Production of Avaroferrin and Putrebactin by Heterologous Expression of a Deep-Sea Metagenomic DNA

The siderophore avaroferrin (1), an inhibitor of Vibrio swarming that was recently identified in Shewanella algae B516, was produced by heterologous expression of the biosynthetic gene cluster cloned from a deep-sea sediment metagenomic DNA, together with two analogues, bisucaberin (2) and putrebactin (3). Avaroferrin (1) is a macrocyclic heterodimer of N-hydroxy-N-succinyl cadaverine (4) and N-hydroxy-N-succinyl-putrescine (5), whereas analogues 2 and 3 are homodimers of 4 and 5, respectively. Heterologous expression of two other related genes from culturable marine bacteria resulted in production of compounds 1–3, but in quite different proportions compared with production through expression of the metagenomic DNA.     

人参皂苷生物合成及调控功能基因研究进展(1)

三萜类化合物是重要的药用活性成分,其生物合成相关功能基因研究是调控这些化学成分生物合成和积累的重要理论依据。人参是重要的经济植物,具有很高的药用价值。开展人参功能基因研究有利于进一步探究人参生长发育、代谢调控的生理生化过程。本文总结了近年来人参皂苷生物合成相关功能基因的研究成果,并对三萜类化合物生物合成相关功能基因的研究方法进行了总结,对人参皂苷生物合成相关功能基因研究方法进行了展望。     

Effects of temperature, irradiance, salinity and inorganic nitrogen concentration on coral zooxanthellae in culture

SUMMARY: Effects of temperature, irradiation, salinity and inorganic nitrogen concentration on two cultured strains of zooxanthellae isolated from the corals Pocillopora damicornis (strain P) and Montipora verrucosa (strain M) were studied. Each strain showed different growth responses in terms of temperature and light intensity. A maximum growth rate of strain P, 1.2 per day, was observed at 32°C under all light intensities examined (5–40 μEm⁻²s⁻¹). However, its photosystem 2 activity (FRI) was higher at 28°C than at 32°C under most light intensities. In contrast, the growth rate of strain M was affected more by light intensity and was almost invariably affected at all temperatures examined (24–36°C). Both algal strains had a comparable growth rate and FRI at salinities from 20 to 35 PSU under moderate temperature and irradiant conditions. High temperature and low irradiation reduced the algal tolerance against low salinity. The gross photosynthesis per cell was not affected by the ammonium enrichment more than 5 μM per day although the cellular chlorophyll a content and cell density increased in proportion with the ammonium enrichment up to 20 μM per day. A potential response of zooxanthellae to the multiple environmental stresses was shown from these results.     

温度和GA_3对桃果实采后乙烯合成及桃ETR1同源基因表达的影响

为明确桃果实采后成熟衰老期间乙烯的合成与桃ETR1同源基因之间的关系,进一步了解乙烯的转导和作用过程,设计合成了桃ETR1扩增引物RTetr1和RTetr2,用RT-PCR方法研究了温度和GA3处理对白凤桃(Amyg-daluspersicaL.)果实采后乙烯生成和桃ETR1同源基因表达的影响。结果表明,低温处理降低了果实乙烯释放量,低温+GA3处理不仅降低了果实乙烯释放量,还延缓乙烯释放高峰期。PCR分析表明,桃ETR1的cDNA合成受温度和GA3调节,随着乙烯合成能力的增强,ETR1同源基因的表达水平增加,在乙烯信号转导过程中呈正向表达模式。     

Research Progress on Effects of Proline on Reproductive Performance of Sows

Proline is a cyclic α-imino acids,meanwhile it also can be considered as a functional amino acid for mammals and plays an important role in protein synthesis,organism metabolism,wound healing,anti-oxidant and immune reactions. The studys have found that extra dietary supplementation of moderated proline has great significance in improving the growth and development of conceptus,piglets, embryo,mammary gland and placenta of sows,at the same time it also can prevent intrauterine growth restriction. The author reviewed structure characters and physicochemical properties,anabolism and catabolism of proline,and especially focused on its effects on the reproductive performance of pregnancy sows and potential regulation mechanism aiming to provide some help for the researchers in the field of sows.     

UV-327合成中溶剂的选择

以甲苯、氯苯、乙二醇单甲醚分别作为单组分溶剂,又用乙醇分别与上述溶剂按一定比例配制成3种混合溶剂,用葡萄糖和锌粉为还原剂,以4-氯-2-硝基苯胺为原料,经重氮、偶合和二次还原合成紫外线吸试剂UV-327。结果表明,在该工艺的第2次还原中,混合溶剂比单组分溶剂效果好,用乙醇与氯苯配成的混合溶剂较好,溶剂回收率大于85%。通过HPLC,1H-NMR,IR和紫外光谱对目标产品进行了分析。该方法以4-氯-2-硝基苯胺计,总收率>83%,目标产品纯度为99.76%。     

OsHemA gene,encoding glutamyl-tRNA reductase(GluTR) is essential for chlorophyll biosynthesis in rice(Oryza sativa)

Chlorophyll(Chl) biosynthesis is essential for photosynthesis and plant growth. Glutamyl-tRNA reductase(GluTR) catalyzes glutamyl-tRNA into glutamate-1-semialdehyde(GSA) and initiates the chlorophyll biosynthesis. Even though the main role of GluTR has been established, the effects caused by natural variations in its corresponding gene remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized a spontaneous mutant in paddy field with Chl biosynthesis deficiency, designated as cbd1. With intact thylakoid lamellar structure, the cbd1 plant showed light green leaves and reduced Chl and carotenoids(Cars) content significantly compared to the wild type. By map-based gene cloning, the mutation was restricted within a 57-kb region on chromosome 10, in which an mPingA miniature inverted-repeat transposable element(MITE) inserted in the promoter region of OsHemA gene. Both leaf color and the pigment contents in cbd1 were recovered in a complementation test, confirming OsHemA was responsible for the mutant phenotype. OsHemA was uniquely predicted to encode GluTR and its expression level was dramatically repressed in cbd1. Transient transformation in protoplasts demonstrated that GluTR localized in chloroplasts and a signal peptide exists in its N-terminus. A majority of Chl biosynthesis genes, except for POR and CHLG, were down-regulated synchronously by the repression of OsHemA, suggesting that an attenuation occurred in the Chl biosynthesis pathway. Interestingly, we found major agronomic traits involved in rice yield were statistically unaffected, except for the number of full grains per panicle was increased in cbd1. Collectively, OsHemA plays an essential role in Chl biosynthesis in rice and its weak allele can adjust leaf color and Chls content without compromise to rice yield.     

植物黄酮醇生物合成及其调控研究进展

植物黄酮醇具有广泛生物活性,其生物合成及其调控研究日益增多,逐渐成为热点。对黄酮醇生物合成关键酶（FLS、F3H、F3′H、F3′5′H、UGT）和调控因子（如MYB等转录因子）相关的生化与分子生物学研究进展进行总结,重点对相关结构基因和转录因子对黄酮醇积累发挥关键作用的试验证据进行归纳,探索调控黄酮醇物质积累的有效途径及靶标分子,以期为利用基因工程定向积累具有重要生物学功能的黄酮醇物质提供参考。     

The use of ethylene diffusers is comparable to treatments with sprayed ethylene to reduce the damage caused by the olive moth (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prays oleae</Emphasis> Bern.)

In 2002 and 2003, six field experiments were conducted at three olive groves of southern Spain in order to compare the effects of two types of ethylene treatments (sprayed and diffusers) on the olive losses caused by the olive moth (Prays oleae Bern.) as well as on the activity and effectiveness of oofagous predators. Both treatments showed to be effective to control the pest; in the two years studied the mean reduction in final infestation due to ethylene was of 35% with respect to the controls trees, and none affected negatively the action of natural predators of P. oleae. In addition, the use of diffusers set on the trees at the end of flowering period will help the farmers to overcome the problems of determination of optimum time for sprayed treatments of ethylene.     

Lipid biosynthesis from [14C]-glucose in the coral Montipora digitata

ABSTRACT:     Glucose has been implicated in functioning as a form of carbon translocated from symbiont zooxanthellae to the host coral cell. The present paper describes the lipid biosynthesis from [¹⁴C]-glucose in the coral tissue. To study the incorporation of [¹⁴C]-glucose into lipids, the branch tips of the coral Montipora digitata were incubated with [¹⁴C]-glucose or another radiolabeled substrates. The lipid biosynthesis from [¹⁴C]-glucose was dependent on light, and was decreased by dark conditions or by photosystem II inhibitor, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. Of the lipid classes, the light dependency was more pronounced with the biosynthesis of triacylglycerols (TG) and wax compared with phospholipids. Examination of [¹⁴C]-label distribution in the glycerolipids suggested that [¹⁴C]-glucose supplied mainly the fatty acid moiety of newly synthesized TG, while [¹⁴C]-glucose provided evenly the fatty acid moiety and the glycerol skeleton of phospholipids. The comparison of [¹⁴C]-labeling of lipid from host coral tissue and symbiont zooxanthellae suggested that [¹⁴C]-glucose entered the coral cell and was processed in parallel in the zooxanthellae and host cells. Furthermore, the coral cells used various [¹⁴C]-labeled sugars for lipid synthesis with similar lipid labeling profile as was the case for glucose. The current study thus supports the view that the low-molecular-weight compound, sugars and amino acids, once translocated from zooxanthellae to host cell were metabolized toward lipogenesis as well as glycerol.