鸡Ii结合Rab5a和Rab7b分子的分析

本研究旨在探明鸡恒定链（invariant chain，Ii）与内吞体转运蛋白Rab5a和Rab7b结合的结构域和在细胞内共定位的特征。首先，用PCR和基因突变技术将Ii胞浆区与跨膜区[Ii_{（Cyt-Tra）}]、Ii CLIP （class Ⅱ-associated invariant chain peptide）-三聚体区[Ii_{（CLIP-TRIM）}]和Ii突变体[Ii_{（M81-87aa）}、Ii_{（M91-99aa）}和Ii_{（M81-99aa）}]分别插入pET-32a和pEGFP-C1构建相应的原核和真核重组质粒。其次，将构建的含有绿色荧光蛋白的重组质粒与实验室保存的含有红色荧光Rab5a和Rab7b的重组质粒共转染至人胚胎肾细胞系293 T，观察它们的共定位。将构建的原核重组质粒进行表达和纯化，最后用拉下法和免疫印迹检测Ii与Rab5a和Rab7b的结合域。结果表明，成功构建Ii结构域及Ii突变体的重组质粒。Ii_{（Cyt-Tra）}及Ii突变体均能与Rab5a和Rab7b在细胞内共定位，而Ii_{（CLIP-TRIM）}与空载体却不能。Ii的胞浆区和跨膜区是与Rab5a和Rab7b结合的功能结构域，而不是CLIP与三聚体区。综上所述，鸡Ii与Rab5a和Rab7b共定位和结合的区域是其胞浆区和跨膜区，而不是内质网腔区。这些结果提示Rab分子参与了Ii在胞内细胞器的转运机制，为进一步研究Ii及其载体在细胞内的转运机制和功能提供了新的途径。     

草鱼肠系膜脂肪组织高质量总RNA提取方法的研究

基于传统的酸性酚—异硫氰酸胍—氯仿一步提取法,比较分析多种优化操作步骤,摸索出一种高质量提取体质量为80~150 g草鱼肠系膜脂肪组织总RNA的改良方法。试验结果显示,相较于肝脏、脾脏、肠道等脏器组织,草鱼肠系膜脂肪组织RNA丰度低,且极易在样品前处理阶段出现顽固性降解问题。探索发现,将取样量增至约30 mg,可提升RNA产量以满足常规试验需求。针对降解难题,改良常规的样品前处理技术流程,采用鲜样液氮速冻,冻样直接放入TRIzol试剂中裂解,并即刻进行长时间机械匀浆,时长约3 min等核心操作步骤,可显著降低脂肪组织样品RNA的降解。Agilent生物分析仪检测结果显示,改良方法提取的草鱼肠系膜脂肪组织RNA完整度高,关键RIN值为8.7~9.0。研究推测,长时间机械匀浆所形成的持续剪切冲击力或许有助于TRIzol试剂中的异硫氰酸胍等成分突破油滴阻碍而有效抑制内源性RNA酶。本方法提取的草鱼脂肪组织总RNA质量可满足高通量转录组测序要求。     

不同辣椒种质对象耳豆根结线虫的抗性评价

近年来象耳豆根结线虫的危害日益严重.为筛选抗象耳豆根结线虫的辣椒种质,本试验利用种属特异性引物对根结线虫病原物开展分子鉴定,确定为象耳豆根结线虫.接着采用室内人工接种法,对10份一年生辣椒种质和10份中国辣椒种质进行象耳豆根结线虫抗性鉴定,计算根结指数和卵粒指数,并通过比较隶属函数,发现其中3份辣椒种质对象耳豆根结线虫表现为高抗,抗病性最强的是L518M和L525-1M,L42M次之;10份表现为中抗;7份表现为感病,抗病能力最弱的是L69-1M;未发现免疫品种.本研究发现中国辣椒种质的抗病性整体高于一年生辣椒,是重要的抗病种质来源,可用于象耳豆根结线虫抗病育种和后续抗病机理的研究.     

Preparation and properties of solid polymer electrolyte based on imidazolium-based ionic liquids for structural capacitors

We prepared solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) composed of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether acrylate (1A9OMe) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([EMIm][OTF]) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl) imide ([EMIm][TFSI]) as the ionic liquid. The SPEs formed by appropriately adding ionic liquids in the 1A9OMe prior to thermal cure. The ratio of 1A9OMe and ionic liquid was 1:9, 3:7, and 5:5, respectively. The characterization of solid polymer electrolytes were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the attenuated total reflectance mode (FTIR-ATR), Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and glavanostatic charge-discharge test. The highest ionic conductivity of SPEs was found to be 4.90×10^?4 S/cm in a 1A9OMe/[EMIm][OTF] of 3:7. As IL contents were increased, the specific capacitance of supercapacitor was increased. The specific capacitance of supercapacitor for ionic liquid with large ion size was lower than that for ionic liquid with smaller ion size.     

Plant species identification using fecal DNAs from red-eared slider and Reeves’ pond turtle in agricultural canals for rural ecosystem conservation

Fecal DNA samples from the red-eared slider and Reeves’ pond turtle, suspected pests of lotus root paddies, were used to identify the plant species eaten by these turtles in order to develop a strategy for rural ecosystem conservation. The fecal samples were obtained from young and adult individuals (mostly female) of both species living in agricultural canals surrounding lotus root paddies in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. The samples were screened for the presence or absence of DNA from nine plant species using PCR and plant species-specific primers for the rbcL gene of chloroplast DNA. In the red-eared slider, our analysis identified seven plant species in the fecal DNA samples of adults and three plant species in those of young individuals. In Reeves’ pond turtle, our analysis identified two plant species from adult fecal samples and one species from those of young individuals. Thus, adult red-eared sliders consume a greater range of plants than young red-eared sliders or Reeves’ pond turtles. Both turtle species, independently of age, consumed lotus plants and were likely to cause feeding damage to lotus roots. Considering the plant species detected in adult red-eared sliders and these plant habitats, we suggest that this adult turtle is likely to travel between the agricultural canals and the lotus root paddies. These findings will help the development of strategies for preventing damage to lotus roots by these turtles; furthermore, they indicate that fecal DNA analysis will be applicable to investigation of the feeding habits of other animal species.     

Vole abundance and reindeer carcasses determine breeding activity of Arctic foxes in low Arctic Yamal,Russia

Background

High latitude ecosystems are at present changing rapidly under the influence of climate warming, and specialized Arctic species at the southern margin of the Arctic may be particularly affected. The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), a small mammalian predator endemic to northern tundra areas, is able to exploit different resources in the context of varying tundra ecosystems. Although generally widespread, it is critically endangered in subarctic Fennoscandia, where a fading out of the characteristic lemming cycles and competition with abundant red foxes have been identified as main threats. We studied an Arctic fox population at the Erkuta Tundra Monitoring site in low Arctic Yamal (Russia) during 10 years in order to determine which resources support the breeding activity in this population. In the study area, lemmings have been rare during the last 15 years and red foxes are nearly absent, creating an interesting contrast to the situation in Fennoscandia.

Results

Arctic fox was breeding in nine of the 10 years of the study. The number of active dens was on average 2.6 (range 0–6) per 100 km² and increased with small rodent abundance. It was also higher after winters with many reindeer carcasses, which occurred when mortality was unusually high due to icy pastures following rain-on-snow events. Average litter size was 5.2 (SD = 2.1). Scat dissection suggested that small rodents (mostly Microtus spp.) were the most important prey category. Prey remains observed at dens show that birds, notably waterfowl, were also an important resource in summer.

Conclusions

The Arctic fox in southern Yamal, which is part of a species-rich low Arctic food web, seems at present able to cope with a state shift of the small rodent community from high amplitude cyclicity with lemming dominated peaks, to a vole community with low amplitude fluctuations. The estimated breeding parameters characterized the population as intermediate between the lemming fox and the coastal fox ecotype. Only continued ecosystem-based monitoring will reveal their fate in a changing tundra ecosystem.

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lupinus albus</Emphasis> Conglutin Gamma Modifies the Gene Expressions of Enzymes Involved in Glucose Hepatic Production <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vivo</Emphasis>

Lupinus albus seeds contain conglutin gamma (Cγ) protein, which exerts a hypoglycemic effect and positively modifies proteins involved in glucose homeostasis. Cγ could potentially be used to manage patients with impaired glucose metabolism, but there remains a need to evaluate its effects on hepatic glucose production. The present study aimed to analyze G6pc, Fbp1, and Pck1 gene expressions in two experimental animal models of impaired glucose metabolism. We also evaluated hepatic and renal tissue integrity following Cγ treatment. To generate an insulin resistance model, male Wistar rats were provided 30% sucrose solution ad libitum for 20 weeks. To generate a type 2 diabetes model (STZ), five-day-old rats were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin (150 mg/kg). Each animal model was randomized into three subgroups that received the following oral treatments daily for one week: 0.9% w/v NaCl (vehicle; IR-Ctrl and STZ-Ctrl); metformin 300 mg/kg (IR-Met and STZ-Met); and Cγ 150 mg/kg (IR-Cγ and STZ-Cγ). Biochemical parameters were assessed pre- and post-treatment using colorimetric or enzymatic methods. We also performed histological analysis of hepatic and renal tissue. G6pc, Fbp1, and Pck1 gene expressions were quantified using real-time PCR. No histological changes were observed in any group. Post-treatment G6pc gene expression was decreased in the IR-Cγ and STZ-Cγ groups. Post-treatment Fbp1 and Pck1 gene expressions were reduced in the IR-Cγ group but increased in STZ-Cγ animals. Overall, these findings suggest that Cγ is involved in reducing hepatic glucose production, mainly through G6pc inhibition in impaired glucose metabolism disorders.     

Application of silver nanoparticles as an antibacterial mordant in wool natural dyeing: Synthesis,antibacterial activity,and color characteristics

Madder is a natural colorant which is commonly applied with metal salts as a mordant to improve its affinity to fibers and color fastness. Madder produces an insoluble complex or lake in the presence of metal ions on mordanted fabric. In this study, wool fabric was pretreated with AgNPs (silver nanoparticles) as a mordant, then dyed with madder. The wool fabric samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their colorimetric characteristics were evaluated. The formation of spherical silver nanoparticle was confirmed using UV-Visible spectroscopy, SEM images, and elemental analysis. The average size of synthesized silver nanoparticles on the surface of wool fibers is around 73 nm. The dyed wool samples were pretreated with different concentration of Ag⁺ ions or AgNPs, which showed higher color strength value compared to untreated dyed wool fabric. This pretreatment also presented good antibacterial activity.