渗透压对产甘油假丝酵母磷酸果糖激酶和6-磷酸葡萄糖脱氢酶的调控

磷酸果糖激酶(PFK)和6-磷酸葡萄糖脱氢酶(G6PDH)分别是糖酵解途径(EMP)途径和磷酸戊糖途径(HMP)途径的关键酶,控制着流入两种途径的葡萄糖流量,对耐高渗产甘油假丝酵母(Candida glycerinogenes)高效合成甘油、抵抗渗透压胁迫非常重要.为考察渗透压对产甘油假丝酵母这两个关键酶的影响,首先克隆得到编码产甘油假丝酵母G6PDH的Cgzwf基因及编码PFK亚基的Cgpfk1和Cgpfk2,并通过生物信息学分析、酶活检测及基因互补实验验证它们的功能.渗透压胁迫发酵(添加50 g/L NaCl)结果显示,菌株生物量未受渗透压影响,但甘油积累量增加了2倍.与对照相比,盐胁迫激活PFK但弱化了G6PDH活性.此外,盐胁迫下PFK活性表现出更为明显的先降低后升高的趋势,而G6PDH活性的变化则与对照基本相似,表明盐胁迫下碳流可能存在EMP-HMP-EMP形式的不同程度偏转.转录水平检测发现,在发酵中的甘油积累过程盐胁迫对上述酶基因转录的影响并不明显,表明细胞可能通过酶活性调节而不是主要依赖于转录调节来调控两种关键酶以适应耐渗长期胁迫和甘油合成的需要.综上,产甘油假丝酵母以调节关键代谢酶活性的方式来实现碳硫偏转,高产甘油,从而适应外界渗透压力,这一结果可为阐明产甘油假丝酵母耐高渗和高产甘油机制提供新的信息,为未来代谢改造该菌株打下基础.     

稳定代谢葡萄糖和木糖产乙醇的重组酿酒酵母工程菌初步构建

分别克隆了休哈塔假丝酵母(Candida shehatae)的木糖还原酶基因XYL1和热带假丝酵母(Candida tropicalis)的木糖醇脱氢酶基因XYL2,构建出重组表达质粒pACT2-xy11和pDR195-xy12,并使其分别转化酿酒酵母受体细胞.酶活测定结果显示,转化子中木糖还原酶和木糖醇脱氢酶均在宿主菌中得到活性表达.并将这两个基因连同各自重组表达质粒上的表达元件进行了克隆,进而构建出重组酵母染色体整合质粒YIp5.kanR-x12,以期今后通过同源重组的原理将上述基因整合到发酵性能良好的酿酒酵母基因组中,得到稳定代谢葡萄糖和木糖产乙醇的重组酵母菌株.图3表1参15     

影响发根农杆菌对结野葛遗传转化效率的因素

研究了发根农杆菌R1601对野葛(Puerariafobata)进行遗传转化的影响因素.结果表明叶片是转化效率较高的外植体,经发根农杆菌R160l感染12d后可获得毛状根;降低YEB活化液的pH值,或以肌醇(10g/L)代替酵母提取成分,可明显提高菌种的致根性;叶片预培养2～3d可提前3～4d出根.表5参14     

干扰烟草GA 20-氧化酶siRNA植物表达载体的构建及矮化烟草的产生

根据烟草(Nicotiana tabacum)GA 20-氧化酶基因序列,设计2对分别含有特定酶切位点的特异引物,以烟草基因组DNA为模板,扩增目的基因(约250 bp)片段.将正、反向目的片段分别插入中间载体的内含子两侧.再经BamH I和Sac I双酶切回收约700 bp的目的片段,插入到双元载体质粒p2355中,成功构建了含GA 20-氧化酶基因片段的反向重复序列植物表达载体p23700,其转录产物能形成发夹RNA(hpRNA),产生小分子干扰RNA,干扰目的基因的表达.将p23700质粒导入根癌农杆菌EHA105中并转化烟草叶片细胞,经选择分化培养,获得表型矮化的转基因烟草.图4参14     

产朊假丝酵母CANDIDA UTILIS细胞壁对铜离子吸附位点的研究

目前认为所有生物大分子都对重金属离子有较强吸附性 ,但某些分子可特异地吸附重金属 ,并介导酵母细胞对重金属的抗性[1] .其中细胞表面的高分子聚合物倍受关注 ,酵母细胞壁约含 4 0种蛋白分子 ,但有关这些蛋白质在对重金属离子吸附中的作用目前还未见报道 .产朊假丝酵母Ｃａｎｄｉｄａｕｔｉｌｉｓ是重要单细胞蛋白生产菌株之一 ,因其营养条件要求不高 ,对工业废水有较强耐受和转化能力而广泛用于生产和研究 .我们观察了产朊假丝酵母细胞与分离纯化的细胞壁对铜离子的吸附能力差异 ,并对细胞壁上重金属离子吸附位点进行了研究 .1　材料与方…     

T—2毒素与硒对酵母生长的影响及其拮抗作用

通过培养产朊假丝酵母比较RNA与蛋白含量的变化,评价加入培养基中的T-2毒素与硒的细胞毒性和生理活性.试验表明,5ppm T-2毒素明显抑制产朊假丝酵母的生长,1ppm硒对生长的促进作用显著,且可完全拮抗5ppm T-2毒素的毒性.     

产甘油假丝酵母甘油分解代谢CgGCY1、CgGCY2和CgDAK基因的克隆、敲除及其功能

产甘油假丝酵母(Candida glycerinogenes)能够利用甘油大量生长菌体而无有机酸、醇等代谢物积累,是潜在的优良宿主细胞.为了解C.glycerinogenes甘油分解代谢途径,成功克隆得到二羟基丙酮(DHA)途径的编码基因Cg GCY1、Cg GCY2和Cg DAK.利用"Ura-Blaster"敲除盒分别构建的缺失突变菌Cggcy1?/gcy2?和Cgdak?均不能在甘油培养基中生长.q RT-PCR及酶活测定结果显示,与葡萄糖培养相比,甘油培养下细胞通过强化糖异生、HMP途径积累生物量,下调EMP途径和副产物合成关键酶表达以弱化有机酸、醇的合成,同时上调TCA循环以补偿EMP途径下调带来的能量和还原力不足,使得生物量提高24.5%而不积累有机酸、醇等代谢物.以甘油为共底物进行木糖发酵,木糖醇产量和转化率达到39.4 g/L和89%,与葡萄糖为共底物相比分别提高了79%和32.8%.本研究表明C.glycerinogenes甘油分解代谢仅依赖于DHA途径,以甘油为共底物更有利于木糖醇的合成和转化;结果可为代谢改造C.glycerinogenes以甘油为共底物合成高附加值化合物打下基础.     

根癌农杆菌介导的高赖氨酸蛋白基因转化叶用莴苣的研究

构建了植物表达载体pLBI，该载体携带35S启动子、高赖氨酸蛋白基因(LRP)、NPTⅡ基因和NOS终止子，对影响根癌农杆菌(Agrobacterium tumefaciens L.)转化的多种因素进行探索后，建立了一种农杆菌介导的稳定的叶用莴苣遗传转化系统．选择目前生产上大量推广应用的叶用莴苣品种，以其无菌苗子叶为外植体，经农杆菌LBA4404(含质粒pLBI)感染，在含ρ(Kan)／mgL^-1=100的芽分化培养基上筛选转化芽，转入含相同浓度抗生素的生根培养基上进行生根筛选，直至得到完整的再生植株．PCR扩增及Southern blot的检测结果均表明，高赖氨酸蛋白基因已整合到叶用莴苣基因组中．图4表4参6     

产甘油假丝酵母补料发酵中的甘油合成衰减

为揭示产甘油假丝酵母Candida glycerinogenes补料发酵后甘油合成衰减机理,以指导甘油合成及菌株改造,对补料发酵后甘油的生成情况、葡萄糖的消耗情况、细胞内的代谢流量变化以及代谢途径关键酶活力变化进行了研究.结果表明,补料发酵后葡萄糖的代谢流量分布发生变化,流向HMP途径和甘油合成途径的流量分别降低48%和33%,更多的碳流通过EMP途径形成副产物;胞浆3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶(ctGPD)和6-磷酸葡萄糖脱氢酶(G6PDH)的活力下降,而丙酮酸激酶(PYK)活力上升.补料发酵后甘油合成关键酶ctGPD酶活力低下,流向甘油合成途径的碳流减小,还原力供给受影响,这些因素共同作用引起了补料发酵后甘油合成的衰减.     

发根农杆菌转化青蒿影响因素的研究

对叶盘法转化过程中各种影响因素进行研究．结果表明：发根农杆菌种类、基本培养基和青蒿株系对转化率有明显影响,而培养基ｐＨ在５．２～５．８对转化率没有明显影响;发根农杆菌ＡＴＣＣ１５８３４的转化率最高;基本培养基中ＭＳ效果最好;青蒿株系０２５对发根农杆菌最敏感;处于对数生长期的发根农杆菌（Ｄ６６０ｎｍ＝０．７５）稀释５倍后用来转化效果最好;幼嫩的叶片的转化率比成熟叶片高;向共培养培养基中加入乙酰丁香酮等酚类物质对转化没有促进作用．在最适的转化条件下,发根农杆菌ＡＴＣＣ１５８３４对青蒿株系０２５的转化率可达到１００％．ＰＣＲ检测证明,青蒿发根基因组中含有发根农杆菌Ｒｉ质粒ＴＤＮＡ上的ｒｏｌＣ片段．     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

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     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.     

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.