Simple Sequence Repeat Markers in Genetic Divergence and Marker-Assisted Selection of Rice Cultivars: A Review

Sequencing of rice genome has facilitated the understanding of rice evolution and has been utilized extensively for mining of DNA markers to facilitate marker-assisted breeding. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers that are tandemly repeated nucleotide sequence motifs flanked by unique sequences are presently the maker of choice in rice improvement due to their abundance, co-dominant inheritance, high levels of allelic diversity, and simple reproducible assay. The current level of genome coverage by SSR markers in rice is sufficient to employ them for genotype identification and marker-assisted selection in breeding for mapping of genes and quantitative trait loci analysis. This review provides comprehensive information on the mapping and applications of SSR markers in investigation of rice cultivars to study their genetic divergence and marker-assisted selection of important agronomic traits.     

Fold and flexibility: what can proteins' mechanical properties tell us about their folding nucleus?

The determination of a protein''s folding nucleus, i.e. a set of native contacts playing an important role during its folding process, remains an elusive yet essential problem in biochemistry. In this work, we investigate the mechanical properties of 70 protein structures belonging to 14 protein families presenting various folds using coarse-grain Brownian dynamics simulations. The resulting rigidity profiles combined with multiple sequence alignments show that a limited set of rigid residues, which we call the consensus nucleus, occupy conserved positions along the protein sequence. These residues'' side chains form a tight interaction network within the protein''s core, thus making our consensus nuclei potential folding nuclei. A review of experimental and theoretical literature shows that most (above 80%) of these residues were indeed identified as folding nucleus member in earlier studies.     

Physical Stability of Octenyl Succinate–Modified Polysaccharides and Whey Proteins for Potential Use as Bioactive Carriers in Food Systems

The high cost and potential toxicity of biodegradable polymers like poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic)acid (PLGA) has increased the interest in natural and modified biopolymers as bioactive carriers. This study characterized the physical stability (water sorption and state transition behavior) of selected starch and proteins: octenyl succinate–modified depolymerized waxy corn starch (DWxCn), waxy rice starch (DWxRc), phytoglycogen, whey protein concentrate (80%, WPC), whey protein isolate (WPI), and α‐lactalbumin (α‐L) to determine their potential as carriers of bioactive compounds under different environmental conditions. After enzyme modification and particle size characterization, glass transition temperature and moisture isotherms were used to characterize the systems. DWxCn and DWxRc had increased water sorption compared to native starch. The level of octenyl succinate anhydrate (OSA) modification (3% and 7%) did not reduce the water sorption of the DWxCn and phytoglycogen samples. The Guggenheim–Andersen–de Boer model indicated that native waxy corn had significantly (P < 0.05) higher water monolayer capacity followed by 3%‐OSA‐modified DWxCn, WPI, 3%‐OSA‐modified DWxRc, α‐L, and native phytoglycogen. WPC had significantly lower water monolayer capacity. All Tg values matched with the solid‐like appearance of the biopolymers. Native polysaccharides and whey proteins had higher glass transition temperature (Tg) values. On the other hand, depolymerized waxy starches at 7%‐OSA modification had a “melted” appearance when exposed to environments with high relative humidity (above 70%) after 10 days at 23 °C. The use of depolymerized and OSA‐modified polysaccharides blended with proteins created more stable blends of biopolymers. Hence, this biopolymer would be suitable for materials exposed to high humidity environments in food applications.     

非常规蛋白基木材胶黏剂研究现状及发展前景

介绍了动物和植物型非常规蛋白资源的种类及其制备蛋白基木材胶黏剂的研究现状和存在的问题,展望了非常规蛋白胶黏剂的发展前景。     

差分跳频通信系统的特点及性能

文章介绍了一种新型的短波跳频通信技术——差分跳频,分析了差分跳频技术区别于常规跳频技术的主要特点。针对按序列检测的信号接收方法,对差分跳频通信系统在AWGN信道下的性能进行了理论分析,同时做出相应的计算机仿真,证实了差分跳频通信技术和按序列检测方法的结合,使通信系统在AWGN信道下的性能得到了比较显著的提升。     

Effect of select parameters on the properties of edible film from water-soluble fish proteins in surimi wash-water

Edible film from water-soluble fish proteins were developed by casting film solution on leveled trays and effects of pH (9.5, 10.0 and 10.5), heating temperature (60, 70 and 80 °C), and heating time (10, 20 and 30 min) of the film solution on various film properties were determined using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The impact of pH and heating temperature of film solution was more significant, overall, on the film's properties than heating time. Contour plots of tensile strength and elongation at break was highest at pH of 10.0 at 70 °C (2.75-3.02 MPa) but low in elongation at break (6.35-9.16%), while water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability were at their lowest (58.55-65.96 g mm/m² d kPa and 351.33-624.18 cm³ μm/m² d kPa). There was a direct correlation between the films’ and proteins’ solubility on one hand, and heating temperature of film solution on the other, which reversed with change in pH of film solution. Film color was darker and more yellowish with increase in the pH of film solution.     

抗真菌蛋白Rs-AFP2基因定点突变及其对大肠杆菌中表达的影响

为了研究遗传密码子对表达调控的影响,利用PCR重叠延伸法,对萝卜抗真菌蛋白Rs-AFP2基因编码序列区的部分核苷酸进行沉默突变,构建突变体Rs-AFPm.序列分析表明,PCR产物全长240bp,有一个阅读框,编码的蛋白由29个氨基酸的信号肽和51个氨基酸的抗真菌蛋白组成.突变体与突变前的Rs-AFP2基因相比,在编码区第3号氨基酸Lys相差一个碱基(TTG→TTA),第5号氨基酸Gln相差一个碱基(CAG→CAA),第6号稀有密码子Arg相差两个碱基(CAG→CGA).重新合成引物,将切除信号肽的Rs-AFP2基因和Rs-AFPm基因与原核表达载体pET-21b(+)分别重组到大肠杆菌BL21菌株.IPTG诱导后,二者均得到了表达.软件分析显示,突变前pETAFPo表达产物占全菌蛋白的3%,突变后pETAFPm的表达产物占全菌蛋白含量的8%;表达蛋白主要以包涵体的形式存在,包涵体经超声波破碎后,蛋白质复性,抑菌结果表明,pETAFPm表达产物的抑菌半径大于pETAFP2表达产物的抑菌半径.这些都说明改造后的Rs-AFPm基因与Rs-AFP2基因相比,已有效地提高表达量.     

Effect of enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins on growth of Bifidobacterium bifidus in milk

The effect of enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins in milk using neutrase on the growth of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium bifidus was evaluated by estimation of microbial growth, acidity, viscosity and flavour production. A significant increase in the growth of B bifidus was observed in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk. The setting time of bifidus‐cultured milk was advanced by about 12 h at 5% degree of hydrolysis. Enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins prior to cultivation also significantly increased the viscosity of the product. An approximately 60% increase in viscosity of the product was observed in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk. Production of steam‐volatile monocarbonyls as an indication of development of flavour was also higher in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk. The concentration of steam‐volatile monocarbonyls was 2.47 µmol per 100 ml in neutrase‐hydrolysed milk but only 1.84 µmol per 100 ml in control milk at the setting point of the curd. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Insertional re-activation of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase misfolding mutant protein

The deletion of nine residues from the C-terminus of the bacterialchloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) results in depositionof the mutant protein in cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and lossof chloramphenicol resistance in Escherichia coli. This foldingdefect is relieved by C-terminal fusion of the polypeptide withas few as two residues. Based on these observations, efficientpositive selection for the cloning of DNA fragments has beendemonstrated. The cloning vector encodes a C-terminally truncatedCAT protein. Restriction sites in front of the stop codon allowthe insertion of target DNA, resulting in the production ofproperly folded CAT fusion proteins and regained chloramphenicolresistance. The positive selection of recombinants is accomplishedby growth of transformants on chloramphenicol-containing agarplates. The method appears particularly convenient for the cloningof DNA fragments amplified by the PCR because minimal informationto restore CAT folding can be included in the primers. The cloningof random sequences shows that the folding defect can be relievedby fusion to a wide variety of peptides, providing great flexibilityto the positive selection system. This vector may also contributeto the determination of the role of the C-terminus in CAT folding.     

聚合物载体－稀土金属络合物的研究 ⅩⅢ．聚［苯乙烯－甲基丙烯酸β（甲基亚硫酰基）乙酯］的结构与其稀土金属络合物催化丁二烯聚合的活性

从测得的竞聚率计算了单体链节在聚［苯乙烯－甲基丙烯酸β（甲基亚硫酰基）乙酯］（ＰＳＭ）中的序列分布。苯乙烯（Ｓ）或甲基丙烯酸β（甲基亚硫酰基）乙酯（Ｍ）的长序列的概率随着ＰＳＭ中相应单体含量的增加而增加。对于Ｓ和Ｍ摩尔分数大致相等的ＰＳＭ，单体链节的长序列分布函数值相接近。用与此结构相近的ＰＳＭ合成的稀土金属络合物，其催化活性不佳。在Ｍ短序列分布和Ｓ长序列分布较高的情况下，络合物的催化活性最好。所得聚丁二烯的微观结构与ＰＳＭ中单体单元的分布无关。