Non‐Heme Dioxygenase Catalyzes Atypical Oxidations of 6,7‐Bicyclic Systems To Form the 6,6‐Quinolone Core of Viridicatin‐Type Fungal Alkaloids

The 6,6‐quinolone scaffold of the viridicatin‐type of fungal alkaloids are found in various quinolone alkaloids which often exhibit useful biological activities. Thus, it is of interest to identify viridicatin‐forming enzymes and understand how such alkaloids are biosynthesized. Here an Aspergillal gene cluster responsible for the biosynthesis of 4′‐methoxyviridicatin was identified. Detailed in vitro studies led to the discovery of the dioxygenase AsqJ which performs two distinct oxidations: first desaturation to form a double bond and then monooxygenation of the double bond to install an epoxide. Interestingly, the epoxidation promotes non‐enzymatic rearrangement of the 6,7‐bicyclic core of 4′‐methoxycyclopenin into the 6,6‐quinolone viridicatin scaffold to yield 4′‐methoxyviridicatin. The finding provides new insight into the biosynthesis of the viridicatin scaffold and suggests dioxygenase as a potential tool for 6,6‐quinolone synthesis by epoxidation of benzodiazepinediones.     

玻璃基质微流控芯片用于DNA片段的分离和C677T基因突变的快速检测

基于微加工方法,在一般实验条件下,成功地制备了玻璃芯片。利用水溶性聚合物对玻璃通道进行动态修饰,从而抑制了DNA分子的吸附作用,并成功地用于DNA片段的分离和四氢叶酸还原酶基因(MTHFR)中C677T的突变检测。     

Biofortification—A Frontier Novel Approach to Enrich Micronutrients in Field Crops to Encounter the Nutritional Security

Globally, many developing countries are facing silent epidemics of nutritional deficiencies in human beings and animals. The lack of diversity in diet, i.e., cereal-based crops deficient in mineral nutrients is an additional threat to nutritional quality. The present review accounts for the significance of biofortification as a process to enhance the productivity of crops and also an agricultural solution to address the issues of nutritional security. In this endeavor, different innovative and specific biofortification approaches have been discussed for nutrient enrichment of field crops including cereals, pulses, oilseeds and fodder crops. The agronomic approach increases the micronutrient density in crops with soil and foliar application of fertilizers including amendments. The biofortification through conventional breeding approach includes the selection of efficient genotypes, practicing crossing of plants with desirable nutritional traits without sacrificing agricultural and economic productivity. However, the transgenic/biotechnological approach involves the synthesis of transgenes for micronutrient re-translocation between tissues to enhance their bioavailability. Soil microorganisms enhance nutrient content in the rhizosphere through diverse mechanisms such as synthesis, mobilization, transformations and siderophore production which accumulate more minerals in plants. Different sources of micronutrients viz. mineral solutions, chelates and nanoparticles play a pivotal role in the process of biofortification as it regulates the absorption rates and mechanisms in plants. Apart from the quality parameters, biofortification also improved the crop yield to alleviate hidden hunger thus proving to be a sustainable and cost-effective approach. Thus, this review article conveys a message for researchers about the adequate potential of biofortification to increase crop productivity and nourish the crop with additional nutrient content to provide food security and nutritional quality to humans and livestock.     

DNA体外缩合的研究进展

DNA缩合不仅是自然界常见的生理现象,也是非病毒载体介导基因转染的关键步骤。了解DNA体外缩合的性质与特征,将有助于设计出高效的非病毒转基因载体。本文综述了近十几年来以多价阳离子为缩合剂诱发的DNA体外缩合的研究进展,着重介绍了缩合的机理、过程、影响缩合的因素以及应用于转基因的最新成果。     

高帧频大面阵彩色CMOS相机Bayer滤波器解码算法

在图像处理领域中,利用高帧频大面阵数字相机不仅可以提高图像采集精度,而且也可以捕捉到目标的一些细节动作,更好地测量出目标的运动轨迹与姿态。介绍了高帧频大面阵彩色CMOS相机的Bayer滤波器解码算法,实现了彩色图像输出。这样就能够更好地对一些具有颜色特征的目标进行提取与识别,简化算法,缩短运算时间。     

基质刚性影响声孔效应介导的单细胞基因转染

实验研究了基质刚性对单细胞质粒DNA转染效果的影响。实验采用高声压短脉冲(0.45MPa,10μs)条件的超声对培养在不同硬度凝胶基质(软的凝胶基质：0.2kPa,硬的凝胶基质：40kPa)上的力学敏感细胞NIH 3T3进行质粒DNA转染实验。实验结果表明,培养在硬的凝胶基质上的细胞,质粒DNA转染效率明显高于培养在软的凝胶基质上的细胞。进一步对质粒DNA进行荧光示踪可知培养在不同刚性基质上的细胞导入质粒DNA的方式不同。当细胞被培养在硬的凝胶基质上时,通过声致穿孔产生的小孔进入细胞内的质粒DNA更多,而培养在软的凝胶基质上的细胞,更多的质粒DNA可以通过非声致穿孔作用,例如内吞方式导入细胞。 细胞骨架蛋白分布规律表明,硬的凝胶基质上培养的细胞内有更多的F肌动蛋白微丝,可以更好地支撑起细胞的铺展形态,相对不容易发生内吞作用。而软的凝胶基质上培养的细胞内F肌动蛋白则更多以球形状态存在,细胞形貌骗向圆形,此时更容易发生胞吞作用。     

Seed priming with cold plasma improved seedling performance,secondary metabolism,and expression of deacetylvindoline O-acetyltransferase gene in Catharanthus roseus

The plasma-primed seeds of Catharanthus roseus were cultured in a hormone-free culture medium under sterile conditions. Plasma of 30 or 60 s improved root length (mean = 41.4%) and biomass (mean = 47%), whereas plasma of 90 s delayed plant growth. The plasma treatments enhanced concentrations of photosynthetic pigments and soluble phenols. Plasma of 90 s increased the proline level. With a similar trend, plasma priming induced activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, catalase (about twofold) and peroxidase (31%) enzymes. Plasma also upregulated the expressions of deacetylvindoline O-acetyltransferase gene by an average of 7.8 times. Similarly, the plasma-treated seedlings contained higher concentrations of alkaloids (mean = 72%). Here, molecular evidence is provided on the plasma-associated modifications in secondary metabolism.     

Introducing Bt Gene Into Maize With Ovary Injection

It is reported here that Bt toxin gene has been successfully transferred into maize inbred line by ovary injection for the first time both at home and abroad. One transgenic plant (To) has been confirmed by Southern blotting and PCR test, and 71 progenies (T1) from T0 have been obtained through self-pollination. Of these 71 progenies, seven plants demonstrated positive results in the PCR test; four were used to feed Asian corn borer, and certain effect of insect-resistance was observed. The experiments on the ovary injection in Hainan Province have also been repeated, thus providing new chance to the application of genetic engineering to the maize improvement.     

分析基因表达产物降钙素基因相关肽的高效液相色谱和电喷雾质谱法

报道了应用高效液相色谱 (HPLC)及电喷雾 (ESI)质谱对基因表达产物降钙素基因相关肽 (CGRP)进行非在线鉴定分析 ,获得了满意的结果。实验表明HPLC及ESIMS在分析鉴定未知样品中具有互补性;二者联用提高了分析的速度及准确性。