Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the CrDAT gene and selection of transgenic periwinkle lines with a high vincristine accumulation

Catharanthus roseus contains vincristine and vinblastine, which are outstanding drugs for cancer. In the biosynthetic pathways of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) in C. roseus, deacetylvindoline 4-O-acetyltransferase (DAT) is a key enzyme that catalyses the last reaction of vindoline biosynthesis to form vinblastine and vincristine. In this study, the CrDAT transgene was transferred into the periwinkle by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and generated transgenic periwinkle lines with an increase in vincristine accumulation. The C. roseus DAT gene was introduced into C. roseus plants and it was confirmed that CrDAT was successfully transferred into the genome of periwinkle plants and efficiently translated to synthesise recombinant DAT protein. Four transgenic periwinkle lines in T1 generation, T1-1, T1-3, T1-6, and T1-7, expressed recombinant DAT protein with the total protein content in the range of 2.86 μg.mg^?1 to 5.12 μg.mg^?1. Moreover, the vincristine contents of four transgenic lines increased by 1.63?2.48-fold compared to non-transgenic plants, ranging from 6.91 µg.g^?1 (fresh weight) to 10.53 µg.g^?1 (fresh weight). The T1-1 line had the highest vincristine content. Hence, the overexpression of the recombinant DAT protein can improve the vincristine accumulation of transgenic C. roseus plants.

Abbreviation: CrDAT - Catharanthus roseus Deacetylvindoline-4-O-Acetyl Transferase; D4H - Deacetoxyvindoline 4-hydroxylase; ELISA - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Monoterpene indole alkaloid; T0, T1 - Generations of transgenic plants; TIAs - Terpenoid indole alkaloids; WT- The wild-type tobacco plants (non transgenic plant); 35S - Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter     

Calibration and validation of optical chlorophyll‐measuring devices for use in predicting crude protein concentration in tropical grass herbage

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the Fieldscout CM 1000 NDVI and Yara N‐Tester as easy‐to‐use and cost‐effective tools for predicting foliar chlorophylls (a, b and total) and crude protein (CP) concentrations in herbage from three tropical grass species. Optical chlorophyll measurements were taken at three stages (4, 8 and 12 weeks) of regrowth maturity in Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and Mulato II (Brachiaria hybrid) and at 6 and 12 weeks maturity in Paspalum spp (Paspalum atratum). Grass samples were harvested subsequent to optical measurements for laboratory analysis to determine CP and solvent‐extractable chlorophylls (a, b and total) concentrations. Optical chlorophyll measurements and CP concentrations were highly correlated (Yara N‐Tester: r² = 0·77–0·89; Fieldscout CM 1000 NDVI: r² = 0·52–0·84). Crude protein prediction models from the Yara N‐Tester and Fieldscout CM 1000 NDVI accounted for 70–89% and 44–73% CP variability, respectively, in Mulato II and Guinea grass. The Yara N‐tester produced more accurate and reliable CP estimates based on very high concordance correlation coefficient [CCC (0·73–0·91)] and low rMSPE, mean and regression bias. It is concluded that the Yara N‐Tester produces more accurate and reliable CP estimates of tropical pastures.     

Neuroprotective Metabolites from Vietnamese Marine Derived Fungi of Aspergillus and Penicillium Genera

Low molecular weight secondary metabolites of marine fungi Aspergillus flocculosus, Aspergillus terreus and Penicillium sp. from Van Phong and Nha Trang Bays (Vietnam) were studied and a number of polyketides, bis-indole quinones and terpenoids were isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS techniques. Stereochemistry of some compounds was established based on ECD data. A chemical structure of asterriquinone F (6) was thoroughly described for the first time. Anthraquinone (13) was firstly obtained from a natural source. Neuroprotective influences of the isolated compounds against 6-OHDA, paraquat and rotenone toxicity were investigated. 4-Hydroxyscytalone (1), 4-hydroxy-6-dehydroxyscytalone (2) and demethylcitreoviranol (3) have shown significant increasing of paraquat- and rotenone-treated Neuro-2a cell viability and anti-ROS activity.     

我国水产品供需形势分析与预测

该文对我国水产品的生产、消费、进出口、价格和供需平衡等总体情况进行总结梳理，认为现阶段我国水产品生产处于高质量发展转型期，面临着水域生态环境破坏严重、贸易保护主义的制约、水产品加工业发展受限和检测手段及产业化落后等问题。水产品消费情况总体呈上涨趋势，消费结构逐渐向质量型和健康型的高端化趋势转变，城镇与农村对水产品消耗量均呈逐年增长的态势。针对当前水产品生产和消费存在的问题，提出了加快推进渔业产业转型升级、提升水产品加工企业竞争力及培育国内消费市场等建议。      

黔东南州打造全域森林公园的可行性研究

指出了建设全域森林公园是经济和社会发展的必然要求。在对黔东南州发展全域森林公园进行必要性和打造条件后认为:黔东南州在打造全域森林公园方面具有明显的政策优势,有着优良的森林生态环境资源,以及良好的林业产业基础等优势条件。通过不断完善相关的配套服务体系,已具备了打造全域森林公园的可行性。     

不同施氮量下覆膜滴灌玉米相对根长密度模型研究

为探明施氮量对宁夏引黄灌区覆膜滴灌玉米根长密度(RLD)的影响,设置5个施氮水平和1个对照(CK,不施氮与不覆膜)进行试验,测定玉米RLD,建立不同施氮量下相对根长密度(NRLD)模型,并加以检验。结果表明:不同施氮处理的玉米RLD分布区域均随土层深度的增加而减小,且大部分集中在0～20 cm土层;随着施氮量的增加,RLD分布区域明显扩大; NRLD分布满足三阶多项式函数模型,模拟曲线的决定系数R2为0.951,模型检验结果R2为0.845,均方根误差(RMSE)为0.248,拟合效果好,但该多项式模型不能保证NRLD在相对取样深度Zr为1时达到0,故对玉米NRLD分布多项式模型进行优化。优化模型验证结果显示,各施氮处理RMSE不大于0.308,CK、N0、N1、N2、N3和N4处理的标准化均方根误差分别为0.242、0.193、0.184、0.226、0.208和0.273,R2分别为0.903、0.953、0.920、0.944、0.962和0.898,具有较高的拟合度,解决了NRLD在Zr=1时达到0的问题。本研究可为宁夏引黄灌区膜下滴灌玉米NRLD分布拟合、根系养分吸收和施肥管理提供理论参考。     

The ecosystem services concept: a new Esperanto to facilitate participatory planning processes?

Landscape Ecology - Several case studies investigated the role of ecosystem services in participatory planning processes. However, no systematic study exists that cuts across a large number of...     

Immunodeficiency associated with lymphosarcoma in a horse.

Immune system dysfunction and immunoglobulin deficiency was diagnosed in a 2-year-old horse with disseminated lymphosarcoma. Prolonged (35 days) parenteral nutrition was delivered to support the horse during a period in which immune function studies could be performed. Correction of nutritional compromise by use of parenteral nutrition did not correct the immunoglobulin deficiency, and results of lymphocyte phenotype testing did not indicate abnormal proportions of leukocytes. Lymphoblast transformation studies were suggestive of a circulating immunosuppressive factor in the horse's serum. Normal cell function was detected when the cells were stimulated in precolostral equine serum.