高温处理西花蓟马若虫对其雌成虫寿命、繁殖力及后代发育的影响

温度是影响昆虫生长发育的重要生态因素之一,高温逆境作为一种绿色防控手段可以有效控制温室害虫种群发展。为了探究高温处理西花蓟马若虫对其种群发展的影响,本试验用41℃和43℃两个温度分别处理西花蓟马初孵若虫2、6、12、24和36h后,观察并记录其雌成虫寿命、繁殖力及后代发育指标的变化情况。结果表明,随着处理时间的延长,两个高温处理后西花蓟马雌成虫寿命,子代若虫总数、成虫总数和总存活率(若虫发育到成虫的存活率)均显著下降,后代雌雄性比呈总体下降趋势。41℃处理后,性比从2.30∶1降低到2.13∶1;43℃处理后从2.25∶1降低到2.07∶1,均明显低于对照的2.69∶1。另外,两性生殖种群相比于孤雌生殖种群更易遭受高温处理的影响。     

Bacillus thuringiensis vegetative insecticidal protein family Vip3A and mode of action against pest Lepidoptera

Vip3A proteins are widely used for controlling pest Lepidoptera. Different binding sites with different receptors in the insect midgut membrane and lack of cross‐resistance with crystal (Cry) proteins enhance their applicability, as both single proteins and proteins pyramided with Cry proteins in transgenic Bt crops. Vip3A proteins are effective but there is relatively little information about their structure, function, activation, specificity, and mode of action. In addition, the mechanism of insect resistance to these proteins is unknown. Phylogenetic analysis and multiple sequence alignment showed that Vip3A proteins are genetically distant from Cry proteins. The mode of action and insecticidal activity of Vip3A proteins are discussed in this review. This review also provides detailed information about the Vip3A protein family that may aid in the design of more efficient pest management strategies in response to insect resistance to insecticidal proteins. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

An immunocytochemical procedure for protein localization in various nematode life stages combined with plant tissues using methylacrylate-embedded specimens

Plant-parasitic nematodes possess a large number of proteins that are secreted in planta, allowing them to be successful parasites of plants. The majority of these proteins are synthesized mainly in the nematode subventral and dorsal glands as well as in other organs. To improve the immunovisualization of these proteins, we adapted a methacrylate embedding method for the localization of proteins inside nematode tissues, and extracellularly when secreted in planta or within plant cells. An important advantage is that the method is applicable for all nematode stages: preparasitic as well as parasitic stages, including large mature females. Herein, the method has been successfully applied for the localization of four nematode secreted proteins, such as Mi-MAP-1, Mi-CBM2-bearing proteins, Mi-PEL3, and Mi-6D4. In addition, we could also localize 14-3-3 proteins, as well as two cytoskeletal proteins, by double-immunolabeling on preparasitic juveniles. Superior preservation of nematode and plant morphology, allowed more accurate protein localization as compared with other methods. Besides excellent epitope preservation, dissolution of methacrylate from tissue sections unmasks target proteins and thereby drastically increases antibody access.     

Post-translational modifications in effectors and plant proteins involved in host–pathogen conflicts

Molecular interplay between two species is largely driven by protein–protein interactions and protein modifications that set the pace of co-evolution in these species. During host–pathogen interactions, proteins involved in virulence and defence impart tempospatial dynamic post-translational modifications (PTMs) to gain advantage for the causative species. Pathogens mainly cause disease in plant hosts by secreting elicitors (peptides and small molecules) or proteins in the inter- and intracellular space of host cells. These pathogen proteins have evolved a wide array of sophisticated mechanisms to manipulate host responses, including resistance. Through a set of diverse events ranging from PTMs to post-translational oligomerization, these proteins are able to enhance virulence and suppress the otherwise elaborate plant immune system. Similarly, PTMs adapted by host proteins often lead to the activation of a robust defence response. Insights into the PTMs of pathogen and host proteins are therefore germane to the understanding of the co-evolutionary arms race. This review summarizes the characterization of PTMs in pathogen effectors and their target host proteins. Based on this, a metaphorical view of host–pathogen conflicts is proposed, where PTMs act as molecular pivots in a 3D combinatorial game model – a novel abstraction of the arms race, where these molecular pivots restore the balance of competition between the two organisms.     

The coat proteins and putative movement proteins of isolates of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus from different host species and geographic origins are extensively conserved

A complete sequence for the RNA 3 of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) is described (Genbank Accession U57046). Primers from this sequence were used to amplify both the movement protein and coat protein genes of 3 other isolates of PNRSV originating from different host species and geographic locations. Comparisons of these sequences with those of other published sequences for PNRSV and the closely related apple mosaic virus (ApMV) showed that both the movement proteins and coat proteins of isolates of PNRSV are extensively conserved irrespective of either the original host or the geographic origin. The movement protein and coat protein of ApMV and PNRSV are sufficiently conserved to suggest that these two viruses may have evolved from a common ancestor. The amino acid sequence of the two coat proteins shows areas of similarity and difference that would explain the serological continuum reported to occur among isolates of these two viruses. Nevertheless, the movement protein and coat protein of the two viruses are sufficiently different so that ApMV and PNRSV should be considered to be distinct viruses.     

Quinone Binding Sites of Membrane Proteins as Targets for Inhibitors

Quinones are a central component of most photosynthetic and respiratory electron transfer chains. The proteins that reduce and oxidise these quinones have quinone binding sites—Q sites—that are good targets for pesticides. This paper reviews the diversity of these sites, their possible structure, and the types of compounds that act upon them.     

稻瘟菌Rho族蛋白及其编码基因表达特点

 Rho族蛋白是Ras超家族小G蛋白最主要成员,在真核生物中极为保守,包括Rho、Rac、Cdc42等,作为分子开关,参与细胞极性、细胞运动、细胞形状、细胞间及细胞与其基质互作等多个信号转导途径。基因组数据库分析显示,稻瘟菌中含有30余个小G蛋白,其中7个可能是Rho族蛋白,包括Cdc42、Rac1及5个Rho亚家族蛋白。结构分析表明,7个推导的Rho族蛋白均具有典型结构域。进一步以半定量RT-PCR分析了稻瘟菌7个Rho族蛋白编码基因在菌丝、分生孢子、芽管以及附着胞等不同生长发育阶段的表达情况。结果表明,Rho族蛋白编码基因具有不同的表达模式。通过BLASTP搜索GenBank等数据库,获得迄今已公布的真菌Rho1、Cdc42和Rac1蛋白序列,建立了系统发育树,一定程度地反映了真菌进化关系,说明在真菌进化中Rho族蛋白的结构与功能也经历了共同演化的过程。     

香蕉枯萎病菌1号小种分泌蛋白与效应子的预测与分析

 由尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型1号小种(Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 1,Foc1)引起的香蕉枯萎病是香蕉生产上的毁灭性病害之一。分泌蛋白作为一类重要致病因子,在Foc1与香蕉互作过程中起着重要作用。本文利用SignalP、WoLF PSORT、TargetP、TMHMM和big-PI Predictor等生物信息学软件,对Foc1全基因组编码的15 438条蛋白质氨基酸序列进行了分泌蛋白及效应子的预测分析。结果表明,Foc1全基因组编码蛋白中有988个经典分泌蛋白,占编码蛋白总数的6.40%。蛋白特征分析表明,其氨基酸长度主要集中在101~500个氨基酸(占总数的71.26%),信号肽长度集中在17~20个氨基酸(占61.94%),信号肽切割位点以SPaseⅠ型为主(占92.91%)。碳水化合物酶类(CAZymes)分析表明,有281个分泌蛋白属于CAZymes,其中以糖苷水解酶家族最多。对细胞壁降解酶类分析表明,有27个分泌蛋白属于纤维素降解酶类,73个属于果胶降解酶类,42个属于木聚糖降解酶类。以氨基酸长度≤400和半胱氨酸残基数≥4为筛选条件,发现Foc1经典分泌蛋白中有378个候选效应子。qRT-PCR分析表明,7个候选效应子均在香蕉组织提取物诱导后获得上调表达,从实验角度证实了其为真正的效应子。     

Post-genomics of microsporidia, with emphasis on a model of minimal eukaryotic proteome: a review

The genome sequence of the microsporidian parasite Encephalitozoon cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau et Schoen, 1923 contains about 2,000 genes that are representative of a non-redundant potential proteome composed of 1,909 protein chains. The purpose of this review is to relate some advances in the characterisation of this proteome through bioinformatics and experimental approaches. The reduced diversity of the set of E. cuniculi proteins is perceptible in all the compilations of predicted domains, orthologs, families and superfamilies, available in several public databases. The phyletic patterns of orthologs for seven eukaryotic organisms support an extensive gene loss in the fungal clade, with additional deletions in E. cuniculi. Most microsporidial orthologs are the smallest ones among eukaryotes, justifying an interest in the use of these compacted proteins to better discriminate between essential and non-essential regions. The three components of the E. cuniculi mRNA capping apparatus have been especially well characterized and the three-dimensional structure of the cap methyltransferase has been elucidated following the crystallisation of the microsporidial enzyme Ecm1. So far, our mass spectrometry-based analyses of the E. cuniculi spore proteome has led to the identification of about 170 proteins, one-quarter of these having no clearly predicted function. Immunocytochemical studies are in progress to determine the subcellular localisation of microsporidia-specific proteins. Post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and glycosylation are expected to be soon explored.     

草莓胶孢炭疽菌CFEM候选效应子的生物信息学鉴定及其侵染过程中的转录分析

病原真菌通常分泌效应子到寄主组织中调控寄主的生理过程,从而有利于其侵染。CFEM(common in several fungal extracellular membrane)蛋白是真菌所独有的,且与致病性密切相关。本研究利用Pfam数据库对草莓胶孢炭疽菌全基因组进行搜索,鉴定获得22个CFEM蛋白。对CFEM蛋白的信号肽、跨膜结构域和亚细胞定位进行分析,结果表明仅有8个CFEM蛋白为分泌蛋白。对CFEM分泌蛋白在不同侵染阶段的转录情况进行转录组学及RT-PCR分析,结果显示8个CFEM蛋白在侵染后不同时期均有表达。其中,1个CFEM分泌蛋白于附着胞形成期特异表达,2个于活体寄生阶段特异表达,2个于死体寄生阶段特异表达。综合上述分析结果,预测这8个分泌蛋白可能为草莓胶孢炭疽菌的效应子。本研究为深入解析植物病原真菌CFEM效应子提供了理论依据。     

Engineering of Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal proteins

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has been used as sprayable pesticides for many decades. Bt strains utilized in these products produce multiple insecticidal proteins to complement a narrow insect specificity of each protein. In the late 1990s, genes encoding Bt insecticidal proteins were expressed in crop plants such as cotton and corn to protect these crops from insect damage. The first Bt protein used in transgenic cotton was Cry1Ac to control Heliothis virescens (tobacco budworm). Cry1Ab was applied to corn to control Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer). Since these insects have developed resistance to Cry1Ac and Cry1Ab, new Bt proteins are required to overcome the resistance. In order to protect corn furthermore, it is desired to control Diabrotica virgifera (Western corn rootworm), Helicoverpa zea (corn earworm) and Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm). Recently, many new Bt insecticidal proteins have been discovered, but most of them require protein engineering to meet the high activity standard for commercialization. The engineering process for higher activity necessary for Bt crops is called optimization. The seed industry has been optimizing Bt insecticidal proteins to improve their insecticidal activity. In this review, several optimization projects, which have led to substantial activity increases of Bt insecticidal proteins, are described.     

基于iTRAQ定量蛋白质组技术筛选‘华月’苹果斑点落叶病抗性相关蛋白

 为了探讨苹果叶片抗病相关蛋白的表达特性,进一步解析苹果叶片自身防御反应分子机制,本文以抗病苹果品种‘华月’为试材,采用iTRAQ定量蛋白质组技术分析苹果链格孢菌处理前后,苹果叶片总蛋白差异表达情况。结果表明,与无菌水处理的叶片相比,病原菌接种后的叶片共筛选到433个差异表达蛋白,聚类分析结果较好,其中257个蛋白显著上调,176个蛋白显著下调。进一步开展差异蛋白筛选及功能分析,筛选后的53个蛋白依据功能可划分为7类,分别为代谢过程相关,防御或逆境应答反应相关,蛋白质代谢过程相关,细胞分裂相关,细胞壁修饰相关,细胞过程相关及其他功能未知蛋白。代谢通路分析表明,KEGG共富集到7个结果,64个蛋白在7条通路中得到注释,且这些蛋白对这7条信号通路均具有显著影响(P<0.05)。亚细胞定位分析结果表明,共49个蛋白得到成功定位,其中35个蛋白定位于叶绿体,表明叶片细胞中大量的叶绿体蛋白参与了病原菌胁迫应答反应。其他蛋白中,7个定位于细胞质,3个定位于细胞质膜,其余4个分别定位于细胞壁、胞外、过氧化物酶体及内质网。除了防御或逆境反应相关蛋白,光合作用及其他代谢相关蛋白也参与了苹果叶片细胞的防御反应。病程相关的PR类蛋白中包括3个过氧化物酶类蛋白(PR-9)、1个类甜蛋白(PR-5)及1个MLP样蛋白(PR-10),过敏反应相关的MLP样蛋白在果树应答逆境胁迫的研究中的报道较少,MLP蛋白的差异表达可能也与苹果叶片的防御反应相关。本研究进一步证实了苹果叶片应答链格孢菌胁迫的抗性相关蛋白中,PR类蛋白的差异表达可能是影响苹果叶片细胞抗病反应的关键因子,研究结果为进一步解析果树抗病分子机制提供了参考。     

腰带长体茧蜂Macrocentrus cingulum毒液和卵巢蛋白的电泳分析

寄生蜂毒液和卵巢蛋白在寄生过程中起着重要作用,蛋白成分和性质的研究日益深入。本文主要通过SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)试验,分析了腰带长体茧蜂毒液和卵巢蛋白的分子量组成。结果表明,腰带长体茧蜂毒液蛋白图谱显示约有7条蛋白带介于43～100kDa之间,含量较高的三条带为97kDa、64kDa、45kDa;卵巢蛋白图谱显示约有12条蛋白带,位于30～200kDa之间,含量较高的两条带为39kDa、43kDa。并对毒液和卵巢的生物学功能进行了探讨。     

Identification of Maize Kernel Endosperm Proteins Associated with Resistance to Aflatoxin Contamination by Aspergillus flavus

ABSTRACT Aflatoxins are carcinogens produced mainly by Aspergillus flavus during infection of susceptible crops such as maize (Zea mays). Previously, embryo proteins from maize genotypes resistant or susceptible to A. flavus infection were compared using proteomics, and resistance-associated proteins were identified. Here, we report the comparison of maize endosperm proteins from five resistant and five susceptible genotypes, and the identification of additional resistance-associated proteins using the same approach. Ten protein spots were upregulated twofold or higher in resistant lines compared with susceptible ones. Peptide sequencing of these proteins identified them as a globulin-2 protein, late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEA3 and LEA14), a stress-related peroxiredoxin antioxidant (PER1), heat-shock proteins (HSP17.2), a cold-regulated protein (COR), and an antifungal trypsin-inhibitor protein (TI). The gene encoding one such upregulated protein, PER1, was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The overexpressed PER1 protein demonstrated peroxidase activity in vitro. In addition, per1 expression was significantly higher in the resistant genotype Mp420 than in the susceptible genotype B73 during the late stage of kernel development, and was significantly induced upon A. flavus infection, suggesting that it may play an important role in enhancing kernel stress tolerance and aflatoxin resistance. The significance of other identified proteins to host resistance and stress tolerance also is discussed.     

Emerging roles of molecular chaperones in plant innate immunity

Molecular chaperones and co-chaperones are proteins that aid in the folding and assembly of other macromolecular structures or complexes. Although growing evidence suggests that molecular chaperones and co-chaperones play critical roles in plant innate immunity, the molecular mechanism of how these proteins contribute to defense signaling remains largely unknown. In this review, we highlight the cytoplasmic chaperones, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident lectin chaperones, and enzymes that have been identified from genetic and “omic” approaches and shown to be involved in plant–microbe interactions. We also discuss the roles of molecular chaperones in plant innate immunity and emerging mechanisms underlying the biogenesis of plant pathogen-associated molecular pattern receptors in the ER.     

转基因食品的检测方法

目前，世界各国对转基因食品的检测主要从外源DNA和蛋白两种生物大分子入手，所广泛采用的方法有聚合酶链式反应（PCR）、生物芯片技术（Biochips)、酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）和侧流技术（Lateral Flow)。本文综述了各种方法的原理以及这些方法用于检测转基因食品时的优缺点。     

Infection-related proteins in intercellular washing fluids from stem rust-affected wheat leaves: race-associated protein differences revealed by PAGE and Con A blotting

Primary leaves of wheat were infiltrated with buffer and subjected to gentle centrifugation to yield intercellular washing fluid (IWF). Proteins in these fluids were separated by isoelectric focusing-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, stained with Coomassie brilliant blue, or first blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes and then probed for concanavalin A (Con A) binding. β- -Xylosidase isozymes endogenous in IWF served as internal standards for comparison of Con A-binding proteins between samples. Intercellular washing fluid from leaves infected with each of four races of the stem rust fungus contained infection-related proteins. Many of these, including several of the most prominent Con A-binding proteins, differed between the four samples either in amount or in relative mobility. To confirm that these differences were race-associated, leaves were infected with five isolates of one race and similarly analysed. The five isolates had been collected in different years and in widely separated geographic areas to emphasize inter-isolate differences, if they exist. Leaves infected with each of the five isolates yielded indistinguishable patterns of Con A-binding IWF proteins.     

苹果叶片应答斑点落叶病菌胁迫的蛋白质组学分析

In order to elucidate key proteins related to disease-resistance in apple leaves,the total proteins were extracted from control and infected apple leaves, and separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The differential expressed proteins were then identified by MALDI-TOF-TOF/MS.In total, 25 differential expressed proteins were detected by Image Master Software. After tryptic digestion, MALDI-TOF-TOF/MS analysis and database searching, 20 protein spots were finally identified, including 11 functional proteins related to photosynthesis, energy metabolism, stress and defense responses. The pathogenesis-related proteins involved in defense responses such as APX, GPX and Mal d1 were differentially expressed in apple leaves. It indicates that these proteins may play a key role in the resistance to A. alternata apple pathotype.     

Insect midgut structures and molecules as targets of plant‐derived protease inhibitors and lectins

The midgut of insects is involved in digestion, osmoregulation and immunity. Although several defensive strategies are present in this organ, its organization and function may be disturbed by some insecticidal agents, including bioactive proteins like lectins and protease inhibitors (PIs) from plants. PIs interfere with digestion, leading to poor nutrient absorption and decreasing amino acid bioavailability. Intake of PIs can delay development, cause deformities and reduce fertility. Ingestion of PIs may lead to changes in the set of proteases secreted in the insect gut, but this response is often insufficient and results in aggravation of the malnutrition status. Lectins are proteins that are able to interact with glycoconjugates, including those linked to cell surfaces. Their effects on the midgut include disruption of the peritrophic matrix, brush border and secretory cell layer; induction of apoptosis and oxidative stress; interference with nutrient absorption and transport proteins; and damaging effects on symbionts. In addition, lectins can cross the intestinal barrier and reach the hemolymph. The establishment of resistant insect populations due to selective pressure resulting from massive use of a bioactive protein is an actual possibility, but this can be minimized by the multiple mode‐of‐action of these proteins, mainly the lectins. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry