一个木薯候选STK类抗病基因的分离及其生物信息学分析

根据丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶类(STK)结构域Ⅰ和Ⅷ氨基酸保守序列设计了1对简并引物,以细菌性萎蔫病抗/感木薯种质E1340和GR911基因组DNA为模板,通过PCR扩增,均获得大小约0.5 kb的扩增片段。两个片段纯化、克隆、测序后获得完全一致的505 nt序列,比对发现,木薯种质AM560带有和该序列高度同源的核苷酸片段。对包括同源片段上下游各约2.0 kb的大片段序列进行基因预测,获得1个有4个外显子、ORF全长1866 nt的预测基因,命名SSK1。序列分析表明,该基因编码621 aa,有细胞壁受体激酶结合、偶联位点和8个跨膜结构域,具有典型的STK类抗病基因的保守结构,是一个候选的抗病基因,可能在木薯抗病反应中发挥重要作用。     

亚麻NBS类抗病基因家族全基因组分析

亚麻基因组测序完成为全基因组水平分析抗病基因提供了前提条件,而NBS类抗病基因是植物中最大的抗病基因家族之一。本研究利用生物信息学方法对亚麻全基因组中NBS类抗病基因进行了鉴定,对NBS类抗病蛋白的理化性质、基因结构、保守基序及其系统发生关系进行了分析。结果表明:在亚麻全基因组中共找到137个NBS类抗病基因,其中分子量大于100k Da序列比例在50%以上,等电点值在5~8的范围内比例为70.07%。系统进化树将NBS类基因分成7个亚组,且同一亚组内基因的结构和保守基序保持着较高的一致性。本研究的结果将为亚麻NBS类抗病基因家族的基因定位以及相关抗病基因克隆等深入研究提供参考。     

黑皮冬瓜NBS类抗病基因同源序列克隆与分析

以黑皮冬瓜"B98K"种质为试材,根据已克隆的植物NBS类抗病基因保守结构域设计简并引物,PCR扩增冬瓜基因组DNA,获得对应区段的DNA片段,回收克隆与测序后,得到19条抗病同源序列(命名为DNB1至DNB19)。利用DNAStar软件进行序列分析及同源性比对发现,这些抗病同源序列长度在249~252 nt之间,其核苷酸序列同源性在48.4%~98.8%之间,氨基酸序列同源性为23.2%~100.0%,推导氨基酸序列具有P-loop(GGVGKTT)、Kinase-2a(VLDDVW)典型的NBS保守结构域。同源进化分析将其全部归为non TIR-NBS-LRR类,与推导氨基酸序列多重比较结果一致;该序列与其他作物已克隆抗病基因的氨基酸序列同源性在24.7%~99.0%之间。该组序列已登录Genbank,登录号为KF776401~KF776419。     

香蕉NBS-LRR抗病基因类似序列的克隆和分析

根据大多数抗病基因的核苷酸结合区(NBS)和富含亮氨酸重复序列(LRR)保守区的氨基酸序列设计PCR简并引物,利用快速而又可行的简并PCR技术获得NBS-LRR类抗病基因类似序列。笔者利用该技术从香蕉cDNA中获得了一个NBS-LRR类抗病基因类似序列,命名为B-NB(SAY739270)。结构域分析发现,B-NBS含有NBS蛋白所具有的P-Loop、Kinase-2、Kinase-3a和下游疏水GLPLAL结构域(HD,GLPLAL)4个保守基序。聚类分析发现,B-NBS与已报道的6个植物抗病基因的NBS基序的遗传距离在21.7之内。因此,B-NBS是一个香蕉NBS-LRR类抗病基因类似序列。本研究将为香蕉抗病基因克隆和抗病机理研究提供新的抗病候选基因资源。     

木薯MeSAP13基因的克隆及其抗细菌性枯萎病功能鉴定

胁迫相关蛋白（stress-associated proteins, SAPs）在植物对胁迫应答和胁迫调控中起重要作用。木薯是我国重要的粮食作物和经济作物,细菌性枯萎病（cassava bacterial blight, CBB）已严重危害我国木薯产业的健康发展。为了探讨木薯MeSAP基因在抗细菌性枯萎病中的作用,本研究克隆了我国主栽木薯品种‘华南8号’（SC8）的MeSAP13基因,分析该基因在细菌性枯萎病病原菌侵染时的表达模式及其编码蛋白的基本特性。利用基于木薯花叶病毒介导的基因沉默（virus induced gene silencing, VIGS）技术抑制了MeSAP13基因在木薯SC8叶片中的表达,通过接种细菌性枯萎病病原菌XpmHN11对MeSAP13的抗病功能进行抗性鉴定。结果发现：在病原菌XpmHN11侵染叶片3 d后MeSAP13基因表达量显著上调,说明木薯MeSAP13基因能够响应病原菌的侵染;在VIGS载体转化木薯叶片40 d后发现,与转化pCsCMV-A载体的对照叶片相比,MeSAP13在转化pCsCMV-MeSAP13叶片中的表达量显著下调了40%~60%,表明通过VIGS技术成功抑制了MeSAP13在木薯叶片中的表达。将病原菌XpmHN11接种至MeSAP13基因沉默叶片和对照植株叶片,发现MeSAP13基因沉默植株接种叶片的水渍状病斑面积显著大于对照植株接种叶片。分析侵染后0、3、6 d病原菌XpmHN11的繁殖情况发现,在侵染后3 d和6 d的MeSAP13基因沉默植株接种叶片中,其病原菌数量显著高于对照植株接种叶片。以上研究结果表明,抑制MeSAP13基因的表达,降低了木薯对细菌性枯萎病的抗性。     

向日葵NBS-LRR抗病基因家族全基因组分析

利用生物信息学方法对向日葵基因组的蛋白质数据库进行搜索,共获得255个富含亮氨酸的重复序列和核苷酸结合位点(nucleotide binding site and leucine rich repeat,NBS-LRR)类抗病基因的蛋白质序列,并根据结构域类型,将其分为TIR和Non-TIR两类。进一步对其中42个同时含有LRR和NBS结构域的LRR-NBS型基因编码蛋白质的理化性质、氨基酸序列及基因在染色体上的物理分布进行分析,结果表明,基因多分布于4号、8号和13号染色体,而且52.4%以基因簇存在;结构域预测结果显示,该类蛋白都具有特征结构域NBS结构域,氨基酸序列同源性为29.26%。对6个NBS类基因经向日葵锈菌诱导后的表达分析表明,6个基因均可被向日葵锈菌诱导表达,说明其可能参与了向日葵响应锈菌胁迫的抗病反应过程。     

木薯MeLHCB4基因的克隆及表达分析

本研究采用RT-PCR技术克隆了木薯叶绿素a/b结合蛋白基因MeLHCB4编码区序列。通过生物信息学对其基因结构、基因编码蛋白的理化性质等进行分析,并对不同物种的LHCB4氨基酸序列进行比对和构建进化树。结果表明,木薯MeLHCB4基因的CDs序列全长858 bp,编码285个氨基酸,蛋白理论相对分子质量约为30.9 kDa,理论等电点为5.47,该蛋白属于稳定的亲水性蛋白,预测该蛋白可能定位于细胞核或细胞质中。实时荧光定量PCR检测该基因的表达模式发现,MeLHCB4基因主要在木薯叶片和茎中表达,受到茉莉酸甲酯（JA）、水杨酸（SA）和乙烯前体（ACC）等激素的诱导表达,推测其可能参与了JA、SA、ACC信号途径。细菌性枯萎病病原菌侵染木薯叶片12 h后,MeLHCB4的表达量显著提高,表明MeLHCB4参与了木薯对病原菌的响应过程。     

青稞HvnWAK基因的克隆及其在条纹病胁迫下的表达

为探索青稞（Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum Hook. f）WAK类基因在青稞抗条纹病中的作用，以抗条纹病青稞品种昆仑14号和感病品种Z1141为材料，从叶片中克隆了HvnWAK基因。昆仑14号HvnWAK基因开放阅读框（ORF）为2 964 bp，Z1141的ORF为3 048 bp，分别编码988个氨基酸和1 016个氨基酸，两者氨基酸序列一致性为97.14%。启动子区域预测表明，该区段包含脱落酸、茉莉酸、赤霉素等与逆境胁迫相关的多个顺式作用元件。蛋白质序列分析表明，HvnWAK为亲水性的不稳定酸性蛋白，具有典型的细胞壁相关激酶结构特征，如细胞壁受体结构（GUB_WAK_bind）、胞内激酶结构域（intracellular kinase structural domain）和跨膜域、表皮生长因子结构域（epidermal growth factor，EGF），属于WAK家族。同源比对与系统进化分析表明，昆仑14号的HvnWAK蛋白与大麦、山羊草、硬直黑麦草的WAK蛋白序列相似性分别为97.24%、92.17%、80.80%;Z1141的HvnWAK蛋白与大麦、山羊草、硬直黑麦草等的WAK蛋白序列相似性分别为100%、92.17%、80.80%。青稞HvnWAK蛋白与大麦HvWAK蛋白的亲缘关系最近，与玉米和水稻的亲缘关系较远。蛋白互作预测结果表明，与WAK蛋白存在互作关系的有抗病蛋白同源物、解旋酶家族蛋白、苏氨酸蛋白激酶等。实时荧光定量（qRT-PCR）分析表明，该基因在感病后迅速表达，且在抗病材料昆仑14号中的表达峰值显著高于Z1141（P＜0.01），且高峰时期（8～9周）晚于在Z1141中的表达高峰时期（7～8周）。由此推测，HvnWAK基因在青稞抗条纹病的后期发挥重要的调控作用。     

甘薯NBS-LRR类抗病基因同源序列的克隆、分析及数目研究

根据植物抗病基因保守序列设计特异引物,对甘薯高抗茎线虫病品种AB94078-1、感病品种徐18及其8个后代品系进行PCR扩增.获得15个具有完整氨基酸读码框的片段,均具有NBS类抗病蛋白4个保守基序,其中5个片段含LRR结构.利用从亲本AB94078-1扩增的R510-AB作为探针进行Southern杂交,结果表明,其在基因组中存在多个拷贝,并估计其在基因组中的拷贝数目,克隆新的甘薯RGA序列,为进一步获得甘薯抗病基因打下基础.     

Studies on natural repellents against potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) in country stores

Summary The effects of the leaves of five plant species, one from each of the generaAmbrosia, Anemone, Eupatorium, Eucalyptus andLantana, on potato tuber moth were investigated under indigenous storage conditions at the Central Potato Research Station, Shillong (1800 m above sea level). Their action was compared with that of a biological insecticide (spores ofBacillus thuringiensis), a chemical insecticide (carbaryl), and an untreated control. The data collected after six months storage on tuber damage, sprout damage and the rotting indicated that the leaves ofLantana aculeata provided most protection to the tubers, reducing damage from over 70% in the check to below 5%, and sprout damage from over 45% to below 3%. Next best wasEucalyptus globulus followed byB. thuringiensis. They may be used on tubers stored for table use or for seed as they had no adverse effect on germination or on the yield of a subsequent crop.     

Comparative Assessment of the Efficacy of Various Nitrogen Fertilizers

Summary

The efficiency of N fertilizers is usually poor; often less than 50% of the applied N is taken up by the crop. This review focuses on various N fertilizers with respect to the significance of different N loss pathways, namely (i) ammonia volatilization, (ii) dinitrogen and nitrogen oxide emissions, and (iii) nitrate leaching. Further, the significance of biological N immobilization, ammonium fixation and, finally, the impact of nitrate vs. ammonium uptake on crop yield are also discussed. The reviewed literature shows that N fertilizers may differ markedly in their susceptibility to losses. There is, however, considerable scope to improve N efficiency of each N source by proper N management practices.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity of different accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. from Uruguay

Summary The in vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts from accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. collected in the south of Uruguay was investigated against five microorganisms including the pathogenRalstonia solanacearum. A total of 30 extracts corresponding to organic and aqueous extracts were studied. Interestingly, most of the positive results for growth inhibition were againstR. solanacearum. The extracts were also analyzed for the presence of glycoalkaloids and lectins. Six of the ten aqueous extracts showed lectin presence and a wide variation in the type and amounts of glycoalkaloids, was found. Results indicate that there is no clear relationship between the antimicrobial activity against the five microorganisms screened and the presence or amounts of lectins and glycoalkaloids, traditionally regarded as possible antimicrobial metabolites in theSolanum genus, which indicates the presence of as yet unidentified antimicrobial compounds.     

Novel food and non-food uses for sorghum and millets

Sorghum and millets have considerable potential in foods and beverages. As they are gluten-free they are suitable for coeliacs. Sorghum is also a potentially important source of nutraceuticals such antioxidant phenolics and cholesterol-lowering waxes. Cakes, cookies, pasta, a parboiled rice-like product and snack foods have been successfully produced from sorghum and, in some cases, millets. Wheat-free sorghum or millet bread remains the main challenge. Additives such as native and pre-gelatinised starches, hydrocolloids, fat, egg and rye pentosans improve bread quality. However, specific volumes are lower than those for wheat bread or gluten-free breads based on pure starches, and in many cases, breads tend to stale faster. Lager and stout beers with sorghum are brewed commercially. Sorghum's high-starch gelatinisation temperature and low beta-amylase activity remain problems with regard to complete substitution of barley malt with sorghum malt . The role of the sorghum endosperm matrix protein and cell wall components in limiting extract is a research focus. Brewing with millets is still at an experimental stage. Sorghum could be important for bioethanol and other bio-industrial products. Bioethanol research has focused on improving the economics of the process through cultivar selection, method development for low-quality grain and pre-processing to recover valuable by-products. Potential by-products such as the kafirin prolamin proteins and the pericarp wax have potential as bioplastic films and coatings for foods, primarily due to their hydrophobicity.     

Extreme resistance to infection by potato virus X in genotypes of wild tuber-bearingSolanum species

Summary Clones derived from thirty-one different accessions (nineteen of Argentine origin) belonging to eightSolanum species were screened for resistance to infection by potato virus X strain cp (PVX cp) by mechanical inoculation of plantlets that had been micropropagated in vitro. Estimates of PVX multiplication obtained by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and slot blot nucleic acid hybridization allowed the identification of resistant clones derived from five accessions belonging toS. commersonii S. oplocense, S. sparsipilum andS. tuberosum andigena. Resistant genotypes supported PVX concentrations 5 to 15 times smaller than did the susceptible control cultivar Spunta. Graft inoculation test confirmed the presence of extreme resistance similar to that conferred by the ‘immunity’ gene X¹ (also called RX_act).     

Marine Pharmacology in 2009–2011: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial,Antidiabetic, Antifungal,Anti-Inflammatory,Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis,and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems,and other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action ?

The peer-reviewed marine pharmacology literature from 2009 to 2011 is presented in this review, following the format used in the 1998–2008 reviews of this series. The pharmacology of structurally-characterized compounds isolated from marine animals, algae, fungi and bacteria is discussed in a comprehensive manner. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral pharmacological activities were reported for 102 marine natural products. Additionally, 60 marine compounds were observed to affect the immune and nervous system as well as possess antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. Finally, 68 marine metabolites were shown to interact with a variety of receptors and molecular targets, and thus will probably contribute to multiple pharmacological classes upon further mechanism of action studies. Marine pharmacology during 2009–2011 remained a global enterprise, with researchers from 35 countries, and the United States, contributing to the preclinical pharmacology of 262 marine compounds which are part of the preclinical pharmaceutical pipeline. Continued pharmacological research with marine natural products will contribute to enhance the marine pharmaceutical clinical pipeline, which in 2013 consisted of 17 marine natural products, analogs or derivatives targeting a limited number of disease categories.     

Recent Modifications of Chitosan for Adsorption Applications: A Critical and Systematic Review

Chitosan is considered to be one of the most promising and applicable materials in adsorption applications. The existence of amino and hydroxyl groups in its molecules contributes to many possible adsorption interactions between chitosan and pollutants (dyes, metals, ions, phenols, pharmaceuticals/drugs, pesticides, herbicides, etc.). These functional groups can help in establishing positions for modification. Based on the learning from previously published works in literature, researchers have achieved a modification of chitosan with a number of different functional groups. This work summarizes the published works of the last three years (2012–2014) regarding the modification reactions of chitosans (grafting, cross-linking, etc.) and their application to adsorption of different environmental pollutants (in liquid-phase).     

Cyanobacteria Secondary Metabolites as Biotechnological Ingredients in Natural Anti-Aging Cosmetics: Potential to Overcome Hyperpigmentation,Loss of Skin Density and UV Radiation-Deleterious Effects

The loss of density and elasticity, the appearance of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation are among the first noticeable signs of skin aging. Beyond UV radiation and oxidative stress, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) assume a preponderant role in the process, since their deregulation results in the degradation of most extracellular matrix components. In this survey, four cyanobacteria strains were explored for their capacity to produce secondary metabolites with biotechnological potential for use in anti-aging formulations. Leptolyngbya boryana LEGE 15486 and Cephalothrix lacustris LEGE 15493 from freshwater ecosystems, and Leptolyngbya cf. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 and Nodosilinea nodulosa LEGE 06104 from marine habitats were sequentially extracted with acetone and water, and extracts were analyzed for their toxicity in cell lines with key roles in the skin context (HaCAT, 3T3L1, and hCMEC). The non-toxic extracts were chemically characterized in terms of proteins, carotenoids, phenols, and chlorophyll a, and their anti-aging potential was explored through their ability to scavenge the physiological free radical superoxide anion radical (O₂^•−), to reduce the activity of the MMPs elastase and hyaluronidase, to inhibit tyrosinase and thus avoid melanin production, and to block UV-B radiation (sun protection factor, SPF). Leptolyngbya species stood out for anti-aging purposes: L. boryana LEGE 15486 presented a remarkable SPF of 19 (at 200 µg/mL), being among the best species regarding O₂^•− scavenging, (IC₅₀ = 99.50 µg/mL) and also being able to inhibit tyrosinase (IC₂₅ = 784 µg/mL), proving to be promising against UV-induced skin-aging; L. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 was more efficient in inhibiting MMPs (hyaluronidase, IC₅₀ = 863 µg/mL; elastase, IC₅₀ = 391 µg/mL), thus being the choice to retard dermal density loss. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data allowed the grouping of extracts into three groups, according to their chemical composition; the correlation of carotenoids and chlorophyll a with MMPs activity (p < 0.01), O₂^•− scavenging with phenolic compounds (p < 0.01), and phycocyanin and allophycocyanin with SPF, pointing to these compounds in particular as responsible for UV-B blockage. This original survey explores, for the first time, the biotechnological potential of these cyanobacteria strains in the field of skin aging, demonstrating the promising, innovative, and multifactorial nature of these microorganisms.