Development of a systems analysis approach for resolving the structure of biodegrading soil systems

An experimental and mathematical method is developed for the microbial systems analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading mixed cultures in PAH-contaminated “town gas” soil systems. Frequency response is the primary experimental and data analysis tool used to probe the structure of these complicated systems. The objective is to provide a fundamental protocol for evaluating the performance of specific mixed microbial cultures on specific soil systems by elucidating the salient system variables and their interactions. Two well-described reactor systems, a constant volume stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a plug flow differential volume reactor, are used in order to remove performance effects that are related to reactor type as opposed to system structure. These two reactor systems are well-defined systems that can be described mathematically and represent the two extremes of one potentially important system variable, macroscopic mass transfer. The experimental and mathematical structure of the protocol is described, experimental data is presented, and data analysis is demonstrated for the stripping, sorption, and biodegradation of napththalene.     

CLONING, EXPRESSION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF Pro3 GENE OF YEAST Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The proline biosynthetic pathway and Pro genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have just begun to be studied recently. In our laboratory, Pro2 gene of S. cerevisiae had been cloned in yeast. As described in this paper, yeast Pro3 gene was also cloned, which can complement yeast Pro3 mutants, and be expressed efficiently in E. coli. The high activities of this gene product, L-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) reductase, can be detected in both organisms. The activity of the Pro3 gene product in multiple copy plasmids is not higher than that of single copy genes in chromosomes in both yeast and E. coll. The preliminary characterization of the gene is also reported.     

Novel amphiphilic fluorescent graft copolymers: synthesis,characterization, and potential as gene carriers

Amphiphilic fluorescent graft copolymer (PVP‐PyATAm) was successfully synthesized by the free radical copolymerizations of hydrophobic monomer N‐acryloyl‐thioureylene‐4‐(1‐pyrene)‐butyryl amide (PyATAm) with hydrophilic precursor polymers of vinyl‐functionalized poly (N‐vinylpyrrolidone) (Acryloyl‐PVP) in DMF. FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, TEM, gel permeation chromatography‐multi‐angle laser light scattering, UV‐vis spectroscopy, viscometric measurement, and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to characterize this copolymer. The TEM observation showed that the copolymer PVP‐ PyATAm formed spherical micelles in an aqueous solution and the size of micelles was between 50 and 70 nm in diameter. The interaction of PVP‐PyATAm copolymer and plasmid DNA was examined by agarose gel electrophoresis and TEM. Results indicated that the copolymer–DNA complexes were self‐assembled and the size of complexes was between 90 and 120 nm in diameter. Cytotoxity studies using MTT colorimetric assays suggested good biocompatibility of PVP‐PyATAm in vitro. These results suggested the potential of this graft copolymer as gene delivery carrier. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Construction of recombinant Bacillus subtilis for production of polyhydroxyalkanoates

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters of hydroxyalkanoates synthesized by numerous bacteria as intracellular carbon and energy storage compounds and accumulated as granules in the cytoplasm of cells. In this work, we constructed two recombinant plasmids, pBE2C1, and pBE2C1AB, containing one or two PHA synthse, genes, respectively. The two plasmids were inserted into Bacillus subtilis DB104 to generate modified strains, B. subtilis/pBE2C1 and B. subtilis/pBE2C1AB. The two recombinants strains were subjected to fermentation and showed PHA accumulation, the first reported example of mcl-PHA production in B. subtilis. Gas Chromatography analysis identified the compound produced by B. subtilis/pBE2C1 to be a hydroxydecanoate-co-hydroxydodecanoate (HD-co-HDD) polymer whereas that produced by B. subtilis/pBE2C1AB was a hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyde-canoate-co-hydroxydodecanoate (HB-HD-HDD) polymer.     

Capacity of Bacillus thuringiensis S-layer protein displaying polyhistidine peptides on the cell surface

S-layer protein of Bacillus thuringiensis strain CTC was used as the carrier protein to display polyhistidine (poly[6His]) peptides on the cell surface. Poly(6His) _n was fused with S-layer protein at two different sites, inserting just downstream of the S-layer protein homologous domain (slh) and replacing the non-slh region of S-layer protein, respectively. The two series chimeric proteins were both expressed by crystal negative B. thuringiensis strain 4Q7 and strain 171, respectively, as shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The recombinant B. thuringiensis cells gained Ni²⁺- and Cd²⁺-binding ability and had a capacity to display up to nine copies of poly(6His). The Cd²⁺ adsorption quantity of the recombinant strain with the strongest adsorption ability was twice that of the host strain.     

Cyclodextrin-Containing Polymers for Gene Delivery

Cyclodextrin-containing polymers are now being explored as vehicles for delivering nucleic acids into cells. The structures of the cyclodextrin-containing polycations affect the nucleic acid delivery efficiencies and their toxicities. Of interest is the fact that the cyclodextrin-containing polymers reveal lower toxicities than polymers that lack the cyclodextrins. The cyclodextrins endow the nucleic acid delivery vehicles with the ability to be modified by compounds that form inclusion complexes with the cyclodextrins, and these modifications can be performed without disruption of the polymer-nucleic acid interactions. Thus, cyclodextrin-containing polymers provide unique properties for gene delivery.     

毛细管电泳-单链构象多态性分析检测K-ras基因突变

K ras癌基因的点突变在结直肠癌的发生起重要作用。以异丙醇为聚合反应链转移剂,水相法合成 特性粘度为0.70×10-3m3/kg,分子量为6.5×104的低粘度短链线性聚丙烯酰胺。以6%线性聚丙烯酰胺为 筛分介质,分离温度27℃,分离电压9kV为电泳条件,建立了检测K ras基因突变的毛细管电泳 单链构象多 态性方法。利用该方法检测36例结直肠癌患者肿瘤组织,发现12例K ras基因突变。结果表明:该方法具有 快速、高灵敏的优点,为大规模进行结直肠肿瘤的早期诊断提供了可靠方法。     

大肠杆菌O157:H7基因组研究进展

对大肠杆菌O157：H7基因组的结构、特点等近年来的研究进展进行了综述。     

布依族7项不对称行为特征的研究

对布依族的7项不对称行为特征(利手、扣手、叠臂、叠腿、利足、起步和利眼)进行了调查，结果显示：(1)7项指标在布依族中的出现率R型(右型)远高于L型(左型)；(2)布依族中7项指标出现率均无性别间差异；(3)与蒙古族、朝鲜族、汉族、鄂温克族、鄂伦春族、达斡尔族、汉族等民族作比较，发现布依族各项指标L型出现率偏低，且扣手、叠臂、起步L型出现率和这6个民族存在极显著性差异，叠腿L型出现率除与鄂伦春族无差异外，与另外5个民族均有极显著性差异，其他指标与这6个民族基本不存在差异；(4)布依族扣手基因频率(％)为：A=0．1653，a=0．8347；布依族利手基因频率为：B=0．6990，b=0．3010；(5)统计分析了7项指标间的相关性，发现多数指标间存在相关性，部分指标相关极显著，且R—R型组合(右型一右型)的出现频率远高于L—L型组合(左型一左型)的出现频率．     

论应用多基因转化策略综合改良生物体遗传性研究方向的前景Ⅱ.多基因转化策略中的规律、前景和问题

随着后基因组时代的到来,人类将克隆到越来越多的、生物学意义明确的有用基因应用于基因工程对生物体的遗传改良中.但生物体的绝大多数性状和生理功能都是依靠多基因的协调表达而实现的.因此,多基因转化策略必将成为今后基因工程在基础理论与实际应用研究中的主流方向.综述了近年来中山大学生物工程研究中心∥基因工程教育部重点实验室在多基因改良农作物方面的研究工作和进展,分析了多基因转化中的基本规律和存在的问题,最后对多基因转化策略在未来的应用前景作出了简要的展望.