Unravelling the relationship between a seasonal environment and the dynamics of forage growth in grazed swards

It is well reported in the scientific literature that pastures can have similar net forage accumulation when managed with contrasting structures. However, we hypothesized that the dynamics of forage accumulation in grazed swards is linked to seasonal-environmental conditions. Marandu palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha [Hochst. ex A. Rich.] was used as the forage species model. The experimental treatments were four grazing heights (10, 20, 30 and 40 cm) allocated to experimental units according to a randomized complete block design with four replicates and evaluated throughout four contrasting environmental seasons (summer, autumn, winter–early spring and late spring). Under rainy and warm periods, greater net forage accumulation was observed in pastures maintained taller; on the contrary, during the mild and dry periods, net forage accumulation rate reduced as grazing height increased. Such patterns of responses were related to compensations between tiller population density and tissues flows during summer and late spring and the reduced capacity of taller canopies to compensate lower population with greater growth rates during autumn and winter–early spring. Grazed swards changed their patterns of forage growth as they transitioned from favourable to more abiotic stressful conditions, suggesting that seasonal adjustments in grazing intensities are necessary in order to maximize forage production.     

草果AtNCED基因克隆、表达和植物表达载体构建

9-顺式环氧类胡萝卜素双加氧酶(9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase, NCED)是ABA生物合成的限速酶。诸多研究表明NCED基因表达量的变化与ABA含量显著相关,在种子休眠过程中发挥重要作用。为探究草果AtNCED基因的序列特征和功能,本研究以草果(Amomum tsaoko Crevost et Lemarie)种子转录组为基础,采用RT-PCR技术克隆了一个AtNCED基因。该基因全长2 372 bp,包含一个1 830 bp的开放阅读框(open reading frame, ORF),编码610个氨基酸。生物信息学分析显示,AtNCED基因编码的蛋白在N-末端包含典型的叶绿体转运肽序列,在催化结构域含有4个高度保守的组氨酸残基。AtNCED蛋白与芭蕉科马来西亚蕉同源性较高,与其他单子叶植物处在同一进化分支。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果表明,AtNCED基因表达量随着层积时间的增加逐渐下降,该基因可能正向调控种子休眠,在草果种子休眠诱导与维持中发挥重要作用。进一步地,利用同源重组方法,成功构建了pBI121-AtNCED过表达载体,并转化至农杆菌EHA105。该研究结果为弄清ABA激素信号在种子休眠中的调控作用提供了帮助。     

Cloning and Sequence Analysis of Buffalo Keap1 Gene and Investigation of Its Expression Pattern in Different Tissues

In this study,the CDS sequence of buffalo Keap1 gene was cloned and analyzed,then its expression pattern in different tissues was also investigated.A pair of primers of buffalo Keap1 gene was designed based on the nucleotide sequence of Bos taurus Keap1 gene from GenBank,and then the buffalo Keap1 gene was amplified.Using the bioinformation techniques,the gene sequence and the protein structure were analyzed.The expression level of Keap1 gene in different tissues were detected with Real-time quantitative PCR.The results showed that the length of buffalo Keap1 gene coding sequence was 1 875 bp and encoded 624 amino acids.The multiple sequence alignment results showed that buffalo Keap1 gene shared 99%,96%,92% and 90% of similar nucleotide sequence with that of Bos taurus,Ovis aries,Sus scrofa and Homo sapiens,respectively.And the phyogenetic tree also showed the conservatism between several different species.The second structure of buffalo Keap1 protein was predicted as 24 alpha regions,40 beta regions,38 turn regions and 27 coil regions.In addition,the results of Real-time quantitative PCR showed that Keap1 mRNA exists in all seven tissues,but the most abundant expression was in heart and the minimal expression was in liver and spleen.The results provided an foundation for further study of Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signal pathway,for enhancing the ability of antioxidant of buffalo embryo in vitro culture.     

传染性法氏囊病病毒主要结构蛋白VP2、VP1和VP2-VP1串联基因的原核表达及其初步应用

为获得传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV)特异性抗体检测用抗原VP2、VP1及VP2-VP1蛋白,分别设计引物扩增IBDV野毒株NN1172的VP2和VP1基因,并扩增VP2和VP1基因中抗原性和亲水性较好的重要区域,通过PCR扩增基因串联方法对截短的VP2和截短的VP1基因进行串联,首次获得VP2-VP1串联基因,并对VP2、VP1和VP2-VP1串联基因进行了原核表达和鉴定。结果成功构建了原核表达载体pET-VP2、pET-VP1和pET-VP2-VP1;诱导表达条件显示,3个重组质粒分别转入BL21菌株后经0.05 mmol/L IPTG诱导表达,分别得到分子量为69、114和63 kDa的VP2、VP1和VP2-VP1重组蛋白,且均以包涵体形式表达,3个重组蛋白分别于诱导后5、3和6 h时表达量最多。Western blot结果显示,表达的VP2、VP1和VP2-VP1蛋白与鸡抗IBDV阳性血清均具有良好的反应原性。以纯化的VP2、VP1和VP2-VP1蛋白作为包被抗原对传染性支气管炎病毒(IBV)、呼肠孤病毒(ReoV)、禽白血病病毒(ALV)和新城疫病毒(NDV)4种阳性血清检测均为阴性,表明所获得的纯化蛋白具有高度的特异性;对免疫了IBD灭活疫苗,IBD基因工程疫苗和IBD弱毒疫苗的商业鸡群进行抗体检测,结果均能显示疫苗免疫后机体抗体水平的变化趋势。本研究表明利用该原核表达系统所表达的3个蛋白均具有良好的免疫反应活性,为IBDV特异性抗体的检测和新型亚单位疫苗的研发奠定基础。     

奶山羊CIDEa基因的克隆、序列分析与组织表达

为获得奶山羊CIDEa基因序列并检测其在乳腺组织中的表达,采用RT-PCR技术从奶山羊乳腺组织扩增CIDEa基因序列,利用生物信息学软件对其进行预测分析,并采用荧光定量PCR检测CIDEa在干奶期和不同泌乳时期乳腺组织中的表达。结果表明:通过克隆测序得到奶山羊CIDEa基因CDS区660 bp,编码219个氨基酸,与GenBank公布的绵羊、牛、人和猪的核苷酸序列同源性分别为99%、96%、85%、85%。奶山羊CIDEa蛋白属于碱性、不稳定亲水蛋白,不存在跨膜结构和信号肽;蛋白主要定位在细胞质、线粒体和细胞核。CIDEa蛋白结构主要由α螺旋、β折叠和不规则卷曲组成。奶山羊CIDEa在泌乳前期、盛期和中期乳腺组织中表达量均显著高于干奶期(P<0.05)。说明CIDEa可能参与奶山羊乳腺的泌乳过程,为进一步研究其在奶山羊乳腺组织中的功能及对乳品质的调控作用奠定基础。     

Cloning and Expression of Bile Salt Hydrolase Gene from Lactobacillus plantarum M1-UVS29

We cloned and expressed bile salt hydrolase gene of Lactobacillus plantarum M1-UVS29 in Lactococcus lactis NZ9000 successfully. Gene-specific primers for amplification of L. plantarum bsh were designed by using sequence which availabled from Gen Bank. The production of PCR amplicon was confirmed by sequencing and cloned into pMD18-T vector, and then recombined into expression vector p NZ8148 and yielding vector p NZ8148-BSH. p NZ8148-BSH was transferred into Lactococcus lactis NZ9000. Sequencing indicated that the cloned bsh fragment contained 995 nucleotides, and shared 99.3% sequence homology with bsh gene from L. plantarum MBUL10. Cloned bsh fragment was successfully transduced into NICE expression system and confirmed by PCR and restriction digest. Recombinant BSH protein was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The molecular weight of BSH protein was approximately 37 ku. Activity of the expressed protein was 0.77 μmol · min-1. The successfully expressed proteins by genetic engineering technology made the function of lactic acid bacteria be abundant and laid the foundation for further researches into cholesterol-lowering lactic acid bacterium food and probiotics.     

荔枝FKBP16-2基因启动子的克隆与瞬时表达分析

前期研究中发现了一个果肉低表达而叶片中高表达的荔枝基因FKBP16-2。本文克隆了该基因1 578 bp的启动子片段并对其功能进行了初步分析,结果表明:荔枝FKBP16-2基因启动子序列中含有大量的TATA-box和CAAT-box保守元件,以及TCA-element,ARE,HSE,GCN4_motif,O2-site等各种转录调控相关的顺式作用元件。该启动子能驱动GUS基因在荔枝的花、叶、根、果皮以及种子中表达而在果肉中不表达,表达具有组织特异性。