Characteristics of the short rachillae of rice from archaeological sites dating to 7000 years ago

The abscission layer formed on a pedicel situated at the basal part of a short rachilla is an important characteristic for discriminating between wild, japonica, and indica rice. The short rachillae of paddy rice grains excavated from the Kuahuqiao, Luojiajiao, and Tianluoshan sites, located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and dating to 7000 years old, were observed. The results showed that the short rachillae could be divided into two types: a wild type and japonica type. These results indicated that the rice had been domesticated, but was a primitive cultivated rice that retained some of the characteristics of wild rice. The results also suggested that the rice was changing to resemble japonica type rice. Based on the ratios of wild and japonica types, it was inferred that rice domestication began 10000 years ago.     

Reconstruction of HaSNPV with helicoverpa hormone receptor 3

In order to develop a more efficient virus for controlling the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera, Helicoverpa hormone receptor 3 （HHR3）, which is involved in the ecdysteroid regulatory pathway, was used to genetically modify wild HaSNPV. HaSNPV-HHR3 budded virus and occlusion body virus were constructed in three steps： preparation of pFastBacHaPhpP10-HHR3 donor plasmid, transposition of HHR3 into the HaBacHZ8 bacmid, and transfection of HzAM1 cells to get HaSNPV-HHR3 virus.HHR3 was proved to be expressed in the HaSNPV-HHR3 virus infected HzAM1 cells by immunoblotting. Results of bioassay indicated that the body weight of the HaSNPV-HHR3 infected larvae was lower than the larvae infected with wild virus and uninfected normal larvae, which suggests that HaSNPV-HHR3 delayed larval growth.     

Can transgenic rice cause ecological risks through transgene escape?

Alien transgene escape from genetically engineered rice to non-transgenic varieties or close wild relatives (including weedy rice) may lead to unpredictable ecological risks. However, for transgene escape to occur three conditions need to be met: (i) spatially, transgenic rice and its non-transgenic counterparts or wild relatives should have sympatric distributions; (ii) temporally, the flowering time of transgenic rice and the non-transgenic varieties or wild relatives should overlap; and (iii) biologically, transgenic rice and its wild relative species should have such a sufficiently close relationship that their interspecific hybrids can have normal generative reproduction. This paper presents research data on the geographic distribution, flowering habits, interspecific hybridization, and gene flow of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) and its closely related wild relatives containing the AA genome. The objective is to estimate the possibility of transgene escape to non-transgenic rice varieties and wild relatives of rice, which may result in unpredictable ecological risks.     

Improving photosynthesis of microalgae by changing the ratio of light-harvesting pigments

Changing the ratio of light-harvesting pigments was regarded as an efficient way to improve the photosynthesis rate in microalgae, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In the present study, a mutant of Anabeana simensis （called SP） was selected from retrieved satellite cultures. Several parameters related with photosynthesis, such as the growth, photosynthesis rate, the content of photosynthetic pigment, low temperature fluorescence spectrum （77K） and electron transport rate, were compared with those of the wild type. It was found that the change in the ratio of light-harvesting pigments in the mutant led to more efficient light energy transfer and usage in mutant than in the wild type. This may be the reason why the mutant had higher photosynthesis and growth rates.     

Identification and mapping of quantitative trait loci controlling cold-tolerance of Chinese common with rice （O.rufipogon Griff.） at booting to flowering stages

An advanced backcross population of rice was used to identify the quantitative trait locus(QTL) controlling the cold-tolerance at booting to flowering stages.The recipient,Guichao 2(GC2),was a commercial Indica rice;the donor Dongxiang common wild rice,was an accession of common wild rice(DXCWR,Oryza rufipogon Griff.).Three QTLs for cold-tolerance were detected on chromosomes 1,6 and 11.Two of them coming from DXCWR could enhance the cold-tolerance of the backcross progenies.Moreover,one sterility QTL that could reduce the seed set rate of the backcross progenies by 78% was mapped on chromosome5.     

Preparation of transparent TiO2 nanocrystalline film for UV sensor

Nanocrystalline TiO2 is a very important inorganic semiconductor function material with a wild band gap of 3.0-3.2 eV. Owing to its characteristics of selectiveabsorption for UV light, it has been extensively applied in photocatalysts, dye-sensitized sola…     

Stable isotopic analysis on sus bones from the Wanfabozi site, Tonghua, Jilin

In order to study the sus diets and explore the possibility to distinguish domestic pig from wild boar through dietary analysis, stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes of 28 pig bones from archaeological site of Wanfabozi in Tonghua City, Jilin Province were analyzed. The δ^13C and δ^15N values of uncontaminated bones show that the overall pigs in the site were generally herbivores and ate mainly C3 plants. Significant difference of δ^15N values was observed between wild boar and domestic pigs, which may result from the higher consumption of animal protein in domestic pigs other than from that in wild boar, possibly from human leftover or waste,. The dietary difference between wild boar and domestic pigs has great potential to differentiate wild boar and domestic pigs in the early stage of pig domestication.     

Construction of heteroduplex DNA and in vitro model for functional analysis of mismatch repair

Functional deficiency of mismatch repair (MMR) system is one of the mechanisms of tumorigenesis. With the development of the investigation and the requirement from the clinical diagnosis and treatment it is necessary to build up a method to evaluate the functional status of the whole MMR system in the concerned tumors. The original ssDNA and dsDNA from wild type (wt) bacteriophage M13mp2 and its three derivates with mutation points in the     

Geographical genetic diversity and divergence of common wild rice (O. rufipogon Griff.) in China

Using 36 SSR markers and 889 accessions of common wild rice in China, the genetic diversity and the divergence among different geographical populations are investigated. Guangdong Province has the largest number of alleles, which account for 84% of the total alleles detected in the study, followed by Guangxi Province. The Nei's gene diversity indices, from high to low, are in the sequence of Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Yunnan provinces. Two genetic diversity centers of Chinese common wild rice are detected on the basis of geographic analysis, i.e., the region covering Boluo, Zijin, Lufeng, Haifeng, Huidong and Huiyang counties of Guangdong Province and the region covering Yongning, Longan, Laibin and Guigang counties of Guangxi Province. The common wild rice in Yunnan, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Fujian provinces are diverged into respectively independent populations with relatively large genetic distances, whereas, those in Hainan, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces have relatively low genetic divergence. Under the condition of geographic separation, natural selection is considered as one of the primary forces contributing to the divergence of common wild rice in China.     

Mutagenesis of Ser24 of Cytochrome b559 α Subunit Affects PSII Acitivies in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

In order to study the functions of cytochrome b559 (Cyt b559) in photosystem two (PSII) activity, mutant S24F of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was constructed using site directed mutagenesis, in which Serine24 (Ser24) locating downstream of Histidine23 (His23) in α subunit of Cyt b559 was replaced by Phenylalanine (Phe). Physiological and biochemical analysis showed that mutant S24F could be grown photoautotrophically or photoheterotrophically. However, their growth rate was slower either on HSM or TAP medium than that of the control; Analysis of PSII activity revealed that its oxygen evolution was about 71% of wild type (WT); The Photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) of S24F was reduced 0.23 compared with WT; S24F was more sensitive to strong light irradiance than the wild type; Furthermore, SDS-PAGE and Western-blotting analysis indicated that the expression levels of α subunit of Cyt b559, LHCII and PsbO of S24F were a little less than those of the wild type. Overall, these data suggests that Ser24 plays a significant role in making Cyt b559 structure maintain PSII complex activity of oxygen evolution although it is not directly bound to heme group.     

Rapid growth and sterility of growth hormone gene transgenic triploid carp

Triploid carp (100%) with 150 (3n=150) chromosomes were obtained by crossing the females of improved tetraploid hybrids (♀, 4n=200) of red crucian carp (♀)×common carp (♂) with the males of diploid yellow river carp (♂, 2n=100). The crosses yielded transgenic triploid carp (positive triploid fish, 44.2% of the progeny) and non-transgenic triploid carp (negative triploid fish). Histological examination of the gonads of 24-month-old positive triploid fish suggested they were sterile and the fish were not able to produce mature gametes during the breeding season. Morphologically, both the positive and negative triploid fish were similar. They had a spindle-shaped, laterally compressed, steel grey body with two pairs of barbells. Most of the quantifiable traits of the triploid carp were intermediate between those of the two parents. The positive and negative triploid fish were raised in the same pond for 2 years. The mean body weight of the positive triploid fish was 2.3 times higher than the negative triploid fish. The weight of the largest positive triploid fish was 2.91 times higher than that of the largest negative triploid fish. Thus, we produced fast-growing transgenic triploid carp that have a reduced ecological risk because of their inability to mate and produce progeny.     

A practical artificial diet for the diamondback moth

A new artificial diet for the diamondback moth,Plutella Xylostella (L), had been selected out successfully. The diet contained the following constituents: soybean powder, wheat germ, wheat bran powder, brewer's yeast and other constituents. So far, the diamondback moth had been reared on this artificial diet for 25 generations and still mantained its normal biological characteristics. Under 25±1 C and 60%–75%RH with 12 h PH, the results of rearing the diamondback moth on the diet as follows: egg hatch, 81.3%–94.7%; survival from eggs to pupae, 55.0%–76.7%; pupal survival, 79.7%–100%; adult emergence, 80%–100%; fecundity 94.7–144. 4 eggs/♀; pupal weight, 90.4–110.8 mg/20 pupae; average days to adult: ♀, 10.2; ♂ 13.1. The diet is not only simpler on the constituents but also have better rearing results and more rearing generations. Li Guanghong: born in June 1965, Ph.D. graduate student. Current research interest is in entomo logical physiology Supported by the State Eighth Five-Year-Plan     

Comparison of infection of different cell lines by uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Studying the interaction between uropathogenic Escherichia coil （UPEC） and uroepithelial cells is important in elucidating the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection. In this study, the African green monkey kidney cells （Vero）, human kidney carcinoma cells （Ketr-3） and bladder carcinoma cells （EJ） were infected by UPEC132, a clinical strain isolated from Tianjin, China, and were compared for their capacities to allow the adherence and invasion by this strain. The results revealed that all these cell lines could be attached and invaded by UPEC132. The adherence rates for Vero, Ketr-3 and EJ cells were （49,20 ±7.55）%, （55.22 ±4.09）% and （73.20 ±5.26）%, respectively, and invasion frequencies were （2.61 ±0.32）×10^-3, （3.00 ±0.34）×10^-3 and （3.25 ± 0.20）×10^-3, respectively. The statistical analysis showed that the adherence rate for EJ cells was significantly higher than those for the other two cell lines （P〈0.05）, and the invasion frequencies for EJ and Ketr-3 cells had no statistical differences （P〉0.05） but were higher than that for Vero cells （P〈0.05）. Three cell lines were detected for the receptors for P pill of UPEC by using indirect immunofluorescence. The results showed that receptors existed on the surfaces of all cell lines, and the highest distribution was found on the surface of EJ cells. Additionally, the invasion of EJ cells by recombinant UPEC132/pSELECT-GFP could be directly visualized using confocal microscopy. These data strongly implicated that EJ cells could be more easily infected by UPEC132 than the other cells, and thus could serve as a good experimental target for further investigation of UPEC infection.     

Relationship between differential gene expression patterns in functional leaves of maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) at milk filling stage and heterosis using cDNA-AFLP

To understand the molecular mechanism of maize heterosis ,differential gene expression patterns in the functional leaves of 35 maize hybrids relative to their parents involving 10 elite inbreds at milk filling stage were analyzed hy using cDNA-AFLP,the correlation analyses of various differential expression patterns with the performance and heterosis of main maize agronomic traits were evaluated.The main results were as follows:For uniparental specific expression ,significant positive correlations were detected with the performance of seed weight per ear and 100-seed weight at 0.01 and 0.05 probability levels respectively.For biparental specific expression ,significant negative correlations were detected with the performance of ear diameter and seed weight per ear at 0.01 probability level .For uniparental specific expression ,significant positive correlations were detected with the heterosis of ear diameter and seed weight per ear at 0.01 and 0.05 probability levls rspectively,For biparental specific expression .significant negtive correlation was detected with theheterosis of ear diameter at 0.05 probability level ,However,for F1-spectific expression,for fragments detected only in one parent and F1,and for fragments detected only in two parents or only in F1,no significant correlation was detected with the performance or heterosis of all agronomic traits surveyed.     

Sexual difference in gonadal development of embryonic chickens after treatment of polychlorinated biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous, persistent and lipophilic environmental endocrine disrupters that can be biomagnified in human and animals including birds and thus to affect reproductive functions. Poultry meat and eggs contain a great deal of fat and possibly concentrate higher PCBs and other environmental contaminants such as dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT). In order to identify the adverse effects of PCBs and possible sexual difference on chicken gonadal development, Aroclor 1254 was injected into fertilized Hyline chicken eggs before incubation. Four groups of eggs received yolk injection of either peanut oil as control, 1, 10 or 100 mg/egg of Aroclor 1254 as treatment group, respectively. After hatching the gonads were removed for histological examination. Testicular structure was apparently changed and exhibited dramatic decrease in area of the transverse sections (1 mg/egg, P＜0.01; 10 and 100 mg/egg, P＜0.001), diameter (10 and 100 mg/egg, P＜0.05) and relative area of the testicular tubules (10 mg/egg, P＜0.05; 100 mg/egg, P＜0.01). Most testicular tubules of the highest dose group degenerated and even disappeared. The differentiation of germ cells was retarded in all groups treated with Aroclor 1254. Some germ cells were irregular in shape, with vacuolated cytoplasm and hyperchromatism nucleus (pyknosis) in 1 and 10 mg/egg groups and almost all germ cells in 100 mg/egg group. In contrast, the area of the left ovarian transverse sections increased dramatically (10 and 100 mg/egg,P＜0.001), the ovarian cortex manifested a significant increment in thickness (1, 10 and 100 mg/egg, P＜0.001) and a higher number of oocytes was observed (1, 10 and 100 mg/egg, P＜0.001) in the female chickens treated with Aroclor 1254 compared with the control group. A few oocytes with vacuolated cytoplasm and hyperchromatic nucleus were also observed in ovarian cortex after PCBs exposure. These results showed that PCBs interfered with gonadal development with a sex-specific pattern and retarded differentiation of spermatogonia into spermatocytes but accelerated differentiation of oogonia into oocytes in the embryonic chickens.     

Comparative Studies on the Molecular Genetic Diversities among Haliotis discus hannai,H.discus discus and Their Hybrids

0　IntroductionAsagroupofthemostimportantmarineunivalvegastropods ,thegenusabalonehasmorethan 1 0speciescultivatedintheworldnowadays .However,themajorityofspeciesgrowslowly ,challengingtheircultivation .Manystudies ,includingtriploidizationofH .discushan nai (Zhang ,1 998) ,gynogenesisofH .discushannai(Fujino ,1 990 )andgrowthhormonegenetransformationofH .rufescens (Power,1 996 ) ,werecarriedouttowardthedevelopmentoffastgrowingvarieties .Unfortunately ,theseapproacheshavenotbroughtprofoundc…     

Testing reintroduction as a conservation strategy for the critically endangered Chinese alligator: Movements and home range of released captive individuals

The Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is considered the most critically endangered crocodilian as a result of the near total loss of its habitat and its extremely small and fragmented wild populations. Plans for population recovery lie mostly with wetland res- toration and the reintroduction of captive-reared animals. We carried out a first-trial release of 3 adult Chinese alligators (1♂, 2♀) into a pond at the Hongxing conservation site, Xuancheng, southern Anhui Province; the animals were radio-tracked from May to October in 2003. We hypothesized that after a period of adaptation, the alligators would establish definable home ranges. Two (1♂, 1♀) of the 3 alligators were monitored for the whole of the tracking period. The male had an annual home-range size of 7.61 hm2, and the female 4.00 hm2. Water temperature and pond water level were two important factors influencing the alligators’ distributions, and daily movements. The radio-tracked alligators had overlapping home ranges, which notably included the one substantial island in the pond; that island is the only known nesting site of the local native wild alligators. Aggressive interactions between the released alligators and native wild alligators were observed during the breeding season around this island. All the three reintroduced alligators survived the winter of 2003 and were alive in the same pond in 2008. We concluded that the Hongxing conservation site provided a suitable habitat for the reintroduced alligators. However, the low water level in the pond resulting from farmland irrigation in August and September can be a substantial threat to the alligators’ survival. Therefore, regu- lations on irrigation in summer and autumn are needed to balance the water needs of the alligators and agriculture.     

Cardiac protective role of a novel erythrocyte-derived depressing factor on rats and its Ca^2＋ mechanism

The cardiac protective role of a novel erythro-cyte-derived depressing factor (EDDF) on spontaneous hy-pertensive rats (SHR), calcium overload (CaO) rats and Wistar rats and its mechanism was evaluated. Mean artery pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and LVdp/dtmax were measured by physiological recorder. The effect of EDDF on the Ca2+-ATPase activity in myocardial sarcoplasmic reticu-lum (SR) of CaO rats was determined by inorganic phos-phate assay. Calcium transport in myocytes was measured by 45Ca2+ radioactive isotope measurement. The phosphoryla-tion levels of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2) in myocardial tissue of SHR and CaO rats were measured by Western blot method. And the ultrastructures of cardiac muscle cells were observed with the transmission electron microscope. The results indicated that EDDF could significantly decrease MAP, HR and LVdp/dtmax in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.05). It seems that the mechanism might relate with activating the Ca2+-APTase, enhancing the uptake and release of Ca2+ from SR (P < 0.05), decreasing the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 of myocytes (P < 0.01) and lightening the ultrastructural lesion of cardiac muscle cells. In CaO rats, the Ca2+-ATPase activity decreased clearly com-pared to control (64.99 7.16 vs 94.48 7.68 nmol·min-1 ·mg-1 protein, P < 0.01), while EDDF (100 mg/mL) could significantly increase the activity (87.93 ?9.54 vs 64.99 ?7.16, P < 0.05, n = 7). Both uptake and release rate of Ca2+ (祄ol 45Ca2+/g protein/min) from myocardial SR of CaO rats re-markably decreased compared to control (32.40 ?2.70 and 15.46 ?1.49 vs 61.09 ?10.89 and 25.47 ?4.29, P < 0.05); EDDF (100 mg/mL) could significantly stimulate their activi-ties (50.48 6.76 and 21.76 2.75 vs 32.40 2.70 and 15.46 1.49, P < 0.05). EDDF could evidently down-regulate the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in myocardial tissue from SHR and CaO rats (P < 0.01), lighten the ultrastructural lesion of cardiac muscle cells of SHR as well. It is concluded that EDDF seems to play protective roles on both structure and function of heart, which closely related with amelioration of Ca2+ transport and inhibition of Ca2+-MAP kinase pathway.