Intergenic spacers of rRNA genes in three species of theCynareae (Asteraceae)

Intergenic spacers of the rRNA genes of three species of theCynareae tribe:Cynara cardunculus subsp.scolymus (artichoke),Onopordum acanthium, andO. illyricum were cloned in the plasmid pGEM-7zf(+). Detailed restriction mapping and partial sequencing of the IGSs were carried out. The structural analysis showed a clear diversity betweenCynara andOnopordum, while a high degree of homology was found between the twoOnopordum spp. In all three species a fragment of about 450 bp from the 5 end of 18S to the Acc I site with a high sequence homology was present. Nucleotide sequences upstream from the above mentioned Acc I site show a gradual decrease of homology betweenCynara andOnopordum.     

促髓细胞分化的锌指基因单向PCR扩增直接测序的研究

锌指基因是一种造血调节基因,编码锌指结构蛋白,主要在髓细胞中表达,促进髓细胞分化,在急性早幼粒白血病维甲酸治疗中,促使病情缓解。本文报道了我们从基因分子上研究锌指基因作用中,探索并建立了单向聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）扩增特定单链ＤＮＡ,直接测序的新方法。它能产生质和量均佳的单链ＤＮＡ,无需纯化即可直接用于测序,使复杂的测序研究简便易行,可在２,３天内完成。这种单向ＰＣＲ扩增特定单链ＤＮＡ直接测序的方法,经对锌指基因的ｃＤＮＡ测序,得到验证。此法不仅适用于疾病研究中的ＤＮＡ测序,还可制各单链ＤＮＡ探针,更利于基因结构组成的研究。     

Enhancing PCR amplification and sequencing using DNA-binding proteins

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a powerful core molecular biology technique, which when coupled to chain termination sequencing allows gene and DNA sequence information to be derived rapidly. A number of modifications to the basic PCR format have been developed in an attempt to increase amplification efficiency and the specificity of the reaction. We have applied the use of DNA-binding protein, gene 32 protein from bacteriophage T4 (T4gp32) to increase amplification efficiency with a number of diverse templates. In addition, we have found that using single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) or recA protein in DNA sequencing reactions dramatically increases the resolution of sequencing runs. The use of DNA-binding proteins in amplification and sequencing may prove to be generally applicable in improving the yield and quality of a number of templates from various sources.     

A Novel Method for Generating Nested Deletions Using the in Vitro Bacteriophage T3 DNA Packaging System

To sequence a DNA segment inserted into a cosmid vector underthe directed sequencing strategy, we established a simple andrapid method for generating nested deletions which uses thein vitro packaging system of bacteriophage T3 DNA. The principleis based on the previous finding that this system can translocateany linear double-stranded DNA up to 40 kb into the phage capsidin a time-dependent manner and the encapsulated DNA becomesDNase-resistant. For this purpose, we constructed a cosmid vectorthat carries two different antibiotic selection markers at bothsides of the multiple cloning site, and after insertion of aDNA segment, the clone was linearized by -terminase at the cossite. After the packaging reaction in vitro followed by DNasetreatment, the encapsulated DNA was introduced into Escherichiacoli cells to give clones with unidirectional deletions by differentialantibiotic selection. Restriction and sequence analyses of deletionclones demonstrated that an ordered set of clones with nesteddeletions, ranging from less than 1 kb to 25 kb, was createdfrom either the end of the DNA segment. Thus, nested deletionclones that cover the entire region of a 40-kb cosmid insertcan be obtained by a single packaging reaction, and its restrictionmap can be simultaneously obtained.     

Evolution of thedec-1 eggshell locus inDrosophila. II. Intraspecific DNA sequence analysis reveals length mutations in a repetitive region inD. melanogaster

Summary Thedec-1 eggshell gene inDrosophila melanogaster encodes follicle cell proteins required for proper eggshell assembly. As shown by Southern and Northern analyses thedec-1 gene occurs in four alleles (Fcl-4) among wild-type strains. Its second exon has a distinct feature in the form of 12 repeats with 78–91 nucleotides; the first five show nearly 100% homology. DNA sequence comparison of the repeated region of the alleles revealed that the length polymorphisms are caused by changes in the numbers of the first five repeats. The results suggest that the alleles have been generated by unequal intragenic crossing-over and/or slippage during DNA replication and that the allelic length variants have arisen independently. The possiblilty that the most common allele,FC1, has a selective advantage over the other alleles is discussed.     

Variable generation times and Darwinian fitness measures

Summary Reproductive value (RV) and net reproductive output (R _o) are frequently used fitness measures. We argue that they are only appropriate when intervals between reproductive events are fixed, as they are dimensionless generation-to-generation scalings with units offspring per parent. A fitness measure should account for two different effects of a decrease in generation time: (1) increased survival due to shorter exposure to mortality agents and (2) increased frequency of reproduction.R _o andRV deal with the first of these two effects, while a measure with a physical dimensionper time [T^–1] is needed to account for the second. The Malthusian growth parameter,r, meets this requirement and in situations where time to reproduction is variable, we propose, the instantaneous rate of spread of descendants (from an individual) be used instead ofR _o. As an alternative toRV, we suggest using the instantaneous difference = –r, wherer is the population rate of increase. WhileRV andR _o are dimensionless ratios, , and areper time rates which are appropriate in accounting for alterations in generation time.     

孕产妇生殖道单纯疱疹病毒感染垂直污染羊水的研究

用ＤＮＡ聚合酶链反应检测单纯疱疹病毒特异性核酸,调查１００名孕产妇生殖器官脂ＨＳＶ感染和羊水受ＨＳＶ污染的情况,结果表明：受感染的母体通过病毒护散途径及通过产道途径,污染羊水的机率分别为１１．１％和５４．５％;原发性ＨＳＶ、继发性ＨＳＶ垂直污染羊水机率分别为６６．７％和２９．４％;不同妊娠期和生育胎次对污染率无显著性影响。     

生物有机肥对菠萝心腐病及根际土壤细菌群落的影响

【目的】探明施用生物有机肥对菠萝心腐病的防控效果及对根际土壤微生物的影响。【方法】本研究采用高通量测序技术,综合分析不同施肥措施根际土壤微生物细菌群落多样性及群落特征。【结果】相比常规施肥处理(CK)和普通有机肥处理(YJ),生物有机肥处理KN (羊粪有机肥+泥炭土+枯草芽孢杆菌)和生物有机肥处理KY (羊粪有机肥+椰糠+枯草芽孢杆菌)均能显著降低菠萝心腐病的发病率,且KN处理的防控效果最佳。生物有机肥(KN、KY)施入后土壤细菌α多样性指数高于CK和YJ处理,并形成了明显不同的细菌群落结构。与CK相比,生物有机肥KN处理显著提高了拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)的丰度,KY处理中的酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)、硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae)丰度显著增加;属水平上,生物有机肥中的蔗糖伯克霍尔德菌属(Paraburkholderia)和黄杆菌属(Flavobacterium)丰度均显著提升。方差分区分析(variance partitioning analysis, VPA)表明,土壤化学性质(36.29%)对细菌群落影响最大,其中土壤速效钾和有机质是影响土壤细菌群落的关键因子,此外发病率(22.53%)和肥料偏生产力(16.42%)也是影响土壤细菌群落的重要因子。【结论】施用生物有机肥(KN、KY)能改变根际土壤细菌群落结构,降低发病率,对菠萝根际土壤生态系统稳定与健康具有重要意义。