耐低温耐低氧萌发野败不育系赣野A的选育

赣野A是江西省农科院水稻研究所将东乡野生稻的耐冷性和耐低氧萌发能力导入抗稻瘟病保持系赣香B后再与赣香A测交和回交育成的野败型三系籼稻不育系。该不育系败育彻底,异交结实率高,配合力较强,具有较强的耐冷性和耐低氧萌发能力,在直播杂交稻育种中应用前景广阔。2019年通过了江西省品种审定。     

超表达OsPR1A增强了Xa21介导的水稻对白叶枯病的抗性反应

【背景】前期研究发现,水稻病程相关蛋白质OsPR1A的表达受上游抗病基因Xa21调控,接菌后早期启动Xa21介导的OsPR1A较高水平表达对水稻抵抗白叶枯病菌至关重要。同时OsPR1A也受到水稻白叶枯病菌（Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae,Xoo）的诱导表达。对于OsPR1A的研究绝大部分是作为抗性反应发生的标志基因佐证其他基因或途径在抗性中的作用,缺乏直接的证据证实OsPR1A本身的生物学功能。【目的】通过获得OsPR1a-OX超表达转基因植株,调查其表型及农艺性状,并明确OsPR1A蛋白质表达与抗性的关系,为鉴定OsPR1A功能提供依据。【方法】通过农杆菌介导法,将构建的OsPR1a-OX转化载体转入到水稻受体4021中,利用PCR和免疫印迹（western blot,WB）技术分别在基因水平和蛋白质水平上筛选并鉴定OsPR1A超表达阳性纯合株系。在成熟期,调查OsPR1A超表达转基因植株的表型及农艺性状（株高、穗长、分蘖数、结实率和籽粒大小等）。在31℃条件下,将生长2周的水稻幼苗TP309、4021和OsPR1A超表达转基因植株接种水稻白叶枯病菌,并在接菌0、2、4、6、8、10和12 d时测量病斑长度。在接菌0、4和6 d时,收集TP309、4021和OsPR1A超表达转基因植株的水稻叶片,提取蛋白质,利用WB技术检测OsPR1A的表达特征。【结果】构建了OsPR1a-OX转化载体,并转入到受体4021中,筛选并鉴定到2个OsPR1A超表达转基因纯合株系（#704和#709）。调查了OsPR1A超表达转基因植株在成熟期的表型及农艺性状,与对照4021相比,#704和#709的株高较矮、穗长较短、分蘖数减少、结实率降低,但籽粒稍大,可能与结实率低有关。在31℃条件下,OsPR1A超表达转基因植株的病斑长度与对照4021相比明显缩短,结果具有显著性差异（P<0.05）。在接菌0、4和6 d的材料中,超表达转基因植株#704和#709中OsPR1A始终有较高水平的表达丰度,从而提高了对白叶枯病菌的抗性。【结论】采用农杆菌介导法,获得OsPR1A超表达转基因植株;超表达OsPR1A影响到水稻的正常发育过程;超表达OsPR1A后增强了Xa21介导的水稻对白叶枯病的抗性。     

马铃薯AP2/ERF转录因子的克隆及植物表达载体构建

AP2/ERF基因家族转录因子普遍存在于植物中,参与植物体内的各种生物学过程,包括植物的生长发育、生物和非生物胁迫响应等。前期转录组测序的结果发现马铃薯‘加湘1号’一个AP2/ERF家族基因(PGSC0003DMG400012154)在接种晚疫病菌(Phytophthora infestans)24 h后被显著激活。从接种P.infestans 24 h的‘加湘1号’的总RNA中通过RT-PCR获得了该基因CDS序列为885 bp,BLAST分析显示该基因编码一个295个氨基酸残基的蛋白,并且含有1个AP2/ERF结构域,是AP2/ERF转录因子家族中的ERF亚家族的一员。本研究将该基因与XcmⅠ酶切的表达载体pCXSN连接,转化大肠杆菌,通过测序挑选插入正确克隆酶切验证,并成功转化农杆菌。本研究结果为进一步研究该基因的功能提供了帮助。     

Notch1 promotes renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in renal tissues of diabetic mice by inhibiting autophagy through Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

AIM: To observe the changes of Notch1 expression and autophagy in the renal tissues of diabetic mice, and to explore the regulatory effect of Notch1 on tubulointerstitial fibrosis by inhibiting autophagy in diabetic nephro-pathy. METHODS: The mice were randomly divided into normal control group (db/m mice) and diabetes group (db/db mice), with 8 rats in each group. After 12 weeks of feeding, the mice were sacrificed and the corresponding biochemical indexes were measured. The protein expression of Notch1 in the renal tubular epithelial cells was observed by immunohistochemical staining. The protein levels of Notch1, PTEN, p-Akt (Thr308), Akt, p-mTOR (Ser2448), mTOR, LC3, P62, collagen type Ⅰ (Col-Ⅰ) and collagen type Ⅲ (Col-Ⅲ) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the db/m mice, the blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, serum creatinine, triglyceride and total cholesterol were increased in the db/db mice (P<0.01). Renal tubular epithelial cell vacuolar degeneration, renal tubular expansion and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration in db/db mouse renal tissues with HE staining were observed. The images of Masson staining showed collagenous fiber-like substance deposition in the glomerular capillaries and renal interstitium, and disarrangement of tubular structure in the renal tissues of db/db mice. The protein expression levels of PTEN and LC3-Ⅱ were decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), while the protein levels of Notch1, P62, p-mTOR (Ser2448), p-Akt (Thr308), Col-I and Col-III were increased in the db/db mice as compared with the db/m mice (P<0.01). However, no significant change of total mTOR and Akt proteins between the 2 groups was found. CONCLUSION: Notch1 protein expression was increased, PTEN expression was significantly reduced, Akt/mTOR pathway was activated, autophagy was inhibited, and fibrosis was aggravated in the renal tissues of the diabetic mice.     

Protective efficacy of an H5/H7 trivalent inactivated vaccine produced from Re-11, Re-12, and H7-Re2 strains against challenge with different H5 and H7 viruses in chickens

We developed an H5/H7 trivalent inactivated vaccine by using Re-11, Re-12, and H7-Re2 vaccine seed viruses, which were generated by reverse genetics and derived their HA genes from A/duck/Guizhou/S4184/2017(H5 N6)(DK/GZ/S4184/17)(a clade 2.3.4.4 d virus), A/chicken/Liaoning/SD007/2017(H5 N1)(CK/LN/SD007/17)(a clade 2.3.2.1 d virus), and A/chicken/Guangxi/SD098/2017(H7 N9)(CK/GX/SD098/17), respectively. The protective efficacy of this novel vaccine and that of the recently used H5/H7 bivalent inactivated vaccine against different H5 and H7 N9 viruses was evaluated in chickens. We found that the H5/H7 bivalent vaccine provided solid protection against the H7 N9 virus CK/GX/SD098/17, but only 50–60% protection against different H5 viruses. In contrast, the novel H5/H7 trivalent vaccine provided complete protection against the H5 and H7 viruses tested. Our study underscores the importance of timely updating of vaccines for avian influenza control.     

Zerumbone attenuates MPP+-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by inhibition of oxidative stress

AIM: To investigate the role of zerumbone (ZER) in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced cytotoxicity of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. METHODS: Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and the protective effect of ZER against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxicity was measured by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression of Parkinson disease protein 7 (PARK7) was knocked-down by using PARK7-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The protein levels of PARK7, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: MMP⁺ remarkably reduced the cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The SH-SY5Y cell injury model was established by treatment with MPP⁺ at 600 μmol/L for 24 h. ZER up-regulated the protein levels of PARK7 and Nrf2 (P<0.05), alleviated apoptosis (P<0.05), and reduced ROS production (P<0.05) in the SH-SY5Y cell injury model. Meanwhile, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) had the similar functions. Moreover, significant reductions in the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P<0.05), and obvious increases in apoptosis (P<0.05) and ROS level (P<0.05) were demonstrated in PARK7-knockdown cells. CONCLUSION: ZER protects SH-SY5Y cells against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxi-city, which may be related to activation of PARK7/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and subsequent attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis.     

Tanshinone ⅡA induces apoptosis via JNK signaling pathway in human osteosarcoma HOS cells

AIM: To explore the effect of tanshinone ⅡA on human osteosarcoma HOS cells and the underlying mechanism.METHODS: The cell viability and the appropriate dose of tanshinone ⅡA were determined by CCK-8 assay. Colony formation assay and Transwell assay were used to investigate the proliferation and migration abilities of the HOS cells treated with tanshinone ⅡA. The apoptosis of the HOS cells was monitored by Hoechst 33258 staining, transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry. The protein levels of apoptosis-related molecules and JNK signaling-associated proteins were determined by Western blot. Meanwhile, a JNK inhibitor was added for confirming the relationship between the pathway and apoptosis mentioned above.RESULTS: Tanshinone ⅡA inhibited both HOS cell proliferation and migration in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Exposure of the HOS cells to tanshinone ⅡA resulted in the activation of apoptosis. Tanshinone ⅡA treatment increased the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3, Bax and JNK signaling-associated proteins, and decreased the protein level of Bcl-2, which were reversed by JNK inhibitor SP600125. Moreover, the result of CCK-8 assay revealed that tanshinone ⅡA-induced cell death was alleviated by JNK inhibitor.CONCLUSION: Tanshinone ⅡA induces cell growth inhibition and the activation of apoptosis via JNK signaling pathway in human osteosarcoma HOS cells.     

The effects of various plant protection methods on the development of Zymoseptoria tritici and Cephalosporium gramineum,grain yield and protein profile

Septoria leaf blotch progresses rapidly, leading to the development of Zymoseptoria titici forms resistant to fungicides. Cephalosporium stripe is caused by Cephalosporium gramineum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of selected pesticides in limiting the symptoms of both diseases on winter wheat leaves, and to determine their influence on grain yield and the content and composition of protein fractions in wheat kernels. Propiconazoles were most effective in inhibiting the development of Septoria leaf blotch (symptoms were reduced from 54.7% to 78.6%). Strobilurins were less effective due to the presence of isolates with the G143A mutation. Symptoms of Cephalosporium stripe were rarely observed, and protective treatments did not reduce their severity. The highest content of grain protein (14.81%) was found in plants most intensely protected with the fungicides containing fenpropimorph, pyraclostrobin and epoxiconazole. The principal component analysis revealed that the plant protection method influenced the grain protein profile. The accumulation of HMW glutenins and α/β gliadins was mutually interrelated and higher in high-input treatments; control grain was characterized by close relationships between ω-gliadins, LMW glutenins, albumins and globulins, whereas low-input treatments influenced mostly γ-gliadins.