可可毛色二孢全基因组分泌蛋白的预测及分析

【目的】可可毛色二孢（Lasiodiplodia theobromae）是一种世界性分布的重要植物病原真菌,可引起严重的葡萄溃疡病（Botryosphaeria dieback）,影响果木品质并造成巨大的经济损失。本研究预测并分析可可毛色二孢基因组范围内的分泌蛋白,并明确其基本特征,为该病菌分泌蛋白致病机理的研究打下基础。【方法】依据已公布的可可毛色二孢全基因组序列,利用信号肽预测软件SignalP v5.0、跨膜结构分析软件TMHMM v2.0、细胞器定位分析软件ProtComp v9.0、GPI锚定预测软件big-PI Fungal Predictor和亚细胞器定位分析软件TargetP v2.0生物信息学软件对该菌中的典型分泌蛋白进行筛选。对分泌蛋白N端信号肽的长度、氨基酸使用频率及其切割位点进行统计分析。依据蛋白序列的同源性,应用BLASTP程序对分泌组蛋白进行功能注释分析,预测其生物学功能。采用蔗糖酶缺陷的酵母分泌系统,对所选分泌蛋白的信号肽进行活性检测。利用qRT-PCR方法检测所选分泌蛋白基因在可可毛色二孢侵染葡萄中的表达情况。【结果】在可可毛色二孢全基因组编码蛋白中共筛选获得552个潜在的具有典型信号肽的分泌蛋白,占全基因组预测蛋白总数的4.3%,其编码蛋白长度集中于101—400 aa。信号肽统计分析表明,其信号肽长度以18—20 aa的序列最为集中,信号肽长度为20 aa的蛋白数量最多。信号肽中使用频率最高的氨基酸为丙氨酸;非极性、疏水的氨基酸使用频率最高,占氨基酸总数的60.2%。其信号肽的-3至-1位置上的氨基酸相对保守,切割位点属于A-X-A类型,可被Sp I型信号肽酶识别并切割。336个分泌蛋白具有功能注释,其功能较多集中于细胞壁降解有关的酶类以及致病相关蛋白,并且这些蛋白在分子量、等电点、脂肪族氨基酸指数等方面均存在差异。通过蔗糖酶缺陷的酵母分泌系统证实,挑选的9个分泌蛋白信号肽均具有分泌活性。qRT-PCR检测结果表明,所选分泌蛋白基因在该病菌侵染初期的表达发生变化。【结论】利用生物信息学分析技术从可可毛色二孢全基因组中共预测获得552个经典分泌蛋白。其信号肽氨基酸长度分布广泛,氨基酸组成中非极性、疏水的氨基酸使用频率最高。功能注释主要集中在细胞壁组分降解相关的酶类、致病侵染相关的坏死诱导相关蛋白以及几丁质结合蛋白等。     

茶树蛋白激酶基因CsCIPK的克隆与表达特性分析

以茶树品种‘龙井43’作为材料,利用RT-PCR方法,从茶树的cDNA中克隆得到1个编码蛋白激酶的基因,命名为CsCIPK。序列分析表明,CsCIPK开放阅读框长度为1 341 bp,编码446个氨基酸,蛋白质分子量为414234。蛋白功能域预测和多重对比显示,CsCIPK蛋白含有1个保守的N端激酶结构域和1个相对不保守的C端调节结构域,即丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶结构域和NAF结构域。理化性质、亲/疏水性、无序化分析显示,CsCIPK属于疏水性蛋白,理论等电点为7.04,有4段无序化区域,其二级结构分析显示主要由α螺旋、不规则卷曲组成。通过实时荧光定量PCR对‘龙井43’和‘安吉白茶’中的CsCIPK表达特性进行分析。结果显示‘龙井43’中CsCIPK的相对表达量在高温、干旱及盐处理4 h、低温处理24 h时达到最高。‘安吉白茶’中CsCIPK的相对表达量在高温及盐处理4 h、低温及干旱处理1h时达到最高。CsCIPK在‘龙井43’的根中,‘安吉白茶’茎中表达量最高。不同浓度的GA和IBA处理‘龙井43’茶苗,结果显示0.2 mmol·L-1 GA处理后,CsCIPK表达量先升高后下降,6 d时处理组为对照组的62倍;0.6 mmol·L-1 IBA处理后,CsCIPK的表达量在3 d时显著高于对照组;不同浓度GA和IBA处理后,9 d时CsCIPK表达量均显著低于对照。     

异源表达玉米ZmC3H54基因增强水稻的耐旱性

CCCH锌指蛋白是一类重要的转录调控因子。从玉米中分离得到一个受干旱和ABA诱导表达的CCCH型锌指蛋白基因ZmC3H54，通过构建过量表达载体并转化水稻来进一步研究其功能。 与对照组相比，转基因植株在干旱胁迫处理下具有更高的相对含水量与存活率以及较低的相对电导率，表明过量表达ZmC3H54基因可以提高转基因水稻的耐旱性。此外，转基因水稻幼苗对外源ABA敏感性更高。以上结果表明玉米ZmC3H54基因可能是通过ABA信号通路调控植物对干旱的耐受性。     

基于家族基因分析的甘蓝MLPK互作PUB蛋白的筛选

MLPK(M–位点受体激酶)是芸薹属自交不亲和正向调控关键元件,其参与自交不亲和信号传导的分子机制尚不明确,同时自交不亲和下游信号元件也有待于进一步分离。为了探索分离MLPK互作蛋白的思路和方法,构建了不含核定位信号的MLPK短截蛋白(MLPK-T),并利用酵母双杂交检测到MLPK与臂重复蛋白1(ARC1)作用,通过全基因组鉴定分别获得了96个甘蓝、101个白菜、70个琴叶拟南芥和62个拟南芥PUB蛋白,其中含有臂重复序列的PUB蛋白共为127个。通过系统进化分析,筛选到8个含臂重复序列的甘蓝BoPUB蛋白,其8个基因全部在柱头内表达,且成功利用酵母双杂交检测到MLPK与3个含臂重复序列的BoPUB蛋白Bol008579、Bol016165和Bol023511相互作用。     

生殖激素产品的应用和发展趋势

生殖激素是调控动物体内复杂生殖过程并影响繁殖性能的一系列的重要激素。近年来，利用生殖激素的批次化生产繁殖技术被广泛使用，提高了母猪的繁殖效率，促进了养猪业向集约化和规模化方向的发展。目前在批次化生产过程中主要采用孕马血清促性腺激素（PMSG）和人绒毛膜促性腺激素（HCG）以及化学类激素进行繁殖调控。但是这些产品的应用仍存在一些问题，因此需要开发出成本低、活性好的高品质蛋白类生殖激素产品，应用于猪场批次化生产中，提高生猪养殖效率和降低生产成本，为提升我国乃至全球畜牧业的动物繁殖效率做出贡献，为动物和人类的健康提供重要保证。     

Molecular Characterization of the Von Willebrand Factor Type D Domain of Vitellogenin from Takifugu flavidus

The von Willebrand factor type D (VWD) domain in vitellogenin has recently been found to bind tetrodotoxin. The way in which this protein domain associates with tetrodotoxin and participates in transporting tetrodotoxin in vivo remains unclear. A cDNA fragment of the vitellogenin gene containing the VWD domain from pufferfish (Takifugu flavidus) (TfVWD) was cloned. Using in silico structural and docking analyses of the predicted protein, we determined that key amino acids (namely, Val¹¹⁵, ASP¹¹⁶, Val¹¹⁷, and Lys¹²²) in TfVWD mediate its binding to tetrodotoxin, which was supported by in vitro surface plasmon resonance analysis. Moreover, incubating recombinant rTfVWD together with tetrodotoxin attenuated its toxicity in vivo, further supporting protein–toxin binding and indicating associated toxicity-neutralizing effects. Finally, the expression profiling of TfVWD across different tissues and developmental stages indicated that its distribution patterns mirrored those of tetrodotoxin, suggesting that TfVWD may be involved in tetrodotoxin transport in pufferfish. For the first time, this study reveals the amino acids that mediate the binding of TfVWD to tetrodotoxin and provides a basis for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms underlying the enrichment and transfer of tetrodotoxin in pufferfish.     

Application of molybdenum fertilizer enhanced quality and production of alfalfa in northern China under non-irrigated conditions

Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential micro-mineral nutrient for plant growth and development. As an important legume forage, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is frequently planted in marginal lands of northern China where water scarcity and infertile soil are limiting factors for alfalfa production. Mo plays an important role in nitrogen (N) metabolism in general and N fixation in legume species in particular. To evaluate the role of Mo fertilizer in alfalfa quality and production in semi-arid areas of northern China, we conducted a three-year field experiment in Inner Mongolia from 2012 to 2014. Mo fertilizer at the doses of 0, 150 g hm^?2, 300 g hm^?2yr^?1 was applied consecutively across the three years. Application of Mo at 300 g hm^?2yr^?1 significantly increased dry yield of alfalfa in 2014. Crude protein (CP) content of alfalfa without application of Mo exhibited a decline trend from 2012 to 2014. Application of Mo significantly enhanced total CP in 2012 and 2014, and delayed the reduction in total CP across the three years. In contrast to CP, Mo fertilizer had no significant effects on neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber content. In addition, we found that nitrate reductase activity of alfalfa was increased by Mo fertilizer, which may account for the enhanced CP content in alfalfa. These findings highlight that application of Mo fertilizer can be an effective way to improve alfalfa production and quality in semi-arid areas in northern China.     

Choline supplementation increased total body lipid gain,while surplus methionine improved growth and amino acid retention in adult Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Methionine–choline‐deficient (MCD) mammals are known to accumulate liver TAG probably due to phosphatidylcholine (PC) deficiency and thus assembly of VLDL and transport of lipids from liver to peripheral organs. To assess whether supplementation of choline could spare methionine and secure a healthy liver metabolism, by reducing the endogenous PC synthesis without interfering with lipid transport and distribution, Atlantic salmon with initial BW of 700 g were fed adequate (1.9 g Met/16 gN) or surplus methionine (2.5 g Met/16 gN) diets of which were supplemented with choline or not for a period of 19 weeks. Fish fed the low‐methionine diets had reduced growth (p = .013) due to reduced protein gain (p = .007), while lipid gain slightly improved in fish fed the choline‐supplemented diets (p = .047). Also, feed conversion improved when fed surplus methionine (p < .001), while choline supplementation had no impact on feed conversion. No interaction between choline and methionine on growth performance or retention existed. Phospholipid status in liver and muscle was not affected by treatments, and no liver TAG accumulation occurred at the methionine levels used. Gene expression of ApoB100 necessary for assembling VLDL or pemt necessary for endogenous PC synthesis was unaffected by treatments. Capacity of methylation (MAT, BHMT) within the liver was not affected by treatment nor was the gene expression of enzymes in liver transsulfuration (CBS or CDO). Methionine status within liver was unaffected by treatments, while free methionine reduced in those fish fed the low‐methionine diets in muscle and plasma. Cystathionine and taurine were elevated when fed surplus methionine. Choline supplementation had no impact on sulphur amino acid metabolites in either tissue. Neither did choline supplementation improve TAG mobilization from liver to muscle. To conclude, choline does not improve endogenous phospholipid synthesis or transport of TAG from liver to muscle depot when added to diets containing 1.9 g Met/16 gN, while surplus methionine improved growth and protein retention, indicating that 1.9 g Met/16 gN is enough to support a healthy liver metabolism, but too low to support muscle protein deposition in adult salmon fed high plant protein diets for longer periods of time.