Cuticular protein gene LmACP8 is involved in wing morphogenesis in the migratory locust,Locusta migratoria

Cuticular proteins(CPs) are major components of the insect cuticle-associated organs such as integument and wings, although the importance of CPs for wing development and function in hemimetabolous insects remains understudied. In the present study, a wing cuticular protein LmACP8 was identified from Locusta migratoria, which belongs to the RR-2 subfamily of cuticular protein RR consensus(CPR) chitin-binding proteins. LmACP8 was mainly expressed in the wing pads and showed high expression levels before ecdysis of third-, fourth-, and fifth-instar nymphs, with its encoded protein located in the procuticle of wing pads and adult wings. Depletion of LmACP8 by RNA interference markedly reduced the amount of its protein, which consequently caused abnormal wing morphogenesis in the transition from nymph to adult of L. migratoria. We further demonstrated that the abnormal morphogenesis was caused by severe damage of the endocuticle in the wings. LmACP8 was suppressed by 20-hydroxyecdysone(20 E) in vivo, however, its expression was significantly up-regulated after knocking down the hormone receptor gene LmHR39. Thus, the LmACP8 that is negatively regulated by the LmHR39-mediated 20 E signaling pathway is involved in wing development during the nymph to adult transition.     

利用酵母双杂交膜系统筛选与小麦蓝矮植原体免疫膜蛋白互作的异沙叶蝉蛋白

正小麦蓝矮病(Wheat blue dwarf,WBD)是我国西北麦区一种重要植原体病害,在我国西部地区危害严重。该病害由异沙叶蝉(Psammotettix alienus L.)专化性传播,介体传毒成为病害流行的重要中心环节[1]。本实验室前期通过免疫荧光标记研究发现WBD植原体免疫膜蛋白(immunodominant membrane protein, IMP)与介体异沙叶蝉肌动蛋白互作,说明IMP在植原体传播和致病过程中起关键作用。     

FT-Raman and FT-IR studies of the gluten structure as a result of model dough supplementation with chosen oil pomaces

The pomaces obtained after cold pressing oil production from oil seeds can be regarded as a source of many valuable nutrients such as unsaturated fatty acids, dietary fibre and antioxidants. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of five oil pomaces from black seed, hemp, pumpkin, milk thistle and primrose on the structure of gluten proteins. The model dough was supplemented with 3%, 6%, and 9% of the pomaces. Structural changes in gluten proteins were studied using Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy (FT-Raman) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Additionally, chemical composition of the pomaces was determined. Changes observed in the gluten structure resulting from the model dough supplementation with oil pomaces allow the pomace to be divided into two groups depending on the type and amount of fatty acids present in the pomaces. If the pomace contains a low number of fatty acids (black seed and pumpkin), pseudo-β-sheets are formed from β-turns and antiparallel-β-sheets in the gluten network. If the pomace contains a high number of fatty acids, non-aggregated β-structures are observed. Although the pomaces contain considerable amount of dietary fibre and polyphenols, comparison of the observed structural changes in gluten network with pomaces’ chemical composition indicates that the changes are connected with presence of fatty acids.     

昆虫嗅觉相关蛋白的研究进展

昆虫对自然环境中复杂化学信号的识别多依赖于其灵敏的嗅觉系统,选择寄主、觅食、寻找配偶等行为的发生都以嗅觉识别为基础,而完成嗅觉识别还需要多种嗅觉相关蛋白的参与。嗅觉相关蛋白主要包括6种,即气味结合蛋白、化学感受蛋白、气味受体、感觉神经元膜蛋白、离子型受体和气味降解酶。不同种类和性别的昆虫中,嗅觉蛋白的种类、数量和分布各不相同。由于嗅觉蛋白在昆虫识别外界气味分子中的重要作用,国内外近年来对其展开了广泛、深入的研究。本文从几种嗅觉相关蛋白的生化特性、分子结构、生理功能、分布表达部位和研究概况等角度,较详细地综述了近年来国内外昆虫嗅觉相关蛋白的研究进展。     

Polymerisation of gluten proteins in developing wheat grain as affected by desiccation

The breadmaking quality of wheat is affected by the composition of gluten proteins and the polymerisation of subunits that are synthesised and accumulated in developing wheat grain. The biological mechanisms and time course of these events during grain development are documented, but not widely confirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to monitor the accumulation of gluten protein subunits and the size distribution of protein aggregates during grain development. The effect of desiccation on the polymerisation of gluten proteins and the functional properties of gluten were also studied. The results showed that the size of glutenin polymers remained consistently low until yellow ripeness (YR), while it increased during grain desiccation after YR. Hence, this polymerisation process was presumed to be initiated by desiccation. A similar polymerisation event was also observed when premature grains were dried artificially. The composition of gluten proteins, the ratios of glutenin to gliadin and high molecular weight-glutenin subunits to low molecular weight-glutenin subunits, in premature grain after artificial desiccation showed close association with the size of glutenin polymers in artificially dried grain. Functional properties of gluten in these samples were also associated with polymer size after artificial desiccation.     

Proteomic analysis of soluble protein extract of adult Toxocara cati

Toxocara cati is a cat roundworm and the causative agent of toxocariasis as a cosmopolitan zoonotic disease. As no information has been reported so far, identification of T. cati proteins can be useful for the development of new diagnostic strategies. This study was conducted to identify the major proteins in the adult T. cati tegument using bi-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and shotgun proteomics. A total proteins were identified, among them the metabolic enzymes were the largest group, including: Enolase, triose phosphate isomerase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, aldehyde dehydrogenase. The other important protein groups recognized in T. cati, belong to the HSP-family, the structure and motor proteins, such as actin. The role of these proteins have been implicated in parasite–host interactions and modulating cellular immune response, immune regulation in evasion mechanisms of the host immune response. Characterizing T. cati adult proteins play a key role not only in host-parasite interactions, but also in the discovery of drug targets, subunit vaccines against toxocariasis, immunodiagnostic kits for toxocariasis and the identification of novel immuno-modulators that can form the next generation of therapeutic possibilities for inflammatory diseases.     

转MsLEA4-4基因拟南芥株系的耐盐性分析

为了深入研究紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa）MsLEA4-4基因的抗逆性，本试验对前期获得的转MsLEA4-4基因的拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）株系进行不同浓度盐胁迫处理，以验证MsLEA4-4基因在拟南芥植株体内的耐盐性。试验结果表明：盐胁迫后转基因株系的发芽率达到55%，比对照植株（Control plant，CK）高81%；转基因株系的鲜重、叶绿素含量均高于CK（P<0.05）；盐胁迫后转基因株系的存活率比CK提高75.0%~81.3%；盐胁迫明显抑制根系生长，但转基因植株的侧根数量比CK多4~5根（P<0.05）；盐胁迫后转基因株系体内的可溶性糖含量（P<0.05）和超氧化物歧化酶（P<0.01），过氧化氢酶（P<0.01），过氧化物酶（P<0.05）活性均高于CK，脯氨酸（P<0.01）和丙二醛（P<0.05）含量均低于CK。综上可得，MsLEA4-4基因参与了拟南芥体内的耐盐性调控，提高了转基因拟南芥对盐胁迫的耐受性。本研究为进一步探索MsLEA4-4在转基因紫花苜蓿盐胁迫中的功能及培育耐盐性紫花苜蓿品种提供依据。     

棉铃虫围食膜中Bt抗性相关蛋白的分离与鉴定

棉铃虫是世界性的重要农业害虫。围食膜作为昆虫抵御病原微生物入侵及有害物质的第一道天然保护性屏障,其上可能存在与Bt抗性相关的受体蛋白。本研究以Bt Cry1Ac抗性和敏感品系的棉铃虫围食膜为对象,采用NuPAGE电泳技术、配体杂交、质谱鉴定和生物信息学分析等技术,测定了围食膜蛋白含量,鉴定了蛋白质的组成及与Bt Cry1Ac毒素的结合能力。结果表明敏感品系围食膜中蛋白含量为22.19%,抗性品系围食膜中蛋白含量为26.99%。抗、感品系棉铃虫围食膜上存在与Cry1Ac毒素结合的6个差异蛋白,推测其中棉铃虫羧酸酯酶蛋白和血影蛋白是2个有意义的抗性相关蛋白,2个新蛋白可能参与Bt抗性。研究证明棉铃虫围食膜上存在Bt结合蛋白且与抗性相关,为进一步明确Bt抗性机制、制定合理的Bt抗性治理策略提供了理论依据。