Suppression of Ralstonia solanacearum bacterial wilt disease by an organic hydroponic system

An organic hydroponic system that we developed has potential to control root diseases including bacterial wilt of hydroponically grown tomato. In inoculation tests with Ralstonia solanacearum during tomato plant cultivation in conventional inorganic hydroponics and in our organic system, many of the tomato seedlings in the conventional system wilted and died, but none of the seedlings in the organic hydroponics wilted or developed any symptoms, suggesting that the organic system can suppress this bacterial wilt disease. Interestingly, a rhizosphere biofilm, formed only on roots in the organic hydroponic system, may be responsible for the suppression of the bacterial wilt.     

Anatomical and histological characterization of ileal and jejunal Peyer's patch in lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus)

Tragulidae is a primitive ungulate family within the order Cetartiodactyla, suborder Ruminantia. Domestic ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and goat have two types of Peyer's patches (PP): jejunal and ileal PP, in which there are morphological and functional differences. In this study, lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus) PP was studied by gross anatomical and histological procedures. At the fetal stage, both types of PP were formed in the small intestine. Ileal PP was observed as a single continuous aggregation of lymphatic follicles extending cranially from the ileo-caecal junction. However, jejunal PP was observed as multiple and discrete accumulations of lymphatic follicles. This study showed that the lesser mouse deer has two types of PP in the small intestine. In addition, the anatomical and histological characteristics of jejunal and ileal PP are quite similar to those of other ruminants' jejunal and ileal PP. Further studies are needed to analyze immune function of both PP in lesser mouse deer in order to determine the evolutionary process of Cetartiodactyla.     

Genomic gene encoding manganese peroxidase from a white-rot fungus Phanerochaete crassa WD1694

The gene encoding manganese peroxidase of a white-rot fungus Phanerochaete crassa WD1694 was cloned and sequenced. Four genomic clones were sequenced in which 3 clones were existed as alleles. The analysis of intron–exon structures divided the 4 clones into three subfamilies that corresponded to mnp2 and mnp3 of Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and a new subfamily possessing only five introns. The purified P. crassa WD1694 MnP consisted of 4 isozymes with same molecular weight, same N-terminal sequence, and different pI. N-terminal sequence of deduced protein of P. crassa mnpB3 gene was identical to those of 4 MnP isozymes; however, the other 3 mnp genes had different N-terminal sequence. The molecular weight of encoded mature protein of mnpB3 gene and purified MnP had a gap that could be difference between MnP proteins encoded by single gene. The results suggested that 4 MnP isozymes of P. crassa WD1694 arose from single gene.     

Rapid discrimination of two cryptic species within Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) by PCR–RFLP

Brontispa longissima (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a serious invasive pest of coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) supposedly originating from Indonesia and New Guinea. It has recently invaded Southeast and East Asia, where it has caused serious damage to coconut plants. Brontispa longissima as currently defined contains two cryptic species: we herein referred to one as the “Asian clade”, which is distributed over a wide area, including Asia and the Pacific region; and we referred to the other one as the “Pacific clade”, which is found in a limited area in the Pacific region. We developed a PCR–RFLP method for differentiating the two clades. Digestion of the PCR product of a 1,014-bp region within the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) with BslI, HpyCH4III, or NlaIV resulted in clade-specific patterns as estimated by the sequence data. We applied the method to specimens newly obtained from various locations to investigate the geographical distribution of B. longissima. Although B. longissima collected from Samoa in April 2003 had been placed in the Pacific clade, specimens collected from the same island in April 2010 were placed in the Asian clade, suggesting that the predominant clade may have been changing from the former to the latter. On Timor, specimens included both clades in apparently segregated habitats.     

Comparative aspects on the role of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein in internal initiation of hepatitis C virus and picornavirus RNAs

We compared the effects of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB) on hepatitis C virus (HCV genotype IIa), encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and poliovirus internal ribosome entry site (IRES) activities in vitro. It bound strongly to EMCV IRES, but weakly to PV and HCV RNAs. PV IRES showed the strongest dependency to PTB and it showed less than one-tenth of IRES activity after the immuno-depletion of PTB from HeLa S10 lysate with pre-coated anti-PTB IgG beads, comparing to the normal IgG beads-treated S10 lysate. EMCV IRES activity was approximately 40% of that of normal control after PTB depletion. Especially, HCV IRES activity was approximately 95%, and most weekly affected by the depletion of PTB. Repletion of PTB to depleted S10 lysate restored activities of PV and EMCV IRESs. The data suggest that PTB plays an important role in picornaviral IRESs, but not in HCV IRES.     

Development of a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich yellowtail <Emphasis Type="Italic">Seriola quinqueradiata</Emphasis> using tuna by-product oil

Because a diet rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is beneficial to human health, it is desirable for yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata intended for human consumption to contain a high amount of DHA. We investigated the effects on the growth and fatty acid composition of yellowtail of replacing some of the pollack liver oil (PO) in the yellowtail diet with a DHA-rich tuna oil (TO). Experimental diets were prepared in which PO was replaced with 0, 15, 30, and 60% TO. Replacement of PO with TO did not negatively affect growth in a 16-week trial. In contrast, the feed efficiency of the group that received 60% TO was significantly higher than that of the control group after 6 weeks. The DHA level in the whole fish body increased with increasing dietary TO level. The groups that received 30 and 60% TO replacement diets showed significantly higher DHA levels than those of the control group. DHA level in the fillet was significantly higher in the group that received 60% TO than in the control group. DHA retention tended to increase with increasing TO level. These results show that utilizing TO as a fat source can increase DHA accumulation without incurring any adverse effects on the growth of yellowtail.     

Allosteric supramolecular triple-layer catalysts

Allosteric regulation of organometallic catalysts could allow for greater control over reactions. We report an allosteric supramolecular structure in which a monometallic catalytic site has been buried in the middle layer of a triple-layer complex. Small molecules and elemental anions can open and close this complex and reversibly expose and conceal the catalytic center. The ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone can be turned on by the in situ opening of the triple-layer complex and then completely turned off by reforming it through the abstraction of Cl(-), the allosteric effector agent, without appreciable loss of catalytic activity. This process can regulate the molecular weights of the resulting polymers.     

水稻（Oryza sativa L．）苹果酸酶（OsNADP-ME3）基因在逆境下的表达特性研究

水稻苹果酸酶（NADP-ME）是多基因家族,由3个胞质型NADP-ME和1个质体型NADP—ME构成。本研究针对水稻胞质型成员（命名为NADP-ME3）（NM001061367）进行初步的功能解析。克隆获得的NADP-ME3基因的cDNA序列全长为2240bp,其中5’非翻译区为151bp,3’非翻译区为376bp,开放读码框（ORF）长1713bp,编码570个氨基酸。为研究NADP-ME3在逆境胁迫下的表达量变化,No．hemblot检测结果显示,在NaCl、NaHCO,和PEG胁迫条件下,NADP-ME3随胁迫处理时间的不同表达量呈现不同程度的变化,推断NADP-ME3可能与非生物胁迫有应答关系,将NADP-ME3转入拟南芥中并通过观察转基因拟南芥在非生物胁迫下表型变化,发现NADP-ME3能够在一定程度上提高植物对非生物胁迫的耐受性。     

The plasma membrane intactness of root-tip cells is a primary factor for Al-tolerance in cultivars of five species

We investigated the role of the cell wall and plasma membrane (PM) of root-tip cells in Al tolerance in Al-tolerant and Al-sensitive cultivars of five plant species (rice, maize, pea, wheat, and sorghum). No correlation was found between the differences in Al tolerance and the cation exchange capacity of cell walls isolated from root-tips (0–1 em). Preliminary exposure to Al for 1 h was sufficient to inhibit subsequent root re-elongation in an Al-free solution, and the inhibitory effect was more pronounced in the Al-sensitive cultivars than in the Al-tolerant ones. Together with the inhibition of root re-elongation, the PM of the root-tip cells of all the Al-sensitive cultivars was more permeabilized than that of the Al-tolerant cultivars, based on the FDA-PI fluorescence staining technique. Exposure for 30 min to Al treatment at 100 µM significantly increased the PM permeability of protoplasts isolated from the root-tips for the Al-sensitive pea cultivar placed in a moderately hypotonic medium. Protoplasts from root-tip portions of all the Al-sensitive cultivars took up more Al than those of the Al-tolerant ones when treated with 100 pM Al under isotonic conditions for 30 min. The co-existence of DNP or hypotonic conditions led to a larger increase of Al uptake by the protoplasts from Al-sensitive maize cultivars. These results suggest that Al ions rapidly alter the PM of the root-tip portion in the Al-sensitive cultivars, irrespective of plant species, resulting in an increase of the PM permeability.