谷子MDH基因非生物逆境响应特性研究

为揭示谷子MDH基因对逆境胁迫的响应,本研究通过序列比对得到2个谷子苹果酸脱氢酶(malate dehydrogenase, MDH)基因SiMDH1、SiMDH2,并对SiMDH1和SiMDH2的编码蛋白特征、基因结构、功能、进化等性状进行了系统的分析和预测,用荧光实时定量PCR(qPCR)检测了SiMDH1和SiMDH2在苗期不同逆境及关键生育期干旱胁迫和不同光照强度下的表达。蛋白特征参数和序列分析表明,SiMDH1和SiMDH2蛋白特征参数相似度很高,序列非常保守,都含有MDH基因的特征功能域苹果酸酶NAD结合域和苹果酸酶C端功能域。亚细胞定位预测显示,SiMDH1和SiMDH2主要定位于叶绿体、细胞质和线粒体。启动子区域顺式元件分析发现,在SiMDH1和SiMDH2启动子区域含有大量光应答、激素类和其他类应答元件。苗期逆境qPCR表达谱分析发现,SiMDH1和SiMDH2受脱落酸(ABA)、聚乙二醇(PEG)、高盐和低温不同程度诱导,揭示SiMDH1和SiMDH2参与了谷子苗期非生物逆境胁迫应答。进一步分析发现,SiMDH1和SiMDH2参与了谷子在拔节、抽穗、灌浆期的干旱应答,而光照强度会显著影响SiMDH1和SiMDH2基因在不同生育期的表达。本研究为进一步分析MDH逆境应答机制以及利用基因工程方法改善作物抗逆性提供了试验和理论支持。     

棉花根系和叶片质外体汁液分离方法的改进

质外体汁液(apoplastic washing fluid, AWF)在植物生长发育和抵抗生物及非生物逆境方面发挥着重要作用。目前普遍采用真空渗透离心法提取质外体汁液,但具体提取流程和条件却因植物培养条件、种类和器官等不同而不同。本试验以营养液培养的棉花幼苗为材料,改进了棉花根系和叶片AWF分离的取样方法、渗透条件和离心参数等。结果表明,相对于通常的非整体取样,改良后整体取样简单易操作且显著降低了质外体与共质体的苹果酸脱氢酶(malate dehydrogenase, MDH)活性比值,更适宜开展质外体汁液组分研究。根据真空渗透鲜重增加和AWF稀释因子,进一步证明根系不用真空渗透;而叶片需真空渗透,适宜真空强度/时间为-60 kPa/1min,真空后恢复到正常压强约110s。证明叶片颜色变深面积可作为判定真空渗透强度或时间是否适宜的一种简易可行方法。最后,AWF体积、质外体与共质体的可溶性蛋白含量比值和MDH活性比值综合分析表明,棉花根系适宜离心力大小/时间长度为800×g/10～20 min,叶片为400×g/5 min。本改进方法为棉花AWF组分,如蛋白质组学和代谢组学等研究结果的准确性和可靠性奠定了基础,为其他作物AWF分离方法的优化提供了参考。     

艾纳香脱氢酶基因家族的生物信息学分析

采用RT-PCR和RACE（Rapid amplification of cDNA ends）技术,从艾纳香（Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC.）叶片中克隆到4条编码艾纳香脱氢酶（BbADH1、BbADH2、BbADH3、BbADH4）基因的cDNA序列,并对4条核苷酸及其编码的氨基酸序列进行生物信息学分析。结果显示:4条艾纳香脱氢酶序列开放阅读框均在900 bp左右,蛋白质等电点（pI）值在5.0~9.0之间,含量最多的氨基酸为亮氨酸（Leu）,最少的为色氨酸（Try）,具有明显的疏水区和亲水区,N端未发现信号肽,且无跨膜区;同源性比对结果显示,艾纳香BbADH蛋白与其他植物中ADH蛋白具有高度的相似性,且具有脱氢酶的特征功能域;系统发育分析表明,艾纳香（B. balsamifera (L.) DC.）BbADH1和BbADH3同处于一个分支,且与胡杨（Populus euphratica Oliv.）PeADH物种亲缘关系较近,而艾纳香BbADH4和BbADH2处于不同分支,且分别与葡萄（Vitis vinifera）VvADH和烟草（Nicotiana tabacum）NtADH物种亲缘关系较近。     

枇杷果实发育过程中山梨醇含量及相关酶活性的变化

以果型和品质差异较大的黄肉枇杷(Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.)‘解放钟’和白肉枇杷‘白梨’的果实为试材,测定果实发育过程中山梨醇、果糖、葡萄糖含量及与山梨醇代谢相关酶--山梨醇脱氢酶(Sorbitol dehydrogenase,SDH)和山梨醇氧化酶(Sorbitol oxidase,SOX)活性的变化,并探讨山梨醇代谢与枇杷果实生长发育和品质形成的关系。结果表明:2个枇杷品种果实中山梨醇含量均随果实发育进程呈下降趋势,且‘白梨’枇杷果实中山梨醇含量高于‘解放钟’。在花后35~80 d,2个枇杷品种幼果中葡萄糖和果糖含量均较低且相对稳定,而花后95~140 d果实中葡萄糖和果糖含量逐渐上升,并在花后125~140 d果实成熟期急剧增加而达到峰值;果实中葡萄糖含量在2个品种间差异不显著(p0.05),花后125~140 d的果实成熟期,‘白梨’果实中果糖含量显著高于‘解放钟’(p0.05)。果实发育过程中SDH和SOX的活性均呈先降后升的变化趋势。说明2个枇杷品种果实发育过程中山梨醇、果糖、葡萄糖含量及SDH和山SOX的活性表现出相似的变化规律,但果实山梨醇含量与SDH和SOX的活性在果实膨大期均存在显著差异(p0.05),这可能是黄肉枇杷与白肉枇杷品质差异的关键。     

Hypoglycemic effect of lupin seed γ-conglutin in experimental animals and healthy human subjects

A lupin seed γ-conglutin-enriched preparation was tested in a glucose overload trial with both murine models and adult healthy volunteers. The results with rats showed a dose-dependent significant decrease of blood glucose concentration, which confirmed previous findings obtained with the purified protein. Moreover, three test-product doses equivalent to 630, 315, and 157.5 mg γ-conglutin, orally administered 30 min before the carbohydrate supply, showed a relevant hypoglycemic effect in human trials. Insulin concentrations were not significantly affected. The general hematic parameters did not change at all.This is the first report on the glucose-lowering effect of lupin γ-conglutin in human subjects.     

Stereochemistry of matairesinol formation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Daphne</Emphasis> secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase

Secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase activity was detected for the first time from Daphne odora and Daphne genkwa (Thymelaeaceae), which are known to produce optically pure (+)-matairesinol. In sharp contrast, (–)-matairesinol was formed selectively over the (+)-antipode by the secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase preparation from both D. odora callus and D. genkwa shoots.     

纤维素酶催化水解和氧化机制的研究进展

人类对纤维素的开发与利用还非常有限,未能完全搞清天然纤维素的生物降解机制是其一个重要原因.自从C1-Cx假说提出以来,又有较多的降解理论出现对其改进,纤维素酶水解机制不能完全解释天然纤维素的降解,大量文献证实天然纤维素降解存在氧化机制.本文主要介绍水解与氧化机制中具代表性酶协同降解模型、纤维二糖水解酶(CBH)协同作用假说、羟基自由基的氧化机制和纤维二糖脱氢酶途径等不同降解理论,将水解和氧化两种机制结合起来给出其降解途径,也许能够较为容易理解纤维素的降解具体过程.     

Hepatoprotective activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, captopril and enalapril, against paraquat toxicity

Paraquat is a highly toxic herbicide that is used in most countries without restriction. The cytotoxic action of paraquat is mediated by reactive radicals that are products of its metabolic reduction in cells. It has already been hypothesized that some angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (e.g., captopril and enalapril) could show antioxidant and radical scavenging activity through their structural thiol groups, increasing antioxidant enzymes production or nitric oxide synthesis. In this study the hepatoprotective effect of captopril and enalapril against paraquat induced oxidative stress cytotoxicity was evaluated in isolated rat hepatocyte. Subtoxic concentrations of captopril (0.2 mM) and enalapril (0.2 mM) significantly (p < 0.05) protected the hepatocytes against paraquat (2 mM) induced oxidative stress cytotoxicity markers including: cell lysis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, lipid peroxidation, glutathione depletion, mitochondrial membrane potential decrease, lysosomal membrane oxidative damage and cellular proteolysis. Moreover, we showed that non-thiol enalapril acts as well as thiol containing captopril at inhibiting oxidative stress cytotoxicity markers. Finally, our results support the hypothesis that it is the increase in nitric oxide synthesis and not the presence of the thiol group that accounts for the antioxidant activity of ACE inhibitors.     

Generation and analysis of expressed sequence tag sequences from a soft‐seeded pomegranate cDNA library

The cultivation of soft‐seeded pomegranate is an important direction in pomegranate breeding. To comprehensively understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of soft‐seeded pomegranate (Punica granatum. var. Hongmanaozi), we established an expressed sequence tag (EST) resource. Two thousand valid sequences were generated, from which 907 unigenes were obtained after initial assembly using the clustalx program. Among these unigenes, 51 showed no similarity to any protein in the public databases, 433 matched with proteins of unknown function, and 423 matched with proteins of known or putative functions. The 423 unigenes were further classified into 13 categories. Among these categories, protein synthesis, cell structure, protein destination and storage, secondary metabolism, signal transduction and transporters accounted for 8%, 8%, 4%, 7%, 6% and 17%, respectively. We also successfully developed 10 highly polymorphic expressed sequence tag‐simple sequence repeat (EST‐SSR) markers for pomegranate. The results provide a new tool for future activities in pomegranate breeding.     

Uneven ripening in ‘Bangalore blue’ grape (Vitis vinifera × Vitis labrusca) berries in India is linked to seed viability

Uneven ripening (UR) is a physiological disorder of unknown origin in ‘Bangalore blue’ grape (Vitis vinifera × Vitis labrusca) leading to wine of inferior quality. A preliminary study found wide variations in total dehydrogenase activity (TDH) of seeds from unevenly ripe berries. In our experiments, gibberellin (GA₃) applied to young grapes increased seed TDH activity and reduced the incidence of uneven ripening to 2% compared with 35% in the control. In contrast, paclobutrazol (PBZ) decreased TDH activity and increased the incidence of the disorder to 58%. GA₃-treated berries had higher concentrations of sucrose and TDH activity in seed representing mature seeds with high viability. In contrast, PBZ-treated and control berries had higher concentrations of glucose and lower TDH activity, indicating immature seeds with low viability. These results suggested that competition among developing berries can lead to differences in seed gibberellin content, seed viability and the rate of berry growth resulting in green, purple, and black berries at harvest. The study established the role of seed viability in uneven ripening and demonstrated that the incidence of the disorder is reduced by the application of GA₃ to immature berries.