Evolutionary Mode of Metallothioneins Inferred from Cd-MT Genes of Tetrahymena

From Tetrahymena thermophila （strain BF5）, the coding region of Cd-MT gene was cloned and sequenced. and identified as MTT1 isoform. A serial duplicate structure is discovered in its amino acid sequence, which separates the coding region into three parts （Part 1：7-61; Part 2：64-118; Part 3：122-162）. The alignments among them and comparison with the corresponding parts of MT1 isoform suggest that MT1 and MTT1 isoforms both come from the same ancient gene that is homologous to Part 1, and Cd-MTs of Tetrahymena are aroused by such ancient gene duplication. The prediction of secondary structures and the analysis of the disulfide-bonding state of cysteine show that there are a lot of differences between MT1 and MTT1 isoforms, which maybe relate to their function mechanism.     

Heterologous expression of amylase gene from Saccharomycopsis fibuligera in an industrial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

An α-amylase encoding gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction fromSaccharomycopsis fibuligera and inserted into a shuttle vector YEp352, together with the yeast phosphoglycerate kinase 1 promoter and α-factor signal gene. The recombinant expression plasmid pLA8α was transformed into an industrial strain ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae Sc-11. The activity of the α-amylase produced by the transformant Sc-11-pLA8α was 6.3 U/mL and the starch utilization rate in YPS medium was 42%. The purified amylase was analyzed by SDS-PAGE, showing a molecular weight of 55×10³ protein band. Furthermore, the residual sugar, ethanol and some volatile compounds in the fermented worts under simulating brewing conditions were determined by chromatographic analyses. The fermentation characteristics of Sc-11-pLA8α were similar to that of Sc-11 and only minor changes in the concentration of flavor compounds could be observed. Foundation item: Supported by the National Tenth Five-Year Hi-Technique Project (2001BA708B05-04). Biography: LIU Zeng-ran (1964-), fenale, Ph. D., research, direction: food and biotechnology.     

Evolution of the serum resistance-associated SRA gene in African trypanosomes

Serum resistance-associated (SRA) protein, a protein unique for Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, is responsible for resistance of this parasite to the lysis by normal human serum (NHS) and is a vital molecular marker to distinguish this species from other African trypanosomes. We cloned and sequenced the SRA basic copy (SRAbc) gene from T. b. rhodesiense and related species and found that this gene is confined to the subgenus Trypanozoon. The average 82% identity among the sequenced SRAbc genes indicates that they may have a common origin and are highly conserved. Since SRAbc coexists in the T. b. rhodesiense genome with SRA, we propose that SRAbc might be the ‘donor VSG’, which after duplication became inserted into the expression site by recombination. Under natural selection, SRAbc could reform into SRA following mosaic formation. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 30570245, 30670275), Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (Grant No. DPCKSCU/IRT0447), International Foundation for Science of Sweden (Grant No. B/4318-1), Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (Grant No. Z60220518) and Education Foundation of the Czech Republic (Grant No. 2B06129)     

The expression of vasa gene during zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) oogenesis

vasa gene expression pattern during oogenesis of zebrafish was examined usingin situ hybridization and fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR. During zebrafish oogensis,vasa mRNA is expressed strongly and uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm in stage II oocytes, followed by a distribution among vacuome in stage III. Later in stage IV and V,vasa mRNA is enriched at the cortex and finally localized at the cortex. The fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR shows that the quantity ofvasa mRNA decreases from stage II to stage III, but remains relatively invariable from stage III to stage V. The observed differences invasa mRNA expression in the different stages of zebrafish oogenesis suggest thatvasa gene plays an important role during oogenesis. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30370744, 30150005) Biography: XIANG Fang (1979-), male, Master candidate, research direction: molecular development of animals.     

Identification of a novel tillering dwarf mutant and fine mapping of the TDDL（T） gene in rice （Oryza sativa L.）

Rice plant architecture is an important agronomic trait that affects the grain yield. To understand the molecular mechanism that controls plant architecture, a tillering dwarf mutant with darker-green leaves derived from an indica cultivar IR64 treated with EMS is characterized. The mutant, designated as tddl（t）, is nonallelic to the known tiilering dwarf mutants. It is controlled by one recessive nuclear gene, TDDL（T）, and grouped into the dn-type dwarfism according to Takeda＇s definition. The dwarfism of the mutant is independent of gibberellic acid based on the analyses of two GA-mediated processes. The independence of brassinosteroid （BR） and naphthal-3-acetic acid （NAA） of the tddl（t） mutant, together with the decreased size of parenchyma cells in the vascular bundle, indicates that the TDDL（7） gene might participate in another hormone pathway. TDDL（T） is fine mapped within an 85.51 kb region on the long arm of rice chromosome 4, where 20 ORFs are predicted by RiceGAAS （http：//ricegaas.dna.affrc. go.jp/rgadb/）. Further cloning of TDDL（T） will benefit both marker assisted selection （MAS） of plant architecture and dissection of the molecular mechanism underlying tillering dwarf in rice.     

Magnetoelectric and converse magnetoelectric res ponses in TbxDy1-xFe2-y alloy ＆ Pb（Mg1/3Nb2/3）（1-x）TixO3 crystal laminated composites

Measured results of magnetoelectric （ME） and converse magnetoelectric （CME） effects of TbxDy1-xFe2-y/ Pb（Mg1/3Nb2/3）（1-x）TixO3/TbxDy1-xFe2-y （TD/PMNT/TD） and PMNT/TD/PMNT laminated composites are presented. ME effect was determined by measuring laminate voltage output under a Helmholtz-generated AC field biased by a DC field （0-1 kOe） （1Oe = 79.58 A/m）. The CME effect was measured by recording the voltage induced in a solenoid encompassing the ME sample while exposed to a DC bias field and PMNT layer driven by a 10 V AC source. The ME and CME responses in the two laminated structure are linear. The highest values of ME coefficients in TD/PMNT/TD and PMNT/TD/PMNT composites are 384 mV/Oe and 158 mV/Oe, respectively, while the highest values of CME coefficients in the two composites are 118 mG/V and 162 mG/V （1 G=10^-4 T）, respectively.     

Estimating divergence times among subfamilies in Nymphalidae

The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit Ⅰ （COⅠ） gene and the nuclear elongation factor 1α （EF-1α） gene were sequenced from 13 species of Nymphalidae. Phylogenetic trees of Nymphalidae, which is the largest family in butterflies, were constructed based on the sequences determined from 13 species sequenced in our laboratory and an additional 43 species obtained from GenBank using the maximum likelihood （ML） and Bayesian methods. Relative-rate tests between lineages in these phylogenetic trees were performed. On the basis of the results of the relative-rate tests and fossil information of Satyrinae, Nymphalinae and Biblidinae, the average divergence times among the subfamilies are estimated as 44.2-87.1 million years ago （Ma）. These results will be helpful for better understanding of the origin and evolution of this family, as well as the divergence time of butterflies and other complex taxa.     

尾巨桉化感作用对广金钱草化学成分的影响

【目的】研究尾巨桉Eucalyptus urophylla×Eucalyptus grandis对广金钱草Desmodium styracifolium(Osb.)Merr.药材化学成分的影响,探索尾巨桉-广金钱草复合经营模式的可行性。【方法】在试验田中,以不同类型和重量的尾巨桉落叶铺盖在土壤上并种植广金钱草,同时另在尾巨桉人工林中直接套种广金钱草,待药材成熟后统计其产量,并利用HPLC指纹图谱法及含量测定法检测其化学成分变化。【结果】广金钱草在尾巨桉林下种植时,产量稍有下降,但药材指纹图谱与正常种植无显著差异。【结论】广金钱草可以套种在尾巨桉人工林下。     

鼠尾藻群体的有性生殖力影响因素研究

【目的】研究鼠尾藻(Sargassum thun bergii)有性生殖相关因子间的关系,分析鼠尾藻群体的有性生殖能力。【方法】通过统计分析方法,研究藻体长度与侧枝数、侧枝长度与生殖托数、生殖托长度与生殖托挂卵数间的关系。【结果】藻体长度与侧枝数、侧枝长度与生殖托数、生殖托长度与生殖托挂卵数间都为线性正相关,利用回归方程推算,1株成熟的鼠尾藻藻体能产生2×105~3.3×106个受精卵。【结论】1株成熟鼠尾藻的产卵量基本可满足1m2的采苗生产需要。     

Genetic analysis of gynogenetic and common populations of Verasper moseri using SSR markers

The genetic structure and variation of the artificial meio- gynogenetic population and common population of barfin flounder (Verasper moseri) were analyzed using eight microsatellite markers. A total of 29 alleles were detected, of which 23 alleles were in the artificial gynogenetic population while 29 alleles were in the control group. The average observed heterozygosity (H _O) of eight loci in the control group (0.526 8) was several times higher than that (0.185 8) in the gynogenetic population. The results indicate that the genetic diversity of the control group was much higher than that of the gynogenetic population of barfin flounder (Verasper moseri). Most loci significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) after Bonferroni correction (p < 0.005 56) in the gynogenetic population, while four loci deviated from HWE in the control group. The coefficient of gene differentiation (G _ST) was 0.131 0, and the genetic distance was 0.171 8 between the two populations, suggesting a significant genetic differentiation between the two populations. Biography: MA Hongyu (1979–), male, Ph. D. candidate, research direction: marine biotechnology and molecular genetics.     

葎草提取物胃肠促动作用的实验研究

目的探讨葎草提取物对胃肠运动功能的影响。方法采用胃排空、肠推进运动实验法以及离体胃、肠实验法,研究葎草提取物对胃、肠运动功能的影响。结果蒸馏水组胃内容物残留率(%)和小肠推进比(%),分别为(82.53±10.69)和(50.88±8.68);葎草水提物大、中、小剂量(10.0、7.5、5.0 g生药/kg)组,胃内容物残留率(%)和小肠推进比(%),分别为(53.83±9.89)、(48.98±9.75)、(62.75±10.56)和(60.19±7.77)、(64.98±7.41)、(58.71±6.83);葎草醇提物中、小剂量(7.5、5.0 g生药/kg)组,胃内容物残留率(%)和小肠推进比(%),分别为(73.21±8.09)、(74.19±7.71)和(57.48±6.18)、(57.42±6.62)。与蒸馏水组比较,葎草水提物大、中、小剂量(10.0、7.5、5.0 g生药/kg)组均显著降低胃内容物残留率(P0.01),明显提高小肠推进比(P0.01,P0.05);葎草醇提物中、小剂量(7.5、5.0 g生药/kg)组也明显降低胃内容物残留率(P0.05),也明显提高小肠推进比(P0.05);在降低胃内容物残留率及提高小肠推进比,葎草水提物与相同剂量的醇提物比较,差异显著(P0.01)。在离体实验中,葎草水提物给药前后肠管、胃底环状肌的收缩幅度分别为(1.20±0.06)g、(72.01±4.27)mg和(4.89±0.60)g、(211.42±6.76)mg;葎草醇提物给药前后肠管、胃底环状肌的收缩幅度分别为(0.88±0.05)g、(70.20±3.26)mg和(1.43±0.17)g、(218.75±3.13)mg。与给药前比较,葎草水提物与醇提物给药后的肠管和胃底环状肌的收缩幅度明显强于给药前(P0.01);从给药前后肠管收缩幅度差比较,葎草水提物与醇提物比较差异显著(P0.01)。结论葎草提取物具有促进胃排空、肠推进运动的作用,且水提物作用强于醇提物。     

Relaxor behavior of (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 ceramics

n the present work, the phase transitions and relaxor behavior of (1−x)Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-xPbTiO₃ (PMN-PT, x = 0.2―0.4) ferroelectric ceramics have been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, di-electric spectroscopy, the P-E hysteresis loop measurements and Raman scattering techniques. Structural analysis revealed that with the increase of PbTiO₃ content, PMN-PT ceramics experienced a gradual phase transition process from rhombohedral to tetragonal. It is usually believed that such kinds of phase transitions resulted in the linear decrease of relaxation degree. Surprisingly, our analy-sis of the dielectric spectra revealed that the indicator of the degree of diffuseness γ reached the maximum value near morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) (x = 0.32), then decreased with the further increase of PbTiO₃ content. The large dielectric relaxor feature near MPB may be attributed to the for-mation of ordered nanodomains, resulting from complex coexisting nanostructures. Further, the P-E hysteresis loop measurements and Raman analysis of the B-site cation order correlated well with the dielectric measurement results. It was found that the hysteresis loop squareness R_sq received the minimum value while the inverse of the value of full wide of half maximum (FWHM) of A_1g mode reached the maximum value at MPB composition, which showed similar trends to γ.     

Diversity and high nitrogenase activity of endophytic diazotrophs isolated from Oryza rufipogon Griff.

Diversity and nitrogenase activity of endophytic diazotrophs colonized in the wild rice Oryza rufipogon Griff grown in Boluo, Huilai County in Guangdong Province and Lingshui County in Hainan Province were studied. Thirty-seven isolates obtained from Oryza rufipogon were identified as putative endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria by ARA （acetylene reduction assay） test and further confirmed by PCR amplification of nifH gene fragments. All obtained strains have ARA activity and the same sized nifH gene fragments. Above the similarity level of 80%, the obtained isolates were assigned as Group Ⅰ to Ⅷ by the clustering of IS-PCR fingerprints. The SDS-PAGE whole-cell protein patterns were similar to those of IS-PCR fingerprints. Components and contents of fatty acid methyl esters （FAMEs） were used to differentiate the representative strains （Ls13, Ls8, BL1, BL12, HL6, Ls4） from Group Ⅰ to Group Ⅵ. The six representative strains showed significant difference in contents and components of cellular fatty acid methyl ester. 16S rDNA sequencing analysis showed that strains of Group Ⅰ to Ⅶ were located in Enterobacteraceae （y-proteobacteria）. Strains of Group Ⅰ and Group Ⅱ were closely related to Klebsiella sp.; Strain Ls8 of Group Ⅱ was a little far away from the genus of Pantoea （homology level 96% with Pantoea agglomerans）, which may represent a new species or genus in Enterobacteraceae; Strains of Groups Ⅳ and Ⅴ belonged to different Enterobacter sp.; Strain Ls4 and Ls 9 representing Group Ⅵ were close to Citrobacter amalonaticus with 98% sequence similarity; Strain Ls15 of Group Ⅶ showed 98% sequence identity with Pantoea sp.; Strains of Group Ⅷ were assigned to the genus Ideonella （β-proteobacteria）. Based on the above results, endophytic diazotrophs isolated from O. rufipogon showed great diversity and some diazotrophs showed high nitrogenase activity with 42.52 μmol/mL. h C2H4. Inoculation to rice tests indicated that the isolated endophytic diazotrophs significantly promoted the rice growth.     

Genetic analysis and gene mapping of a narrow leaf mutant in rice ( Oryza sativa L.)

A narrow leaf mutant was obtained after T-DNA transformation conducted on a rice variety Zhonghua 11. Several abnormal morphological characteristics, including semi-dwarf, delayed flowering time, narrow and inward rolling leaves, and lower seed-setting, were observed. The rate of net photosynthesis (under saturate light) of flag leaves in the mutant was significantly lower than that of the wild type. Moreover, the leaf transpiration rate and stomatal conductance in the mutant flag leaf were lower than those of the wild type at the grain filling stage. It was found that the mutant phenotype was not caused by the T-DNA insertion. Genetic analysis showed that the mutant was controlled by a single recessive gene, designated as nal3(t). A genetic linkage map was constructed using a large F₂ mapping population derived from a cross between nal3(t) and an indica variety Longtefu B with 6 polymorphic markers on chromosome 12 identified from 366 SSR markers by the BAS method. Gene nal3(t) was mapped between the markers RM7018 and RM3331. Fine mapping of nal3(t) locus was conducted with 22 newly developed STS markers based on the sequence diversity around the region harboring nal3(t) between Nipponbare and 93–11, and nal3(t) was finally mapped to a 136-kb region between the STS markers NS10 and RH12-8. Supported by National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (Grant No. 2006AA10A102), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30600349) and Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Grant No. Y306149)     

Rapid induction of mRNAs forPC3 by partial hepatectomy and epidermal growth factor

The expression of immediate early gene plays a pivotal role in rat hepatocyte proliferation from G₀ to G₁ phases and the progression through G₁ phase of the cell cycle within several hours after 2/3 hepatectomy. We investigated the different gene expressions within 1 h after 2/3 hepatectomy by representational difference analysis. Sequence analysis indicated thatPC3 induced by NGF was a kind of immediate early gene and might be correlated with liver regeneration. Moreover, we found that 2/3 hepatectomy could induce the expressing ofPC3 mRNA by Northern blot with a peak 1–2 h after surgery. In primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, addition of EGF resulted in rapid and transient induction ofPC3 mRNA. It was first reported thatPC3 gene belongs to immediate early gene associated with liver regeneration.     

NMR and IR investigations of ternary inclusion complexes among β-cyclodextrin, rare earth metal ions, and naphthalenediamines

Ternary inclusion complexes β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), rare earth metal ions (YbCl₃, YCl₃), and 1,8-naphthalene- diamine/1,5-naphthalenediamine are synthesized in basic aqueous media, which are characterized via ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy. The stoichiometric proportion of β-CD:YbCl₃:1,5-naphthalenediamine is 2:1:2, that of β-CD:YCl₃:1,8-naphthalenediamine is 2:1:1, and that of β-CD:YbCl₃:1,8-naphthalenediamine is 2:1:1. The IR spectroscopy of the ternary inclusion complexes in the range of 935–1 000 cm⁻¹ reveals the existence of the coordinate bond M—O or M—N. The possible conformations of the ternary inclusion complexes are depicted. Biography: JIANG Huiming(1972–), male, Associate professor, research direction: molecular complex chemistry, supramolecular chemistry.     

Description of mechanism function about dehydration of cobalt oxalate dihydrate by multiple rates isotemperature method

0　IntroductionThetechnologyofthermalanalysishasbeenwidelyusedinthestudyofthermalbehaviorandthermalcharacterofsolidstatereaction ,theprimaryintentionofthermalanalysiskineticsistoestablishseparatevaluesofapparentactivationenergyE ,themostprobablemechanism g(α)andthepre exponentialfactorA ,meanwhilethedeterminationofg(α)hasgraduallybeenthefocusofthisfield .Inthisfield ,therearemostlygeneralkineticsmethodsused presently ,suchasCoats Redfern’s[1 ] integralmethod ,Achar’s[2 \〗differentialmet…