Detection and Characterization of the Cumulene Carbenes H2C5 and H2C6

Two cumulene carbenes, H2C5 and H2C6, were detected in a supersonic molecular beam by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Their rotational and leading centrifugal distortion constants were determined with high accuracy, such that the entire radio spectrum can now be calculated. Like the known carbenes H2C3 and H2C4, both molecules have singlet electronic ground states and linear carbon-chain backbones. They can be produced in sufficiently high concentrations in the laboratory that their electronic spectra, expected to lie in the visible, should be readily detectable by laser spectroscopy. The microwave spectra of other, more exotic isomers may be detectable as well.     

Mutations in the pericentrin (PCNT) gene cause primordial dwarfism

Fundamental processes influencing human growth can be revealed by studying extreme short stature. Using genetic linkage analysis, we find that biallelic loss-of-function mutations in the centrosomal pericentrin (PCNT) gene on chromosome 21q22.3 cause microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II (MOPD II) in 25 patients. Adults with this rare inherited condition have an average height of 100 centimeters and a brain size comparable to that of a 3-month-old baby, but are of near-normal intelligence. Absence of PCNT results in disorganized mitotic spindles and missegregation of chromosomes. Mutations in related genes are known to cause primary microcephaly (MCPH1, CDK5RAP2, ASPM, and CENPJ).     

Morphological Variability of Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce, from the Cholistan Desert, Pakistan

Sixty-two accessions of Prosopis cineraria, collected from different areas of the Cholistan desert and from the vicinity of Islamia University, Bahawalpur during June, 2002 were evaluated for agro-morphological diversity. Data collected revealed considerable variation for pod length, pod thickness, number of seeds per pod, pod weight, 100-seed weight, seed size, number of pinnules, length of pinnae, length of the pinnulae, and breadth of the pinnulae. Accessions GD-1 and GD-2, collected from Gadhen Wala Toba, KWT-1, KWT-3, KWT-4, KWT-6, from Khokhran Wala Toba, TWT-2, TWT-7, TWT-8, from Taraway Wala Toba, CSW-2, CSW-7, CSW-8, from Chah Sulleh Wala, and IUB-5, IUB-9, from Islamia University, Bahawalpur, showed very high variation. Overall, accessions KWT-6 from Khokhran Wala Toba, and TWT-7, from Taraway Wala Toba, (both from Cholistan desert), appeared as best genotypes based on their morphological variation detected in this study.     

Effects of Potassium Sulfate on Adaptability of Sugarcane Cultivars to Salt Stress under Hydroponic Conditions

The effect of potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄) on adaptability of sugarcane to sodium chloride (NaCl) stress was investigated under hydroponic conditions. Two sugarcane cultivars, differing in salinity tolerance, were grown in half strength Johnson's solution at 80 mM NaCl with 0, 2.5 and 5.0 mM potassium (K) as K₂SO₄. Salinity disturbed above and below-ground dry matter production in both sugarcane cultivars. However, salt sensitive cultivar showed more reduction in shoot dry matter and higher root:shoot ratio compare to the salt tolerant cultivar under. Application of K significantly (p < 0.05) improved dry matter production in both sugarcane cultivars. The concentration of Na was markedly increased with increasing salinity; however, the application of K reduced its uptake, accumulation and distribution in plant tissues. Salinity induced reduction in K concentration, K-uptake, K utilization efficiency (KUE) and K:Na ratio in both sugarcane cultivars was significantly improved with the addition of K to the saline growth medium.     

甜瓜CmCIPK家族全基因组鉴定和逆境条件下的表达分析

为探究甜瓜CIPK(CBL-interacting protein kinase)基因家族成员的生物学功能,以拟南芥中26个CIPKs的氨基酸序列为参照,用BLASTP方法鉴定了18个甜瓜CIPK家族成员,并对其理化性质、染色体分布、系统进化、基因结构、蛋白保守基序、顺式元件,以及基因的表达模式进行了分析。结果显示,CIPK基因家族成员的基因长度为1 499~8 499 bp,它们不均匀地分布在甜瓜的9条染色体上;根据进化关系可将其分为5个亚家族,分别包含了26、10、25、26和8个成员,并且其中有4个CmCIPK基因对发生了片段复制。基因结构分析表明,10个基因为内含子缺失型,8个基因为内含子富集型。蛋白保守基序分析发现,CmCIPK家族保守性较好,所有成员均含有CIPK家族的典型特征:N端激酶域中的激活环和C端调节域中的NAF/FISL结构域。在基因上游的2 000 bp序列中存在多个与植物激素和逆境相关的顺式元件,显示可能有多种转录调控。转录组分析发现,CmCIPKs的组织表达量整体表现为叶>根>雄花>雌花>果。选择CmCIPK1-like和CmCIPK12-like基因验证其组织表达模式,显示分别在叶和雄花中的表达量最高。对其进行不同逆境处理,结果表明,这2个CmCIPK基因受NaCl和脱落酸(ABA)诱导表达;在干旱处理中,这2个基因经历短时间的上调或下调后恢复至最初表达水平。以上结果说明,CmCIPK1-like和CmCIPK12-like基因可能在ABA和非生物胁迫中发挥着重要作用,可为以后CmCIPK的功能研究提供参考。     

Identification of toxigenic Pasteurella multocida in atrophic rhinitis of pigs by in vitro characterisation

Toxigenic strains of Pasteurella multocida were readily differentiated from non-toxigenic strains by an agarose overlay method using bovine turbinate cells or bovine lung cells. Cells which were young and densely confluent were best suited to this assay. The incubation period required to distinguish toxigenic strains was dependent on the confluence of the monolayers, which was affected by the seeding rate, cell passage level and growth time prior to overlay. The agarose overlay method correctly identified 11 of 11 reference strains of Pasteurella multocida, and visible cytotoxic changes were present in the monolayers after 48 to 65 h. Outbreaks of the enzootic form of atrophic rhinitis in 2 New South Wales piggeries were associated with the isolation of toxigenic type D strains of P. multocida.     

Locomotor effects in sheep of alkaloids identified in Australian Tribulus terrestris

Fresh, mature, ungrazed Tribulus terrestris plant material was subjected to a standard alkaloid extraction procedure. The extract was fractionated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Two major alkaloid fractions were demonstrated. These fractions were identified by means of TLC, ultraviolet spectrofluorimetry (UVS) and HPLC, as the beta-carboline indoleamines harmane and norharmane. The extractable alkaloid content was determined to be 44 mg/kg dry matter. Synthetic harmane and norharmane were administered subcutaneously to sheep at a dose rate of 54 mg/kg. Both compounds caused similar nervous effects. The main effect observed was limb paresis, which in some sheep was body side blased. The clinical signs observed in the experimental sheep were consistent with those described for naturally occurring cases of Tribulus terrestris staggers. It was proposed that harmane and norharmane accumulate in tryptamine-associated neurones of the central nervous system, during months of tribulus ingestion, and gradually interact irreversibly with a specific neuronal gene DNA sequence.