Identification of ALS inhibitor‐resistant Amaranthus biotypes using polymerase chain reaction amplification of specific alleles

Summary Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of specific alleles (PASA) was adapted as a molecular marker‐based method for the rapid detection of point mutations in Amaranthus retroflexus and Amaranthus rudis leading to ALS inhibitor resistance. Two pairs of primers were designed for the specific amplification of alleles of the ALS gene of susceptible and resistant biotypes. The allele‐specific primer matched the desired allele, but mismatched the different allele at its 3′ end. Differentiation was carried out by comparison of the amplified DNA fragments in gel electrophoresis after PASA‐PCR. In A. rudis, differentiation was possible with one PCR and genomic DNA as probe. A ‘nested’ PCR was necessary for the differentiation of sensitive and resistant A. retroflexus. PASA is useful for the identification of resistant weed biotypes and also as a monitoring tool to map resistance occurrence and distribution. Advantages include the fast and clear separation of those plants with and without mutations at an early stage of development, its easy and consistent performance and quick results compared with existing resistance detection tests. These advantages, when combined with management strategies, enable further activities to reduce herbicide resistance.     

Role of polymerase β in DNA metabolism and genomic instability

The major role of DNA polymerase β was thought to be limited in its involvement in short patch base excision repair by removing 5’-deoxyribose phosphate and base insertion. However, the recent researches indicate that polymerase β might take part in a wide spectrum of DNA metabolism reactions, including long patch base excision repair, DNA replication, recombination, meiosis and transleisional DNA synthesis. Because of its wide and important cellular function, an inappropriate intracellular polymerase β level might be associated with genomic instability. Down-regulation or mutation of polymerase β is mutagenic due to deficient in DNA repair, while overexpression of this error-prone β polymerase might perturb the normal function of other accurate polymerases and cause genomic instability as well.     

High efficient expression of human endostatin in E.coli and its antiangiogensis activity

AIM: To examine the expression of human endostatin in E.coli, produce its fusion protein antibody and observe its biological activity. METHODS: Endostatin gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction,recombined with plasmid vector pGEX-2T and induced expression with IPTG.The protein activity was tested by endothelial cell proliferation inhibitory assay.Inclusion body crudely purified was used to generate polyclonal antibody to detect its expression at mouse's liver and kidney etc. RESULTS: The protein expressed was 20kD after digestion by thrombin,it appeared the anti-angiogenesis activity and Western blotting indicated the expression of endostatin in liver and kidney of mouse. CONCLUSION: The successful expression of human endostatin and the preparation of polycolonal antibody indicated its potential application in anti-angiogenesis therapy and diagnosis tumors.     

Effects of angiotensin II-induced hypertension chemotherapy on the activity of interleukin-1β converting enzyme in transplanted intracerebral rat gliomas

AIM: To investigate the activity of interleukin-1β converting enzyme in transplanted intracerebral rat gliomas under angiotensin II-induced hypertension chemotherapy. METHODS: The brain tumor model was produced in Wistar rats by stereotaxic inoculation of C6 glioma cells (1×10¹² /L). Tumor-bearing rats were treated with carmustine, teniposide and lisplatin (chemotherapy) during angiotensin II-induced hypertension. Then, the survival time of tumor-bearing rats, tumor blood flow, the concentration of drug, volume of gliomas and the activity of interleukin-1β converting enzyme in glioma were examined.RESULTS: The survival time of tumor-bearing rats was significantly longer in chemotherapy with angiotensin II-induced hypertension group than that of chemotherapy alone. In addition, regional tumor blood flow, the concentration of chemotherapeutic drug and the activity of interleukin -1β converting enzyme in transplanted rat gliomas were increased, while the volume of gliomas was decreased in hypertention chemotherapy group compared with chemotherapy alone. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy with angiotensin II-induced hypertension has a enhancing effect on chemotherapy for improving the drug delivery to tumor tissue by a increased tumor blood flow and enhancing activity of interleukin -1β converting enzyme.     

Functional Analysis of ABC Transporter Genes From Botrytis cinerea Identifies BcatrB as a Transporter of Eugenol

The role of multiple ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter genes from the plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea in protection against natural fungitoxic compounds was studied by expression analysis and phenotyping of gene-replacement mutants. The expression of 11 ABC (BcatrA–BcatrK) and three MFS genes (Bcmfs1, Bcmfs2 and Bcmfs4) was studied. All genes showed a low basal level of expression, but were differentially induced by treatment with cycloheximide and the plant defence compounds camptothecin, eugenol, psoralen, resveratrol and rishitin. The latter compounds induced expression of BcatrB at a high level. Eugenol was more toxic to BcatrB gene-replacement mutants than to the control isolates. Eugenol also caused an instantaneous increase in mycelial accumulation of the fungicide fludioxonil, a known substrate of BcatrB. However, there was no difference in virulence between the wild-type and BcatrB gene-replacement mutants on Ocimum basilicum, a plant known to contain eugenol. The results indicate that BcatrB is a transporter of lipophilic compounds, such as eugenol, but its role in virulence remains uncertain.     

甲胺磷对褐飞虱酯酶时序变化的影响

褐飞虱经甲胺磷处理后 ,酯酶活性首先表现为受到抑制 ,然后上升 ,到达最大值后再下降并停留在一个相对对照较高的水平。在 1次处理的基础上 ,第 3天和第 7天再次处理 ,酯酶的变化进程与 1次处理相同 ,但最后的停留水平均高于 1次处理 ,分别为 1次处理的 1.35倍和 1.63倍左右。敏感性测定同样表明再次处理可以导致敏感性进一步下降 ,第 3天和第 7天再次处理 ,敏感性分别比 1次处理下降了0.35 1、0.696倍。     

NaCl胁迫下枸杞愈伤组织活性氧产生与质膜H+—ATPase活性的关系

以枸杞愈伤组织为材料,研究了盐胁迫对活性氧伤害和质膜H -ATPase活性的影响。结果表明,NaCl浓度为100mmol/L时超氧阴离子(O2-·)和过氧化氢(H2O2)含量上升,质膜H -ATPase活性先升后降;质膜相对透性与丙二醛(MDA)含量呈显著正相关;超氧阴离子(O2-·)和过氧化氢(H2O2)含量与质膜H -ATPase活性在重度胁迫下呈显著负相关,说明盐胁迫下活性氧积累可能是加速伤害质膜功能的主要原因之一。     

黄花蒿粗提物对几种害虫拒食性的初步研究

以黄花镐为原料进行浸提，经生物活性测定，结果表明黄花蒿Artenisia annua L.粗提物对供试的6种害虫均具有拒食性。其中对黑翅土白蚁Odontotermes formosanus Shiraki、赤拟谷盗Thibolium castaneum Herbst、谷蠹Rhizopertha dominica Fabricius拒食性极强，对棉蚜Aphis gossypii Glover、棉红蜘蛛Tetranychus urticae Koch及豇豆荚螟Etiella zinckenella Treitschke 也具有较强的巨食性。使用黄花蒿粗提物时，以稀释500倍和800倍效果最好，处理与对照之间有极显著差异。     

12-(取代苯氧异丁酰氧亚氨基)-1,15-十五内酯的合成及除草活性

通过取代苯氧异丁酸与12-(羟基亚氨基)十五内酯的反应,合成了取代苯氧异丁酰氧亚氨基十五内酯,并测定了其对苋菜的除草活性。所有化合物均经过1H NMR、13C NMR和元素分析确证。初步的生物活性测定结果表明,目标化合物 Ⅲa~Ⅲd 的EC50值分别为34.570、46.492、55.385、50.114 mg/L,其活性比对照药剂2,4-D(117.325 mg/L)高,而比苯磺隆(22.381 mg/L)低。     

南欧丹参花提取物杀菌活性初步研究

采用系统溶剂对南欧丹参Salvia sclarea L.花进行提取,以孢子萌发试验法、抑制菌丝生长速率法和盆栽试验系统测定了粗提物对植物病原真菌的生物活性。结果表明,石油醚为提取南欧丹参花活性成分的最佳溶剂。石油醚提取物在离体条件下能显著抑制多种供试真菌菌丝的生长,其对番茄灰霉病菌Botrytis cinerea的EC50值为77.20 μg/mL;对盆栽小麦白粉病Erysiphe graminis的防护效果为94.94%,治疗效果为84.21%。