农药低剂量导致其抗性发展

从生态调控和社会经济的角度出发,较低剂量农药的应用成为一种发展趋势。而这也致使农药新型抗性的发展。数十年之前,害虫对某种农药的抗药性大多数是由主效基因突变产生是单基因抗药性,属于主效基因编码的靶标位点抗性,而该位点处的受体酶将发生变异,不再与药剂进行特异性结合。早期主要使用较高的推荐剂量的农药防治抗性     

海洋细菌Bacillus mojavensis 1A00437 β-1,3-1,4-葡聚糖酶基因的克隆、表达及功能研究

Bacillus mojavensis 1A00437是分离自太平洋的一株芽胞杆菌,成功克隆了该菌的β-1,3-1,4-葡聚糖酶基因并在原核系统获得高效表达。测序结果表明,该基因的ORF全长681bp,编码一条226个氨基酸的蛋白,蛋白大小25.3kDa。该酶的最适pH值及最适反应温度分别为6.5、60℃。研究表明,1mmol·L-1 Ca2+、Mn2+可显著抑制该重组酶活性,该重组酶对稻瘟病菌无抗性,但对小麦纹枯病菌及水稻纹枯病菌具有明显抑制作用。饲料体外消化实验表明,该重组酶对稻糠、玉米粉具有显著降解效果。为该酶用作抗真菌剂及饲料添加剂提供了理论基础。     

细胞色素P450 BM-3羟基化吲哚能力的半理性改造

为进一步改造细胞色素P450 BM-3酶对吲哚的羟基化能力,以P450 BM-3结构与功能关系的推测为指导,选择突变酶P450 BM-3 （A74G/F87V/L188Q/E435T）为父本,在可能影响P450 BM-3催化吲哚羟基化区域选择性的D168位点进行定点饱和突变,根据全细胞催化产物颜色及组成进行筛选,得到了产物组成、酶动力学性质与父本不同的两个突变酶。突变酶D168W的吲哚羟基化产物中90%是靛玉红,而另一个突变酶D168R的产物中87%是靛蓝,产物组成均不同于亲本。在催化吲哚羟基化时,D168W的k_cat与父本相当,但K_m却是父本的4.8倍,催化活力只有父本的20%;而D168R的k_cat是父本的1.9倍,K_m是父本的82%,催化活力比父本提高了1.37倍。结果表明,在E435T突变上叠加D168位氨基酸残基突变对酶的催化性质产生了单一位点突变所不具有的协同效应,对酶催化的区域选择性和催化活力都有显著影响,以致改变了催化产物组成。这种基于知识的半理性定向进化方法由于是在关键位点进行突变,因此突变目的性强、突变效果显著。     

感应草多糖的化学组成与生物活性研究

对感应草多糖的化学组成与生物活性进行研究,采用水提醇沉法、脱色脱蛋白透析处理,得到粗多糖、脱色多糖和精制多糖,测定多糖的主成分含量,采用薄层色谱法(TLC)及柱前衍生化-高效液相色谱法(HPLC)分析多糖的单糖组成,测定多糖对DPPH·和ABTS~+·的清除能力、还原能力以及对α-葡萄糖苷酶和DPP-Ⅳ酶的体外抑制作用。感应草多糖由5种单糖组成,对DPPH·和ABTS~+·均有清除作用,具有还原能力,对α-葡萄糖苷酶和DPP-Ⅳ酶均有抑制作用。相关性分析表明,多糖的糖含量、糖醛酸含量、还原糖含量和蛋白质含量与其抗氧化活性、α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制活性均无显著相关性。感应草多糖具有抗氧化活性和α-葡萄糖苷酶及DPP-Ⅳ酶抑制活性。     

细胞色素P450酶系对除草剂代谢作用的研究进展

细胞色素P450酶系是广泛存在于动物、植物和微生物体内的一类具有混合功能的血红素氧化酶系。在高等植物中执行着各种不同功能．包括植物正常生长发育所必需的初级代谢物和次级代谢物的生物合成，而且参与许多外源性物质包括除草剂等的生物氧化。笔者综述了与除草剂代谢有关的细菌、哺乳动物和植物细胞色素P450酶系，概述了细胞色素P450酶系代谢作用在除草剂选择性、耐受性、抗药性机理和抗除草剂作物品种培育方面的意义，以及转细胞色素P450基因风险性评价等。     

马唐对烟嘧磺隆抗药性水平及机制

[目的]明确辽宁、黑龙江、吉林、河北、河南5个省市马唐种群的抗药性水平及抗性机制。[方法]采用整株生物测定法测定不同种群对烟嘧磺隆抗药性水平，并通过ALS基因片段扩增研究抗敏种群ALS基因序列差异；同时，通过外源施用P450抑制剂马拉硫磷探究P450活性对抗性的影响。[结果]LN-11为敏感种群，其对烟嘧磺隆的GR₅₀值为17.19 g a.i./hm²，其余34个种群均有不同程度的抗药性产生，其抗性倍数在4.57～72.88之间；所有供试种群中均未检测到ALS基因突变；LN-1、LN-21、HLJ-1、HB-1、HN-1在叠加施用马拉硫磷后，对烟嘧磺隆的GR50值有明显下降。[结论]抗性种群对烟嘧磺隆产生抗药性的原因并非由ALS基因突变导致，可能是由细胞色素P450s活性增强参与导致的。     

苏云金杆菌和转移基因植物的抗性

害虫对杀虫剂抗性的发展不仅肯定了达尔文的理论,而且对全世界的农业和公共卫生事业产生了严重的威胁。人们要克服抗性,首先必须认识抗性。 杀虫剂抗性实质上是群体中接触一或多种杀虫剂后能生存下来的具有基因基础能力个体的增加。杀虫剂多次处理昆虫群体后使基因敏感的个体比例下降,于是杀虫剂抗性问题就出现了。抗性基因通过处理存活下来的个体遗传给它们的下一代,由于这一过程引起群体内基因频率的变化,实际上这也是一种生物进化的事例。世界性杀虫剂抗性的产生可能是自然选择最有力的证据。     

人蛋白C cDNA突变体的设计、克隆与序列分析

目的 通过对人蛋白C cDNA的定点突变,构建人蛋白C突变体cDNA,以期实现从哺乳动物细胞中直接表达出具有生物活性的人蛋白C产物。方法 针对人蛋白C cDNA序列设计引物以引入突变序列,采用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)和重组PCR方法,从人胎肝总RNA中分别钓取人蛋白C的重链和轻链,经重组PCR反应将两者连接,然后将其克隆入pGEM-T载体中,经酶切和PCR鉴定后进行测序。结果 经RT-PCR和重组PCR扩增获得大小为1374 hp的cDNA片段,并成功构建了人蛋白C cDNA突变体的克隆质粒pGEM-T/mhPC,序列分析证实所引入的编码8个氨基酸短肽的核苷酸序列突变位点正确取代了人蛋白C的活性肽,获得人蛋白C突变体cD-NA的克隆。结论 已成功进行了人蛋白C cDNA的突变,获得了人蛋白c cDNA突变体的克隆,为进一步进行人蛋白C突变体cDNA的表达和活性鉴定奠定了基础。     

嗜热β-葡萄糖苷酶的原核表达、纯化及其活性

目的原核表达、纯化嗜热β-葡萄糖苷酶,并检测其活性。方法从嗜热细菌Fervidobacterium pennivorans基因组DNA中PCR扩增β-葡萄糖苷酶基因,插入原核表达载体p ET-28a中,构建重组表达质粒,转化E.coli BL21(DE3)Codon Plus,筛选阳性重组菌,IPTG诱导表达。采用镍柱亲和层析法纯化重组酶;紫外吸收法检测酶活力和底物选择性。结果 PCR退火温度为67℃时,可扩增得到单一的目的基因条带;测序结果显示,重组表达质粒中目的基因的核苷酸序列与细菌基因组中该基因序列同源性为100%,未发现终止密码子及氨基酸的改变;表达的重组酶相对分子质量约为54 000;纯化的目的蛋白纯度达95%,浓度为10 mg/L;该重组酶能够高效催化对硝基苯-β-D-葡萄糖苷(p NPG)的水解,60℃条件下的比活力达124 293.5 U/mg。结论成功在E.coli中表达了嗜热细菌Fervidobacterium pennivorans来源的具有较高催化活力和底物专一性的β-葡萄糖苷酶。     

黏土吸附法固定化脂肪酶的初步研究

为研究天然黏土为载体固定化脂肪酶的可行性,采用羟基化、硅烷化处理,对黏土进行改性,并以此为载体吸附固定化脂肪酶,探讨黏土固定化脂肪酶的条件对酶活及蛋白吸附量的影响,优化固定化脂肪酶条件。研究结果表明:黏土经羟基化、硅烷化改性处理后能显著提高固定化酶活和蛋白固定量,其中硅烷化改性最优;载体固定脂肪酶最优条件为:加酶量50 mg/g,载体粒径180—250μm,pH值为4.0,固定化温度25℃,固定化时间2.0 h;与游离酶相比,固定化酶显示出更广的pH值适应性。黏土固定化脂肪酶重复使用10批次后,仍能保留76.85%的初始活力。以天然黏土为载体固定化脂肪酶,具有较好的实际可应用性及操作稳定性,在较低pH值条件下应用具有一定优势。     

苯达松及其代谢产物的高效液相色谱同柱分析

建立了一种苯达松及其代谢产物6-OH苯达松、8-OH苯达松的高效液相色谱分析方法。采用C18反相柱分离,置元混合流动相[乙腈＋水＋85％磷酸=45＋55＋0．08（v/v）]进行洗脱,流速0．8ml／min,可变波长紫外检测器在238nm条件下进行检测,外标法进行定量。苯达松、6-OH苯达松和8-OH苯达松的变异系数分别为0.37％、0．63％、0.53％;回收率分别为100．36％、96．14％、105．04％;线性相关系数分别为0．9974、0．9989、0．9994。     

CPR Gene Contributes to Integument Function and Ovary Development in a Rice Planthopper

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) is an essential enzyme that transfers electrons from NADPH to cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. CPR is involved in cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) synthesis in insects and is vital for insect development and survival. Here, we clarify the physiological function of a CPR gene in Nilaparvata lugens, an important rice pest, by using RNA interference. CPR gene knockdown leads to the functional loss of waterproofing and water retention in the integument of female adults, which causes significantly reduced body weight and a lethal phenotype. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the lipid layer on the outermost surface of the abdominal cuticle becomes thin in dsCPR-injected adults. Furthermore, CHC profile analysis reveals that CPR knockdown significantly decreases the contents of CHCs with a carbon chain length ≥ C27 in adult females. Moreover, we find that CPR knockdown generates a deficient phenotype in ovaries with deformed oocytes and a complete failure of egg-laying. These findings suggest that CPR plays multiple functional roles in CHC biosynthesis and embryo development in insects.     

CRISPR/Cas9-Based Knock-Out of the PMR4 Gene Reduces Susceptibility to Late Blight in Two Tomato Cultivars

Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of late blight (LB) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), is a devastating disease and a serious concern for plant productivity. The presence of susceptibility (S) genes in plants facilitates pathogen proliferation; thus, disabling these genes may help provide a broad-spectrum and durable type of tolerance/resistance. Previous studies on Arabidopsis and tomato have highlighted that knock-out mutants of the PMR4 susceptibility gene are tolerant to powdery mildew. Moreover, PMR4 knock-down in potato has been shown to confer tolerance to LB. To verify the same effect in tomato in the present study, a CRISPR–Cas9 vector containing four single guide RNAs (sgRNAs: sgRNA1, sgRNA6, sgRNA7, and sgRNA8), targeting as many SlPMR4 regions, was introduced via Agrobacterium-tumefaciens-mediated transformation into two widely grown Italian tomato cultivars: ‘San Marzano’ (SM) and ‘Oxheart’ (OX). Thirty-five plants (twenty-six SM and nine OX) were selected and screened to identify the CRISPR/Cas9-induced mutations. The different sgRNAs caused mutation frequencies ranging from 22.1 to 100% and alternatively precise insertions (sgRNA6) or deletions (sgRNA7, sgRNA1, and sgRNA8). Notably, sgRNA7 induced in seven SM genotypes a −7 bp deletion in the homozygous status, whereas sgRNA8 led to the production of fifteen SM genotypes with a biallelic mutation (−7 bp and −2 bp). Selected edited lines were inoculated with P. infestans, and four of them, fully knocked out at the PMR4 locus, showed reduced disease symptoms (reduction in susceptibility from 55 to 80%) compared to control plants. The four SM lines were sequenced using Illumina whole-genome sequencing for deeper characterization without exhibiting any evidence of mutations in the candidate off-target regions. Our results showed, for the first time, a reduced susceptibility to Phytophtora infestans in pmr4 tomato mutants confirming the role of KO PMR4 in providing broad-spectrum protection against pathogens.     

SNPs in 3′UTR miRNA Target Sequences Associated with Individual Drug Susceptibility

The complementary interaction of microRNAs (miRNAs) with their binding sites in the 3′untranslated regions (3′UTRs) of target gene mRNAs represses translation, playing a leading role in gene expression control. MiRNA recognition elements (MREs) in the 3′UTRs of genes often contain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which can change the binding affinity for target miRNAs leading to dysregulated gene expression. Accumulated data suggest that these SNPs can be associated with various human pathologies (cancer, diabetes, neuropsychiatric disorders, and cardiovascular diseases) by disturbing the interaction of miRNAs with their MREs located in mRNA 3′UTRs. Numerous data show the role of SNPs in 3′UTR MREs in individual drug susceptibility and drug resistance mechanisms. In this review, we brief the data on such SNPs focusing on the most rigorously proven cases. Some SNPs belong to conventional genes from the drug-metabolizing system (in particular, the genes coding for cytochromes P450 (CYP 450), phase II enzymes (SULT1A1 and UGT1A), and ABCB3 transporter and their expression regulators (PXR and GATA4)). Other examples of SNPs are related to the genes involved in DNA repair, RNA editing, and specific drug metabolisms. We discuss the gene-by-gene studies and genome-wide approaches utilized or potentially utilizable to detect the MRE SNPs associated with individual response to drugs.     

Discovery and Biophysical Evaluation of First Low Nanomolar Hits Targeting CYP125 of M. tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, which is predominantly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is still the most lethal bacterial infection with 1.5 million casualties in 2014. Moreover, the fact that the appearance of resistant mutants and long‐term treatment are coupled with economic problems in developing countries hampers an efficient therapy. Interference with the essential cholesterol metabolism of Mtb could be a promising novel strategy to fight Mtb infections. CYP125, a P450 enzyme in Mtb, has been shown to play an important role in this metabolic pathway. For this reason, we used a combined screening approach involving surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and a heme coordination assay to identify new CYP125 binders by employing a focused P450‐inhibitor library. We identified the first hits with high affinity and favorable ligand efficiencies. Furthermore, frontrunner compounds also showed selectivity toward CYP121 specific to Mtb and required for its survival. To date, these are the first compounds targeting CYP125 with low nanomolar affinity.     

Salicylic Acid Is Required for Broad-Spectrum Disease Resistance in Rice

Rice plants contain high basal levels of salicylic acid (SA), but some of their functions remain elusive. To elucidate the importance of SA homeostasis in rice immunity, we characterized four rice SA hydroxylase genes (OsSAHs) and verified their roles in SA metabolism and disease resistance. Recombinant OsSAH proteins catalyzed SA in vitro, while OsSAH3 protein showed only SA 5-hydroxylase (SA5H) activity, which was remarkably higher than that of other OsSAHs that presented both SA3H and SA5H activities. Amino acid substitutions revealed that three amino acids in the binding pocket affected SAH enzyme activity and/or specificity. Knockout OsSAH2 and OsSAH3 (sahKO) genes conferred enhanced resistance to both hemibiotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens, whereas overexpression of each OsSAH gene increased susceptibility to the pathogens. sahKO mutants showed increased SA and jasmonate levels compared to those of the wild type and OsSAH-overexpressing plants. Analysis of the OsSAH3 promoter indicated that its induction was mainly restricted around Magnaporthe oryzae infection sites. Taken together, our findings indicate that SA plays a vital role in immune signaling. Moreover, fine-tuning SA homeostasis through suppression of SA metabolism is an effective approach in studying broad-spectrum disease resistance in rice.     

The Toxicity,Sublethal Effects,and Biochemical Mechanism of β-Asarone,a Potential Plant-Derived Insecticide,against Bemisia tabaci

Bemisia tabaci is a threat to agriculture worldwide because of its potential to cause devastating damage to various crops. β-asarone is a bioactive pesticidal chemical originating from Acorus calamus (or “Sweet Flag”) plants, and it displays significant lethal effects against insect pests. In this study, we established a baseline of susceptibility to β-asarone from China and patterns of cross-resistance to other popular insecticides. We found that all the 12 field-collected B. tabaci populations exhibited high susceptibility to β-asarone, and there was no cross-resistance detected for other tested insecticides. We subsequently evaluated the sublethal effects of β-asarone on physiology and biochemistry via LC₂₅ treatment (4.7 mg/L). LC₂₅ of β-asarone resulted in prolonged developmental duration and decreased survival rates in B. tabaci nymphs, pseudopupae, and adults. Significant reductions in oviposition duration, fecundity, and hatchability were also observed. Additionally, the metabolic enzyme activity and expression profiles of selected cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) genes following the LC₂₅ treatment of β-asarone suggest that enhanced detoxification via P450s could be involved in the observed sublethal effects. These findings demonstrate the strong toxicity and significant sublethal effects of β-asarone on B. tabaci and suggest that the induced overexpression of P450 genes could be associated with the response to β-asarone.     

Theoretical and experimental evaluation of a CYP106A2 low homology model and production of mutants with changed activity and selectivity of hydroxylation

Steroids are important pharmaceutically active compounds. In contrast to the liver drug-metabolising cytochrome P450s, which metabolise a variety of substrates, steroid hydroxylases generally display a rather narrow substrate specificity. It is therefore a challenging goal to change their regio- and stereoselectivity. CYP106A2 is one of only a few bacterial steroid hydroxylases and hydroxylates 3-oxo-Delta4-steroids mainly in 15beta-position. In order to gain insights into the structure and function of this enzyme, whose crystal structure is unknown, a homology model has been created. The substrate progesterone was then docked into the active site to predict which residues might affect substrate binding. The model was substantiated by using a combination of theoretical and experimental investigations. First, numerous computational structure evaluation tools assessed the plausibility of its protein geometry and its quality. Second, the model explains many key properties of common cytochrome P450s. Third, two sets of mutants have been heterologously expressed, and the influence of the mutations on the catalytic activity towards deoxycorticosterone and progesterone has been studied experimentally: the first set comprises six mutations located in the structurally variable regions of this enzyme that are very difficult to predict by cytochrome P450 modelling (K27R, I86T, E90V, I71T, D185G and I215T). For these positions, no participation in the active-site formation was predicted, or could be experimentally demonstrated. The second set comprises five mutants in substrate recognition site 6 (S394I, A395L, T396R, G397P and Q398S). For these residues, participation in active-site formation and an influence on substrate binding was predicted by docking. These mutants are based on an alignment with human CYP11B1, and in fact most of these mutants altered the active-site structure and the hydroxylation activity of CYP106A2 dramatically.     

A Two-in-One Strategy: Target and Nontarget Site Mechanisms Both Play Important Role in IMI-Resistant Weedy Rice

The introduction of Clearfield technology allows the use of imidazolinone (IMI) herbicides to control weedy rice. Imidazolinone herbicides stop the acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme from synthesizing branched-chain amino acids, resulting in the death of the plant. Since the launch of Clearfield technology in Malaysia in 2010, many farmers have replaced traditional cultivars with Clearfield (CL) rice lines (MR220-CL1 and MR220-CL2). This technology was initially effective; however, in recent years, local farmers have reported the reduced efficacy of IMI herbicides in controlling the spread of weedy rice. Under IMI herbicide treatment, in previous weedy rice studies, the target-site resistance (TSR) mechanism of the ALS gene has been suggested as a key factor conferring herbicide resistance. In our study, a combination of ALS gene sequencing, enzyme colorimetric assay, and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) highlighted that a non-target-site resistance (NTSR) can be an alternative molecular mechanism in IMI-resistant weedy rice. This is supported by a series of evidence, including a weak correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the ALS exonic region and ALS enzyme activity. Our findings suggest that the adaptability of weedy rice in Clearfield rice fields can be more complicated than previously found in other rice strains.