绿色荧光蛋白基因标记内生枯草芽孢杆菌

用枯草芽孢杆菌168菌株rpsD基因的启动子替换质粒pGFP4412中蜡状芽孢杆菌4412启动子,从而构建了能在枯草芽孢杆菌中表达绿色荧光蛋白基因gfpmut3a的载体pS4GFP,将其导入具有内生、防病、促生作用的野生型枯草芽孢杆菌BS-2菌株中,筛选获得遗传稳定性好且具有良好发光表型的标记菌株BS-2-gfp.该标记菌株在小白菜体内的定殖研究结果表明,该菌株能够在小白菜根际及根、茎、叶内定殖和传导,接菌50d后仍能在其体内分离到标记菌株.图5参17     

耐高温α-淀粉酶基因在枯草芽孢杆菌中的高效表达

高温α-淀粉酶是发酵行业用量最大的酶类,为了实现高温α-淀粉酶基因的高效表达,本研究比较了不同启动子对地衣芽孢杆菌的耐高温α-淀粉酶基因在枯草芽孢杆菌中表达的影响.分别用强启动子P43和地衣芽孢杆菌的耐高温α-淀粉酶基因自身启动子构建了表达载体pP43NMK-amy和pUBCl9-amy,并在枯草芽孢杆菌BacillussubtilislA752S中进行表达.结果表明,与地衣芽孢杆菌的耐高温α-淀粉酶基闪自身启动子相比,采用P43启动子的耐高温α-淀粉酶其表达水平提高了8.9倍.而且在枯草芽孢杆菌B.subtilislA752S中分泌表达的α-淀粉酶仍具有耐高温的特性,酶反应的最适温度为90℃,表明酶的热稳定性南蛋白质本身的氨基酸序列决定的.     

耐高温α-淀粉酶在溶源性枯草杆菌表达系统中的高效表达

构建了高效表达耐高温α-淀粉酶的枯草芽孢杆菌表达系统,并研究了该表达系统的主要特点.通过PCR扩增由地衣芽孢杆菌的基因组DNA分离高温淀粉酶基因后,将其克隆到质粒pSG703中.然后用pSG703质粒转化含温和性噬菌体φ105MU331的枯草芽孢杆菌,通过同源重组使高温淀粉酶基因插入到溶源性枯草芽孢杆菌的染色体上,并处于φ105MU331的强启动子下游.由于高温淀粉酶基因处于噬菌体的强启动子下游,在热诱导后可以实现高温淀粉酶的高效表达,诱导后8h内分泌到培养液中的高温淀粉酶活性可以达到9.58×103u/mL.本文构建的重组高温淀粉酶表达系统具有稳定、高效和杂蛋白分泌少的特点.图5参16     

一种新型抗性质粒的构建及其在核黄素生产菌中的运用

枯草芽孢杆菌Bacillus subtilis RF1是课题组前期通过基因工程改造得到的一株核黄素高产菌,为了进一步提高核黄素的产量,需要对该菌株进行进一步的基因工程改造.本研究首先将编码的链丝菌素乙酰基转移酶基因sat克隆到p MA5质粒上,构建具有诺瓦丝菌素Norseothricin(NTC)抗性的重组质粒p MA5-sat,实验证实该重组质粒能够用于B.subtilis RF1的抗性筛选.随后将核黄素合成相关的关键酶葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶编码基因zwf克隆到重组质粒p MA5-sat上,获得重组质粒p MA5-sat-zwf,并成功构建重组菌B.subtilis RF1/p MA5-sat-zwf.结果显示,重组菌胞内葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶活力比原始菌提高了近50倍,说明葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶在重组菌中成功过量表达;根据发酵特性分析,重组菌B.subtilis RF1/p MA5-sat-zwf最终核黄素产量达到12.01 g/L,比原始菌B.subtilis RF1提高了30.3%.综上,本研究构建的新型抗性质粒能够成功运用于核黄素生产菌枯草芽孢杆菌的基因工程改造.     

水稻花药特异表达启动子的克隆与活性检测

植物雄性器官特异表达启动子的克隆是作物杂种优势利用分子育种的基础.根据水稻花药特异表达RA8基因序列设计引物,从水稻(Oryza sativa L.)品种日本晴中克隆得到水稻花药特异表达基因RA8启动子Tsp2,该启动子为RA8基因翻译起始位点上游828 bp的片段,具有启动子特征序列TATA盒TATAAATA和真核生物启动子特征序列CAAT框,与RA8启动子的核苷酸序列同源性为97%.利用该启动子与报告基因GFP构建植物表达载体p1304-rap,采用基因枪法转化烟草花药,通过GFP的瞬时表达证明该启动子具有花药特异启动子活性. 图5 参9     

中度嗜盐菌Halomonas sp.BYS-1启动子的克隆和测序

提取了中度嗜盐菌Halomonassp.BYS1的基因组DNA,以甲基对硫磷水解酶基因(mpd)为报告基因,以启动子探针pUCmpd为载体,通过鸟枪法在E.coliDH5α中构建了BYS1的启动子文库.通过筛选获得了17个阳性克隆,编号为P1～P17.测定了阳性克隆的甲基对硫磷水解酶(MPH)活性,结果表明,P3中mpd基因的启动子活性最强,它的酶活高达2554.3U/mg,而P17中mpd基因的启动子活性最弱,它的酶活只有68.3U/mg.对P3、P8、P17克隆中的重组质粒的插入片段进行了测序和在线启动子预测.图4表1参17     

甲基对硫磷降解菌GFP标记菌株的构建

用Sau3AⅠ酶切甲基对硫磷降解菌DLL 1总DNA ,与BamHⅠ酶切的启动子探针载体 pRobe -GFP酶连 ,转化E .coliDH5α ,在选择性平板LB(Ampr)上从大约 1× 10 4个菌落筛选到 5 0个含启动子片断的阳性克隆 .挑选其中一个阳性克隆 ,将启动子片断克隆到pIJ2 92 5和 pBBR -MCS2上构建成重组质粒 pIJGFP和广宿主标记载体pB BRGFP .然后将 pIJGFP载体上的启动子片断克隆到广宿主载体 pTR10 2上 ,获得第二个广宿主标记载体pTRGFP .将pTRGFP和pBBRGFP通过三亲接合分别标记于DLL 1得到两株标记菌 ,即DLLTR和DLLBR .通过激光共聚焦显微镜观察和软件Lasersharpversion 3.2分析发现 pTRGFP在E .coli中表达很强而在DLL 1中表达很弱 ,而 pBBRGFP正好相反 .图 5表 2参 12     

水稻花药绒毡层特异表达启动子的分离与表达载体构建

从籼稻川75A(OryzasativaL.)黄化苗叶片中直接提取基因组总DNA.根据文献报道的水稻花药绒毡层特异启动子Osg6B序列设计引物,采用TouchdownPCR技术获得水稻花药绒毡层特异表达的启动子Tsp1,将该片段克隆在载体pMD18-TVector上转化到大肠杆菌JM109,并酶切和PCR验证.序列分析发现,该片段与Osg6B启动子同源性为96%,且具有真核生物启动子的多种特征序列,表明启动子Tsp1为来源于籼稻川75A中的水稻花药绒毡层特异表达的启动子.利用该启动子对本实验室保存的质粒pIB467和pIB009进行改造,构建了一个可产生新型雄性不育系的双元植物表达载体pJH401.图7参13     

两种启动子对聚γ-谷氨酸降解酶基因在地衣芽胞杆菌中的加强表达效果

聚γ-谷氨酸(γ-PGA)是一种应用前景良好的生物高分子材料.比较了蔗糖诱导的枯草芽胞杆菌果聚糖蔗糖酶基因(SacB)启动子和地衣芽胞杆菌α-淀粉酶基因启动子对γ-PGA降解酶基因ywtD在地衣芽胞杆菌中加强表达的影响.分别用SacB基因启动子和α-淀粉酶启动子构建了穿梭表达载体pHY300-SYT和pHY300-PYT,通过电转化地衣芽胞杆菌WX-02获得重组子SYT和PYT.酶活测定结果显示SYT和PYT中γ-PGA降解酶基因ywtD得到加强表达,摇瓶发酵结果显示两个重组菌株的γ-PGA相对分子质量都由1 000 000~1 200 000降低为800 000~900 000,PYT的γ-PGA产量较对照菌株PLK提高了33%,由13.50 g L-1提高到17.97 g L-1,而SYT的γ-PGA产量则降低为10.85 g L-1.因此,α-淀粉酶启动子更适合于在地衣芽胞杆菌WX-02菌株中表达γ-PGA降解酶基因,从而获得高产低分子量γ-PGA的工程菌.     

短小芽孢杆菌胞外蛋白质组双向电泳分析及碱性胁迫下胞外差异蛋白鉴定

短小芽孢杆菌Bacillus pumillus SCU11是本实验室从富含蛋白质的生活垃圾中分离并诱变得到的具有高碱性蛋白酶活性的菌株,其分泌的碱性蛋白酶具有很好的生皮脱毛效果,在生物制革工业具有良好的应用前景.短小芽孢杆菌胞外蛋白质多达数百种,为了解其组成情况,采用LB培养基培养短小芽孢杆菌SCU11,以三氯乙酸/丙酮法沉淀发酵上清液中的蛋白质,通过双向电泳分析,建立了具有较高分辨率的短小芽孢杆菌胞外蛋白的双向电泳图谱.在此基础上,分析了碱胁迫条件下短小芽孢杆菌胞外蛋白质的双向电泳图谱,利用液相色谱-串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)鉴定了10个差异蛋白点,其中有5种为胞外分泌蛋白,包含2种胞外蛋白酶.本研究结果表明与呼吸作用及运动相关的蛋白可能参与了短小芽孢杆菌碱胁迫的应答反应.     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.     

Effects of Controlled Fire and Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in East African Savannas

Abstract: In East Africa fire and grazing by wild and domestic ungulates maintain savannas, and pastoralists historically set fires and herded livestock through the use of temporary corrals called bomas. In recent decades traditional pastoral practices have declined, and this may be affecting biodiversity. We investigated the effects of prescribed fires and bomas on savanna bird communities in East Africa during the first and second dry seasons of the year (respectively before and after the rains that mark the onset of breeding for most birds). We compared abundance, richness, and community composition on 9‐ha burned plots, recently abandoned bomas, and control plots in the undisturbed matrix habitat over a 3‐year period. Generally, recently burned areas and abandoned bomas attracted greater densities of birds and had different community assemblages than the surrounding matrix. The effects of disturbances were influenced by interactions between primary productivity, represented by the normalized difference vegetation index, and time. Bird densities were highest and a greater proportion of species was observed on burned plots in the months following the fires. Drought conditions equalized bird densities across treatments within 1 year, and individuals from a greater proportion of species were more commonly observed on abandoned bomas. Yearly fluctuations in abundance were less pronounced on bomas than on burns, which indicate that although fire may benefit birds in the short term, bomas may have a more‐lasting positive effect and provide resources during droughts. Several Palearctic migrants were attracted to burned plots regardless of rainfall, which indicates continued fire suppression may threaten their already‐declining populations. Most notably, the paucity of birds observed on the controls suggests that the current structure of the matrix developed as a result of fire suppression. Traditional pastoralism appears critical to the maintenance of avian diversity in these savannas.     

What Every Conservation Biologist Should Know about Economic Theory

Abstract: The last century has seen the ascendance of a core economic model, which we will refer to as Walrasian economics. This model is driven by the psychological assumptions that humans act only in a self‐referential and narrowly rational way and that production can be described as a self‐contained circular flow between firms and households. These assumptions have critical implications for the way economics is used to inform conservation biology. Yet the Walrasian model is inconsistent with a large body of empirical evidence about actual human behavior, and it violates a number of basic physical laws. Research in behavioral science and neuroscience shows that humans are uniquely social animals and not self‐centered rational economic beings. Economic production is subject to physical laws including the laws of thermodynamics and mass balance. In addition, some contemporary economic theory, spurred by exciting new research in human behavior and a wealth of data about the negative global impact of the human economy on natural systems, is moving toward a world view that places consumption and production squarely in its behavioral and biophysical context. We argue that abandoning the straightjacket of the Walrasian core is essential to further progress in understanding the complex, coupled interactions between the human economy and the natural world. We call for a new framework for economic theory and policy that is consistent with observed human behavior, recognizes the complex and frequently irreversible interaction between human and natural systems, and directly confronts the cumulative negative effects of the human economy on the Earth's life support systems. Biophysical economics and ecological economics are two emerging economic frameworks in this movement.     

Effects of Coffee Management on Deforestation Rates and Forest Integrity

Knowledge about how forest margins are utilized can be crucial for a general understanding of changes in forest cover, forest structure, and biodiversity across landscapes. We studied forest‐agriculture transitions in southwestern Ethiopia and hypothesized that the presence of coffee (Coffea arabica)decreases deforestation rates because of coffee's importance to local economies and its widespread occurrence in forests and forest margins. Using satellite images and elevation data, we compared changes in forest cover over 37 years (1973–2010) across elevations in 2 forest‐agriculture mosaic landscapes (1100 km² around Bonga and 3000 km² in Goma‐Gera). In the field in the Bonga area, we determined coffee cover and forest structure in 40 forest margins that differed in time since deforestation. Both the absolute and relative deforestation rates were lower at coffee‐growing elevations compared with at higher elevations (?10/20% vs. ?40/50% comparing relative rates at 1800 m asl and 2300–2500 m asl, respectively). Within the coffee‐growing elevation, the proportion of sites with high coffee cover (>20%) was significantly higher in stable margins (42% of sites that had been in the same location for the entire period) than in recently changed margins (0% of sites where expansion of annual crops had changed the margin). Disturbance level and forest structure did not differ between sites with 30% or 3% coffee. However, a growing body of literature on gradients of coffee management in Ethiopia reports coffee's negative effects on abundances of forest‐specialist species. Even if the presence of coffee slows down the conversion of forest to annual‐crop agriculture, there is a risk that an intensification of coffee management will still threaten forest biodiversity, including the genetic diversity of wild coffee. Conservation policy for Ethiopian forests thus needs to develop strategies that acknowledge that forests without coffee production may have higher deforestation risks than forests with coffee production and that forests with coffee production often have lower biodiversity value. Efectos de la Administración Cafetalera sobre las Tasas de Deforestación y la Integridad de los Bosques     

Globalization of the Cashmere Market and the Decline of Large Mammals in Central Asia

As drivers of terrestrial ecosystems, humans have replaced large carnivores in most areas, and human influence not only exerts striking ecological pressures on biodiversity at local scales but also has indirect effects in distant corners of the world. We suggest that the multibillion dollar cashmere industry creates economic motivations that link western fashion preferences for cashmere to land use in Central Asia. This penchant for stylish clothing, in turn, encourages herders to increase livestock production which affects persistence of over 6 endangered large mammals in these remote, arid ecosystems. We hypothesized that global trade in cashmere has strong negative effects on native large mammals of deserts and grassland where cashmere‐producing goats are raised. We used time series data, ecological snapshots of the biomass of native and domestic ungulates, and ecologically and behaviorally based fieldwork to test our hypothesis. In Mongolia increases in domestic goat production were associated with a 3‐fold increase in local profits for herders coexisting with endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica).That increasing domestic grazing pressure carries fitness consequences was inferred on the basis of an approximately 4‐fold difference in juvenile recruitment among blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur)in trans‐Himalayan India. Across 7 study areas in Mongolia, India, and China's Tibetan Plateau, native ungulate biomass is now <5% that of domestic species. Such trends suggest ecosystem degradation and decreased capacity for the persistence of native species, including at least 8 Asian endemic species: saiga, chiru (Pantholops hodgsoni), Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), snow leopard(Panthera uncia), khulan(Equus hemionus), kiang (E. kiang), takhi (E. przewalski), and wild yak (Bos mutus). Our results suggest striking yet indirect and unintended actions that link trophic‐level effects to markets induced by the trade for cashmere. Globalización del Mercado de Cachemira y la Declinación de Mamíferos Mayores en Asia Central     

The lichen-rich coastal heath vegetation on the isle of Anholt, Denmark — conservation and management

The high conservational value of the lichen-rich vegetation and landscape of the marine foreland Ørkenen on the isle of Anholt is treated from a Danish as well as a European perspective. The sensitivity of the lichen-rich vegetation to physical disturbance is emphasized. The impact of invasive species such asPinus mugo as well as the effect of atmospheric deposition of nutrients on the heaths at Anholt is described. Considerations related to the development of a management plan for Ørkenen are presented.     

Behavior and ecology of Old World Luperini beetles of the genusAulacophora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Summary The attraction of Old World leaf beetles in the genusAulacophora to kairomones and parakairomones which are effective lures for New WorldDiabrotica andAcalymma were investigated. Beetles captured on sticky traps baited with single and multicomponent lures were no different from the control traps for two species ofAulacophora. Yellow colored traps and squash blossoms are attractive toAulacophora beetles which detect sub-microgram quantities of cucurbitacins on silica gel. Leaf feeding behavior and flight activity data are correlated with varietal preference of threeAulacophora species. The common response byDiabrotica andAulacophora to cucurbitacins reinforces the two groups' coevolutionary association with the Cucurbitaceae. The apparent lack of a common response toCucurbita blossom volatiles suggests recent evolutionary pathways are substantially different for these two groups of beetles.     

Use of stochastic patch occupancy models in the California red-legged frog for Bayesian inference regarding past events and future persistence

Assessing causes of population decline is critically important to management of threatened species. Stochastic patch occupancy models (SPOMs) are popular tools for examining spatial and temporal dynamics of populations when presence–absence data in multiple habitat patches are available. We developed a Bayesian Markov chain method that extends existing SPOMs by focusing on past environmental changes that may have altered occupancy patterns prior to the beginning of data collection. Using occupancy data from 3 creeks, we applied the method to assess 2 hypothesized causes of population decline—in situ die-off and residual impact of past source population loss—in the California red-legged frog. Despite having no data for the 20–30 years between the hypothetical event leading to population decline and the first data collected, we were able to discriminate among hypotheses, finding evidence that in situ die-off increased in 2 of the creeks. Although the creeks had comparable numbers of occupied segments, owing to different extinction–colonization dynamics, our model predicted an 8-fold difference in persistence probabilities of their populations to 2030. Adding a source population led to a greater predicted persistence probability than did decreasing the in situ die-off, emphasizing that reversing the deleterious impacts of a disturbance may not be the most efficient management strategy. We expect our method will be useful for studying dynamics and evaluating management strategies of many species.