A transgenic wheat with a stilbene synthase gene resistant to powdery mildew obtained by biolistic method

Stilbene, a kind of phytoalexin, plays an important role in resistance to fungal and bacterial infection in plants. It strongly inhibits the growth of fungi and sprout of spore. Stilbene synthase gene (Vst1) obtained from grapevine has been transferred into common spring wheat Jinghong 5 by using the biolistic transformation method. Five transgenic plants (T₀) were obtained from the bombarded 2014 immature embryos. One immune plantlet and 3 plantlets with mid-resistance to powdery mildew were identified from the transgenic plants of T₃ generation which came from 2 T₀ transgenic plants.     

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase: insight into cell-specific gene regulation in the vascular endothelium

The vascular endothelium plays a crucial role in regulating normal blood vessel physiology. The gene products responsible are commonly expressed exclusively, or preferentially, in this cell type. However, despite the importance of regulated gene expression in the vascular endothelium, relatively little is known about the mechanisms that restrict endothelial-specific gene expression to this cell type. While significant progress has been made towards understanding the regulation of endothelial genes through cis/trans paradigms, it has become apparent that additional mechanisms must also be operative. For example, chromatin-based mechanisms, including cell-specific DNA methylation patterns and post-translational histone modifications, have recently been demonstrated to play important roles in the cell-specific expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). This review investigates the involvement of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in vascular endothelial cell-specific gene expression using eNOS as a prototypical model, and will address the possible contributions of these pathways to diseases of the vasculature. Received 13 September 2005; received after revision 13 October 2005; accepted 19 October 2005     

棒状链霉菌扩环酶R306位点的定点突变

目的:通过对棒状链霉菌的脱乙酰氧基头孢菌素C合酶(DAOCS)C末端R306位点突变,改变酶的活力和底物专一性。方法:利用生物信息学和空间结构分析推测,利用定点突变技术,对DAOCS的C-末端R306位点进行定点突变。结果:将DAOCS的C末端R306位点突变为其它3种性质相异的氨基酸,显示酶的活力和底物专一性都有一定改变。结论:DAOCS的C末端修饰对于提高酶活力或改变酶的底物专一性是一个非常有效的策略。     

Hyaluronan synthesis and degradation in cartilage and bone

Hyaluronan (HA) is a large but simple glycosaminoglycan composed of repeating D-glucuronic acid, β1–3 linked to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine β1–4, found in body fluids and tissues, in both intra- and extracellular compartments. Despite its structural simplicity, HA has diverse functions in skeletal biology. In development, HA-rich matrices facilitate migration and condensation of mesenchymal cells, and HA participates in joint cavity formation and longitudinal bone growth. In adult cartilage, HA binding to aggrecan immobilises aggrecan, retaining it at the high concentrations required for compressive resilience. HA also appears to regulate bone remodelling by controlling osteoclast, osteoblast and osteocyte behaviour. The functions of HA depend on its intrinsic properties, which in turn rely on the degree of polymerisation by HA synthases, depolymerisation by hyaluronidases, and interactions with HA-binding proteins. HA synthesis and degradation are closely regulated in skeletal tissues and aberrant synthetic or degradative activity causes disease. The role and regulation of HA synthesis and degradation in cartilage, bone and skeletal development is discussed. Received 5 August 2007; received after revision 19 September 2007; accepted 20 September 2007     

Ikaros negatively regulates inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in macrophages: Involvement of Ikaros phosphorylation by casein kinase 2

Ikaros is known as a critical regulator of lymphocyte development. We examined the regulatory role of Ikaros in LPS/IFN-gamma-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by macrophages. Our results showed that IK6 (Ikaros dominant negative isoform) induction increases the iNOS expression. Ikaros DNA binding activity on the iNOS promoter was decreased, and a mutation of the Ikaros-binding site on the iNOS promoter resulted in an increase in LPS/IFN-gamma-induced iNOS expression. LPS/IFN-gamma increased the histone (H3) acetylation on the Ikaros DNA binding site. These results suggest that Ikaros acts as a negative regulator on iNOS expression. Treatment with a casein kinase 2 (CK2) inhibitor reversed LPS/IFN-gamma-induced decrease in Ikaros DNA binding activity. Moreover, overexpression of kinase-inactive CK2 decreased iNOS expression and a significant amount of CK2alpha1 translocated into the nucleus in LPS/IFN-gamma-treated cells. Overall, these data indicate that LPS/IFN-gamma decreases the Ikaros DNA binding activity via the CK2 pathway, resulting in an increase of iNOS expression.     

丝瓜ACC合成酶的原核表达、分离纯化及性质鉴定

将构建成功的丝瓜ACC合成酶cDNA的重组质粒, 转化为大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）, 经异丙基硫代半乳糖苷（IPTG）诱导后得到特异性高效表达, 表达蛋白以包涵体形式存在. 包涵体经洗涤和Zn^2＋螯合柱层析, 得到纯化蛋白. SDS-PAGE显示纯化蛋白分子量为55 000的单一蛋白带. 经活性分析, 该酶最适pH值为8.5, 米氏常数（K_m）为44.2　μmol/L.     

东北红豆杉细胞GGPPS基因cDNA的克隆

牻牛儿基牻牛儿基焦磷酸合成酶是红豆杉细胞紫杉醇生物合成途径中的关键酶。试验采用RT-PCR技术从东北红豆杉中克隆GGPPS基因片段,将GGPPS基因片段与pMD20-Tvector连接,转化E.coli DH5α,对阳性克隆进行序列测定。生物信息学分析结果表明,获得GGPPS基因片段长度为371 bp,与GenBank中收录的GGPPS同源性达到99%。为从内生真菌紫杉醇生物合成途径中克隆关键酶基因和高产紫杉醇基因工程菌株的构建提供了借鉴。     

通过S-柠檬烯合酶突变体的动力学分析揭示萜烯合酶进化的机制

使用孔雀绿比色法分析了S-柠檬烯合酶(S-limonene synthase,S-LS)野生型和突变体的动力学特性.研究表明,萜烯合酶经过引入少数残基突变合成新型萜烯化合物仍然可以保持酶的催化活性.该特性可以解释植物中是如何进化出新的萜烯合酶,从而解释了自然界中萜烯化合物的多样性.本研究提出了萜烯合酶的进化模型.同时针对生物合成中萜烯化合物产量不高的难题,为定向改造萜烯合酶提供了解决方法.     

黑莓果实发育过程中蔗糖磷酸合成酶基因的表达分析

【目的】蔗糖磷酸合成酶(sucrose phosphate synthase, SPS)是调控植物蔗糖代谢合成的关键酶,在植物光合产物的积累与分配方面有重要作用。本研究旨在探讨黑莓3个SPS基因的系统发育关系、编码的蛋白特性、在不同发育时期、不同组织中的时空表达特性,并分析其与黑莓发育的关系。【方法】以黑莓栽培品种‘宝森’(‘Boysenberry’)为试材,从中克隆和鉴定了3个 SPS 基因家族成员,利用生物信息学和荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(qRT-PCR)等方法对3个黑莓SPS 基因RuSPS1、RuSPS2和RuSPS3的氨基酸序列、保守作用元件、编码的蛋白特性、蛋白结构及进化关系进行分析,并对这3个基因在黑莓中的时空表达情况与酶活性进行了相关性分析。【结果】多重氨基酸序列比对显示,黑莓SPS蛋白具有植物SPS家族特有的2个保守蛋白结构域及2个相对保守的蛋白磷酸位点;系统进化分析表明,RuSPS基因分为A、B两个亚族,其中RuSPS1和RuSPS3为A亚族成员,RuSPS2为B亚族成员;保守作用元件分析表明, 除RuSPS2含基本的蛋白保守元件外, RuSPS1和RuSPS3都存在不同程度的片段缺失;序列分析和比较揭示了黑莓SPS基因与其他家族的不同特征。qRT-PCR分析显示,3个RuSPS基因在黑莓各个组织器官中均有表达,其中RuSPS1在叶片和果实中表达量较高,在花中的表达量较低;RuSPS2在发育成熟的果实中有大量的表达,在其他器官中表达量较低;RuSPS3在各器官中的表达均较高,说明 SPS基因表达具有明显的组织特异性,3个RuSPS基因都随着果实发育进程在果实和叶片中表现了表达增加的趋势。果实和叶片中SPS酶活性的变化与RuSPS基因表达水平一致。相关分析表明,叶片中SPS活性与RuSPS2显著正相关(P<0.05),果实中SPS活性与RuSPS1显著负相关(P<0.05)。【结论】3个RuSPS基因与黑莓果实发育过程中的蔗糖合成与代谢关系密切,均参与了黑莓的生长发育调控,其中叶片中SPS活性的变化一定程度上是由RuSPS2调控,果实中SPS活性的变化则是由RuSPS1调控。