Tissue-specific expression of glutathione S-transferases induced by 2-tridecanone or quercetin in cotton bollworms, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)

The tissue-specific expression of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) in the cotton bollworm and the expression level induced by 2-tridecanone and quercetin were examined using the methods of biochemistry and the quantitative PCR. The relative expression level of GST mRNA was unanimous with the GSTs activity conjugaging with 1-chloro-2, 4-dimitro-benzene (CDNB) in fat bodies, midguts, heads and integuments of cotton bollworms. The GSTs activity in fat bodies was the highest, then midguts, heads and integuments in turn, which was in consistent with the relative expression level of GST mRNA. The specific activity of GSTs and the relative expression level of GST mRNA could be significantly induced by 2-tridecanone and quercetin, and after the induction the order of the GSTs activity and the relative expression level of GST mRNA in the above four tissues in cotton bollworms was not different from the control. The induction of GSTs by 2-tridecanone was stronger than by quercetin in all four tissues, which was in accordance with the relative expression level of GST mRNA. It suggested that the increase of GSTs activity induced by plant allelochemicals was associated with the elevated expression of GST mRNA in cotton bollworms.     

Cloning, Characterization, and Expression Analysis of Calreticulin from Pearl Oyster Pinctada fucata

Calreticulin is a unique calcium-binding protein with multiple functions mostly located in the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum. A large amount of calcium is absorbed from the medium and transported to mineralization sites during biomineralization in pearl oyster. This paper describes the cloning of the full-length cDNA of calreticulin from Pinctada fucata, namely PCRT. PCRT encodes a deduced 414-amino acid protein, which includes a predicted 17- amino acid signal peptide and an endoplasmic reticulum retrieval sequence HDEL. The protein shows 63%-76% sequence identity and shares some common characteristics with calreticulins from other species. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR indicates that PCRT is ubiquitously expressed in all tissues tested with the highest expression in the hemolymph and the mantle. In situ hybridization analysis of PCRT in the mantle showed strong signals in the inner fold, the inner side of middle fold, and the inner side of outer fold of the mantle epithelium, All these results suggest PCRT might be involved in Ca^2＋ transport and storage during oyster biomineralization.     

Induction of nicotine in tobacco by herbivory and its relation to glucose oxidase activity in the labial gland of three noctuid caterpillars

Tobacco Nicotiana tabacum L. is a host plant ofHelicoverpa armigera (Huibner), Helicoverpa assulta Guenee and Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). The difference in leaf nicotine response to the feeding by these three larvae and the mechanical simulation of their feeding was examined by HPLC. Results indicated that nicotine induction was suppressed by H. armigera and H. assulta larvae feeding or by simulated damage treated with their labial glands extracts. The production of nicotine was also suppressed by the glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger when it was treated on mechanically wounded leaf area. On the contrary, the nicotine production was stimulated by S. litura larva feeding or by simulated damage treated with its labial gland extract. Heat denature can not counteract the stimulation effect of the S. litura labial gland extracts to tobacco nicotine production. The glucose oxidase activity was detected in labial gland extracts of both H. armigera and H. assulta, but the activity in H. armigera was significantly higher than that in H. assulta. No glucose oxidase activity was detected in labial gland extracts of S. litura. It is shown that the glucose oxidase activity in labial glands of caterpillars plays an important role in the nicotine response to herbivory. The glucose oxidase was mainly contained in the labial gland of H. armigera larva, and had the highest activity at pH 7.0. D-Glucose was the optimal substrate of the glucose oxidase. Labial gland glucose oxidase activities varied daily during larval development with high activities found when larvae were actively feeding.     

滞育和非滞育棉铃虫脑的组织解剖学研究

滞育和非滞育棉铃虫在不同的发育阶段，脑的形态组织学结构存在着一定的差异，主要表现在：非滞育脑的神经纤维体发达，神经分泌细胞中的核较大，且细胞质中除了有线粒体外，还有大量的粗面内质网及游离的核糖体；而滞育脑的神经纤维体相对固缩、不发达，神经分泌细胞中核较小，细胞质中含有线粒体、光滑内质网和特有的脂滴，不具粗面内质网．这些证据表明滞育棉铃虫的脑活性相对较低．     

Alkalibacterium sp. SL3中α-半乳糖苷酶基因的克隆、表达和性质研究

以大布苏盐碱湖分离菌Alkalibacterium sp. SL3的DNA为模板,利用PCR扩增α-半乳糖苷酶基因(galSL3),构建重组质粒pET-22b-galSL3,转化至大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）诱导表达重组酶（rGalSL3）. 通过镍柱亲和层析分离纯化重组酶,并对纯化的重组酶进行性质研究. 研究表明,纯酶rGalSL3最适pH值为5.5,最适温度为55℃;该酶在pH值 5.0~10.0保持90%以上的剩余酶活,在50℃有非常好的热稳定性. 在0~1.5mol·L^-1 NaCl溶液中该酶的酶活基本不受影响,在3.0mol·L^-1 NaCl溶液中有很好的稳定性. Pb²⁺、Ca²⁺、Co²⁺、Li⁺、Na⁺、K⁺、Triton-100和β-mercaptoethanol等对重组酶的活性有明显的促进作用. 该酶水解对硝基苯基-α-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷的K_m、v_max和k_cat分别为(2.64±0.02)μmol·mL^-1、(454.55±0.59)μmol·(mg·min)^-1和(347.73±1.27)s^-1. 重组酶可水解蜜二糖和棉籽糖,不能水解瓜尔豆胶.     

梅花鹿过氧化氢酶基因的克隆与表达

克隆得到梅花鹿过氧化氢酶基因序列,已提交Genbank登录(HQ877674).基因编码区全长1 584 bp,编码527个氨基酸,理论计算分子量为60 027.4 Da,理论计算等电点为6.67,预测蛋白质结构中不含有二硫键,在蛋白质序列中,具有过氧化氢酶家族活性中心保守序列和过氧化氢酶家族亚铁血红素保守序列,其DNA序列和蛋白质序列均与Bos taurus来源过氧化氢酶的同源关系最为接近.使用pPICZαC质粒和毕赤酵母GS115菌株,成功异源表达该基因,对诱导表达的发酵上清液进行活性测定,酶活为463 U·mL-1.     

拟南芥雄性不育突变体opw(only pollen wall)候选突变基因的克隆

在T-DNA插入突变体Salk_059463株系的群体中,筛选到两株雄性不育突变体,对TDNA序列上的一对引物进行PCR鉴定,结果表明:其基因组中没有T-DNA插入.遗传分析表明这两株雄性不育突变体由同一单个隐性基因控制,引起不育的主要原因是从花药发育的第8期开始,小孢子细胞质内容物逐渐减少直至消失,到花药发育的第12期,药室内的小孢子只剩下一个花粉壁空壳,故该突变体命名为opw(only pollen wall).利用图位克隆的方法对OPW基因进行了定位,结果表明OPW基因位于第二条染色体上分子标记T28M21和T3G21之间的12 kb区间内,该区间内一共有21个基因注释.通过克隆区间内的基因并测序发现opw-1突变体基因组中At2g40140基因编码序列的外显子在第289和第290个碱基之间插入了一个A碱基,而opw-2突变体基因组中At2g40140基因编码序列的外显子在第412和第413个碱基之间插入了一个T碱基,造成的编码序列移码使第424至第426碱基成为终止密码子,故At2g40140是编码OPW的候选基因.     

人WDR79基因启动子表达载体的构建及鉴定

人WDR79是一种重要的支架蛋白,在端粒酶组装、卡哈尔体(Cahar body)形成和DNA损伤修复等过程中发挥着重要作用。采用PCR扩增技术获得人WDR79基因启动子上游DNA序列,构建人WDR79基因启动子荧光素酶报告基因载体pGL3-WDR79-promoter;通过双酶切、琼脂糖凝胶电泳、DNA测序和荧光素酶活性测定等实验手段,验证质粒pGL3-WDR79-promoter构建的正确性及其表达活性。本研究结果为进一步探讨人WDR79基因表达的调控机制奠定实验基础。     

棉铃虫滞育解除的相关基因鉴定

运用差异显示PCR(DD-PCR)方法分析棉铃虫滞育解除蛹差异表达的基因,结果得到了56个差异片段.通过RT-PCR和Real-time PCR的方法,鉴定了滞育解除过程中有3个基因表达量在下调,有4个基因表达量在上调.这7个差异表达基因中有3个和已知的基因有较高的同源性:FKBP12,esr16和NADH dehydrogenase 1 alpha subcomplex subunit 6.这些差异基因为今后研究滞育解除的分子机制提供了新的线索.     

温泉来源地芽孢杆菌耐热α-淀粉酶基因的克隆表达及酶学性质研究

以Geobacillus sp.WQJ-1基因组DNA为模板,利用PCR扩增获得成熟α-淀粉酶基因amy WQJ,构建重组质粒p ET-28a(+)-amy WQJ,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)诱导表达.用镍柱亲和层析对粗酶液进行分离纯化,获得相对分子质量约为59 ku的重组酶r Amy WQJ.研究表明,该酶最适pH值为6.0,具有较好pH稳定性,最适温度为70℃;Ca~(2+)能提高该酶的热稳定性;Hg~(2+)、EDTA、SDS、Cr3+、Mn~(2+)、Cu~(2+)和Pb~(2+)对该酶活力具有不同程度的抑制作用,而Co~(2+)、Na+和β-Mercaptoethanol则具有促进作用.以可溶性淀粉为底物,该酶动力学参数Km为6.62 mg·m L-1,vmax为2 197.80μmol·(mg·min)-1;降解最适作用底物木薯淀粉的终产物为寡聚糖.