Physiological Basis of Irrigation Scheduling for Seed Production in Egyptian Clover Syn. Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) Crop

A field experiment was conducted to find out the critical physiological stages of irrigation schedules inducing better growth, physiological efficiency and seed yield potential of berseem ( Trifolium alexandrinum L., Var. S-99-1). For this purpose eight irrigation treatments were made comprised of four treatments of three irrigation (W₁, W₂, W₃ and W₄), three treatments of four irrigation (W₅, W₇ and W₈) and one treatment of five irrigation (W₆) at various physiological stages i. e. regeneration, flower initiation, full bloom, seed initiation and advance seed development stage.
Thus based on the experimental results the physiological role of watering in berseem seed production could be discussed as:
With-holding of irrigation either at regeneration or at full bloom stage developed potential water stress in plants as indicated by high proline content of irrigation treatments — W₄, W₁ and W₇; and further brought out disturbance on the formation of carotene, synthesis of water soluble sugar and translocation of sugar towards reproductive organs during grain development stage. These stresses adversely affected the plant growth and flowering behaviour. The irrigation at seed initiation stage increased the seed yield. Continuous irrigation did not appear to be useful. Thus it can be concluded that irrigation at three critical physiological stages i. e. regeneration, full bloom and seed initiation was found to be essential for obtaining potential seed yield of berseem.     

Expression of a recombinant crustacean hyperglycemic hormone of the kuruma prawn Penaeus japonicus in methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris

ABSTRACT:   Until now, six crustacean hyperglycemic hormones (CHH) designated Pej-SGP-I, -II, -III, -V, -VI and -VII have been characterized in the kuruma prawn Penaeus japonicus . All CHH consist of 72 amino acid residues and have an amidated carboxyl (C)-terminus. In the present study, we expressed Pej-SGP-III in methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris in order to obtain a large quantity of recombinant CHH possessing biological activity. A cDNA encoding Pej-SGP-III that had been previously cloned was processed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the resulting product was ligated into an expression vector. Pichia pastoris was transformed with this vector after which a recombinant Pej-SGP-III was expressed having an additional amino acid residue (glycine) at the C-terminus (rPej-SGP-III-Gly), a form considered to be a putative precursor of this hormone. rPej-SGP-III-Gly secreted into the culture medium was purified by reversed-phase HPLC, and amidated using a peptidylglycine alpha-amidating enzyme. The amidated rPej-SGP-III (rPej-SGP-III) showed hyperglycemic activity in in vivo bioassay almost comparable to that of the natural Pej-SGP-III. rPej-SGP-III thus obtained will be a useful tool not only for its physiological study but also for the determination of its 3-D structure.     

A review of antimicrobial peptides: defensins and related cationic peptides

Cationic antimicrobial peptides are present throughout the plant and animal kingdoms and bear striking structural and functional similarities across species lines. They provide primitive, nonspecific means of combating a variety of bacteria, fungi, enveloped viruses, and protozoa. Some are also cytotoxic against host cells, including neoplastic cells. Cationic antimicrobial peptides may play various roles in inflammation and tissue repair. Antimicrobial peptides are found in epithelial tissues regularly exposed to microbial attack as well as in cells whose primary function is defense against potential pathogens. They constitute an important part of the nonoxidative antimicrobial arsenal of leukocytes. They are preformed and/or readily synthesized when the cells are stimulated by exposure to pathogens. They exert their effects directly by inserting into membranes of target cells and forming ion channels which increase membrane permeability; however, antimicrobial peptides can also act as opsonins to facilitate phagocytosis. Resistance to defensins is a virulence factor for organisms such as Salmonella sp. The study of cationic antimicrobial peptides is increasing our understanding of innate immunity, inflammation, and the pathogenesis of genetic diseases such as specific granule disease in humans. Therapeutic applications of antimicrobial peptides are currently under investigation.     

饲粮中添加抗菌肽对肉鸭增重及血清尿素氮、总蛋白水平的影响

240只1日龄肉鸭随机成分4组,每组设3个重复,对照组用基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮上每千克分别添加1、2、3mL抗菌肽制剂。结果显示:1)2、3mL/kg添加量组增重效果显著(P<0.05),3mL/kg添加量组最佳;净肉率升高,达到显著水平(P<0.05),其中主要是胸肌率上升;腹脂率降低但差异不显著(P>0.05);料重比无显著变化(P>0.05)。2)血清总蛋白浓度差异不显著(P>0.05),但尿素氮浓度下降,2、3mL/kg添加量组达显著水平(P<0.05),3mL/kg添加量组最低。     

Biosynthesis of Depsipeptide Mycotoxins in Fusarium

The cyclic hexadepsipeptide enniatin is known as a phytopathogenic compound from Fusaria causing necrosis and wilt. The molecule consists of three alternating residues each of a branched chain amino acid and D-hydroxyisovaleric acid (D-Hiv). Enniatins are synthesized by a 347kDa multienzyme (enniatin synthetase) via a thiol template mechanism. The corresponding gene esyn1 has an open reading frame of 9393 nucleotides and harbours two modules, one responsible for D-hydroxy acid activation and one for L-amino acid activation with an integrated N-methyltransferase domain. Such methyltransferases build an homologous group among N-methyl peptide synthetases. Enniatins are synthesized by step-wise condensation of dipeptidol building blocks in an iterative manner resembling fatty acid synthesis. A key enzyme in enniatin biosynthesis is the NADPH-dependent D-2-hydroxyisovalerate dehydrogenase, that supplies enniatin synthetase with D-Hiv. Enniatins contribute to the wilt toxic character of Fusaria. Virulence was significantly reduced in F. avenaceum after disruption of the esyn1 gene.     

铅胁迫对金丝草生长及生理生化的影响

采用土培方法,探究不同梯度铅胁迫(0、1000、2000和3000 mg·kg^-1)对金丝草生长形态、体内抗氧化系统和渗透调节物质的影响。结果表明:低浓度(1000 mg·kg^-1)处理会诱导金丝草叶片过氧化物酶(POD)活性、可溶性蛋白(SP)含量和根系抗超氧阴离子自由基活力(ASAFR)、可溶性糖(SS)及脯氨酸(Pro)含量增加,使得金丝草植株总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)处于较高水平,促进了金丝草株高、叶长和生物量的增加。随胁迫浓度增加,高浓度(2000~3000 mg·kg^-1)处理下,金丝草叶片和根系丙二醛(MDA)含量迅速增加,株高、叶长、叶面积和生物量下降,生长受到抑制。但金丝草通过增强叶片和根系POD、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性来抵御过氧化作用,提高可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖含量维持细胞正常运作,增加根系生物量占比来加强根系发育,一定程度适应了高浓度铅胁迫。综上表明,金丝草主要通过叶片和根系不同抗氧化酶差异化响应、提高渗透调节物质含量,提升金丝草植株总抗氧化能力等途径来提高Pb耐性,对Pb污染矿区植物修复有较大潜力。     

Preparation and Hepatoprotective Activities of Peptides Derived from Mussels (Mytilus edulis) and Clams (Ruditapes philippinarum)

Low molecular weight (<5 kDa) peptides from mussels (Mytilus edulis) (MPs) and the peptides from clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) (CPs) were prepared through enzymatic hydrolysis by proteases (dispase, pepsin, trypsin, alcalase and papain). Both the MPs and the CPs showed excellent in vitro scavenging ability of free radicals including OH, DPPH and ABTS in the concentration range of 0.625–10.000 mg/mL. By contrast, the MPs hydrolyzed by alcalase (MPs-A) and the CPs hydrolyzed by dispase (CPs-D) had the highest antioxidant activities. Furthermore, MPs-A and CPs-D exhibited protective capabilities against oxidative damage induced by H₂O₂ in HepG2 cells in the concentration range of 25–800 μg/mL. Meanwhile, compared with the corresponding indicators of the negative control (alcohol-fed) mice, lower contents of hepatic MDA and serums ALT and AST, as well as higher activities of hepatic SOD and GSH-PX were observed in experiment mice treated with MPs-A and CPs-D. The present results clearly indicated that Mytilus edulis and Ruditapes philippinarum are good sources of hepatoprotective peptides.     

可可毛色二孢全基因组分泌蛋白的预测及分析

【目的】可可毛色二孢(Lasiodiplodia theobromae)是一种世界性分布的重要植物病原真菌,可引起严重的葡萄溃疡病(Botryosphaeria dieback),影响果木品质并造成巨大的经济损失。本研究预测并分析可可毛色二孢基因组范围内的分泌蛋白,并明确其基本特征,为该病菌分泌蛋白致病机理的研究打下基础。【方法】依据已公布的可可毛色二孢全基因组序列,利用信号肽预测软件SignalP v5.0、跨膜结构分析软件TMHMM v2.0、细胞器定位分析软件ProtComp v9.0、GPI锚定预测软件big-PI Fungal Predictor和亚细胞器定位分析软件TargetP v2.0生物信息学软件对该菌中的典型分泌蛋白进行筛选。对分泌蛋白N端信号肽的长度、氨基酸使用频率及其切割位点进行统计分析。依据蛋白序列的同源性,应用BLASTP程序对分泌组蛋白进行功能注释分析,预测其生物学功能。采用蔗糖酶缺陷的酵母分泌系统,对所选分泌蛋白的信号肽进行活性检测。利用qRT-PCR方法检测所选分泌蛋白基因在可可毛色二孢侵染葡萄中的表达情况。【结果】在可可毛色二孢全基因组编码蛋白中共筛...     

NaCl水分复合胁迫下宁夏十种主栽苜蓿品种幼苗体内脯氨酸含量变化

二次通用旋转组合设计盆栽试验,分析比较宁夏10种主栽苜蓿品种苗期在NaCl、水分复合胁迫下体内脯氨酸含量的变化,并对其抗盐、抗旱性进行初步评价。结果表明:NaCl胁迫对各品种体内脯氨酸含量的主效应除陇东和阿尔冈金苜蓿表现为负效应外,其它苜蓿品种均表现为正效应;水分胁迫对各品种的脯氨酸含量均表现为负效应;其单因素效应为:随NaCl胁迫的增加,各品种体内脯氨酸均有先减小,后增大的趋势;随水分胁迫的增加,各品种体内脯氨酸均有增加趋势;其交互效应表现为:NaCl、水分两因素对阿尔冈金、新疆大叶、宁苜1号、内蒙苜蓿和金皇后五个品种体内脯氨酸含量(Y)影响的交互效应不显著;其余五个品种CW301、三得利、陇东苜蓿、朝阳苜蓿和CW200交互作用显著,且均为负交互,交互作用的大小排序为:YCW301=Y陇东苜蓿>YCW200=Y三得利>Y朝阳苜蓿;以脯氨酸含量为主要指标对10个苜蓿品种抗盐、抗旱性初步排序:CW301>CW200>朝阳苜蓿>金皇后>宁苜1号>阿尔冈金>内蒙苜蓿>陇东苜蓿>三得利>新疆大叶。