Chromosome and plasmid-encoded N-acyl homoserine lactones produced by Agrobacterium vitis wildtype and mutants that differ in their interactions with grape and tobacco

Agrobacterium vitis causes crown gall disease on grapevines. It also induces a specific necrosis on grape roots and a hypersensitive response (HR) on tobacco that are regulated by a complex quorum-sensing regulatory system. Strain F2/5 produces at least six N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) that function as signal molecules in quorum-sensing. The AHLs differ in acyl side chain length (8–16 carbons) as determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Mutant derivatives of F2/5 differ in ability to cause necrosis and the HR and show variable AHL profiles as determined by a thin-layer chromatography/biosensor assay. All wildtype A. vitis strains revealed the presence of long-chain AHLs regardless of tumorigenicity or ability to cause the HR. Whereas genes encoding long-chain AHLs are predicted to reside on the F2/5 chromosome, the determinants for short-chain AHLs were shown to be located on conjugal plasmids.     

甜瓜新品种-中甜1号的选育

中甜1号为优质、高产、耐湿、早熟厚皮甜瓜品种,果实发育期25-28d,果实椭圆形,果皮黄色,上有10条银白色纵沟,果肉白色,单瓜重1.0-1.5kg,可溶性固形物含量13.5%-15.5%。适应性广,在保护地、露地条件下均可栽培。     

优质丰产草莓新品种‘石莓3号’

 ‘石莓3号’为高产、大果、优质, 中早熟草莓新品种, 1990年以自育优系‘18322’为母本, ‘全明星’为父本杂交育成。该品种植株生长势强, 丰产性好, 果实大, 风味浓郁, 品质优良, 适宜于我国华北、东北地区栽培。     

柑橘抗CTV转基因与分子标记研究进展

综述了柑橘抗衰退病基因工程中两方面的研究进展。介绍多种来源于柑橘衰退病毒(Citrustriztezavirus,CTV)核酸序列的转基因柑橘和抗性种质资源中抗性基因的分子标记,以及所涉及的方法和遇到的问题。目前研究表明,虽然已成功实现对病毒衣壳蛋白(CP)等基因的转化和Ctv等抗性基因的标记,但尚未获得对CTV有高度抗性的转基因柑橘,而抗性基因亦不能实现定点克隆和转化。因此上述两方面研究还有待深入。     

台湾青枣不同品种花粉萌发和生活力测定

以5个台湾青枣品种盛花期花粉为试材，应用正交试验测定不同品种花粉萌发率及适宜的萌发条件，并用4种不同方法测定花粉生活力。结果表明：（1）不同品种的花粉萌发率存在显著差异，其中大世界的花粉萌发率最高。（2）硼酸浓度、培养温度等因素对花粉萌发率有极显著影响。最适培养基为含琼脂1％、蔗糖15％、硼酸0．02％的组合，适宜温度为30—32℃。（3）花粉生活力的测定中，离体萌发法是最佳选择，I—KI染色法、醋酸洋红染色法和TTC染色法不适宜用作台湾青枣花粉生活力的测定。     

陕甘宁老区建立生态特区的必要性分析

本文从历史与现状方面分析了陕甘宁老区加强生态环境建设的必要性。阐述了陕甘宁老区历史上范围的变化及其对中国革命和经济建设的贡献。从多方面分析了它的自然条件 ,揭示了其自然环境的脆弱性。说明了该区经济建设取得的成就和存在的问题 ,揭示了其贫困落后的社会经济状况。提出了在该区建立生态特区以促进其生态环境建设的观点。     

Association of polymorphism of Fc receptor γ chain gene at position-29 in promoter with the susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus in southern Chinese

AIM:To detect the association between the polymorphism of Fc receptor γ chain gene at position-29 in promoter and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).METHODS:The genotypes at position -29 in promoter of Fc receptor γ chain gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 180 patients with SLE and 140 ethnically matched controls in southern China.RESULTS:The frequencies of TT genotype(33.3%) and T allele (54.4%) at position -29 in patients with SLE were significantly higher than those in controls (17.2% and 42.9%, respectively), whereas, the frequencies of GG genotype (24.4%) and G allele (45.6%) in patients with SLE were remarkably lower than those in controls (31.4% and 57.1%, respectively) (P＜0.05). The TT genotype and T allele at position -29 were not associated with lupus nephritis in SLE patients (P＞0.05).CONCLUSION:Our results indicate that the T allele at position -29 in promoter of Fc receptor gene probably contributes to the susceptibility to SLE, but does not play a role in the occurrence of lupus nephritis.     

Relationship between the intracellular calcium concentration changes and left ventricular hypertrophy and function in the spontaneously hypertensive rats

AIM:To elucidate the relationship between the intracellular calcium concentration changes and left ventricular hypertrophy and function in the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).METHODS:Intracellular free calcium concentrations were measured by Fura 2 methodology and left ventricular function quantitated by cardiac catheterization in 20 SHR aged 10, 22, and 34 weeks and 20 age-matched Wistar-kyoto (WKY) rats.RESULTS:(1) The systolic blood pressure(SBP), intracellular calcium concentrations and left ventricular mass / body weight index (LVM/BW) were significantly higher in all three age groups of SHR than the corresponding groups of WKY; (2) Compared with age-matched WKY groups, the peak left ventricular pressure descending rate(-dp／dt_max) decreased while left ventricular relaxation time constant (τ)increased significantly in SHR aged 22 and 34 weeks. The peak left ventricular pressure ascending rate(dp／dt_max) and the left ventricular contractility index were significantly increased only in the 34 weeks SHR; (3) Intracellular calcium concentrations showed a positive correlation with LVM/BW,SBP,-dp／dt_max and τ(r=0.47-0.83,P<0.01)and a negative correlation with dp／dt_max and the left ventricular contractility index (r=-0.46,P<0.05 and r=-0.81, P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Intracellular calcium overload is one of the potential mechanisms in the induction of left ventricular hypertrophy as well as of systolic and diastolic dysfunction.     

Effects of matrix metalloproteinases on ventricular remodelingfollowing myocardial ischemia in the rat

AIM:To examine the relationship between the activity of matrix metallproteinases(MMPs) and ventricular remodeling following myocardial ischemia in the rat.METHODS:The model of myocardial ischemia(MI) in the rat was established by isoprenaline(ISP). The activity of MMPs was measured by zymography and collagen concentration was assessed by the method of chloramine T, so did I/III collagen ratio by immunohistochemical staining. The microstructure of myocardium was also observed by electron microscope.RESULTS:The activity of MMP-2 in myocardial ischemia group (group M) increased by 5.8 folds at 1 st week(P＜0.01), 2.3 folds at 2 nd week(P＜0.01) and 1.7 flods at 4 th week(P＜0.05) compared with control group (group C) and MMP-9's activity in group M increased by 4.9 folds (P＜0.01), 1.9 flods(P＜0.01) and 1.4 folds(P＜0.05), respectively. Collagen amount and I/III collagen ratio in group M increased compared with that in group C at 2 nd week and 4 th week. It showed that cardiac myocytes in group M were necrosed and collagen grew abundantly in interstitium under electron microscope.CONCLUSION:The activity of MMPs in the myocardial interstitium increased following myocardial ischemia, then collagen amount and I/III collagen ratio increased, which may be the major causes of ventricular remodeling.     

Role of p38MAPK in production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in Kupffer cells from severe acute pancreatitis rats

AIM:To investigate the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) signaling pathway in the Kupffer cells (KCs) production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β), in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rats.METHODS:Sprague-Dwaley rats were randomized into three groups:①sham operation rats, ②SAP rats, ③SAP rats given the p38 MAPK inhibitor CNI-1493(10 mg/kg, iv). The SAP model was induced by the bili-pancreatic duct infusion with 5% sterile soduim taurocholate solution. Rats from each group were killed at 12 h after sham operation or SAP and Kupffer cells (KCs) were isolated. The mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β (by quantitative real-time RT-PCR) and p38 MAPK activity (by Western blot analysis) in KCs were examined. The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in plasma were determined by ELISA.RESULTS:There was a significant acvitation of p38 MAPK in KCs harvested from SAP rats than those from sham operation rats. SAP also promoted the mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β in KCs and the plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-1β. These events were significantly inhibited by treatment with CNI-1493.CONCLUSIONS:p38 MAPK activation is one important aspect of the signaling events that may mediate the KCs production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-1β, in SAP rats. The inhibition of the p38 MAPK may be a potential target in the prevention and treatment of SAP.