sequences, organized the data by ITS2 sequence homology, and determined signature sequences according to hemi-compensatory base changes (hCBC)/CBC data from previous studies. Four Tetradesmus species and 11 strain groups had DNA signatures. The signature sequence of the genus Tetradesmus, TTA GAG GCT TAA GCA AGG ACCC, recognized 86% (157/183) of the collected Tetradesmus strains. Phylogenetic analysis of Scenedesmus-like species revealed that the Tetradesmus species were monophyletic and closely related to each other based on branch lengths. Desmodesmus was suggested to split into two subgenera due to their genetic and morphological distinction. Scenedesmus must be analyzed along with other genera of the Scenedesmaceae family to determine their genetic relationships. Importantly, DNA signaturing was integrated into a database for identifying Scenedesmus-like species through BLAST.     

综合多组学数据的肝细胞癌分层策略及进展

肝细胞癌（hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC）是最常见和致命的肝脏恶性肿瘤。这种疾病的治疗一直受到其异质性的阻碍,极大限制了其个性化治疗的进展。因此,将高度异质的HCC分成具有相似特征的分子亚类对其临床治疗有着重要意义。随着高通量技术的不断发展,多种组学数据的关联研究可以加深了解HCC发生背后的生物学机制,也为HCC分层研究打开了新的思路。本文对当前HCC多组学分层策略及其相关研究进行了综述,并总结了当前HCC亚型的多组学特征。