MITFa及TYR基因在红色锦鲤体色发生不同阶段的表达分析

本研究描述了红色锦鲤从出膜到体色形成的过程,总结和归纳不同发育阶段体色变化异同点,筛选出6个体色变化较显著时期,分别为1、2、3、4、12、48日龄。利用荧光定量PCR分析MITFa及TYR基因在红色锦鲤6个体色变化时期的表达情况。结果显示,MITFa基因在1日龄时表达量最高,显著高于48日龄时(P0.05),极显著高于其他4个时期(P0.01)。48日龄时表达量次之,亦极显著高于2、3、4、12日龄4个时期(P0.01)。2、3、4、12日龄4个时期MITFa基因表达量较低且不存在显著差异(P0.05)。TYR基因在1日龄时表达量最高(P0.01),4日龄时表达量显著高于12、48日龄(P0.05),与2、3日龄不存在显著差异(P0.05)。TYR基因表达量在2、3、12、48日龄4个时期差异不显著(P0.05)。MITFa和TYR基因在红色锦鲤体色形成过程中,表达水平整体呈现降低的趋势,其中MITFa基因表达量表现为先降后升,TYR基因则先降后升再降。以上结果显示MITFa、TYR基因与锦鲤体色形成具有一定相关性,但MITFa和TYR基因在体色发生中的相互作用还有待进一步研究证实。     

茶树牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合成酶基因CsGGDPS的克隆及表达分析

以铁观音芽叶为材料,验证从茶树转录组数据库中筛选到的1条牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合成酶(GGDPS)的编码全长序列c DNA。该c DNA全长1 661 bp,含有1个1 137 bp完整的开放阅读框,命名为Cs GGDPS。该基因编码378个氨基酸,氨基酸序列具有类异戊二烯合成酶家族的5个保守域和2个特征功能域;序列分析显示,该c DNA与其他植物GGDPS高度保守,与三七(Panax notoginseng)的亲缘关系最近。Cs GGDPS属于不稳定、亲水蛋白,可能定位到叶绿体中,不存在跨膜结构,无信号肽,发生磷酸化的位点可能有20个;二级结构主要由α-螺旋构成,三级结构与拟南芥GGPPS11匹配度最高。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,在茶树发育过程和不同叶位Cs GGDPS的表达量随芽叶成熟度的增加呈上升趋势,随着做青过程的进行,Cs GGDPS的表达量逐渐升高;Cs GGDPS在父本黄旦、母本铁观音和子一代金观音中均有表达,但表达量存在差异。     

茶树MADS-box转录因子基因的克隆与非生物胁迫响应分析

本研究基于茶树转录组数据库,以茶树龙井43为试验材料,通过RT-PCR方法从该茶树的cDNA中克隆得到1个CsMADS1基因。序列分析表明:茶树CsMADS1基因开放阅读框长度为657 bp,编码218个氨基酸,是典型的植物MADS-box家族转录因子。序列多重比对显示,该序列与多个相关物种的MADS-box序列一致性为65.65%,含有高度保守的MADS结构域和半保守的K结构域。氨基酸理化性质、亲疏水性、亚细胞定位预测、无序化分析,以及二级和三级结构分析显示,CsMADS1转录因子是亲水性蛋白,可能定位于细胞核中,无序化程度明显,以α-螺旋结构为主,并与人MEF2蛋白具有相似的三级结构。利用实时荧光定量PCR方法分析了茶树龙井43中CsMADS1基因在非生物胁迫下的表达。结果表明,茶树中CsMADS1基因对高温、低温、干旱和高盐等不同非生物胁迫有响应,且表达存在差异。     

Liver histology and histomorphometry in hybrid sorubim (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum × Pseudoplatystoma corruscans) reared on intensive fish farming

This study aimed to characterize the liver histology and histomorphometry in sorubim hybrid of different categories (nursery, growth and grow‐out) reared on fish farming. The categories were defined considering body weight (BW): nursery category (n = 5): BW = 37.06 ± 6.00 g (31.6–45.3 g); growth category (n = 5): BW = 310.40 ± 53.80 g (242.1–376.4 g) and grow‐out category (n = 5): BW = 874.28 ± 27.59 g (846.2–913.1 g). Liver fragments were processed to paraffin inclusion, and sections were stained by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), PAS (Periodic Acid Schiff) and Perl's staining to histology, histomorphometry and density volumetric of liver structures; glycogen analysis and to detect ferric irons (Fe³⁺) respectively. The hepatosomatic index decreased between the categories (P < 0.01). The percentage of PAS‐positive hepatocytes in the nursery category was higher (P < 0.05) in relation to the growth and grow‐out categories. The hepatocytes from all fish were positive to Perl's staining. The density volumetric of liver structures did not differ among categories except to blood vessels were higher (P < 0.01) in the nursery and growth. The area (μm²) and perimeter (μm) of hepatocytes, and the area (μm²), perimeter (μm) and volume (μm³) of the nuclei from grow‐out fish were lower (P < 0.01) than those from the nursery and growth categories. Changes in morphometric characteristics of hepatocytes may result from metabolic changes associated with body growth surubins; therefore, these morphometric characteristics of liver tissue can be used as functional biomarkers for the assessment of fish health and nutrition status.     

Responses of glutamine synthetase activity and gene expression to nitrogen levels in winter wheat cultivars with different grain protein content

Glutamine synthetase (GS) plays a central role in plant nitrogen (N) metabolism, which improves crops grain protein content. A pot experiment in field condition was carried out to evaluate GS expression and activity, and grain protein content in high (Wanmai16) and low grain protein (Loumai24) wheat cultivars under two N levels (0.05 and 0.15 g N kg⁻¹ soil). High nitrogen (HN) resulted in significant increases in GS1 and GS2 expression at 10 days after anthesis (DAA), and higher GS activity during the entire grain filling stage. HN also significantly increased yield, grain protein content and protein fraction (except for glutenin of Luomai24) in two wheat cultivars, which indicated that it increased grain yield and protein content by improving nitrogen metabolism. Wanmai16 showed higher grain protein content, gliadin and glutenin content, and had higher expression level of GS2 both in flag leaves and grains at early grain filling stage. However, Luomai24 had greater yield and higher expression level of GS1. The difference expression of GS2 and GS1 genes indicates they had various contributions to the accumulation of protein and starch in wheat grains, respectively. The results suggest that GS2 would be serving as a potential breeding target for improving wheat quality.     

无乳链球菌LIP蛋白的截短表达及免疫保护性研究

为评价罗非鱼源无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)BX2012株脂蛋白(lipoprotein)的免疫原性及其对奥利亚罗非鱼(Oreochromis aureus)和大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)的保护效果,以无乳链球菌脂蛋白基因序列(GenBank序列号:CP000114.1,SAK_0321)的B细胞线性抗原表位区设计特异性引物进行扩增,构建重组表达载体,将截短表达的脂蛋白制备成亚单位疫苗,同时制备灭活疫苗进行免疫比对。结果显示:重组表达载体p ET-32a-LIP342在BL21(DE3)中获得了良好的可溶性表达,分子质量约为30 kDa,纯化使LIP342纯度由41.75%提至87.23%;Western blotting分析显示,LIP342可被兔抗无乳链球菌高免血清特异性识别;LIP342在目前已知不同种属来源或不同血清型的无乳链球菌分离株中同源性为90.35%~100%,在罗非鱼源分离株中同源性为100%;无乳链球菌LIP342蛋白和灭活疫苗均可显著提升奥利亚罗非鱼和大菱鲆血清抗体水平,而LIP342诱导的血清抗体水平均显著高于灭活疫苗;经0.1 mL 1×10~9cfu/mL的无乳链球菌攻毒后,LIP342蛋白和灭活疫苗对供试鱼的累积存活率均显著高于PBS对照组。结果表明,高度保守的LIP342具有较好的免疫原性,可作为无乳链球菌亚单位疫苗候选因子。     

一个水稻小热休克蛋白的异源表达及寡聚特性分析

【目的】在前期研究中,本实验室已克隆了一个水稻小热休克蛋白基因(OsSHSP17.6),并发现该基因的表达明显受到热激和病毒侵染调控,表明该蛋白可能在逆境胁迫过程中起重要作用。本研究的目的在于进一步明确OsSHSP17.6的特性。【方法】在本研究中,进一步将该基因亚克隆至原核表达载体p ET-32a并导入大肠杆菌E.coli BL21(DE3)pLysS诱导表达,通过亲和层析的方法纯化了该重组蛋白,进一步用于非变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和Western blotting分析。【结果】异源表达的重组OsSHSP17.6能减轻IPTG对宿主菌的毒害。非变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和Western blotting分析显示纯化的重组OsSHSP17.6蛋白在体外能形成同源二聚体和寡聚体。【结论】这些结果支持OsSHSP17.6是一个有功能的分子伴侣蛋白并表明该蛋白可能通过形成同源寡聚体的方式参与逆境胁迫反应,这为进一步明确OsSHSP17.6的功能机制奠定基础。     

The influence of dietary fatty acid and fasting on the hepatic lipid metabolism of barramundi (Lates calcarifer)

For many fish species, dietary fish oil (FO) has been substituted with other oils such as poultry oil (PO) without affecting growth performance. However, in barramundi, the mechanisms by which fatty acid metabolism is regulated are poorly understood, and the effects of FO substitution are unknown. This study defined changes in the expression of genes controlling the metabolism of fatty acids in barramundi over a 24‐h time period after a single meal. From one to 12 h after a single feeding event, the expression of fatty acid synthesis genes in the liver was upregulated, while genes involved in the β‐oxidation showed minimal alteration. However, the expression of β‐oxidation genes was significantly correlated with the expression of genes regulating fatty acid synthesis. In a second experiment, the changes in liver fatty acid composition and gene expression were defined after FO was substituted with PO. Liver fatty acid profile reflected the diet composition, with some subtle exceptions supporting the enrichment of certain long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the liver. The fish from all experimental groups preferentially retained more docosahexaenoic acid than eicosapentaenoic acid in the liver, suggesting a bioconversion of this fatty acid to intermediate fatty acids. Replacement of FO with PO significantly regulated genes controlling both fatty acid synthesis and catabolism pathways, potentially related to a higher percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids, in the livers of fish fed these diets. The results demonstrated that diet composition significantly altered the lipid metabolism in barramundi and that there was a balance between direct dietary effects and endogenous synthetic capacity.     

Immunostimulatory effects of dietary poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate in European sea bass postlarvae

The stable production of high‐quality fry in marine aquaculture is still hampered by unpredictable mortality caused by infectious diseases during larval rearing. Consequently, the development of new biocontrol agents is crucial for a viable aquaculture industry. The bacterial energy storage compound poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate (PHB) has been shown to exhibit beneficial properties on aquatic organisms such as enhanced survival, growth, disease resistance and a controlling effect on the gastrointestinal microbiota. However, the effect of PHB on the developing immune system of fish larvae has so far not been investigated. In this study, the effect of feeding PHB‐enriched Artemia nauplii on survival, growth and immune response in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) postlarvae was examined. Amorphous PHB was administered to 28‐day‐old sea bass postlarvae over a period of 10 days. The survival and growth performance were monitored, and the expression of 29 genes involved in immunity, growth, metabolism and stress‐response was measured. While the expression of the insulin‐like growth factor 1 (igf1), an indicator of relative growth, was upregulated in response to feeding PHB, the larval survival and growth performance remained unaffected. After 10 days of PHB treatment, the expression of the antimicrobial peptides dicentracin (dic) and hepcidin (hep) as well as mhc class IIa and mhc class IIb was elevated in the PHB fed postlarvae. This indicates that PHB is capable of stimulating the immune system of fish early life stages, which may be the cause of the increased resistance to diseases and robustness observed in previous studies.