小麦EST数据批量分析平台的构建与应用

为进行EST数据批量分析,构建了EST／cDNA序列数据高通量、自动化分析平台。该平台基于Linux操作系统,主要由一些免费软件和perl程序构成．具有自动组装EST序列、查找同源基因、注释基因功能,同时具有进行基因分类等功能。利用该平台对小麦水分胁迫诱导表达的5个cDNA文库的6733条EST序列进行全面分析,初步建立了小麦水分胁迫诱导的基因表达谱。检测结果表明。小麦EST数据批量分析平台为批量EST序列的生物信息学分析提供了实用、便捷工具。     

向日葵锈菌夏孢子转录组微卫星特征分析

为大规模开发有效的向日葵锈菌SSR标记,根据向日葵锈菌转录组数据,使用Ubuntu 12.04 LTS系统的Perl操作平台MISA软件对向日葵锈菌转录组序列进行高通量微卫星SSR位点发掘。在15 946条转录本中发现20 861个SSR,平均3.97kb出现一个SSR。共发现244种碱基重复模式,(A/T)n所占比例最高,达到88.24%。在42 610条注释成功的向日葵锈菌unigene中,含有SSR的序列14 069条,共发现18 100个SSR位点,其中位于编码区1 057个,出现频率为0.382 2 SSR/kb,非编码区为0.300 1 SSR/kb;其中以单核苷重复基序为主导,共有19 046条,占总SSR的59.5%;其次是三碱基微卫星(804,占3.86%)。大部分微卫星长度小于20bp,长度大于20bp的仅占7.37%。研究结果显示,微卫星与基因平均表达水平存在关联,含微卫星基因的平均表达水平低于不含微卫星基因的平均表达水平。包含SSR的15 946条unigene中只有5 863个unigene获得了GO分类号,被注释到分子功能、生物进程、细胞组分三大本体。通过生物信息学软件得到的转录组SSR标记位点可用于后续向日葵锈菌遗传多样性研究,而且对其他非模式生物或新物种SSR标记开发也具有重要的参考作用。     

茉莉酸和乙烯信号转导途径参与花生应答果腐病病原菌侵染的转录组测序分析（英文）

花生果腐病是花生生产上的一种重要病害,对花生的产量和品质构成了严重威胁。本研究以花育20号感病前后籽仁为样品,进行转录组测序,得到Unigene 60 756个,其中表达量上调的基因10 147个,下调的基因4 334个;GO富集分析表明,差异表达基因被分类到24种细胞组分、5种分子功能和23种生物过程中;KEGG富集分析发现有4 291个差异基因被注释到34条代谢通路中。筛选得到多条花生响应果腐病相关的激素信号转导途径,通过分析相关基因的表达图谱,推测花生可能通过JA/ET介导的抗病途径来抵抗果腐病病原菌的侵染。     

茶谷蛾成虫触角转录组及嗅觉相关基因分析

为筛选茶谷蛾嗅觉相关基因,采用IlluminaHiSeq 4000高通量测序平台分别对茶谷蛾雌雄成虫触角进行转录组测序及生物信息学分析,共获得茶谷蛾触角转录组37 708条unigenes。通过同源性比对,在NR数据库成功注释16 027条unigenes;有11 701条unigenes得到GO注释,根据其功能可分为细胞组分、分子功能和生物过程三大类40亚类;有6 047个unigenes得到KOG注释,按照功能分为25类;根据KEGG数据库,有12 009条unigenes注释到283个通路。根据注释信息,挖掘到238个候选嗅觉相关基因,包括108个气味结合蛋白基因,55个气味/嗅觉受体基因,26个味觉受体基因、25个离子型受体基因、11个化学感受蛋白基因、4个感觉神经元膜蛋白基因、4个感官知觉基因、4个化学感受受体基因和1个气味降解酶基因。通过基因差异表达分析,筛选出12个气味结合蛋白基因、9个气味/嗅觉受体基因、4个信息素结合蛋白、3个味觉受体基因、1个化学感受蛋白基因和1个离子型受体蛋白基因。本研究获得了茶谷蛾触角转录组数据,并鉴定出候选嗅觉相关基因,为进一步研究茶谷蛾的基因功能及嗅觉感受机制奠定分子基础。     

玉米穗粒腐病差异表达基因的生物信息学分析

结合基因功能分类体系(Gene Ontology,GO)对筛选得到的玉米穗粒腐病差异表达基因片段进行全面生物学功能注释。以抗玉米穗粒腐病的自交系Bt-1为材料,接种串珠镰刀菌(Fusarium moniliforme),对接菌后96 h的玉米苞叶样品以玉米全基因组基因芯片进行大规模筛选,利用分子注释系统(Molecular Annotation System,MAS)对筛选得到的基因片段进行GO分子功能注释,分析特征基因的功能。结果表明,利用基因芯片从抗性材料Bt-1中获得的482条差异代表序列,GO注释获得大量重要信息,对应的基因注释包括分子功能、生物过程和细胞组分3个层次。GO能够准确预测与玉米穗粒腐病相关抗病基因的功能,对于了解表达基因之间的相互关系和深入挖掘、理解高通量数据等方面的具有重大帮助,是研究抗病基因不可或缺的生物学信息手段。     

烟草疫霉侵染前后剑麻叶片转录组学研究

为克隆剑麻受斑马纹病病原菌烟草疫霉侵染后的应答基因,以病原菌侵染前后的剑麻H.11648叶片为材料,构建剑麻转录组Unigene数据库;组装得到非冗余Unigene 131 422个,其中,500~1 000 bp的Unigene占总数65.39%,Unigene的数量随其长度递减。GO分类分析发现:在得到的所有Unigene中,注释到生物过程的基因最多(152 835);细胞组分其次(129 197);参与分子功能的最少(47 420)。KEGG代谢通路分析将剑麻转录组unigene分成128类,其中,参与生化代谢通路的Unigene最多,有9 354个,占总数27.09%;参与植物-病原互作代谢通路的基因有1 795个,占总数5.2%。基因表达丰度RPKM值显示上调基因9 415个,下调基因28 980个,其中参与病原互作的基因占680个。     

青稞转录组SSR位点及其基因功能分析

为了探讨青稞转录中SSR位点信息及其所在基因的生物学功能,使用MISA软件分析青稞转录组中SSR的分布频率和重复基元的基本类型,通过BLASTX对含有SSR的Unigene与nr、COG、Swiss-Prot和KEGG等公共数据库进行比对和功能注释。结果表明,在青稞转录组拼接得到的58 065个Unigene中发现9 576条序列中含有11 930个SSR位点,SSR发生频率为16.49%,平均每6.63kb出现1个SSR位点,共有119种重复基元(motif)。青稞转录组SSR出现频率最高的是三核苷酸重复基元(64.19%),其次是二核苷酸重复基元(24.05%)。AG/CT和AGG/CCT、CCG/CGG、AGC/CTG分别是二核苷酸重复和三核苷酸重复中的优势重复基元。在转录组中SSR重复次数以5~12次为主,基序长度主要集中在12~25bp,平均长度为21.15bp。9 576个含SSR的Unigene与nr、COG、Swiss-Prot和KEGG等公共数据库进行BLASTX比对,分别得到7 987、5 559、5 588和2 077个注释。通过基因功能注释发现青稞转录组中含SSR的序列主要与生物的基础代谢相关。     

滨麦叶片转录组分析

滨麦（Leymus mollis）是小麦的野生近缘种,具有良好的耐盐抗旱和抗病虫害的能力,是小麦遗传育种的良好资源。为了深入了解和挖掘滨麦的基因信息和优异资源,本研究利用高通量测序技术对生长于滨海沙地的野生滨麦的叶片转录组进行了深度测序并组装,对得到的所有Unigene进行COG、GO和KEGG分类和功能注释,对Na⁺转运相关蛋白基因和氧化胁迫响应基因进行了挖掘,并通过实时荧光定量反转录PCR（qRT-PCR）对随机选取的12个基因的表达模式进行了验证。结果显示,转录组测序共获得112 846条Unigene,其中的59 380条得到功能注释,占总数的52.62%。COG分类结果表明,15 786条Unigene归属于25个类别。GO分类结果表明,20 350条Unigene被注释到三个大类中,其中,属于“生物学过程”的Unigene数量最多,占总数的43.56%。KEGG分析结果表明,18 550条Unigene得到注释,共涉及到128条代谢途径。其中,含Unigene数量最多的类别是“代谢通路”,涉及到的Unigene占总数的27.86%。“植物病原互作”和“植物激素信号转导途径”涉及的Unigene数量也较多,分别为1 367条和861条。对Na⁺转运相关蛋白基因和氧化胁迫响应基因进行挖掘,发现了15条注释为Na⁺/H⁺反向转运蛋白的Unigene和175条响应氧化胁迫的Unigene。随机选取的12个基因的qRT-PCR结果与转录组测序结果基本一致。     

利用转录组测序对不同贮藏温度处理玉米种子的苗期差异表达基因分析

利用常温与低温贮藏3个月的玉米杂交种种子进行标准发芽试验,取发芽7 d玉米幼苗进行转录组测序分析,通过GO、KOG、KEGG数据库分析处理差异表达基因的功能和参与的调控路径。以常温贮藏处理为参考,对转录组测序数据进行比较,低温贮藏处理共获得35个差异表达基因,其中上调基因28个、下调基因7个。在GO功能注释分析中,有26个差异基因被注释,可为分为18个功能分类。KOG功能注释分析发现,这些差异表达基因共获得19个功能注释,涉及到8个功能类别。KEGG通路分析发现,共有23个差异表达基因注释到13个代谢通路中,其中,谷胱甘肽代谢、抗坏血酸和肌醇代谢、甘油磷脂代谢等通路显著富集。低温贮藏处理玉米种子活力指数显著高于常温贮藏处理。通过两个处理转录组分析,RNA-seq数据揭示,谷胱甘肽、抗坏血酸和肌醇、甘油磷脂等中涉及的基因优先表达于低温贮藏处理中,表明LTS可以促进谷胱甘肽代谢,从而提高植物抗氧化性,同时可以提高玉米抗逆性。     

软腐病菌侵染下菜心叶片的转录组分析

为探讨软腐病菌侵染下菜心转录组功能基因信息,采用BGISEQ-500高通量测序技术对软腐病菌侵染下菜心叶片进行转录组测序,平均每个样获得47.27 M clean reads,Q20值均大于95%,共检测到表达的Unigene为36 760个,其中已知的有35 327个,预测新Unigene有1 433个;共检测出19 549个新转录本,其长度主要集中在300~2000 nt。功能注释结果显示,有32 047个Unigene在Nr数据库获得注释,其中注释到芸薹属白菜上的Unigene最多;GO功能共注释到12 588个Unigene;KEGG数据库注释到18 583个Unigene,涉及到137个代谢通路。共获得21 776个组间差异表达基因（differential expression genes, DEGs）,其中对照与发病前期组间的DEGs有15 007个,6 137个上调表达,8 870个下调表达;发病前期与发病中期组间DEGs有13 118个,10 278个上调表达,2 840个下调表达;发病中期与发病后期组间DEGs有11 293个,1 790个上调表达,9 503个下调表达。DEGs的Ven图分析显示5 110个基因在每组间均存在差异,DEGs功能分析显示DEGs参与泛素蛋白降解途径、过氧化物酶体途径、光合碳固定途径、糖酵解途径等多种生命活动。本研究结果为深入开展菜心抗软腐病基因组学和分子生物学研究奠定基础。     

Comparative Assessment of the Efficacy of Various Nitrogen Fertilizers

Summary

The efficiency of N fertilizers is usually poor; often less than 50% of the applied N is taken up by the crop. This review focuses on various N fertilizers with respect to the significance of different N loss pathways, namely (i) ammonia volatilization, (ii) dinitrogen and nitrogen oxide emissions, and (iii) nitrate leaching. Further, the significance of biological N immobilization, ammonium fixation and, finally, the impact of nitrate vs. ammonium uptake on crop yield are also discussed. The reviewed literature shows that N fertilizers may differ markedly in their susceptibility to losses. There is, however, considerable scope to improve N efficiency of each N source by proper N management practices.     

Studies on natural repellents against potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) in country stores

Summary The effects of the leaves of five plant species, one from each of the generaAmbrosia, Anemone, Eupatorium, Eucalyptus andLantana, on potato tuber moth were investigated under indigenous storage conditions at the Central Potato Research Station, Shillong (1800 m above sea level). Their action was compared with that of a biological insecticide (spores ofBacillus thuringiensis), a chemical insecticide (carbaryl), and an untreated control. The data collected after six months storage on tuber damage, sprout damage and the rotting indicated that the leaves ofLantana aculeata provided most protection to the tubers, reducing damage from over 70% in the check to below 5%, and sprout damage from over 45% to below 3%. Next best wasEucalyptus globulus followed byB. thuringiensis. They may be used on tubers stored for table use or for seed as they had no adverse effect on germination or on the yield of a subsequent crop.     

Mineral composition of some traditional Mexican teas

Teas of plant origin traditionally consumed by the Mountain Pima of Chihuahua, Mexico, were analyzed for mineral nutritional content. Fe, Cu, Zn, Ca, and Mg composition was determined for native teas made from shoots ofTagetes lucida, T. filifolia, Elytraria imbricata, andHolodiscus dumosus, and from root xylem ofCeanothus depressus andPhaseolus ritensis. Native uses of these teas are also described.     

Novel food and non-food uses for sorghum and millets

Sorghum and millets have considerable potential in foods and beverages. As they are gluten-free they are suitable for coeliacs. Sorghum is also a potentially important source of nutraceuticals such antioxidant phenolics and cholesterol-lowering waxes. Cakes, cookies, pasta, a parboiled rice-like product and snack foods have been successfully produced from sorghum and, in some cases, millets. Wheat-free sorghum or millet bread remains the main challenge. Additives such as native and pre-gelatinised starches, hydrocolloids, fat, egg and rye pentosans improve bread quality. However, specific volumes are lower than those for wheat bread or gluten-free breads based on pure starches, and in many cases, breads tend to stale faster. Lager and stout beers with sorghum are brewed commercially. Sorghum's high-starch gelatinisation temperature and low beta-amylase activity remain problems with regard to complete substitution of barley malt with sorghum malt . The role of the sorghum endosperm matrix protein and cell wall components in limiting extract is a research focus. Brewing with millets is still at an experimental stage. Sorghum could be important for bioethanol and other bio-industrial products. Bioethanol research has focused on improving the economics of the process through cultivar selection, method development for low-quality grain and pre-processing to recover valuable by-products. Potential by-products such as the kafirin prolamin proteins and the pericarp wax have potential as bioplastic films and coatings for foods, primarily due to their hydrophobicity.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity of different accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. from Uruguay

Summary The in vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts from accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. collected in the south of Uruguay was investigated against five microorganisms including the pathogenRalstonia solanacearum. A total of 30 extracts corresponding to organic and aqueous extracts were studied. Interestingly, most of the positive results for growth inhibition were againstR. solanacearum. The extracts were also analyzed for the presence of glycoalkaloids and lectins. Six of the ten aqueous extracts showed lectin presence and a wide variation in the type and amounts of glycoalkaloids, was found. Results indicate that there is no clear relationship between the antimicrobial activity against the five microorganisms screened and the presence or amounts of lectins and glycoalkaloids, traditionally regarded as possible antimicrobial metabolites in theSolanum genus, which indicates the presence of as yet unidentified antimicrobial compounds.     

Extreme resistance to infection by potato virus X in genotypes of wild tuber-bearingSolanum species

Summary Clones derived from thirty-one different accessions (nineteen of Argentine origin) belonging to eightSolanum species were screened for resistance to infection by potato virus X strain cp (PVX cp) by mechanical inoculation of plantlets that had been micropropagated in vitro. Estimates of PVX multiplication obtained by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and slot blot nucleic acid hybridization allowed the identification of resistant clones derived from five accessions belonging toS. commersonii S. oplocense, S. sparsipilum andS. tuberosum andigena. Resistant genotypes supported PVX concentrations 5 to 15 times smaller than did the susceptible control cultivar Spunta. Graft inoculation test confirmed the presence of extreme resistance similar to that conferred by the ‘immunity’ gene X¹ (also called RX_act).     

Cyanobacteria Secondary Metabolites as Biotechnological Ingredients in Natural Anti-Aging Cosmetics: Potential to Overcome Hyperpigmentation,Loss of Skin Density and UV Radiation-Deleterious Effects

The loss of density and elasticity, the appearance of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation are among the first noticeable signs of skin aging. Beyond UV radiation and oxidative stress, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) assume a preponderant role in the process, since their deregulation results in the degradation of most extracellular matrix components. In this survey, four cyanobacteria strains were explored for their capacity to produce secondary metabolites with biotechnological potential for use in anti-aging formulations. Leptolyngbya boryana LEGE 15486 and Cephalothrix lacustris LEGE 15493 from freshwater ecosystems, and Leptolyngbya cf. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 and Nodosilinea nodulosa LEGE 06104 from marine habitats were sequentially extracted with acetone and water, and extracts were analyzed for their toxicity in cell lines with key roles in the skin context (HaCAT, 3T3L1, and hCMEC). The non-toxic extracts were chemically characterized in terms of proteins, carotenoids, phenols, and chlorophyll a, and their anti-aging potential was explored through their ability to scavenge the physiological free radical superoxide anion radical (O₂^•−), to reduce the activity of the MMPs elastase and hyaluronidase, to inhibit tyrosinase and thus avoid melanin production, and to block UV-B radiation (sun protection factor, SPF). Leptolyngbya species stood out for anti-aging purposes: L. boryana LEGE 15486 presented a remarkable SPF of 19 (at 200 µg/mL), being among the best species regarding O₂^•− scavenging, (IC₅₀ = 99.50 µg/mL) and also being able to inhibit tyrosinase (IC₂₅ = 784 µg/mL), proving to be promising against UV-induced skin-aging; L. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 was more efficient in inhibiting MMPs (hyaluronidase, IC₅₀ = 863 µg/mL; elastase, IC₅₀ = 391 µg/mL), thus being the choice to retard dermal density loss. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data allowed the grouping of extracts into three groups, according to their chemical composition; the correlation of carotenoids and chlorophyll a with MMPs activity (p < 0.01), O₂^•− scavenging with phenolic compounds (p < 0.01), and phycocyanin and allophycocyanin with SPF, pointing to these compounds in particular as responsible for UV-B blockage. This original survey explores, for the first time, the biotechnological potential of these cyanobacteria strains in the field of skin aging, demonstrating the promising, innovative, and multifactorial nature of these microorganisms.     

Marine Pharmacology in 2009–2011: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial,Antidiabetic, Antifungal,Anti-Inflammatory,Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis,and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems,and other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action ?

The peer-reviewed marine pharmacology literature from 2009 to 2011 is presented in this review, following the format used in the 1998–2008 reviews of this series. The pharmacology of structurally-characterized compounds isolated from marine animals, algae, fungi and bacteria is discussed in a comprehensive manner. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral pharmacological activities were reported for 102 marine natural products. Additionally, 60 marine compounds were observed to affect the immune and nervous system as well as possess antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. Finally, 68 marine metabolites were shown to interact with a variety of receptors and molecular targets, and thus will probably contribute to multiple pharmacological classes upon further mechanism of action studies. Marine pharmacology during 2009–2011 remained a global enterprise, with researchers from 35 countries, and the United States, contributing to the preclinical pharmacology of 262 marine compounds which are part of the preclinical pharmaceutical pipeline. Continued pharmacological research with marine natural products will contribute to enhance the marine pharmaceutical clinical pipeline, which in 2013 consisted of 17 marine natural products, analogs or derivatives targeting a limited number of disease categories.