Biochemical comparison of lectins among three different color strains of the red alga Kappaphycus?alvarezii

The red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii is economically important as an edible species and as a source of carrageenan, and has been extensively cultivated in many tropical countries. For this species, different color strains, which differ from each another in growth rate and carrageenan content, have been reported for decades. In this study, lectins from brown, red, and green strains of K. alvarezii cultivated in Vietnam were isolated and characterized for evaluation of their biochemical properties and contents. The results showed that each color strain contained in common the three lectins, named KAA-1, KAA-2, and KAA-3, which shared the hapten-inhibition profile of hemagglutination, 20 N-terminal amino acid sequence, and equivalent molecular mass within a range of 28,016 ± 1.2 to 28,021 ± 1.8 Da, but differed in their yields, with the highest yield of KAA-2. These properties of the three isolectins were also comparable among the three different color strains. However, the sum of the yields of the three isolectins decreased in the order: red (21.4 mg) to green (15.9 mg) to brown strains (15.1 mg), from 500 g fresh alga. Thus, this algal species can be a good source of useful lectins, irrespective of color strain.     

A comparative account of the structure of the growth hormone encoding gene and genetic interrelationship in six species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Labeo</Emphasis>

The growth hormone (GH) gene isolated and cloned from various Labeo species (L. rohita, L. calbasu, L. fimbriatus, L. gonius, L. bata, and L. kontius) is shown to contain a single copy in the haploid genome, with an overall size of ∼2.5 kb. The GH gene in all the Labeo species studied has five exons and four introns of various sizes with the exon/intron boundary sequence of GT/AG. The length variation of the GH gene between the species is found to be due to length variation in the form of several deletions in the third intron. The length of individual exons is the same in all the species with an open reading frame (ORF) of 630 bp (210 amino acids) except in L. rohita, which has a 9 bp deletion in the fourth exon, resulting in a shorter GH of 621 bp (207 amino acids). The similarity in the nucleotide and amino acid sequences between the different Labeo species is greater than 97%, in spite of eight amino acids being altered in the GH protein of Labeo that reside outside the conserved domain sequence required for its function. Nucleotide substitutions are seen in the form of 20 transitions and three transversions in the ORF of the GH gene. Both types of transitions (A–G; T–C) and only one type of transversion (A–C) are detected in the GH gene. Codon preference in GH gene shows a strong preference for G and C in the wobble position of the codons. Genetic interrelationships determined between Labeo and other species of fishes using nucleotide sequence of GH cDNA supports the overall teleost classification of Nelson (Fishes of the World. Wiley, New York, 1984) with separate clades for Ostariophysi, Protacanthopterygii, and Acanthopterygii. Besides, the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) analysis clearly distinguishes between the species having five exons and four introns in the GH gene from the species having six exons and five introns in the same gene. The Labeo species analyzed in the present study could be clustered into two groups using the maximum-parsimony method on the intron sequences data of the GH gene.     

DNA fingerprinting in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) with oligonucleotide probes for simple repetitive sequences

Summary Soybean DNA fingerprints were analyzed by digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotide probes complementary to simple repetitive sequences. The clearest and most polymorphic patterns were obtained with (AAT)₆ as a probe, with which all 47 soybean cultivars tested could be distinguished. However, DNA fingerprints of individuals within cultivars showed the same pattern. Using (CT)₈, (GAA)₅ or (AAGG)₄ as probes, clear polymorphic patterns among cultivars and accessions in the subgenus Soja (Glycine max and Glycine soja) were not observed, while quite different patterns were found in accessions in the subgenus Glycine. The results suggest that G. max and G. soja are closer in their genome structure. DNA fingerprints of reciprocal crosses between cultivars and accessions in the subgenus Soja were similar, and contained bands of both parents. In an F₂ population from these crosses, such bands segregated in a Mendelian fashion.     

Identification of a new family of tandem repeats in Triticeae genomes

A new family of cereal tandem repeats was isolated, characterised and designated as spelt-1. The family of repeats comprises about 2% of the Aegilops speltoides genome; however, its content differs considerably in the genomes of various Triticeae species. Copy number of the constituent sequence, relative to Ae. speltoides, proved to be 40-60 times reduced in the genomes of tetraploid wheats, 400-fold reduced in the genome of Triticum monococcum, and 1200-2400 times in the genomes of the other 19 Triticeae species studied. Drastic difference in the copy number and homology extent of the spelt-1 family sequences between Ae. speltoides and other diploid species allows the utilisation of these sequences as species-specific telomeric markers for Ae. speltoides, provided stringent hybridisation conditions apply. RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphisms) analysis of spelt-1 reveals polymorphism between the above species. This study of spelt-1 organisation in different Triticum species provided further substantiation of the polyphyletic origin of the B genome of polyploid wheat. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phylogenetic Analysis of Field Isolates of Feline Calcivirus (FCV) in Japan by Sequencing Part of Its Capsid Gene

The molecular epidemiology of the infectious disease caused by feline calcivirus (FCV) in Japan was investigated by analysing the phylogenetic relationship among 21 Japanese field isolates, including the F4 strain, and 30 global isolates. Parts of the capsid gene (B–F) of the isolates were amplified by RT-PCR, and the amino acid sequences were compared with those from the global isolates. Thirty-seven and 14 out of a total of 51 isolates were clustered into two distinct genogroups, I and II respectively, by UPGMA and NJ analysis. Seven of the 21 Japanese isolates (33%) fell into group I together with 30 global isolates, while the other 14 Japanese isolates (67%) belonged to group II. The bootstrap repetition analysis of groups I and II formed by the NJ method gave a value of 99.0%. The 14 latter Japanese isolates were clearly separated from the isolates in group I, and they were different from any previously known FCV, forming a new genogroup, which implies that this lineage has been confined to Japan. Comparing the amino acid sequences shared by groups I and II, the amino acid at position 377 in B region was asparagine (Asn or Asp (NH₂)) in group I, while it was lysine (Lys) in all the strains in group II. Similarly, the amino acid at position 539 in the F region was alanine (Ala) or proline (Pro) in group I, while it was valine (Val) in group II; glycine (Gly) at position 557 in group I was serine (Ser) in Group II; and phenylalanine (Phe) or leucine (Leu) at position 566 in genogroup I was tyrosine (Tyr) in group II.     

Use of quantitative real‐time PCR to assess the in vitro survival of specific DNA gene sequences of rumen microbes under simulated abomasal conditions

The use of specific DNA sequences (DS) as a microbial marker in post‐rumen digesta requires their persistence and integrity throughout gastric digestion. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the survival of microbial DS during gastric digestion and the factors involved. Gastric pH had a highly significant effect on the integrity of DS. pH 4.2 allows for a significant growth of microbes in the medium, but at pH 1.2, almost all of the DS were hydrolysed. In the presence of carboxymethylcellulose, the effect of pH was reduced, pepsin activity was inhibited and gene survival increased considerably. In the simulated abomasal conditions (pH = 2.3, 2 g/l of carboxymethylcellulose, and 40‐min retention time), almost all of the bacterial genes and around 78% of the protozoa gene sequences retained their molecular integrity throughout gastric digestion, although factors such as acidity and viscera retention time might compromise the utilisation of DS as a microbial marker.     

Classification of Morchella species from Yunnan and Zhejiang Provinces Based on rDNA ITS Sequences

Fourteen Morchella samples (eleven from Yunnan and three from Zhejiang Provinces) were selected on the basis of differences in fruit body morphology. Ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS) were amplified in each case using the universal primer pair, ITS-1 and ITS-4, and the amplification products were purified and sequenced. Comparisons with sequence data in GenBank revealed that the 11 Morchella isolates collected from Yunnan belonged to four species: Morchella elata, Morchella conica, Morchella crassipes and Morchella costata. The three isolates collected from Zhejiang Province (M12, M13 and M14) were designated as unknown Morchella species. When Verpa conica (AJ544206) (from the genus Verpa belonging to the same family as Morchella) was taken as the outgroup, the 14 isolates formed three groups, M. elata, M. costata (Group 1); Morchella esculenta, M. conica (Group 2); and M. crassipes, M12, M13 and M14 (Group 3).     

入侵种西花蓟马与本地近缘种花蓟马的双基因鉴定

快速准确的害虫种类识别是有效筛选天敌昆虫开展靶向性生物防控的关键。入侵种西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis与本地种花蓟马F.intonsa常同域同期同种寄主上发生,因体型小、形态相似,难以快速准确鉴定。本研究以mt DNA COI与r DNA ITS2基因为标记对我国10个采样点的西花蓟马和花蓟马开展分子鉴定研究。结果显示,当以COI或ITS2基因为靶标时,西花蓟马与花蓟马间的平均遗传距离分别为0.221和0.113,是种内遗传距离的22.1和18.8倍,且种内、种间遗传距离间无重叠,并在系统发育树上聚为独立的分支,表明2种基因均可准确区分西花蓟马和花蓟马。此外,基于COI基因构建的系统发育树,西花蓟马的各单倍型聚为了2个亚分支,并分别对应温室品系和羽扇豆品系,表明COI基因还可用于西花蓟马品系的识别鉴定。研究结果对近缘种花蓟马的快速鉴定、专食性天敌昆虫的筛选,及其生防效果评价具有重要意义。     

PA序列下非参数回归函数估计的相合性

设{εi,i≥1}为PA序列,Eεi=0,supE（ε^2j）〈∞,对某个r〉2及占〉δ,supE｜εj｜^r＋δ〈∞,u（n）=O（n^（r-2）（r＋δ）/2δ,在PA序列误差下,讨论了非参数回归函数加权核估计的相合性．     

基于转录组分析的九种苍耳分子标记筛选和鉴定

为实现我国非重要的检疫性杂草——苍耳属Xanthium杂草快速高效的分子鉴定,利用Illumina二代测序平台对白苍耳X.albinum、意大利苍耳X.italicum、直刺苍耳X.ripicola、刺苍耳X.spinosum、柱果苍耳X.cylindricum、宾州苍耳X.pennsylvanicum、蝟实苍耳X.echinatum、苍耳X.sibiricum和北美苍耳X.strumarium共9种苍耳属杂草进行转录组测序,获得的unigene序列数分别为103 362、93 506、87 452、83 822、70 994、66 397、57 598、57 164和57 134个。利用生物信息分析方法对9种苍耳属杂草转录组进行简单重复序列（simple sequence repeat,SSR）和物种间的特异性序列预测和筛选。经过PCR试验验证,筛选获得了可以有效鉴定上述9种杂草的6对SSR引物和13对特异性引物,提高了苍耳属杂草鉴定的准确率。