Expression of an extended HMW subunit in transgenic wheat and the effect on dough mixing properties

Wheat line L88-31 was transformed with a gene encoding an extended form of subunit 1Dx5 to study the relationship between subunit size and the effect on dough mixing properties. Four transgenic lines were recovered, one of which expressed a truncated form of the protein with mobility between those of the wild type and extended subunits. Comparison of the Mixograph profiles and gluten protein compositions with those of the control lines and a line expressing the wild type subunit 1Dx5 transgene showed that two of the transgenic lines had poor mixing properties and that this was associated with co-suppression of HMW subunit gene expression. The other two transgenic lines had improved mixing properties (measured as increased mixing time) and this was associated with increased proportions of large glutenin polymers. None of the transgenic lines expressing the extended form of the 1Dx5 subunit showed the ‘overstrong’ mixing properties exhibited by transgenic lines expressing the wild type 1Dx5 transgene.     

3种农药的微核效应研究

运用蚕豆根尖微核技术研究3种农药(甲胺磷、甲基硫菌灵和盐酸吗啉胍)在不同浓度下的诱变效应。结果表明,3种农药诱发蚕豆根尖细胞微核率与对照组相比均有不同程度的上升(P<0.05或P<0.01),农药浓度与微核率呈剂量-效应关系,盐酸吗啉胍的诱变效应大于其他2种农药。     

小黑麦与黑麦花序结构和籽粒特性比较

植物的花序结构及其形态特征是影响种子生产性能的重要因素。对于禾本科植物而言,其花序大小、小穗数、小花数及小花的外稃、内稃和芒的性状特征直接影响种子形成和产量。本研究通过测定小黑麦品系C2、C35和黑麦品系C13、C33的花序结构特征,得到以下结果:小黑麦花序[(14.30±0.52) cm×(1.24±0.09) cm]明显大于黑麦[(13.20±0.35) cm×(0.82±0.02) cm],小黑麦花序长而粗,黑麦花序短而细;小黑麦花序的小穗数[(21.35±1.47)个]少于黑麦[(30.20±0.79)个];小黑麦每个小穗的小花数较多,为3~4朵,黑麦的小花数趋于稳定,每个小穗有2朵小花。从花序中部小穗的小花结构看,小黑麦下位护颖长[(1.27±0.11) cm]和宽[(0.26±0.03) cm]、上位护颖长[(1.30±0.09) cm]和宽[(0.23±0.04) cm]均显著大于黑麦下位护颖长[(1.04±0.05) cm]和宽[(0.08±0.01) cm]、上位护颖长[(0.94±0.10) cm]和宽[(0.06±0.01) cm];小黑麦中部小穗第1小花的外稃宽[(0.32±0.03) cm]、外稃高[(0.24±0.03) cm]和芒长[(8.35±0.51) cm]、第2小花的外稃宽[(0.35±0.04) cm]、外稃高[(0.25±0.05) cm]和芒长[(8.37±1.19) cm]极显著大于黑麦相应值[(0.26±0.01),(0.15±0.01),(5.50±0.19),(0.25±0.01),(0.17±0.01)和(5.18±0.23) cm];第1和第2小花的外稃长[(1.35±0.06),(1.37±0.06) cm]和内稃长[(0.84±0.04),(1.41±0.06) cm]均小于黑麦的外稃长[(1.49±0.05),(1.47±0.05) cm]和内稃长[(1.45±0.05),(1.47±0.04) cm]。小黑麦的穗粒数[(52.50±1.80)粒]显著低于黑麦[(58.50±2.50)粒] (P<0.05),但其穗粒重[(2.08±0.04) g]、粒重[(0.04±0.00) g]和籽粒宽[(3.04±0.32) mm]均极显著高于黑麦 (P<0.01),每个花序的籽粒不仅体积大,而且质量较重,其籽粒的生产性能高于黑麦。小黑麦籽粒呈椭圆形或长卵圆形,浅黄色,表皮皱缩,饱满度差;黑麦籽粒呈窄纺锤形,青灰色,表皮光滑,籽粒饱满。小黑麦和黑麦花序结构与籽粒性状的Pearson相关分析表明,小黑麦花序宽和花序基部小穗数与籽粒长显著正相关(P<0.05),花序长与籽粒宽极显著正相关(P<0.01),花序中部小穗的下、上位护颖宽分别与穗粒重和穗粒数极显著正相关(P<0.01);黑麦花序中部小穗第2小花的内稃长与籽粒长显著正相关(P<0.05),外稃高与穗粒数极显著负相关(P<0.01)。研究小黑麦和黑麦的花序结构和籽粒特征,对正确区分二者和了解其籽粒的生产性能具有重要意义,同时有利于小黑麦的示范推广。     

pH对洛美沙星与BSA之间结合常数的影响

[目的]研究洛美沙星与血清白蛋白之间的作用,了解药物分子在体内的运输和分布情况。[方法]采用毛细管区带电泳法,通过测定在不同pH值、不同牛血清白蛋白浓度的缓冲溶液条件下药物迁移时间的变化,计算出洛美沙星与牛血清白蛋白相互作用的结合常数（Kb）。[结果]pH分别为6.8,7.4和8.0时,洛美沙星与BSA之间的Kb分别为10.185×1045、.319×1045、.356×104 L/mol。[结论]环境pH对洛美沙星与BSA之间的相互作用有强烈影响,当pH处在6.8～7.4之间时,Kb对pH尤为敏感。     

Probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria or synthetic TLR2 agonist boost the growth of chicken embryo intestinal organoids in cultures comprising epithelial cells and myofibroblasts

The intestinal epithelial cells reside in close proximity to myofibroblasts and microbiota, which are supposed to have an impact on intestinal stem cells fate and to influence processes of tissue maturation and regeneration. Mechanism underlying these phenomena and their diversity among vertebrates can be studied in 3D organoid cultures. We investigated the growth of chicken embryo intestinal epithelial organoids in Matrigel with and without Toll-like receptors (TLRs) stimulation. The organoid cultures contained also some myofibroblasts with potential to promote intestinal stem cell survival. Organoid cells, expressing TLR4, TLR2 type 1 and TLR2 type 2 were incubated with their agonists (lipopolysaccharide – LPS and Pam3CSK4) or co-cultured with Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria (LA-5). Pam3CSK4 and LA-5 promoted organoid growth, which was demonstrated by comparing the morphological parameters (mean number and area of organoids). The profile of prostaglandins (PG), known to promote intestinal regeneration, in supernatants from organoid and fibroblast cultures were evaluated. Both PGE₂ and PGD₂ were detected. As compared to unstimulated controls, supernatants from the Pam3CSK4-stimulated organoids contained twice as much of PGE₂ and PGD₂. The changes in production of prostaglandins and the support of epithelial cell growth by myofibroblasts are factors potentially responsible for stimulatory effect of TLR2 activation.     

Effects of germination and kilning on the phenolic compounds and nutritional properties of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus)

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus) are nutritious pseudocereals that originate from the Andean region. The aim of this research was to study the effect of germination and the subsequent kilning on the phenolic compounds and proximate composition in selected Peruvian varieties of quinoa (“Chullpi”) and kiwicha (“Oscar Blanco”). The germination process was carried out for 24, 48 and 72 h at 22 °C, and the kilning was performed with samples germinated for 72 h by drying the seeds at 90 °C for 5 min. Both processes increased the protein content of the samples. However, lipid content was reduced during germination. On the other hand, germination and kilning clearly increased the concentration of total phenolic compounds in both quinoa and kiwicha. Germination for 72 h either with or without kilning process resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the total content of phenolics compared to untreated materials, which was especially due to coumaric acid and a kaempferol tri-glycoside in quinoa and caffeoylquinic acid in kiwicha. Based on the results, germination and kilning may improve the nutritional quality of the Andean grains, encouraging the usage of the processed grains as ingredients in functional products for people with special gluten-free or vegetarian diets.     

Smith degradation,an efficient method for the preparation of cycloastragenol from astragaloside IV

Cycloastragenol (CA) is the genuine sapogenin of astragaloside IV (ASI). This study focuses on the preparation of CA from ASI. Five hydrolysis methods were compared including H₂SO₄ hydrolysis, HCl hydrolysis, two-phase acid hydrolysis, mild acid hydrolysis, and Smith degradation. Seven hydrolysis products were purified, and five of them were identified as new compounds. The results indicated that Smith degradation was the most effective approach to prepare CA. In contrast, mild acid hydrolysis produced CA at a low yield, accompanied with the artificial sapogenin astragenol. The other three acid hydrolysis methods mainly produced astragenol. Furthermore, the reaction conditions for Smith degradation were optimized as follows: ASI was dissolved in 60% MeOH–H₂O solution, oxidized with 5 equiv. NaIO₄ for 12 h, followed by reduction with 3 equiv. NaBH₄ for 4 h, and finally acidified with 1 M H₂SO₄ at pH 2 for 24 h. Under the optimal conditions, CA could be prepared from ASI at a yield of 84.4%.     

Fungal and bacterial N2O production regulated by soil amendments of simple and complex substrates

Fungal N₂O production results from a respiratory denitrification that reduces NO₃⁻/NO₂⁻ in response to the oxidation of an electron donor, often organic C. Despite similar heterotrophic nature, fungal denitrifiers may differ from bacterial ones in exploiting diverse resources. We hypothesized that complex C compounds and substances could favor the growth of fungi over bacteria, and thereby leading to fungal dominance for soil N₂O emissions. Effects of substrate quality on fungal and bacterial N₂O production were, therefore, examined in a 44-d incubation after soils were amended with four different substrates, i.e., glucose, cellulose, winter pea, and switchgrass at 2 mg C g⁻¹ soil. During periodic measurements of soil N₂O fluxes at 80% soil water-filled pore space and with the supply of KNO₃, substrate treatments were further subjected to four antibiotic treatments, i.e., no antibiotics or soil addition of streptomycin, cycloheximide or both so that fungal and bacterial N₂O production could be separated. Up to d 8 when antibiotic inhibition on substrate-induced microbial activity and/or growth was still detectable, bacterial N₂O production was generally greater in glucose- than in cellulose-amended soils and also in winter pea- than in switchgrass-amended soils. In contrast, fungal N₂O production was more enhanced in soils amended with cellulose than with glucose. Therefore, fungal-to-bacterial contribution ratios were greater in complex than in simple C substrates. These ratios were positively correlated with fungal-to-bacterial activity ratios, i.e., CO₂ production ratios, suggesting that substrate-associated fungal or bacterial preferential activity and/or growth might be the cause. Considering substrate depletion over time and thereby becoming limited for microbial N₂O production, measurements of soil N₂O fluxes were also carried out with additional supply of glucose, irrespective of different substrate treatments. This measurement condition might lead to potentially high rates of fungal and bacterial N₂O production. As expected, bacterial N₂O production was greater with added glucose than with added cellulose on d 4 and d 8. However, this pattern was broken on d 28, with bacterial N₂O production lower with added glucose than with added cellulose. In contrast, plant residue impacts on soil N₂O fluxes were consistent over 44-d, with greater bacterial contribution, lower fungal contribution, and thus lower fungal-to-bacterial contribution ratios in winter pea- than in switchgrass-amended soils. Real-time PCR analysis also demonstrated that the ratios of 16S rDNA to ITS and the copy numbers of bacterial denitrifying genes were greater in winter pea- than in switchgrass-amended soils. Despite some inconsistency found on the impacts of cellulose versus glucose on fungal and bacterial leading roles for N₂O production, the results generally supported the working hypothesis that complex substrates promoted fungal dominance for soil N₂O emissions.