澳大利亚美利奴羊毛的商业分级与检测

介绍澳大利亚毛用羊的血统、牧场管理和养羊过程中的羊毛品质控制等情况,并对澳毛产地分级、抽样方法、羊毛质量指标的测试及测试精度等作了分析。

Plant Proteomics in the Post-genomic Era

Proteomics is one of the most active research fields in the post-genomic era. Here we briefly introduce the scientific background of the origination of proteomics and its content, research method. The new developments of proteomics at the levels of individual plants, tissues, organs and organells, as well as its applications in the area of plant genetic diversity, mutant characterization, and plant physiology, etc are reviewed. At last, the challenge and prospect of proteomics are discussed.

The Distribution of Repetitive DNAs Along Chromosomes in Plants Revealed by Self-genomic in situ Hybridization

The distribution of repetitive DNAs along chromosomes is one of the crucial elements for understanding the organization and the evolution of plant genomes. Using a modified genomic in situ hybridization （GISH） procedure, fluorescence in situ hybridization （FISH） with genomic DNA to their own chromosomes （called self-genomic in situ hybridization, self-GISH） was carried out in six selected plant species with different genome size and amount of repetitive DNA. Nonuniform distribution of the fluorescent labeled probe DNA was observed on the chromosomes of all the species that were tested. The signal patterns varied among species and were related to the genome size. The chromosomes of the small Arabidopsis genome were labeled almost only in the pericentromeric regions and the nucleolus organizer regions （NORs）. The signals in the relatively small genomes, rice, sorghum, and Brassica oleracea var. capitata L., were dispersed along the chromosome lengths, with a predominant distribution in the pericentromeric or proximal regions and some heterochromatic arms. All chromosomes of the large genomes, maize and barley, were densely labeled with strongly labeled regions and weakly labeled or unlabeled regions being arranged alternatively throughout the lengths. In addition, enhanced signal bands were shown in all pericentromeres and the NORs in B. oleracea var. capitata, and in all pericentromeric regions and certain intercalary sites in barley. The enhanced signal band pattern in barley was found consistent with the N-banding pattern of this species. The GISH with self-genomic DNA was compared with FISH with Cot-1 DNA in rice, and their signal patterns are found to be basically consistent. Our results showed that the self-GISH signals actually reflected the hybridization of genomic repetitive DNAs to the chromosomes, thus the self-GISH technique would be useful for revealing the distribution of the regions where repetitive DNAs concentrate along chromosomes and some chromatin differentiation associated with repetitive DNAs in plants.

Increasing Accumulation Level of Foreign Protein in Transgenic Plants Through Protein Targeting

Targeting of the synthesized polypeptide in the cells is an important research field in modern cell biology. Cowpea trypsin inhibitor (cpti) gene has been modified and a fusion protein gene (sck) was produced by fusing a signal peptide sequence at cpti 5' end and an endoplasm reticulum (ER) retention signal peptide at cpti3' end respectively. The signal peptide can direct the newly synthesized polypeptide into ER, while ER retention signal can make the protein retained in the ER and its derivative protein body. ELISA test indicated that the accumulation level of foreign CpTI protein in sck transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) was two times higher than cpti transgenic tobaccos and some individuals were four times higher. At the same time, sck transgenic tobacco has a high resistance to Lepidoptera pest due to the increased accumulation level of foreign CpTI protein. The strategy of foreign protein targeting can be used to increase the accumulation level of foreign protein in transgenic plants and can be widely applied to other related research field in plant genetic engineering.

Chloroplast Genetic Engineering in Higher Plants

Chloroplast genetic engineering, with several advantages over nuclear genetic engineering, is now regarded as an attractive new technology in basic and applied research, including deepening our understanding of plastid genome, engineering plant metabolic system, generating transplastomic plants with higher resistance to insect, disease, drought and herbicide and bioproducing of antibodies and vaccines. In this review, the principle and operating system for chloroplast genetic engineering and its application in higher plants have been discussed.

Existence of homologous sequences corresponding to cDNA of the ver gene in diverse higher plant species

The presence of DNA homologues corresponding to verc203 (vernalization-related cDNA clone) was investigated by molecular hybridization techniques. The genes were detected in 16 plant species that cover 12 subclasses of the Takhtajan system of angiosperms classification including diverse model species. The results of Southern blot analysis showed a low copy number of this gene existed in rice, wheat, barley and Arabidopsis. The hybridization result of PCR products demonstrated the conservation of the gene corresponding to ver203 in diverse plants. The phylogenetic tree of the ver203 gene in tested plants was supported by evolution relationship of species. The ver203 gene expressed in a vernalized plumule winter wheat, instead of the root. And the endosperm before the treatment was essential for the ver203 expression during vernalization in wheat. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the pattern of expression showed that the gene corresponding to ver203 was expressed at low temperature for 14 days. Gibberellin(GA3) may accelerate the expression of ver203 gene in Arabidopsis exposed to low temperature. However, it could not replace vernalization treatment to initiate the gene expression.

Techniques for Detecting Functional Protein Expression in Transgenic Plants

With the development of plant genetic engineering techniques, numerous genetically modified plants have been generated. At the same time, the technologies for detecting transgenic organisms get improved constantly, which also promotes the scientific identification, evaluation and commercial cultivation of transgenic plants. In this review, we evaluate various detection methods for transgenic plants at the level of protein expression.

Immuohistochemical study on smooth muscle cell proliferation, pheno-typic modulation, and extracellular matrix accumulation in venous arterial grafts in rabbits

Objective: To study the kinetics and distribution of smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, phe-notypic modulation, and various extracellular matrix (ECM) components accumulation during vein graft remodeling. Methods: Normal vein and vein graft in carotid arteries were examined on d 4, d 7, d 14, d 60 and d180 after bypass grafting with immunohistochemical markers of cellular proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA), cytoskeletal protein production (a-actin SMC), myosin heavy chain (MHO iso-forms, ECM proteins, and histochemistry (hematoxylin eosin and Elastica-van Gieson stain). Results: Normal veins demonstrated an extremely low level of cellular proliferation and expressed as adult phenotype SM-Cs in media. After bypass grafting, medial SMCs in the graft appeared to be damaged and began to proliferate on d 4, and subsequently migrated and formed the neointima on d 7. Thereafter, the neointima thickened throughout the 180-day period of the experiment, although the neointimal SMC proliferation decreased after d 14. Meanwhile SMCs underwent a distinct phenotypic change from normal adult type to embryonic type. On d 60, embryonic phenotype SMCs began to return to the adult phenotype, but remain to be present in the neointima for as long as 180 d. ECM components including type I collagen, heparin sulfate proteoglucan (HSPG), and dermatan sulfate proteoglcan (decorin) were detected within the neointima on d 7. Thereafter, the accumulation of ECM increased progressively with time. On d 180, a large amount of ECM components were found in the neointima. HSPG mainly accumulated in the superficial and cellular region of the neointima , decorin, on other hand, located in hypocellular area deep in neointima. Type I collagen scatted in both regions. The elastic fibers became rich and arranged continuously in the neointima. Conclusion: The neointima of vein graft was initially formed by proliferation of the embryonic-type SMCs and then thickened infinitely due to ECM accumulation. Prolonged existence of the embryonic-type SMCs in the neointima may contribute to ECM accumulation and increase in the neointima thickness infinitely, which may predispose accelerated stenosis in the vein graft.

Extraction and PTP1B inhibitory activity of bromophenols from the marine red alga Symphyocladia latiuscula

Previously, we had characterized several structurally interesting brominated phenols from the marine red alga Symphyocladia latiuscula collected from various sites. However, Phytochemical investigations on this species collected from the Weihai coastline of Shandong Province remains blank. Therefore, we characterized the chemical constituents of individuals of this species collected from the region. Eight bromophenols were isolated and identified. Using detailed spectroscopic techniques and comparisons with published data, these compounds were identified as 2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl methyl ether (1), 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (2), 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxymethylbenzene (3), 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (4), 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl methyl ether (5), bis(2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)methane (6), 1,2-bis(2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethane (7), and 1-(2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-pyrrolidin-2-one (8). Among these compounds, 1 and 2 were isolated for the first time from S. latiuscula. Each compound was evaluated on the ability to inhibit protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), which is a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Bromophenols 5, 6, and 7 showed strong activities with IC50 values of 3.9, 4.3, and 3.5 μmol/L, respectively. This study provides further evidence that bromophenols are predominant among the chemical constituents of Symphyocladia, and that some of these compounds may be candidates for the development of anti-diabetes drugs.

Isolation of a pollen-specific promoter in tritordeum

The promoter is a cis-acting element in regulating gene expression. A promoterless plasmid containing UidA gene was transformed into tritordeum by barmbadment. Histochemical analysis of various tissues in transgenic tritordeum was carried to examine tissue-specific expression of GUS(beta-glucuronidase) activity. The pollen-specific promoter was trapped and identified successfully in a transformant line. PCR(polymerase chain reaction) method was used to isolate this pollen-specific promoter. By sequencing and analyzing the amplified fragment from PCR, a part of UidA gene and a flanking sequence were obtained. Some essential elements of plant promoters were found in the sequence. To determine the function of it, the cloned fragment was fused with UidA gene, then cloned and transformed into Triticum durum. The transgenic plant transformed by this vector showed GUS expression only in pollen. Therefore a pollen-specific promoter was isolated successfully.

Effects of Different Substrate Composition on Growth of Gesneriaceae Plants

The cultivation experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of dif-ferent proportions of peat soil, perlite, vermiculite and yel ow mud on growth of Gesneriaceae species （Chirita gueilinensis, Sinningia speciosa, Lysionotus pauci-florus, Hemiboea henryi, Aeschynanthus acuminatus, Saintpaulia ionantha）. The growth traits of each plant growing in 7 different matrix materials were investigated. The plant height, crown width and chlorophyl content of each plant were mea-sured. The results showed that the best substrate ratio was peat soil∶vermiculite=2∶1 for C. gueilinensis, L. pauciflorus and H. henryi; peat soil∶perlite∶vermiculite = 2∶1∶1 for S. ionantha; peat soil∶vermiculite∶yel ow mud=2∶1∶1 for S. speciosa; peat soil∶per-lite∶vermiculite∶yel ow mud=2∶1∶1∶1 for A. acuminatus.

Effects of environment and genotype-by-environment interaction on phenotype of Rorippa elata(Brassicaceae),an endemic alpine plant in the Hengduan mountains

Global climate change poses a severe threat to mountain biodiversity.Phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation are two common strategies for alpine plant to cope with such change.They may facilitate organismal adaptation to contrasting environments,depending on the influences of the environment or genotype or their interacted effects.In this study,we use an endemic alpine plant(Rorippa elata)in the Hengduan mountains(HDM)to unravel its phenotypic basis of adaptation strategy and evaluate the relative contributions of environment and genotype to its phenotype.We transplanted 37 genotypes of R.elata into two common gardens across low and high elevations(2800 vs.3800 m)during 2021-2022.Nine fitness-related traits were measured,including flowering probability and glucosinolates(GS)content.We estimated the environmental or genotypic contributions to the phenotype and identified the main environmental components.Our results revealed that both environment and genotype-by-environment interactions contributed to the phenotypes of R.elata.Latitudinal heterogeneity was identified as a key factor that explained 24%of the total phenotypic variation.In particular,genotypes of the northern HDM showed significantly higher plasticity in flowering probability than those of the southern HDM.Furthermore,within the southern HDM,GS content indicated local adaptation to herbivory stresses for R.elata genotypes along elevations.In conclusion,our results suggest that R.elata may have adapted to the alpine environment through species-level plasticity or regional-level local adaptation.These processes were shaped by either complex topography or interactions between genotype and mountain environments.Our study provides empirical evidence on the adaptation of alpine plants.

Clonal performance of Scirpus yagara in multiple levels of substrate heterogeneity and submergence

Aims Environmental heterogeneity affects the performance of clonal aquatic plants.Few researchers integrated two aspects of heterogeneity into the study of clonal plant ecology.The aims of the present study are to(i)test whether different substrate heterogeneity and submergence exert similar effects on plant performance and(ii)explore the foraging behaviour.Methods In this study,Scirpus yagara was subjected to multiple levels of substrate heterogeneity and submergence.Substrate treatments included one homogeneous substrate and three heterogeneous substrates(two-patch,four-patch and eight-patch).Water level treatments included 0,10 and 30 cm.Traits including ramet number,generation number,leaf number,bulb number,ramet height,culm length,rhizome length,clonal radius,spacer length,spacer thickness,total biomass,biomass of bulbs and biomass per bulb were measured.Important Findings Deeper water levels significantly reduced variables associated with growth such as ramet number,generation number,leaf number and bulb number,while substrate patchiness induced significant variations in traits such as spacer length and spacer thickness.Significant interactive effects of the two factors were found for ramet number,leaf number and spacer length.Scirpus yagara showed colonization towards the lake sediment patch in two-patch and four-patch substrates,and more structures were placed in the lake sediment patch.Especially for the two-patch substrate,all structures occupied the lake sediment patch.Two-sided intrusion was observed in the eight-patch substrate,which induced an even allocation of structures in different patches.The foraging behaviour was correlated with the patch size.

Analysis of hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers in plant samples using ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method was developed for the analysis of hydroxylated brominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) in plant samples using an ultra performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) in negative mode. Plant samples were extracted and cleaned up through florisil column, resolved on a 100 mm C18 column with linear gradient elution and detected by mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The method provided good recoveries rang- ing from 68.2% to 94.6%, relative standard deviation (RSD) in the range of 3.2% - 9.1%, and limits of quantification (LOQ) defined as the signal-to-noise ratio of 10 of 0.3-2.1 ng/g. It allowed a fast separation and sensitive quantification of the isomers and homologues of seven OH-PBDE congeners 2′-OH-BDE-3, 3′-OH-BDE-7, 4′-OH-BDE-17, 3′-OH-BDE-28, 3-OH-BDE-47, 5-OH-BDE-47 and 6-OH-BDE-47. The method was successfully applied to identify and quantify the formation of hydroxylat- ed metabolites in alfalfa exposed to BDE-209. Five OH-PBDEs were detected in plant tissues, and more congeners were found in roots than in shoots. To our knowledge, this work represents the first attempt to validate UPLC-MS/MS method to quantify OH-PBDEs in plant samples without derivatization.