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.     

Effects of dietary protein to energy ratios on growth,body composition and digestive enzyme activities in Chinese mitten‐handed crab,Eriocheir sinensis

This study aimed to determine the optimal protein to energy ratio (P/E ratio) and evaluate the effect of dietary protein and lipid levels on growth performance, body composition and digestive enzymes activities in Chinese mitten‐handed crab, Eriocheir sinensis. Nine practical diets containing three levels both for protein (DP 30%, 35% and 40%) and lipid (DL 2%, 7% and 12%) with P/E ratios ranging from 13.69 to 19.79 mg KJ^?1 were fed to four replicates of crabs (3.39 ± 0.10 g) for 10 weeks. Weight gain increased significantly with the increase in DP level at each DL level. Moreover, weight gain increased in crabs fed with diets containing DL level from 2% to 12% and DP level from 30% to 35%. However, the diet containing 40% DP and 12% DL levels significantly decreased the growth performance and protein efficiency of the crabs. The whole crab and hepatopancreas lipid contents also increased as dietary lipid increased, but not dietary protein. The total protease activity increased significantly with the increase in dietary protein at each lipid level. The lipase activity was statistically comparable among different DL levels at each DP level. Taken together, the crab fed the diet containing 35% protein and 12% lipid levels with P/E 15.77 mg KJ^?1 revealed optimal growth, feed utilization efficiency and digestive enzymes activities. Moreover, our study indicated that the higher dietary lipid level at a relatively lower dietary protein level could provide protein sparing effect in Eriocheir sinensis.     

Using near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy to predict the digestible protein and digestible energy values of diets when fed to barramundi,Lates calcarifer

This study examined the potential of using near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict nutrient digestibility parameters (digestible protein and digestible energy) of compound diets when fed to barramundi. A series of 60 diets were assessed for their protein and energy digestibilities in a series of five experiments over a 5‐year period from 2009 to 2014. Considerable variance was observed in the digestibility parameters of diets across the experiments, providing a suitable range in diet digestible protein and digestible energy values from which to develop a NIRS calibration. Samples of the same diets were also scanned using a diode array near‐infrared spectrophotometer (DA‐NIRS). The spectra were obtained by the DA‐NIRS and were chemometrically calibrated against the digestible value data using multivariate analysis software. The results in terms of standard error of cross‐validation (SECV), residual prediction deviation (RPD) and correlation coefficient (R²) show good relationships (R² > 0.8) between the predicted and observed parameters for both the digestible protein and digestible energy parameters assessed. This study therefore demonstrates that it is possible to use NIRS technology to provide rapid estimates of the digestible protein and digestible energy values of compound diets for barramundi in near real time.