二穗短柄草叶绿体RNA编辑位点的预测及其鉴定

RNA编辑是陆生植物叶绿体转录后基因表达调控的一种重要方式。为进一步探讨单子叶植物RNA编辑功能及其发生机制,本研究通过生物信息学方法,对二穗短柄草叶绿体的81个蛋白编码基因的RNA编辑位点进行了预测和鉴定分析,结果发现78个基因存在编辑位点,共检测到176个编辑位点,都是C到U的转换。其中ndhB最多,为14个编辑位点。为验证预测结果,利用blast工具比对了NCBI的二穗短柄草EST数据库,最终确定存在于17个基因中的34个编辑位点是真实存在的,其中19个为沉默编辑,15个为有效编辑。与5个不同单子叶禾本科物种18个蛋白编码基因的RNA编辑位点的比较发现,在rpoB-206位点,只有二穗短柄草发生了编辑,且只有ndhD-295(293)为部分编辑位点。     

Developing a Fluorescent Hybrid Nanobiosensor Based on Quantum Dots and Azoreductase Enzyme for Methyl Red Monitoring

Background:Azo dyes are the most widely used synthetic colorants in the textile, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other industries, accounting for nearly 70% of all dyestuffs consumed. Recently, much research attention has been paid to efficient monitoring of these hazardous chemicals and their related metabolites because of their potentially harmful effect on environmental issues. In contrast to the complex and expensive instrumental procedures, the detection system based on the QDs with the superior optochemical properties provides a new era in the pollution sensing and prevention. Methods:We have developed a QD-enzyme hybrid system to probe MR in aqueous solutions using a fluorescence quenching procedure. Results:The azoreductase enzyme catalyzed the reduction of azo group in MR, which can efficiently decrease the FRET between the QDs and MR molecules. The correlation between the QDs photoluminescence recovery and MR enzymatic decolorization at the neutral phosphate buffer permitted the creation of a fluorescence quenching-based sensor. The synthesized biosensor can be used for the accurate detection of MR in a linear calibration over MR concentrations of 5-84 μM, with the LOD of 0.5 μM in response time of three minutes. Conclusion:Our findings revealed that this fluorometric sensor has the potential to be successfully applied for monitoring a wide linear range of MR concentration with the relative standard deviation of 4% rather than the other method. Key Words: Azoreductase, Methyl red, Quantum dots     

Novel technique for definite blastomere inhibition and distribution of maternal RNA in sterlet Acipenser ruthenus embryo

Fisheries Science - The cleavage pattern of a vertebrate’s embryo is either holoblastic (complete) or meroblastic (partial). Sturgeon and other basal bony fishes represent a transition of the...     

Effect of in vitro exposure to Vibrio vulnificus on hydroelectrolytic transport and structural changes of sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) intestine

The everted gut sac technique has been used to investigate the effect of Vibrio vulnificus on water and electrolyte (Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, HCO₃ ⁻) transport on the intestine of sea bream (Sparus aurata L.). Both the anterior and the posterior intestine were incubated in a medium containing 10⁸ V. vulnificus cells ml⁻¹ at 25°C for 2 h. The presence of V. vulnificus resulted in a significant reduction (P < 0.05) of water absorption in the anterior intestine, while sodium absorption in the anterior (P < 0.01) and posterior (P < 0.05) intestine was elevated. Chloride absorption was increased, but the changed was not significant, while potassium absorption decreased significantly (P < 0.05), but only in the posterior intestine. Incubation the sea bream intestine with V. vulnificus did not affect carbonate secretion in the anterior segment, whereas high secretion was stimulated in the posterior segment (P < 0.01). Histological evaluations demonstrated damage in the anterior intestine of sea bream that was characterized by the detachment of degenerative enterocytes, alterations in the microvilli, and the presence of a heterogenous cell population, indicating inflammation. Based on our results, we conclude that V. vulnificus caused cell damage to the intestine of sea bream and that the anterior intestine is more susceptible than the posterior part of the intestine. Several hypotheses are suggested to explain our observations, such as the presence of higher numbers of villosities in the anterior intestine than in the posterior one and/or the presence of endogenous bacteria in the posterior intestine which may have a protector role.     

Retracted: Gonad histology and serum 11‐KT profile during the annual reproductive cycle in sterlet sturgeon adult males,Acipenser ruthenus

The aim of this study was to assess monthly testicular development in the cultured breeding stock of sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus, using histological and serum sex steroid changes. Testicular development in the adult male was examined monthly and showed four distinct phases including resting, pre‐spawning, spawning and post‐spawning. Also, seasonal changes of the testes were described according to its variations in gonadosomatic index (GSI) during different phases of testicular development. Using histology, we identified continuous spermatogenesis and asynchronous gonad development pattern in the testes of male sterlet, which shows that regulation of annual gonadal cycle is influenced by season. Results also showed variation in the GSI value and number of spermatogenic cells according to each season during annual cycle of gonad, as the highest value of GSI was recorded during spawning phase (spring; March‐May). Hormonal profiles of 11‐ketotestosterone (11‐KT) showed peak, which indicated a seasonal pattern of gonadal development. The 11‐KT concentration increased considerably during the spermatogenesis (pre‐spawning phase) and remained quite high throughout the pre‐spermiation period. In the final phase of testicular development (spawning phase), the 11‐KT markedly dropped. This study undertook an examination of complete reproductive development in cultured sterlet sturgeon to provide a valuable guide for the future sterlet studies, and allows comparison of reproductive development between sturgeon species.     

不同改良措施对沙质土壤颗粒组成及分形特征的影响

【目的】研究不同改良措施下沙质土壤质地变化,为沙化土壤改良提供科学依据。【方法】以新疆南疆典型沙化土壤为研究对象,设置5种不同改良措施(种植燕麦(A₁)、种植油菜+燕麦(A₂)、种植燕麦+油菜秸秆翻耕+生物菌肥(A₃)、种植燕麦+农家肥(A₄)、种植燕麦+农家肥+生物菌肥(A₅)),采用田间试验,分析不同改良措施对沙化土壤颗粒组成分形的影响。【结果】不同改良措施下土壤分形维数D值介于2.35～2.49,与对照相比,随着土层的加深,土壤的细颗粒物质的分形维数值呈增加趋势;土壤颗粒分形维数D值与黏粒呈极显著正相关,与细粉粒呈显著正相关,与砂粒呈显著负相关。【结论】农家肥或绿肥与生物菌肥配合施用,可有效改善沙化土壤的理化性状。     

Physiological but not morphological adjustments along latitudinal gradients in a human commensal species,the Eurasian tree sparrow

Human commensal species take advantage of anthropogenic conditions that are less likely to be challenged by the selective pressures of natural environments. Their morphological and physiological phenotypes can therefore dissociate from habitat characteristics. Understanding how these species adjust their morphological and physiological traits across latitudinal gradients is fundamental to uncovering the eco-physiological strategies underlying coping mechanisms. Here, we studied morphological traits in breeding Eurasian tree sparrows (ETSs; Passer montanus) among low-latitude (Yunnan and Hunan) and middle-latitude (Hebei) localities in China. We then compared body mass; lengths of bill, tarsometatarsus, wing, total body, and tail feather; and baseline and capture stress-induced levels of plasma corticosterone (CORT) and the metabolites including glucose (Glu), total triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), total protein, and uric acid (UA). None of the measured morphological parameters varied with latitude except in the Hunan population, which demonstrated longer bills than those in other populations. Stress-induced CORT levels significantly exceeded baseline levels and decreased with increasing latitude, but total integrated CORT levels did not vary with latitude. Capture stress-induced significantly increased Glu levels and decreased TG levels, independent of site. However, the Hunan population had significantly higher baseline CORT, baseline and stress-induced FFA levels, but lower UA levels, which differed from other populations. Our results suggest that rather than morphological adjustments, physiological adjustments are mainly involved in coping mechanisms for middle-latitude adaptation in ETSs. It is worth investigating whether other avian species also exhibit such dissociation from external morphological designs while depending on physiological adjustments.     

球孢白僵菌不同施用方式对玉米促生作用的研究

采用土壤施用和叶面喷施2种方式将球孢白僵菌(Beauveria bassiana)菌株Bb202接种至玉米,研究不同接种方式及处理浓度对玉米生长的影响。结果表明,2种喷施方式对玉米苗均存在促生作用,且这种促生作用与孢子接种浓度密切相关。在叶面喷施处理中,白僵菌仅对玉米地上部分生长指标有促进作用,而对玉米苗的根长无显著影响;其中1.0×10~4孢子/m L处理组对玉米苗的促生效果最佳,其株高、叶长、叶宽、鲜重指标比蒸馏水对照组分别高出7.47%、15.42%、25.70%和16.85%。在土壤喷施处理中,白僵菌对玉米苗地上与地下部分均有显著促生作用;其中1.0×106孢子/m L和1.0×10~8孢子/m L处理组,玉米株高、叶长、根长、生物量指标较蒸馏水对照组分别提高了28.66%和29.59%、30.66%和37.85%、43.08%和33.60%、28.35%和32.55%。从对玉米苗的促生作用来看,用1.0×106孢子/m L的白僵菌悬浮液处理土壤,可以取得最经济、最显著的促生效果。