PCR amplification of Sox genes inMisgurnus anguillicaudatus andParamisgurnus dabryanus (Cypriniforms; Cobitidae)

Using the primers which specially amplify the conservative motif of Human SRY gene, we studied the PCR amplification of Sox genes in genomic DNA of two species of mud loach:Misgurnus anguillicaudatus andParamisgurnus dabryanus. Four bands with the length of 200,550,940 and 1000 bp respectively, were presented in the PCR products ofMisgurnus anguillicaudatus. Three bands with the length of 200,550 and 900 bp were presented in that ofParamisgurnus dabryanus. Southern blotting results indicated that the 200 and 550 bp bands are specially positive. There is no difference between male and female individuals as well as between these two species. Chang zhongjie: Born in Nov. 1965, Ph. D. graduate student     

Orientational domains at room temperature in La0.33Ca0.67MnO3 perovskite

Orientational domains at room temperature in orthorhombic perovskite La_0.33Ca_0.67MnO₃ were studied by group-theory and observed systematically using transmission electron microscopy. There are six orientational variants (A, A′, B, B′, C andC′) in orthorhombic perovskite La_0.33Ca_0.67MnO₃. Their orthorhombicb _o directions are parallel to thea _p,b _p andc _p directions of the cubic prototypic perovskite, respectively. In each case there are two orientational variants (e.g.,A andA′) with theira _o andc _o axes interchanged. Among the possible 15 boundaries between these 6 variants there are only two types of domain boundaries: (1) m<100>boundariesC′/C, A′/A, andB′/B. (2) m<110>boundaryiesC′/A, C′/A′, C′/B, C′/B′, C/A, C/A′, C/B, C/B′, B′/A, B′/A′, B/A, andB/A′. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19974031) and US DOE(DE-AC02-98CH10886) Biography: WANG Ren-hui (1937-), male, Professor.     

Nodulation and molecular characterization of pure cultures isolated from root nodules ofCoriaria nepalensis

Four strains with typical morphology of actinomycete genus ofFrankia were isolated from root nodules ofCoriatia nepalensis. They were shown to nodulate the seedlings of host plant and hybridize withFrankia 16S rRNA targeted olionucleotide probes, indicating that they did belong to the genusFrankia. Furthermore, by nifHDK probe hybridizations, the homologous fragments of nifHDK genes were detected among the bacteria, and they were located in various sizes of restriction fragments of total DNA, showing diverse patterns of restriction fragment length polyrnorphisms of nifHDK gene (nifHDK-RFLPs). The PCR-based amplification and cloning of nifH gene throw light on the molecular phylogeny ofCoriaria -infectiveFrankia.     

Reproductive biology and prospects for conservation ofCaldesia parnassifolia (Alismataceae)—A threatened monocot in China

Caldesia parnassi folia (Bassi ex Linn.) Parl. in China has declined in number in recent years and is increasingly faced with the risk of extirpation arising from anthropogenic changes associated with rapid urbanization and expansion of both agriculture and infrastructure. To aid in provision of the data needed for effective conservation of the species, studies on the habitat, pollination ecology, and breeding system ofC. parnassi folia were carried out on natural populations occurring in Southeastern China. Flowering in the study populations extended for more than eighty days beginning in early summer. Floral anthesis occurred in the morning hours and proceeded rapidly, lasting about 45 min. Flowers lasted ca. 8 h.Caldesia parnassi folia is self-compatible; however autogamy resulted in lower seed set than geitonogamy and xenogamy as well as free pollination. The data on pollen/ ovule (P∶O) ratio is consistent with a partially selfing and outcrossing mating system. Interpopulational crosses yielded similar seed set to within-population crosses. Agamospermy did not occur in the study populations. Propagation is achieved through seeds as well as through turions which commonly occur in the inflorescences. Flies (Insecta; Diptera) were the most frequent visitors to the flowers ofC. parnassi folia; however bees (Insecta; Hymenoptera) composed a larger proportion of effective pollinators. The Syrphidae speciesSphaerophoria indiana (Bigot) presents evidence of oligolectic foraging behavior. Recommendations are made on the immediate steps necessary for conservation ofCaldesia species in China. Foundation item: Supported by the State Key Basic Research and Development Plan of China (973) (G2000046805) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30070055) Biography: Robert Wahiti, Gituru (1967-), male, Kenya, Ph. D., research direction: plant biosystematics.     

Construction and characterization of partiallyntrC-deleted mutants inAlcaligenes faecalis

To study the effect of ntrC gene product on the expression and regulation of other important nitrogen-fixing genes in Alcaligenes faecalis, partially ntrC-deleted mutants of A. faecalis have been generated. To start with, the ntrC gene of A. faecalis was cloned into a suicide plasmid pSUP202 to create a recombinant plasmid pSUM1. The ntrC gene in pSUM1 was then replaced by a lacZ-Km^r fragment resulted in the generation of a plasmid pSUM2. The lacZ fragment in pSUM2 was further removed and a plasmid pSUM3 produced. As a second step, the plasmid pSUM2 or pSUM3 was introduced into the wild type of A. faecalis A1501 by conjugation and two partially ntrC-deleted mutants A15CM1 (ntrC∷lacZ) and A15CM2 (ntrC ^- ) were obtained. To understand the regulatory effect of the NtrC on the expression of nifH and nifA, a nifH-lacZ gene or a nifH-lacZ gene was introduced into the ntrC^- mutant by conjugation. The results indicated that: (ⅰ) although the ntrC^-mutant was nif ⁺ , its nitrogen fixation activity was only 20% that of the wild type; (ⅱ) the ntrC^- mutant failed to grow on the medium containing nitrate as a sole nitrogen source; (ⅲ) the regulation of ntrC gene expression did not require its own product; (ⅳ) the expression of nifH in A . faecalis was positively regulated by the ntrC. Deletion of the ntrC resulted in the reduction of nifH expression or even totally inactivated nitrogen fixation; (ⅴ) there was no obvious influence on the expression of nifA in A. faecalis if the ntrC gene was deleted.     

Regulatory role of the sequences downstream fromnodD3 P1 promoter ofRhizobium meliloti

The 660 bp region betweennodD3 P1 promoter and the following coding region ofRhizobium meliloti has been studied. This region is designated “downstream sequences”. It consists of two potential open reading frames, ORF1 and ORF2. Studies on the role of the downstream sequences on the activity ofnocD3 P1 with nod D3(P1)-IacZ fusion show that deletion of the sequences containing ORF2 causes the increase of the activity of the fusion; on the contrary, addition of extra copies of ORF2 markedly decreases the activity of the fusion. These results indicate that the product of ORF2 plays a negative role in the expression ofnod D3.     

Microcalorimetric investigation of effect of berberine alkaloids from Coptis chinensis Franch on intestinal diagnostic flora growth

The inhibitory effect of three berberine alkaloids (BAs) from Coptis chinensis Franch, a traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herb, on Bifidobacterium adolescentis growth was investigated by microcalorimetry. The power-time curves of B. adolescentis with and without BAs were acquired, meanwhile the extent and duration of inhibitory effect on the metabolism were evaluated by the growth rate constant (k), half inhibitory ratio (IC₅₀), maximum heat-output power (P _max), peak time of maximum heat-output power (t _p) and total heat production (Q _t). k, P _max and Q _t decreased, and t _p was prolonged with the increase of BAs concentration. The IC₅₀ of BAs is 806 μg/mL for berberine, 341 μg/mL for coptisine and 236 μg/mL for palmatine. The sequence of antimicrobial activity of BAs is berberine < coptisine < palmatine. Combined with previous studies, it could be shown that the sequences of antimicrobial activity of BAs on both Bacillus shigae and Escherichia coli are berberine > coptisine > palmatine. The structure-function relationship of BAs indicates that the functional group methylenedioxy or methoxyl at C2 and C3 might be the major group inducing the activities of BAs on E. coli and B. adolescentis. Meanwhile, the substituent groups at C2, C3, C9 and C10 almost have equal effect on B. shigae. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 30625042 and 30873385) and Key Projects of National Science & Technology Pillar Program of China in the 11th Five-Year Period (Grant No. 2007BAI40B05)     

Root and xylem ABA changes in response to soil drying in two woody plants

Two woody plants, Platycladus orientalise (tolerant to drought) and Acacia auriculi-formis (sensitive to drought), have been subjected to rapid and slow soil drying. ABA levels in their roots and xylem sap have been determined using radioimmunoassay (RIA, sensitivity is 0.4 pmol per assay vial) with a monoclonal antibody against ( + )-ABA. ABA contents of P. orientalise and A. auriculiformis growing in well watered soil are 0.3 and 2.5 nmol·gDW-1 in roots and 1.6 and 0.4 μmol in xylem saps, respectively. A rapid soil drying has been applied to these two plants with soil water content (SWC) being reduced to 0.02 and 0.06 g·gDW-1 respectively. Under such treatment, ABA was increased by 22 times and 2 times in roots and by 7 times and 34 times in xylem saps respectively for P. orientalise and A. auriculiformis. After rewatering for 6 d, ABA in roots and xylem sap of both species returned to control levels. When a slow soil drying was applied, SWC was reduced to 0.1 and 0.13 g·gDW-1 respectively for P. orientalise and A. auriculiformis. ABA was increased by 5 times and 1.6 times in roots and by 6 times and 19 times in xylem saps respectively for these two plants. ABA in roots and xylem saps decreased to near control levels 8 d after watering. Plant leaf water potentials of both plants hardly changed at times when root and xylem ABA showed substantial increase in response to soil drying. It is concluded that ABA levels in the roots and xylem saps of P. orientalise and A. auriculiformis are more sensitively regulated than leaf water potential in response to soil drying and can act as a chemical signal in root-shoot communications of the drought stress.     

烟蚜茧蜂规模扩繁冬寄主筛选研究

为筛选出烟蚜茧蜂（Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead）规模扩繁中的最佳繁蚜冬寄主,比较了自然条件下7种不同冬寄主上烟蚜的种群数量变化,烟蚜茧蜂对各寄主上烟蚜的防控效果及僵蚜羽化率.结果表明：烟蚜在7种寄主上种群数量的自然增长从大到小依次表现为烤烟K326、芥菜、芥菜型油菜、甘蓝型油菜、萝卜、红菜薹、白菜;芥菜上烟蚜茧蜂的寄生率为70.56%,显著高于其他寄主;7种冬寄主上僵蚜羽化率均高于70%,其中芥菜最高,为97.33%,萝卜最低,为72.87%,二者差异具有统计学意义.烟蚜茧蜂均能寄生7种冬寄主植物上所饲养的烟蚜且僵蚜羽化率相对较高,但总体而言芥菜上烟蚜的种群数量增长较快,烟蚜茧蜂的寄生率和僵蚜羽化率均最高,可利用芥菜来替代烟草作为冬季繁蚜寄主,也可在春烟种植前对芥菜田释放烟蚜茧蜂使其在田间建立自然种群.     

Experimental proof for the regulation ofSalmonella typhimurium purB bypurR

Salmonella typhimurium purB encodes adenylosuccinate lyase (ASL), the enzyme that catalyzes step 8 in the pathway forde novo synthesis of inosine 5′-monophosphate (IMP) and also the final reaction in the two-step sequence from IMP to adenosine monophosphate (AMP). The nucleotide sequence ofpurB was obtained by the genetic map and sequence homologous analysis. The conservedpur operator inpurB was identified to be located 185 bp downstream of the initiation codon and overlaps codons 62 – 67 in the protein-coding region. The binding of PurR to this operator was demonstrated by gel retardation experiment and site-directed mutagenesis, indicating that thepurB is under the control ofpurR. We also answered why previous study had conflicting report concerning the regulation ofpurB bypurR by identifying the junction site ofpurB tolacZ in apurB- MudJ (lacZ,Kan ^r) fusion strain. This result strongly supports that thepurB is the second gene in theycfC-purB operon.     

Improving DNA damage repair ability ofE. coli to UV-radiosensitivity by DNA-mediated gene transfer of low energy ion beam

Using calcium chloride method of transfer gene as control, a new technique of transferring gene by low energy ion beam has been applied to the study of improving DNA damage repair ability ofE. coli to UV-radiosensitivity. The genome DNA pieces ofDeinococcus radiodurans, as “foreign” genetic materials, were introduced into the UV-radiosensitive strains ofE. coli by implantation of 20 keV Ar⁺ at doses ranging from 1 × 10¹⁵ to 2 × 10¹⁵ ions/cm². Results show that the transfected strains present higher UV-radioresistance than that of un-transfected ones and start ones. The survival rate of transfected strains and their unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) ability is increased, indicating that the transfer gene is a success.     

Expression ofBcl-2 in cells with different telomerase activities

Both telomerase andBcl-2 are important genes in controlling apoptosis. The activation of telomerase and the abnormal regulation ofBcl-2 are also closely related to carcinogenesis. However, little is known about the linkage between telomerase andBcl-2. The effect of activated telomerase on the expression ofBcl-2 has been investigated. It is demonstrated that in tumor and transformed cells with higher telomerase activity,Bcl-2 expression is significantly lower than that in telomerase negative or less telomerose activity cells. Further study showed that in the telomerase gene-transformed 2BS-fibroblasts,Bcl-2 expression is inhibited significantly while the exogenous telomerase catalytic subunit gene is re-expressed in fibroblasts. Results indicated that there might be a certain linkage between the expression of telomerase andBcl-2, and overexpression of exogenous telomerase gene might down regulate the expression ofBcl-2. They contributed equally to this work.     

Oligocarpia kepingensis sp. nov. from the Lower Permian of the northern Tarim Basin, Xinjiang and itsin situ spores

A Palaeozoic gleicheniaceous fernOligocarpia kepingensis sp. nov. is described from the Lower Permian of the northern Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China. The material comprises fertile organs including sori, sporangia, spores and associated sterile leaf of theSphenopteris type. The sori are circular and 0.6–0.8 mm in diameter, and each sorus consists of 4–6 oval sporangia without an indusium. A transverse annulus completely encircles the sporangium. Each sporangium produces probably 256 trilete spores resembling the dispersed genusLeiotriletes. Comparisons are made betweenO. kepingensis and other species ofOligocarpia in the soral organization and spores. It is reasonable to includeOligocarpia in Gleicheniaceae based on its similarities of fertile character to the extant gleicheniaceous members.     

A categorical interpretation of Yetter-Drinfel’d modules

It is known that any strict tensor category (C,⊗,I) can determine a strict braided tensor categoryZ(C), the centre ofC. WhenA is a finite Hopf algebra, Drinfel’d has proved thatZ( _AM) is equivalent to_D(A)M as a braided tensor category, where_AM is the left A-module category, andD(A) is the Drinfel’d double ofA. This is the categorical interpretation ofD(A). Z( _AM) is proved to be equivalent to the Yetter-Drinfel’d module category,_AYD ^A as a braided tensor category for any Hopf algebraA. Furthermore, for right A-comodule categoryM ^A, Z(M^A) is proved to be equivalent to the Yetter-Drinfel’d module category_AY D^A as a braided tensor category. But,in the two cases, the Yetter-Drinfel’d module category_AY D^A has different braided tensor structures.     

Computed tomography ( CT ) of nasal cavity ofIkechosaurus sunailinae (Reptilia: Choristodera)

The CT technique was first applied to observing the nasal cavity ofIkechosaurus sunailinae. The results indicate that the nasal cavity is very complex, and it was divided into two parts: the posterior-upper part and the anterior-lower one. These control olfaction and thermoregulation respectively. The partial loss of pineal systems suggests that this animal may have been evolving toward endothermy. Therefore,Ikechosaurus may have had a strong ability to thermoregulate, thus keeping a high level of activity. But it still did not maintain constant temperature, as the birds and mammals do.     

Cloning and sequence analysis of Sox genes in a tetraploid cyprinid fish, Tor douronensis

A PCR survey for Sox genes in a young tetraploid fish Tor douronensis （Teleostei： Cyprinidae） was performed to access the evolutionary fates of important functional genes after genome duplication caused by polyploldizatlon event. Totally 13 Soxgenes were obtained in Tordouronensis, which represent SoxB, SoxC and SoxE groups. PhylogeneUc analysis of Sox genes in Tor douronensis provided evidence for fish-specific genome duplication, and suggested that Sox19 might be a teleost specific Sox gene member. Sequence analysis revealed most of the nucleoUde substitutions between duplicated copies of Soxgenes caused by tetreploldlzatlon event or their orthologues in other species are silent substitutions. It would appear that the sequences are under purifying selective pressure, strongly suggesting that they represent functional genes and supporting selection against all null allele at either of two duplicated loci of Sox4a, Sox9a and Sox9b. Surprising variations of the intron length and similarities of two duplicated copies of Soxga and Sox9b, suggest that Tor douronensis might be an allotetreploidy.     

广东石豆兰及其易混伪品的营养成分分析与评价

为探究广东石豆兰(Bulbophyllum kwangtungense)、密花石豆兰(B.odoratissimum)和云南石仙桃(Pholidota yunnanensis)的营养成分差异,为植物资源的开发利用提供理论依据,本研究以3种兰科植物的全株为材料,按照国家标准中的检测方法对其主要营养成分、活性物质及矿物质元素进行测定,并通过氨基酸评分(AAS)和化学评分(CS)对其氨基酸营养价值进行评价。结果表明,广东石豆兰中粗蛋白、灰分、总糖、硒、钙的含量与密花石豆兰及云南石仙桃无显著差异(P＞0.05),而维生素E、钾含量显著高于密花石豆兰及云南石仙桃(P＜0.05)。广东石豆兰和密花石豆兰中茶多酚、镁含量显著高于云南石仙桃(P＜0.05);广东石豆兰和云南石仙桃中氨基酸总量、必需氨基酸总量、鲜味氨基酸、药效氨基酸和总黄酮含量显著高于密花石豆兰,而粗脂肪含量显著低于密花石豆兰(P＜0.05)。密花石豆兰和云南石仙桃作为广东石豆兰的易混伪品,在预防高血压和心血管疾病以及抗肿瘤活性、抗宫颈癌、延缓衰老、增强活力等营养保健功效上,密花石豆兰及云南石仙桃都不能完全替代广东石豆兰。