青稞CHI基因的克隆及原核表达分析

为了进一步了解CHI基因在青稞黄酮合成中所起的作用,以青稞品系94-19-1为材料,通过同源克隆技术分离CHI基因,并对分离得到的CHI基因进行生物信息学分析及原核表达。结果表明,从青稞94-19-1中克隆得到的CHI基因编码区长为696bp,编码231个氨基酸。序列分析表明,青稞CHI基因有4个碱基和大麦不同,导致1个氨基酸发生改变。SDS-PAGE检测结果表明,将该基因克隆到表达载体pET-32a上,并转化大肠杆菌BL21后,经诱导可成功表达出融合蛋白。     

青稞CHS基因的克隆及原核表达分析

为进一步研究查尔酮合酶（Chalcone synthase,CHS）在黄酮化合物代谢过程中的作用,以青稞94-19-1为材料,通过同源克隆技术分离CHS基因,并对分离得到的CHS基因进行生物信息学分析及原核表达。结果表明,从青稞94-19-1中克隆得到的CHS基因编码区长为1 197 bp,编码398个氨基酸。生物信息学分析表明,该基因编码的蛋白质分子量为43.479 kDa,预测等电点(pI)为5.92,是酸性蛋白;该酶蛋白体外红细胞中的半衰期为30 h,不稳定系数(II)大于40,属于不稳定蛋白;平均亲水指数为-0.090,是亲水性的蛋白。SDS-PAGE检测结果表明,将该基因克隆到表达载体pET-32a上,并在大肠杆菌BL21中表达,可得到64 kDa左右的融合蛋白,在IPTG诱导浓度为1.0 mmol·L^-1时,最佳诱导时间为3 h。     

茶树氧甲基转移酶基因的克隆及原核表达

获得了一类茶树氧甲基转移酶基因cDNA全长并构建了该基因的原核表达载体。以从茶树叶片中提取的总RNA为模板,结合RT-PCR与RACE克隆技术获得氧甲基转移酶(O-methyltransferase)基因cDNA全长1 280 bp,其开放阅读框为1 068 bp,编码355个氨基酸,推测的蛋白分子量为39.1 kD,理论等电点为5.68。其氨基酸序列与葡萄和蓖麻氧甲基转移酶基因相似性分别为73%、71%。将该基因片段连接到原核表达载体pET-28a中,转化大肠杆菌BL21后诱导重组蛋白的表达,经IPTG诱导,SDS-PAGE检测到1条与预测融合蛋白分子量相符的外源蛋白。     

茶树α-tubulin基因的原核表达及其多克隆抗体的制备

根据茶树α-微管蛋白(α-tubulin)的mRNA全长序列(GenBank登录号DQ340766)设计引物,以RT-PCR方法扩增茶树α-tubulin基因,将扩增产物克隆到原核表达载体pET-32a(+)上,并转化至大肠杆菌BL21trxB(DE3)中,经异丙基-β-D硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导后以包涵体形式表达。以纯化后的α-tubulin融合蛋白制备兔多克隆抗体,用Westernblot方法检测抗体特异性。结果显示α-tubulin蛋白以包涵体形式大量表达,以融合蛋白制备的抗体对茶树体内的α-tubulin具有良好的特异性。     

HARDY基因的克隆、原核表达及其植物表达载体的构建

为了给转HARDY(HRD)基因小麦研究奠定基础,利用PCR技术从拟南芥中克隆HRD基因,进行生物信息学分析,预测其编码的蛋白质结构与功能,构建原核表达载体pET28a(+)-HRD,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),IPTG诱导蛋白的表达,同时构建pBin-HRD植物表达载体。测序分析结果表明,克隆的HRD与NCBI发布的拟南芥核苷酸序列的同源性为99%,其开放阅读框长555bp,可编码184个氨基酸,具有许多重要功能位点;成功构建了原核表达载体pET28a(+)-HRD和植物表达载体pBin-HRD,诱导表达出大小约为23.3kD的蛋白,与理论值相近。     

小麦热激蛋白WHSP90基因的原核表达及多克隆抗体制备

为了进一步研究HSP90基因的功能,将WHSP90基因构建到原核表达载体pET-28a(+)中,得到His-WHSP90融合表达载体,并转化到大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中,发现1 mmol/L IPTG诱导4 h蛋白表达量最大;经过蛋白标记亲和层析柱(HisTrapTMHP)纯化得到的纯化蛋白浓度达到0.4 mg/mL.免疫家兔制备抗体,用间接ELISA法检测免疫后家兔抗血清效价大于125 000,满足后续试验要求的效价值,为在蛋白水平上研究WHSP90基因功能提供了基础.     

大豆查尔酮还原酶基因GmCHR的克隆与植物表达载体构建

黄酮类化合物在植物中参与过滤紫外线、固氮和花色形成等过程,异黄酮对人体有抗氧化、预防乳腺癌等保健作用。查尔酮还原酶(chalcone reductase,CHR)是植物中参与黄酮类化合物代谢的重要酶。克隆大豆查尔酮还原酶基因并构建植物表达载体,有助于进一步研究其功能和异黄酮的代谢过程。采用RT-PCR方法,从栽培大豆(Gly-cine max)南农1138-2中,克隆得到了第14号染色体上的一个编码大豆查尔酮还原酶(chalcone reductase,CHR)的基因,命名为GmCHR。该基因含有948 bp长的编码区序列(Coding DNA Sequence,CDS),编码315个氨基酸。预测其蛋白质分子量为35.5 kDa,等电点为6.32。与其他豆科植物中的查尔酮还原酶相比,GmCHR蛋白序列与葛藤(Puerari-ae montana)CHR的相似性最高,达94%。组织表达分析表明,在自然生长条件下GmCHR在叶中的表达量最大;其次是种子;在花和茎中相同;在根中的表达量最小。利用Gateway方法获得植物过表达载体pMDC83-GmCHR,经检测表明过表达载体已成功转化农杆菌EHA105,为今后进一步了解GmCHR在大豆异黄酮代谢过程中的功能提供材料基础。     

水稻瘤矮病毒S9基因的生物信息学分析及原核表达蛋白的抗血清制备

以广东德庆市水稻瘤矮病的典型病株为材料,RT-PCR扩增并克隆了水稻瘤矮病毒(Rice gall dwarf virus,RGDV)的第9组分全长核苷酸序列。生物信息学分析表明,其基因结构特征与已报道的其他分离物基本一致。Pns9蛋白为细胞膜外蛋白,在植物呼肠孤病毒属内没有发现同源蛋白,与霍乱弧菌(Vibrio cholerae)的入口蛋白(portal protein)及姜氏军团菌(Legionella drancourtii LLAP12)的假设蛋白(hypothetical protein LDG_3259)分别有33%和24%的氨基酸序列相似性,功能尚待确定。将S9基因克隆至原核表达载体pET-28b(+)得到高效表达,融合蛋白经亲和层析纯化后,免疫新西兰大白兔制备抗血清。Western blot和ELISA分析表明制备的兔抗为特异抗血清,效价为1∶13 1072。     

水稻黑条矮缩病病毒外壳蛋白基因S10的原核表达、多克隆抗体制备及应用

用RT-PCR方法从感染水稻黑条矮缩病毒(rice black-streaked dwarf virus,RBSDV)水稻中克隆该病毒的外壳蛋白基因S10,然后将此外壳蛋白基因再亚克隆到原核表达载体PET-32a中构建成重组原核表达载体pET32a-CP。将重组表达载体转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),经IPTG诱导,Ni+ NTA亲和柱纯化获得分子量约为76kD含硫氧还蛋白的融合蛋白。以纯化的重组蛋白为抗原免疫兔子制备RBSDV外壳蛋白的多克隆抗体,并用制备的多克隆抗体建立了可靠、灵敏、特异的检测RBSDV的免疫捕获RT-PCR及Dot-blot ELISA方法,为该水稻病毒病的诊断提供技术支持。     

茶树无色花色素还原酶基因克隆及表达分析

采用EST测序技术和3′RACE技术,获得了茶树儿茶素代谢途径中的一个重要酶—无色花色素还原酶的全长基因,在GenBank的登录号为EF205148,序列全长1 301 bp,其中开放阅读框长1 029 bp,编码342个氨基酸,3′端有一个明显的多聚腺苷酸加尾信号,推测的蛋白分子量约为37.5 kD,理论等电点为5.81。将该基因重组到表达载体pET-32a(+)中进行原核表达,经IPTG诱导、SDS-PAGE检测,结果表明茶树无色花色素还原酶基因能在大肠杆菌BL21中表达,电泳检测到一条大约60 kD的外源蛋白,与预测的融合蛋白分子量相符。同源性分析表明茶树无色花色素还原酶基因编码的氨基酸序列与其他植物具有较高的相似性,例如与亚洲棉、草莓和葡萄的相似性分别为70%、68%、71%。利用半定量PCR技术检测总儿茶素含量不同的4个茶树品种中与类黄酮合成相关的黄酮醇合成酶(FLS)、二氢黄酮醇-4-还原酶(DFR)、无色花色素还原酶(LAR)、花色素合成酶(ANS)等7个基因的表达情况,结果表明DFR和LAR基因的表达量与茶树中总儿茶素含量呈一定的相关性,而其他基因则与其相关性不大。     

Mineral composition of some traditional Mexican teas

Teas of plant origin traditionally consumed by the Mountain Pima of Chihuahua, Mexico, were analyzed for mineral nutritional content. Fe, Cu, Zn, Ca, and Mg composition was determined for native teas made from shoots ofTagetes lucida, T. filifolia, Elytraria imbricata, andHolodiscus dumosus, and from root xylem ofCeanothus depressus andPhaseolus ritensis. Native uses of these teas are also described.     

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.     

Redox Status and Neuro Inflammation Indexes in Cerebellum and Motor Cortex of Wistar Rats Supplemented with Natural Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Astaxanthin: Fish Oil,Krill Oil,and Algal Biomass

Health authorities worldwide have consistently recommended the regular consumption of marine fishes and seafood to preserve memory, sustain cognitive functions, and prevent neurodegenerative processes in humans. Shrimp, crabs, lobster, and salmon are of particular interest in the human diet due to their substantial provision of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3/PUFAs) and the antioxidant carotenoid astaxanthin (ASTA). However, the optimal ratio between these nutraceuticals in natural sources is apparently the key factor for maximum protection against most neuro-motor disorders. Therefore, we aimed here to investigate the effects of a long-term supplementation with (n-3)/PUFAs-rich fish oil, ASTA-rich algal biomass, the combination of them, or krill oil (a natural combination of both nutrients) on baseline redox balance and neuro-inflammation indexes in cerebellum and motor cortex of Wistar rats. Significant changes in redox metabolism were only observed upon ASTA supplementation, which reinforce its antioxidant properties with a putative mitochondrial-centered action in rat brain. Krill oil imposed mild astrocyte activation in motor cortex of Wistar rats, although no redox or inflammatory index was concomitantly altered. In summary, there is no experimental evidence that krill oil, fish oil, oralgal biomass (minor variation), drastically change the baseline oxidative conditions or the neuro-inflammatory scenario in neuromotor-associated rat brain regions.     

Potential of dry fractionation of wheat bran for the development of food ingredients,part II: Electrostatic separation of particles

Wheat bran is a composite material made of several layers, such as pericarp, testa and aleurone. It could be fractionated into purified fractions, which might either be used as food ingredients, or serve as a starting material for extraction of bioactive compounds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of using electrostatic separation as a way to obtain purified fractions from wheat bran. Ultrafine-ground bran obtained either by cryogenic grinding or by grinding at ambient temperature was used as starting material. The ultrafine bran was then charged by tribo-electrification and introduced in a chamber containing two high voltage electrodes, where bran particles were separated depending on their acquired charge, allowing positively and negatively charged fractions to be collected separately. The particle size distribution, microstructure and biochemical composition of the obtained fractions were studied. The charge of the particles was influenced by their biochemical composition: particles rich in highly branched and cross-linked arabinoxylans (pericarp) were separated from particles rich in β-glucan, ferulic acid and para-coumaric acid (aleurone cell walls). The testa and the intracellular compounds from aleurone were not highly charged, neither positively nor negatively. The most positively charged fraction represented 34% of the initial bran, and contained 62% of the ferulic acid present in the initial bran. The yield of the separation process was good (5.4% loss), and could be further increased.     

Pharmacokinetics of Marine-Derived Drugs

Marine organisms represent an excellent source of innovative compounds that have the potential for the development of new drugs. The pharmacokinetics of marine drugs has attracted increasing interest in recent decades due to its effective and potential contribution to the selection of rational dosage recommendations and the optimal use of the therapeutic arsenal. In general, pharmacokinetics studies how drugs change after administration via the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). This review provides a summary of the pharmacokinetics studies of marine-derived active compounds, with a particular focus on their ADME. The pharmacokinetics of compounds derived from algae, crustaceans, sea cucumber, fungus, sea urchins, sponges, mollusks, tunicate, and bryozoan is discussed, and the pharmacokinetics data in human experiments are analyzed. In-depth characterization using pharmacokinetics is useful for obtaining information for understanding the molecular basis of pharmacological activity, for correct doses and treatment schemes selection, and for more effective drug application. Thus, an increase in pharmacokinetic research on marine-derived compounds is expected in the near future.     

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.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pulque</Emphasis>, An Alcoholic Drink from Rural Mexico,Contains Phytase. Its <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> Effects on Corn Tortilla

Pulque is made by fermenting the agave sap or aguamiel of Agave atrovirens with a whole array of microorganisms present in the environment including several lactic acid bacteria and yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ascorbic acid was determined in pulque and aguamiel, respectively. Phytase activity in lees, liquid and freeze-dried pulque was assayed by measuring the appearance of phosphate from phytate by a colorimetric method likewise phosphate from phytate present in fresh corn tortilla was measured after in vitro incubation with pulque. Iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium and selenium contents were measured in pulque and corn tortilla as well as in nixtamalized corn flour (NCF), the latter is used to make instant tortilla, since corn provides most of the energy as well as most of the phytate in the Mexican rural diet. Pulque showed phytase activity but much less ascorbic acid and iron than previously reported; additionally, phytase in pulque hydrolyzed most of phytate’s corn tortilla. Lees, which is mostly made of pulque’s microbiota, significantly accumulated iron and zinc but no selenium. NCF was fortified with iron by the manufacturers but poorly blended. There were significant differences on selenium content between tortillas samples, apparently some soils in central Mexico are selenium deficient. Moderate pulque intake appears to increase the bioavailability of iron and zinc bound by phytate in corn.     

La pourriture fongique des tubercules de pomme de terre en atmosphère contrôlée

Résumé Fusarium culmorum et, dans une moindre mesure,F. avenaceum, F. sambucinum, Colletotrichum coccodes etCylindrocarpon sp. ont été isolés de tubercules entreposés en atmosphère contr?lée (AC) et atteints de pourriture grave. Des expériences d'inoculation de tubercules avec 10 espèces ou variétés fongiques et conservation en AC à 8 et 10°C ont montré que: 1) les champignons non pathogènes en atmosphère normale (ex.:Cylindrocarpon sp.) le devenaient en AC, 2) ceux qui étaient faiblement pathogènes en atmosphère normale étaient nettement plus virulents en AC (ex.:F. culmorum), 3) les espèces ou variétés virulentes en conditions d'air normales (Fusarium sulphureum etPhoma exigua var.foveata) ne provoquaient pas de pourriture plus grave en AC et leur activité pouvait même être légérement freinée.

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Summary The extensive rotting of tubers which occurred during storage trials in controlled atmospheres has led to a mycological and pathological study of the rots. The most frequently isolated species wasFusarium culmorum althoughF. avenaceum, F. Sambucinum, Coletotrichum coccodes and aCylindrocarpon sp. were also present. Tubers of cvs Bintje and Ulla were inoculated with 19 isolates of 10 fungal species or varieties associated with rotting of stored tubers (Table 1). The tubers were incubated at 8 or 10°C in normal or controlled (2% O₂:1% CO₂, 2% O₂:6% CO₂, 2% O₂:12% CO₂, 6% O₂:6% CO₂) atmospheres and the extent of rotting was determined a month later (Tables 2 and 3 and Fig. 2). Species which were weakly virulent in a normal atmosphere (variousFusarium spp. andPhoma exigua var.exigua) were clearly more aggressive in the controlled atmosphere and this was especially evident in the case ofF. culmorum. Species ot pathogenic in a normal atmosphere under experimental conditions (Colletotrichum coccodes, Cylindrocarpon sp.,Phoma eupyrena) caused rotting in the controlled atmosphere. The two species which were virulent in a normal atmosphere (F. sulphureum andP. exigua var.foveata) were also virulent in the controlled atmosphere and in some cases the extent of rotting was even less. As a general rule, rotting caused by weakly virulent fungi was greater in both cultivars in the controlled than in a normal atmosphere.

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Zusammenfassung Eine starke F?ulnis von in Kontrotrollierter Atmosph?re gelagerten Kartoffelknollen veranlasste eine mykologische und pathologische Untersuchung. Der am h?ufigsten isolierte Pilz warFusarium culmorum. F. avenaceum, F. sambucinum, Colletotrichum coccodes undCylindrocarpon sp. wurden ebenfalls bestimmt. Neunzehn St?mme von 10 Pilzsorten oder-Arten welche bei Lagerf?ulnis vorkommen (Tab. 1) wurden auf Knollen der Sorten Bintje und Ulla inokuliert. Die Lagerung wurde bei 8 oder 10°C under Normalbedingungen oder kontrollierter Atmosph?re durchgeführt (2% O₂:1% CO₂, 2% O₂:6% CO₂, 2% O₂:12% CO₂, 6% O₂:6% CO₂). Der F?ulnisgrad (Abb. 1) wurde nach einem Monat bonitiert. Die Ergebnisse sind in den Tabellen 2 und 3 dargestellt und in der Abb. 2 illustriert. Unter in Normalbedingungen nur schwach virulente Arten (verschiedeneFusarien undPhoma exigua var. exigua) waren deutlich aktiver in kontrollierter Atmosph?re. Dies was besonders der Fall fürF. culmorum. Pilze, die im Versuch unter Normalbedingungen nicht pathogen waren (Colletotrichum coccodes, Cylindrocarpon sp., Phoma eupyrena), haben unter kontrollierter Atmosph?re Sch?den verursacht. Hingegen werden die beiden unter Normalbedingungen sehr pathogenen Arten (F. sulphureum undP., exigua var.foveata), durch kontrollierte Atmosph?re wenig beeinflusst. Es wurde sogar in einigen F?llen eine gewisse Verringerung des F?ulnisbefalls beobachtet. Ganz allgemein haben die getesteten kontrollierten Bedingungen die Entwicklung der Pilzf?ulnis an beiden Kartoffelsorten gef?rdert, speziell durch Pilzarten, welche unter Normal-bedingungen wenig Sch?den verursachen.

     

Cytoplasmic substitution inSolanum. II. Tuber characteristics of reciprocal backcross progeny

Summary Recurrent backcrosses (BC) were used to introduce nuclear factors ofS. tuberosum L. ssp.tuberosum into the cytoplasm of Andean potatoesS. tuberosum ssp.andigena (Juz. and Buk.) Hawkes andS. phureja Juz. and Buk. Each generation BC was produced in reciprocal directions to test the effect of cytoplasmic substitution on yield. This report analyses tuber number, tuber weight, and tuber length of BC₂ and BC₃ substitution into ssp.andigena cytoplasm and BC₂ and BC₂ substitutions intoS. phureja cytoplasm. Direction of cross had no consistent significant effect on yield components of ssp.andigena substitution lines. InS. phureja reciprocal progenies direction of cross was responsible for significant differences of some reciprocal sets. When there were significant differences the higher yield usually occurred when ssp.tuberosum was the pistillate parent, but in some progenies when ssp.tuberosum was the pistillate parent the yield was significantly lower than in the reciprocals. It is suggested that differences between reciprocals resulted from chromosomally encoded gene action, resulting from maternal and/or paternal effects, rather than cytoplasmic factors. Authorized for publication as paper No. 7494 in the Journal Series of The Pennsylvania Agriculture Experiment Station.